RECKLESS

Sunday, April 15, 2018

“Reckless love of God” leads me to think about anything else that may be seen as“reckless.” Last week we talked about His Amazing Grace. In the weeks ahead, we’ll look at God’s Crazy Compassion, Fierce Justice, and Overpowering Power.

R. O. Blechman is one of the most famous illustrators in the world. In his recent book,Dear James: Letters to a Young Illustrator, he shares a series of letters that he wrote to a younger fellow-illustrator. In one of the most poignant letters, Blechman addresses the reality of failure:

Preliminary drawings and sketches often are discouraging things, pale shadows of one's bold intentions. Seemingly nonsense, they're especially dispiriting for beginners … 'Is that what I did,' the novice might ask, 'and I consider myself anartist?! … Speaking for myself (but also for other illustrators, I'm sure), my trash basket is full of false starts and failed drawings … There should be a Museum of Failed Art. It would exhibit all the terrible art that would have ended up in trash bins and garbage cans, lost and unknown to the public life.

Preachingtoday.com has this to say: Surprisingly, the Bible contains a "Museum of Failed Discipleship." Over and over again, the Gospels record the "false starts" and spiritual failures of the disciples. Thankfully, they also record Christ's willingness to encourage and challenge his flawed disciples. We tend to cover up our heroes' faults; and we're even more likely to gloss over our colossal flops. Instead, the Gospels allow us to see the disciples' failures—and most of those stories came from the disciples themselves. This honesty provides encouragement to us when we feel like saying, "Is that what I did, and I consider myself aChristian?" Our security is in Christ who continues to love us even when we stumble and fail.

R. O. Blechman,Dear James: Letters to a Young Illustrator(Simon and Schuster, 2009), pp. 30-34

There are qualities of God variously translated as “patience”, “endurance” and “perseverance.” In particular, two Greek words in the New Testament are used more than 70 times: hupomone and makrothumia – the first word means “to bear up under” and the second means “long-tempered.” Macrothumia. Slow to anger. Old Testament Hebrew literally meant “long nosed,” breathing that accompanies anger and frustration. Fast breathing, deep breathing.

The ability to “bear up” under circumstances and the ability to be “long-suffering” in the face of adversity are great qualities to possess.

GOD IS PATIENT

​Exodus 34:6:The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger (makrothumia is the Greek translation for this Hebrew word).

Romans 9:22:What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience (makrothumia) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?

1 Peter 3:20: . . .to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently (makrothumia) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

2 Peter 3:15:Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience (makrothumia) means salvation.

Former pro football star and coach Tony Dungy told the following story about his father's Christian character:

My dad was usually a quiet, thoughtful man. A scientist at heart and by training, Wilbur Dungy loved to be outside, enjoying the scenery. Fishing allowed him time to contemplate, to listen, and to marvel at God's creation. My dad used fishing to teach his children to appreciate the everyday wonders of the world God created—the sandy shoreline, the dark, pine forests, the shimmering water, and the abundant wildlife. The lessons were always memorable, whether we caught a lot of fish or not.

Although we fished countless times together throughout our lives, one particular day stands out in my mind. It was a summer day in 1965. Summers in Michigan are beautiful, with comfortable temperatures and clear, blue skies. I was nine years old, and my brother was five. My dad had taken us fishing at one of the many small lakes around Jackson. On that day, my dad was teaching my brother and me how to cast. We were both working on it, mostly in silence, until my dad's voice finally broke a period of stillness.

"Hey, Linden, don't move for a minute, please." I looked back and watched my dad move his hand toward his face. Calm and deliberate, he continued to speak.

"Now, Linden, always make sure that you know not only where your pole is when you're starting to cast"—at this point, I realized my dad was working my brother's hook out of his own ear— "but also make certain that you know where everyone else is around you."

I learned something about proper casting that day, but I also learned something about patience. Years later, when I got hooked myself, in my hand, I realizedhow much it hurts. Remembering my dad's patience that day when Linden's hook was caught in his ear, I finally understood the importance of staying calm and communicating clearly.

JESUS CHRIST DEMONSTRATED PATIENT ENDURANCE

1 Timothy 1:16:But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience (makrothumia) as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 3:5:May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance (hupomone).

GOD CALLS US TO EXHIBIT PATIENCE TOWARD OTHERS

Having His Holy Spirit inside us is the key to demonstrating and living with patient endurance, being long-suffering.

Galatians 5:22:But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (makrothumia), kindness, goodness, faithfulness . . .Ephesians 4:2:Be completely humble and gentle; be patient (makrothumia), bearing with one another in love.

Colossians 1:11: . . .being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance (hupomone) and patience (makrothumia) . . .

2 Corinthians 6:4-6:Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance (hupomone); in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience (makrothumia) and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

Long suffering means to have self-restraint when faced with provocation: not to hastily retaliate or promptly punish; to be merciful and slow to anger. We are commanded to follow the example of Jesus in His long suffering. Patience does not surrender to circumstances or capitulate under trial; it is associated with hope and is the opposite of despondency.

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink.

The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, "Don't you worship God?"

The old traveler replied, "I worship fire only and reverence no other god."

When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his his tent into the cold night air.

When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, "I forced him out because he did not worship you."

God answered, "I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?"

Thomas Lindberg.

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