The Cost of Discipleship - Part 2 (Service)

Theme: The Cost of Discipleship – Service

We continue today from where we left off last weekend, considering the cost of discipleship. Today, we think of service, as Jesus described during His Sermon on the Mount, from Luke 6:27-36:

Luke 6:27-36 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

In the name of our Savior, dear fellow redeemed.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Germany during WWII. Although he studied in the United States for a time, he returned to Germany shortly before Hitler and the Nazi party gained power. Bonhoeffer quickly saw the intent of the Nazi regime and spoke out against the persecution of Jews and others, as well as the Nazi authority over Lutheran churches. He began to teach that Christians must “not only bandage the victims under the wheel but jam the spoke in the wheel itself.”

In 1937, Bonhoeffer published a book called The Cost of Discipleship, which was an expression of the Christian faith that was based primarily on the Sermon on the Mount – the very topics we are studying this morning. In that book, Bonhoeffer differentiated between what he called “cheap grace” and “costly grace.” Within the context of his time, Bonhoeffer argued that too many Christians were standing for “cheap grace,” namely, taking the Christian name but not standing with courage against the forces that were opposed to it. “Costly grace” on the other hand, was exactly what it sounded like – it came at a cost. Christians who opposed the evil of the Nazi party would have to be willing to face persecution. Their message of God’s grace would come at a cost for their personal lives.

Bonhoeffer would eventually follow that very path as he was arrested in 1943 and sent to a concentration camp. He would eventually be executed, a mere two weeks before American forces liberated the camp. Bonhoeffer understood what Jesus was getting at in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount. He lived it. He knew the Cost of Discipleship, both in the context of Sacrifice as we talked about last weekend, and in the context of Service, as we think about today. For Bonhoeffer, his faith in Christ dictated that he owed a higher standard of service to others – as well as to God. That is the nature of discipleship, as we see from the words of Christ today.

The most important verse of our text to keep in mind is the very last one. “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” This is the perfect summation of our text and of the topic of discipleship. The only reason we can follow Christ is because He was first loved us and showed us mercy. The primary motivation to offer service to His name and to others is the mercy He has given us. It is of paramount importance to continually keep this fact in mind, especially in a section that contains many commands.

The mercy of our heavenly Father in Christ allows us to do things that we wouldn’t normally do. Jesus describes a few: Doing good to those who hate you. Blessing those who curse you. Turning your face to the one who strikes you. Giving your shirt to the one who takes your coat. The basic theme of all these examples is being willing to be mistreated. Jesus says that a Christian needs to be ready to do that.

These commands were not just counter-cultural to that time. They are difficult to do for all ages and all cultures. We feel entitled to respond in like manner to those who mistreat us, especially if they started it. Jesus is calling His followers to live in a different manner, we might call it “taking the high road.” But, even for the most devout Christian, it is tough to willingly be mistreated by others and be okay with it. This is why we call it a cost.

Jesus also explains what makes His will different. He says, “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.”

One word keeps coming up in each example – credit. Jesus explains that if we do nice things for others just to get something for ourselves, we haven’t really served them. And it’s really not all that hard to do that either. The more difficult and noble task is to serve without expecting anything in return, and to even serve when being mistreated.

The idea of receiving credit might make us think that we do good things in order to get things God. Some do take this section to teach that we can earn blessings from God by helping others – even attaining His mercy and forgiveness if we’re good enough. But that kind of thinking is no different than the very thing Jesus is speaking against. Remember how important that final verse is. When God showed us mercy, did we deserve it? Absolutely not. If we had, it would not be mercy anymore. The very nature of mercy means that the recipient is not deserving. Furthermore, if we cannot serve others by expecting things in return, why would we think we could do that with God?

The credit that Jesus speaks about is glory that God receives when something is done in faith. As Jesus says in verse 35, when you serve others, even your enemies, without expecting anything in return, the Father is well-pleased. When God is pleased, we are too – not because we have earned something special, but because we have shone that we acted in faith. The service we give is evidence that God’s mercy is working in our lives. That credit both glorifies God and proves that we believe what we confess. As James wrote, “Faith without works is dead.” That is true not because faith is earned but because faith is proven to be genuine.

The credit or reward of faith will eventually point to heaven, what Jesus characterizes as being “sons of the Most High.” The promise of eternal life is the end result of faith in Christ. Therefore, every time our faith is proven genuine by service our eternal reward after this life is also proven genuine. And the engine behind all this is the underserved mercy of God.

For Bonhoeffer, his discipleship service consisted in speaking against the Nazi regime in his home country. He took these commands very literally, as he advocated not only for the helpless and defenseless Jews but also for his enemies, the Nazis. By standing for the true Word of God in a time when many Christians were backing down, Bonhoeffer was actually being the most loving of all to his opponents, even those that would eventually kill him for it.

That’s another unique aspect of Christian service. If it is difficult to put into action, it is also difficult to receive. As Jesus describes, it’s as if Christian service operates on a different plane of existence. That’s how foreign it is to our natures. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised when the world despises us for loving and serving them as God desires. That is the way things have been since the beginning of sin’s onslaught of this world and it’s the way it will continue until the final day. As difficult as this must have been for Bonhoeffer and other faithful Christians caught in the tyranny of WWII, the stand they took was clear and certain.    

The more difficult question is how this same type of service plays out in our lives. Bonhoeffer had something to say about that as well, in describing the difference between cheap grace and costly grace.

“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”

We live at a time of relative peace and calm, yet the costs we consider are very much the same. The spiritual warfare of individual hearts has often been translated into public forums, especially within the church. We live at a time when there is just as much pressure on churches to conform to worldly standards. Requiring repentance. Practicing church discipline. Demanding unity and confession before Communion – all things that Bonhoeffer mentioned as necessities in following Christ – are under attack today. It is rare to find Christians and churches that are willing to stand for the truth of God’s Word – even more rare to find those willing to suffer the consequences of doing so.

