There is no doubt that throughout scripture we are reminded of the righteousness and holiness of the Triune God. The good news of Jesus Christ is good news indeed, full of mercy and forgiveness and joy and grace. But it is not, therefore, comfy news. God is not cuddly. God is loving, sure enough. God desires us and loves us, supports us and cares for us, but God is no stuffed animal, and much more than a good hug.

We read in scripture that the God we worship is justifiably angry. For as much as we have been given – even Jesus Christ – we remain people set in our own ways, following things other than Jesus Christ. Jesus taught us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit those who are sick and in prison. The two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves, and yet we mostly love partially, or conditionally. We do not love with our wholes selves. Why wouldn’t God be angry? For God sees us treating each other in so many ways that have nothing to do with love. We say certain people are not our responsibility, or they are not deserving, or we are hateful, mean, negligent, complacent, rude, disrespectful, or self-centered.

We can see reasons that God would and perhaps should be angry. But listen to what the scripture says about God:

Hosea 11:1-11

1When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. 3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. 4I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.

5They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. 7My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all.

8How 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. 9I 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.

10They shall go after the LORD, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. 11They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD.

“I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.” God is full of love, then in the following verses is frustrated and leaving God’s beloved people to their own devices. But then we hear this: “How can I give you up? How can I hand you over? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger.”

God chooses to love us with God’s whole self. God’s judgment is true and righteous but it is not the last word. Our non-cuddly God loves us intensely and tenderly and chooses to transform righteous anger into compassionate warmth. Scripture bears witness to God’s word to us: “For I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.”

God does not stand on rights. We are often tempted to do this, to withhold or measure our love to God and others based on our sense of rights. Sometimes we feel we have the right not to love our neighbors as ourselves, and sometimes we will not accept some human beings as the neighbors God gives us. Sometimes we feel we deserve no love and so we close ourselves off to it.

But God does not stand on rights, God does not play the cards of righteousness and holiness in order to win. God chooses not to execute fierce anger. God chooses to love us. It would be interesting for us this week to receive that love, that warm and tender compassion. If we receive it, perhaps it will flow through us, and we will return love to God and neighbor.

Blessings to you all,

Michelle

~ by feast4thought on July 26, 2010.

Posted in Monday Morning Meditation
Tags: love