Tag: word

Wheat, Weeds, and the Word

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(Matthew 13:24-43)

Weeding is a necessary evil. That is, assuming you want to keep the landscape looking nice or wish to grow anything in your vegetable garden. While I don’t know anyone who would put weeding at the top of their list of all-time favorite activities, most of us acknowledge that it needs to be done whether we like it or not. 

Since Jesus uses so many agricultural illustrations in his teaching (e.g., he likens the life of a Christian to a tree producing fruit or a crop yielding a harvest), we might ex expect that somewhere in his teaching he’d include a spiritual reference to the importance of weeding. Interestingly enough, though, in this section from Matthew 13, Jesus states that when it comes to weeding in his kingdom, we don’t need to weed. It isn’t required. We’re off the hook.

In fact, he goes a step further by actually prohibiting weeding in his kingdom. In Jesus’ parable, notice the question and response regarding the weeds. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull [the weeds] up?’ ‘No,’ he answered” (v. 28-29a). 

“No???” Is it just me, or does that conclusion catch you off guard a bit? On the one hand, it would be perfectly understandable to make the same assumption the servants did: get rid of the weeds so that they don’t choke out the wheat. Don’t let the bad stuff grow and overwhelm the good. This is a natural approach to gardening because if one doesn’t weed, the good stuff doesn’t grow. 

That approach would also seem to line up with warnings elsewhere in Scripture when God warns his people not to have anything to do with the deeds of darkness, to avoid every kind of evil, and not to associate with wickedness. He warns us against being yoked together with unbelievers (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14).

Moreover, doesn’t such wickedness arouse our own sense of righteous anger as we are surrounded by it everywhere? Doesn’t God want us to do something about it? Aren’t we supposed to be ready for spiritual warfare and go to battle against all the kinds of blatant sin and disdain against God that is so prevalent? How can the man’s response to his servants’ request about pulling up the wheat be a straightforward “no”??? How is it that Jesus here can be so nonchalant about the threat of evil growing alongside his wheat, his believers?

Let’s jump ahead to Jesus’ explanation of the parable just to make sure we have all of the details right. Maybe that will help us understand a bit better. “He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels’” (v.37-39). Jesus’ interpretation is pretty straightforward. He doesn’t really provide any additional insights as to why weeding is off-limits. Now what?

Let’s revisit the man’s rationale for prohibiting weeding. “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them’” (v.29). Ah, there is his concern. God is worried about more than just the possible damage that could be caused by the weeds. He is more concerned about accidentally uprooting the wheat.

Are you surprised by this? In our minds, we view the corruption and wickedness all around us as public enemy number one to our faith. We worry about the world’s influence on our faith. We worry about its open attacks on Christianity. We feel the squeeze of sin and its normalization all around us. Surely the potential damage the weeds could do to the wheat is a greater risk than the possibility of accidentally uprooting some of the wheat?!? Spiritual weed-whacking would seem to be the best option, wouldn’t it?

Apparently, Jesus disagrees. Let that sink in. Jesus is less concerned about the influence the wicked world has on his believers than he is about the possibility of any one of his believers being yanked away along with the weeds.

But how does that even happen? Quite easily, as a matter of fact.

Do you remember when Westboro Baptist Church made headlines? Years ago they were regularly making the news, but not for a good reason. They had groups protesting at the funerals of servicemen and women, claiming that such deaths were deserved and were God’s judgment on the military for accepting gays. They picketed in the name of Christianity, claiming God’s judgment here and there. 

It is one thing to call out sin – and yes, we are to do that; but it is another to do it lacking so much as an ounce of love. Love prompts us to call sin, sin in hopes of repentance that would see a soul turn from sin to forgiveness and grace in Jesus. Guess what was lacking in any of the groups from Westboro Baptist?

Do you suppose their actions had any impact? I imagine they did… but not for the good of Christ’s Kingdom. Instead, their loveless attitude and calloused, insensitive approach most definitely resulted in increased animosity against Christians, as non-believers lumped all of Christianity with “those types of people.”

And undoubtedly, some Christians who were either young in their faith or on the fringes of their faith concluded that if this was how Christians really acted, then they didn’t want anything to do with Christianity.

That’s the concern the farmer expressed when prematurely pulling the weeds – some of the wheat may come with it.

There is another reason Jesus is less concerned about spiritual weed-whacking: his confidence in the Word of God to sustain believers.

When we consider the two parables Jesus tells between this one and its explanation, we see a different emphasis: an emphasis on the power of the Word. In those parables, Jesus compares the Word to a mustard seed and to yeast. It grows exponentially. So it would seem Jesus has such confidence in the Word keeping the wheat that he is less concerned about weeds crowding out the wheat. Maybe we should have the same confidence! 

Another way we might reflect this: let’s focus less on the world’s wickedness and more on how the Word works. The Word works! We can sit around and pout all day about how bad the world, our country, or our state are getting and conclude that Christ’s church is doomed. Or, we can keep trusting that Word still works, it will still bring unbelievers to faith and will continue to keep believers in the faith. Worry less about the weeds and more about how God sustains and grows his wheat, and we’ll be just fine. 

If ever there was reason to fear that the weeds were going to overtake the wheat, it was in the final days of Jesus’ life. Surely it appeared as if the weeds were gaining ground and taking over. In Jesus’ final days, as his enemies had their way with him, It was as if the weeds were going to completely eradicate the wheat. Indeed, that was the conclusion of some as Jesus hung crucified, his life cruelly and undeservedly slipping away from him. 

But it wasn’t as it appeared! The weeds weren’t actually winning. Rather, God was permanently protecting his wheat harvest with a certainty of salvation that no weeds would ever be able to suffocate or choke out. Jesus was guaranteeing a harvest on the Last Day by graciously forgiving all sin and wickedness so that no level of evil could ever overcome it.

Where sin and wickedness have been forgiven – and at the cross they have – what real power do they retain? Who really has the power when sin and wickedness have been forgviven? Christ does! His church does! You do! I do! The weeds don’t win – not so long as forgiveness reigns.

And that is where we stand: in the grace of forgiveness. Surrounded by weeds and wickedness, yes – but they can never touch God’s gracious gifts of forgiveness and salvation in which we stand. So stand in them. Remain in them. Grow in them. Don’t waste your time and attention on how bad the weeds are; focus your time and attention on how God grows and sustains his wheat. The weeds won’t stand a chance. Ask Satan – he already knows it. He just hopes that you forget it and worry more about the damage that he might do than about the saving work Jesus already did.  

What a great reminder for the church to stay on mission. Its mission is not weed-whacking all of the wickedness out of the world. Its mission is to proclaim the gospel and let its light shine. Jesus thinks the potential good from doing that outweighs the potential damage of being influenced by the weeds.

Let’s not forget this. Let’s ratchet up our efforts in trusting the Word by prioritizing it in our lives. Talk is cheap, and frankly, just talking about the importance of the Word isn’t enough to keep the weeds at bay. Reading it, studying it, breathing it, living it, applying it, encouraging each other with it, building each other up with it – these are the things God’s wheat does as we await the glorious harvest. When that harvest comes on the Last Day, God will finally take care of the weeds, and he assures us that his Word-grown wheat will not be left behind, but will “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (v.43).

Until then Christians, live with the weeds. We aren’t called to douse them with Round-up or feverishly yank them up in hopes of solving the world’s weed problem. Instead, we let the Word do that – in both our own lives and, as it has opportunity, in their lives, too. Focus on being Word-grown wheat, and let God take care of the harvest. It just might be more plentiful than you could ever have imagined.

Word Grown

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(Isaiah 55:6-11)

Based on how our food is labeled and packaged, where it comes from matters to us. Some people care more than others if their food is organic. Others want to know if it’s locally grown. Is it genetically modified? Farm grown? When someone drops by with home-grown fruit or veggies, you know it’s going to taste just a little bit better. When we’re talking about meat, plant-based or lab-grown options will continue to be a part of the discussion. We pay attention to how things are grown.

Planted by the Word.

Christians are grown, too. But there aren’t a variety of options when it comes to how Christians are grown; there is just one. Christians are Word grown. Every single one of us came to faith in Jesus Christ in one way and in one way only: through the Word.

That Word may have come in the form of a promise attached to the washing of water in baptism. That Word may have worked in us as little ones who learned Bible stories that pointed us to our Savior, Jesus. That Word may have worked repentance, forgiveness, and the joy of salvation in us as adults whose skepticisms and doubts were put to rest through Bible study or one-on-one discussions of biblical truths with a Christian. However our faith was worked in us, in each an every case, it was always worked through the Word of God. It’s how you became a Christian. 

If you have faith, then, it was worked by the Word. But, why doesn’t the Word always work? Why doesn’t it always bring people to faith every time it is heard, read, or studied? We could offer any number of pretty rational or logical reasons, but at some point, there comes a time and place when we simply have to acknowledge our limitations.

Isaiah reflected on those limitations when describing God in verses 8-9. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” God is God and we are not.

While we may think it unfair or resent God for not revealing everything to us, is it prudent or realistic to presume that we should be on the same level as God? If we suppose so, is that because we are guilty of thinking so highly of ourselves or so little of God? Does he owe us an explanation or understanding of why and how he operates? 

Nevertheless, just because our thoughts and ways are not on par with God’s, that doesn’t mean God has completely left us guessing as to what his thoughts and ways are. We simply rest easy in knowing the basics – that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). This truth keeps us from spending our time distracted by what we don’t know so that we can focus on what we do know: God wants all people to be saved, and the only way he saves is through the Word. 

There is another explanation as to why the Word may at times appear to us to be ineffective. Sometimes, it’s because we’re not actually sowing the seed of the Word, but rather talking about it. Do you know the difference?

If it appears that my unbelieving friend’s life is coming unraveled and I point out to him that he needs Jesus in his life, have I sowed the seed of the Word? Well, not entirely. I may have taken the first step toward doing so, but at that point alone the Word has not been sown. I have made reference to a name in that Word, but the Word itself has not been sown.

Or consider your bumper sticker that says “Jesus saves.” It is true, yes. But it is incomplete and not clear enough to the point. The person reading your bumper sticker may conclude that you are a Christian, knowing enough to equate Jesus with Christianity. However, the sticker reveals nothing about who Jesus is, how he saves, who he saves, or why it matters that Jesus saves. The seed hasn’t fully been sown.

This point is not so much a criticism as a much-needed clarification. This friends, is where we can make a difference. We can be more intentional about sowing the seed rather than just talking about it. In other words, we can – and we must – make certain we are clearly communicating law (which exposes our sin) and gospel (the good news of our Savior).

A gardener can go to great lengths to till the soil and prepare it for the seed. However, once the soil has been made ready, the seed still has to be planted. If all the gardener does is tell others what great soil she has and speaks of the superior quality of seeds she has, nothing will grow. The seed must be planted. It must be sown. 

In the same way, if all the gardener does after the soil has been made ready is assure others that he has plenty of good seed to plant in his fields, this, too will yield no harvest. Whether the gardener speaks of the praise of the soil or the praise of his superior seed, one thing has been left undone: the seed has not been planted in the soil. It must be sown.

Where is this seed sown? Sure, it is sown in churches, Bible classes, or classrooms by called pastors and teachers. Praise God for that sowing! But how many fields lie fallow if only pastors and teachers sow the Word in those places?

God’s vision included a far greater harvest than just those fields! He knows his Word works wherever it is sown by whomever sows it – including you. And you are qualified to do it.

