Deuteronomy 6:1-9, 1 John 4:7-21, Matthew 22:34-40

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Matthew 22:34-40

1 John 4:7-21

Committed To Love

April 29, 2012

Part 2 of Great Ends Of The Church Series

As Sally and I get “settled in” to the manse, the community, the Church and the “routine” here at Edgewood, we continue to give praise to God for the blessing this Church is – and we are sure will continue to be – to us.

Last Sunday we began looking at some specific things we can do to be the Church God is calling us to be by looking at one of the first statements in our denominations Book Of Order  – what has become  known as “The Six Great Ends Of The Church”. 

Listen to what the Book Of Order says:

The great ends of the Church are:

the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;

the maintenance of divine worship;

the preservation of the truth;

the promotion of social righteousness; and

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. (Book Of Order, Presbyterian Church USA, F–1.0304)

These are great words!  They also give us a vision for what it means to be the Church — what the Church is to be about – what the Church is to be doing.  The Church is not about the building – it’s not about the Minister  – it’s about God – it’s about Christ – it’s about people who are trying to fulfill these “Great Ends” the Book Of Order lay out for us. If we here Edgewood are going to be the Church God wills for us to be, then we will have to be committed to living out these “Great Ends”.

When we looked at the first of these Great Ends — the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – last week we saw that – if Edgewood is going to be the Church God is calling it to be – then you and I are going to have to be committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – or evangelism.  Whether or not we here at Edgewood will be the Church God intends for us to be depends – first and foremost – on our commitment to this first Great End of the Church.  

But there is more.  The second Great End of the Church – the second thing necessary for us to be the Church God intends for us to be – is a commitment to

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

I believe that this can be summed up in one 4 letter word –

Love

The love God has for each of us

The love God calls upon us to have for Him

The love God calls upon us to have for each other

The love God calls us to have for the community and the world

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

Love

Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Church  writes:

“A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission makes for a great Church”.

If we here at Edgewood are going to be the great Church God calls us to be we are going to have to have a great commitment to the Great Commission – making disciples for Christ – or – as the Book of Order puts it – “the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind”. We also are going to have to have a great commitment to the Great Commandment – loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind – and loving others as ourselves.  That’s what the Book of Order calls: “the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.”

Indeed, a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission makes for a great Church

Let me ask you a question — what do you think is the primary difference between Christianity and other religions?

I believe the primary difference between Christianity and other religions can be summed up in one word: love.  

Think about it—what other world religion places the same emphasis on loving others as Christianity?

Jesus — the founder of Christianity – said:

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

Everything we do in the Christian life needs to be motivated by love—love for God and love for others.  

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment in the Law, He answered:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Love.

The love God shares with us.

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world

That’s what this second Great End of the Church:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

is all about.

If we here at Edgewood are going to be the Church God intends for us to be, we are going to have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – we are going to have to be  committed to love.

Love is what makes Christianity unique—and it’s the one thing that everyone knows we are supposed to do. Take any non-Christian off the street — even a person who has never been to church in his or her entire life—and ask them to tell you something about Christianity – I believe the one thing they could probably tell you about Christianity is that Christians are supposed to love others.

The world knows we’re supposed to do it, and we know we’re supposed to do it, but it’s not always easy to do, is it?

In fact – being really committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – being really committed to love – is very difficult for us. 

I read of a young pastor who asked a more experienced pastor:

 ”What are the requirements to be a successful pastor?”

The response was: “You have to be an entrepreneur. You have to be organized and efficient, able to manage your time well, and able to see projects through to completion.”

The young pastor did not realize this more experienced pastor was on an ego – trip and was basically describing himself.

A few days later this same young pastor asked another pastor—one who was approaching retirement—the same question.

Without hesitation, the older, wiser pastor answered, “You have to love your people.”

The young pastor said, “What about being organized and efficient? What about being a self-starter?”

The older, wiser pastor said, “A person with good organizational skills will have a large congregation—and you should develop those skills as much as you can. But a pastor who loves people will make a difference in their lives for all eternity.”

The advice the older, wiser pastor gave does not just apply to pastors. It applies to all Christians everywhere.

Do you want to make a difference in the world? You do it by loving others.

Do you want Edgewood to make a difference in the world?  You and I have to do it by loving others.

Now — some of you may be thinking –

            Bill — there’s only one problem. I’m not a loving person. I don’t even like most people … how can I love them?

That’s a good question.

How do you become a more loving person?

First of all – you need to remember that love is primarily an action, not a feeling. It’s something you do more than it is something you feel. God’s love – and the love God callsus to have for Him and share with others – is a verb – not a noun.

The emphasis in our society is on how love makes you feel. When you’re in love you feel good. There’s no question that there is some truth to that. It does feel good to be in a loving relationship with your friends, your family, your spouse, and so on. But there’s more to it than that. Our goal is not just to feel love, our goal is to show love to the people in our lives—our friends, our neighbors, our family members, our spouse, and even our enemies.

If we are going to be committed to being the Church God would have it to be – we are going to have to be committed to the Second Great End of the Church:

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

We are going to have to be committed to love.

There are three things for us to focus on as we strive to be more loving people – a Church committed to love.

First of all, in order to love others, we’ve got to understand God’s love.

In 1 John 4 John talks about what it means to love. He makes it clear that the real proof of love is not in what we do for God, or what we do for others, the real proof of love is in what God has done for us.

These verses help us to understand what love really is.

First, we see that love will sacrifice to make things right.

Look at 1 John 4:10:

(v. 10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

First and foremost, love involves sacrifice.

This is the heart of the gospel: We were separated from God by our sins, and we were completely unable to save ourselves. So God sent his son into the world to atone for our sins—to die for our sins — so that we can be forgiven. That’s how great His love is for us—He was willing to make such a sacrifice in order to restore our relationship with Him.

This is what we must do for others.

If Edgewood is going to be the Church God intends for it to be, each of us must be committed to love  — and that means being willing to sacrifice in order to make things right.

