Title: God gathers you as wheat in his barn!
Text: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
Facebook live: God gathers you as wheat in his barn!
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
Sin can often have a gradual and cumulative effect on our lives.
Sitting in my basement a few years ago I saw a bee buzzing around. I picked up a fly swatter and got him. Over the summer it was one or two here and there and I took care of it as I could. I saw a few outside by my porch and sprayed some but that was about it. I didn’t know where they were getting in and over the winter forgot about it. I saw a few dead bees on my floor and cleaned it up but when I went to turn on the valve in the drop ceiling of my basement, I found the basketball size nest that lay hidden in the ceiling. Thankfully, the bees were dead and I just had to remove the nest but left unattended the hive could have over run my house.
That is how sin can be and grow.
Last week we discussed the parable of the Sower who sowed seed, throwing it everywhere, on the path, the rocky ground and even on good soil.
The parable was explained by Jesus that the seed was the word of God and the Gospel proclamation that went forth, transforming hearts of stone to good soil where the word takes root and brings forth faith in those called by God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s parable builds on that by saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
So in explanation to this parable, Jesus says that He is the one who sows the good seed and that the world is the field and the wheat that grows, which sprouts from the good seed, are those who are the children of the Kingdom by faith. The weeds, we are told, are those who are sons of the evil one which is the devil himself - who sows the lies that Jesus is not who he claims to be, the way the truth and the life.
So as is made clear in our text, the world will consist of both those who believe and those who don’t believe, and being that the church is also in the world, we will have our own share of weed among believers.
So as the church shouldn’t we look to pull out those weed among us?
Who’ll be first?
What should we use to judge each other?
As Baptized members marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified you have been made good soil by God’s Holy Spirit - certainly you are wheat - having been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.
But even if you haven’t been baptized? Paul says in Roman 10:
9 …, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
And then he continues:
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
So belief in the heart is what justifies or makes righteous and those who believe will not be put to shame but will be saved.
So, as Jesus says to the question of,
28”do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 He says, ‘No, because in gathering the weeds you may pull up the wheat as well. 30 Let both grow together … until the harvest, and then I will tell the reapers to Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
In other words, the wheat is left behind after the weeds are gathered to be burned and then gathered into the Lord’s barn.
Growing up in and around the Midwest, I’m sure we’ve all had plenty of experience pulling weeds. As a young boy I was sent out to do weeding around the house and also went with my dad to a farm where he leased five acres to have a vegetable garden, we went to … you guessed it … to pull weeds!
Now, sometimes when I pulled the weed, I also pulled out the plant I was weeding around. My Dad was none too pleased with that. That can be very frustrating and at times you might think that you are doing more harm than good.
It also seems that these weeds seemingly grow up overnight. I would go out and pull weeds with him one day, but the next day, out of nowhere, new weeds had appeared.
Maybe you can appreciate like me the truly demonic nature of weeds and why Jesus used them in the parable?
With wheat and weeds at the time of harvest, the weeds, which look like wheat when they were green, turned out to be foxtail. But by then it was too late to pull them so the harvester, that big machine that is called a combine, would have to sort them for the wheat farmers, gathering the wheat safely in the tank and shredding the foxtail and other weeds behind in its wake.
Most farmers have great and fearful respect for that massive mechanical harvester. How much greater and more fearful will it will be when Jesus sends his angels as reapers at the end of the age?
But for you, the righteous, who trust in Christ just as for the wheat, there is no reason to fear, only joy and relief at being gathered safely home (Mt 13:24–30).
Jeffrey D. Springer, Fort Wayne, IN [modified]
When sin becomes visible in the church, we are told to call those who are sinning to repentance - with gentleness and respect, and we are to first remove the beam from our own eye before seeking to remove the speck from the eye of our brother.
When I went to the installation of Pastor Aaron Vergin at St. John’s Grand Haven many verses of scripture are read during the installation service. One of the many verses is 2 Timothy 4:2 which says:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The pastor is as well to call to repentance through the preaching of the Law those who are going the wrong way and are in disobedience to God’s word but also to do this with individuals as well.
