2023-07-16 A Meditation on God’s Garden
“14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Final Greetings 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (Php 4:14–23 ESV)
The generosity of life in God’s Garden has put to rest any of our own tendency to judge. We give, and give some more, with happiness on our countenance. All those whom we meet, the Lord intends to bless; at least, until some future date when Kingdom will be extracted and judgment will descend on near and far alike.
But no matter: today is heart change and blessing. Today we are innocent of evil. Today our command from above is to forget the cold or cruel calculations as to who deserves our affection. We are affectionate for each other, no messy or hazardous way (e.g., lust) but a way that doesn’t judge. Knowing this, that all who have dwelt under the reign of God’s Law do know their own prerogative of gracious deeds.
It is gracious to live as though in opposition or disobedience: we are no longer disobedient but rather have attributed to us the fact of some deeper calm found, some broader intention discerned, some spirit of the Law rather than the letter of the Law. Yet those who know the question mark looming over their head, are quick to run to the Cross. They are quick to run to the blanket forgiveness. They are quick to turn their moral inferiority (as if!) into testimony of a graciousness, a reason for gratitude, a determination squinting, wizened, to live onwards boldly. These, these know Jesus’ thoughts on the matter because they were blessedly ceased from boasting, ceased from works righteousness, ceased from any thought of making the grade.
These are your gay or your strange, these are your ones harboring—and taking fright at—oddness in their desires or personalities; these are invited because of this certainty: it is not for their own reformation that we accept and we bless, but for a mutual give and take. Let us be in God’s Garden, educated, informed, blessed with Project and that move called gambit, the one who may have given us reason to hate us, if only we were a little less Christian. So all of us are melodic in testimony, excited to repent, eager to earn the prayers of the saints, truly a New Level of consciousness for the human species.
Yes, and these plateaus shall be arrived at, and shall march boldly into tomorrow. We do not risk nor dispel with Progress Earned, even if the credit goes to what-may-come, to Jesus, a lauded but hurried, persecuted, slandered Son and Priest and Prophet and King. Words used with reverence and sorrow-turned-glad: He died, He was offensive, He shocked the natural order of things, those ways and channels humanity naturally builds and architects and holds upright its civilization. Ours is a religion bold to say Yes and No, to discern, genuinely to understand some things are Yea and Amen, and some things are the very opposite of what Grace and Cruciform walk we endeavor upon.