“CURSES! FOILED AGAIN!”

Reading: Galatians 3: 6-14

These words were famously stated by Snidely Whiplash, the cartoon villain of the 1960s, as he was yet again thwarted in his wrongful deeds by Dudley Do-Right, hero extraordinaire of the Royal Canadian Mounties. It was Dudley‘s mission every week to defeat Snidely in order to rid the world of evildoers.

In Galatians 3, we are reminded that when we depend on our ability to keep the law, we are under God’s curse. “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law (vs 10).” We are foiled in our plan to perform perfectly, because no matter how much effort we put into it, we can’t do it. And may I say, our plans need to be foiled, our efforts need to be frustrated – why? Because we need to be rid of the evil notion that we can get free from the curse of the law and earn our own righteousness before God.

Just as Dudley’s mission was to defeat Snidely (evil), Jesus’ mission was to defeat “the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (vs 13).” At the moment the curse of our sin was laid on Him, His righteousness clothed us. We need to have this truth indelibly imprinted in our memory: “The righteous shall live by faith” (vs 11)…in what Christ did for us on the cross – what we couldn’t do for ourselves through the law.

Dear Jesus, how can I possibly thank you enough for your inexpressible gift, so undeserved, so easily taken for granted, many times forgotten as I once again begin to rely on performance to give me right standing with God. Remind me often that depending on you is my only hope to be declared righteous in my Father’s eyes. Amen.

Take it to The Lord

Ever had one of those times in your life when nothing went well?

My daughter moved into an apartment. She drove two hours from our house to her place, only to discover that the door would not open. After 45 minutes of panic, she was finally able to get the key in just the right position to get the door open.

Relieved, she opened a blind to look outside, only to have the blind fall down. A couple of days later, the ceiling in her bathroom caved in.

Things were not going well for her at all!!

Sometimes we are up to our neck in water
(Courtesy AP)

Today’s reading is Psalm 69:1-8. Things are not going well for King David, either. David was probably  guilty of a sin and God was punishing him, but his enemies kept piling on, giving David an even more difficult time. David was sharing his dilemna with the Lord.

Sometimes bad things do happen to us. Sometimes they are the direct consequence of our actions. Other times we are merely collateral damage in a world filled with sin.

Unfortunately, mankind sinned against God and we get to live in his sin-corrupted creation. Living in God’s creation is a blessing. Yet sometimes, when the ravages of sin become too much, it can feel like a curse. It can be very frustrating!

It is our nature to compound the problem by taking our frustration out on a fellow human being. We may yell at someone we do not know, or have sharp words with our spouse. Some may even kick their dog (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration).

Rather than making the situation worse, like David, we should take our frustrations to the Lord.

We can do this directly through prayer or even by talking things out with a fellow Christian. Either way is beneficial to our soul.

God cares for us. Like a good friend, he wants to hear about our joys and our pains. He is our best friend.

After all, he sent his only son to cleanse our souls of sin and to perfect a fallen creation.

Take it to the Lord!

 

Getting A Dose Of My Own Medicine- Luke 6:27-36

Today’s passage is difficult for me to put into practice. “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”

I totally appreciate the way it begins, “To you who are willing to listen…” Luke knows that the words coming next will not go down easy, so he is preparing the reader. He is asking, are we willing to listen? Luke knows that it goes against human nature to, “do good to those who hate you.” I would much rather steer clear of those who hate me. Avoid those who curse me and get even with those who hurt me.

Why is God making such a request? Isn’t it enough to reach out to the lost who, mean us no harm?

I looked up the word hate; “To show extreme hostility toward”. Think about that, every time we sin we are being hostile toward God. I don’t know about you but I sin A LOT. So I guess you could say I show extreme hostility toward God. I oppose Him with each sin. It’s as if I am saying I know better.

Next I looked to curse. One definition read, "to blaspheme which means to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things), to speak evil of; slander; abuse." I know that my words do not always bless God, most of the time my words focus on myself rather than my heavenly father. When I take credit away from God, both directly and indirectly, through my words, I am being irreverent.

Lastly is the word hurt, I didn’t need to look that one up, I can already see how the previous definitions show ways I hurt God, yet He does not hold it against me. Rather he died for me. All of my sins nailed Jesus to the cross yet he did not go to the cross reluctantly, he went lovingly. And all he asks is that we show others the same love and grace.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Luke 6:27-36