Sometimes husbands must sacrifice in order to make things right in their marriage;

Sometimes wives must do that –

Sometimes fathers must sacrifice in order to make things right with their family

Sometimes mothers must –

Sometimes friends must sacrifice in order to make things right in the friendship –

Sometimes we must sacrifice to make things right in the Church.  

Now – I feel I need to explain the “to make things right” clause.

Love involves sacrifice, but it’s not sacrifice merely for the sake of sacrifice. It’s not sacrifice because the other person is everything and you’re nothing and what they want matters and what you want doesn’t. It’s not about playing the martyr. Love involves sacrifice, but it’s sacrifice for the good of the relationship; it’s sacrifice in order to make things right. Love involves sacrifice.

If we want the Edgewood to be the Church God intends for Edgewood to be, we will have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. 

We are going to have to be committed to love.

To be committed to love, we have to be prepared to sacrifice for the benefit of others.

The second thing to know about love is  —

Love empowers others to do what’s right.

Look at 1 John 4:9 …

(v. 9) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Did you catch that?

That we might live through Him.

God’s love is demonstrated to us in the fact that He sent His son so that we might have life. His love is for our benefit. It strengthens us. It empowers us.

This is what our love should do for others. We should love people in a way that builds them up, in a way that empowers them, in a way that gives them life. Just like God’s love for us gives us the strength to live, our love for others can  — in a different way, of course — inspire and empower others to live holy lives.

Yes — if we want Edgewood to be the Church God intends for us  to be, we have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God. 

We are going to be committed to love. .

This involves sacrifice and this empowers others to do what’s right.

Thirdly — love replaces fear with security.

Listen to 1 John 4:17-18:

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

John is saying that our relationship with God is a relationship of love, not a relationship of fear.

You might be familiar Proverbs 1:7 that says:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…

In several other places the Bible says that we are to fear God. Why, then, does John say that our relationship with God  is not about fear?

It’s really 2 very different types of fear.

One type of fear is holy respect.  That’s what the author of Proverbs is referring to and this is the way in which we should fear God. The other type of fear is more like terror. The “holy respect” kind of fear is based on an understanding of God’s goodness. The “terror” type of fear is based on a misunderstanding of God’s nature completely.

Someone once shared with me that they once had a boss once who had an explosive temper. You never knew what would set him off, but when something made him mad he would launch into a tirade that seemed to last forever. He might fire you, he might cut your salary, he might demote you — you never knew. Let’s not make the mistake of thinking that God is like that — that He is a “fly-off-the-handle” kind of God. God is loving, He is merciful, He is tender and compassionate. Our relationship to Him is not based on fear, it’s based on love. Because of that, we have security in Him. Our security is not based on our own goodness, but on His goodness.

This is the kind of love we need to show to others — the kind of love that says, “My love isn’t conditional; it’s not temporary; it’s not here today and gone tomorrow. You can count on me.”

If we want Edgewood l to be the Church God intends for Edgewood to be, we have to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.  We are going to have to be committed to love, and the love God calls us to commit to is His love – a love that is willing to sacrifice, a love that empowers people to do right, and a love that offers the security of permanence. In other words,  we need to be filled with God’s love – and share God’s love with others.

In order to be filled with God’s love we must experience God’s love firsthand.

To give God’s love you must first receive God’s love. Listen to 1 John  4:7:  

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Notice the phrase “has been”… Everyone who loves has been born of God…

If you’ve experienced God’s love first hand, you can share God’s love with others. If you’ve never received God’s love, you simply don’t have it in you to love others. As 1 John 4:19 says:

We love because He first loved us.

Our ability to love comes from God’s love for us. The only way that we can live in His love is to experience His love firsthand. And there’s only one way to experience His love — through the free gift of His grace. God’s love is something you will never, ever, ever, ever, ever earn or deserve. It is available in one format: as a free gift—never as a payback for your goodness, never as a reward for your hard work, but only as a gift. As Paul wrote in  Ephesians 2:8-9:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  

God loves you so much that He sacrificed His Son in order to make things right and  in order to offer you forgiveness for your sins. God loves you so much that He sent His son into the world so that you might have the power to live through Him. God loves you so much that He has removed all fear of judgment and condemnation, and He has given you the kind of love that casts out all fear.

In order to be filled with God’s love you must also share God’s love with others.

1 John 4:12 says  

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

His love is made complete in us when we show His love to others. The more we show His love, the more we grow in His love.

So how do we show His love? We show it the same he showed it to us:

• We sacrifice in order to make things right with others.

• We do what we can to empower others to live right.

• We build relationships with others not based on fear but based on security.

God sacrificed His Son so that we could be reconciled to Him. In the same way, there will be times when you must sacrifice in order to be reconciled to others. When God saw that we were lost and alone and dying without Him, He sent his Son into the world so that we would have the power to live through Him. In the same way, we need to love others in such a way that we empower them to live—we need to be their source of strength, their source of encouragement, their source of hope.

And God loved us so much that He wiped away our sins, wiped away our fear of judgment, wiped away our fear of abandonment, and he made a promise…

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

God has taken away the insecurity of fear and has filled it with the security of His love. And that’s the kind of love we need to show others, a love that says: “My love for you isn’t based on a whim. It’s rock-solid and you can count on it forever.”

Do you want Edgewood to be the Church God intends for Edgewood  to be?

Well – you are going to have to be committed to the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind – or Evangelism — and the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God – or love.

You are going to have to be committed to evangelism – and love.

Do you want to be committed to the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God?

Do you want to be filled with God’s love?

You’ve got to know God’s love, you’ve got to experience God’s love, and you’ve got to show God’s love.

Listen again to 1 John 4:16: 

 Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us.

The second Great End of the Church – the second thing necessary for Edgewood to be the Church God intends for Edgewood to be – is

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

The love God has for each of us

The love God calls upon us to share with each other

The love God calls us to share with the community and the world.

So  – as Rick Warren so succinctly says:

“A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission makes for a great Church”.

For Edgewood to be a great Church, we will have to be committed to the first two Great Ends of the Church –

the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God

 

We are going to have to be committed to Evangelism and to love.

