September 4, 2022                                    Text: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

    A few months back when Roe v Wade was overturned, I was privileged to be part of a webinar that featured brief talks from pro-life leaders throughout our nation.  Over 50 speakers were lined up in just a few days.  They each were given 2-3 minutes, though some went a little longer.  I remember that Tuesday night sitting at the laptop for 2 ½ hours.  

    Two main themes came from almost every speaker.  1).  We thank God for the decision.  2).  There is still more work to do.  Right on both accounts.  The patience of God put in place men and women who understood this was bad law.  As has been proven these last few months those who want a culture of death, led by the devil who is working even harder, will do some evil things to keep their power.

    We are people of the Word of God.  It is easy to get into the political debate and lose the focus.  We have been chosen by God.  We have had breath breathed into us from God the Creator.  Our text is not about abortion, it is about who we are as God’s people.  We do what we do because . . .

“GOD HAS CHOSEN US”

    It is interesting isn’t it how both sides of this issue used v. 19.  One side just takes two simple words, “Choose Life,” and makes it a rallying cry.  The other side can’t print “choose death” on bumper stickers because that isn’t inspiring or wise.  So, they use a form of the word choose and they want to be positive, so it becomes – “pro-choice.”  Clever, right?  Who doesn’t want a choice?  And since 1973 the semantics of those words have been effective.

    In our text the same people God is addressing he once called “stiff-necked.”  But he also said of these people, “The Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your faithers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  (Deut. 7:7-8). They were not chosen because they were special; they were special because they were chosen.

    Peter tells us in the New Testament Church that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Pet. 2:9)  Let’s go one step further.  Each of you were chosen by God before the foundation of the world.  In baptism, made a child of God.  Each of you is special because you were chosen.

    We’ve got some choices in our text.  Life/death, good/evil.  Fundamentally the choice is this:  trust God or turn away to other gods.  That was a constant problem with Israel.  “If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them.” (v. 17). This is when the evil and curses will come. 

    We have had a lot of curses on our land as we have continued to de-value life both in utero and with our aging population.  In the last fifty years these are all up:  child abuse, suicides, mass killings.  As we erode the value of life, these are the consequences.

    Has death ever led to life?  Watch your answer.  Jesus chose suffering and death to pay the price we owed God because of our sin and destroyed death once and for all through His resurrection from the dead.  Jesus chose death to rescue us.  Jesus chose you, and you have been baptized into His death and resurrection.

    You have the assurance.  You can trust God because He promises that nothing can separate you from His love.  You can trust God because He promises to work in every aspect of your life.  You can trust God because He loved you so much that he gave His only Son as a payment for your bad choices.  You can trust God because He sets His love upon you every time you receive His Holy Meal. 

    When life is chosen, then generations will live as our text states, “you and your offspring will live.” (v. 19).  Your faith will grow as you obey the voice of the Lord.  Holding fast and clinging to the Lord you dwell in His promises.  Your voice, along with millions of others has made a difference.  You walked for Life, or you spoke out for Life, or you did a vigil in front of a clinic.  You maybe even gave life to a child that was unexpected.  We need to continue to be there for those in life situations.  The issue will always be with us.

    Most of you are aware of my personal story.  One of my Godchildren became pregnant as a teenager before marriage.  She wrote me a very personal letter at the time.  I cried.  Two weeks ago, Toni and I had dinner with this extended family – 12 of us in all.  The child that was born sat right across from me.  She is now a sophomore in high school.  I was privileged to catch up on her life.  She is a tiny person who went out for football last year.  Courage.  You think about these things when you know the backstory.

    Her mother is married with another child and works to help others through her work with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services.  I am blessed as are others by what the Lord is doing in her life.  

    The prayer is you see the same thing.  You are chosen by God.  Chosen for life.  Chosen to make a difference.  Loved by Creator God for a purpose.  Live knowing that you are His.

                                                Amen.        

