October 14: When things go wrong as they sometimes will...

Jeremiah 22:1-23:20

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Psalm 83:1-18

Proverbs 25:11-14

When I was reading today's scripture from Jeremiah, I was struck by the occurrence of the words "adulterer" and "adultery" used in the context of sinfulness described.  Typically, when we think of adultery, we define it as the act a married individual commits when having sexual relations with someone other than their spouse.  But in this reading, there does not seem to be any marital or sexual context in the usage of the words.  The adultery, or the unfaithfulness to one's spouse, that is discussed here seems to refer to a people covenanted to God who have since become unfaithful, rejecting Him in place of others - Baal, , false hopes, visions from their own minds...all of which have become acceptable to the people about whom Jeremiah prophesies.  

The world today is a challenging one for Christians already struggling with our own sinfulness.  The world creates a context where that very sinfulness we seek to throw off is not only acceptable, but desirable.  It almost seems unfair that we not only have to undergo the trials of our own susceptibility to sin, but that we have to do so listening to the world's goading, goading particularly discouraging when it seems that, by our sinful actions, we have proven the world right.  

I was reminded of a poem my father told me about:

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;

   When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;

When the funds are low, and the debts are high

   And you want to smile, but have to sigh;

When care is pressing you down a bit-

   Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out;   

   The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;

And you can never tell how close you are

   It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-

   It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

- Author Unknown

Full disclosure, these next thoughts are from Pastor Scott...the Thessalonians knew a bit about perseverance when things were tough and, in their persevering, they saw "the love all of you have for one another is increasing".  And Paul reminded them that their suffering gave evidence of the rightness and righteousness of God's judgement, and that they would receive the reward denied those Jeremiah wrote about - to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.  

But Paul noted that the battle, while already won, was still ongoing.  Which is why he reminded the Thessalonians that "we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by His power [not ours!] He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith."  This is a reminder that, as the battle still rages, we need to be praying for each other, that we might remain strong - not in and of ourselves, but in God.  

I thank God for His forgiveness, His encouragement, His strength, and His ultimate reward.