The Concrete God
The Concrete god
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
God is Spirit. We can’t touch Him or see Him unless He shows Himself to us. We, however, are physical. Most of what we interact with on a daily basis is also physical. We can see it, touch it, taste it, smell it, and or hear it. This can cause a problem as we struggle to comprehend things that are not physical.
God knows what we are like. After all, He made us. So, God has dealt with mankind often in physical ways. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He sends angels to deliver messages. He led the people of Israel through the wilderness as a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
Of course, the biggest way God dealt with us in a physical way is by Jesus, the Word, becoming a man. He dwelt among us. He walked and talked with us. He died for us.
Today, God still deals with us in physical ways.
- He gives us His Word in written form
- He baptizes us with water
- He forgives us through His servants
- He feeds and strengthens us through bread and wine, Jesus’ body and blood.
Through God’s sacraments, God not only does mighty spiritual work, like forgiving sins, strengthening faith, and making us part of His body, the church, He also gives us something concrete to hold onto.
When the memory of a sin keeps haunting me causing me to question whether I am truly forgiven, I can remember that I received Jesus Body and Blood through the bread and wine of Communion and know that God promises to forgive my sin in His supper. If I start to question whether I’m truly saved, I can remember that I am baptized and God promises to wash us in our baptism and make us His children.
One of Martin Luther’s recommended practices for Christians was to rise in the morning, make the sign of the cross, and say,
“I am baptized into Christ.”
Every day we are faced with temptations to sin, doubts, and all kinds of suffering. What comfort God gives us to rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ and have concrete ways that He comes to us and works in us.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for washing me of my sins, making me Yours, and strengthening me through Your Body and Blood.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
