Today’s Scripture:

Psalm 34:1-6                            1 Kings 19:4-8

Ephesians 4:30–5:2                   John 6:41-51

 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, our rock and our Redeemer.  [Psalm 19:14, adapted]

 

            Think about “the way things used to be.”  - - - So often any one of us looks back at a different time and/or place, a different set of circumstances, a different set of memories.  Why can’t the world be like that today?  What happened to our society, our government, our neighborhood, our family --- to me?  What is different today that makes it not as “nice” as yesterday?

 

            Let’s listen to Paul’s words in the passages preceding today’s text. 

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

 

Paul writes this admonition that fits Christians very accurately today.  Look at what is going on around you in the world?  In so many ways it is a mess out there!  It seems so hopeless and helpless.  But then, are you being caught up in the lax morals in your work and business or in your personal life?  Are you backing off on issues that you know are against God’s commands and will for us in this world? Are you participating in behavior contrary to what you know in God’s word to be repulsive to him and opposite how he intends you to be?   Do you find yourself wanting to treat others as you are treated instead of how you wish to be treated and how God in his graciousness shows such great compassion towards you?

 

We find ourselves as Christians having two egos, the old man of the world and the new man in our baptism in Christ.  There is constant warfare between these two.  God calls on the Christian to never permit the flesh to rule the spirit, faith and renewal.  Paul speaks directly about the sins of lying, anger, stealing, and filthy language as examples of how easy it is to slip back into worldly ways.  And doesn’t that so accurately describe your life and mine, the struggle between living God’s commands and resisting the call of the wild world around us? 

 

God now speaks to us through the apostle Paul about grieving the Holy Spirit.  In your baptism you are sealed in your faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit who gives you new life, the desire to live as God’s dear child, reflecting him and his clearly expressed will and no longer living out your earthly and sinful desires and habits.  The Holy Spirit works this miracle of faith and makes you holy for the day of redemption, when you are presented before God in Jesus’ righteousness, worthy of being his dear child again in his eternal kingdom.  Each time one slips back into old, sinful behaviors, you grieve the Holy Spirit, just as you bring grief to your closest of family, co-workers, or anyone else when you disappoint and anger them.  Each time you sin, God grieves greatly because of how much he loves you, giving you all things and you just go and throw it all away for your own passions, pride and desires anyway.

 

God says to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  [v. 31]  We may succeed outwardly, but how do we do inwardly and behind the safe doors of our homes and rooms?  We get good at biting our lips in one setting, and lambasting the offender when he is not around.  Instead, “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  [v. 32] 

 

Each day you pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Each week as we gather we greet each other with, “Peace be with you.”  That peace is your knowing God’s forgiveness of all sins.  And as he has forgiven me, I forgive you and ask you for forgiveness in return.  That is true peace, living in true repentance and forgiveness between you and God, and between you and your neighbor.

 

We have just sung the hymn Love in Christ is Strong and Living.  In that hymn we sang of faithful hearts being made one, being patient, clothed in Christ’s humility, reaching out to each other, abiding forever, and not weakening when ills and temptations strike.  A husband and wife wrote this hymn for their daughter’s wedding. 

 

It is interesting that God depicts his relationship with us as that of a marriage, one flesh in Jesus Christ who claims the church as his bride.  How eager young couples are to please each other looking forward to their lives together.  God wants each one of you to feel the same toward him, always striving to please him as he already is perfectly faithful and provides everything for you. 

 

It is a message that no matter how tough things are in this earthly life to not give up.  God told Elijah to not give up no matter how hard he cried out that he had had enough.  God called on Elijah to continue strong in his faithful life as the Lord’s prophet despite how terrible the world around him had become.  God still had the work of witness and faithful service to complete in Elijah.  He holds the same for you today.  Yes, it would be good to get rid of sinful old world around us.  It also is too easy to slip back into the old life that does reflect the ways of a sinful world around you.  But then who would learn for the first time of that living bread, Jesus Christ, if faithful children do not tell about Jesus to others? 

 

“Be imitators of Christ …  Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  [5:1-2]  The life of Christian witness does begin with visible actions, with verifiable behavior.  It witnesses to others the humbleness and gentleness and faithfulness of a Savior who wants to bring eternal life to every one.  And he chooses to do it through each one of you as you imitate the life he lived, gave and died just for you.  Amen. 

 

 

 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   [Philippians 4:7]