Thankfulness is Great Gain - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Thanksgiving Day service 2019

Theme: Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus

Dear friends in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior,

1 Timothy 6:6 reads, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. This single verse is really the entire thrust of the sermon today. This is the central point. If you come away from today’s service with a better understanding of “godliness with contentment” then the goal of this sermon will have been met.

Now, we can summarize our message in this passage but we’re not going to leave it there. We read also from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 in order to better explore the depth of being thankful through faith in Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:1-7 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Today we come to learn from God’s Word that Being Thankful is “Great Gain”
1. When it is present in all circumstances
2. When it is directed at all people
3. When it serves Jesus

Has thankfulness gone out of style? Based on the traffic at the airport yesterday or the crowds flocking to the grocery stores, I would say “no.” Thanksgiving is as big a holiday as it’s ever been. Ah, but that’s not the question. It’s easy for us to associate the virtue of thankfulness with the holiday. But just because someone celebrates Thanksgiving Day does not mean they’re thankful. Indeed, much of the holiday of Thanksgiving has little to say of a person’s attitude. Thanksgiving for many represents time with family, eating lots of food, watching football, and more recently, going shopping for Christmas gifts. While we can be thankful for each of those things, simply celebrating the holiday doesn’t guarantee that.

So, has thankfulness gone out of style? Well, as the Bible describes it, in many ways it has. From our text today, we see three primary, meaning essential, elements to being thankful as a Christian – in a way that 1 Timothy 6:6 says is “great gain.” In chapter 2 God is described what “godliness with contentment” looks like in real time. The first of those essential elements is being thankful in all circumstances. Now, this is where we lean a but more on 1 Timothy 6:6 in order to help us better understand our text. In that verse, Paul mentions the key to being thankful in our actions, and its something that starts in the heart – contentment. Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Contentment is not something you can measure or quantify. You can’t see into a person’s heart or attitude to tell how much contentment they have. But, contentment is displayed through thankfulness. And the Bible makes the case that we can be content and therefore, thankful in all circumstances. In another of Paul’s writings he says,

Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

So often we think that the situation we’re in warrants the reaction we display in our lives. But Paul says that’s not the case for the Christian. We can be content and thankful in any situation – good or bad – not because of the situation itself but because of what God does for us. That’s where we pair “godliness” with contentment and get great gain.

Too often, people settle for a false, cheap thankfulness in their life because they’re not really content. For example, consider the Pharisee who said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people-- robbers, evildoers, adulterers-- or even like this tax collector (Luke 18:11).” Here he gives thanks but it’s not true thankfulness because it has neither godliness nor contentment. Choosing for yourself when to be thankful to God and when to be angry, vengeful, and discontent with your surroundings is not thankfulness.

As we might expect, being thankful in all circumstances naturally flows into being thankful toward all people. Here’s where we jump back into our text. The emphasis on God’s care and compassion for all people certainly has implications on being thankful in all circumstances. You’ll notice, God clearly wants us to be thankful toward all people – especially as it relates to our prayer life. The topic of thankfulness is another type of prayer that Paul mentions, in addition to supplications, intercessions, and just plain general prayers. The key thought to remember is that all our prayers, when focused on others, is to be directed at their well-being.

Paul also looked specifically at those in authority. He especially singles out leaders in society and tells Timothy to pray for them. It’s not easy to pray for those in authority, especially secular leaders. We understand this well. We live in freedom and like to be in control. We often cringe or balk at the notion of obeying others, even more so if we disagree with their leadership.

Perhaps politicians come to mind, but our lives are full of other authority figures as well. Parents. Law enforcement personnel. Pastors and teachers. Managers and bosses. God explains throughout His Word that He expects us to obey these individuals and submit to them. There are obviously exceptions but in most circumstances this expectation stands as it’s written.

But how easily our contentment, thankfulness, and prayers dry up when we’re dealing with authority figures. Instead of respecting government officials, we stop at nothing to discredit their policy and even their personhood. We feel justified in not submitting to them if we think that they are wrong – even though they often provide a host of other blessings that we blind ourselves to. Think of the culture Paul and Timothy were in. Do we feel like we have bad leaders today? Their government outlawed the Christian faith and sanctioned imprisonment, mistreatment and death to Christians. Yet God said to them – be thankful and pray for those in authority.

The same is true of parents. Is it healthy for children to only listen and respect mom and dad when they agree with their rules? How would that look in our families? What about church leaders? Is the pastor only worth praying for his sermons are inspiring? Shall we shut down and ignore him if he teaches something we don’t like?

There are no perfect leaders – in society, in the church, or in home. If you’re waiting for that in order to be thankful it will obviously never happen. If you only pray for your leaders when they do what you want, how is that attitude flowing from free grace you’ve received from God? And just because someone is in the public eye doesn’t mean that their good name and reputation is fair game to be torn to shreds.

The point is well understood in our text. Christians are to pray for all people – with thanksgiving. God knows how difficult this is to do toward those in authority, especially when we disagree with them and if we feel unfairly treated by them. But that situation doesn’t change what God has said, in fact, it emphasizes the need for prayer even more. The importance of this is given in God’s reasoning for it, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Respecting, obeying, and praying for those in authority helps keep our lives stable in peace and dignity, and in this kind of setting the good news of Jesus our Savior thrives.

We’re also told that when we pray for others it serves Jesus. The text continues by saying, This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. The way we think of others and treat them stems from how much God loves them. It’s God’s desire that all would be saved and come to know Jesus as their one Mediator. That message – the gospel – is clear when we display our Savior’s love toward others – especially among those with whom we have a disagreement.

The “great gain” of thankfulness and prayer is produced by salvation in Jesus Christ. To be clear – no one is saved by your own godliness or excellence of faith. The point is that the pathway to Jesus is open when you are thankful, when you are content, when you love your enemies, and when you care for all people – even wicked leaders. When you lack thankfulness. When your contentment is overcome with petty jealousy and gossip – the pipeline to the gospel through your confession becomes constricted. And it doesn’t only affect others who might have the opportunity to hear about Jesus through you, it affects your faith too.