It is also equally rare to find the pursuit if costly grace today. Hungering to hear the Word of God. Being willing to forsake all to receive forgiveness in Christ. Looking to Jesus above all other treasures in life. These qualities are equally rare. We might look at Bonhoeffer’s life and wonder if we would have done the same. When marching toward the prison doors of the concentration camp, would we have remained steadfast in the faith? But, what we fail to realize is that the same pressures are upon us today – the details are simply different. The only reason Bonhoeffer was resolute in his faith is because he knew and trusted what Jesus had done for him. Once he had that nothing else mattered. The pressures upon us may seem softer than imprisonment and death and in a way they are. But, we, and all Christians, must still wrestle with the bigger issue that Bonhoeffer faced. Not what the Nazis could do to him, but how he could have costly grace, and not cheap grace. 

The cost of discipleship involves service. Service to God. Service to other people – all kinds of people. Instead of worrying about what might be easy or what might be difficult – remember one thing. It takes grace. You can succeed because Your Heavenly Father has been merciful and forgiving to you. When He calls you to serve others, it’s not a requirement you must meet to get to heaven – it is a plea to give as you have been given, that others may be saved as well. Therefore, it’s not really about you at all – but all about Jesus. To give yourself up like that involves a cost – but one well worth it. The cost involves standing firm against false practice and false teaching. It involves repentance and humility. It involves love and self-sacrifice. It involves treating everyone equally, even if they don’t deserve it. When this service is offered, in faith in Christ as it only can be; it gives credit where it deserves to be given – to our gracious God.

Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

The Cost of Discipleship: Part 1 - Sacrifice

Theme: The Cost of Discipleship – Sacrifice

It didn’t take long for the Christmas excitement of the shepherds, angels, and Simeon and Anna to die down. It wasn’t long before Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were on the run – having to leave their home in Nazareth and flee to Egypt because of Herod’s senseless wrath. It had to be difficult to do this. There had to be questions in Joseph’s and Mary’s mind. How could this be happening if this Child was God’s Son? Why so much difficulty?

It wouldn’t stop after Herod’s death, either. Jesus’ entire life and ministry was difficult. Even in His moments of popularity, crowds and multitudes pressed around Him, not to shower Him with praise but to see, hear, and receive more. It must have been exhausting. One of the aspects of Jesus’ ministry was preparing believers to recognize the same lesson for their lives. Once a person believes in Jesus and follows Him, obeying His Word, things will get tough. The nature of the Christian life is that discipleship comes at a cost. We plan to take up that theme this weekend and next, by looking at two different aspects of that cost. The first, for today, is that the Cost of Discipleship involves Sacrifice. We read from Matthew 8:19-22:

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

One may think of this text as digging into the next layer of Discipleship. Up to this point in Jesus’ ministry, He had expounded upon some simple teachings about the Word of God. Certainly, no teaching of God is ever “simplistic” in the sense of being wisdom, but Jesus taught in a simple way – introducing basic concepts to the people. The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5-7 are an example of this. When one digs into this sermon, it is extremely complex and multi-layered. But it is also simple enough for a child to understand the basic points.

Jesus had also performed a few miracles up to this point, but there were bigger ones to come. Here, in this text, He transitions from a simple form of discipleship to one more complex. He is dealing here with two men who are willing to follow Him. This makes sense. What Jesus had presented in His ministry up to this point was not entirely hard to accept. The first man was even a scribe. The Scribes were the colleagues of the Pharisees. The Scribes were in charge of copying the texts of Scripture as well as teaching in the synagogues.

For this man to connect Jesus’ ministry to the Old Testament Scriptures is not out of the question. This is a good thing and something that many back then didn’t do. But, what we see is that even if this was the case, this fledging disciple still had much to learn. One thing he hadn’t yet considered enough was the cost of following Jesus and the sacrifice involved in it.

One might expect Jesus to commend the Scribe’s confession – that he would follow Jesus wherever He went. But, instead of a blessing, Jesus offered this: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." What a strange reply to human ears. At the sound of such a faithful note of being willing to follow Jesus no matter what, the human heart expects to be praised. It’s not of us to say what this Scribe expected Jesus to say, but we must imagine he didn’t foresee his Lord’s response. But, doesn’t this example perfectly describe the truth about being a disciple of Christ – what you expect is not what happens? We may expect life with our Savior to be free of all hardship and pain – to be above all the ills of the world. But, Jesus says that His disciples will actually come closer to those things. He used Himself as an example. His life was one of giving. He didn’t even have a place to lay His head in the evening – often sleeping out in this fields.

His message to the Scribe was not, “What will you do for Me?” Rather, it was a question of if this man was ready to share in the cost of following Jesus? Would he be ready to travel around constantly without a home? Would he be willing to sacrifice the comforts of his life to bring His Lord glory? Those are the questions a disciple asks.

The same could be said of the second disciple. We don’t know his vocation but he also was willing to follow Jesus. He fully intended to – just as soon as he could see to his father’s funeral. There are few moments of life as important as the death of a loved one, especially a parent. That is part of our culture today just as it was back then. However, it was even more important in Jewish culture to bury the dead as quickly as possible. Death was an unclean thing, the sooner the burial took place the sooner the uncleanness could be dealt with. There is both ceremonial and familial distinction here in Jesus’ words. Neither traditions nor family matters should come before Jesus.

The lesson is that the cost of discipleship sometimes involves the most important parts of our lives - traditions, ceremonies, and even family. How many things in life can we think of that would be more important than our parents’ funeral ceremonies? What would you be willing to do instead? Not much, if anything. And yet Jesus instructs this man to leave it behind and follow Him now. That’s the pressing importance of faith. It’s not something we should wait on.  

We don’t know the Scribe’s or the other disciple’s responses. Maybe they were ready and hastening to their Savior’s call. Their responses are not all that important, because the Holy Spirit leaves the thoughts open for us to consider. Both examples end with Jesus’ own words – tough words to consider. Would we follow Jesus above all? Do we? Do the comforts of life, which are much more abundantly available to us, get in the way? Have we considered sacrifice as necessary to being a disciple, or is it something we try to avoid?

It is at this point in our text that it is important to transition now between looking at these two men and looking at Jesus. Obviously, Jesus is part of this text, as the main speaker. But, He also drops a title that is important as well – the Son of Man. We’re familiar with the term, Son of Man. However, it’s rich meaning and it’s import to the issues of this text should not go unnoticed.

