(Prepared for a Sermon on Matthew 26:1-16)

Not too long ago our state had to pass a law which made it illegal to text while driving. Why? Because drivers were being distracted from their driving and causing accidents. The truth is that our minds are designed to focus on only one thing at at time. If we allow our minds to wander from the task we’re supposed to be working on, chances are we’ll make a mistake. We’ve all experienced this, not only with driving, but with the other routines of life. Many a cook has salted the soup twice or left the baking soda out of the cornbread because she was thinking about something else. How many times have we made a silly mistake at work because we weren’t devoting our entire attention to it?

The same thing can easily happen to us in spiritual things. Our hearts are designed to be devoted to only one thing. Unless we are fully devoted to Christ, we won’t be successful in living the righteous and holy lives God requires of us. Jesus told a parable which illustrates this. It’s the parable of the sower. When a farmer sowed seed in his field, some of it fell among thorns. Jesus explained, “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22 NIV) To put it another way, such a person has divided attention. Since he allows the worries and pleasures of the world to distract him from his relationship to Christ, he won’t see much change in himself. This is the type of person who says, “Yeah, I gave Christianity a try, but it just didn’t do anything for me.”

Jesus stated the problem even more bluntly in the “Sermon on the Mount,” “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24 NIV) We can’t have it both ways. If we want the benefits of following Jesus, we must be fully devoted to Him.

Do you think that is unreasonable? Well, look at it from the other side for a moment. Where would we be if Jesus hadn’t been fully devoted to God’s plan to provide salvation for us? If He hadn’t been devoted to it, He would never have gone to the cross. And if He hadn’t gone to the cross, our sins could not be forgiven. Thank God that Jesus was devoted. Though He knew that it meant going to a gruesome death, the Gospel of Luke records, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51 NIV) Later on in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “…My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NIV) I, for one am very grateful that Jesus devoted Himself to doing the Father’s will and went through the torture of the cross.

Each week we gather to remember that sacrifice through which we have been given salvation. The bread we eat reminds us of Jesus’ body. The juice we drink reminds us of His blood. Today as we eat and drink let’s thank God for Jesus’ devotion, and let’s re-commit ourselves to be totally devoted to Him.

(For a sermon on Matthew 21:18-32)

We have a saying that “The burned hand learns best.” What we mean by it is that sometimes, we have to actually experience pain or problems before we are willing to listen. We’ve all been through this as children. Our parents tried to explain certain dangers to us. They wanted to protect us from harm. They wanted to spare us pain. However, for whatever reason, we didn’t believe what they said or we thought that we were immune from what they tried to warn us about. As a result we ignored what they said; we disobeyed and found out the hard way that what they tried to tell us was true.

I’m sure that most of us have also experienced the frustration of having our own children do the same to us. Not long ago our daughter confessed to us that our telling her as a child not to touch the stove because it would burn her, only made her want to touch it. Knowing that our children have that tendency, sometimes we as parents deliberately keep quiet because we know that our kids have to learn something on their own. We don’t want our kids to be hurt; we don’t want them to suffer, but we know in this particular circumstance, to say anything will only make them want to disobey. They have to learn obedience the hard way.

Unfortunately, even when our children are compliant and want to obey, there are times when we have to let them experience pain and suffering in order to spare them from worse difficulties later. For example, I’m sure we all remember being the “meanies” who wouldn’t let our kids do something they really wanted to do until they finished their homework. No, we didn’t enjoy watching them suffer, but we knew that the pain was necessary in order to reap the reward of good grades.

No when we think of Jesus, we normally don’t think of Him having to learn anything. After all, He is God in the flesh. For example, Scripture says that, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV)

Because of this we consider it almost sacrilegious to suggest that Jesus was once less than perfect. The fact is that Jesus did have to learn something, and he was not able to perfectly fulfill the role of Savior until he had learned it. In Hebrews 5:7-9 it says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…” (NIV)

Yes, Jesus had to learn obedience. The difference between Him and us is that He never disobeyed. Unlike us in relation to our parents, He was always submissive to the will of the Heavenly Father. Yet, obedience did not come easy. There were times when His Father required Him to do what was hard and painful, in order to make a later reward possible.

Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. It’s easy to be obedient when things are going the way we want them. But the real test comes when we are told to do something we don’t want to do. Jesus prayed that he would not have to die. The text says that he was heard. Ultimately Jesus was saved from death. He rose on the third day. But his prayer to be spared from having to die was answered with a “No!” It’s in those times when we are told, “no” that we learn to obey. It was his obedience which made Jesus perfect for the work of saving us.

