{"id":916,"date":"2009-11-01T03:01:17","date_gmt":"2009-11-01T03:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2009\/11\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-74.html"},"modified":"2009-11-01T03:01:17","modified_gmt":"2009-11-01T03:01:17","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-74","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2009\/11\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-74.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Wrath of God<\/h3>\n

READ Psalm 79:1-13<\/a><\/p>\n

Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you\u2014
\non kingdoms that do not call upon your name.<\/p>\n

Psalm 79:6<\/a><\/p>\n

Most Christians I know don\u2019t like to think about the wrath of God. We rarely hear this language in worship services or small group conversations. It isn\u2019t part of our daily devotions. The idea of God\u2019s wrath seems foreign to the God whose love is revealed in Christ. And surely we don\u2019t want to think of God\u2019s wrath applied to us personally. Moreover, when Psalm 79:6 calls upon the Lord to pour out wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge him, this seems politically incorrect in the extreme. It sounds like the kind of rhetoric that enflames our world and leads to all sorts of terrors.
\nSo when we read verses like Psalm 79:6, we are understandably uncomfortable. How are we to understand God\u2019s wrath? How could we use this psalm in our devotions? Should we pray for God\u2019s wrath to be poured out on pagan nations?
\nAs you might expect, I can\u2019t answer these questions adequately in this reflection. But I do want to make a few relevant observations. First, the wrath of God refers to God\u2019s righteous judgment, not primarily to his feelings of anger, though the word \u201cwrath\u201d has this connotation. To call for God\u2019s wrath is to ask him to execute justice on those who deserve it.
\nSecond, God\u2019s wrath, in this sense, rightly falls upon all human beings. As we read in Romans 1:18, \u201cBut God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.\u201d Later in Romans we learn that we ourselves are worthy of God\u2019s wrath: \u201cFor everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God\u2019s glorious standard\u201d (Rom. 3:23). This is bad news, to be sure.
\nThird, the bad news leads to good news. Jesus Christ took God\u2019s wrath upon himself, dying in the place of sinful humanity. Thus Romans 5:9 proclaims, \u201c[N]ow that we have been justified by his blood,\u00a0we will\u00a0be saved through him from the wrath of God\u201d (NRSV). Because Jesus drank the cup of God\u2019s wrath, we are able to drink the cup of salvation.
\nTherefore, in our prayers and in our actions, we continue to seek God\u2019s justice. But, recognizing that the nations who reject God are also those for whom Christ died, we pray for their redemption. In particular, we ask that God\u2019s grace in Christ will be poured out on all people, including those who reject him.
\nQUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>: How do you understand the wrath of God? What feelings does this language evoke in you? Do you pray for those who don\u2019t acknowledge the Lord? Are there people like this for whom you want to pray today?
\nPRAYER<\/strong>: Lord, you know how difficult it is for many of us to read passages like this one. Our tendency is to ignore them, to hurry on to something more palatable. Forgive us for failing to take seriously the full breadth of your revelation. Help us to know you more truly and completely.
\nDear Lord, we do ask you today to execute justice on this earth. We think of nations where people are trapped in oppression and poverty, of tyrants who wield their power for their own personal advantage. We think of companies that ignore the needs of people in the greedy quest of profits. We remember fellow believers in countries where they can be imprisoned or killed because of their faith. In these situations, and so many more like them, we ask for your justice.
\nBut, indeed, as we point the finger at others, we acknowledge our own sin and guilt. We have sinned, Lord, and are worthy of your judgment. Thus we rejoice in the good news of your grace through Christ. Thank you for giving us, not what we deserve, but that which flows from your boundless love.
\nAs those who have received your grace, we pray for others who have rejected you. May they experience your justice in cross of Christ. May they be overwhelmed by your grace, turning from their sin and embracing your righteousness.
\nAll praise be to you, God of justice and mercy, God of judgment and love. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\nHere’s how . . . . <\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Wrath of God READ Psalm 79:1-13 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you\u2014 on kingdoms that do not call upon your name. Psalm 79:6 Most Christians I know don\u2019t like to think about the wrath of God. We rarely hear this language in worship services or small group conversations.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling - Mark D. 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Roberts","description":"Mark D. Roberts: Thoughtfully Christian Reflections on Jesus, the Church, and the World","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/1ff094a57b7e41f534434b1723df3d73","name":"Mark D. Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}