Yielding our Rights

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 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. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

(Matthew 5:38-42 ESV)

 

We’ll soon be celebrating our nation, we’ll soon be celebrating our freedom, as we ring in the 4^th of July. And these are blessings that are rightly celebrated. Living where we do is a great blessing, as are the freedoms we enjoy.

 

We sometimes, however, become quite stubborn when it comes to our freedoms. We become quite stubborn when it comes to protecting and maintaining our rights. And, on the surface, this makes sense. It makes sense because, if we surrender them, we’re not likely to get them back.

 

It can get to the point, however, where we worship them. It can get to the point where they become more important than anything or anyone. They become more important than even our neighbor.  And we’re unwilling to lay them aside, even briefly, for the welfare of those around us.

 

We see this as we look at the passage above. We believe that we have an inherent right to protect ourselves. We believe that we have a God-given right to protect our well-being and our possessions. And for this reason, we find the principle of “an eye for an eye” quite appealing.

 

Jesus, however, makes us rather uncomfortable. He tells us that we’re not to resist the one who is evil. He tells us that, if someone slaps us on the right cheek, which is more of an insult than an attack, we should turn to him the left. He tells us that, if someone sues us for our tunic, we should let him have our cloak as well. He tells us that, if anyone forces us to go with him one mile, we should go with him two.  And he tells us to give to the one who begs of us and that we’re not to refuse the one who would borrow from us.

 

This is something that’s hard to wrap our mind around. We feel that, if we put these words into practice, we’re allowing ourselves to be abused and we’re allowing others to take advantage of us.

 

This is exactly the point. We’re far too worried about such things. We’re far too worried about people taking advantage of us. And we’re far too worried about being abused.

 

Our tendency is to quickly retaliate. Our tendency is to hold tight to what is ours. And our tendency is to protect our rights before others.

 

If we are to err, however, Jesus would not have us to do so on the side of retaliation. And he would not have us do so on the side of selfishness. He would have us err on the side of yielding, of giving, and even being taken advantage of.

 

If we’re to err, we should always err on the side of loving our neighbor. We should always err on the side of extending grace. And we should always err on the side of generosity.

Embracing the Difference

 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

 (Matthew 5:13 ESV)

Our natural desire is to be like those around us. Our natural desire is to fit in. And any time we stand out, we feel very self-conscious.

We feel, in that moment, like all eyes are drawn to us. We feel like someone walking through the mall in a clown costume. We feel like a teenager leaving the house with a huge pimple on  his forehead.

We see this in a variety of ways. Although we insist that we’re independent and that we make our own decisions, and although we insist that we don’t merely follow the crowd, we seek to dress like everyone else. We seek to talk like everyone else. And we always seem to have the same tastes and preferences as everyone else. 

I often find it humorous that this is true even when it comes to something like our cell phones. Having an Apple product, having an Iphone, has become something of a status symbol. And if someone chooses another type of phone, they are ridiculed.

This, however, is seen in ways that are far more serious. As our faith causes us to stand out, we begin to feel self-conscious. We begin to feel different and at odds with those around us.

We, then, want to adjust everything about ourselves. We want to adjust our behavior, our speech, and our dress. We even want to adjust our beliefs and our values.

The problem with this is found in the words of Jesus, above. As we read them, we find that we’ve been made by the Lord to be distinct. We find that we have been made to stand out.

Salt has a distinct taste that sets it apart from all else. But if this distinction is lost, so too is its purpose and value. If salt loses its taste, it’s good for nothing. As Jesus points out, it’s then thrown out and trampled under foot. 

And the same, you see, is true of us. If we, as believers, lose our distinctiveness, we are good for nothing. If we are the same as those who surround us, our purpose has been lost. We’re no longer able to point the world to the Savior and to the blessing he’s made available.

It’s our distinctiveness that enables us to do so. God, after all, has made us to be holy. He’s set us apart for himself. And this is something that’s visible, that is noticeable, to those around us.

He Came for All

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

(Matthew 9:12–13 ESV)

The words, above, were spoken by Jesus in response to the Pharisees. He had called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. And Jesus, then, reclined at his house.

As he did so, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And it was this that prompted criticism on the part of the Pharisees. They asked Jesus’ disciples why he ate with tax collectors and sinners.

The implication, of course, is that he should not have done so. The implication is that this was beneath him. The implication is that they were undeserving of his time and attention. And the implication is that there are others who were.

This, you see, was the problem. And it’s this attitude that Jesus addressed. Those who are well, he said, have no need of a physician. 

The tax collectors and the sinners were just that. They were sinners. And, as such, they were in need of the healing he came to bring.

By their objection, then, the Pharisees were trying to deny these people the blessing they needed. They were trying to deny them the healing they needed. They were trying to deny them the grace and mercy of God.

In addition this, Jesus  was in no way agreeing with the assessment of the Pharisees when it came to their standing. He was in no way agreeing with their assessment of their righteousness. And he, in no way, implied that they were well.

He was telling them something about themselves. He was alluding to their need. He was telling them that, like the tax collectors and sinners, they too were sick and in need of a physician.

They saw the sin of the tax collectors and the immoral, but were blind to their own. They saw the unworthiness of the tax collectors and the immoral, but failed to see their own. And if they were to receive the mercy of God, they needed to comprehend their guilt.

In the same way, like the Pharisees, we often want to deny Jesus to those who need him most. We want to deny sinners of the mercy he came to bring. And, at the same time, we deny our need for him, believing ourselves to be well.

In our mind, then, Jesus came for no one. His mercy is for no one. And, in addition to this, his death was for no one.

The good news for the Pharisees was that, just as Jesus came for the tax collectors and sinners, he had come also for them. And just as he desired mercy for the tax collectors and sinners, he desired it also for them. They needed only to recognize that they were not well, and that they were in need of the blessing he came to bring.

This, of course, is the good news for us as well. Although we aren’t the good people we believe ourselves to be, Jesus has come for us. And as we recognize and acknowledge our need for mercy, this blessing will be ours.

Rightful Appeals

 “Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!”

Psalm 44:26 ESV

The Lord has encouraged us to pray. He’s encouraged us to bring to him our needs. He’s encouraged us to look to him as a child looks to his father for blessing.

Most of us do just that. We bring to the Lord both our needs and our wants. We offer them up in prayer on a regular basis.

However, as we do so, we often appeal to him wrongly. We plead with him, based upon our past efforts. We appeal to him, reminding him of all that we have done.  We appeal to him, reminding him of all we’ve done for him as well as for our neighbor.

We also do so, promising our continued service. We tell God that, if he grants our request, we’ll serve him in the days ahead with the same vigor as days past. We tell him that, if he gives to us what we desire, we'll devote ourselves to him even more fully than we have in the past.

We do so, failing to realize that this contradicts the very gospel we confess. The gospel, of course, tells us that the blessing of God is given graciously. It’s something that he freely bestows upon those who believe. And it’s in no way dependent upon our efforts or promises.

As we pray, then, as we bring to the Lord our wants and our needs, how are we to do so? On what are we to base our appeal? 

We find the answer to this question in the verse above. In it, we see how the Psalmist appeals to the Lord. And we clearly see on what he bases his plea.

He calls upon the Lord for help. He calls upon the Lord for redemption. And he asks the Lord to do so for the sake of his steadfast love.

He bases his appeal, you see, upon the very nature of God. He bases it upon the character of God. And he bases it upon the ongoing expression of God.

He asks God for help for the sake of his, of God’s, steadfast love. He asks God for help for the sake of his lovingkindness. He asks God for help for the sake of his unfailing love.

We cannot rightfully appeal to God by who we are or anything we have done. And we cannot do so because we are sinners. We cannot do so because the only thing we deserve from the Lord is judgment, rather than blessing.

God, however, possesses a loving nature. He possesses a faithful nature. And he possesses a good and gracious nature.

God has also done everything necessary that we might receive his blessing. He’s offered up his only Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. And by this act, the blessing of God has been made available to us.

As we pray, then, as we approach God with our needs and requests, we should do so on this basis. We should do so not because of who we are, but who he is. We should do so not because of what we have done, but because of what he has done. We should approach him and appeal to him for the sake of his steadfast love.

Disappointed in God

 

“Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!”

Psalm 44:26 ESV 

Many times, as believers, we are disappointed in God. We feel let down by him. And we feel that we’ve been rejected by him.

Throughout the course of our lives, we’ve heard how God has acted on behalf of his people. We’ve learned in Sunday School how God saved his people from slavery in Egypt, bringing them into the Promised Land. We’ve learned through sermons how God has acted in miraculous ways for the sake of his people. We’ve learned in Bible studies how God has intervened in situations that seemed hopeless. And we’ve learned through our own personal Bible reading how, in Jesus, God has both provided and promised his blessing.

This, then, has led us to trust in him. It’s led us to offer to him our prayers. And it’s led us to depend upon him.

However, as we go through life, God often seems absent. As we offer our prayers and requests, he remains silent. And as we experience trials and tribulations, he offers no relief.

What are we to do in times like this? What are we to do when God seems absent? What are we to do when he seems silent? And what are we to do when he seems to offer no help?

Looking at Psalm 44, a similar set of circumstances are described for us. The author expresses, first of all, how the people had heard from their fathers the deeds the Lord had performed in the days of old. And he expresses his faith in the Lord, who acted in these ways.

But then, in verse 9, his tone changes. In fact, it sounds accusatory. He seems to suggest that, although the people had not forgotten him, God had rejected and disgraced them. Although their heart had not turned back nor had they ceased to walk in his ways, he’d caused them to be taunted and reviled.

He, then, calls upon God to awake. He asks why God is hiding his face from them. And he expresses the state of humiliation in which they found themselves.

As we read these words, I’m sure that we can relate to his feelings. We can relate to his circumstances. And we can relate to his complaint.

But, at the end of this Psalm, in the verse seen above, we find that he does not lose hope. We find that he does not turn from the Lord. He, instead, cries out to him once again.

And this, you see, is what we must do when we feel that God has let us down. This is what we must do when we feel that he’s turned is back on us. We must cry out to him once again, trusting in his steadfast love.

As the apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

 

Responding to Evil

 “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(Psalm 37:1-4 ESV)

There’s no doubt that we’re living in an evil time. There’s no doubt that we’re living in a wicked society. And it’s needless to say that this can leave us rattled. So, what are we to do in the face of this?

Our tendency is to respond in one of two ways. Quite often, we fret because of evildoers. We’re agitated by them. We’re angered by them and their actions.

Other times, however, we’re envious of them. We’re envious of the life they live. We’re envious of the perceived freedom in which they live. We’re envious, quite frankly, of the sin in which they live.

However, as we see in the passage above, neither response is correct. Neither is appropriate. Neither is appropriate because the wicked will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Neither is appropriate because they will soon perish.

We’re called, instead, to trust in the Lord. We’re called to do good.  We’re called to dwell in the land and to befriend, or to cultivate, faithfulness. And we’re called to delight ourselves in the Lord.

In the face of evildoers, then, we’re called to faith. We’re called to a genuine, heartfelt faith that expresses itself in our life. And we’re called to do so joyfully.

As we do so, we’re promised that God will give to us the desires of our heart. He’ll give to us those things that we request of him. He’ll give to us the things for which we pray.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that God will grant us our every selfish desire. Nor does it mean that he’ll fulfill our sinful desires. As believers, after all, our heart is conformed to that of God.

We’re made to desire what God desires. We’re made to long for the things for which God longs. And it’s these blessings that will be granted us.

We see this, in verse 6, where we’re told that, as we commit ourselves to the Lord, and as we trust in him, he’ll bring forth our righteousness as the light and our justice, or our vindication, as the noonday. 

We’re reminded by this that our righteousness is not something that we earn or deserve. It’s a gift of God. It’s a blessing that he provides to us.

The same is true of our justice. The same is true of our vindication. It’s a blessing as God clears us from all blame.

This, of course, is the blessing provided to us by Jesus. It’s the blessing provided to us by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. And, as this passage makes clear, it’s a blessing that’s received by faith.

So, again, in the face of evildoers, we’re called to trust in the Lord. And we’re called to a genuine faith that’s expressed in our life. We’re called to delight in the Lord, knowing that he will provide for us his eternal blessing.

Envying the World

 “Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?””

 (Numbers 11:18–20 ESV)

As Christians, we often feel that we’re missing out. We look at the world around us, and at what they have, and feel that we’re being shorted. We look at the lives they’re living, and feel that we’re being deprived. We feel that, as we live for the Lord, we’re receiving the short end of the stick.

We fail to realize, however, that by these desires, we’re rejecting the Lord. We fail to realize that, by these desires, we’re rejecting his salvation. And we fail to realize that, by these desires, we’re rejecting the blessing he’s given us.

We see this clearly in the above passage. As the people traveled through the wilderness, on their way to the Promised Land, God had miraculously provided for their need. He’d miraculously provided food for them to eat.

He’d given them manna. And he’d done so not only once. He’d done so each and every day.

He’d given to them this bread that simply appeared on the ground each morning. All they had to do was go out and gather enough for the day. And they did so in confidence that more would be available to them tomorrow.

The people, however, got sick of it. They began to long for the meat they’d eaten as slaves in Egypt. And they began to think that life was better in Egypt than it was for them in the present.

God then said that he’d provide meat for them to eat. He would not do so, however, as a blessing. In fact, it would be a curse to them.

He would give them meat for not only one day, two days, five days, ten days, or twenty days. He would give it to them for a whole month. He would give it to them until it came out of their nostrils and became loathsome to them. 

He would do so, he said, because they had rejected the Lord who was among them. He would do so because they had wept before him. He would do so because they asked why they’d come out of Egypt.

In the same way, by looking at the world around us and desiring what they have, we reject the Lord who is among us. By our failure to be content with the blessing God has given us, we reject the Lord who is among us. And by thinking to ourselves that perhaps it would’ve been better had we not followed God, we reject the Lord who is among us.

This, of course, is something of which we’re all guilty. And it’s something we each need to confess. It’s something we need to confess, trusting in the salvation provided for us by Jesus.

By his grace, we’ll realize that his blessings are far greater than anything the world has to offer. By his grace, we’ll realize that we’re not missing out on anything. And by his grace, we’ll be content and, more than that, filled with awe and wonder at all that God has provided.

Forgiving Others

 “And Moses cried to the LORD, “O God, please heal her—please.””

(Numbers 12:13 ESV)

As Christians, we know we’re called to forgive those who’ve wronged us. We know we’re called to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know we’re called to offer them the same forgiveness that God has offered us.

However, that being said, this is something with which we struggle. It rarely comes easy to us. And this is especially true when someone has intentionally and willfully acted against us.

This is what took place in Numbers 12. We see that Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, spoke against him. And they spoke against him because he had married a Cushite woman.

The fact that he’d done so led them to believe that he was nothing special. It led them to believe that there was nothing distinct about his calling and the role that he filled. It led them to believe that they were equal to him in terms of their standing before God and the people, as well as their ministry.

God, then, called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before him. He made clear to Miriam and Aaron that Moses indeed had a special relationship with him, shared by no other. And he asked why they weren’t afraid to speak against Moses.

His anger was kindled before them. And, as he departed, Miriam was found to be leprous. She as found to be white like snow.

Aaron then acknowledged their sin to Moses, asking that they might not be punished. He acknowledged their sin, asking that it might not be counted against them.

As we consider the circumstances, Moses had every right to be angry with them. When it came to their actions, he had every right to take offense. And, assuming that Moses shared our feelings and instincts, he may have felt like withholding forgiveness from them. 

However, as we see in the passage above, he did otherwise. He cried out to the Lord on Miriam’s behalf. He cried out, asking that he would heal her. 

God, then, answered his prayer. He granted to Miriam his healing. And she only had to observe a week-long period of uncleanness before rejoining the people.

This is the forgiveness we’re to offer those who wrong us. It’s the forgiveness we’re to offer those who sin against us. Although our first instinct may be to hold their sin against them, we’re to forgive them and pray for their healing.

In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” We, then, are called to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. We’re called to give to others the very same grace God has given us.

The Source of Vengeance

“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.”

(Numbers 12:9 ESV)

When people wrong us, when they act against us, our first instinct is to lash out at them. Our first instinct is to get back at them. Our first instinct is to treat them as they have treated us.

In short, we seek vengeance. This, after all, is what they deserve. And this, we believe, is what they have coming to them.

But is this how God would have us respond? The clear teaching of Scripture, when it comes to this question, is no. We see one such piece of evidence in Numbers 12.

We see, in this passage, that Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. His own brother and sister spoke against him. Two of those, who were influential among the people of Israel, spoke against him.

They spoke against him because he had married a Cushite woman. He had married a woman who was from the area, known today, as Ethiopia. But his marriage, and its validity, was not the true issue.

Their motive in doing so, you see, was self-serving. It was an attempt to elevate themselves. It was an attempt to elevate themselves by bringing Moses down.

