May 16, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Find out what pleases the Lord. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven. There is no favoritism with Him.” (Ephesians 5.10; Ephesians 6.9)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Have you heard a parent say, “I love all my children, equally but different“? The desire is to be impartial with our love for our children; to not show favoritism. The inclusion of the older son’s response to the return of his prodigal brother invites the listeners to consider the opportunity to show favoritism. The father puts it aside reminding his son that “you were always here with me, everything I had was yours and at your disposal; but we had to celebrate the return of your brother who was lost and now is found.” (Luke 15. 31, 32) Did we ever stop to consider that when the father acquiesced to the younger son’s request for his share of the inheritance, the father also then had parceled out the lion’s share of the inheritance to the older son. It was all that was left. What was the unspoken truth in that regard was what the father reminded his older son: all that remained was yours already; you never availed yourself of it. The father showed no partiality between the two sons “in their coming in and in their going out.” (Psalm 121) He had blessed them “equally” but different. Such is the way of authentic love.

But we should be reminded that God’s love is perfect. Perfect love must demonstrate the element of toughness so many do not want to see in God. Oh, it’s okay for God to be our “mighty warrior” (see Zechariah) and ready to be on the defense of His children. Even the hope of the coming Messiah is that of a “mighty warrior” who is perfect in justice lifting up “the older son,” who is Israel, over all the rest of the world. The dichotomy of identity which existed between Jew and Gentile was a tremendous challenge to the Jerusalem Council during Paul’s ministry. His defense of a ministry to the Gentiles was empowered by the call of Christ to “love your neighbor.” The Jewish Christ followers, which included many of the disciples and even Jesus’ brother James, were in conflict with transitioning to a love of “mercy and grace” from a love by “works.” What became even more critical to this discussion was that one’s faith, belief and discipleship became the benchmark for inclusion in the realm of the Kingdom of God on earth as it was in Heaven. God’s love did not show partiality anywhere. He loved and loves all of His children. However, His love does not force anyone to be where they do not wish to be. Sadly, the experience of exclusion falls upon the choice of “the created” and not the Creator.

Paul used that kind of reminder to Philemon whose runaway slave, Onesimus, Paul now had become an advocate. It was as much for Onesimus’ benefit as it was for Philemon. Philemon was the leader in the faith community of Colossae. How he responded to the “slavery” issue according to the laws of God and the land would be the benchmark for other believers who were themselves slave owners. It would also then impact those who were slaves and believers in Jesus as the Christ. Paul showed no partiality. His spoke strong words to both parties and desired not only reconciliation but celebration for, using the words from The Parable of the Prodigal, “We are compelled to celebrate because that which was lost is now found.” Can you imagine the joy in Heaven when Jesus, upon His death and burial, was then free to enter into the Gates of Hell to preach the good news of great joy which was for all people? Did Heaven celebrate because Jesus could exercise authority which proved death had no hold on Him? Or did Heaven celebrate because the captives who desired to believe were not set free to return home? Imagine those Hebrews who had been in Babylonian captivity for seventy years hearing the news of their release to return home. Not only would they be able to return to Israel, and Jerusalem in particular, but they were being resourced so as to restore the Temple to a similar glory which it had presented before the Fall. Isn’t that the promise of resurrection and new life which Christ offers to those who call upon the name of the Lord?

Choosing to call upon the name of the Lord in that case is equal to the slave who is offered freedom and then choosing to stay with the master. They may have fulfilled their obligation as indentured servants, their debt had been paid off or the master honored the covenant of Jubilee. Regardless of the circumstance, the master showed no favoritism and treated all the slaves equally. Think of the nine of ten lepers who continued to run home having been healed. The one who started to run and stopped to return to the feet of the Master made himself different from the rest. He put himself in the service of the one who had freed him. He worshipped Jesus with thanksgiving and praise. Are we not “slaves to sin”? We were not “free” from any obligation since before our birth. We were and have always been God’s children. Upon our request for freedom (did you ever consider the story of Adam and Eve as an “emancipation declaration”?) God gave us our portion of the inheritance of the Kingdom. How have we used it? Does the scenario of the two sons in the story of the Prodigal speak uniquely now to our own sitz im leben? Upon our confession of faith, are we not choosing to come back to God and seeking to be on terms of a servant because we know we are unworthy to be called “a child of God”? But we are not received back into the fold as servants! Jesus told His disciples “I no longer call you servants but friends because now you know the will of My Heavenly Father!” The will of God is to save not condemn. The choice really is ours. Are we then not convicted of showing partiality to God or not God? Are we not convicted of misrepresenting faith in God as being fulfilled with a part-time association?

But God shows no such impartiality. He also shows no entitlement. Sadly, from the perspective of eternal loss, God’s love must stand in justice and confirm the choices we make and refuse to make. We are given the opportunity to choose God and His mercy or to refuse it and receive His dismissal. What an influencing thought this is as we consider the raising up on each succeeding generation! How will we effectively communicate the impartial love of God for His children praying they will make the right choice and “love one another.” This is what pleases God!

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.