Red Letters 34: "Recognized By Their Fruit"

Red Letters 33:“Enter by the narrow gate”

Red Letters 32: The Father Gives Good Gifts

Red Letters 32 -- “The Father Gives Good Things""

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Malachi 3:6-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear,” says the Lord of hosts. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, “says the Lord of hosts.

James 1:12-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Matthew 7:7-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

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Within a few weeks we will have completed the Sermon on the Mount. Which is incredible to me because I do not think I have ever spent this amount of time on these passages and so it has been a joy and a time of personal reflection. I pray that you continue to be challenged and convicted by His words.

Today Jesus says:

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

And this is a struggle for myself. Some people have personalities  where, if they want something or need something, they would have no problem asking. Famously men do not like to ask for directions. And I don’t like asking for help.  When our dishwasher stopped working my wife asked that I let the landlord know. And if she is lucky, I will get to asking in a day or two, after some consistent encouragement.

I’m not sure why this is.  It might be some self-consciousness or social anxiety, but whatever the reason, I do not like to ask for things.  And because of this, I often also have this wishfulness where I just want people to know what I want. And if my family or friends don’t meet these expectations… I will sometimes get really sad and wonder if people love me or not. But while that may seem childish, I also believe that that is sometimes what we desire. To be seen and known without us having to ask. 

I see it in my children all the time. They will come to me giving me a look and expect me to know what they want… and honestly, most times I do! They want a bite of my doughnut or they want me to help them with something. And again and again I have to remind them, if you need something or want something.
use your words and ask.  It’s not that I do not want to give them what they are asking for (most of the time) but as parents, I am trying to teach them the values of being polite and using their words to communicate their wants. 

But I also know that they do this because they want to be seen and known. To be recognized. And paid attention to. To be catered and coddled. What child does not want this?

And so I find that I often have this attitude before God. I want Him to know what I want and need and give it before I ask. I want to be seen and known by Him. But there are also times where I don’t want to ask of Him because I don’t really want to bother Him with these petty wants I have. Perhaps He’s too busy doing important things? And perhaps I don’t feel worthy to be asking of Him for anything?

But I know this is not the case for God. God is not too busy for our wants. God does not view us as unworthy of coming to Him with our needs. He showed this to us in the life and death and resurrection of Christ His Son.  He gave His only Son to die on the Cross to redeem us and give us life in Him, so that we would know that we matter to Him. And so God invites us to ask because He delights in our prayers.  The Lord desires to hear our needs.  And while the Bible tells us that God knows all that we need even before we utter a word or even notice our own needs… Jesus says: “Ask!” He is saying ask, because it brings us back into this posture of humility and servanthood before God. It marks our dependency before God. 

I remember how it was really tiresome taking Abel my oldest son to the playground because when he was 2-3 he would always call me every couple of minutes and ask me to take out the sand or pebble that had gotten on his shoes.  And I kept wondering when he would grow up enough to do it himself. But one day we went to the playground and a few minutes had gone by and there were no cries for help.  I instead found him sitting on the ground, very nonchalantly taking off his shoes and emptying them without so much as a glance to me. It was devastating, because I realized that my son no longer needed me. Now as a parent  moments like these are bitter sweet because you become proud of the things they are learning to do, but you also recognize that they won’t always need you as much as they once did, which is painful

But in my relationship with my son, there is this reality that he will grow up and eventually not need his mom or dad so much. The cries for help… The asks to peel an orange… or to tie their shoelaces… won’t come. And he will depend upon me less and less. Which is a good thing. But while this is true for children growing up, we as children of God must be reminded that we do not in fact grow up enough to become less dependent on God. It is actually the opposite. As we grow and mature, and as the Lord stretches us, builds us and sanctifies us, we only grow in our need and dependency on God. Jesus knows this. 

Which is why He tells us to “Ask, seek and knock.“ Because to ask, seek and knock is a sign of spiritual maturity.  It is to be one who recognizes the depth of their need for the Lord

Look back and think back to all we have been reading about what Jesus is saying about being a faithful follower of Christ. The standards that Jesus has painted for all those listening, began from what they believed about the laws, into these astronomically lofty and unreachable requirements of holiness. When you really spend time with His words they are dumbfounding, because truly no person could ever live up to these expectations. The crowds themselves sitting at Jesus’ feet, Scripture say, were astonished by what He was saying. Jesus was elevating God’s law to a place that was far holier and much more out of reach than people had been holding it.  And so when we are sitting there humbled and feeling defeated and unworthy…

Jesus says:

Ask. Seek And Knock. 

Why? For everyone who asks will receive. For everyone who seeks will find. For everyone who knocks the door will be opened. 

Jesus has put this mirror in front of us in His words and teachings so that we can, by the convictions of the Holy Spirit see just how absolutely depraved and unworthy and sinful we are.  Not so that we may feel defeated, but so that we can realize the truth of how we as people can do nothing on our own. We can not live good and holy lives. We can not live with pure hearts. And especially, specifically, most importantly… We can not save ourselves. And so… we need help.  And so Jesus says “It is I. I am the one you can depend upon. I am the one you can trust. In fact I have been the one to grant you all that is good and perfect. Every blessing you have received comes from me. And I am the same yesterday today and forever. I will never change.  And you can trust in me.  All you have to do… Is ask.“ He does not tell us to ask because He doesn’t know what we need, but because we need to know that we need Him… That we are the ones that must depend upon Him… That in fact, we can do nothing BUT depend upon Him. 

In the book of Malachi we read this incredible promise that God gives to the Israelites. That though they have been robbing Him by withholding their sacrifices and tithes to Him, He says: “Bring the whole tithes into the storehouse… And see what happens.” Because I remember what it was like when, especially as a student, I barely had bus fare to get home, or enough money to buy a meal, being a starving arts student and all.  And there were days when I choose, instead of giving my offerings going to buy a Big Mac.  If you put aside money here, this revealed that at its core, I had a trust issue with the Lord.

Many of the Israelites were not giving their tithes to the Lord because they had their trust in something else. Stocks. Investments. Businesses. Jobs. Banks. Lottery tickets. Etc. But the Lord was turning around and saying “No. Put your trust in me. In everything.  And see if I will not only give you what you need. But give you so much blessings that the floodgates of heaven will be thrown open and pour out so much blessing That you will not have room enough for it.”

Do you trust in the Lord, that when you ask, and seek and knock that He will provide?

In these unknowable days, when we do not know what life for you, your children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren will look like one two three months or years from now,  will you put your trust in the things of this world as you often had? Or will you put your utter and complete trust in the Lord? Because when you trust the Lord, then you can know, with absolutely certainty that the Father in Heaven. Your Father in Heaven will give good things to those who ask. 

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

And so we, in this thanksgiving season, can give thanks to the Lord. For His providence. For His blessings. For His provisions. And for His peace. And let us ask the Lord for a steadfast Spirit, despite the rising exhaustion, anxieties, and fear that may be bubbling up in this world because of the pandemic. Let us remain steadfast in the Lord for we know that He is good and that He is sovereign. 

James 1:12-18
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him… 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

While our hearts may be fickle, as Jesus has been revealing to us… While our hearts may be deceiving and while many of the true intentions of our hearts are often hidden from others (even ourselves.)…Though we may sway in our faithfulness and trust in the Lord… We can be reassured today that in the Father of Lights, Our Heavenly Father who calls us children, there is no variation and no shadow due to change.  We can know that He is steadfast and everlasting. And so may we repent of our hardened hearts, coming before the Lord and confessing our need for Him. And rejoice that we have this great great and good God, that we can fully and completely rest on. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Red Letters 31: Jude Not, That You Be Not Judged

Red Letters 31 -- “Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged"

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Isaiah 2:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Romans 14:10-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written: “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Matthew 7:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 
2 For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 
3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

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As a Christian we often face the temptation of pride and self-righteousness. This is one of the things that the Bible preaches against time and time again. Pride is this attitude that blinds us from our sin and from our need of a saviour. And as we have been going through the different teachings of Jesus there were times we would have had the unhealthy response of feeling the temptation to feel ashamed and been riddled with guilt with how we have been unable to live up the Jesus’ standards. (Which no one apart from Christ could anyway) However when the message of Christ is received in its healthiest place, by the grace and power of the Spirit of God, then we are driven to a response of joyful, humble repentance, and grateful worship and brought into a place of transformative conviction. 

The power of the Word of God and the Gospel is that it continues to move and shape us. 

And it it through this that Jesus, though He saves us by His blood shed on the Cross for us does not leave us as we are, but leads us into a life that honours Him. Though we have been justified when we come to faith the Holy Spirit is the gift given to us to further sanctify and transform us until we become like Christ… either in this life or when He calls home. And so the Word’s of Jesus will convict us to surrender to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and turn us from our hardened hearts to live as Christ shows us. 

But either in conjunction with this response or separately altogether there is the temptation to respond to Jesus’ teachings with pride and self-righteousness. In other words, if we are not careful, we can very easily twist the words of Jesus and use them to lift ourselves up above another. As powerful, and as life giving as the Word of God is for us we know very well that they can be taken and distorted for the use of the selfish and proud. Even Satan, when Jesus was in the wilderness quoted Scripture to Him. 

And so when we look to the Word of God we must do so carefully, diligently and in humble submission to the moving Spirit alive in the words that we read. We must do so without our own agenda but rather desiring for God to speak to us. We must read to the Bible in its entirety. We must examine it as best as we can within its context. For our reformed tradition we believe, according to the doctrine of Sola Scripture (Or Scripture Alone) that the Bible is the sole rule and norm for faith and life. And that Scripture is not subject to our own wimsical interpretations, but that Scripture interprets Scripture. And so when we read Scripture… we must not nitpick and only listen to or apply the words that fit with our own ideologies and feelings, but allow it to challenge us and too even pierce our hearts. 

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12).

If we do not do this, then we run the risk of manipulating Scriptures for our own purposes. And today I believe that this is what Jesus is warning us against. 

He says:
Matthew 7:1-6 English Standard Version
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Jesus says this after telling us a load of teachings that address our hearts. He tells us that it is what is at the core of our hearts and natures that really truly matter. That is the mark of a person who is a follower, a disciple and a slave of God.  And then He says… Judge not, that you be not judged. 

What does this mean?

He is addressing the tendencies we carry as people where we can outwardly fool others, and even fool ourselves, that we are living faithfully to the Lord. And in doing we easily point a finger at another and say, out loud or in our hearts, that I am better than them. And with the divisiveness we see in our communities and especially in this political climate, it is easy to fall prey to this temptation. Recall Jesus said maybe a page or two ago in Matthew “Anyone who says “You fool!” Will be in danger of the fire of hell”

Judge not. Lest you be judged. 

This is a profound call to humility to the follower of Christ. We are called to humility before God and before others and therefore that leaves no room for us to be judge. 

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

And this is a terrifying thought, because I have, and do, catch myself judging a person by the way they talk, the way they dress, the way they smell, the way they eat or by what they do and don’t do. And if, on the day that Christ returns, I am to be judged by the same measure that I have judged others then I have no hope of salvation.  And so we are commanded to not judge… For there is truly only one judge. 

Isaiah 2:4 He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
   neither shall they learn war anymore.

It is only God’s judgement who shall stand. And it is in God’s just and righteousness judgement that we and all nations we find everlasting peace. Jesus says judge not because we are not the judges and our measure is not just nor right. It is only God who is. 

And yet Jesus continues to say:

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

To judge is to make a final conclusion or to form an opinion about something or someone. And while Jesus is saying not to form a final conclusion about another. He is also saying… that there is a responsibility we have to help others see clearly.  The words “Judge not” is one of the most misused verses of the Bible, because people often make it to mean that we should never ever have any sort of opinion or judgement on others.  And while it is not up to us to have the final say about someone’s ultimate end, Jesus gives us still the responsibility to help others see their sin.

Now, of course even before we can attempt to do that, before we can even make any sort of appeal to another about the speck in their eye, Jesus sternly warns us to first take the log out of your own eye. Jesus once again reinforces this call to repentance. He is telling us that we must first deal with our hearts and our sin and to confess and humble yourself before the Lord. Because it is then, and only then when you would be able to, not so much judge, but help a brother or sister, see clearly. 

