There are three stages in every successful relationship, including romance. First, you must get to know the other person. Second, you must like the other person. Finally, you must love the other person. Our relationship with Jesus involves all three stages. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 10:1-13.

Knowing Jesus involves knowing what he wants us to do so we can be saved. The Jews were outwardly eager to know God, but they were not eager to know Christ. They failed to submit to God’s righteousness. They tried to be righteous before God on the basis of their own works. They sought to establish their own righteousness and missed the gift God offered them. For the Jews to receive God’s righteousness, they had to stop relying on works and start believing in Christ’s work.

Asking Christ to be our Saviour requires us to give up control in order to have real life. The Jews did not want to give up that control. Asking Christ to be our Saviour also involves breaking through the barriers of generation gaps, social status and culture-something else that the Jews did not want to do. True happiness only comes when we discover the treasure house that Jesus makes available when we come to Him in faith.

Asking God to save us but not change us is like asking a surgeon to remove a cancerous growth from our bodies without cutting. Cutting and breaking are a part of healing in God’s kingdom. Healing can only come when we allow Jesus to enter our hearts and remove anything that is useless or harmful.

Knowing Christ involves knowing what he did for us. The word “end” means that Christ is the goal or fulfillment of the Old Testament law. He was the object to which the law pointed. The Mosaic law is no longer binding on us as Christians. The Mosaic law looked forward to Christ. It ended when Christ came to earth.

If a person chooses to be justified by the law, he or she must live by the law. There is no room for error. The entire law must be kept because keeping a portion of it has no value. If someone breaks one of the laws, he or she breaks all of them. The law demands absolute perfection without any mitigation. Christ was the only person who obeyed the law perfectly, so he was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.

An outward expression of our faith in Christ gives outward evidence of inward faith. We need to believe in the resurrection and the complete truth connected with it. That includes Jesus’ sin-bearing death in our place and God’s approval of Christ’s work. Trusting in Christ is the pathway to salvation, not deeds. We can’t earn salvation through our own efforts. It can only be obtained through faith in Christ. Faith is a heartfelt belief in the reality of Christ’s resurrection. In Christ’s resurrection we see that his claim to deity is valid. We also see that his death brings salvation to us.

When we place our faith in Christ, God looks at us just as He looks at Jesus. Jesus completely obeyed the law, without exception and without fault. Christ’s perfect record becomes ours through faith. Anyone who puts his or her faith in Christ will be saved and will receive eternal life.

Paul speaks of righteousness as if it is a person. We do not need to ascend to heaven to bring righteousness down. Christ has already done that. We do not need to descend into the grave. Christ has already been raised from the dead. We do not have to go on a journey around the world to find it. Christ is accessible by faith, as near as our mouths and hearts. All we have to do is reach out and receive Him by faith.

Knowing Christ involves confessing that Christ is our Saviour. Confessing Christ is evidence of genuine faith. Salvation comes through belief in Christ, acknowledging that He is God, and was raised from the dead. His death satisfied God’s demand for the penalty for sins. His resurrection validated both His claims and the Father’s statements that He is God.

When we are saved, we need to anchor our faith in the promises of God and nothing else. If we pray a prayer of salvation, our hearts and mouths must go together. Words are not enough. Real life begins when we depend on Jesus, when we call out to Him to give us what we can’t earn ourselves-a right relationship with God. That can only happen through faith in what He did for us on the cross.

When we are saved, that does not mean that we won’t have any problems in life. What it does mean is that our eternity will be set in heaven with God. In return, we are to tell the world about Jesus. We are called to either go where God sends us or donate money or anything else that will help others go into the mission field.

Because Christ is God, His death, burial and resurrection took care of the world’s sins. Just as all who sin will be judged, all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Christ lived the life we could not live and took the punishment we could not take to offer the hope we can’t resist. His sacrifice forces us to ask the question: If he so loved us, can we not love each other?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1558-1559)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 193-198)
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. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Bayless Conley, “Wise Counsel.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
8. Anne Graham Lotz, “One Life.” Retrieved from angelministries.org
9. Elizabeth Cole, “The Call.” Retrieved from homeword.com
10. Pastor Ed Young, “Acknowledge Who God Is.” Retrieved from edyoung.com
11. David Jeremiah, “Sending and Sent.” Retrieved from www.davidjeremiah.org
12. Dr. Gregory Seltz, “Call on Him.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. Charles Stanley, “The Mission Question.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org
14. Pastor Bobby Schuller, “Supposed to Be.” Retrieved from hourofpower.org
15. Os Hillman, “The Eternal Sales Call.” Retrieved from marketplaceleaders.com
16. “Crossing the Gap Between Us.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
17. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Our Treasure House.” Retrieved from ltw.org
18. Exegesis for Romans 10:5-15. Retrieved from sermonwriter.com

During Lent we prepare ourselves to share in and celebrate the real reason for our faith; namely, Christ’s death and resurrection. Lent is a spiritual desert similar to Christ’s 40 days in the desert, or the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert in the Book of Exodus, or Christ’s journey to Jerusalem. We live this experience in our lives during the annual observation of Lent.

One of the ways people of faith mark this period of time is by fasting, just like Christ fasted for 40 days in the desert. People can give up more than just food for Lent. They can give up things such as bad habits, text messaging or social networks such as Facebook, but for centuries the main thing that was given up for Lent was food. For example, we can give up things such as:

1. Anger and hatred
2. Judging others
3. Discouragement
4. Complaining
5. Resentment or bitterness
6. Spending too much money

Anything that controls us or that we can’t say no to lords over us. If it takes God’s place in our lives, it is an idol and we are living in something similar to idolatry. When we come to a fork in the road of life, we may be tempted to give in to our physical needs and ignore our spiritual needs. Unless we have disciplined ourselves and attended to our spiritual needs in an ongoing way, we may give in to the tempter. In other words, we might be tempted to used one of comedian Flip Wilson’s famous lines—“The devil made me do it!”

Fasting helps us to gain enough control to surrender our lives to God by making us more aware of our great need for God. It makes us more aware of our sinful desires and allows us to honour Jesus’ fasting not only in the desert, but in the weeks leading up to his crucifixion. It allows us to face temptations just like Christ faced temptations in the desert, but by facing these temptations and overcoming them, we will grow stronger in faith. Fasting is a weapon we can use against the enemy’s strongholds and bondage in our lives, just like Christ used the results of his fasting in the desert to fight Satan’s temptations.

Fasting is a metaphor for our desire for God. It makes some people feel cleaner, purer and more in control. It allows us to have a simpler life, even if only for a short period of time. It teaches us something about God as Jesus shows God to us. It allows us to call on Christ’s power to shove out sin so that we can live spiritually. Fasting forces us to remember our spiritual poverty, which in turn allows us to recognize God’s loving action to make things right between him and us through Jesus Christ. The result is a spiritual death that shows our sorrow for our sins. It makes the path to the cross inexpressibly and unbelievably rewarding. True fasting is good for our health (spiritually and physically), self-discipline, helping us break bad habits, appreciating what we love, and preserving the ability to do without.

Fasting and Lent provide us with a time to focus on what is always true. God is always reaching out to enable us to change, be renewed and deepen our commitment to him and his chosen community. We do this through repentance. Fasting is just one way of showing our desire to repent. Our repentance is a gift of grace. Repentance by itself does not cause6 forgiveness or make us worthy to receive it. It is based on grace-specifically, the knowledge that God is kind and ready to forgive. Fasting counteracts our daily habits of excessive consumption and makes us aware of God’s promptings and the needs of others. Leo, Bishop of Rome, once wrote:

“The sum total of our fasting does not consist in merely abstaining from food. In vain do we deny our body food if we do not withhold our heart from wickedness and restrain our lips so that they speak no evil. We must so moderate our rightful use of food that our other desires may be subject to the same rule. They therefore who desire to do good works, let them not fear that they shall be without the means, since even for two given pennies, the generosity of the poor widow of the Gospel was glorified!”

Fasting in repentance means we realize that what we did was wrong, and that whatever replaced God in our lives was wrong. Fasting forces us to change our way of living for awhile. It allows God to step in and change the course of our lives. It allows us to put our basic needs into a lower priority so that we can concentrate on the task at hand. In this case, the task at hand is the commemoration of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Fasting does not mean totally abstaining from food. In the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, fasting should be introduced in order to “bridle the desires of the flesh, which regard pleasures of touch in connection with food and sex”. We need to eat to live, and not the other way around. Those who are fasting are asked to eat only what is necessary, usually only one or two meals a day. Snacking, sweets or indulgences are not allowed.

There is a time and a place for fasting. It must not be done during a time of celebration such as a wedding anniversary. In fact, the 40 days of Lent DO NOT include Sundays because they are a celebration of Christ’s victory over death and sin. Fasting is not to be used as a substitute for dieting. It must also not be used as a form of self-punishment or as an excuse to harm yourself in a way that would make you a burden to others. It is not an excuse for being grouchy, stingy or rude. Fasting must be done in such a way that it shows our dependence on God, brings us closer to God, and gives energy to our prayers.

