Another Chance

One of the best things about God is the opportunity to try again! To quote a song from Jonah: A Veggietales Movie, “God is a God of Second chances.” A second chance to take a test. A second chance to connect with others. A second chance to live. What would you like a second chance at doing?

None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes, and sometimes things happen that are out of our control that prevent us from executing our plan. The Law (God’s commands given to God’s people upon Siani and restated before entering the promised land; Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy) is not meant to be a long list of things not to do. Yes, the wording does express a great command to not kill, steal, bear false witness, covet, and have any gods before the LORD and so on. However, what is behind each of these is the hope of connection. The purpose of the law is to outline behaviors for God’s people such that they live differently to the gentile nations around them; live in such ways that they express what this God of presence, life, and steadfast loving-kindness is like.

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And try as we might, we cannot find wholeness in living the law. Why? Because we cannot always live by the law. I love a good cheeseburger; oh, and add some bacon onto it and we are jammin’ at a great main dish for me. But, according to the law, I shouldn’t add the bacon onto it. Nor should I have the cheese and beef patty together; because to do so would be to violate Exodus 23:19, “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” (also in Exodus 34:26 and Deuteronomy 14:21). This is what became part of the Jewish kosher dietary regulations. And the eating of swine (pig) was regulated because they’ll eat anything including trash and unclean things making them unclean.

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I know that’s a silly example. Now consider how hard it is to tell the truth, even if it lands you in trouble. Or how hard it is to see something that your neighbor/friend/brother/sister/etc. has and you now want it too? Or what about how we trust in money, works, or things to earn us status and be able to say, ‘I have a good life,’ over the blessing of God’s gift of life that day, or the abundance of food we have access too, or the education, or the medical advancements to stay healthy, and much more? What do we use to define the goodness of life besides what God has done for us? Again, none of us are good at following the Law.

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Later in the story of God’s people, God raised up prophets to call people back to God. “Repent,” they might say. Or “Return to the LORD.” These instructions were a calling the people of God to a second chance at a living with God, one another, and the nations of the world in such a way that shows the world what their God is like! And in Christ, we have that same opportunity over and over and over and over again. To return to the Lord our God; to give it another go; take another chance at living with God, one another, and showing the world what God is like!

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I missed having service this past Sunday. Why? Was it because I felt bad that I didn’t work? Not really. Rather, I missed gathering with others to worship our Lord in giving thanks and praise through song for what God has done for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. I missed joining my voice with y’all’s as we prayed for the world in crisis and asked for God’s presence in it through us. I missed celebrating our Lord’s passion and having it nourish us in the Eucharist (that is the Lord’s Supper). I missed hearing God’s work read for us to receive in our hearts. I missed asking each of you how you are doing and actually meaning it. I missed seeing y’all greet one other with the love, grace, and embrace of God.