Every house has a firm foundation. Without it, the house would quickly fall down. Similarly, our faith has a firm foundation-Jesus Christ. That foundation can never be shaken.

The word “Shaken” is sometimes used to describe what happens to a home’s foundations in an earthquake. It can also describe what happens to weak faith when trouble comes. Believers in Thessalonica were alarmed because they mistakenly believed they had missed the rapture and were living in the Tribulation-a rumour they were more prone to believe because they were being persecuted. This false teaching had come to them either by a fraudulent revelation, a false report, or a forged letter bearing Paul’s name. Paul spent some time correcting this error.

The Day of the Lord doesn’t describe a literal 24-hour period but was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets as a time when God would visit the earth to judge the wicked and to save His people. In the New Testament, this event includes the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the millennium and the final judgment. Paul assumed that the arrival of the Day of the Lord and the Second Coming would occur at the same time as part of a single event. Paul wanted to help the Thessalonians gain a long-term perspective on their suffering. He assured them of God’s eternal plan, that he loved them, chose them, saved them, sanctified them, called them and has invited them to share in Christ’s glory.

Paul wanted to encourage the Thessalonians to stand firm in their faith. Paul assured them that the Day of the Lord and the Tribulation have not yet come. As proof, he mentioned certain things that must precede these events following the Rapture of the church. First, the truth of God’s word will be rejected. There will be a specific walking away from the truth people once believed. Second, just before Christ returns the Antichrist will be released and revealed. The Greek word for “revealed” also means “uncovered” or “unveiled.” It is the same word that described the revelation of Jesus. The Antichrist will in some ways imitate Christ, even as he opposes Him. The Antichrist doesn’t want any rivals. He will insist that he is God. The man of sin will sit as God in the temple of God and falsely declare himself to be the only one worthy of the world’s worship. This is another event that will happen before the Great Tribulation.

The “falling away” from God’s Word has started already. Church attendance is dwindling. There is increased opposition to Christianity in the world. Terrorism and wars are on the rise. At times like these, we need to look not to the world and its solutions but to Christ. These are signs that Christ’s return is near. We don’t know the exact date, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ will soon make things right.

The Greek word for “chose” is used nowhere else in the New Testament. It means “to select for oneself” with the intent to enjoy it after it becomes yours. God chose His people before the foundation of the world; they could not possibly choose him unless he had chosen them first.

Being chosen by God is a call to responsibility. God has chosen us as his first fruits so that we can tell everyone we know about His love and saving grace. We will face ridicule, rejection and opposition like Jesus did, but we are to stand fast. We can do this because God will support, strengthen and encourage us. He loves us, consoles us and gives us hope because of His grace.

Christians don’t have to be worried about the Second Coming. We can be confident and encouraged because we have been sanctified and chosen to be saved by the Holy Spirit. There is no room for pride in our efforts to improve the world, and there’s also no room for despair at the state of the world around us.  It’s important that we hold on to Christ’s teachings. They have been tried and tested and found to be true. Just like these teachings have withstood the test of time, God’s love has stood the test of time. Just like these teachings have transcended history, God’s love is infinite and eternal.

Because God has done so much for them, His people are urged to stand fast and hold tightly to the truth that they have been taught. They might not understand everything that is happening, but they can be confident in the resources God has provided from eternity past to eternity future. The word “traditions” does not refer to human institutions such as worship styles or musical preferences which will change with the times but the doctrinal teachings that originated with God and were taught by Paul and the other apostles. These must never change. Everything we do must be based on the lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible. His standards must be our standards.

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in verses 16 and 17 provided them with an eternal perspective on the persecution they were facing. These verses focus on God’s love and grace in Christ. He wants them not just to know and protect the truth but to practice it, comforted, stabilized and ethical in every good word and work. Knowing and practicing the Word of God strengthens our Christian walk and spirit. God’s grace and love encourage and strengthen us in every good deed and word. If we want to grow close to God, we have to forgive our enemies, encourage others and pray daily. This is hard work, and at times we will be discouraged, but it will be worth it in the end.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1693-1696)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Demarest, G.W. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 32: 1,2 Thessalonians/1,2 Timothy/Titus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984; pp. 127-133)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Ryan Duncan, “A Spiritual Workout.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Ed Young, “Consistency Over Culture.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
8. T.M. Moore, “Word and Deed.” Retrieved from www.ailbe.org
9. Mariam Kamell, “Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1847

Good morning boys and girls!

How many of you like riddles? I liked them when I was your age, and I still like them because they make you think. Jesus also liked riddles. He liked it when people told him riddles, and he also used riddles called parables. He used these riddles to teach the people about God.

One day, Jesus was approached by a group of Sadducees — religious leaders who did not believe in the resurrection. They were trying to trick Jesus into agreeing that there was no resurrection. They asked him to answer this riddle: “The law of Moses says that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. Then the third brother married her. This continued until all seven brothers had married the same woman. Finally, the woman also died. So tell us, who will she be married to after the resurrection since all seven were married to her!”

My, that is a tricky riddle, isn’t it? Listen to Jesus’ answer.

Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those who are raised from the dead will not marry or be married. Not only that, but they will never die again. They will live forever as the children of God.”

Jesus went on to say, “Even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, he is the God of the living.”

After Jesus answered their riddle so wisely, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Now, you and I know that Jesus promised us that if we love him and trust in him, we will live forever in heaven with him. Isn’t it sad that some people do not believe there is a resurrection and eternal life in heaven?

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for promising us eternal life in heaven. Help us to live the life you want us to live so that we can be with you in heaven. We ask this in Jesus’ name, AMEN

It’s not hard to tell that the church year is coming to an end. In fact, in a little more than three weeks, the season of Advent will start. The issues that have been placed before us in the last couple of weeks are about what comes next. Today, we focus on the resurrection. The emphasis of Luke 20:27-38 is not about how and when our age will end. It is about what our futures will be after this age passes away and the time of human life is ended.

At the time of this story from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem in the days before his crucifixion. The Sadducees were not really interested in the resurrection. In fact, they did not believe in the resurrection at all. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament, and nowhere in these books was the idea of resurrection mentioned. Their real purpose was to attempt to compromise Jesus’ authority.

Under the Law of Moses as mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:56, a man whose brother died without children was required to marry his brother’s widow. The firstborn child of that union was to bear the name of the deceased brother so that the brother’s lineage would continue. This law also benefitted the widow because it gave her financial security for the future. Procreation was necessary then as it is now, but it will not be necessary in the new life in Christ because people will not be subject to death any more.

