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God’s perfect love

A moment in nature reminds us of God’s perfect love for sinners, something for which to be thankful no matter what the circumstances.

“The incredible edible egg.”

“Got milk?”

“Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.”

I grew up watching TV commercials with slogans like these. As you read them, I’m sure a few more catchphrases have popped into your mind.

But I doubt you’ve ever seen or heard a commercial for mushrooms. Between breaks during Saturday morning cartoons or prime-time dramas, you never hear the question “Got room for mushrooms?” Rarely, if ever, are there ads featuring a person at the dinner table, fork and spoon in hand, requesting “More morels!” or “Pass the portobellos, please!”

Why not? Because mushrooms are gray. They’re slimy. They’re gross.

At least, that’s what I used to think as a kid concerning the canned kind. Now that I’ve grown up, my palate has broadened (along with my waistline) so I add the fresh variety to the top of a salad before I dig into a pizza with sausage and shrooms. I even appreciate what adding a can of cream of mushroom soup can do to make a decent dish for leftover night.

Other than that, however, rarely did I ever pay attention to those tiny toadstools until my wilderness camping experience this summer.

A lesson from mushrooms

It all started with the 25th anniversary pastors’ retreat in San Antonio in April. There I caught up with a classmate I hadn’t seen since graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Over the years, he had grown to love hiking, and he was lamenting to me that his hiking buddy had recently moved.

“I’ll go hiking with you!” immediately sprang from my mouth. I meant it at the time. Two months later, however, I was seriously reconsidering my offer. There I was in the middle of a national forest—overweight, overpacked, out of shape, and out of my mind. Blisters were forming on my feet, causing constant discomfort. With every aching step, I found my head hanging lower and lower, not only in order to find my footing but also because my spirits had started to sink.

It was then that I caught my first jarring glimpse of color among an endless sea of green ferns and brown branches. Beside the path was a bright neon orange mushroom, seemingly out of place. And then another. And then a red-capped one that reminded me of a Super Mario Bros. avatar or an animated character in a Disney film. I didn’t know the names of their genera, but I do know that they were a sight for sore feet!

Jesus didn’t come to save gross and disgusting mushrooms; Jesus came to save gross and disgusting you and me.

My whole attitude changed. No longer was I morose and miserable. No longer was I burdened with selfish complaints. Instead, I became curious—curious about these small splashes of color scattered across the forest floor, curious about how they came to be, curious about their purpose. From that curiosity came confidence—confidence that God who took such care in creating such beauty in such a seemingly insignificant item had done so ultimately for his glory. Yet God had also made that moment for someone he took far greater care in creating, redeeming, and sanctifying. God made that moment for me!

And then from out of the clear blue sky came to mind words from a famous hymn:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
(Christian Worship 612:2)

©1949, 1953 The Stuart Hine Trust CIO. (Print rights admin Hope Publishing Company, www.hopepublishing.com).

Yes, my feet were still hurting. But never my heart!

A reminder about perfect love

I’m sure you could share a similar story, how one moment you felt down and out but the next you were up and at ’em. This is not uncommon. Recent studies have shown that the brain cannot respond to anxiety and gratitude at the same time. You can feel anxious along with other negative feelings or grateful with all the positive emotions associated with it.

Saint John was neither a scientist nor a psychologist but an inspired apostle when he reached the same conclusion nearly two thousand years earlier: “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Such motivation for being grateful and positive comes not from viewing a breathtaking sunset or tasting a meaty morsel hot off the grill. Our motivation for thanksgiving comes from the heart: “We love because [God] first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Perhaps the presidential election has made you more frustrated than usual. Perhaps the looming expenses of another season of Christmas gift-giving have you stressed. Perhaps the doctor’s appointment to examine that recent lump or recurring pain has made you lose sleep at night.

Perfect love drives out fear, my friend! God will make everything work out for your good. John’s fellow apostle Paul offers this encouragement: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6,7).

Perhaps you worry that the turkey will be too dry this Thanksgiving. Perhaps you worry that there will be family squabbles around the dinner table. Perhaps you worry that too many eyes will be focused on the football game rather than on all the other blessings.

Perfect love drives out fear, my friend! Focus on the object of your faith: Christ. He himself has assured us, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).

Jesus Christ is our perfect love. He loved us perfectly, even when our thoughts boldly ventured into morally gray areas, our words rebuked God for being grossly overbearing with demands for perfection, and our actions covered us in the slime of sin. Jesus didn’t come to save gross and disgusting mushrooms; Jesus came to save gross and disgusting you and me. By his death on the cross, Jesus traded our sins for his perfection. Perfect peace, perfect love, and perfect joy are now most assuredly ours when God the Father sealed that eternally astounding trade deal by delivering his Son from the grave. No longer are we gross and disgusting. In God’s eyes, we are now and forever precious, priceless, and pure. For Jesus’ resurrection gives us a living faith, a living hope, and a living and perfect love to drive out all fear.

Someday I hope to go hiking with my friend again. Maybe next time I’ll be in better shape and will have learned to pack lighter and wear thicker socks. Regardless, I look forward to wonderful conversations with my classmate as we once again experience the wonders of God’s creation.

This Thanksgiving, may your anxiety be replaced with gratitude as perfect love drives out all your fears. For God loves you perfectly in Christ!

And even if you still don’t like them, thank God for mushrooms!

Author: Paul Meier
Volume 111, Number 11
Issue: November 2024

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