National Celebrate Life Conference - Saturday Morning Devotion

Good morning. It is so good to be here with you again today.

King Solomon, in pondering the meaning of life and searching for wisdom, said, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . and then he lists what many of those times and seasons are. 

And some of the things he lists are:

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
and many more.

But the very first pair that he names in that long list is this: that there is a time to be born, and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Sadly, for far too many, the time to be born never comes, and the time to die comes too soon. And that is true not only in our day and age, but perhaps moreso in our day and age than ever before. Whether it is by surgery or pill, by force or for convenience, cheerfully, tearfully, or fearfully, far too many little boys and little girls are never given a chance, a time to be born. And those who are, who do get the chance, for how many does the time to die come too soon? Because they are told they are not worth anything, they are told that to die is better, or because of crime or violence, bullying or neglect? 

And as sad as that all is, there is something even sadder still: that this is celebrated by some, and called progress. 

But for each and every one of these lives whose end comes too soon, whether young or old, born or preborn, able or disabled, wanted or unwanted, our Father in heaven is grieved. Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb. Death is not a solution, it is the enemy. It is not to be embraced, it is to be overcome.

So when King Solomon penned these words, that there is a time to be born, and a time to die, he was not only searching for wisdom, he was searching for an answer. And in searching for an answer, he prophetically pointed us to the answer - the answer to life, the answer to death, and the answer to sin, when we take life and death into our own hands. Because there is not only a time for us to be born and for us to die, there was also a divinely appointed time for God Himself to be born, and for God Himself to die. 

And approximately 950 years after Solomon composed these words, that time came. The time to be born . . . for Jesus. All of you, or most of you at least, know the story: the angel Gabriel, the virgin Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, no room in the inn, the birth, the manger, the visit of the shepherds and the wise men. But here is how the Apostle Paul wrote of it. He said, when the fullness of time had come - or another translation says, at just the right time, or, we could say, at the divinely appointed time - God sent forth His Son, born of woman . . . to redeem us (Galatians 4:4). It was His time to be born.

God had that time in His mind even before the creation of the world, but He then promised that He would do that when our first parents, Adam and Eve, decided there was a time to die. Before that, there wasn’t! There was no death, only life. But with their sin, now there was death, and a time to die for them and for us. But God stepped in and promised life, by a Saviour. And at the time appointed, in the fullness of time, at just the right time, the divinely appointed time, God the Son was born into our world.

But God had appointed another time, too: a time for His Son to die. And when that time, that hour had come (John 12:23), Jesus did. He laid down His life for the life of the world. Exactly as God planned, exactly as the prophets foretold. That though all die, all may live. That there might be for all a time to be born - a time to be born again, born from above, as children of God. That though we all now have a time to die, we also have a time to rise to life again in Jesus. That because He lives, we also shall live. 

And for this, too, there is a time. The time set by the Father for Jesus to return in glory, and take us to life eternal. A time we all pray will be soon!

But until that time, it is time for us to do what we have been given to do. 

A time to Celebrate Life! as we are doing this weekend. That life is the gift of God. Life that God creates, redeems, and sanctifies. Life that is not an accident and not by chance, but life filled with purpose, meaning, and value. And when we know that, we know of many more times as well . . .

That there is a time to speak, and a time to defend.

A time to confess, and a time to forgive.

A time to teach, and a time to pray.

A time to care, and a time to provide.

A time to support, and a time to give.

A time to rejoice, and a time to work.

A time to use the gifts, talents, abilities, and faith that God has blessed us with, where He has put us, and to the people He has given us. For life.

And as we do, remembering this very important fact: that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). We must remember who our true enemy is. And if this work isn’t easy - and as you all well know, it’s not! - it’s because of who our enemy is, and that he knows his time is short. So his lies and deception will continue, and maybe even intensify, but the truth will prevail.

Those two reasons are why ours is not an angry protest movement, but a joy-filled, love-reflecting, pro-life movement! We know the Victor and His victory. And so with Him and in Him we are like Him. We are pro-baby, pro-mother, pro-father, and pro-family. We love those at the beginning of life and those at the end of life. And all those in-between, too. Because that’s what Jesus did, and it’s not so much that we do because we follow His example, or do so because He commanded us, but because He put His love and His Spirit into our hearts. 

And in the end, that’s what it’s all about: the love of Jesus and the Spirit of Jesus poured into our hearts. Jesus, who died to save the abortion provider, the abortion user, and the abortion supporter. Who died to save us when we are less-than-loving. Who came to love us and strengthen us through unplanned pregnancies, when life is hard and confusing, when we have disabled family members, and those who can no longer remember us. 