Fasting does not serve to change God’s mind, speed up his answer, or manipulate his will. Instead, it prepares us to hear from him by temporarily laying aside anything that competes for our attention. It allows us to focus on Christ and hear him clearly

Jesus began his ministry by fasting for 40 days in the desert. He suspended his earthly appetite in order to focus not only on preparing for his earthly ministry, but also to satisfy his spiritual hunger. Fasting puts us in touch with the fact that we ARE created with an appetite for God, just like Jesus had an appetite for God. It really does not matter what one abstains from in fasting. The important thing is to suspend the usual earthly appetites in life that seek immediate gratification so that we can recover our deeper spiritual hunger and thirst for God and his ready grace.

In our faith journey, there will be times when we have to hold out in the midst of spiritual battles. Fasting can give us the strength we need to achieve victory. It gives us the strength to hold on. God has promised us that we will not be placed in situations where we will have more put on us than we can bear. Fasting serves as a whet stone that we can use to sharpen our discernment, expose our wrong thinking and wrong attitudes, and bring about a single-minded focus on the things of God. Jesus used his fast to prepare him not only for Satan’s temptations, but to focus on his earthly mission and his father’s will. Contrary to what most people might think, Jesus was not weak from his fast. In fact, just the opposite—he gained spiritual strength for his journey to the cross and the ultimate success of his mission.

In Deuteronomy 8:3, we read “He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Lord”.  There is a connection between the manna that the Israelites received in the wilderness and the bread with which the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Israel’s need for bread was secondary to Israel’s need to understand that God gives bread. Because he understands that fact, Jesus can resist the temptation to take matters into his own hands.

We are in the same situation. Our earthly needs are secondary to our need to understand that God will supply our earthly needs. I emphasize the word needs. God will not supply us with a Mercedes-Benz car when a Volkswagen Beetle will be sufficient. God will not supply us with a huge mansion when a two-room bungalow will be sufficient. God will not provide us with a banquet that is fit for a king when a sandwich will be sufficient. He will supply our needs, and not our wants or desires. Fasting from anything that is not necessary for our earthly life will allow us to focus on the preparations we have to make for our spiritual life. Fasting is a spiritual discipline. It reminds us of our human weakness and encourages us to acknowledge our dependence on God.

Life is not just about the material things. It is also about a Word coming from the very mouth of God. In response to the temptation to throw himself into the rat race called material satisfaction, Jesus finds a calm centre, an anchor in the word of God. That centered faith will enable him to deal with all the other temptations to come. As it was with Jesus, so it is with us.

Works Cited

Bass, G. M. (n.d.). The Call of the Trumpet. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Esermons.com: http://www.esermons.com

Brockhoff, B. (n.d.). Fasting in a Fast-Food World. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Esermons.com: http://www.esermons.com

Donovan, D. (n.d.). Luke 4:1-13 The Frst Sunday in Lent. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

Dunnam, M. (n.d.). At the Fork in the Road. Retrieved Feb. 28, 2010, from Esermons.com: http://www.esermons.com

Fitzpatrick, D. L. (2009, January 16). Lenten Fasting & Abstinences for Children. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Catholic Practices: http://www.catholic-practices.suite101.com/article.cfm/lenten-fasting-and-abstinence-for-children.html

Harnish, J. E. (n.d.). Out of Solitude. Retrieved Feb. 28, 2010, from Esermons.com: http://www.esermons.com

Hohenthaner, C. (2008, March 1). Bishop discusses Lent, fasting. Retrieved Jan. 27, 2010, from Rapid City Journal: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/lifestlyes/faith-and-values/religion/article_4f2878e7-5b2…

Hyde, D. R. (n.d.). Luke 4:1-13 According to the Scriptures. Retrieved Feb. 2010, from Lectionary.org: http://www.lectionary.org.

Klaus, R. K. (2005, February 15). Fasting. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Lutheran Hour Ministries: http://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp?date=20050215

Nash, F. A. (n.d.). Lent. Retrieved Feb 23, 2010

Sison, M. N. (2010, Feb. 16). Lent: A time to take stock, get back on track. Retrieved Feb. 16, 2010, from Anglican Journal: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/100.article/lent-a-time-to-take-stock-get-back-on-track

Stanley, D. C. (2010, January 26). Biblical Fasting. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Crosswalk: http://www.crosswalkmail.com

unknown. (n.d.). Fasting. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Spirit Home: http://www.spirithome.com/fasting.html

unknown. (n.d.). Fasting for Lent. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Holy Spirit Interactive: http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/features/lent/dev_fasting.asp

unknown. (2009, March). Fasting: Act of Devotion or Violence? Retrieved january 27, 2010, from Preaching Peace: http://preachingpeace.blogspot.com//preaching_peace/2009/03/fasting.html

unknown. (n.d.). Lent: 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Prayer Foundation: http://www.prayerfoundation.org/lent_40_days_or_prayer_&_fasting,htm

Waldman, S. (2009, February). Fasting for Lent: Reduce Your Lustful, “Seminal Matter”. Retrieved January 27, 2010, from Beliefnet: http://blogspot/beliefnet/com/stevenwaldman/2009/02/fasting-for-lent-reduce-your-listful-seminal-matter.html

Tom scowled as he furiously raked leaves. “I was gonna collect aluminum cans today to make a little money for a new skateboard,” he muttered to himself, “but no! Dad says I have to help rake the lawn first, so here I am, doing dumb yard work.” Just then, he noticed a large hole in the base of a big tree. “Look, Dad,” he called as he knelt to peer inside. “I never noticed this before. This would be a good place to hide stuff.”

Dad walked over to look. “Maybe there’s a cache of jewels or a sack of stolen money inside,” he teased. He poked his rake into the hole, and they heard a scraping sound as the rake hit a metal object.

“Something is hidden in there!” cried Tom. Plunging his hand inside the cavity, he felt around and finally pulled out a small box. “Wow! A real treasure chest!” he shouted. “I wonder who put it there.” Eagerly, Tom opened the old box and looked inside. Then he let out a disappointed groan. The treasure turned out to be a handful of multicolored stones, a rusty pocketknife, and a soggy, moldy book about fishing.

“Somebody must have hidden these things, but then forgot about them,” said Dad. “Now look at them. I hope whoever stored these here put most of his treasures in a better place.”

“Yeah. Maybe he got smart and started putting important things in one of those safe deposit boxes at the bank,” suggested Tom.

“I was thinking of an even better place than that,” said Dad. “Jesus said we should put our treasures in heaven, where they’ll never be ruined or stolen.” Dad shook his head. “We often put so much emphasis on things here on earth–things like houses and clothes and cars . . .”

And skateboards, thought Tom.

“We need to remember that things won’t last,” said Dad. As Tom looked at the rusty pocketknife, he realized that what Dad was saying was true. I still want a skateboard, he thought, but I guess I shouldn’t get so upset over it. He put the box back into the hole in the tree and picked up his rake.

The choices we make today affect our future. Our words, our actions, how we use our money, the time we spend in prayer can be translated to eternal treasure when they are submitted to God. What the world offers isn’t what we are looking for. It leaves us disappointed.

Trumpets are sounded as signals to large groups of people. Anyone who draws attention to himself is said to “blow his own horn.” For example, the temple compound housed 13 large chests with funnel-like openings into which people placed their financial contributions. Hypocrites often converted their gifts into the largest number of coins possible so their money would make a loud noise when dropped into the chest. This is what the Pharisees did when they gave alms. These alms were given to be seen by men, so every effort was made to prevent people from missing the sight. The Pharisees had the reward they were looking for-the admiration of the people. It was the only reward they would receive.

When we give, we should give with a pure motive-obedience to God, out of love for our fellow man, or just wanting to help someone else who is trying to make it through another day here on earth. When we give not to be seen by men but out of a right heart, God will reward us openly. Everyone will see that God’s hand is on us. God’s blessings will come into our lives.

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees extended to public prayer. They stood in the synagogues and on street corners and, with faces turned to heaven and hands lifted high, offered silent prayers. It was a pretended act of paying respect to God when it was really an effort to obtain honour from men. Standing does not merely describe the upright position of a person’s body. It also suggests striking a pose to gain attention. The Pharisees were committed to praying at set hours: at six, nine, twelve and three o’clock. They arranged to be in the most public places at these times so they would be recognized for their commitment to God. Jesus is not condemning public prayer but prayer that is self-serving.

Jesus modelled for us the proper way to pray and give alms. Both were to be done in secret. For example, many times Jesus went off by Himself to pray to God. Sometimes He took people aside to heal them in private. The time we spend with God in prayer should be free from disguise and pretense.

Prayer involves opening our lives to God. It is inviting Him to act in our lives. Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, it is being willing to accept His will in our lives. Prayer moves the hand of God by giving Him the moral freedom to do in our lives what He has been waiting to do. God doesn’t impose His will upon us. He can function in our lives in accordance with the degree of freedom we surrender to Him.