This, only deals with the visible sin and it can never show the intention of the heart or the motive and even more importantly, who are wheat and who are weeds.
That will be determined by God himself at the final judgment.
So what do we know?
Well it is Christ’s desire that all would be saved and come to knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2:4, even for those whom we believe to be far from the Lord and his reach.
This is accomplished by the proclamation of the Gospel in word and sacrament which will bring to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit those who believe, and by God’s grace, into His family through that same promised forgiveness by faith in Christ’s finished work.
We also know from the parable today, that some - those who are called the weeds in the parable are those who are the sons of the evil one - the devil, and that they will reject the saviors blessed call through the gospel message and through this unbelief be destined for destruction – thrown into the fiery furnace and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This will be of their own choosing as they reject the work of the Holy Spirit choosing to remain dead in trespass and sin.
But you all have this assurance:
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, July 24, 2023
Monday, July 17, 2023
Sermon July 15-16, 2023
Title: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
Text: Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23
Facebook live: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
I changed the sign out front last week and walked across the lawn. It’s not the best lawn - in fact - it’s pretty terrible. Sandy soil, many bare places, rocks weeds galore. It’s funny, my yard can at times be much the same and why is it that when we have little water, the weed still grow … and in abundance?
JESUS SEEDS OUR HEARTS; SO THAT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HEAR, BELIEVE AND BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT!
Jesus spoke in a parable in the Gospel lesson today. Parables are stories to illustrate important points our Lord is making and the Parable of the Sower is an interesting one.
Surly, those who were there listening on the shore, could relate to sowing seed as Jesus spoke to them from a boat just out from the shore that created a natural amphitheater as such. Many of those who were listening we’re farmers or had experience with planting and growing. They were listening well enough. But some heard while others didn’t.
The seed that Christ refers to as being planted is the word of God.
God in Christ was either directly sowing the seed of the word, or through his chosen instruments - his twelve disciples - the word was being sown in His place.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that seed doesn’t grow on a path and the word doesn’t grow in a heart opposed to understanding.
Jesus explains that the Evil One is waiting to remove any part of the word planted. His hope is to snatch them away from the kingdom.
For those with a heart that is like rocky ground the seed of the word may sprout for a time and be received with great joy but the troubles of this life and persecution can kill its growth and cause an apathetic view of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thorns, in a garden, like a heart focused on prosperity and riches, can cause the word to be choked out as one searches for carnal gratification in things of the world.
You too can be affected by this life and fall victim to the work of the Devil. Your own level of prosperity can draw you away from the word of God -which is Christ - leaving your heart unattended and infested with weeds.
Many who attend church regularly hear the word but quickly forget it, allowing it to be snatched away from them, as they occupy their time with more interesting endeavors. As trouble begins, our own level of resolve can be compromised.
I have a friend who is a musician in Nashville. As we talked, he told me about one of his closest friends, a guitar player that has had much success in the music business. He said to me:
“Russ, I’ve had many opportunities to share Christ with Jimmy, but the problem as I see it is that things are just going too good for him. He would have to give up some things and right now he just sees no need for Jesus.”
Remember how Jesus’ explains it:
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Many, like Jimmy, get drawn away by their finances, wealth, lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness that their heart is like seed being sown among the thorns. It gets choked off and can’t grow.
For many others, the state of our economic situation in Michigan fills our hearts and minds with concern. Some have had to live on less and sadly many seek comfort in pleasures that fade away instead of the pleasure of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s invitation to come from Matthew 11, in last Sunday’s Gospel reading:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Jesus opens the hearts of the ones with ears to hear.
The good soil is found only in Christ. Where His word has taken root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, He is fully present and so is the good soil that begins producing a harvest of thirty, sixty and even a hundred-fold.
Facebook live: God’s harvest comes through the seed of the word!
23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
I changed the sign out front last week and walked across the lawn. It’s not the best lawn - in fact - it’s pretty terrible. Sandy soil, many bare places, rocks weeds galore. It’s funny, my yard can at times be much the same and why is it that when we have little water, the weed still grow … and in abundance?
