Words
“I tell you, even though [the man] will not get up and give [his friend] anything just because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence [the man] will get up and give [his friend] whatever he needs.” – Luke 11:8
Every four years, as summer swelters on into early fall, a lot of “words” take flight into the airwaves. Sometimes these are words of encouragement and hope. Sometimes these are words of delineation and alienation. Occasionally, the wrong word is used and the meaning of what was said becomes misinterpreted or misunderstood.
Last week’s Gospel text included the above passage about a midnight knock on a person’s door by their neighbor and friend in need of bread to feed a guest. After reading that passage earlier in the week, I had penned a short note to Pastor Zach wishing him luck [okay, taunting him a little] as he tried to reconcile what appeared to be an example of “the squeaky wheel gets the grease – with God’s faithful response to prayer.
Well, during his sermon on Sunday, Pastor Zach examined the original Greek text and offered an alternate translation of the text. Instead of treating the word “persistence” as if it were “nagging”, he suggested we think of it more as initiating a duty or code of conduct. Extending hospitality to a guest was an integral part of that culture, and to deny such a request would essentially break the person’s relationship with their community.
Let me now inject a different word: “Covenant“. A covenant is a statement of commitment to a relationship. Some neighborhoods today have covenants regarding paint colors or sheds that try to unify the residents and encourage them to “play well with others”. A marriage is a covenant between two people who promise to work together towards common goals.
The Bible tells us about the covenants God has made with us over time in order to mend and restore a relationship with us. From Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, and finally through Jesus Christ, God continues to uphold that end of the relationship despite our rebellious nature and short-sightedness. When we are in need and knock on God’s door in prayer, God will arise from the comforts of peace and rest to answer the door. God will do this, not because God has to, but because God wants to. And the word for that is “Grace”.
Yours in Christ,
David Krueger