*Good Morning, Church!
*Turn around and tell your neighbor,
Whoever you are and wherever you are in life’s journey,
you are ALWAYS welcomed here.
Some time ago, little words in the Bible started to jump at me.
Have you ever found yourself reading a VERY familiar scripture only to find something new and wondering when did they put that in there.
*Words like BUT, IF, HOWEVER, UNLESS, INSTEAD began to appear and I started to pay more attention.
*Do you remember the robot from Lost in Space? Danger Will Robinson, Danger?
That was how I began feeling, because suddenly, a lot was new.
*An American writer by the name of Sherrilyn Kenyon once said that if IFs and BUTs were candy and nuts, we would never go hungry. WHY? because we like to throw them around freely you do the match.
It was when I started to pay attention that I realized that our IF’s, BUTs, HOWEVERs, ETC are NOT like GOD’s.
The use of them AND the intentions/motivations behind the use of the words ARE different.
There is always a WHY somewhere in the sentence and the answer that will explain is different.
*So, here is a HOMEWORK (for those who like homeworks): This week, during your daily devotions, PAY ATTENTION and see how many or which of these rattling little words show up in your reading: IF’s, BUTs, HOWEVERs, INSTEADs, UNLESS . . . there might be others – then ask WHY?
Before we continue BUT with that in mind, how about we go to the Lord in prayer.
Holy Spirit, thou art welcomed into this place.
Open our eyes to see,
Open our ears to hear,
Our minds to understand,
And warm our hearts to believe.
Now may the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts, TOGETHER, be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord our Rock and our Redeemer. AMEN.
Last week we looked at the story of how and why Moses came to be one of the most important people in Jewish literature.
We learned about how his life was the product of other people’s risky, difficult, and dangerous decisions.
We saw where the BUTs and the IFs where not in their vocabulary as something they just threw around like nuts and candy.
What would have happened if the midwives said BUT, what IF we get caught? Or little Miriam, Moses sister, what IF she told his mother, BUT, WAIT. What IF I am found?
*In today’s reading of Paul’s letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul makes a difficult call to the church.
He wrote and continues to give us answers to some of some of those BUTs, and IFs, and WHYs.
Now, remember that Paul was a Jew, who happened to be a Roman citizen.
He was highly educated in the militia, in religion, and in philosophies.
He was a high-ranking military officer used to receive orders, follow rules, he was used to obey, and he knew authority.
He knew what it was to be challenged, to obey, to adjust day in and day out according to the new orders. He knew the meaning of transformation.
I know you must be thinking, where is the pastor going with this? Allow me.
There is a little phrase that has infiltrated within the Christian mentality to resist change and to stay a little too comfortable in and within our sin.
That phrase is, well, this is how I am and God loves me ANYWAY.
The loving anyway is NOT the question. The point is that, YES, we are loved unconditionally, but radically to provoke a transformation within us, AND so that we reflect Christ.
Look at this.
In Romans chapter 12, Paul throws the church in Rome a challenge, a challenge that is meant to influence or, perhaps, even seduce the non-believers to come close or closer. He calls them to a sincere, devoted, and unselfish kind of love,
9 Love must be sincere. . . . Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves. . . Do not be conceited.
But how did he get there? Something we didn’t read here today was the basis/foundation of this chapter, verses 1 and 2,
*I urge you, by God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God which is your true and proper worship.
Then Paul proceeds to explain how this will happen,
*2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but/instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind. [WHY?]
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
good, pleasing and perfect will.
Not long ago I heard something that hit me. It was NOT the first time I heard it and, in fact, it was something I have said many times before.
Someone said, God was good to me because [this good thing] just happened to me.
Immediately my reaction – in my mind – was, Wait! So when something not good happens, does that mean God stops been good?
This past Thursday I was having lunch with a beautiful woman of God who lost nearly everything through a very difficult divorce.
On my way to meet with her, I was praying, God, I need your word.
This woman is hoping that I share something valuable for her faith.
*Suddenly, Psalm 23 came to mind and, as I was reciting it while driving, I noticed something I had not seen before, a WHY . . . a change in scenery, and, once again, I was confronted with my IFs, BUTs, HOWEVERs, and WHYs.
Suddenly, I noticed that between my acknowledgement of God, and God’s provision and care . . . right in the very middle is the valley of the shadows, the darkest valley.
The darkest valley is NOT at the beginning NEITHER at the end of the song.
INSTEAD, It is in the middle.
It is in the middle so I can remember God’s past provisions and God’s promises of care and presence through all.
Life isn't finding SHELTER in the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
My/our IF’s, BUTs, HOWEVERs, INSTEADs, UNLESS, and even the WHYs are NOT like GOD’s.
God’s IF’s, BUTs, HOWEVERs, INSTEADs, UNLESS will ALWAYS speak of provision, company, and care. They will always speak of direction and of a perfect plan.
Paul said, be transformed, but not like the world.
Renew your mind and then you will approve/experience God’s Good, Pleasing, and Perfect will.
WHY?
So that we can sincerely love, be devoted, honor, be joyful, and share with others as we practice hospitality.
HOMEWORK: READ ROMANS 12:1-16 and be transformed.
Tell your neighbor along with me, (on the screen),
Whoever you are and wherever you are in life’s journey,
you are ALWAYS welcomed here,
AND I AM HERE TO ACCOMPANY YOU.