JESUS SEEDS OUR HEARTS; SO THAT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HEAR, BELIEVE AND BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT!
Jesus spoke in a parable in the Gospel lesson today. Parables are stories to illustrate important points our Lord is making and the Parable of the Sower is an interesting one.
Surly, those who were there listening on the shore, could relate to sowing seed as Jesus spoke to them from a boat just out from the shore that created a natural amphitheater as such. Many of those who were listening we’re farmers or had experience with planting and growing. They were listening well enough. But some heard while others didn’t.
The seed that Christ refers to as being planted is the word of God.
God in Christ was either directly sowing the seed of the word, or through his chosen instruments - his twelve disciples - the word was being sown in His place.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that seed doesn’t grow on a path and the word doesn’t grow in a heart opposed to understanding.
Jesus explains that the Evil One is waiting to remove any part of the word planted. His hope is to snatch them away from the kingdom.
For those with a heart that is like rocky ground the seed of the word may sprout for a time and be received with great joy but the troubles of this life and persecution can kill its growth and cause an apathetic view of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Thorns, in a garden, like a heart focused on prosperity and riches, can cause the word to be choked out as one searches for carnal gratification in things of the world.
You too can be affected by this life and fall victim to the work of the Devil. Your own level of prosperity can draw you away from the word of God -which is Christ - leaving your heart unattended and infested with weeds.
Many who attend church regularly hear the word but quickly forget it, allowing it to be snatched away from them, as they occupy their time with more interesting endeavors. As trouble begins, our own level of resolve can be compromised.
I have a friend who is a musician in Nashville. As we talked, he told me about one of his closest friends, a guitar player that has had much success in the music business. He said to me:
“Russ, I’ve had many opportunities to share Christ with Jimmy, but the problem as I see it is that things are just going too good for him. He would have to give up some things and right now he just sees no need for Jesus.”
Remember how Jesus’ explains it:
22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Many, like Jimmy, get drawn away by their finances, wealth, lifestyle and the pursuit of happiness that their heart is like seed being sown among the thorns. It gets choked off and can’t grow.
For many others, the state of our economic situation in Michigan fills our hearts and minds with concern. Some have had to live on less and sadly many seek comfort in pleasures that fade away instead of the pleasure of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s invitation to come from Matthew 11, in last Sunday’s Gospel reading:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Jesus opens the hearts of the ones with ears to hear.
The good soil is found only in Christ. Where His word has taken root, by the work of the Holy Spirit, He is fully present and so is the good soil that begins producing a harvest of thirty, sixty and even a hundred-fold.
This is an unbelievable return Jesus promises his hearers.
Jesus’ word of comfort and rest, for those who hear the word of truth and believe, produce growth and good fruit in them.
God tells us in the words of Isaiah the Prophet:
…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
Jesus has promised that the Good News will not return void and will, by faith in Him, accomplish that which He wills.
The good word of God grew and produced the fruit of faith through the word of Christ - by the spirits power - and it still works today!
It’s His good and gracious will for you too!
Jesus has planted this seed of the word in you.
The soil of your heart has been planted with the word of God and watered with your baptism.
God in Christ daily causes you to remember your baptism and through the word of His promise, will continue to grow the seed of the word planted in you.
Jesus richly tends to your soil and feeds and nourishes you through word and sacrament. He causes the cover of His righteousness to shade you, from the worries of this hot and hostile world, bringing rest and peace in Him who is the living waters He so richly gives to all who believe.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-13:
10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Christ will always bring living waters to tend your garden.
He will feed you and produce a great harvest through the word in you as you continue to feed and drink of Him.
The word of His promise will not return void and by the power of the Holy Spirit the word of God will be made known to those with ears to hear.
May the word of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God continue to comfort, grow and keep you in His love as you hear believe and bring forth good fruit, now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Jesus’ word of comfort and rest, for those who hear the word of truth and believe, produce growth and good fruit in them.
God tells us in the words of Isaiah the Prophet:
…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
Jesus has promised that the Good News will not return void and will, by faith in Him, accomplish that which He wills.
