The Renewal of Witness

Several students were walking across the campus of a large university just as the bell tower chimed five o'clock in the afternoon. At that precise moment a fellow student on the sidewalk dropped full length on the ground to the amazement of those who had been walking behind him. After the initial shock, the students realized that he had not stumbled or fallen, but was a Muslim going through his ritual of prayer.

Whatever you may think about Islam, that man was not ashamed of his religion. How many of us are not ashamed to let the world know we are Christians? How many of us play it "close to the vest" when it comes to expressing our faith? When we "clam up;" when we leave the name of Jesus unspoken, we essentially join Peter in denying our Savior. Although we may feel inadequate in our witnessing; although we may fear other's opinions of us, Jesus can remove our fear and replace it with boldness and commitment.

The Word of God is clear; Deny Christ in your life with the explicit rejection of Peter, and Christ will say on the last day, "I never knew you." Or, deny Christ by keeping a zipper on your lip about your faith, and on the last day Christ will say, "I have nothing to say for you, either!"

In Jerusalem, there are certain places of worship where the incense is very heavy. As worshippers return to their homes or meet friends on the street, other people can tell where they've been, just by the scent.

Can other people tell where you have been, where you are coming from, and where you are going? Does your life give off the scent of a holy God?

A truck driver once came to a pastor and told him about a man who went to his church who lived in the same apartment complex as the truck driver. Because of the example of that man's faith, the truck driver wanted to join the Lutheran church. "That man has a faith to live by," the driver said. "I want that faith." Could people say that about you?

When we examine ourselves, we must admit that we can be like Peter. We live lives that say, "I don't know the man." We need to repent and get back on solid ground with God. Fear makes us quiet Christians, but Jesus can replace our fear with boldness and commitment. If Jesus really means "good news" to us, we are going to share Him. It's just that simple.

Many preachers and their listeners never get beyond talking about the need to share the good news. Everyone nods their heads and says, "Yeah, I should witness more." Then they go home and nothing happens. Now don't misunderstand; I'm not saying that we need to imitate other religious groups that go door to door, up and down the streets of our town. I'm not saying you have to go to a class and learn the quote-unquote "right way" to witness. What I am saying is this: if Jesus is good news to you; more than that; if you have been led by Word and Spirit to the conclusion that you owe your life to Jesus, how in the world are you going to hide that? How could you? I'm not saying that we all need to become the next Billy Graham; but I am saying that if you truly believe Jesus rescued you from the jaws of hell, then your life is going to give off the scent of your Savior. In other words, people will see Jesus in you. Your faith will show naturally in your everyday life. And you won't have a problem talking about the person who did all this for you, namely, Jesus, the Son of God.

In a book called Why People Join the Church, Edward Rauff lists the reasons people find a place in a Christian congregation: the search for community; a personal crisis; the journey toward truth; a church program or special event; the influence of a pastor; but the number one reason people come to church and stay there is that a friend or family member invited them. Other polls and studies have come to the very same conclusion: churches grow and people come to saving faith when Christians are inviting their family and friends to "come and see." Your witness can be renewed when you begin to see yourself as an "inviter." Maybe that describes who you already are. The invitation to come and see God at work is a great gift. Can you think of someone, anyone, right now that you would like to give this gift to?

The ability to do this comes from the Holy Spirit. If you're going to invite others to come to Jesus, you're going to have to tap into the Holy Spirit. The good news there is that it isn't complicated. It's like putting a plug into a wall socket. Plug into the Word of God. Plug into Jesus' body and blood given in His holy supper. Tap into these things and the Holy Spirit will give you what you need to be an inviter.

Dr. Howard Kelly, a famed surgeon in Baltimore, was seldom seen without a beautiful rosebud on the lapel of his coat. The flower remained fresh for a long time, and there was a reason. When people asked him the secret, he turned his lapel and showed them a little glass vial containing water. The stem of the rose went through the buttonhole into the water, keeping it fresh for a longer time. Dr. Kelly would then tell those who asked that the secret of living a fragrant Christian life lies in drawing refreshment from the water of life, Jesus Christ.

