GRACE FOR THE FOREIGNER!

Saturday, August 3, 2019

GRACE FOR THE FOREIGNER!

Luke 4:25-27

25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

           Warren Wiersbe reminds us that it was Jesus’ custom to worship at the synagogue. The standard format was to begin with an invocation for God’s blessing and the reading of the traditional Hebrew statement of faith.” Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deut 6:4-5.

           Jesus, as a visiting rabbi, was asked to read the Scriptures and comment on them. His comments included some uncomfortable facts. During the drought and famine only a gentile widow was visited and relieved by the prophet (see Luke 4:26). Additionally, no Hebrew leper was cleansed by the ministry of Elisha except a gentile Syrian.

           How could God treat “His own” with such disdain and disregard while relieving gentile widows and enemy Syrian soldiers? It was a crushing blow to their pride but it pointed clearly to the fact that grace was available to all.

St. Augustine said, "They love truth when it enlightens them, but hate truth when it accuses them." That applies well to many congregations today, people who want "gracious words" (Luke 4:22) but who don't want to face the truth (see John 1:17).

Dear Lord, help me to remember that, while grace is universally offered, it is individually received or rejected. Thank you for your grace. AMEN