Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
It is not a typo (not that I don’t occasionally make a mistake when pushing the keys while I am on the computer). It even gets through the spell check (but not the grammar check). It is just not the way that we are used to hearing the phrase. Usually it is, “So and so won’t let you down.”
But it just one extra letter—an “r.” Jesus won’t let you drown. It makes sense. Even more so if we go to the Sea of Galilee. The disciples needed to recognize that. We need to realize it too. Jesus won’t let you drown—figuratively. He comes with his merciful help and with his mighty hand. We read from …
Matthew 14:22-33
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, our present and powerful Savior,
During the summer months, it is not uncommon at some time to be around or in water. We do have 11,842 lakes in this state. In some cases, a life jacket is not just recommended by mom, but required by law. They are valuable when you are swimming or when you are kayaking.
Those activities are fun. But they can be dangerous. So it is good to strap one of those around your chest even though they are unwieldy and even if they are uncomfortable. (There is your public service announcement. The DNR can thank me later.) That is because we don’t breathe too well under water (without an oxygen tank or plastic snorkel, of course). If you haven’t tried it already, don’t. And it also takes a bit of effort and expertise to float above water. Especially in the case of an emergency, the life jacket does its job.
So does Jesus.
Jesus Won’t Let You Drown
1. He comes with his merciful help (22-27)
2. He comes with his mighty hand (28-33)
1. He comes with his merciful help (22-27)
Pools and ponds often have lifeguards. They are not there to work on their tans. They are to guard life. (It is in the name.) In case there is a problem, they lend their professional assistance so that you don’t sink to the bottom and stay there. They do it to get paid. Jesus does it to take care. Jesus won’t let you drown. He comes with his merciful help.
It had been a busy day for Jesus. He had healed the sick (Mt 14:14). And he had fed the hungry—5000+ with a boy’s lunch box of two fish and five loaves of bread. There were even leftovers! That got the people excited. The thought crossed their minds, “Wouldn’t it be great if he would do that all the time?” He would make quite the king with his free food (Jn 6:15).
But that is not why Jesus came—to provide social security, but instead to offer salvation security. So he took action right away. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd” (Mt 14:22). He quickly put a stop to any plans to put him on a throne. That kind of thinking could not corrupt his followers or continue in their heads.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like groups of people like some stay away from the Great Minnesota Get-together because of the mass of humanity. He needed some quiet time. “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Mt 14:23). The Son had to speak to his heavenly Father. He had not come to be declared a king by popular choice, but to die on a wooden cross. That is how he would wear a crown. “When evening came, he was there alone” (Mt 14:23). Did he ask for strength to keep on going in those evening hours? Did he plead for his followers in his earnest requests? He prayed. And for an extended period of time.
While he was on that hill, the 12 were in the boat. But this was no pleasure cruise. They had been at it for hours, rowing and rowing. They had made some progress—“the boat was already a considerable distance from land” (Mt 14:24). But then things got ugly. One of the storms that is characteristic of that body of water blew in. That is because it sits in a bowl—680 feet below sea level. Gusts whip over the surrounding peaks and rile up the sea. If you have seen any footage of Hurricane Harvey in Texas you might get a visual. Good thing that many of them were fishermen. They had dealt with this kind of tempest before. But their experience only did so much. Their little ship was in serious trouble—“buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Mt 14:24). It kept on beating and beating against their faces. Their oars did little good. This was getting scarier and scarier as the hours passed. It was the “fourth watch of the night” (Mt 14:25). That is between 3:00-6:00 in the morning. They were more than likely weary and worn.
But those men were never out of sight or out of mind. In fact, Jesus had put them in that vessel aware of the squall that was coming like a mother who takes a toddler to the doctor mindful that there might be some pain. He knew where they were now and what they confronted. That is a good reminder for us. We use that comparison when we encounter difficulties or dangers. We refer to them as “the storms of life.” And it may not be water from waves running down our faces. Those are tears. And then we wonder. Where is Jesus?
He is there. It was that way for the disciples. “Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake” (Mt 14:25). He strolled along on the waves as if it were dry land—on the very thing that they were fighting. This was not along the shoreline, but across the surface. Jesus can do that. He is God.
And that is when superstition got the best of them. It is just like a little boy hears a noise at night and assumes that there is a monster under his bed. Only for them, it went like this: “When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear” (Mt 14:26). Their hearts on the inside matched the weather on the outside. It felt like a typhoon was raging in their chests. We have felt that too.
Jesus came to them when they were in that desperate situation with his merciful help. Don’t miss that. Jesus came to them. That is the way that the Lord handled Elijah when he was discouraged and disappointed as he commented and complained: “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too” (1 Ki 19:10). Not in the howling wind, the trembling earthquake, or the roaring fire. But in the gentle whisper of his word (1 Kg 19:12). That energized and equipped Elijah to carry out his assigned tasks of anointing certain individuals. Jesus also had comforting words for those struggling men: “Jesus immediately said to them” (Mt 14:27). (That is the second time we come across that word “immediately.” He didn’t wait.)
“Take courage!” (Mt 14:27). They could be bold. Jesus was there.
“It is I” (Mt 14:27). He is the changeless One (Ex 3:14). He still was all-knowing and all-powerful. And that would not ever be different.
“Don’t be afraid” (Mt 14:27). That emotion could now stop.
When trying times pound on us—and they will, Jesus is present with us. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mt 14:27). He may take it away. He may take us through it. Either way, Jesus comes to us in his Word. We can be still (Ps 46:10). God is God even now or even then. He will not abandon us all the way to our dying day (He 13:5; Ps 23:4). Jesus will not let us drown. He comes with his merciful help in his Word.
2. With his mighty hand (28-33)
I suppose that if you are close enough to the side or the shore, a lifeguard can reach out and pull you to safety. Or he might toss a life preserver or she may lob a life ring and drag you away from the threat of drowning. Jesus does the same. Jesus won’t let you drown. He comes with his mighty hand.
It was Peter who was the first to open his mouth when there was no way of a mistaken identity. It was really Jesus. And he makes a bold request. “Lord, if it’s you (it is in the sense of “since it is you”), tell me to come to you on the water” (Mt 14:28). That is good desire—to be with the Lord. And Peter didn’t assume; he asked. Jesus gave him permission: “Come” (Mt 14:29). I wonder if the others didn’t get mad that they didn’t think of that too. Because it happened. “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Mt 14:29). This wasn’t a sandbar or a shallow spot. He walked on the water.
Well, for a time. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid” (Mt 14:30). This last Monday the warning was sounded, “Don’t look directly at the sun during the eclipse or it will burn up your retinas. You need special glasses for that.” (The cloud cover helped with us missing the spectacle of the century.) Peter was supposed to look straight at the Son. Because when he looked down, he went down. When the waves got bigger in his eyes, Jesus got smaller in his view.
Now he was in jeopardy. “Beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt 14:30). The disciples were probably not so jealous anymore. They weren’t much safer than him, but they were at least still in the boat. Peter proves that a short prayer is often long enough—three words. It wasn’t, “I am kind of in a precarious spot at the present moment. Jesus, if you could, please stretch out your arm far enough that you might grab me and then draw me up so that I could stand once again at your side.” No. “Lord, save me.”
“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him” (Mt 14:31). (That is the third time we come across an “immediately.”) No delay. And then the question: “You of little faith, … why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:31). Peter didn’t have a decent answer. But do we? In the middle of a tough setting—when we might not be below the surface, but the water seems to be at our bottom lip, we fail to fix our eyes on Jesus and fixate on the circumstance. That is not what he desires (He 12:2).
And Jesus doesn’t let us drown with his mighty hand. We learn to state confidently with the psalmist Asaph: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory” (Ps 73:23,24). It is like a parent and a child crossing a street. The dad holds on to the child’ hand, not the other way around. He is the strong one, not the little one.
And we can trust his powerful hand. “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down” (Mt 14:32). Another miracle. He controls nature. And because Jesus conquered Satan and sin on the cross, no one will be able to snatch us from his hand (Jn 10:28). We join the disciples kneeling in the boat here sitting here in church as we worship him together, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (Mt 14:33). Yes, Jesus is the Christ, as Paul pointed out: “who is God over all, forever praised!” (Ro 9:5). Jesus won’t let us drown. He comes with his mighty hand over all.
In the long run an “r” doesn’t make a difference. It is true whether we claim, “Jesus won’t let you down” or “Jesus won’t let you drown.” In reality it comes out the same, doesn’t it? Jesus is with us as seen at the Sea of Galilee—with his merciful help and with his mighty hand. It is so and will be so. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Ro 16:10). Amen.
August 27, 2017
St. John Lutheran Church Sermons
Monday, August 28, 2017
Sunday, August 13, 2017
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Romans 8:28-30)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Apparently it didn’t happen. That is according to the website, 15 Things You Were Taught in School That Are Total Lies. An apple did not fall on Sir Isaac Newton’s head thus helping him discover gravity. (It was there all along.)
The grain of truth in that account is that the fruit was part of the development of his theory. Evidently as he sat in a garden, he would often wonder why an apple fell perpendicularly to the ground rather than sideways or upwards.
That hardly casts doubt on any and all education. Contrary to popular belief or internet surveys, school is not bad. Teachers impart essential facts.
It is good to remind ourselves that there is nothing false in the Bible. We don’t have to scratch our heads in wonder. It is all true because it is God’s Word. Everything—from beginning to end. We would do well to echo the prayer of the psalmist: “Give me understanding” (Ps 119:34).
So if God tells us, we trust him. God cannot and does not lie. Therefore, we are positive. We know. We know God’s sure promise of good and God’s certain path to glory. We read from …
Romans 8:28-30
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of all,
You don’t have to be the inventor of calculus or even a student of it to understand that apples fall from a limb to the earth. If you extend your arm and drop an apple, it would not be a matter of, “I suppose” or “I suspect that it will descend to the floor.” (If only all science experiments were that easy.) We know.
That goes for what God states in Scripture. It is not, “we want” or “we wish.” It is …
We Know
1. God’s sure promise of good (28)
2. God’s certain path to glory (29,30)
1. God’s sure promise of good (28)
Our promises can be fickle. We make them, but we do not always keep them. A father can say to his son, “We will go out for lunch tomorrow to your favorite restaurant,” but something may interfere or interrupt that outing. And it doesn’t happen. And then we can get skeptical and cynical about every assurance from everybody. Not when it comes to our God. We know God’s sure promise of good.
We are headed to heaven. It is a place that is beyond compare—so great and so grand (Ro 8:18). There are so many reminders that this is not it right now. It is not right here. We groan because of things like sickness and stress, disaster and even death (Ro 8:23) and many other troubles and tribulations until we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). But we are not alone. The Holy Spirit prays for us (Ro 8:26).
And our God cares for us. That is not something that we have to guess about, but can be glad about. Paul recalls that for us. “We know” (Ro 8:28)—just like we know that apples fall down. “We know that in all things God works for the good” (Ro 8:28).
