“He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:28-30
It is interesting to consider the Jonah that Jesus was talking about in the above verses from Luke. Jonah lived in the 8th Century BC and just as he was a sign to his ‘wicked generation’ so Jesus is a sign to the ‘wicked generation’ in His time roughly 2,000 years ago. It seems that living in ‘wicked generations’ has been a commonplace on the face of this earth for quite a while; today is nothing new. We get up in the morning and receive news of what has taken place in our ‘wicked generation’ the past evening; always something that seems worse than yesterday. This attached photo from a school in Port-au-Prince is a source of good news that is taking place in these children’s lives. Their seemingly serene and quiet evenings are either disrupted by vodou drums or a priest doing a live animal sacrifice; they have a ‘wicked generation’ as well. The helping of beans and rice that is being spooned into waiting bowls is a sign that our Triune God is so good…no matter what evil is attacking our world. When we want to hide from the Nineveh’s of our world…turn to Jesus; the Son of God Who takes away the sin of this world. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word’ that were written by Tobias Clausnitzer in 1667.
“Blessed Jesus, at Thy word we are gathered all to hear Thee; let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear Thee, By Thy teachings, sweet and holy, drawn from earth to love Thee solely. All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded; till Thy Spirit breaks our night with the beams of truth unclouded. Thou alone to God canst win us; Thou must work all good within us. Glorious Lord, Thyself impart, Light of Light, from God proceeding; open Thou our ears and heart, help us by Thy Spirit's pleading; hear the cry Thy people raises, hear and bless our prayers and praises. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, praise to Thee and adoration! Grant that we Thy Word may trust and obtain true consolation; while we here below must wander, till we sing Thy praises yonder.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay