August 30, 2015 Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

On our recent trip to Holden Beach, North Carolina I pulled out my University of Illinois flip-flops. I had not worn them very much but knew I would need them for the beach. After a few days of the trip from house to beach and back my feet were hurting and getting red on the top where the flip-flops were rubbing. I needed a change in footwear. I bought a pair of slides and was more comfortable the rest of the trip.
Footwear. We may not always give it a lot of thought until the fit or style or performance is not what we expect. In the Epistle for today, Paul is outfitting the Christian from head to toe. Since he does not neglect footwear, neither shall we.
“A BOLD CHOICE IN FOOTWEAR”
Soldiers knew the importance of shoes. Whether it was a forced march or needing to hold the line they needed good footwear. Think of the movies that depict Valley Forge or the Civil War when the boots are literally falling off the soldiers’ feet in the cold and snow.
Shoes – or lack of them – can turn the tide of battle. Scotland’s national flower is the thistle, but do you know why? In order to take the sleeping Scots by surprise, and army of Norse invaders was ordered to remove their shoes so they could approach in silence. What the commanders hadn’t anticipated was that the field they had to cross barefoot was filled with thistles. Instead of a stealth entrance, the Norseman’s cries of pain sounded the alarm that led to their defeat. Scotland has honored the thistle ever since.
Shoes and stance go together. Athletes and soldiers realize this. It makes you prepared. Martial artists know the importance of a proper stance. Footwear makes the difference. The Duke of Wellington thought most of the shoes of his soldiers.
It’s the same for the Christian soldier. It may surprise us that Paul mentions shoes at all. But remember he had ample opportunity to contemplate Roman boots as he traveled to Rome in chains and then lived under house arrest.
How can the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ, serve as footwear for the Christian soldier? Remember the command to the Christian soldier is very simple: “Stand!”. Not “Attack!” or “Retreat!” but simply “Stand!” This whole armor of God he has given to the Christian enables one to stand his or her ground and to withstand the assaults of the enemy.
What soldier can stand firm and steadfast with wounded feet? We must make sure that our feet are not vulnerable. Just as the shield of faith can protect us from the fiery darts of the enemy, so does the Gospel’s promise of forgiveness by Jesus death on the cross protect our stance from the shots of the attacker.
Our Christian footwear needs traction. Christ’s reconciling death banishes worry from our mind. We are not slip sliding along in life with anxiety and turmoil but through Christ we plant our feet firmly. We can meet the attack without trembling. If we get knocked to the ground the helmet, breastplate, sword, and shield can do little but minimize the damage. We must firmly stand on our feet, and it is none other than the Gospel of Jesus’ cross and resurrection that allows us to stand.
All of this then allows Paul and you and I as Christian soldiers to stand with boldness. To speak boldly is to speak freely. It means not holding back. It means not worrying about offending a hearer. This takes courage, which comes from Christ. Like Paul we want to present the gospel fully and naturally. If we are bold there is no “Don’t take this the wrong way.” We do not want to hold back the joy we get when sharing this message of salvation.
Paul had this solid stance – without wavering or stumbling – as he boldly shared the gospel with emperors and political leaders. He was secure in who he was as God’s instrument. He prayed to stay alert and persevere and He did because he was standing securely in the love of Christ.
Our stance is secure because of the mercy, grace, and compassion of our God. In its peace we are ready for the attack – and ready to proclaim. Our feet are protected. So let’s get on our feet and proclaim boldly the same good news to others. No weapon, no strategy, and no insult can shake our stance when we remain fitted in the bold footwear of the Gospel of the Lord.
Amen.

August 16, 2015 Text: Proverbs 9:1-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

One morning the young new president of a bank made an appointment with his predecessor to seek some advice. He said, “Sir, could you provide some of the insights you have gained from your years here that have been the keys to your success.”
The older man looked at him with a stare and replied: “Young man, two words: good decisions.” The young man responded, “Thank you, but how does one come to know which is the good decision?” “One word, young man: experience.” “But how does one get experience?” “Two words, young man: bad decisions.”
Do you agree with that? Have you learned more from your bad decisions than your good decisions? And that wisdom you have been gaining throughout your lifetime, where does it come from? The wonderful Old Testament Book of Proverbs is going to help us answer the question . . .
“WHAT IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM?”
The Book of Proverbs, God’s instruction book to bestow the Lord’s wisdom through King Solomon and others is filled with gems like this: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Prov. 3:7-8) “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” (Prov. 17:14) “A man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9) And then this beauty as we get into the text: “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” (Prov. 9:12) Those are pretty good, aren’t they? And there are 31 chapters of such wisdom.
We are focused on the beginning of chapter 9. The beginning verses are the invitation to wisdom. Everyone is invited to come and gain wisdom. Verse 6, “Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” The life wisdom gives is more than our health and well-being. It is the life that God gives, life that is meaningful, satisfying, and God-pleasing.
There are going to be roadblocks as we live this life of wisdom that the Lord grants. Verse 7 identifies such. “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.” How true! How true! I have shared my own stories over the years at ballgames and other places how this happens. Now sometimes you might think your semi-old Pastor is a little over the top with some of this and then this recent story from my father. It seems my niece was driving on the Beltline in Madison, Wisconsin recently when a male on a motorcycle starting following her and shouting profanities at her. What had she done? Flipped him off? Cut him off? No. As she exited the Beltline and he continued his pursuit, he was yelling at her because she had an ichthus on her car, the Christian fish symbol and he didn’t like it. He actually got off his ride and was going to confront her when she was able to drive away safely. “Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you.”
So we need the Lord’s wisdom as we battle the evil. The wisdom of God is personified in Jesus. He came to give us life to the full. He gave His life on the cross to restore us to God and by teaching us God’s wisdom for our lives.
The text tells us that we gain wisdom by eating Wisdom’s food and drinking Wisdom’s wine. How we do this is clarified in verse 10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” There is the answer. Wisdom flows from a right relationship with God characterized by trust in His love, awe of His greatness, and fear of offending Him.
Too often we think we know it all. As a result, we live dangerously and hurt others and ourselves. We can easily become smug and self-righteous and cut ourselves off from God. We discover that we have a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do. We desperately need what Jesus has to offer.
Jesus has freed us from our foolishness and bad decisions. His life, death, and resurrection take away the guilt. As the Word made flesh, Jesus came into the world with grace and truth. The truth of His Word guides us into wisdom and knowledge and helps us make good and right decisions. Jesus is the giver of God’s life for wise and godly living to all who believe in Him.
Look to Jesus, the wisdom of God and the power of God, to learn and live wisdom. He enables us to fear and love God so that we live wisely. He teaches us and empowers us through His Word and nourishes our faith and life in Him through the banquet of his body and blood until we eat and drink with Him in the heavenly kingdom. Until then, we happily learn and live wisdom and find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Amen.