Sermon - February 10, 2013 - Davenport

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

For many people, we long to be in the presence of God.  Yet, what must you do to stand in the presence of God?  Absolutely Nothing.  God comes to you.  You do not come to God. You do not need to do anything.  God does the work for you.  Today, we are reminded of the journey that God has lead his people on.  Although even before Abraham, God created us.  Through Scripture, we hear that though we were created, we wanted more. We wanted more control, more say in our life, we want things our way.  Even within our lives today, we think that we know what is best.  We have heard the story but do not think that it matters or even worse, we don’t share it with others.  So let’s very quickly review what it is the story that we celebrate.  

Moses was the one who received the Ten Commandments.  The very foundation of what your life should be within this world. This gift of love is something that we should study, understand, and live out. It should be written on our minds and our hearts. By following these commandments, you would be someone who honors, loves and worships God.  Not only that but we should care about those people who are around.  Not only our family but our friends, neighbors, those in the community and even down the road.  Yes, even the people who don’t like us.  But these are hard, in fact, most people can not do the first one of honoring God.

However, despite the fact that we fail at these, God does not stop loving us.  In fact, he sent people to speak on his behalf.  Reminding people, guiding them and helping them understand what is going on around them. This often came with a punishment in which God placed upon the guilty people in order that all the people would learn and change their ways.  Elijah, was one of the prophets that spoke the Word of God among the people.  However, during his time there was also a three year long famine in which many died.  Elijah was one who performed miracles, during the time of famine, he joined a widow and her son in eating the little food that they had.  Yet it was enough food to sustain them all well beyond what it should have.  No, it was no feeding of the five thousand, but definitely a miracle. After his time of sharing God’s Word, Elijah was the only person who did not die but was taken up into heaven.  Not even Jesus could claim that.  Yet Elijah was still a prophet, the messanger of God’s Word into the world.  Much like Moses, bringing people the Word with love but very few people accepting it.

This pattern of prophets coming, people finally accepting and then forgetting became the pattern.  Finally God had enough.  Instead of sending messangers, God sent his only son, Jesus to actually deliver the goods.  No longer would it be only the Word, but now the word would become flesh and do the work for us.  We would no longer have to worry if we were perfect, or if we were following the Word of God because at long last the Word came to Earth to finish the work.  

Finally and completely, it would be finished.    At long last you would be reconciled to God.  You would have a right relationship because of his son. Through his body and blood, all of humanity would be brought into right relationship with God.  For those who are struggling with this, go through the process, the journey again.  Be reminded of the Ten Commandments, the words spoken for his people and then finally look at the work and the words that Christ spoke and did for you.  

Yet we are humans, within our very nature, our very essence, we want to do something.  But what can we do for God?  He created you and all that exists.  What could I possibly give to God?  Nothing, but the neighbor who is standing next to you, longing for food, longing for shelter, longing for love, needs your help.  That is what we are called to do, because of the love that God has given to us, we are able to help those around us.  Believe me, there is always gonna be someone in need, including you.  So when that day comes, allow the person to help you, but remember to say Thank You to the person and to God for all that has been done for you. Amen.