We can pick that promise apart. “All things” (Ro 8:28). Not many or most, some or several. It comes down to that three letter word—all. All things.
That includes what we consider good in our minds. We perhaps forget that too easily. When life is going well, do we ask: “Why am I so happy?” Or “Why am I so healthy?” That is God working—showering and sending blessings on us. Those things work for our good.
That covers what we call bad in our opinion. That is usually what we think of—the hurt or the heartache. Typically it sounds like this: Why this? What that? Why them? But we know God’s sure promise of good—no matter what the situation or the circumstance. We may not get it, but we grab that. That is God, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, continually working it out like the parts of a car engine operate in sync as the vehicle moves along the road. Those things work for our good too.
That is the case as Paul puts it for “those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). That might cause us to pause because our love for God is not always strong. But this is not dependent on us as if we have to drum that love up. But “we love because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Our love is a response to his love which moved him to send his Son to save us (Jn 3:16). And he has invited us into his family like a neighbor asks you over for supper—summoning us from the darkness of sin to the light of salvation (1 Pe 2:9).
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). Isn’t it easier to acknowledge that in the lives of others?
[When Joseph’s brother’s sold him into slavery because they disliked him (That is putting it mildly.), God was with Joseph—in Potiphar’s house, in a local prison, and in a government position. God had a plan—for good. The Lord saved many lives during the famine as well as the kept alive the family of the Messiah (Ge 50:20).
When his good friend Lazarus died, Jesus brought him out of the tomb (Jn 11). God had a plan—for good. He glorified Jesus.
[Slide 12] And on that Friday outside of Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified. It was a dark day. But God had a plan—for good. He put our sin on Jesus so that he could pay for them all.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). We can admit in our own life—even in the midst of an individual challenge when our question is “what about this?” or in the middle of an important change when our concern is “what about that?”. Satan wants us to focus on the pain, not the promise. If you go to an art museum, you need to stand back to take in the whole image instead of staring at the corner of a painting. Otherwise you will miss the beauty of the portrait. We remember what God states and realize that is what God does. We know God’s sure promise of good. He pulls us closer rather than pushes us away because he is good (Ps 106:1). It is only good all the time.
2. God’s certain path to glory (29,30)
Our paths may be faulty. Even if father and son strap on the seatbelt to make their way to the restaurant of choice and turn off the wrong exit, there will be no wings for dinner. Not with our God. There is nothing that gets in the way. We know God’s certain path to glory.
And God links it all together in a seamless chain—one event after another. And it stretches from eternity to eternity. And they are all a reality.
“For those God foreknew” (Ro 8:29). Before the creation of the world, God had an intimate knowledge of us. It is not like I know the current president of the United States. But how I know those in my family. And with God it carries the concept of approval and acceptance—not because of what we would do for him in life, but what he would do for us in Jesus. Long before we could lift a finger or plead our case, God did it all and placed his claim on us. That is grace.
Those are the very ones whom God “also predestined” (Ro 8:29). God put a boundary around us like we put a fence around the field out back. It bears repeating: Not because we would be sinless (he was aware that we would be sinful), but because of our sinless Substitute, Jesus. It was also not because we would come to faith, but because he would bring us to faith. That we are his sons and daughters is unmerited and undeserved (Eph 1:4,5; 2:8,9). It was that great mercy that Solomon recognized in his family history: “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day” (1 Kg 3:6).
And why did God select us? “To be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Ro 8:29). The sons of God have the same blessings as the Son of God. Our Brother Jesus—the first in a long line of siblings—made that possible. We have righteousness that never fails and life that never ends. And one day he “will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (Php 3:21).
Paul continues the unbroken sequence: “And those he predestined (he reuses that verb from before), he also called” (Ro 8:30). The Holy Spirit used Word and sacrament to create faith in our hearts. The same means by which he keeps us in that faith.
“Those he called, he also justified” (Ro 8:30). As Paul often does, he takes us to a courtroom. The evidence is dreadful. We confess it. As the gavel comes down, our head goes down. But the verdict is wonderful. God lifts it our eyes to the cross where Jesus shouldered our guilt and shed his blood. And God clears our account of all sin. It is indisputable because Jesus rose from the dead. We are right with God (Ro 3:21ff; 4:25).
There is one more connection in the series. “Those he justified, he also glorified” (Ro 8:30). Up to this point, it has made sense. All those events have been in the past—foreknew, predestined, called, justified. But now glorified? That lies in the future. Heaven is ours right now. But the full realization is yet to be. But that is what is so significant, if not special. From God’s perspective it is as good as done. We are glorified at the moment. Jesus will return one day to take us to the place that he has prepared (Jn 14:2,3). On judgment day, there will be a separation of believers and unbelievers, “the wicked from the righteous”—like good and bad fish in Jesus’ parable (Mt 13:47-52). And we will be with the Lord forever. We know about God’s certain path to glory. It is only good for all time.
When I saw that there was a fabrication with Sir Isaac Newton supposedly taught still, I was hoping that the fruit was wrong. For the sake of a joke, I was wanting it to be a fig rather than an apple. Like “fig newton.” Even though we are not a scientist or a mathematician, we know about gravity. Things are drawn to the earth. More important we know God’s sure promise of good on earth and his certain path to glory in heaven. Yes, we know that it shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
August 13, 2017
Apparently it didn’t happen. That is according to the website, 15 Things You Were Taught in School That Are Total Lies. An apple did not fall on Sir Isaac Newton’s head thus helping him discover gravity. (It was there all along.)
The grain of truth in that account is that the fruit was part of the development of his theory. Evidently as he sat in a garden, he would often wonder why an apple fell perpendicularly to the ground rather than sideways or upwards.
That hardly casts doubt on any and all education. Contrary to popular belief or internet surveys, school is not bad. Teachers impart essential facts.
It is good to remind ourselves that there is nothing false in the Bible. We don’t have to scratch our heads in wonder. It is all true because it is God’s Word. Everything—from beginning to end. We would do well to echo the prayer of the psalmist: “Give me understanding” (Ps 119:34).
So if God tells us, we trust him. God cannot and does not lie. Therefore, we are positive. We know. We know God’s sure promise of good and God’s certain path to glory. We read from …
Romans 8:28-30
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of all,
You don’t have to be the inventor of calculus or even a student of it to understand that apples fall from a limb to the earth. If you extend your arm and drop an apple, it would not be a matter of, “I suppose” or “I suspect that it will descend to the floor.” (If only all science experiments were that easy.) We know.
That goes for what God states in Scripture. It is not, “we want” or “we wish.” It is …
We Know
1. God’s sure promise of good (28)
2. God’s certain path to glory (29,30)
1. God’s sure promise of good (28)
Our promises can be fickle. We make them, but we do not always keep them. A father can say to his son, “We will go out for lunch tomorrow to your favorite restaurant,” but something may interfere or interrupt that outing. And it doesn’t happen. And then we can get skeptical and cynical about every assurance from everybody. Not when it comes to our God. We know God’s sure promise of good.
We are headed to heaven. It is a place that is beyond compare—so great and so grand (Ro 8:18). There are so many reminders that this is not it right now. It is not right here. We groan because of things like sickness and stress, disaster and even death (Ro 8:23) and many other troubles and tribulations until we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). But we are not alone. The Holy Spirit prays for us (Ro 8:26).
And our God cares for us. That is not something that we have to guess about, but can be glad about. Paul recalls that for us. “We know” (Ro 8:28)—just like we know that apples fall down. “We know that in all things God works for the good” (Ro 8:28).
We can pick that promise apart. “All things” (Ro 8:28). Not many or most, some or several. It comes down to that three letter word—all. All things.
That includes what we consider good in our minds. We perhaps forget that too easily. When life is going well, do we ask: “Why am I so happy?” Or “Why am I so healthy?” That is God working—showering and sending blessings on us. Those things work for our good.
That covers what we call bad in our opinion. That is usually what we think of—the hurt or the heartache. Typically it sounds like this: Why this? What that? Why them? But we know God’s sure promise of good—no matter what the situation or the circumstance. We may not get it, but we grab that. That is God, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, continually working it out like the parts of a car engine operate in sync as the vehicle moves along the road. Those things work for our good too.
That is the case as Paul puts it for “those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). That might cause us to pause because our love for God is not always strong. But this is not dependent on us as if we have to drum that love up. But “we love because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Our love is a response to his love which moved him to send his Son to save us (Jn 3:16). And he has invited us into his family like a neighbor asks you over for supper—summoning us from the darkness of sin to the light of salvation (1 Pe 2:9).
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). Isn’t it easier to acknowledge that in the lives of others?
[When Joseph’s brother’s sold him into slavery because they disliked him (That is putting it mildly.), God was with Joseph—in Potiphar’s house, in a local prison, and in a government position. God had a plan—for good. The Lord saved many lives during the famine as well as the kept alive the family of the Messiah (Ge 50:20).
When his good friend Lazarus died, Jesus brought him out of the tomb (Jn 11). God had a plan—for good. He glorified Jesus.
[Slide 12] And on that Friday outside of Jerusalem, Jesus was crucified. It was a dark day. But God had a plan—for good. He put our sin on Jesus so that he could pay for them all.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28). We can admit in our own life—even in the midst of an individual challenge when our question is “what about this?” or in the middle of an important change when our concern is “what about that?”. Satan wants us to focus on the pain, not the promise. If you go to an art museum, you need to stand back to take in the whole image instead of staring at the corner of a painting. Otherwise you will miss the beauty of the portrait. We remember what God states and realize that is what God does. We know God’s sure promise of good. He pulls us closer rather than pushes us away because he is good (Ps 106:1). It is only good all the time.
2. God’s certain path to glory (29,30)
Our paths may be faulty. Even if father and son strap on the seatbelt to make their way to the restaurant of choice and turn off the wrong exit, there will be no wings for dinner. Not with our God. There is nothing that gets in the way. We know God’s certain path to glory.
And God links it all together in a seamless chain—one event after another. And it stretches from eternity to eternity. And they are all a reality.
“For those God foreknew” (Ro 8:29). Before the creation of the world, God had an intimate knowledge of us. It is not like I know the current president of the United States. But how I know those in my family. And with God it carries the concept of approval and acceptance—not because of what we would do for him in life, but what he would do for us in Jesus. Long before we could lift a finger or plead our case, God did it all and placed his claim on us. That is grace.
Those are the very ones whom God “also predestined” (Ro 8:29). God put a boundary around us like we put a fence around the field out back. It bears repeating: Not because we would be sinless (he was aware that we would be sinful), but because of our sinless Substitute, Jesus. It was also not because we would come to faith, but because he would bring us to faith. That we are his sons and daughters is unmerited and undeserved (Eph 1:4,5; 2:8,9). It was that great mercy that Solomon recognized in his family history: “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day” (1 Kg 3:6).
And why did God select us? “To be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Ro 8:29). The sons of God have the same blessings as the Son of God. Our Brother Jesus—the first in a long line of siblings—made that possible. We have righteousness that never fails and life that never ends. And one day he “will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (Php 3:21).