We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In these words, we’re expressing the “great gain” of what Christ has accomplished for us. We have been forgiven. Yes, you, today, who did not deserve Christ’s love because of your wickedness and evil – you are forgiven. That’s great gain indeed. But now, you can forgive others in like kind. There’s where the thankfulness manifests itself. Not the thankfulness of the Pharisee, who only expressed it in word because he compared himself to his neighbor. That’s common, ordinary, and worldly.

Godliness with contentment is much different. It can be present at all times. It can be directed at all people. Those who are special qualities. But most important, it serves Jesus because reflects back the love He gave to you. Jesus didn’t wait for you to show your holiness before He loved you and His gave His life for you. The Bible says, Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Indeed, what great gain this has been for us and we want others to have that same gift. Amen.

Thankfulness and prayer, when put together at all times and toward all people, are powerful tools to keep the gospel living and active in your life. May God continue to strengthen you through the love of Jesus, and may that gift remain active in you through godliness and contentment. Amen.

Christ the King - Psalm 121

Theme: There is no one like your King

1. When you need help

2. When you need protection

3. When you consider eternity

We’ll read the text as we move along in the sermon.

Where do you turn to for help? Do you call upon a close friend or family member? Do you look inward to build your strength and resolve? Do you seek out a professional – perhaps a counselor or a mentor? Do you rely on what you were taught from early on – those memorable sayings from mom, dad, or a grandparent? There are many things in life that can offer us help and where we turn probably depends a lot on the circumstance we are in. But as you think about your options, don’t forget about God.

Today, we consider Jesus as our King, and as such He holds all power and authority. He is the best resource for all our needs in life, and yet He often is not the first one we turn to. In our text today, we are reminded that there is no one like our King. And that is especially true when we are in need.

Our psalm begins today with these words, I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

For the people of Israel, the mountains were a place of protection and a realm where one could reach God. For us who live in the proximity of beautiful mountain ranges, it’s not hard to understand this notion. In the Bible, hills and mountains were the locations of several significant events.

·       Isaac was offered on Mount Moriah

·       Moses saw the LORD in the burning bush on Mount Horeb (Sinai)

·       Moses received the Law on the same mountain

·       Elijah heard the still small voice of the LORD on Mount Horeb

·       The altars of worship in the OT were called the “high places” – though they weren’t always dedicated to the true God.

·       The Temple was built on Mount Moriah.

·       The city of Jerusalem was built on Mount Zion. This was a universal picture for God’s kingdom, the dwelling place of God with His people.

·       Jesus presented His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gave His Olivet discourse on the Mount of Olives.

The hills and mountains were sanctuaries in the sense of protection, but also in the spiritual sense of being a place to approach God. The mountains were a visual representation of something that the people could turn to in times of need. They represented the options that the people of Israel had, just like we have.  

And so, it’s eye opening that as the psalmist asks this question, he immediately considers the mountains, since they were the logical choice in his culture, but his focus goes directly to God instead. The point is clear. God is able to help us more than the mountains. God has this quality in part because of what the psalmist expresses. God is the Maker of heaven and earth. The lesson given here is why go to the mountains for help when you have access to the one who made the mountains.

We don’t run to the literal hills today in times of need, but we do seek out metaphorical mountains of aid. Many of the things we mentioned – good blessings that help our lives – can quickly overshadow the Maker of all things. Inward courage and resolve, trusted advocates like counselors and mentors, pastors and teachers, fellow Christians are all blessings God gives to help us in our lives. But they are not to become more important, or trusted more, than God Himself. This applies even to the place we probably turn to the most – family. Jesus Himself said, Matthew 10:37 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. That’s a hard saying – but absolutely true and something we need to hear regularly. Take it one step further an insert whatever you’d like into the passage.

“Anyone who loves…” money, wisdom or science, their own heart, their Christian piety, etc.

Don’t put God on the back burner. Don’t see Him as a secondary option. When you need help, look to your Maker first.

There is also no one else like our King because He protects us. The word that consistently is given throughout this psalm to emphasize God’s protection is “watch.” The middle of the psalm reads, He who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Yes, he who watches over Israel will not slumber. He will not sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you. The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will watch to keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life.  

It’s an interesting coincidence that this is the very word that was the focus of our sermon last weekend. To us, Jesus says to “watch” for the final day of His return – pay attention. As it concerns Himself, however, Jesus is watching in a different way. The watchfulness of our King is one of protection and care. Synonyms for this word are keep, guard, and treasure. Jesus does all these things in your life. Jesus treasures you and will do everything in His power to protect you.  

This watchfulness of Jesus is really the expressed action of the LORD’s blessing. We close each service with the belief that God looks down upon us with favor – that His face shines upon us. This is how God fulfills that promise. Jesus is ever watchful in your life. He knows what you face long before you even know. He promises moments of deliverance from temptation. Just as in our watching, the concern is pictured as falling asleep. God never sleeps. God does not allow your footing to lose support. In His will there is always a purpose to every heartache and stumbling block you experience. This doesn’t mean you should seek out difficulties just to experience your Savior’s work. But no matter what you go through, even the sin of your own devising, Jesus is always watchful to protect.

These blessings are special not just for what they do in our lives now, but because they direct us to the greatest hope of eternal life in heaven. We look beyond the hills and mountains in our lives because we desire a better help and protection that they can’t offer. There is no one like our King because He leads us to His kingdom, where there is no more sorrow, tears, or pain. The psalmist tells us this in verse 8, the final aspect of the LORD’s protection, 8 The LORD will watch over your going and your coming from now to eternity.

Life is often portrayed as a series of seasons. Times come and go. Infancy turns to childhood, childhood to adolescence, adolescence to adulthood. Sorrow and joy surround these moments. Good and bad shift from day to day. When times are bad, we remember that it is only for a season. Likewise, when things are good, we prepare for the time when it will change. This is the reality – life is unstable.