 

There are four other things we are going to be looking at in coming weeks – so let’s remind ourselves of all the Great Ends as we read them in the bulletin insert for today:

 

 The great ends of the Church are:

the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;

the maintenance of divine worship;

the preservation of the truth;

the promotion of social righteousness; and

the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. Book Of Order, Presbyterian Church USA, F–1.0304)

The second Great End is love. Amen

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Deuteronomy 6:1-25

“Be A Life-Long Learner”

September 12, 2010 (Rally Day)

Today is Rally Day. We enjoyed our breakfast and program earlier this morning and honored our Sunday School teachers as we begin a new year of Sunday School here at Hopewell.  Not only are we beginning a new year of Sunday School today, but this Wednesday we will begin our Wednesday night suppers and programs again after our summer break.

Today is important. Rally Day marks not only the beginning of our fall Sunday Christian Education endeavors here at Hopewell, but it also marks the beginning of other Christian Education endeavors as well, and gives us an opportunity to honor everyone who teaches our classes here at Hopewell as well as everyone who participates.

We learn so much in Sunday School and on Wednesday nights.

A Sunday School teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

Pretty good answer – don’t you think?
Most people will agree that education is important and that religious

education is very important. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “To train a man in mind and not in morals is to train a menace to society.” A recent national poll shows that 92% of Americans who go to church — and even 68% of those who do not go to church — want their children to receive religious instruction. It is not unusual to see young couples returning to church after years of inactivity once a baby comes along. They stand before God and the congregation at the child’s baptism, promise to raise their little one in the faith, and some even bring their baptized children to church and Sunday School week after week because they want them to learn spiritual values.

In our passage for today from Deuteronomy 6 God stresses to the people of Israel – and to us – the importance of religious education. Religious instruction was not to be thought of as simply a way to teach folks about God, it was to be understood as a way to insure against national disaster. It was to be understood as a guarantee that the people would never forget God’s standards for right living, and that their ancient faith would never die. According to our lesson in Deuteronomy, one of the most sacred duties the people of God have is that of passing on the faith from one generation to the next.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children…” God says – and  the  passage ends with these words:

²⁰ In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” ²¹ tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ²² Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders—great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. ²³ But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. ²⁴ The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. ²⁵ And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us,  that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:20-25)

Teaching our children and young people the ways of God is not just a good thing to do – it is a sacred duty that God has placed upon us.

As a whole, churches try to do the job – to fulfill this obligation. All but the tiniest of congregations offer some sort of Sunday School program. But we would have to admit that much of what passes for “education” in Sunday School would never be tolerated in the public school.

I heard about two friends who were talking one day. Much to the amazement of one of them, the other shared he had become a Sunday School teacher. The one who was not a teacher protested,

“I’ll bet you don’t even know the Lord’s Prayer!”

“Everybody knows that,” the other replied. “It’s ‘Now I lay me down to sleep!’”

“You win,” said the other admiringly, “I didn’t think you knew so much about the Bible.”

Friends  – we need to do a better job at teaching our young people – and our adults – what’s in the Bible. We need to do a better job at Christian Education.

A few years ago a study of Sunday Schools in mainline churches entitled “Effective Christian Education: A National Study of Protestant Congregations.” was released. 11,122 people (including 1,923 Presbyterians) in 561 congregations in six denominations – the Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church, USA  were surveyed.  The three-and-a-half year study found that

“Effective Christian Education is the most powerful, single influence congregations have on maturity of faith.”

In fact, one of the authors of the study said,

“Christian Education matters much more than we expected. Of all the areas of congregational life we examined, involvement in an effective Christian Education program has the strongest tie to a person’s growth in faith and to loyalty to one’s congregation and denomination…this is as true for adults as it is for adolescents.”
The researchers listed eight components of what they called a “maturity of faith”. A person with mature faith, they said:

1. trusts in God’s saving grace and believes firmly in the humanity and divinity of Jesus;

2. experiences a sense of personal well-being, security and peace;

3. integrates faith and life, and sees work, family, social relationships and political choices as a part of religious life;

4. seeks spiritual growth through study, reflection, prayer and discussion with others;

5. seeks to be a part of a community of believers in which people witness to their faith and support and nourish one another;

6. holds life-affirming values — including a commitment to racial and gender equality and affirmation of cultural and religious diversity, which includes a personal sense of responsibility for the welfare of others;

7. advocates social and global change to bring about greater social justice; and

8. serves humanity consistently and passionately through acts of love and justice.
These are the eight dimensions of a mature faith according to the study.

So – how about it?

Does that sound like you?

If it does, you are one of the few. The study reports:

“For most adults faith is underdeveloped, lacking some of the key elements necessary for faith maturity.”
But – you know what?

All is not lost. The study concluded that some congregations (although not nearly enough) do help people grow and mature in their faith. The research mentions a half-dozen factors that some congregations incorporate into their corporate lives that help people grow in their faith. Listen to them and see if you think they describe us here at Hopewell:

1. Members grow in a congregation that encourages questions, challenges thinking and expects learning.

Do we do that here at HopewellFirst Presbyterian?

I hope so. My only concern is that phrase “expects learning.” I expect you to learn, but do you expect you to learn?  Let’s all try to expect to learn from our Christian Education offerings here at Hopewell – Sunday School, Wednesday nights, and other times!

2. The congregation successfully recruits members to volunteer to help people in need.

Do we do that here at Hopewell?

Is there any ongoing mechanism to encourage people to serve those who need help?

We have members who are willing to help out when needs are made known, but I am not sure there is an ongoing effort to find needs and ways to meet them.

3. Members perceive that their Sunday worship is of high quality.

Do you believe that about Hopewell?

I hope you do. We who are charged with arranging things try to make this a worthwhile hour. But can it be improved? Well, probably so. We are not afraid to try new things, and we are always open to suggestions.

4. Members see their congregation as warm and friendly.

Do you feel Hopewell is warm and friendly?