The unleavened bread which symbolizes Christ’s broken body and the juice which symbolizes Christ’s blood, remind us each week of His obedience. More than that, the emblems are a personal reminder that we, too, are called to be obedient. Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:9-10 NIV)

As we look back over the last week, I’m sure we are all aware that our obedience hasn’t been perfect. We often fall short of what we should be. Learning the lesson of obedience is not easy. But let’s not be discouraged. These emblems not only remind us of the need for obedience, but of Jesus’ love. We have another chance. We can confess our failures and move on. Let’s use this opportunity to rededicate ourselves to learning the lesson of obedience and remaining in Christ’s love.

(Written to go along with a sermon on Matthew 20:1-16)

When we think about positive character traits, one of the ones we value most is generosity. We might appreciate that someone is intelligent or witty, but still not like him very much. However, we are drawn to or attracted by someone who is generous. Think about it. If you walk through the cemetery and see the words, “He was intelligent” on a tombstone, you’ll probably conclude that the person who wrote them didn’t like the deceased very much. On the other hand, if you see the words, “He was generous” you’ll get the impression that the deceased was missed and mourned. In fact, there are only a few character traits, like love and kindness, which we value more than generosity. On the flip side, we are repelled and disgusted by selfishness. There is something within us which doesn’t even like ourselves when we are being selfish.

What is generosity, anyway? There are at least two forms of it. The first is the giving beyond what is necessary. We even have special words to express the concept like “lagniappe” and “baker’s dozen.” Who doesn’t appreciate it when the store owner slips a 13^th doughnut or cupcake into the carton when you only ordered twelve? The Bible expresses this kind of generosity in these words: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.” (Proverbs 11:24-26 NIV)

A second form of generosity is treating someone better than they deserve. I’m sure many of us can think of times in our childhood when we disobeyed or didn’t listen to our parents’ instructions. We deserved punishment. There was no question we had it coming, but though our parents didn’t overlook what we did, they chose to lessen the consequences. They showed us generosity. Some kids learn the wrong lesson from not receiving the full penalty. It emboldens them to do further wrong. But for most of us, our parents’ display of generosity made us love them more and helped us to want to be more obedient. God is like that generous parent who treats us far better than we deserve. King David put it this way in Psalm 103, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:8-14 NIV)

In spite of what David wrote, we sometimes find it hard to remember how generous God is. Let’s face it. Life isn’t fair. Sometimes things happen to us that are hard. People can be cruel. Sometimes people take advantage of us. They break promises. The innocent are hurt. It often seems like those who do wrong get away with it.

I think this is one of the reasons Jesus instituted the ritual we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Each week the bread and the juice remind us of God’s generosity. He gives us far more than He needs to. And, He is far more lenient to us than we deserve. Whenever we begin to feel ill-used, or like God doesn’t care, the Communion helps us regain the right perspective. The Apostle Paul writes, “…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:31-34 NIV)

Just as Paul said, if God loves us so much that He gave us His own Son, how can we ever think that He isn’t going to supply the rest of what we need, and far more than we deserve? Today, as we eat the bread which reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, and as we drink the juice which reminds us of Christ’s blood which spares us from receiving the penalty for our sin, let’s thank God for His generous gifts.

(Prepared for a sermon on Matthew 17:14-25)

Most of the time when we hear the word “faith” we associate it with religion. So and so belongs to that religion and he really believes. However, when you stop and think about it, what distinguishes a religious person from someone who is not, is not their faith but what they believe in. The truth is that everyone believes in something. I’ll even go further and say that all of us – even atheists – live most of our lives on faith.

How can I possibly say that? Isn’t saying that an atheist lives his life by faith a contradiction in terms? Doesn’t it also contradict Scripture which over and over declares that most people don’t have faith? It is true that many people do not believe in God. It is true that most people have not put their faith in Christ. It is true that most people are outside what the New Testament calls “The Faith.” Having acknowledged that, it is also true that everyone has a core set of assumptions and beliefs by which they live their lives. It’s not that they don’t believe, but rather that they believe in the wrong things.

What is faith, anyway? The Bible defines it this way: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) Everyone is sure of a lot of things they can’t prove so, by that definition, they have faith. For example, we can’t see gravity or electricity, but we sure believe in them because we can see how they affect us. We believe but very few people can give a rational explanation of them. Even those who can give reasonable explanations often disagree with one another about what gravity and electricity really are. We do not know, but we are certain. We accept the testimony of experience, the few aspects of these phenomena we can measure and the word of those who have studied more than we. Further, we do not consider it strange for people to believe and to act on their belief in electricity and gravity even though they can’t actually see or describe these things.