First of all, some interesting things about the title “Son of Man”:  

  

The use of “Man” is singular, not plural and both “son” and “man” are definite in the Greek. Essentially, what these two things mean is that Jesus is being very deliberate, very pointed, when He uses this title. Literally, in the Greek, this title is “the son of the man.” It is anything but generic, even though we often understand it as a generic title relating to Jesus’ humanity. Now, while “Son of Man” absolutely points to Jesus’ humanity, what we must also recognize is that it equally points to His divinity. It is the perfect melding of the two.

Jesus is not a son of men as we are. If this title meant that it indeed would be a pointing to His humanity alone. Rather, Jesus sis THE Son of THE man. He is specific. He is unique. Jesus is the only Son of the Father to be born as a man. And in this way He is the perfect blending of divine and human. To think of it another way, the title “Son of Man” is parallel to “the Word made flesh” of John 1. Jesus is God – Son and Word, but He is also Man and Flesh. Rather than just a marker of His humanity, the title Son of Man is a marker of His complete nature – True Man and True God – begotten of the Father. 

In addition to this, the title “Son of Man” came first in the Old Testament. Daniel prophesied of a person to come called the Son of Man who would institute a universal kingdom for all people. Jesus used this title specifically to allude to the fact that He was the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. His reign includes all people by faith and therefore, the term “Son of Man” is a gospel title referring to the justification of the entire world. It was wrong for the Jews to claim it only for themselves and when Jesus took this title He was also speaking against the hardened nationalism of the Jews.

There’s obviously a lot in play anytime we hear Jesus use the title, “Son of Man.” But let’s think about what it means within the context of our section. Jesus is telling the Scribe, if the perfect blending of God and Man has nowhere to lay His head, you’ll be okay if you have to give up the same in His name. This is the point that prods the Scribe’s conscience but there’s also an element of comfort too. A disciple of Jesus follows and trusts in the eternal, divine Creator, Almighty God – but also the only begotten Son born fully human. This incarnate Savior knows the extent of human suffering. His sole mission in this world to experience and complete that suffering. He has the power and the willingness to help you. Our Savior is not a distant God, but one of us. His love is not foreign, but in our language – in our very being. This is the comfort that the incarnation of Jesus gives us and the ultimate motivation of our desire to sacrifice for His glory.

The second man had his confrontation with an aspect of who Jesus was as well. This one may be more indirect than the title of “Son of Man” but it is just as forceful. At the prospect of going first to bury his father, Jesus said, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead." If Jesus said the same to many today, it would be considered offensive. But that’s part of the cost of discipleship. The truth is offensive to a sinner. As Jesus would say in a few chapters, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of Me (Matthew 11:6).”

What Jesus meant by saying, “let the dead bury their own dead” was a message of priority. He was indicating that all people are sinners and in danger of spiritual and eternal death of unbelief. Even if you are the surviving member of a relationship who buries the dead, you too are dead in your heart and subject to the same fate at any moment. Therefore, make time for Jesus. Follow Him.

But, just like the Scribe, this is not just a warning. It is also a message of comfort. By relating His work to death, the undeniable fate of all sinners and the greatest consequence of sin, Jesus was speaking life into the picture. The very fact that priority, even over a parents’ funeral, rested with Jesus shows that He can offer something greater than death – both spiritual and physical. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus had brought the “more abundant life” of faith and eternity in heaven. That is the real import behind the command, “Follow Me.” Jesus freely offers life.

Go back to the Scribe. He was before the Son of Man. There is no greater contrast between the divine and the human than the difference between life and death. Neither man needed be concerned, whether of the matters of this life or of the honor due their parents. They were with Jesus, Son of Man, Victor over death.

Today we ask ourselves, does the Son of Man have a place to lay His head in our hearts? Do you have time for Him above all other things, even the most sacred moments of life? This is the cost of discipleship. It involves sacrifice. But, Jesus’ message today, to you, is that it is a matter of His sacrifice. The true cost, the payment of your discipleship, was offered up in the stricken, forsaken, and entombed body of the Son of Man – the perfect melding of God and Human. Jesus sacrificed the precious treasure of His life for you.

The true cost, the payment of your discipleship, was completed in Christ’s resurrection. It was then that He sealed His promises to you with 100 percent certainty. That was the receipt of trust that verifies your faith. When Satan tempts you. When the world threatens with doubts. When you backslide in unrighteousness, you can stand secure with the guarantee that you are redeemed. Though all outward evidence points to the contrary, the One who crushed death and hell stands in for you and declares in His Word, the sweet and simple declaration of forgiven.

Our sacrifices of discipleship are mere ripples of our Savior’s love. The true cost was far beyond what we could offer, but also blessedly within our daily reach by grace. In our dear Savior’s name, let us abide with Him. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Level Ground in Christ

Theme: The Level Ground of Faith

1.     It is a place of honesty. (Psalm 26:1-3 – Malachi 1:6-7)

2.     It is a place where evil is absent. (Psalm 26:4-6 – Malachi 1:8-9)

3.     It is a place of true worship. (Psalm 26:7-12 – Malachi 1:10-11)

Dear fellow redeemed of God. For our sermon study this morning we use our two Old Testament Scripture readings in a contrasting way – featuring the qualities of faith in Christ from Psalm 26 and the detriments of wickedness from Malachi 1. May it be a blessing for our lives.

In the 1996 summer Olympics, sprinter Michael Johnson set world records in the 200 and 400 meter races. In order to accomplish this feat, he had to train for more than a decade at cutting down his time by the smallest of margins, sometimes a mere second or two in all. Later on he said this of his training, “Success is found in much smaller portions than most people realize. A hundredth of a second here or sometimes a tenth there can determine the fastest man in the world. Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter: long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best.”

The Christian faith is very similar to that thought of Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson. Practicing Christianity often seems and feels boring. It seems monotonous, doing the same traditions over and over, reading the same words again and again. But what it is is spiritual training. Repetition of God’s truth and promises over and over again so that we grow stronger in faith, we are led to trust in God in even the most unreasonable circumstances, and we are prepared to be tested. Like many other things in life, even athletic competition, success or failure is often determined long before the actual test – before the event. Victory or defeat is defined in the shadows, when you are alone.

