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May 29, 2007 by admin.
Philippians 1:3-6
“Christian Partnership”
“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Amen.” (Jude 2) I’m somewhat curious as to your thoughts on the video that you just got done watching – produced by our Wisconsin Synod marketing department. I guess I’m not referring to your thoughts per say as much as your gut reaction. How do you feel when you see another piece of Synod information asking for more money? (Synod “Walking Together” video has just been shown) You’ve received more of that information today in your bulletins (show pamphlet requesting donation) as you have in the past and undoubtedly will in the future. How does that make you feel?
I guess the question I’m really driving at is are you a little tired of it at this point? Our Synod appears to be in dire straits, we realize that. Pastor Rockhoff, a faithful Synod man, mentions it regularly. Here at Messiah we’ve dedicated Bible Class time to it, we’ve heard sermon illustrations on it, we get the emails and the pamphlets letting us know the tough times we’re in as a Synod. Does it ever seem like “enough already!”? As it is right now, we’re doing everything we can as a church to maintain our congregation. Look at the facts: We’re in the midst of a massive building project. We already give a larger Synod mission offering (especially per communicant member) to our beloved Wisconsin Synod than most other congregations out there. At what point are we going to start taking care of ourselves? It gets old. It’s depressing to think about schools closing and missionaries being called back and they’re so far away that sometimes you barely feel a sense of responsibility or allegiance. It’s really pretty easy and less worrisome to just not think about it and let it fade away and become someone else’s problem. To be perfectly honest, last year at this time when I was assigned to Messiah in Wichita, KS, one of the first things I thought about was how nice it would be to not have to hear about the enormous financial problems of Synod every day, as I had in class for the previous years. I was almost excited to get out of “the homeland” and to focus just on a congregation that is so far physically removed from all of the troubles.
That was an attitude of mine that need adjustment though. There’s nothing wrong with being frustrated by or lamenting the Synod’s current financial state. But there certainly was a problem with thinking I could just get up and walk away from it because it wasn’t my fault or my problem. As a member of this congregation and a member of this Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, I am a partner with all the other members. There’s two ways of looking at that: Either 1) It’s an obligation that detracts from my precious time and money, or 2) It’s a blessed thing because God calls Christian Partnership blessed. Today we will find out exactly how we exist in a powerful “Christian Partnership”
Our sermon lesson today, as mentioned, is actually found in Philippians 1:3-6. However, today being the festival of Pentecost, it’s only appropriate to consider it as well. And it actually fits quite well with this “Walking Together” Sunday. In our second lesson today we heard the familiar story of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon 12 Disciples and others with them in an audible form, with a rush of wind, and a visible form, with tongues of fire on their heads. People had come from all around the Mediterranean world. We’re actually told that “there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” (Acts 2:5) And yet, these foreigners, despite speaking a multitude of different languages, could understand exactly what the disciples were saying – nothing short of a miracle. God obviously wanted these people from around the world to recognize the unity that they had. The Apostle Peter then stood up to proclaim a beautiful law and gospel sermon. He told the crowd that they were united in the fact that they were all responsible for crucifying the man Jesus Christ, but because he was the true Lord and God, in his death and resurrection he had granted them all true forgiveness for their sins. He told them to repent to this one true God. Be baptized in the name of this one true God. This baptism will unite you as one. And by God’s grace every one of them miraculously heard Peter’s uniting message loud and clear, in his own language. And they all were “cut to the heart.” (Acts 2:37) It was clear to all that they were involved in a “Christian Partnership.” The Many Became One.
In our sermon lesson for today, Paul is writing to a Philippian congregation that is quite a distance from him. He was in chains, under house arrest in Rome. The Philippians were on the north side of the Aegean Sea in Macedonia. As the crow flies, that places them about 600 miles apart. To actually make the trip up and around the Adriatic Sea would have been well over 1000 miles. Despite the distance, Paul certainly has a place in his heart for these Philippian Christians. He refers to them in this letter as “my joy and my crown” (Philippians 4:1) and Paul says here in our lesson “I thank my God every time I remember you.” The Philippians had proven themselves to be mature, sanctified Christians. Paul is actually writing this letter in response to a gift that they had sent to him through the messenger Epaphroditus. But, before we paint them in too dazzling a light, let’s not forget how things started out for Paul in Philippi on his 2nd missionary journey. He could have remembered them that way. He could have remembered Philippi as a place where he and his companions could hardly find any religious people. Paul customarily began his work of preaching the good news in the local synagogue of any city. But in Philippi he found only a tiny little “preaching station” of sorts located near a river. And then there was that demon-possessed slave girl who harassed them. And there were the townspeople that had them arrested, stripped and beat them, put them in chains and threw them into a dirty prison. (Acts 16) The people of Philippi certainly had their faults; they certainly made their fair share of mistakes. But Paul chooses not to remember that.
Instead, Paul remembers them in a joyful, positive way. He remembers them as a place where Lydia and all her household became Christians and insisted that he and Silas stay at her house. He remembers casting a demon out of a slave girl and seeing her set free. He remembers praying and singing hymns with Silas while the other prisoners listened. He remembers the Philippian jailer and his family, and all those other people who, afterwards, were baptized and became followers of Jesus. Paul remembers their “Christian Partnership” and is joyful and thankful for it. It’s sometimes hard to convince a predominantly individualistic American society about the benefits of partnership, especially when it comes to religion. The founders and shapers of our country even promoted religious individualism. Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a sect myself.” One of the country’s greatest writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson, penned a book that captured the country’s pilgrim spirit and his own religious stance, titled Self-reliance. You have to understand that man is innately self-centered. Think about how many decisions you make during the day that provide for your own cause – whether it be self-sustenance, self-improvement, or personal amusement. That comes naturally to us. We have to make a conscious decision to do something for others though. But in its own great irony, as we do something for others we are actually helping ourselves. We benefit in mutual partnership.