Jesus’ understanding of God’s will is superior to ours or his opponents. Jesus’ reply to the Sadducees affirms that there will be a resurrection where the new life will be much different from what we think it will be. For example, many of you are suffering from the health effects of old age. In the new life after the resurrection, there will be no more suffering or pain-only hope, peace, joy and health.

We tend to think that the new life will be like life is now, complete with marriage. We will recognize our loved ones, including our spouses who have gone before us, but there will be no marriage in heaven. Our relationships with people will be deeper and different from what they were on earth. No longer will people be held captive by sin, age or health problems. In the New Testament, immortality and resurrection become linked in a “now” and “future” relationship.

We can’t understand things we have not seen. We have to accept them by faith, just like we have to accept God’s Word by faith. Even the world’s greatest preachers have trouble understanding the Word of God. Billy Graham once had a struggle with the truth of God’s word, but one evening he knelt by a tree stump and declared to God that he would accept God’s Word by faith.

It’s sometimes hard for us to believe in the big things in life when we have so many little issues and struggles that we let take up lots of space in our lives. When we are obsessed with the little things in life, it’s not easy for us to step back and understand everlasting life. We can only imagine what heaven will be like. Some people imagine it as a beautiful place with endless good times. Others imagine it as a place where there will be no sickness, old age or pain. Our ability to imagine what heaven will be like is our way of expressing our faith that our loved ones are alive and well and are getting along with each other.

For example, C.S. Lewis, who wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, once told the story of a woman who was thrown into a dungeon. Her only light came from a barred window high above. She gave birth to a son, who had never seen the outside world. He couldn’t reach the window to see outside, so his mother told him about green fields and waves crashing on the shore-but he couldn’t imagine what she was describing. Eventually, she persuaded the guards to give her some paper and charcoal so she could draw pictures to show her son what the outside world was really like-but what the boy came to understand was that the outside world looked like black lines on a white piece of paper.

The reality keeps returning to us, and it is stark. We have to let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give new relationships. Otherwise, our ability to accept the good news of resurrection and life after death is limited. Our loved ones are buried in a cemetery. Their gravestones are in a line and mark the names of our loved ones along with the dates of their births and deaths. We wonder where they are and what they are doing. At times like that, we can turn to the Scriptures for comfort, especially the passage we heard today.

Jesus does not tell us what lies ahead for us in heaven. He does say that heaven is not a continuation of what we know here on earth, so we don’t need earthly things such as marriage or prosperity. We are to continue being children of God here on earth so that we will be in his arms when we die. Those who are willing to give their lives to God now will find that God will be there for them when the journey of their earthly life is over. We are to love one another just as God loves us and share God’s love for people in a way that excludes no one. In effect, marital love is extended and perfected, so that what’s best about human beings in this life is made available in an even better way to all of us in the next life.

If God is our God, and we are his people, death is not the end of the story. It is the beginning. Someone once said that “today is the first day of the rest of your life” and that will be especially true on the day we die. When we die, the Lord will not abandon us. He will be there to greet us. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. We have Christ’s promise of the reality of the resurrection through Christ’s own death and resurrection. Because he lives, we too shall live. Living without the doctrine of resurrection, or the hope it offers, cheapens this life.

Bibliography

1. Exegesis for Luke 20:27-38. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
2. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “God’s Novelty”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
3. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “Seven Weddings and a Funeral”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
4. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 32^nd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
5. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Can We Still Believe in Life After Death?” Retrieved from www.keepbelieving.org
6. Fr. Dominic Ryan, O.P., “Unlimited Hope”. Retrieved from www.torch.op.org
7. The Rev. Martha Sterne, “Sermon for Proper 27”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/596-sermon_for_proper_27.htm
8. Abingdon Commentary, Luke 20:27-40. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. Unknown, “are there any Questions?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. John Wayne Clarke, “Putting Eternity to the Test”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
11. Johnny Dean, “The Seven Lost Words of the Church” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

Have you ever wondered about what life will be like in heaven after we die? If so, you’ll be interested in what Jesus has to say about the subject in the passage from Luke 20:27-38.

The Sadducees’ question about the resurrection was a ridiculous one because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. Their question was designed to draw Jesus into an argument based on Old Testament law. Deuteronomy 25:5 commanded a man to marry his brother’s wife if the brother died. If they had a son, the son was to be named after the deceased brother. The Sadducees asked which of the seven brothers would be married to the widow in the resurrection.

The question reflected the common attitude toward women at that time. Women were seen as being no better than property. They had few rights and could be divorced by their husbands for petty reasons. Widows were in an even worse situation if they had no sons to look after them.

Jesus was quick to poke holes in the Sadducees’ logic. They were talking in human terms, but Jesus and God always talk in heavenly terms. Remember that God’s ways are not our ways and sometimes his ways are hard for us to understand. Heaven is a Godly concept that we can’t easily understand. Jesus does not give us a definite description of what heaven is like, but he does tell us that life in heaven will not be a continuation of life here on earth. Therefore, there will be no marriage, no property or worrying about property. Jesus also says that the only part of our earthly life that will continue in heaven is that we will continue to be children of God. When we die, we will fall into his arms and he will never let us go.

In our earthly life, marriage and procreation are necessary for life to continue. In our heavenly life, we will never die, so we will never have to worry about property and who will inherit our property after we die. We can’t prove the resurrection with rational arguments. We can’t understand things we have not seen. We have to accept them by faith, just like we have to accept God’s Word by faith. Even the world’s greatest preachers have trouble understanding the Word of God. Billy Graham once had a struggle with the truth of God’s Word, but one evening he knelt by a tree stump and declared to God that he would accept God’s Word by faith.

Jesus commented on the Sadducees’ rejection of the resurrection by referring to Moses. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament, including the books written by Moses. These books did not talk about the resurrection. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, he said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” If there was no life after death, God would have said, “I was their God,” instead of “I am their God.” The phrase “I am” proves that our soul survives physical death and implies that the dead in Christ will rise when he returns.