In terms of our text, the psalmist expresses it as going and coming. The point is that whatever season you are in – coming or going, good or bad – the LORD is with you, the LORD supplies your needs, and the LORD protects you. And the LORD is not just with you for life – but for eternity. This is where we see the difference. Whereas life is unstable and constantly changing – eternity is secure and stable. Part of the joy of heaven will be the consistency of being with God. That overwhelming feeling of instability that comes along with life will be done away with. You will feel the way God created you to feel when you are home in heaven.

And certainly, there is much more to eternity. You will be free from sin and all of its disastrous effects. You won’t have to pray, because you’ll be in God’s presence. You won’t have to struggle internally with questions and doubts – or accusations from Satan, because you will have knowledge of God. You won’t feel the sinking loss of death because it will no more.

When you face trouble and need in life – look beyond the hills to your King. Sometimes we allow ourselves to become unnecessarily trapped in the world. We seek out our help based on what we want or how we choose to live our lives – or what others have to say about prosperity or success. But by faith, the goal is to look past all things of this world – good and bad – to trust more fully in that which God accomplished through Christ alone – an absolutely heavenly gift. The world may care little for it. It may seek the latest therapy, or cure, or study paper; or the end that gives me the most control today, or emphasizes human achievement the best. Those are the world’s mountains of deliverance. Your King is able to do far more than that. He has died for your sins and risen again to give you a future past death. Surely, whatever you face – God can and will help. Look for it and hasten after it by faith in Jesus Christ. Look beyond the mountains to your King. Amen.

Watching for Jesus with Wisdom - Matthew 25:1-13

Three Areas to be a Wise Watcher

1. In Preparation

2. In Qualification

3. In Anticipation

Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 "And at midnight a cry was heard:`Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' 7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 "And the foolish said to the wise,`Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 "But the wise answered, saying,`No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' 10 "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,`Lord, Lord, open to us!' 12 "But he answered and said,`Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

A few years ago, Microsoft released the results of a study about attention span. In it, they concluded that since 2000, the average human attention span shortened by about 4 seconds. The memorable line from this study is that the human attention span is now shorter than that of a goldfish. In addition to this, humans are now more forgetful. In an ironic twist, this study concluded that the increase of technology was in large part to blame for this change.

Since that study was released, many others have argued against it. The general consensus of that camp is that human attention span is not decreasing, it’s just getting more selective. However, what each side agrees on is that the substantial increase of options available today to capture our attention has led the whatever types of changes we’re experiencing. Whether the change is good or not could be argued. However, what’s consistent is that there is more to distract us nowadays than at any other point in human history.

Paying attention has always been a necessary part of the Christian faith

·       Pay attention to the correct teaching

·       Watch out for Satan and false teachers.

·       Take heed to your own conduct and attitude.

And in this parable today, Jesus tells us to pay attention to His final return. There is an inherent question to this – what distracts us from paying attention. Much like the previously mentioned study, we recognize a change in the way people focus on God. Some argue that this is a bad change, others say it’s good. Regardless, there is a change when we don’t pay attention in matters of our faith – and there is a cost.

As it is with any parable, we try to connect the illustrative parts of the story to a real-life application. The overall process in this account is not too difficult to follow. Jesus speaks of a wedding party on the way to a wedding celebration. The event of a wedding is a common metaphor in the Bible to apply to the end of the world. Jesus depicts the consummation of the Christian faith as a celebration in heaven, where the Bride (the Church) is forever united with the Groom (Christ).  

However, what’s even more important in a parable is understanding the overall point of the lesson. Although there can be many things gained from a parable, there is always one main point. In today’s parable that one main point is watching – paying attention. And so, in a day and age where distraction is abundant, we ask God to lead us in being wise watchers. Given the state of the world around us, the overall impact of the Word of God in these last days, and the tendency we have for being spiritually distracted, this is an extremely necessary reminder from God’s Word today. Let us then touch on three areas of watchfulness, beginning with Preparation.    

Christian preparation is always tied to urgency. God calls for us to prepare daily because there’s an urgency to our faith. We see how that is expressed in the parable. The ten virgins are divided into five wise and five foolish. Part of that distinction is made because of the way each group prepared. To be prepared in that context was to bring extra oil for one’s lamp. Again, this was tied to urgency. The extra oil was necessary because the arrival of the bridegroom was unknown. We might conclude, better safe than sorry. Those who were wise prepared for what was out of their control by accumulating more of what they needed.

What exactly does the oil of the lamps correspond to in our lives? Many Christians have likened it to faith. More specifically it is that which builds and sustains faith – what we might call the Means of Grace. Regardless, we know that whatever the oil represents, it’s something that all believers need. Without, our lamps die out, and Christ does not recognize us on the Last Day. 

A wise watcher prepares. That means using what God has given us to build our faith. This includes opportunities to study the Word, whether that be privately at home or publicly in church. It involves making regular use of the Lord’s Supper, which strengthens us with God’s assurance that we are forgiven in the “given” body and “shed” blood of Jesus. Preparing means resisting temptation and those things that would lead us away from Christ. We do this because of the urgency of our situation. This world has an expiration date. We don’t want to be an apathetic of indifferent Christian. We don’t want to be someone who waits till the fun of life is over before we find God or religion. These are not the attitudes expressed by true faith. Faith inherently contains urgency from the very beginning of a person’s life.

This is why Paul taught, Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

The second area where we seek to be a wise watcher is in qualification. When the foolish virgins recognize that the Bridegroom has arrived, and that they are lacking in oil, they make a plea to the wise to share with them. The wise respond by saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves. This was not selfishness or rudeness on the part of the wise, it was the simple reality of the situation. The oil could not be shared from one person to another. Doing so would have disqualified everyone.