You’ve probably heard the expression before that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” That logic is hard to argue against. Some of the best examples of this can be found in nature. I’m not really a huge wildlife guy, but, to me, one of the best examples of beneficial partnership can be found in geese. As you know, geese always fly south for winter and as they do so they travel in a V-formation. Scientists have discovered some fascinating things about the way these geese work together as partners:
Geese understand the benefits of partnership. I personally know this all too well. When I go running over at my apartment complex around the lake I encounter dozens upon dozens of geese. They all look at me simultaneously, as if they had one mind. They sometimes force me to run off the path and around them. I know what you’re thinking, “Vicar, they’re just geese, quit your worrying.” And I agree, if I would accidentally run into one goose and it would get upset and come after me, I would like to think I’d be able to defend myself. The problem is I don’t think I can take 70 geese. And I know that would be the case. They have a tremendous one-mindedness, pack mentality, partnership in all that they do.
I understand it sounds a little silly, but “Christian Partnership” has a lot in common with goose partnership. We understand that we can accomplish so much more for God’s kingdom when we work together rather than try to go it alone. We aren’t too proud so as to think we are above any of our fellow Christians, but gladly, compassionately inconvenience ourselves when they are in need. We encourage our fellow Christians with our prayers, comments, and financial support. Christ has taken away our greatest problem of sin, he will certainly help us through whatever problems come our way in life, and he often uses Christians to help other Christians with these problems, strengthening the bond, the partnership they already have. As Paul says to the Ephesians, “we are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22) Partnership for Christians provides many benefits, but this partnership is more than just convenience or connections. Many Became One in Christian Partnership first and foremost Because the One Saved Many.
It’s easy to find things to criticize in our fellow believers. We live closely with them and see all their faults and shortcomings. As if that weren’t enough, the devil and our sinful nature join together in making mountains out of the faults of others, so that they appear so much worse than our own. This becomes the devil’s way of robbing us of the joy we might have in seeing the great things God, by his grace, can accomplish in the lives of his people in Christian partnership. As it pertains to “Walking Together” Sunday, we might be tempted to look at “The Synod” as this evil money-grubbing monster that on the surface appears to be dieing and is just trying to take us down with it. For our negative attitudes and our misplaced judgments, we repent to our Lord. Paul didn’t have that pessimistic attitude towards the Philippians. Instead of bemoaning how harshly they had initially treated him, he says, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Paul recognized their mutual sharing in the blessings of forgiveness and salvation won by Christ. They now had in common a spiritual life that the Holy Spirit creates in sinners’ hearts through faith in Christ. They prayed to the same God. They praised the same God. They were baptized into the name of the same God for the same washing of sins and rebirth. They partook of the same God in Holy Communion. They gave offerings to the same God. They were both willing to suffer for the same God. They knew that although they were physically distant, they would one day be physically united for eternity in the presence of the same true God. Once I understand that Jesus is for me, how much love he showed specifically to me in washing away my sins, I then want to share him with others. I know that the One who died for me died for all. I am united, then, with other Christians in the work of telling the good news to all. We hold this work in common just as the gospel is our common possession. This is true Christian Partnership.
Like those on Pentecost, like Paul and the Philippians, we too are miraculously united. We are united with each other. Just think of all the things that had to happen to bring us together. We’ve shown up from different parts of Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, Washington, Virginia and so on and so forth. God-governed, God-guided, God-given and God-blessed unity. And as much as we appreciate the unity in Christ we have here at Messiah, we have unity with believers far beyond our little sanctuary. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod has ½ million strong, in addition to our 150, that come to worship the same true God every Sunday and confess the same things about him and his teachings. There is no larger Lutheran (or perhaps other) denomination in America that is that dedicated to and serious about unity in a way like we are. Through their actions our Synod has shown us that they include us as equal possessors of heaven. Look at the track record: The Wisconsin Synod was the group that said, “Okay, we’re going to provide funding for our members down in Wichita, KS to get them a building and get up on their feet.” They have been responsible for the education of the called workers that this congregation has seen over the years. That’s no small feat. In case you’re wondering, if you’re going to get a pastor who has come through a Synod preparatory school, the Synod college, and the Synod seminary, it’s going to cost approximately $200,000 for that education. The called workers try to produce as much of that as they can, but there’s no way they could do it by themselves. It takes subsidy, financial support from……the Synod. The materials that we worship out of and the lessons we have for Bible Studies and Sunday School – items that have been combed through by faithful theologians to make sure that we were hearing the gospel truth, all comes from ……….our Synod. The loan that we will be receiving for our next building stage that makes it more affordable to grow our ministry here at Messiah comes from the Church Extension Fund, a branch of……..our Synod. I’m not arrogant enough to tell you how blessed you have been to have my presence here for the past nine months, but from what I’ve gathered, Messiah has seen the vicar program, that we’ve been a part of for six of the last seven years, as a blessing. The funding for those vicars has all come from……..our Synod.
It’s no secret that, from a financial perspective, our Synod is hurting right now. One of our two high schools will be closing shortly. Called workers will lose their jobs. Who knows how many impressionable teenagers will lose a Christian education. The threat of losing the other high school soon afterwards is quite real. The dominoes continue to fall and you wonder how many future pastors will be losing four years of education in a ministry-centered curriculum. Many other aspects of ministry beyond education are suffering as well. Missions are being reduced and missionaries even being called home. Positions of administration that are designed so that we may efficiently, smoothly carry out gospel ministry as a Synod are being cut as well.