We look at the difference between success and failure, between hope and despair, today in two contrasting examples. In Psalm 26 the steadiness of faith in God is pictured a “level ground;” a place of security, stability, and safety. Three aspects of this even ground come into view here – that it is a place of honesty, that it is a place where evil is absent, and that it is a place of true worship. May the Holy Spirit bless this message and implant it in our hearts.

Part 1: It is a place of honesty (Psalm 26:1-3 – Malachi 1:6-7)

Some things never change when it comes to sin. From the very beginning, men and women have tried to cover up their transgressions before the Lord. It was the first thing Adam and Eve did. Logically, we should know better. Who is going to hide from God? But, hiding is actually the rationalistic reaction to breaking the Almighty God’s commands. We don’t want to have to face Him, knowing we have failed.

The first thing we see about the level ground of faith is that it is a place of honesty. You can’t hide from the truth even if deep down you want to. It is simply present through God’s Word. David recognized this which was why the very first words he penned were “Vindicate me O LORD.” To be vindicated is to be put to the test and pass. It’s to win that spiritual race that we alluded to. This is a bold demand for a sinner to make of God. David was famous and mighty but he knew failure all too well. He had the boldness to make this demand of God, because faith operates in honesty.

David was not putting God to the test. David was claiming what was rightfully his through Christ. He went on to say, “For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.” The LORD has revealed to David that he, a sinner, has access to the blessings won by Christ. And this comes through faith, through trusting God.

What a difference we see in the individual that Malachi pronounced judgment on. This man makes excuses. He acts like He doesn’t know what God is saying. He despises and disrespects the LORD and is not convicted of sin in his heart. In summary, this man runs. He tries to hide from God. He tries to play things off like they’re not all that bad. But, the LORD holds him accountable. His is a place of honesty, brutal at times if necessary.

How often do we look at someone else’s life and think – “Man, they’ve got it all together. I wish I could have that.” Be careful of that attitude because looks can be misleading and looks can lead to coveting. But, in a spiritual sense, this is exactly what God is talking about here. The Hebrew word for “integrity,” used in Psalm 26:1, means to be complete. In other words, to have it all together. God offers that in Christ. It doesn’t mean all problems will cease instantly – quite the opposite actually. In faith, you will continue to be tested and tested regularly. But, listen to David, the believer says, bring it on – I know I am complete, I am together in Christ.

Honesty, with yourself, with others, and with the LORD is so vital to this precious gift of faith. Do not hide from the LORD, rather run to Him and be safe.

Part 2: It is a place where evil is absent

The next thing we see about the level ground of faith is that evil is absent. This seems pretty clear to us. God is holy, therefore He abhors all that is evil, and so should we. But, when it comes to putting this into practice, it can get difficult in life. Listen to several examples in Scripture:

James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

Ephesians 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What do these verses have in common? Well, besides speaking about evil, they are all addressed to Christians – people who clearly know what God’s stance on evil is. The Lord knows how difficult this is for us. We don’t want to completely separate ourselves from the world in a self-righteous way. We don’t want to shun others who aren’t Christian or perhaps not in our fellowship. But, there is also a very real danger to evil of all kinds and we should think twice before we support, tolerate, or allow it into our lives. 

Again, the contrast is stark. David wrote, “I have walked in Your truth. 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.” David put into practice what Paul would write about to the Ephesians – do not let evil even be named among you. For David, he wouldn’t hang around the wicked. He wouldn’t subject himself to things that he knew were harmful to his faith. Was he strong enough to endure these temptations? Probably, but that wasn’t the point. At any sign of danger, David would turn the other way.

The opposite attitude? From Malachi: The unbelieving man doesn’t care about the Lord’s Word. He offers blind, lame, and sick offerings when the Lord requires unblemished. The lines of right and wrong are blurred for this man. Giving offense by being around evil isn’t even on this person’s radar, they are too busy blatantly disobeying the Lord. Their acts are so worthless that the secular leaders wouldn’t accept them, let alone the holy God.   

For most of us, we know well enough that we shouldn’t live a life of blatant sin. But, do we run from it as David did? Are we willing to show the world that we hate it? Are we ashamed even when the thought of evil is named among us? Or, are we busy saying one thing and doing another? Do we claim to be Christian in our confession of faith but then tolerate and support sin? Do we show them that we are concerned or do we prop up the evil right next to a person? I’m not saying we can’t say at the end of the day, the world is going to do what it wants to do. That is definitely true. The question is, what do we show the world about our faith and how does the world affect that faith? If your idea is to support, join along, tolerate, etc,; rather than hating evil and running from it, it will wear down your faith.

So, how do we keep from letting this become a self-righteous venture or giving off a “holier than thou” attitude? Rely on Christ and point to Christ in all things, which leads us to our third point, the nature of true worship.

Part 3: It is a place of true worship

Here in this last point we truly see the greatest contrast. The twisted perversion of the wicked is on full display because they continue to worship God. Yes, you heard me right, their show their wickedness through their worship, and they showed how great their perversion was. Most evil people would naturally give up worshipping God – at least in that way they show a sense of honesty about what they think. But these individuals that Malachi called out continued to worship but only used it as a cover to look good outwardly. It was a heighted perversion against God. Because of this, God rejected their hollow offerings and practices. He was not pleased with their worship because it did not glorify His name.

Contrast this with David’s sentiments about worship. He looked forward to the house of God because of what he would receive from God there – mercy and forgiveness. What David offered God was secondary to this. David likewise describes the same type of man as Malachi. He calls them “bloodthirsty.” He says that they deceive and swindle, they try to take bribes. They are deceitful, even in their religious beliefs. Malachi said this was akin to “kindling the fire of the LORD’s altar in vain.”

May we recognize the danger of false worship in our lives, but also be ready to confess and repent when we succumb to it. If you think that statement doesn’t apply to your life, then you have already failed. The fact is that even in our lives, we do not come to the Lord’s house to pat ourselves on the back because we’ve been such good people. That’s the equivalent of trying to bribe the Lord. There are many other examples of false worship that we could list. Coming because of family pressure. Coming so that the pastor doesn’t bother you during the week. Coming so that we can add some brownie points with God that we can use later in the week on pet sins. The list goes on. There are many reasons to come to the LORD’s house, but there is only one that leads to the level ground of faith.