I feel we are in some ways – but again – there is always room for improvement.

5. Members personally experience the care and concern of other members.

Is that the case here?

If a member of this church finds his or her life tumbling in, can that one count on individuals here at Hopewell for support?

I hope so – but again I believe this is an area where we can use some improvement.

6. The congregation has an effective, formal Christian Education program including Sunday School classes, and Bible studies.

According to the study, this factor – formal Christian Education – has twice the impact of the other five combined in helping someone grow in the faith. In other words, if you are serious about Christian discipleship, there is nothing that can help you grow in your faith better than being a part of a Sunday School and Bible Study class.

How about that!

You know what — we have those here at Hopewell for you. We offer a Sunday School – and our Wednesday Night supper and programs start back Wednesday.

But – here’s the thing – if you don’t take advantage of what we offer, then what we offer won’t do you any good! You can’t grow in your faith if you don’t take advantage of the opportunities we offer for you to grow in your faith. Christian Education is the responsibility of each one of us – we all need to be life long learners.

I want to emphasize the life-long part of that.

One of the myths about Christian Education that absolutely must be stamped out is that this is a ministry for children. I friend of mine told me about visiting a parishioner in the hospital. He was a member of a men’s Sunday School class, and he and my friend were talking about another class member who was also in the hospital. This patient wanted to know how the other member of his class who was in the hospital was getting along and was telling my friend about the wonderful dinner the other patient and his wife had cooked for several friends not too long before. A nurse walked in during the conversation, heard them discussing the Sunday School class, and laughed that this man attended Sunday School.

“At your age?” she chuckled.

The patient looked at her and replied:

“You’re never too old to learn.”

Amen to that! If you are going to grow in your faith, you will have to understand that you are never too old to learn – or come to Sunday School or come to our Wednesday night suppers and studies.

No doubt, many of you have read Robert Fulgham’s wise and witty book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I think that when it comes to faith development, we could paraphrase that and say, “All I really need to know I learned in Sunday School and Bible Study.”

You might learn that:

“God is great and God is good.”

Indeed, God is big and strong and mighty and there is nothing God cannot do. God made this world. God made the animals and the birds. God made you and me.

You might learn that

“Jesus Loves Me.”

There is no other truth more profound that that. You have probably heard the name Karl Barth mentioned from time to time – I have mentioned him from time to time in sermons. He is probably the best theologian of the twentieth century. He was asked near the end of his remarkable career to state the most significant truth he had come across in his lifetime of study. After a moment of thought he is reported to have answered, “Jesus loves me; this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” That’s something you’ll learn in Sunday School and Bible Study. You don’t have to go to Seminary and study under some of the greatest professors to learn that – you can learn that right here.

You might learn:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”

Jesus is living and dying proof of God’s love for you and me – and the more you take advantage of opportunities to learn about Him the better your life is going to be.

You might learn:

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

All of us could stand to learn more about God’s love for all people and how to share God’s love with all people.

You might learn:

“The B I B L E, yes, that’s the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God, the B I B L E.”

Those of you who attended Vacation Bible School here at Hopewell this summer were reminded of that! You know — there are many good books in the world, but there are none like the Bible. It has been called a “Christian’s Owner’s Manual”. We all need to take every opportunity we can to come together and study God’s word – on Sundays, Wednesday, or any days.

You might learn:

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

If you come to Sunday School and other study times you will learn that we have a mission in this community and the world. The gospel is good news and it must to be shared – it deserves to be shouted from the housetops, printed on balloons, slapped on billboards, chanted at ballgames, scrawled across the sky.

OK – maybe you can’t do all those things – but if you come to Sunday School and Wednesday nights you might learn ways that you can share God with others.

We learn so much at Sunday School and on Wednesday nights – and – I dare say – we enjoy ourselves while doing it!

There is more to Christian discipleship than just knowing about the Bible – even though that is important. There is so much more we have to learn if we want to grow in faith – and I know just the place to do that!

You want to grow in your faith and be a better disciple of Christ?

Check us out Wednesday night – and next Sunday in Sunday School.  Amen!

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-13

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Luke 4:1-13

“How Do You Answer When The Devil Comes Calling?”

February 21,2010

Lent 1

The Season of Lent that we begin today is the most important Season of the Church year as we reflect upon what Christ has done for us and what God calls us to do for Him.  Since the very early days of the Church Christians have observed the 6 weeks before Easter as a time for solemn reflection, greater commitment, and prayer.  The early Church used the 6 weeks before Easter as a time for teaching those who wanted to join the Church what it meant to be a Church member, much as we continue to do today as we hold Confirmation classes during Lent. Lent is indeed an important time for us as we seek to become better followers of the One who calls us to follow Him in lives of love and service.

We begin this Season today by looking at one of the things that keep us from being better followers of Christ – that being how we respond to temptation.

How we respond to temptation is one thing that – many times – keeps us from being a better disciple of Christ.

When we are presented with temptations, I see that we have 2 options — we can respond by overcoming it or by being overcome by it.

We can overcome it or we can be overcome by it.

When we overcome temptation we are going in the direction God wants us to go. When we are overcome by it we are not.

Letting ourselves be overcome by temptation is what we call sin.

We know that God does not want us to sin.

We know that sin separates us from God.

Some of us may know the definition the Westminster Shorter Catechism gives:

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God

Sin is being overcome by – or giving in to – temptation instead of overcoming it.

So – if we know  that giving in to temptation is sin – and if we know that sin is going against God’s will for us – why don’t we just overcome temptation instead of letting it overcome us?

Easier said than done, is it not?

“I can resist anything but temptation”

That line is attributed to Oscar Wilde, but it is certainly true of me – and most probably you also.

I think that we all understand what temptation is.

There is a story told about a little boy in a grocery store that I think  illustrates the nature of temptation. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies. “Now then, young man,” said the grocer as he approached the boy. “What are you up to?” “Nothing,” replied the boy: “Nothing.” “Well it looks to me like you were trying to take a cookie.” The grocer replied.

“You’re wrong, mister!” The boy replied “I’m trying not to!”