We certainly don’t doubt God’s ability to drop an enormous bag of money on our front doorstep, but at the same time we’re spiritually mature enough to realize that’s not generally the way he operates. He usually uses his faithful people to carry out his gospel ministry. It’s a privilege given from a generous God for us to be able to do so. The need exists. The means are available. In the last verse of our lesson for today from Philippians, Paul says he is confident that “he (God) who began a good work in you (the Philippians) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul knew that the same Holy Spirit who lived in him also lived in the hearts of these Philippian believers and the Spirit would guide them through life just as was the case for Paul. Paul experienced a tremendous amount of joy knowing that he was not alone in this world as the sole believer. He felt the love of Christian Partnership with the Philippian congregation. They loved Paul because he had shown great love to them. Paul loved them because he knew of the incredible love that his Savior had shown to him. And our Savior loved Paul, us, and the rest of mankind because………..well, simply because of grace – undeserved love.
Because of grace God loves us, forgives us, provides for us, and saves us all through Jesus Christ. God grant that we boldly reciprocate that love in our love to our Christian partners. For Christ proclaims, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 26:40) Amen.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Amen.” (Colossians 3:15)
– Vicar James Hein
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May 21, 2007 by admin.
Acts 16:6-10 5/20/07
In the name of him who always embraces and shields us, dear friends in Christ, and especially you, Kayla and Kendall,
A few years ago when the movie “Titanic” came out, more and more people became interested in the ill-fated maiden voyage of the so-called “unsinkable” ship. Human-interest stories often focused on how one person gained last minute passage on the ship, while others, due to circumstances beyond their control, were left on the dock, unable to begin their voyage across the Atlantic. Still today, after a major accident or disaster, the news media will inevitably find at least one individual who says, “I should have been on that plane that went down” or, “I was supposed to be in that building when it collapsed.” Such near-death experiences often cause people to start wondering just what it is that determines a person’s course in life.
So what does determine how your life unravels? How did you end up where you are right now? Who decided how the pages of your life would unfold? Many will tell you that it’s just a matter of fate or chance. But you and I know better. We know there is a God who guides and directs our lives, a Lord who has a purpose for everything that happens.
This morning we’re reminded of a wonderful truth, one that’s even more encouraging for our confirmands as they enter into another stage of their lives. Today from God’s Word I can assure you:
“God Has a Plan for You”
I. Sometimes it may be beyond your understanding
II. But it’s always for your good
We find Paul on his second missionary journey, visiting the churches he had founded on his first journey. He was accompanied by two companions, Silas and the young man Timothy. Soon they would be joined by Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts. Wherever they went, the Word of God was proclaimed.
But Paul and his companions couldn’t go wherever they wanted to. The Lord guided them to the areas where he wanted them to go. And sometimes the Lord kept them from going into certain areas, as we’re told in our text (v 6), “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.” It would have seemed logical for Paul to have continued traveling to the west with his preaching, but this wasn’t God’s plan. Later Paul would return to this area, and he would do a great deal of work in the capital city of Ephesus. But for now God had other plans for Paul and his companions.
Since they couldn’t go west, they looked to the north. There was a large mission field there in the province of Bithynia. But again, the Lord alters their plans (v 7), “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Humanly speaking, it made sense for Paul to take the Word into this area. But, at least for the time being, God had a different plan for Paul and his companions
Does Paul voice any objections? Does he question God’s will? Does he ask for some clarification? Not that we know of. This is what we’re told (v 8), “So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.” The missionary team knew that they were called to preach the gospel, and they knew God would show them where he wanted them to be. So they moved on and waited to see what God had planned for them.
Kayla and Kendall, I’m sure there have been times when your parents have asked you to do something, and you felt the need to ask the question, “Why?” I know I asked my parents that question from time to time. You know what their usual answer was? Probably one you’ve heard from your parents: “Because I said so.” I find it interesting how easy it is for me now as a parent to use the same response. In no way is it an in depth answer, but it’s not meant to be. Instead it’s meant to teach a child not to feel the need to question Mom or Dad, but to simply do what they’re told to do. Children are to trust that what their parents tell them to do is the right thing to do, something that’s for their benefit, for their own good.
In our daily lives we’re often tempted to question God’s ways. It’s so easy for us to say, “Why me, Lord?” And yet our Lord reminds us (Isa 55:8), “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” God knows that for now our understanding is clouded by sin. We don’t always see clearly what he’s doing in our lives. Living in this sinful world is like driving down the road on a warm, Kansas evening when the bugs are thick and keep smacking into our windshield. Hit enough of them and, without using the wipers, our view of the road might be a bit blurred. That’s how it is with sin. Until we reach the perfection of heaven, we’ll have to just trust that our God knows what he’s doing. As Paul tells us (1 Co 13:12), “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face.” For now, just trust that God has a plan for you! After all, it’s the same God who gave up his Son to pay the punishment for our sins. He will not lead us astray.
Paul listened to his Lord and put his trust in him. Even though he may not have always understood God’s plan, still he believed that what God had planned for him was always for his good.
When the Lord wouldn’t allow Paul to enter certain regions, it wasn’t as if he was telling him to take an extended vacation. He still had work for him to do. There was just a more urgent need for him in a different area (v 9), “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” God wanted Paul in Europe. He was needed there. That’s why the Lord didn’t allow him to go elsewhere. The fields were ripe for harvest in Macedonia.
This is where Luke joins up with the missionary team. And with Paul’s vision fresh in his mind, there was no delay (v 10), “After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” When they finally found out where they were supposed to go, they got going right away — “at once.” They were eager to proclaim God’s Word wherever he would lead them.