That reason is the work of Christ Jesus for you. David was on level ground because he was redeemed by His Savior. This allowed David to show the fruits of his faith – walking in integrity and hastening to God’s truth. His reason for coming joyously to God’s house was to receive this redemption by God’s grace.

Despite the contrast between this and the individual from Malachi’s prophecy, there is a glimmer of hope at the end. God says, “For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Today, on Epiphany Sunday, we recognize the fulfillment of this promise. God’s salvation in Christ has been extended freely to all nations. Wherever the Word of God is shared in truth the Epiphany promise continues to grow.

Sometimes, the practices of sharing the Word grow old for us. We look for something different, something fresh, something to give us our own identity. The ultimate difference between these two texts is the source of each person’s faith. The quiet, contemplative, listening heart of faith that receives the same Words of God and the same promises of God day after day marks the level ground. It does not shift because it is founded on God and His unchanging faithfulness. The self-merit faith of the person who constantly dips and dodges God’s law is unstable and ever changing. It’s more interesting I suppose, in that sense, because it’s never consistent. But, when it comes to difficulties in life, it offers no stability.

[Follow the advice of the Olympic Sprinter, Michael Johnson. Life with God, too, is about a series of small moments, when you’re examined, tested, and vindicated. But for those moments to mean anything for your life, you need to have level ground beneath them. You need the timeless and unchanging love of Christ and that is why you stay with His Word day after day, week after week.  

We thank our Lord Jesus for giving us a solid and level ground of faith, in His works and grace. Our celebration today of that truth come into our lives is yet another reminder that it ultimately isn’t about us. May our praise and worship be ever centered in God, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

God's Eternal Truths - Christmas 1

Eternal Truths are Neither Old nor New

1.     For Jesus – True Man and True God.

2.     For the Jews – Objective/Universal Justification

3.     For Us – The Means of Grace

John 6:41-51 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." 42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says,`I have come down from heaven '?" 43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets,`And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 "I am the bread of life. 49 "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 "This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

The week after Christmas usually holds that annual problem when getting new things. What do we get rid of? You might be someone who packs everything away and never gets rid of anything. You might be someone who throws everything in a box and takes it to Goodwill without a second thought. You might be someone who agonizes over what stays and what goes.

At least from my perspective, and perhaps you think similarly, part of the appeal of a gift is the new factor. The fresh smell, the plastic seal, the neatness of the box, the feel of being the first owner, and so on. But, as soon as that box is opened, the new factor is gone. I’ve even found in the past years that sometimes I will just stack my gifts up and think about using them before I open them. It’s a time to admire them a little bit before they get out in the hustle and bustle of life and a time to plan so that I can use them to their max potential. You might be thinking, wow, Pastor, you’re really overanalyzing the situation – and I totally understand. But I know how quickly something new and valuable can become something old and forgotten. How quickly does that happen for you?

The debate between old and new isn’t relegated to Christmas presents either. It’s the central theme of the New Year’s Day – out with the old and in with the new. But, no matter what time of year, in the church we are confronted with questions all the time that deal with the same things. Should we change that tradition for something that’s more common today? Should we go back to the way we used to do things? Is there ever a time to adjust doctrines and teachings because of a greater clarity of Scripture, or perhaps because our culture and times are changing so much? We face these kinds of questions all the time, as all Christians have since the beginning. What’s better – the new or the old? Well, it depends of who’s definitions of new and old we’re using.

In our text today, we see an intersection of old and new regarding three key teachings of the Christian faith. One that deals directly with Jesus, one that deals directly with the Jews, and one that deals directly with us. And yet, as with all of God’s teachings, they are pertinent and applicable to all peoples. May the Holy Spirit bless us on this journey through His Word.   

Part 1: For Jesus: True Man and True God.

In the verses before us, Jesus is claiming His divinity as God and His status as the One and only Savior of the world. Coming on the heels of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus uses this opportunity of immense popularity with the people to teach them about these three important truths, using the illustration of bread as a starter. His popularity was immense because He had just fed well over 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 3 small fish. For a society stooped in poverty, this power to provide was a difference maker. They thronged about Jesus. John 6:15 tells us that they wanted to make Him a King by force. But Jesus departed the crowds and ascended a nearby mountain to be secluded. After He crossed over the Sea of Galilee the people followed and wanted to know more. Jesus told them in John 6:26-27: "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

This context sets the stage for the verses before us. The people wanted Jesus to be an earthly King – someone to rescue them from the Romans and to give them everything they needed in life. Jesus told them, your faith is weak because it is based on what you ate, not even the miracles, and because it is expecting the wrong thing. For the crowds, the miracle of the feeding marked an opportunity for something new. A time to usher in a new era for their nation and a time to have new blessings from God. But, in their fervor for something new, they had forgotten the age-old problem they suffered from. Their greatest need was not food or drink, but the bread from heaven – God’s own Son, sent to suffer and die for their sins. This was the eternal promise of God from even before the beginning of time. It was the constant theme of the Old Testament Scriptures. The Messiah would be exactly what Jesus claimed at the beginning of our text – True God and the only Savior from sin. A Messiah who would not bring new blessings or restore old rights, but usher in the eternal era of faith and heaven.

The principle stumbling block for the people was that Jesus was a human, like them. To the people, Jesus was the son of Mary and Joseph. For many, they had grown up with Jesus. They were familiar with Him – perhaps even common to them. If He truly was God, wouldn’t He be much different? He certainly didn’t look like He came down from heaven. Well, He was different, but not in appearance. Jesus captured the issue well in verse 40 when He said to the people. "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." We often talk about faith as being able to believe withouth seeing. That’s true for us, but the people of Jesus’ time wrestled with a different problem. They had to believe even though they saw. Jesus tells them that the key to heaven is being able to see Jesus and trust in Him. It seems like a no-brainer for us but we didn’t grow up with Jesus. He was not our contemporary, our neighbor, or a citizen in our culture.