Why then, do people look down on us because we believe that Christ is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead? These days it’s fashionable to sneer at Christians by saying, “I believe in science!” (As though Christianity and science are incompatible.) Most of the people making that claim are more ignorant of science than we are of the nature of God. They blindly accept what they’ve been taught while dismissing the Scriptures which are based on eye-witness testimony. The Apostle John wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1 NIV)

But even though our faith in Christ is a reasonable faith, which we have learned from those who actually saw Jesus in the flesh, it is very easy to forget. It’s easy to allow the teaching and the philosophies of the world distort or contradict the spiritual truths we know. It’s easy to lose heart when we hear the mockery of those who follow a different god. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the Christians at Colosse, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:6-14 NIV)

In this passage Paul gives us several keys to remaining strong in our faith. Among them are:
Applying what Jesus taught to daily life.
Being thankful.
Evaluating worldly philosophy for what it really is.
Remembering that we were dead and Christ gave us new life.
And, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice which made our new life possible.

That’s one of the reasons we gather each Sunday – to remember what Jesus did. The Communion anchors us. It reminds us of reality. It shows us the emptiness of what the world has to offer. We renew our faith when we eat the bread and drink the cup.

Let’s pray.

(Prepared to go along with a sermon on Matthew 14:13-36)

Have you ever felt that you needed something and you had no idea how you were going to get it or how it would be supplied? I can remember a time, early in our marriage, when I wondered how I was going to provide for my wife and pay off the debt I had entangled myself in. No matter how I ran the numbers, I couldn’t see a way out.

How do we wind up in situations where we feel that our needs aren’t being met? In my case it was a result of some very unwise decisions and I was reaping the consequences of my own choices.

In other cases, we haven’t learned the difference between needs and wants. We think that happiness comes from things, or we become jealous of what someone else has. We think we need what they have instead of learning to be content with what God has already given us. The Apostle Paul expressed it this way, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12 NIV)

There is also another reason we might feel need. Whenever we begin to think that we lack what we need, we should regard the situation like a warning light on the dashboard of our car. The lights are there to make us aware of a particular condition in the car that we should investigate. In the same way, when we feel that we lack something we need, it’s an indication that something in our spiritual life needs looking into.

What is it that we should investigate when we feel that we need something we don’t have? The Apostle Peter writes, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:2-4 NIV)

If I understand this passage correctly, it is through our knowledge of Him and of Christ that God provides us with everything we need for life and godliness. Therefore, if we are lacking something, it means that we don’t know Christ as we ought. We need know Him better. And, as our knowledge of Christ increases, we will find that God will supply our needs.

I saw this work in the situation I mentioned above. Even though God was under no obligation to rescue me from the results of my own stupidity, He did it. I vividly remember how, one night after I’d spent hours going over the situation without finding any solutions, I re-dedicated myself to serving God. Even though I still couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, I went to bed with a peace of mind I hadn’t known for a long time. Then, the miracles started. God pulled things off I couldn’t imagine. As a result of putting Him and the Kingdom first; by striving to know Christ better, God provided everything I needed for life. It almost became a game. Whenever an unexpected bill would come in, I would say, “I wonder how God is going to take care of this one?” As long as I kept trying to keep close to Him and to know Christ better, He always did. It was a living demonstration of God’s promise, “…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

Even after all these years it still surprises me sometimes how God supplies needs. I guess it indicates that I still lack the kind of faith I ought to have or that I still need to know Christ better. But when I stop and think about it, why should it surprise me that someone who gave His life for me has my best interests in mind? The Apostle Paul expresses it this way, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)

I think this one reason Jesus asked us to remember Him by partaking of the Communion. The bread we eat and the juice we drink remind us of His wonderful love. They remind us that now matter how bleak our situation looks, if we honestly seek to know Him better, He will provide what we need.

Let’s pray.

(Prepared for a sermon on Matthew 12:43-45)

We have a saying that, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” What we mean by it is that empty spaces usually don’t stay empty very long. We’ve all seen it happen in social settings. A group of friends gets together. They decide to go somewhere or do something. Although the gathering doesn’t have a formal leader, someone will start organizing the outing or the project. Nobody planned to take charge – it just happens.

