The Wedding Ceremony

The purpose of the church is to make Christ known to the world. Perhaps this is the why it is so vital that Christians keep their marriage vows. Everything in life in so uncertain. One can lose their health or their job. We've learned this past year how uncertain our economy can be which makes our financial savings plans shaky. What people need to see in this uncertain world is that God is reliable.

Christian marriage needs to communicate the trustworthiness, reliability, and faithfulness of God. When God's people honor their word and keep their commitments, they are a living demonstration of what God is like.

The beauty of the traditional wedding ceremony is the fact that it points the way for the world to know what it means to live in a covenant relationship. Marriage is not the proverbial "ball and chain" keeping a person from really enjoying life. Rather, the marriage covenant is like a strong wall of protection allowing the city dwellers to live their lives without anxiety and worry of enemy attack. It is in such a place of freedom and security that one can really live!

Strong, committed marriages should not just be something we should hope for ourselves and our children. We must work and sacrifice and pay whatever price is necessary to make them a reality. Our world needs for us to do this.

God's Dwelling Among Us

Who would have thought that Israel's Tabernacle would be such an appropriate topic for a Christmas sermon? The standard picture for this season is, of course, a baby in a manger. This image certainly communicates a number of important truths. However, thinking about God coming to "tabernacle" with us in the person of Jesus makes his birth even more unique.

The Old Testament tabernacle glittered with all the gold that was used in it's construction. The gold directed Israel's attention to their God. Likewise, the Heavenly city of Jerusalem in John's Revelation, is made of gold as clear as glass (a quality that surpasses any gold on earth!). However, when God became flesh in the person of Jesus and "did tabernacle among us," the only gold he received was when the Magi presented it to him as a gift (Matthew 2:11). Jesus did not need the reflection of gold to show the glory of God. He IS God dwelling (or tablernacling) among his people! He is the one who is truly more precious that silver, more costly than gold. And as the song says, "Nothing I desire compares with you." Jesus is the fulfillment of all of our dreams and desires. Give him all the glory and honor this Christmas and every day!

The Fruit of the Spirit is . . . Self Control

As I talked about the failures of Tiger Woods, Bobby Humphrey and Bill Bennett this morning; I thought how easy it is to be judgmental and self righteous when the sins of others come to light. As far as Humphrey and Bennett are concerned: they have both risen above their moral failures and appear to be making positive contributions to society. Tiger's story is still so fresh that it would be good for us to pray for him rather than throw stones. (I'm talking to myself with that last statement.)

When we get really honest with ourselves we have to admit that we have all done things for which we are now ashamed. I've often meditated on the statement, "All the ground is level at the foot of the cross." We come to Jesus broken and needy. He accepts us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way! By submitting to the Holy Spirit who lives inside us we are transformed into the person of Christ. Gary Robbins summed up today's sermon with this scripture, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10) Amen! May the Spirit bear his beautiful fruit in your life and mine as we surrender control of our lives to him.

The Fruit of the Spirit is . . . Gentleness

I remember as a child singing, "Jesus, meek and gentle; Son of God Most High." If you are as old as I am you may be hearing those melodious notes going up and down while singing, "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh." The vision of Jesus that came from this song to my childlike mind was a soft, passive man who never upset anyone; kind of a first century Captain Kangaroo. (There I go showing my age again; Google him if you don't know who he is.)

Reading the Gospels I found Jesus to be a passionate, emotional man who could become angry to the point of kicking things around. (Read John 2 for a classic example of this.) His emotions, however, were never out of control or IN control of his life. Rather, his anger was always directed at those who deserved it. Theologians might call it, "righteous indignation."

When Jesus described himself as "gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29) it was not because he was unable or unwilling to "let people have it." Rather, it is a description of Jesus' "default" mode. Jesus is a gentle man, but he not a man to be taken for granted. It angers him to see people abused and taken advantage of. This is one reason he offered his yoke to us. Serving God need not be the harsh, dreary, dreadful experience that Pharisees make it into. When the yoke fits well it makes service to God a joyful partnership with the Son of God.

Hear again Jesus' invitation, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).