Blessed to bless others

 

One evening, there was an unusual excitement in our neighborhood where I grew up. It was the national sports’ car racing. It was going to pass by our main road. This is an event that draws crowds everywhere, in trees and alongside the roads… when my brothers and I arrived late there was no place, we were in the back and would not see the cars coming, just the noise, the applause; the shouts, which added to the excitement until conscience kicks in. It was time to return home and act as if we hadn’t left. We surely did get punished for leaving without permission. Truth be told, we couldn’t resist, we couldn’t miss that kind of action… BOYS, what our parents went through… I am inclined to see the same behavior with Israelites. They had been naughty. No, worse than that: They disregarded their covenant with God. As usual, such behavior carries heavy consequences, but this time, the prophet Isaiah is pronouncing God’s intention to have mercy: “My Salvation is near, so do justice/ do what is right, walk by the rules, pay attention to good conscience in all you do, because I have a mission for you…” What? there is no punishment? Our God is a God of mercy. Yes, there is an abundance of divine mercy however, double your guard against sin. Turn away from falsehood. It’s like this: “The more assurance God gives in his promises, the stronger our obligations to obey under the covenant” God is ready to forgive us because He loves us, even when we slip and fall away. God desires passionately that we would turn back, repent and be a light to other nations.

This is our Mission: “To be a light to other nations” We are the Israelites in this scenario. More than once we have slipped and fallen away. Especially when we turned not as fervent/zealous as we were in our relationship with God or simply, we may have been discouraged circumstances, which really hurt our faith big time. God is sending a message to Israelites that he still loves them. He still pleads with them to do what is right, to do justice. He is the Lord of all, even the outcasts of Israel. God hasn’t lost his faith in them. God knows the capacity in them to do what is right. So, in His mercy, God forgives them and gives them a mission: Look out for my people, the lost sheep of Israel.

We may be discouraged by all the things that are happening in the world right now, but the truth is, God is still in control. We are the one that are out of control, with our intemperance, impatience, unruly behaviors, our entertaining falsehood and everything that take us away from God, our creator. Since God is still consistent with his character and nature, as a merciful God but also, He is a God capable of wrath/anger. This time, his relationship with Israelites is not the forefront focus here. Forgive me this is my deduction: “We, the Israelites should shape up if we are going to be an example to other nations.”  The unbelievers are watching how we are behaving in time of troubles. Are we joining in with behaviors of unbelievers that they can’t differentiate fake from true? Are we being fanatics to things that are of no real effect in God’s Kingdom? We need to shape up as believers!

Jesus is providing us with an example here. He begins with: Listen and understand: “What comes out of the mouth is what defiles a person.” Are we the Israelites listening? Let’s rewind and examine everything we say and think… from our heart comes evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. Are we exempt from this? Anyone? Matthew turns sharply to Jesus mission where He heals a Canaanite woman’s daughter from demon oppression, a non-Israelite person. Wow! What is Jesus teaching us there? I care for them. They are also my people.

Jesus is teaching us to commit to a high Christian character, because even though our witness will waver, God will use us as God intended to use Israel to bless others. Unbelievers are observing us… how we are dealing with life. God is watching and counting on us to get it right. God forgives us, so we can all abide in his love, and then go on with divine love to serve him in Mission.

Amen.