Mark Twain once said, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” Sometimes we feel we would rather move. But we love the land, and rivers, and the sea, and we even love the seasons. So… here we stay.
Has anyone noticed that the weather the last few weeks has been colder than usual for this time of year? Some checking on various weather sites revealed that it has been about 15 degrees colder than the 64 degrees it is in most years. Yesterday we ha d hail. Last week there was a violent windstorm that knocked out power for thousands in southern Connecticut. We try not to take it personally.
When I started thinking ideas for this post the Scripture that came to mind was, “For God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust alike.” The complete phrase is from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.43-45:
“You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous alike.”
So… Jesus said that we cannot take the weather personally; good or bad weather is no indication of God’s favor or disapproval. In fact, the weather was not the point Jesus was making. Not hardly. God loves everyone, be they good, bad, or indifferent. God longs to bless everyone. Therefore, Jesus urges us to treat all people as God’s children and pray for their well-being. As always, Jesus holds us to a high standard.