That’s temptation!

How many of us have shrugged and used the old Flip Wilson line:

“The Devil made me do it!”

when caught doing something we weren’t supposed to?

It’s a convenient defense — but there’s one problem:

the devil can’t make us do anything.

The devil may be clever, but the devil is not all powerful. It may feel that way when we’re being tempted —  but it is not that way.

But the devil sure knows how to lay out the bait, doesn’t he? The devil  knows us like a skilled angler knows fish. He knows our habits. He observes our hangouts. Then he prepares a tailor-made lure and drops it right in front of our noses.

The devil can’t make us take the bait and become overcome by temptation. He can’t make us bite, but he does know what happens inside us when we catch a glimpse of that tantalizing bait. Our fleshly nature draws us to it. We linger over it. We toy with it. We roll it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination.
Then, the struggle begins.

Immediately, our conscience might jab us in the ribs, warning us of the danger. We know it’s wrong to let temptation overcome us. We may even see the consequences. But the devil’s invitation looks so good.

What do we do?

Well, the temptation ends and the consequences begin with our response.

We either overcome temptation and follow Jesus into a victory – or we let the temptation overcome us and go into the spiral of sin.

Anyone who has overcome temptation knows the feeling of freedom that decision brings. On the other hand, we all know the feeling of emptiness that follows and the pain of the hook in our cheek when we let temptation overcome us and we sin.

Temptation and sin are as old as creation itself. Ever since the creation story in Genesis people have been sinning.

But – here’s the thing to remember – even though sin is as old as creation itself, the love and grace of God is older than sin. Even though we are tempted and many times let temptation overcome us, God continues to give us ways to overcome temptation.

The devil comes calling every day – in fact many times every day – tempting us with many options – just as he tempted Eve and has tempted every person ever since – but God can give us a way to answer when the devil comes calling that will not lead to being overcome by temptation – but overcoming it.

Our scripture passages for today give us 4 temptations that we face – and ways to overcome them.

One temptation we face is to forget about God and what God has done for us.

Our Old Testament passage for today from Deuteronomy 26 refers to this temptation.

Here in Deuteronomy 26 Moses is addressing the people of Israel before they were to enter the Promised Land. It had been 40 years since God had brought them out of Egypt, and now they were about to go into the land God had promised them.  But – God knew human nature.  God knew that the people would occupy the land – plant and harvest crops – and do well in the land. God know they would be successful. God also knew that – particularly as those who knew the struggle they had experienced in Egypt and while wandering in the wilderness died – the people would be tempted to forget how God had blessed them and brought them to this land of promise.  God knew that they would be tempted to think that they had come to the land and done well there by their own powers and their own abilities. God knew that they would be tempted to forget what God had done for them – so God commanded them to take the first of their crops to the priests every year and recite the creed that reminded them of how God had blessed them and brought them to the land of promise.

Why did God command them to bring the first fruits and recite what God had done for them?

Did God need to be reminded of what He had done for them?

No – but God knew that they needed to be reminded.

God knew that they needed to be reminded of what God had done for them and how God had blessed them.  God knew that – without the reminders – they would forget what God had done and begin to think that they had come to live in the land and have the crops because they were smart or they were powerful or they were resourceful. Without the reminders, God knew that they would forget what God had dome for them.

We are a lot like the people of Israel – aren’t we?

If we are not careful, the devil can tempt us into forgetting what God has done for us. If we are not careful, the devil can tempt us into thinking that we have what we have because we are smart or powerful or resourceful – instead of acknowledging the truth that all we have is ours because God has blessed us.

Yea – one temptation we face is to forget about what God has done for us.

We need to find ways to remind ourselves that all we have is from God.

We need to find answer when the devil comes calling with the temptation to forget about what God has done for us.

We need to celebrate what God has done for us – all God has given us –especially our salvation through Christ.

Look for ways to remind yourself that all you have is from God – and that your salvation is from God.

The ancient Israelites had their creeds and faith statements that helped them remember what God had done for them.

Find ways to remind yourself of all God has done for you.

Find ways to answer when the devil comes knocking so that you can overcome the temptation to forget what God has done for you.

The passage from Luke 4 shows us how Jesus was tempted in other ways – other things the devil came knocking and tempted Jesus with – and tempts us with also.  It also gives us ways to answer so that we can overcome the temptations the devil comes calling with.

First – there is the temptation to do things our way instead of God’s way.

Jesus has been fasting in the desert 40 days after His baptism, and in verse 3 the devil says to Him:

“If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

The statement is a supposition instead of a affirmation.  A better way to translate it might be:

“since you are the Son of God,” or

“in view of the fact that you are the Son of God.”

The temptation would be no temptation at all if Jesus were not indeed the Son of God. The devil is well aware that God exists and I don’t think that he expends a great deal of effort trying to keep us from believing in God. He does, however, try to convince us that our way of doing things is better than God’s way of doing things. The devil entered into the Biblical picture at creation by tempting  Eve into believing that her way of doing things – eating the fruit she wanted – was better than God’s way of doing things.  In essence he said:

“Do you really believe that God is good? He has told you not to eat from that one tree because he knows that the moment you do so you will be as wise as He is. He is not your friend. He is holding out on you”.

The temptation sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? You could almost sense the innocence in the devil’s presentation of this temptation –

“just make these stones into bread” – what’s the big deal?”

“You the Son of God – you know you can do it — just do it!”

“There is no law against turning stones into bread. It won’t hurt anything.”

Jesus had been without food for six weeks! Because he was the Son of God he could invoke His supernatural powers. The temptation was very real. Jesus could have done it in an instant and his hunger was screaming,

“Do it.”

The devil is suggesting to Jesus that there must be something wrong with the Father’s love since “His beloved son” was hungry. He was tempting Jesus to disobey the Father’s will by using his divine power for his own purposes. He was tempting Jesus to believe that his way – changing the stones into bread – was better than God’s way.

