He has not spoken to his brothers for 20 years. Twenty years! That is 2019 to 1999. Twenty years covers the presidencies of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush (2-terms), Barack Obama (2-terms), and Donald Trump. Today phones slip into pockets and purses; twenty years ago phones were mounted to walls and connected by wires. Today’s high-speed internet instantly zips from website to website and you can connect anywhere: in this church building, at a restaurant, in the woods. Twenty years ago you waited 10-minutes for America OnLine [AOL] to dial up. Twenty years ago, your grandchildren may not have been born. Your children may not have been born. You may not have been born. Twenty years spans about one-fourth of your entire life! That is how long it had been since Joseph last talked to his brothers. He has no idea if a brother got married. No news of newborn nephews and nieces. No clue what jobs his brothers have, where they live, if they even live. Twenty absolutely silent years because this is what his brothers want.
That’s right, his brothers. Ten scheming, conniving, bitter brothers. Remember Joseph’s teenage years? Sixteen-years-old and prized as his father, Jacob’s, favorite child. That favoritism is not Joseph’s fault; the fault belongs to Jacob. Of course, his brothers cannot lash out against their father; they need an inheritance! So, their hatred burns against Joseph. That hatred combined concocts a plan to kill Joseph (Genesis 37:18). To spill the blood they share. To eliminate Joseph’s future. Think about this. This plan lingers in each mind. They look for the right moment. They examine the right opportunity. The plot the right setting— and when it appears, they strike! One brother seizes Joseph’s arms. Three others strip off his colorful coat. Two grab his legs, drag him through gravelly-soil, and toss him down a hole. Joseph screams: “Brother, help!” He sobs: “Someone, please help me!” He pleads: “Why is no one coming?” And the brothers just huddle around lunch. Can you imagine the conversation? “We need to drive the cattle over there later.” “Boy, it’s hot today.” “What are you doing this weekend?” Their younger brother cries for them. He wants them. He loves them. Talk about such dense hearts of stone! Joseph’s every cry warns the brothers to stop their plan, to spare his life, to save him. The brothers pay attention… well, kind of. They do not kill him; killing only takes away. Instead, the brothers sell him! Selling gets you something and still removes him from your life! Do you know how much they sold their brother for? Twenty shekels of silver. That translates to roughly $200. You exchange another person’s freedom for the price of a small television. You sell your own flesh and blood for the cost of one month’s electric and heat bill. Do you think Joseph had to guess what his brothers thought of him? And now, Joseph stands second in command over all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. In fact, Pharaoh supports any decision Joseph makes. In our reading, those once-powerful brothers now stand in his land. They cower in his throne room They tremble under his authority. What do you expect to happen? You see what the brothers expect. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Frozen stiff. Do you run? …cry? …beg? They expect that at this moment, in this room, nothing good will happen. Why? Because each brother knows what he would do if he stood in Joseph’s spot: He would get even. That is what you expect, right? A friend trashes your reputation. She calls you snobby, cranky, stupid. That does not please you. So, you remember that crime— and you remember it so that you can control her. Stop talking. Ignore her existence. Just maybe your friend aches inside from loneliness— and it hurts worse than she made you feel. Or, you store up the past for leverage. The next time your husband brushes off your interests, give the silent treatment, threaten to stop helping around the house, threaten to divorce. Gain leverage so that you can control how he acts towards you. You see, our hearts demand that absolutely no one controls you. That no one hinders your life. Instead, our hearts want to control others. If someone does harm you, then make them suffer. No wonder the brothers shudder! Standing under Joseph’s powerful thumb, they only expect the worst. But that does not happen, does it? Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here.” Instead of wrath he speaks pardon! How can Joseph do something like that? I am not sure about you, but when I read these words, it is utterly astounding that Joseph forgives. He never mentions the mental anguish his brothers put him through. He does not describe the trauma he faced— being ripped away from home, forbidden to return, cut off from his ailing father. He does not take away 20-years (or more!) from his brothers. He forgives. Understand this: If all I do is marvel that Joseph forgives, then I have missed an important point. The most shocking, astounding part is not that Joseph forgives. The most shocking, astounding part is that I expect Joseph to get revenge. That reveals just how warped my view of forgiveness is. Quite honestly, if I seethe because a friend speaks so little of me, then God should rage when I speak little of him. If I bring up past wrongs to force my spouse to conform to my standards, then God should unroll the miles of my sins and force me to appease him. If I expect Joseph to get revenge, then I should expect God to get revenge on me— and he does not. God does what we do not expect. God sent Jesus ahead of me and God unrolls my crimes. My conniving pride. My bloodthirsty revenge. My arrogant refusal to forgive— and he shackles each one to Jesus. Then God exchanges the faultless life of Jesus for my stained life. He sells Jesus into death in order to free me. And now, when I stand before God’s throne so weighed down with my guilt, so conscious of my crimes, I only hear: “Do not be distressed. Do not be angry with yourself. Jesus went ahead of you. Your guilt was shackled to him and he paid your crimes with his life. He rose again without that shackle. So now, there remains no shackle to you.” As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12). That sweet sentence changes my ideas about forgiveness. God pardons me. God does what we do not expect—and does this so that we might do the unexpected. You (and I) live in a world that seeks revenge. Wrong someone and you expect repayment. That’s what Joseph’s brothers expect. Yet, Joseph shares God’s forgiveness with his burdened brothers. God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. First, God saved Joseph from slavery and set him second in command over Egypt! More importantly, God would save Joseph spiritually. He gives Joseph the wisdom to store up grain for a grueling famine. His starving brothers hike to Egypt for grain. Because of Joseph they live— including the brother, Judah. Since Judah lived, it meant his son lived. Because that son lived, it meant his son lived—and the son that came after and so on. God preserves Judah’s family tree in order to keep a promise: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel… (Micah 5:2).Through Joseph, Judah lives. Because Judah lives, Jesus lives. Because Jesus lives, Joseph lives! What do you think the brothers learned about their God? They could stop, look, and say, “Whoa. God preserved our lives— even though we wanted blood. God preserved us.” They had the chance to grasp God’s mercy. Your world is a poor model of forgiveness. Politicians argue on television. The media only stokes division. Celebrities criticize leaders. Athletes lash out against owners. On social media you can say anything you want and no one (1) knows who you are and (2) can say something back to you. You live in this climate. That angry vengeance can soon affect you. Yet, what can you possibly learn about forgiveness from a society that knows nothing of God’s pardon? Nothing. When our hearts are set on the fact that God forgives us—individually(!) our views on forgiveness properly align. (1) Your marriage may have tense moments. Friends say: “Protect yourself! Leave her! Divorce him!” Yet, God never divorced you. Touched by that love, you work together. It means that you evaluate your own heart first, identify your proud grudges, and ask forgiveness. Then, living opposite than before, you love your spouse— even when it is you starting the action. (2) You may lose money. Society says, “Get even! Sue! Demand retribution!” Jesus does not even with you. Instead, he loses his life to make you even with him. You are willing to suffer loss, knowing that God will avenge those who are unrepentant (Romans 12:19). (3) Society promotes selfish, self-centered division. The one person you may not care for is also a human being. God knit that person together in the womb. God sent Jesus to die for that person. That individual is a soul for whom Christ died. While you may not become close friends, you treat each other with the forgiving love God has shown you (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness will be unexpected in our world. Why? Because the sinful heart expects repayment! Yet, God has cleansed your hearts. He has set you apart to do the unexpected—to forgive, just as God forgave you. Jesus teaches: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:27-31). Does that sound fair? Does that sound repulsive? We will struggle forgiving this side of eternity. The sinful heart still claws for revenge. Thank God that he does not act the same. God does what we would never expect. He kills the Innocent One so that we become innocent. He raises the Innocent One so that we may do the unexpected. God adjusts our view of forgiveness to meet his standard. You, touched by God’s love, it leaves you to ponder: What is Your Idea of Forgiveness?
