Isaiah 50:4-9(a), Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 19:28-40

Isaiah 50:4-9(a)

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke 19:28-40

Are You Out Of Your Mind?

March 28, 2010

Passion / Palm Sunday

Our journey through the Season of Lent is over. Today we begin Holy Week – the week before Easter that is highlighted by Passion / Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,  Good Friday and Easter as we reflect upon the death and resurrection of Christ. The intent of this special week and the special services we’ll have is for us to think about what it means to make Jesus Christ – who died for our sins but rose again to give us life — our Lord and Savior and what it means to follow Him, to let Him change our lives, and to serve Him.

What does it mean to make Christ our Lord and Savior – to follow Him – let Him change our lives – and serve Him?

Our scripture passages for today from Isaiah, Philippians, and Luke give us a clue to what these things mean – for part of these things mean is that we begin to think differently. We give up our ways of thinking and begin thinking like Christ thought. Instead of having our normal thoughts that lead us to self centeredness and looking out for ourselves we begin having Christ’s thoughts that lead to giving of ourselves and serving God and others.

As I was thinking about these things this week the idea struck me that this means   “going out of our minds” and having “the mind of Christ”.

Let’s look at what might have been on Christ’s mind that first Palm Sunday as He entered Jerusalem – then look at how we can “go out of our minds” – so to speak – and have the mind of Christ.

Imagine with me that first Palm Sunday.

Jesus is entering Jerusalem.

Many imagine that the sky must have been a beautiful blue – the sun shining –

the children running after Jesus shouting:

“Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes

In the name of the Lord —

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

It must have been quite a day!

But – why?

Why all the excitement?

A man is coming into town with some of His followers —  it must have looked like a ragtag bunch – this teacher on a donkey and his followers shouting –

But — why all the excitement?

Many thought He was the Messiah – the one coming from God to overthrow the hated Romans and establish a kingdom of God’s peace and righteousness.

Maybe Jesus was the Messiah!

Yes – it was an exciting time for the people.

It was a time for celebration.

It was a time for excitement.

You see – the people had been praying for God to send His Messiah into the world and to rule in power and righteousness – and just the thought that Jesus just might be the Messiah filled the people with excitement and joy.

No wonder they were excited as Jesus entered Jerusalem.

No wonder they praised God.

But – as we look at this passage – we know things that this original crowd did not know. We know that it was Jesus — the Son of God — the Messiah — that entered Jerusalem that day – but we also know what happened to Him.

We know that He was not coming to Jerusalem to be praised — even though that happened – but He was coming for something completely different.

Something far away from the praise of the crowd.

But — something that occurred — just the same.

The people seemed to be ready to make Jesus their King.

To them — Jesus is the Messiah — the Savior — the King – and of course they are right.

He is all these things.

But — He is not the kind of Messiah — Savior — or King the people were expecting.

Before the week is over, His crown will be one of thorns — His throne will be a cross.

He was a different kind of King than the people were expecting – and indeed had something other than the praise of the people on His mind.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey — He indeed had something on His mind — but what?

In our Epistle lesson from Philippians 2 Paul gives us an interesting — moving — and compelling interpretation of what was on Jesus’ mind. He gives us an interesting — moving — and compelling picture of what he calls “the mind of Christ.”

Taking from an early church hymn about Christ, Paul writes that Christ:

“did not consider equality with God something to

be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself

and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.”

That’s what was on His mind.

As He entered Jerusalem — even as the crowd praised Him — it was not the praise of the crowd that was on His mind.  His mind was turned to giving of Himself — giving of His Heavenly glory — and dying — dying on the cross — for us.

Can you imagine someone who has all the power in the world — but willingly giving it up?

Someone who is God — but willingly becomes a slave — and willingly dies on a cross?

It is almost impossible to imagine such love — such a mind for giving of oneself for others.

What must Jesus have thought as He rode into Jerusalem — hearing the praises of the crowd — and yet knowing what He was going into Jerusalem to do?

Maybe He thought:

“Yes — I am a King — but not as you understand power.

I am more powerful than any of you can imagine — and yet I am not going to show my power as you might expect.

I am coming to die — not rule in power.”

What courageous love it took to ride into Jerusalem that day — to give of Himself and die for us — for all people.

What love it took to give of Himself and die.

You know — we can look at what Jesus might have thought — but — is this only a day for us to think about what Jesus did — what Jesus had on His mind as He rode into Jerusalem — what He had on His mind as He died for us — as He gave Himself for us — or  is there a way we can take Palm Sunday out  of history and find something there for our lives today?

I believe we can.

Paul writes that we are to have the same mind as Christ had.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus

he writes.

What does this mean?

It means that we are called to have the mind of Christ — to think of ourselves as Christ thought of Himself — to have the attitude of giving of ourselves — just as Christ gave of Himself.

I believe it means that God is calling us to put aside our thoughts and the ways we normally think about things – to go outside of the ways we normally think and the ways we normally consider things – and to think as Christ thought.

Yea – it means “going out of our minds” and letting God give us the mind of Christ.

Jesus had giving of Himself for the world on His mind.

Jesus “had a mind” to give — to serve — even to die.

Is that what is on our minds?

Is that what is on your mind?

Do we give of ourselves for Christ — for others?

Do you give of yourself for Christ — for others?

Jesus’ whole life was built around service — giving of Himself — making a sacrifice for the good of others.

Is ours?

Is yours?

Is giving of ourselves for the work of God and Christ in the world our main purpose in life?

Is giving of yourself for the work of God and Christ in the world your main purpose in life?

Is this our prevailing attitude — the main objective of life for us?

Is this your prevailing attitude — your main objective in life?

This was Jesus’ purpose in life.

Is it ours?

Is it yours?

This is what was on Jesus’ mind.

Is it what is on our minds?

Is it what is on your mind?

One of the hardest things for us to do is to give of ourselves — to sacrifice ourselves — to commit to God’s work and to give our all for it — to give of ourselves for the work of God in the world.  It is hard for us to accept service — sacrifice — and giving.  It’s hard for us to let these things be the things that are on minds. We would much rather have things our way than do things God’s way.  We make up excuses to not do anything that requires us to give of ourselves — of our time — to go out of our way to take part in God’s work in the world.  We don’t want to make sacrifices — whether it’s sacrificing our time — or giving of something we have — or sacrificing a part of ourselves for God and for others.

These are not things that we normally think about.

These are not things that are normally on our minds.

And the church suffers — and the work of God in the world suffers — and we suffer.

But — as followers of Christ — we can be different.

As followers of Christ we can think differently and do things differently.

As a follower of Christ you can be different.

As a follower of Christ you can think differently and do things differently.

We can have what Paul called that “mind of Christ.”

You can have what Paul called “the mind of Christ”.

We can let what was on Christ’s mind be what is on our mind.

You can let what was on Christ’s mind be on your mind.

We are to be different – – and we can think differently.

You are to be different — and you can think differently.

We can be people who give — who serve — who are willing to make personal sacrifices to benefit others.

You can be a person who gives — who serves — who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of others.

We can be active in helping others — as a church and as individuals.  We can look for ways to help others — and we can do things to help others.

We can all be on the lookout for specific things we can do as individuals and as a Church to reach out to our community and the world with the love of God.

We can be different.

We can think differently.

We can have the mind of Christ.

We can have a mind to serve others.

We can “go out of our minds” and take on the mind of Christ.

Are you different?

Do you live differently?

Do you act differently?

Do you think differently?

Have you “gone of your mind” and taken on the mind of Christ?

Do you have the mind of Christ?

Commitment — giving – and sacrifice should be our distinguishing characteristics as Christians.  These should be the mark that Christ puts upon you.

Are these your characteristics?

Are these what are on your mind?

This is attitude of Christ.

This is the mind of Christ.

Is it our attitude?

Is it our mind?

Is it your attitude?

Is it your mind?

Indeed, making Christ – who died for our sins yet rose again to give us life – our Lord and Savior means beginning to think differently.

On this Passion Sunday as we begin Holy Week, remember what Jesus did for you.

I invite you to commit yourself to a life of serving others — a life of giving of yourself for God’s work in the world and supporting it with all you have —  a life of seeing needs and meeting them.

God wants you to “go out of your mind” and bless you with the mind of Christ.

Let Him.

Let Him do that.

Let the same mind be in you

that was in Christ Jesus

Go “out of your mind” — and let what was on Jesus’ mind  — the humility — the service — the love of Christ — be on your mind. Amen.

Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-8

Isaiah 43:16-21

John 12:1-8

“A New Attitude”

Lent 5       March 21, 2010

We are making our way through the Season of Lent – these 6 weeks before Easter when we focus on what God has done for us through the death and resurrection of Christ — and the response we can make to God – who loves us so much He gave His son to die for the forgiveness of our sins .

How do we respond to the great love God has for us?

As we consider our Old Testament and Gospel readings for today, I believe we will see that we can respond to God by letting Him change our attitudes and change the way we live our lives every day.

As I thought about these passages this week I remembered that the attitude we have about life and its meaning impacts the way we live and the way we respond to God. Our attitude also impacts the way we relate to others.

Our scripture readings for today give us three people – Isaiah – Mary – and Judas.

These are three people with two different ways of approaching life — two different attitudes about life – and two different ways of responding to God and others.

Isaiah and Mary seem to see life as an opportunity to see what God is doing in their lives and in the world and an opportunity to praise God for His blessings in their lives.

Judas, on the other hand, seems to be too worried about how things are to see what God is doing or give God praise.

Their attitudes impacted the way they lived – the way the responded to God – and the way they responded to others.

Let’s take a few moments looking at Isaiah, Mary, and Judas and see what their attitudes were – and how it impacted how they responded to God and those around them.

Look at Isaiah.

In fact — imagine that you are Isaiah.

You are a Hebrew — a Jew — one of God’s chosen people.  You and your people have a rich history of being blessed by God. God has blessed you and your people in many ways — the greatest of which being that God brought your ancestors out of slavery in Egypt — guided them across the wilderness — gave them commandments to live by — and gave them a land in which to live.

