Life This Side of Heaven

I haven’t got any trophies and you’ll never see my face on a box of Wheaties. I am … common. Nevertheless, I’ve got something to boast about!

In John’s Gospel we hear that Jesus told the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” John then tells us, “Jesus had been speaking of his death, but His disciples thought He meant natural sleep. So then He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead.’” So why would Jesus use this picture of Lazarus 'sleeping' when in fact He knew that His friend had died?

Most of us are familiar with the Emergency number 911. Not everyone is familiar with the "Call-Before-You-Dig" number 811. But how about 1271?

Children are cute and adorable. They’re also loud and unpredictable. However, as they say, "The only quiet church is an empty one." It may surprise you to know how much kids get out of church.

Were you ever embarrassed to have someone know that you had a sibling? Do you feel that way today? Jesus wasn’t ashamed to take on human flesh and become one of us in order to rescue us. Both the Savior and those being saved share this incredible bond in common. You and I are blessed with a Savior whose not ashamed to call us His brothers.

In 1881, Mark Twain’s classic, The Prince and the Pauper, was published. The story of role reversals is so popular that it’s become a staple of stories and movies for generations. Imagine exchanging rags for riches. Actually, you and I don't have to imagine it at all. Here's what God has done for us in His Son.

Having sinned, and now staring at each other, Adam and Eve could see something horrifying and dangerous that wasn’t there before – guilt and shame. As a result, they hid from God. They were truly "naked and afraid." However, as Scripture reminds us, apart from what our Savior has done this would also have been a good description of us.

It’s become common in recent years to strike out against God’s Word, and specifically the account of creation in Genesis and this term "helper," as the source for a culture which demeans women, casts them as inferior, and relegates them to secondary status. Sadly, that reflects the superficial understanding of Scripture that exists today. When you and I scrape away the misunderstanding that has been placed upon it, what God describes for us here is pure gold.

Instead of being sculpted in bronze and perched on a pedestal in some park, God is alive and enthroned in heaven. In Psalm 135, instead of marveling over a statue commemorating a dead hero, David rejoices in our living God. You and I, and who trust in the salvation that God has given to us in His Son, are the living monuments to our Savior’s love.

Here in Mark, Jesus talks about being... salty. In love, Jesus pointed out the necessity of ongoing repentance and self-discipline. It’s like having salt rubbed into an open sore. It stings – like iodine. But it fights the spiritual infection that can come with our own self-satisfaction that might also hurt or hinder the faith of others.

Have you had someone discourage, or even deter, you from doing something? Here in Mark’s Gospel, the disciples wanted to pour a some cold water on something they thought needed to stop. However, Jesus Himself Jesus threw cold water on that idea.

It may raise our eyebrows to hear James, and Peter, encouraging us to "cover over a multitude of sins.” But, doesn’t that sound like simply hiding the problem? Is James really saying that by doing this you and I can mask a multitude of transgressions and pretend they’re not there – lurking underneath?

When James describes the prayer of a righteous person, this righteousness isn’t some goodness and wholesomeness of our own that we may like to imagine. If that was the case no prayer would even be heard, let alone powerful.

“Same old, same old.” Have you ever heard that phrase? In Numbers, Moses describes for us a case of “same old, same old” among the complaining people of Israel. In love, God showed them that it's good some things remain the "same old, same old." Thankfully, and remarkably, He does the same thing for you and me today.

Do you remember your first time on the monkey bars when you were a kid? Monkey bars consist of a frame with evenly placed steel rungs on which kids can swing from one bar to the next – much the way a monkey swings from branch to branch in the jungle. As a small child, did you ever find yourself getting stuck half-way? David describes "fretting" in much the same way, but he does give the solution.

Do you aspire to be …a GOAT? Apparently, this was an ongoing debate among the disciples. And when our pride kicks in, chances are we my find ourselves caught up in this debate from time-to-time. In love, Jesus tells us that we've got it backwards and points to something much better!

When Jesus told the disciples about His coming suffering and crucifixion, it would have be hard not to understand what He said. If they had any questions they knew they were free to ask Him about it just as they had on other occasions in the past. However, this time, as Mark points out, “They were afraid to ask Him about it.” A closer look at the context reveals why. It's the same temptation that faces us today.

