I’m at it again, writing to assuage my own conscience, letting you listen in and respond.
Last week’s sermon troubled me. I found myself asking many questions: Is the concept too radical? Is it too idealistic? Is it too unbelievable? Am I living this? Am I willing to live this?
I talked about Paul’s solid belief that the resurrection changed everything. In the resurrection we learn that this world is being replaced by the new world that has begun in the resurrection of Israel’s messiah. The resurrection opens up a new door, or a new chapter in God’s history (His story). The end of the ages has come upon us (1 Corinthians 11). Paul lived in anticipation and celebration of what was not yet here, but what has been disclosed already in the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the already but the not-yet. For in the resurrection we learn that death—the tool of the tyrant!—has been dealt its first blow; we learn that Jesus truly is the one we ought to follow; that all of our efforts of love and compassion will not be in vain; that life and creation does really matter. The resurrection is the beginning of God’s New Creation.
But how do we live?
Paul wants us to live as if what God has done in Christ Jesus is the most important event in history and in our own personal life. We are to live as if there’s something more important than success, romance, marriage, business, and a secure retirement. Though all of those these things are important and though they are all gifts from God, we need to recognize that we have not been placed on this earth for just these things. We have been created to serve and enjoy the God who has created us in love and redeemed us in grace. We are to live for God’s kingdom, letting that commitment transform our marriages, our reason for parenting, our work ethic, etc., etc. The text I’ve been thinking about all week is when Jesus tells the disciples that they should not fear death but the one who has power over their soul, God. You see, there’s even something more urgent than a long life. What could be more important than that? Simple: honoring God in life or in death.
This commitment doesn’t mean we embrace two ways of life. We don’t separate our spiritual life from our public life. Far from it. We allow our spiritual commitment to influence how we live in this world. We seek to embrace the things God values at work, at school, with our children, and at the polls.
How does this work?
I believe we need to start praying daily the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: “May your kingdom come” through us, through me (Matthew 6). It’s really quite amazing how it works. Once you start praying this prayer regularly, I believe you’ll see opportunities that you’ve never seen before. You’ll see opportunities to extend God’s care and compassion to the lost and the last everywhere you go. In other words, through that prayer our desires will be changed so that we will start to value the things that God values. Peace!
7 comments:
I thank you for your sermon because I had slipped away thinking that 9/11 and other events have changed our lives but in reality you are correct in that the Jesus' resurrection is the one major event. That Jesus needs to be in the fabric of our lives, there at church and in every major decision of our lives.
Thanks for the reminder!
I was inspired by your sermon last Sunday. What a wonderful adventure we are on when we choose to put God first in our lives in all we do, think and say. Also, what a continuous challenge it is to allow God to work His plan and purpose through us while still living in these bodies and in this world. Thanks for the word.
Thanks. I'm still struggling with Paul's live "as if you do not" concept--if you have dealings with the world, live as if you do not (1 Cor. 7.29-31). It troubles me, not sure why. Maybe I'm being confronted with this reality of the resurrection opening up a new world that will replace this one. Peace.
Gostei muito desse post e seu blog é muito interessante, vou passar por aqui sempre =) Depois dá uma passada lá no meu site, que é sobre o CresceNet, espero que goste. O endereço dele é http://www.provedorcrescenet.com . Um abraço.
As i listen to both Republican and Democrat debate for a position to become a president of America and i believe equates to the most powerful individual in the world today. History proves that power will not stay forever here in America, pretty soon somebody will grab it. Will we be afraid when that happens? Why will be afraid? Honestly i am going to be afraid, i have move in this country knowing that me and my family will have a better life, and i believe we have been blessed. But should i be afraid if we have Jesus on our side, it should not matter if we indeed believe when we decided "at all cost" that we will follow Christ, that we will allow him to handle our lives by trusting him, and that we will live the life he offers us to live. Indeed this is a reminder to us all that it is important to be engaged in this world, but it is important to be engaged knowing that we have already won the battle. As i've said on my sermon last September 2007... "We play by the rules of this world but we allow the rules of heaven to win it!" Thanks be to God!
It was a very thought provoking sermon. I thought about the putting God ahead of anything we do part and I did one thing, In my job search, instead of stressing myself out, I left things in God's hands and it worked. I got a call one fine evening and got selected to work the next day.
I thought it was a Miracle, then I thought no it is God's plan.
Thanks for the sermon.
Thanks all. Good commens
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