That water of life is yours—and always has been—in your baptism. Now invite someone you know to that same refreshment, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Life For Dry Bones

Have you ever felt like a "bag of bones"—lifeless, empty, alone? Today's Old Testament lesson tells us a story about dry bones. But it also tells us how we can be made alive again—how dry bones can be made into living flesh—by God the Holy Spirit, who revives us daily and resurrects us for the life to come.

This word from the prophet Ezekiel is actually a prophetic vision of how God will resurrect the children of Israel from a grave of bondage to the Babylonian people. Notice how this dramatic scene builds up. God takes Ezekiel to the middle of a valley covered with bones. They are dry because they have been there a long time. In this scene of utter hopelessness, God gives a word of hope. He promises that His people will rise again. But this resurrection will happen only by the Word of the Lord, by the power of God speaking it into existence.

The Lord can do the same in your life today. But sometimes it is so hard for us to see.

A man lies on a hospital bed. "I feel so useless," he says. "I feel cut off from reality here." Do you feel like that man? A woman says, "My children are grown. My husband has his work. I spend many hours alone. What's the purpose of my life now?" Are you that woman?

A young person says, "I'm not sure who I am, or what to do with my life. Where am I going? Do my friends really like me, or do they just say they do? Do you feel like that?

A parent says, "I have no time for myself. Life is the same thing day after day. I had such different hopes and dreams for the future. My life is busy, but empty." Can you relate? Are you a bag of bones—dry, lifeless, dead inside? Are you cut off from life as it was meant to be?

God's Word has answer for these things—and it's a bit radical. God's Word tells you and me that it is time to repent, time to "get real" with God. It is time to admit that we have failed to see God as our source of life. We have failed to trust in Him more than we trust ourselves. We have failed to use the power supplies He has given us. And we have failed to really believe that Jesus will raise our dry bones on the Last Day.

I am convinced that this is our greatest problem. We don't really repent before the Lord, nor do we faithfully drink the living water He pours out for us.

Nevertheless, God promises, "Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41: 10). God is discoverable. He wants us to be open to his Holy Spirit. He wants to turn our dry bones into living flesh. How does that take place?

It takes place when we make use of God's Word. A little girl once picked up a dust-covered Bible sitting on the coffee table. "Mommy, whose book is this?" she asked. "Oh, it's God's book," the mother said in very religious tones. "Well," the girl replied, "we'd better send it back to Him, because we're sure not using it."

Maybe we ought to start leaving our Bibles open at home. That way we might actually be inclined to pick it up and start reading. Or if that's not your style, there are countless audio Bibles on tape, and on CD and even online or in podcast format that you can listen to just about anywhere. The point is, you have to find a way of feeding yourself God's Word. It is "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). It puts spiritual muscle on our bones and breathes joy into an otherwise sagging spirit. But it's not going to happen magically—you've got to pick it up and do it. It's like preparing a good meal. There's some work and preparation involved because the food is not just going to show up on your plate fully cooked. But as you start the process, you learn to enjoy it, especially when you get to enjoy the final product. If that is true of the food that comes out of your kitchen, it's even more true of the spiritual food that comes out of the Bible, and that's the food that gives and sustains a life of faith.

The Holy Spirit turns dry bones into living flesh when we remember what God did for us in Holy Baptism. You may not be able to remember your baptism—I sure don't—but remembering that you are baptized can make all the difference in the world. Baptism established your identity with God. It forged a powerful link between you and Jesus, and He now shares everything with you. His suffering and death; His resurrection and victorious life all apply to you, and baptism created that bond. What better to revive dry bones than the water and promise of baptism?