You have unique relationships with non-believers. There is your soil. You also have the message of the gospel, the good news that Jesus died to save sinners. There is your seed. Sow it. Go confidently beyond the step of simply talking about the seed and sow the seed. Start with highlighting the blessings Jesus fills your own life with, and point them to how he can do the same in theirs. Plant the Word. It’s the only way others will ever come to faith.

Produce through the Word.

And do so with the confidence that it will work. Crops need rain. Some states right now are in a drought. Other states are flooding. What determines this? Rain. With all of our advancements and the amazing technologies that exist, it is such a striking reminder that we have zero control over the one thing essential to crop growth: rain. Without it, crops die. Crops need rain.

Christians need the Word. Without it, Christians die. The seed planted may sprout and grow, but if not watered by the Word, it will die. That same Word that was planted in you to bring you to faith is the thing that produces a harvest in your life and in Christ’s kingdom. The Lord promises you it will work.

Isaiah described it like this: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (v.10-11).

We sometimes make the mistake of presuming that our knowledge of the Word is adequate, that once we know it, it has done its work by providing us with the information we need to apply it to our lives. Well then, why do you continue to sin if you already know the information in the Word? You know you shouldn’t lie or steal. You know you shouldn’t get drunk. You know sex is reserved for husbands and wives alone. You know your bitterness and anger are unjustified. You know all of these things from the Word… yet you still do them. If the Word’s method of working was merely to provide information to set you on the track of holiness, I think we’d have to conclude that the Word is pretty ineffective. 

But the problem is not that the Word is ineffective. Rather, the problem is that we fail to take God’s promise to heart and keep putting the Word to work. It doesn’t just work informationally – by giving us a list of do’s and dont’s; it works supernaturally, by continually crushing the sinner in us and awakening the saint.

The law keeps accusing and killing us while the gospel restores and renews us. The Spirit works supernaturally through the Word as we marvel at the reality of being baptized children of God. As we take and eat the food of forgiveness in Holy Communion. As we hear and believe the faith-fueling forgiveness announced again and again through the Word. This is not mere information; this is a supernatural transformation that the Spirit produces through the Word. In each and all of these ways the Word works in our hearts to reveal to us the endless ocean of forgiveness that completely engulfs all of our sin. 

Understand then, why Isaiah gives us this encouragement: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (v.6-7). Free pardon. Mercy. These are the gifts of God earned for us through Christ and delivered to us through the Word. How could we forsake this Word, this pardon, this mercy?

Quite the opposite! Let us return to it again and again, so that this endless mercy and free pardon work in us to produce an abundant harvest in Christ’s kingdom – both in our personal lives and in the lives of others. 

Do you believe it will actually work in your own life? I suppose you could keep stumbling in the same sin over and over for the rest of your life and keep justifying it to others by explaining that’s just the way you are. Or, you could allow the Word to do what it does and work supernaturally on your heart so that you experience more victories in this or that area of life, and yes, even overcome certain inclinations or temptations. That same Word builds up your faith to lean more on God on less on excusing your inadequacies and shortcomings.

Do you believe it will actually work in the lives of others? Rather than being so surprised when the Word works in the lives of others, what if we were instead more surprised when it didn’t? In other words, if we’re going to make a mistake – as if this could ever be considered a mistake – what if we over-sowed the seed? What if we assumed it would work in the lives of others who so desperately needed it that we always sowed it rather than presuming others have already heard it or would probably just reject it? The more you sow it, the more it works, and the greater the harvest. 

Christian, are you budding and flourishing in your life? You can be. Test God in this and see if these words of Isaiah are actually true. See if the planted Word produces – in your life and in the lives of others. Let us embrace this central defining characteristic of what it means to be a Christian: that the Word permeates our lives and that the Holy Spirit uses it to produce and flourish in and through us.

Ministry

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(1 Peter 5:1-4)

What is ministry? While describing what it involves, Peter also provided a good definition with the phrase, “eager to serve” (v.2). Ministry is service. Of course, we have to be a little more specific. There are lots of ways to serve others, but we are speaking specifically of kingdom-related service. The server bringing the lunch you just ordered to your table is serving, but that’s not ministry. The man checking in the back to see if they have the shoes you’re looking at in your size is serving, but that’s not ministry. The mail carrier delivering your mail to your mailbox is serving, but that’s not ministry. 

Yet, each of those roles just mentioned could also be viewed as an individual’s personal ministry. The server, the shoe salesman, and the mail carrier could view their jobs as opportunities to serve the physical needs of others while also keeping eyes open to meet spiritual needs as the opportunity arises. Connections with real people can be made, which can lead to conversations, which can lead to Christ, either indirectly or directly. The server can offer to pray for the table that seems to be hurting. The shoe salesman can consistently serve with a smile and a joy that compels customers to ask the reason why. The mail carrier can take moments here and there to get to know the families along the route to build relationships that might lead to invitations. We could call this personal ministry. 

There is also congregational ministry. When believers join together as a congregation, it is to see that gospel ministry is carried out. Our school is reviewing its mission statement, which would probably not be a bad thing for the congregation, too. A mission statement is a reminder of the gospel ministry that we gather together to carry out.

Are you only involved in congregational ministry if you’re knocking on doors or visiting members or leading a small group? No – however each of us utilizes the gifts God has given us to care for and put to use the facilities and resources God has given us so that the gospel can continue to be preached, taught, learned, and shared, is congregational ministry. Which ones are most important? All of them. 

I could ask which link in the chains holding up the swings on a swingset is the most important. Is it the link by which the swing is attached to the swing set? Is it the link that connects to the seat of the swing? Is it a link somewhere in the middle? They all matter because they all work together to make allow the swing to swing. If any one of them broke, the swing wouldn’t function. So all of the gifts God has given you matter when used in service of the church so that the church can be the church and do what the church has been called to do: communicate Christ. We all work collectively to carry out that congregational ministry. 