The Gospel message is not about a continuation. It is about a new life. Jesus’ death and resurrection makes this new life possible. It is better that anything our current life can offer. It is a new birth, a new age, the unveiled sight of God. Heaven is God’s responsibility, not ours. Our responsibility is how we live our lives here and now. We have no idea what’s coming in the next life, no way to imagine how the next life will be even richer than the life we know now. We can’t let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give us new relationships. That limits our ability to accept the good news of eternal life. All life is under God’s direction, so everything we do needs to be seen in light of what God does in our world.

When we stop worrying about life after death, our lives will take on a new direction and a new energy. We will see the world with eyes that see God at our side as we face life’s challenges.  It is appropriate that we are hearing this reading at this time in the church year. Three weeks from today we will enter the season of Advent, which begins a new church year. As we conclude our church year and look toward what is to come, our readings focus on what is to come. Christian faith is about living, loving God and loving people.

It’s sometimes hard for us to believe in the big things in life when we have so many little issues and struggles that we let take up lots of space in our lives. When we are obsessed with the little things in life, it’s not easy for us to step back and understand everlasting life. We can only imagine what heaven will be like. Some people imagine it as a beautiful place with endless good times. Others imagine it as a place where there will be no sickness, old age or pain. Our ability to imagine what heaven will be like is our way of expressing our faith that our loved ones are alive and well and are getting along with each other.

For example, C.S. Lewis, who wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, once told the story of a woman who was thrown into a dungeon. Her only light came from a barred window high above. She gave birth to a son, who had never seen the outside world. He couldn’t reach the window to see outside, so his mother told him about green fields and waves crashing on the shore-but he couldn’t imagine what she was describing. Eventually, she persuaded the guards to give her some paper and charcoal so she could draw pictures to show her son what the outside world was really like-but what the boy came to understand was that the outside world looked like black lines on a white piece of paper.

The reality keeps returning to us, and it is stark. We have to let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give new relationships. Otherwise, our ability to accept the good news of resurrection and life after death is limited. Our loved ones are buried in a cemetery. Their gravestones are in a line and mark the names of our loved ones along with the dates of their births and deaths. We wonder where they are and what they are doing. At times like that, we can turn to the Scriptures for comfort, especially the passage we heard today.

Those who are willing to give their lives to God now will find that God will be there for them when the journey of their earthly life is over. We are to love one another just as God loves us and share God’s love for people in a way that excludes no one. In effect, marital love is extended and perfected, so that what’s best about human beings in this life is made available in an even better way to all of us in the next life.

If God is our God, and we are his people, death is not the end of the story. It is the beginning. Someone once said that “today is the first day of the rest of your life” and that will be especially true on the day we die. When we die, the Lord will not abandon us. He will be there to greet us. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. We have Christ’s promise of the reality of the resurrection through Christ’s own death and resurrection. Because he lives, we too shall live. Living without the doctrine of resurrection, or the hope it offers, cheapens this life.

The Gospel passage is about the next life. It’s about what happens after we die, especially if we are followers of Christ. For the Sadducees, death was the end of life’s journey. Jesus reveals that God is a god of life and not a god of death. For believers, death is just the end of one phase of life and the beginning of a new, glorious life-a life that we can only barely begin to understand now and will completely understand when we sit at the Master’s feet. Christ’s resurrection glorified life, and the hope of the resurrection for believers glorifies them. The resurrection gives us hope.

In order for us to receive the hope and glory of the resurrection, we have to repent. Repentance gives us hope for the future. Paul argued that the process of resurrection and repentance began with Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Resurrection is the start of a new life in heaven with Christ. Our dead, physical bodies will be raised spiritually to a new life.

In order for us to understand the resurrection, we have to expand our ideas about who and what God is and what we can do. We can’t limit God with our own limited human reasoning. God continually surprises us. The future he has planned for us is a glorious one that is far more than we can imagine and different from what we can imagine.

Bibliography

1. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 32^nd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
2. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher’s Commentary Series; Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
3. Rev. Wayne Palmer, “Doubts About the Resurrection “. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr. : The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
5. Exegesis for Luke 20:27-38. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
6. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “God’s Novelty”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
7. Brett Blair, “His Teachings”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
8. John Wayne Clarke, “Putting Eternity to the Test”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. King Duncan, “Easter in November”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. Exegesis for 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
11. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

Lectionary Homiletics, Vol. XXIV, No. 6 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; 2

How do you handle crises in your lives? Do you blame or belittle God?

In Old Testament times, people assumed that their crises implied God’s absence or apathy. In reality, God uses current events to remind people that there isn’t a day that goes by that we aren’t dealing with God. No matter what the trauma or crises is in our lives, God can be trusted to bring comfort in the short-term and restoration in the long run. We hear that promise in Joel 2:23-32.

A great crisis came upon the Israelites-God’s judgment. They had to return to God with fasting, weeping and mourning. They had to cry out to God for deliverance. That deliverance was so profound and underserved that Joel told the Israelites in Joel 2:18 that they should retell the story and pass it on to their children.

The passage from Joel is just as important to the church today as it was to the church in New Testament times. It is a prophecy of what is to come. The first half of the passage mentions how the Holy Ghost will work in the lives of God’s children as the end times approach. The second half of the passage mentions the supernatural events that will take place as related to the earth and the heavens. Prophesy in Scripture often produces praise to God. Dreams and visions were customary ways that the Lord communicated special revelations in Old Testament times.

God brings about both the good and the bad. The seasons of famine have a divine purpose in our lives. They accomplish things that only these hard places can accomplish. But there is a time when those hard places have accomplished their purpose and God begins to restore.

God said, “Vengeance will be mine,” and the passage from Joel is a slightly different version of God’s statement. The harvests will again be plentiful for the people to eat and be satisfied. The people will praise God’s name, recognizing the source of their sustenance. In addition, people will know God, His presence and His uniqueness. They will know that He is with them. They will know that He is their God, active on their behalf and the One to whom they owe allegiance.

God’s plan for the people of Joel’s time and for us is that of restoration to health as whole people and as a healthy community. That depends on a righteous relationship with God. This is part of returning to God with all our hearts.

In Acts 2, Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his famous sermon on the Day of Pentecost. God’s Spirit gives life to everyone. When the Old Testament texts talk about the Spirit of God coming on humans, it is most often to specially equip someone or a group of people for a great task such as craftsmen, prophets, warriors, leaders and kings. Today God still pours out His Spirit on all believers. It fills them and empowers them to serve Him in holiness and great joy.

In Old Testament times, prophets discerned with unusual clarity the significance of current events and the circumstances of God’s people. Based on their diagnosis, they spoke a word from God to provoke His people to change. By speaking God’s word to our world, prophets call us to radical transformation.