Likewise, a wise watcher understands what qualifies them to enter heaven. While we share many blessings within our faith, that faith itself cannot be shared from person to person. Each individual is responsible before God. I cannot believe in Jesus for you, nor can you for anyone else. Within that truth we recognize that there is a great deal of influence that we can have on what another person believes. But we cannot believe for them. So, the wise urged the foolish to quickly get some oil, but they were too late.

Your qualification for heaven is dependent on Jesus alone – not on what anyone else says or believes about your faith or about God – good or bad. You also are not saved by association. It’s not about the people you know or about being in church as if it’s some sort of club. Similarly, faith is not about storing up credits before God that you can cash in on the final day. Either you’re qualified or you’re not – and that determination is based on whether you believe in Jesus or if you’re trusting in some other means to be saved. A wise watcher understands what makes them qualified. If you are wise, you will trust in Jesus alone. You will believe in your heart that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and you will confess it by your words and actions. But as a wise watcher, you will also make this a priority today. It is not wise to wait until the end of life to find God or to find religion. It is foolish to live by the ways of the world and your flesh just because you’re young and carefree. Since you are qualified now – this very day – through Jesus Christ – the time to believe is also right now. Don’t be reckless with the blessings of forgiveness and eternal life – if you are, you may reach a point where it’s too late to get what you need. You are qualified today – now spend time protecting that inheritance of faith.

And the final area to be a wise watcher is anticipation. It’s in this final point that we come full circle back to the overall theme of this parable. The Lord wants us to watch – to pay attention to the final day. For the believer, we add a note of anticipation to that task. Our preparation is not obligatory or burdensome. We do not take a “ho-hum” attitude toward Christ’s return, nor do we have to fear it. Rather, we anticipate it with great joy.

A wise watcher takes this approach toward the day of Judgment. There is certainly always an element of trepidation when we consider something as monumental as the end of this current world. It’s not sinful to feel a bit of uneasiness or to have butterflies in your stomach as you think about it. Those things show how important this day is. But, ultimately, we anticipate our Lord’s return with great joy in our hearts.

The believers’ anticipatory joy is a theme throughout the Bible:

Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.

Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.  

Part of the wise virgins’ preparation was there desire to be in the wedding celebraton. They were looking forward to it, so they were ready! To be in the presence of the bridegroom was their source of joy. You have these same privileges by faith. The Lord Jesus says to you, “Come, for all things are now ready.” The wedding feast is prepared. Nothing is lacking. God is merciful and longsuffering that all would come to repentance and believe in Jesus. You are qualified. God has given you what you need to prepare – the elements that build your faith. Therefore, you can watch with joy, also.

Today people talk about “living your best life.” That usually means making the most of your day or seeking out activities and goals that make you feel fulfilled. However, the Christian mindset is “living for eternal life.” Rather than seeking to get the most out of life, seek to live a wise life. The wisdom of faith in Christ beckons you to consider these three areas, preparation, qualification, and anticipation. If Christ is at the center of your faith, you will be ready in each domain.

Who’s to say if our attention spans are decreasing or simply growing in a different direction? When it comes to eternity, a better question is – Does it really matter? What we do know is that there are plenty of distractions before us. There is no shortage of reasons to minimize time with the Lord at home, church, or privately. Remember, a wise watcher pays attention. We prepare by using what the Lord has given us today to sustain our faith. We believe that our qualification rests in Christ’s merits, not our own and not anyone else’s. And finally, we joyfully wait, with eager expectation, for the return of our Savior. Amen.

Following Faith to the End - Job 14:1-6

You Can Follow Faith to its Conclusion (Judgment)

1. In matters of mortality: See the total corruption of sin

2. In matters of salvation: Trust God’s complete forgiveness in Christ

Job 14:1-6 Man born of woman has a few short days, and they are full of anxiety. 2 He blossoms like a flower, but soon withers. He recedes like a shadow and does not remain. 3 You keep your eye on such a man. You bring me into judgment in your presence. 4 Who can produce something pure from something that is impure? No one. 5 Certainly his days are determined. The number of his months has been set by you. A limit is set, which he cannot exceed. 6 Turn your gaze away from him, and let him be, until he finishes his day’s work as a hired man.

Are you a judgmental person? That’s quite a loaded question. I think most of us would probably say no. Judgment has a negative inuendo in our culture. It’s not considered valuable or good to be judgmental. However, that word itself simply means someone who comes to judgments. When you break it down, we are all “judgmental” in different ways. You have to be in order to make decisions in life. You make judgments in what kind of food to eat, what kind of work to do, who you consider to be your friends, what to teach your children and so on. Obviously, you can’t be a Christian without being judgmental, either. If you aren’t, you won’t stand for God.

Chances are, this isn’t quite what you were thinking of when I posed my original question. As soon as you heard “judgmental” you probably thought of looking down on others in a condescending, self-righteous way, rather than merely making decisions in life. It’s a good example of how our culture’s use of a word can really shape its meaning.

We can talk about our use of the word judgment all we want, but for the purpose of our faith we should also consider what God says. We know that God’s judgment is a common topic across the Bible. We often think of God’s judgment in a negative way because we view it in light of our sins. You certainly get that sense as we see Job’s thoughts today. Job was able to depict God’s judgment in very personal and specific ways, probably because of everything Job endured living in this sinful world. Job’s outlook appears quite bleak. He speaks of human mortality, anxiety, death, struggle and toil under temptation and test, and more. It’s hard to think that any of us have been through more than Job but surely, we’ve felt the same way at times. Are these difficult thoughts all there is to God’s judgment? If so, there hardly can be any hope for our lives here on earth or for our faith.  

We need to take back the proper, Biblical understanding of judgment because its so critical to our faith. Every belief system makes judgments just as every individual does. Christians need to be on guard against giving up our beliefs simply because they are labeled as judgmental by the world. You cannot forfeit judgments entirely, there is simply exchanging one set for another.