Paul continues the unbroken sequence: “And those he predestined (he reuses that verb from before), he also called” (Ro 8:30). The Holy Spirit used Word and sacrament to create faith in our hearts. The same means by which he keeps us in that faith.
“Those he called, he also justified” (Ro 8:30). As Paul often does, he takes us to a courtroom. The evidence is dreadful. We confess it. As the gavel comes down, our head goes down. But the verdict is wonderful. God lifts it our eyes to the cross where Jesus shouldered our guilt and shed his blood. And God clears our account of all sin. It is indisputable because Jesus rose from the dead. We are right with God (Ro 3:21ff; 4:25).
There is one more connection in the series. “Those he justified, he also glorified” (Ro 8:30). Up to this point, it has made sense. All those events have been in the past—foreknew, predestined, called, justified. But now glorified? That lies in the future. Heaven is ours right now. But the full realization is yet to be. But that is what is so significant, if not special. From God’s perspective it is as good as done. We are glorified at the moment. Jesus will return one day to take us to the place that he has prepared (Jn 14:2,3). On judgment day, there will be a separation of believers and unbelievers, “the wicked from the righteous”—like good and bad fish in Jesus’ parable (Mt 13:47-52). And we will be with the Lord forever. We know about God’s certain path to glory. It is only good for all time.
When I saw that there was a fabrication with Sir Isaac Newton supposedly taught still, I was hoping that the fruit was wrong. For the sake of a joke, I was wanting it to be a fig rather than an apple. Like “fig newton.” Even though we are not a scientist or a mathematician, we know about gravity. Things are drawn to the earth. More important we know God’s sure promise of good on earth and his certain path to glory in heaven. Yes, we know that it shall be so. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
August 13, 2017
Sunday, August 6, 2017
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Romans 8:26,27)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
“I can’t.” Those are difficult words, aren’t they? Because there is an admission behind them that causes us to swallow our pride. “I can’t” means that we are unable to do something. And we don’t like that. We want to be strong and solid. But we are forced to admit—sometimes stubbornly, other times sadly: “I can’t.”
I am not talking about a physical challenge at the gym like lifting 500 pounds with your arms or squatting 1000 pounds with your legs. (I doubt any of us is able to do either of those. Very few can.) But I am referring to a personal problem which is hard or a particular pain which is heavy. Those can feel just like a huge weight on the ends of a barbell. You are not immune to them. I am not alone with them. And finally we throw up our hands in frustration, “I can’t.” Perhaps we say it to others. Possibly we say it to God. Where do we turn?
Enter the Holy Spirit. He helps us as he prays on our behalf and as he prays for our good. We read from …
Romans 8:26,27
Dear Fellow saints, holy in God’s sight through God’s Son,
If you scan the pages of Scripture, you come across some great prayers and some good pray-ers. There is Jacob as he wrestles the Lord by the river, holding on tightly. There is David as he writes so many psalms, strumming on his lyre. Add to the list those like Abraham who prayed for some cities who were evil or Moses as he prayed for some people who were rebellious. And some others like Nehemiah or Daniel. We could go on.
And when you read those pleas, it is clear that their expressions are so lofty. And when we examine our own attempts, they fall so short. And maybe we come to the conclusion: “I can’t.”
Now what? Do we give up and shut down? No. We have the Holy Spirit. Not only does he call us to faith, but he keeps us in that faith. One of the ways is with his prayers. When we struggle or when we stammer with ours,
Enter the Holy Spirit
1. Who prays on our behalf (26)
2. Who prays for our good (27)
1. Who prays on our behalf (26)
Let’s imagine that you are pumping iron at your local fitness center. You want to push yourself. You plan to do 8 repetitions on the bench press, but only can pull off 7. The bar now rests uncomfortably on your chest. And there it sits. Enter a spotter. He (or she) grabs it and places it back on the posts above your head for you. (It is embarrassing when that one does it with just one arm.) That is critical. How about when we pour out our hearts? It is even more crucial. Enter the Holy Spirit who prays on our behalf.
There is a lot of groaning (and not just about doing the dishes). The apostle Paul reminded his readers in Rome that “the whole creation has been groaning” (Ro 8:22). That is because sin touches nature and taints it too. There are floods and famines, for example. But not only that, “we ourselves … groan inwardly” (Ro 8:23).
But we are not by ourselves. We have the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:23). And we wait on tiptoes for the time when Jesus will return to take us to the glory of heaven instead of the grind on earth.
Joel told us about judgment day. And Jesus taught us about the last day.
The prophet shared that nations will gather in the “Valley of Jehoshaphat … the valley of decision” (Joel 3:12,14). He used the picture of the harvest being ripe. But the reminder is that there is no reason for fear. “The LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel” (Joel 3:16). That is similar to what the psalmist David had us sing: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Ps 18:2).
The Savior showed with a parable of the wheat and the weeds. On the final day, the angels will separate the two—believers and unbelievers. Those who do evil will be thrown “into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Mt 13:42,43). Because we are right with God, we will live with our heavenly Father forever.
In the meantime—between then and now, we have the Spirit’s sighs. And he is not just a curious onlooker like someone who drives by an accident. He is constantly available and continually active. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Ro 8:26). It is like a mother who takes her son by the hand, leads him upstairs, and assists him in putting his clean clothes in the dresser. We need the Spirit’s aid because of our “weakness,” a lack of ability. Who of us hasn’t felt that? And not just physically. Paul spells it out: “We do not know what we ought to pray for” (Ro 8:26). It comes down to a question. And it is not, “What if I say the wrong words.” There is no technical jargon. It is simple and straightforward like a child with his dad. It is this: “What should we pray for that is in line with God’s will?”
As we make our way through our earthly life to our eternal life, there are those complicated situations and complex circumstances when we are at a loss as to what to request. (It should not be because we are out of practice when it comes to prayer. We have that privilege to speak to God anywhere and anytime. Or because we have been distant from God’s Word and ignorant of his guidance.) But it could come down to being absolutely unaware of what to pray. It could be when there is a diagnosis from the doctor or when there is a difficulty with a relationship. What is the content of our contact with God:
Do we ask God to give us relief from it or resolve for it?
Do we ask God to spare us or strengthen us?
Our tongues are tied like a boy trying to chat with a girl that he is sweet on. (Perhaps he should stick to texting.)
Paul passes along the emphatic reminder that the Holy Spirit steps in: “But the Spirit himself intercedes for us” (Ro 8:26). God the Holy Spirit, he is the very one who does that for us—for our sake. It is his ongoing effort of the One who has brought us to believe in God who saved us to plead for us to God who supports us. He is more than just a good friend who assures us that he or she will always be there. That may not be. It is with the Holy Spirit. And he does that “with groans that words cannot express” (Ro 8:26). The Holy Spirit shares our hurts and speaks to the Father on our behalf with unspoken sounds like the thoughts in our minds.
So instead of being bashful—what if my prayers are foolish or childish?, we are bold. God wants us to approach him in the day of trouble—with our cares and concerns (Ps 50:15). It can be from the forgiveness of sins to the support for the future. And anything and everything in between. If we wonder and waver, enter the Holy Spirit who prays on our behalf. He is on our side.
2. Who prays for our good (27)
Let’s envision the bar is not laying on your ribs, but on your throat. To clear up any confusion, that is not healthy. It restricts oxygen from going into your lungs. Enter a spotter who snags it off your windpipe. That is valuable for staying alive. So is the Spirit. He is useful for going forward. Enter the Holy Spirit who prays for our good.
Not one thing gets by God the Father. He is the One “who searches our hearts” (Ro 8:27). And he doesn’t need fancy equipment like an X-ray or CT scan, a stethoscope or a microscope to do this thorough inspection like a hound dog sniffing every inch of the yard for the scent of a squirrel. God knows everything (Ps 139:1,2; Pr 20:27)—all the way to the deep, dark recesses. He doesn’t spot any sin because he has scrubbed it all away with Jesus’ blood (1 Jn 1:7).
And if he has that information, it is not surprising that he “knows the mind of the Spirit” (Ro 8:27). The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God. (As well as the Son is God.) They are one. A wife may claim to know what her husband has in mind when it comes to supper, but not always. That is not the case with the Father and the Spirit. He knows what he is thinking and the way he thinks. And they are in complete harmony.
And it comes back to the assistance of the Spirit. “The Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Ro 8:27). Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father in heaven, … your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9,10). The Holy Spirit prays that perfectly—what is in line with what God wants. There are no misunderstandings or miscommunications. And his desire is only for the best of his loved ones. Or as Paul put it—“the saints” (Ro 8:27). That is, holy ones. Because that is what the Holy Spirit has made us—free from sin and far from sin. It is for us that he prays. That doesn’t make us sloppy in our prayer life, but steady. The Holy Spirit can take bumbling, fumbling prayers and make them beautiful, fantastic prayers. And God hears them and answers them. Enter the Holy Spirit who prays for our good—what is best and what is beneficial.
There will always be things that we simply cannot do—even all together. But one of them is not prayer just like those heroes in the Bible. We have the opportunity to pray. We have the encouragement to pray. And not only that, enter the Holy Spirit as he prays on our behalf and for our good. With him, “I can’t” becomes “I can.” Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
August 6, 2017
Monday, July 31, 2017
The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Isaiah 55:10-13)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
The words that come out of our mouths are powerful. [Slide 2] You know that.
They can discourage when someone is riding high like “nice try”—indicating failure. One’s self-esteem sinks.
They can encourage when someone is feeling down like “nice job”—implying success. A person’s self-confidence soars.
If that is true of what we say, how much more of what God states. It is effective. It is like a seed that is planted in the ground. [Slide 3] God’s Word brings about growth. Isaiah mentions that reason for his Word and that result from his Word as we read from …
Isaiah 55:10-13
Dear People of God who brings us to faith and builds up our faith,
Perhaps you are beginning to enjoy some lettuce or peas or strawberries or peppers from your garden [Slide 4] (if you planted one—it will always be an “if” with me, but I realize that some people like to poke around in the dirt with their green thumbs). If not, it won’t be long until those things make it to your table.
But what did you do to cause the fruits or vegetables? [Slide 5] You can answer, “I watered. I weeded.” But in reality, God gets the credit for the liquid from the hose or the plant in the soil. King David, who was more accustomed to shepherding, was also acquainted with farming. As a psalmist, he had us sing about God: “You care for the land and water it; … you soften it with showers and bless its crops” (Ps 65:9,10). [Slide 6] It is that way with the harvest in a field. So it is with faith in a heart. The Lord stands behind both.
