It Will Be Given You

"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matt 7:7-8 NRSV

This morning I would really like the Lord to produce a couple of sermons for me. It would be good if I didn't have to focus on writing them; but, that's not how it works. God is not going to send it directly to my printer. I must do some listening, some searching, in order to know what He would have me say at Carol's funeral tomorrow and at worship on Sunday.

God does, indeed, gift us good gifts without our asking. He gave us His only begotten Son without our asking; without our even realizing that we needed him. But, sometimes we must ask in order to for us to be open to hear His word and His will for us. It's not a matter of God not giving them to us freely. It's a matter of whether we are willing to receive them or not.

The older I get, the more I realize that in order to know and do God's will I have to practice the presence of God so that I can hear Him. I have to actively seek Him because my human nature would shut Him out as I attempt to go it alone, without Him. This, I have found, is not a very wise idea. Of course, God is always with me; but, there are times I shut the door on Him and do not listen; do not hear His word or His will. Without Him, I can do nothing good. But, with Him all things are possible.

Search His word and you will find His good will for you and for all people.

"For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess 2:14

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 15:12-58 Death, Grief, Comfort; The Word of God

1 Corinthians 15:12-58 NIV
In our reading today we have a couple of readings that are often used for funerals. At a church conference a few years ago, I remember hearing a pastor, who was also an author, tell us that we need to remember that the "dead are dead." She was confident that scripture would not bring anyone comfort. I beg to differ with her and am amazed that she professed to be a Christian and a pastor at that. I am not sure what she was suggesting we should do or say then to comfort others in their grief. I see no purpose for funerals or memorials if there is no chance for hope to those who are dying inside while yet in this world.

The Word of God is our only real comfort in times like these. Scripture would remind us that even though we die we shall live. It is a great mystery. We cannot totally understand it; but, those who believe that Jesus died and was risen from the grave are confident that they and all who believe will follow in his footsteps though the gate of death into eternal life. Death does not have the victory over us. Jesus has victory over death for all who would follow him.

He is risen and ascended! So shall we!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 6:30-55 - Miracles

Jesus feeds the multitude on five loaves of bread and two fish! Many have tried to reason away this miracle. But, let me ask you this: have you ever had a meal with God's children and did not have enough food to feed them all? I know that it has never happened at Zion or in communities that I have worshipped with or served. There have been a few meals where we may have run out of something, but there has always been something else to put on the plate to feed the people with. Most often we have so much left that we're busy trying to figure out who in the community we can bring food to that was not able to make it to the meal.

On Saturday, we held a funeral service for a very dear sister in Christ. The great crowd of people who came to hear the Gospel stood in the narthex as well as in the kitchen. While grieving our loss, it was a joyful celebration of her eternal life in Christ. When it came time for the fellowship meal, the line went up the stairs and into the narthex for a very long time. It never crossed my mind that we would not have enough food to feed them all, only maybe not enough chairs for them all to sit at. We all ate. We all sat (except for those who were serving). God provides.

We don't have to reason out how God performs the miracle of feeding the multitudes. We don't have to justify Jesus walking on water or how he did it. We don't have to figure out how Jesus heals the sick. Like Sylvia, we just know that He did and He does. Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 27:58-66 - Disciples Absent From The Funeral

I have officiated at hundreds of funerals and even more graveside committals. Only a handful of them have had fewer people in attendance than at the burial of Jesus. That would be less than three. Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus; and the two Marys seem to be the only ones present. Where were the chosen twelve? We know from scripture that Judas committed suicide, so we're down to eleven and what about the hoards that had been following him around in order to be healed? This was a most unusual burial for one who had such a following while he was alive. Where were all these friends and followers?

The Sabbath was fast approaching. In just a few hours the law required no funerals, not even much movement on the part of the Jews. Maybe, the disciples were just trying to follow the Sabbath laws or maybe they had all run in fear for their own lives. As Peter had at the trial, maybe they were all so worried about their own lives, burying their friend; their teacher, was the least of their concerns. But, here we have a man who was willing to put himself out there for Jesus. Joseph was not afraid to have his name connected with the Name of Jesus. He approached Pilate, who had condemned Jesus in the first place, and asks for the body for burial. Then he takes, out of his own holdings, a clean linen cloth and with his own hands buries Jesus on his own property; in his own tomb.

Alone, with the women, Joseph is willing to align himself with Jesus, even after Jesus has been declared an outlaw by the church and state; even after he has been executed for perceived crimes.

