Today’s scripture: Genesis 18:16-33 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
As I worked out this morning, flipping through the channels on the Precor AMT at Anytime Fitness, I stopped on the history channel. It was a show about NAZI Germany and the leaders of the party. What got my attention was the mention of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She was a little girl who was killed at a concentration camp, but she left her diary behind with the writings of what life was like. I thank God for that Diary, because it gives us some insight into what happened and what it must have felt like for a little girl and a suffering people. I am sure I had family there in those camps since my Mom’s side is Jewish from Austria and Hungary, but I may never really know who and how many.
As I read Genesis 18, and hear how God was reacting to the wicked behavior in Sodom; the lack of caring, the selfish living, crushing the less fortunate, and not looking out for one another, I believe God felt the same way about Nazi Germany. But for so much of the time, the world just turned their back. It was not easy for God to act, because it was as if the world was turning its back on God.
I fast forward to today. It seems we repeat history over and over. Those who are outsiders are not only made to feel outside, but they are treated as outsiders. Just being different. There is no rule that says we are supposed to understand everything. Compassion does not have a string attached, “I must understand someone else before I act.”
When we pray for God’s justice and peace, do we say the prayer and step back and say, “okay God, make it happen.” Or, do we say, “Okay God, I pray that you will help me do what I can to make it happen. Help me be the answer to prayer; for justice!”
At LifeJourney Church, we are in the midst of a campaign to stand with our transgendered, refugee, and black sisters and brothers. We are putting up signs, “Transgendered Lives Mater,” “Black lives Matter”, and “Immigrant Lives Matter”. Then we want people to post photos on social media with #LoveAlwaysWins. If you are out of the area, create your own sign. To me, the message that God is sending regarding Sodom is, “Love Always Wins…let’s live like it…ALWAYS!”
Prayer for the day: God, help me to live in a way that projects the message, “Love Always Wins.”
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.