And still there's more. The Holy Spirit gives life to dry bones when we gather around the table of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the host as well as the meal that breathes life into our souls. With the bread and the wine, you and I are given the body and blood of Jesus. His suffering and death on the cross reaches through time and touches us, forgiving us completely of our sins. Knowing what is offered here in the Lord's Supper, how could we possibly stay away?

Years ago, a ship on the Atlantic was in distress because its supply of fresh water had run out. The crew started to imagine a horrible death from dehydration, ironically with water all around them. When hope was almost gone, they saw a ship approaching them. At once they hoisted distress signals. But the answer they got back was, 'Dip it up."

"Dip it up?" Was that some kind of sick joke? They signaled again and got the same answer. Finally, in despair, they lowered a bucket. To their amazement and joy, the water turned out to be fresh water. The sailors had overlooked the fact that they were at the mouth of the Amazon River, whose fresh water flows far out to sea.

God's fresh, living water is always there in His Word. It is always there in what Baptism did for you. It is always there with the bread and the wine of Holy Communion. Why do we despair? Dip it up! Fill your bucket! Isn't that what we're doing here? Isn't that why Jesus established a thing called church on earth? We're here because this is where Jesus fills your bucket—this is the mouth of the river of God's fresh forgiveness and mercy. And we need it, so badly. We need to keep dipping it up until the time when all of God's promises come true.

We have a picture of that time in Ezekiel's vision; a time when dead bones will rise from their graves; a time when the power of Jesus' resurrection will sweep through every cemetery and mausoleum, uniting souls with bodies again; a time that goes beyond time, in which God's faithful people will enjoy His new creation without end. We get closer to that time with each passing day. By God's gracious choice and the actions taken by Jesus, you will be included in this forever life.

So get ready. Get your bucket. Your bones need not be dry. The Spirit of God is here. This is the mouth of the river—the source of forever life with Jesus. Dip it up! Amen.

The Renewal of Obedience

The Renewal of Obedience

"Life is difficult." Those are the first words of a book by Dr. M. Scott Peck called "The Road Less Traveled." And he adds, "The tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis for all human mental illness."

In a certain way, life is particularly difficult for the Christian. God calls us to total obedience to His design for our lives and regularly tests our faithfulness to Him.

A woman was lying on a hospital bed in great pain. As her pastor left, he said, "Cheer up! God isn't dead!"

"Yeah, I know," she replied. "But I just wish He'd lay off for a little while."

In our emphasis on the grace and love of God, we sometimes forget that we are supposed to obey God. We are to do what He commands and avoid what He forbids. The Christian life is not only a matter of comfort and help. It is also a matter of daily obedience, of humbling ourselves, and even persevering through suffering. In fact, the apostle Peter equates obeying God with humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand. Peter's words are a vivid call for a renewal of our obedience.

If "life is difficult," obedience is even more so. This really comes to bear in the relationship between child and parent. Every conscientious parent knows how hard it is to exercise their God-given authority over their children. The delicate balance of being tough yet tender is not easy to maintain. I'm reminded of the mother who wanted to have the last word, but couldn't handle the hassle that resulted whenever she said 'no' to her young son. After an especially trying day, she threw up her hands and shouted, "All right, Billy, do whatever you want. Now let me see you disobey THAT!"

The idea of obedience is at odds our human nature. We are much more in tune with "Nobody's going to tell me what to do," and we bring this into our relationship with God, without even thinking about it. If I were being obedient to God, I would be ready and willing to take a servant's posture in my relationships with others. How are you doing with that? If I were being obedient to God, I would be forgiving others with the forgiveness I have received from Jesus. How is that working for you? If I were being obedient to God, I would be intentionally putting Him first in every area of my life—no exclusions. We are more than happy to receive God's love and His blessings and answered prayers, but then to actually obey Him? To humble ourselves by doing things God's way instead our own? Come on now; let's not get crazy!

