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2 Corinthians 2:5–11 ⁵ If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. ¹⁰ If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

I read this passage early this morning. Paul was referring to someone who had committed a terrible offense that was known by all the believers in Corinth. Church discipline was rightly imposed. The purpose of such discipline is not to condemn the person with no hope of restoration. In fact, the purpose is the exact opposite. The goal of Church discipline is always to show sinners how serious their sin is and lead them to repentance.

Evidently the offender in Corinth had now repented, so the apostle encouraged the church to forgive him. That can be difficult, especially when people remember how grievous the offense was. Some may have been unwilling to forgive. Paul affirms that he has offered this person forgiveness. Did you notice the reason Paul gives for extending this forgiveness?

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Paul reminds the Corinthians – and us – that Satan is at work among believers. He is always scheming to cause disunity and strife in the church. How often does he so discord among the faithful, distracting us from our calling and even from the loving, forgiving nature of our God?  Remember this:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The death of Jesus paid for all sin, no matter how bad. Those who turn to Jesus in repentance and faith are forgiven by Him, regardless of what the world’s judgment might be. That means we should forgive them as well, showing them the same love God has shown to us and them.

Don’t let Satan outwit you!  A good reminder for us all.

Yesterday I shared some thoughts the message our world needs to hear. I have just a bit more I want to share on this topic today.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

While the world needs to hear that message, that is not being proclaimed in all churches that identify themselves as Christian. Many twist and pervert the message of God’s Word to suit their own purposes and needs and desires. We hear and read of teachings in churches that claim to be Christian, but they are changing or adding things that are not Biblical. They will justify their sinful behavior by saying what the Bible calls sinful should no longer be considered a sin. While God calls us to “Walk in the light as He is in the light” many preachers encourage people to go along with the crowd and do whatever makes you feel good.

People who are earnestly seeking God and looking for answers will be disappointed if they go to those churches that blow in the wind, changing their teachings to accommodate the times. In fact, that is why so many who feel a spiritual yearning have abandoned Christianity all together. They are lost and looking for direction, and they don’t find it in churches that have abandoned the Bible.

People are looking for a solid God, an almighty God, an UNCHANGING GOD, and we’ve got Him to share. A Church that believes in what Luther called SOLA SCRIPTURA, Scripture Alone, will have just the thing to share with a world looking for answers. God tells us what we need to hear in His Word. He tells us He loves us and wants us to be with Him. He tells us that our sins have separated us from Him. He tells us that He bridged that gap by sending Jesus to pay for sins in our place. God tells us that all who believe in Jesus will have forgiveness as a gift. He tells us that we should live as though we know we have already been saved, letting the light of Jesus shine for others to see. He tells us sin is wrong and that we should not sin. Nor should we condone sin in the lives of others. That would not be living the new life to which we have been called. All of this is found in the Word of God, which does not change.

Much of what God tells us is difficult for the world to accept. That is why so many churches have tried to water it down for people. What they have succeeded in doing is nothing more than planting doubt. If people have nothing firm, nothing solid, no foundation on which to build, why should they trust you? If a church proclaims a fleeting message, if they preach a god who is “blowing in the wind”, they offer nothing but insecurity. That is not the message of God in the Bible. The true God who is proclaimed in Scripture invites you to a faith that is built on certainty, the secure hope in Jesus Christ who does not change, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Father Andrew M. Greeley, a rather prolific and often controversial Roman Catholic Priest, once said: “Only a fool would argue that the church should change its doctrine to keep up with the times. One does not arrive at moral judgments by counting noses. Nor does one derive ethical systems from surveys. The truth of God has not changed since the beginning of time and any church that decides it needs changing now will lose that argument in the eternal perspective.”

We must proclaim the unchangeable, only true God and the message He has given us in His Word. God does not change. His Word does not change. To proclaim anything else would be a disaster. God’s people, the Church, must remain faithful to His Word. As we strive to live as God’s people, we need to remember that we have been called as followers of Jesus to change the world, not be changed by it. God wants to change everyone from lost and condemned creatures to those who walk in the newness of life He provides.

Not too long ago, if you were travelling by air, one of the things you could always find in the seat pocket in front of you was Skymall magazine. It had all kinds of gadgets and ridiculously useless items that made it something fun to flip through while sitting on an airplane. Today you can find all those useless ridiculous items online instantly, so the magazine disappeared.

About a dozen years ago I was looking at an issue of Skymall. On one page there were two  different products for people who were losing their hair. At the top of the page was some kind of spray on hair that was supposed to make the little bit of hair you have look thicker. On the bottom of the page was a laser device that you shine on your head in order to stimulate hair growth. And there were several other similar products in this issue. But the reason these ads caught my eye is that on the facing page, right across from these ads to help those who are losing their hair, was an ad for hair removal. As I looked at this I thought: Dear Lord, how dissatisfied are we in this country! Those who don’t have hair want it and those who have hair don’t want it. How much time and effort and money do we spend on trying to grow hair where it won’t grow and trying to stop growth where it occurs!