God wants to make sure that personal and congregational ministry never dry up or cease, so he established the type of ministry which Peter is speaking about in these verses. We call this the public ministry or sometimes representative ministry. This is where pastors, teachers, or staff ministers have been called by groups of Christians to represent and serve them publicly. God has established this office of the public ministry, but he has not designated one specific form, which is why we see a variety of terms in the Bible that apply to this public ministry. A few examples of these ministry titles are “overseers,” “ministers,” and “elders,” as Peter calls them in our verses. While there may be slightly different titles or designations in the public ministry, God has given guidance as to the responsibilities of anyone holding the office of public ministry.

Peter compares the role and responsibility of this gospel ministry to the work of a shepherd. He writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…” (v.2). The apostle Paul used the same picture when encouraging public ministers as he was saying farewell to the congregation he served in Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock” (Acts 20:28-29). This is no accident. Why might God use the description of a shepherd to convey what he wants public ministers to do? Because that role is to be a reflection of our Good Shepherd.

Our Good Shepherd looks after us, his sheep. He guides us and guards us. He protects us and provides for us. He corrects us and cares for us. He feeds us and leads us. Every good and beneficial thing in our lives – physically and spiritually – comes to us only because our Good Shepherd is behind it.

And one of the ways our Good Shepherd provides for us spiritually is through his undershepherds – those serving in the public ministry. Pastors are called to carry out the work of the Good Shepherd. Many of the blessings of our Good Shepherd then, he bestows on us through his pastor shepherds 

When you hear the pastor’s comforting assurance of the resurrection at the death of a fellow Christian, you are hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd. When the pastor calls on his wayward sheep, you are hearing the loving correction and discipline of your Good Shepherd. When the pastor faithfully feeds you with Word and sacrament, you are really filled with the food of the Good Shepherd’s banquet. The Good Shepherd has given the public ministry, not for the sake of establishing an entourage around popular preachers or spiritual celebrities, but for you to grow closer to your Good Shepherd, to faithfully follow him and commit all that you are and all that you have to him.

How do pastors carry out this public ministry? In positive terms, Peter writes they are to serve willingly, eagerly, and by being an example (vs. 2-3). No one is forced or coerced into ministry but pursues it willingly. No one is installed or ordained into ministry against their will. It is a vocation that is pursued and prepared for, and it is nothing short of the greatest privilege of all.

It is also an extension of what Jesus embodied on the night before he died – a life of proverbial foot-washing – eager service to others. The pastor is called to serve the sheep, not be served by them.

The pastor will also recognize that he is to be an example for the flock. A shepherd will lead not merely with words, but with actions. The shepherd should not expect to see in his sheep what his sheep fail to see in their shepherd.  

Peter also states how not to carry out this ministry. Public ministry is never paycheck-driven or geared toward making a buck. While spiritual scam artists have always existed and will always exist, there is no place for such abuse when it comes to shepherding God’s flock. The financially-focused pastor cannot give his undivided attention to caring for souls.

Neither will he abuse the authority or responsibility that has been entrusted to him in watching over the sheep. His is not a position of control, but of care; his is not the calling of tyrant but of servant. His is a high and holy calling from God, and one that is to be a rich blessing to God’s flock as he carries out the public ministry.

And if he’s carrying out his work faithfully, God’s powerful Word will see to it that he is equipping you for both your personal and congregational ministry. You can help him in that role. Just as the shepherd is to be a blessing to his sheep, so also can the sheep be a blessing to their shepherd. How do sheep help their shepherd? Let’s begin with our perception.

Do you see yourself belonging to a congregation merely to “go to church”… or to carry out the ministry the Chief Shepherd has given to you and the congregation? Now for some sheep, it would be a grand step in the right direction just to start going to church regularly. Worship is one of the primary ways the shepherd carries out his role of feeding the sheep – work that is difficult to do if sheep rarely show up to eat. 

But there are also sheep who are far too content to feed and feed and feed to the point of being too stuffed for service. They eat, but they do not view the spiritual food as fuel for ministry.

Or, it may be that they are not aware of the personal or congregational ministry opportunities. What are some? Consider a congregation with a school – do they have a school ministry, or do you as a member also have a ministry to your school? How do you view it? When we have Bible classes or services in person and online, are those just for you, or does your ministry also include thinking of and inviting others to those opportunities to be fed? Do you look around as the flock gathers and see other sheep for you to serve or other sheep to serve you? Can you serve your shepherd pastor by heeding his encouragement and applying what he says? Can you see clearly how your personal ministry connects to your congregational ministry? 

As sheep, we need to either shape up or stay in shape. The power God’s Word possesses equips us to be great sheep and be a blessing to the shepherd pastor. When that happens we can all focus on adding more sheep to the flock while the flock also cares for itself under the guidance of its shepherd and ultimately the Good Shepherd.  

Are sheep ever going to carry out that ministry perfectly? No, and how could they be expected to when there is no shepherd who is able to carry out his ministry perfectly? No sheep deserves to be a part of the flock and no shepherd is deserving of such a title and calling.

That is why the Good Shepherd is necessary. Only through the Good Shepherd – Jesus – can anyone be brought into the flock. He carried out the role of the perfect Lamb of sacrifice when he sacrificed himself on the cross for our sins. His blood alone purifies us to be his sheep.

Only the Good Shepherd qualifies sheep to be in his flock and pastors to shepherd and care for his flock. And he will continue to Shepherd both through his powerful Word – now and into eternity. “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). 