Jesus doesn’t say how often we should pray to God in secret. The reasons may have been:

1. That it should be voluntary
2. Setting times would make religion formal and heartless.
3. Occasions would be so numerous that it would not be easy to fix rules.

Jesus did suggest times when secret prayer would be proper:

1. In the morning, after we have been protected during the night and when we are about to face the trials of another day.
2. In the evening to ask for forgiveness, give thanks and ask for protection from the dangers of the night.
3. In times of embarrassment and difficulty.
4. When we are tempted.
5. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray.

Part of our prayer life should include fasting, provided that it is not a ritual but a voluntary time of meditation when drawing near to God. Fasting deprives us of the normal performances of life for the sake of enriching our Christian lives. The proper way of fasting is to empty ourselves so we can be filled with God. It is by truly giving of ourselves that we will be truly found. We do these things not to be hypocrites but to be real about our origins and our destiny.

Jesus warns against the use of fasting-going without food or water to devote oneself to prayer-as a means of impressing others. Fasting is never to be an outward display but an inward discipline. Rather than looking sad and disfiguring their faces when fasting, believers should seek to appear normal-thus the command to “anoint your head and wash your face.”

In New Testament times, treasures were not always stockpiles of coins. Since wealthy garments often represented a person’s holding, Jesus spoke quite literally when He warned the people that moths could destroy the worldly wealth. It is better to place one’s hope in the Person and promises of God than in anything this world has to offer.

Earthly treasures have two characteristics-they decay and because of their value, there is always concern for security. Treasures in heaven can’t be stolen, and they won’t decay. The treasures of eternal life are the securities that remain. They are matters of character-a godly personality, minds that can enjoy the great thoughts of God and His creation, and hearts that can overcome selfishness by loving.

Jesus is not against the accumulation of wealth and property if they are not used for our own selfish purposes. These resources are to be used to help the poor and spread the Good News of the Gospel. Only then will we have true happiness, because our reward will be waiting for us in heaven, and our reward will last.

It is the true nature of Christianity to help the poor and needy. Christians don’t have to be told to do it. All they have to do is ask for the chance. To give and do charitable deeds in secret reflects a person’s desire to please God more than people. God blesses those who honour Him.

Jesus emphasized service for the sake of righteousness or fellowship with God. When we serve for the praise of God, we will be blessed, but it won’t be noticed by other people. Our reward will be a good conscience and peace with God. We must not scheme or plan for our advantage or to get human attention. We must give and serve others in complete trust when the gift is in the spirit of love and the giving must be for the good in the experience itself rather than from personal benefit.

Sometimes we feel that we aren’t appreciated when our efforts aren’t recognized by other people. God knows what we’re doing. He sees what others don’t see. It pleases Him when we serve for His sake and not for man’s praise. The hand that is closed can’t receive the treasure that God wants to give.

It’s when we think no one is watching that our true allegiances are revealed. In the quietness of our alone time, we’re either exposed as people who are seeking the things of God, or we’re exposed as people who are seeking the things of the world. That’s because God knows our hearts and sees everything we do.

 Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1291-1292)
2. The New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1-Matthew & Mark. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, p. 18)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
7. Leslie Koh, “God Knows.” Retrieved from donotreple@email.rbc.org
8. “The Right Treasure.” Retrieved from keys@lists.keysforkids.org
9. Anne Graham Lotz, “How to Receive Treasure.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
10. “How You Can Avoid a Secretly Sinful Life.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
11. Steve Arterburn, “Belonging.” Retrieved from newlife.com
12. Neil Anderson, “What We Treasure.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Bayless Conley, “A Matter of the Heart.” Retrieved from answersrbc.org

Have you ever had a day that was so wonderful that you wanted it to last forever? I am sure you probably have. Did you know that Jesus’ disciples had days like that too? The reading from Luke 9:28-36 is about one of those days.

One day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up onto a mountain to pray. As Jesus was praying, something very strange happened. The Bible says that the appearance of his face began to change and that his clothing became as bright as a flash of lightning. Then, Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. When Peter saw this, he was so excited that he told Jesus that he thought that they should just stay up there on the mountain and build three tabernacles — one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

God sends a lot of happy days into our life. The day that we meet Jesus is, without a doubt, the happiest day of our life, but it isn’t a stopping place — it is a starting point for a journey that leads to eternal life in heaven with Him.

Peter didn’t understand that this wonderful experience on the mountain was not a stopping place — it was a starting place. It was a starting place for God’s greatest gift — the gift of salvation. Following this moment on the mountain, Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the grave so that you and I could have eternal life in heaven.

How many of you have even tried to do a do-it-yourself project by yourself? That attitude comes naturally to us. It starts when we are toddlers, when we insist on walking ourselves, feeding ourselves or dressing ourselves. God never designed our lives to be lives of do-it-yourself projects. He created us to be in relationship with Him.

There is one do-it-yourself project that Jesus had to complete.  He paid the price for our sins when He took our place on the cross. His suffering satisfied God’s wrath at our sins. He set us free to help those who are suffering. He set us free to share each other’s struggles and bring others’ need in prayer to God.

On this, the Transfiguration Sunday, we see another side of Jesus’ revelation. We have moved from stable and river, weddings and fishing boats to the mountain. The mountain reveals that Jesus’ mission will move Him to the valley of the shadow of death.

Jesus was a man of prayer, and we are to be people of prayer also. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was often found praying alone, and we also know that there is a blessing to be gained by being in prayer alone in God’s presence.

Prayer does change everything. When He was transfigured, Jesus’ glory and heaven’s pure light shone on His garments. When we pray, our thinking and our conduct will be altered. They will be in close proximity with the holy Spirit. We will be changed and others will see it too. It will be because Jesus’ light will shine through us.

Have you ever looked at someone you love and seen them in a new light? Did you understand for the first time the wonder of that person? Peter, James and John did. On the mountaintop, they saw Jesus in a new light.

The cloud represents God’s power and presence. God came to be with Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John in a special way. God tells us to listen to Jesus. In John 6:68, Jesus mentions that He “has the words of eternal life.” We are to listen to them, hear them, eat them as if they are the bread of life and drink them as if they are the water of life. He calls us to a deeper understanding of who He is as the Son of God and the implications of following Him.

When God spoke from the cloud, He told the disciples the same thing He tells us today. He said that Jesus is greater than all the ways of the Old Testament. Don’t centre your attention on the prophecies of the Old Testament. Jesus is more important than the Old Testament laws and prophets.

God’s glory is only possible if lived together in community. No one can shine alone-not even Jesus. Only when we are together can God’s radiant light up our lives. We can only make sense of ourselves if people who came before us are present in our struggles.

Jesus separated Himself from the crowds to pray, taking Peter, James and John with Him. The time of prayer quickly turned into an event itself; God parted the curtain between earth and heaven and allowed Jesus’ three closest friends to get a glimpse of His future glory.

Why did Jesus talk to Moses and Elijah? Perhaps He needed comfort. He knew that His road home to heaven would pass through Calvary, so perhaps He put in a call to heaven. God was quick to answer His call. Moses and Elijah were perfect comfort givers. Moses understood tough journeys and Elijah could relate to an unusual exit. The three of them talked about Jesus’ upcoming death. Moses led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. On the cross, Jesus would lead those who believe in Him out of slavery to sin and into the fullness of life with Him.

None of the Gospel writers explained how the three disciples recognized Moses and Elijah. Perhaps they identified them from comments the two men made; possibly Jesus called them by name. Or maybe the disciples just knew the two men were Moses and Elijah without an introduction. If so, this could be a clue to the age-old question of how Christians will know their loved ones in heaven.

Peter was so overcome by the event that once again he put his foot in his mouth. He spoke heresy. Three monuments would equate Moses and Elijah with Jesus. God reminded Peter that no one else shares the platform with Christ.

Similar experiences happen to us. Who hasn’t seen a glimpse of opening gates during moments of meditation and prayer? Who hasn’t in the secret place of Holy Communion felt the rush of emotion-a foretaste of the blessed? Once we encounter God, all we have left is silence in response, just like the disciples were silent after they heard from God. What dazzling signs will it take for us to see God in our world? What signs do we often overlook in our busy world? Why do we misunderstand the meaning of these signs when we do see them?

In our world we want to know things. We want to have Google at our fingertips. We’re always hungry and thirsty for knowledge. As technology has advanced throughout history, we want more and more knowledge all of the time. Our relationship with God is the same. We want to know about God. We want to know how to relate to God. We want to know how to apply His teachings to our life. God is a mystery, and the best way to learn about God is to pray.

Jesus’ mission isn’t about worshipping at shrines. It’s about death and resurrection. He was chosen for that mission, and through that mission we are delivered from sin if we accept Him as our Saviour by faith. A Scottish theologian named Henry Drummond once said, “God does not make the mountains in order to be inhabited. God does not make the mountaintops for us to live on the mountaintops. It is not God’s desire that we live on the mountaintops. We only ascend to the heights to catch a broader vision of the earthly surroundings below. But we don’t live there. We don’t tarry there. The streams begin in the uplands, but these streams descend quickly to gladden the valleys below.”

