Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 4 February 2024
God Is Jealous
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalms 54:1-7, James 4:4-10
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CloseThere is nothing, and no-one, like God. He is holy – unique, one-of-a-kind. And he should be, and must be, known like this. He will not allow his significance (his glory) be given to another, or any other thing. In this sense, God made the world, and placed humans in the world bearing his image, to declare this truth to the universe. As humans sinned, God committed through the family of Abraham to restore his significance through the world. This is at the heart of his saving of his people from Egypt. This is at the heart of making his covenant with his now-saved people at Mount Sinai. This is at the heart of his commandments which enable his people to represent him to the world. And this is at the heart of the attribute of ‘jealousy’ – God is passionate for his covenantal relationship with his people, because it declares his significance to the world. When God’s people aren’t so passionate, so wholehearted, so devoted, then what are they saying about their God?
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalms 54:1-7, James 4:4-10
Related Topics: God's character | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
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