This lack of contentment reminded me of these words from Scripture:

Hebrews 13:5-9a  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.

In the context of telling us to be content, God tells us the reason we should be content:  He does not change! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. That is a message that is necessary for our world today. God’s steadfast, unchanging nature must be proclaimed.

Twenty-two years ago at this time, people were still flocking to churches in the wake of the September 11 terrorism acts. They were looking for answers. They wanted to know where God was in all of this. And we have an answer. God is right here, He is with us. He never left us. He has always been with us. He could just as easily have said today what Jesus said about the people of Jerusalem: you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37) Jesus has always wanted to gather His children together. He is not the one who left. People have been running away from him. That is why evil flourishes.

The message God’s people have to share is that no matter who you are or what you have done, it is never too late to turn back to God and trust in His mercy. The promise God made through Jesus is still available. Jesus came to take care of the problem of sin, to make sure you could be forgiven. He lived a life without sin because you could not. He offered that perfect life as the payment for the sins of everyone. Through faith, you can claim His payment as your own. Because of what Jesus did for you, God will be merciful and forgive you. That is the same message that has been proclaimed since Jesus rose from the dead in victory. That message does not change. It is the message the world needs to hear.

Do you remember Harvey and Irma. They were not a very nice couple. In 2017 those two were unwelcome guests in the United States. The destruction and devastation of those hurricanes was immeasurable and the recovery is still taking place in some areas, even though it is no longer being mentioned as “news.”

In the immediate aftermath of these storms, the media did make us aware of the kindness and generosity of many folks. People wanted to do something to help. The “Cajun Army” was deployed. HEB sent truckloads of provisions, as well as portable showers and laundry facilities. Thousands of people went down to help with the initial clean up and gutting of homes that were impacted. I and several others in my congregation were able to spend some time helping with clean-up in the LaGrange area, where Harvey had caused the Colorado River to come out of Its banks and flooded hundreds of homes there.

I had a discussion back then with a friend who reminded me that it is well and good for us to have faith and know that we are forgiven because of what Jesus did through His perfect life, His death in our place, and His resurrection from the dead on the third day. We certainly all need that and it is good that we have it. But we don’t always act like we have been saved. My friend’s concern was that we don’t always let people see Jesus in us.

He raised a valid point. People respond well to big disasters like the ones mentioned above, at least initially. I remember seeing the same king of unity and cooperation in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Again, that was a good thing to witness. But why do we wait for a disaster to strike to show that kind of love and mercy and compassion and kindness? Should not that be the way followers of Jesus act every day?

Disciples of Jesus should let those around them see Jesus in their lives and actions. Every day. We often forget to do that. Sometimes, we are not sure what to do, or feel overwhelmed because there are so many needs and way more than we could ever hope to address. If you let yourself get bogged down in that kind of thinking, you will end up not doing anything.

So what is a person to do? My advice is simple. Don’t overthink it – just do it. You can be the face of Christ to someone you encounter today. It really is that simple. Just treat that person with love and care and kindness, the way God treats you, even though you don’t deserve it.

Jesus put it this way:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34–35)

or whom will you be the Face of Christ today?

Yesterday we attended worship in the church where Cheryl’s dad had served as pastor for his entire ministry. They were observing All Saints Day. The first hymn, “Behold A Host Arrayed in White” spoke of those wearing white robes and waving palm branches around the Lamb of God sitting on his throne. I knew one more of those who is now in that throng. The final hymn, one of my favorites, “For All The Saints Who From Their Labors Rest,” was sung at my father’s funeral 32 years ago. I love that hymn but have a hard time singing it all the way through. In fact, I don’t mind telling you that there were tears streaming down my face through most of the service yesterday. Some were tears of grief as I know how much I will miss that man. Some were tears of joy thinking of where he is now. Some were tears of gratitude when I considered what Jesus did to make it possible for us to spend eternity with Him.

Today would have been Gerald’s 89^th birthday. In the early church, they talked about the day a person died from this life as being their birthday, the day they entered their new life in heaven. That was last Saturday for Pops. And today we will have a graveside service followed by a memorial service, once again at Zion Lutheran Church in Lockett. Jesus Christ crucified and risen will be proclaimed. And there will be more tears and laughter.

Tomorrow we try to go back to our “normal” lives without Gerald, Jerry, daddy, Papa, Pops, Pastor, Preacher or however you knew him. He left an impact on a lot of lives. We cherish the memories we have. But who don’t have to go on alone. The one in whom Pops had placed his faith and confidence, the one he shared with others through his words and actions and his entire life, the one in whose presence He now stands, is still with us.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

1 Corinthians 15:57 Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

One more day sharing some thoughts about what the Bible has to say about love. It is crucial for us to understand that love comes from God. John wrote about this quite a bit in his Gospel and his Epistles.