Part 2: The Jews – Objective/Universal Justification

Some people were confused at Jesus’ words. Some perhaps taken a back a bit. Others, were outraged. The very first verse tells us that the Jews complained against Jesus because He said that He came down from heaven. This doesn’t mean that every Jewish person present resisted Jesus. The title of “the Jews” was commonly used to refer to Jesus’ opponents – those individuals of the Jewish community that were so upset with Jesus that they eventually killed Him. They were led, of course, by the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders. Without a doubt, this particular event would prove to be crucial to the eventual crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of the Jews.

But the true lesson for the Jews was in the consequence of this thought. Just at the physical aspect of Jesus was a stumbling block so also was their own physical lineage. The hardened, nationalistic Jews believed that they alone were God’s people, and therefore they alone would be saved by God. They knew nothing of Christ’s mission to justify the entire world – all peoples and all nations. Jesus gets to this point in our text when He says, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets,`And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. [Verse 51 as well]

Jesus states plainly that “everyone” who hears and learns from God can be a believer. He even quotes the Old Testament as evidence, that God had promised to teach all people. The notion that Gentiles could come to faith in the true God was just as offensive to these Jews as the idea that Jesus had come from heaven. But, they failed to realize that by rejecting the latter, they missed out on the former.

The lesson that the Jews remind us of is that what you believe about Jesus is closely connected to how you treat others. The new philosophy of our age is similar to the old Jewish lie that they alone were saved. Today, people believe that it doesn’t matter what God you believe in. It is said you can be a moral, upstanding person to all people regardless of your profession of faith. In a certain way that is true when it comes to human justice, but God says there is only one way to perfect, complete universal justification from sin, and that way is through Christ alone. Any boast outside of Christ is a self-righteous claim.

Part 3: For Us – The Means of Grace

The final teaching recording in these words looks most directly at our lives. We believe in Jesus as true God and true Man. We confess that He came to save the world and succeeded in the task. We wrestle with how to follow those truths today. Jesus gives us just as clear an answer as He gave to the Jews. “It is written…” “Everyone who hears and learns…” “The one who believes has everlasting life…” There is the key for our lives. We call it the Means of Grace.

God has recorded His truth in His Word. Therefore, the path of the Christian is a path of hearing and learning. It’s easy to be a weekend warrior Christian who takes the name of the Savior but doesn’t invest in growing or learning in God’s truth. It takes time, effort, and intention to make the Word of God a priority – not because of lack of access but because of scarcity of time.

Because of our short attention spans and our one-click, get it now culture, we are tempted to turn to new ways of receiving God. Some say it comes through the feeling of community and fellowship of church, or the excitement of worship – those moments when you feel “on fire” for God. Others say it’s about keeping our faith manageable – not going out on a limb by trusting things that confound our understanding. They try box God up into a little package that fits their reason so they never have to trust anything that makes them uncomfortable or invites a change in heart or attitude – or dare we suggest obedience.

How soon, though, before those new things become old? How soon before the feeling wears off; before the packaging is stripped away. If we are the voice of authority for our lives, how do we decide what to keep and what to discard? Jesus tells us He alone has eternal truths, where one doesn’t need to worry about old or new. Often, there is value in both old and new, depending on how you approach them. To the Jews, He called them to discard some of their old beliefs that stood in the way of the gospel. But, in so doing He was also warning against making their faith into whatever they wanted it to be, by not staying focused on the Old Testament.

The lesson is alive in today. God’s truth is not about old or new or anything in between. It’s eternal. We shouldn’t change His teachings because we feel like there’s something better to be had. Neither should we rely and trust in them because that’s what those before us did. The value and validity of something is not about when it came in history or when it was (or is) most popular. It’s about WHO it came from and WHAT it means for our lives. The truth of God’s redemptive promise in Christ Jesus is eternal. It predated our existence and it will be around long after we leave this world. That is what we trust in, grace from God, for us, from His Son, Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Advent 3 - 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Keep Your Attention on Jesus

1.     1. As you move ahead look behind.

2.     2. Use and trust the unbound Words

2 Timothy 2:8-15 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. 9 I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God's message is not bound. 10 This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

A few weeks ago I was cleaning out some old boxes and came across a book from childhood. It’s a “Choose your own adventure” book where you, the reader, gets to decide the outcome. This particular book is called “Super Bowl Sunday” and the reader gets to determine the outcome of the game by picking which pages to flip to. For example, p. 38 ends with this choice, “to put the rookie quarterback in, turn to page 27. To put the veteran in charge, turn to page 52. Each scenario has a different outcome and there are several choices throughout the book.

As a child, these books appealed to me because of the excitement of trying to get it right. If one choice was wrong, you were out of luck. This aspect was certainly highlighted to a greater degree in books that involved imminent danger, like a treasure hunter in the jungle or an encounter with bandits in the Wild West. I enjoyed trying to stay alive but also seeing where all the results ended.

As we continue on our journey through Advent today, we see part of God’s Word that sounds like a “Choose your own adventure” book. Verses 11-13 lay out the options we have: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. There’s no jumping to different pages in a book to determine the way we are headed. God tells us plainly where each ends up but people are intrigued nonetheless with the options before them.

But, even in this adventure of life, a book is present. In the context surrounding these scenarios the Holy Spirit lays a foundation about that book. It’s the Bible – God’s Word, and it contains the key to finding heaven at the end of the adventure. We think about these things today because Advent is a season of looking ahead. God’s message to us today is that sometimes the best way to see where you are going is to look at where you’ve been.

Our text has elements to that effect immediately, with the very first word in fact. Some translations say “Remember,” ours says “Keep your attention on…” God is telling us to take notice of something that has already happened; something that is a matter of the past, or even a reality in the present. That reality is Jesus Christ. Two things are highlighted about Jesus. First, that He is risen and second, that He is David’s descendent. Here you have a fact about His divinity and a fact about His humanity. Keeping our attention on both is important.

During Advent we’re mostly confronted with themes of Jesus’ humanity. We’re approaching His birth after all, the moment He took human flesh – the period of history when His humanity became reality. But, His humanity was never the end, the completion. Jesus became human to fulfill a divine goal, something that He planned from eternity. The Son of Man was to be sacrificed so that the Son of God could be raised and forevermore exalted. There could be no resurrection without first a death, but once both are complete the resurrection takes precedence over all.