When reading the Bible or when preaching it is so easy to think of people who ought to hear this message, but Jesus is constantly reminding us to first look at yourself. How can you hope to judge another when you have so much of  your own baggage and wickedness and sin that you must deal with? We must deal with all that before the Lord and surrender it to Him first.  We must find the blessed assurance of His grace and mercy for you… And when that leads you into a place of peace and humility and faith… then… we can help… not judge… your brothers and sisters with compassion, patience, grace and mercy.

Judgement is not up for us. It belongs to God and we will indeed stand before the judgement seat of God and we will be call to give an account of ourselves to God. May that account not be one of a hardened, critical and bigoted heart. And let our hearts not be stumbling block for others. 

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 

But let us walk in love in all things. 

For Paul this was a very real problem in the church. People were being divisive over cultural traditions and rituals that the Gentiles and Jewish people could not reconcile. There were many questions and arguments over what they were allowed to eat and drink… What was taboo and unclean… Questions of who was right and wrong… And judgements that you were unacceptable to the Lord if you ate or dressed a certain way.

But powerfully Paul says that to pronouncing a judgement on another, and deeming them unworthy by your own standards, destroys the one whom Christ died for. 

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

This is what Jesus desires: To pursue peace and mutual upbringing. Which begins with the humbling and repentance of me first. And then to serve in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Indeed we have a responsibility, and it is in our very nature as the church, to uplift, build up and edify one another even when it is painful. But to do so with the correct, right attitude and heart of humility, submission to Christ and in love, is the church that Christ desires. 

Yet there is a very real warning in what Jesus says. 
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

This is a difficult passage to understand, and many pastors and theologians have wrestled with it. These words follow Jesus’ command to help others see clearly the truth of the Gospel
Once and only once we have dealt before the Lord with our own sin in repentance. And perhaps for today it suffices that we focus on that which is holy and the pearl that Jesus refers to being the Kingdom message of His Gospel. 

There are indeed those, when given that which is holy and that which is a pearl will choose to trample them and turn and attack the giver. And while we may choose to try our very best to share the message of Christ and to pursue peace and mutual upbringing, there are times when we will be frustrated by the reviling response of certain people. 

Once again, Jesus is reminding us that for the follower and disciple of Christ there will come a time where we will be persecuted for our faith. “Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

However I think there is also the danger that we ourselves may be, in our self interest, pride and arrogance, the very ones who trample on what is given to us as truth. In our self-righteousness, would we be the one to turn and attack another? Brothers and sisters, we have been given the great gift of God’s mercy and grace. The gift of the blood of the lamb symbolized for us in the bread and wine we will share today.  May we repent of any way in which how we have chosen to live that has distorted and abused our privilege as believers of Christ. 

And may we humbly come to the Lord’s table today asking that the Lord would give us a faith and a life that pursues after His peace and the building of His people. And for the righteousness, joy and peace of the Holy Spirit as we serve Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. 

Amen. 

Red Letters 30: Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

Red Letters 30 -- “Do Not Be Anxious About Tomorrow"

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Isaiah 40:25-31 English Standard Version (ESV)

25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by    number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might. And because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, He increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

Philippians 4:4-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.          7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-34 English Standard Version (ESV)

25 “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Last week Jesus warned us about who was at the centre of our hearts and faith.  To whom is, not simply our allegiance,  but to whom are we enslaved to? Are we slaves to God? Or enslaved to money? This again is a challenging question because we do indeed need money to survive, eat, live and provide. And perhaps as we asked ourselves this question we found ourselves negotiating and reasoning some of our lifestyle choices, convincing ourselves that God would not have a problem with us providing a comfortable and good life for our families! It is a tricky question…  Because we must learn to discern when too much is too much and when too far is too far.  But we must especially learn to keep above all, Christ at the centre of our lives in all things.  Especially in how we spend our money so that we are not enslaved to money but that it simply becomes a tool in which we can live out a life that is faithful and joyful and glorifying to God. 

However, in order to get to today’s passage we must touch on a topic that deserves further examination someday.  When speaking about not being enslaved to our earthly desires and the temptation of money I spoke about how we ought to rather give ourselves to be slaves of God and I must ask you… how did that make you feel? Because, rightfully so, the terminology of “slave” and slavery is, in these days, a term with such historically derogatory, racist and negative connotations that it would, and should, make us feel uncomfortable. And while between the 15th and 19th century an estimated 13 million people were captured, displaced and sold as slaves… It is absolutely appalling to know that today, there is a reported estimate of 40.3 million people living in some form of modern slavery where 71% is comprised of women and girls and where children make up 25%, and account for 10 million of all slaves worldwide. 

Today, to think of being put into slavery is the most dehumanizing, dignity robbing, objectifying, experience that a person created in the image of God could ever experience.  It is not right. It is evil.  And it is not of God. Yet we read in the Bible about slavery. But if you spend enough time with the passages that speak on slavery you will begin to recognize that the Bible does not support or condone slavery as we understand it.  Rather, we are reading how God entered into a time in history and where scripture was written when slavery was a common practice in antiquity. And as you read the Scriptures, you begin to see that the laws and mandates of God were given to actually protect and uphold the human dignity of the poor, the marginalized, and the slave. 

But while if we faithfully read the Scriptures about this topic, we can see the compassion that God has for all people, and his hatred towards injustice towards one another… We also know that our history is filled to the brim with how people have used the very Scriptures which were meant to protect people, for their own selfish ambitions and for the absolute atrocious abuse of people. And so today, it is vital that we try to understand what Jesus is saying here about being a slave to God. 

While it is humanity that created the evil construct of slavery Jesus redeems the term not only in action… by healing the ill slave of a centurion… by restoring the cut off ear of the high priest’s slave… But also in his parables and his teachings.  Jesus uses the relationship of Master and Slave in the gospel of Matthew as a metaphor for the relationship between God and humanity. (ex. the Parable of the unmerciful servant Mt. 18 and the Parable of the faithful servant in Mt. 24) Jesus states that it is necessary to be last in order to be first in the Kingdom of God.  It is also important to know that most often when we read the word “Servant” in the Bible, it is used in place of the word slave. And so there is an emphasis here that we are to be servants/slaves to God. 

And in hearing this, in reading this, I wonder if it makes you feel uncomfortable?

Because to be enslaved to anything or anyone… Would mean that I do not belong to myself? That I have little to no free will? That I am owned by another? That I am not… Free??

The idea that you and I are a slave can be offensive. And yet we must hear what Paul says: 

Romans 6:20-22

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Now, this is a very long introduction to what we will look at in today’s Red Letters because it is vital for us to sit with this idea. Because we have to pay attention to the first word that Jesus says for us: “Therefore”

So much is leading up to this very important word.  Revisit the Sermon on the Mount from the beginning and recall all that Jesus has been saying.  It has so far all been leading up to this moment where Christ is saying that you must not be enslaved to the world and your worldly passions… But be a slave to, and only to, God. All of this Jesus is saying to make the point.

That for you the faithful… for you that is listening to all that He has been saying… And who believe. And are repentant. And who faithfully want to live for and in Christ the Lord… 

He is saying that when you are given to God and when you are sold to Christ and when you are purchased by His blood on the Cross. Then you, are a child yes… but you are a servant… A slave to God.  And though that term may make us uncomfortable, Jesus is proclaiming that you then are a slave to God and that God is your master… 

“THEREFORE I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…” (Matthew 6:25-34)

The thing is it that in this world and this time in history we are so offended by the idea that we need to submit or be obedient to something or someone. And this is the same temptation and sin that Adam and Eve fell enslaved to. We are so blinded by this idea that I can be my own god, that we are in fact missing out on the vital promise that is written in these words. 

That to be given to Christ and to be Christ’s… To be fully committed and obedient… And when we are willing to fully surrender the entirety of ourselves to Him… When we become slaves to God… Then we are given a life that is far more valuable, far more beautiful, far more glorious, far more satisfying, far more rewarding and far more eternal than we could ever muster by our own strength. It is the slave of Christ that does not need to be anxious or worry about anything. 

And it is when we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all that we worry about and all that we need, God knows and promises to richly provide in Christ. 

And so, as we read in Phillipians this is indeed cause to rejoice! Rejoice and trust in the Lord your master and king. Your God.  Set your eyes on His kingdom by focusing on all that is true, honourable, just pure lovely commendable and excellent, worthy of praise.  Knowing that He will provide for all your needs. And in this, His peace… in these unprecedented, fearful days… which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.

This is not a weak promise. This is not a promise of a God who says He’ll only give you enough to survive or push through. This is a powerful promise. God, the Everlasting God who does not faint or grow weary… who Created the heavens and everything to the ends of the earth and who’s understanding is unsearchable…  It is He who gives power to the faint. This is a promise we can claim today in Christ. The promise of the power of God that does not only sustain us but lifts us up on wings like eagles. This is the eternal promise given to us. Though today and tomorrow may seem bleak… Though we live in an unprecedented times… and though we do not know how long our time on earth may be… Whatever the future has in store for the faithful… God’s promise remains. 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God. 

So do not worry about tomorrow, about what you will wear or what you will drink. 

But rather seek first the Kingdom of God, which is given to you in Christ and rejoice always in Him. And in that trust, and in that faith may His peace dwell in you richly.  

Red Letters 29: You Cannot Serve Two Masters

I have to admit that coming to terms with the true nature of our hearts is hard to do.  When trying to discern where the treasure of our hearts lie, or whether we are living filled with the light of Christ, it is easy to want to negotiate and maybe self-justify our deeds and actions. I am also well aware that we are often bad judges of our own character.  And so how are we to know and discern the nature of our hearts? This is where Scripture comes in.  Steve Evans wrote:  “The fundamen- tal purpose of God’s Word is to give us true self-knowledge; it is a real mirror, and when we look at ourselves properly in it we see ourselves as God wants us to see ourselves. The assumption behind this is that the purpose of God’s revelation is for us to become transformed, to become the people God wants us to be, but this is impossible until we see ourselves as we really are.”

He bases this off of the passage:

James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

See it’s the word of God that is this great gift given to us and that helps direct us.  It reveals to us the path on which we should be walking as the Holy Spirit does its sanctifying, transforming work in us. And yet, as I shared in last week’s bulletin, it seems that the reading of the Bible is on a decline for most people.  So I want to encourage you again, brothers and sisters: If you have a concern, if you are concerned with wanting to live faithfully, diligently and passionately for the Lord… Then read your Bibles. 

Yes it can be tough. It can be challenging. It is can even be boring. But it is necessary. And it is a good work to devote yourself to reading the Bible, for it is by it that we can begin to truly discern whether our hearts are in fact, postured towards the Cross or to someone/thing else. Without this mirror that Scripture is for us… Without this to measure ourselves to… it is difficult to know who truly is the Lord of our hearts and who is at the centerstage of our lives.  Is it truly Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, that we are worshipping and serving? Or are our hearts directed elsewhere?

This is Jesus’ concern for us today. 

He says:

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

In other translations, most notably in the KJV, money here is read as mammon, which  is a greek word that simply means wealth or material, earthly gain. In other words, you cannot serve God, while living for mammon/earthly gain.  And I think for us living here in Penetanguishene, or Ontario or Canada… This can be a real challenge because many of us have far more than we need.   It is because of this that there is a part of me that envies those who are forced to live simpler lives.  Those with less access to goods and amenities… Less shopping and less internet… Less of all that this world offers. 

What would it be like, I often wonder, to live with the barest of needs, thinking that it would allow me to have a better focused and a better attentiveness to God.  And while I also believe that it is the Lord that blesses us with our homes, and clothes, food and all that we have… I sometimes catch myself feeling like I am “wanting” too much. 

Recently we’ve been having trouble with our dishwasher where the top rack would not clean properly.  We tried cleaning it with vinegar and chemicals with very little improvement. So my wife says that we should buy a new dishwasher. And so the trek begins to research all the dishwashers to see which ones got good reviews, reasonable costs, best features and looked the nicest.

There was an excitement in this: Getting something new! We’ve never bought our own dishwasher before, and I never thought I would be getting excited over buying a household appliance. But the prospect of getting something nice and shiny is of course often very tempting.  But there was also a part of me that thought that this might be overkill. That the dishwasher wasn’t really broken and probably didn’t need replacement. That it could be fixed. 

And so I took apart a few pieces and found something that was clogged up with lego pieces and chunks of food and cleaned it out with the hopes that this would solve the problem… And suddenly the dishwasher was back in perfect working order. 

My wife said “Dang it…. But good job…” with disappointment in her voice. 