This is all a part of your history.

But now — it all seems to be just that — history.

Things have changed.

Your land has been taken over by the Babylonians.

Jerusalem — your Holy City — has been leveled — the great Temple where you worshipped God is now rubble.

You and your people have been living in Babylon for almost 60 years now.

It’s hard for your older ones to remember what Jerusalem even looked like — and your younger ones have never even seen it.

Many of your people believe that the only way to cope with their present is by living in the past.  It seems to many of your folks that they have to live in the past because the present gives little hope — and the future even less.

“Wasn’t it great what God did for our ancestors?”

Your people seem to say —

without very much hope for any such things to happen to them and change their situation.

Such miracles happen only once in history — or so many of your people think.

You — however — see things differently.

You have a different attitude – a different way of looking at things.

You see things the way they are — but — by the grace of God — you also see how things can be.  You see how your people are in captivity and you see how they feel they have no hope for the present or the future — and yet — you feel they need to look to the future and what God can do — not the past.  Your message to your people is:

God is about to do something new.

Forget the past — the future will be blessed by God in a richer and fuller way.

Don’t worry so much about the way things are — or were — but instead — look to how they can be.

Look at what God can do.

In the midst of reality — and in the midst of a people who can’t seem to envision how God can change things — you are indeed a bit of an oddball.  You have a different attitude. You don’t let the pessimistic attitudes of so many people distort or drown out your attitude of how – by God’s grace – things can be. Your attitude is an attitude of God — of hope — of God’s new things.  You indeed have a different attitude than most people and many probably consider you to be a bit strange because of your optimistic attitude of what God can do — but you don’t care.

God has given you a new attitude.

And then – in our Gospel reading — we have Mary.

Imagine that you are Mary.

You live in Bethany — near Jerusalem.

You — your sister Martha — and your brother Lazarus have become friends with a certain teacher named Jesus.  He has stayed at your house on some of His many visits to Jerusalem.  You have marveled at all you have seen Him do and heard Him say.  You have even come to believe that He is the Messiah — the one sent from God to free your people.

Not long ago the most marvelous and miraculous thing of all happened.

Your brother Lazarus died.

He died and was buried.

But — Jesus brought him back to life.

Jesus gave you back your brother.

You are so thankful — so excited – and you want to do something for Jesus — but you are not sure what to do.

The next time He is in your house you – Martha — and Lazarus host a lavish feast for Him — His disciples — and your friends – and you decide to do something extravagant — something to let Him know just how thankful you are.  You take a jar of perfume — a pound of it — so rare a perfume and so costly that it would take a years wages to purchase this amount — and you pour it on Jesus’ feet.

You are fully aware of what people are going to think of you — wasting such perfume — but you don’t care.

You have a new attitude about Jesus – about God – indeed about life.

You see what Jesus has done for you — and nothing else matters.  With joy and thanksgiving in your heart you have a different attitude than most people have.  You don’t let the reality of wasting perfume stop you from praising and worshipping Jesus — even in the most extravagant, joyful ways.  You don’t let the cost of the perfume stop you from hearing and responding to the message of Christ. You don’t let the cost of the perfume change your attitude about what Christ has done for you and what you can do for Him. Like Isaiah, you have a different attitude than most people and many probably consider you to be a bit strange because of how your extravagant praise of Jesus, but, like Isaiah,  you don’t care.

God has given you a new attitude.

But in our Gospel passage we also have Judas – and Judas sees things differently from Mary or – for that matter – from Isaiah. Judas had a different attitude than that of Mary. Judas saw things differently than Mary and responded to God and others differently than Mary did.

Imagine that you are Judas.

You have followed Jesus for three years. You have given up all you had to follow Him.  You are hoping that — maybe — He’s the Messiah who will free your people from Roman rule.  Isaiah’s vision for freedom from captivity did indeed come true — but now you and your people are ruled by the Romans – and it’s time for God to act again.

But — will God act?

You are sure Jesus could rally your people to overthrow the Romans.

He has done so many miracles.

He has said so many things.

He already has so many followers.

Now is the time for Jesus to act.

And what does Jesus do?

He lets Mary waste a jar of expensive perfume.

He lets her act like a fool — or worse.

You could have sold the perfume and done some good with it —

you could have helped the poor who needed it so badly —

or you could have used it to buy weapons for the revolution —

or you could have helped yourself to the money the perfume sold for.

But — no — Jesus lets it be wasted.

This Jesus — this Mary — certainly see things differently than you do.  They certainly have a different attitude about things than you do – and you are not so sure that you like it.

Your attitude is one of practicality and action without much time for worship or praise.  You let the things of the world influence you. You feel that there is no room for a different attitude than yours.

You have no time for extravagance – no time for joy – no time for thanksgiving – no time for seeing how God can make things different – or make you different.

You only have time for reality — and your version of it at that – and when Jesus does not conform to your view of reality — when Jesus doesn’t seem to have your attitude about the way things are or the way things should be — you don’t realize that your attitude could be wrong and you don’t let Jesus make a difference in your life or give you a new attitude.

Isaiah – Mary – and Judas.