There are people all around us who are living lives that are worse than a disaster movie. They are slaves to sin, but they can’t see it. There are people all around us who are drowning in hopelessness and despair. They are dying for lack of love. Jesus calls us to shine His light into their darkness. He wants them to hear His voice speaking through us.

How do we handle coming down off the mountains? There are moments in our lives when we feel especially close to God. How do we hold onto those and carry them into the other, less spiritually aware moments of our lives? God is present in the mountaintop experiences of life. He’s present in life’s special moments. He’s present in life’s trials. He’s present 24/7. He is Emmanuel-God with us.

The Transfiguration was all about making a transition. It was a time for Jesus to show the disciples and us that He meant business and what His business was all about. He also had to show them and us who had authority. God is in control. The Transfiguration includes those who are drawn into the Kingdom of God and participate in its destiny. That’s the new creation that Jesus promises. It’s the destiny to which we are drawn.

Luke reminds us that we need to be awake to discern God’s presence and purpose in our lives. We can understand who God is and trust what God is doing when we meet God in prayer. God calls all of us to climb the mountain with Jesus. God is found on the mountaintop, where our vision is clear and the noise of everyday life subsides. God in Christ is always with us. Whether we go up the mountain for answers or we go up the mountain for a good question or we go up the mountain simply to recognize that it is good to be there, the point of it all is that God is always with us. Because soon we will need reminding that God is always with us. Soon Jesus will be placed on the cross, and it will appear that all is lost.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1405)
2. “Mountaintop Experiences.” Retrieved from Sermons4Kids.com
3. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J,: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
4. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 1413-1415)
5. B. Cowman, “Streams in the Desert: Luke 9:29-32.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Do-It-Yourself.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org
7. Pastor jack Hibbs, “Prayers is the Key.” Retrieved from devotion@reallifewithjackhibbs.org
8. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, Second Sunday of Lent -C-.” Retrieved from preacherexchange.org
9. The Rev. Jason Cox, “Be transfigured, The Feast of the transfiguration-August 6, 2017.” Retrieved from epipscopaldigitalnetwork.com
10. The Rev. Matt Rawle, “Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey Transfiguration.” Retrieved from day1.org
11. The Rev. Janet Hunt, “And They Kept Silent…” Retrieved from dancingwiththeword.com
12. Rick Morley, “In the Chord.” Retrieved from rickmorley.com/archives/2292
13. William Loader, “Transfiguration.” Retrieved from staffmurdoch.edu.au/~loader/LKTransfiguration.htm
14. “Lectionary Blogging: The Transfiguration: Luke 9:28-36.” Retrieved from https://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/02/lectionaryblogging.com
15. Pam Fickenscher, “The Bait and the Switch: Recognizing the Moments of God’s Special Visitation.” Retrieved from journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20070212JJ.shtml
16. Claudio Carvalhaes, “Commentary on Luke 9:28-36 (37-43).” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2756
17. The Rev. Edward Markquart, “Series B: The Transfiguration: Gospel Analysis.” Retrieved from sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_transfigurationGA.htm
18. Dennis Bratcher, “Last Sunday after Epiphany: The Transfiguration.” Retrieved from crivoice.org/lectionary/YearC/Ctransfignt.html
19. Samuel Zumwalt, “The Transfiguration of Our Lord, 18 February 2007.” Retrieved from theologie.uzh.ch/predigten/archiv-9/070218-5-e-html
20. The Rev. Edward Markquart, “Mountains, Valleys and Plains.” Retrieved from sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_mountains_valleys_and_plains.htm
21. The Rev. Edward Markquart, “Visions on a Mountaintop.” Retrieved from sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_vision_on_a_mountaintop.htm
22. The rev. Francis Miller, “Listening Openly, Visiting Earnestly.” Retrieved from day1.org/641-listening_and_openly_visitng_earnestly.print

Katie ran into the kitchen out of breath. She poured a glass of cold water and gulped it down. A few minutes later, her sister walked in.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Kennedy asked.

Katie shrugged. “I saw you were walking home with Seth, so I decided to go for a run.”

Kennedy sighed. “Are you still mad at him for what he did last month?”

“He tripped me on purpose and made me get a big scratch on my face on picture day!” Katie exclaimed.

“But he apologized,” Kennedy reminded her. “He’s having a birthday party at his house this weekend and told me to invite you.”

“I’m not going!” Katie said firmly. “Not after what he did.”

Dad walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. “Not going where?” he asked.

“To Seth’s birthday party,” said Kennedy. “Katie’s still mad at him for tripping her over a month ago.”

Just then a fly landed on the rim of Dad’s glass. “Ew!” said Dad. He poured the rest of the water in the sink. “I’ll teach that fly to try swimming in my water. I’m never drinking water again!”

Katie stared at her dad, puzzled. “Dad,” she said, “it’s just a little fly! And besides, you have to drink water–your body can’t survive without it.”

“So giving up water would hurt me more than the fly?” Dad asked. Katie nodded. “Well, it sounds to me like you’re trying to hurt Seth for what he did to you, but you’re just going to end up hurting yourself a lot more. I know that what he did was wrong, but he said he was sorry. And Jesus tells us to forgive others because He forgave us. He tells us to do that so we can show His love to others, but also because He knows that when we hold on to bitterness and anger, we hurt ourselves more than anyone else. You’re trying to get back at Seth, but you’re going to be the one sitting home by yourself while your sister and friends are having fun at his party.”

Katie sighed. “Okay, Dad,” she said. “Maybe it’s time I finally forgive him.”

When someone treats us badly, how do we respond? How do we treat them? The answer matters a lot. Negative responses such as back-stabbing don’t solve conflict. They don’t give us peace. Christ tells us to pray for those who persecute us. When we pray for them, God sets us free from the anger, the resentment and the pain. Sometimes the enemy changes, and sometimes they don’t, but praying for our enemies changes us.

When we are persecuted or harassed, we need to respond with a blessing. This is what God wants us to do. It isn’t easy, but it’s the most powerful witness we have about God’s love. When we respond to hatred with love, God will be pleased and we will be blessed.

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean we condone their actions or letting a pattern of abuse to continue. Loving someone who doesn’t deserve it is hard to do, but if love and mercy were given only to people who deserve it, all of us would be lost. God’s love and grace are like rain-they fall on both the just and the unjust. Because of Christ’s death, all of us have been judged by God. We receive His mercy even though we are unworthy and don’t deserve it.

Jesus has introduced something new. Loving everyone, even if they don’t deserve to be loved, is contrary to what the world teaches. If we follow Jesus’ new way of life, we will be energized by a new Spirit. We will act in a new way because of the God we worship. He changes us and encourages us to be to others what God has been to us.

Jesus was not speaking to a general audience but to those who were aligning themselves with Him. To them He gave a standard of behaviour impossible to achieve except through the Holy Spirit. Christians should respond to hatred with love and to antagonism with blessing. This rule applies to individual believers, not to states or governments assigned with keeping the peace.

The Golden Rule cited here did not originate with Jesus, although He gave it its most memorable form. He put this principle in a positive context. He tells us to accept our suffering. We will dishonor God if we retaliate. God will deal with those who persecute us in His own time and in His own way. Forgiveness is like a muscle we have to exercise. It’s proactive. It’s doing.

A person’s behaviour reveals the true nature of his or her relationship to God. The first-century world operated by an “I give to you so that you might give to me” equation: Jesus turned such thinking on its head. Those who are children of God will behave in an others-centered way.

When Jesus tells us to give, most of us think He is referring to giving to the church, but that’s not always the case. If He puts something else in our heart, or if He places someone in need in our lives, it’s okay to give to that person. This involves doing the Lord’s work because it involves giving to our neighbour, and no one knows our neighbours as well as we do.

Remember that failing to tithe is the same as robbing God. It reflects our spirit toward God. If we aren’t willing to give of our money, time or talents, we’re probably not willing to give our whole hearts and lives to God. He won’t let us have a key to His house and steal from Him at the same time. Can we afford not to give to God?

Another reason to give to those in need is because what we have is a gift from God, and God is concerned about how we use those gifts He has given us. Many of us have the philosophy of “get all you can, can all you get, sit on your can.” One instant is all it takes for us to lose what we’ve hoarded. Someday we might need help. What we sow is what we reap-and that has been proven countless times throughout history. The Law of Investment- “Give and it shall be given”-works whenever it is put into practice. A person who puts this principle into practice will know some measure of God’s blessing in this realm.

A good example of how God blesses those who give to Him is found in the story of Elijah and the widow, which is found in 1 Kings 17:10-16. When Elijah arrived at the gate of the city of Zarephath, he saw a widow gathering sticks. He asked her to bring him some water. When she did, he asked her to bring him a morsel of bread. She replied that she only had a little flour and oil, and that she was going to prepare them for herself and her son so they could eat it and die. Elijah told her to go ahead with her plans, but to make him a small cake and bring it to him first. He promised that in return God would provide flour and oil until the rains came. She did what she was told to do, and God did provide flour and oil.

