They are not to make any sort of idol of God. On that day at Horeb they saw no form, only
heard His voice, the same voice that commanded all into being commanded the
nation into being. We bear His likeness,
His image, none other is necessary, that is why the two great commandments are
like unto one another, we are to love God and to love those created in His
image. We are not, however, to worship
the image of God, we are to worship Him alone.
They are enjoined not to worship the heavens either, not only because
they are created but also because they are common to all, what we call common
grace. We are to worship Him for the
uncommon grace we have received. It is
understandable that people would worship created things because they are
wonderful but we have greater, special revelation and that is why we
worship. We must also be careful then
not to deny special creation, because those things do bespeak their creator as
a sign to all. If they are uncreated,
simply came into being, their witness is lost.
There is joy in heaven over the repentance of one
sinner. What should it mean to us to
think that our witness, used by Him to draw someone to Himself, away from
satan, is a cause for a heavenly celebration?
Jesus came into the world, made Himself available to all who would come
to Him. We often withdraw from the world
into our churches and other enclaves, to isolate ourselves from the world. We stand apart like the Pharisees and condemn
the world when we need to be like Jesus, engaging with the world in such a way
that they are drawn to us because we come with open arms of love. As the collect for mission in Morning Prayer
says, "Lord Jesus Christ, who didst stretch out thine arms of love on the
hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of thy saving
embrace: So clothe us in thy Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love,
may bring those who do not know thee to the knowledge and love of you; for the
honor of thy Name." Is it safe for
sinners to come to you?
Paul says he is obedient to the Holy Spirit, his plans are
in the hand of God that He may do as He wishes with Paul's life. The Corinthians were apparently upset that
Paul hadn't kept his word concerning a visit to them but Paul says that while
he makes plans, the Lord always has the right to change them. In the midst of this, however, he says that
in Jesus all God's promises are yes. His
formula for defending the Gospel he preached to them against the charge of
inconstancy arising from his broken "promise" are thoroughly
Trinitarian. God is the promiser, Jesus
the yes to the promise, the fulfillment of the promise, and the Holy Spirit the
guarantor. We have faith in the promise
of one, all else is up for grabs due to the sovereignty of God.
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