Prophets also offered pastoral care and comfort. They kept the dreams of God’s people and His kingdom alive in times of disaster and discouragement. They generated hope, affirmed identity and created a new future. They offered both a negative critique and positive affirmation and encouragement. They demanded radical change and invited the people to patient endurance.  Today, the church and the world need both prophetic critique that demands change and pastoral comfort on the long road of endurance.

The Spirit encompasses everyone regardless of sex, age or social status, but sometimes we in the church make distinctions about whose bodies’ matter without thinking twice. Are black and brown bodies equal to white bodies? Are African bodies equal to American or Canadian bodies? Are the bodies of prisoners equal to free bodies? The answer to all of these questions and many more is a resounding “yes.” The traditional hierarchies of power are destroyed. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, there is no longer, “Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.” Christ removes all the barriers that we erect between classes, races and genders. God is equally open to everyone, and we are all the same in His eyes.

It’s one thing for us to say we believe God’s spirit is poured out on all flesh and a totally different thing to live it out in our daily lives. Which of our practices do we need to examine? Which sins do we need to confess?

What would it mean for us that God’s Spirit is for everyone? People will prophesy, dream dreams and see visions. Prophecy means proclaiming God’s Word. The gift of prophecy gives us supernatural power to discern the inner meaning of what is happening around us and what God wants to tell us.

Would you like to have new love for people, be able to care for them profoundly and become effective in helping them reach their full potential?

Would you like to have x-ray vision to be able to see beneath the surface of people to their deepest hopes and hurts?

Would you like to be able to discern what God wants to say to people through you?

Would you like to be able to speak the truth to people in love in a winsome, winning way?

Would you like to have a direct, personal experience of God’s Spirit and become a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered person?

Any Christian who says “yes” to these questions is ready to receive the call to be a prophet and receive the monetary, situational, relational,  spiritual gift of prophecy. The needs of people and groups before us will bring forth the gift of the Spirit from within us. Our responsibility is to “keep on being filled with the Spirit,” as written in Ephesians 5:18. The Spirit gives this gift when we get into challenges requiring the wisdom, insight, discernment and boldness the gift provides.

Joel 2:25-27 reminds us that the promised abundance is still on the way. Eating, praise and satisfaction are all promises of the wonders to come-especially when we get to heaven. God will generously provide for us, but more importantly, He will be in the midst of His people, regardless of gender, age, sex or social rank.

All of us as believers have wasted years when we turned away from God. Some of us have regrets about those years. Regret is a painful emotion and a worse reality. There are so many past words, actions and decisions that we wish we could take back. There are so many actions that brought unwanted and lasting consequences. Perhaps we feel that our past sins have robbed us of many good years.

We can take comfort in the knowledge that God will restore those years. God won’t turn back the clocks of our lives, but He will pack so much blessing in the years we have left that we will live a life full of joy, victories and pleasures. All we have to do is repent and ask God to carry out His plans for our lives. We can escape the coming judgments that are reserved for this earth by putting our trust in Jesus. We can ask Him to forgive us and accept His mercy and grace.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1170-1171)
2. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 22: Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1990; pp. 253-263)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. “No such Thing as Wasted Years.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
5. Phil Ware, “Heartlight Daily Verse, September 20, 2014.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Forgiveness.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Os Hillman, “When God restores What the Locusts Eat.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
8. Bob Thompson, “Always Dealing with God.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
9. Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Terrified or trusting?” Retrieved from devotion@reallifewithjackhibbs.org
10. Ron Moore, “Regret and Restoration.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
11. Rev. Megan Purdue, “Proper 25C 1^st Reading.” Retrieved from www.aplainaccount.org/copy-of-proper-25c-psalm-1/
12. John Holbert, “Locusts, Armies, Despair and Hope: Reflections on Joel 2:23-32.” Retrieved from www.patheos.com/progressive=christian/locusts-armies-john-holbert-10-22-2013.aspx
13. Daniel Clendenin, “Comfort and Critique: The Prophet Joel and a Plague of Locusts.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus,net/Essays/20131021JJ.shtml
14. Bob Thompson, “Always Dealing with God.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
15. Tammy Maltby, “A Vision for Trauma’s Aftermath.” Retrieved from dailytreasure@markinc.org
16. Walter C. Bouzard, “Commentary on Joel 2:23-32.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3052

What would you say to someone if you knew you were speaking to them for the last time? What advice would you give?

These same questions were likely on Paul’s mind when he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome, and he knew that he would soon be put to death by Emperor Nero. The letter to Timothy was a “passing of the torch.” In this letter Paul gave final instruction to his star pupil Timothy much like a schoolteacher gives final instructions to his or her students before they write a final exam.

It’s a good idea for us to reflect back on our spiritual lives once in awhile. It helps us live even better as we move forward. Our spiritual lives will face setbacks, hardships and difficulties. We can’t change something that happened in the past, but we can change how we do things from this moment forward.

The term, “At my first defense” speaks of Paul’s first imprisonment. This, his final imprisonment, was Paul’s Gethsemane. It was the end of his earthly journey and the beginning of his journey into eternal glory. He was delivered from danger.

Paul wanted to continue doing God’s work until the last possible moment, and he wanted to study God’s work until the last minute. In other words, he stayed focused on God until the last minute. He set a good example for us as Christians to follow. When we stay focused on Christ and study His word, we can withstand all of life’s challenges. Success eventually follows when we refuse to quit.

Paul has completed the work God assigned him to do. God has given the same assignment to both Timothy and us. It was up to Timothy to continue this work, and it’s up to us to continue it as well. Paul is now prepared to receive the crown of righteousness that God gives to all believers. This is possible because of God’s grace. All true believers who hope for Christ’s return and persevere in doing His work will receive this crown. When we devote our lives to doing God’s work, we might not receive earthly rewards. The results of our work will last for eternity as long as we keep getting up and going when we fall.

Paul’s life has been a sacrificial offering. The word “departure” suggests the untying of a boat from its moorings. Paul’s exit from this life will mean a new life ahead in eternity. Paul, like most people who know that their life is coming to an end, looked backward before passing into his eternal reward. Staring death in the face can bring out the best in people. The real prospect of death forces us to focus on what is significant in our lives.