Commitment

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(Luke 9:51-62)

Are we really that bad at commitment, or are we just over-committed? There is a difference. Being bad at commitment simply means you don’t stick with doing what you say you’re going to do. Companies and services are well aware of our lack of commitment. Cell phone providers offer great deals in exchange for a one or two-year commitment because they know that otherwise you’ll likely jump ship and go somewhere else. 

They also offer free trials. “Try this service for free for so many days and if you don’t like it, just cancel at no charge.” Now we could presume that they are so convinced you’ll be won over by that trial period that you’ll continue paying for their service or… they have studied the statistics that support the number of people who will not follow through with their commitment to cancel before being charged for a subscription. Those people then go on months or years somehow unaware of the ongoing charge. 

We could look at marriage and divorce statistics to support our lack of commitment, too. The number of billboards for divorce lawyers would imply that business is good. And of course, fewer and fewer couples are even getting married in the first place, which also reflects an unwillingness to commit. 

Or, if it isn’t that we lack commitment, it may be that we are over-committed. Do we still fool ourselves into thinking that we can say yes to an endless list of commitments without ever giving anything up? We try to squeeze one more thing into the same 24-hour day that we’ve always had, and wonder why we end up dropping the ball here and there. Commitment is more than just saying “yes” to some event or activity; it is also saying yes to the necessary responsibilities that accompany that commitment. My kid playing the sport doesn’t just mean showing up for a game once in a while; it means multiples practices each week, perhaps weekend tournaments, coordinated pickups and drop-offs, snacks, plans for where the other kids are going to be, end of the year party, coach’s gift, etc. – and that’s just one commitment! How many of those types of commitments can we successfully pull off? And more importantly, how many of those commitments end up squeezing out the other commitments that we’ve already told ourselves are the ones that matter?

If that is where we’re at culturally, struggling so much with commitment, should we really be surprised to see a struggle with commitment in the Christian church?  

As Jesus walked with his disciples, he had three separate exchanges with individuals. Each one demonstrated a deficiency when it comes to commitment. These three individuals will serve to display three prominent struggles stifling Christian commitment today. As we look at these three “commitment killers,” listen to each. Each scenario may apply to us in different seasons of life.

Yet, while we struggle at various times and in various ways with each of these “commitment killers,” there is likely one of them that stands out among the others as the most challenging for us. Identify which one it might be for you, and you’re already on your way to allowing God to help you overcome it.

The three commitment killers can be broken down into these three struggles: “Nice vs. Sacrifice,” “Divided vs. Devoted,” and “Past vs. Present.”

Nice vs. Sacrifice captures the first individual’s struggle. “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head’” (v.57-58). There was certainly an appeal to following Jesus. Miracles happened. Needs were met. Lives were changed. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something so positive? So this individual expressed his desire to join Jesus – sounded nice!

But Jesus didn’t just respond with an “OK – fall in line and let’s get after it!” No, by his response he communicated to the individual the need to count the cost of discipleship before making such a commitment. Even though foxes and birds have a place to call home, Jesus did not (v.58). And if Jesus himself did not then his disciples needed to be ready for that same type of lifestyle – one that would involve sacrifice. 

What a commitment killer! And one that has filtered out casual Christians from committed Christians for centuries! It’s a popular idea even today. Many jump into Christianity being drawn to everything that is nice about it. Belonging to a church can be a great way to find friends. It can be a nice place to hear a generally positive message or uplifting music. It might be a good place to turn when I’m in a bind and need something. Maybe it’s good for my kids. There are lots of nice things about a church.

But often the cost is not counted. When commitment means sacrifice, it loses its appeal. When we’re so overcommitted in so many other areas, Sunday morning is relegated to just one more commitment. When it church life cuts into other commitments, we don’t see it any longer as a place to eagerly serve and make a difference, but a place that demands more of my time and responsibilities. When things get messy and I am expected to forgive and reconcile instead of just forget and leave awhile, that’s more than we signed up for. Too often we just want nice without the sacrifice.

The second commitment killer is represented by the individual Jesus calls out to next. “He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God’” (v.59-60). Divided vs. Devoted. This almost sounds downright cruel – how can Jesus say no to burying his father?!? He was illustrating the difference between being Divided and Devoted. The point Jesus was stressing was that commitment to him is not a both/and, but an only. If anything is allowed to precede one’s commitment to Christ, it’s a divided commitment. That is not the kind of dedication Jesus calls us to. 

It has been shown time and again that a significant shortcoming of multi-tasking is that it results in doing multiple things poorly. Yet, rather than focusing on doing one thing well, we still try to get away with getting multiple things done at once.

We even do this when it comes to our commitment to Jesus. We want Jesus… and the priorities that my worldly friends have. We want Jesus… and the material things I can’t live without. We want Jesus… and whatever else it might be, not realizing that Jesus and anything else means a divided heart. My heart wants what it is convinced is the best of both worlds. When we keep living that lie we don’t see that our commitment to Jesus is not devoted, but divided.

The third commitment killer, “Present vs. Past,” is illustrated by the final individual in these verses. “Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’” (v. 61-62).

How we long for the things that were! We crave the good ‘ole days. We want things the way they were, leaving us stuck reminiscing on the past while missing out on the present and the future. That means we aren’t using the present and the future to plan, prepare, and carry out the ministry to which Jesus has called us!

How long do you think you could successfully drive your car from where you are to where you’re going with your eyes glued to the rearview mirror? I don’t encourage you to find out! Yet, we are satisfied with a commitment to Jesus that can’t get beyond the way things used to be. And then we fail to see how that stifles our present and future personal and congregational growth and ministry. 

Furthermore, if we insist on looking back into the past at the expense of the present, then let us also compare the commitment of generations past to current generations. Shall we compare the commitment to church attendance, when commitment meant attending every Sunday? Shall we compare commitment to keeping the church and school up and running by rolling up the sleeves and putting in some sweat equity rather than writing a check to pay someone else to do it? Shall we compare generations past when young people were encouraged to serve in the public ministry as pastors and teachers versus pursuing successful careers that make more money? 