They asked if God had spoken only through Moses. They asked if God had not spoken also through them. In this way, they sought to even the playing field.

We’re then told about the character of Moses. We’re told that he was very meek. We’re told that he was very humble. We’re told, in fact, that he was more meek or humble than all the people on the face of the earth.

Considering the circumstances, Moses had every reason to be offended. He had every reason to become angry. And he had every reason, humanly speaking, to retaliate.

Moses, however, had not sought the calling placed upon him. Nor had he sought the authority God had granted him. And, as we can see, he didn’t seek to defend it in any way.

God, however, did so for him. God acted on his behalf. We see this as he called Moses, Miriam, and Aaron before him.

God made clear to them that Moses was, indeed, distinct among the people. He was distinct among the prophets. He pointed out that he had a relationship with Moses that was unique in nature.

God then addressed the sin of Miriam and Aaron, asking why they had not feared to speak against his servant, Moses. As we see in the verse above, his anger was kindled against them. And, as God’s presence departed, Miriam was found to be leprous.

We see from this that, although Moses did nothing to defend his position or his honor, God did so. We find that God acted on his behalf. And we find that he can be trusted to do so.

Consider also the example of Jesus. We read in 1 Peter 2:23 that, when he was reviled, Jesus did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. He, rather, continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

And in Romans 12, starting in verse 19, Paul gives this instruction: “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.” 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Just as Moses trusted God to defend his honor, so too can we. Just as he trusted God, as people rose up against him, so too can we. Even if it isn’t evident, as it was in the case of Moses, we can know that he is acting for our blessing.

The Prayer of Faith

 “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

(Matthew 8:2 ESV)

When it comes to our prayers, and when it comes to the blessings we seek from God, some troublesome attitudes become quickly apparent. We, for example, often come to God in a demanding manner. We approach him, insisting that he do for us as we ask.

We regard him as though he were the creation, rather than the creator. We regard him as though he is our servant rather than our being his. And we regard him as if our will and desires take precedence over his own.

On other occasions, we approach him as if he’s reluctant to help. We approach him as if he’s resistant to provide his help. And we approach him as if he has to be persuaded or coerced into helping.

We sometimes approach him, believing that his blessings can be bought. We approach him, attempting to barter for his blessings. We approach him, offering some kind of payment for his blessings or to reciprocate in some way.

Still other times, we approach him as if his ability to help is in question. We approach him, wondering if our need is too great or if our problem is too big for him to handle. We approach him uncertain of his power or strength.

Considering all of the ways we approach him, and the improper attitudes that we express, we can learn much from the leper who approached Jesus in the eighth chapter of Matthew. We can learn much from the way in which he presented his request to him. We can learn from the simple words expressed in the passage above.

He came to Jesus, we’re told, and knelt before him. And he said to Jesus, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

We see, first of all, that he addressed Jesus for who he is. He addressed him as Lord. He recognized that Jesus is God in the flesh.

He recognized also Jesus’ power to grant the blessing he desired. He recognized Jesus’ ability to meet his need. There is no hint of doubt in his words.

Finally, he left his request in Jesus’ hands. He understood that his prayer would be answered according to Jesus’ will. And he believed that, whatever Jesus desired, is best.

We then see Jesus’ response. Jesus said to him, “I will; be clean.” Jesus answered this leper’s prayer because it was in accordance with his will. And he did so, having the power to provide this blessing.

It’s clear, from this, that the leper’s request flowed from his faith in Christ. He didn’t believe Jesus’ blessing to result from his own effort. Nor did he imply that his wisdom surpassed that of Jesus. He entrusted his need to Jesus, knowing that he could do the very thing he was asked, while also believing that the will of Jesus was best.

Why We Go

 “But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

(Matthew 4:4 ESV)

We are approaching the time of year when our confirmands will stand before us confessing their faith in Christ. We’re approaching the time of year when we’ll celebrate our high school graduates, as many of them prepare to move out of the area. And, statistically speaking, this is the time when many of them stop going to church.

Many, as they are confirmed, view it as a graduation of sorts. As they have made it through confirmation, they now view church attendance as an optional exercise. And many parents, at this point in their child’s life, no longer insist on church attendance.