May God grant that we never be ashamed or in fear for our lives because we dare to be associated with or praise the name of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 66 - It Is Well With My Soul

     Well, this is kind of interesting. As I read today's reading, Isaiah 66, I thought it looked real familiar. Today is the 7th Sunday after Pentecost and this morning verses 10-14 of chapter 66 will be read aloud around the world, as they just happen to be our Old Testament reading for today.

 

“Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,
    all you who love her;
rejoice greatly with her,
    all you who mourn over her.
For you will nurse and be satisfied
    at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply
    and delight in her overflowing abundance.”

For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace to her like a river,
    and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
As a mother comforts her child,
    so will I comfort you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

When you see this, your heart will rejoice
    and you will flourish like grass;
the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants,
    but his fury will be shown to his foes."  (Isa 66:10-14 NIV)
 

     This morning, I am, again, reminded of that beautiful hymn "All Is Well With My Soul," written by Horatio Spafford after the tragic loss of his daughters as the ship they were traveling in across the ocean collided with another. He penned:

    "When Peace like a river attendeth my way... when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, through trials should come – It is well with my soul."

     It is well! It is well! It is well with my soul. I remember sitting in a workshop on grief years ago and hearing that assuring those who are grief stricken of the kingdom promised to all believers brings no comfort to the person grieving. This workshop was being led by a Pastor and she was speaking from her experience. She had resented the Pastor who had preached a Gospel Sermon at one of her loved one's funerals. She said it brought her no comfort and it brings no one else comfort. We need, she said, to grasp reality at a time like that and the reality according to her is that when you are dead, you are dead. Period. The resurrection should not be included! It kind of blew me away and I had a hard time hearing anything else she had to say.

     I did not comprehend her line of thinking then and I still don't understand it. The good news of the kingdom through Jesus Christ is the only thing that I know that can possibly bring comfort in a time of such great loss. The reassurance that Christ is with you at such a time is the only thing I know that will bring even a semblance of peace to the grieving soul.

     Quite a few years ago, I had agreed to officiate at the funeral of a man who I did not know well. We are a very rural community and clergy often get asked to bury those whom we do not know, so that's actually quite common. In this case, I knew the man's son and mother. I knew his mother well. She was a very faithful Christian. I did not hesitate to agree to commend her son for her. However, a day before the funeral, I received a call to let me know that the man was not Christian and that his son had requested that there be no mention of Jesus at the funeral. The man had been an atheist. Yet, his family wanted me there. His family and his mother, especially, needed to hear the Gospel. Tricky one - that funeral was! How to bring comfort to a family when there was no hope in the resurrection - no hope in the Kingdom of God? It's like saying "Peace, Peace, when there is no peace." (Jer 6:14, 8:11, Ezek 13:10, 16)

     Following that funeral, I advised the funeral directors in the area, that if there was even a hint that I would be asked not to proclaim the Good News at a funeral let me know so that I could refuse with enough time for the family to find someone else; because, I can bring no one comfort. It is not I, nor my words, nor my presence that brings comfort to anyone. It is the Word of God, His presence, His promises, that brings peace to the soul of those who are afflicted, no matter what the affliction might be.

     "When Peace like a river attendeth my way... when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul."

                                    God's Peace be with you - Pr. J

 

P.S. For more the proclamation of the Gospel and peace like a river, see you at worship today!

Proverbs 29 - Righteous Thrive; People Rejoice

"When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice..." (Prov 29:1 NIV) " The righteous care about justice for the poor... (Prov 29 7a)"

The lesson from Proverbs today reminds me of a friend. Actually, no matter what I read this morning I would be reminded of her. Susie's funeral was yesterday.  She was/is a wonderful example of one who is righteous in Christ. Her faith was strong. Her faith in Christ led her in her journey here in this world.

After 20 years of following my husband around, he retired in our home community. Of course, I moved with him. It was a lonely and hectic time trying to figure out where we fit in. Susie had a craft and gift shop. I would often stop in just to talk to her. I could talk about anything to her. We often talked about the youth puppet team we were both involved with. No matter what was going on, Susie could help you find the good in it. When I was down, I would walk into that shop and I would find myself rejoicing. She was full of joy. She was full of life. She was full of Christ. She was filled with the righteousness of Christ.

She was always busy helping someone. She particularly loved working with children. Always at peace and with a smile on her face, she spent her life helping and bringing joy to others. She cared about justice for those who were in need.

After moving away, again, I have not seen her much. I would run into her now and then on my rare visits back home and we would spend some time talking. But, I thought about her joy and the joy she brought to others often. She has completed her journey. She will be missed. But, for all of us who find our righteousness in Christ, we have the hope of spending eternity with her in the Kingdom of God. With hope and faith in Christ Jesus we are confident that her joy has been made complete.

God's Peace - Pr. J