Paul had every reason to be resentful. He had no money, clothes or food. He was in prison. His morale was dwindling. The only familiar person who was there to encourage him was the apostle Luke. All of his other friends deserted him because in Rome at that time supporting a Christian at his/her trial would have led to a death sentence. Paul’s last words had no hint of bitterness, resentment or regret. His unbreakable spirit emerged. He was more concerned about others than he was about himself. He extended forgiveness to those who abandoned him, thereby following the examples of Jesus when he was on the cross and Stephen when he was stoned to death.

God also stood by Paul, and God will also stand by us. When we are tired, he will give us strength. When failure is inevitable, he steps in and helps us find the strength to finish the work he gave us to do. We need his strength because we are in a spiritual war. We are fighting against evil in this world, flesh that is corrupt and a devil that is busy. Like soldiers on the front line of a battle we are in a battle that is demanding and risky, but the prize is worth fighting for. Jesus will not be ashamed of His soldiers. In fact, he will be in the trenches leading us and fighting alongside us. When we win the fight, we will get a foretaste of the reward we will receive in heaven.

Paul has no regrets about his past. All three images-fight the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith-have involved sacrifice, labour and danger. Now they represent the successful completion of Paul’s earthly ministry. Paul accepted the reality of his situation. God gave Paul the strength he needed to spread the Gospel, and God also gave Paul the strength to face his upcoming death. God rescued Paul from his fate not by preventing his death but by taking him to heaven. Christian life and ministry is a commitment to run all the way to the finish line.

Paul’s acceptance of his situation is a good example for us as Christians to follow. Things could be better, but they could also be worse. Our place in life can only be experienced by us. If we can change anything for the better, we must do so. If we are being blessed, we must share our blessings with gratitude with others. If we have any regrets, we need to address them now before they poison our spirit or ruin the rest of our lives. If we long for payback, we long for justice to show itself. When we fear payback, we become afraid that justice will show itself. We want our own efforts to matter. Complete justice rarely comes, and when it does come it rarely comes at the speed we want it to arrive at.

Those who are eager for Christ’s appearing are usually eager to fulfill His calling before He returns. They persevere because they know that their final salvation and righteousness are sure. Paul saw his upcoming death as a release from the toils of responsibility. He saw the hand of God moving to give him mercy and to spread the gospel among the people who were persecuting him. He saw his upcoming trial as another opportunity to spread the good news.

It’s important for us to look above what’s here on earth and to know where our treasures are. It’s also important for us to be true witnesses for God by showing others that we serve someone greater than us. When it comes to committing our resources in service to Jesus, we can only do what we can.  If we want to do well, we need to live well. If we want to live well, we need to figure out what our God-given purpose in life is and give it our best shot with God’s help.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1723-1724)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights on 1&2 Timothy/Titus (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 2016, pp. 232-239,247-249)
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Demarest, G. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 32: 1,2 Thessalonians/1,2 Timothy/Titus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 1986)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
7. Richard Inness, “Keeping the Faith.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Famous Last Words.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
9. Dr. Harold Sala, “Quitting.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
10. Ed Young, “Invest in Your Future.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
11. Richard Inness, “What’s Your Purpose in Life?” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
12. Joni Eareckson Tada, “The Good Fight.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org
13. Alistair Begg, “His Kingdom.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

Matt Skinner, “Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18.” Retrieved from

A man went to visit a psychiatrist. “Doc, I’ve got two problems.” The psychiatrist said, “Okay, tell me all about it.” The man began, “Well, first of all, I think I am a Coca-Cola machine”.

The psychiatrist sat the man down and started therapy. For weeks, he gave it his best shot, but nothing seemed to happen. Finally, out of exasperation, the psychiatrist jumped up one day, took two quarters out of his pocket, shoved them in the man’s mouth, grabbed him by the ears and shook him until he swallowed the quarters. Then he hollered, “Okay, now give me a Coke”.

That’s when the man said, “I can’t, Doc. That’s my second problem. I’m out of order.”

The only people God can help are those who admit that they have a problem. They have to admit that they are “out of order”. They have to admit that they have a problem, admit what the problem is, seek help to overcome it and persist until the problem is resolved.

Have you ever thought that you were better than other people? If you have, how can you call yourself a Christian? Christians prove by their words and deeds that they are the same as everyone else, the only difference being that they show Christ’s love and that they admit that they are sinners and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. That is the point of the Gospel reading from Luke 18:9-14.

My mother’s doctor told her when she had to start using a cane that “pride goeth before a fall”. Jesus warned the people that the idea that we are self-sufficient for our salvation is a prideful one. Pride is one obstacle to faith. It blinds us to our needs because it makes us think that we can handle our needs and if we can’t handle them, they weren’t important anyway. Pride has no room for mercy, no need for forgiveness. If we think that we can satisfy our own needs, or if we think we are better than anyone else, we are dead wrong. All of us “put our pants on one leg at a time”, as the old saying goes. All of us are the same. If you want proof, look at any cemetery. Rich and poor are buried side by side. Jesus exalted the man who knew his place in the game of grace. How about us? Jesus knew that we have a need that can never be covered over or washed away by human deeds.

It reminds me of a story about a minister who was waiting to board a plane. He saw a businessman run up to an airline attendant and demand immediate entry on the plane. The attendant asked him to go to the end of the line and wait his turn. The man shouted, “Do you know who I am?” He said he was a senior executive who flew often, and he could have her fired. She said, “Well, I guess I’ll wait for that call, but you’ll still have to go to the end of the line”.

Arrogance is the opposite of true self-esteem, and it is the opposite of the two Great Commandments to love God and love people. Humility is a realistic assessment of who we are in God’s eyes. Connecting with who we are in God’s eyes is the start of our spiritual journey. The remainder of the journey involves staying in touch with who we can become with God’s help.

The Pharisee represented the best in religious society. His life reflected care about religious things. Pharisees were pious lay people and religious leaders who were dedicated to their religious observance and admired by others of their faith. The Pharisee thought that he was better than everyone else. He tried to justify himself in the eyes of God. These were his two big mistakes, and they are the same two mistakes all of us make at times. Sometimes we think that we are better than others, and I’m just as guilty of that mistake as everyone else is. We use anything and everything we can to justify ourselves-intelligence, where we went to school, where we live, sports, family, job, etc. We feel the need to prove ourselves to God, but that isn’t necessary as long as we come to him in true faith just like the tax collector came to God in faith.