In James, he tells believers to be mindful of their surroundings and what lurks in their midst. It’s easy to settle into the way the sinful world lives and lose sight of its dangers. But then he points us to our protection, our salvation and safety in Christ.

Wisdom is often one of those things you wished you had earlier in life. That’s because it’s often accumulated over time. But the great thing about God’s wisdom is that He gifts it to us in His Word.

At the time of Jeremiah the truth was being trampled by the false prophets who sought to take his life. When the prophet brought his complaint to God, the Lord braced him and said, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” At first that may sound silly. How can a man compete with a horse?

In Psalm 31, David's phrase describing God's ‘shining face’ may sound more like a happy parent cradling their newborn in their arms, or a parent beaming with pride at their child’s piano recital. And while the word certainly does include this element of joy, it’s much more than a happy glance in your direction from God. In fact, it’s used in Scripture in much fuller way that may have imagined.

What do you do when things seem to get worse, not better? Where do you go when the situation you’re facing looks bleaker, not brighter? At times like, while it's tempting to focus on the weakness of our wobbling faith, God's Word directs us to the strength of our Savior.

It may sound like hyperbole at first when James says, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” But consider how true that is. Today, with the arrival of social media, it only takes a few short sentences, a mocking meme, or the click of a mouse to forward on angry words to inflame thousands more.

James uses this nautical example to illustrate how something as small as our tongue, like a boat’s rudder, can change the direction of our conversation. It can make all the difference in our relationships with those around us – from either ‘smooth sailing’ to crashing hard upon the rocks.

Did you know that when Jesus arms were being stretched out onto the cross, and as the nails were being driven in His hands, He considered all of this worth it – worth it to save you, to redeem you, to restore you to right relationship with God and rescue you for eternity. That’s how deep and unwavering Jesus’ love is for you. How can you know this?

“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times…” Have you ever heard that phrase? If you did, you were probably in trouble, right? You just know the whatever came next wasn’t going to be good. But what if it was not only good, but very good?

If things in our lives are not going the way we hope, does that mean that God has turned a deaf ear toward us? Or even worse, if God doesn’t seem to be answering our prayers in the way we think He should, does this mean He’s working against us?

Last weekend, local news outlets reminded listeners about what would be open and what would be closed on Labor Day. That’s often the case for federal holidays. Running out to store, and then discovering it’s closed, can be inconvenient. When Jesus traveled to the Decapolis, a group of folks brought a friend for whom much of the world was closed – and not just on federal holidays.

God’s Word gives us a very dynamic picture of faith. It’s living and active we rejoice in His mercy and as the Holy Spirit moves us service to our neighbor. And like a store, with its doors open for business, it’s bustling with activity!

Our sinful nature constantly leads us to minimize sin. It tries to assuage our conscience by convincing us that if the infraction is negligible, then so is the guilt. Then, instead of being terrified by our sins, we look pat ourselves on the back and look for comfort in those commands we feel we’ve kept. But that's a little like looking for comfort in a broken tow chain. Thankfully, God's Word points us instead to real comfort in our Savior.

A robotics engineer in France did something recently for his 16-year-old son that can only be described as extraordinary. He made him a suit. However, it’s not the kind of suit you might first imagine. By sending His Son into the world, to take our sins and infirmities upon Himself, and giving His life in our place on the cross, God has given to you and me a remarkable suit. However, it's also not the kind of suit you might first imagine. And just wait until you hear the promise that comes with it.

The possibility of a comeback for the people of Judah in Isaiah’s day must have looked ludicrous. The people were fearful and anxious of what was to come next. There are times when your own life may feel that way. The idea of better days ahead may even seem a little “against the odds.” Into a situation not unlike this, Isaiah came with what must have seemed to be unlikely announcement. It's the promise God also shares with you and me today.

Sports safety experts note that it's important to wear a helmet that is appropriate for the particular activity you’re involved in. When it comes to living this Christian life, Paul says, “Take up the helmet of salvation.” But there's a reason why he couples this with the call to take up with it, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."

Paul describes God’s gift to us of faith as a shield. That’s because as terrifying as the adversary’s accusations are, each and everyone of them is rendered useless when they meet God’s own forgiveness and the righteousness you and I wear right now by faith.

