Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-16, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019. By Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Blyth Christian Reformed Church Jesus tells the story of a widow who has been treated unfairly by someone in her community (Luke 18:1-8). To seek justice she goes to the local judge and asks him to make a ruling. Sadly, this judge has become corrupt and only helps those who benefit him. Because the widow has no social status and because she doesn’t have money, the judge refuses to listen to her. But the widow persists, and she keeps asking for help until the judge become worn out from being pestered. Finally, he agrees to hear her case and grant her justice. As he concludes the story, Jesus compares the judge to God and the widow to God’s people. While the judge in the story is corrupt and unjust, God is completely just. Moreover, because He is just, He speaks strongly against situations of injustice and promises to rectify them in his time. Throughout scripture, we see God acting to right wrongs and bring justice to those who have been abused because they are vulnerable. God is very different from the unjust judge in Jesus’ story. While we cannot depend on a corrupt judge to bring justice, we can depend on God to make things right. Jesus also contrasts the widow woman to God’s people. In his story, the judge had no obligation to provide legal protection to the vulnerable widow. Of course, he should have simply out of humanitarian obligation. But he had never signed any paper that obligated him to take responsibility for this woman’s life. In sharp contrast, God, throughout history, has made Himself responsible to care for those who recognize and worship Him as God. Those who put their trust in God through faith in Jesus Christ can be assured that God has obligated Himself to them so that they are not mistreated by others. In this we can be greatly assured. Unlike the widow who cannot depend on the judge hearing her case, a Christian can be assured that God will hear us when we seek His help. So, what happens when it seems as if God doesn’t hear? Sometimes we might feel that God is not listening or is unaware of our plight. When we lose a job or our marriage falls apart or our children don’t come home or when a loved one has become an alcoholic or when we don’t get hired because of our commitment to worship God on Sunday, we might ask where God is. Doesn’t God hear us? Why doesn’t He respond? When we have struggles, it may well feel that we are abandoned by God. Where is God when we need Him the most? Those questions might lead to a crisis in faith. We may even turn away from God, embittered by His lack of action. It may seem to us that God is not trustworthy or perhaps doesn’t care. Jesus, when he tells the story about the unjust judge and the widow, wants us to reflect again on who God is. Is God trustworthy? Does He care about our situation? Why doesn’t He respond? We don’t always know the answer to these questions, but Jesus wants to reassure us. God is not like the unjust judge who doesn’t care, who seeks only his own good. Rather, God does care about us. It’s just that His timing is not always our timing. A former roommate had a plaque on the wall which read, “God is never in a hurry, but He’s always on time.” Sometimes God doesn’t act using our schedule, but He will act. Don’t give up on God, Jesus is saying. God is faithful, and does what is right. We need to wait for Him to act. And we need to trust that He will. Our faith should not be shaped by what God is doing at present but rather by who God is and what He has promised. Again, God may not use our schedule, but He will act, we can be sure, because of His very nature. He will make things right. We should not give up on God just because He doesn’t operate according to our timeline. Before Jesus tells the story about the unjust judge and the persistent widow, the gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus told this story because we should always pray and not give up. Jesus does not mean that unless we pray God won’t act. God does not depend on our prayers to act (or not). He is perfectly capable of caring for us, keeping His promise. We pray, not to get God’s attention so that He will give us what we need. Rather, we pray because we have faith that God will help us and He is able to help us. We pray as an act of faith. We pray because there is no one else to whom we can turn. We pray because we need to express our faith that God is faithful and just, making things right for His people. In this we are challenged to think about our own relationship with God. One of the ways that we can evaluate our relationship with God is to ask ourselves if we really trust Him. Even when times are tough (or when things are really good), do we trust that God takes care of us? How do we know that we trust Him? One of the tools to gauge our level of trust is to ask how much we pray. That is not the only gauge, of course, but it is a good one. When things are tough, is it my natural inclination to turn to God in prayer, asking Him to help me in my time of need? Certainly God is much better than the unjust judge, and He has made a commitment to all who know him through Jesus Christ. If we truly put our trust in Him, we will persist in asking for His help no matter what. We trust that He always knows what is best for us, and we trust that He will help us in our time of need. Do you trust that God will hear your prayers and respond in a way that best? Do you have faith in Him? THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. huronchapel.com huronchapelkids.com huronchapelyouth.com 519-526-1131 ~ 119 John’s Ave., Auburn Sat. May 17-20, Youth at All Ontario Youth Convention, Waterloo Sun. May 26 - ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY with Reg. Min. Claran Martin, Glister Children’s Choir Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jr. & Sr. YOUTH (Gr. 7-12) Evangelical Missionary Church Pastor Phil Delsaut “I Will Build MY Gathered Community” (Mt. 16:18) 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Sunday May 19 Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743 Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY, MAY 19 Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Upcoming Event: All are welcome to come for Breakfast on Sat., May 25 from 8-11:00 am. Hosted by the youth group. Blyth United Church Est. 1875 OFFICE: 519-523-4224 Sunday, May 19 Guest Speaker: Angie Lannin at 11:00 am Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am - 2:00 pm Accessible Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca Drive Thru Lunch & Supper Thursday, May 16 Salads: Potato, broccoli & cauliflower, macaroni ham, tea biscuit and cheesecake 11 am - 12:30 pm and 4:30 - 6 pm ~ Tickets $13.00 Take out only Pre-order with Donna 519-523-9855 Orders on May 16th 519-523-4224 Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. 650 Alexander St. (former Brussels Public School) Sunday School for children 4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service. For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 BRUSSELS United Church Worship and Sunday School Sunday, May 19 at 9:30 am Worship leader, Angie Lannin All are Welcome MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, MAY 19 Nursery care available 519-887-6687 Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2 - a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and made possible by the Brussels churches working together. Worship & Sunday School - 9:30 am Coffee & Snacks following the service We invite you to join our church family in: The Regional Ministry of Hope BLYTH BRUSSELS Trinity St. John’s 9:15 am 11:15 am COME WORSHIP WITH US! Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope St. Paul’s Trinity WINGHAM 11:15 am These Anglican Churches Welcome You From the Minister’s Study Remember God’s schedule, not yours