Pentecost 16 (2)
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17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Summer is often that time of the year when less work is done.
Fans head to the ball fields to watch their favorite baseball teams “in action”. I say “in action” although baseball can be described as ten minutes of action condensed into three hours. It is known as America’s past time.
People head to the lakes and rivers to swim, boat, fish, and soak in the sun.
Vacation venues are crowded with people taking a break from work to enjoy time with their families.
School schedules are less rigorous. Many churches drop classes and other activities during the summer.
Well, summer is over and it is time to get back to work. This is true especially for students in school. It is fun to see all the posts of parents on Facebook who show their children returning back to school. I don’t know who is more excited. The children returning to school or the parents who will experience a little more peace and quiet around the house.
When the children return to school, they will be challenged to do work. Schoolwork and homework. Educators are not content to just let children sit there in the classroom and listen to the words they are saying. They have to take notes, do research, practice writing and math, and as they grow older they have projects to be completed. (Who doesn’t forget the child in fifth grade coming to you after supper and telling you about the big science project that is due TOMORROW!)?
Children are not allowed to just listen to the word, they are required to do what it says.
The same is true for us as Christians. God never intended for his people to be passive when it comes to our relationship with him. Nor did he intend for us to work our way into heaven by following strictly a long list of manmade traditions. Jesus has done the hard work of earning our salvation. “By grace we have been saved through faith and not by works lest any man should boast.” “Abraham was saved by faith and not by anything he had done.” Nevertheless, we have a responsibility as those who have been saved to respond to our salvation by using God’s word in the proper way.
(Gospel lesson: Wise and foolish builders).
Verse by verse exposition.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
This section begins by praising God for giving us such wonderful blessings and for being consistent. His work of redemption is also praised for it is God who has led us to be born again (as Jesus taught Nicodemus) through the word of God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
The word of God has been preached to us. For some this has been happening for over eighty years. Those who have been members here at Salem can still recall pastors Koch, Pankow, Babler, Wietzke, and me preaching to you as well as guest pastors and places you visited. Central to this would be the time worn truths of sin and grace, law and gospel, grace and redemption. That word has brought about a tremendous change in our status with God and is to make a tremendous impact on our lives.
How? By not just hearing the word but doing what it says. This was the emphasis Jesus made at the end of his sermon on the mount as we heard in our Gospel lesson.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
It has been said that we have two ears and one mouth reminding us of how we are to spend more time listening than thinking of how to respond and to reply in an angry way.
Why would anyone become angry at God’s word? Because one of the two main teachings of God’s word is the Law which shows us our sins. Those who don’t want to be reprimanded or called on to make a deeper commitment may respond in hostile ways. This is all of us by nature.
(NIV)
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
It is a sad fact of history that because God’s Word speaks most directly to the hearts of people, its truth is often rejected the most violently. We are appalled how virulent people can be even today in reaction to what the timeless truths of God’s word teach.
But that should not be us. We are born again by God’s word and His Spirit lives in our hearts. So rather than resist God, we are to trust in him. And rather than be apathetic toward God or dropping our priorities of worship and service farther and farther down our list of things to do, looking intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continuing in it—not forgetting what we have heard, but doing it, will be our goal.
Why?
Because God says so?
Because God warns what happens to those who don’t?
Because God promises to bless those who do?
All answers are true but those filled with God’s love for them will rest their confidence on the last of the three answers.
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— 3 they do no wrong but follow his ways. 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
How do we do the word of God?
Some people can’t get beyond “churchy things”. Attending worship, volunteering on a committee, giving money to church, watching your language (especially around a pastor), dressing up a little nicer on Sunday than on Saturday, praying regularly. But James’ answers stands out on a more practical level.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.