Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Oh God, What Were You Thinking?
Bible Excerpt from Romans 11:33-36
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are God's judgments and how inscrutable God's ways!
Reflection by Lillian Daniel
"Why did God let those people get hit by a hurricane?" "Why is God letting her suffer when she has lived such a good life?" "Why does God let a jerk like that get away with what he's done?
People ask me questions like this periodically. Implicit in the question is that I, as a pastor, would have an answer. But of course I do not. And quite frankly, I would be suspicious of anyone who claims to have one.
Only God knows God's mind. The rest of us can only seek. But the life and witness of Jesus tell me this much. God does not torture us, or hurt one person only to spare another. In Jesus, the man of sorrows, I see that even God suffered agony and death; and on the cross, even Jesus wondered, for a moment, about the point of it all.
I believe that one day, all of our questions will be answered. I believe that at the moment we enter eternal life, Jesus will be there to greet us, and not just with open arms. I believe that when we die in Christ, our minds will be opened, no secrets will be hidden and that our eternity will be spent in understanding.
Until then, our job is to live life and live it abundantly.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, in the time between confusion and complete understanding, use the world around me, the people around me, your church and your holy word to bring me closer in wisdom to you and your ways. Amen.
About the Author
Lillian Daniel is Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
The Stillspeaking Daily Devotional is a free service and is supported by your gifts to Our Church's Wider Mission. Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, adapted. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
