God's Words And Gifts

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. 

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him. (John 3:31-36)

What is the wrath of God?  Wrath is anger, so God gets angry?   Hardly.  That very old-school thinking is tied to the belief that God punishes.  Our God is vindictive?   Really?!

Our take-home message is found in this passage: “For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.”  We were all “sent” by God that is a fine way of saying we were all born for a purpose we must discover.  Many of us are successful at that pursuit, but some are not.  Perhaps the best purpose is for us to love, to care, to be compassionate especially to our neighbors.  Those are the “words of God.”

Moreover, we all have the gifts of the Spirit we must not ration – like toilet paper and disinfectants during these hard times of coronavirus-caused suffering.  Those gifts are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.  We are to use these gifts and not sparingly. 

God’s “wrath” is not referenced in this list, unless one assumes “fear of God” has that meaning.   Not so, however.  Respect, awe, and submission are the appropriate interpretations.   These are far better ways to refer to these gifts we are to open and not return to sender.

Deacon David Pierce