As our young people move out of their parent’s home, and experience independence for the very first time, they also tend to stop attending church. They stop attending church, preferring to sleep in on Sunday mornings. And they stop attending church as an expression of questions and doubts which have been present for some time.

And let’s face it: Many adults view church attendance as optional as well. We view it as unnecessary. We see it as a tradition. We view it as something to do when we don’t have other plans. And we attend seeking to feel good about ourselves.

It’s true, of course, that we don’t earn God’s forgiveness and mercy by going to church. We must not make our worship of the Lord a legalistic exercise. But we fail to realize that, by our failure to worship, we miss out on the blessing of God.

Attending worship, you see, isn’t so much about doing something for God. It’s not an act on our part to please him. And it’s not an act by which we merit brownie points. 

It’s about receiving a blessing that God has for us. It’s about receiving the grace of God, offered to us in his Word and Sacrament. It’s about being fed with that which nourishes us for life eternal.

This is what Jesus was getting at in the passage above. This is what was being emphasized in Deuteronomy 8:3, which Jesus was quoting. Our life isn’t sustained by bread alone. It’s sustained by the Word of God.

Just as we understand food to be necessary for life, so should we understand the Word of God. Apart from the Word of God, we cannot have faith. And, apart from the Word of God, we cannot be saved. 

Scripture tells us that we are brought to faith through the Word of God (Romans 10:13-17). It tells us that, as we hear the Word of God, we are enabled to believe.  And, in this way, we receive the grace of God.

In addition, this is how our faith is nourished. It’s how our faith is sustained. And it’s how our faith in Christ grows.

Realizing this nurturing aspect of God’s Word, then, we naturally desire to receive it. We naturally desire to hear it as it’s taught and preached. And we naturally desire to gather with our fellow believers to study it.

Rightful Rejoicing

 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

(Luke 10:20 ESV)

As we hear and receive the gospel, we take comfort in the fact that we are saved by the grace of God. We take comfort in the fact that God’s blessings are not earned or deserved by us in any way. They have been provided for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus, are given to us freely, and are received by us through faith.

This, then, is nothing in which we can take pride. It’s nothing for which we can take credit. It’s the work of God from first to last.

When it comes to our service of God, however, this is something for which we take pride. It’s something for which we take at least a measure of credit, no matter how small it may be. And we rejoice in what we have accomplished.

This is true, even when we recognize that we can do nothing by our own strength or power. This is true even when we realize that we can do nothing by our own wisdom. And this is true even as we realize that our efforts and successes result only from the power of God.

We see this mindset being played out in the passage above. Jesus had sent out the seventy-two at the beginning of this chapter. He told them that, wherever they were received, they were to eat what was set before them. And they were to heal the sick, declaring to them the kingdom of God.

As they returned to Jesus, they did so with joy. And they reported to him that even the demons were subject to them in his name. They reported to him that even the demons submitted to them in his name.

They recognized that this subjection resulted from the name of Jesus. They recognized that the power was not their own. Yet, they rejoiced in this nonetheless.

Jesus acknowledged the victory which had been won. He told them that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. And he told them that he had given them authority over the enemy, reassuring them that nothing would hurt them. But he then added the statement seen above.

He told them that, even though this authority had been entrusted to them, they were not to rejoice in this. They were not to rejoice in the fact that the spirits were subject to them. They were to rejoice, rather, that their names were written in heaven.

They were to rejoice, then, not in the authority Jesus had given them. And they were to rejoice not in the results of their ministry. They were to rejoice in their salvation.

As we engage in ministry today, we often rejoice in the size of our church. We rejoice in the number of souls who attend our services. We rejoice in the number of YouTube and website hits we get. We rejoice in the number of those who are joining our church. We rejoice in the number of those being baptized or confirmed. And we rejoice in the growth and expansion of our ministry.

In the same way, if someone comes to faith in Christ as we share the gospel with them, we rejoice in this. If someone receives Christ as they attend our worship service, we rejoice. And it is something for which we should thank God. 

But, again, we can take no credit for this. Nor should we consider ourselves successful because of it. We should rejoice not in what God has entrusted to us. And we should rejoice not in the fact that God has worked through us. We must, rather, rejoice that our names are written in heaven. We must rejoice that the Lord has saved us and provided for us his eternal blessings.