1 John 4:7-11 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Everything that I’ve shared about love the last week only makes sense if you use the proper meaning, the love that the Bible speaks of, the love that comes from God. The love we show is to be a response to the love which God has shown. The way God loves us tells us what our love for others is to be. God’s love is steadfast and enduring. His love is patient and kind. His love is giving, with our best interests in mind. His love is action. He made a covenant with His people, a promise. Even though we sinful humans beings break the trust and betray the confidence, God does not bail out on us. God loves…and loves…and loves…and loves…and loves some more. God is Christ on the cross, loving with an everlasting love, a love that would not let you go.

1 John 3:16 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.

Jesus gave the example of love to follow. Our love is a response to the faithfulness of God, His love that is the greatest.

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

There is nowhere you can ever go that the love of God cannot find you. No matter how severe your shortcomings, no matter how frustrating your failures, no matter how difficult your defeats in life, the love of God, made plain in Christ, is able to comfort you and make you whole. That is done for us over and over again in our lives. And that is what we must do for others. We serve one another because He first served us. We care for one another because he first cared for us. We encourage each other because He first encouraged us. We love because He first loved us with that greatest love of all. When you and I are covered with that love made visible in the cross, when that love fills us and overwhelms us, we come to know that love, the love of God in Christ, is the greatest– ever.

The climax of this “Love Chapter of the Bible” comes in these words:

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 Love is the greatest, the best, above everything else, supreme. As great as faith and hope are, love is greater. There is an enduring quality to faith and hope, but they are things of this world. Of the three, love is the one that will continue in the live to come. All three are necessary here on earth. Without faith it is impossible to please God. But faith without love is something cold. Hope without love loses its meaning. Love is over all, and love lasts forever. And remember, we are talking about God’s love. That is why it is called the greatest. In a very real sense, love is our foretaste of eternal life with God, given to us now and shared with our brothers and sisters.

We have to remember that the world continues to corrupt what love should be.  Whitney Houston was an enormous talent and a tragic story. People remember her for her powerful performance of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” But before that, almost forty years ago, she had another huge hit: “The Greatest Love of All.” That song had this refrain: “Because the greatest love of all is happening to me, I found the greatest love of all inside of me.”  She had an amazing voice and did a fabulous job on that song. But do you what that song identified as “the greatest love of all?” That song says: “Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all.” That is the wisdom of this world, which is a distortion of the love that really is the greatest.

That distortion leads to the self-centered mentality that is so prevalent in our world. The mindset of this world is that love accepts people as they are and allows them to remain in their sinful condition. “Don’t tell me I have to stop doing what I want to do. That is not loving.” The world tries to tell us it is loving to abort babies, to kill the aged or terminally ill. The world wants us to believe that love approves of behavior that God tells us is outside of His will. When we hear people advocating this mentality, we are tempted to respond with anger and disgust. You know what we need to do to those people? Love them. We need to love them the way Jesus loves them. We need to care for them and show them that God has something better for them. We need to love them.

The greatest love of all has happened to you. It is not coming from within you or from another person. The greatest love of all has happened and is happening to you in Christ Jesus. God’s love, the greatest, has been shown to you so that you might have forgiveness and eternal life. That is the greatest love of all. That is the love He wants you to share.

1 Corinthians 13:9–12 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Paul contrasts God’s love to earthly knowledge, which is partial and imperfect. It will vanish. The phrase “when perfection comes” carries with it the idea of an aim, the desired outcome, the fulfillment of God’s purposes. And he uses two different illustrations to describe this completion.

First he speaks of growing from childhood to maturity. Our ideas of heaven that we have at this point cannot possibly do justice to the glory and greatness of God’s presence. From the perspective of eternity, any knowledge that we have now, however astounding or awe-inspiring, will look like the wisdom of a preschooler. In the maturity of heaven, it will vanish away. We will be complete.

Paul also compares what we have now and what we will have then to the difference between a reflection and reality. In Paul’s day, they did not have mirrors like we have today. The best they had was a piece of burnished and polished brass or copper. Even though these were finely made, the best Corinthian mirror gave an imperfect reflection. There was always some distortion. While we are on this side of heaven, our view of eternity is distorted, it is not clear. We cannot see clearly what we do not yet have. However, in God’s time we will see “face to face.”  God’s love will bring us to that completion.

Philippians 1:6 … he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Love never fails. As I said before, Paul wrote these words in the middle of a discussion on spiritual gifts. All of those gifts, whether they be tongues or prophecies or knowledge, are temporary and will pass away. But love, God’s love, lasts forever.

There are songs that have lyrics like “and I will always love you” or “my love for you will never die.” But those songs describe emotions, which change. All the failed relationships in the world testify to that. The way people speak of falling in love and out of love tells you that they mean something different than the love Paul is writing about here. There is a love that really does last, a love that is permanent. That is God’s love. Genuine love, the kind with which God loves you, will persist. It is permanent.

We look for things of permanence in an always-changing world. Whether we like it or not, things change. Things change in our congregation: some folks move away, some go to heaven, new folks come in. Things change, and often times change scares us. It makes us uncomfortable. That is why we take comfort in things that remain constant, things that stay the same.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

Psalm 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—

The greatest comfort of all is to be found in the permanence of the love of God. It does not change. God’s love for you does not stop. He loves you with an everlasting love.