Wednesday 1 April 2009

We continue this week with King on "Our God is Able" in "The Strength to Love." This was sent out by mistake on Sunday, March 22 - sorry.

God is able to conquer the evils of history. His control is never usurped. If at times we despair because of the relatively slow progress being made in ending racial discrimination and if we become disappointed because of the undue cautiousness of the federal government, let us gain new heart in the fact that God is able. In our sometimes difficult and often lonesome walk up freedom's road, we do not walk alone. God walks with us. He has placed within the very structure of this universe certain absolute moral laws. We can neither defy nor break them. If we disobey them, they will break us. The forces of evil may temporarily conquer truth, but truth will ultimately conquer its conqueror. Our God is able.

This is almost too much to hear. Yes, God is able...but for right now - when nothing seems to change and the forces that prohibit us from seeing and living within the fullness of the truth of God's Reign are winning the day, how does one continue. Elie Wiesel would say, "We must." We must because the God who is able is one who will see to truth's rule even though there is no visible proof that this will really be the reality of life among us. This word of truth must come from the midst of those who are oppressed. For when it comes from someone like me...it really rings hollow. And yet, together, many voices - side by side, is the power behind "We must." We must live within the realm of those absolute moral laws that throw down the laws of oppressive powers of death that cannot abide within God's Reign that longs to be established among us - as us.

Connection: I need people to speak up. I need to be a part of a chorus. I need to see that the body of Christ really does resist the powers of evil and separation.

You, O God, are able to empower us to step forward and live as though your Reign is real and present. To do that we must be encouraged and sustained by witnesses to your love who are able to whip up an air of new life that will not settle for the brokenness that is. Set us on fire with your Spirit's power. Amen.