Redeemer Devotions for January 14, 2013

More on God as all powerful.



If God is all-powerful, why did God allow this or that? We have all heard a question

shaped like that in one form or another. Usually it is a question in the middle

of trauma and loss and anger and hopelessness. Usually the person who is doing the

asking - wants things to be different. Would not God want my son to be healed -

my mother not suffer - war to come to an end? Many times this leads folk to question

the goodness and the power of God. Some will even 'give-up' on God for not exercising

power as we most often see power displayed in the real world or fiction or a good,

action movie.



God as all-powerful is present in the middle of the valley of death - that is a

show of power. When the world turns to run and hide or run to some form of security

that often mean the annihilation of others (and therefore more cries that wonder

about God's impotence), God sets out a picnic right in the face of death's power.

God reminds us that the power of this world - no matter what form it takes or how

real it is - will not stop God from abiding with us and showing us a new life that

death's power cannot control. The valley of death and the power that tries to rule

will not control life as long as God as the all-powerful one exhibits love that

is not converted to violence or the power of death.



Our God promises to deliver us into the realm of God's love - the forgiveness that

subverts hate and the power that usually keeps the world under its thumb. God as

all-powerful invites us to rest, eat, breathe, and be reassured that love will

not be overruled by the usual suspects that attempt to rule by fear and anxiety

and sadness.



O God of love and new life, abide with us in our questions and in our attempts to

run from you. Abide with us so that we will take another look at what it is to be

alive within your loving domain that is spread out before us today. Amen.



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