With so much around us changing at such a fast pace we are constantly bombarded with new car models, better and faster iPhones, bigger TV screens, ever changing fashion trends and new homes on a yearly basis. And in this kind of climate, it is easy to get swept up in wanting to make more money… So that we could get more things. And we can quickly get enslaved to this consumeristic way of life in more than one way. And while we may think that it is us who takes our gain and our money to make it work for us… Jesus is warning us to not be blinded by this often false assumption. 

When Jesus says no one can serve two masters, the Greek word used for “serve” is actually more an indicative of the work of a slave rather than an employee. In other words, Jesus’ concern is that, while to be a slave to God, in service to Him is good and desirable. While that is what a disciple of Christ is meant to do, and truly what marks the life of a faithful person, obedient and loyal… There is a very real and present danger that our master is not in fact God but rather mammon, material gain, and money. Jesus is saying that it is not only that our hearts are pre-occupied/distracted by these things, but in reality we are in fact enslaved to them. 

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

So the question becomes for us, of the two, which do you hate? And which do you love?
To which will you be devoted to, and to which will you despise?
For Christ, it seems that there is no middle ground here. 
You are either a slave to Christ. Or enslaved by money. 

This is not to say that if you have much, that you are evil and that if you have little, then you are more faithful. That is not what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying that we must be sure to keep Him as King of our hearts.  In fact, God’s very first commandment to His people is “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3. Perhaps when we read this we think of other faiths or religions, other deities or divine beings and spirits.  But Jesus is clear here in that only the Heavenly Father is your god. When anything else takes priority over Him… When we begin to serve anyone or anything else… When we begin to live for whatever it may be that is other than God… Then that, does not only become our idol and the object of our affection but in fact, because that which we are enslaved to. 

Make no mistake. We may often think that we have the power and the wisdom and discernment to know when enough is enough… But we know based on our own track records that we are easily led astray by our greedy and lusting hearts.  I know that that is true for me.  The Bible says that the heart is fickle and deceitful above all things… When Christ is not at the centre of it. And so, Christ reminds us that we must take care to have God remain our true King our true master. 

But for this, we must ask the Lord for His help.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us a posture of submission to Him.  We must learn to come before the Cross and surrender our own desires and the wants of our hearts and say to the Lord that “You are enough.”

Many years ago, I was gifted a hoodie from a Hiphop crew called “God over Money”. And I wore it quite proudly before it started to show it age.  The philosophy behind the musicians and artists was that the glory of God, our service and our worship to God, was and is and will always be more important that money.  And I loved that idea because it reminded me, every time I wore it,that despite circumstances and despite (at the time) being a poor art student, who was unsure of how they were going to make a living…  Having next to nothing to my name other than a lot… a LOT of student debt… That God was, and is, and always will be eternally… enough.  In fact. God is more than enough. 

And to know this and to live like this is a mark of godliness. 

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 

It is this idea, that though there may be nothing wrong with the material wealth we have gained over the years, it must be always be secondary to our contentment with the Lord. 

To know and believe that the Lord is enough and all we need. It is in that knowledge that there is great gain. 

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

It is foolish of us to slave away our lives trying to gain much material and financial wealth when none of it will last. As the Bible famously puts it, we are but a vapour and all that we gain, if it is only of this world… is vanity. 

But to live, in contentment, regardless of our circumstances, as long as we have food and clothing, a place to rest, and as long as we strive to make sure our neighbours and enemies have the same…  Then there is in that contentment in the Lord. And it is in what He has given that there is great gain.  For to live any other way would bring us only sorrow and pain. 

Brother and sisters,  we read in Ecclesiastes this epiphany that the author had:

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

To serve the Lord and to be a slave to the Lord is not a joyless life. It is the most joyful of lives.  It allows us to live in contentment and peace with all that is and all we have today. Knowing that our eternity is secure in Christ and Christ alone.  Whether you have much or little by the standards of this world begins to mean less and less when our eyes are set on the glory that is before us that comes when Christ returns or when Christ calls us home. 

And so examine your hearts by the mirror of Scripture. And let it reveal to you whether you have been enslaved to the trappings of this world.  And in our repentance let us ask the Lord to set us free so that we may serve and love and live for Him as His slaves, His servants, His disciples, worshippers and children. 

Amen.

Red Letters 28: The Lamp of the Body

Red Letters 28 - "The Lamp of the Body"

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Deuteronomy 15:7-11 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Matthew 6:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

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Over the last few weeks we have been going over and over again on this topic of the heart as we continue on our “Red Letter” series.  Jesus keeps pointing to our hearts and telling us to pay special attention to what is in it and this has, hopefully, led us to re-examine our heart and hopefully brought us to repentance about the many things we have hidden away from the eyes of humanity… But that have always been in full view of our omniscient God. By this time some of us might be even thinking “Again with the heart? Ok, Ok I get it” And yet, we must realize that Christ draws our attention to the heart again and again, precisely because of how vitally important it is. 

Last week we read the passage from Proverbs 4:23 which reads in the NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” Jesus is in many many ways reiterating this crucial statement. Everything that you do comes from your heart. And while we may be quick to examine the actions of others and categorize them as noble, good, generous, and kind (or as rude, and stingy, and harsh.)… Or while we may look at our own actions and think to ourselves that I am not that bad of a person because I am pretty polite and kind, and I give my weekly offering and say my prayers and go to church (or watch church), etc…  Jesus warns us that our actions, or the actions of others, are not sufficient evidence towards whether a person is faithful or not. 

This is frightening. Because this means that even those amongst us who may seem to be the most faithful may indeed be the greatest hypocrites. And that those amongst us who may seem to be the most unfaithful, may in secret, be closer to the embrace of God. Jesus tells us, what truly matters is what is at the deepest most secret places in our hearts. 

Today as we read the words of Christ we are told that: 

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

On the surface level, it may seem that Jesus is warning us about what enters into our eyes and what we look at.  It feels like a “see no evil” statement.  And there is of course truth to this, especially in this day and age where we spend so much time consuming media.  There is danger and risk in watching gratuitously sensual or violent shows and movies.  It is toxic to marriages and relationships when a person watches pornography or lusts after others behind closed doors.  What we see certainly impacts the way we think and has the risk of desensitizing us to things that are ungodly. But if we are following Jesus train of thought, and how he was just talking about the heart over and over again, we might feel that we’re not getting the whole picture, so to speak. 

And so we need to understand the cultural idea behind the eye as the ancient Jewish person would have understood it. According to Biblical scholars, the eye was also thought to be directly linked with the heart, which was understood to be the organ of though, desire and emotion (Elliot) It was the eyes that expressed the innermost desires and feelings of the heart. And so when Jesus spoke about having healthy, good, clean, sound, depending on what translation you read…. The implication was deeper than what you are simply allowing yourself to look at. 

When Jesus is speaking of the eye, He is talking about what it reveals about your heart.  As we read, Jesus calls the eye the lamp of the body.  And the purpose of a lamp is to shine outwards, not inwards. According to Jesus, what is therefore in your heart shines out of the lamps of your eyes, and fills your body with light. 

A good eye is connected with living a life of morally good and generous intentions. Loyal in devotion to the Lord. While an evil or dark eye exposes a heart that is turned inwards, with wicked intentions of envy, greed and jealousy.  When your eye is bad, unhealthy, or evil… It marks a heart that is filled with a deep darkness. 

“If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

If we look to the teaching of Jesus, much of it focuses on how we treat others, but more importantly focus us on the intentions behind those acts of generosity and kindness.  Healthy eyes then mark a healthy heart that is filled with the light of Christ.  And while it does show before the people in our actions… It begins with the filling of light of the self in selflessness, moral integrity, generosity and graciousness… In love. 

But a darkened heart will be revealed in the hidden attributes of selfishness, envy, greed and refusal to share one’s means with others. This attitude, though on the service could look to be of goodness and integrity, ultimately leads to the harm of others, and of our relationships. No darkness, and no sin, is hidden for long. As Christ calls forward our sin, so that we may be lead to repentance, one way or the other. Jesus here is not merely concerned with the actions of a person, whether good or bad but by the nature of a persons heart. 

He calls the attentive listener to examine our inner lights… to determine whether, by the temptations and struggles of this world we have allowed our inner light to darken. Or whether we are by faith continuing to proclaim for ourselves the reality that Jesus says about us in Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” The light is meant to shine forth in, through and out of us. 

As Paul writes to the church of Corinth,the generosity and compassion towards others that reveals the light within us does a two-fold work.  In our good deeds, we know that “whoever sows bountifully, will also reap bountifully” and that it leads to our “being enriched in every way so that you can be generous in every way, which through us will reduce thanksgiving to God.” 

And so by our living and serving and giving, we are given more so that  we can continue to be generous in every way! And it is in this that others will come to glorify God “…because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others…”

There is then a direct correlation between our desire to give and serve and pour out of ourselves for others and the grasp that the Gospel of Christ has on our hearts. There is a direct correlation between how truly generous, humble, selfless, generous, and pious we are and how the gospel of Christ truly indwells us. 

If you ask me… this causes me to seriously pause and re-examine my heart, and the intention between all that I do. For those of you who’ve had children, have you ever caught yourself being “better parents” when you have company? When no one is looking your tone is sharp, your voice is loud and your gaze can turn any brave soul into stone… But when you have visitors, all of a sudden your tone is soft, your voice is pleasant and your gaze can blossom and melt the harden heart… I ask because I know I do! It’s like a bad drug, hearing that you are such a good parent. And that is a terrible thing for me to say.  Because as much as I absolutely love, love, love, my children… When it comes to the way I act in front of others, my heart and my eyes, as pleasant and gentle as they may look in front of others is darkened by my selfishness and pride. 

As God, even way back in Deuteronomy, speaks to His people about being generous towards others and about not begrudging how we can give to help others, He says: “…Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart.”

Brother and sisters, who can judge the heart but God alone?

Perhaps at times we breath a sigh of relief over this, for we know that the Lord is gracious and kind towards us and our iniquities. But at the same time, is that not cause for a greater conviction towards taking care of our hearts? How is your heart today? Is it filled with the light of Christ? Or have we allowed fear and anxiousness creep in and darken our eyes…

In these times where it seems that its getting harder and harder to know the true motivation and nature behind the actions of people let us be kind towards others, and patient, while first considering how we can take care, lest there be an unworthy thought in our hearts. All while knowing that in Christ that there is a powerful reality promised to us:

1 Thessalonians 5: 4-10 reads: “4 …you are not in darkness, brothers and sisters…5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. … since we belong to the day, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

The joy of serving the Lord is that we know, that while His word will compel and convict us of all the ways we are so lacking and have fallen so short of His glory, we, not by our own doing, and not by our own efforts, but from the gift of free grace of God, are saved from the darkness, and have obtained salvation as children of the Light of Christ. 

And so let us hold firmly to this truth and ask today that the Lord would fill us by His light.  So that indeed we can live in a manner that honours Him and brings all the world to glorify Him. 

In Jesus name. 

Amen. 

Red Letters 27: "For Where Your Treasure Is..."

Red Letters 27 - "For Where Your Treasure Is..."

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Jeremiah 17:5-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength,
whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10 “I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

1 Peter 1:3-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Matthew 6:19-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

* * *

When people ask me what I like to do, I get a little sheepish talking about how I like things like scratch DJing and beatmaking, drawing mostly game and comic characters, and nerdy things like cartoons and old video games. But while I treasure some of these old games and items from my past, I of course have a limit to how much I can spend on such hobbies.  Each month my wife gives me an allowance that I can spend on personal things like this and there are no questions asked… as long as I stay within budget!  And so depending on whether I’m in a season for records, or DJ equipment, or old retro video games… When I get my allowance (and even well before) my mind goes straight to “what next thing will I get?”  

I see this in my children as well. We just got them that Lego set they’ve been talking about for months and already they’re asking for another…?!?! (My wife says I’m just like them…)

As people, I think we are all like this towards the things we treasure, which is different for each of us.  For some, we treasure our cars, our homes, our fine dining sets or our clothes. We all have hobbies and things that we enjoy. And while the Lord provides us with much of creation for us to find joy in this life… Today Christ gives us a warning about the risk of treasuring them so. 

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

For the last several weeks we have been looking at how Christ was getting us to look inwards and in to our hearts. He tells us very plainly that it is not so much what you do that matters, but what is at the very root (or the heart) of why you do thing. He speaks on hypocrisy, anger, lust, divorce, making oaths, revenge and retaliation… About pride and arrogance, on giving, and praying and fasting… all while asking us to examine why do we do all these things in the first place. Where does the motivation or conviction come to live the way we are living?