These three individuals and their examples – “Nice vs. Sacrifice,” “Divided vs. Devoted,” and “Past vs. Present” – are not insignificant! They might shock us. We might be rather sympathetic toward the requests these individuals made. They were not just along the lines of, “May I return home and feed my pet?” No one would balk at Jesus refusing that less significant request.

But burying your dead or saying bye to family??? What is Jesus’ point? If these requests had been merely small things, and Jesus had permitted them, we would reason that there are some things that would understandably come before Jesus – for the right reason(s), of course! But Jesus goes big to make a big point: nothing comes before him. Commitment is a serious thing! 

Commitment has sometimes been broken down into three levels: commitment to Christ, then to his church, and finally to his cause. Where are you at on that spectrum? Wherever you may be, we’re all in the same spot: we have room to grow when it comes to our commitment to Jesus and his church. Assessing our level of commitment to Jesus can lead us to draw only one conclusion: our diluted commitment to Christ deserves condemnation from Christ. 

But instead of condemnation from Christ, do you know what we get? Complete commitment. We don’t have to question Jesus’ level of commitment to us. Jesus was perfectly committed. In fact, a word that Luke uses to introduce these verses reflects that very commitment: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (v. 51).

“Resolutely” describes Jesus’ commitment to the destination where he would die. Jesus would not be deterred. Jesus counted the cost. His priorities were not divided. He was not longing for the good ‘ole days where suffering and death were not a part of the discussion. Jesus was fully committed… to you. He committed to being ridiculed and bullied for you. He committed to suffering excruciating punishment for you. He committed to dying for you. He committed to condemnation in hell for you. 

And his commitment is why you will never feel the lick of hell’s flames. His commitment is why you will never be abandoned by the Father. His commitment is why you can give it right back to Satan instead of giving in to him. His commitment is why your place in heaven is never in question, never in doubt. His commitment… is what makes it possible for us to deepen our commitment to him. To level up. To number our days on earth as days of committed service to Christ and his kingdom. 

Jesus’ commitment has made you fit for service in his kingdom. His Word possesses the power to take your commitment to new heights. Tap into the power of his Word daily. Choose sacrifice over nice. Choose dedicated over divided. Choose present and future over the past. What difference would it make if each one of us moved one level forward in our commitment? How healthy and vibrant would our congregations be? How impacted would our communities be? What could Jesus do with us, with a church filled with intensely committed Christians? I’d sure love to find out – wouldn’t you?

Agenda Uncovered

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(Luke 4:38-44)

I know that by now Christmas is in the rearview mirror, but bear with me for one last reference. Watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has become a Christmas tradition for many, as the movie has so many memorable scenes and plenty of quotable material. Perhaps because as a dad, I can sadly relate it all too well to it, one scene that never gets old is watching Clark Griswold put up the Christmas lights. That scene all-too perfectly captures the role of the dim-witted doofus of a dad entertainingly enduring slips and falls as he attempts to cover the whole house in lights. Of course, all of this build-up is merely setting the scene for the moment of truth when Clark is ready to plug everything in and dazzle his family with the most amazing array of lights ever. But after all that hard work and all the effort he put into it, when he goes to plug in the lights, spoiler alert: nothing happens. It’s obvious that something is wrong because the lights don’t light up. 

There are signs when something doesn’t appear to be working. Those signs may not always be as obvious as thousands upon thousands of Christmas lights failing to light up, but there are different ways of telling when something is not working. The bathroom scale reiterates that the diet isn’t working. Increased squinting and blurry signs in the distance indicate that the eyes aren’t working like they used to. Limited functionality on a phone or device reveals that something isn’t working. 

If you recall last Sunday’s account of Jesus’ preaching in the synagogue, one might make interpret the signs and conclude that his preaching wasn’t working. That certainly appeared to be the case in light of the response to his preaching! The crowd marched him to the edge of a nearby cliff with the intent of tossing him over. To a bystander assessing how effective Jesus’ preaching was, that might be all the evidence needed to conclude that his preaching wasn’t working. Otherwise, we’d expect increased crowds and more ears arriving to give a listen; not an attempt on the preacher’s life!

Sometimes it doesn’t appear like the Word is working in the local congregation, either. Are there any signs that might indicate as much? Certain mission and ministry efforts are discontinued. Familiar faces and families have either moved on to other places. Church attendance isn’t what it used to be. Bible study participation has dipped. We may not be facing the extreme of looking down the edge of a cliff, but might a combination of these realities lead us to conclude that the Word is no longer working like it used to?

What do you do when something stops working? Do you quit? Do you try to fix it? Do you ask for help? Do you try something else? Clark Griswold checked all the lights and connections. He made sure everything was plugged in. He thought through every possible problem to get those lights to work. He was determined to do whatever it took to figure it out. 

If we aren’t as persistent as Clark Griswold, we might find it tempting to quit or to try something else. Some simply stop gathering for worship, ghosting God’s house without any explanation. Others are eager to chase after what seems to be the latest fad working somewhere else. We pass along success stories from other churches and presume that someone else has figured it out, that they’ve found the secret sauce to spiritual success.

Or maybe we consider going the route Paul mentioned in our Second Reading:  “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). We entertain the possibility of altering our message to see if it draws more of a crowd. But, if we are tempted to alter our message to cater to what people want to hear rather than hearing what God says, then we miss the whole point Paul was making to Timothy.  This was not an invitation or a how-to from Paul to Timothy to help him grow his church; rather, this was a warning of how God’s Word would be received. And regrettably, that time has clearly arrived our day.

