The Girl No One Wanted

We spent a few months talking about the need for the gospel in the suburbs we live in. My own conclusion is that we are very religious out here in God's Country, but as a whole, there is very little of the transforming gospel we read of in the Scripture. I think one of the reasons that we don't see it is because for the most part, being good and doing good sort of pay off. Further perpetuating this religious myth (that being moral and believing the gospel are the same thing) is a very superficial understanding of sin.

If we only understand the nature of sin as "breaking the rules," then, from a religious perspective, it is easy for people in suburbia to feel good about keeping those rules (we do a pretty good job of that), and yet wonder why Christianity brings them no joy. This week as we look at the story of a girl nobody wanted, we get a profound insight into how sin operates in real life. The Bible calls it idolatry. You see, if Satan can derail you by getting you to set your heart on a good thing like a relationship, work, family, marriage, that seems infinitely better than accosting you with a drinking problem!  However, if you have a drinking problem, at least you know it; it is harder to know if you are using your spouse, children, or job as your real savior.

Leah, the girl whose life we are studying this week, could easily live in the suburbs today! It is scary, but true. Her story actually reads like a novel set among the middle class that I have read recently, but in this story, there is a happy ending!  See you Sunday.

Blessings,

Jim