Humble pie

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (Psalm 51:19) 

When was the last time you had to eat humble pie? You know, admitting your own mistakes and shortcomings to someone else. This is one way to understand the setting for today’s psalm. It portrays King David’s repentance after the prophet Nathaniel confronted him about his sins of adultery and murder. He is caught in his lies and violence, and he has to own up to them.

So how does David respond? With a combination of heartfelt repentance and deep confidence in God’s mercy. He trusted that God would not ignore “a heart contrite and humbled” (Psalm 51:19).

How do you react when you are brought face-to-face with your sins or shortcomings? It’s tempting to get defensive and to throw that humble pie back in someone’s face: It’s your fault, not mine! Or maybe you overplay your guilt: How could I have done that—again? Will I ever get past this sin?

 

God doesn’t want us to swing in either direction. Rather, he wants us to turn toward him, as David did. He promises not to turn us away. He won’t accuse us or condemn us; instead, he’ll welcome us, forgive us, and embrace us. It’s like the scene in the parable of the prodigal son: the father is waiting with joyful and eager expectation, filled with longing for his younger son to return home. When he does return, the boy begins, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you,” but before he can finish even one sentence, his father throws his arms around him (Luke 15:21).

The next time you find yourself holding a piece of humble pie, put the pie down and run to your Father. Don’t let yourself feel overwhelmed by a guilty conscience. But don’t try to shift the blame and justify yourself. Simply say, “Father, I know I have sinned. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Remember, God delights in your repentance, not because he wants to condemn you or drown you in guilt, but because he is eager to forgive you and welcome you back. He will never turn you away.

“Thank you, Father, for your merciful embrace. Help me to run toward you every time I stumble and fall.”

from wau.org

Waiting...

The kingdom will return to David’s house. . . . and they will kill me. (1 Kings 12:26, 27)

We know that God can do amazing things. Yet often, when God promises something, and we see it gradually coming about, we begin to doubt or grow anxious. Like Peter walking on water, we forget to keep our eyes on Jesus. We focus on the immediacy of the wind and the waves instead of waiting in trust.

Jeroboam finds himself in a situation like this in today’s first reading. At the end of the previous chapter, God had promised to make him like David and establish a dynasty for him over the nation of Israel. What a shock for this official of King Solomon: God had chosen him to succeed his master! After he flees to Egypt and Solomon dies, Jeroboam does, in fact, find himself back in Israel and enthroned as king, just as God had promised.

But here is where the trouble begins. The Temple is in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is controlled by Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Jeroboam begins to fear that the people’s connection to the Temple will cause them to abandon him. He decides to take matters into his own hands instead of trusting that God will fulfill his promise to give him the kingdom. And the results are disastrous.

Consider the promises that you have received from the Lord—certainly the promise of forgiveness and the promise of heaven. You may also be trusting him for help with your marriage or family relationships or a job situation. In all of these situations, God has a long-term plan for your good, but it requires you to wait on him. Waiting can be scary, and you might start to doubt. You might be tempted to try to get things to happen your way. But take your time. Act when you need to, but in the meantime, keep asking the Lord for his wisdom and guidance.

Jeroboam didn’t ask God to help him overcome his fear. Don’t make the same mistake! God stands ready to reassure you of his faithfulness so that you can continue trusting him to bring his promises to their glorious fulfillment. Go to him, and let him renew you in your journey of trust and hope.

“Lord, give me the faith and courage to wait on you for all the wonderful things you have promised.”

from wau.org

Loving others

You have set aside the commandment of God. (Mark 7:9) 

It was an easy trap to fall into. In their zeal for the faith, many of the scribes and Pharisees created layers and layers of traditions and practices that would set them apart from “the world.” Over time, these layers began to complicate and eclipse the true nature of the Law of Moses—to the point that some people were able to turn the Law on its head. 

In contrast to the complexities these scribes and Pharisees introduced, Jesus focused on two simple, fundamental commandments: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Every law and commandment of the Lord can be summed up by these two verses from the Torah.

But no matter how simple these commands are, they certainly aren’t easy. How can we love everyone all the time? There are times when we can barely tolerate members of our family, let alone the stranger next door or the co-worker who gets on our nerves. How can we avoid the temptation to introduce complexities and excuses so that we can free ourselves from the command to love?

By letting God’s own love teach us how to love.

It may not be easy, but it is simple. Jesus loves you. Not because you do the right things. (No one is perfect.) Not because you embrace every one of his teachings. (Everyone struggles with at least one commandment.) And not because you have shown yourself to be better than other people. (God’s rain falls on the just and unjust alike.) No, Jesus loves you because he looks into your heart and sees how “very good” it is (Genesis 1:31). He looks past the hurts, the resentments, and the unconfessed sin, and peers right into the center of who you are.

It’s right there, in the center, that Jesus sees the love he has placed in you. He sees your desire to please the Lord. He sees the goodness and purity that God created you with. And what he sees pierces his heart with love. With joy. With compassion. It’s this gaze that can melt our hearts and teach us to love as he does—simply, mercifully, and equally.

“‘My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God’ (Psalm 84:3). Jesus, teach me to love.” 

from wau.org