August 28, 2022                                  Text:  Proverbs 25:2-10

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Picture the scene.  You are in the lobby of a crowded restaurant.  You have put your name in, and the waiting game begins.  You make small talk and keep glancing at your watch.  After an hour, in a surprise declaration the words you have longed to hear sweeten your ears – “Wienerschnitzel, party of four.”  Nirvana.  Thy table has been prepared.  You may proceed where ordering of food can commence.  You may have a little strut in your step as you walk by the other patrons and think to yourself, “we are the Wienerschnitzels and we have a seat.”

    Does God ever summon you?  Is there a seat for you at God’s banquet table?  God has prepared a never-ending banquet, which he desires to be for all people.  Does He say to you . . .

“HAVE A SEAT”

    In the Book of Proverbs it is always best to focus in on one or two verses when giving a sermon because the Book is written in a way that each verse has its own thought.  We will do that with the text this morning as we take a look at verses 6-7.

    “Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, ‘Come up here.’” (vs. 6-7a).  Those who exalt themselves to God’s banquet table will be humbled.

    You are in the lowest section of the Assembly Hall/State Farm Center watching the action up close of a University of Illinois basketball game.  The problem is the seat you have taken doesn’t correspond with the seat you are supposed to be in.  The seat where even Kofi Cockburn looks small.  Though you can see and hear the game like never before, you are not enjoying yourself.  Then it happens, the moment you have been dreading, the usher taps you on the shoulder, “Sir, I believe you are seating in the wrong seat.  Can I see your ticket?  I’m sorry you must go to the seat on your ticket.”  Embarrassed you make the shameful walk up the concrete stairs to seat you have been able to afford your whole life . . . and the game gets smaller and smaller.

    We are tempted to seat ourselves in God’s presence based on our works.  Our kindness toward others.  Our faithful church attendance, our perpetually giving to the church and we even serve on a church board.  Give me a seat, Lord.  On top of that we are following the Lord’s commands and we love our family.  That has to merit a better vantage point, right?

    But aren’t we just in lock step with the world?  Self-glorifying is everywhere.  Hard work means I move up the ladder.  We’ve earned it and we deserve it and if I am being honest here, I am not as bad as the person I am sitting next to.

    Our pride and arrogance leave us shocked that our works do not merit a place in God’s kingdom.  Paul writes, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.” (Gal. 3:10). “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (Gal 5:4).  These words put us in our place.  It’s true, we are guilty.

    God exalts to his banquet table those who are humbled.  “It is better to be told, ‘Come up here,’ than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.” (v. 7).  Stranded in our sin and banned from the eternal banquet, we are confronted with and humbled by our inability to seat ourselves in God’s presence.  Before God, we slink to the lowest place and confess our sins.

    God does not leave us in despair.  He clothed himself in human flesh so that He might defeat death and devil and deliver us from their power.  He was made like us in every way so that he could satisfy God’s wrath for our sins.  He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses but maintained the righteousness we cannot.  He allowed himself to be placed “outside the gate”, driven out of the city and crucified, to sanctify us by His blood.

    Clinging to Christ in faith, God graciously says, “Have a seat in my Kingdom.”  “Come up here.”  To the font and be washed in baptismal waters.  “Come up here.”  Receive forgiveness and be reconciled to Me and one another.  “Come up here.”  Hear my Word and the Holy Spirit will create in you a new heart.  “Come up here.”  Eat and drink at my table.  Feast on the abundance of My house.  “Come up here.”  Remain in My presence forever.  Never be separated from Me, and rejoice in the unending life I have given you.

    The breathing is a little labored as you have climbed to your seat at the Assembly Hall/State Farm Center.  It is hard to follow the ball and the sounds echo.  Then a hand touches your shoulder.  It is an usher in an orange blazer.  Your seat number has been chosen and you have been given another place to sit.  Down and down you go.  The players are getting larger, the sound has less of an echo.  You have dreamed of this moment for a lifetime.  You are given a seat you could never afford.  You can hear the bounce of the ball and see the intensity of the game.  You have a  seat.  Orange and blue boy…do you have a seat.

    The Lord motions with his finger to you:  “Come here!”  And you are thrilled.  You do step toward Him with eager anticipation, because He’s told you and you know:  through Jesus Christ, you do have a seat at God’s eternal banquet table.

                                Amen.