Listen

Now Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was no longer menstruating. So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, I’m no longer able to have children and my husband’s old.

The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Me give birth? At my age?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah lied and said, “I didn’t laugh,” because she was frightened.

But he said, “No, you laughed.” […]

The Lord was attentive to Sarah just as he had said, and the Lord carried out just what he had promised her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham when he was old, at the very time God had told him. […]

Sarah said, “God has given me laughter. Everyone who hears about it will laugh with me.”

Genesis 18:11-15; 21:1-2, 6

Think

Too often we laugh when something inappropriate happens or is spoken. It’s hard to not laugh sometimes. And that’s the nature of laughter. With a healthy sense of humor, we laugh when something unexpected happens. We laugh when we are surprised.

The message of Jesus can be like this. Loving our enemies seems absurd. What?! Love those who wish harm upon us? How bizarre! What else? Serving those perceived as subservient? Forgiving that which seems unforgivable? Caring for the weak? Sharing with any person who has need? Washing others’ feet?

The longer we pursue the surprisingly abundant life that Jesus calls us to live, the more we may realize just how upside-down our neighborhoods can be. And hopefully, along the way, we can laugh at ourselves from time to time.

Scott Ford

Question to Ponder

What is something that you find surprising about the message or life of Jesus?

Pray

Loving God of all creation, help me to see and embrace the surprising ways you can use my life to turn my neighborhood upside down.

Help me to live a life that is refreshingly surprising to others.

And help me to accept your love and forgiveness, as I laugh at my own mistakes.

Amen.

Go

Go.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Love all of your neighbors.

Love all of yourself.