The Dobbs decision was great, a step in the right direction. But only a step. Since then there have been set backs, we heard about some yesterday, states enacting laws and amending their constitutions in ways that do not support life. My state of Virginia has those working on this. The Supreme Court punted on the case removing restrictions from mifepristone. And more. All of which is a reminder to us that the right laws and more laws may help, but isn’t really the answer. The answer is Jesus. The answer is to change hearts.

Changing the law is hard. It took 50 years to get Dobbs! But hearts are harder still. And so maybe you might even, at times, feel like Solomon, who would also write, when pondering life: What gain has the worker from his toil? (Ecclesiastes 3:9) For you may not see results. You may want to throw up your hands and give up. Your toil may be long and hard and thankless. 

But it is never in vain! King Solomon said all is vanity, all is meaningless. But he was wrong. Because as Isaiah reminds us, God’s Word never returns empty, but accomplishes that for which God purposes, and succeeds in the thing for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11). And that is true for His written word, His spoken Word, and especially His Word made flesh, Jesus. He is still giving life and redeeming life, and so we will continue to celebrate His gift of life. And fight to protect it. 

So thank you for all you do. I thank God for all of you and what He is able to accomplish through you. 

And I will close with these words of encouragement from the Apostle Paul, at the end of His great resurrection chapter: Therefore, my beloved brothers [and sisters], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Let us pray . . .

Heavenly Father, author and creator of life, protector and preserver of life, and lover of life, thank You for the gift of life You give and continue to give, thank You for sending Your Son to be the Redeemer of life, that all might have life and have it abundantly, and thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, without whom we would be lost. 

Fill us with faith and confidence, that there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from Your love. And with that faith and confidence, embolden us in the fight for each and every life. When we are afraid, give us the fearlessness of David standing against Goliath. When we are weak, give us the strength of Paul, who said when I am weak, then I am strong. When we despair, point us to the empty tomb, and give us joy. When we are confused, give us Your wisdom and the clarity of Your Word. And give us the love we need to love our enemies, and the compassion we need to pray for those who persecute us. For Your Son died for them, too. And wants to save them, too. 

So may Your Word of life that resounds not only today but everyday, reach all people, and let them know they are valued and loved. May the message of life that resounds today in this city be heard by those who need to hear that their life has meaning, that all life is precious, and protect all life, we pray. Use all of us and the gifts, talents, and abilities You have given us. Some in big ways, some in small ways, but none in unimportant ways. Protect all who gather on the Mall now, from the heat, from all harm and danger, and bless the time we have left together here, that we learn, that we encourage and support one another, and rejoice in all that You are doing, until the day You call us home to be with You in Your kingdom, when all sin is overcome, and where there is only life.

Hear our prayers, dear Father, for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Wonderfully Unpredictable”

Text: Mark 4:26-34; 2 Corinthians 5:1-17

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The kingdom of God is unpredictable. From our perspective, anyway. Not for God, of course. He knows all things. He’s in control. No curveballs that He’s unprepared for. It’s not that way for us. And we usually don’t like that.

Because that means I’m not in control. For to be in control means a predictable and desired outcome. Do this, you get that. Or if you don’t get your desired outcome, you fix it. When I wake up in the morning, I expect my coffee maker to work, my shower to be hot, and my internet to be available and fast. And if any of those things don’t work as I desire or predict, then neither do I! And if that’s true for these little things in my life, how much more for the big things, like the kingdom of God.

But the kingdom of God is unpredictable. That’s what Jesus is teaching in the parables we heard today. He said the kingdom of God is like scattering seed on the ground. We don’t know how that seed grows, or where, or how much harvest each seed will produce. It just does. And the kingdom of God is also like a mustard seed - in that little seeds don’t always grow little plants, and big seeds don’t always grow big plants. Sometimes you are surprised. Sometimes what you get is unexpected, and so unpredictable.

And as with the things in our lives, we usually don’t like that. Surprises are good, but not all the time. We want to be in control. That we like. And this is true even with the kingdom of God, with the Church, His kingdom of grace. And so we want to know: How do we make the church grow? What’s the formula? What do I have to do to get the desired and predictable outcome? Namely, the growth we want. So we see churches trying that. Copying what works for that church, following this trend, that fad, or those gimmicks, allowing the culture to come into the church, doing what , they think, will draw the people in, give them what they want. Trying to control the outcome.