Actually, that time had already arrived even before Paul warned Timothy. It was exactly that attitude that Jesus encountered in our verses from last Sunday. So how did he respond when it appeared the Word wasn’t working? Jesus didn’t quit, even after an attempt on his life! Instead, he continued preaching. He went to Capernaum (see the verses prior to ours). Then we see him in our verses today again right where we were introduced to him last week – in a synagogue, preaching no less! Finally, at the close of our verses today, after a whole night of healing the sick and suddenly finding a crowd begging him to stay at daybreak, Jesus had this to say: “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent” (Lk. 4:43). Jesus could have catered to the crowd and stayed to keep on fixing their physical health, but he was more concerned about their spiritual health, so he had to keep on preaching the good news. And Luke closes by telling us, “And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea” (v.44). He preached the Word.

Jesus was carrying out perfectly the sound advice Paul would later write to Timothy: “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). Give the Second Reading for this morning another look over the course of this week and notice that the entire section is essentially summarized by that encouragement to stick to the Word. When things are going great, stick to the Word. When things aren’t going so great, stick to the Word. When things are uncertain, stick to the Word. When correction is needed, stick to the Word. When growth is needed, stick to the Word. Stick to the Word. Stick to the Word. Stick to the Word.

It isn’t the expectation. When something doesn’t work, we don’t expect to keep doing the same thing and getting different results. When it appears that the Word isn’t working, it seems sensible to fall back to plan B. But that is what Jesus reveals, what he uncovers for us today – his agenda didn’t change during his ministry, and his agenda doesn’t change today as he continues his ministry through us: stick to the Word. The Word works, as the prophet Isaiah beautifully pictured: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (55:10-11). 

As our truly perfect preacher, Jesus stuck to the Word. That’s very comforting news to any man called to preach to God’s people today! Daily we pastors are reminded of our failings as God’s undershepherds. Regularly our preaching misses the mark. Too often we fail God’s people. So what a comfort to see the perfect preacher in our Gospel today, a Savior who was resolute in his determination to stick to the Word, realizing that was what he “must” (v.43) do if he was to perfectly carry out his Father’s will. The perfect preacher measures up where imperfect preachers fall woefully short. 

Jesus, though, wasn’t done there. He not only came to be our perfect preacher, obediently proclaiming the Word of God, but he came to be the Word in the flesh, to fulfill what he preached. To seal the deal on the salvation he taught about. To suffer, die, and rise again to provide the Word with its power and punch. Had the words Jesus preached not also been fulfilled by Jesus, they would have been worthless and empty – meaningless chatter! But Jesus carried out at the cross what the Word promised: forgiveness and salvation were not just a nice idea, but a reality. 

And how we need that to be a reality! For our sinful second-guessing of the Word, for every time we have passed it up in favor of some inferior alternative, the Word turns us away with is well-deserved judgment and condemnation. Yet that same Word of God draws us back with its assurances of grace and forgiveness, promising restoration with God once again because of Jesus. Forgiveness is found in unlimited capacity within the very Word we are tempted to trade in, so we are drawn back to it again and again, no matter how often we stray from it. Stick to the Word. It is life.

Clark Griswold was committed to finding out why the lights weren’t working. In the end, it was his wife who figured it out, but his determination was rewarded nonetheless. Finally, the right switch was flipped, the lights plugged in, and the Griswold home lit up like a bright star. The house became a ridiculously bright beacon of light from blocks and blocks away!

So it is with the gospel in our midst. When we stick with the Word, it lights each of us up, like those thousands upon thousands of lights on the Griswold home. As Jesus shines through us, may others be attracted to him through us. May they then have the opportunity to receive not only the temporal blessings, but the eternal blessings that come when we go with the agenda Jesus has given to his church, when we stick to the Word.

Bounce Back to the Word

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(John 7:40-43)

Five years before the world was introduced to Harry Potter, JK Rowling was a struggling single mother living on welfare. She wrote while working as a teacher at night, and her manuscript was rejected 12 times before finally being published. Walt Disney’s first animation company went bankrupt, he experienced other failures, and some of the most loved characters today were initially panned by critics. Rowland Macy had four failed retail stores before opening his first Macy’s, and even his first Macy’s had to close because it didn’t bring in enough. Not until he opened another one fifteen years later did the store stick. Abraham Lincoln failed at multiple businesses, lost one election to Congress, two elections to Senate, and even the vice-president election before becoming the 16th President of the United States. Great as all these stories ended up, you know what it sounds like? It sounds like they all went through their own 2020. They all had their share of experiences that they wouldn’t have asked for at the time, but which allowed them to get where they ended up! Bitter before the sweet!

Will 2021 be your comeback story? Will it be the year that you bounce back? Will you turn a set back into a comeback?

If so, the single greatest key to your ability to bounce back in 2021 is to realize that it doesn’t depend on your ability to bounce back. Rather, it depends far more on how much you depend on the single greatest comeback story of all time: Jesus Christ. There’s no greater comeback story that will ever be written than the One who bounced back from death to rise up and live again. And don’t dare forget that he did not accomplish this for himself, but for you. He came back from the dead so that your comeback story could be written. Christmas was the start of what would become the greatest comeback story ever written. So if you want to bounce back in 2021, hear me out: doesn’t it make good sense to make the greatest comeback story in history a bigger part of yours?

That was basically the issue at hand as our text today picks up the people’s response to Jesus. What did they think of him? Who was he? Was he of any benefit to them or not? Was he to be followed, his advice acted on, his counsel considered, his teachings to be trusted? Guess what? “On hearing his words… the people were divided because of Jesus” (v.40, 43). Not everyone came to the same conclusion about Jesus’ place and role in their lives. Some acknowledged his place as a prophet. Others saw him as Savior, the Messiah and long-awaited answer to sin and salvation. Others still struggled and were on the fence with questions and answers that didn’t add up for them. 