Kayla and Kendall, you are God’s children. You were both brought into his family at the time of your baptism, and over the years, especially the last three years through confirmation classes, you’ve learned more about how you can serve the Lord with your lives, how you can share your faith with others. But your spiritual education doesn’t end today. It may be your confirmation, but it’s not your graduation. There will soon come a time when Mom or Dad won’t be there to make sure you get up for church on Sunday mornings. That decision will be left up to you, and today you’ll be making a vow to the Lord himself that you will remain faithful to him and his Word – meaning that you will continue to be in his house regularly, you’ll come to Teen Class and EPIC, you’ll read your Bibles at home, and you’ll use whatever other ways are available for you to continue to grow in your faith. Kids always want to grow up so fast. Well, this morning Mom and Dad won’t be holding your hand as you stand before the Lord and make your vows. Today it’s your decision, your promises, your faith that will be on display. In effect you’ll be declaring that you do believe that God has a plan for you, a plan that will always be for your good.
And hopefully a plan that will be good for others too. Somehow God promises to use each of us to reach out to others with his Word. We dare not be indifferent when it comes to souls being lost for all eternity in hell. If it were not for the grace of God, we’d be headed in the same direction. If it weren’t for someone feeling that we were worth the time for them to tell us about the love of our Savior, we too would have no hope of salvation. Someone cared enough to make a difference in our lives. Kayla and Kendall, sometime today take the time to thank your Mom and Dad for raising you as a child of God. That’s the best gift a parent could ever give to a child. In the same way, God wants to use us to let others know that he has a plan for their lives, a plan that will always work out for their good.
Keep in mind that God may have a few detours in store for us as we live our lives on this earth. Kayla and Kendall, there will be times when you still make the wrong choice, when you’ll do things that you know aren’t right. Be thankful you have a forgiving God. We all still get distracted by this sinful world and often stray in the wrong direction. Sometimes God has to get us straightened out by grabbing our attention. All of a sudden, things aren’t going the way we want them to. Sickness, financial woes, family problems, school pressures — we find ourselves crying out, “Why me, God?” Why? Because he wants us to remember to trust him! He wants us to stay close to him! Our Lord is like the shepherd who deliberately broke the leg of one of his sheep. When asked why he had done this, the shepherd said, “This sheep would not stay with the flock. It often wandered far away and paid no attention to my call. So I broke its leg to prevent it from getting lost or destroyed by a bear or lion. Now this sheep stays close to my side and promptly responds to my call.” Cruel? It seems like it. And yet it was done out of love!
Because we are sinful, God may have to break our leg from time to time to keep us from straying. But he also does so out of love. Sure, we may wonder why at the time, but finally let us remember that God’s will is always best. Moses reminds us (Dt 32:4), “His works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” God knows what he’s doing. You can trust him. Here’s why: He’s given us a tremendous promise in his Word (Ro 8:28), “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even with this promise, we may still be troubled when things don’t go the way we want them to. Sometimes we may try our best to find the good in some affliction, but still come up empty. But remember, God doesn’t tell us that we’ll always be able to see the good. He tells us simply to believe that he is working for our good. He tells us to trust him. In Jeremiah he assures us (Jer 29:11), “I know the plans I have for you, . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Kayla and Kendall, God has a plan for each of you — a plan that you may not always understand, but a plan that’s always for your good. That’s a promise he’s made to each of us. Knowing this, we can help others understand how to handle life, how they can leave everything in the hands of a Savior who loves them. Then they too can have the same confidence we have, confidence that allows us to sing (CW 429:3):
What God ordains is always good;
He is my friend and Father.
He will not let me suffer harm
Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know
Both joy and woe;
Some day I shall see clearly
That he has loved me dearly.
May the Lord give both of you this confidence as you continue to serve him in his kingdom!
Amen
–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff
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May 19, 2007 by admin.
In the name of our ascended Lord, dear fellow beneficiaries of his ascension,
Even though everyone of us realizes that you can’t change history, that still doesn’t stop us from speculating on how things might have been if we could. For example, history buffs might find it interesting to discuss what this country would be like if the American Revolution had not taken place. Would the most powerful nation on earth be Great Britain? Or what would changes would we see in the world if the Germans would have been victorious in World War I or if the Japanese would have succeeded in winning World War II? Some would think it’s a waste of time to consider any of these scenarios, especially since they never became a part of history. But we can still learn something by looking at things that didn’t happen, wondering about how things might have been.
That’s what we’re going to do tonight as we once again review our Lord’s return to heaven after his time on this earth was over. Let’s look at how things might have been by asking the question:
“What If Jesus Had Not Ascended?”
Luke is the inspired writer of the Book of Acts, and he’s writing to a man named Theophilus. This was the same man to whom Luke had addressed his Gospel, and it’s believed that he was most likely a Roman official or at least a man of high position and wealth. Here in Acts Luke begins with a brief summary of Jesus’ work here on this earth (vv 1-3), “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” We see the love of our Lord evidenced in the fact that he did spend 40 days here on this earth after his resurrection to give solid proof that he had indeed come back from the dead, as he had promised, and to teach them even more about “the kingdom of God.” We also see his love in the fact that he assured them that they wouldn’t be left alone once he had gone, but that he would send them the Holy Spirit. So why couldn’t he just stick around? Why did he have to go back to heaven? What if Jesus had not ascended?
Staying here on earth would have given the indication that Christ’s work was not yet done. Many could have assumed that his mission was not complete. After all, Scripture proclaims that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk 1:10), and that’s what Jesus did on the cross. Our salvation is complete. Jesus accomplished what he came to do. When a student finishes an assignment for school, he turns it in to let the teacher know that it’s finished. Think of Jesus’ ascension in that way. He was “turning in” the assignment given to him by his heavenly Father – an assignment that received a perfect grade! It was important for Jesus to let the world know that his work was done, that the plan of salvation was complete, that it was time to return to heaven.
Jesus’ departure would actually enhance the disciples’ ability to witness. They would receive all they needed when the Holy Spirit would come (vv 4,5), “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Jesus was talking about the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would come in a very special way to empower the disciples for the work which lay ahead. But why couldn’t Jesus just stay with them? Why couldn’t he be there to empower them and to help them with their work? Why did he have to ascend back to heaven?