Another way of thinking about judgment is the conclusion to something. Think about any good story in a book or a movie. It has a conclusion. In the simplest way possible, that means it comes to an end. No matter how much we enjoy a story, we want it to come to an end. No story is going to make any sense if it simply rambles on forever.

A judgment is similar to a conclusion. It indicates the termination of something. We could apply to this to actual events and individuals, such as when God speaks of judging the world on the last Day. However, judgment also applies to ideas and beliefs. We reach decisions and conclusions about the simplest and deepest matters of our hearts and minds.

The point of today’s message is that any valuable belief should be able to be followed to its conclusion, or judgment. Many non-Christians criticize our faith because of the judgments it makes without considering the conclusion of their own beliefs. The result is that we are tempted to buy a false bill of goods when it comes to how we view God, the Scriptures, and our faith. If we do, we are led to distrust what God has actually said and done.

Consider atheism as an example – the belief that God does not exist. This belief system is probably the source of the greatest criticisms of Christianity. Most of the arguments you will find against the Bible go back to principles espoused by the atheistic worldview, even if they are held by Christians. Most atheists do not follow their belief system to its end. They make judgments but not the truly scary prospects that come along with promoting the idea that God does not exist.

Follow the atheistic belief to its conclusion. There is no God. Religion is a man-made invention with slight cultural value only. Therefore, no religion is superior to another, except the religious views expressed by atheists. God did not create us, since He does not exist. Jesus, if even a historical figure, was certainly not divine or a Savior, since there is nothing of a divine nature in the world. Sin is merely a product of guilt and shame – and it is not dictated by unchangeable commandments. There is no heaven or hell. Your life ends when you die. Oh, and by the way, while you’re living here on earth, the principles of law that govern and protect life and society, and that define morality, are simply dictated by the majority, and they are subject to change at any point in history – so buckle up and have a fun ride.

These are the principles of atheism, and if followed to their logical conclusion, they present a drastic picture of life and eternity. If there are no absolute laws or immutable standards about how we are to treat one another, what purpose is there in maintaining order – furthermore, how can we? If we are nothing more than highly developed animals that, for the time being, are on the top of the food chain, why should be act kindly to others? Where does compassion fit in if you’re just an animal? Furthermore, where did the immaterial realms of logic, wisdom, morality, and faithfulness come from if life as came from random chaos? When you follow this belief system to its conclusion, you end up in a terrifying place, and thankfully many atheists do not actually do this. Instead, they borrow from the Christian worldview, which gives us a foundation for moral principles and value to life. 

The same applies to other religions in the world, all of which will eventually teach the individual to achieve God’s favor by what they do, feel, or think. Again, follow those beliefs to their conclusion and there is no hope. They offer no fulfillment or comfort.

How is the Christian perspective any better? What does Job have to do with all this?

The point is that you can follow faith in Christ to its end. You don’t have to be like atheists or those who believe other false paths, stating high and grand ideas but borrowing from the Christian worldview to fill in the blanks. You can be confident of following the Christian faith to its conclusion, even though judgment most certainly awaits. Job fits into this because he understood the same thing about as well as anyone who ever lived. Job experienced some of the deepest and most intense possible. But, all while still trusting in redemption and salvation from his Savior. How?

First, Job followed the true teaching regarding sin and condemnation to its conclusion, and what a picture that paints. This is where we see the gloom and doom of Job’s life. These are where the themes of death, Satan, and suffering are unmistakable realities. Most belief systems will never approach these things because they’re too painful and they have no answer for them. If you have no solution to a pressing trouble, what good does it do to dwell on it? When we see the true nature of sin and unrighteousness it is truly a catastrophic scene. But we can follow that path to its conclusion because there is a judgment. There is a judgment over sin and we should rejoice in that fact. God came to a decision about it and because He did our sorrowful look into it is not for eternity.

The finality of Job’s understanding of God’s righteous judgment over sin is expressed in verse 4: Who can produce something pure from something that is impure? No one. Any hope we have of justifying ourselves, or escaping God’s judgment, is dashed to pieces on the rock of this single truth. No one can produce clean from unclean. This is what we find when we follow the law to its end. The judgment is that we are guilty, and no one can escape it.

But it’s also in this verse that we see a tiny seed planted that grows in the gospel. The futility Job expressed was from man’s perspective. Hope is found when we see that there was someone who made the unclean clean. From the perspective of Jesus, the righteous Man, the firstborn over all creation, we see comfort in this verse. I don’t have to try to manufacture purity on my own – Jesus did. I don’t need to justify myself before God – Jesus did. I don’t have to try to foolishly conceal the reality of sin’s effect in my heart and in my life – Jesus is able to cleanse me. For the one who hears and receives the gospel message, there is an implied hope in this verse – because that person knows Jesus – the one Man who accomplished salvation for the world, while still retaining his divine right as God.  

Job knew this. Job believed in his Savior. Many doubt that assertion because of the frustration that Job directed toward God. While we don’t condone that, we do recognize that the believer who faces trial, test, and persecution will struggle inwardly with understanding how those things align with the grace of God. The very fact that Job expressed such a deep struggle indicates that he knew and believed in God. If he hadn’t, these topics would not have been so frustrating for him. He was one who desperately longed for deliverance from God.  

We know Job would eventually, in chapter 19, confess the wondrous comfort that His Redeemer would resurrect and restore Job’s fallen body one day, and that Job would see Jesus in heaven. But even here in this chapter, amidst such desperation, we see the same hope. Job talks about man’s life as a flower that withers and perishes. It is temporary and fleeting and we’ve seen why in the earlier parts of our message today. But within that imagery is also the fragile seed and growth of the gospel’s work in a sinner’s heart. Because of the One who has cleansed us of our sin, faith grows when Jesus is trusted by faith. Sure, it’s fragile, just like man’s mortality. But faith endures. Even Jesus likened it to a mustard seed, which is one of the smallest seeds, but can grow into a large, vibrant plant that bears fruit. (Matthew 13:31ff)

So, too, is the conclusion of faith in Jesus. We are blessed to follow the good news to its end. And yes, it concludes with a judgment too. The judgment is similar to that of the law – given by Jesus, written and confirmed in His word, unchangeable, and applicable to all people. But it differs in its effect. The judgment of faith pronounces the sinner as redeemed and forgiven, not condemned. And because we follow the law to its end, we better appreciate the beauty and purity of faith’s conclusion in the merits of Jesus Christ.