John Piper says that sin …”gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be happier if I follow it than if I follow God. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”

If you watched our saw clips of Tiger Woods’ news conference the other day you may have noted that he said he had felt he deserved to be happy and have everything he wanted. He now realized that was a temptation he should have overcome instead of letting it overcome him.

So – how did Jesus answer when the devil came calling with the temptation to do things His way instead of God’s way?

In verse 4 Jesus says:

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

We often brag that we are “people of the Word.” But are we really? The question is not how much Bible do you know but how much of the Bible that you know are you applying in your life. Jesus lived by the word. The key phrase in each of his answers is to the devil is “it is written.” He did not allow the situation or the circumstances or even the enemy to dictate the truth. The answers to all three temptations came right out of scripture.

Jesus in his answer was saying,

“ I will not complain. Neither will I take matters into my own hands. I will trust my Father and His word and trust His plan.”

We may not be tempted to turn stones into bread — the impossible does not tempt us– but the temptation to believe that our plan is better than God’s plan is still very strong. The devil still tempts us to believe that if we want something done we need to do it ourselves and follow our plans — not trust in God or seek His plan. We regularly are tempted to go outside the confines of God’s plan for us to satisfy our personal needs or desires. We often promote ourselves because we are sure that God will not do it. We scheme and we plan for our well-being, because we assume that God does not care or maybe does not know about our needs. That attitude can not  be further from the truth, and that answer to the devil when he comes calling with the temptation to do things our way instead of God’s way could not be further from how God would have us live.

Jesus found a way to answer “no” when the devil came calling with the temptation to do things His way instead of God’s way.

Jesus can help us find ways to do the same thing.

The second temptation the devil came calling with was the temptation to take the easy way instead of God’s way.

The devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world – and told Him that He could give Him authority over all these if He would worship him.

He was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross.

Why go to all the trouble and pain to win the world when it can be handed to you on a silver platter?” is what the devil was saying.

No suffering, No struggling, No sacrifice.

Easy for Jesus — but without meaning for us. If Jesus were to accept the crown without the cross there would be no forgiveness for our sins.

Thank God Jesus had an answer when the devil came calling with temptation to take the easy way instead of God’s way.  Thank God Jesus answered:

“Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

We do not have to look far to see how the devil comes calling with the temptation to take the easy say instead of God’s way. Our world  teaches us to avoid pain, to take the easy way, the path of least resistance. Avoid sacrifice.

Why give all that money to the Church?

Why do things to help others?

Why go out of your way to come to Church on a nice Sunday morning or Sunday night or Wednesday night?

Why not spend your money on something you want?

Why not just let others find help somewhere else?

Why not come to Church if and when it suits?

You only live once!

You deserve to be happy.

No – we are called to love and serve God and others – and although that may not be the easy way – it is God’s way – and it needs to be our way.

Like Jesus, we need to say “no” when the devil comes calling with the temptation to do things the easy way instead of God’s way.

The third temptation the devil came calling on Jesus with was the temptation to not believe God’s love until He saw it.

The devil took Jesus to the point of the temple roof that overlooked the Kidron Valley, about a 450 ft. drop to the ground. Whether he took him there physically or in a vision we do not know, but once there he made Jesus very tempting offer. Having seen Jesus defeat him two times by quoting Scripture, the devil now quotes it himself, but for his own purposes:

“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. (10) For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you,’ (11) and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

Actually, the devil misquotes the promise of God. It was right as far as it went, but he did not quote it all. For Jesus to have supernaturally survived a fall from the pinnacle of the temple in the full view of the people would have immediately identified Him as the Messiah. But Jesus would have been insisting that God “show” Him His love. It would have been testing God. It would be the equivalent of saying to God –“I won’t believe in You until I see You show me Your love on my terms.”

But – just as He did for the other 2 temptations the devil came calling with – Jesus had an answer for this temptation also.

“It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”

Jesus understood that starting His ministry by dramatically jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple would be completely contrary to the will of God. To do so would be to test God. Jesus refused to take this shortcut.

Jesus said “no”  when the devil came calling with the temptation to not believe God’s love until He saw it.

There are many subtle ways that the devil comes calling to us with the temptation to put God to the test – to not believe God’s love until we see it. We may not be tempted to jump from the top of the church – but we are tempted to do it in other ways.  We do it when we dive into a path of our own choosing and then cry out to God to bail us out. We do it when we test the boundaries of known sin. God says: “Here is the line,” – but we see how close we can get to that line and are surprised when we fall. Then we blame God. But it happened because we tested God.

We need to find ways to say “no” to the devil when he comes calling with the temptation to not believe God’s love until we see it.

The one thing common to all three temptations the devil came calling to Jesus with is that  he attempted to distract Jesus from His mission and destroy His relationship with His heavenly Father.

The devil is always looking for ways to distract us from our mission and destroy our relationship with God. He is always calling on us  with temptations to either forget what God has done for us, or do things our way instead of God’s way, or do things the easy way instead of God’s way, or not trust God’s love until we see it.  We need to find ways to answer these and all temptations the devil will come calling with. In all these things, Jesus can give us the answers God would have us give and the strength to be the people God would have us be.

Don’t miss the truth given in verse thirteen:

“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”

This verse says that “when the devil had ended every temptation” – the temptation was “ended” when he carried to completion and every avenue of attack was employed. When it says that the devil “departed from Him”.

The Greek is much more blunt — it says he “stood off.”

The devil will always be lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting for our next vulnerable moment – then he will come calling with a temptation.

When you are weak – you can expect the devil to come calling with a major temptation.

When you resist – you can expect the devil to try a different approach.

Martin Luther was once asked how he overcame the devil – and replied:

“Well, when he comes calling at the door of my heart, and asks ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.”

When Christ fills our lives then devil has no entrance.

When we say “yes” to Jesus it’s easier to say “no” to the devil!

When we let Christ strengthen us to fight temptation, we can have an answer with the devil comes calling – we can overcome temptation – and we can be better followers of Christ.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Luke 4:1-15

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Luke 4:1-15

Live With A Purpose

Part 1 of 2007 Hiopewell Lent series on A Purpose For Life

                Have you ever wondered about the purpose of your life –

                Wondered if there was a purpose to your living?