When you consider the choices before us the resurrection makes the difference between life and death. Whenever we are put in danger or are uncertain about where to turn, God leads us back to the fact of the resurrection. Even death, the definite end of any story, cannot stand against the resurrection. This is brought out in the first scenario, This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him.

This is why there is a calling back to the past in our text. Verse 8, “Keep your attention on….” Verse 14, “Remind them…” The resurrection is complete. Just as we point back to the birth of Christ as it pertains to His humanity so also we can point to His triumph over death as it pertains to His divinity. To move forward we must look back.

It might seem like an easy formula to follow, but our lives are filled with dangers that would threaten our eternal outcome. We are tempted to deny God. We have sins that cause us to be found unfaithful before the Lord. These are things that either push or pull us away from the Lord. Many have tried to control these dangers on their own. But, there’s a reason why God says in another book, “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).” Many have tried to control the dangers on their own, none have succeeded.

So, God tells us, “Remember, keep in mind, Remind one another…” of My Son’s victory for you. If only we had something to keep this truth on our minds. Well, we do, don’t we? The Word of God. Here’s why the Word is present in our verses. As God commands us to remember Him, He also tells us how. We don’t have to walk the adventure on our own. We have a guide. Paul, by inspiration, calls it “my gospel,” “the trustworthy saying,” and the “word of truth.” The Word of God keeps our attention on Jesus and the undeniable truths that He has done for us. In every moment of doubt and peril, we can go back to the Word, and it immediately is “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” To move forward, we look back.     

But, even at this prospect, it shouldn’t surprise us that Satan is nipping at our heels at every opportunity to throw us off course. In his cunning manner, one way he does this is to take the very method God has given to bless us and use it against us. Paul tells us, Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

Words can be unprofitable too. Words can tear down just as easily as they can build up. This can refer to a person’s own opinions, the thoughts and words that they choose to speak on their own. It can also refer to God’s Word when it is used incorrectly. Think of a pertinent Scriptural illustration as an example. In both the book of Ephesians and Hebrews, God’s Word is pictured as a sword. This sword can pierce through our sinful ways and expose the truth in order that we trust God. This sword can defend us against Satan and his attacks. We can take the offensive against God’s enemies with this Sword, His Word, by preaching it with courage and conviction. But, the sword can be mishandled too, to our own destruction and to the damage of our hearers. This is one reason why Biblical training is so important. The world would have us believe that Biblical training is just a way for our parents to brainwash us into believing what they want us to, that eventually you grow out of God’s Word when you become wise enough to know better.

But training in God’s Word is like learning to wield a sacred and powerful weapon; a weapon that can hurt others if we don’t know what we’re doing. Sadly, many have used God’s Word to this end, as we have all too often. And yet, the power of the gospel has never been overcome. Even in the hands of fallible, mistake-oriented people, the power of the cross and the open tomb is present today. Although we tend to focus on the negatives of the world around us, let us not diminish the amazing miracle that God has preserved His grace for thousands of years by the same Word of truth, used by the same sinful people.

We continue to move forward this Advent with hope and joy in the coming Christ. Let us not forget to look back also, and re-focus on what Jesus has done. In our Gospel reading, we looked back at a stern lesson Jesus taught. He asked the crowds, “What did you come out to see?” This pointed question and the discourse that followed was a stunning indictment of their lack of preparation. When Christ was born, too many were left wondering about what it all meant. Even John the Baptist questioned whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. The people had set up false expectations for the Savior and His Forerunner because they had listened to much to those who “fought about words and led their hearers to ruin.” Jesus pointed them back to the Scriptures for the Word of truth.

We don’t see our Savior today, so perhaps your question should be this, “What did I come out to hear?” As we are involved in our own Advent of preparation, what governs our expectations? Is our path about choosing our own adventure at all costs, instead of heeding God’s call? Have we digested the false opinions of people in the world, about who Jesus really is, what He really taught, and what is all really means; getting past the simple meaning of the Words? Have we been tempted to think the promise of the resurrection, of God’s faithful and unchanging Word, and of the Holy Spirit’s activity through such to just be imaginations and myths that our parents want us to believe?

There are many options to follow – but only two outcomes: Heaven or Hell. God’s Word is not a “choose your own adventure” book even though you are free to make it that if you wish. God’s Word is a call, an invitation to obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. That’s the path we are walking by faith. That is on our mind in Advent, Christmas, Easter, and always. That is our joy, peace, and hope. Let’s keep walking in it, forward, upward, to heaven. But don’t forget to look back often. Amen. 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Christmas Comparisons - Psalm 117

Theme: God’s Comparison is a Measure of His Compassion

It’s no mystery that tensions can exist between neighbors. Here we’re thinking of neighbors in the way our culture typically understands it, as the person who lives next door to you. Several sayings bear this out: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” “Good fences make good neighbors.” Not surprising, this tension can grow during the Christmas season. Perhaps your neighbor doesn’t shovel his sidewalk as often as you’d like. Or maybe she lets her dog make yellow markings on the fresh snow in your yard. Or maybe they want to have the best Christmas decorations in the neighborhood.

Yes, as surprising, or maybe not, as it sounds, Christmas decorating can quickly turn into a heated competition. Everybody wants to have the best, most noble, eye-catching display. Some people pour hundreds or thousands of dollars into lights and energy costs. I happened to see a news article this week about a woman in Arizona who was so tired of the neighborly competitiveness that she opted for a new and unique tactic. After he neighbor had spent hours getting all his lights in order, both in the yard and on the house, this woman simply crafted a large sign that said “Ditto” with an arrow pointing to her neighbor. It was a light-hearted way to deal with the situation but for some it’s not a laughing matter.

The fires of competition arise when we start comparing ourselves with others. This happens around Christmas, but it’s hardly relegated to just this time of year. While God never directly condemns making comparisons between ourselves and others, He often warns against what it can lead to. Perhaps most often of all, comparisons lead to coveting and discontent. We see what others have. We think the grass is always greener on the other side. We pity ourselves as if the odds are against us. And on and on the discontent grows and very quickly we start to blame God. Why do others get more than me? Why is that person’s life so much better than mine?