But the kingdom of God is unpredictable. Some churches that do those things grow, and some do not. Is the reason that some do it well and some do not? Maybe, but that’s not always the case. I also know some churches who do no outreach into their communities at all and grow, and others that do a ton of outreach and do not. Why is that? And take our own congregation, our little church here, for an example, a case study. We’ve been here over 20 years, are still small, and still don’t have our own building. There are other churches that have started at the same time or more recently than us which are bigger and have their own buildings. Are they successful and we are not? And we faithful and they are not? Are they doing it right and we are not? Can we make such judgments? Or is the kingdom of God just not predictable? 

Truth is, the kingdom of God is not ours to grow. Only Jesus can do that. He is in control, not us. And He grows His kingdom with small seeds and large seeds, small plants and big plants, great harvests and sometimes one soul at a time. And sometimes in ways quite unexpected and unpredictable. Like, why did God choose Jacob and not Esau? Jacob turned out not to be a paragon of virtue! And why did God choose David, the youngest of seven brothers? Unpredictable.

I don’t think we usually think of sin this way, but maybe we should: that part of our fallen, sinful human nature is the desire to be in control; to control everything in my life and get my desired outcome. Not that being in control is always sinful. God has given that responsibility to some people for some things - and that’s good. But my desire to control my life and everything in it - that leads away from God. That’s the opposite of living by faith. It is living by sight. By my sight. By what looks right to me.

And then how I measure things is by what I want. And then who am I looking at? who am I looking to? Myself. My thoughts, my desires, what I do. And then what happens is that I either despair, grow prideful, or maybe get angry. Despair when things don’t work out as I wanted, prideful when they do, or angry when my efforts are not rewarded. And none of that is good. Especially if what I thought and what I wanted really isn’t good at all.

The alternative, then, is to live by faith, not sight. We heard that from the apostle Paul today in the Epistle. But to live by faith is to admit and acknowledge that I am not in control. It is to place the kingdom of God in Jesus’ hands. Or, better to say, to leave it there. And that is then also to not look at myself - my thoughts, my desires, what I do - but to look at and look to Christ and Him crucified and keep my eyes there. Then instead of anger there is repentance, instead of pride there is humility, and instead of despair there is confidence. The confidence that the kingdom of God belongs to God, not to me. (Duh, right?) And that it is in better hands in His hands, not mine. 

And it is also to admit and acknowledge that my judgment may not always be the right one, and that there are things happening that I do not know and cannot see. And that maybe my goals, desires, and expectations aren’t the right ones either. For is a full church a healthy church? Is a full and large church a faithful church? Maybe. But maybe not. 

Better then, is to live by faith. Faith in the words and promises of God. That what God has promised, He will do. That His every word will be fulfilled. We do what has been given us to do, but the growth, the harvest, belongs to Him. And it may not be what we want, like, or think. Unpredictable.

But let’s get back to the parables, starting with the mustard seed growing into the largest of all the garden plants. That small seed that the birds could easily eat becomes the large plant that they can nest in. If that is a parable of the kingdom of God, as Jesus said it was, then the largest plant that comes from the smallest seed is a picture for us of the cross. For Jesus was small like a mustard seed. He was at one time just a fertilized egg in His mother’s womb, just like us. He was born in poverty, in a small town, and by and large unnoticed by the world which had far more important things to do than worry about another religious guy in a backwater country. And yet when Jesus was crucified and planted in the ground of the tomb, He then grew - He rose to life again and His cross became the largest and most important of all trees. And His kingdom, growing from that empty tomb and watered by His blood, encompassed the world and will last to eternity. And who at the foot of the cross, would have predicted that?

And through the centuries, the growth of the kingdom of God, the church, has been unpredictable. When persecuted, it grew stronger. It was pushed underground in the Soviet Union, only to later grow again. In the West it is shrinking and struggling, but in the global South it is growing. And in some Muslim countries, like Iran, it is sprouting up in many hearts. Who would have predicted that?

So the kingdom of God is not only unpredictable, it is wonderfully unpredictable! God is doing things and doing them in ways we don’t expect, can’t predict, and marvel at. Though we shouldn’t, marvel. That’s God’s way. We should expect the unexpected, predict the unpredictable, and rejoice in a God who does things so differently than us. Choosing and using tax collectors and sinners, Canaanite women and Roman soldiers, common fishermen, and even those who were persecuting Him! Choosing and using common water, words, and bread and wine as the mustard seeds of His gifts. For look at these small things - a splash of water, a morsel or bread, a sip of wine, a few words. Yet from these . . . what growth! What a harvest! For that small splash of water turns a sinner into a saint! Those few words forgive all your sins and proclaim a life that is eternal! And that morsel of bread and sip of wine feed us with the food of heaven, the Body and Blood of God the Son Himself, and unite us to Him in His perfect life! Who would have predicted that?