God’s Word Brings about Growth
1. There is that reason for his Word (10,11)
2. There is that result from his Word (12,13)
1. There is the reason for his Word (10,11)
The problem is, or my problem is, impatience. [Slide 7] It is like the student who puts some seeds in a plastic cup at night for a science fair project due the next day and in the morning expects to see something sticking up. But it will come. Later. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
Isaiah takes us to the world of agriculture—specifically the hydrological cycle. [Slide 8] Moisture first comes down from the clouds and then runs along the earth and finally goes back to the sky. It is a simplified version of the water cycle—a circle of precipitation and evaporation. Isaiah makes reference to it [Slide 9]: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish” (Is 55:10). But there is a purpose for it: “so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater” (Is 55:10). There is seed for the future and bread for the present. [Slide 10]
But this is not just a lesson in cultivating, but a comparison for learning. Isaiah makes that connection: “so [as in, “in the same manner”] is my word that goes out from my mouth” (Is 55:11). [Slide 11] Note whose word it is—“my word.” God makes contact with sinners through words, words about Jesus (Jn 1:1). We do not make them up. We only make them known. They are from the Lord (Is 7:7; 2 Pe 1:21; 2 Ti 3:15). That is why we refer to the Bible as “God’s Word.” That is what it is—from beginning to end. It is through God’s inspiration, not from man’s imagination.
And there is a point for the message from his mouth: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is 55:11). In other words, his word works (He 4:12). The Word is never sown without an outcome—sometimes right away, other times later on just like some flowers bloom earlier than others. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Co 15:58). That comes down to two things: rejection or acceptance. There is either a hardening of the heart or a healing of it (cf. Is 6:9,10).
That sounds like Jesus’ parable of the sower. [Slide 12] The seed was the same. The reception was different.
There were the hard-hearted hearers. “Some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up” (Mt 13:4). [Slide 13] The devil sneaks in and steals it away. He convinces people to despise and disregard God’s Word as foolishness or for the simple (1 Co 1:18). That is how our hearts were by nature—like stone or cement. But the Holy Spirit has opened our ears to listen (Mt 13:9).
There were the faint-hearted hearers. “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root” (Mt 13:5,6). [Slide 14] There was initial excitement along with enthusiasm. But not for long. The pressures from the outside push the faith down and push it away. We need to stay close to God’s Word for strength and support in the difficulties and dangers.
There were the half-hearted hearers. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Mt 13:7). [Slide 15] That can happen when one frets over stuff—“Will I have enough?”—and falls for lies—“I need more things.” We can be thankful that we have a loving Father in heaven who provides for our bodies and our souls.
There were the true-hearted hearers. “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Mt 13:). [Slide 16] The Lord creates faith—the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Ro 1:16). We acknowledge our sin and appreciate our Savior. And God keeps us in that faith. And then there is fruit (Ga 5:22,23). We mature just like we continue to water the garden through the summer and see progress in the plants. That happens in us and it is what God delights in. We love God and love one another. We do our jobs and fulfill our responsibilities. All out of thanks.
That is why God conveys his Word to us. He wants us to look at his love and live in that love. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
2. That is the result from his Word (12,13)
Imagine the thrill when that first little shoot of green appears in the solo cup for the science fair assignment. [Slide 17] Not just because there won’t be an “F” in the grade book, but because there is life in a red cup. That is exciting. God’s Word brings about growth like that. There is that result from his Word.
As we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18), we enjoy two beautiful blessings. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (Is 55:12). [Slide 18]
There is joy—gladness, both inside and outside. It is apparent in our attitude and actions as we recognize that Jesus died and rose for us.
There is peace. All is right between us and God through Jesus.
Think back to Israel’s history. There was the exodus from Egypt. [Slide 19] God brought them out of the cruel slavery there to the Promised Land. And then in Isaiah’s day, there was the reminder that a remnant would return from the captivity in Babylon. But those only pointed ahead to the greatest exit of all. When God takes his own to their home in heaven—God’s final deliverance.
Isaiah includes the happiness that will spread even to nature. “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Is 55:12). [Slide 20] When sin entered into the world, it affected the world. Now we talk in terms of hurricanes and tsunamis, droughts and famines. The apostle Paul captured that thought when he commented: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Ro 8:22). But notice the illustration. When a mother delivers a child, there is new life. So with us. We wait in hope for that great day when Jesus returns for us. Pains and problems and disease and death will no longer touch us. No wonder Paul exclaimed: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18). [Slide 21] The idea is of a balance scale. It tips in favor of heaven. We long for that day and look forward to it. Isaiah pictures the great change in a poetic way turning to nature again: “Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow” (Is 55:13)—from something useless like a stinging nettle to something useful like a majestic tree.
God gets the glory for that. In ancient times, a king might erect a monument to commemorate an accomplishment like a victory in battle. [Slide 22] But another monarch might destroy it or the wind might deface it. Isaiah closes with the fact that God saving us will not be that way. Ever. “This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed” (Is 55:13). [Slide 23] That God has freed us from sin and death will endure forever. God’s Word brings about growth. Heaven is that result from his Word where there will be unending joy and peace.
Words are like seeds. Both have power. God’s Word does. [Slide 24] It brings about growth. There is that reason for God’s Word. We pay attention to his Word and get ready for our home. There is that result from God’s Word. As Jesus remarked, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Mt 13:9). We are. And we do. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
July 30, 2017
The words that come out of our mouths are powerful. [Slide 2] You know that.
They can discourage when someone is riding high like “nice try”—indicating failure. One’s self-esteem sinks.
They can encourage when someone is feeling down like “nice job”—implying success. A person’s self-confidence soars.
If that is true of what we say, how much more of what God states. It is effective. It is like a seed that is planted in the ground. [Slide 3] God’s Word brings about growth. Isaiah mentions that reason for his Word and that result from his Word as we read from …
Isaiah 55:10-13
Dear People of God who brings us to faith and builds up our faith,
Perhaps you are beginning to enjoy some lettuce or peas or strawberries or peppers from your garden [Slide 4] (if you planted one—it will always be an “if” with me, but I realize that some people like to poke around in the dirt with their green thumbs). If not, it won’t be long until those things make it to your table.
But what did you do to cause the fruits or vegetables? [Slide 5] You can answer, “I watered. I weeded.” But in reality, God gets the credit for the liquid from the hose or the plant in the soil. King David, who was more accustomed to shepherding, was also acquainted with farming. As a psalmist, he had us sing about God: “You care for the land and water it; … you soften it with showers and bless its crops” (Ps 65:9,10). [Slide 6] It is that way with the harvest in a field. So it is with faith in a heart. The Lord stands behind both.
God’s Word Brings about Growth
1. There is that reason for his Word (10,11)
2. There is that result from his Word (12,13)
1. There is the reason for his Word (10,11)
The problem is, or my problem is, impatience. [Slide 7] It is like the student who puts some seeds in a plastic cup at night for a science fair project due the next day and in the morning expects to see something sticking up. But it will come. Later. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
Isaiah takes us to the world of agriculture—specifically the hydrological cycle. [Slide 8] Moisture first comes down from the clouds and then runs along the earth and finally goes back to the sky. It is a simplified version of the water cycle—a circle of precipitation and evaporation. Isaiah makes reference to it [Slide 9]: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish” (Is 55:10). But there is a purpose for it: “so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater” (Is 55:10). There is seed for the future and bread for the present. [Slide 10]
But this is not just a lesson in cultivating, but a comparison for learning. Isaiah makes that connection: “so [as in, “in the same manner”] is my word that goes out from my mouth” (Is 55:11). [Slide 11] Note whose word it is—“my word.” God makes contact with sinners through words, words about Jesus (Jn 1:1). We do not make them up. We only make them known. They are from the Lord (Is 7:7; 2 Pe 1:21; 2 Ti 3:15). That is why we refer to the Bible as “God’s Word.” That is what it is—from beginning to end. It is through God’s inspiration, not from man’s imagination.
And there is a point for the message from his mouth: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is 55:11). In other words, his word works (He 4:12). The Word is never sown without an outcome—sometimes right away, other times later on just like some flowers bloom earlier than others. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Co 15:58). That comes down to two things: rejection or acceptance. There is either a hardening of the heart or a healing of it (cf. Is 6:9,10).
That sounds like Jesus’ parable of the sower. [Slide 12] The seed was the same. The reception was different.
There were the hard-hearted hearers. “Some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up” (Mt 13:4). [Slide 13] The devil sneaks in and steals it away. He convinces people to despise and disregard God’s Word as foolishness or for the simple (1 Co 1:18). That is how our hearts were by nature—like stone or cement. But the Holy Spirit has opened our ears to listen (Mt 13:9).
There were the faint-hearted hearers. “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root” (Mt 13:5,6). [Slide 14] There was initial excitement along with enthusiasm. But not for long. The pressures from the outside push the faith down and push it away. We need to stay close to God’s Word for strength and support in the difficulties and dangers.
There were the half-hearted hearers. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Mt 13:7). [Slide 15] That can happen when one frets over stuff—“Will I have enough?”—and falls for lies—“I need more things.” We can be thankful that we have a loving Father in heaven who provides for our bodies and our souls.
There were the true-hearted hearers. “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Mt 13:). [Slide 16] The Lord creates faith—the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Ro 1:16). We acknowledge our sin and appreciate our Savior. And God keeps us in that faith. And then there is fruit (Ga 5:22,23). We mature just like we continue to water the garden through the summer and see progress in the plants. That happens in us and it is what God delights in. We love God and love one another. We do our jobs and fulfill our responsibilities. All out of thanks.
That is why God conveys his Word to us. He wants us to look at his love and live in that love. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
2. That is the result from his Word (12,13)
Imagine the thrill when that first little shoot of green appears in the solo cup for the science fair assignment. [Slide 17] Not just because there won’t be an “F” in the grade book, but because there is life in a red cup. That is exciting. God’s Word brings about growth like that. There is that result from his Word.
As we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18), we enjoy two beautiful blessings. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (Is 55:12). [Slide 18]
There is joy—gladness, both inside and outside. It is apparent in our attitude and actions as we recognize that Jesus died and rose for us.
There is peace. All is right between us and God through Jesus.
Think back to Israel’s history. There was the exodus from Egypt. [Slide 19] God brought them out of the cruel slavery there to the Promised Land. And then in Isaiah’s day, there was the reminder that a remnant would return from the captivity in Babylon. But those only pointed ahead to the greatest exit of all. When God takes his own to their home in heaven—God’s final deliverance.
Isaiah includes the happiness that will spread even to nature. “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Is 55:12). [Slide 20] When sin entered into the world, it affected the world. Now we talk in terms of hurricanes and tsunamis, droughts and famines. The apostle Paul captured that thought when he commented: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Ro 8:22). But notice the illustration. When a mother delivers a child, there is new life. So with us. We wait in hope for that great day when Jesus returns for us. Pains and problems and disease and death will no longer touch us. No wonder Paul exclaimed: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18). [Slide 21] The idea is of a balance scale. It tips in favor of heaven. We long for that day and look forward to it. Isaiah pictures the great change in a poetic way turning to nature again: “Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow” (Is 55:13)—from something useless like a stinging nettle to something useful like a majestic tree.
