revmattil.org

We have a large fire pit behind our house that we love to use, especially in the Spring and Fall. Circumstances and weather have prevented us from doing so this year, but I hope to rectify that this week. Sometimes I will sit out there by myself, watching the flames, talking to God, and thinking about all he has done for me.

The Sundays of Easter this year feature readings from 1 Peter. This disciple of Jesus is an interesting fellow. Simon was all in on following Jesus, but he continued to be a bone-headed sinner. That should encourage each of us who love and follow Jesus and continue to make stupid mistakes in our lives.

I just recently heard someone make a connection between Peter and fire. He was talking about how Peter denied knowing Jesus when He was on trial, and how after Jesus was risen, our Lord appeared to His disciples on a beach and restored Peter. In both of those instances, fire was involved. When Peter was in the courtyard of the High Priest, we read:

John 18:18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

That was where Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Then, after the resurrection, Peter and some of the other disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus yelled from the shore that they should try the other side. Immediately, they caught a lot of fish. Peter swam to shore and found Jesus cooking.

John 21:9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

After they ate, Jesus forgave and restored Peter by asking him three times, “Do you love me?” When Peter said he did, Jesus told him to feed His lambs.

On the day of Pentecost, when Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit to the disciples waiting in Jerusalem, they heard the sound of rushing wind and then:

Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

God’s power and presence at work in them was associated with fire. That should not be too surprising, considering how God appeared to Moses when He revealed His name.

Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.

God’s powerful presence is still with us. It can burn within us and empower. It is often symbolized in our worship services with flames on candles. He has kept His promise of providing forgiveness and salvation through Jesus, and the flames still burn brightly in the pages of His revealed Word.

Let the flames you see around you in the coming days remind you of God’s fiery, powerful presence in your life.

When I was very little, I remember my father setting me on his knees, facing toward him, and he would hold both of my hands in his. He would gently bounce me on his knees and say, “Giddyup horsie, go to town. Giddyup horsie, don’t fall down!”  As he said the word “down,” he would spread his legs apart so my bottom would start to fall toward the ground. However, he never let go of my hands, so I didn’t actually fall. In fact, I enjoyed that little game. I played it with all of my daughters when they were growing up, a few nieces and nephews, and also my grandchildren. Three-year-old Micah begs me to play “horsie” and once I start, she keeps saying, “again, Papa, again!” The first time I did it with her, her eyes got very wide. But once she realized I was not going to let go, she couldn’t get enough of it.

As we think about our Good Shepherd this week, I want to remind you of something He promised.

John 10:27–30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

As we go through life in this world, Jesus gives us the same assurance I had when I played that game with my father:  He was not going to let go of my hand. I was safe. We need that reminder from our Good Shepherd. Not only did He live the perfect life I had not lived. pay the price for the sin I have in me, and conquer death for me by rising from the dead, He also promised to never let go of my hand.

The following song that I used to sing to my girls was written and performed by Don Francisco.

I know what you’ve been hearing
I’ve seen you hide your fear
Embarrased by your weaknesses
Afraid to let Me near

I wish you knew how much I long
For you to understand
No matter what may happen, child
I’ll never let go of your hand

 I know you’ve been forsaken
By all you’ve known before
When you’ve failed their expectations
They frown and close the door

But even though your heart itself
Should lose the will to stand
No matter what may happen, child
I’ll never let go of your hand

 The life that I have given you
No one can take away
I’ve sealed it with My Spirit, blood and word
The everlasting Father has made His covenant with you
And He’s stronger than the world you’ve seen and heard

 So don’t you fear to show them
All the love I have for you
I’ll be with you everywhere
In everything you do
And even if you do it wrong
And miss the joy I planned
I’ll never, never let go of your hand

You can listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVMUCi-3s7M

John 10:1-5,11,14,15b  “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” . . .  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– . . . — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, I want to share a few thoughts about how we should live as His Sheep.

First of all, you need to be sure that you identify His voice. There are many voices out there. The voices of the world, the strangers, thieves and robbers, call us to disobey the voice of God by rejecting or evading His commands. Other voices corrupt His Word in order to suit their own purposes. Where is the Shepherd’s voice? How can you identify it?

After His resurrection, Jesus left the world and ascended to the Father. Yet His voice is still here, it is still heard in the Scriptures. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, (John 5:39). Jesus said that His sheep know His voice. How? It is heard when you read the Word. It is heard when His ministers faithfully proclaim that Word. His voice is heard when fellow Christians, even children, speak that Word to others.