Likewise, Job would express this hope in verses 16-17:16 For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin. 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

Many who reject Christ, who taunt believers, and who mock God’s Word seem to have an unshakable foundation of personal conviction and belief. On the other hand, the Christian faith seems too fragile and insecure to be of any real value. Very often, we imitate Job’s struggle in our own lives. Things seem too far out of our control. Deliverance from God feels like a distant dream that will never be realized.

And yet, there’s more to each than meets the eye. You can follow faith to its conclusion. The unbelievers personal beliefs will wither and fade like their own mortality. You can follow through pain, bitterness, heartache, and guilt. You can embrace God’s judgment, because there’s more to it than just a message about your sins. There’s a irrefutable declaration of grace for you in Jesus. God chose that. He decided it in eternity. It’s His conclusion. Therefore, you have a faith that can be followed to the end. It will not disappoint, and it will not leave you forsaken. The reality of sin and the pain through the law can be unbearable – but that’s the point. You can’t cleanse yourself – so stop trying.

Rather, believe in the only One who can and has cleansed you from sin. When you see the dirtiness, the hurt, the terror, and every other just reason for God to condemn you because of sin, it sets the perfect stage for Jesus and all that He alone accomplished. As deep as the condemnation of the law’s judgment goes, the gospel’s conclusion in Christ reaches even further to give you meaning, hope, and renewal. Sometimes that doesn’t seem to be the case, because you can find sin in just about anything in this world, while the gospel is only in God’s Word and sacraments. But continue to believe, because Christ is unchangeable, and He awaits at the end of your faith in heaven. God grant you all strength and perseverance in His name. Amen.

Reformation Sunday - Ezekiel 13:17-23

Theme:Idolatry Hits Close to Home through Identity

1. Man tries to identify with God by idolatry

2. God defeats idolatry by changing man’s identity

It’s an interesting coincidence that Reformation Day and Halloween happen to fall on the same day each year. I don’t think anyone planned this, but the events of Halloween, especially as it’s portrayed in our culture, are always a good reminder of the significance of the Reformation. For Christians at the time of Luther and other Reformers, the devil was a very real threat and temptation was depicted as a life or death consequence. If you’ve ever seen any Reformation-era artwork, you’ll understand what I mean. It’s common to see images of skeletons, demons, and depictions of death in graphic detail. There was no censorship of these things at that time because Christians wanted people to fear these things.

Today, it’s common to see the devil, demons, witches, and sorcerers portrayed in a much lighter way. Even this last week I saw one of the popular, lovable characters from the Peanuts cartoon illustrated as a fictitious Satan in costumes with horns and pitchfork. I’m not trying to be overly zealous about cartoonish depictions at Halloween and act like they are the fast track to hell. But, these characterizations of Satan, who is a very real threat, can have the unintended effect of desensitizing us to his ploys and plots. 

This is why a passage like 1 Peter 5:8 is a good reminder around Halloween and Reformation time. It fits with the meaning of both days: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. This describes the true nature of Satan. This is why he continues to be a very real threat to us today. The Lord’s call to be alert has not ceased to apply to your life. Today, as we think of the events of the Reformation, we consider a real-life case example of how Satan stalks and prowls as a lion. The image itself is abstract in many ways, to learn from it we also need to apply it to the ways that it fits our lives. We see it today from the prophet Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 13:17-23 "Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, 18  "and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19  "And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?" 20  ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21  "I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 22  "Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23  "Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD."’

We see in these verses just how seriously the LORD God takes false teaching. We’re not told the specific teachings of these false prophetesses, but we are given some details. Ezekiel describes the use of some type of ornamental charm that had some spiritual significance. The Hebrew term used in verses 18 and 20 indicates a bracelet that was worn. The prophetesses had taught the people that these bracelets had some type of magical or spiritual power. God says they were using these bracelets to hunt and trap souls. His message of deliverance was that He would free the trapped souls and expose the false teachers for what they were.

It’s common to read a portion of the Old Testament like this and forget to apply it to our lives. It seems strange to our ears that God’s people could fall for such a foolish trick. Enchanted trinkets are quickly exposed by our highly educated and trained Christian minds. But the deeper you dig into the background of this type of idolatry, the more you can see how it affects our lives.

Anyone who knows the basics of Reformation history can see the parallel to this text. At the time of Luther and well before, the Roman Catholic Church had led people astray from God’s truth through magical charms like relics, rosaries, and indulgences. Though far distant from Ezekiel’s age, the time of the Reformation was shrouded in mysticism and spiritual ritual. Church leaders regularly connected the divine to material things, and led church members to believe that these ordinary items had some significant purpose.

In substance, both examples are the same – they are times when Satan, the roaring lion, hunted peoples’ souls and led them away from Christ. The details were different to be sure, but the motives and factors were very much the same. Every scenario involving idolatry also reveals something about identity. What we mean by identity is how we view ourselves, especially in relation to God, or what many non-believers would refer to as the divine realm. No matter what a person’s religious belief is, we all have some type of identity in relation to the divine. The major question is how that identity is formed and understood.

Ezekiel depicts the common example of idolatry and its bearing on identity. Mankind, in an attempt to associate or be identified with God, attaches a significant meaning to something worldly. This is done in an attempt to reach up to God and find our identity with Him. The most common worldly objects are correctly called idols. We might think of statues made of wood, stone, or precious metal. Indeed, that type of idolatry still is practiced in many parts of the world today.