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Where do you draw the strength to get out of bed each morning? I mean, just consider the daily drama dripping in headlines. Violence erupts in shopping centers and restaurants, in airplanes and subways, in schools; even church buildings are not untouchable sanctuaries. Are you really safe anymore? A politician warned that climate change will destroy the world in 12-years unless humanity rallies to stop it. (https://nypost.com/2019/01/27/what-science-could-teach-ocastio-cortez-about-climate-change/) This doomsday dread only fuels a panicky, jumpy fear for survival. Two states recently legalized the murder of infants moments before birth (and left unanswered the possibility of killing the child after delivery). (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-abortion-bill-proposed-by-kathy-tran-third-trimester-today-2019-01-30/) If society feels hopelessly dire now, can you just imagine what life will be like for your [grand]children? Will they be forced to accept ungodly stances on sexuality? Will they be free to worship here? …to gather around the Word here? …to pass the Truth on to their children? Will they face death because of God? That’s enough to keep you tucked in bed, shades drawn, away from such horrible news, away from the heart-wrenching reminders that life is far from what God expects. So, how can you get up in the morning? How can you function in such a broken world? Where do you find rock-solid assurance that everything is truly alright?
Sifting through manmade solutions will not secure the peace so desperately craved. Curses follow misplaced trust. Only one Object of trust produces blessing. Mortal Man, Are You Listening? Yes, you! Man. Woman. God holds up this faceless person called ‘Man’ and uses a unique word to describe ‘Man.’ He calls him: ‘GEBER’ [גֶּ֫בֶר], which is different than the other two Hebrew words for man. One words is (1) ‘ADAM’ [אָדָם], which means ‘people’ in general, like a crowd of people— men, women, and children. Another word is (2) ‘ENOSH’ [אֱנוֹשׁ], which highlights vulnerable weakness; people can get sick, they can get hurt, they can die. Here, (3) ‘GEBER’ [גֶּ֫בֶר] emphasizes strength. Picture bulging muscles and chiseled bodies (like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson). Think about the powerful influence the President of the United States commands or the respect handed to a university professor. This is ‘Man’ standing at the peak of his mighty strength! No disease, no cancer. Sharp mind, intelligent. Raking in truckloads of cash. Demanding superiors to obey him. Mortal man looks invincible. This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the man (‘GEBER’ [גֶּ֫בֶר]) who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength; [whose] heart turns away from the Lord.” This is the 25-year-old who believes he still has decades left to live, decades longer to embrace God. So, he skips worship to snowmobile, fish, hunt, and travel. This is the 62-year-old grandmother who exchanges time with God for time with grandson’s peewee game. This is the 54-year-old who gloats over his degrees. He believes in science and philosophy more than he does the simple truths of Scripture. This is the 30-year-old woman who scrounges for self-worth in the success of her children. Mortal man exalts human achievements as proof of individual might! She believes nothing can hinder her from improving life. He believes nothing can stop his life. Mortal man may feel invincible, but proves himself foolish to believe that he is invincible. He steps into the curse of trusting shriveling strength and rotting mind. He will be like a bush in the wastelands… dry, parched, beaten ragged, torn and ripped. [H]e will not see prosperity when it comes… like a man I once met. He was dying. When he heard how God sent Jesus to save him, he considered it just one heart-warming story among many. Even hours from death he pushed aside God’s good Word. Mortal man will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives… Mortal man trusts himself. So, when trouble arises, he has nowhere to flee. He panics at terrorism. She fabricates meaningless comfort when someone dies. Worse of all, God only sees a dry, lifeless heart. Mortal Man, Are You Listening? Yes, you. You (and I) also fall into that category of a ‘GEBER’ [גֶּ֫בֶר]-man. You (and I) wrestle with the heart well aware of the spiritual benefits of reading our devotions, but the heart still crafts the lousy excuse: ‘I’m too busy.’ That heart is actually admitting: “I can rely on my wisdom today.” That heart hears how God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Yet, when distressing news flashes across the television, the heart jumps into despair. Why? Because it does not trust that God has control like he says he does. The heart knows God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7). Still, it chooses to lie and manipulate, to hold grudges and defend adultery. Then it believes that it can somehow dupe God into believing that you are more moral than you truly are! Trusting in your strength, your supposedly superior intellect throws you under a curse. Curses follow misplaced trust. Trust in your strength and you will wallow in fear because you lack the power to control global events. Trust your status and you will be crushed when