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God’s grace and forgiveness is there for the asking.

March 24, 2022

This command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.   Jer. 7:23

This verse jumped out at me as I read the scriptures assigned in our Daily Lectionary for today. In fact, the whole reading in Jeremiah felt very “Lent-ish”, Lent being a time to reflect on our relationship with God and how well we are listening and all that!   

Certainly, seeking to hear and obey God’s voice is a core part of the walk of faith. But I struggled with this reference from Jeremiah because it seemed to be saying that my relationship with God is dependent upon consistently and perfectly obeying God’s voice. Granted, God said to Moses that the people of Israel were stiff-necked (stubborn, obstinate…like a 2-year-old saying NO!), but God still led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. We hear in Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” These words certainly don’t sound like they come from a God who would deny our place as the people of God if we disobey.

Let’s face it, we can be a stiff-necked people, disobedient and even downright obstinate at times. And yet, we are God’s people still, beloved even! God hasn’t given up on us. We want to obey God, follow God’s will and walk in the ways of God, but we sometimes miss the mark. 

This small bit of Scripture doesn’t seem to leave room for that very human part of us. Then I realized, that’s why we can’t just read a small bit of Scripture alone and think that’s the answer. The rest of the story of Scripture holds the answer! It is the gift of Jesus that gives us the reassurance that we continue to be the people of God. When we ask for forgiveness, it is there for us, to restore us into right relationship with God. God’s grace and forgiveness is there for the asking. Thanks be to God!

So, I pondered some more why I struggled with these words and what God was saying to me about them. What came to me are the words from the prayer of Thomas Merton – words I needed to be reminded of – specifically this excerpt:

“…the fact that we think we are following your will does not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing.”

That is my hope – may we all share that hope! 

Nancy Arnold