What do wheelbarrows, smart watches, and kitchen blenders all have in common? They were made for a purpose. The same is true of you! The Creator made you for a reason. We were made to matter, to mirror Jesus, for each other, and for a mission. When we look at everyone as though they were made in the image of God we realize everyone is a child of God and made with purpose and for a purpose.

John Withrop set sail with a large group of colonists set to arrive at the Massachusetts bay Company settlement in 1630. A lawyer by trade, he gave a sermon on the boat in which he described this new land as a “City on a hill”. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country we look to Galatians 5 to remind us of the beauty and tension of this country. Founded in freedom, blessed by freedom, grounded in freedom. But freedom for what purpose? Paul reminds us that when God gives freedom, it is not just to inflate myself, to better myself, but to be a blessing to others. To love others. As we celebrate our freedom, let us also celebrate the “Common Good” to which we are called.

King David lifts up one of the most simple and beautiful names for God—Yahweh Raah, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Jesus loved that image so much that he picked it up for himself (“I am the Good Shepherd”). The imagery that David incorporates in the Psalm is so natural and powerful. God is the One who guides us to good places and who protects us in dangerous places. And David shares the results of God being our Shepherd (e.g. I have all that I need; I will not fear). To have God is our Shepherd is an assurance and image that can sustain us in all times. 

God has just freed his people from slavery in dramatic fashion—10 plagues upon Egypt, Red Sea opening a path. But literally three days later, the people have given up on God. But God doesn’t give up on them. He shows them a way to cleanse the water that they might drink. And God promises to be a healer among them.  The word “Rophe” reminds us God can and does heal; the name Yahweh reminds us that we don’t control how or when or if or in what way God will work His healing. But we can trust the God is for us and with us.

This is the name that God gives himself in the Old Testament. And yet it is barely a name—it is a verb! "I Am who I Am". I will be who I will be. God is reminding Moses, and reminding us, that we cannot control God. God will do what God will do—we cannot control, manipulate or coerce God into acting. But God loves us, so we can trust ourselves to the God that we cannot control.

There are two key questions that everyone must wrestle with at some point in their life—is God good? And, does God have power? If there is a God, but He is not good, then we are in trouble! But if God is good, but does not have power, well then we are still on our own. But God promises to Abraham that He is El Shaddai, God Almighty. I have power to do what I will do, to accomplish what I will. Now God gives you and I freedom to mess things up, but even when we do, El Shaddai has the power to redeem, restore, rebuild for He is God almighty and His ways of love and justice will win in the end.