June 6 – God Logic

We have been saying that true logic does not betray truth, and that seems to be a true statement until we come to this one . . .

“But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

WHY WOULD A HOLY GOD SEND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THE DELIGHT OF HIS EYES, TO DIE FOR A SINFUL PEOPLE . . . TO WHOM HE HAD GIVEN THE CHOICE TO REMAIN IN THEIR STUBBORN AND GOD-DENYING SINFULNESS? That is not logical to us.

The New International text translates that verse by substituting the word “demonstrates” for the word “commends.” “Demonstrates” is a very good word . . . commendable, in fact, but let’s take a Lectio Divina look at the word “commend.”

The Noah Webster translation means to represent as worthy of notice or regard; to speak in favor; to entrust or commit to another, as “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Yes, that is the dictionary example Mr. Webster used in his 1828 version.)

So then, we may consider that as Jesus entrusted His Spirit to the Father in His atonement, the Father was representing to us His love in His Son. No more worthy representation is possible. It pleased Him to commend, and certainly to recommend, His love to our illogical selfishness, unbelief, and stubbornness. This, beyond our comprehension, was the logical regard of the Father for those who had turned from Him and turned upon Him. This is, however, the LOGICAL response of true love to true desperation.

You just gotta KNOW Him!

This love was entrusted to us. Today, in Cor Unum, we celebrate it, we commend it to one another, and we give it the fullness of our regard.

To such love, we know, we may commend our lives.


"Reflections"
photo by Kerry