time forgets your identity. Trust your health and you will be shocked when you enter eternity unprepared. And that, dear Christian, is the greatest curse of all: To stand forever separated from the loving care of God. That is what pride earns. Mortal Man, Are You Listening? God sees the pitfalls of human strength (Jeremiah 17:9). That’s why he speaks these words. He speaks so that you hear. He speaks so that you know Curses follow misplaced trust. He speaks so that you see Only one Object of trust produces blessing. Your Lord reveals that blessing. He plants into your world. Jesus delights in the Word of the Lord. He meditates on it each week in the synagogue during worship (Luke 4:16). Not only does he meditate on it, but he tucks it into his heart. His every word, every action drips what it hears and reads. You see, throughout his 33-years of life, Jesus encounters tragic headlines too. The death of a child (Luke 7:11-17). Many killed when a tower falls on them (Luke 13:3-5). The sick, diseased, and crippled led to him. Hatred because he clings to God. A proud heart like ours would detour into manmade solution, manmade comforts, manmade strength. Yet, Jesus stands rooted in God’s promises. For you God the Father plucks Jesus out of life. He tosses him into that dry desert of our pride and he leaves him to die. The One full of life is set in a tomb, a land where no one lives. God’s solution to our tragic curse of death is to make Jesus die instead. And that full, vibrant life broke our curse forever. [B]lessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Yes, this is mortal man— this is you (and me). We have health, we have strength and we are blessed. Blessed because one day that strength will fade and we will die, and God will plant us in his kingdom of heaven. Actually, God has planted us in his kingdom now. God has given you the gift of faith. That faith is rooted, grasps, and clings to the fact that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for you. He is your Object of trust. He is only One who produces blessing in your life now. [You] will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Picture an oasis. In the middle of this dusty dead desert dot lush, flourishing trees. In the middle of this splendid little grove bubbles a pool of water. The scorching sun will beat down on the tree and it sucks water out of that tree. Yet, [the tree] does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. Streams flow constantly; they never stop. Think about that. Water flows in fair weather and stormy weather. Water flows on hot days and on fair days. Water flows every day. It always replaces what is lost. Tragedy may burn deep into you. People seemingly die too soon and you do not understand why. The raw pain of never seeing that tender face again, of never hearing that sweet voice only saps your strength. Do not fear when death comes; Jesus’ Word streams constant refreshment. Soak up this comfort: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25-26). If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). Maybe the foolish choices of a loved one saps your heart. It hurts to see your child, raised to know God, now choose to live an ungodly life. It hurts to watch your brother drift from God. You feel so powerless, unable to do anything. Do not fear the heat; stand strong because of God’s promises. The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Speak God’s truth about sin and forgiveness with respectful love (Ephesians 4:15). Let God’s truth pierce heart and conscience. Stand content knowing it is God’s truth that changes hearts. [The tree] has no worries in a year of drought… It does not worry where its water will come from or if it will have enough. A steady stream provides steady strength. You are witnessing a drought in godly living. Sexual boundaries crossed. Innocent lives aborted. Disrespect and shame openly paraded. How will you live in a world like this? Do not worry. Sink your roots into the word. Remember: The kings of the earth take their stand against the LORD and The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them (Psalm 2:2,4). God has called you to live a holy life: to respect your body, to respect life (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Then, shine like a light in this world (Matthew 5:16). Sometimes that involves clearly stating what God teaches. At other times that includes giving clear testimony to your priorities by the way you live. As for world events, Be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10). [The tree] never fails to bear fruit.” Even in trying times, it still produces. You may not realize it now, but when you stop and look back on life, you may see that you have grown spiritually. Death strengthened your grip on Jesus’ resurrection promise. Disappointment reminded you of sin’s ugly presence in this world and that heaven is your real home. Godlessness compels you to be a little more verbal on what you believe. You hold the blessing increased faith. You are mortal, but you still stand because One Object of