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Ministries
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Have you watched TV this week? The ads during last Sunday's Super Bowl have been run over and over to see which was the most popular. There's the one with the Clydesdale who was coached by a Dalmatian to the Rocky theme; the screaming squirrel; the dancing lizards; the baby at the keyboard; the carrier pigeons; the chip in the rattrap - all very entertaining and fun. But they all have one purpose - to sell you something. To make you want to change your behavior by wanting the thing they're selling, and then buying it. They want to get their message out, no matter how much it cost. God had a similar plan. And it cost more than all the Super Bowl ads put together. But much of the message of Jesus Christ is unpopular. The message that God is the intelligent designer behind the creation of the world seems to be OK with many people. The message that Jesus came into the world as a tiny helpless baby also seems to be OK with lots of people, especially around Christmas time. However, the message that we - you and me - have sinned is not a popular message at all. The message that you and I have basically rejected and chosen to ignore God is not a popular message. The suggestion that we need a Savior, the suggestion that we need to ask God to forgive us for the mess we've made of the world, and the mess we've made our lives and the lives of other people, is way on the bottom of the list. Popular opinion says 'Do whatever you want to do, look after number one.' It's not a new message. It's been around since the Garden of Eden. Isaiah the prophet discovered the secret cause of the spiritual breakdown of God's people, and God commanded him to expose their sins. Now we're not talking about scum buckets here. Their sins were obvious to everyone. No, God wants Isaiah to talk to those who were seeking God daily, those who delighted to know His ways and to walk in righteousness, and those who loved to approach God. But their prayers were not getting through, and their fasting was in vain. They came to the conclusion that all their sacrificing, all their praying, all their seeking after God was not paying off. They wanted some return for all their hoopla, all the advertising about how pious they were, to catch God's attention. But in fact, God was hiding His face from them. There was a good reason for God's anger. His people were going through all the motions; they were consistently in His house. They said all the right words: "We want to hear from God and do what He tells us." They seemed so obedient; they looked so religious. But their hearts were divided; they loved God only with their mouths. The truly amazing thing is that Isaiah doesn't just criticize them. He is also called to tell them, and to tell us the right way to do it. He gives us the solution. He gives us the key to life: "Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am… The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." Wow! Where do I go to buy that? While L'Oreal wants you to buy their products "Because you're
worth it." God wants us to serve the poor and those no one else
pays attention to because they're worth it. You know, THAT'S what the ashes today represent to me. We are all called to burn out for Jesus. God is calling us to give up our comfort, and even our needs, to meet the needs of others. The key to life here is not charity, it is sacrifice. If you're feeling like your life is too dark, the way into the light is not through serving yourself more, by giving yourself the little treats that you like, that new Hybrid truck, or whatever is tickling your fancy; the way into the light is through spending yourself on behalf of the poor! 1 John 3:16-18 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." Do you remember what Jesus said in Matthew 25: 31-38? He talked about coming back, with all the nations gathered before him. He said He is going to separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Then he invites folks to come and claim their inheritance, "for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." But the righteous ask, "Lord, when did we see you like that?" Do you remember His answer? "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." The way that we are judged according to Matthew 25 is on how we care for those less fortunate. The sign that we are saved, that the Holy Spirit resides within us is that we serve those who are hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison, in need of clothing or who are strangers in need of welcome! Rick Warren says "If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, and I'm only concerned about my needs, I should question whether Christ is really in my life. A saved heart is one that wants to serve." Do we all need to become Mother Theresa? It would be nice, but no - be yourself - we are to spend our gifts, not someone else's. Today Isaiah tells us "If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday." You don't have to buy a lot of beer or chips or ship with Fed Ex to be happy. Look around you. God gives us opportunities every day. Stop pointing your fingers at folks you're judging. Don't speak evil. Lighten someone's burden today. And yours will be lightened too. Receive these ashes as an invitation to burn out for Jesus! That's the kind of fast He wants. Amen? |
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