And do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
-- Luke 3:8
Where do you bank? Not literally; as in, "I'm a Chase girl," or "I'm a Bank of America guy." On/In what do you bank your reputation, your character, your identity, your hope?
John's first sermon wasn't very user-friendly. It wasn't sensitive or comforting. (Apparently he wasn't looking for an audience; he was more dedicated to telling the truth - and pleasing an audience of one. But that's a different soapbox.)
For some reason the people turned out to hear.
Some, because they knew their need. In the radical words of this radical man they heard a truth about a God who restores. They switched trust accounts. They banked on this redeeming God. And they found comfort and purpose.
Others came for the show. They had heard of the desert wild man with the crazy outfit and diet. I'm sure they were not disappointed. And though they had never really thought of their need, this hippie-sage's words gnawed on their hearts. Their souls were disquieted by what John said.
Still others came to ridicule. They came to argue and posture. They were spiritually elite; their religious bank accounts full. John called them a "brood of vipers." They probably didn't like that much. But spiritual elitism has a way of deflecting when we should receive. A heard heart (especially a religiously hard heart) has a way of playing the I'm rubber, you're glue... game.
It is this last group to whom John made a staggering statement: "...God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." I'll save the history lesson, but the point is this: These people were relying on heredity for their right-ness with God. They were impressed with themselves. They were keenly and happily aware of the faults of others. Yet they were completely and defiantly unaware of their own depravity and need. They were banking on the wrong things.
They said, "We are the descendants of Abraham." John says, "I'm not impressed; and neither is God." It is humility that has always impressed (if I can use that term), and will continue to impress God. He is near to the humble. He runs to the broken. He lifts up the hurting. He gives grace to those who turn to him and ask.
It really is that simply. If only it were easy.
God, Peter wrote that you oppose the proud and give grace to the humble. I. Need. You(r). Grace.
For now...
D
(May I offer up a last thought for free...?)
I can't help but think of an episode in John's Gospel (different John, and chapter 8) when I read this story. It involves a prostitute, a murderously self-righteous crowd, and stones. The stones were for throwing. You see, hard hearts like to heave hard stones. But when Jesus shows up, drops a truth-bomb that exposes and then writes in the dirt, even the most self-righteously hardened drop their stones and walk away; shaking their heads. Shaken to the core. It's worth a read.
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