Christ tells us, it all comes from the heart. 

In Mark 7:15 Jesus sums this up when He says: “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”” And even the Proverbs 4:23 tell us to “…guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”. This is the heart of the matter (pun intended). And today Jesus tells us that what you treasure, that which you value and treasure most, determines where your heart is. 

And so Jesus is then asking us: Where is… or perhaps what is your treasure? Is your treasure here on Earth? Where the elements and time will eventually cause it to fade away and where nothing is truly safe from vandalism, destruction or theft? Or is your treasure that which cannot be destroyed… That which can not be distorted or corrupted? Is your treasure stored up in heaven, where it is safe, secure, and eternal?

This question can be challenging to answer because we are faced with the reality that often, our treasures are in fact here on earth. The material things that we accumulate, the reputation we have, the power and authority we have gained or the wealth we have obtained, the houses and gardens we are so proud of… We have spent so much of our time and energy and effort (and allowances!) towards them… that these objects begin to a hold a special place in our lives. And once again.. I do not necessarily think that this is inherently bad… But when these “treasures” come to consume so much of our lives then there our hearts will be. 

Jesus drawing our attention to what is in hearts is nothing new.  It has been a matter of great concern to the Lord all throughout Scriptures. And when Jesus is pointing this out to us, He is reminding us that there is a cost and a consequence to when we put our trust in or when we treasure the things of the earth above the Lord. 

Jeremiah 17:5
5 Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
    and makes flesh his strength,
    whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He is like a shrub in the desert,
    and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
   in an uninhabited salt land.

When a person trusts in the things of this world, there is a negative impact on their life. It is dry. It is exhausting. It is unquenching and unforgiving.  Matthew Henry, a Biblical Commentator from the late 1600s puts it this way: “There is a burden of care in getting riches; fear of keeping them temptation in using them guilt of abusing them; sorrow in losing them and a burden of account at last to be given concerning them.” To treasure the vain and fleeting things of this world, is then not so much a pleasure, as much as it is a burden. And can, if we are not careful and if we are not repentful of this, become a trap.

But on the flip side of this, Jeremiah writes that to those who treasure the Lord there is great, great blessings.

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
8 He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
   for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Did you catch that? When we trust the Lord and when the Lord becomes our treasure… We are like a tree planted by streams of living water. This is echoing the words of Psalm 1 which talks about the one who delights/treasures the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night. We become a tree that does not fear when heat, or cold or poverty or sickness or plague comes, for its leaves remain green. And in the year of drought… it is not anxious! And even in the year of drought it does not cease to bear fruit.  This is the promise for the one who treasures the Lord, who’s treasure is stored up in heaven. 

But it also comes with a warning:

9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
    and desperately sick;
    who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
    and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
   according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Where is your heart today? What is in your heart? When the Lord searches your heart… what will He find?

Let us come to Christ today and ask that the Spirit examine our hearts and rekindle our reverence and love for the Lord… That we may come to lay up our treasures in the kingdom of heaven

Knowing that by faith alone in Christ, our treasure is, as written in 1 Peter 1: “3…According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The treasure that we have received from Christ, the gift of free grace that redeems us from our sin and from God’s wrath, is the one true treasure that cannot be destroyed, that is safe and secure, that is everlasting, and we will never be robbed of. 

Brothers and sisters so then be reminded that…

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

May the treasure of our hearts, be with one and true Christ, who has come to give Himself up for us in the greatest gift of all so that we may live to enjoy Him both now and forever and ever. 

Amen.

Red Letters 25b: "Pray Then Like This..."

Red Letters 26: Fast in Secret

Red Letters 25: Pray in Secret

Red Letters 25 - "Pray in Secret"

* * *

2 Chronicles 7:11-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house, he successfully accomplished. 12 Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

1 Peter 5:6-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Matthew 6:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

* * *

Last week's message and this weeks is connected with the common theme of doing things “in secret.” In fact there are specifically three things that Jesus says we ought to do in secret: giving, praying, and fasting.  However we must be reminded that doing something in secret is not about hiding every good deed we do, but rather about the condition and attitude of our hearts.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus says, give in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you.  Then Jesus continues this line of thought when He speaks about prayer.  He says do not pray like those who love to stand and pray in the synagogues or churches, at the street corners that they may be seen by others.  But go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

Jesus is calling us to examine the intention of our hearts when we pray. He is not saying only pray in secret, just as he did not say only give in secret. 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Why do we pray?

How do we pray? 

When and where do we pray?

Do you pray in order to be seen by others? Do you pray most passionately and eloquently in front of others so that you may be seen and told "oh you pray so well!”? Do you pray only when gathered in a place of worship?  Do you experience the temptation to feel like you’ve done your due diligence in terms of "prayers for the week" once Sunday comes and goes?

While we could look at this passage and talk at length about the issue Jesus has with showy religious rituals and practices that go no deeper than being just for show… We actually find ourselves in an odd time because we aren't gathering in our synagogues (sanctuaries) and we have lost the street corners where some have been tempted to pray to be seen.  For the past 4-5 months we have been at home where suddenly, we no longer have such a platform if you will.  So how are we to read this passage for such a time as this?

Well based on what Jesus is saying here about the hypocrites who pray just to be seen… 

We could assume that ff you remove the audience and the public places where they would lift their voices with many eloquent and boisterous words… Then suddenly their motivation for prayer would be gone.  If there is no one to watch them, then why pray?

Jesus is then calling us to examine our hearts and attitudes to prayer and telling us that prayer is not a function of tradition or ritual or religion.  Jesus is saying that is something that happens in the intimate relationship between you and God.  I think for many of us, this pandemic has brought to the surface much truth about what we believe about God.  Have we found ourselves, in the midst of all the anxiety and fear, but at peace because we trust in the Lord who is faithful?Have we found ourselves, in the midst of being alone for so long, yet being comforted by the presence of the Lord Jesus who is closer to us than the very air we breath? Have we believed in the Lord and that His good will is being unfolded before us, even when we do not see nor understand? Have we found ourselves coming to the Lord in prayer, despite not being seen or recognized for our faith?

How we have come to handle our prayer life now?

How we are handling how we come to the Lord, in His word and in His prayer now will reveal to us whether we have truly valued our relationship with Him, or whether we have been valuing the traditions and practices of our religion over Him. Without our public gathering of worship. Do you find yourself praying more, or do you find yourself praying less? I hope it is the former… Especially in this time where so much of what we had depended upon has taken a backseat to the Coronavirus. 

Ewan’s, our youngest, favourite Bible story is the story of Daniel and the Lions den (Probably only because there are lions.) But the more and more I read this story, the more I become amazed at Daniel's faithfulness in prayer.  If you remember the story, despite being an exile in the land of Babylon, Daniel rose up the ranks in the kingdom and people grew jealous of this Israelite. They convinced the King to create a law that prohibited anyone from praying to any one or any other god other than the king himself for 30 days with the penalty of being thrown in the Lion's den. Daniel, despite his position and knowing the new law, continued to pray three times a day as he always did. Daniel did not pray to be seen by others. And even facing the risk of death, continued to pray. 

Prayer, like many things about our faith, is unnatural.  Sinners are not inclined to pray. The dead and the cursed, the evil and wicked, are not inclined to pray.  It is only by the Spirit of God that prayer comes with intentionality and by choice. And many of us may have used for so long the excuse of being unable to set time aside to pray because we have been so busy. But that excuse has come to hold a lot less water these days has it not?

And yet, even I find myself struck at Daniel's faithfulness in his praying.  “Three times a day??” I have a hard time remembering to pray before every meal! I grabbed some lunch at McDonald's the other day with my three boys and we all started eating and halfway through my burger Ewan pipes up and says  “We no God!” (Translation: We didn’t pray!)… He’s two… And already he's more faithful than I. 

The thing about prayer, is that it is in itself an act of love and an act of humility.  On one hand, it is the choice we have to make to meet with a person we love and have a conversation with them.  In our love for them, we desire to listen and speak and share our lives with them in conversation and in each others presence.  But more importantly perhaps for us now, is that prayer is act that says that I depend on the Lord for all my needs. 

With where we live in Canada, many of us can go days, weeks, months and maybe even years without ever experiencing any real material needs. And so we have come to turn to our bank accounts to fill our needs. And while it is not that having material blessings is a bad thing... It certainly can reveal in our hearts whether we depend on the world first, or if we depend on the Lord first. 

After Solomon builds the temple the Lord tells him:

 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

This is the pre-requisite of prayer: Humility.

When Jesus says give in secret. It is to do so humbly. 

When Jesus says pray in secret. It is to do so humbly. 

It is in our humility that God wants to meet us.  And it is in our humility that we can in fact meet with Him. It is the secret humble prayers, and the pray-ers on whom the eyes, ears and heart of the Lord is upon. 

As we examined last week, it is difficult to meet with and be obedient to God and to meet with others when we have hardened and proud hearts. But to come before the Lord in secret with bare and vulnerable hearts… That is what Jesus cherishes. We don't need to "know what to say"

We don't need to pray in a manner that has to sound like how a minister prays or how this person prays… The only prerequisite here for prayer before the Lord is to come with sincerity and with humility… Knowing that we do not need to babble on with many words, for the Lord who cares for you, already knows all that you need. 

1 Peter 5:6-10
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

We may then be tempted to wonder, if God already knows what I need… Why do I need to pray?

Why not just give us all that we need and save us from our suffering? It is simply because to come before the Lord in prayer marks the heart that is willing to put their faith in, to trust in Him… A heart that is willing to entrust its deepest pains, hopes and secrets in to Him.

Brothers and sisters, will you answer Christ's invitation? To be the humble who come to the throne of Grace with hands stretched out, and even on our knees, asking for the Lord's mercy, graciousness and blessings? We are already very much in our rooms, locked away from the world. Will you then come to him in secret and in prayer?

Entrusting that your Father who sees in secret will reward you?

May this unusual time bring about the fruit of passionate and humble prayers in your life.

Amen.

Red Letters 24: Give in Secret

From the time that God gave the Israelites the Law we have been seeing that God, who is just, merciful and kind, has a deep concern for the marginalized and for the poor.  In the law He makes provisions for the poor and for the foreigner, for the slave, for the orphans and widows. Which is interesting because he is speaking to a group of people who have for 400 years been enslaved. They were in fact the poor and oppressed, so they should know that God cares for them. And yet God through Moses must remind them of this, while they are in the midst of the wilderness, not long after their exodus. God says to remember that I am the LordThat I saved and brought you out of Egypt; out of bondage and slavery. And so as I have been kind and gracious to you, as I have been generous to you. Be kind and generous to the poor. 

7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

The story of the Exodus is regarded as the story of Salvation for the Israelites. 

So much so that even in Christ’s ministry, the Gospel and New Testament point back to the Exodus, saying that Christ is the new and perfect Moses. So when God says to the Israelites, His covenant people,

to not harden your hearts and when your brother or sister is in need, to give to them sufficiently and generously, He is calling them to remember…  To remember where they came from just weeks before…To remember that they were the poor and needy. And to not harden their hearts as Pharaoh did, who refused to let them go. 

God is saying, you who were captive and have nothing, have now been given freedom by my hand. 

And when you enter into the promise land will have all that you need… in your freedom… In your prosperity… Do not forget where you came from and do not become like those who have oppressed you. The Lord puts this down in the Law because He knows how fickle the heart of humanity is. 

Pharaoh, even after losing his first born child… Who, in the grief and sorrow that he called upon himself by having a stubborn heart towards God, only hours after having sent the Israelites away… changed his mind. 

God knows our capricious hearts!

And so…

9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

So we can see that this particular law around giving to the needy and to the poor is closely tied to the great act of salvation for the Israelites.  And it is no different for Jesus. 

Jesus says:

Matthew 6:1-4

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

By now we know that Jesus does not so much only care that we do good, but that His concern is about the intention, heart and the motivation behind all acts. He says beware of practicing your righteousness in order to be seen. In other words even if you are to do the greatest, kindest, generous acts, if you are doing it being motivated by pride, by arrogance, by self-righteousness or by ego, then they are moot.  Jesus says if you practice your righteousness in order to be seen by people, then “…you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." 

Scholars say that the greek term used for reward is a commercial term which means to be paid ones wages or to be “paid-in-full” This is important for us to really pay attention to, because what is Jesus saying…?

