June 14, 2020                                                                                    Text:  Matthew 9:35 – 10:8

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Harold was a farmer.  A plower of the land.  One beautiful day he was putting his crops in the ground when he saw it in the sky, the Lord must be sending a message because the clouds had formed two letters – P and C.  It could only mean one thing – “Preach Christ.”  Harold hopped, actually he climbed down, you can’t hop off of tractors anymore, rushed to his home to tell his wife.  They made the decision right away – sell everything, move to the city, and Harold would begin seminary.

            The first class most take at seminary is Greek.  Harold struggled.  He couldn’t parse a verb, he didn’t know his Delta from his Alpha.  When the ten-week class ended and he saw his grade, he knew he didn’t have the skills or smarts to be a Pastor.  He would return to farming.  Before he left, he went in to tell one his professors.  Harold said, “I saw it distinctly, I just don’t understand, I was sure God was saying “P.C” – “Preach Christ.”  The professor thought for a moment and looked at Harold and said, “Harold, did you ever think that P.C. meant plant corn?”

            God does not call everyone to full-time church work.  God has invested in each of us talents and abilities to be utilized to further His Kingdom.  And the Kingdom needs furthering, doesn’t it?  When the Lord says, “The harvest is plentiful” we don’t need to be knocked in head, we can see it all around us.  If there were more souls in the kingdom of the Lord these last weeks and months might have played out differently.  The challenge has always been there.  Can you labor in the harvest for those so lost their misguided actions cause so much pain? 

“PROCLAIMING THE HOPE OF HEAVEN AT HAND”

            Who does the Lord want to labor for Him?  Christians.  Those who believe in the message of salvation and hope.  This is where what we have been gifted with comes in.  I’ve been blessed to use skills in ways I never saw.  My secretarial skills got a workout when typing all the services for online worship.  My computer and phone skills were used to further God’s Kingdom in contacting members.  I pray my calm demeanor and non-panic has had an influence especially on Karson and Holden, who will remember this time vividly in the years to come.  I pray it has also been a help to you.  The Lord is in control.  He uses my skills and abilities for His benefit and the benefit of the church.

            I know many of you can say the same.  While not being as involved here at the church, you have still called members, e-mailed shut-ins, played the organ, led the singing, took care of the plants, mowed the yard, entered the offerings, paid the bills and a myriad of other things that have furthered the Lord’s Kingdom.  You have also, I’m sure had many discussions with friends and family and maybe even strangers or non-believers about the hope you have in Christ Jesus.  Your proclaiming the hope of heaven at hand has not lied dormant. 

            Before we can be the workers the Lord needs, as you see in our text, we need the compassionate healing of our Savior.  Jesus was teaching and proclaiming the greatest hope the world has ever seen.  God in human form had the greatest talents and abilities of anyone.  He did not use them to glorify Himself.  He used them to save us and the whole world from drowning in the pit of sin and damnation.  Jesus threw us the lifeline that we needed.  In the quicksand of despair and hopelessness, he pulls us out through the power of the cross.  When we struggle with direction and meaning, He shows us the path to eternal life.  His hope is our hope.  This Jesus whom we proclaim is the ultimate Helper. 

            He helps us through our questions with answers in His Holy Scripture.  He helps us through our sin-stained body with a thorough washing clean in Holy Baptism.  He helps us through our spiritual and mental struggles with problems and people by feeding us His body and blood so that we can make a new start, a fresh perspective, a hope that will not waver.  This Lord is always there even when you struggle to see His presence.  God’s word and promise and hope and forgiveness and salvation are a constant in our lives.  It is ingrained in our soul. 

            You know the hope you have makes a difference.  The Lord wants to use that hope in you to reach others.  The disciples were to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 7b)  Things can go two ways.  People can be drawn back to the Christian faith and worship because they have seen things out of their control, they have watched destructive behavior, they need purpose and meaning for their existence.  They need hope.

            Or God created men and women can see no hope.  They can get comfortable in their individualism and worship online.  They can shelter in place because things weren’t too normal even before the last few months.  They can stop engaging to help because of fear.  They live for themselves or their politics or their self-preservation.

            Jesus asks us to step into these moments of opportunity.  The Holy Spirit gives a calm voice to speak with the misguided.  The Lord allows our hearts to pray for those on the outside of the faith instead of “putting them in their place.”  If we don’t live the hope we possess in Christ what is the purpose of such hope?

            Jesus didn’t send those first disciples to those who agreed with them or knew the hope they knew.  The Lord sent them into hostile and difficult situations.  He knew what they faced.  They knew they didn’t go there alone.  The Lord’s work was done by the Lord through them.

            That is the simple task He gives to you and I.  Make a difference, with the Lord doing the heavy lifting, where he has placed you.  Proclaiming the hope of heaven at hand.

                                    Amen.