The good word of God grew and produced the fruit of faith through the word of Christ - by the spirits power - and it still works today!
It’s His good and gracious will for you too!
Jesus has planted this seed of the word in you.
The soil of your heart has been planted with the word of God and watered with your baptism.
God in Christ daily causes you to remember your baptism and through the word of His promise, will continue to grow the seed of the word planted in you.
Jesus richly tends to your soil and feeds and nourishes you through word and sacrament. He causes the cover of His righteousness to shade you, from the worries of this hot and hostile world, bringing rest and peace in Him who is the living waters He so richly gives to all who believe.
As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10-13:
10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Christ will always bring living waters to tend your garden.
He will feed you and produce a great harvest through the word in you as you continue to feed and drink of Him.
The word of His promise will not return void and by the power of the Holy Spirit the word of God will be made known to those with ears to hear.
May the word of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit and the Love of God continue to comfort, grow and keep you in His love as you hear believe and bring forth good fruit, now and forever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Monday, July 10, 2023
Sermon July 8-9, 2023
Title: Jesus and his love is our rest!
Text: Matt. 11:25-30
Facebook live: Jesus and his love is our rest!
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian,
"Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies."
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained,
"If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it."
People are also like that. That's why we all need to take time to rest. In today's Scripture, Jesus calls all who labor and are heavy laden, to Himself for rest.
And in the Old Testament, God also set a pattern for us when He "rested from all His work" (Gen.2:3).
In the Lord we find spiritual rest and also God tells us that physical rest is needed. By setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually, you will be at your best for the Lord … if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Our Daily Bread, June 6, 1994.
Jesus has been telling the disciples these last few weeks in our gospel lessons about the hardships they will encounter as they go forth as his messengers.
Jesus tells them that the world we hate them and families will be divided by this word of the Gospel.
We too know this at times in our own families where faith is fully realized with some members brought to faith and trust in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit while others seem distant and led by a different spirit, not trusting Christ or seeming to care much about Him.
Hope may be in the world and what it offers, in themselves and the wisdom of reason and understanding or just in peace where at times there is no peace. The burdens of life can be heavy.
The scribes and Pharisees of Israel deemed themselves the custodians of the wisdom and understanding of the Law in all its applications. To them the Gospel is hidden, because they deliberately close their hearts and minds against its beauties.
But to babes, those that are as ignorant of this world's wisdom as little children, God has revealed the glory of the Gospel.
The gospel promises that all by faith through God’s call will be brought to the loving arms of Jesus and there they will find rest. Just as rest is needed in life after physical activity also spiritual rest provides comfort and strength for the soul.
Resting in the loving arms of Jesus!
A story is told of one man’s challenge of another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.
"I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did."
"But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest."
Source Unknown.
Rest can be productive. It can be a physical rest that allows our bodies to take the tension of the bow off if you will. But also, it can be a time of rest when the lord feed us and gives us His peace as we give our cares that laden our lives and the burdens that we carry every day to the Lord.
Sometimes we can just be too busy.
Having worked for years in retail I know how much this cost me with regards to my family. Working Saturday and Sundays, and evenings until 8 but many of us have to make our schedule work and unfortunately we can’t opt out.
The one that bothered me the most was Amy’s first communion. It was on a Sunday, we had service and her first communion at church and then family at the house for a party.
I was able to stay for a few minutes but had the last day of our big sale at Madonna University and I had to be there by 1:00 PM.
I wanted to be at home with my family but also had an obligation to my boss and company. As we all know it has got harder for families. For many, two incomes are required or through the brokenness of the family, one parent has to do twice as much. The burden can be great.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Resting in the loving arms of Jesus in needed.
Jesus began the Gospel reading today with these words:
“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
"There are two things over which Jesus here is glad. The first, that God has hidden such mystery from the wise and understanding. The other, that He has revealed it to the little ones, the simple, the babes. Those are the children and babes that do not talk against the Word of God, that do not murmur against God's will, but, as He deals with them, they are well pleased with it. This includes all those that are not wise and understanding in their own conceit, nor fall into God's work and Word with their reason."
