I’ve been, as many know, digging deep into Ezekiel this year. It is a hard book to read and to understand, but so much of it seems to echo through the ages to what we are experiencing today. The theme that has struck me, over and over, is that God loves and expects humans to act with God in order to make things right. Sometimes, that means doing justice. Sometimes, mercy, peacemaking, repentance, or sacrificial giving is required. It’s not that God could not do these things himself. Rather, our Creator delights in including us, in seeing our joy when the transformations occur and things move back toward abundant life.
It led me to the question: Where do I see people acting with God to make things right?
I saw it this month in Lebanon, where at the children’s home people are always seeking ways to bring healing to hurting young people and turn them loose as leaders in the world. I saw it in a pastor, who shared a vision of bringing access to mental health services to his rural area. I saw it in two young people who serve their church on the Pastor Parish Committee. I saw it in a farmer, who seeks to be faithful in loving God and neighbor as he stewards his land. I heard about it at Brianna’s Hope, in the longing of two young pastors to continue to provide a presence for Christ in a struggling neighborhood, and in gatherings of online worshipers who have not been abandoned ‘now that we can go back into the sanctuary.’ I noticed it in a co-worker’s loving insistence in scheduling his supervisor’s sabbath. I was given notice that God is not done with creative work in Anderson, and saw teamwork among lay leaders who are determined to equip God’s people for ministry regardless of the obstacles.
God is making things right all the time, right under my nose! And, glory to God, using people to do it!
Where do you act with God to make things right in the world? What is God’s spirit asking of you?
There are seasons when we can plan far in advance, but this is not one of them, try though we might. Ezekiel reminds me that God invites us now, in this day, in this conflicted and chaotic time, to let God work through us. Now is the time.
I hope you and your church sense the invitation in your soul for the right-making work of this moment.
Glory to God
Lore