The voice of the Good Shepherd is a voice that leads the sheep to life. The reading above ends with Jesus saying that He had come that His sheep might have life. In the next chapter of John you can see a vivid example of His voice giving life when He said, “Lazarus, come out!” Yet the life He gives is even more than that. He gives life to the full, the certainty of dwelling in the House of the Lord forever, even after this earth is long gone.

Having identified the voice, you need to RECORD it. This doesn’t mean a mechanical recording as though you were some kind of machine. It is not something that you learn just with your head. That is how many of the scribes in Jesus’ day learned the Law. They knew what it said, but they didn’t really listen. When Jesus spoke of them, He said, “Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:43-44).

The voice of your Good Shepherd is to be recorded on the mind and in the heart. Then you will be able to PLAY BACK His voice in your life. Just make sure it is HIS voice. You sometimes play back the voice of strangers when you follow the ways of this world. When you listen to the voice that says “Everyone else is doing it,” you are not listening to the voice of your Good Shepherd. And all too many sheep today have become prey to wolves. They listen to the voice of those who proclaim a different gospel, whether it be a self-seeking televangelist or a cult leader. You need to listen to the only true Good Shepherd who laid down His life to pay for your sins and was raised again to insure the salvation of all who listen to His voice.

When you PLAY BACK His voice, not only will it benefit you, but it will be for the good of those you encounter. And you PLAY BACK His voice when you keep His commands. You PLAY BACK His voice when you enjoy the pasture of His means of Grace, such as feeding on His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Altar to be assured that His death was your payment for sin. You PLAY BACK His voice when you look forward to being with Him forever according to His promise.

In all of this, we have God dealing with us according to His grace. He is a merciful Shepherd who gave His life for you, He never tires of talking to you, never wearies of assuring you, “I forgive you,” and never hesitates to call you away from danger. This Good Shepherd is working to keep you on the right path until He leads you home.

Springtime has arrived, and with it an abundance of rain. That is not always true in the area where I live, but it has been for the last several years, and the trend has continued in 2023. I know my garden is thriving. I planted tomatoes, green beans, sugar snap peas, strawberries and several varieties of squash. The plants are all looking good and thriving.

I still find the process amazing. I take some dead looking seeds and bury them. I wait a week or so and sprouts appear. And they grow. And a little later they bear fruit. It was not because of anything I did, but because of the way God made things.

Mark 4:28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.

We have learned how to grow the things we need to feed and nourish our bodies. But it would not happen if God had not made it that way and if He did not continue to take care of us. There are more than a few references in the Old Testament of God’s ongoing care in sending us rain so that the crops will grow.

Deuteronomy 11:14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.

Isaiah 30:23 He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.

My wife grew up in a congregation filled with farmers, and the first congregation I served in Oklahoma had several farmers in it. Those folks have an appreciation for how God’s care and control are evident in the way He made and still orders things in this world.

The one who did all this is the same one who made everything in the universe and is still in control. And He is also the same one who was not content that man’s sin would separate us from Him forever. So He took care of that by coming down here Himself, lived as one of us, took our guilt and shame on Himself in order to pay for it with His perfect life, and opened the way for us to be forgiven and live with Him forever in paradise.

I am reminded of God’s goodness when I see my plants sprout up and when I harvest from them. And I am reminded that He has provided for all my needs, including my forgiveness and salvation.

Ephesians 3:20–21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Luke 24:17-18  He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Going back to the  Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Easter one more time, I want you to consider how the Emmaus disciples reacted to the “stranger” who walked up to them on the road. Jesus asked them what they were discussing. Cleopas replied “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  

Recently I heard someone say that in modern slang, Cleopas was saying, “Dude, or Bruh, what rock have you been hiding under?” We use that kind of language when we encounter someone who doesn’t know what is going on around him or her.

Jesus wasn’t hiding, and He wasn’t under a rock. He was purposely BEHIND a rock rolled over the entrance to His tomb. He went to death willingly in order to make payment for the sins of the world, and then He was buried in a tomb with a stone sealed over the entrance. His time in the tomb was not hiding, but to show that He was truly dead, further proof that He had made the necessary sacrifice for sin. And then on Easter, that rock, that stone, was rolled away, and our Lord was raised from the dead. He proclaimed the victory over sin and death and made it available to everyone. Just believe.