The main issue in this reading is the sin of self-righteousness, the belief in salvation by works instead of trusting in God’s grace. The Pharisee believed that his good works would get him into heaven, but the tax collector had the humility to do what God requires. He faced the truth about himself and asked for God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can’t gain God’s favour with good works. Our good works have to be backed up with a genuine, humble faith. God has no use for people who boast of their achievements. We must humbly repent and confess our guilt. Humility raises us up to heaven.

Jesus sees the truth about people by looking into their hearts. He saw that the Pharisee was not sincere, and he knew that the tax collector was sincere. Someone who is honest with God sees himself as he truly is. Anyone who repents and calls on Christ will be redeemed by God.

Jesus wants lives that have been transformed. He wants to see followers who love others like he loves us. He wants followers who will feed the hungry, care for the sick, clothe the naked. By doing these things, we will grow close to God.

Religion is not the same as Christianity. Religion concentrates on worshipping God by following man-made rules. Christianity concentrates on worshipping God in sincere faith and on loving others. There are five rules that will free us from religion:

1. Refuse to bind ourselves and others with man-made rules.
2. Reject appearances as a spiritual yardstick. Looks can be deceiving.
3. Review our walk with God and beware of the danger of form without function.
4. Return to the basis of examination and confession.
5. Remain humble.

We must remember that what matters to God is our heart and that we are sincere in our relationship with him. God will answer our prayers with a “yes” if we actually offer our prayers to him.

Jewish law required that the faithful give 10 percent of their income from crops and livestock to God’s work, but the Pharisee went beyond that by giving 10 percent of all his income. Jewish law required that the faithful fast or go without food one day per year, but the Pharisee fasted two days per week. He was a religious over-achiever. He stood off by himself and looked at other worshippers, eyeing some of them with contempt. In modern language he would say something like this, “O Lord, how thankful I am that I’m not loitering on some street corner, a no-count drug abuser living off welfare. I thank you that I’m not a homosexual or an abortionist or New Ager or Hollywood pagan. O Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re prefect in every way.”

Sinners are justified when God’s righteousness is added to their account. In other words, sinners are justified when they accept God in faith as their saviour. It was on this basis that the tax collector was saved, and it is on that same basis that we are saved. The tax collector’s heart was a pigsty, but when he prayed he opened the doors wide and begged God to enter. He was not happy with himself and was desperate for grace. Where the Pharisee’s prayer was self-centered, the tax collector’s prayer was God-centered. He did not compare himself to others. He made no reference to what he did or what he did not do. He knew that God knew him just like God knows each and every one of us, and this knowledge broke him open and made him want something better than all that he was and all that he did. Jesus likes sinners because they know that they still have room to grow and depend on God. Jesus also likes sinners because they do not look down on others.

God can take our miserable efforts and make something useful out of them. He takes our mismanaged lives, our failed efforts, our missed marks, our shameful deeds, our attitudes, our sinful lives and out of his resourcefulness he saves us by creating something new, worthy and wonderful that still has usefulness and beauty in his divine plan for our lives.

A martial arts student met his instructor for tea. The student said to his teacher, “I’ve learned all you have to teach me about defending myself. I want to learn one more thing now. Please teach me about the ways of God.”

The teacher took the teakettle and started pouring the student’s cup full of tea. Soon the cup overflowed and spilled over onto the saucer. The teacher continued to pour the tea until it spilled over the saucer and then onto the floor.

The student finally said, “Stop, stop, the tea is spilling over. The cup can’t take any more.” The teacher looked at the student and said, “You are so full of yourself that there is no room in your life for God. It is not possible for you to learn the ways of God until you learn to empty yourself.” That is a good lesson for all of us to learn.

When we are 100% dependent on God’s grace and admit that we are nothing, that admission impresses God to the extent that we have earned God’s favour and God’s life. This parable invites us to reflect on our claims to righteousness and goodness and whether it puts us in a position of justification and righteousness with God.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “Lord Have Mercy: What’s Wrong and What’s Right?” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
3. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org
4. Jang Ho Park, “How DO We Pray?” Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
5. James MacDonald, “Freedom from Religion”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Greg Laurie, “The Right Way to Pray”. Retrieved from www.harvest.org
7. Dick Inness, “I Have a Problem”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Jude Siciliano, OP “First Impressions, 30^th Sunday, Year C” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
9. T.M. Moore, “Pride”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
10. George Vink, “Looking at Ourselves”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
11. Paul DeVries, “A Parable of Prayer”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
12. Reginald Smith, “Knowing Your Place”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
13. Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, “God’s Just Rewards”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
14. Exegesis for Luke 18:9-14. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
15. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
16. MacArthur, J.F.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers,; 2006)
17. King Duncan, “Why Jesus Likes Sinners.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
18. R. Curtis Fussell, “Pride.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
19. Leonard Sweet, “License to Steal”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
20. Dr. Bill Bouknight, “Broken and Beautiful” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
21. Alan J. Weenink, “The Cunning Craftsman, God” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
22. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Two Ways”. Retrieved from www.lectioonary.org

Good morning boys and girls!

Have any of you ever been bullied, teased or made fun of? It isn’t very much fun, is it? Believe me, I know the feeling because when I was your age I was bullied, made fun of and teased. Why do you think some people act like that?

Have you heard anyone brag about how good they are in school or in sports? What do you think of people who are like that? Why do you think people act like that?

Well, one reason why people brag, bully, tease or make fun of other people might be that they think that they are better than other people. But as God’s children we know that this is not true. We are all the same in the eyes of God, and he hates people who think they are better than anyone else.

Our Gospel reading today from Luke 18:9-14 talks about someone who thought that he was better than anyone else.Boys and girls, the Pharisee thought that he was better than anyone else. The Pharisees were among the religious leaders in society at that time, and they were so observant of religious laws that they thought that they were better than other people in society.

In contrast, the tax collector was among the lowest class of people in society. Some of you have probably heard your parents complain about how much they have to pay to the tax man, and if you want to know why they complain, just wait until you have jobs of your own and have to pay taxes! In Jesus’ time, tax collectors “bought” their jobs from the Romans. They collected the taxes that people owed to the Romans, but they also tried to collect as much tax revenue as they could from the people. The difference between what the tax collectors collected and what they paid to Rome was their salary.