Three people with two different attitudes about life — two different attitudes about  life and its meaning — two different ways of living life — two different attitudes of how we can live in response to God ‘s love.

Yes — the attitude we have about life and its meaning impacts the way we live and the way we respond to God – and it impacts the way we relate to others.

So — what’s your attitude?

What’s your attitude about life?

Do you – like Isaiah — have an attitude that sees the things God can do?

Do you focus on the great future God promises – and do what you can to make it a reality?

Or – do you – like Mary – have an attitude that allows you to see what God is doing in your life — and worship and praise Him for His blessings?

Or – like Judas — are you stuck in reality — so stuck that you can not see what God is doing — and can do — in your life and in the world?

Can you have an attitude that sees what God is doing and can be doing  in the world and in your life — regardless of how out of step it makes you with everyone else — or do you only have the same attitude everyone else has – whether it’s an attitude of love and praise for God or not?

Which is your attitude?

Which is the way you live?

Which is the way you approach life?

Friends — Lent is a time for us to look at Christ’s death on the cross — what it means for us — and how we can live in response to it. I pray that this Lent may be a time for you – indeed for all of us – to be blessed with a new attitude – an attitude that sees what God is doing and can do in our lives and our world – and an attitude that allows us to respond in extravagant love and praise to God.

Let’s show the world that there can be a different way to approach life – that there can be a different attitude about life.

Let’s show the world that there can be an attitude in life that sees what God is doing and can continue to do —  and that we can respond to God with extravagant joy.

Let’s show the world a new attitude. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

“Be Reconciled”

March 14, 2010 Lent 4

I’m going to “go out on a limb” a bit today — so I invite you to imagine with me that you and I are part of the crowd – part of that group of Pharisees and teachers of the law – around Jesus when He first told this parable. I’m going to speak as if I were one of the Pharisees talking to others in the group as we listen to Jesus and react to what He says.

Ready?

Here we go —

Can you believe this fellow Jesus?

I mean – really – it is almost unbelievable what He is doing.

Don’t you think?

I am appalled at what Jesus is doing – and all the people He is allowing to follow Him.

Aren’t you?

Of course you are!  We are the Pharisees and teachers of the law – the elite of Jewish society. We avoid people like tax collectors and sinners – the folks Jesus is welcoming.

Some of them are even proclaiming Him to be the Messiah.

Messiah indeed!

When the Messiah comes, he certainly won’t associate with “them” – but he will be one of “us”.

Don’t you think?

I have been watching and taking notes about this Jesus for some time now – and can not believe what He is doing!

He even enters the houses of tax collectors and sinners.

Look – He’s going into one of their houses now to eat with them.

Imagine – eating with tax collectors – men who have betrayed our country and work for the Romans – collecting their taxes and making a  fortune off of the misfortune of their own people – our own people!

These folks need to be string up by their toes – or at least avoided and not associated with.

And sinners – not just ordinary people who sin a little – but those whose sins are so heinous that most of them have been expelled from the Synagogue.

You know – this Jesus must be a sinner also.

Why else would he associate with the likes of these?

“Birds of a feather flock together”

That’s what I’ve always heard.

Don’t you agree?

Well – we must have been talking too loudly – because Jesus must have overheard us.

Now – as He is about to enter the sinner’s house to eat with these worthless people – He turns and tells us a story.

It’s a strange story at that.

It seems that there was this father who had two sons – and the younger son asks his father for his part of the inheritance.

Can you imagine the audacity of a younger son to ask for his inheritance in such a manner?  It’s almost as if he wished his father were dead so he could take his money and blow it all!  But his father complies with the request – and gives his son his portion of the inheritance.

I almost said “I told you so” when Jesus continues his story. The son takes his money and blows everything on riotous living – and – can you believe it – riotous living with Gentiles! What a disgrace! Living and partying with Gentiles! And to top it all off, he does not come home to apologize when the money is all gone. Instead he goes to work for one of the Gentiles who puts him to work feeding his pigs.

The Gentile must have laughed when he saw the Hebrew boy out feeding his pigs.

Can you believe it?

A Hebrew lad – poor from squandering away his inheritance – feeding the pigs of a Gentile.

He has certainly “hit rock bottom” – don’t you think?

Well, it’s only then that he comes to his senses. He decides to go home – and at least beg his father to hire him to work for him. He knows that he does not deserve to be treated like a son any more – but maybe his father will hire him to work on the farm.

It will serve him right – don’t you think?

If a son of mine behaves in such a way I punish him – don’t you?

But this boy’s father really humiliates himself.

He is so happy to see his son that he rushes out to meet him – and doesn’t even let him apologize.  Instead, he sends for a robe – a ring – shoes – and a fatted calf to kill so they can have a party.

Is this any way to treat a son who has taken your money and squandered it with Gentiles?

Not in my opinion!

How about yours?

Don’t get me wrong – it’s not that I’m unforgiving. I would take my son back – but I would set some conditions on his return. I might let him return – but I would punish him – not throw a party! I would let him come home to “sackcloth and ashes” so to speak – not a ring, robe, and shoes! I would let him come home to kneeling and penitence – not dancing and feasting!

