L’ amour de Dieu est folie

The French Easter Liturgy says: “L’ amour de Dieu est folie” – which simply means 'the Love of God is foolishness (folly).' 

And in some ways, it really is. 

God's love for us is mysterious, amazing, ridiculous, confusing, and life changing. As we slowly move closer towards the season of Advent, let us remember that God's love is truly remarkable. 

God loves us, despite how we treat each other and even how we treat God. It is foolish in some ways - why would you keep loving someone, who doesn't love you in return? I don't have words that adequately describe this gift, but I am deeply thankful.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17

Living in grace

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A Selfish Prophet

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, one who relents from doing harm." - Jonah 4:1-2

The story of Jonah really gives us insight into the heart of people. Jonah was 'exceedingly displeased' that God had shown mercy to the people of Nineveh. He was happy when God showed him a lot of grace, especially when he had messed up, but Jonah couldn't stand the fact that God chose to forgive his enemies. I think we can safely call him: The Selfish Prophet.

Question: How do we feel when others are offered grace? Is there a part of us that struggles with being jealous at all?

Living in Grace

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Second Chances

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” - Jonah 3:2

This scripture is a marvelous reminder that God gives us second chances. I am sure that we have all been beneficiaries of a second chance, at some point in our lives, and it is an amazing feeling. 

Jonah wisely used his second chance and was obedient to the call that God gave to him; however, he wasn't exactly happy about it. His attitude was quite poor actually, and yet God still dealt with him graciously.

Let us remember that in Jesus Christ, we all have a second chance. 

"God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17

Question: What have you done with your second chances?

"Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time." - Viktor E. Frankl

Living in Grace

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Like water evaporating in the Summer heat

" My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat." - Psalm 32:4

This image that David paints for us is one that I can clearly picture. South African summers can be extremely hot, and water easily evaporates in the intense heat. The warm days also drain our energy and make us feel lethargic. 

The reason for David's strength 'evaporating' had a lot to do with his own decisions and unwillingness to turn back to God. However, when he eventually confessed his sins and experienced the mercy of God, it was like his strength was renewed and restored.

Isaiah 40:29 - He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Living in Grace

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We don't have to live in doubt!

When Jonah warned the people of Nineveh of God's judgement, they responded in these words:

^"Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened." - Jonah 3:9-10

I was struck by their sense of doubt - "Who knows? Maybe God will forgive us?"

Friends, I feel that we don’t have to live in wonder or doubt – will God forgive my sins? God has already forgiven our sins - this was done with Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus said that the work was finished and our sins were atoned for. 

It is up to us whether we choose to receive this gift and then to live as if it were true. Let us also remember that our God is gracious and compassionate.

Psalm 86:15 - But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Living in Grace

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Seaweed headgear

 

5 “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.
Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
I was imprisoned in the earth,
whose gates lock shut forever." - Jonah 2:5-6

The picture of Jonah struggling in the ocean depths with seaweed wrapped around his head is pretty hilarious, in some ways. Many of us have encountered slimy seaweed while we have been swimming but having it wrapped around our head is next level. 

It speaks of being washed and tumbled in the powerful ocean depths. 

It speaks of finding oneself in the midst of tough times. 

It speaks of desperation.

Have you ever felt like this? How have you coped? It is noticeable how Jonah still finds the courage to pray to the Lord and to ask for help. Is this something we still do?

Living in Grace

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Which way are you facing?

"Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple." - Jonah 2:4

There are some religions that encourage people to face East when they pray as it has some connection with the new dawn. The Jewish faith chooses to face towards Jerusalem, and we see that this has been practiced for thousands of years. Daniel was one of the Old Testament prophets who prayed in this way.

In Daniel 6:10 it says, “when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to this upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

As followers of Jesus, we believe that God is omnipresent, so we don't need to face a certain direction when we pray. However, it can sometimes help us to 'spiritually 'gaze in a direction, as it may give us more focus. 

The only thing we need to be sure of is that we 'turn our eyes towards Christ.' 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glory and grace.”
– Helen Howarth Lemmel

Living in Grace

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Don't be a copy!

 "You were born an original. Don't die a copy." - John Mason

This is the short quote that stands at the bottom of my diary for today. These words immediately reminded me of two wonderful passages in the Bible.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." - Psalm 139:13-14

Thought: We spend so long comparing ourselves to others, when we should be living out the person who we were created to be.

Living in Grace

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Let us remember

"God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob." - Exodus 2:24

In a week that focuses on 'Remembrance', (both the call to mark Remembrance Day, as well as some people choose to remember Guy Fawkes), it is important for us to note that God always remembers his people, and so we are challenged to remember Jesus and his call on our lives.

Luke 24:8 - Then they remembered his words.

Acts 20:35 - In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 

Living in Grace

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We pay the price!

Jonah willingly paid the price of his fare, so that he could sail to Tarshish. In a similar way, when we choose to run away from the Lord, we also pay a price.

"But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord." - Jonah 1:3

The price we pay for our disobedience to the Lord can range from, the consequence of our sin, becoming fearful, a lack of peace, dis-contentment, hardness of heart. 

In my opinion, all of our choices include some kind of cost - it is just that disobedience has a high cost than following the calling of God.

Thought: Can you think of a time when you deliberately ran away from God's plan for your life? What price did you pay?

Living in Grace

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Please send someone else!

When God called Moses to serve him and to go and speak to Pharoah, Moses sheepishly asked the Lord to send someone else.

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

¹³ But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”  -(Exodus 4)

In a way, Jonah did the same thing. When God called him to go and preach to the Ninevites, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. You can read this story in chapter 1 of Jonah. 

So, what about us? When God calls us to a task that seems bigger than our abilities, how do we respond? What do we say?

Living in grace

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