The tax collector was truly sorry for his sins and prayed to God with all of his heart. In contrast, the Pharisee bragged about how better he was than the Pharisee. Jesus does not like people who brag or think that they are better than other people. He said in the passage that in his coming kingdom those who think they are better than other people will be among those who will be made humble, and those who are humble and come to Jesus in humble faith will be glorified. Jesus likes humble people.

Let us bow our heads, close our eyes and have a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for loving us when we come to you with humble hearts filled with true faith. Help us always to be close to you in faith and humility. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Have you ever wanted something so much that you kept asking for it time and time again until you finally got what you wanted? If so, you can understand how the widow in the Parable of the Unjust Judge felt. She kept going to the judge until he finally decided to hear her case. Jesus told this story to encourage His listeners to be persistent in prayer.

In Jesus’ time, widows were among the most disadvantaged people in society. In spite of Old Testament laws stating that they and other disadvantaged people were to be provided for and taken care of, they had few rights, no one to be an advocate for them and no one to look after them in their old age if they did not have any children. To make matters worse, judges could be influenced by bribes or friendship or other means. Not all judges were fair or interested in helping the less fortunate obtain justice.

The judge in this parable was only concerned with his own opinions, comfort and income. Luke doesn’t say so, but there was probably a reason why the judge wouldn’t give the widow justice. That reason probably had to do with money. It was likely that the judge was either taking bribes to fatten his wallet or had an “arrangement” with a wealthy citizen who stood to lose if the widow won her case.

In contrast, God, who is the Chief Justice of the highest court known to mankind, is a friend of the less fortunate. He loves to hear their cries for justice. His justice is swift and fair to the less fortunate yet is merciless when it comes to dealing with people who would take advantage of the less fortunate. He loves to hear our prayers. When we go to God in prayer, no matter how persistent we are, God will always be there to listen and give advice.

Although the judge did not listen to the widow when she began to ask for justice, and her cries initially seemed to accomplish nothing, something was happening: the judge’s resistance was breaking down. It did not matter that the woman could not see the change taking place. Her pleas were having an effect.

The point of this parable is this.  If an unrighteous, earthly judge will finally hear our appeals, how much will God, who loves and cares for us, hear our appeals? We, like the woman in this parable, should believe that with God all things are possible. We must never give up. God-who always does what is right and is filled with compassion for suffering believers-will always act in His own time and His own way.

Some of you are probably saying to yourselves, “I’ve tried praying, but I didn’t get any answer” or, “I didn’t get the answer I wanted”. There are several reasons why you received the answer that you did receive. Perhaps you didn’t pray hard enough or often enough. Perhaps your request did not fit into God’s plan for your life. Sometimes God’s answer is “No”. Sometimes his answer is “Not now”. Sometimes his answer is “No, because I have something even better in mind for you”. God our heavenly father loves us like our earthly parents love us, and like earthly parents He does what He knows to be best for us.

So why don’t we “pray without ceasing?” There are several reasons:

1. We are busy. The richer a culture is, the less time it has for prayer because money and wealth give people so many opportunities to be busy.
2. We don’t believe prayer does that much good.
3. We often believe that a good God should protect us from life’s disasters. When God doesn’t protect us and our friends, we assume that there must not be a God.
4. We don’t walk closely with God. To have any close relationship, we need to talk often and deeply. If we don’t talk often and deeply with God, we aren’t walking closely with Him.

We grow in faith when we hear from God, obey Him and acknowledge His faithfulness to His Word in our lives. If we aren’t hearing from God, we can’t grow in faith. The same is true if we aren’t obeying Him and if we aren’t looking for Him to fulfill His Word in us.

When we pray, God might not answer our prayers right away. He might use the delay to teach us something. He might use the delay to prepare us to receive his answer. He will answer our prayer in his own time and in his own way. In God’s way of doing things, justice delayed is not justice denied.

Gow will respond to our prayers because He will secure the rights of His chosen people. This gives us hope, because our world is so unjust, especially for disadvantaged people. We pray for things to be put right, but things don’t always improve. In fact, they often get worse. God can be found in the widow. Power is often found in weakness. If we are made in God’s image, we must tirelessly pursue justice even if we have to pursue it against powerful forces.

Prayer doesn’t mean being pests because God is not like the unjust judge. He isn’t slow to answer and provide justice to those who call out to Him. We might not believe this is true because we don’t understand what God considers quick. God is faithful to His promises. He has made a covenant with His people, and He remains true to it.

As children of God we have certain rights and responsibilities, and sometimes we forget about these rights and responsibilities, especially the responsibility to care for the less fortunate. God has to constantly remind us of these responsibilities. In this way, God is the persistent widow in the Parable of the Unjust Judge.

Luke wrote his Gospel about a generation after Jesus died and rose again. At that time, people expected Jesus to return shortly after he ascended into heaven, and they were getting discouraged when Jesus did not return when they expected him to return. Luke included the Parable of the Unjust Judge to encourage the people. The parable is about waiting and not losing hope, heart or faith. If we pray earnestly, faithfully and regularly, Jesus will find faith when He does return. If we are persistent in prayer, we will stay in touch with God. We must persevere in prayer because we must persevere in doing God’s work, and that includes doing God’s justice in an unjust world. That requires long, constant and persistent prayer. Sometimes the task seems hopeless, but we must never give up.

God is love and love is not coercive. That’s why God never imposes justice. He only works though willing hearts and minds. Actual justice comes at the speed of changed hearts, minds and behaviour. Unfortunately, we all know how fast that happens.

It is impossible to be persistent and to constantly work for justice in our lives and in our world if we lose faith. It is our conviction that God is just and desires justice, and our commitment to stay faithful to the cause until justice comes that sustains us and ensures that we won’t give up before we see God’s justice manifest among us.

Have you prayed and prayed, and there still seems to be no answer? Does it seem as if God is asleep and absent from your cry? Jesus has given us the answer by discussing the problem, delivering the parable, and defining the principle. Therefore, don’t give up, don’t lose hope, don’t quit now, but just keep praying until the answer comes.