The same thing happens in the physical world. Let’s say you dig a hole in back yard. Unless you take special precautions to prevent it from happening, it won’t be long before the hole fills with water or dirt that falls back in. People who dig ditches often have to shore up the sides so they don’t collapse. A lot of people have been killed in cave-ins because they didn’t protect themselves from natures tendency to fill voids.

Here’s another example of the principle that all of us can relate to. Empty surfaces collect stuff. We have to work at it to keep our dining-room tables de-cluttered. The same thing when it comes to kitchen counters and coffee tables. The less said about my desk, the better.

The same principle holds true in spiritual things. There is something within us which longs to be filled. As Solomon wrote, “I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 NIV) To put it another way, there is something within us which recognizes that there is more to this life. There is more than the material universe we see, and we long for it. Because we long for eternity and in our own wisdom cannot fathom what God has done, we try to fill our yearning for eternity with all kinds of things.

Solomon tried it all. He writes, “I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly – my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well – the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:3-11 NIV)

Unfortunately, instead of learning from Solomon, people still pursue the same things he did while trying to fill the emptiness within. Like him they find that career, the arts, riches and possessions, sex and physical pleasure don’t fill the void. There may be some temporary satisfaction from achievements; there may be momentary pleasure, but things and self-indulgence can never meet our spiritual longings. Solomon had far more opportunity to experiment than we do, but his conclusion was that it was all meaningless.

If that is the case, then where can we find meaning? How can we fill that emptiness within us? It follows that a spiritual emptiness can only be filled by spiritual means rather than the physical solutions we try. The Apostle Paul writes, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:15-18 NIV)

Be filled with the Spirit. How is that even possible? It is Jesus Christ who made it possible for us to be filled. The Apostle Peter says this, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:14-21)

Yes, it is because of Christ’s sacrifice that we can escape the emptiness of the life the world tries to tempt us with. Whenever we’re tempted to try to fill our eternal longings with things or with pleasure, it’s good to remind ourselves that Christ died so that we can find real meaning. It’s because of Christ’s sacrifice that we can be filled with the Spirit. Today as we eat the bread in memory of Christ’s body, and as we drink the juice in memory of His blood, let’s give thanks that in Him we have purpose. In Him our longings are fulfilled.

Let’s pray.

(Prepared for a sermon on Matthew 11:28-30)

One of the themes found throughout the Scriptures is that of rest. It’s the concept that after we’ve finished a task, we get to relax. One of the interesting things about rest is that the quality of rest depends to a large extent on how well we did the job. The better our work, the more we put of ourselves into it, the more we enjoy the relaxation afterward. There is great satisfaction in being able to look back on a job well done. On the other hand, if we goofed off or didn’t really put much effort into the work, our rest isn’t very sweet. I suppose our conscience keeps nagging us and tells us that we don’t deserve to rest.

The first example we have in the Bible of someone resting is God, Himself. God spent six days creating the universe and all that is in it. Then in Genesis chapter 1, starting in verse 31 we read, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 1:31-2:3 NIV)

The Scriptures use God’s rest on the seventh day as an ideal for us. His rest is the goal we should be striving toward. For example, it’s the idea behind keeping the Sabbath Day, which is one of the “Ten Commandments” in the Law of Moses. No work was supposed to be done on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a metaphor for God’s rest. God gave the Israelites the land of Canaan as another metaphor of entering His rest. It was a rest from the slavery they experienced in Egypt.

If you will allow me to read something into all this which the Scriptures do not say, is it possible that the reason God’s rest is so perfect, is that the work He did in creating the universe was “very good”?!

In any case, God invites us to enter His rest. But the hitch is that, as we all know, our work – unlike God’s is not “very good.” In fact, it’s not good at all. Scripture compares our good or righteousness to filthy rags. That being the case, we don’t deserve to enter God’s rest. Why should we get to relax and enjoy ourselves when we’ve goofed off and botched the job God wanted us to do?

Fortunately, God gives us an out. He sent Jesus to complete the job we couldn’t or wouldn’t do. People’s testimony about Jesus was, “He has done everything well.” (Mark 7:37 NIV) Not only was Jesus’ work “done well,” from the cross He could proclaim, “It is finished.” (John 19:30 NIV) God allows us to appropriate or share in Jesus’ completed work. The writer of Hebrews talks about the failure of the Israelites to accept God’s invitation to participate in His rest. Then, in chapter 4, starting in verse 1 he writes, “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” (Hebrew 4:1-11 NIV)

Notice from this passage that there are two things which will prevent us from entering God’s rest. The first is unbelief or a lack of faith. The second is disobedience. To put it the other way around, we must believe what God has promised us and we must obey what He’s told us to do.

