Rated G
"G" is for God – violence and all.
Violence is everywhere. We watch riotous mobs go violently crazy after the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship. Video games reward players who spill the most blood. You can even pick up the latest movie at Blockbuster that’s rated “G” and still see your share of violence.
Since we know Christianity to be peaceful and anti-violent, we’d think God would be the same. Think again. Remember, our God is the one who sent fire from heaven to destroy two suburbs full of people (Sodom and Gomorrah) who refused to hear what he had to say. Yikes!
But wait a minute. Only a God who can dispense such tragedy can also delight us with just as much triumph. We call it peace.
So to keep the greatest violence from us, violence that our sins deserve, he put Jesus into the crossfire to take our hit. Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried” we confess in our Apostles’ Creed. Being beaten and crucified is violent enough. Dying on a cross is even more violent. But suffering the curse of God’s wrath is the most violent of all.
That’s where today’s picture comes in. Sacrifice. Violent and bloody sacrifice. The kind found in the Old Testament when God commanded the daily slaughtering of animals – warm blood splattered all over the altar, smelling the burning hair, the “gush” of a priest’s knife slitting a lamb’s throat, guts spilling out. Gruesome more than violent! Therein lies the point of God’s message: this gruesome violence is happening to that which is offered in your place as a substitute and not to you, my loved ones! We might rate this “G” for God – violence and all.
In the same way, except better, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). We are holy and at peace with God because the violence our sins have earned has already been dealt with by Jesus, in history, forever! And overcome by his resurrection and return to glory.
Now, right with God, living in the restful peace of his love, we offer ourselves with total commitment to him as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). He held nothing back to save us and we hold nothing back to serve him. As he gave up his most precious Son, we give up what is precious to us to serve and honor our God.
PRAYER: Dear God, you are as loving as you are powerful. With both those characteristics, you took my spiritual destiny into your own hands and made it one of peace, joy and hope through Jesus. Let my sacrificial love be expressed to you today in a way that honors you above something or someone I truly treasure – that my great appreciation for you might be put into practice. Amen.