This conundrum comes forth in the Bible too. The Psalmist Asaph wrote of comparing his life with the wicked: Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psa 73:1-3)

Asaph was discouraged because of the prosperity of the wicked. He thought they should get what they deserved. It caused him to doubt God’s love in his life. It led him to be angry with God. Quite a different thought we get in our text for today, from Psalm 117: Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! 2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD! (NASB)

Psalm 117 is an interesting one. It’s the central chapter of the entire Bible and also the shortest chapter. We’re not told who wrote it, but it was contained in a volume of Psalms called the Hallel Psalms, named after the Hebrew word for “Praise the LORD”, where our English word Hallelujah comes from. These Hallel Psalms were special to God’s people. They were sung during the Passover preparation. They were even sung by Jesus and His disciples on Maundy Thursday in the Upper Room. Think of that for a moment. In that most trying of hours, the Lord Jesus most likely repeated the very same words and believed the same truths that are printed before you this morning.

We may not know whom the Holy Spirit caused to record this Psalm, but its message is simple enough. “Praise the LORD” bookends the qualities of God’s mercy, which is great, and God’s truth, which is eternal. The Psalmist worships God for these blessings. He speaks differently than Asaph because he is not concerned with what is going on around him. This unknown author is focused entirely on Who is above and what He has done. We might call this the difference between a comparison of the horizontal (what is going on in the world) and a comparison of the vertical (what is going on with God).

There is no shortage of opportunities to make such comparisons for ourselves. But we must ask, what is going to be best for our lives? Comparisons with others will lead to despair. Comparisons with God will lead to hope and praise.

This may seem like a no-brainer to you but I want to show you why it is so significant. We’re used to comparing our lives with God because He directs us to. He says, “You shall be holy as I the Lord your God am holy.” Jesus said, “Be holy, as My Father in heaven is holy.” Paul describes eternal life, and the completion of love, as knowing God as He knows us today. This is nothing short of astounding. But you’re probably not blown away by it because you know it already. You’ve been living it and trusting it since your baptism. But, for those without Christ, this is a completely foreign concept. But, the key is that God does not just tell us to compare ourselves with Him in His commands, but also in what Jesus has done for us by free grace.

Look at any other world religion and God is a distant, sometimes unnamed, unknowable force. Even if a religion gets specific about god it’s certainly not for the purpose of comparing yourself to him. Take Islam for example. The goal in Islam is to follow Allah, the deity they call God. But, a person is forbidden to compare him/herself to Allah. It’s offensive even to depict Allah or his prophet, Muhammad in art. The disciple is continually told to keep a certain distance from Allah. The path for following him is to show greater devotion in following his commands; in the terminology of our thoughts today, to compare your obedience with others. Whoever is better is more devoted to Allah.

Now think of the great difference between those principles and the gospel of Christ, especially as we prepare for Christmas. We are looking forward to observing the moment in history when God entered the world, and not only that, when He became human. There is no closer comparison to us than that. God didn’t consider it blasphemy to be depicted in human terms; He chose it. He belittled His eternal, immaterial, holy presence to become exactly like us – people who struggle and strive in the filth of this temporary world. This is amazing and absolutely one of a kind. No other faith system has anything like this.

And the thing is, as soon as we get stuck in comparing ourselves to God, we are met face-to-face with Christ in the Scriptures. God dispels our fears and uncertainties about measuring our lives next to His perfect nature by using His own Son as a comparison of His own. That’s what the birth of Jesus was. God was stepping down into humanity and becoming one of us. But, just like all comparisons, when this one was made, several contrasts became apparent too. Jesus was like us, indeed. This surprised people. It continues to fascinate us with curiosity today. We sing hymns about the sublime majesty of God being in the body of a helpless baby.

But, Jesus was different too. With that great comparison of the Father’s mercy also came an honest realization of why this Child was born. We who were once made in the Father’s image, had fallen from His righteousness. Jesus came to right that wrong as well. Hebrews sums it all up in one verse: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was like us in all things, except sin. And even in that point, He knew what sin was, He experienced it through He never committed it. Peter wrote: 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

This is the great mercy for which the psalmist praises the LORD. But mercy means nothing without truth. The harsh truth is that we caused the innocent Son of God to be nailed to the cross of divine punishment. We are not innocent by-standers in this great sacrifice. He came for our sins and our lives. When God promised the great comparison of His Son’s incarnation into this world, to be made human like us, He was thinking of you and of me. That Savior born in Bethlehem was here to walk my path, to carry my sorrows, to suffer my punishments, to extend the hand of compassion that I withheld. My life is compared to His in all points because He bought me back from the dead.

Now, we see the amazement. It’s one thing to compare the truths of the gospel with the other religions of the world. It makes an impact. It’s quite another thing, quite another plane of appreciation and thanksgiving, to know that I today have been redeemed by Christ. Everything I read about in the Bible that He did, He did for me. That is the comparison God wants me to make each day of my life. When I feel self-righteous, compare with Christ. When I feel beaten down, compare with Christ. When I am stubborn and indignant in my sins, compare with Christ. And when I make that comparison I see great mercy and eternal truth. I see Him for me, both in the standards which I failed to keep and the blissful promises I eagerly expect. This, my friends, is the vertical comparison – the purpose of the Christmas season when this comparison began and the simple theme of the shortest chapter of the Bible.      

Come back the 73^rd Psalm. When Asaph compared his life with others, what conclusion did he come to? He said, “When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me-- 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:16-17, 22-24)

His conclusion was that he needed to go back to the fact that God was with him no matter what. Foolishness and pain were the results of comparing his life with others. This is true whether you think you have it good or not. As Luther once said, “We are all beggars.” The hope of the Christmas season and of life in general is not that I have more than others, not that I can do more than others, or not that I look better than others. The hope is great mercy, and eternal truth – wrapped not in paper and bows, but in swaddling cloths.

God is with you. God holds you in His hands. God guides each every day. God will receive you to glory. His gifts through the greatest gift – His Son. Praise the LORD! Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.