Remember when you were learning how to ride a bike, and you heard those intimidating words, “Let’s try taking the training wheels off”? You knew that time had to come, that you finally had to “go it alone,” even though you may have been a bit apprehensive. It was time for the disciples to “go it alone,” to head out without having Jesus there to steady them, without expecting him to do the bulk of the work. They had been taught and trained personally by their Savior, and now it was time for them to take the baton from Jesus and take his Word to the world.
I remember back when I was 12 years old and was going to start my first job – a paper route. For a week or two I went along with someone else, just riding my bike and learning the route. But then came the day when it was all my own, with no one riding along with me. Without question, I took things a bit more seriously when all the responsibility was placed on my shoulders. In the same way, if Jesus had not ascended, would the disciples have had the same sense of urgency in serving as his witnesses? Wouldn’t they have been able to just sit back and “let Jesus do it”? Now they wouldn’t have a choice. But don’t forget – they really wouldn’t be alone. They would be empowered by the Holy Spirit, having their faith strengthened daily as they witnessed the Spirit’s power in action. After all, isn’t that what faith is all about? Scripture proclaims (Heb 11:1), “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” With Jesus gone, is it too much of a stretch to believe that the disciples had their faith strengthened even more, as they became even more certain of what they did not see?
In the midst of Luke’s ascension account comes the reminder of how much the disciples needed the Holy Spirit to sort out the confusion that still existed in their understanding of the Messiah’s mission (vv 6,7), “So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Even after all that had happened, the nationalistic fervor for an earthly Messiah was still ablaze even in the hearts of Jesus’ own disciples. Sure, they should have known better. Give Jesus some credit for not ripping into them but instead only explaining that they shouldn’t worry about the plans his heavenly Father had in store for the nation of Israel. But just think what would have happened if Jesus had not ascended? Notice how confused the disciples were now with Jesus still with them If he would have remained on this earth, would they have ever been able to put off the thought of him being just a political Messiah? No, Jesus had to return to heaven to make it clear that his work was finished, his work of being a spiritual Messiah and Savior.
The disciples’ confusion over Jesus’ role here on this earth was one reason our Lord told them to sit tight and wait for the Holy Spirit before heading out into the world. After that, there would be no such restrictions (v 8), “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There had been a couple of other times when Jesus had sent the disciples out on missionary trips, but they always knew they would be returning back to him. Notice that with him gone, they were to start out at home but would expand their mission field in ever-widening circles. If Jesus had not ascended, perhaps the disciples would not have been as anxious to be gone from the “home base” for too long. There would always be the pull to return back to him as their mentor and teacher. But with him gone, their witnessing became more widespread. Consequently, the church was able to grow and spread at a more rapid rate.
We know that Jesus did ascend back into heaven, because Luke tells us how it happened (vv 9-11), “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” Don’t be too hard on the disciples as they stood there, staring up into the sky. You’d be doing the same thing, wondering whether or not Jesus was coming back. He would return, but not for a while. It took a couple of angels to snap the disciples back into reality, reminding them that they hadn’t seen the last of their Savior. He would return “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
When Adam and Eve fell into sin and were forced out of the Garden of Eden, Scripture tells us that God “placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Ge 3:24). God didn’t want his people to keep eating from the tree of life, because he didn’t want them to live forever in their sinful state. He had a much better life in store for his people, a life that could only be lived after leaving this world, a life that could only be entered through death. What if Jesus had not ascended? With Jesus here on this earth, who would want to leave? With his loving presence and power among us, who would want to be separated from him? No, Jesus wanted his disciples and all people to know that there’s something much better than this world to look forward to. He had already tried to explain to them why he had to leave (Jn 14:2,3), “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus wants us with him – in heaven! He doesn’t want us to think only about life on this earth, but he tells us (Col 3:2), “Set your minds on things above.” By not ascending and instead sticking around here on this earth, Jesus would have been giving a confusing message as to where we should want to be. But with him in heaven, we can now wholeheartedly agree with the apostle Paul and proclaim (Php 1:23), “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” His ascension assures us that heaven is where we want to be.
Speculating on how things would have been if our Lord had not ascended won’t certainly change how things did take place, but I pray that it has afforded us an opportunity to appreciate what his ascension does mean for us today. Tonight take home with you the comfort that Jesus’ mission here on this earth was accomplished, that our salvation is secure. Be reminded that after the fall into sin God never intended us to live forever in a sin-tainted world, so Jesus’ departure reminds us how foolish it is to simply live for this life without keeping an eye on the life that is to come, without realizing that the best is yet to come. And never forget that while we await our eternal home in heaven, the best use we can make of our time is following our Lord’s directive and proclaiming his Word to all people.
Be thankful and rejoice that we have a Savior who did return to heaven. Praise be to our crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord!
Amen
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May 14, 2007 by admin.
John 14:23-29
“Lord, Show Yourself to Me” “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Amen.” (Jude 2)
Let me begin by wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers of the congregation. We certainly want to extend our appreciation, thanks, and love to them today. After, many of us wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for them. When you think about it though, it’s really a shame that we have to designate a specific day during the year to make sure our mothers know how much we care about them and appreciate them, just in case we’ve forgotten to do so in the previous 364 days. Maybe the relationship we have with them is so close we just feel like it doesn’t always need to be said. There is just a special bond that every child has with his or her mother. Perhaps it comes from the early weeks or months of infancy, when the newborn has total reliance on the mother for everything. If there is any doubt about the strength of this bond between mother and child, just look at the phenomenon of infant social development known as separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is an infant’s fear of being left by his or her mother. It usually emerges at about 8 or 9 months, peaks at 14 months, and then gradually subsides. Separation anxiety is thought to develop because as babies mature mentally, they begin to recognize their mothers as unique individuals, different from everyone else they encounter. However, infants lack the mental capacity to understand that the mother still exists even when she is out of sight. To the infant, once the mother cannot be seen, she is gone forever. This is why a game like peek-a-boo is such a mind-blowing experience for an infant. Whether or not infants are distressed by separation also depends on the baby’s past experiences and the manner in which the mother departs: leaving abruptly, for example, is likely to produce a tremendous cry of abandonment. They don’t experience this with anyone else. The child and its caregiver simply have an unbreakable bond.
