Take up your Cross

Abandon

What I have been reading from Hannah Whitall Smith has found its way into my sermon.  Consecration and reckless abandon are the appropriate postures as we kneel to take up our cross to follow him.  We know we cannot lift it, but we welcome the dark and untried paths he may lead us down.

The burning call

At ministerial today there were many good comments on the text, especially the Exodus passage.  

Wise Ray Orth observed the foreshadow in verse one.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

Moses would one day bring his wandering flock to the far side of the desert through trial and trouble to the Mountain of God. This place where he first receives his call will one day be the destination of the fulfillment of the call.

Bill made an interesting application to our calls.  When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush he demonstrated his dominion of the gods of the land-bushes, streams and skies.  When he calls us, he shows his dominion of the gods of our age, our living selves.  Through our burning lives he demonstrates that he is still as powerful on that day when he made up his mind to deliver his people from Egypt.

The Name of the Lord

William L. Hawkins writes:

“Perhaps Moses had something less than a "hallowed" use in mind
when he inquired as to God's name. But the third commandment prohibits the use
of "God" for entrapping, circumscribing or trying to control what the Divine One
will be and do. Among the ancients, knowing the name of a god gave one divine
power. As Moses begins his journey with YHWH, he is aware that he has no god on
a leash, no genie in a lamp, no chip in the big game he can produce on demand.
Humankind is on notice that this God is elusive; giving a name that is not a
name, a moving, not a fixed, target, a God who is not here, not there, but
everywhere.”

This has inspired me to trace theme of the Lord’s name through this week’s readings. To Moses, God has the loaded name, I AM.

The psalmist calls us to call on the name of the lord and to glory in his name.

Jeremiah says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”

Last week, Peter gives Jesus the name “Messiah, Son of the living God.” This week Jesus tells what that title means: the cross. For those of us called by his name, we too carry a cross. Paul also explores what it means to live by His name.

Deliverance is God's (Proper A17)

This week, we see God’s work in the lives of people and their enemies.  God is with Moses on holy ground sending him to His people.  I AM will deliver you.  

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

Jeremiah calls for retribution on his persecutors. God responds by making him a fortified wall of bronze that cannot be overcome though his persecutors rage.

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Paul holds high the value of love.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord, to us belongs the right and privilege to love our enemies, overcoming evil with good.

Jesus his deliverance does not come in force or violence, except as he accepts it on himself.  He is heading for Jerusalem despite Peter’s objections. In taking up our cross we find our lives.