But the thing about obedience is: there's nothing crazy about it. What's crazy is thinking that we can ignore God and live life on our own terms and everything's going to be fine. Thinking that we know better than God gets right to the heart of what sin is. So, from time to time, God will let us learn the hard way that we are pretty lousy at His job. We find evidence of this everywhere, even places like the football field.

Roger Staubach, who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in 1971, admitted that his position was a source of trial for him. You see, Coach Tom Landry called every single play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run, and when to hand off. Only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered Coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football strategy, his pride said that he should be able to run his own team.

In this respect, we are no different than that Hall of Fame quarterback. Pride says: I should be able to run my own team. Pride says: I should be able to run my own life. Pride says: No one is going to tell me when to run or when to pass. No one is going to call the plays for me. I'm smart enough to figure this out on my own. No one is going to tell me what to do.

Here's where we have frightening, terrible power, because God will not force you to obey Him. If you want to reject His Lordship, He will let you. If you don't want Him to call the plays, He won't. He will let you be your own coach. He'll let you pretend to be god. That also means He will let you deal with the consequences of your decision, and they won't be good. At their most benign, you'll have an aching emptiness inside that can't be filled no matter how hard to you try; the more malignant consequences include the destruction of marriages and families; substance abuse; isolation; violence; hatred of oneself and others. But hey, you wanted to call the shots.

Thanks be to God that His opinion of us does not rest on how well we obey Him! In order to change rebellious hearts; in order to change you and me, He practiced perfect obedience. Jesus humbled Himself by becoming human. God the Creator became God the creature. Jesus gave up the holiness of heaven for the burden of this world. He obeyed the law of love without a mistake. And in perfect obedience to His Father's plan, He laid down His perfect life as a sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was horrified at the thought of having his skin lashed open and having nails driven into His body and so he prayed in agony, "Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want." And then He walked right into that suffering. This is the obedience that saves you. This is the obedience that offers you redemption, not your obedience, but Jesus' obedience. His perfect life, sacrificed on the cross and raised again, will cover the debt of your sin. Just believe that it counts for you, and it counts for you. God credits your account with full forgiveness.

Back to Roger Staubach. The Cowboys quarterback who chafed at the idea of the coach calling all the plays later said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory."

If there is a "secret" to obedience, that is it. Sinful human nature tells me that obedience is somehow going to hurt me or hold me back. But let this new idea open up to you: Once you learn to obey God, there is harmony, fulfillment, and victory. Trusting fully in the obedience of Jesus, I can now see that obedience to God brings blessing into my life. When you do things God's way, good things happen, and you feel better. That's no accident! And that isn't to say that all your problems will disappear when you obey God; in fact, there may be a personal cost to pay for your obedience to the way of Christ. The apostle Peter was up-front about that when he wrote: "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." But even so, when I look at how Jesus obeyed His Father, and what that obedience did for me, I am moved to pray, "Father do what you want, not what I want. Help me to want what you want. Cause me to live in harmony with you. Give me the fulfillment of living life your way. Be merciful to me and share your Son's victory with me. Help me to trust and obey." Amen.

But Now I See

For 51 years Bob Edens was blind. He couldn't see a thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through five decades of darkness. And then, one day, he could see. A skilled surgeon performed a complicated operation and, for the first time, Bob Edens had sight. He found it overwhelming. "I never would have dreamed that yellow is so...yellow," he exclaimed. "I don't have the words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can't believe red. I can see the shape of the moon--and I like nothing better than seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course, sunrises and sunsets. And at night I look at the stars in the sky. You could never know how wonderful everything is."

That's just what I would expect to hear from someone who has been given the gift of sight. When I look through the gospels and look at all the people Jesus healed, my expectation is the same. People who were blind can see; people who couldn't walk are running and dancing; people with no hope are now filled with hope and faith and love. Their lives are changed for the better, and they all get a happy ending.

