Sermon - 2013-10-20

Today we are reminded of the determination and struggle that we shall face within the world.  Remember the gift of faith is something that is given to us within our life every single day, yet the challenges that we face become a distraction and is directly in front of us.  Especially over the days, weeks and years of our lives. Those distractions can become our focus.  

Years ago, horses were used to do the work on the farm.  The horses were used to do everything like plowing, hauling, and so many other jobs.  The farmers placed blinders on the horses so that they could focus on what was right in front of them.  They would be led and guided by the farmer to do the task that was needed.  These blinders help the horse to do the work.  We do the same thing with our smart phones.  It helps you focus on a particular conversation and keep track of all the things that you need to take care of.  It helps you focus.  However, there is a down side to having too much focus on some things.  There are some distractions that can draw our time, energy and love away from things that truly should have our attention.  

For there are times that we need to stop focusing on the things right before us so that we think of the whole picture of things. By looking at the big picture of things, we begin to realize what is truly important.  For there are people, times and events in this world that are going to be against you.  So often these can seem so obvious, things that we should be doing or even things we would like to do.  Yet that is not what God is calling us to do. God calls us to be God’s People in the world, caring for those who do not have a voice, who are suffering and struggling within this world and longing for justice.  In order to realize this and help us to have our blinders removed, God is calling us back to God’s Word and to our Creator and Redeemer.  Be reminded of the Work we are called to, the suffering that has been done for all of God’s People and the love that God has shown us in Jesus Christ.  

As we go through life, we are taught the stories of Scripture within Sunday School, but it is up to us to use our brain and figure out the big picture of all stories and apply that to the world around us and our own life.  Yet this figuring out is not something that we should do on our own, but do it within a community so that we can remind each other of each part of the picture, each part of God’s Word that is spoken to us.  It is something that we engage in every single day, as we encounter life, we encounter the story of God within the world and we are apart of it. We encounter, we experience and we bear witness to the story unfolding directly before us.

Look at genesis 32:22-31 and add in about Jacob mistreatment of Esau by stealing birth right and now wrestling with problems of injustice when he wants to return.

It is so easy to get caught up in the events, joys and struggles within this world that we live and are apart of that we can easily be distracted of who we are, where we have come from and what our relationship with God truly is all about.  In the end, we all gather in the presence of God for judgement.  Yet we find ourselves at the foot of the cross and find the work, not of what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us and how we have shared that Word and love with others.  We find not words on a page but rather the Christ that we have longed for and never realized that we truly needed.  

Now you are being sent back into the world to work for justice and peace in this world, to stay away from distractions but focused on God’s love and work within the world. So dwell within God’s Word and look at the big picture.