I mean – am I wrong?

Don’t you agree?

I mean – the actions of the father make little sense to me.

Do they to you?

Well, finally somebody appears in this story Jesus is telling that thinks the same way I do. Finally someone reacts in the same way I would.

The older brother comes home from a long day at work in the fields and hears the party going on. When he discovers that his younger brother has returned home and his father is throwing a big party for him he is furious! The father comes out and begs him to join the celebration – but he refuses. He refuses to associate with his younger brother who is such a sinner – who has done so many sinful things – who has associated with Gentiles! Even if he is his brother – he is a sinner! He refuses to share his father’s joy – and be reconciled to his father and brother.

I can understand his point!

Can’t you?

He’s right – isn’t he?

But – I wonder.

I wonder.

I wonder if the older brother ever goes into the feast.

Maybe – just maybe – the father is right.

Maybe he should celebrate his younger brother’s return – regardless of what his younger brother has been up to. Maybe he shouldn’t worry about the past – but only forgive and be reconciled.

Well, Jesus never finished the story.

He turns and walks in the house to eat with the tax collectors and sinners.

He never tells us if the older brother ever joined the party – and celebrated his brothers’ return.

But – I wonder.

What would I have done?

Would I have joined the party?

What about you?

What would you have done?

Well – what are you and I doing now?

We’re acting more like the older brother – and murmuring – while Jesus is celebrating with the tax collectors and sinners who have come to Him.

Indeed – what would I have done had I been the older brother?

What would you have done?

I pray that this imaginative interpretation of how the Pharisees and teachers of the law who originally heard Jesus’ story might have reacted to it has helped you re-connect with the important principle that Jesus was trying to teach here.

God has reconciles us to Himself through Christ – and calls us to be reconciled to others.

In other words, God forgives us through what Christ has done for us – and calls us forgive others.

I believe this parable is about how God forgives us when we come to Him – and calls us to forgive others.

No – Jesus does not finish the story – He does not end the story – but He invites us to put our own ending to it.

He invites us to ask ourselves –

What would we have done if we had been the older brother?

How would we have reacted to this story if we had been one of the original Pharisees and teachers of the law listening to Jesus?

In our Epistle passage for today Paul writes that we can be reconciled to God – that we can come to God through Christ and be forgiven of our sins. Christ has made it possible for us to be forgiven of all our sins and live in loving and forgiving relationships with God and others.

Through Christ, God offers us love and forgiveness.

Through Christ, God offers us the ability to love and forgive others.

This is the point of Jesus’ parable –

Be reconciled.

Let God forgive you – and share the forgiveness God gives you with others.

So – we have a question to consider.

Can we be reconciled to God and others – and enter into a relationship with God where He forgives us – and where we share the forgiveness He gives to us with others?

Can we enter into a relationship with God and others – even those we are quick to condemn?

Friends – Lent is a time for reflecting on God’s love for us and how we share God’s love for us with others.   God’s love is so great that God expressed it through the arms of Christ upon the cross.  God’s love is a love that includes all who come to Him – sinners and tax collectors – prodigals – and yes – if they will let it – Pharisees and older brothers – and even you and me.

Indeed – if  we let ourselves be a part of God’s loving and forgiving plan and come to God for forgiveness – God’s love can touch even you and me – and lead us into new ways to live in love with God and with all people.

As Paul writes –

Be reconciled to God.

Amen.

Isaiah 55:1-9, Luke 13:1-9

Isaiah 55:1-9

Luke 13:1-9

“Will We Get What We Paid For?”

Lent 3   March 7, 2010

We are 3 weeks into our journey through the season of Lent.

Lent is an important season for us as we focus on Christ – what His death and resurrection mean for us – and how we can become better disciples of the One who callus us to follow Him in love and service.

Today we are going to look at a basic question that we all have to answer –

are we going to try to get what our actions have “paid for” from God – or “get what we deserve” from God – or will we accept the free gift of salvation that Christ has paid for for us and offers us?

“You get what you pay for”

We’ve all hear that before – haven’t we?

Back in September I became the proud owner of my first laptop computer.  It was a refurbished one that I had purchased at a much reduced price – but I thought it was a great deal – until a few weeks later it began running slow and I discovered it had not been as refurbished as advertised! So – for Christmas I broke down and bought a new laptop – one that was more expensive than the first one I had purchased but – I thought – much better – and still cheaper than others I had seen.  It worked great until a few weeks ago when the USB port broke and it was going to cost more than the computer was worth to get it fixed. For those of you who don’t know, the USB port is where you plug in your printer or any of the other peripherals that make a computer more useable. Of course, the damage was not covered under the warranty. When I took it back to the store last weekend and asked why it had broke so quickly, they didn’t answer my question directly, but inferred that  the computer had a great price tag because it was built with inferior parts.  I looked at them and asked:

“So – it’s a ‘you get what you pay for’ deal – right?”

The sales person nodded his head.

Well, I now am the proud owner of my third laptop in the past 6 months – this one much more expensive but much more powerful than the other two put together – so hopefully it will last awhile. And to think that I could have gotten this one in September and saved myself a lot of misery and set up time for the other 2 computers.

