Kingdom Building

October 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

I will stand at my watch-post,
   and station myself on the rampart;
I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,
   and what he will answer concerning my complaint.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
Write the vision;
   make it plain on tablets,
   so that a runner may read it.
For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
   it speaks of the end, and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
   it will surely come, it will not delay.
Look at the proud!
   Their spirit is not right in them,
   but the righteous live by their faith. –Habakkuk 2:1-4

I like the imagery of writing plain enough on tablets that a runner may read the message as she or he races past God’s vision message. We run the good race of Jesus Christ with the fullness of our faith ancestors behind us giving us fodder to learn from their failures and successes while, we as Paul says, push on toward the goal for which God has called us*. We are in the midst of a marathon not running a sprint or sauntering along oblivious of the work that needs to be done to usher in God’s Kingdom of Love. Our work is in the here and now. We are our faith ancestors’ legacy and our faith descendants’ role models both sacred trusts.

Do we know our call? Have we identified the skills and talents with which God as endowed us to make our contribution to a better world? Are we honing those skills and talents? Are we using them as fully as possible? Can we say we are eagerly standing at our watch-post ready to act as needed?

I must confess I do not think I have ever contemplated how God would answer my complaints. I can tell you that my mother did not give much heed to complaints and thus I was raised to weigh any complaint I might make before I made it. She would hear my gripe quickly ascertain if it had any credence, adjust if indicated, and tell me to get back to work or play or study or whatever if my complaints were empty. Mom was one of the fairest people I have ever know so there was none of the “she got more than I did” in her home. I envision God with similar traits. I also have experienced burnout and know the need for God’s healing touch, not as serious, but like what Elijah felt when he ran away and was fed by ravens**.

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Prayer: Thank you for your ever-present love, your impatience when I need it and your healing nurture when I am spent. Amen.

 *See Philippians 4:13
**1 Kings 17:2-16

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.