But there’s one more surprise, one more unpredictable, one more person God chooses and uses that we wouldn’t have thought - and that’s you. And no matter who you are, no matter how many people you know or who know you, in the grand scheme of things, all of us are mustard seeds. And yet God is able to plant you and use you to grow and accomplish much in His kingdom. And today we especially remember that of fathers. That faithful fathers can have a long and lasting impact through their children raised in the faith. So if you have, or had, a faithful father, thank God for him. And if you didn’t, and not all do, thank God that you have a faithful Father in Him. For that’s who God is before all else: the Father. The Father who cares for you and all His children, and wants all people to be His children. 

So, really, there are no unwanted children in this world. Or adults. Your heavenly Father wants you. And redeemed you. And is here for you. And a God like that . . . who doesn’t demand, but serves, who doesn’t take, but gives, who lays down His life for you . . . well we have finally come to what is predictable! Because that is who God is and what He has always been and what He promised from the very beginning. And He is for you. So that in this unpredictable world, we have something we can count on. Someone, actually. HIM. And I don’t know about you, but I would take a faithful heavenly Father over a predictable world any day and every day. That while I may not know how everything is going to turn out, He does. And that He can use mustard seed me and whatever little mustard seed things I can do to accomplish that? What else is there to say but thanks be to God!

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Confidence and Hope in Jesus”

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35; Genesis 3:8-15

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We do not lose heart. That’s what Paul said today in the Epistle. We do not lose heart.

Ever know someone like that? Someone who, no matter what’s happening around them, no matter what’s happening to them, they somehow remain confident, they don’t give up, they don’t give in to despair, they stay optimistic. I don’t know about you, but I marvel at people like that. People diagnosed with cancer and undergoing brutal chemotherapy who do not lose heart. People standing in the rubble of their house or town after a devastating tornado or flood who do not lose heart. I haven’t had any of those things happen to me, so I don’t know how I’d react . . .

But I do know how easy it is to lose heart. When you look around at the division and hatred in our country, or maybe even in your family, it’s easy to lose heart. When you see all the scams and crime in our world today, and the vileness, it’s easy to lose heart. We heard it in the readings today, Adam and Eve lost heart and ran away and hid from God. Maybe Jesus’ family lost heart, when they heard people saying of Jesus that He is out of His mind. And certainly, I would think, the families of those people possessed by demons lost heart, seeing what was happening to their loved one. Truth is, there are a lot of reasons today to lose heart.

And Paul comes along and seems to say: there, there. Don’t lose heart. This is a slight and momentary affliction. Which sounds like people today who say things like: This too shall pass. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Words that, honestly, while well-intentioned, don’t help much! Because, easy for you to say! Right? Easy to say when you’re not in it! When those words are coming from someone who isn’t experiencing the trials and troubles and tribulations.

But that’s not Paul. Because Paul was in it! He did suffer much affliction. His words aren’t coming from someone who’s life was easy and good. Quite the opposite. Paul’s words are like those coming from someone who did go through cancer, someone who did lose everything in a natural disaster. Their words carry weight. They know what they’re talking about. We listen to them. 

And Paul knows. He knows the weight. He was shunned, he was beaten, he was imprisoned, he was cold and tired and hungry, he had a thorn in the flesh tormenting him . . . But Paul knew not just affliction from other people and things in this world, but maybe even more, the burden from his own failures and sins. Sometimes that weight of guilt and shame can be even greater and far more crushing than any other. The regrets, the coulda, woulda, shouldas, the I wish I could do it over again, the beating yourself up - that’s a weight I know. I’m guessing you, too. And Paul did. He knew his sin. He boasted of it even! How he persecuted the Church, and more zealously than anyone else! And then Jesus appeared to him . . . think he felt that crushing weight of sin and regret and guilt and shame? Like we do?

But then that weight was lifted from Paul! He was no longer being crushed by it. Jesus forgave him, and even more, was going to use him to help others. What else could you call that but a resurrection! From being crushed to free! Having a new lease on life, a new life to live. So Paul knows whereof he speaks. For he’s not only been in it, he’s come through it. Because of Jesus.

That’s what he said, and why he said: SO we do not lose heart. That little word SO is important. It links this thought to what came before - to the reason we do not lose heart. And what came before is this: knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. Which is to say: Jesus’ resurrection is the reason for our hope. It is the reason the Christian faith is not mere optimism or self-help; it is far more than that. It is the sure and certain hope that because Jesus is risen from the dead, so will I be. The proof that all Jesus’ words and promises are true. That no matter what the devil, the world, and my own sinfulness can throw at me - or maybe better to say, can throw ON me! - we have a future in Jesus. We have hope. We have victory.