God gets the glory for that. In ancient times, a king might erect a monument to commemorate an accomplishment like a victory in battle. [Slide 22] But another monarch might destroy it or the wind might deface it. Isaiah closes with the fact that God saving us will not be that way. Ever. “This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed” (Is 55:13). [Slide 23] That God has freed us from sin and death will endure forever. God’s Word brings about growth. Heaven is that result from his Word where there will be unending joy and peace.
Words are like seeds. Both have power. God’s Word does. [Slide 24] It brings about growth. There is that reason for God’s Word. We pay attention to his Word and get ready for our home. There is that result from God’s Word. As Jesus remarked, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Mt 13:9). We are. And we do. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
July 30, 2017
Sunday, July 23, 2017
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 11:25-30)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
I was reminded of this the other day. It shows what kind of friends that I have. Just not the quality. I will let you be the judge.
A few weeks before his wedding, my buddy realized that he did not mail the wedding party an invitation to the big day. In his defense, since everyone dropped a few dollars on a black tux or a beautiful dress, they had already somewhat committed to attend. So he snagged the one remaining invitation that they had left, slapped it on the photocopier, and sent it out. (This was before color copies so it came out a blurry black and white.) You can never accuse him of being sentimental. He hasn’t changed either. He also recently denied ever doing this.
What if you got that from the postman? Perhaps the questions would cross your mind, “Is this for me? And is this for real?” We don’t have to wonder with Jesus. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise and with a word of promise. We read from …
Matthew 10:25-30
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, who praises his Father and promises his faithful,
If I remember correctly, the fancy, duplicated wedding invite from the bride and groom read, “Best man and guest.” I was the best man. Apparently now I had to find an unnamed guest. It was along the lines of, “You and fill in the blank.”
Maybe you have been in that awkward situation before. You happen to be at the right place at the wrong time. You are standing with someone who gets invited to some sort of an event like a birthday party and then the person spots you. You hear: “Oh yeah, you can come too, if you want.” That is not a ringing endorsement for your presence.
That is not Jesus. He is genuine.
Jesus’ Invitation Is Real
1. With word of praise (25-27)
2. With a word of promise (28-30)
1. With word of praise (25-27)
Not every invitation is a welcome one. A dad who shouts down the stairs to his son, “Come here right now,” is probably not going to share how proud he is of an unmade bed. Jesus is the opposite as he speaks to us. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise.
That is how Jesus began: “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth’” (Mt 11:25). He addresses his Father—who is over all creation and above all creatures—and announces his thanks. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Mt 11:25). What are “these things?” It is the reality that Jesus came to remove the sin of all and rescue all from Satan. That includes us.
But not everyone sees that. In fact, to the highly educated and the extremely intelligent that seems simple or silly, if not foolish (1 Co 1:18). They have their smarts and their brains—titles before and initials after their names. But their advanced education gets in the way of appreciating Jesus for who he is. Who needs Jesus’ invitation? To them, “these things” remain covered.
There are those who celebrate them. To those who turn to and trust in Jesus Christ and him crucified with the faith of a child, the Father uncovers true wisdom (1 Co 1:23,24). That doesn’t mean that we have no intellect. The Father has given us our exceptional bodies and incredible minds with all of our unique abilities (Explanation to the First Article). But when Jesus guarantees us that our guilt is gone for good, we grab ahold of that as a little one takes mommy and daddy at their word. There is no doubt or distrust.
Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Co 12:3). It is not a human accomplishment for a few like the individual who devotes hours and hours to completing classes and writing essays to hang a masters degree on the wall or have a doctoral hat on the head. Those are not wrong in and of themselves. God doesn’t hinge our salvation on several graduations and certain diplomas. That might fill some with pride because of what they have achieved and leave others with despair because of what they have not accomplished. But none of that has a part in becoming a child of God.
No. We look to the Lord. To us the good news about Jesus is uncovered like we open a gift to find out what is inside the wrapping paper. That is the way God wants it. That is why Jesus added: “Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure” (Mt 11:26). It is not dependent on our IQ, but on God’s kindness to the littlest baby to the oldest adult.
A lawyer who passes the law exam is qualified to work in a courtroom. Jesus is qualified to make God known to us because he is God (Jn 1:18; 14:6). “All things have been committed to me by my Father” (Mt 11:27). And so Jesus relays valuable information to us. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Mt 11:27). If we want to know the Father, we have to go through the Son just like I would have to inform you about my dad. Jesus shows us the Father’s heart, so filled with love that he dispatched his Son to die in our place (Jn 3:16). Jesus’ invitation for us to come is real with a word of praise to his Father. He allows us to believe in him and the One he sent.
2. With a word of promise (28-30)
Some invitations are wanted. A husband’s stomach is touching his backbone because he is famished after a long day. His wife calls him from the other room: “Come here right now to eat.” Everything is on the table. That is nice. So is what Jesus presents. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of promise.
Most invitations start with that one word, “Come” (Mt 11:28). So does Jesus as he addresses his “little children” (Mt 11:25)—those who hold to him completely, us. He gives; we receive.
And he is specific when he extends his offer. “Come to me” (Mt 11:28). We may be tempted to go to someone else or someplace else. We find another who tells us what we want, “You aren’t so bad.” Or we fill up our days so full that we don’t have time to dwell on our broken relationship with God. Or we make resolutions that tomorrow we are going to try harder to make God happier. But how does that work? We can’t wish sin away, schedule it away, or plan it away. Only Jesus can take it away.
And not just some or several. “Come to me, all” (Mt 11:28). Not even we are left out. It is in that little word “all.” Listen closely and carefully. It is not just the woman at Jacob’s well to whom Jesus gave living water (Jn 4:10). Or the little man Zacchaeus up in a tree whom Jesus came to seek and to save (Lk 19:10). All (Ro 6:23). You. And me.
And so he continues: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Mt 11:28). He mentions two characteristics. We can put a check by each of them. We have been there or are there.
“Weary” (Mt 11:28). You know the feeling if you have ever mowed the lawn in the heat is in the 90s and the humidity is about the same. That doesn’t even take into account the dew point. That is ongoing—weary.
“Burdened” (Mt 11:28). It is like a tug boat pushing one of those barges down the mighty Mississippi that ride low to the water because they are loaded down. That is the state where we stand—burdened.
How do we get to that point? It is not the temperature outside or the cargo riverside. It is the weight of a guilty conscience. The apostle Paul felt it as he fought it. We echo his sentiments: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Ro 7:18,19). That beats us up and beats us down as we drag around that stinky garbage bag of wrongs—things done and not done. And that doesn’t even take into account the steady problems and significant pains that wear on us—from our bills to our blisters.
And to those Jesus holds out the word of promise: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). This is not an exotic vacation to a sandy beach, swinging on a hammock underneath some palm trees (as pleasant as that might sound right now). Jesus is emphatic: “This is what I will do. I will refresh you.” It was Augustine, an early church father, who once contended: “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” And we do. All because Jesus picked up our sin and paid for it on the cross (Is 53:4-6; Jn 1:29). He gives us a clean heart in exchange for a dirty one. We reiterate what Paul reminded us: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Ro 7:24,25). Or what the psalmist had us sing: “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise” (Ps 145:3).
And then he goes with us in the journey of life as he guaranteed to Moses as the Israelites would make their way through the wilderness. “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14). He would make good on that as well as sending the One who would be the perfect “Rest-giver”—Jesus.
And that rest changes life. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt 11:29,30). A yoke is a wooden bar that sat across the shoulders of two oxen. It tied them together to pull a big cart or plow. It was a symbol of slavery. That is what the law does. It causes us to groan because of its demands of constant and continual striving for perfection.
But we are fastened to Jesus who kept the law perfectly for us and in our place. So then the law is no longer difficult, but delightful. It is not something that we have to do, but get to do—cheerfully and willingly. We take pleasure in what God asks of us to give him thanks. It is not a chore to wash the bowls in the sink if you are going to fill them with ice cream. It comes down to a changed attitude. And to top it off, he bears us up and carries us along both in happiness and heartache. Jesus’ real invitation does that with his word of promise to give us refreshment and renewal.
I haven’t gotten a wedding invite for a while. They are not hard to recognize. There is elegant script on the note and a self-addressed envelope. (I am not sure what that special sheet of crepe paper is for. I don’t know if that would work on a photocopier.) Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise to his Father for wisdom about him and with his word of promise to his faithful of rest from sin. Enjoy that wisdom and that rest. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
July 23, 2017
I was reminded of this the other day. It shows what kind of friends that I have. Just not the quality. I will let you be the judge.
A few weeks before his wedding, my buddy realized that he did not mail the wedding party an invitation to the big day. In his defense, since everyone dropped a few dollars on a black tux or a beautiful dress, they had already somewhat committed to attend. So he snagged the one remaining invitation that they had left, slapped it on the photocopier, and sent it out. (This was before color copies so it came out a blurry black and white.) You can never accuse him of being sentimental. He hasn’t changed either. He also recently denied ever doing this.
What if you got that from the postman? Perhaps the questions would cross your mind, “Is this for me? And is this for real?” We don’t have to wonder with Jesus. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise and with a word of promise. We read from …
Matthew 10:25-30
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, who praises his Father and promises his faithful,
If I remember correctly, the fancy, duplicated wedding invite from the bride and groom read, “Best man and guest.” I was the best man. Apparently now I had to find an unnamed guest. It was along the lines of, “You and fill in the blank.”
Maybe you have been in that awkward situation before. You happen to be at the right place at the wrong time. You are standing with someone who gets invited to some sort of an event like a birthday party and then the person spots you. You hear: “Oh yeah, you can come too, if you want.” That is not a ringing endorsement for your presence.
That is not Jesus. He is genuine.
Jesus’ Invitation Is Real
1. With word of praise (25-27)
2. With a word of promise (28-30)
1. With word of praise (25-27)
Not every invitation is a welcome one. A dad who shouts down the stairs to his son, “Come here right now,” is probably not going to share how proud he is of an unmade bed. Jesus is the opposite as he speaks to us. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise.
That is how Jesus began: “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth’” (Mt 11:25). He addresses his Father—who is over all creation and above all creatures—and announces his thanks. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Mt 11:25). What are “these things?” It is the reality that Jesus came to remove the sin of all and rescue all from Satan. That includes us.
But not everyone sees that. In fact, to the highly educated and the extremely intelligent that seems simple or silly, if not foolish (1 Co 1:18). They have their smarts and their brains—titles before and initials after their names. But their advanced education gets in the way of appreciating Jesus for who he is. Who needs Jesus’ invitation? To them, “these things” remain covered.
There are those who celebrate them. To those who turn to and trust in Jesus Christ and him crucified with the faith of a child, the Father uncovers true wisdom (1 Co 1:23,24). That doesn’t mean that we have no intellect. The Father has given us our exceptional bodies and incredible minds with all of our unique abilities (Explanation to the First Article). But when Jesus guarantees us that our guilt is gone for good, we grab ahold of that as a little one takes mommy and daddy at their word. There is no doubt or distrust.
Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Co 12:3). It is not a human accomplishment for a few like the individual who devotes hours and hours to completing classes and writing essays to hang a masters degree on the wall or have a doctoral hat on the head. Those are not wrong in and of themselves. God doesn’t hinge our salvation on several graduations and certain diplomas. That might fill some with pride because of what they have achieved and leave others with despair because of what they have not accomplished. But none of that has a part in becoming a child of God.
No. We look to the Lord. To us the good news about Jesus is uncovered like we open a gift to find out what is inside the wrapping paper. That is the way God wants it. That is why Jesus added: “Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure” (Mt 11:26). It is not dependent on our IQ, but on God’s kindness to the littlest baby to the oldest adult.
A lawyer who passes the law exam is qualified to work in a courtroom. Jesus is qualified to make God known to us because he is God (Jn 1:18; 14:6). “All things have been committed to me by my Father” (Mt 11:27). And so Jesus relays valuable information to us. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Mt 11:27). If we want to know the Father, we have to go through the Son just like I would have to inform you about my dad. Jesus shows us the Father’s heart, so filled with love that he dispatched his Son to die in our place (Jn 3:16). Jesus’ invitation for us to come is real with a word of praise to his Father. He allows us to believe in him and the One he sent.
2. With a word of promise (28-30)
Some invitations are wanted. A husband’s stomach is touching his backbone because he is famished after a long day. His wife calls him from the other room: “Come here right now to eat.” Everything is on the table. That is nice. So is what Jesus presents. Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of promise.
Most invitations start with that one word, “Come” (Mt 11:28). So does Jesus as he addresses his “little children” (Mt 11:25)—those who hold to him completely, us. He gives; we receive.
And he is specific when he extends his offer. “Come to me” (Mt 11:28). We may be tempted to go to someone else or someplace else. We find another who tells us what we want, “You aren’t so bad.” Or we fill up our days so full that we don’t have time to dwell on our broken relationship with God. Or we make resolutions that tomorrow we are going to try harder to make God happier. But how does that work? We can’t wish sin away, schedule it away, or plan it away. Only Jesus can take it away.
And not just some or several. “Come to me, all” (Mt 11:28). Not even we are left out. It is in that little word “all.” Listen closely and carefully. It is not just the woman at Jacob’s well to whom Jesus gave living water (Jn 4:10). Or the little man Zacchaeus up in a tree whom Jesus came to seek and to save (Lk 19:10). All (Ro 6:23). You. And me.
And so he continues: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Mt 11:28). He mentions two characteristics. We can put a check by each of them. We have been there or are there.
“Weary” (Mt 11:28). You know the feeling if you have ever mowed the lawn in the heat is in the 90s and the humidity is about the same. That doesn’t even take into account the dew point. That is ongoing—weary.
“Burdened” (Mt 11:28). It is like a tug boat pushing one of those barges down the mighty Mississippi that ride low to the water because they are loaded down. That is the state where we stand—burdened.
How do we get to that point? It is not the temperature outside or the cargo riverside. It is the weight of a guilty conscience. The apostle Paul felt it as he fought it. We echo his sentiments: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Ro 7:18,19). That beats us up and beats us down as we drag around that stinky garbage bag of wrongs—things done and not done. And that doesn’t even take into account the steady problems and significant pains that wear on us—from our bills to our blisters.
And to those Jesus holds out the word of promise: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). This is not an exotic vacation to a sandy beach, swinging on a hammock underneath some palm trees (as pleasant as that might sound right now). Jesus is emphatic: “This is what I will do. I will refresh you.” It was Augustine, an early church father, who once contended: “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” And we do. All because Jesus picked up our sin and paid for it on the cross (Is 53:4-6; Jn 1:29). He gives us a clean heart in exchange for a dirty one. We reiterate what Paul reminded us: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Ro 7:24,25). Or what the psalmist had us sing: “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise” (Ps 145:3).
And then he goes with us in the journey of life as he guaranteed to Moses as the Israelites would make their way through the wilderness. “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Ex 33:14). He would make good on that as well as sending the One who would be the perfect “Rest-giver”—Jesus.
And that rest changes life. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mt 11:29,30). A yoke is a wooden bar that sat across the shoulders of two oxen. It tied them together to pull a big cart or plow. It was a symbol of slavery. That is what the law does. It causes us to groan because of its demands of constant and continual striving for perfection.
But we are fastened to Jesus who kept the law perfectly for us and in our place. So then the law is no longer difficult, but delightful. It is not something that we have to do, but get to do—cheerfully and willingly. We take pleasure in what God asks of us to give him thanks. It is not a chore to wash the bowls in the sink if you are going to fill them with ice cream. It comes down to a changed attitude. And to top it off, he bears us up and carries us along both in happiness and heartache. Jesus’ real invitation does that with his word of promise to give us refreshment and renewal.
I haven’t gotten a wedding invite for a while. They are not hard to recognize. There is elegant script on the note and a self-addressed envelope. (I am not sure what that special sheet of crepe paper is for. I don’t know if that would work on a photocopier.) Jesus’ invitation is real with a word of praise to his Father for wisdom about him and with his word of promise to his faithful of rest from sin. Enjoy that wisdom and that rest. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
July 23, 2017
Monday, July 17, 2017
The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 10:34-42)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
Perhaps it depends on who you are. Possibly it differs with each of you. But have you ever thought of what the majority of your communication is? Is it in person or through devices? In other words, is it face-to-face talking or phone-to-phone texting? Finally we have both. And both have their place and their purpose.
But is there a disadvantage to what is written as opposed to what is spoken? At times. So that someone understands our humorous tone in a message, we include an appropriate emoji or additional “j/k” (“just kidding”). If we type an email, there is bold print or all-caps for emphasis. (You can argue if that is stressing the point or screaming at the person.)
We have Jesus’ spoken word in the written Word. There are times when what he says is easy to get. Like “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). God loved. God gave. God saved. It is simple. And straightforward.
Then there are those instances when what he states is harder to grasp. It takes a bit more effort and energy to digest. (Good thing that we have it in black and white or red and white to go back to reread and rethink.) What we have to chew on is more along those lines. As Jesus talks and Matthew transcribes, we listen in to Jesus’ words as Jesus describes a worthy disciple in a series of statements. He wants to encourage us, not discourage us.
Jesus is wrapping up his instruction to the 12 as he gets them ready for their mini-preaching tour among their own people. As he commissions them, they were to heal the sick and preach the Gospel (Mt 10:7,8). The final terms are realistic and specific, if not shocking and revealing.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Mt 10:34). More than likely we sit up a bit straighter when that crosses our ears. “What is that, Jesus?” Jesus’ reason for coming to this earth was to restore peace—peace between us and God. Sin destroyed that bond. Instead of harmony, there was hostility. But Jesus died on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead. Our guilt is gone. Our rescue is real. Now the “prince of peace” gives peace as a gift (Is 9:6; Jn 14:27). Jesus established that peace and we enjoy it. As the apostle Paul put it: we are now “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Ro 6:11). It is baptism that connects us to Christ’s death and resurrection. He demands nothing from us and delivers everything to us. We might label it a “vertical peace.”
Jesus is referencing a “horizontal peace”—between believers and unbelievers. And those are the only two categories that people fall into. There is a clear-cut division—for him or against him. It is one or the other, no in between. And sadly there will be friction between the two (Ge 3:15). That has been going on a long time. And it will continue. Even, as Jesus mentions, possibly in one’s own family (cf. Mi 7:6): “For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’” (Mt 10:35).
That could play out in different, sad scenarios. A father believes in the one true God and his son belittles him. A daughter is regular in worship while her mother is reluctant to attend. A mother-in-law is at odds with her daughter-in-law, not because of how she cleans, but what she confesses about her sin and her Savior. Where Jesus is not at the center of the house, there will be strife in that house—even to the point of enemies. We might be tempted to hide our faith, rather than highlight it. Or we downplay sin instead of denouncing it.
Not even natural attachments are not to interfere or inhibit. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37). It is not as if Jesus is like a jealous boyfriend. He is not against normal ties—sons respecting fathers and daughters revering mothers, fathers caring for and mothers cuddling children. He had a mother whom he loved. The key is the comparison—“more than,” in the sense of “over and above.” The Fourth Commandment is still in force: “Honor your father and mother.” But the First Commandment is foremost: “You shall have no other gods.” Our fear, love, and trust in God are to surpass everyone and everything (Ex 20:3; Mt 22:37). Love for God is primary, not secondary. Jesus does not stand for equal billing like costars in a movie (Is 42:8). That is Jesus’ description of a worthy disciple.
And he continues: “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:38). Jesus’ cross that he would pick up is down the road a bit. But the disciples knew what crucifixion entailed when the Romans condemned a person to that instrument of torture. There was intense suffering and that lead to eventual death. So it was for those men and us. Along with them, we can expect persecution and pain as we go after Christ. When we acknowledge Jesus (Mt 10:32), we anticipate that there might be those who mock us for our different language, not cursing or swearing. Or there are those who will make fun of us for our different lifestyle, contributing our money to the work of the church and spending time to care for the church. The cross may not be small or convenient. Maybe it means giving up an hour in front of the TV to be in God’s Word—not just on a Sunday, but any weekday. But it is specific and comprehensive as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Pe 3:18).
And Jesus adds that it is not halfway, but all the way. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt 10:39). At first that seems like a contradiction. It is not. If life on earth with all of its expensive accommodations and exotic vacations is the be all and end all, that will be all and not end well. It is not that those things are wrong. They are not to be our priority. But when we find joy in our right relationship with God through Jesus, we have the good life right now and forever. We can sing with the psalmist: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness” (Ps 89:15,16).
Jesus concludes his conversation with a reminder about the reaction as the 12 head out. They were to faithful like Jeremiah, even in the face of opposition like he encountered with Hananiah (Je 28:5-9). They were to proclaim peace, peace through Jesus. Some would reject; some would rejoice. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Mt 10:40-42). This is not a reward for service rendered. Salvation is a gift. This is a reward of grace. Those who welcomed God’s devoted disciples—even by simple actions like a refreshing drink—would share in what they had—the comfort of knowing that sin is removed and that heaven is reserved. That is how Jesus describes a worthy disciple. It is not dependent on us, but on him. It is not to get something because he has given us everything.
It doesn’t matter if you are with somebody or write to somebody to communicate. As long as you are clear. Your words are to be helpful, not hurtful. Especially when it comes to conveying what it means to be a listener and learner of Christ—a disciple. We don’t have to come up with that on our own. Jesus describes a worthy disciple. We have peace in life on earth and into eternity as we put God first—ahead of all people and along with all people.
We read from Matthew 10:34-42:
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Ro 15:4). Amen.
July 16, 2017
Perhaps it depends on who you are. Possibly it differs with each of you. But have you ever thought of what the majority of your communication is? Is it in person or through devices? In other words, is it face-to-face talking or phone-to-phone texting? Finally we have both. And both have their place and their purpose.