 

                Have you ever wondered – if there was a purpose to your life – then what was it?

                Wondered what your life is all about?

 

                Is there a purpose to your life – your existence – your being here?

                And if so – what is that purpose?

 

                Ever had those questions?

 

                Well – if you have ever considered such questions – you are not alone.  People have wondered these things ever since the beginning of time. 

 

Wondered about if there was purpose to their lives.   

Wondered if there was meaning to their lives.

                Struggled with their purpose and the meaning of their lives.

 

                We’re going to be looking at these questions of purpose and meaning – looking at what we might have been created for – what the purpose and meaning of our lives might be — for the next 6 weeks as we go through the Season of Lent.

 

                Lent – the 6 weeks before Holy Week and Easter — has historically been a time Christians have devoted themselves to reflection upon Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross – and our response to Christ and His claim upon our lives. 

 

                We are going to use the Season of Lent this year to look at what God might have us to have as a purpose in our lives – and how we can live in God’s purpose for our lives.

 

                We’re going to be doing this by studying Rick Warrren’s book The Purpose Driven Life on Wednesday nights – and looking at different aspects of these questions on Sunday mornings. As we look at these questions during this Season of Lent, it is our prayer that we will discover God’s purpose for our lives – which, of course, is the real purpose for our lives.

 

                We’re going to begin by looking at 2 passages of scripture – Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Luke 4:1-15.  The Deuteronomy passage is basically a call to live with God’s purpose in mind – while the Luke passage is an illustration of how Jesus did this.

 

                Listen to God’s word.

 

                Read Scripture

 

                What is the purpose for our lives?

                What’s the purpose for living?

 

                People look for purpose and meaning in many places. 

               

Some look for it in money.

                They think they can find real purpose and meaning for their lives if they have a lot of money. 

Well – if money – making money – is the sole purpose of your life – you will end up disappointed.

 

                Ted Turner, the TV mogul and a multi millionaire, might be able to tell us about how money can not give purpose and meaning to life.  His father worked hard to be a millionaire.  All he wanted to do was be a millionaire.  That was his sole purpose in life.

                Well he made his million.

                And within the hour after his accountant told him he had a million dollars he took a pistol and shot himself.

                Why?

                He felt he did not have anything else to live for. 

                His purpose for living had been taken away from him – he felt he had no more purpose in life.

               

                Simply making money is not a satisfactory purpose or meaning for life.

 

                How about taking care of our material needs?

Some see the purpose and meaning of life in taking care of their physical needs — having the best clothes, house, cars, and whatever else might meet their perceived physical needs.

Again – that’s not a good purpose for life.   

It’s not a good thing to base your whole sense of meaning upon.     

There will always be something better – something newer – something faster — to have. 

You will never be satisfied.

 

Well then – how about power and control over others?

Some see power and control as things that bring meaning and purpose and fulfillment to life. 

But – again – this is not a good thing to base your whole sense of meaning and purpose upon.

It is said that Alexander the Great cried when – at 21 – he got control of a vast empire that included much of the known world at that time – because he had nothing else to live for. Gaining control of the known world had been his purpose – and when he accomplished that – he had no other reason to live.

 

Power hungry people always want more power.  There is never enough. 

 

How about fame?

Many people see being famous as a purpose for life.

They think if they are famous they will find purpose in life.

Again – not a good choice.

Fame will not last long – people will always ask “what have you done lately”? – and others will become more famous than you.

 

So — money, possessions, power, and fame are not things to find meaning and purpose for life in.

In fact, there is a problem with looking for meaning and purpose and fulfillment in life only in yourself – what you might want –

 

There is more to life than just self.

 

Life is not about us.

It’s not about what we want – what we desire – what pleases us.

 

Life is not about you.

Regardless of what society might try to tell you – regardless of what others might say – regardless of what you might think –

Life is not about you.

 

We will never find meaning and purpose for our lives by looking for it within ourselves – by looking at what we want – by looking at what we might think is good or meaningful.

You will never find meaning and purpose for your life by looking for it within yourself – by looking at what you want – by looking at what you might think is good or meaningful.

 

Our true meaning for life –

Our true purpose for life –

Your true meaning in life –

Your true purpose for life —

has to come from elsewhere – it has to come from God.

 

We learn our true meaning for life – our true purpose for life — who we were truly created to be and what we were truly created to do in the world – from God.

 

Our true purpose for living has to come from an understanding of God – God’s will for our lives – God’s intention for our lives.

Your true purpose for living has to come from an understanding of God – God’s will for your life – God’s intention for our life.

 

If any person ever understood His purpose in life – God’s intention for His life – it was Jesus.

 

Jesus understood God’s will for His life.

He understood God’s intention for His life.

He lived in God’s will for His life.

He lived out God’s intention for His life.

 

How did Jesus come to understand God’s will for His life – and live out God’s intention for His life?

 

One thing He did was spend time in prayer.

Before Jesus began His ministry He spent 40 days in the wilderness in prayer and reflection upon God’s will for His life.  And once He determined what God’s will for His life was – He stuck to it.

Satan tempted Him with food – finding meaning and purpose for His life in taking care of His physical needs – but He would have none of it.

Satan tempted Him with power – finding meaning and purpose for life in being powerful – but He would have none of that, either.

Satan then tempted Him with fame – finding meaning and purpose for life in performing feats that would dazzle the crowds and make Him famous. Again, Jesus would have none of that. 

 

In His time with God in prayer and reflection He had discovered His purpose – the purpose of His life – the meaning for His life – and He was not going to be distracted or drawn to something else – no matter how tempting it may have seemed.

 

Jesus knew God’s will for His life.

Jesus knew God’s purpose for His life.

Jesus knew God’s meaning for His life.

 

This gave Him a purpose and meaning for His life.

 

This gave Him a purpose for living – and He lived with a purpose.

 

Live with a purpose,.

Live with a purpose. 