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jesus is saying the same thing that God was saying to the Israelites. There is a very, very close relationship between our humble and genuine generosity and the reward that the Father gives us. Jesus is saying then to us… Remember! Remember that you are more sinful and flawed that you ever dared believe and that you were enslaved to death, cursed in sin. But that you are given freedom and redemption in Christ love and grace that frees you from the chains and bondage of evil. 

Therefore!

Give in secret.

Be generous. 

Be kind. 

In other words, our generosity ought to be motivated… Not to be recognized by others… Not so that we can boast about how much we give…  But our generosity and compassion should be motivated by

and should mirror, the immense generosity of our Lord and Saviour who GENEROUSLY and LAVISHLY gave us His grace when He gave up the priceless cost of His life to redeem and save us. 

That is the reward that Jesus talking about! This reward is not given to the hypocrite or the fake philanthropist. This reward is not for the proud or the arrogant and egotistical. This reward is meant for those who give and live giving of themselves with the right, faithful, grateful heart that can only be made by the grace of God. 

Now to do our givings in secret does not mean that we should always hide every good deed that we do. 

But that we pray and do… not with hardened hearts that pinches every penny….

And not with the equally condemnable proud and gloating heart… Both which seek to glorify the self… But to do all things to glorify God and the Gospel of Christ.

This past week, a great Canadian voice and advocate for reformed theology who is considered to be one of the most influential evangelicals in North America, J. I. Packer, passed away at the age of 93.  During a fairly recent interview, Packer was asked if he had any final words to the church. After a 10-second pause he said “Glorify Christ.” Then adding “Every way”.

Our generosity, not only in our actual givings but in the sharing of our lives and livelihood, ought to point to Christ… Every good deed… Every kind word… Every act of love…  ought to be done for the glory of Christ. That is the goal, the purpose, the design of the Church: to Glorify Christ. Every way. 

Brothers and sisters, in all that you do, is your heart motivated by the deep desire to glory Christ?

1 Timothy 6:17-19

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

You may think that this does not apply to you because you might not feel “rich” by worldly standards, but this is speaking to each of us because, whether you believe it or not, we are the rich! Look around you!

Richness is measured in far more ways that in material possessions. But even then we recognize that we are rich in health, in comfort and in resources. We live safely in the midst of this pandemic with food, beds, clothes, and a roof over our heads. It’s been reported that 1 in 5 children in Canada are at risk to go to school hungry. 785 million people don’t have access to clean water. 1 in 9 people, 821 million people go to bed hungry each night. There are many even here in our communities who are lonely and despairing.

There is much to do around the world.  Some of us will feel called to sponsor a child… to give to global charities such as PWS&D, World Vision, Compassion or Charity: Water

But there is just as much to do in our nation and even in our communities. There are those in need, whether for food, for drink, for a place to rest, for a friend, right here!

While there are many ways to be rich… There are always many ways we are poor…

11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

So then brothers and sisters let us repent of the great sin of our self-centeredness , knowing the Christ calls us as those who have received the gift of His grace, to be lavish in our generosity and in our love for others as He lavishly gave himself up for us, giving all that He was so that we could have all that was His.

And let us continue, or begin, as the rich who have enjoyed so much of God’s blessings, to be the ones who choose to do good.  To be rich… not only in our materials, not only in our friendships, not only in our hearts… but also in good works, being generous and always ready to share of ourselves.

Let us not store up for ourselves vain treasures here on earth that will only fade, but store up for ourselves treasure that will never perish. Treasure that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord, who is our future and who is our life.

Amen.

Red Letters 23: Love, Pray & Be Perfect

As we have seen in the last few weeks, Jesus has continued to elevate the standards of the law to one that is absolutely holy.  This is revealed no clearer than in what He says in our passage today. Jesus says “You… must be perfect.”  And in the context of what He just said about loving our enemies, we realize that perfection is not simply just not getting angry, or not being lustful, or not being unfaithful… There is something more than how we act. Perfection is only achieved and fulfilled when love becomes the foundation of all our deeds and words. 

Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We could have everything from all knowledge, wisdom, humility, and generosity… We could even give away our very lives to be burned… But none of this means anything if it is not made complete, with love. Jesus tells us that in order to be made perfect, (the idea of perfection here being the fulfilling or coming into completion of ones ultimate goal) we must love our neighbours and our enemies. 

Jesus point out for us that it is easy for us to love those who love us and that doing so does not set us apart in any special way. The whole world and all who live in it does this with ease! But recall that the people of God were called to be holy, perfect, and set apart, so that they could reveal God’s glory and love.  They were to be holy and perfect, because God is holy and perfect. And we do not reveal God’s glory by loving those who love us, but by loving those that this world would deem the unlovable. Love your enemies. 

However we must take care in how we understand this.  Because when we think of our neighbours and enemies, we are fairly clear on who these people are.  Our neighbours are those we interact with or often run in to.  While our enemies remain those we may feel angry or bitter towards, perhaps even disdain. But even in our act of trying to figure out who very well are our neighbours and enemies can be problematic. Jesus’ call is one to perfection and when He says this, He is pointing to God who loves and desires for all of His children to be reconciled to Him through Christ. And in this, He shows no partiality. 

James writes: 

9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Jesus’ concern is not JUST with those who love us, or even the ones we would deem our enemies. But to them and perhaps especially all of them who are in between these two groups. The thing about our loved ones, and our enemies is that they hold a place in our hearts and minds. There’s this Korean word “shingyung”  that you can use to describe how a person occupies your mind. If it’s someone you love, your attention goes to them in an almost bothersome way.  Which is natural for someone you dislike whom you’d like to forget them but can’t.  Both our loved ones and our enemies do this. And so when we read this. When we read that we must not only love our neighbours but also our enemies, we develop a fairly clear idea of who fits into these two categories. 

But you have to understand that for most of the Jewish people, anyone who was not one of them, was the enemy.  Whether they be Romans, Philistines, Caananites, Amorites, or Gentiles did not matter.  If you were not an Israelite, you were not one of the chosen of God. Therefore you were an enemy. 

This is different for us, because we do not consider everyone outside of our neighbours and loved ones as an enemy.  And while we can think of those we love, and those we consider our enemies, we must recognize that there is a group amongst the people around us that we are apathetic, and indifferent to.  That there are people we just don’t think about, at all.  They are the forgotten and left behind. They are those who get omitted from our conversations and thoughts.  And this is simply because we are partial to those we like. Or even partial in the way we hate.  So when Jesus says love your neighbours and your enemies, the ancient Jewish person would have understood that this meant everyone.

James gives us a severe warning here. He writes that if you show any partiality you are committing sin, and regardless of how well you uphold the rest of the Law, if you fail even in this one point you have become guilty of all the Law. Jesus says that your neighbour is more than those you love or who love you. Your neighbour are the passerbys, the poor and the sojourners. Jesus says that your enemies are not only those you hate, but you have made an enemy of anyone you are ignorant towards. 

Even from back in Leviticus, God makes a provision for these that society have forgotten. We read that everyone, the alien and the foreigner, was to be considered our neighbours and that we must love our neighbours as ourselves.  But the ancient Jewish Israelite would have taken this and shown partiality to those closest to them.  Loving their neighbours is easy when they are people you love and are partial to anyway! But Jesus is once again elevating the standard here. 

Jesus is not talking about loving “enough. He is talking about loving perfectly. 

It is that your faith is incomplete…
Your religious life is meaningless…
If you have not love. 

According to Jesus, you must have love…

Love for your friends, and family. 
Love for the poor and the forgotten. 
Love for those you hate and despise.
Love for those who hate you and, not only despise, but persecute you. 

Jesus has a problem with how the religious leaders, and the people were living, going about caring for their closed circle of friends and families,  while being indifferent and apathetic to the people they were, often knowingly, cutting out. In their desire to maintain their core group, their clique and their position of comfort and power, people were being left behind. And this was not Jesus’ way. 

To follow Jesus is to not only acknowledge, but to dignify and make space for those who are not amongst the wealthy, or the favored, or the popular. The Law that was given had set this up for us when it was written

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

God made a provision from the very beginning for the poor and for the sojourner.  God teaches us that it is about leaving space in our lives, at our tables, in our sanctuaries, in our hearts for those we have been prone to forget or dismiss. Because it does not matter how much of the Bible we read, or how often we pray, or how much we give in our offerings, or what religious practices we follow… None of this matters if we are living a faith that lacks a Christ-like love for others. Christ showed us what this looks like.  Christ showed that it required true self-sacrifice.

He showed this to us when, instead of doing what He wanted, which was to have the cup of suffering pass from Him, gave Himself to obedience to what God wanted. And He did this in His love for us, we who were still His enemies. (Romans 5:10)

And then, in the midst of His suffering and final breathes prays for us saying: “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do” How have we been living in a manner where we know not what we have done to those who have been left behind in our partiality?

I know that as a strong introvert, I have a very small amount of people that I can care for at any given time. My capacity to love others is tiny and frankly embarrassing.  But know that this is the natural inclination of humanity.  And while some of us might have a larger capacity than others, it remains that we can easily love those who love us and hate those who hate us. 

But Jesus is inviting us into a different way of living, where we come to care for all people. And to be honest, that is hard and frankly impossible, for our love is small and fickle. 

But when Jesus calls us to be perfect… We know that it He does not leave us on our own to do so. How could we ever? No, rather it is only in Him that we can be made perfect.  It is only in Him that we can be made complete.  It is only by His love and strength, that we can love others as perfectly as He. 

And so we have much to pray about.  We must repent of all the ways in which we are consciously and unconsciously being partial to the people God has placed us amongst. We must repent knowing that we are far from perfect, while knowing that we are also being made perfect in Christ.  And we must pray that the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God would teach us about this love, and how to embody it and live it.  Let us ask he Lord to teach us how we can make space in our self-centred lives for others… To make longer tables… And create space for those beyond our friends and families… for those in our communities we forget about… and for those our enemies with whom we have long refused to eat with. 

Amen. 

Red Letters 22: Turn the Other Cheek

Leviticus 24:17-23

17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. 18 Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. 21 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. 22 You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the Lord your God.” 23 So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.

Romans 12:17-21

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5: 38-42

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

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Wherever you turn these days, there is a lot of talk about injustice.  All we see on the social media is discussions and videos on systematic social injustices particularly towards the marginalization of races, blacks and indigenous people of colour. In light of these events, that have really only brought to the forefront problems that have been hidden in plain sight for generations, the Presbyterian Church in Canada has released a statement condemning and calling for an end to systemic racism and violence, particularly against Indigenous peoples in Canada. The statement, which can be found at the end of this package, mourns the 9 indigenous individuals who lost their lives during police encounters between April 8 and June 19th. The statement includes the line: “God calls the church to seek and work for justice in the world which is seen when we strive to change customs and practices that oppress and harm others.”

As the church, the Bible tells us much about justice and particularly about how just God is. It invites us, because we serve a just God, to live justly. And in revealing to us that God is just, we are shown that it is in obedience to the laws of God that Israel were to show the world His nature. Today as we read in the Old Testament, God had very specific rules about justice and morality: A life for a life, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. This was a law that applied not just the Jewish people but to the alien and sojourner as well.  And we can surmise that this was more about making sure that the punishment fit the crime rather than giving people the freedom to retaliate in any way they felt justified, thus leaving a risk to pay back a crime with a punishment too severe.  This is important because it reminds us that God is just. 

However, as we look closer to what Jesus is saying, because he seems to speak to us here

by elevating the laws people used to justify their actions in retaliation or in seeking restitution, and giving us a new standard. Because, as we have been learning, Jesus’ concern is always about what happens in the heart of the individual. Jesus says, whether you are wronged, forced, whether you have been struck on the cheek, that though the law may allow for retaliation, you are called to live differently, ultimately leaving vengeance up to God. 

Why?

Because the heart of a person is fickle and wicked. 

It’s actually a reality that is revealed to us all throughout the Scriptures. As a people, our hearts are too hard to be truly just. The Pharaoh’s heart, in defiance to God, was hard.  The people of Israel in the wilderness after having been given the law, Moses says, were unable to keep the law because of the hardness of their heart. And Ezekiel says that if people were to ever obey the law, the Spirit of God would need to come and soften our hard hearts. 

Jesus cares for more than just the morality behind our actions. But the heart behind, and under, and at the core of every action we make. 