Kretzmann vol. 1 pg. 65
And Jesus adds:
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus’ burden is light, - for you that believe His words;
His yoke is easy, - if you look upon Christ Jesus who gives rest,
And you will find rest for your souls.
That is the final comfort of God’s Gospel-promise:
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Heb. 4, 9.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Text: Matt. 11:25-30
Facebook live: Jesus and his love is our rest!
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian,
"Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies."
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained,
"If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it."
People are also like that. That's why we all need to take time to rest. In today's Scripture, Jesus calls all who labor and are heavy laden, to Himself for rest.
And in the Old Testament, God also set a pattern for us when He "rested from all His work" (Gen.2:3).
In the Lord we find spiritual rest and also God tells us that physical rest is needed. By setting aside a special time to relax physically and renew yourself emotionally and spiritually, you will be at your best for the Lord … if you have taken time to loosen the bow.
Our Daily Bread, June 6, 1994.
Jesus has been telling the disciples these last few weeks in our gospel lessons about the hardships they will encounter as they go forth as his messengers.
Jesus tells them that the world we hate them and families will be divided by this word of the Gospel.
We too know this at times in our own families where faith is fully realized with some members brought to faith and trust in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit while others seem distant and led by a different spirit, not trusting Christ or seeming to care much about Him.
Hope may be in the world and what it offers, in themselves and the wisdom of reason and understanding or just in peace where at times there is no peace. The burdens of life can be heavy.
The scribes and Pharisees of Israel deemed themselves the custodians of the wisdom and understanding of the Law in all its applications. To them the Gospel is hidden, because they deliberately close their hearts and minds against its beauties.
But to babes, those that are as ignorant of this world's wisdom as little children, God has revealed the glory of the Gospel.
The gospel promises that all by faith through God’s call will be brought to the loving arms of Jesus and there they will find rest. Just as rest is needed in life after physical activity also spiritual rest provides comfort and strength for the soul.
Resting in the loving arms of Jesus!
A story is told of one man’s challenge of another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.
"I don't get it," he said. "Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did."
"But you didn't notice," said the winning woodsman, "that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest."
Source Unknown.
Rest can be productive. It can be a physical rest that allows our bodies to take the tension of the bow off if you will. But also, it can be a time of rest when the lord feed us and gives us His peace as we give our cares that laden our lives and the burdens that we carry every day to the Lord.
Sometimes we can just be too busy.
Having worked for years in retail I know how much this cost me with regards to my family. Working Saturday and Sundays, and evenings until 8 but many of us have to make our schedule work and unfortunately we can’t opt out.
The one that bothered me the most was Amy’s first communion. It was on a Sunday, we had service and her first communion at church and then family at the house for a party.
I was able to stay for a few minutes but had the last day of our big sale at Madonna University and I had to be there by 1:00 PM.
I wanted to be at home with my family but also had an obligation to my boss and company. As we all know it has got harder for families. For many, two incomes are required or through the brokenness of the family, one parent has to do twice as much. The burden can be great.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Resting in the loving arms of Jesus in needed.
Jesus began the Gospel reading today with these words:
“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
"There are two things over which Jesus here is glad. The first, that God has hidden such mystery from the wise and understanding. The other, that He has revealed it to the little ones, the simple, the babes. Those are the children and babes that do not talk against the Word of God, that do not murmur against God's will, but, as He deals with them, they are well pleased with it. This includes all those that are not wise and understanding in their own conceit, nor fall into God's work and Word with their reason."
Kretzmann vol. 1 pg. 65
And Jesus adds:
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus’ burden is light, - for you that believe His words;
His yoke is easy, - if you look upon Christ Jesus who gives rest,
And you will find rest for your souls.
That is the final comfort of God’s Gospel-promise:
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Heb. 4, 9.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Sermon July 2, 2023
Title: Christ’s Instructions and Promises to Us. - Pastor Terry Nelson
Text: Matt. 10:34-42
Facebook live: Christ’s Instructions and Promises to Us.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
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