Psalm 103:1-5
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
and with all that I am
I praise his holy name!
With all my heart
I praise the Lord!
I will never forget
how kind he has been.
The Lord forgives our sins,
heals us when we are sick,
and protects us from death.
His kindness and love
are a crown on our heads.
Each day that we live,
he provides for our needs
and gives us the strength
of a young eagle.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was watching a video of my former pastor, John Miles, who is conducting a sermon series on “the hard sayings of Jesus.” On this particular day, Bro. John was talking about a passage from Matthew 19 (verses 7-11), in which the Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up by asking Him about whether divorce was okay. As Bro. John unraveled these verses and dug deeper, he suggested that Jesus spoke past these opponents and addressed a far broader issue. In this case, he maintains that Jesus was demonstrating how we objectify people and things. In other words, we put the focus on “marriage” and “divorce” instead of the people who are involved.
Several examples were given of how we objectify people… how lust, infidelity, and pornography – or even labels like “my husband”, “my wife” [rather than by their first name] - objectify those involved, and we don’t see them as real people with a heart and soul. He talked about how we seem to enjoy arguing about abortion, homosexuality, and other hot-button issues – to the point that we are focused on the label, not the people involved. One person tearfully mentioned to my pastor as they debated a particularly hot topic… “You just don’t know.” Clearly, this person had firsthand knowledge of the issue that my pastor did not possess. And in that moment, he saw a human being – a child of God who was struggling and in need of love and acceptance.
So what does this have to do with our scripture verses in Psalm 103? Everything! If you don’t believe me, go back and read the second half of the passage. The Lord forgives our sins… heals us when we are sick…provides for our needs… gives us the strength of a young eagle… and crowns us with His kindness and love. How can we do any less for those in our midst? The pastor concluded his sermon by noting that none of us are perfect… we all have fallen short in one area or another… yet we are all welcome at God’s table. And we should be welcome among fellow believers! He said several people had come to him over the years and confessed to one sin or another and asked… “Can I still receive Communion?” His answer is… “If God will allow me to serve it… you are allowed to receive it.”
Shouldn’t this be our continual thought? If God allows us to receive his love, kindness, care, protection, strength and healing… who are we to offer any less to others? What gives us the right to objectify – or judge – another creature? When we criticize – or exclude – another person, have we considered our own faults and shortcomings… and the grace and mercy God extends to us? Isn’t it time to drop the piety and pretense… to humbly and gratefully give God the praise for loving us all so incredibly… and to offer this same love to others? Will this be the day that we find true peace in God’s acceptance… and extend it to others in our midst?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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