And with human nature, apart from Jesus who makes it possible for us to be obedient through his obedience… apart from Jesus who makes it possible for us to love through his love… From our hearts comes out nothing but our wickedness. Remember, Jesus says, to even call someone a fool or to be angry is the same as murder… To look at someone with lust is adultery…To make any oath beyond just saying yes or no leads to unfaithfulness…

It is our hearts, and the wickedness of our hearts, that Jesus is pointing to. And as virtuous as we may be on the outside, we know that inside we are often tempted to want to retaliate against others who do us wrong. Revenge is often on the mind of sinners.

In this day in age, even the legal system makes it so that retaliation has become a right. It seems like anyone can sue anyone for just about anything! And while often that judicial system will try to give the victim restitution in a fair way… This does not get to the heart of the matter. Because the heart of the sinner will worry less about the actual punishment or pay out that fits the crime, but will rather desire the quenching of our thirst for vengeance. 

I’ve never been in a fist fight, but I have a friend who said that the only thing that matters to him in a fight is getting one good punch in. Regardless of who ‘won’ or not, that was enough for him. We as people have these weird standards and in our vindictiveness we do some silly childish things. Have you ever been upset at someone who honks at you and speeds passed you, then find yourself gloating over them when they end up getting stuck behind a slower car as you drive by? Our barometer for what is just and right is skewed at best, if not completely distorted. 

And that is the concern that Jesus has for the persons heart. The laws themselves were perfect and just. But we, and sin, were twisting them to be about our own justification and to bring about our own satisfaction. And while sin has hardened our hearts in this way, Jesus’ is revealing to us that our hearts were created not to be hard, but to be soft. Where our old and hard hearts would be more concerned for my rights and my restitution and my wants and my needs…. Jesus is saying no.

To live as a child of God, a follower and disciple of Christ has a greater cost. It requires the great cost of humility and self-sacrifice. Jesus says if someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to them the other cheek. If someone takes your shirt, give them your coat as well. If someone forces you to walk a mile then go two miles with them. If someone begs then give and lend generously

This kind of living was, and is still two-thousand years later, radical. By the standards of this world it is illogical and absolutely crazy. But Jesus is saying to do this! That if someone strikes you on the face… To turn the other cheek! I’m sure you can imagine just how much resolve and how much will power this must take to not retaliate. I see it in my children all the time! Most recently, child A drew child B without an arm and child B got upset enough that he pinched child A who then proceeded to wail. If you asked me, this was not a just punishment.  But what would it look like in this moment for child A to have turned the other cheek?

People say children are born innocent, but I have to wonder what kind of angelic children they have encountered. Because, at least in my household, revenge seems to be one of the hardest things to unteach them. Who taught them about it in the first place?!

Paul expands on Jesus words for us by letting us know that in the face of injustices, revenge is not the answer, and that retaliation is not our response. He pleads… beloved, never avenge yourself! For vengeance belongs to God. He pushes this even further by saying that If your enemy is hungry, feed him… Thirsty give him something to drink… And by concluding to not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. 

Serve the wicked. 

Serve the evil. 

Serve the abuser

The oppressor. 

With good. 

With love. 

Turn the other cheek.

If they take your shirt, give them your coat as well

If they force you to walk one mile, go two. 

Be generous to all. Even your enemy. 

But as wonderful as this sounds, we must know this: To turn the other cheek is not the normal response. This is not an easy response. In fact it is an unnatural response. To do so goes against every fibre of our being!

This kind of a response is one that is loving, full of graciousness, merciful and forgiving.

And these are all the things that Jesus modelled for us in His life and ministry. 

And then empowered us to live out through the Spirit of God that lives in us. 

Yes, to turn the other cheek is unnatural for the sinner. But becomes our response when our very nature is transformed by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit who was sent to soften and renew our hard hearts so that we may live in loving obedience to this grace giving God. 

Amen. 

Red Letters 21: Simply say Yes or No

Red Letters 20: On Divorce

Red Letters 20 - "On Divorce"

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Deuteronomy 5:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today, and you shall learn them and be careful to do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. 
4 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, 5 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said:
6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Matthew 5:31-32 English Standard Version (ESV)

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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I will be honest… This is the sermon that has so far scared me the most.  This is because I know the realities of our society these days where, unfortunately, divorce happens.  Yet it is something that I do not have much experience with and so this is not an easy topic for me. But I trust that the Lord will guide our hearts as we look at these passages together. 

Last week as we explored what Jesus had to say about lust. We touched briefly on how God created man and woman to be in a union a covenant relationship which is meant to echo and symbolize the relationship between Christ and the Church.  And so Biblically we know that this was God’s design and intention for marriage and that in it’s healthiest place a marriage was supposed to be a God glorifying union of self-giving and self-sacrifice… of love and generosity… of respect and protection… A bond that was to point to God in it’s holiness and in it’s beauty. 

However, we know that when the curse of sin entered into humanity it distorted and tainted everything that was meant to be good and beautiful became… not so. We must, however, be reminded that this is precisely why Jesus came.  Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of sin because we were (and are) incapable of doing it on our own. And so as Jesus preaches, we recognize that though He is elevating the standard of holy, righteous living, He does so with the added promise that it is in Him that all things would be fulfilled.  So we remember that while He preached on anger, and lust, and adultery, and on divorce… He also sat with the sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes.  He sat with the very people who should have no place amongst the righteous because He was the one who would be their gateway to holiness. 

Last week we examined what Jesus said about looking at a person with lust and how it was the same as committing adultery in ones heart. Jesus says that to anyone who divorces their wife, except on the ground of adultery, causes His wife to commit adultery, and that whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. These two statements from Christ on adultery are often linked together, because they both address the sinners tendency to be unfaithful. On the surface it seems like Jesus has it out for anyone who divorces. But we must remember that Jesus’ concerns are always deeper than the surface level concerns that we have.  He was looking at the heart of the matter rather than the ink on the pages so to speak. He was looking at how divorce was being manipulated for personal benefit and elevated it to a higher standard.

For the ancient Israelites, the law of divorce was used and abused for the benefit of the man.  And you’ll notice that Jesus is particular in speaking primarily to men here because in those days it was a patriarchal society, where the men would take the law of Deuteronomy that states that a man could write a certificate of divorce for a woman and took advantage of that for that for any number of reasons. Ultimately benefiting the man rather than the woman.  However, the law was never meant to be of more benefit for the man over the woman. In fact the law was never meant to benefit anyone over the other! But that was how the law was being used, for personal benefit.  Which is something we continue to do even today. 

From the beginning the Bible says that God created both men and women to live in a union, a marriage, that honoured one another. And in doing so, pointing to the mystery of Christ as the groom and the Church as His bride. This is Jesus’ problem with divorce.  Perhaps then it is not so much that Jesus has a problem with divorce itself, but Jesus has a problem with the sin of unfaithfulness. 

Jesus says don’t divorce because His concern is beyond an ethical question of what is permissible or not. Jesus says don’t divorce because divorce was never meant to be an option.  In fact, God’s design, if untainted by sin, would have led to a world where every marriage was created and ordained by God to be the beautiful God glorifying relationship He intended.  

And so Jesus is saying that that was the goal. 

That was the standard. 

That God’s good design was a design of faithfulness.

Faithfulness to God.

Which would flow out into a faithfulness to one another. 

But then sin came in and introduced selfishness, jealousy, anger, resentment, sadness, anxiety, shame, abuse and violence.  It introduced adultery. All of which would destroy faithfulness. All of which would make a joke out of the God-centred holy covenant relationship of marriage.

I think at this point it would be important to say that we can not make a broad general statement about divorce. It would be difficult to say that no matter what kind of situation a person is in, divorce is never the right thing to do.  I believe to say such a thing would be unloving and ungracious to many who have had to endure the pain that divorce causes. 

Wayne Grudem, a leading complementarian theologian wrote an article on why, though he once defended the traditional protestant view of “no divorce on any grounds other than adultery or desertion” has since changed his mind.  And his writing is an example of why it is so vital that we learn to interpret Scripture through the Scripture. As Christians, we must learn to look, never myopically at just a single page or passage, but to always look at how they fit in the grand picture of God’s whole word.

Grudem does this for us and points to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 as an argument that there are grounds that may legitimize divorce…

1 Corinthians 7:15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 

Grudem’s focus is on the words “In such cases” which he discovered in the greek to appear nowhere else in the Bible, but looking at other contemporary Greek literature was used to signify similar situations.  So the words “in such cases” could be then understood to mean “and in any cases that similarly destroy a marriage” as adultery or desertion. So if every attempt to restore an abusive marriage has not helped to bring reconciliation in the marriage from violence, harm and humiliation, and the damage and ongoing threat is incorrigible… whatever it the circumstances remain that could potentially destroy a marriage as much as adultery or desertion… May in fact be grounds for divorce. 

We look at Jesus, who though condemning the sin of adultery, sat with sinners, and dined with tax collectors and prostitutes. Then we know that His graciousness… would understand if one had to make the difficult, but prayerful choice, to pursue separation. And we trust in Paul’s words here, for they are just as inspired by God as the words of Jesus. His apostolic authority is given to him not through other men…But rather from the revelation of Christ himself as it says in Gal 1:1. And in him saying: “in such cases” he continues to say then

“Let them separate… so that they are not “enslaved” to the marriage.”

As we read in Deut… we know that the Lord is a God of freedom.  He is the very God who freed the Israelites from generations of slavery.  And so the Lord’s heart for His people is never one of slavery.

God does not want us to live enslaved… Not enslaved to the laws of man…  Not enslaved to the abuse of people… Not enslaved even to a marriage that results in the torture of His beloved… But we must also know… That divorce was not meant to exist as a back up plan for when a marriage gets tough. 

Much like our journey with Christ, marriage is not something we should be thinking has a getaway door when things get difficult.  When things get rough, we as people often become unfaithful. We become adulterous and we turn our backs on God. Last week we read, that we must guard our hearts with all vigilance. So that we may not be unfaithful!

Faithfulness is wholly what God desires… Not only us to Him, but us to one another…. Us to our spouses. 

Because faithfulness to one another is a symbol and picture of what kingdom living is all about. It is an image of God’s relationship to His Church… Christ and His bride. It is the self-giving covenant relationship that God yearns for us to experience where all that we are is His… And all that is His is ours.

This is God’s design for marriage. This is God’s design for faithfulness. 

The problem with adultery is that it is an unfaithfulness that breaks the covenantal promises made between two parties. God gave humanity His covenant and the Israelites promised to uphold that covenant. Yet while God has always been faithful… We have not. We are an adulterous people, because we, like the Israelites have been unfaithful to God. 

And so we praise the Lord for His grace, for it is sufficient to cover all our sin, even our adultery. Though His people were unfaithful to Him, He loves His people. And so… Though divorce pains the heart of the Lord and though it should cause us great sadness… We know that that there is no greater divorce than when humanity was separated from it’s Creator by sin. For the heart of Christ is beyond the black & white ethical implications of whether divorce is okay or not… His heart is for the Kingdom of God, and our belonging there.

If this was not so, then Christ would not have given Himself to the Cross. He would not have been the final sacrifice to reconcile an adulterous people to Him. He would not have given His final breath to reconcile the divorce of humanity and heaven.

So let us praise the Lord Jesus Christ and rejoice in the grace of God who frees the slave and redeems the adulterer. Praise the Lord who came to redeem us and reconcile us to Him!

To set free the slave, to liberate the oppressed, to mend the broken and divided, to gather His people, and to make whole in Him the requirements of the law so that our covenant with God may be upheld and fulfilled through, not our own but, His faithfulness. And present for Himself His perfect bride the Church to which we now belong not by our own works or efforts but by the free gift of His grace who welcomes us as without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish but holy and blameless. 

It is in this that our assurance is sure because He is our good, faithful and perfect father. And while today we celebrate our earthly fathers and father figures… And as we pray for them and their faithfulness to the Lord… Let us give thanks to our Heavenly Father who’s love and grace knows no bounds

Amen. 

Red Letters 19: Committed In the Heart

Red Letters 19 - "Committed in the Heart"

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Proverbs 4:20-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 
2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles, who do not know God; 
6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 
8 Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Matthew 5:27-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

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 Last week we spoke on how all people were created in God’s image. From the beginning of time God created man and woman to come together in a covenantal marriage.  This marriage was given to symbolize the beautiful self-giving relationship between Christ and the Church, His bride, which is echoed throughout Scripture from beginning to end.  He created them to be bound in a divine love… Which has become perverted and distorted by sin. As a result we live in a world where everything is over sensualized and sexualized, where sex is used to sell almost everything.