By the way – if anyone wants a laptop I have 2 I can cut you a deal on!

I learned again that you get what you pay for!

Most of you probably have stories to tell of how you’fe learned that lesson!

When we buy something at a “special deal” — but it turns out to be not so special — someone might say to us:

“Well — you got what you paid for!”

Or — if we buy something especially nice — something that is extra special but comes with an extra special price tag — we may justify it by saying:

“Well — you do get what you pay for, you know!”

Indeed — many times you do get what you pay for.

Most of the time that is a pretty true statement.

But — not always.

Our Old Testament lesson for today is an exception to that rule.

It may be true most of the time that you get what you pay for — and yet — here’s an offer that is for free.

Now — we all know that there’s no such thing as a free lunch — right?

And yet here is Isaiah giving us an image of God as a street merchant — hawking wine and milk that is free — wine and milk that has no price – that is free for the taking.

Now — if someone were to offer us wine and milk that is free — we just might be skeptical.

“What’s wrong with it?”  we might ask.

“Has the wine soured?” “Does it taste like vinegar?” “Has the milk curdled”?

There is no such thing as a free lunch – and you get what you pay for.

And yet – here is God offering the very best — and offering it for free.  In fact — God says that what we are working for — what we might be able to pay for — will never satisfy us.  Only what God offers for free us will.

It makes no sense at all.

It goes against our better judgment.

We know we get what we pay for — don’t we?

And yet – this is God’s offer!

Our Gospel lesson deals with this, also.

OK — Jesus — what about those Galileans Pilate killed while they were worshipping in the Temple — and mixed their own blood with the blood of their sacrifices?

What were they “paying” for?

What are their deaths and the defiling of the sacrifices payment for?

You get what you pay for.

Luke has Jesus saying — in no uncertain terms — that these Galileans — and the people in Jerusalem who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them — were not paying for any specific wrongs that they had done.

In other words — tragedies are not paybacks for things that have been done.

And — Isaiah does have God offering the very best — for free — and even saying that what we can pay for will never truly satisfy us.

So here’s a question —

When it comes to the things of God — will we get what we paid for?

Friends, I hope not.

I truly hope not.

I hope that in God’s eyes I will never get what I’ve paid for.

I hope that in God’s eyes none of us get what we’ve paid for.

Look at the parable in our Gospel passage for today.

A Landowner tours his vineyard, and notices a fig tree not producing fruit.

The tree has not produced in years.

Wouldn’t it be prudent to cut it down — and maybe plant another tree that will bear fruit?

It doesn’t take a degree in horticulture to figure that one out.

It has not borne fruit — it has not “paid” for being in the vineyard — it should not stay there — and yet — and yet — when the Landowner orders it cut — the Gardener begs for more time.

“Let me dig around it and put manure around it another year —” he proposes —

and so it seems that a deal is struck.

But — if after another year — it is still unproductive and unfruitful — the ax will be laid to the root of the tree — and it will be cut down.

And it will only be getting what it paid for.

It paid nothing — so it will get nothing.

But – here’s the thing – I don’t believe Jesus is just telling a story of a benevolent Gardener persuading a Landowner to give a tree another chance.

I believe we have much more here than that. .

Will we get what we paid for?

The fig tree certainly didn’t!

Neither – according to Jesus — did the Galileans or those at Siloam.

Neither would those God addressed through Isaiah if they accepted what God offered.

Will we?

Again — I certainly hope not.

You see — if we got what we paid for — in God’s eyes — what would that be?

What do you think we deserve to get from God?

Based on how we live – – what are we paying for – and what will we deserve to get – from God?

Maybe death.

Maybe hell.

There’s no “maybe” about it — is there?

We are like that fig tree.

Too many times we don’t bear fruit — and deserve to be cut down and thrown into the fire.

That’s what we’ve paid for.

That’s what we deserve to get.

But — wait.

If the Gardener and Landowner are gracious to that tree — how much more gracious will God be to us?

Yes – praise God — God is gracious.

God — knowing what we’ve paid for is not what God wants us to have — offers us something else.

God offers us a chance for salvation.

God offers us a chance to bear fruit.

God offers us a chance to accept God’s grace and love.

Now — how do we have this chance – this salvation – God offers?

Do we get it because of something we have done – or “paid for” – or deserve?

No – friends – we don’t get this chance – this salvation — because of what we’ve paid for – or what we deserve – or we’ve done — but because of what Christ paid for us.

Christ’s death on the cross was the price for our sins.

Christ’s death on the cross makes it possible for us to have — not what we’ve paid for — but what He paid for — for us.

So – here’s the question we all have to ask ourselves —

So — will we get what we’ve paid for —

or – will we get what Christ has paid for us?

During Lent we think about Christ’s death for us — and how we live in response to it.

So — what will it be?

Will you get what you’ve paid for?

Or — will you accept what Christ has paid for for you?

Will you continue with what Isaiah says will never satisfy?

Or — will you accept what is the only thing that can satisfy?

The choice is yours.