But not so fast. Maybe my expectations are off. Like in today's gospel, for example. Here we have a man who has been blind since birth. Jesus comes into this man's life and gives him the gift of sight! Now he can be amazed by yellow and see the shape of the moon and the stars in the sky! His life has been changed for the better, but wait a minute. The religious leaders, the pillars of the community, the Pharisees, are intensely interested in his story. He's more than willing to tell them what happened. But for some reason, his story upsets them. It agitates them. They send him away. They get his parents involved. They send for him again. There's more questions, almost all of them about the man who opened his eyes. The tension grows. Finally, the man says, honestly, "I know only one thing—I used to be blind, and now I can see. If this Jesus were not from God, He couldn't do anything." Well, that was evidently not what the Pharisees wanted to hear, because they proceeded to kick him out of the synagogue. Because a person he barely knew had put mud on his eyes and caused him to see, he was now excommunicated from his congregation. That's not quite the happy ending we expect.

And it's not the end. For when Jesus hears what happened to the man he healed, he goes looking for him, and when he finds him, he gives him sight a second time. This time, it is spiritual vision. Jesus asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" "Who is he, sir?" he asked. "I want to believe in Him." "You've seen him," Jesus told him. "It is He who is now talking to you." "I do believe, Lord," he said and bowed down to worship him. The man has what he needs now—spiritual sight to complement his eyesight. Faith "sees" Jesus as the Son of Man—the god-man of the prophet Daniel's vision. Here's where the phrase "Son of Man" comes from: Daniel 7: 13: "I saw One coming with the clouds of the heavens like a son of man, and he came to the Old Being and was presented before him. And he was given glory, power to rule, and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and those of every language should serve him. His authority is everlasting and will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed." The man born blind now believes that Jesus is this Son of Man. He has true spiritual sight. He still has a bunch of problems in his life and some new ones to boot. But he has everything. He has Jesus. The Son of Man is his Lord and King and Healer.

The story of the man born blind holds a message for us that is just real. The fact that it is realistic means we can trust it. The Bible's not teaching us fairy-tale solutions to life's problems. The message is that Jesus gave that blind man physical and spiritual sight. That made his life better, infinitely better, but it did not make his life easier. That's a tension that this newly sighted Christian would learn to deal with.

And it's the tension that all Christians must learn to live with. Jesus has given us spiritual sight. The Holy Spirit has given birth to faith in our hearts. We "see" Jesus as our Rescuer, who saved us from eternal punishment in hell. We "see" Jesus as our Lord who rules our lives with compassion. We "see" Jesus right here in His Church as he delivers forgiveness to us. He makes our lives infinitely better—both for now and for eternity. But that does not mean that life right now is any easier. In fact, just like the man born blind, we may suffer because we bear the name "Christian." You may have to suffer the eye-rolling of a friend who just doesn't "get" your dedication to Jesus. You may have to suffer the pressure of family members who want you to think and act like they do, and who cares what the Bible says. You may have to suffer the pain of being singled out as one of "those Christians" by someone who just doesn't understand. And that may tempt you to tone it down; to keep your faith something private and unspoken.

I love the way that formerly blind man in today's gospel handles the pressure. He knows what the Pharisees want to hear. They want to hear him renounce Jesus. They want him to suggest that Jesus' power to heal is some kind of voodoo witchcraft, or that this whole thing is just a public relations stunt. But this man will not sell Jesus out. He simply reports the facts: "I know only one thing," he says. "I used to be blind, and now I see. If this Jesus were not from God, He couldn't do anything." He simply says: "Here's what Jesus did for me-- you can't take it away from me." Oh, the Pharisees try to take what they can. They erase his name from the synagogue directory. They used him as a public example, I'm sure. But they couldn't make him blind again. They couldn't stop him from seeing. They couldn't put blinders on his newfound faith. Nothing and no one can.

Nothing and no one can take away from you what Jesus has done by living for you; suffering for you; dying for you and rising for you. Nothing and no one can make you blind again. By faith, you see Jesus, the shape and the color of love that lasts forever. Amen.