Throughout Luke’s presentation of the Beatitudes, the underlying theme remains the same: those who claim to know God should act as God does. Since God is merciful, His children should be merciful.

The principle expounded by Jesus in verse 37 extends through all of life: those who judge others should not be surprised when they are judged in return. The command to “judge not” does not relieve Christians of their responsibility to be discerning but instead warns against harbouring a contemptuous, condemning attitude.

Following Christ leads us away from the logic of the world. It requires a divine amount of grace-laced empowerment. Christ will bless us for allowing His mercy to flow through us in a way that brings good things to those who don’t deserve it.

When it comes to God’s blessings, the measure we use is what is measured back to us. If we use a serving spoon, we will get an overflowing serving spoon. If we use a shovel, we will get an overflowing shovel back. If we do things for the right reasons, they will come back to us.

Jesus teaches us the true managing of God’s grace. It’s an attitude of kindness, mercy and love toward us that God has chosen, not because of what we have done for Him but because of His decision to show kindness, mercy and love.

A few years ago, someone put together the Paradoxical Commandments. Here they are:

1. People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building might be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

We have to love. It’s the only weapon we have against our enemies. Love creates a barrier against bitterness and cynicism. It’s an antidote to hatred and indifference. We don’t love people because they are likeable. We love them because we and they are children of God.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1396-1397)
2. “Giving Up Water.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
3. Paul Estabrooks, “Cross-Turning the Other Cheek.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
4. Pastor Bobby Schuller, “Give to Your Neighbour.” Retrieved from hourofpower@hourofppower.org
5. Harold Sala, “Why Should I Give?” Retrieved from info@guidelines.org
6. Pete Briscoe, “The M in BEMA Stands for Mercy.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Berni Dymet, “Love Thy Enemy.” Retrieved from christianityworks.com
8. Berni Dymet, “Generosity.” Retrieved from christianityworks.com
9. Vikki Burke, “Positioned for the Supernatural.” Retrieved from christianityworks.com
10. Berni Dymet, “Forgive and Forget.” Retrieved from christianityworks.com
11. Mary Southerland, “To Forgive or Not to Forgive.” Retrieved from girlfriendsingod.com
12. Tony Evans, “The Restitution and Reversal of Theft.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Jim Burns, “Go for It.” Retrieved from homeword.com
14. Bayless Conley, “What’s Your Measure?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
15. Bayless Conley, “Giving to Get.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
16. Pastor Mark Justice, “What do You Mean ‘Grace’?” Retrieved from christianity.com/devotionals/grace-moments-devotions/
17. Pastor Rick Warren, “Do Good to Those Who Oppose You.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter,purposedriven.com
18. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 7^th Sunday, -C-.” Retrieved from preacherexchange,org

Have you ever heard of a man named Charles M. Schultz? He wrote a comic strip called Peanuts which has been appearing in daily newspapers since 1950. The main characters in the comic strip are Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and a dog named Snoopy.

Charles Schultz also wrote a lot of books, including one titled “Happiness Is A Warm Blanket.” The book is mostly about a little boy named Linus who carries his cuddly blue blanket with him wherever he goes. Linus carries that blanket to make him feel secure. According to Schultz, “Everyone has things that make them feel secure. “You know what? When we feel secure, we are also happy!

Jesus had something to say about being happy. The passage from Luke 6:17-26 is one of those times. The lesson begins with Jesus surrounded by a huge crowd of people. Have you ever noticed that wherever Jesus went, he drew large crowds of people? Why do you suppose that was? Maybe it was because many of them were sick, crippled, or injured and wanted Jesus to heal them. Perhaps some of them had a troubled mind and they had heard that Jesus was able to cast out demons and evil spirits just by speaking a word. In other words, many people came to Jesus because they had heard what he could do for them. The Bible says that people crowded around Jesus and tried to touch him because power was coming from him and healed them all. Do you think that made the people happy? It sure did!

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Happy are they who have a lot of money “or “Happy are they who have plenty to eat and dine in fancy restaurants.” He didn’t even say, “Happiness is a warm blanket.” What he did say was, “When you follow me, happiness will come. Leap for joy! A great reward awaits you in heaven.”

Jesus’ teachings were radical. They were a window into God’s values and priorities. He blessed those who were poor, who hunger now, who weep, who were hated and excluded. He warned those who were rich, full, happy and popular. Conventional wisdom, then and now, says quite the opposite.

The rules for living that Jesus gives us are revolutionary. Most of us don’t like rules, but at the same time we need and demand rules. For example, imagine how many traffic accidents would happen if we didn’t have traffic rules. These teachings tell us how we must live in order to fulfill Jesus’ mission, which is also our mission. Without these teachings, there is no alternative to our modern society.

The word “blessed” doesn’t mean happiness. Happiness is a gift God bestows on us. We don’t earn God’s blessings. We just need them and God notices. Those who have nothing and those who are weeping will receive God’s favour.

To be blessed means that we have God’s attention. We will never be alone. We are valued and important because God has made us priceless. God stands with the poor when they are used and abused by the rich. This is a reversal of our usual world view. The world blesses the rich and looks down on the poor. God came in the form of Jesus to live among the poor and announce the Good News to them. Woe to those who oppose God’s rule and Jesus’ message. He is firm in His statement that because He came the world as we know it is turned upside-down.

Being poor means more than just being poor financially. It also means being poor spiritually. In that sense, Jesus has come for all of us because we are poor spiritually. The poor are those who recognize that they depend on God. The rich don’t want to commit themselves. They are comfortable with the way things are now.

In Luke’s Gospel, it is clear that only God can align our lives and realities to make us whole and healthy, and to give us a life worth living. In Jesus’ mind, poverty and its accompanying hunger and sadness is powerful because it frees us from maintaining earthly power and control. God’s kingdom is not of this world, so it goes against the world’s view of what is logical or sensible. Poverty is powerful because it strips us of the illusion that power is anything but a temporary thing. Poverty involves a lack of worldly power. For the poor, being without power frees them from the need to maintain human structures of power. They are free to redefine the meaning of power and re-define their ideas of what is healthy, life-affirming and valuable.

The hungry will be blessed because they will be filled. The weeping will be blessed because there is a real chance they will cease being poor. Many of Jesus’ teachings are about how change can take place right now. It includes sharing food and resources, especially as represented by Holy Communion. The blessings are all about possessing the Kingdom of God, of being eternally satisfied in union with God, of experiencing the joy of possessing a reward in Heaven.

The poor, hungry and weeping are in a better position to receive and respond to the Kingdom than those who have security in riches, a stable environment, and personal well-being. They are in a better position to be open to spiritual matters because they are not hindered by material prosperity or self-sufficiency.

If we understand the rules Jesus outlined, what then? We might feel discouraged because we know we won’t keep all of them. We could also be like the Pharisees and the scribes, who were pleased to hear rules because they are smugly certain that they have kept them since childhood. We might also look for loopholes.

Knowing and keeping the rules doesn’t mean that we should use them to keep others out. That’s the attitude the scribes and Pharisees had at that time. They uses their elaborate set of rules to keep out people who didn’t follow them. Jesus refused to exclude people who didn’t obey the rules. He hung out with sinners and outcasts because God’s Kingdom is open to everyone who believes.

Because we know Jesus’ rules, the Holy Spirit points out the sinful areas in our lives, and we can be forgiven and brought back to life. If there are no rules, then we can’t repent. We are lost in our sins. The sin against the Holy Spirit is to say that we are innocent when He says we are guilty.

If we live for God, we will face times of adversity. Many of us have suffered from the maladies Jesus referred to in this passage. When that happens, we can trust God with our lives. It will make us better followers of Jesus. Luke tells us that Jesus has entered into our condition and will restore us to health if we will have faith. Whatever problems we may have, we can give them to Jesus and then get some rest. We might not feel better right away, but we will be healed in God’s time.

Even when we are persecuted, we are to continue witnessing and sharing about Christ. We are to love everyone, even those who criticize us, hate us or reject us. Even when our outer peace has crumbled, we are to speak the truth of the Gospel. Jesus doesn’t tell us to accept or receive persecution gracefully. We are to rejoice because the persecuted disciples of Jesus will receive great rewards in heaven. We will also be in the company of the prophets who were persecuted.

Jesus is placing a choice before us. Will we choose to live according to His beatitudes or according to the world’s beatitudes? What the world values is worthless. God blesses the poor, hungry and weeping. They will be filled at God’s banquet table.

Churches must make certain that they don’t neglect the poor or the marginalized. If churches really follow Jesus, they will use their resources to help the poor and marginalized. The choice is theirs and ours, and the new life Christ gives us makes such a choice possible.

When we come to worship, we come down from the stratosphere broken, bloody and hungry people. We feast on God’s Word, get up and go again as God directs our paths. Instead of criticizing the minister or the choir when we leave church, we should ask ourselves, “What did God say to me? What would God do with me?”