Do you remember when you were a kid, and you would slide your feet into the same well-worn pair of sneakers for practically every sport or activity? Then, you may be amazed to see the size of the shoe department if you step into any large sporting goods store today. There’s a specific shoe for almost any activity you can imagine. But here in Ephesians, Paul describes footwear you won’t find on the shelf. These have been crafted by God.

There are some sports that are played sitting down – kayaking, bobsledding, automobile racing. However, when it comes to other sports, like basketball or football, you need to be up on your feet. In a similar way, Paul describes the protective gear that God has given to protect us from the enemy, and with which stand ready.

The protective gear that Paul describes here in Ephesians is specific to the dangers you and I face. The apostle not only tells to don the right protective gear, but he describes precisely what kind of hazard this gear is designed to deflect. And the phrase he uses is “the devil’s _schemes.” _Recognizing this will help us see why the equipment God has given us is more than up to the task – and how to use it.

Do you wear glasses? The Israelites soon found themselves with blurry vision. However, it wasn’t because they needed glasses. They lost their focus when it came to God’s law. And the same condition remains prevalent among many today. The reality is that by having this blurred vision of God’s commands, we risk losing sight of God’s grace as well.

During this time of the COVID you and I have learned to experience, in a unique way, what it means again to yearn for God’s house. Our church, be it large or small, reminds us a little of the Temple where God came to dwell among His people in the Old Testament. However, that Temple was replaced when our Savior came, God in the flesh. Knowing this enables us to sing with real joy, this familiar verse of David from Psalm 26. We can sing it whether we find ourselves worshipping in person or even online at this time.

One popular way parents can help their children overcome the sizzling heat of summer is a game called, "Fill The Bucket." The dynamics of marriage, that Paul describes here in Ephesians, has a lot in common with this game.

Do you have any man-made rules or traditions at your church? You may be thinking to yourself, “No way!” But think about that again. I’ll bet you do. However, what we do with them can make all the difference.

Back in the early 2000s, a wedding trend emerged called “Trash the Dress.” Newlyweds dirty up and destroy their gown while making sure that it’s all caught on camera. But what Paul describes for us here in Ephesians, is a little like watching one of those “Trash the Dress” home videos in reverse. In face, in Holy Baptism, we've been given a whole new dress._ _

Have you ever thought of what you might do if you were God? It's tempting to look at the world around us, see its imperfections, and conclude that “Things could be done better – if I were God.” Would it?

Our lips may say one thing while our hearts say another. Let’s face it, talk is easy. It was that way in Isaiah’s day, at the the of the disciples, and it's still that way today. But, thankfully, you and I have a Savior who shows us His love and keeps His Word.

It surprises us to hear that not everyone wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, and surprisingly, John tells us that even included some of His disciples. But by God's grace, and in faith, we rejoice with Peter to hear from our Savior the words of eternal life.

Ask any child who has ever wrestled with a friend or an older sibling. Once you have your arm twisted behind your back, the next thing you’re asked is, “Say Uncle! Do you submit?” Needless to say, that’s hardly the way the term "submit" is used here in God’s Word. However, what it does mean might surprise you.

What would you say to something that can lower stress, increase confidence, enhance your memory, boost your immunity, and be a form of cardiovascular exercise? And what would you say if I told you it’s absolutely free? Wondering what it might be? It’s singing! It’s no surprise, then, to hear Paul’s encouragement to sing. In fact, it’s an exhortation heard throughout the Scriptures. But in this case, the apostle points very specific benefits above and beyond those already mentioned.

Have you ever looked on the bottom of your hairdryer, or your toaster, to see that it has been tested for safety? Here in Ephesians, Paul calls us to do something similar when it comes to what we encounter each day in our walk with God.

Sometimes, advertising includes false claims and unfulfilled promises – nothing more than empty words. Here in Ephesians, Paul gives us the heads up not to be fooled by spiritual programs and promises that are also little more than empty words.

If someone asks you, "What type of bird is that sitting on your fence?" you can tell them, "It's a mugwump." What's that? It might make you wince to know that there’s a little bit of mugwump in all of us.