Loading...As I am live streaming I wonder will Bella, the 8 pound Yorkshire Terrier and the boss of us all, bite me today? She can be dramatic.
There are two stories to tell about God’s Grace and Power today. The first story of Grace and Power comes from Genesis. It’s the story of how famous twins were born to Isaac and Rebecca. The grace of God answers Isaac’s prayer to open Rebecca’s closed womb. The power of God turns the tables on the brother’s relationship with a message that they will be divided. Sure enough. the fight they started inside Rebecca’s uterus continues into adulthood with a surrendered birthright and a stolen blessing. I recommend you read all of Genesis to be enthralled with the drama.
On March 1, 2007, twin sons were born to my brother Luke and his wife Meredith. At 6:30am Simon Scott was delivered and at 6:31am Joshua George was delivered. I know this because when I asked the twins about the stories they hear of their birth, Simon is the first to say that he was first.
I hope being first works out better for Simon than it did for Esau, Jacob’s older brother. In the end, after years of significant drama, Esau and Jacob peacefully go their separate ways. More drama emerges from their descendents, but without that drama we wouldn’t have the salvation story that weaves its way from one generation to another until it comes to Jesus.
In the story Matthew tells, Jesus weaves his way through a crowd into a boat to talk about seeds. What does it take for a seed to take root, grow and thrive? Grace and Power of course, just like water and sunshine. By God’s grace we are planted in good soil and by the power of the Holy Spirit we are nourished and protected to produce the works God designs us to produce. God has a plan. You are part of the plan. The plan is Love.
Only Love can contain family drama AND God’s plans in the same story. The kingdom of heaven is designed to include earthly experiences, even experiences of brotherly pushes and pulls and dogs that bite.
Maybe this week will be drama-free for you and your family. If so, hooray! Even you are included in God’s plan of Love. For those of you with dramatic brothers or sisters, or dogs that bite, stay grounded in Holy Scripture. Holy Scripture is grounded in humanity, which Jesus redeems with his incarnate life brought to the grave so that God can raise all life to the promise of eternal life. Avail yourself of Grace and watch God’s power work in this wonderful world.
Watch Louie Armstrong sing it loud and proud with love:
