Thursday, March 27, 2008

 

Living for God Series

 

Matthew 11:30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

 

A Faith that Teaches Life

 

In Ivanhoe, the novel by Sir Walter Scott, the story is told of a romance that was destined not to be.   The novel tells of Rebecca and her father, Isaac, prosperous Jews living in 12^th century England.   Rebecca witnessed a jousting match where Wilfred of Ivanhoe was horribly wounded and left to die unaided on the field.   Rebecca and her father take Wilfred, a Christian, to their home and save his life through their tender care.  

 

In the course of caring for Ivanhoe it becomes clear to Isaac that his daughter was in love with Ivanhoe.  In those days Christians hated Jews and treated them with great prejudice and disgust.   When Isaac discovered the love in his daughter’s eyes he said to her, “My daughter, it is impossible for you to marry Ivanhoe because you are a Jew and he is a Christian.”   She said, “My heart will break Father,” and her father said, “Mine broke long ago, but it serves me still.”

 

I understand Isaac’s wisdom because in my life my heart has been broken too.  But as Isaac knew, even with a broken heart, our faith allows us to continue in our lives.  You see as people of faith and commitments we are not at our leisure to do as we might without the confines of our faith.   The words of the Bible inform me as to my actions.  My faith keeps my life in balance with God. 

 

As the novel proceeds and finally comes to an end, a Christian woman asked Rebecca to become a Christian and remain safe in the kingdom of the tale.    The Christian woman who asked this was powerful and could keep Rebecca from almost certain harm that would come.   Rebecca changed by acquiescing to her faith and understanding at last her father’s words, “I may not change the faith of my fathers like a garment unsuited to the climate in which I seek to dwell.”   The woman asked her if she would enter a convent and live a life of seclusion as a Christian woman might do in that age.  “No lady,” said Rebecca, “but among our people since the time of Abraham, have been women who have devoted their thoughts to Heaven, and their actions to works of kindness to people tending the sick, feeding the hungry, and relieving the distressed.  Among these, I will be numbered.”  

 

It seems in our culture that many do simply what they want to do regardless of their faith.   Our faith can save us from the consequences of our own devices.  When we are yoked to faith and we allow our faith in God to guide us we become free to serve God and don’t act on our own will.   From the perspective of Isaac, even though there are heartbreaking decisions we all have to make, our lives do go on.  If we live just for ourselves we sacrifice what is too valuable to lose.   Let the choices of our lives be choices colored by our faith.  

 

Prayer:

Dear God, help me to live by my faith.  Amen.