But in those cultures which have exposed the futility of such common idols, other more nuanced and complicated types take the same place. So, we see in the Reformation how the Roman Catholic Church began to attach spiritual significance to the saints, or objects from the saints. Simple items like a necklace of beads or even a piece of paper became the most sought after and necessary relics in the Christian’s life, all because of what they could supposedly do for their identity before God. Even the most sacred of the Lord’s own worship institutions – His Holy Supper – was denigrated into an idolatrous feast that shifted the focus from Jesus’ one sacrifice on the cross to mankind’s ability to conjure up divine miracles on the spot. It was the same as the charm bracelets that the LORD so vehemently condemned in our text – common worldly objects meant to displace God’s true Word.

How does this fit into our lives? That answer is perhaps the most difficult because idols today have shifted and changed even more than in Luther’s day. It’s also challenging because it takes an honest Christian to identity. You have to be open with the cavities in your heart that are leading you away from God. You have to be willing to be brutally honest with your thoughts, words, and actions and take the road less traveled in your assessment of your life. That road means blocking out the natural reaction of justifying what you have done and what false beliefs you have allowed in your heart. No one does this naturally. The people of Israel didn’t. Medieval Christians resisted too. That’s why they fell into traps that seem so easily avoidable to us. To understand how idolatry affects you today, you have to listen to God and block out your sinful flesh’s natural reaction. And if you open your ears to listen, as Jesus so often pleaded with the crowds to do, you will see answers in God’s Word that help your life.

Notice from Ezekiel, the root cause behind the various idolatrous symptoms. From the first verse of our text: Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart… This wasn’t the only place, either. At the beginning of chapter 13, when Ezekiel was condemning the false male prophets, he said the same: “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart,`Hear the word of the LORD!'" 3 Thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!”

There we see the core rot of the sinner’s heart. This is what false teaching delights in and what it feeds upon. This is the singular sign that Satan has devoured and conquered – that a person trusts their own heart over God. False teachers are evil because they lead hearers to this kind of attitude. Simple, obedient faith that follows God at every Word He speaks is supplanted by subjective feeling and desire. This is the true indication of idolatry and it’s the common thread in all false teaching from the beginning of time.

In what ways does this strike your life? It could be anything that becomes more important than God. Money, power, popularity, tradition, anger, pride, your job, a house or a car, and so on. You have help in recognizing what it may be in your life by heeding the same lesson God is giving here. Idolatry causes us to establish our identity in ourselves, and then force that into God’s plan. Conversely, faith humbly trusts the identity that Jesus bestows upon us as His children. And God defeats idolatry by changing our identity to be more like His.

God described this to Ezekiel as liberating believers from the snares and traps of the Devil. ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21  "I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.

We are free from false spiritual charms because of Jesus Christ. We are released from the captivity of false teachings and vain messages of deliverance. By faith, God reassures and strengthens believers with the one true gospel message of salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. This has freed you from slavery under the constraints of God’s law that you couldn’t keep on your own. This is the good news that brings joy and comfort to even the most hardened sinner who repents. This is how Jesus changes our identity to be like His. It’s the only way to accomplish this great quest of the divine that all people seek. It’s not about reaching up to God by our rudimentary efforts, but Him coming down to us in tender love and forgiveness.

This is our identity, and it’s the only one that contains no idolatry – for it trusts in Jesus Christ alone.

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. 8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.   

When you are on the lookout for signs of idolatry in your life – think of your identity. Is it in the many charms of our affluent culture – money, possessions, status, power and the like? Is your identity in the charms of sophistication and wisdom – do you feel attached to God because of how much you know, or how well you can rationally reconcile your faith in your mind? If these things describe the identity you have as a believer – beware – because that means you’re being hunted by the lion.

Rather than having that sad and desperate end to your faith – take comfort in the reality of the gospel of Christ. This is not something you chose. This does not come to you on your terms. This is not magic or superstition. The gospel begins and ends with Jesus – it’s all about what He has done for you by the most committed and unconditional love ever. And that means your identity comes from Jesus, not yourself. That means it’s delivered by His Word – not some mystical charm of body or mind. And that means you have the gift of everlasting life in heaven.   

Galatians 2:16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  

That’s quite an identity indeed, and it’s yours only through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Pentecost 20 - Genesis 28:10-17

The Two Ways that God Touches Your Emotion

1. Fear that Leads to Respect

2. Faithfulness that Leads to Hope

Genesis 28:10-17 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"

We speak of things that touch our emotions. In every circumstance of that kind, there is a catalyst and an effect. The catalyst is that which initiates the action and which evokes the emotion. The effect is the response that we display. If you are touched emotionally, you are not the catalyst. When you feel something because of God – remember that He is the one who is leading the way. He generates the response.

We have to be careful about this because there are also other catalysts that evoke responses – especially when paired with our emotions. Satan can be a catalyst. Our sinful flesh and natural mind outside of faith can cause a reaction. Even those nearest and dearest to us in life can be catalysts that create an effect.

But, how do we truly know we have been touched by God? We stay grounded in His Word. That means we won’t always get the reactions we anticipate. The catalyst determines that. That means not every feeling or intuition (reaction) we have is proper. If you are not the sole arbiter or righteousness and purity in life, then you follow someone who is – that’s where God comes in. Jacob struggled for a long time trying to forge his own path – trying to be his own religious catalyst. He wanted to taste heaven. He wanted to be touched by God – but he was forcing the issue.

·       Being swayed by his mother to steal the birthright from Esau.

·       Lying to his father, Isaac.

·       Running away in shame.

·       Even after this account Jacob continued doing the same thing – had children with servants of both Rachel and Leah.