Although separation anxiety is generally just an experience for children who are around one year old, a variation of it may occur in adults as well. The rule is simple: the stronger the bond, the stronger the anxiety that when separation takes place. Well, including that of a child to its mother, I can’t imagine that a stronger human bond has ever existed on earth than the bond between the God-man, Jesus Christ, and his disciples, who gave up everything to follow him. Knowing the fear that they would have in his leaving, Christ spends considerable time preparing them for his departure, both in death and in his ascension. In fact there are about 5 chapters recorded in the Gospel of John (approximately 1/4 of the Gospel) dedicated just to Jesus’ farewell address to his disciples.
The disciples’ anxiety over Jesus’ departure was based on the fear that Jesus would no longer be with them. But in our lesson today Jesus tells them and us that that will never be the case. So we bring this simple request to our Lord today and find his answer. We say:
“Lord, Show Yourself to Me!”
I. He is seen in our obedience to his commands
II. He is seen in the peace we have as Christians
III. He is seen in the fulfillment of his promises
Our lesson today is really all one quote from Christ. It is an answer to the question asked him by one of his disciples in verse 22, the preceding verse. The question was, “Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the whole world?” The disciples, like the rest of the Jews, still had somewhat of a worldly expectation of a Messiah who would be an earthly king for the Jews. Like the Jews then, they wanted Jesus to make his presence known to the entire world. Christ basically says, “Don’t worry; those who love me and want to see me will see me.”
Most of us at some point in time have questioned God’s involvement and presence in our lives, if not his entire existence. When things aren’t turning out as we would have them, we’re tempted to feel like we can’t see God. When our car breaks down and it throws a wrench into our whole budget and schedule, where is God? When we only get a couple of weeks of vacation for the whole year from a job we’re not always that crazy about to begin with and right when we’re about to leave, someone in the family gets sick, where is God? When you learn that the girl that you’ve fallen for at school is interested in the arrogant guy with the nice car and trendy haircut rather than you, where is God? Maybe none of these sound familiar to you, but everyone has their own pet peeve and when it comes up, having already been taught about God’s presence in your life, aren’t you at least a little tempted to say, “Lord, where are you? Show Yourself to Me!”
This thought has been around ever since Christ ascended into heaven. Imagine those in the early Christian church who were tossed to the lions over their public confession of faith. Undoubtedly they’d heard the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. They knew that God was capable of saving them from such torture. So as they were being devoured in the Coliseum, don’t you think the thought probably went through their heads, “Lord, Show Yourself to Me!”
God promises that he will always be with us. Right before his ascension, in Matthew 28:20 Jesus says, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So why don’t we always see him when we look for him and demand that he show himself? Perhaps it’s because we’re looking in the wrong places. Instead of demanding to see God where we want him, maybe we should look for him in the place that he promised we will find him.
A good place to start is in today’s lesson from John 14:23-29. Here Christ points to several different ways in which we can see God in our lives.
We turn back to the beginning of our lesson, where Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Christ says here that if you want proof that faith exists, look at the obedience of those who follow his commands. They would be incapable of willingly keeping the laws of the Lord, of loving the Triune God, if the Holy Spirit hadn’t first made his home in their heart. Their actions are statements of faith. The healthy fruit that Christians bear are indicators of the health of the living Christian tree that they are. When you see the kindness and love of a fellow Christian, you see the kindness and love of Jesus himself.
Several days ago I was given the privilege of taking a woman through a law/gospel presentation. Judging from several statements she made, I’m fairly certain that it was the first time that she had heard the saving gospel message. She looked quite affected by it, but she admitted at the end of it all, that she just wasn’t sure if she could buy all of it. It dawned on me at that moment, that if this message that she was having so much trouble buying really wasn’t true, if she was right, that would make me, someone who has chosen to dedicate his life’s work to the spread of this message, the biggest fool on the face of the earth. It would mean that all the training and dedication was just a massive waste of time. It would also mean that you all are equally foolish – you’ve given up sleep on Sundays throughout your life, you’ve bowed your heads in prayer to this non-existent being, you’ve taken comfort in the words of a mere man, and you’ve given your money to spread a fable.
Perhaps I’m a little biased, but I don’t think we are fools. In fact, I’ve never been so certain of anything more than what I’ve been convicted of by God’s Holy Word. The fact that you or I are even capable of doing good is evidence of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts. It is evidence of Christ’s presence in our lives. Our Lord is seen in our obedience to his commands.
Now you may say, “Sure, but there are plenty of other religions out there where people are obedient to their god’s supposed demands.” Yes, but look at the motivation of those keeping the commands. Sometimes they keep their so-called god’s commands out of fear. Sometimes they are selfishly obedient, trying to earn rewards. You will not find another religion out there where the followers obey commands simply out of reciprocated love. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) That love only comes from the true God – from the Holy Spirit living in us.
But if we look solely to our obedience to God’s laws to see Christ’s presence in our lives, we’re in trouble. Every one of us knows that despite our good intentions, we’re not always that good at keeping God’s commands. If we look at our works for comfort, we will despair, knowing our sinfulness, knowing the occasional lack of Christ in our decisions.
Fortunately, our lesson speaks of another place that Christ’s presence is evident in our lives. In verses 26 and 27 of our lesson, Christ goes on to say, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Do you remember from Christ’s baptism how God the Father spoke from heaven, but the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, the universal symbol of peace? This is something the Holy Spirit offers to us Christians – peace.
