Today’s Scripture

Psalm 32                     2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15            

Galatians 2:11-21       Luke 7:36-50

 

            “How are you feeling today?”  You can tell me, “Oh, fine.”  You can dress up in nice clothes.  You can be sure that you are well rested.  You can fix your hair, your make-up, even the expression on your face.  “Oh, fine,” as you simmer in anger about something.  You know how you feel on the inside and do your best to act differently on the outside.

            The front pages are full of this every day as we see both private and public figures exposed for one kind of lifestyle when on the outside they are trying their best to portray another.  And we, as armchair quarterbacks and experts on the affairs of the community, nation and world, are quick to quip about the fallacies of others.  Yet we go about life acting as if we do not live our own Jeckyl and Hyde lives simmering on the inside but showing another type of gloss on the outside.

            David had his affair with Bathsheba pretty well hidden.  Her husband, a valiant military leader, had just been killed in battle.  She observed the period of mourning before moving in with David as his wife.  On the outside it was very noble of David to take the widow of one of his closest friends.  Uriah was one who remained faithful to David, accompanying him every step as he fled from Saul’s pursuit to kill David.  On the inside David and Bathsheba had lusted for each other and carried on their illicit affair while Uriah was on the battlefront defending their safety and leisurely life in Jerusalem.   Then David, hearing of the rich man who kills the peasant just to feed a lamb to a guest, displays his disgust at someone who would stoop so low.  Which David are we looking at now?  Is it the outside David?  Or, is it the inside David?  Or, did Nathan just turn David inside out bringing him to face his own hypocrisy? 

            Take a look at yourself.  How are you doing today?  On the outside are you living the life of a Christian, walking in God’s commands in front of others?  Are you like David and the Pharisees, quick to judge others who on their outside look less than you and I?  Is it easy to condemn another and gloss over one’s own faults?  Do you remember Jesus’ words about a splinter in one’s eye verse the log in another’s?  Are you like Peter in today’s account from Antioch?  Do you live the Christian love and charity on one hand and then expect extreme legalism of yourself and others on the other? 

            The Peter syndrome happens in my life and each and everyone else’s lives.  We live by God’s grace one moment in our faith and confession.  Then we turn around and put expectations outside of God’s commands on others?  We let our selfish pride and preferences get in the way.  We are quick to forget those simple words early in each service, “I, a poor miserable sinner, confess my sins in thought, word and deed.” 

As a congregation, it happens here the same as elsewhere.  Criticizing another for how he or she dresses or does not dress.  Complaining because we didn’t sing my favorite hymn or follow my favorite order of service today.  Can’t those people understand what this expense is for?  My children go to Immanuel’s school and certainly do not act like the heathens in the public system.  We haven’t done a project like this before.  How will we know if it works?  So and So does Such and Such but we sure don’t, do we? 

There was an editorial from a small town’s newspaper a few years ago.  A congregation consisted of a significant number of members faithful in attendance, offerings, and very active in community activities, especially those that helped others.  The pastor initiated a greeting time as we practice at the beginning of services here sharing God’s peace in forgiveness to each other and shaking hands in expression of that peace.  The next voter’s meeting a contingent passed the motion to cease shaking hands in the service and a good many, out of anger at the pastor refused to shake his hand after services.  The editorial called on the rest of the village to do something for that pastor that was not done in his own congregation, shake his hand when you meet him.  That public rebuke exposed many “inside out.”

All of this is evidence of the most difficult thing that you and I and all Christians have to do in life.  That is living our lives in faith inside out.  Inside each one knows that, “God has made me and all creatures.”  Inside each one knows that Jesus, the Son of God, became man, lived and died to pay the entire price for all men’s sins, rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God, and is going to raise the living and dead and take those in faith to eternal life with him.  Each one knows that it is by the Holy Spirit alone who establishes faith in the heart as one hears God’s word, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each one knows the two tables of the law; love God first and foremost followed by loving our neighbors as ourselves.  Each one knows the prayer Jesus taught us to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Each one knows the Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the one and only way to the Father and not the many ways that man tries to earn salvation.  Each one knows that when we deny Jesus in our thoughts, words, actions and inactions, he denies us before our heavenly Father.  Each one of us knows, that when we ask the Father for anything in Jesus’ name, that is in true faith, he will give it to you, including eternal life in his glory and splendor.

There is good news.  David, when confronted with his sin, repented and God restored him.  David did not die being stoned as an adulterer, but died restored to his earthly throne and as the king through today held in esteem by all of God’s people.  David died to life everlasting in the surety of a Shepherd who took him to live in the house of the Lord forever.  [Psalm 23]   

 

God did not cut Jacob off when he deceived his father and brother.  Instead he changed his name to be the name of all of his people, even yours and mine today.  God did not let Samson die in disgrace, but gave him miraculous strength to be a witness of the strength of true repentance and trust in God’s promises.  How about the sinful woman at the dinner?  Her life was a disgrace in her community for whatever reason.  But, she knew how much she was forgiven as she had faith in God alone to save her. 

And then there is Peter.  How many times did Peter oppose and/or deny Christ?  How great and obvious was his denial of the faith many times?  How many times did God keep him in the flock and restore him? 

“We…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”   I am a dirty lousy sinner.  I ask you, as a congregation, to help me by prayer and correction and encouragement to live faith for forgiveness on the outside as well as on the inside.  Look at each one around you and yourself in a mirror.  Help each other by prayer, correction and encouragement to live the faith we share on the outside as well as on the inside.  Like the Pharisees, David, and Peter, we are all hypocrites as we sin by acting opposite our convictions, opposite our faith.    Like the sinful woman, David, and Peter, we live inside out when we come to God and each other in true repentance and trusting Jesus alone for forgiveness and restoring us to the joy of his salvation.  [Psalm 51]

Here at Immanuel we are embarking on some very unique and necessary projects in ministry and mission.  Let us help each other by prayer, correction and encouragement that each project, little and large, is done to the glory of God by proclaiming the love of Christ to others.  Let each one of us too realize that it is not we who make ourselves good, but it is God’s pure and holy and perfect love through Jesus Christ who lived and died for us that makes us good.  He gives us our lives, our talents, and our resources to use to his glory in many various ways.  They range from how we present ourselves individually, as a congregation, the outward appearance of our properties and business practices, and the proclamation of the true Gospel of Jesus in many and various ways.

It begins with knowing one’s sin and true repentance just as David.  When confronted with God’s commands, we know how sinful we are and how much we need God’s forgiveness.  The Lord will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.  [Deuteronomy 30:6]

It continues in knowing that God’s commands are evidence of his love to you.  So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.  [Romans 7:12]

God’s love is fulfilled by his doing for us what you and I cannot do.  Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets;  I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  [Matthew 5:17]

When you feel alone and even helpless, you have a God who knows you inside out so that he can and does restore you.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.  [Hebrews 4:15]

And at the time that you feel totally helpless and hopeless, like there is no way to be saved, remember; God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  [2 Corinthians 5:21]

Thank you, members of Immanuel Lutheran, for the countless times each of you lives your faith inside out to support and nurture each other and others.  Let us continue together to live that faith inside out as we make steps to confidently share the unsearchable riches of Christ with others.  [from Ephesians 3:8]  Amen.