What does it mean – 20.7ºC?
This morning as we checked the temperature outdoors, it registered the lowest we have seen since arriving! What a welcome freshness! But coupled with that is a strange sense that we need a sweater to keep warm enough! I know that if you had a day of that temp now you would be digging out the summer wear once again while here we are donning winter wear!
As we sat on the balcony for breakfast this morning I looked to the north which is Turkish territory and we see a ridge of mountains which reach approximately 1500 metres. Over them was coming the most beautiful ridge of cumulus clouds and as we watched, they seemed to grow before our eyes. Soon they reached what must have been in excess of 5000 metres (15,000 feet) and all at once it hit me. This is what it would have been like to face a tsunami. So overwhelmingly immense that there is no place to hide or run - it is so immense that to think of escape east or west is out of the question and certainly it will encompass us at any moment!
But isn’t that an insight into two aspects of our faith? First, there will be none outside of God’s Kingdom who will escape his coming wrath however diligently they seek to run or offer excuse. God will deal with those outside His love with a vengeance reserved for them and Scripture is clear in detailing the horrendous nature of such calamity!
But in a much more positive sense, this is a picture of the great love of God which we cannot escape and in which He seeks to fold those of us who are His! What wonder! What release! What mystery!
I have been spending some time since my first trip to Cyprus in July when I was introduced to the writings of Kenneth E. Bailey, to search the depth of this man’s research. Born in the Middle East and having spent much of his adult life here in teaching and study in various countries he has become familiar with the culture and writings of this historic area. His focus for over 30 years has been the parables of Christ and most particularly those parables which are in Luke 15. I am now reading a third volume on this passage of one parable in three parts - the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
I have been in awe of the insights which his experience and research have unfolded. Oh that I might have the opportunity to share some of that passion! But the end of the whole issue is that the story of the lost son places in direct contrast to the culturally anticipated response, the uniqueness, uncharacteristic nature and immensity of the love of God. Like the cloud tsunami this morning, God’s love is something from which we cannot escape to the east, to the west so let us relax and enjoy the fact that He enfolds us in His loving care today! As I recently was reading in Genesis 1:2, 3 of the Spirit’s hovering over the chaos of the initial created order, so His Spirit hovers over us today in whatever circumstances in which we find ourselves because of His divine decrees!
I can enjoy this day because He is in control and will be the needed strength in the absence of my own abilities. Thank you Lord! I know your love and your faithfulness is sufficient to face anything which you have ordained for this day!
Ps. 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
settle in the land, and feed on faithfulness.
4 Then you will delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine forth like light,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 1:36 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home