Will you “bear fruit” — or not?

Will you accept God’s offer of grace and love and salvation — or not?

If not — you’ll only get what you’ve paid for.

You’ll only get sin — death — and hell.

But — if you repent — if you come to God and accept salvation — if you let God change you and begin “bearing fruit” — if you begin truly living in God’s ways — you’ll get the salvation Christ paid for for you.

Think about it.

I pray you will repent — and let God change you.

If you do — you’ll get the salvation and eternal life Christ has paid for for you.

If not — you’ll only get the sin – – death — and hell you have paid for.

The opportunity to repent and bear fruit is before you.  Christ offers the opportunity to turn from our sinful ways – to repent – and to bear fruit for Him in this life, while receiving salvation for the life to come.

Don’t miss the chance for salvation.

Remember that the tree in the Parable in our passage for today did not have but a year to begin bearing fruit.

We don’t have forever to decide to accept God’s offer and accept — not what we’ve paid for — but what Christ has paid for for us.

No one knows how much time they have to make that decision.

We don’t know how much more time we have to make that decision.

You don’t know how much longer you have to make that decision.

So — what will it be?

Will you repent?

Will you accept what Christ has paid for for you?

Or

Will you get what you’ve paid for?

Which will it be — for you?

Well?

Amen

Genesis 15:2-12, 17-18; Luke 13:31-35

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Luke 13:31-35

Who’s Afraid?

February 28, 2010

Lent 2

We are 2 weeks into the season of Lent — 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.

Last week we looked at one of the things that keep us from being better followers of Christ – that being how we respond to temptation.

Today we are going to look at another thing that sometimes keeps us from being better followers of Christ – that being fear.

Fear is one of the things that can keep us from following Christ and trusting Christ. It is one of the obstacles we face to being a better follower of Christ.

How many times have we known the things God wanted us to do – known what it meant to be a follower of Christ in a specific situation in our lives – but let fear keep us from stepping out and doing what we knew God wanted us to do?

How many times have we had to face situations in our lives, and feared that God would not give us the strength we needed?

Fear is indeed one of the things that can keep us from truly following Christ, and truly living the life of faith God wants us live.

My Dad tells a story of an incident in World War II.

The best German fighter plane was the Focke Wulf .  It was a terror in the skies for Allied planes.  Dad was a Bomber pilot in Europe — and tells this story of how one day in the Mess Hall of his home field in southern Italy there was a sign sporting a picture of the Focke Wulf  with this caption:

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG FOCKE WULF?

Without much of a thought Dad took out his pen and wrote under the picture and caption:

I am

Billy D. Hayes

Before long, most of the other pilots at his home field had done the same.

Who’s Afraid?

Fear may be good at times — it at least keeps us from being too rash or too foolish or overconfident.  But — at other times — fear is not so good!

Who’s Afraid?

Aren’t there times in our lives when we let the circumstances of our lives scare us?

Aren’t there times when the things happening in our lives strike fear in us?

Aren’t there times in our lives the “big, bad wolves” of our lives intimidate us?

Aren’t there times when the circumstances of our lives cause us to doubt God’s plan for us?

Don’t we – maybe — like Abram — look around sometimes and wonder if God and God’s plan for our lives can be trusted?

Yea – a lot of times we understand how Abram may have felt — simply because we’ve been there ourselves.

Who’s afraid?

If someone were to put a poster somewhere that read:

“Who’s Afraid?”

There are many times I would have to write n it:

“I am.

Bill Hayes.”

Quite honestly there are times in my life that I am afraid.

Many of you may have times that you are afraid also.

What are some of the things that scare us?

What about the present economic situation?

That’s indeed scary.

What about poverty — hunger — homelessness?

Problems we used to think were  “out there somewhere” have come close to  home — and can indeed scare us!

What about debilitating illness?

The thought of getting a debilitating illness can scare even the most healthy of us — and those who have debilitating illness can be very scared at times.

O – here’s one for you —

What about the fact that so many church members seem so apathetic to the things of God and the things of the church?

Now that’s one that scares me and keeps me up at night – what about you?

What about when God calls us to try something new – either as individuals or as the Church?

That can truly be unsettling and scary!

These are just some of the things that can scare us — and there are many, many more.

Many circumstances of life do indeed scare us — and sometimes we are so scared we want to throw up our hands and say:

“Lord — don’t you see what’s happening?”

“Can’t you tell what we’re up against?”

“Don’t you care?”

“Aren’t you with us?”

Who’s afraid?

Our Old Testament and Gospel lessons for today are about — among other things — fear.

“O Lord GOD, what will you give me,

for I continue childless”

You can almost hear the fear in Abram’s voice.

Our Old Testament lesson is about one of the times God came to Abram — whose name, of course, was eventually to be changed to Abraham — and promised him that his descendants will inherit the land on which he is standing.

Abram wants to believe this — but there is one problem — God promised him this years before — but after many years he is still without children.

How could Abram’s descendants inherit the land if he had no descendants?

Had he followed and trusted God — all for nothing?

Had he given up his family and fortune and followed God — for no reason?