Unfortunately, we’re not very good at either of those things. We need to be reminded. And that is one of the reasons Christ has asked us to go through a little ritual to jog our memories. He asked us to eat some bread which reminds us of His sacrifice on our behalf. In other words, the bread is a reminder that Jesus completed our work.

He also asked us to drink some juice to remind us of His blood – the blood which allows us to enter into a covenant relationship with God. Included in that covenant is the promise of entering God’s rest.

Today as we eat and drink, let’s renew our faith in God’s promises to us and let’s renew our commitment to obey what He’s asked us to do.

Let’s pray.

(Prepared for a sermon on Matthew 9:35-38)

My wife and I enjoy the turning of the seasons. Just a few weeks ago we were wondering why we weren’t seeing more leaves changing. It seemed to us that fall was late in arriving. Then, almost over night, it seemed, the colors came out. Everywhere we looked, we feasted our eyes on lovely red, brown and orange leaves.

Amazing as the colors are in the fall and the brilliance of new growth in the spring, there’s something even more miraculous about the change of the seasons. You can count on them coming each year. Yes, there may be a few days variation this way or that in when they come, but we know that they will come. These days we hear all kinds of fear-mongering about climate change and global warming. I just shake my head when I hear the predictions of catastrophe and how we’re all going to bake to death. You see, I’m old enough to remember the same panicky predictions back in the 1960s and 70s. Only then, we were all supposed to perish in the coming ice age. But more than that, I don’t worry because we have God’s promise that the seasons will never fail. After the flood, God told Noah, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NIV)

The regular turning of the seasons point to another very important corollary: There is a right or an appropriate time to do things. King Solomon wrote, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NIV)

Solomon is right. We won’t be successful if we try to do things at the wrong time. For example, if you don’t plant your garden at the appropriate time, the seeds won’t sprout. Similarly, there is a natural sequence to many things. If we try to do things out of order, it won’t work very well. For example, you have to plant before you can harvest. But if you try to harvest before the grain or the fruit matures, you’ll only destroy the plants without getting a crop.

The principle holds true in spiritual things. There is a right time and there is a proper sequence. Often it seems to us that God is not answering our prayers, or that He’s taking far too long to keep His promises. But we need to remember that there is a right time and sequence for everything. Though right after Adam and Eve sinned God promised a Redeemer, thousands of years had to pass before the time was right for the Savior to come. In light of that, we should not lose hope when we are going through difficulties. God will keep His promises when the time is right. The Apostle Paul writes this in Romans chapter 5, starting in verse 1, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:1-6 NIV)

At just the right time! Each week we keep a memorial of what God did for us at the right time. We look back and remember that Jesus died for us. He gave His blood to redeem us from our sins.

But the memorial of the bread and juice does not only look back. They are a reminder of our present hope. Because God kept His promise of a Savior, we can be sure that He will also keep His promises to transform us and to give us an eternal home. The bread and juice remind us that no one can separate us from God’s love.

We live in crazy times. We’ve been hit by several crises – the pandemic, the law and order situation, the drama over the elections, the homeless situation. As a result, we’re surrounded by fear and uncertainty. People are worried about the economy; they’re worried about what is going to happen with the schools; they’re worried about who might get sick next; they’re worried about not being able to visit their loved ones.

But the bread and juice remind us that we don’t need to worry. God’s promises are even more sure than the turning of the seasons. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)

Let’s pray,

(For a sermon on Matthew 8:28-9:8)

I suspect that historians and sociologists will look back at the year 2020 and shake their heads in bewilderment. For 9 months we allowed a virus to dominate us. The economic and social costs of the regulations issued in response to the virus were horrific. Businesses and schools were shut down. Family members couldn’t visit their loved ones in care facilities. Healthy people as well as the sick were isolated and quarantined. People suffering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases were denied the care and treatments they needed. Vast resources were spent to fast-track vaccines for it. The virus even became a major issue in the election campaign that year.

One of the things which was puzzling about all this, is that the virus didn’t seem to be nearly as contagious or as deadly as many other diseases. Yet, our society didn’t take any of these steps against them. I don’t want to minimize the seriousness of the virus. People died of it. Yet, the vast majority of people who become infected recovered quickly and didn’t seem to suffer any lasting effects. Many people, if it weren’t for testing positive, wouldn’t have even known that they had it.