But is there a disadvantage to what is written as opposed to what is spoken? At times. So that someone understands our humorous tone in a message, we include an appropriate emoji or additional “j/k” (“just kidding”). If we type an email, there is bold print or all-caps for emphasis. (You can argue if that is stressing the point or screaming at the person.)
We have Jesus’ spoken word in the written Word. There are times when what he says is easy to get. Like “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). God loved. God gave. God saved. It is simple. And straightforward.
Then there are those instances when what he states is harder to grasp. It takes a bit more effort and energy to digest. (Good thing that we have it in black and white or red and white to go back to reread and rethink.) What we have to chew on is more along those lines. As Jesus talks and Matthew transcribes, we listen in to Jesus’ words as Jesus describes a worthy disciple in a series of statements. He wants to encourage us, not discourage us.
Jesus is wrapping up his instruction to the 12 as he gets them ready for their mini-preaching tour among their own people. As he commissions them, they were to heal the sick and preach the Gospel (Mt 10:7,8). The final terms are realistic and specific, if not shocking and revealing.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Mt 10:34). More than likely we sit up a bit straighter when that crosses our ears. “What is that, Jesus?” Jesus’ reason for coming to this earth was to restore peace—peace between us and God. Sin destroyed that bond. Instead of harmony, there was hostility. But Jesus died on the cross. Jesus rose from the dead. Our guilt is gone. Our rescue is real. Now the “prince of peace” gives peace as a gift (Is 9:6; Jn 14:27). Jesus established that peace and we enjoy it. As the apostle Paul put it: we are now “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Ro 6:11). It is baptism that connects us to Christ’s death and resurrection. He demands nothing from us and delivers everything to us. We might label it a “vertical peace.”
Jesus is referencing a “horizontal peace”—between believers and unbelievers. And those are the only two categories that people fall into. There is a clear-cut division—for him or against him. It is one or the other, no in between. And sadly there will be friction between the two (Ge 3:15). That has been going on a long time. And it will continue. Even, as Jesus mentions, possibly in one’s own family (cf. Mi 7:6): “For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’” (Mt 10:35).
That could play out in different, sad scenarios. A father believes in the one true God and his son belittles him. A daughter is regular in worship while her mother is reluctant to attend. A mother-in-law is at odds with her daughter-in-law, not because of how she cleans, but what she confesses about her sin and her Savior. Where Jesus is not at the center of the house, there will be strife in that house—even to the point of enemies. We might be tempted to hide our faith, rather than highlight it. Or we downplay sin instead of denouncing it.
Not even natural attachments are not to interfere or inhibit. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:37). It is not as if Jesus is like a jealous boyfriend. He is not against normal ties—sons respecting fathers and daughters revering mothers, fathers caring for and mothers cuddling children. He had a mother whom he loved. The key is the comparison—“more than,” in the sense of “over and above.” The Fourth Commandment is still in force: “Honor your father and mother.” But the First Commandment is foremost: “You shall have no other gods.” Our fear, love, and trust in God are to surpass everyone and everything (Ex 20:3; Mt 22:37). Love for God is primary, not secondary. Jesus does not stand for equal billing like costars in a movie (Is 42:8). That is Jesus’ description of a worthy disciple.
And he continues: “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt 10:38). Jesus’ cross that he would pick up is down the road a bit. But the disciples knew what crucifixion entailed when the Romans condemned a person to that instrument of torture. There was intense suffering and that lead to eventual death. So it was for those men and us. Along with them, we can expect persecution and pain as we go after Christ. When we acknowledge Jesus (Mt 10:32), we anticipate that there might be those who mock us for our different language, not cursing or swearing. Or there are those who will make fun of us for our different lifestyle, contributing our money to the work of the church and spending time to care for the church. The cross may not be small or convenient. Maybe it means giving up an hour in front of the TV to be in God’s Word—not just on a Sunday, but any weekday. But it is specific and comprehensive as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Pe 3:18).
And Jesus adds that it is not halfway, but all the way. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt 10:39). At first that seems like a contradiction. It is not. If life on earth with all of its expensive accommodations and exotic vacations is the be all and end all, that will be all and not end well. It is not that those things are wrong. They are not to be our priority. But when we find joy in our right relationship with God through Jesus, we have the good life right now and forever. We can sing with the psalmist: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness” (Ps 89:15,16).
Jesus concludes his conversation with a reminder about the reaction as the 12 head out. They were to faithful like Jeremiah, even in the face of opposition like he encountered with Hananiah (Je 28:5-9). They were to proclaim peace, peace through Jesus. Some would reject; some would rejoice. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Mt 10:40-42). This is not a reward for service rendered. Salvation is a gift. This is a reward of grace. Those who welcomed God’s devoted disciples—even by simple actions like a refreshing drink—would share in what they had—the comfort of knowing that sin is removed and that heaven is reserved. That is how Jesus describes a worthy disciple. It is not dependent on us, but on him. It is not to get something because he has given us everything.
It doesn’t matter if you are with somebody or write to somebody to communicate. As long as you are clear. Your words are to be helpful, not hurtful. Especially when it comes to conveying what it means to be a listener and learner of Christ—a disciple. We don’t have to come up with that on our own. Jesus describes a worthy disciple. We have peace in life on earth and into eternity as we put God first—ahead of all people and along with all people.
We read from Matthew 10:34-42:
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn
“ ‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Ro 15:4). Amen.
July 16, 2017
Monday, July 10, 2017
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Matthew 10:24-33)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
A word ending in –ian explains and expresses that there is a relation to something. I submit two simple examples. A musician has to do with music and a mathematician with math(matics). It is not hard to see.
The same is the case with a Christian. We are connected to Christ, associated with him. That is a good thing. We appreciate it and admit it. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly and faithfully. We read from …
Matthew 10:24-33
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, whom we profess before all and proclaim to all,
If you can play and instrument or solve a problem, I don’t think that is embarrassing. It would be strange for someone to state:
• “I am sorry. I tickle the ivories.”
• “I apologize. I understand algebra.” (Well, maybe that one.)
Hardly. It is who they are. So they will sit at a bench to push keys to make sound—reminding a person of Bach—or behind a desk to punch calculators to find solutions—replacing numbers for letters.
It is no different with a person who knows Jesus. There will be excitement. And so there is the encouragement.
Christian, Confess Christ
1. Fearlessly (24-31)
2. Faithfully (32,33)
1. Fearlessly (24-31)
It is not so much the noise as it is the unknown. When there is a bump in the night under the bed or in the closet, the boy sits up in bed startled. “What was that?” And then the wonder: “Is it going to hurt me or harm me?” That sensation of fright is not something that just strikes a six-year-old. And we also freeze up at times. Jesus inspires us to open up. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly.
Jesus is getting his disciples ready to go out on a little preaching tour into the harvest field (Mt 9:38). They were going to tell the good news that Jesus has arrived. They would copy what they had seen Christ do. They had a mission to go.
But Jesus is clear. He doesn’t fill their head that it would always be great or only be glorious. There would be difficulty and danger. (And after Jesus went into heaven, for all of them except one would be death.) Persecution would be a part of the process. In fact, they could expect the same treatment that Jesus received. It would not be a superiority, but a similarity. Jesus brings that out with a comparison: “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Mt 10:24). What is true of one is true of the other. Jesus was not trying to make them sad, but glad. Their attitude could be like Jesus’ (Php 2:5). “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master” (Mt 10:25). That would be sufficient for them. Think of your favorite teacher or best boss. For an individual to comment, “You are just like him or her,” would be flattering. Now to be sure, there would be rejection. There were those who wanted nothing to do with Jesus, even to the point of one day calling for his crucifixion. But there was also reception, calling on his name. Some would respect the messenger and rejoice about the message. That was to remove any fear.
Jesus is even specific. They could anticipate slander—a lie in order to wreck someone’s reputation. When Jesus performed miracles, the Pharisees preferred to deny him and to declare that he was in league with the devil (Mt 9:34; 12:24), Beelzebub, a name which means “lord of the flies”—like the ones that hover around manure (Mt 10:25). Certainly not a compliment, but also not correct. “If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!” (Mt 10:25). The saying goes: Like father, like son. We could alter that to this: Like Jesus, like disciples. The prophet Jeremiah found that reality. There was ridicule and “reproach all day long” when he opened his mouth with God’s Word (Je 20:8). Even from friends. We might face that same ridicule from those close to us—at home or at work. The charge against us may be that we are unloving or intolerant.
But disciples—present and past—are not to be scared. Ever. “So do not be afraid of them” (Mt 10:26). Why? No plot or plan could be covered up like one hatched in some back room. “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Mt 10:26). Jesus is aware of everything and attentive to his own. Jeremiah could be strong because of the One who stood behind him: “But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail” (Je 20:11). They would not be able to silence or stop. That echoes the thought of David who had us sing that the Lord is our rock of refuge and strong fortress (Ps 31:2). We can rely on his rescue. That would make them confident to carry out what Jesus wanted: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Mt 10:27). They were to herald what they had heard. Bravely and boldly—not holding back, but holding out, announcing to others in public what Jesus communicated to them in private. We do the same.
For the second time Jesus brings up fear and commands them to stop it: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). The worst anyone can do is to take one’s life on earth, not one’s life in heaven. Only God can sentence a person to hell forever. It is a dreadful thing to fall into his punishing hands (He 10:31). But no one will be able to snatch us from his loving hands (Jn 10:28). And that is where he has put us.
Satan would have us shudder in fear rather than share without fear. And you have been there—knees knocking or butterflies flapping. It seems safer to bite our tongue than speak our mind. That results in fewer problems and pain. Who wouldn’t want that?
Jeremiah for one who had anything but an easy ministry—thrown in prison, put in stocks. He related being silent or still to a fire burning inside. And he could not keep God’s Word in (Je 20:9). And we don’t either. As the apostle Paul pointed out why it is so necessary: “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Ro 5:12). A sinner sins. And a sinner dies. But we don’t shy away from that kind of talk because we have the solution for sin and death—God’s grace and gift of Jesus who died with our sins and rose with our salvation (Ro 4:25; 5:15). Even in death, there is life. And instead of death, there is life.
We are that important to our Father in heaven. More precious than anything since we are the “crown of his creation”—fashioned with body and soul. Jesus drove that point home by looking at common, ordinary birds. These are not expensive parrots or endangered eagles. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [Jesus anticipates a “yes” response.] Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Mt 10:29). They didn’t come at a high price for a meal. Their currency was not the same as ours. But we get the meaning. Rarely do people even pick a cent off the street because the risk of bending over is greater than the reward of being rich. But those insignificant animals don’t die when they dive-bomb into the link windows, as they have been regularly lately, without the knowledge and consent of our Father. (Note that he is our Father.) And then the emphatic addition: “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31). Perhaps we could say it this way: You treasure the vehicles in your garage, but how much more the children in your house.