If anyone ever asks you what benefits you receive in this world from being a Christian, feel free to tell them that you have a peace that an unbeliever will never know. Christians deal with things differently. They cope with things better. Take this from a man who as a child was notoriously anxiety-ridden. It’s an ongoing process, but I’m finally starting to learn to keep things in Christian perspective. Christians know that when a tornado rolls through town and leaves nothing but tears in its path, they’re going to make it, because they “know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) An unbeliever does not know that peace. Christians know that if they get laid off from work, it’s going to be okay, because Christ has assured them if they “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all their needs will be taken care of as well (paraphrase).” (Matthew 6:33) An unbeliever does not know that peace. Christians know that if they contract some life-shortening illness, it’s just fast-forwarding to the time that they’ve been looking forward to—the time when they will meet their merciful Savior in paradise. An unbeliever does not know that peace.
The world tries to offer phony peace. Satan tries to convince us that peace exists apart from Christ. “If only I had enough money to be comfortable, then I’d be at peace. If only we’d end this war and have peace, the world would be a perfect place. If I can just get through this week of work, I’ll be able to rest.” You see the problems that lie here. You will never be convinced you have enough money to be “comfortable.” War or no war, a perfect utopian existence is not possible in a sinful world. And when one week of work ends, the next week of work begins. The world offers no true peace. But the presence of Jesus is shown in the life of a Christian who knows the peace that Christ promises in our lesson. Jesus’ presence is seen in the peace we have as Christians.
However, if we look solely to the peace we have on earth to see Christ’s presence in our lives, we’re in trouble. Every one of us knows that although we do enjoy tremendous peace in Christ throughout our lives, there are still times when Satan pushes just the right buttons and we give in to that temptation to doubt God. Like Peter walking out on the water to meet Christ on the Sea of Galilee, sometimes the waves of life start crashing around us and we look down, see our reflection in the water, and become fully aware of our sinfulness. Then the peace seems to disappear.
Praise be to God, there is yet another place that Christ tells us in our lesson that we can turn to in our lives to find his presence – his Almighty Word. In the last verses of today’s lesson, Christ says, “I am going away and I am coming back to you…..I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” Look at the confidence with which Jesus speaks about his departure from this world and his return. He doesn’t say, “if this happens, you will believe,” he says “when it happens.” And we know from Scripture that Christ certainly did come back and will come back once again. God never flinches once in his prophecies or his promises. Whether you are talking about the Father promising the Savior who would crush Satan all the way back in Garden of Eden, or the prophet Isaiah’s pinpoint accuracy in describing the Savior’s entry and exit from this world, or Jesus’ own fulfilled promise of death and resurrection, God always keeps his promises. So when he promises to us that we will find him in and know him from his Word, this is where we make sure we always turn. Here Christ promises that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will remind us of everything Jesus has said to us. Christ is seen in the fulfillment of his promises.
When we turn to God’s Word we will vividly see him who never leaves our side. We will see the love of him who died in our place so that we may be in his presence in our new home which is his home. We will see him overcome sin and Satan for us. We will see him command his angels to guard us. We will see him prepare a room in heaven for us. We will see him freely give us his righteousness. This is the way he has given us, in his Word, to come face to face with our Risen Lord. In our lives, we say to him, “Lord, Show Yourself to Me!” And he gladly replies, “Turn to any page, and you will find me!” “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” (John 5:39)
It’s obvious from our lesson today that Christ was well aware that his disciples would experience some separation anxiety after he left. Do you experience any anxiety in this world, knowing that you are a Christian, but that you don’t always feel Christ’s presence? Don’t worry so much about your feelings, one of the weak spots of humans that Satan loves to manipulate. Although you know that God is governing every last detail of your life, don’t look for him so much in the circumstances of your life. Find Christ where he tells you that you will find him – in his inspired Word. See him with the eyes of faith. The Holy Spirit will nourish and strengthen you from within in your study. He will empower you to deal with anything that the world throws at you. The Good LORD will show himself to you in his promises to you, his forgiveness for you, and the plans he has for your eternal life, all while ruling in your heart. Go and see your Lord. Amen.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. Amen.” (Colossians 3:15)
–Vicar James Hein
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May 7, 2007 by admin.
John 13:31-35
In the Name of Him Who Loves Us, Dear Fellow Children of God,
Back in 1967 the Beatles came out with a song entitled, “All You Need Is Love.” Judging by the rather simplistic lyrics, in this song the “Fab Four” seem to be giving their spin on how to make the world a better place in which to live. But the lives of these four Englishmen tell us that what they said in song wasn’t all that easy to duplicate in life. All four dabbled in drugs. Two of them, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, had a falling out over who was to be given the credit for being the main composer of their songs. Another, George Harrison, turned to Hare Krishna for inner peace when the drugs didn’t solve his problems. So is there any truth in that song title, “All You Need Is Love”?
There is, but the concept didn’t originate with the Beatles. You have to go back a little farther in time, back about 2000 years to a much more reliable source. Today let’s listen to Jesus Christ. He’ll give us the answer to the question:
“Is Love All You Really Need?”
I. When properly motivated
II. When genuinely demonstrated
It was Maundy Thursday when Jesus spoke the words of our text, just a few hours before he’d be separated from his disciples. Judas had just been revealed as the Lord’s betrayer and had been sent out to orchestrate his evil plan. Now it was time for Jesus to address the remaining disciples.