I can’t help but contrast all the fear and anxiety over this virus with the total complacency and indifference most people show toward another virus which is far more serious. There is no vaccine for it; everyone is susceptible. Everyone who is exposed to it, contracts it. Further, there is no man-made cure for it – the mortality rate is 100%. Everyone who contracts it, dies. Not only that, there is no place or locality that is safe from this virus. It is found wherever there are human beings yet, people seem oblivious to it.

What is this virus I’m talking about? It’s the virus of sin. No one escapes it. The Apostle Paul describes it this way, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 NIV) He goes on to declare, “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 NIV)

If all have sinned and the wages of sin is death, is there no hope for us? Not if we rely on our own resources. The cure for sin is beyond us. For example, Paul writes, “…by observing the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 NIV) All of our other efforts are just as futile as trying to be justified by observing the Law – we just aren’t capable of it.

If we can’t cure ourselves, then what is the cure? It’s interesting that when Matthew describes how Jesus cured people of their physical illnesses, he says that this was a fulfillment of a prophecy in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.” (Matthew 8:17, Isaiah 53:4) Yet when you read Isaiah 53, he’s speaking about the Messiah healing spiritual diseases not physical illnesses. What Matthew seems to be saying is that the miracles of healing Jesus performed actually pointed to a much more significant reality. It is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who can heal us from the sickness of sin. Though we are spiritually dead because of our sin, He gives us new spiritual life.

How does Jesus do it? As Isaiah explained, Jesus took the penalty of our sin upon Himself. He took our place and the punishment which was due us. The Apostle Peter puts it this way, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NIV)

Each week we gather to remember what Jesus did for us. The bread reminds us of His broken body. The juice reminds us of His blood which He gave for our healing. For those of us who come to Him in obedient faith, Jesus’ sacrifice is the antidote for sin. In a sense, we can consider the bread and juice we eat each week a booster-shot which renews our immunity to the virus of sin.

Let’s pray.

(Prepared for a sermon based on Matthew 6:19-24)

How much is something worth? We usually determine the value of something by how much we are willing to pay for it. How much of ourselves we’re willing to invest in something is a pretty good indication of how important it is to us. It’s pretty easy to determine someone’s priorities by looking at how he spends his time, his money and what enthuses him. For example, if a man says that his family is important to him, but when he has the opportunity he doesn’t spend any time with his wife and kids, he doesn’t show any interest in their hopes and desires, he overlooks their needs to help out friends and acquaintances, then it’s legitimate to question his statement.

On the other hand, if someone denies himself of things that he would like to have or do; for years he scrapes and saves in order to achieve a goal, the thing he is trying to achieve is very important to him.

The same principle holds true in spiritual things. We can tell how important God is to us by how much time we spend with Him. How much time do we spend meditating on the Scriptures and seeking God’s will? The Psalmist wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2 NIV) Do we long for God like that? Is He that important to us?

Similarly, we can tell how important God’s Kingdom is to us by how much we’re willing to invest of ourselves in it. How much inconvenience are we willing to accept to help others draw closer to Christ? In one of His parables Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46 NIV) Does the Kingdom of Heaven mean enough to us that we are we willing to give up everything else to attain it?

Now let’s take a few moments to take a look at this concept of worth from the other direction. We’ve considered how much things are worth to us, but how much are we worth? What price do we command? When we look at it that way, the Scriptures tell us that to God, we are of infinite worth. The world tries to tear us down. Every day we hear messages that tell us we’re no good. If we don’t have as much money or as many toys as someone else that we don’t measure up. The whole basis of racism is the idea that other people aren’t as worth as much as us. All too often people use the pretense of caring to exploit others and to further their own agendas.

In contrast to the world, how does God show that we are important to Him? In Psalm 103, David writes, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5 NIV) From that Psalm it sounds to me like we are worth a lot to God. Otherwise He wouldn’t lavish His care on us the way He does.

But the ultimate expression of our worth to God is what He was willing to give up for us. The Apostle Paul writes this in Romans chapter 5, starting in verse 5, “…God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:5-11 NIV)

If the death of Jesus doesn’t demonstrate just how much we are worth to God, I don’t know what would. But, in the hassle and worries of everyday life, and the negative messages the world throws at us, we tend to forget just how much God values us. That’s why we take a little time each Sunday to remember Christ’s sacrifice. The bread we eat and the juice we drink remind us that in God’s estimation, we are of infinite worth. Since He thinks so much of us, shouldn’t we also be willing to give of ourselves to Him?

Let’s pray.