trust produces blessing. That is how you can get up in the morning. That is how you can function in such a broken world. That is where you find the rock-solid assurance that everything is truly alright. You sink your heart and mind into the Word. In the Word God reveals his might. You get to live under that might. Sifting through manmade solutions will not secure the peace so desperately craved. Curses follow misplaced trust. Only one Object of trust produces blessing. That Object is Jesus— and all that the Bible teaches about him. So, Mortal Man, Are You Listening? I am officially certified to pick up a 50-pound bag. (Honestly!) An instructor who specialized in the art of ‘Lifting’ came to the factory I worked at and demonstrated proper techniques for picking up a bag. Now, before this training, I had handled about 500 bags every day, five days a week for over a year. That amounts to roughly 112,000 bags each year. So, needless to say, I am capable of lifting heavy objects. Specialized instruction seemed pretty unnecessary.
Think about the seemingly unnecessary instructions you get. If you are over the age of seven, you probably understand how a zipper works. You grasp the concept that connecting two pieces of fabric across your chest will trap heat closer to your body and trapping heat keeps you warm. Yet, regardless of age, your high school teacher still nags, “Zip up your coat!” Do you really need that reminder? You fully comprehend that if you want heat, then you will close your jacket. If not, then leave it open! That harping seems so unnecessary. It does— but those instructions offer so much more than simple advice. Look past the plain instruction and grasp the reason for that instruction. Improving bag-lifting skills ensures a pain-free back. Zipping up a coat keeps you healthy. Yes, on the surface, you hear seemingly-unnecessary instructions, but dig deeper and you discover a treasure trove of care. Sometimes that is exactly what you need to hear. Jesus instructs us to fish for people, but the results can be exhausting, frustrating, depressing, and fruitless. Dig deeper. Go further than the simple instruction and hear him say, Do Not Fear, Weary Fisherman! Cling to the Master’s Word and Reap the results of that Word. Looking at our reading provides that encouragement. You watch an enormous crowd swarm Jesus. They lean in closer and closer and eventually corral him to water’s edge. So, Jesus steps into a boat, shoves off about 10-feet from shore, and preaches. He can see more people and more people can see him. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” There’s a problem with that order: these fishermen had already let down their nets and caught nothing. That is why they stand on shore washing their nets, stitching up holes, and folding away the nets for tomorrow. Completing maintenance is a far better use of time than fishing. Peter even nudges Jesus to that reality. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything…” Peter is an experienced fisherman. He runs a business. If the fish were biting, then these men would still be out on the water. After all, more fish caught means more money made. He knows the work it takes to successfully fish. They row over there, heave the nets out, throw nets, drag nets, pull up nets. Then they row there, heave the nets out, throw nets, drag nets, pull up nets. Then they row over here, heave the nets out, throw nets, drag nets, pull up nets. This goes on. for. hours. They ache. They are tired. They are a little irritated. Not to mention, Peter knows this is not really the ideal time to fish. You fish at night; the evening bugs creep out and fish get active. During the hot noontime sun fish tend to rest. Peter could easily silence Jesus with: “Well, we tried. Nothing happened. It does not make sense going out.” Instead, it is Peter who says the unreasonable. [B]ecause you say so, I will let down the nets. You see the fishing conditions. You heard the fishing results. You have seen the effort. You expect nothing to change. So, why does Peter shove off again? Because [Jesus] said so. Peter sets aside his reason [what makes sense to him] and embraces Jesus’ word. One little word in verse 5 captures that trust: “Master.” That word is a title used for military officers. Just like cadets follow the orders of a commander, Peter says, “Alright, captain!” They let down their nets and they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. That sight absolutely crushes Peter. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken… With one powerfully awesome act, Jesus reveals the power he has as God. That power accomplishes the unthinkable and the unreasonable. It might be noontime, but fish move because Jesus makes it happen. The disciples may have rowed around the Sea of Galilee, but fish flood the nets here because Jesus makes it happen. They might have caught nothing hours earlier, but fish rip the nets because Jesus makes it happen. Jesus blasts away what makes logical sense with a mere word. The power of this miraculous catch is in his Word. That’s why Jesus can say, [F]rom now on you will catch people. He hands you (and me) that same powerful Word—a Word capable of changing hearts and minds (Romans 10:17). A Word which reminds us Jesus controls all things (Matthew 28:18). It is not our responsibility to change our hearts. It is not in our power to make people flood into our church building. Do you agree with that? If so, then why do we get so down when the results are not what we expect? We seize opportunities to share Jesus with our community, our friends, our extended families, and our immediate family. We work hard all night and day and catch nothing. Jesus still says, “Put down your nets again,” and the heart just groans. “What’s the use, Jesus? I’ve already invited my children to worship. None of them care.” “What’s the use, Jesus? We flood the area with invitations. No one comes.” “What’s the use, Jesus? No one wants to hear about sin anymore. They just want a place of entertainment for their kids.” Where is the emphasis on each of those statements? Your expectations! The reason we so often struggle living out our calling as fishermen is that the we set sail as ‘Master.’ We want God to produce the results we want. If we do not see what we want, then we gripe and complain, mope around and throw up our hands in despair. This is insubordination. You (and I) are not the ‘Master’ – and Jesus dazzles a glimpse of his power in order to remind us of that fact. The Son of God gives the commands, not us. The Son of God expects obedience, not conditions. He will not run away from those who disobey him. Instead, he stands in front of Peter. He remains present before you (and me). His eyes penetrate our very hearts and pinpoints every insubordinate scar— and he only sighs out, Do not be afraid. That is a powerful Word. You see, we can say things, but they do not necessarily happen. I can say, “Be 75-degrees outside!” and the temperature does not swing. My words lack power and authority. When Jesus says, Do not be afraid, that is a Word that actually removes fear. Jesus did not fail in his task of removing the penalty for sin. Instead, he cried out the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). That word told the devil that you will not spend eternity in hell with him. That word ripped the curtain separating you from God. That word made you a friend of God, a friend who knows God smiles at you. Fear Not, Weary Fisherman! God forgives the times you (and I) do not want to fish for people. God forgives the times you (and I) deliberately refuse to carry out our calling. God forgives the times you (and I) complain. You may feel as though your efforts in sharing the Word are worthless. You may feel as though Jesus burdened you with the most unfavorable task ever. Yet, Jesus stands us up with Peter, waves his arm across his miracle, and says, Fear Not, Weary Fisherman. Cling to the Master’s Word. God’s powerful Word works powerful results. Reap the results of that Word. That is our job: to reap, to bring in what God gathers. You see, God says, “Here’s my Word. Go, let down your nets.” You do. Last December, you ran a Christmas invitation in the Clare County Review and The Clare Cleaver. That net swept through thousands of homes and let many see the worship opportunities here. In a few weeks, we will mail postcards to 3,000 area homes. People will hold our Easter invitation in their hands. We stretch out road-side banners and bulletinboard flyers with an invitation to Vacation Bible School, Easter for Kids, and Christmas Eve. These ‘nets’ catch the attentions of those on the road or in the store. We even spread those events on our website and Facebook pages. You use so many various outlets to spread wide the net of God’s Word. You pray that the Word catches hearts so that people do not perish in hell, but have eternal life (John 3:16). This is you fishing for people. Pay attention to that. That is the job Jesus hands you (and me). Many times we put the pressure on ourselves to create faith. We think it is our job to “grow” our church. We think it is only us who can change hearts. We think that by our words and actions people will come to faith. But it is not. Peter does not corral fish into the nets. Jesus says, “Let down the nets.” Peter does. Jesus fills the nets. Peter pulls the nets in. Jesus vividly demonstrates the power of his Word. He does not demand results; he demands faithfulness. God does not demand that your church grow big. He does not demand that your congregation last for another 100-years. He simply says: “Be faithful.” Use the best of your financial resources to reach people. Make the most of your opportunities to reach the lost. Make the best of your conversations to invite and encourage your friends and loved ones. God uses you to reach people, but he uses his Word to produce results. Do Not Fear, Weary Fishermen! The results belong to God and we hold the privilege of reaping in those results. Sometimes we rejoice that another individual sees the goodness of God. At other times, the result is that our reliance on God’s work increases. This