We had what ended up being a comical discussion at dinner last night. One of my daughters and her family are living with us while waiting for their new home to be built. We have Bethany, Scott, 9-year-old Malachi and 3-year-old Micah with us now. They have been here for a little over three weeks, and we are all adjusting. All in all, things are going very well.

Malachi is finishing the school year at a new school. When his mom enrolled him, she put some money into their account to pay for his lunches for the rest of the year. Malachi told us that when he tried to get “snacks” at lunch today they told him he couldn’t do it. We asked him what he meant, and he said, “You know, like chips and gummies. On Wednesdays and Fridays we can get ice cream!” It didn’t take long to discover that every day he was getting “snacks” in addition to his lunch. He never had to give any money, so he didn’t understand it was costing his parents, being charged to their account. He didn’t see anything wrong with picking “snacks” that were not included with the lunch, because he didn’t know the cost associated with those items. He was confused why they wouldn’t let him have “snacks” today, but we realized it was because he had exhausted all the funds his mom had deposited into their account. The more we discovered what he had been doing, the more we were laughing. Mom and Dad had not explained that he was only to get the regular lunch, so they were not overly upset with him. It was definitely a “teachable moment” for their family, and things will be done differently from now on.

After dinner, I was thinking about how nice it is to not have to pay for our mistakes. Even though we all have an abundance of them, some of which we have done blissfully unaware that we were doing anything wrong, and others that we knew were wrong, we have someone who paid the price for them all.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Thank God He gives us the righteousness Jesus earned and put our sins of Christ. All our mistakes were charged to His account, so we can be assured of forgiveness and life eternal. And we get to share that message with others who have mistakes that need to be covered, too.

Luke 24:13-35 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.  In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.  Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Let’s consider last Sunday’s Gospel reading a bit more. These two men who had followed Jesus were walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus, a distance of about seven miles. They were talking about all the events of the weekend, mostly the crucifixion. Jesus appeared to them, but somehow, probably by supernatural means, they were kept from recognizing Him. They tell this “stranger” all about what had happened to Jesus in Jerusalem. They explain how the authorities conspired to convict Him. They think their hope is gone. And they end by saying that the tomb had been found empty that morning, but they are not sure what to make of it all. The women claimed to see a vision of angels who proclaimed that Jesus is alive. I wonder what their tone of voice was in relating this? Did they sound skeptical or hopeful? In either case, the response of Jesus was that they were foolish! Why didn’t they believe what they should have known would happen? How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

Therein lies the key to what would kindle that fire in their hearts: all that the prophets had spoken. The promise of God’s Word. And that fire was started by the Word made flesh holding a Bible Class with them as they walked along: and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. I have often said that I envy those disciples, being able to listen to Jesus expound on those Old Testament texts that point to Him. But you and I have that same Word today. We can look at passages like Psalm 22, where the crucifixion was described long before it happened. We listen to Isaiah 53, where the reason for the crucifixion was foretold. Perhaps these were some of the passages Jesus shared with these two men in trying to point out: Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?

God’s Word warmed their hearts. It made them burn with excitement. Jesus opened the Scriptures for them to understand. Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? Our Lord showed them on the basis of the Word that all the frightening things that had caused them grief were part of God’s plan for their salvation. There is nothing to fear. Even death and resurrection are in God’s Hands. God’s Word is the spark that gets the fire going. And it is His Word that will keep that fire burning.

The steady flame that burns in the hearts of Christians is not fueled by emotion and sentiment, but by the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is based on the certainty of God’s Word. There is nothing wrong with getting emotional and “all fired up for the Lord.” In fact it can be exhilarating. But that kind of fire can end quickly, like a flash in the pan. It is not a lasting thing. The fire that will continue to burn is the one that is fueled by the Word of God. With that Word of God, you will have a heart that is burning with Good News, and the spark to set more hearts aflame.

The Gospel reading for yesterday was the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus from  Luke 24. The sermon I heard made some really strong points. One of those was that those two were headed the wrong way. They were  headed away from where all the excitement was. Then the preacher said, “Even if you are going the wrong way, Jesus is walking with you.”

You can understand that many different ways, but I found comfort in the thought that He is always with me, especially in times of uncertainty and when there are difficult decisions to be made.

My mom should be moving to a rehab facility today to strengthen her for her next move. Even though this is a difficult time, I have peace in my heart. I’m not boasting, because the peace I have doesn’t come from who I am or what I have done. I have the peace that Jesus gives to me.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 I pray that my family will have that peace as we go through this together, and that those of you reading this will have that peace as well.