Freedom to choose. Paul
would say that we don't have that freedom, that it is merely an illusion. His judgment was based on a fuller
understanding of righteousness. We can
choose at some level not to engage in theft, lying, bearing false witness,
dishonoring our parents, adultery, etc. but we cannot control desire, coveting,
the thoughts of our hearts. When Jesus
gave the sermon on the mount He blew all our righteousness out the window. We know that we can't stop our thoughts and
desires. We can control many of our
actions but it is an act of the will to avoid the fulfilling of the desires of
our hearts. Jesus says that the desire
itself is sin and if that is God's definition we are all condemned. We need grace and mercy.
I wonder if the disciples were disappointed by this brief
prayer. It is a beautiful prayer and it
encapsulates so much theology it is amazing but it seems so simple. It begins with a term of endearment and
intimacy, Father, but immediately understands that the very Name of the Father
is to be hallowed, set apart as holy, and then asks that His kingdom will come,
as preferable to the current state of affairs.
In the meantime, give us what we need each day and acknowledges our need
of forgiveness and expects that we will be like Him in forgiving others. Finally, we ask not to be led into
temptation, keep us from sinful situations.
Jesus promises that the Father hears our petitions, is good and gracious
and will give us those gifts that are truly good for His children. Sometimes we struggle with His definition of
good, don't we?
This time, John sees not only an angel, but a mighty angel
standing astride sea and land and raising his right hand to heaven and
proclaiming the one who created the heavens, and the earth, and the sea and all
that are in them, sealing up the voices of the seven thunders and declaring the
end, the coming of God's kingdom as foretold by the prophets and for which we
are told to pray, is near. John is then
given a scroll, not to read, but to eat, as Ezekiel was instructed. Ezekiel also found the scroll of the prophecy
he was to give sweet to the taste but bitter in the stomach. The word of God is necessarily sweet but also
it is a word against us, not of condemnation but of conviction and John is now
blessed to be given a great commission but one that will not, ultimately,
achieve the purpose he might hope to achieve.
The word of God never returns to Him void no matter what we might
estimate, but it achieves the purpose for which He intends, even if no one
responds. Sometimes His purpose is that
we will have no excuse, we have heard and not responded.
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