"Fear not the reproach of mankind, or be terrified by their insults." -Isaiah 51:7
"Fear not." This is easier said that done! There is so much to fear. What if I get sick? What if things go badly at work? What if people don't like me? What if I say the wrong thing? What if someone attacks me? What if I'm robbed? What if I get in a car crash? What if something happens to my family or my friends? What I mess up and I can't make things right?
Life is scary. There are threats to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being all around us. I am afraid often. And yet, despite all there is to fear, God tells us, "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 40:10)
This also reminds me of a song I learned as a child. "Have no fear little flock. Have no fear little flock, for the Father has promised to give you the kingdom. Have no fear little flock."
We are little, not because of fear, but because we are human. When fear makes us feel little and afraid, we should remember that we can only turn to God, someone much bigger and greater than we, for true comfort and eternal safety.
We are still going to be afraid from time to time. We are still going to encounter hardships. Yet in Christ, we stand up to the spiritual things, to sin, to evil, to death itself, and we can believe it when we say, "You don't win. Not today. Not ever." The physical and emotional may still get us, but the spiritual never will. In Christ, our eternal victory is secure. Our Father has promised to give us the kingdom. Have no fear, little flock.
Inspired by the sermon delivered by St. Mark Lutheran Church's pastor Kevin Lentz, 9/11/2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Monday, September 5, 2016
Choose
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" - Ephesians 2:8
Imagine a present sitting in front of you, wrapped up with a bright red bow, just waiting to be opened. You're excited to open it, because you know that it contains all the joy and happiness you could ever imagine, lasting for eternity. Yet you hesitate, because you know that if you choose to open this package, you risk temporary pain and suffering, ridicule, loneliness, possibly even death. There is no promise of an easy life here and now, only a promise of a joyful life now and forever.
You also know that if you don't choose to open the present, things might be easier now. You may have fewer concerns and a greater sense of freedom to do whatever you want in the here and now. Yet the long term consequences will be devastating: death, loneliness, pain, and suffering for all eternity.
So what do you do? Do you open the gift or not? I can tell you what Joshua, the man who led the Israelites into the promised land after Moses passed away, chose. He said, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" in Joshua 24:15.
Faith isn't always easy, but it is free, at least for us.
As you reach forward to unwrap the gift, you notice that the red ribbon is drenched in blood, the blood of Christ, who died for you so that you could open this gift of faith and grace at all. You're still nervous as you open this gift. You aren't without your doubts. But you know that with the help of Christ and your fellow believers, you can continue to accept this gift every day for the rest of your life. You can stand with the author of Philippians and say, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:12-13)
You have made your choice. You have responded to options offered by God going back thousands of years: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19) And, with the Holy Spirit's help, you have chosen life.
Inspired by the sermon delivered by St. Mark Lutheran Church's pastor Kevin Lentz, 9/4/2016
Imagine a present sitting in front of you, wrapped up with a bright red bow, just waiting to be opened. You're excited to open it, because you know that it contains all the joy and happiness you could ever imagine, lasting for eternity. Yet you hesitate, because you know that if you choose to open this package, you risk temporary pain and suffering, ridicule, loneliness, possibly even death. There is no promise of an easy life here and now, only a promise of a joyful life now and forever.
You also know that if you don't choose to open the present, things might be easier now. You may have fewer concerns and a greater sense of freedom to do whatever you want in the here and now. Yet the long term consequences will be devastating: death, loneliness, pain, and suffering for all eternity.
So what do you do? Do you open the gift or not? I can tell you what Joshua, the man who led the Israelites into the promised land after Moses passed away, chose. He said, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" in Joshua 24:15.
Faith isn't always easy, but it is free, at least for us.
As you reach forward to unwrap the gift, you notice that the red ribbon is drenched in blood, the blood of Christ, who died for you so that you could open this gift of faith and grace at all. You're still nervous as you open this gift. You aren't without your doubts. But you know that with the help of Christ and your fellow believers, you can continue to accept this gift every day for the rest of your life. You can stand with the author of Philippians and say, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:12-13)
You have made your choice. You have responded to options offered by God going back thousands of years: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19) And, with the Holy Spirit's help, you have chosen life.
Inspired by the sermon delivered by St. Mark Lutheran Church's pastor Kevin Lentz, 9/4/2016
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