miracle appears somewhat unnecessary. A lot of fish in some nets— but look past the plain action and grasp the reason for the action. Jesus reminds us all who is in charge when it comes to creating faith. Fishing for people can be exhausting, frustrating, depressing, and fruitless. Yet, with one powerful act, he restores our strength, fills us with courage, and sends us out again. We spread the Word as best as we are able and reap the results he brings. Do Not Fear, Weary Fishermen! Cling to the Master’s Word and Reap the results of that Word. The Carnival cruise ship, Triumph, towers about 140-feet high (that’s about the height of our city’s water tower. It measures just under 900-feet long (about the distance from this church to the Doherty Hotel). It can hold 2,754 guests (about the city population of Clare) on its thirteen decks. Four glass elevators whisk you from deck to deck, to jewelry stores and gift shops, to mini golf, to a casino with 60 slot machines, to an underground-themed arcade, to spas and saunas, to the sky lounge. A multilevel water park sprawls across the three upper decks. On the top, a waterslide stretches two-stories down. The midlevel deck has concession stands, tables, and cabanas. The lowest deck has a pool with water guns, smaller slides, wave pools, hot tubs. In case of a Caribbean thunderstorm, a retractable roof covers everyone up. If hungry, you have burger joints, Mexican restaurants, seafood, a pizza place, coffee bars, dozens of breakfast places, or you can order room service. And then, let’s not forget, this is a cruise! Triumph chugs from Caribbean island to Caribbean island so that you can take in some local life. This ship lacks absolutely nothing. It is a floating paradise.
Yet, on February 10, 2013, a fire in the engine room killed all power to the ship. No thrust, leaving Triumph aimlessly drifting in the Caribbean Sea at 5 to 8 miles-per-hour. No electricity for refrigerators holding red meat, seafood, chicken, dairy, and ice. No engines powering air conditioning, pool pumps, or bathrooms. Without the engine all those splendidly exquisite amenities sat useless. No one could enjoy anything the ship offered. We have spent the last two weeks identifying spiritual gifts God gives and how your gifts benefit the body of Christ. Today, God highlights the one key component giving power to all those splendidly exquisite gifts. A necessary component so that we use our gifts for good. An essential component so that others might benefit from what we offer. One Love Motivates All Service. A love not seeking to get, but A love seeking to give. So, let’s look at [1 Corinthians, chapter 13] verses 4-7. Here you see God define ‘love’ and explain how ‘love’ operates. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Now, in the English language, we have only one word for love. You can say you “love” a hamburger, “love” your friend, and “love” your spouse. The way you are using the word “love” in each of those statements is a little different. So, you have to understand the context in order to know what type of “love” is being shown to a hamburger, your friend, and your spouse. The Greek language uses three different words for “love”— and 1 Corinthians is written in Greek. One word for “love” is (1) eros [ἔρως]— a romantic love between husband and wife. Another word is (2) phileo [φιλέω]— a friendship love. The other word is (3) agape [ἀγάπη]— which describes loving someone even when they do not deserve it. So, when God says, Love is patient, love is kind… he is using one of those three Greek words. Here, he uses the word: ‘agape’— a love shown to the unlovable. ‘Agape’ love never wonders: “How will I benefit?” Instead, ‘agape’ love always asks: “What can I do for the benefit of others?” In case you wonder how this applies to your life, God lists some examples. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love-- if I am not thinking about how my speaking will benefit my fellow believer-- I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I benefit no one because I refuse to reveal the meaning of the words. I only sing sweet angelic songs so that others might see me do something they cannot. I serve only to draw attention to myself. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. That is me flaunting spiritual gifts so that I look superior! Superiority causes me to look down on others. I am using my spiritual gifts to inflict pain. Maybe you stand firm in the face of cancer, and then mock a friend who struggles. “Why can’t you be more like me?” Perhaps you can clearly explain the difference between the ‘Will of God’ and the ‘Providence of God,’ but you do so for the sole purpose of appearing smart. You really want others to hover around your superior intellect. Or, you parade knowledge to shame others for not knowing as much as you do. Then they will not waste your valuable time with their so-called ‘dumb’ questions. Then they avoid challenging your beliefs. You are using your gifts to hurt. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. You can donate your car, your house, your clothes, all your savings to charity, but if you do all this so that we may praise your generosity, then your motives are wrong. You are not trying to benefit others; you want to benefit yourself. You want our praise. You want our respect. You want us to scramble to you the next trouble arises for deliverance. That is not ‘agape’-love. That is not a love seeking to benefit others, that is a love seeking to get. God gives you (and me) spiritual gifts in order to benefit others. Yet, selfishness drives us to use those gifts only when we will receive something in return, be it praise, respect, or approval. A love seeking to get does not match God’s standard of love. It falls short of his expectations. It means, you fall short of what God expects from you. That is why God gives us these words. The point of 1 Corinthians 13 is not to see how good your love is. Rather, it reveals one love that is good. One Love that Motivates All Service. A love not seeking to get, but rather a love seeking to give. [Jesus] is patient… His anger does not flare up every single time we grow arrogant. He has repeatedly taught us to love others just as he loved us and we still fail each day. Instead of punishment, [Jesus] is kind… He demonstrates mercy, treating us not as we deserve. [Jesus] does not envy worldly praise and glory, as we might. [Jesus] does not boast about the power he has as God. [Jesus] is not too proud to die a criminal’s death. Too proud to be held guilty for our arrogance. Too proud to be rejected. [Jesus] is not self-seeking. He uses his blood to purge pride from our spiritual record. [Jesus] keeps no record of wrongs. If he did, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3). Rather, [Jesus] rejoices with the truth: ‘Forgiven!’ Jesus does not come to make you great in the eyes of the world, he comes to make you great in the eyes of God. That is what truly matters. When all on earth passes away, when life is over and eternity begins, the only words that truly matter are the words God will say to you: ‘Come!’ One Love Motivates All Service. A love seeking to give. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Love puts faith and hope into proper use. Love for God leads to an increased faith, an increased reliance on him. Love for God’s Word increases eternal hope. Love for God leads to a self-giving love for others. So, look at verses 4-7 again. This time, do not listen with a mental checklist of “dos” and “don’ts.” Instead, remember that these words describe the love Jesus poured out for you. That means, this is not list of demands for you to obey and earn something. This describes the hearts God put in us. This describe our new hearts of love. Love is patient, love is kind… It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. You may have that sister who argues all the time. Just being with her gives you fits— and you do not always think nice thoughts. You may even go out of your way avoiding to help her. Sound familiar? How often have we argued with God’s commands, but Jesus never avoided us? He came from heaven to earth to us. That self-giving love only motivates us to be self-giving. So, you overlook her faults— not that you pretend hurt never happened— rather, you do not keep a record of wrongs. You are kind and compassionate, forgiving, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud… That means you are never too proud pulling weeds in the flower beds. Never too proud picking up scraps of paper or pushing leaves out the door. Never too proud washing a dirty dish or straightening up sloppy appearances. No one may ever see you serve, praise you, hand you an award, and pat your back. Still you serve, seeking nothing in return. You imitate Jesus’ love that gave his all—so that he might receive you in return. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Mourn with those who mourn. Encourage those who need encouraging. Pray for those who need prayers. One Love Motivates All Service. A love seeking to give. One engine powers so many luxuries on the cruise ship, Triumph. No engine and you have no thrust to move. No refrigeration. No pools and waterslides. No glass elevator. No mini-golf. No air conditioning. No bathrooms. One crucial part is so necessary for every pleasure to be enjoyed. One crucial part is so necessary for us to benefit from each other’s spiritual gifts—and that part is love. This is not a love which fits our terms or wants. This is a love first shown to us. A selfless Savior gave his life for us. A selfless Savior gave his forgiveness to us. A selfless Savior gave gifts to us. Gifts not to advance ourselves. Gifts not to prop up and elevate our status. Rather, gifts to give. Gifts to give so that others may be ever more intimately connected to the body of Christ and to each other. What gifts do you have? How might you use those gifts? Set your sights on Jesus, the one key component to use those gifts for good. One Love Motivates All Service. A love not seeking to get, but A love seeking to give. |
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