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1396)
2. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 120-127)
3. Macarthur, J.F. Jr.: The Macarthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. “Rejoicing in Persecution.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
5. Jim Woodrum, “Luke’s Prescription of Hope.” Retrieved from www.ssje.org
6. Jack Graham, “Iron in Your Soul.” Retrieved from www.PowerPoint.org
7. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Responding to Rejection.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
8. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 6^th Sunday -C-.” Retrieved from preacherexcchange.org
9. “Happiness Is…” Retrieved from sermons4kids.com
10. Christy Randazzo, “The Paradox of a World Turned Upside-Down-Luke 6:17-26.” Retrieved from https://politicaltheology.com
11. William Loader, “Epiphany 6:17 February Luke 6:17-26.” Retrieved from http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/LkEpihany6.htm
12. “Sunday 6C, Epiphany 6C, Gospel.” Retrieved from lectionarystudeis.com/studyg/Sunday6cp.html
13. “Sixth Sunday After Epiphany.” Retrieved from crivoice.org/lectionary/YearC/Ceiphany6nt.htm
14. The Rev. Mark Larsen, “We Deserve to Weep.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/8331/-mark_larsen_we_deserve_to_weep.print

The story of Jesus teaching from the boat in Luke 5:1-11 occurs early in his earthly ministry. He preached to the crowd, and then he asked Peter to do something that did not make sense to Peter. He asked Peter to go fishing in the daytime. As someone who had fished in this particular area for most of his life, Peter knew that the best time to catch fish was at night, because during the day the fish went deeper into the water to keep cool and stay out of the light. Peter didn’t catch anything the night before. He was hesitant to obey Jesus at first, but eventually he obeyed Jesus’ request. The result was a catch so big that he needed help from other fishermen to bring it ashore.

Obeying orders leads to success. For example, several years ago General Dwight Eisenhower, the man who led the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, told an interviewer how the decision was made to go on June 6, 1944. He wanted to go on June 4th or June 5th, and June 4th, 1944, was a beautiful, starlight night. The commanders of the Allied troops were gathered with General Eisenhower at their command post in England. The chief army weatherman was there also, and he told General Eisenhower that gale-force winds and high tides would be hitting the Normandy beaches by the next morning.

General Eisenhower had a decision to make. Should he believe what he saw-a beautiful, clear starlight night-or should he listen to the man who knew. His answer was “No go”, even though it would have cost him his first choice and prolong the wait for the troops who were waiting on the ships. On the next day-June 5th-the weather was stormy, just like the weatherman had predicted. The weatherman came in and said, “We’re going to have improved weather tomorrow with moderate winds and tides. It’s going to be a good day to go.” General Eisenhower had to decide to go by his senses or by the man who had the authority. The general paused for about 30 seconds, and then he said two of history’s most famous words-“Let’s go”. The room was clear in two seconds, and the rest is history.

Peter also had a decision to make. Would he obey Jesus’ request? Workers like Peter usually hate to obey orders unless they recognize the authority of the person who is giving the order. I know how they feel, because when I worked at a local lumber mill, I had many bosses that I hated to take orders from, but I still obeyed their orders because I respected their authority even if I didn’t respect them as people. Peter respected Jesus and therefore he obeyed Jesus’ orders. The result was a huge reward. When Peter saw the catch of fish, he saw a miracle. He knew that he was in the presence of a holy person, and he was ashamed because of his sinful nature. If we obey Jesus, he will clean us, make us whole, and give us the tools we need to do his work in our world.

God often calls us to do things that are often simple for us to do but important to him. The simplest tasks we do for God can result in a revelation, discovery or even greater faith. Obedience to even the simplest of orders results in great rewards from God. All we have to do is look at the staff who work at a nursing home. They do God’s work by taking care of the residents’ needs, and their reward is the satisfaction they get from a job well done.

Peter obeyed Jesus’ order to become a fisher of men. After Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter became the leader of the disciples and the early Christian church. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church traces its origins to Peter. Peter’s small step of obedience led to the miracle that changed his life. God prepared Peter for the call just like he prepares us for our call. He allowed Peter to endure failure by not catching any fish. He also allows us to endure personal failures.

Once we realize who Jesus is, we can see ourselves in a new light, just like Peter saw Jesus in a new light when he realized who Jesus was. Sometimes that sight is too much for us to handle, but we need to see ourselves in that light so we can be changed by God and be prepared by God for the work he wants us to do. God shook up Peter because he wanted to shake up the world. He can also shake all of us up so he can shake up the world-and boy does it ever need to be shaken up. When we obey God, we will become fishers of men, and the catch we will get will be even greater than Peter’s great catch of fish.

Bibliography

• Ron Hutchcraft, “Your Hard Times”. Retrieved from http://www.hutchcraft.com
• Exegesis for Luke 5:1-11. Retrieved from http://www.sermonwriter.com
• Ray Pritchard, “How God’s Will Can Mess Up Your Life in a Good Way”. Retrieved from http://www.keepbelieving.com

The reading from Isaiah 6:1-13 asks a curious question: “Who will go for us?” Why was this phrase used? It is because it is a foreshadowing of the Trinity. This passage is the most famous call of a prophet in the Bible. It is regularly offered as one of the readings for Trinity Sunday, apparently due to the thrice-repeated cry of “Holy.” The three cries were made to the three members of the Trinity.

The Trinity is a necessary part of salvation. In John’s Gospel, Jesus talks about having descended from heaven, being the only-begotten Son of the Father (who loves the world and has sent him to save it), and of the Spirit who blows like the wind, bringing new life and new truth. The Trinity tells us who God is, what God does and what God is like. The relationship between the members of the Trinity is part of a crucial way of understanding not only God but His involvement in the world.

God eludes our grasp, so we make God into something we can manipulate. We try to fit God into the confines of reason or locate God in our established institutions, moral codes and household idols. We pay lip-service to God with hearts that are far from God. The Trinity was created in an attempt to describe God. God may be unseen, but He is revealed in Isaiah’s vision. Isaiah said that he saw the Lord. The doctrine of the Trinity is expressed here. We, like Isaiah, confess that God has been seen in Jesus.

The story of salvation in Jesus Christ teaches that we can’t talk about God in only singular terms. There is relationship with God. Three persons in a dynamic relationship that is held together by love. The relationship between God and the world flows out of a relationship of love that exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A changed world reveals the gracious God who walks among us in Jesus and is present in and with us through the Holy Spirit. This is the God who wants to draw us into the divine life. We can’t help but continually set out the clear invitation to come and find life. Come and love and worship the Living God-Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory in the world and in the church forever.

Isaiah’s vision was one of the most powerful witnesses to an encounter with God’s breaking into human life in a life-changing way. God is always present, moving gently and sometimes dramatically in people’s lives. For Isaiah, being unclean relates to sin, or what people do to hurt others. Isaiah said he was unclean, lost and in desperate need of forgiveness-just like all of us. God heard Isaiah, and Isaiah was forgiven. Isaiah proclaimed God’s promise that those who have seen the Lord and confessed their sins are forgiven and made free. God’s presence doesn’t destroy. It cleanses, liberates and commissions. Jesus was God incarnate. The Holy Spirit is God among us today.

Isaiah’s vision revealed his own sinfulness. He saw himself as a man of unclean lips whose sinfulness disqualified him from joining the seraphim in praise. This experience of God’s majesty in verses 1-4 led to Isaiah’s repentance in verse 5 as well as forgiveness and commissioning for God’s work. Anyone who would tell God’s people to repent must first experience God’s forgiveness.

Isaiah sensed God’s holiness. Sovereignty is the powerful nature of God. Holiness is the moral nature of God. He is pure, complete and whole. Isaiah also saw that God’s holiness is a matter of “doing”. God’s will can’t be known. His purity can’t tolerate sin.

It is for these reasons that our worship must focus on God’s character. We must wait in God’s Holy presence until the Holy Spirit comes. We should expect a glimpse of His glory. Our holiness begins in His glorious presence. It gives us the promise that we are imprinted with His character.  God’s loving forgiveness leads to a response of service. That is our pattern as Christians: we love and serve and give in thankful response to what God has given us in Jesus Christ.

So how should we react when we see the Holy character of God? We should feel anguish for our sin. When we see God, our sin is exposed. We can only cry “woe” not for others but for ourselves. Our spiritual sensitivity to sin is dulled because we have lost sight of a holy God. We need to see His holiness, feel the shaking pillars and smell the rising smoke that causes us to cry, “Woe is me, for I am undone.”

If our lips are unclean, so are our hearts. When we see God’s holiness, we are reminded that we are unworthy and deserve judgment. For Isaiah, the term “unclean lips” had another meaning. Whether he had already been pronouncing “woes” upon the people of Israel, or would soon do so, he was called to speak for God. But, upon seeing the holiness of God and catching a glimpse of God’s glory, Isaiah asked, “How can I speak for God without a heart like God?” Every preacher, teacher and witness for the Word of God must ask the same question. If there is sin in our hearts, our lips will betray us.

We are spiritually bankrupt. We may have all the good works in the world in our bank account, but apart from Christ, they’re worthless. It’s like going to the grocery store and trying to pay with Monopoly money. The only solution we have is to trust in the currency we’re given in Christ, who credited our account with an unlimited supply of grace. In Him, we’re no longer bankrupt. We get to experience His riches for eternity.

The live coal from the altar of God reminds us that behind the love that takes our guilt and the forgiveness that atones for our sins is a Cross that extracted a cost-no less than the life of the Son of God. Once we are touched by God’s purifying fire, we can hear God speak with a passionate fire-a passion that is missing from many Christians today. Satan flees before people who are ignited by the fire of God.

All of Israel needed to be shaken by Isaiah’s vision of the Lord. The vision reinforced His sovereignty over all the universe. God promised to preserve a remnant through whom He would come to set up an ultimate reign of peace and justice. Scripture reveals the unfolding story of God’s plan to redeem the world. From the very start, the plan took shape in the lives of people like Abraham, Moses, David and countless others. God looks to people today to live out His plan. Will you let Him use you? You don’t have to be afraid. Our fear decreases as our understanding of God increases. God can do what we can’t do.

Our hearts need to be cleansed so we can represent Him with the words of our lips. This is a continual process. It’s easy to be swayed away and think we are being used by God because of our works of righteousness. It isn’t about us. It is about Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. We need to ask them to send us. We need to respond to their call and set our eyes on their majesty, awesomeness and purity. We are not worthy to be used but they have made a way to wash us through the blood of Christ so that we can speak for them from a cleansed heart. All we have to say is, “Here I am! Send me.”

As Isaiah carried his message to his people, giving them a vision of hope in a time of judgment, so God today calls the church into action, to be a people with eyes to see, ears to hear, and consciences no longer dulled, moving into the world, like Jesus to touch others, bringing healing to the lost, sight to the blind, life to the dying, that all the world might bow down before the Holy One and then be lifted up to praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So how can we be certain that we have a true call from God? We can’t rest until we step out from the safety of our lives and launch into what we believe God is calling us to do. A good test is to ask if we are gifted for what we believe we are being called to do. God will give us the skills and resources we need. We possess one of three things-time, resources and unique abilities. We can be the people God uses to reach the unreached.

Another test of God’s call is to try doing in a small way what we feel we are being called to do. For example, if someone feels called to be a teacher, he or she can learn a subject well and offer to teach a small class in his or her church. If God has called or led us to do it, He will help us. But we need to do our part too. No matter what skills we may have, we can’t help someone unless we are available.

Over 200 years ago, a humble shoe cobbler named William Carey stood before a group of ministers in London, England. He said to those men, “God has put it on my heart to reach the masses with the Gospel message and take seriously the command of Christ to take the Gospel to the world.” One minister stood up and said, “Young man, sit down. When God chooses to save the pagan, He’ll do it in His own time and in His own way.” That didn’t stop William Carey. He went to India, led countless people to Christ, and sparked the modern missions movement.

All it took was one little shoemaker in England to change the world for Christ. And he did it even though many people, even Christians, were against Him going. That was a bold testimony of faith!

What would our lives look like if we served God with that kind of enthusiasm? Where would we go? What would we do? We need to take a bold step of faith today and tell God, “Wherever…whatever…I’m yours!” Isaiah was told to go into the world. Our own involvement in the world, its people and its transformation can never be separated from our faith in the missionary God we discover in Jesus and through the Spirit.

There is so much that God wants to do in our lives through His word. He wants to change us by renewing our minds. He wants to empower us through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There’s an aspect of the transformation He wants for us that doesn’t come from renewed minds, or by greater dependence on the Holy Spirit, but only through a personal spiritual encounter with God himself. God might not give us the same kind of vivid experience that Isaiah had, and He will probably meet us through His word and through prayer, or maybe in a meeting, maybe even in a totally unexpected place, but He will reveal Himself to us personally.

For people today to answer the call of God, there must be an awareness and acceptance of the pain and suffering that comes with the call. It is a tough place to live, especially in a world that is engrossed in comforts and pleasures. Why answer God’s call if we don’t have to? We can be saved, live a nice life and wake up in heaven. Why answer God’s call? There is only one reason, one answer, to that question: to have the experience of standing before the throne of God and hearing His voice. We must be willing to step out and be sent. Are you ready? Do you want more? if so, then start praying. Read the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah to learn more about their lives and how God called them. You will never know all God has for you until you let go and ask Him to send you out. That is our great Commission.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 887)
2. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 17: Isaiah 1-39 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1993; pp. 106-116)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. “Use Me.” Retrieved from support@leadlikejesus.com
5. Max Lucado, “God is Able.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Here am I! Send Me.” Retrieved from dailydisciples.org
7. Jack Graham, “What It Really Means to Surrender Your Life.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
8. Harold Sala, “Missions.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
9. Richard Innes, “The Baffling Call of God.” Retrieved from actsweb.org
10. Jack Graham, “The Only Cure for Spiritual Bankruptcy.” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
11. “To See Him Face to Face.” Retrieved from dailydisciples.org
12. Epiphany Esources, Trinity Sunday (B). Retrieved from info@epihanyesources.com
13. Micah Pearsons, “Isaiah 6:1-8.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
14. “Choose Somebody Else! Reflections on Isaiah 6:1-8.” Retrieved from http://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/choose-somebody-else
15. “Disclosing New Worlds, Trinity Year B.” Retrieved from http://disclosingnewworlds.net/trinity-year-b
16. Ron Starenko, “Holy Trinity Sunday.” Retrieved from http://crossings.org/text-study/holy-trinity-sunday-2/
17. Pastor Ed Markquart, “An Awesome Holiness: Isaiah.” Retrieved from http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_c_awesomeholiness.htm

The entire third chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians was devoted to the subject of justification. The word “foolish” refers not to inadequate intelligence but a lack of wisdom. It is living by the world’s rules rather than according to God’s Word.  Paul realized that the Galatians didn’t lose faith because of judgment and reason. He knew that they were influenced by false teachers. He emphasized the fact of Christ’s death and resurrection should have had the same influence on the Galatians as if they had seen Him die in person.

Paul knew the Galatians began their walk of faith with the Holy Spirit, but they soon fell under the influence of the world. The simplicity of their early faith was gone. The Galatian believers were spiritually dull, not understanding the impossibility of salvation based on works. Paul had preached so vividly that the Galatians could almost see Jesus crucified for them on the cross. If the Galatians had only kept their eyes fixed on Christ, they would have been immune to the deceitful words of their opponents.

Paul talked not about the content of faith, or the believer’s state of mind, but of the believing kind of hearing that is open to the Gospel, welcomes it and leads the hearer to yield to Christ and entrust his life to Christ. To put it simply, faith comes by hearing. In verses 2-5, Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions designed to cause the Galatian believers to return to the true foundation of their faith: Christ alone. Circumcision is not the mark of God’s people; the reception of the Spirit is the true mark. No other is needed!

The Galatians had already received the Holy Spirit. He is every believer’s most unmistakable proof of salvation and greatest guarantee of eternal glory. The presence of the Holy Spirit comes at the moment of belief, not later, as a result of obedience. Any Christian who believes he or she does not have the Spirit is either untaught or unsaved.

The word “perfect” means mature, not sinless. Spiritual maturity has the same starting point as salvation: faith in Jesus Christ. Faith changes the motivation of our hearts from seeking to be acceptable to God through our own efforts to wanting to live for Him.

One reason why the Galatians lost faith was that they were persecuted for their faith. If they returned to the law, their suffering would have been meaningless. Paul reminded them that they came to faith because of God and not because of obeying the Old Testament law. If someone broke one law, they broke all of the laws. This is the curse of the law-a curse that Christ freed us from. He paid the sin debt. He did something that we can’t do for ourselves.

The law is like a chain that ties a ship to the dock. Just like a broken link causes the entire chain to fail, so one transgression of the law breaks the entire law. Since this is an all-or-nothing proposition, no amount of work can save us-only God can declare us just.

Abraham represented faith. He showed both Jews and Gentiles what was meant by faith. He responded to God’s call. He trusted in God’s promises. He obeyed God’s commands. The fact that Christ died outside of Jerusalem means that there is no one outside the domain of His powerful, suffering love. The Cross shows that God is free to justify the whole human race. His justification doesn’t depend on our readiness or our achievements or on our own merits. It depends on God’s grace alone.

The Jews were proud of being children of Abraham. Paul asked them how Abraham was justified or made right with God. The answer was that Abraham was counted as righteous when he believed God’s promise to give him descendants as numerous as the stars.

There was no stronger argument for a Jewish Christian at that time than that Abraham had been justified in exactly the same way Paul was declaring. Faith is not a work that makes one righteous, but by faith we are united with Christ who is our righteousness. Like Abraham, we are justified, or counted as righteous, by believing God.

When Paul refers to Genesis 12:1-3 in Galatians 3:8-9, he states that Abraham was taught the good news of salvation is for all people, not just the Jews. Therefore, Gentiles were not required to become Jews in order to be saved-that would be salvation by works, which Paul has already said is not the truth of the Gospel.

The phrase “under the curse” is taken from Deuteronomy 27:26. The phrase “works of the law” refers to an argument Paul made in Galatians 2:16. The Jews were in a tough spot. They could not live up to God’s law, yet they would not submit to His grace. Our only hope is to receive God’s grace.

In order to be considered a keeper of the law, one must obey the law perfectly and completely. Only Jesus Christ has ever accomplished such perfect obedience.  To be justified or declared righteous before God, we must place our faith in Jesus and His sinless perfection, letting Him bear our rightful curse and be our righteousness. The Christian experience is to be lived by faith from start to finish. We are justified, sanctified and glorified by grace through faith.

The Jews boasted of being sons of Abraham-direct descendants of the father of their faith and thus members of God’s chosen people. But now that Christ has come, all who put their faith in Jesus receive the promise of the Spirit and become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham. The gift of the Holy Spirit-and His mighty power working in us-depends on faith. The Christian life is a supernatural one that shows the supernatural power of God.

Faith is linked to forgiveness. Forgiveness occurs when we go to Christ and confess our sins. He forgives us. We are justified when God acknowledges the forgiveness that Jesus has extended and accepts Christ’s payment of our sin debt. We plead “not guilty” to God the Father because Jesus the Son has paid our sin debt. We have sinned, but He deals with us as if we are sinless. He treats His Son as the sinner and us as the righteous, and we receive the riches of His grace.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1626-1627)
2. Barnes, Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 33: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 51-66)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Ed Young, “The Debt Jesus Has Paid for You.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org

There was once an evangelist named Billy Sunday. He was the Billy Graham of his generation. He was conducting a crusade in a particular city, and in one sermon he said something critical of labour conditions for workers in that city. After the service, several businessmen sent him a message which read as follows: “Billy, leave labour matters alone. Concentrate on getting people saved. Stay away from political issues. You’re rubbing the fur the wrong way”. Billy Sunday sent this message back to them: “If I’m rubbing the fur the wrong way, tell the cats to turn around”.

I wonder if the congregation in this morning’s gospel reading was just as upset by Jesus’ comments as the businessmen were by Billy Sunday’s message. After all, here was Jesus, a simple, common local man who was saying such profound things………things that they didn’t want to hear. He was welcomed as a hometown hero……..until he exposed the darkness of their souls. That darkness included the view that they were “holier than thou”. They thought that Jesus should save his miracles and teachings for them, instead of including people they regarded as human trash; namely the Gentiles and others who were rejected by society.

They did not realize something that we often fail to realize today. The church is not a club or a membership organization. It is a place where Christ is preached and proclaimed, where disciples are made and nurtured, and a place where we confront ourselves. We have to realize that we are not who we think we are, but instead we are sinners who have been redeemed by a God who sent his son to die for us. The church is where we gather as sisters and brothers who are different from each other but who are one people gathered at the font and the table and sent out to serve in so many different ways.

Jesus came to free sinners from the bonds of guilt, sin and corruption. He is the servant referred to in the passage he read from Isaiah. Now the Jews had been waiting for centuries for a Messiah to rescue them from the bonds of oppression, but they weren’t ready for him when he came. They expected a military-type of Messiah who would drive the Romans out and return Israel to the glory days of the reign of King David. Instead, what they got was someone who was far from their expectations-a simple, common man from a simple, common background who would do extraordinary things such as heal the sick, cure the lame, save sinners and associate with outcasts such as sinners and tax collectors. They did not realize that in fact they were the ones who needed healing and saving.

When someone is different or doesn’t meet our expectations, how do we treat them? Do we accept them for who they are, or do we reject them because they are different or because they don’t belong? I found myself in a situation like this when my family moved in 1973. When I started school that year, I was shunned to the point of being bullied, largely because I didn’t fit in and because of where I was from.

The people in the congregation were indeed “holier than thou”. They thought that they were better than everyone else. They wanted to keep Jesus for themselves and away from the social outcasts. We are the same today. We sometimes think that we are better than others because we belong to the right church or club, or go to the right schools, or live in the right neighbourhood. When we meet other people who do not go to the same church, club or school, or live in the wrong neighbourhood, we sometimes look down on them. For example, I heard my father tell the story one time of an incident that happened before my family moved here. One day he was in the post office in the community we were living in when a lady came in and started having a conversation with him. At one point, she asked him which church he went to. When he told her, she said, “Well, that’s what I was afraid of!” and stormed out of the post office.

We often judge people because of prejudices that are caused by the other person’s family, social status or other reasons. Jesus met with a similar reaction. He was welcomed by the hometown crowd when he returned, but when he turned the spotlight on their sins, they wanted to kill him.

Jesus told the crowd what they needed to hear instead of what they wanted to hear. He challenged their way of thinking and the status quo. He came to “upset the apple cart” called their way of life. He told the crowd that they did not have an exclusive relationship with God. He reinforced John the Baptist’s claim in Luke 3:8 about God being able to use stones to raise children of Abraham. Jesus reminded them of times when God passed judgment on Israel but saved a Gentile woman. He reminded them of God finding favour with Naaman the leper-a leper who was a Gentile. All told, his message was a reminder of the old adage that “the truth hurts”. In this case, the truth hurt the congregation.

Jesus dragged the margin boundaries of race, creed and colour to include all people. This was part of his ministry. The Jews were not necessarily at war with Jesus the man. They were at war with his ministry, just like the world is often at war with modern Christian ministry. The Jews felt threatened by the Christian movement, just like many in our world today feel threatened by the Christian climate. Christians are threatened throughout the world today, especially in places such as Iran, India, China and North Korea.

For centuries, people in India have lived under a rigid caste system in which every person is born into a set social group or caste. People who are born into the highest social group receive the benefits of honour and respect. Then there are different levels below this. A person’s caste at birth will determine what job he can have, who he can marry, and what rights he has in society. The very lowest caste is the Dalits, whose name actually means “broken, crushed”. The Dalits are targets of violence and discrimination in Indian society.

And now, they are targets for discrimination for another reason: their faith. The Christian faith is quite attractive to the Dalits. In fact, 80% of Christians in India are Dalits. They choose to follow Christ even when they know the consequences they might face. Why would they invite this treatment by becoming Christians? They do so because in Christ, we meet a God who loves and lifts up those who would be torn down by society. His heart is with those who suffer. He cares about those who are hurting, who are helpless, who are brokenhearted, and who are in bondage. He will not abandon us to despair. God is a God of hope. God is a God of justice.

Today, where do we see the church behaving like the congregation in the synagogue? Where do we see any group suffering from a toxic case of in-group loyalties, otherwise decent people making furious fools of themselves? Any group that considers itself to be favoured can behave in this way, from a congregation to a nation. Where do we see outsiders who welcome the good news and new life that Christ offers?

Jesus read the hearts of the congregation just like he reads our hearts today. How do we respond to war, abortion, divorce, conspicuous consumption, concern for the poor, racism, sexual orientation or child abuse and exploitation? Do we respond out of prejudice or out of Christian love? In our hymn book there is a hymn with this line: “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?” Jesus calls us to come and go with him, to become servants, fishers and followers, witnesses—in other words, to become more than we are.

We are called upon to speak and act on God’s behalf, especially when we see injustice in our world. Do we feel up to the task? Can we face opposition? Can we do anything to bring about change? Yes, we can, especially with faith and God’s help. We are to see that the broken, bound and bruised are set free and made whole. By doing so, we show the radical nature of God’s love. God does not love just US. God does not love just people WHO ARE LIKE US. God does not just love people WHO LOVE US. God loves even OUR ENEMIES—people who hate us—people who hurt us

When we reject Jesus, we miss the opportunity of a lifetime. There is no guarantee of a second chance. Today, there are only two continents in the world on which Christianity is not growing–Europe and North America, two of the most prosperous places in the world where our faith was planted long ago. Today, many refuse to believe in the miracles of the Bible, including the resurrection, so God has sent the Gospel elsewhere. Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter long ago at the shore of the Sea of Galilee; namely “Do you love me?” What he is really asking is “Do you love me more than anyone or anything else? Do you have faith enough to let me cleanse you of myth and prejudice, rearrange your priorities and set your agenda?”

Works Cited

ESV Study Bible

International Christian Concern (2010, January 15). North Korea on Top Persecution List-Again. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from Persecution.org: http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=11488

Dunnam, M. (n.d.). The Word and Words. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from eSermons.com: www.esermons.com

“Even when there’s a will, there’s no way house sale can be discriminatory, court rules”, The Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Jan. 27, 2010

Exegesis of Luke 4:21-30. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

Henry, M. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary.

Kegel, Rev. D. (n.d.). Not Just Inside. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

Molin, Pastor  S. (n.d.). What About Us? Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: http://www.sermonwriter.com

People’s New Testament. (n.d.).