He had no descendants to inherit the land.

Could God be trusted?

Fear that God would not — or could not — make good on His promises must have gripped Abram.  There must have been some fear on Abram’s part that the circumstances of his life were going to keep God’s promises from being fulfilled.

Could God be trusted?

Was God really in charge?

These questions may have crossed Abram’s mind – and caused him to be fearful.

Who’s afraid?

“Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

You can almost hear the fear in some of the Pharisees voices – and maybe their attempt to strike fear in the hearts of Jesus and his followers.

Our Gospel lesson tells of the time some of the Pharisees told Jesus of Herod’s plot to kill Him.  This message may have been intended to strike fear in Jesus — and it probably did strike fear in the hearts of some of his followers.

Could it be that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem — but was not going to make it?

Could it be that Herod was going to kill Him on the way?

Jesus was talking about going to Jerusalem and dyeing — yet rising again.  But — could it be that His death was now immanent at any moment — and at the hands of Herod?

And if Herod killed Jesus — what would happen to them?

Jesus said they were going to Jerusalem — where — yes — He would die — and yet rise again — but — what if He never made it to Jerusalem?

What if Herod killed Him before He got there?

It may have looked like that the circumstances of life were going to keep Jesus’ promises — any of them — from coming true.

Was God really in charge?

Could Jesus be trusted?

Who’s afraid?

So – what does God say to Abram?

Yes — God says to Abram — I am in charge — and I can be trusted. Do not be afraid. God repeats His promise of descendants to Abram — then in a vivid picture of an ancient covenant ceremony God commits Himself to fulfill that promise.  God commits to keep God’s word.  God says — in effect — that it doesn’t matter what the circumstances of life may look like — God and God’s promises can be counted on.  God is in charge of Abram’s life — not the circumstances of being childless.

Have faith, Abram.   Despite the way things look — God can be trusted.

How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees?

“Go and tell that fox for me,

‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures

today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.’”

Jesus responds to the Pharisees.

In other words, Jesus says that it doesn’t matter what Herod wants to do to Him — what matters is God’s plan for Him.

Herod can’t interfere with God’s plan.

No matter how intimidating — or scary — or “foxy” Herod might be — Jesus is not going to be deterred from what He knows He must do.  He goes to Jerusalem — unafraid — because He knows God is in charge.  He stays in control – – regardless of how things may look — or who may oppose Him.  He doesn’t let the fear of Herod or anyone else for that matter keep Him from His mission.

Who’s afraid?

When we might be tempted to sign “I Am” to a poster asking “Who’s Afraid” we can hear again God’s words.

Hear again the words of God to Abram.

Hear again God’s promise to be with him — that the circumstances of childlessness did not mean that God’s promises would not be fulfilled.

Hear again God’s promise that God was in charge of Abram’s life — regardless of how desperate the situations of Abram’s life may look.

Hear again Jesus’ words that regardless of what Herod may do or want to do — He knew God was in charge.

Who’s Afraid?

The things of life don’t have to strike fear in us — or at least they don’t have to take away our conviction that God is with us — regardless of how desperate our circumstances may appear.          In prayer — Bible Study — and Worship we can get another vision of our circumstances — especially those circumstances of life that scare us.  We can get God’s vision.            As Abram worshipped God he received a new vision of God’s presence and God’s promise to be with him.  As we pray — study — and worship we can get a new vision for the fact that regardless of life and how it may appear – regardless of how scary things may become – regardless of how afraid we may become that God is not with us — God is with us – and God strengthens us.

God is with us to strengthen us to cope with and overcome the things that scare us.

God is with us to help us overcome our fears – step out ijn faith – and follow Him.

Jesus did not let foxy old Herod stop Him.

We can’t let whatever things there may be in our lives take away our commitment to God or make us doubt God’s presence in our lives.

Regardless of how scary the circumstances in our lives may be — God is with us.

God was with Dad as he flew against those scary Focke Wulves.

God was with Abram as he journeyed on in faith.

God was with Jesus as He journeyed to the cross.

There’s another expression from World War II.

When planes would get damaged by the enemy — but the pilot successfully landed the plane — they sometimes said they flew home “on a wing and a prayer.”

God’s wings hold us up and sustain us when we face the hard and scary times of our lives.

In prayer we can give our problems and troubles to God — and let God strengthen us and sustain us.

The author Max Lucado writes:

“Jesus is not afraid of the things that cause us fear.  He never said ‘Don’t bring your fears to me.  I’m too busy.’  Instead, He says: ‘I’m not afraid of the things that cause you fear.  Bring your fears to me.”

We can take our fears to Jesus.

The one who wasn’t afraid of foxy old Herod is not afraid at all of the scary things in our lives — but strengthens us to cope with them.

Who’s afraid?

Because of Jesus, we don’t have to sign the list of those who are afraid and live in fear.

Because of Jesus, there is an answer to our fears.

We need to stop spending so much time focusing all our attention on our fears — and know that God is with us – and by God’s glorious grace, we don’t have to be afraid.

If we bring our fears to Jesus, He will strengthen us so that we can more faithfully follow Him.

Amen.