Compassion for the Ungrateful

Hosea 11:8-9 (NRSVue) - How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

In Hosea, the prophet speaks about two things.

First, he speaks about the people’s lack of gratitude.

Immediately thereafter, he speaks about God’s compassion.

The people worshipped idols and made sacrifices to them.

Fortunately for the people, God was compassionate.

Broadly speaking, are we any better today than God’s people were back then?

Don’t we worship idols?

Don’t we put things and people above God?

Fortunately for us, God is still compassionate.

To prove this, He sent Christ into the world to take our sins upon Himself.

The triune God did this in order that we might be saved.

Christ understood that this was the task set before Him.

His words reflect this.

John 12:47 (NRSVue) - I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world.

When it comes down to it, we should not put possessions and people above God.

After all, we were created in His image.

But God’s gift of grace is for everyone.

On our best day, we are incapable of saving anyone.

We cannot even save ourselves.

We, like those who came before us, often lack proper gratitude,

But God remains compassionate.

We still belong to Him, even when we sometimes lose sight of that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 6, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, October 13, 2023

Provision for Need, Not Greed

 

Psalm 105:40-42 (NRSVue) - They asked, and he brought quails and gave them food from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham, his servant.

The Psalmist speaks of God’s provision.

But God’s provision went beyond food and water.

God gave land and descendants to Abraham.

Before he sent drought and famine, God provided Joseph.

When enslaved, God provided Moses.

When freed, God provided the people with the spoils of their masters.

God still provides today.

But it is important to remember that he satisfies our need, not our greed.

Christ reminded His followers of this when He taught them to pray.

Matthew 6:11 (NRSVue) - Give us today our daily bread.

Even during difficult times and negative headlines, God continues to provide.

In fact, we are a part of that provision.

The world God created is remarkable.

No two people, not even twins, are exactly alike.

And everyone has specific needs.

As we make our way through this world, let us follow the example Christ set.

Let us pray for God to provide for our need and not our greed.

And may we find it in ourselves to give as we have received.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 15, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, September 22, 2023