However there is a growing awareness of psychological and emotional impact that this has on people. Addiction to pornography is a real problem that is impacting millions and millions of people.  And so I am thankful for those who are standing up against the exploitation of people in this way.  The #Traffickinghub campaign, founded by Laila Mickelwait and powered by the anti-trafficking organization Exodus Cry, is a non-religious, non-partisan effort to hold the largest porn website in the world accountable for enabling and profiting off of the mass sex trafficking, rape and exploitation of women and minors. There have been over one million people who have  signed the petition across 192 countries and is supported by over 300 child protection and anti-trafficking organizations as well as experts on, and survivors of sex trafficking.  We praise the Lord for those who are fighting the good fight in these difficult areas. 

For many, myself included, Christian education reduced the idea of lust to a set of dos and donts. You didn’t look at pornography. You abstained from premarital sex and masturbation. You didn’t go to clubs or watch certain movies. You put on a purity ring and committed to remain a virgin until you got married. etc.  But I think that the unfortunate side-effect of this kind of, almost legalistic black and white view of what you did not do as a Christian, often made the issue a self-centred one. 

I did not do this. I promised to do this. I did not watch this. etc.

However, this kind of thinking often misses the point that Jesus makes. When we previously talked about anger, we explored how Jesus’ primary concern is not for the self.   His concern always pointed to the other; the person that my feelings and deeds are affecting. And in all that we do, Jesus, by modelling the ultimate self-sacrifice, is asking us to do the same. In essence, to consider just how my words, my actions, and how even my own secret hidden thoughts, impact others, and how we honour, or in this case dishonour them. 

The Proverbs tell us to: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (v.23) Jesus says the same thing in Matthew 15:18 “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man `unclean. ' For out of the heart come evil thoughts”

Do you see what Jesus is saying?

How we think about a person… How we hold them and care for them… How we uphold them… How we respect and honour them… Begins in the heart

It is not enough to just respect a person in deeds. It is not enough just to protect ones dignity by actions. It is something that needs to be cultivated in the heart.  And this calls us to examine closely how we feel about certain people and the stereotypes, prejudices and bias’ we carry about them. 

When Jesus talks about adultery, He speaks not of the physical act.  He says that even just looking upon a person with lust is committing adultery within the heart. We have to remember that for Jesus

Everyone is imago dei (the image of God)  So you can imagine the heartbreak He has for His children who look upon each other in such ways. Because to look upon a person with lust is an act of dehumanizing, objectifying, and reducing them to a tool or product and object of ones personal gratification and pleasure. 

And therein lies the problem. 

Jesus is not only concerned for the person who is doing the looking and how allowing ourselves to do this can poison ones heart.  But Jesus is deeply concerned for the one who is being looked upon; for their dignity and divine image of God bearing beauty.  Once again, Jesus takes something that people have simply reduced to a “do not” and rightfully elevates it to a holier standard. 

We may be tempted to simply say: “Well it doesn’t hurt anyone.” Or “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.“ But that’s what people were doing with the commandments and laws of the OT.  They were taking the rules and laws and using them either for the purpose of their own self-righteousness or negotiating with them while asking “How close to sin can I get without sinning?” But Jesus’ is saying that the curse of sin and death is more than just what bubbles up to the surface.  Sin has a toxic effect on ones heart  and when it is allowed to fester there, hidden away, it not only poisons the individual, but it distorts and perverts the wholistic, loving, caring, community, the Church of God in a subversive, quiet, toxic, way. 

Jesus cares about this so much that He says, that even if your eye or your hand causes you to sin, it is better to tear it out and cut it off and throw it away.  Now we would be hard pressed to believe that Jesus actually meant this literally. Because we know that if He did require that we chop off every bit of ourselves that causes us to sin, then there would not be much left of us!

But Jesus says this to highlight the severity of this sin; the objectifying and dehumanizing of a person for our own pleasure. That it is an atrocious thing to look at a person and not see and value them for the person who is created, fearfully and wonderfully made, in God’s Image. 

I have grown up, often unaware of how movies and shows have portrayed races according to certain exploiting stereotypes. Asians are often depicted as fragile and obedient or mysterious and mystic.  Blacks are depicted as exotic and wild. Each time further pushing the enemies agenda of segregating people and dividing them according to man-made categories, making other human beings object of our hate or even our fantasies.

This becomes a theme for what Jesus is preaching.  He said that to call someone a fool is just as bad as murder.  And now He says to look at someone with lust is the same as exploiting them.  Because this is what sin does. At best it leads to our dishonouring and degrading of another human being and at worst, it leads to the absolute exploitation and abuse of others. 

But sin does not stop there. 

Paul writes that the disregarding of the call to live holy, righteous and pure lives… Does not only disregard the person… but God Himself.  Then to look upon a person with lust does not only exploit the woman or man you look upon. But God Himself, for they carry His likeness. It is a perversion and distortion of what God created for purity and holiness.  And while the things that happen in secret and in the dark and behind the closed doors of our minds and hearts are easy to hide… We know that sin, especially hidden sin, has a way of tainting and poisoning the heart when left unconfessed before the throne of Grace.  And those kinds of sin, when left unrepented, eventually find their way to the surface in how we treat ourselves, and treat others, and how we live faithfully, or not, to God. And the cost of sin, is eternal.

And so the call is to repent. 

To repent of the hidden lustful intent of our hearts whether past or present. 

It is a call where we ask the Lord to help guard our hearts with all vigilance because it is the wellspring of our lives. It is a call to, like Job, keep a covenant with our eyes so that we would not look upon another with lust. 

And that in our repenting, we also ask the Lord to give us not eyes of this world but the eyes of God.  So that we may view each person, created in Him image, and precious and wonderful. Worthy of all dignity and honour and respect. To live honouring others and never dehumanizing them, never de-imago dei-ing them. Never robbing them of their image bearing nature. 

Jesus’ sacrifice and torturous death was to put an end to this kind of exploitation and abuse.  Jesus’ life was to show us the absolute value of all people.  Christ made a way, when things were impossible for humanity.  For the forgiveness of our adulterous ways, and the power to live purely for His glory. 

It seems now more than ever, we must learn then to: 

25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
   turn your foot away from evil.

Amen.

Created in His Likeness

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"Created in God's Image"

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Genesis 1:26-31 English Standard Version (ESV)

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God, he created him;
    male and female he created them

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 

30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

* * *

In the story of Genesis, when God created humanity, we read something very important.  As God created all things He spoke light and life into existence: all of the mountains, valleys and seas, all of the creatures of the heavens, earth and sea. He created them out of nothing, with no template. But when He came to man and woman… He created them in His likeness.

I would ask we take a moment to consider the weight of this.  Because, the knowledge that we were created in God’s image, should bring us to re-evaluate who we are before God.  It should bring us to examine ourselves, and about where we lay our self worth.  Do we define ourselves by this world? Do we allow the world to define us? Are we measuring our self-worth on the true scale and measure that is God? Or are we seeking to find ourselves in the pages of self-help books? When we look in the mirror do we see an image bearer of God? Or do we see simply our flaws and failures? Or on the other hand, do we see our own prideful seemingly self-created success and victories? Do we define ourselves by our insecurities or our boasts?

Who are we?

We are not our bank accounts. We are not our houses or cars. We are not our clothing. We are not our belongings. We are not our education. We are not our sicknesses. We are not our age. We are not our culture. We are not our sins. 

We are. You are. The bearer of God’s image. 

And you were not only fearfully and wonderfully made, but you were fearfully and wonderfully, in His image.  And the weight of that truth, when it becomes true in our hearts… when we believe it… When we own it… When we listen and accept it… Is powerful enough to do away with all our insecurities and fears and anxieties.  For not only are we created in God’s image.  But we are loved by the very God who created us. 

But to be image bearers of God is not simply tied to our identities… But also tied to our responsibilities and roles in this world.  For as we read, God created humanity and blessed them to rule and have dominion over this world, and to do so as God’s emissaries and ambassadors. Which means that we would rule over the creation of this world with the same goodness and righteousness and justice of God… That we would rule the world is fairness and love… With graciousness and compassion… To be a blessing to the world… So that the world may flourish through and in us. 

Many are saying that this pandemic must be a result of how poorly humanity has treated this world. And it seems in the few weeks where humanity was locked down in their homes, creation seemed to breath a sigh of relief. God created humanity to be then stewards of His creation. And in this to enjoy life in relationship with Him and His creations.

But also with one another. 

Being reminded that we are created in God’s image should also cause us to examine how we view others. Because all the truths about who we are, fearfully and wonderfully made then applies to absolutely everyone. Every person. Every child. Every elder. Every teenager. Regardless of culture or language or sexuality or social status. Every person you encounter at Tim Horton’s, or on the street…  All whom are created in God’s likeness… All who are bearer’s of God’s image.  

They are not their bank accounts. They are not their houses or cars. They are not their clothing. They are not their belongings. They are not their education. They are not their sicknesses. They are not their age. They are not their culture. They are not their sins. 

They are first and foremost, God’s image. 

Then we ought to be reminded of the sanctity of all human life. 

In the past couple of weeks, the world seems to have exploded in the face of injustice. The death of George Floyd has been one too many senseless deaths causing people to rise up in anger against the systemic racial oppression that still continues today. It is causing people to lift up their voices shouting that Black Lives Matter, as if that is something that we shouldn’t already know!

And for us the children of God, who know that we were created in His image, who know that Christ came to die on the Cross for the sinner and who know that Christ came to die for all people and who rose again to restore unto all people the divine dignity that they were created for…. This should matter to us. For we know that any death by the hands of injustice in the eyes of God is wicked and is evil.  And so for our brothers and sisters who live daily in fear for their lives in ways that we will never truly understand… May we stand in solidarity… Lamenting the state of our societies and nations. 

We must be reminded that it is not only you and I who were created in God’s image, to know the benefits of His love and grace… But that this is true for all people… For all His children….For the Black lives who have been lost… For the Indigenous lives who have been lost… For all the victims of oppression and abuse and for all the marginalized. How dare we then dismiss another human being in any way shape or form? They who are bearer’s of God’s holy and divine image. They who were created in His likeness. They who were fearfully and wonderfully made.

Brothers and sisters.  Just as Jesus came to bear the pain and suffering the weight of our sins upon His shoulders for you and for I, Jesus bled for every person who have been marginalized because of the colour of their skin.  As much as Jesus is for you… Remember that Jesus is for them.  In fact… Jesus was them! He stood in their place, mocked and tortured, shamed and hung on a tree, to die in their place so that they should not have to die. And yet here we stand in a time where people like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor should not have died.  And while we may be quick to point the finger… And while it is right that we are uncomfortable and even just angry at the injustices being perpetuated in this world. 

May we first repent of all the ways that we know and all the ways we are not even aware, of how we perpetuate racism. May we repent of the ways in which we choose to be indifferent and silent when injustices prevail. May we repent of our complacency and our apathy.  May we repent of how we have been complicit in allowing injustices to continue.  May we repent of how we have not recognized our privilege. May we repent of how we have perhaps valued ourselves and our friends and families as image bearers of God… but were quick to forget that all people were created in His image. 

And may we ask the Lord to help us be better. 

Be better at listening.
Be better at living in solidarity with the hurting
Be better at fighting against evil in this world. 
Be better at being aware of the injustices in this world. 
Be better at being anti-racist.
Be better at raising our voices for the voiceless.
Be better at valuing the brokenhearted as God values them. 

May we ask the Lord to help us be the Church He desires for us to be in these days of uncertainty. 
That we may be His light. That we may be His emmisaries. That we may be His ambassadors. That we may be His image-bearers who live justly for the sake of His kingdom and glory. 

Amen.

All By The Holy Spirit

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Pentecost Sunday
"All by the Holy Spirit"

* * *

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 
11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 
13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be,’ God declares, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit 
upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and 
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out 
my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the 
coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

* * *

After coming out of the grave, Jesus appeared to the disciples and, according to the book of Acts, stayed with them for 40 days. And he told them to stay in Jerusalem saying:

“You heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4)

This Holy Spirit in the Bible is called a counsellor, a helper, a comforter, advocate, and intercessor. Which was important to the disciples because we must remember what they had just gone through. They spent 3 years of their lives completely dedicated to following Jesus, listening, learning, and watching Him. During this time He was (is) the Messiah, the Saviour and their redeemer. And so they believed that He would be saving them from this world. But He did this in a way they did not expect. In fact, despite Him telling them exactly what was going to happen, they were absolutely devastated when Jesus was turned in to be ridiculed and tortured, spat on and whipped and then finally shamed by a criminal’s death on the Cross. Their Saviour and the Son of God had died. And in the three days that followed they sat in their homes lost and confused. They were mourning. They were defeated. They were disappointed and angry. 