It’s no different today – outside of the church to be sure. Prophet, preacher, pacifist – opinions vary, but there is a consistent theme to the world’s view of Jesus: they use him as they see fit. There is no small amount of animosity toward Jesus when his teachings don’t approve of a certain way of life that a person insists on living. Most, though, will not direct their disdain at Jesus himself, but ease their own consciences by claiming to be just fine with Jesus, while pretending the problem is with Christians themselves or with organized religion – as if those are in some separate category into which Jesus doesn’t belong. They become experts in their own minds at using Jesus’ words against Christians to point out where his followers are failing. Such people clearly are not familiar with Jesus’ own words to comfort his followers, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (John 7:7). No matter how they may disguise it then, the world’s differing views of Jesus are ultimately a dismissal of Jesus.  

But that wouldn’t apply to those of us inside the church, to believers, would it? Surely our words and actions couldn’t be perceived as a dismissal of Jesus… right? What would a quick glance back over the course of 2021 reveal? Did we ever find ourselves as activists more concerned about a movement or a cause than about Christ? Did we ever stoop into the darkness to dabble in debate with others steeped in the dark rather than letting Christ’s light shine through us? Did we look to worldly solutions – sometimes even destructive ones – to console us and help us cope with crisis, rather than to Christ? Ah, then perhaps we shouldn’t be too quick to deny dismissing Jesus the way the world does, for the ugly reality is that we are quite adept at it. In fact, we’re so good at it that we even manage to pull the wool over our own eyes so that we don’t recognize how frequently we dismiss Jesus. 

2020 also provided us with another challenge to reflect on our relationship with Jesus: our relationship with church. Gathering restrictions have forced us to think about the role a local congregation may or may not play in fostering our faith in Jesus. In our case, some leaders were concerned that if members couldn’t meet for worship, some may not be spiritually disciplined enough to personally keep growing in their faith on their own. Others saw a positive opportunity for individuals to take more ownership of their faith, rather than presuming that worshiping for an hour on Sunday is sufficient for spiritual growth. I don’t know that anyone can claim to have the answer, but the past year has required us to evaluate our connection to Jesus and his Word and where our church fits into that.

But enough about the problems and challenges. While we could spend all day discussing such matters – and much of it would be very profitable to be sure! – let us instead focus on the solution, for the solution in all of these matters of what one thinks of Jesus is the same solution: the Word. Truly, if 2021 is to be a bounce-back year, the Word alone will serve as the catalyst to make it happen. Sure, there are certainly other solutions that will help in other areas of life, but if this year is going to count in the one area that matters most – our walk with Jesus – then let us get back to the Word. 

Why? Because it works. “For the word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). God says through the prophet Isaiah, “[My word] will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11). The Word works. We want stuff that works, right? More than ever, we don’t have patience for things that don’t work. How many times would you guess you’ll Google something this year to find out how to do something or where to buy something? Whatever you’re searching for, the desired outcome is the same: you want a solution that works. You don’t want to purchase something that doesn’t work. You don’t want to learn a new tip or fix-it trick that doesn’t work. You want what works – we don’t have time for what doesn’t. 

Friends, we have 100% guarantee that this (Word) works! It is alive and active. It will accomplish what God desires and purposes. It will work. If. We. Work it. See, it doesn’t matter if we have a solution that works if we never bother to use it. When I make pizza dough for pizza and a movie with the family on Fridays, yeast does a great job of making the dough rise… if I use it. It’s not so effective, however, if it doesn’t ever get mixed in. Your phone is a great tool for keeping in touch with family members who live in another state… if you use it. A dumbbell will help you add muscle and build strength… if you use it. You get the point. 

So it works, if we use it. Here’s the bigger question: why should we use it? Ultimately, we’re only interested in using something that works if it achieves something I am interested in. I am glad your curling iron works, after all, but I don’t have much of a need for it. Unless we see why it matters for us that the Word works, we aren’t likely to use it. Now I could go a step further and tell you it matters because it will strengthen your relationship with Jesus, but you might naturally go the next step and ask, “So what? Why does it matter that I have a stronger relationship with Jesus? After all, I already have faith and I know I’m going to heaven – isn’t that good enough?”

You know why you want a deeper relationship with Jesus through his Word? Because he is the only one who will be 100% real with you all the time. He isn’t going to be fake with you to suit his own purposes. Neither is he going to cater to your every whim and demand, like so many are willing to do in this cancel culture. He isn’t afraid of showing you tough love. He isn’t going to tell you one thing and then do another. He won’t make a promise and then break it. He is 100% real with you all the time.

That can be extremely painful when he is blunt about how disgraceful our sins are and how much he despises them. He will not buy our excuses or accept our ignorance when we try to downplay our violations of his commands. He will not hesitate to be completely transparent about the hell we deserve for dismissing him and despising his Word for so much of our lives. He will be real with us, and it will hurt when he exposes what’s really buried within our hearts. 

But he will be real with us as well when he lavishes us with an unwavering love that will not be deterred by even our worst sins against him. He is 100% committed to you, proving it by his willingness to have his body pounded to a cross while his own life was slowly drained from him. He was not interested in seeking out revenge for all the wrongs you’ve done against him, but seeking out forgiveness for them, not so that he could get even, but so that you could have peace. No one – NO ONE – on this earth will ever care enough about you to show you that level of commitment. That kind of loyalty, that kind of love, will never be found but in Jesus Christ. You want 2021 to be a bounce back year? It’s got to include more of Jesus and less of anything and everything that gets in his way.

Fast-forward to New Year’s Eve, Friday, December 31, 2021. Look back on this year. Will you reflect on this year and see it as a bounce-back year from 2020? That depends on what happens after today. What happens this week? next month? this summer? I will boldly guarantee you this: if you are committed to reading and applying the Word of God this year like never before in your life, 2021 will easily exceed your wildest expectations.