The Foolish Love of God takes us back in time some 1,500 years to a small island known as Ireland. As it goes Patrick was captured from his home in Britain by Irish raiders. He lived as a slave for a number of years until he ran away and escaped back to Britain. There he studied to be a Christian clergyman. Instead of living out his days in the safety of Britain he foolishly risked his life and went back to Ireland as a missionary to try and convert his captors along with the rest of the Irish people to Christianity.
Despising God’s Word
First Luke 20 isn’t just the run of the mill parable. Jesus knew who was in the crowd – it was the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. You just saw the end of their goals in the passion account. They wanted Jesus dead. His point is that they had been doing this to God’s messengers all through their history! I’m going out of my way to reach you! Stop and listen. I’m thankful that I’ve never been kidnapped or enslaved like St. Patrick. I’m thankful that every Sunday you don’t beat me and treat me shamefully as well. Yet, I think that the warning here for us is the despising of God’s word. I know that all of you are here to hear God’s word, but guard your hearts as the days grow warmer. After Easter the temptation might be to relax a little on our devotion to God’s word. Carve out for yourself time with your God. He’s preserved his word for us in every media we could imagine. Take the time to hear him.
Head Scratcher
People have scratched their heads at the story of St. Patrick. Why would he go back? Foolish love. Patrick knew that God’s love is boundless. He sent his Son to die for sinners, of whom I am the worst. The Apostle Paul was the first to say those words, and yet each of us can make those words our own. I’m not suggesting that we have a contest to see whose sins are truly the most heinous. Each of us can claim the status of chief of sinners because we can only compare ourselves to our Holy God. When we see the foolish love that God had for each of us, that Jesus gave up his life for me, for you. Because of his sacrifice all my sins and yours are gone. We can begin to see how we can reflect that onto others. Even being so foolish as to return those who had enslaved us?! May God’s foolish love be our foolish love.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s message taken from Luke 20, The Foolish Love of God.
Book(s): Luke
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg