Be Content

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday, the 25th of September, 2022, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  Our YouTube streaming channel is: 

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.]

How many times have you heard of someone winning a huge lottery and within a year they’re broke?  They spent it all, mostly on stuff of little or no value.  It all went on things they thought would make them happy, but didn’t.  That’s a tale as old as mankind, I think.  We even looked at an example from our Bible a few weeks back, when Jesus told us of the prodigal son.

So many people sincerely believe that things can make them happy, and more money allows them to buy more things to be happier still.  But no measure of physical wealth can bring true and lasting happiness.  And sudden wealth often results in sadness and tragedy, because some folks just can’t handle it.  Still, people are driven to strive for more and more, seeking happiness, never content with what they have.

In our invocation, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews told us to be content with whatever things we have.  He also warned us to not be covetous in our conduct.  When we let our desires run out of control, we become discontented with what we have and want more.  Covetousness leads to discontent, and this is not good in God’s eyes.

The Apostle Paul speaks of this too, and warned Timothy about the pitfalls it poses and how it could affect the young pastor’s ministry.  Please listen and follow along to the instructions that Paul gave Timothy, and us, in chapter 6 of his 1st letter to his young friend and protégé, verses 6 through 19, and I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible this morning…

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. 13 And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 For,

At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

--1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for giving us good, concrete reasons and examples of how discontentment can lead to our downfall.  Your Son Jesus and His disciples clearly admonish us to always be content with what we have, remembering that all we have is from You.  Thank You, gracious God, for giving us all we need.  Forgive us, please Father, when we still want more.  Forgive us when we let our desires lead us into covetousness and discontentment.  Please help us to always be content and not seek more and more.  And Father, please protect us from Satan and from those who do his work.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe through these trying times.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand the message You have for us this day.  Remind us to be content with what You have given us in this life, and of what awaits us in the next.  This we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

A May 1994 issue of "Our Daily Bread" reported that, "In the fifth century, a man named Arenius determined to live a holy life.  So he abandoned the conforms of Egyptian society to follow an austere lifestyle in the desert.  Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through its bazaars.  Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn't need.”

“Those of us who live in a society flooded with goods and gadgets need to ponder the example of that desert dweller,” the article continued.  “A typical supermarket in the United States in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles; today it carries 30,000.  How many of them are absolutely essential?  How many superfluous?"

If the typical supermarket in 1994 carried 30,000 different items, how many do you suppose it would offer today?  Doesn't that huge selection make it more difficult to choose which to purchase?  A good bit of their inventory is devoted to items we don’t really need, but that we might want.  You just need a gallon of milk?  You have to go by the bakery to get to it.  And you can’t get to the check-out register without passing through the sea of temptation offered by the tabloids, magazines, chewing gum, and candy.

The marketers want us to buy more and more because that’s how they make their living.  Buy this and you’ll be happy.  Buy all these and be the envy of all your friends.  You NEED this!  It would seem our modern society is geared toward making us discontented with what we have, urging us to get more and more.  Our Bible tells us otherwise.

Paul says that if we have enough food and clothing, we should be content.  I personally would add water to that list, and note that many people in this world do not have enough food, clothing, or water.  Most of us here in America have been blessed with these and so much more.  But too many Americans seem never to be content.  Too many long to be rich, as Paul notes, and then they fall into temptation and are trapped by their wants and desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Founding Father and statesman Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, "Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor."  In this, Franklin echoes Paul in that if we are content with what we have, then we are already rich.  But being discontent and wanting more leaves us spiritually poor and eternally doomed.

In our church reading we spoke of how we can easily be lured and enticed by our desires, and how those desires can lead to sin, and sin to eternal death.  Not being content with what we have brings forth desire for more, for something new and different.  And we are soon on the wrong path.

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote to all those early Jews who believed Jesus to be the Messiah and accepted Him as Lord.  Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy, who he had mentored in the ministry.  And Jesus spoke to us all when He told the tale of the wasteful prodigal son.  And all told us to be content with what we have.

Jesus also spoke to us when He shared another parable with the Pharisees and scribes who derided Him and scoffed at His works.  Listen to the picture He painted with His words, as saved for us by the Apostle Luke in the 16th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 19 through 31…

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

--Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)

Now this isn’t a condemnation of being rich.  It isn’t about being rich or poor.  Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.  He didn’t say it could never happen that a rich person could be saved, just that it isn’t as easy.  Being rich is not a sin.  How we use our riches, our wealth, is what makes the difference.

If we’re not content with what we have, we’ll keep trying to get more and more, giving no consideration to what we might do or who we might hurt in the process.  All we’re concerned with is getting more and more.  Mine, mine, mine!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!  Sounds like a two-year-old, doesn’t it.

Discontentment makes us unhappy and horrible to be around, ultimately leading to our damnation.  If we are content with what we have been blessed with, we will share with those less fortunate.  We will be more concerned with the things of heaven than of worldly gain.  Contentment makes us happy and brings us peace.

God is good.  He sees to our needs and even gives us more, just so that we can be content and spend our time helping others and enjoying life rather than seeking more things that just add to our clutter.  Let us be content with all He has given us, for we truly are blessed.  In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for blessing us with all we truly need, and then giving us even more so that we might enjoy our life in this world.  You are such a good Father, showering Your children with gifts from above.  Thank You, Father, for loving us so much.  Father, too often we don’t stop long enough to see how richly You bless us.  We let the modern culture drive our desires and grow our discontentment.  Sometimes this results in tragic and disastrous outcomes.  Forgive us, Father, our seasons of discontent.  Forgive us when we want more than we truly need.  Please, loving Father, help us see all the gifts You provide.  Remind us that everything comes from You, that You created everything there is, and that You give us what we need.  Help us to be not only content, but ever grateful for all we have.  And Father, please help us remain strong, faithful, and true through all that we face in this age.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You saw the greed and covetousness in man’s hearts and You often warned us how this condition leads to discontent, and discontent to ruin.   Thank You, Lord, for the simple stories You told that carried profound messages.  Please, Lord, help us be content with what we have, content with what we have been blessed with.  Please help us ignore the ads and urgings that shout out how more things will make us happier.  Forgive us when we look to things to fulfill us rather than finding fulfillment in You.  And Jesus, please heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us remain trusting and obedient no matter what we go through.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Be Humble Now, Exalted Later

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday, the 18th of September, 2022, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  Our YouTube streaming channel is: 

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.]

I’ve mentioned before how Jesus used parables to explain concepts to the people that they would otherwise have trouble understanding.  He took advantage of this practice quite often.  In fact, leading up to our scripture reading today, Jesus had been traveling through the cities and villages healing the people and teaching them, relating the kingdom of heaven to them through parables.

It was during this time that He told us to try our best to follow the narrow way, using part of the wedding feast that some of us learned about in our first movie night.  Once the Master of the house has locked the door, there’s no getting in.  Instead, the Master will say, “Get away from Me, for I don’t know you.”  The people would have gotten the point without further explanation.

All this leads up to the exchange we’ll look at today.  Jesus is back in Jerusalem now and has been invited to a dinner party at, of all places, the home of a Pharisee.  Now remember that the Pharisees constantly tried to trap Jesus, to catch Him doing something wrong.

Please listen and follow along to how Jesus interacted with the host of this dinner and with the other Pharisees and scribes in attendance.  The Apostle Luke recorded this for us in chapter 14 of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 14, and I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching Him closely. 2 There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, “Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?” 4 When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away. 5 Then He turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your ox falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” 6 Again they could not answer.

7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, He gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then He turned to His host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” He said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

--Luke 14:1-14 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for ensuring that even now, nearly 2000 years after Your Son walked this earth, we still have His teachings to learn from.  We may need a little help understanding the parables that Jesus used to reach the people, but we have His words and we have His examples and You give us insight and understanding into them all.  Thank You, gracious God, for saving all that is in our Bible for us!  Forgive us, please Father, when we fail to read and study Your word as we should.  Forgive us when we don’t take the time seek Your guidance and insight.  Please help us better understand the lessons in our Bible.  And Father, please protect us from Satan and from those who carry out his evil works.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe through these trying times.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand the message You have for us this day.  Remind us to be more humble, not only before our fellow man but especially before You.  This we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Prolific writer and philosopher John Ruskin once said, "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility.  I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion.  But really great men have a feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them."

Inventor Samuel Morse was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn't know what to do.  Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding."

Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me."

Throughout human history, many great people have shown true humility, giving all the credit for their successes and accomplishments to God.  Inventors, athletes, diplomats, physicians, innovators, and so many others humbled themselves before God and before man and did great things.  Some, like Ruskin and Morse, are famous for what they did, but many others we’ll never even know about.

And then we have the flip side: the proud.  They take personal credit for everything, even for stuff they had no hand in.  They might get away with it for a while, but eventually it will catch up with them, either in this life or the next.

The first six verses of our scripture reading may not seem to pertain to the subject of humility, but I think they do.  This dinner party was on the Sabbath, the holy day of rest.  We can find numerous instances in the Gospel accounts where the Pharisees accused Jesus, and sometimes His disciples, too, of breaking the Sabbath law by “working”.  Many of those were when He healed someone, often outside the Temple, on the Sabbath.  Once was even for the silly reason of His disciples plucking a few handfuls of grain to eat as they walked along between villages.

And yet, here was a Pharisee hosting a dinner on the Sabbath, one attended by other Pharisees and their scribes, the legal experts.  Anyone who has ever hosted a dinner, for even a few guests, knows how much work goes into it.  Whether the host does it or not, someone is having to do a lot of work to get it all ready and served.

So here were all these men, who frequently accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, enjoying the labors of someone breaking the Sabbath on their behalf!  Hypocrites all!  Jesus even point this out when He asks, “If your son or your ox falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?”  Of course they would!  And of course they refused to answer.

These men were not at all humble, not in the least.  Jesus watched as they scurried around, each one trying to take one of the seats of honor nearest the head of the table.  So He spoke up and gave them a very good reason why they should choose one of the least desirable seats, at the foot of the table.  They won’t be embarrassed if asked to vacate their seat for someone of higher esteem, and instead may be honored by being told to move up closer to the host.  This is excellent advice!  I wonder how many took it.

Then Jesus offers a little insightful advice to the host.  Rather than inviting all his well-off friends and those in positions of rank and authority who would simply repay the favor at some point or another, he should invite those people who could never repay him, who are barely able to feed themselves, let alone put on a lavish feast.  Doing so will result in a reward from God in the next life.

And these are great, practical lessons for us as well.  We should never seek to be honored, but to honor God in all we do.  We should not act out of an expectation of being rewarded, but out of love and in service to God.  We should be humble now, in this life, so that we will be exalted by God in the next.

As I mentioned in our invocation, the call to exercise humility is given frequently in our Bible.  The Apostle Peter echoes Jesus' instruction to be humble when he quotes King Solomon as I did in our invocation, in chapter 5 of his 1st letter to the early church, the last part of verse 5 and verse 6…

5c “God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.

--1 Peter 5:5c-6 (NLT)

The Apostle James, the brother of Jesus, also encourages humility, in verse 10 of chapter 4 of his letter to the early church, when he says…

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.

--James 4:10 (NLT)

Be humble now and exalted later.   Perhaps the Apostle Paul says it best, in the 2nd chapter of his letter to the Philippians, verses 3 through 11...

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;
He took the humble form of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
8     He humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor
and gave Him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

--Philippians 2:3-11 (NLT)

Most of this was in our congregational reading earlier.  The part I added encourages us not to be selfish or to spend time and effort trying to impress other people.  Instead, we should be humble, considering the interests and needs of others as much if not more than our own.

Jesus gave us many examples of humility through His parables and teachings.  But the greatest example He gave was through how He lived His life while on this earth.  Even though He was still God while in human form, He gave up His equality with God, He gave up all His divine privileges.  Instead, He took on the form of a slave, a servant, and was born as any human is born.  He humbled Himself in obedience to God the Father.  He died a criminal’s death upon that cruel cross, even though He was guilty of no crime, of no sin.

And then God raised Him from the dead and elevated Him to the place of highest honor: God’s own right hand.  At the name of Jesus when He returns, every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every voice will proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.  All to the glory of God, our heavenly Father.  This is humility, and its reward.

So family, be humble now, and be exalted by God when we stand before Him.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for lifting Jesus to the place of highest honor.  His is the name above all names, our Lord and Savior.  Thank You, Father, for showing us how Your Son lived His mortal life so that we can learn from His example.  Father, too often we hesitate to put the needs of others ahead of our own wants and needs.  Sometimes we let pride get in our way of doing what is right.  Sometimes we’re too proud to get in there and do the dirty work that is needed to accomplish Your will.  Forgive us, Father, our moments of pride, our lapses in humility.  Forgive us when we seek credit for what we’ve done rather than give You all the credit that You so rightly deserve.  Please, loving Father, help us remember what You have told us in Your word.  Remind us that our true reward awaits us after this earthly life has ended.  Help us be humbly patient in this life.  And Father, please help us remain strong, faithful, and true through all that we face in this age.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, so many times during Your ministry You emphasized the importance of being humble.  And not only that, but You also exemplified humility in how You lived Your own life on this earth.  Thank You, Lord, for giving us so many great examples to live by.  Please, Lord, help us be more humble in all we do.  Please help us defer any expectation of reward until we stand before our Father God.  Forgive us when we hesitate to give God credit for what He allows us to do, for what He accomplishes through us.  Remind us that we are nothing, we could do nothing, if not for God.  And Jesus, please heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us remain trusting and obedient no matter what we go through.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Coming Home

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday, the 11th of September, 2022, Homecoming Sunday at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  Our YouTube streaming channel is: 

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.]

Our Lord Jesus’ ministry on this earth lasted only three years before He left us to go back to His heavenly home with His Father God.  During those three short years, He taught the people, both by His words and through His actions.  His actions included healing all manner of illnesses, curing folks of their diseases and disabilities, restoring sight and hearing and speech, even raising people from the dead.  In this He taught that He was not just an ordinary man, but a divine being sent from God, for no ordinary – or even extraordinary - man could do what Jesus did.

And Jesus taught with His words.  His best lessons were presented using word pictures.  Jesus spoke to the people in words they could understand, using examples they could relate to.  He told stories of farming and shepherding and fishing – occupations the people knew.  He told parables, because He knew even His closest disciples would have trouble understanding the truth of heaven and the ways of God.

One of those stories was about coming home.  He painted a word picture of a homecoming on earth, to illustrate our future homecoming in heaven.  Please listen and follow along to the words of Jesus as recorded by the Apostle Luke in chapter 15 of his Gospel account, verses 11 through 32, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

--Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for the promise of welcoming us home with open arms.  Even though we have sinned and not obeyed You as we should, even though we may not have used our lives as You would have had us do, You will still welcome us as Your children because of our faith and our acceptance of Your Son Jesus as our Lord.  Thank You, loving Father, for being so merciful.  Forgive us, please Father, when we fail to live in a manner pleasing to You.  Forgive us when we hesitate to give of ourselves in Your service.  Please help us be better sons and daughters.  Remind us that we are Yours and that we owe everything to You.  And Father, please protect us from Satan and from those who carry out his evil works.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe through these trying times.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand the message You have for us this day.  Show us the true meaning of the words Jesus spoke.  Give us just a glimpse of the home that awaits us.  This we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Award-winning writer, filmmaker, travel guide and storyteller Phil Cousineau has looked at the joys and challenges of going home.  Are you familiar with the epic poem the “Odyssey” written by the ancient Greek poet Homer?  Cousineau tells us that the “Odyssey” is a story "about the awakening of a man who has not quite appreciated his wife, Penelope, and who has upset the gods who are wreaking havoc on his effort to get home again.  After his time with Circe, Odysseus goes down into the underworld to find Tiresias, the sage, who tells him: You can get home again but you will have to suffer.  The gods will make it difficult for you to do this. You will have to curb your desires and the desires of the men in your crew.  This is the psychological insight:  It’s your desires that have kept you from getting home again."

The “Odyssey” takes place just after the Trojan War, which lasted ten years.  Homer memorialized some of the heroes and exploits of that war in his other famous poem, the “Iliad”.  But in the “Odyssey”, Homer dwells on the trials of Odysseus as he struggles to make his way back home after the war, a journey that takes another 10 years.

One of the main themes in this story is homecoming, and in this case, how difficult it can sometimes be to make it home again.  Native North Carolinian, Thomas Wolfe, wrote a book titled, You Can’t Go Home Again, explaining that the home we find won’t be the home we remember.  Odysseus did finally make it home, and enjoyed a good homecoming, but his desires and lusts for the things of this world made that journey home a very difficult one.

Do our worldly desires make it difficult for us to look forward to going home?  Does our grasp of this world and all its charms result in our fear of death?  Family, this earthly tent must be destroyed before we can be given a new, permanent, heavenly one.

So we all know the story of the prodigal son.  And actually, we still see it played out today, especially in American society.  We have a lad who is too bored with the status quo.  The farm (or the factory or school or whatever he is supposed to be working at) holds no attraction.  He wants to go out and experience what the world has to offer.  So he hits up Dad for his share of the family inheritance and heads off to do just that.  And as do most people who suddenly come into wealth, he quickly burns through all the money and resources he was given.  He wasted it all on human, earthly pleasures.

Did you know that “prodigal” means “wasteful”?  The prodigal son wasted away everything.  Everything but the love of his father, that is.  When he finally saw the error of his ways and desperation set in, he returned home, expecting the worst, hoping to just be treated as one of the servants and given food and a decent place to rest.  Instead, he was greeted like a returning prince.  His father’s love had not diminished one iota.

Odysseus enjoyed a successful homecoming, and so did the prodigal son.  And I think it fair to say that both men let their earthly desires get in the way of coming home.  In the “Odyssey”, Odysseus is eventually reunited with his wife, Penelope.  In the parable of the prodigal son, the son is reunited with his loving father, who forgives and forgets everything the son has done.  They both made it home.

Family, our homecoming awaits us.  We not only have a new body to look forward to, but also a new place to live, something far different and better than this world we inhabit today.  Please listen to what Jesus tells us, as recorded by the Apostle John in his Gospel account, in chapter 14, verses 1 through 4 and 19 through 24…

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”

--John 14:1-4, 19-24 (NKJV)

If we love Jesus, we will keep His word and His Father will love us, too.  His Father will adopt us and become our Father.  This is what happened when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Master.  And they have a very special place ready and waiting for us for when Jesus returns to this earthly realm and calls His church home.

Family, we are prodigal sons and daughters.  We have all, at some time or another, wasted part of this wonderful life God has given us.  We’ve wasted opportunities to reach out to others, to serve our Lord by giving fully of ourselves. We’ve been mesmerized and drawn by the pretty, shiny, sparkling things of this world, pulled away from the things of heaven that really matter.

But our Father loves us.  He will still welcome us home when it is our time because we have accepted His Son as our Lord.  He will greet us with a broad smile, take us into His arms, and have a great feast prepared for us.  And He will say, “Welcome home, My child.”  Welcome home.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for a glimpse into what You have in store for us.  You promise that all who believe in Jesus as Your Son, Your Christ, and who follow His voice will be saved from eternal death and punishment.  And we believe, Lord; we believe.  Thank You, Father, for Your love and mercy.  Father, too often we fear what the future might hold.  We think of this world as our home and we set our anchor here.  We love You and believe You but sometimes we’re just afraid to let go.  Forgive us, Father, when we don’t put all our faith and trust in You.  Forgive us when we just can't loosen our grasp on the world, when we refuse to let go of earthly things that bring us pleasure.  Please, loving Father, help us remember that You love us no matter what we do.  Keep reminding us that our home is with You and Jesus, not here on this earth.  And Father, please help us remain strong, faithful, and true through all that we face in this age.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You told beautiful stories that the people could relate to so that they could better understand the things of heaven.  Thank You, Lord, for sharing these stories with us today.  Sometimes, though, we need a little help grasping the full meaning because our times and our ways are so different.  Please, Lord, help us see the pictures You painted with those words You spoke to the people.  Forgive us when we hesitate to let go of the things of this world.  Forgive us when we fail to give the things of heaven our top priority.  Guide us through this life as You guided Your disciples, so that we might better do our Father’s will.  Remind us that our true home is in heaven with You, and not on this earth.  And Jesus, please heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us remain trusting and obedient no matter what we go through.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

A Living Sacrifice

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday, the 4th of September, 2022, Labor Day weekend at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  Our YouTube streaming channel is: 

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.]

The ritual of blood sacrifice had been practiced by humans long before Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.  For thousands of years, man has sacrificed animals, and even other humans, upon both makeshift and ornate altars to appease their gods.  In the Old Testament days of our Bible, especially in the Book of Leviticus, the Jewish people were instructed to make very specific offerings and perform very specific sacrifices for the forgiveness of their specific sins.  But a blood sacrifice was necessary for the full atonement of sin of the soul.

And then Jesus came into our world.  He who was without sin, the pure and Spotless Lamb, was given up as the last blood sacrifice needed for the redemption of mankind.  The author of the Letter to the Hebrews says, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  (Hebrews 10:10 (NKJV))  “Once for all” – one time for all mankind.  No longer is a blood sacrifice needed for the atonement of our sin.

So where does that leave us?  What can we place upon the altar to please God?  Will grain or oil or even our money suffice?  Micah says no.  The prophet tells us that our Lord requires us to “do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly” with our God.  This requires a different kind of sacrifice, a living sacrifice.

Please listen and follow along to what our unknown author wrote in his Letter to the Hebrews, those Jewish believers in Jesus, from chapter 13 verses 1 through 8 and verses 15 and 16, and I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation of our Hoy Bible this morning…

1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.

I will never abandon you.”

6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,

so I will have no fear.

What can mere people do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

--Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for offering up Your own Son as the last blood sacrifice needed for the atonement of our sin.  You sent Jesus to save us from our sin, to save us from ourselves.  Thank You, gracious God, for loving us this much.  Forgive us, please Father, when we fail to act in a manner worthy of Your love.  Forgive us when we hesitate to sacrifice even a little to please You.  Please help us act more justly, more righteously, in all we do.  Remind us that You require us to be forgiving and merciful, just as You have forgiven us and shown us great, undeserved mercy.  And Father, please protect us from Satan and from those who carry out his evil deeds.  Please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe through these trying times.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand the message You have for us this day.  May the instructions in our scripture reading inspire us to act righteously in all our interactions with others.  Help us make those sacrifices that please You.  This we pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Every year in Alaska, a 1000 mile dogsled race known as the Iditarod, run for prize money and prestige, commemorates an original "race" run to save lives.  Back in January of 1926, six-year-old Richard Stanley showed symptoms of diphtheria, signaling the possibility of an outbreak in the small town of Nome.  When the boy passed away a day later, Dr. Curtis Welch began immunizing children and adults with an experimental but effective anti-diphtheria serum.  But it wasn't long before Dr. Welch's supply ran out, and the nearest serum was in Nenana, Alaska - 1000 miles of frozen wilderness away.  Amazingly, a group of trappers and prospectors volunteered to cover the distance with their dog teams!  Operating in relays from trading post to trapping station and beyond, one sled started out from Nome while another, carrying the serum, started from Nenana.  Oblivious to frostbite, fatigue, and exhaustion, the teamsters mushed relentlessly until, after 144 hours in minus 50-degree winds, the serum was delivered to Nome.  As a result, only one other life was lost to the potential epidemic.  Their sacrifice had given an entire town the gift of life.

History.com has a very interesting and informative article about this amazing delivery, this “Great Race of Mercy”.  The run, covering just over 674 miles of some of the harshest terrain imaginable, took only five-and-a-half days to complete.  And while 20 men and 150 dogs participated in the relay, the only fatalities were four dogs that died of exposure, giving their lives that others might live.  All the survivors experienced problems we could expect from extended exposure to sub-zero weather, near blizzard conditions, and treacherous footing.  These men and their dog teams made a huge sacrifice, without hesitation, so that the people of Nome, Alaska could live.

Our author in his letter to the Hebrew believers gives us a number of living sacrifices we can make.  We can continue to love each other as brothers and sisters.  And I believe there is a secondary message in this.  Siblings often quarrel, don’t they?  Brothers and sisters don’t always get along.  But they still love each other.  They’ll always be brothers, they’ll always be sisters.  This is how we’re supposed to be, we brothers and sisters in Christ.  We’re going to argue and quarrel and not always get along the best in the world.  But we are supposed to always love each other.  Yes, it may be difficult at times, but this is what brothers and sisters do.

Getting back to our list of living sacrifices, we should also show hospitality to strangers, especially since we don’t always know exactly who, or what, we’re dealing with.  And let’s not forget those in jail or prison, or those being unjustly mistreated.  We need to put ourselves in their place, as if we were there, feeling their pain as if in our own bodies.

Honor the institution of marriage – biblical marriage – and remain faithful to one another.  Don’t love money or the things money can buy, but instead be content with what we have.  Look at those who have done good in and with their lives, and follow their example.  And finally, offer a continual sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus.

Now around ten years before this letter was written, the Apostle Paul sent a letter to the church in Rome introducing himself and his doctrine.  Paul also spoke of sacrifice, in verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12 of this Letter to the Romans, when he said…

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

--Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)

We should give our bodies to God, making of ourselves a holy, living sacrifice.  Jesus gave His mortal life for us, but God is not asking this of us.  He wants us to give up our worldly behavior, the customs of the world, letting Him and His Holy Spirit transform us into the new person by changing how we think, how we view things.

One complaint that has often been levied against the church is that there seems to be no difference between Christians and anyone else.  If a non-believer encounters us, can they see that we are different from themselves or their peers?  No, they can’t, not if we haven’t yet let go of the world and its ways.  We have no choice other than to live in the world, but we don’t have to be of the world.

Most of us still have a lot of work to do in this area.  Me included.  We’re not complete yet, we’ve not quite reached the spiritual maturity Paul often speaks of.  We’ve a ways to go before becoming Christ-like.  But hopefully we are striving in that direction.  And giving of ourselves as living sacrifices goes a long way in achieving this.

The Apostle Peter, in his 1st letter to the early church, offers this encouragement in chapter 2, verses 4 and 5…

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor.

5 And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priesthood. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.

--1 Peter 2:4-5 (NLT)

We are coming to Christ, becoming more like Christ.  Jesus is the living – and yes, He still lives – the living cornerstone of God’s temple.  And we are also living stones, stones that God is setting together as He builds His spiritual temple.  This is not a brick and mortar structure but a gathering of our spirits into the Kingdom of God, all in the name of Christ Jesus His Son.  So let us continually offer spiritual sacrifices that please our Father God.

Family, this may be Labor Day weekend, but we should never pause our labors for the Lord.  Making of ourselves a living sacrifice requires us to do the work He assigned us, making sacrifices as needed, even if it means sacrificing our leisure time.  Enjoy time with family and friends, but also offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.  And if the opportunity arises to show that we truly are different from the world, take it.  If the chance comes up to make a living sacrifice for someone else, to serve God by helping another, then jump on it.

Let’s give of ourselves, and please God.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for sending Your Son to this earth, that through His sacrifice we might be redeemed.  The blood of the Spotless Lamb washes us clean and atones for our sin.  Thank You, Father, for having mercy upon us poor sinners.  Father, too often we hesitate to offer ourselves to You as living sacrifices, giving of ourselves in Your service.  Too often we appear indistinguishable from the rest of the world.  Sometimes we think too much about our own wants and needs rather than the needs of others, even of our own brothers and sisters in Christ.  Forgive us, Father, during these times when we displease You.  Forgive us when we just can’t let go of the world.  Please, loving Father, help us remember Your word, to live by it.  Keep reminding us of the sacrifice that was made to free us from the shackles of sin.  And Father, please help us remain strong, faithful, and true through all that we face in this age.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You made the ultimate sacrifice – taking the beating we deserved and then giving of Your own mortal life for the atonement of our sin.  Thank You, Lord, for always obeying Your Father.  And thank You most of all for loving us so much.  Please, Lord, help us show You and our Father God our love by making of ourselves living sacrifices in service to You.  Please help us realize what it is, what we can do, that pleases God the most.  Forgive us when we hesitate to do what we should do.  Pick us up, and forgive us when we stumble over the things of this world.  Remind us that our true home is in heaven with You, and not on this earth.  And Jesus, please heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us remain trusting and obedient no matter what we go through.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.