Our N.O.T. God

Lately I’ve coined a new phrase that describes our God: “And NOT ONLY THAT!”
But before I get into that, I’d like to mention somewhere else I noticed and “not only that” the other day. At the end of the “Wheel of Fortune” show, the winner was told:
You’ve won this much cash
(and not only that) you’ve won this trip,
(and not only that) you’ve got the SUV besides!!
Get the pattern? The host listed the contestant’s winnings accumulatively, and by the climactic end, the audience was “oohing” and applauding, some even jumping onto the stage with excitement!
Well, the reason I’m coining the “not only that” (n.o.t.) way of describing things is because recently I read the first reading of that day’s lectionary passages. It was from I Kings 3: 4-13. You remember the story. God is so pleased with Solomon, he asks him to request whatever he wants of God, and he will surely receive it.
First, though, Solomon lists the gifts God has already given him:
You’ve favored my father, David, (and not only that) you’ve passed his kingship on to me, (and not only that) I rule your chosen people, a vast throng!
There’s that pattern again: God gives, and NOT ONLY THAT.
When Solomon finally gets to the request, he admits to God he’s young and inexperienced, and he really needs an understanding heart and the ability to know right from wrong. (Wouldn’t we all like to have those? He chose admirably!)
God is impressed with Solomon’s sensible request and responds:
I will give you an understanding heart, (n.o.t.) I will make you like no other person who’s ever lived, (n.o.t.) I will also give you riches and fame you never asked for!
That is our God: AND NOT ONLY THAT. Ask for an ounce; God gives a pound.
I think it’s appropriate that we live Lent reflecting on Jesus as God’s NOT ONLY
THAT Son:
Born like us but without sin, (n.o.t.) Spent His life doing good to it-doesn’t-matter-who, (n.o.t.) Hated by the rigid and jealous of His time, (n.o.t.) Charged with doing God-things when he’s not, (n.o.t.) Feeding and teaching and healing, all with love, (n.o.t.) Finally arrested and publically executed.. ..And we all know the biggest n.o.t. comes next!