 

Satan tried to pull Him away from that purpose all along – but He would not let it happen.

 

Several years ago Mel Gibson produced the movie “The Passion Of The Christ”. It was a very good movie – a realistic portrayal of how I understand the last hours of Christ’s life before the crucifixion must have been like.  In the opening scenes of the movie Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane – in great turmoil over what lay ahead of Him.  Satan is portrayed as tempting Him to abandon His mission – His purpose in life – and refuse the cross. But Satan could not pull Him away from His purpose – His reason for being in the world.

 

Jesus lived His life with a purpose – God’s purpose.

 

Live with a purpose.

Live with a purpose. 

 

Like Jesus, God has a plan – a purpose – for you.

Like Jesus, you have to spend time with God in prayer to discern what that purpose might be.

Then, like Jesus, you have to be committed to that purpose.

 

How do you discover the purpose God has for your life?

The first step is to commit your life to God – commit your life to Jesus – and His purpose for your life.  

What do you do with the fact that Jesus says:

“No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

And “No kingdom … or city … or household that is divided against itself can keep standing.”

What do you do with the Jesus who declares: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

In short, what do you do with the Jesus who says: “Get off the fence”!

The first step to discovering – and living in God’s purpose for your life – to truly live a life of purpose — – is to get off the fence! 

Frankly, I think it is hard for us to face a Jesus like that. We live in what I might call a “fence-walking world.” Ours is a world that has grown comfortable with partial commitments, hedged bets, and associate memberships. We want to feel part of the game, but we also like the safety of the stands. We like to crow about the heroism and victories of war and politics when it’s going well for our side, but distance ourselves from taking responsibility for the bad play and losses. We want good friendships and marriages, but we avoid facing the problems and sin that keep them from being great relationships. We want our kids to be spiritually vital but also on the traveling sports team on Sundays. We want a sane, healthy life, but also one packed with all the possessions and pace of “success.”  We want a life with God’s purpose – but also the trappings of money, possessions, power, and fame. 

I heard a story about a man named Homer who finally got up the nerve to propose to his girlfriend. . Dropping to one knee, he looked his beloved in the eye and said:

“Sue, I know I’m not wealthy like Tom. I recognize that I’m not handsome like Tom. I may not be as well-educated as Tom. But I love you, Sue.”

Well, Sue was obviously moved, and responded: “Why, I love you too, Homer. But tell me a little more about Tom!”

We do this fence-walking with God, too. We sing “Take my life and let it be … .” It is so much harder to get the “consecrated” part—to go “all in”, as the aficionados of the poker game Texas Hold ‘Em say.

It isn’t that we’re not interested in God. We’re just wary of full investment.

Wilbur Rees wrote: “I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please—not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant worker. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of a womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I’d like to buy just $3 worth of God, please.”

But God is not interested in these partial investments and divided loyalties that produce such poor fruit. A religious leader can build quite a following by pretending otherwise. He can suggest that God is mainly interested in some fine-tuning of our personalities—that he’s content so long as we’re spending time and money on him on Sundays, even if we’re dallying with the others things that catch our interests the rest of the week.

Jesus wants us to live our lives with a purpose – His purpose.

Live with a purpose,.

Live with a purpose. 

That’s why Jesus said such crazy-sounding things at times.

To the Christians at Laodicea, Jesus says: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other” (Revelation 3:15)!

This is why Jesus described life with God in terms of leaving parents, getting out of safe boats, dropping nets, selling possessions, and denying self. In these statements, He is not really saying that there’s something intrinsically wrong with those things. Jesus isn’t against family or safety or possessions or self. He is simply calling the question of whether we’re going to define and pursue these values in the world’s way or His way.

He is asking: “Where are you putting your feet down?” “Who and what do you really love?” “Are you still trying to sit on the fence?”

Jesus does not want us to sit on the fence.

Jesus wants us to commit to Him – and live life with a purpose – His purpose.

Jesus wants us to get off the fence – to decide – to commit.

That’s not easy – but it’s necessary.

It’s the first step to living life with God’s purpose – the only real purpose there is to have. 

Live with a purpose,.

Live with a purpose. 

 

So – how about it?

 

As we begin this season of Lent – as we begin to look at God’s answers to the questions of purpose and meaning for our lives – you have to look at where you stand in relationship with Jesus.

 

Are you straddling the fence between the ways of the world and the ways of God?

Are you trying to find meaning and purpose in both?

 

It’s not going to work.

 

It’s time to climb down off the fence – and make a commitment.

 

It’s time to commit to the ways of God.

 

It was Jesus’ commitment to the ways of God that gave Him His focus for living His life in God’s purpose –   a focus that Satan could not pull Him away from.

 

It’s only through a commitment to the ways of God that we can get what we need to live our lives in God’s purpose – and have the focus for our lives that nothing can pull us away from.

 

God can give you a purpose for living – but you’re going to have to get off the fence – and make a commitment.

 

You’re going to have to live with a purpose –God’s purpose.

 

Live with a purpose,.

Live with a purpose.

 

As we go through the Season of Lent, we will be looking at different aspects of what this purpose for living God has given each of us might be. 

 

For now – there is the first step – getting off the fence – and making a commitment to God’s will and God’s purpose for your life. 

 

Take the first step.

If you’re trying to straddle the fence – it’s time to get off the fence.

If you’re trying to find your purpose for living in anything else but God and God’s will – it’s time to look only to God.

 

Money – possessions—power — fame are not things to find meaning and purpose in.

 

Only God can give you true purpose and meaning for life.

 

Only God can give you a purpose to live for.

 

Only God can help you

 

Live with a purpose,

Live with a purpose.

 

As we begin this Season of Lent –

As we begin this look at – and search for – God’s purpose for us and the purpose and meaning for our lives – I ask you –

 

God asks you –

 

If you are still on the fence – trying to find meaning and purpose for your life in anything else but God –

 

Get off the fence.

Make the commitment.

 

Live your life with a purpose – God’s purpose.

 

Live with a purpose,

Live with a purpose.

 

Amen.