As I said, there are a LOT of reasons to lose hope in our world today, and only ONE reason to not lose hope. But that one is enough.

And Paul described it, our hope, this way: For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. That’s an interesting and kind of weird phrase, isn’t it? A weight of glory? What is that? Well, think of scales - not the digital kind we have now, but the old fashioned kind with two sides. You put a weight on each side and the side that goes down is heavier. Paul is saying that the afflictions we have in this world and life, here and now, are on one side of that scale. And maybe for you there’s a LOT of them, and they seem really heavy and really crushing and certainly drop down on the scales. And they do. 

But then Jesus gets put on the other side of that scale. And then His side goes down and your side goes up. Know why? Not because He’s God. But because all the afflictions, all the sin, all the guilt, all the trials, troubles, and tribulations, everything that makes us lose heart, all that weight you feel - and not just yours, but of all people ever! - were put on Him, on His side of the scale. On the cross. That’s what led the prophet Isaiah to say,  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows . . . he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:4-5). He was crushed under them, not you. For you. 

And then He rose. The life that was crushed out of Him, returned. All the sin, all the guilt, all the affliction, all the weight, could not win. Jesus did. And that victory Jesus gives to you. He does it here. I forgive you all your sins, He says. And let me be clear: when you hear those words, it is like that person with cancer hearing the doctor say: you are healed! You are cancer free! 

Now wait just a second pastor! That’s not the same! Being cured of cancer and forgiveness . . . you can’t compare those! And you’re right. You’re right . . . The forgiveness is FAR greater! For being cured of cancer gives you life here and now, but forgiveness gives you life that is eternal. So while we want the glory, the ease, the trouble-free life now, that is not God’s way. He wants more for you than that. So these slight momentary afflictions, Paul says, are preparing us for and preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 

And so we read of Jesus that for the joy that was set before him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Now, no one would say that the cross was a slight momentary affliction! But Jesus endured it because of the joy that was set before Him. Because after the cross comes glory. After death comes life. For Him, and now, for us.

And so Paul directs us to those things that are unseen. Not that aren’t real - things that are real, just unseen. In fact, we could even say that the things that are unseen are more real than the things that are seen! For, Paul goes on to say, the things that are seen are transient, - that is, temporary, passing away - but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Which is good news! For much of what we see and can see, as I said at the beginning of the sermon, makes us lose heart. When we see is sin, evil, division, oppression, hardship, unfairness, greed, selfishness, mutilation. Oh, there are good things in this world, too, to be sure. But it’s always a fight, isn’t it? Between good and evil, right and wrong. Just as in Jesus’ day, as Jesus was fighting for us, casting out demons and teaching what is good and true. And for that, some accused HIM of being what He was fighting against! That He was evil and demonic; that that’s where He got His power from. And that He was crazy. He was out of His mind. 

But maybe we’re the ones who are out of our minds - out of our right mind - because of sin, so that we don’t think rightly anymore. Thinking that God is evil and evil is good. That what we see is more real than what we cannot see. So Jesus shows us a better way, the right way to think. To see with the eyes of faith what is unseen, and to know that as dark and sinful as this world may get, we have hope. Not that we can get ourselves out of this mess, but that Jesus can. And did. For when Adam and Eve brought the darkness of sin and death into the world, God promised the Saviour who would bring the light that scatters the darkness, the forgiveness that atones for sin, and the life that overcomes death. And when Jesus came into the world, that’s what He did, casting out demons, forgiving sin, and rising from the dead. And for that, they said He was out of His mind.

Well, if that’s true, let us all be out of minds the same! To confess the hope that is in us and not lose heart. To know that through His Word and Sacraments, Jesus is plundering satan’s house, rescuing sinners, and raising us to life. A life that is new and eternal. And if things aren’t going your way, do not lose heart. These are slight momentary afflictions. They really are. They may not feel slight but heavy, not momentary but ongoing, and not just afflictions but crushing burdens. But Jesus will not let them crush you. So do not rely on what you see and feel, but on the words and promises of Jesus, on His strength, His food, His resurrection, and His life. 

And then you will be one of those people - you know the ones. The ones people marvel at. That don’t give up, don’t give in to despair, who remain not optimistic, but confident. Confident that what Jesus said is true, that His victory is yours, and that though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. Until Jesus comes again, and the outer and the inner are the same, the new life is complete, and the glory has come. That’s you! In Christ. Full of life, full of hope, full of faith. Faith in the one who did not lose heart, who remained steadfast, and who won.And who will not let you down. 

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.