How do you get vengeance against God?

Are we really narcissistic enough to think our definitions are binding?
He is God.  We are not.
Do we really replace faith with a line drawn in the sand?
He is God.  We are not.
Have we really remade righteousness into a pile of sticks that we need to jump?
He is God.  We are not.

Unanswered prayer creates bitterness.
He is God.  We are not.
Bitterness creates madness.
He is God.  We are not.
Madness creates narcissism and a false view of reality.
He is God.  We are not.

So we target success and say it’s a lie.
He is God.  We are not.
So we drink the poison and say He’s to blame.
He is God.  We are not.
So we set ourselves for failure and say it’s true victory.
He is God.  We are not.

What do we want from God, an apology?
Jesus endured the cross.
Do we want to burn the Bible?
Jesus endured our chastisement from God.
Do we want revenge?
Jesus endured the abandonment of God.

Isn’t that what hell is?
Didn’t Jesus go even there?

Lay down your arms.
Let go of your pride.
Be made new into a Living Hope.

All of the ammunition you think you have
may confuse and disillusion His followers, even the faithful,
but they were never your real target anyway were they?

Be freed by the Name of the only One who has already been
where you think you are,
by the only One who has already conquered even your poor reflection,
by the only One who can release you from your bitterness.
Be freed by the Name of Jesus!

For vengeance does not save, only Jesus does.  

You have a thought, do you act on it? Even if doing so makes your thought ultimately meaningless? Or do you keep playing the pointless game that offers emptiness as its reward?

Jesus is the only point to anything.

Everything else is madness.

1. I wouldn’t have talked with Satan.  I would have fought him ‘end times’ style.
2. I wouldn’t have chosen Judas or Peter.
3. I wouldn’t have ended with one wedding party.  Jesus Water business!
4. I would have rescued John the Baptist.
5. I would’ve eaten during every Sabbath right in front of the leaders.  “Hey Caiaphas, could you pass me the lamb?”
6.  I wouldn’t have spoken in parables.  I’d have spoken plainly.  “What are you doing?”
7. I would’ve talked more ‘trash talk’ to the storm.  “Ooo, big scary storm!”  I’d have turned it on/off again just to scare the disciples.
8. I would’ve pushed off the bleeding woman and rushed off to save the kid. 
9. I would’ve fed the whole world and have given it a continual source of nourishment until the end of time.
10. I wouldn’t have put up with the Pharisees.
11. I wouldn’t have spoken so harshly to the Syrophonecian Woman.
12. I would’ve done miracles with a little more style.  Call out for a crowd, door prizes, etc.
13. I would’ve constantly kept name dropping after the transfiguration.  My bro’s!
14. I would’ve made more of a show during exorcisms.  Maybe karate casting…
15. I would’ve destroyed the perverse/wicked/evil people and delivered my people from Rome.
16. I would’ve made everyone rich.
17. More karate at the temple for a black belt cleansing.
18. I would’ve talked more trash to anyone who would question me and then do a miracle showdown.
19. I would’ve dubbed the teacher of the law who answered wisely as a replacement disciple.
20. Crucifixion?  No way!

If I was Jesus, mankind wouldn’t be saved, and we’d still be under the law.  I’d still be alive healing and helping the world.  It would probably be a mix between the king the Jews wanted and a Marvel superhero.

My wife didn’t want me to think this way and would rather me consider ways I am like Jesus.  But I told her I’d rather see the mysteries of His plan.  His plan IS a source of nourishment until the end of time, the bread of life/living water.  He is the fulfillment of the Wisdom of God, worthy to be praised.  I wouldn’t have bothered with prophecies.  Only He held the keys to God’s plan, I wouldn’t know what to do with them, nor do what was necessary to pave the way for our salvation.

I know it’s a backward way to get there, but even wrapping my mind around what He did and why brings me to worship.  Amen.

A couple of weeks ago, I was outside watching the sunset.  I know a lot of what we are able to witness outside involves timing, and that evening was no different.  As I watched the sunset I noticed little rainbows in the clouds on either side of the sun.  I found out that since the 1600’s people have called a similar phenomena ‘sundogs’.  As I watched the rainbow clouds fade in and out of sight, I commented to the person standing next to me that I wondered if they ever connected to form a halo around the sun.  Then as I watched, I saw a thin layer of cloud provide the canvas and a faint halo appeared.  I excitedly asked the person next to me if he saw it.  At first, he said no, and I felt sad for him.  I told him it was there and I encouraged him to look harder.  Then as we watched, it became brighter till finally, he said, “Yes, I can see it.”

When I thought on that later, it occurred to me how similar at times seeing that halo was to seeing God’s activity in our lives.  We know God is good, trustworthy, and faithful.  Even when we may not see Him, and our hopes mislead us, we know He is there.  

Like the halo, it started with wonder.  Then as I watched, my wonder manifested into reality, and I saw what I had hoped for.  Then I wanted to share my excitement that I could see my wonder, my conviction, and through my insistence, another saw it too.  This was not by manipulation, but by joy.  No, not everyone will see it.  Only those who look and seek for God, like the halo, will find Him, Psalm 63.

Oh, what a wonder He is indeed.

Thank You, Lord Jesus 
for showing us the path 
on top of these waves.

My eyes need to be fixed on Jesus.
My faith in the sureness of His steps.
My comfort from His outstretched hand even when I sink.
I welcome His rebuke like living Water to a thirsty land.

May I not seek to hide and justify my weaknesses,
but may I relinquish such faulty pride to Him
that I may receive His never ending joy.
It is far greater, and is able to bless me
no matter how deep under I am.