FRIDAY, March 18

John 3:22-36. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

“But there is so much in the Bible, especially in the writings of Saint John, about God’s love,” we want to say. “In fact, the most famous verse about God’s love comes earlier in this very chapter—so how can John now suddenly be speaking of God’s wrath?”

Many deal with this apparent inconsistency by ignoring it. “God is a loving Father,” they rightly say, but what they really mean is that God is an infinitely indulgent figure willing to overlook anything, a kind of heavenly marshmallow. There’s nothing in the Bible to suggest that. A parent who truly loves his or her children must sometimes refuse to overlook, must hold the children accountable, must be firm. To do otherwise might give the children more pleasure but it would not build character, and God is more concerned about character than pleasure.

The wrath of God, God’s absolute hatred for all that does not lead to holiness, is the flip side of God’s love. We can’t have one without the other; it’s a package deal.

Accept God’s offer of character-building love or don’t, but if you do, expect a glorious but sometimes daunting ride.

PRAY for the Diocese of Missouri (Province V, USA)

Ps 95 & 40, 54 * 51; Deuteronomy 10:12-22; Hebrews 4:11-16

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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Mar 18, 2011 at 8:28 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Here's what I avoid, "...go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." ( Mark 10.16 )

...

Mar 18, 2011 at 8:44 am

Written by Bennie,

Most excellent comment, Steve. It is much easier to accomplish that when one has lost it all.

Wrath for what?

Mar 18, 2011 at 9:22 am

Written by Stephen,

Not to ignore comments about wrath, but what does this really mean? I don't think you are going to catch too many fish these days by evoking God's wrath. Maybe just some scared fish. The writer frames it around character and Holiness. As Christians we have to believe that Jesus best exemplifies this in his life and death. He does something for us. Now the question is: does this mean if you are not a Christian that you because you are not suffer God's wrath? If you do not join the Holy club? Jesus to me seemed to not have much time for clubs, but he seemed to be pointing toward a loving God that wants us to embrace a Kingdom not like our own. Maybe it is about character, and openness to grace, forgiveness, mercy and kindness. Maybe wrath is really just the consequences of of an unfulfilled life of selfishness. It is up to us Christians to be real and not just members of "Club Salvation".

Francis had no poor followers

Mar 18, 2011 at 9:26 am

Written by rick,

All of Francis early followers were rich. Sell what you have and give it to the poor is what he had to do to embrace the Lord.

Evil is more than that which hinders our growing into Christ. It motivated to resist God.

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Mar 18, 2011 at 11:02 am

Written by Bonnie,

Yes, Rick, amen. When you embrace something, you must fully open your arms. You cannot hold on to something tightly while embracing something or someone else. We must let go of whatever it is that we are holding onto so tightly that it prevents us from fully embracing God.

Mercy for all

Mar 18, 2011 at 11:30 am

Written by Gaye Anne,

I'm grateful for His mercy. "Lord, if you marked our iniquities, who could stand?" I pray that what my self-centered actions may do to my neighbor whether thoughtlessly or in self-willed pursuit of my "rights" may rest in His mercy. Change our hearts, show us your way, forgive us our presumptuous sins.

...

Mar 18, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Written by Paulletta Garoutte-Aldridge,

Recently i came across this Muslim prayer That I have found addresses our motivations to follow God
O MY LORD! If I worship thee from fear of hell, burn me in hell; and if I worship thee from hope of paradise, exclude me thence; but if I worship thee for thine own sake, then withhld not from me thine eternal beauty.
--Muslim prayer
I choose to worship God because I love God...and I am not concerned about heaven or hell.

Wrath

Mar 18, 2011 at 4:31 pm

Written by Pat,

To me, God's "wrath" is the consequences of the sinful actions that take us away from God. When God says there will be blessings and curses it means that is how it is. Certain behaviors take us closer and the sinful choices lead away.

...

Mar 18, 2011 at 8:14 pm

Written by Walt,

We experience God's love when we engage in behaviors/choices that bring us closer to God, e.g., prayer. I think God's wrath is the loneliness we experience when we engage in behaviors/choices that take us away from God. Just my 2 cents worth!

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