Jesus said: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful … Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:36–37, ESV).

The term “butterfly effect” is associated with mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz. He had studied tornadoes—when they form, what paths they take, and so on … and entered the data into a computer model. He wanted to predict when tornadoes would hit. When he rounded certain figures of computer data in a seemingly inconsequential manner, the updated weather model would fail to reproduce the tornado. In 1972, Lorenz wrote a paper that asked: “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” His point was that small events can indeed have a rippling effect.

We can certainly see the “butterfly effect” in the history of God’s salvation. Natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes remind us that “the creation was subjected to futility” and “the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Rom. 8:20, 22, ESV). What led to creation’s dreadful cosmic labor pains? A single bite of a single piece of fruit in the Garden of Eden! The “butterfly effect” of Adam defiantly eating a piece of forbidden fruit led to all the rippling chaos of sin and death that we endure.

A different and better “butterfly effect” has come to the rescue. The single act of God’s mercy in His Son Jesus changes dysfunctional lives and initiates the restoration of all creation. Because of our sin, our chaos, and our dysfunction, Jesus “was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Is. 53:5, ESV). As He prayed when He hung pierced and wounded on that cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, ESV). Our Lord’s forgiveness is the “butterfly effect” that changes everything for us.

Since God has had mercy on us and has forgiven our sin, we get to take up the “butterfly effect” of being merciful as our Father is merciful. Our little acts and words of showing mercy can and do have ripple effects for those around us. Because God in Christ has forgiven us, we also get to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave [us]” (Eph. 4:32, ESV). Ponder what a “butterfly effect” that is in your family, in the church, where you work, where you go to school, and where you play.

Prayer:
“O God of mercy, God of might,
In love and pity infinite,
Teach us, as ever in Thy sight,
To live our lives in Thee.” (LSB 852:1)

In Christ’s service,

Rev. Randy K. Asburry
Second Vice President
Missouri District