[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage 514, Pentecost 8, July 30, 2006

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 8, July 30, 2006

2 Samuel 11:1-15
Psalm 14
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 6:1-21


Abundance, “... thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some 
left.’” (2 Kings 4:43)

Protection, “But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then 
they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached 
the land toward which they were going." (John 6:20-21)

Deep security, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with 
all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you 
may be filled with all the fullness of God.”  (Ephesians 3:18-19)

How are the promises of God to be appropriated, not just believed but 
experienced?  Take abundance for instance.  Jesus didn’t just promise 
to feed the multitude.  He did feed them.  Was it more important that 
they recognize him as the sustainer of the universe than to receive 
sustenance?  We are creatures not gods.  If we don’t eat, it doesn’t 
much matter what we believe.  We die.  So, let’s have this promised 
abundance.  What is it?  It is a full stomach and .0024 of a basket of 
leftovers, each.  It doesn’t quite add up to capital formation.  The 
abundance that God promises doesn’t support the construction of a 
Versailles Palace.  The problem is that we humans don’t know how to do 
abundance other than stretching it from Harlem to the stock exchange 
and trashing the planet in between.  The communists thought they could 
do it the way God would but had trouble deciding who would be God, and 
lacking God, had trouble finding anyone who would produce the 
abundance.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  Let our abundance be God’s 
abundance.

Fragile creatures, in addition to abundance, need protection.  Notice 
that as soon as Jesus arrives, the disciples find themselves 
“immediately” at the shore to which they had been desperately rowing 
before he came.  I thought about that word “immediately” when a friend 
said she would be checking out of the hospital after supper, after gall 
bladder surgery that morning.  Surely the Lord must be near.  I 
remember when it was a hard row home from gall bladder surgery.  When 
the Lord is near, it is never so far from shore.

We need abundance because we are creatures, yea, sinful creatures; we 
waste so much and horde so much, only abundance will do.  We need 
protection because we are fragile and mortal.  We are to the universe 
like ants on a railroad track, yet we are protected.  No other species 
is so protected.  Abundance and protection don’t add up to deep 
security, however.  Abundance and protection don’t always materialize.  
The news media keep us well aware of that.  For all the faithfulness of 
God, we remain creatures, appointed once to die.  Deep security is not 
inherent in the human condition.  If it comes, it comes from God.  Paul 
testifies that it is the love of God actually occupying our hearts.  
“Rooted and grounded in love” the glory which is God’s alone becomes 
our inheritance in Jesus Christ.  This is the only deep security I 
know, or know of.  I believe it because of the Word proclaimed.  I am 
coached in it because of the church and all the followers of Christ who 
have shown me love.  I experience it because God strengthens my “inner 
being” just like Paul and many others since Paul have prayed that God 
would.

May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

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     --Copyright 2006, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
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