You would think that the mood in that upper room would be pretty somber after the shocking revelation that one of Jesus’ own was going to betray him. But instead of words of sorrow, our Lord delivers a rather unexpected pep talk to the remaining disciples (vv 31,32), “When [Judas] was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.’” In view of all that was about to happen, how could Jesus be so positive? As disheartening as it may have seemed, our Lord knew that Judas’ betrayal was about to start the chain of events that would ultimately save the world from sin. This is how Jesus would be “glorified.” To be glorified means to have your greatness revealed or displayed. Jesus’ greatness would be displayed as he took sinful man’s place and paid the price of man’s sins. Take note that Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man.” Jesus was the only one who ever referred to himself in this way, and he does so over 80 times in the four Gospels. Although Scripture declares that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col 2:9), Jesus still wanted the world to know that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). Out of love he came to live for us, and out of love he died for us. In so doing he would be glorified, and by accomplishing his mission, God the Father would be glorified as well, for “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ” (2 Co 5:19). It would require the death of his Son, but as Jesus himself would later proclaim (Jn 15:13), “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Notice how Jesus lifts the spirits of his disciples. He wanted them to know that everything that was about to happen would result in him and his heavenly Father being glorified. It would all be part of God’s glorious salvation plan. But in order for his love to be revealed, Jesus would have to leave his friends for a while (v 33), “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.” Jesus refers to the disciples as “my children.” They were very dear to him, but he also knew that they only had a childlike understanding of what was to come. And even though they would think otherwise, they would not be able to follow their Lord. What he had to endure, he had to endure alone. His was the only sacrifice that would suffice when it came to erasing the debt of destruction caused by sin. It would be in that sacrifice that the disciples would see the purest example of love ever known. As John writes in his first Epistle (1 Jn 3:16), “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”
Whenever I have to go out of town, inevitably my son will ask me when I’ll be back. We find it comforting, when forced to be separated from loved ones, to know that the separation won’t be long. That’s the assurance Jesus gave to his disciples and to us when he said (Jn 14:3), “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” The only reason he was leaving was so that he could someday be with his children forever. In love he would leave his friends in order to save his friends. Soon they would realize just how much he loved them.
Is love all you really need? As long as it’s the love of our Savior! Know his love, and you’ll know salvation. Know his love, and you have all you need – for this life and the next! If you know and truly believe that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (Jn 3:16), then you’re set! Then you know that you’re not going to perish, but that you’re going to have eternal life! It’s yours – all because of the love of your Savior!
It’s that love that now serves as motivation as we live out our lives here on this earth. The apostle Paul tells us (2 Co 5:14,15), “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” Is love all you really need? It is, when our love for Christ and for others is genuinely demonstrated in our lives.
Soon the disciples would know what true love was all about when they would see their Savior on Calvary’s cross. With that in mind, Jesus tells them they would have a whole new perspective on love (v 34), “A new command I give you: Love one another.” The command itself was nothing new, but seeing Christ’s love for them would provide for them the greatest example of love to emulate in their relationships with each other. We marvel at our Lord’s love in the hymn verse (CW 385:2), “Oh, the height of Jesus’ love, Higher than the heav’ns above, Deeper than the depths of sea, Lasting as eternity.” What an example for us! Jesus adds these words (v 34), “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
We learn from examples all the time. We can’t help but realize just how much our children emulate both Mom and Dad as they grow up! Sometimes we don’t set the best example. For that we’re thankful we have God’s forgiveness. But with our Lord we need not worry that he’s setting a bad example for us. His is a perfect example of perfect love. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Remember, Jesus was speaking to his disciples. Since he would be leaving them, how important it would be for them to show love to each other. They had something very important in common – their faith! We acknowledge that same bond today when we sing (CW 494:1), “Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.” We share the same hope, the same comfort, the same strength, because we share the same Savior! And that Savior wants us to genuinely demonstrate that love in our relationships with our fellow believers.
That means that there’s no room for grudges in the family of believers. There’s no room for favoritism. There’s no room for behind-the-scenes gossiping and bickering. We have to learn from the example of our Savior (Eph 4:32), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” We have to be genuine with one another, and that means that we are to seek forgiveness if we’ve wronged someone. We have to learn to say, “I’m sorry” – or, better yet, to ask, “Will you forgive me?” That’s what love is all about. It’s love motivated by our Savior, and it’s all you really need if it’s genuinely demonstrated in your relationships with each other.
As we show love for each other in the family of believers, others will take notice (v 35), “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” People are watching. Someone once put it this way: “You are writing a gospel, a chapter a day, By the deeds that you do and the things that you say. Men read your record, whether faithless or true – Pray tell, what is the gospel according to you?” When people watch you, what kind of sermon are you preaching? Do they see love? Do they see someone who does everything to the glory of God? Do they see what Christianity, what true love, is all about? Do they know that you’re a disciple of Christ? Or are they seeing someone who just blends in with the crowd, someone no different from the rest of the sinful world? Think of it this way: If you were on trial for being a follower of Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Is love all you really need? Yes, if it’s properly motivated by the love of Christ and genuinely demonstrated in our lives. In short, love is all you need if your love is real. What makes love real? Or, putting it another way, how do you know if you genuinely love someone? Here’s one thought: I believe that you genuinely love someone only when you’re willing to do whatever it takes to have that person join you someday in heaven. Genuine love is demonstrated when we look beyond this lifetime, when like our Lord we truly want all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. So here’s the question for each of you to take home and ponder today: How many people
do you love? And when are you going to tell them about Jesus?
Is love all you really need? The apostle John thought so. Tradition says that when he had grown old and feeble, his friends had to carry him into the meeting place of the congregation at Ephesus. Since he was no longer able to address his congregation at length, it was his custom to stretch forth his arms over them and say, “Little children, love one another.” Finally, after hearing the same words time after time, one of his members reverently asked, “Why do you always speak these words?” John’s answer? “It is the Lord’s command, and if only this be done, it is enough.”
In Scripture we’re told (1 Jn 4:16), “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” My friends, with the proper motivation and with a genuine demonstration, love one another! If only this be done, it is enough!
Amen
-Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff
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