They were grieving. 
Could you imagine the confusion and frustration?  Were the last three years of their lives a waste?

It was even to the point that when Jesus actually appeared before them, the Bible says Thomas doubted. And he had to put His fingers into the wounds Jesus bore on the Cross to be convinced otherwise. The absolute feeling of being left absolutely alone must have been so incredibly crushing. 

And now that Jesus has finally reappeared, in a moment of great relief, He tells them that He will be leaving them once again. And they will be alone… And they feel like they will be left to face their own shortcomings once again. Left to face the truth of how, even with all they have heard and seen and experienced, they were prone to run away, deny and desert the faith.  Hearing in their minds again “Oh you of little faith…”

But in the midst of their fear Jesus tells them to wait, for He will send a Helper, and a counsellor. 

One with whom they will be baptized with. And not knowing what that really meant, they waited.  Probably not really knowing what they were waiting for!  Can you imagine? Sitting in a room with all your friends, staring at each other day in and day out, waiting for… a person?
A someone? A something? A Spirit? Though they knew what Jesus told them.. but the disciples did not have a very good track record of understanding what He said. 

But on the day of Pentecost, they hear the sound like a rushing wind and see divided tongues of fire rest on each of them. And they began to speak in tongues that they knew not as the Spirit gave them utterance. And suddenly they understood that this is what they were waiting for:

The Holy Spirit of the living God, coming to rest upon them and baptizing them. We read that as this happened, Peter stood up and quotes the prophet Joel who says. 

17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

…

21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

God says it is His OWN Spirit that would be poured out on all flesh. And this is the same Spirit that gave the utterance to the disciples to speak in languages they could not have known. The same Spirit which gave them the power to do great acts of healing. The same Spirit that Joel describes gives the gift of prophecy, of seeing visions and of dreaming dreams. This is the Spirit, poured out in the last days, this helper and counsellor, this advocate and intercessor… Is the Spirit of God, which dwells in you who believe in your hearts and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. 

Do you understand the significance of this? The Spirit of the living God, who created all of existence and all of the wonders we see and know and beyond, lives in you!  The thrice holy God has made His dwelling in you. How is it possible, that the living God would make His home in a wretch like me? I who am prone to jealousy, or bitterness, and self-righteousness. Prone to lying and gossip. Prone to cheating and stealing. Prone to pride and self-loathing. (Amongst many other things!) How is it actually a fact, that as the Bible says, my body is a temple of the living God? That no longer does God dwell in the temple or churches, but that He lives in me?

This is the gift of Christ for us.  And it is a free gift with a purpose. 

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The significance of this for us is that the very same Spirit that dwelled in them and in Jesus, the Spirit that is Jesus and God, the Spirit of the Triune God of grace, lived not only in the disciples of the Bible, but lives in you. Because though some of us may doubt whether this to be true, because we don’t “feel” like it, Paul reassures us by writing in Ephesians 2:8: “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”  And so he tells us that it is one thing to know of the grace of God but it is another thing to have faith in it. We are reassured that the Spirit of the living God dwells in us because faith is not natural. We as human beings are not inclined to faith. Because faith is supernatural and is a gift from God. 

In these days, many of you may be feeling tired and exhausted by all that is happening.  But we are not alone in this.  We are united by the Spirit of God as members of the body of His church. 

And so in all that is happening, brothers and sisters, let us remember that we are more than we let ourselves believe. Let us remember that our identity and value, our purpose and our belonging which is not confined to the walls of our homes. Remember that we are united not simply by our phone calls and emails and messages, or our distant waves and our hospitality. 

Not even by our love for one another or by our care and compassion. We are united by the divine Spirit of the Living God. 

The very same Spirit that created the universe… That gave man it’s breath…

That sent the flood… That split the sea… That spoke through the burning bush… That appeared in pillars of smoke and fire… That slew the giant… That saved a people… The same Spirit that was born in a manger to a virgin mother. The same Spirit that calmed the sea…

That healed the sick… That fed thousands… That rose the dead to life… And That conquered sin and death…

The same Spirit that went into the world and spread the gospel message of Salvation in Christ… The same Spirit that built the Church… The very same Spirit that sustained it despite human interference that should have ended it millennia ago… That Spirit, by which all has been made and by which all is made possible… Is in you today. 

And we praise the Lord, that our faith is not of you. It is not dictated by anything human and its merit or worth is not measured by any human standard. For we read that many were in awe and astonished by the disciples… While others mocked them and said they were drunk.  Your faith is not of your own doing, but is absolute evidence of the Spirit of God that lives in you. 

This does not mean you won’t have doubts or that you will not struggle. This does not mean that you will not have moments of fear or of loneliness or that there will not be hard days. For all the sufferings of humanity will not be gone until Christ returns… But it is by the Spirit that we know indeed that that day will come, when all our pains and sorrows will be no more.  And until then, know that you have all that you need in the Helper, Counsellor, Friend, and Advocate that is the Spirit of the immutable and infinite, one and only true living triune God within you.

So take heart my brothers and sisters, take courage and know that it shall come to pass that all, by the Holy Spirit, who call upon the name of the Lord. Shall be saved. 

Amen. 

Red Letters 18: Leave Your Gift & Go (Anger)

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Red Letters 18
"Leave Your Gift & Go"

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Ephesians 4:17-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 
19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!
21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 
27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Matthew 5:21-26 English Standard Version (ESV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 
26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

* * *

Last week we read how Jesus came to do two things: to fulfill the law and the prophets with His coming, and to effectively uphold the law and commandments as something we ought to honour and follow. Be reminded that Jesus was not saying that the law leads to righteousness or salvation.  It is Jesus Himself that is our righteousness. It is Jesus Himself who is our salvation. 

But Jesus is also saying that for the one who’s righteousness is found in Him, their life ought to reflect that faith through good works which is obedience to God and faithfulness to all of His words and commands found in both the Old and New Testament. We can read in Scriptures that God desires to make all things whole and to make all things new and good. And He begins this through Christ on the Cross in who’s death and resurrection we are, and are being, made whole, righteous and holy. And this is a new life found in Christ. It is a good, good life, full of God’s favour, mercy, love, compassion and blessings. It is a life of God’s guidance and grace.  But this new life is one that requires our everything and our all!

God says six times in the book of Leviticus, (and a couple of times elsewhere) ‘Be holy for I am holy” And to be holy is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut 6:5) Holiness is to be faithful to God and to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, spirit, strength. That means in everything you feel, have it point to God. For everything that you think, let it point to God. With everything that you do, for the glory of God. That the entirety of our beings would LOVE God fully and wholly and completely. And this is a life that is on the path to righteousness.  As with the Israelites, it is still in our obedience to the commands and ways of the Lord that we are not only moving and journeying towards Christ, but we are pointing to Him for all to see! It is in this way we are salt and light!

The late R.C. Sproul, the founder of Ligonier Ministries, a theologian and presbyterian church in America minister said “The Bible does not say that God is love, love, love or grace grace grace. 

The Bible says He is holy holy holy.” And God’s holiness is his utter separateness from all things. 

It is His divine difference from all other things. And in His holiness: He created us to be holy. And Jesus calls us to be holy. And the Holy Spirit sends us to be holy. And I believe a direct expression of this is in our love. The Scriptures does indeed say that God is love and so it makes sense that a part of holiness is love. 

Jesus Himself says in John 13:35:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

And while Jesus talks about loving your enemies a little later on in His sermon on the mount,

He starts with us from the furthest extreme of how people are to treat one another by quoting “Thou shalt not kill”.  This is important because the people at the time all lived where the division between social class and people groups were far more visible and acute that today. The Jewish people were living as an exiled people under the oppressive ruling thumb of the Roman Empire. And those sitting at Jesus feet were the marginalized and oppressed. All they knew was hatred. All they knew was shame. All for things that were beyond their control. And then there were those in society who enforced and perpetuated these evils. They were the religious leaders, the Pharisees, the tax collectors, and those who basically sold themselves out to the Roman Empire. These were the people who looked down on the social outcasts. 

Jesus was saying, to a people who knew nothing more acutely than discrimination, either by being complicit to it, or victimized by it, that there is in fact more to living and caring for others than the sixth commandment “You shall not kill”

When I was a youth pastor, one of the most common questions I got always involved “How far was too far?” Whether it was dating and the questions of “Are you allowed to hold hands, kiss?”

Or “Is it bad to date a non-Christian” and beyond.  And I read in a book by Andy Stanley one of the most helpful observations to this line of thinking. He wrote it is not so much that people are concerned with whether they are breaking a commandment, or disobeying God, but what we really want to know is: “How close can I get to sin without sinning?”

Immediately in the face of the laws and commandments, and our own temptations, there is this negotiation that happens in us. We take what we read and begin to deconstruct how that functions in our life with the least amount of impact in how we live. Which… is obviously NOT the right way to go about it. Because that was what people were doing with the laws found in the Torah or the OT.  Rather than being truly concerned with holiness, people just wanted to know how close they could get to sin without sinning.  So they looked at “thou shalt not kill” and thought that they were doing ok. They thought that even though they may not be treating others with respect, dignity or even fairness, that as long as they were not murderers, they were okay. 

And Jesus point blank says no. 

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.  (Mt. 5:21-22)

In the eyes of God, it is not enough that we do not kill a people, which we consider the be the greatest evil we can inflict on another. But Jesus says that being angry with your brother or sister is enough to get you thrown into hell. To even call someone a fool (which is the most muted of colourful words that begin with F) makes you liable to judgement. 

I want to pause there and ask that you take a moment to reflect on this. How often are you angry with someone? How often do you utter to a person or to someone how foolish or dumb they are. Many of us do it all the time. Being angry with a person and calling them a fool, in Jesus’ eyes, is just as severe a sin as murder. When you think about this, it does not make sense! How could that possibly be true? You look at this from a legal perspective, no person would ever be given life in prison because they called someone a fool, though they would be put away for life if they killed a person. But that is the thing about sin and ultimately holiness. 

Without the appropriate perspective of what holiness is, sin is easily negotiable to us. 

It becomes easily reasonable and easily justifiable by the standards of the world. We think to ourselves: “At least I didn’t kill the guy. I woulda! But I didn’t” and think that that is enough. But Jesus is painting for us a picture of what righteousness and holiness is. It is a higher standard than we have made it to be. 

And then Jesus says… 

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Mt. 5: 23-24)

This is how important this is to God. He would want us to go be reconciled with others before we came to worship Him! He desires that we are not divided or being divided by our differences and hurts. He desires that we are not giving the devil the opportunity to do the one thing he wants most:

To separate people from people, and people from God.  It is even to the point where Jesus is saying that you should not only not be angry with your brother or sister so as not to be liable for judgement, but that if someone is angry with you, then it is for you to go and be reconciled to them so that you do not leave them to be liable for judgement. But Jesus is saying, for those on either side of an argument, it is both of your responsibility to do something about it. 

This is a the new life that Christ has given you. It is a life, as Paul writes, that we have learned from Christ. And it is not marked by record keeping, belly aching, self justification, negotiating, or by revenge. It is not marked by a hardness of heart, by callousness, by deceitful desires or by falsehood and anger. This is the life that Christ died to clothe us in. It is a life that is not marked by living in a world of individualism where my rights and wants outweigh those of others. And never by bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, slander and malice.

But to be clothed in Christ, who’s righteousness binds us to one another and gives us a new life that is marked by love, grace, and holiness. It is marked by compassion and forgiveness, by honesty and edification. It is marked by holiness.

Christ has made a way for us to be holy in Him. And He calls us into a life that is worthy of that calling. Where we exercise more than just enough to pat ourselves on our backs, but to look deeper into the purpose for which we have been called, created and sent.  Jesus is calling us to live holy lives. Lives that point to Him in all things.  Especially in our love to Him and our care for others.  May the Spirit of the Lord lead you to repentance as you confess of your anger and lay it at His feet, so that you may pick up the gentle-kindness and mercy He showers you with and bear it to the world. 

Amen.