As Jacob ran away from home, he truly had nothing. The stone he took as a pillow that evening was indicative of his loneliness and desperateness. Part of the LORD’s plan in coming down from heaven to Jacob was to touch him emotionally in a way that would reveal the hollowness of Jacob relying on his own to move forward. Jacob needed a humbling reminder that without the LORD he had nothing of significance in life. And God’s plan worked. Jacob’s first reaction to seeing the stairway with angels was fear. He was afraid of God because God had confronted Jacob directly and revealed the futility of the ways in which Jacob had tried to circumnavigate God’s will and purpose for his life.

God’s magnificent display of power that evening was the catalyst that led to Jacob’s reaction of fear. And hard as it was to endure, Jacob needed that. We do well to wonder in what ways does God act as a catalyst in our lives to wake us up out of the slumber of unbelief and futile living? We’re conditioned to resist change or shame. We can speculate how – it probably differs for each of us. Media, technology, affluence, power and control – they all drive us to ignore the confrontation of reality that exposes our weaknesses and limitations. The world and your own sinful flesh will never run short of ways to suppress the catalyst of God’s righteous law and judgment. We’ve become so accustomed to disregarding inconvenience in life that it even leads us to reject the truth when we don’t like it. Like Jacob, we want to run and hide from the will of God in our lives and seek our own paths instead. We want to make excuses for our infractions against God’s law and portray our lives in a much cheerier way than we deserve.

We need the same humbling reminder that Jacob received that evening. We need to be touched by God in this way. Correction and discipline from God are blessings. We need them in our lives, lest we run away from Him. Fearing God in this way is not a bad thing either. It’s part of every believer’s healthy walk of faith in this world. We should recognize the awesomeness of God in the settings where we see Him in His Word. We should not resist calling Him “Lord” and “Master” and we should not hesitate to believe that His Word alone is the way to life and fulfillment. God touches our emotions in these ways and it’s a necessary part of faith. Beware of ignoring those moments or resisting them because it means the difference between true faith and vain idolatry of the self.

Yet, God tells us that there is so much more to faith than fear – at least the terrifying kind of fear. God also works as a catalyst of mercy to bring us forgiveness to assure us that we have a home in heaven with Him. God exposed Jacob’s futility to present a clearer picture of His grace. So, He does the very same thing with us when the Law exposes our sins – God uses that to help us see even more clearly what Jesus alone could accomplish for us.

In the text, we see this in God’s promise to Jacob. This was no ordinary promise. It carried Messianic implications. This promise was the same one that God first gave to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. There are essentially three parts. 1. God would bless Jacob and his descendants with the Promised Land. 2. God would make Jacob’s descendants numerous. 3. and God would bless all nations of the world through Jacob’s seed. This last aspect of the promise is most directly pointed at Jesus, because He was the Seed. This also helps us appreciate the significance of this promise because it even predates Abraham. It was first given to Adam and Eve just moments after they rebelled against God. He assured them as He did to Jacob – the Seed of the Woman would crush the serpent’s head.

Other parts of this promise would have a fulfillment in Jacob’s own life. His children would indeed become the 12 tribes of Israel that settled in the land of Canaan. He would have an extremely large family – one could even say as numerous as the dust. But, ultimately, God was pointing to His own Son with these words too. The greater fulfillment of this promise was that in Jesus, people have a place in God’s land. Even the most wicked sinners find grace, healing, and life through Jesus when they follow in repentance and faith. Every individual that believes in Jesus increases the innumerable family of God – the Holy Christian Church. Through Christ’s own fulfillment of God’s promises we too are privileged to count Abraham and Jacob as our family members by faith. We are son’s and daughters of those whom God first delivered these words and we receive an equal share in heaven by the same Mediator of our sins.

Just as Jacob had nothing in himself to claim these blessings, so we have no credit of which to boast in ourselves. This is a product of God’s free and unconditional love.

Jacob rightly felt the effect of fear when God confronted Jacob with His almighty power. Each time we rightly view God’s law in our lives it serves as a catalyst to the same effect – and God uses that as a necessary function of our faith. But He doesn’t leave us in a state of fear. A much greater catalyst is His faithfulness – the completely trustworthy words of promise that He has given to each generation and that remain as strong today as they first were. This work of God doesn’t not produce terror, but comfort. It leads us to respect and worship God. It causes us to come back to His Word often to receive the same good news. In short, it gives us hope.

Jacob did not know in that moment what his life would amount to. He barely knew what the next day would hold. And yet, he was touched in such a way by God that he humbled himself in repentance, but also rejoiced in God’s grace. Jacob took what little he had – that stone which supported his head overnight, and he made an altar of praise to God. He honored God with his words – dedicated that lowly plot of God as “Bethel” – in Hebrew – the house of God. For the first time in his life, as far as we know from Scripture – Jacob didn’t try to figure everything out by himself. His joy and hope in life did not come from what he did. Jacob stopped trying to run from the emotional pain of knowing he had disobeyed God and that he had mistreated those whom God had put in his life to guide his way. For the first time Jacob stopped making these same mistakes, because God touched him with the sting of the Law and the healing of the Gospel. And it woke Jacob up.

You and I walk the same path as Jacob. You don’t have to waste time trying to climb the ladder to heaven yourself. God comes down to you. He connects with you in His Word. He confronts you with the same stark law that exposes your situation. He delivers the very same promises of hope to you in the same words that He gave Adam, Abraham, and Jacob. Don’t discount these treasures and blessings. This is the way of faith. It’s going to be portrayed as an odd and unpleasant way by the world. Your flesh is going to plant seeds of doubt in your mind as to the necessity and effectiveness of your faith. Remember Jacob’s lesson and Jacob’s hope. Trust not in what you carry along the way – for you may find yourself one day with nothing but a stone under your head.

Rather, trust in Jesus as your catalyst. That means He is almighty Lord – standing in full justice and righteousness – condoning no sin. But it also means He is Your Friend and Savior – extending unlimited forgiveness and mercy. Emotionally speaking, God will touch you in different ways. You will feel different effects depending on the circumstance of your life and the status of your faith. But as long as He is in control, you are safe and blessed. Amen.