Not only that, but notice the intimate knowledge that our Father has of us. “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Mt 10:30). (He has an easier time of that with some of us.) We don’t make a big deal when we find one or two in the bathroom sink (maybe not until there are clumps in a comb or brush). But the Lord can identify which one and from where—whether it will grow back or you will go bald. Possibly it is more along the lines of the lame joke. Someone asks: “Did you get your hair cut?” And you answer: “No. I got all of them cut.” God distinguishes each one. That takes away any terror. And so we can sing with the psalmist: “My times are in your hands” (Ps 31:15). That is why Jesus brings us fear the third time: “So don’t be afraid” (Mt 10:31). That emotion can cease. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly. Your Father is behind you and backs you.
2. Faithfully (32,33)
So when the cry goes out from the next room when there is a bang (and not from the 482nd firework of the past week), “Mommy,” or “Daddy,” they get up and go to the next bedroom right away. They don’t yell, “Quiet! I am trying to get some sleep in here.” That is their role as a parent. We have a responsibility as a Christian. Confess Christ faithfully.
Jesus cites two possibilities when it comes to making a statement about him. Basically his attitude about us mirrors our outlook about him. We will look at the second one first. It is a warning. “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:33). Anyone who imitates Peter around the fire the night when Jesus was arrested, inventing oaths and inviting curses, affirming three times, “I don’t know him,” will receive the same from Jesus: “I don’t know you either” (Mt 7:23). It would be like a stranger that we meet on the street. Remember that when we falter, our Father is faithful, remaining true to himself (2 Ti 2:12,13). And he forgives us and will not blot out our names from the book of life (Re 3:5).
There is the beautiful flipside to that. And that is where we find ourselves as we confess Christ. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:32). Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can assert with Thomas a week after Easter: “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20 28). He is One who is over all and above all, the changeless One. His love for us is unending and enduring. He defeated the devil. He defends us as we stand firm in the truth that he is the one and only Savior from sin. There was a civil war soldier on a southern battlefield who was hurt seriously when a fragment of a shell hit him. He was bleeding badly from his lacerated arm. It would only be a matter of time. Until a passing physician bound up the artery and saved his life. “Doctor, what is your name?”, the thankful man pleaded. “No matter,” was his response. “Oh no,” the man came back. “I want to tell my wife and children who saved me.” Even more so. We want to speak of his name (Acts 4:12). It is Jesus—whose very name means “the Lord saves” (Mt 1:21). His name is on our lips. Right now and forever.
And ours is on his. Before his Father, he contends: “This one believes in me. This one belongs to me.” Christian, confess Christ faithfully. That is what Jesus does about you.
You may not great at music or math. (That is a relief to me because of my lack of talent in those areas, whether notes or numerals). But we are Christians—linked to Christ. Confess him. Fearlessly and faithfully. Without terror. And in trust. Amen.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 15:5,6). Amen.
July 9, 2017
A word ending in –ian explains and expresses that there is a relation to something. I submit two simple examples. A musician has to do with music and a mathematician with math(matics). It is not hard to see.
The same is the case with a Christian. We are connected to Christ, associated with him. That is a good thing. We appreciate it and admit it. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly and faithfully. We read from …
Matthew 10:24-33
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, whom we profess before all and proclaim to all,
If you can play and instrument or solve a problem, I don’t think that is embarrassing. It would be strange for someone to state:
• “I am sorry. I tickle the ivories.”
• “I apologize. I understand algebra.” (Well, maybe that one.)
Hardly. It is who they are. So they will sit at a bench to push keys to make sound—reminding a person of Bach—or behind a desk to punch calculators to find solutions—replacing numbers for letters.
It is no different with a person who knows Jesus. There will be excitement. And so there is the encouragement.
Christian, Confess Christ
1. Fearlessly (24-31)
2. Faithfully (32,33)
1. Fearlessly (24-31)
It is not so much the noise as it is the unknown. When there is a bump in the night under the bed or in the closet, the boy sits up in bed startled. “What was that?” And then the wonder: “Is it going to hurt me or harm me?” That sensation of fright is not something that just strikes a six-year-old. And we also freeze up at times. Jesus inspires us to open up. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly.
Jesus is getting his disciples ready to go out on a little preaching tour into the harvest field (Mt 9:38). They were going to tell the good news that Jesus has arrived. They would copy what they had seen Christ do. They had a mission to go.
But Jesus is clear. He doesn’t fill their head that it would always be great or only be glorious. There would be difficulty and danger. (And after Jesus went into heaven, for all of them except one would be death.) Persecution would be a part of the process. In fact, they could expect the same treatment that Jesus received. It would not be a superiority, but a similarity. Jesus brings that out with a comparison: “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Mt 10:24). What is true of one is true of the other. Jesus was not trying to make them sad, but glad. Their attitude could be like Jesus’ (Php 2:5). “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master” (Mt 10:25). That would be sufficient for them. Think of your favorite teacher or best boss. For an individual to comment, “You are just like him or her,” would be flattering. Now to be sure, there would be rejection. There were those who wanted nothing to do with Jesus, even to the point of one day calling for his crucifixion. But there was also reception, calling on his name. Some would respect the messenger and rejoice about the message. That was to remove any fear.
Jesus is even specific. They could anticipate slander—a lie in order to wreck someone’s reputation. When Jesus performed miracles, the Pharisees preferred to deny him and to declare that he was in league with the devil (Mt 9:34; 12:24), Beelzebub, a name which means “lord of the flies”—like the ones that hover around manure (Mt 10:25). Certainly not a compliment, but also not correct. “If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!” (Mt 10:25). The saying goes: Like father, like son. We could alter that to this: Like Jesus, like disciples. The prophet Jeremiah found that reality. There was ridicule and “reproach all day long” when he opened his mouth with God’s Word (Je 20:8). Even from friends. We might face that same ridicule from those close to us—at home or at work. The charge against us may be that we are unloving or intolerant.
But disciples—present and past—are not to be scared. Ever. “So do not be afraid of them” (Mt 10:26). Why? No plot or plan could be covered up like one hatched in some back room. “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Mt 10:26). Jesus is aware of everything and attentive to his own. Jeremiah could be strong because of the One who stood behind him: “But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail” (Je 20:11). They would not be able to silence or stop. That echoes the thought of David who had us sing that the Lord is our rock of refuge and strong fortress (Ps 31:2). We can rely on his rescue. That would make them confident to carry out what Jesus wanted: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Mt 10:27). They were to herald what they had heard. Bravely and boldly—not holding back, but holding out, announcing to others in public what Jesus communicated to them in private. We do the same.
For the second time Jesus brings up fear and commands them to stop it: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28). The worst anyone can do is to take one’s life on earth, not one’s life in heaven. Only God can sentence a person to hell forever. It is a dreadful thing to fall into his punishing hands (He 10:31). But no one will be able to snatch us from his loving hands (Jn 10:28). And that is where he has put us.
Satan would have us shudder in fear rather than share without fear. And you have been there—knees knocking or butterflies flapping. It seems safer to bite our tongue than speak our mind. That results in fewer problems and pain. Who wouldn’t want that?
Jeremiah for one who had anything but an easy ministry—thrown in prison, put in stocks. He related being silent or still to a fire burning inside. And he could not keep God’s Word in (Je 20:9). And we don’t either. As the apostle Paul pointed out why it is so necessary: “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Ro 5:12). A sinner sins. And a sinner dies. But we don’t shy away from that kind of talk because we have the solution for sin and death—God’s grace and gift of Jesus who died with our sins and rose with our salvation (Ro 4:25; 5:15). Even in death, there is life. And instead of death, there is life.
We are that important to our Father in heaven. More precious than anything since we are the “crown of his creation”—fashioned with body and soul. Jesus drove that point home by looking at common, ordinary birds. These are not expensive parrots or endangered eagles. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? [Jesus anticipates a “yes” response.] Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Mt 10:29). They didn’t come at a high price for a meal. Their currency was not the same as ours. But we get the meaning. Rarely do people even pick a cent off the street because the risk of bending over is greater than the reward of being rich. But those insignificant animals don’t die when they dive-bomb into the link windows, as they have been regularly lately, without the knowledge and consent of our Father. (Note that he is our Father.) And then the emphatic addition: “You are worth more than many sparrows” (Mt 10:31). Perhaps we could say it this way: You treasure the vehicles in your garage, but how much more the children in your house.
Not only that, but notice the intimate knowledge that our Father has of us. “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Mt 10:30). (He has an easier time of that with some of us.) We don’t make a big deal when we find one or two in the bathroom sink (maybe not until there are clumps in a comb or brush). But the Lord can identify which one and from where—whether it will grow back or you will go bald. Possibly it is more along the lines of the lame joke. Someone asks: “Did you get your hair cut?” And you answer: “No. I got all of them cut.” God distinguishes each one. That takes away any terror. And so we can sing with the psalmist: “My times are in your hands” (Ps 31:15). That is why Jesus brings us fear the third time: “So don’t be afraid” (Mt 10:31). That emotion can cease. Christian, confess Christ fearlessly. Your Father is behind you and backs you.
2. Faithfully (32,33)
So when the cry goes out from the next room when there is a bang (and not from the 482nd firework of the past week), “Mommy,” or “Daddy,” they get up and go to the next bedroom right away. They don’t yell, “Quiet! I am trying to get some sleep in here.” That is their role as a parent. We have a responsibility as a Christian. Confess Christ faithfully.
Jesus cites two possibilities when it comes to making a statement about him. Basically his attitude about us mirrors our outlook about him. We will look at the second one first. It is a warning. “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:33). Anyone who imitates Peter around the fire the night when Jesus was arrested, inventing oaths and inviting curses, affirming three times, “I don’t know him,” will receive the same from Jesus: “I don’t know you either” (Mt 7:23). It would be like a stranger that we meet on the street. Remember that when we falter, our Father is faithful, remaining true to himself (2 Ti 2:12,13). And he forgives us and will not blot out our names from the book of life (Re 3:5).
There is the beautiful flipside to that. And that is where we find ourselves as we confess Christ. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:32). Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can assert with Thomas a week after Easter: “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20 28). He is One who is over all and above all, the changeless One. His love for us is unending and enduring. He defeated the devil. He defends us as we stand firm in the truth that he is the one and only Savior from sin. There was a civil war soldier on a southern battlefield who was hurt seriously when a fragment of a shell hit him. He was bleeding badly from his lacerated arm. It would only be a matter of time. Until a passing physician bound up the artery and saved his life. “Doctor, what is your name?”, the thankful man pleaded. “No matter,” was his response. “Oh no,” the man came back. “I want to tell my wife and children who saved me.” Even more so. We want to speak of his name (Acts 4:12). It is Jesus—whose very name means “the Lord saves” (Mt 1:21). His name is on our lips. Right now and forever.
And ours is on his. Before his Father, he contends: “This one believes in me. This one belongs to me.” Christian, confess Christ faithfully. That is what Jesus does about you.
You may not great at music or math. (That is a relief to me because of my lack of talent in those areas, whether notes or numerals). But we are Christians—linked to Christ. Confess him. Fearlessly and faithfully. Without terror. And in trust. Amen.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 15:5,6). Amen.
July 9, 2017
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