Is life a comedy or a tragedy? Are we the hero or the victim? Or maybe the villain? Is the world descending into chaos and dystopia or are we on a path of ever-increasing prosperity and progress? The stories we tell orient us to our place in the world and our role in the story.
The Bible tells the story of a loving God and a messy people. There is a beginning and an end. Major themes of creation, redemption, and sanctification trace the arc of this grand narrative. And Jesus Christ is the center of it all – the great hero of the story who comes incognito to rescue and redeem his broken creation.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
Risen Christ, by your death and resurrection you brought dawn to darkness. You have made a new way, from death to life, cross to crown, grave to glory. We are frail creatures in a world of change and decay. Rule over us in your resurrection power. Subdue sin and evil, disease and destruction. We have nothing apart from you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
Confession
O Lord, I live a world of dead ends. There is always an end. An end to my energy. My time. My love. My patience. My money. My very life. I am trapped by limits. I am burdened by my frail, finite limits. I have exhausted all other options. Nothing else satisfies. You burst forth from the grave to give me life beyond the horizon. You are my singular hope, my only prayer. Risen Savior, have mercy on my dead ends.
Word: 1 Kings 19:11-13
“And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”
Meditation: God Speaks to Us by Allison Lewis
People that know me well know that I am a big country music fan. A few weeks back, I went to the Kenny Chesney concert at Busch Stadium. It was absolutely epic! Some family friends got my boyfriend and me tickets to the pit, which was an area extremely close to the stage. We walked down to the pit, taking in the live music and the upbeat atmosphere. We listened to Kenny sing with real passion, and plenty of concertgoers sang the song lyrics with him.
As the concert ended and we walked to the car, I realized that sounds around me were super muffled. The music had been cranked up and my ears were readjusting. As people around me talked, the noise seemed faded out and far away. I had to concentrate harder to listen to what was going on around me.
If you’ve ever experienced this sort of muffled sound, then you know it takes a lot of energy to listen well. Listening is a gift and a skill, and I think we all struggle with this at some point — even God’s prophet, Elijah struggled to listen.
He flees from Queen Jezebel after killing the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). He is fed by an angel and rests. Then, Elijah journeys for 40 days to Mount Horeb, God’s holy mountain, and takes shelter in a cave. He has followed the Lord’s instructions and yet people are still out to kill him.
He is afraid. He is weary.
Elijah listens. He hears silence.
Our God, in his grace and mercy, comes to Elijah’s aid in the most unexpected way. He literally passes by (1 Kings 19:11) and the rocks crumble. Can you imagine that?! Elijah listens to wind, an earthquake and a fire. Then he hears a low, gentle whisper.
“Elijah.”
He knows instinctively that this is the Lord. He bravely stands at the cave, listening. He breathes a sigh of relief. God is speaking words of love and comfort to him. May you also listen bravely when the Lord speaks: “I love you. You are mine.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to listen for you in a gentle whisper, just as Elijah did. Thank you for speaking your love to my heart. Amen.
Benediction
The God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (I Pet. 5:10-11)