How Much He's Done

 “The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

Luke 8:38‭-‬39 ESV

As believers, as those who have been saved from sin and death, and as those who have been saved from the domain of darkness, we have been given a great calling. We’ve been called to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15). And we’ve been called to make disciples of all nations by going to them, baptizing them, and teaching them (Matthew 28:18-20).

However, as important as this is, it’s something that’s rather intimidating to most of us. We don’t feel qualified to do so. And we worry that we don’t know enough or that we aren’t skilled enough to do so.

We also tend to think that it means leaving our normal life behind. We think it means leaving home and family. And we think it means serving in missions or ministry in some way.

I think that, in this way, we tend to overcomplicate this call of Jesus. I think that we overcomplicate mission work. And I think that we overcomplicate the work of evangelism.

We read, in Luke 8, how Jesus met a man who was possessed by many demons. For a long time, he had gone about naked, and he’d lived among the tombs. We learn also that he had exhibited supernatural strength.

As Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the man, he knew exactly who Jesus was, and begged him not to torment him. And as Jesus talked to the unclean spirit, we find that this man was possessed by not only one demon, but many. At the request of this spirit, Jesus then commanded them to leave the man, allowing them to go into a herd of pigs which was feeding on the hillside.

After being healed, after being cleansed by Jesus, the man begged that he might go with him. And, although it seems unusual to us, Jesus denied his request. He told the man that he should return home and declare how much God had done for him.

Although some people are called by God to move to a far-away country to share the gospel, and although he calls some to serve him in the role of pastor, youth director, or another ministry capacity, this isn’t true for all. Most of us fulfill the Great Commission in the way that Jesus prescribed to the demoniac, who had been cleansed. Most of us fulfill the Great Commission by simply returning home and declaring how much God has done for us.

We do so by declaring to our family how much God has done for us. We do so by declaring to our neighbors how much God has done for us. We do so by sharing with our friends and coworkers how much God has done for us.

We can support the work of missions with our prayers and finances. We can support the work of our local congregation with our prayer, finances, time, and talents. And we can do so realizing that our witness, in our home community, is equally important.

Indiscriminate Sowing

 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”

Luke 8:5‭-‬8 ESV

As I think of farming, I do so with a very Midwest, American mindset. As spring has finally set in, I expect to soon see tractors out in the field. I expect to see tractors out cultivating, spraying, and seeding.

Everything is done in a very orderly fashion. Seed is planted only in soil that has been carefully prepared to maximize production.  And as the crops begin to grow, they do so in straight rows, in a very organized fashion.

In much of the world, farming is not done this way. I was reminded of this as I was recently in a small village in Uganda, and as we came across what looked to be a nice plow, hitched to a team of cows. One of our team members enthusiastically jumped behind the plow and quickly opened up a small patch of ground.

After a field like this is opened up, someone would follow behind and sow the seed.  He would follow behind and scatter the seed. And he wouldn’t do so in such a way that the crops will come up in neat and orderly rows. He would scatter the seed indiscriminately.

This is the picture we see in the parable above. The sower scatters his seed indiscriminately, and it falls on a variety of ground. Some falls on the hard path. Some falls on rocky soil. Some falls among thorns. And some falls on good soil.

The seed which fell on the path, on rocky soil, and among thorns didn’t fare well. The birds ate some of it. Some of it quickly withered as it had no root. And some of it was choked off by the thorns, competing for ground.

Some, however, fell on good soil. And it was fruitful. It was fruitful, yielding a hundred fold.

Although the picture of farming is used, it illustrates evangelism. It illustrates the sharing of the Word of God. The seed, we are told, is the Word of God.

As we seek to reach out with the message of the gospel, many of us tend to use a very American mindset. We seek to prepare the soil. And we seek to waste nothing, sowing the seed only on good ground.

With farming, this is easily done. When it comes to evangelism, however, it’s not that simple. It’s not that simple as we can’t always discern the good soil from the bad.

We can’t look at someone and determine if his heart is hard, and if the seed will be snatched away before it takes root. We can’t look at him and determine if it’s thorny, if the cares of this world are likely to choke off the seed. We can’t look at him and determine if his heart is shallow, not allowing the gospel to sink its roots deeply. And we can’t determine if his heart is good, and if it will produce an abundant crop.

For this reason, we must sow the Word just like the seed was sown in the parable. We must do so indiscriminately. We must do so indiscriminately, trusting that God will do his work, and that some of the seed will find its way into good soil.