PREACHING THE LECTIONARY: THE McGREGOR PAGE
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Pentecost 7
July 27, 2003
2 Samuel 11:1-15 (in 1997, this was 2 Kings)
Psalm 14
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21
Abundance, “... thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.’” (2 Kings 4:43)
Protection, “But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going." (John 6:20-21)
Deep security, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)
How are the promises of God to be appropriated, not just believed but experienced? Take abundance for instance. Jesus didn’t just promise to feed the multitude. He did feed them. Was it more important that they recognize him as the Sustainer of the universe than to receive sustenance? We are creatures not gods. If we don’t eat, it doesn’t much matter what we believe. We’re dead. So, let’s have this promised abundance. What is it? It is a full stomach and 0.0024 of a basket of leftovers, each. It doesn’t quite add up to capital formation. The abundance that God promises doesn’t support the construction of a Versailles Palace. The problem is that we humans don’t know how to do abundance other than concentrating in a few hands and trashing the planet in the bargain. The communists thought they could do it the way God would but had trouble deciding who would be God, and lacking God had trouble finding anyone who would produce the abundance.
”Give us this day our daily bread.” Let our abundance be God’s abundance.
Fragile creatures, in addition to abundance, need protection. Notice that as soon as Jesus arrives, the disciples find themselves “immediately” at the shore to which they had been desperately rowing before he came. I thought about that word “immediately” when a friend said she would be checking out of the hospital after supper, after gall bladder surgery that morning. Surely the Lord must be near. I remember when it was a hard row home from gall bladder surgery. When the Lord is near, it is never so far from shore.
We need abundance because we are creatures, yea, sinful creatures; we waste so much and horde so much, only abundance will do. We need protection because we are fragile and mortal. We are to the universe like ants on a railroad track, yet we are protected. No other species is so protected. Abundance and protection don’t add up to deep security, however. Abundance and protection don’t always materialize. The news media keep us well aware of that. For all the faithfulness of God, we remain creatures, appointed once to die. Deep security is not inherent in the human condition. If it comes, it comes from God. Paul testifies that it is the love of God actually occupying our hearts. “Rooted and grounded in love” the glory that is God’s alone becomes our inheritance in Jesus Christ. This is the only deep security I know, or know of. I believe it because of the Word proclaimed. I am coached in it because of the church and all the followers of Christ who have shown me love. I experience it because God strengthens my “inner being” just like Paul and many others since Paul have prayed that God would.
Roland McGregor, Pastor
Asbury United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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