Ashes to Fire Devotional (Week 2, Wednesday)

As I was reading the 'Ashes to Fire' devotions for today, I couldn't help but notice that the scripture is leading to a particular understanding of God's justice.

First, I remembered that in yesterday's devotional (Psalm 61) God shares his open invitation to all people.

Then, I observed that in Psalms 72 God is showing his kind of justice... Caring for those caught in unjust systems that keep them down. Biblically speaking we talk about standing up for the poor, caring for the children of the needy and coming down hard on cruel tyrants.

Next, I noticed that in Jeremiah 3:6-18 God speaks of Israel as his wife who offers herself and pursues many suiters not her husband. God shares that he doesn't want to be angry; that his desire is that she would come back to him. He hates to see her hurting, broken, abused and beaten by her other suiters. God continues to extend his open invitation for her to return.

Then in John 4:1-41 Jesus meets a Samaritan Woman at well. A woman who's had many husbands and suiters; he offers and extends to her and open invitation. Not just to her, but to an entire community of people who had in their history broke from worshipping God in Jerusalem.

It reminds me of how big God's heart really is. It also makes me sad that so many Christians miss the point. We love it when God accepts us back; and let's go of our sin... but we rarely open and share God's invitation to others, especially those whom we consider disreputable and unworthy.

Then I think back to the Psalm 72... "Please stand up for the poor, care for the children of the needy; and come down hard on the cruel tyrants."

Lord, forgive me for when I've been the tyrant; teach me how to share and live in your open invitation.