God steadfastly hears our cries. He always cares when people are vulnerable, disregarded and in need. He also persistently calls us to act. God commands us to be like the widow in this parable. He commands us to persist in our efforts to advocate for a society with justice, opportunities, dignity and love for all people.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013: p. 1421)
2. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 264-265)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Dean Deppe, “A Persistent Plea”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
6. The Rev. Nils Chittenden, “Patina of Faith”. Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
7. The Rev. Mark Sargent, “Keeping Heart, Trusting in God”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
8. The Rev. Dr. Robert Dunham, “Whose Persistence?” Retrieved from  www.day1.org
9. Pastor Jeff Schreve, “Does Prayer Even Make a Difference?” Retrieved from www.fromhisheart.org
10. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 29^th Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
11. Pastor Jeff Schreve, “Have You Thrown in the Towel on Prayer?” Retrieved from www.fromhisheart.org
12. Exegesis for Luke 18:1-8. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
13. Craig Condon, “Persistence Pays Off”. Retrieved from http://sermonsfrommyheart.blogspot.ca/2013/01/luke-181-8-persistence-pays-off.html
14. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 29^th Sunday -C-, October 20, 2019”. Retrieved from firstimpressions@lists.opsouth.org
15. Bob Cornwall, “Faithfulness in Prayer and the Realm of God-Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost 22C.” Retrieved from www.bobcornwall.com/2013/10/faithfulness-in-prayer-and-realm-of-god.html
16. “Luke 18:1-8.” Retrieved from www.holytextures.com
17. Dr. Ralph Wilson, “#77. The Widow and the Unjust Judge.” Retrieved from www.jesuswalk.com/lessons/18_1-8.htm.
18. The Rev. Edward Markquart, “Pushy in Prayer.” Retrieved from www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_pushy_in_prayer.htm

Tears ran down Keira’s cheeks as Dad drove off. She pulled away from her mother and ran down the street. She heard Mom call her name, but she ran faster. Today was the worst day of her life!

Earlier that morning, Mom and Dad sat on opposite ends of the couch and calmly spoke the words that tore her world apart. “We still love you, Kiera. We just can’t live together anymore.” The words had pierced her heart.

Kiera finally stopped running and sat on a swing at the neighbourhood park. She could no longer cry; she felt empty.

As the weeks went by, Kiera’s life fell into a new pattern. After school on weekdays, she and her mother cooked dinner and spent the evenings together. On Fridays, her father picked her up after school, and she went to his apartment for the weekend. They had fun, but it just wasn’t the same as having him home.

One Friday Kiera’s father called to say he couldn’t come. After that, Dad sometimes came, and sometimes he didn’t. When he told her he was going to get married and she would have stepbrothers and a stepsister, she wasn’t quite sure where she fit in anymore.

A few weeks later, Kiera agreed to go to church with Mrs. Mason, who lived next door. The lesson was about the love of God. Kiera listened as the pastor talked. Love comes and goes, thought Kiera. One day you’re a family, and the next you’re lost somewhere in the middle. Tears began to well up, and when the sermon was over and everyone got up to leave, she stayed in her seat.

“What’s wrong, Kiera?” asked Mrs. Mason.

“Love’s not like what the pastor said,” replied Kiera. “Dad doesn’t love us like that.”

“God’s love isn’t like human love, “said Mrs. Mason gently. “God loves His children perfectly, and nothing can separate them from His love. He will always be there for them, no matter what.”

“Are you sure?” asked Kiera. It would be wonderful to be loved like that, she thought.

“Yes,” said Mrs. Mason. “Why don’t you and your mother come over for lunch and I’ll tell you more about it.”

In this passage Paul asks for a response to a question that doesn’t have an answer. Some realities are so awe-inspiring that the only proper response is silence. The question “who can be against us?” would have many answers. Anyone able to take away salvation would have to be greater than God.

God was willing to give His Son to restore our relationship with Him. That’s how much He loves us. If He was willing to give up Jesus for us, He will be willing to give us anything we want provided that it is good for us and that it fits into His plan for our lives.

Satan is called “the accuser of our brethren” in Revelation 12:10, but those charges can’t stand because the One who justifies is also the One who judges. For example, when a woman who was accused of adultery was brought before Jesus, He did not condemn her. If God the judge refuses to condemn us, who can be against us? Believers are protected by Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation and intercession.

God knows that every day we try to live for Him, we are fighting a spiritual battle. Satan doesn’t want us to serve God. He’d rather hurt us than see us become conquerors with Christ. Through the powers of Jesus, we can defeat the enemy and become great warriors in God’s kingdom.

In verse 35, Paul is not talking about one’s love for Christ when he speaks of the love of Christ. Paul is speaking of Christ’s love for people. Christ’s love is a safeguard against the difficulties of life. None of the seven threats Paul lists can separate believers from God. Our love for God is so strong that it will survive all opposition and trials. Our love is so strong that we will be willing to endure all of life’s trials, just like the love the saints in the Bible had for God allowed them to endure the hardships they faced. Not even death can separate us from God’s love if we are believers. When we die, we will be immediately ushered into God’s presence.

Paul’s words bring out the truth that for God’s people there is real risk and a call for real devotion. Christians might be tempted to think that because the love of Christ is so real and so unshakeable they need not fear that they will run into trouble. Scripture shows that while the love is sure, so are troubles. Paul says, “We are being killed all day long.” It is real and not imaginary anger that Christians face.

The phrase “more than conquerors” means “over and above victory.” Believers are super conquerors! We will gain the victory over all of life’s trials. Our faith won’t be destroyed. Not even evil spirits will be able to defeat us.

Paul begins verse 36 with the phrase “we know,” and ends with the more personal phrase “I am persuaded.” Knowing truth and being persuaded of it are different things. Paul knows God’s truth, but because he has also experienced most of what he is writing, he says with confidence that nothing can separate him from God’s love.

If we think God can’t really love us, we are wrong. All we have to do is commit this passage from Romans to memory. God is there whether we walk away from Him or not. God’s acceptance is based on Christ’s death and resurrection and not on our own merit.

When we pray, God is looking at our hearts more than anything else, because that’s His main concern. Prayer is inviting God. It is like the relationship between a parent and a child. It keeps us in touch with God, and God wants to stay in touch with us. With God on our side, we don’t need anything else. God plus one equals a majority. When we let God’s Word flood our lives with truth, we are changed by the height, depth and width of His love for us.

Bibliography

1. info@keysforkids.org.
2. Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
3. https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/homestudydaily/keep-in-touch-greg-laurie-daily-devotion-july-24.html?
4. Pastor Rick Warren, “Fear Not: God is for You!” Retrieved from www.pastorrick.com
5. Gwen Smith, “A Truth That Will Change Your Life.” Retrieved from https://www.crosswalk.com/devotional/girlfriends-in-god-november-8-2017.html