Yesterday’s readings referenced the spiritual ups and downs of the Christian’s life. We see more of that in Genesis 16-18.

• In Genesis 16, Abraham and Sarah don't think that God can fulfill his promise about a son. They take matters into their own hands. Not surprisingly, it turns out poorly.
• In Genesis 17, Abraham trusts the LORD and circumcises his family as a sign of the Old Testament covenant, yet laughs at the idea that God can give him a son in his old age.
• In Genesis 18, Sarah joins in the laughter. She too doubts God's ability to keep his promise. Yet Abraham shows remarkable strength of faith as he prays for Sodom.

I am reminded of more of our spiritual “downs” as Jesus applies the Ten Commandments to us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-48).

• Anger
• Lust
• Divorce
• Swearing
• Hatred

That’s why I began this devotion with the picture of Jesus laughing. Reading these lessons can leave us in despair. Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! The Ten Commandments are meant to reveal our sin.

However, it is when I see my sin more clearly, that I appreciate the Apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 5:20, “Where sin abounded, grace abound all the more.” The more I see my sin, the more I appreciate God’s grace, his forgiveness in Christ.

When you see this overwhelming wall of guilt threatening to come down on you and destroy you, see Jesus laughing. He isn’t worried. He has already dealt with all that guilt on the cross.

• Satan wants to use remembered sin to destroy us.
• Jesus laughs as the Holy Spirit uses remembered sin to lead us to celebrate God’s grace.

How often don’t I play the fool! I think that I will be immune to the spiritual ups and downs that I see in others. Let’s laugh at our own foolish thinking and join Jesus in laughing in joy at the abounding grace of God that covers all our sins.

A passage to remember: "You are the God who sees me."

Have you ever felt "invisible"? LIke no one really sees you or cares about you?

Hagar probably felt that way in Genesis 16. Used by Abraham and Sarah. Mistreated. 

The LORD sees and the LORD cares. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Hagar and assured her that He always sees.

What a comfort to remember: "You are the God who sees me." 

Divorce – A Postscript

Note that I linked to the Evangelical Heritage Version of Matthew 5 because of the better translation of Matthew 5:32.

But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to be regarded as an adulteress. And whoever marries the divorced woman is regarded as an adulterer.

Sexual relations outside of marriage break the marriage bond and the innocent party may seek a divorce, making public and official that breaking of the bond caused by the spouse’s infidelity. If a person seeks a divorce when there is not sexual immorality or deliberate desertion (which we will consider in 1 Corinthians 7), the spouse breaking the marriage “causes her to be considered an adulteress.” The innocent party’s good name is called into question.

In our culture where divorce has become common…

• it is important to remember that divorce leaves unexpected consequences. Let us do all that we can to guard and protect our marriages, daily examining ourselves using the Ten Commandments as Jesus has taught us here in the Sermon on the Mount. Daily confessing our sins and daily claiming again that God’s grace is sufficient to cover over all our sins. As we have been forgiven, then we are in a place to offer forgiveness to our spouse who daily sins against us just as we daily sin against our spouse.
• It is important to remember that you have a God who did not give up on "marriage failures" like Abraham and Sarah. If you have gone through a divorce, remember that God’s grace is sufficient to cover all the sin and guilt associated with the divorce. Examine your own heart. Confess your sins. Claim forgiveness. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance – showing love and kindness, praying even for the person who has brought the pain of divorce into your life. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Father, work in us that we might look like you. Work in us that we can love and forgive as you have loved and forgiven us. Amen.