A Simple Word for Complex People

All of us have skills that we have developed over time, but we also have been blessed with gifts from God. The things of God are the investment God has made in us, asking only that we, in turn, invest our love, mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and other gifts of God into others.

All too often, we focus on whether we will be ready when the "roll is called up yonder" and we stand before God. But Jesus isn't just talking about being ready when you die. Jesus is calling us to be ready for whatever ministry moment may come. To do that, we need to remember why we're holding the lamp.

We have a great tendency to make everything about ourselves, don't we? It's not just the haughty who are guilty, however. God doesn't ask that we live out our faith as if we're equipped for any eventuality; God only asks us to be willing to live the faith life despite our lack of preparedness. Where we are insufficient, God always shines through.

In order for people to really know what we are about as individuals and as congregations of Christ followers, our actions must mimic or exceed the power of our words. Many of us do one or the other well. But, we need to do both.

The Israelites needed a calming presence. God even needed a calming presence. The world needs a calming presence. We are called to be that calming presence.

The Ten Commandments were set by God as the foundation for a newly redeemed people to learn how to live with one another, while also properly honoring God. They are the base level. Jesus calls us to advanced citizenship in the Kingdom of God, which is far beyond these base-level reflections of the Kingdom on earth.

The Egyptians gave the people everything they needed to live. That's how they remembered it. When trouble pops up, it's easy to forget the crack of the whip or the bricks without straw. Don't romanticize what you left behind.

Paul was writing from a place of imprisonment, but more than that, a place of despair. I know a bit about descending into despair, and I share some of that here. I can confirm that what Paul says is absolutely true -- there's power in remaining.

This week's sermon! Forgiveness is maybe the most difficult thing we contend with as Christians. But, if we start from a different posture, the task becomes almost natural.

The power of Christian community is in our being together. We are incomplete without one another.