This morning I was reflecting on a chapter in the book of Jeremiah in the Bible.
I don't know a lot about it as a book, but I'll give you one for free: It's not much fun to read. It talks a lot about how angry God is at those who have rejected him. The author goes to great lengths to clarify that it isn't some petty, unreasonable tantrum God is throwing. His anger is justified.
I was watching an episode of Call the Midwife the other night, and Amelia and I were chatting about a scenario with a woman who had cheated on her husband and given birth to a baby that wasn't his. The husband was incredibly angry and all but demanded that she see the baby to a new home immediately. Obviously, we see this sort of anger and we feel a little bit uncomfortable. Is his anger unreasonable, or justified? In this instance, his marriage vows had been made a mockery of - so perhaps much of his anger was righteous indignation. But when we think of an angry human, we picture a "flying-off-the-handle", out of control, cruel anger.
We must stop assuming that God's anger looks the same as this. In a similar way to the wife in the above scenario, God's people owed the Lord their complete devotion - and in the book of Jeremiah, we see that this has been made a mockery. God's anger is indeed righteous indignation. It is not unreasonable, fickle, or petty. He says:
It is only off the back of appreciating this more that the amazing, redeeming gift of reconciliation and life that comes in Jesus Christ's death on the cross - that paid the penalty for this awful mockery I have made of God's Kingship - is properly good news. It is more than good news. It is life-saving news. It frames the relationship I now have with God as a merciful and radical extension of love; not helped along or started by my obedience or heart inclination towards him.
--
Now don't you see? The implications are hugely significant. I was mulling on the idea of forgiveness in the light of this mercy.
I've wronged many people over the past 27 years - almost definitely starting with my poor parents (yeah, sorry about that). And people have wronged me, too. My natural response to being offended, upset or let down is to self-righteously dig my heels in, tell myself that "I don't need them as a friend anyway" and continue to foster that lovely feeling of sitting on my high horse, wounded and definitely a much better person than the other party.
But time and again I'm reminded that if I believe that I have been extended mercy by God, to the degree that Jeremiah seems to think we have, than how can forgiveness as a Christian not be completely natural?
I didn't say easy. But the fact is, both parties are recipients of the greatest forgiveness. So when people let me down, and when I invariably let down others - at both times I am reminded of the gospel's beautiful power in leveling people. We merely open our hands to receive a gift greater than either of us could ever hope to give another human being.
I don't know a lot about it as a book, but I'll give you one for free: It's not much fun to read. It talks a lot about how angry God is at those who have rejected him. The author goes to great lengths to clarify that it isn't some petty, unreasonable tantrum God is throwing. His anger is justified.
I was watching an episode of Call the Midwife the other night, and Amelia and I were chatting about a scenario with a woman who had cheated on her husband and given birth to a baby that wasn't his. The husband was incredibly angry and all but demanded that she see the baby to a new home immediately. Obviously, we see this sort of anger and we feel a little bit uncomfortable. Is his anger unreasonable, or justified? In this instance, his marriage vows had been made a mockery of - so perhaps much of his anger was righteous indignation. But when we think of an angry human, we picture a "flying-off-the-handle", out of control, cruel anger.
We must stop assuming that God's anger looks the same as this. In a similar way to the wife in the above scenario, God's people owed the Lord their complete devotion - and in the book of Jeremiah, we see that this has been made a mockery. God's anger is indeed righteous indignation. It is not unreasonable, fickle, or petty. He says:
"Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations?
Jeremiah 7:8-10 ESV
It is only off the back of appreciating this more that the amazing, redeeming gift of reconciliation and life that comes in Jesus Christ's death on the cross - that paid the penalty for this awful mockery I have made of God's Kingship - is properly good news. It is more than good news. It is life-saving news. It frames the relationship I now have with God as a merciful and radical extension of love; not helped along or started by my obedience or heart inclination towards him.
--
Now don't you see? The implications are hugely significant. I was mulling on the idea of forgiveness in the light of this mercy.
I've wronged many people over the past 27 years - almost definitely starting with my poor parents (yeah, sorry about that). And people have wronged me, too. My natural response to being offended, upset or let down is to self-righteously dig my heels in, tell myself that "I don't need them as a friend anyway" and continue to foster that lovely feeling of sitting on my high horse, wounded and definitely a much better person than the other party.
But time and again I'm reminded that if I believe that I have been extended mercy by God, to the degree that Jeremiah seems to think we have, than how can forgiveness as a Christian not be completely natural?
I didn't say easy. But the fact is, both parties are recipients of the greatest forgiveness. So when people let me down, and when I invariably let down others - at both times I am reminded of the gospel's beautiful power in leveling people. We merely open our hands to receive a gift greater than either of us could ever hope to give another human being.
"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord , God of hosts."
Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
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