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How often have your prayed for something and did not get what you asked for? I’ve heard people say, “God didn’t answer my prayer!” What they mean is that God did not answer it the way they wanted Him to answer it.

How often have you asked God for something and He gave you even more than what your requested?

Paul prayed “three times” for God to take away the thorn in his flesh. But it stayed. And God did something even better. Paul received God’s grace and power, which enabled him to be a mighty messenger and apostle, spreading the message of Jesus as Lord and Savior throughout the world.

I heard a story years ago of a man whose brother was dying of cancer. The entire family prayed for his recovery, but death came all too soon. When speaking of it, the man refused to believe that God had not heard their prayers. He simply said that his brother “took a better offer.”

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

This confidence belongs to those who know that Jesus lived and died and rose again to give us victory over death, new life here and now, and eternity with Him in heaven. We need to remember that when we pray, boldly approaching God with our petitions and listening for His loving response.

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.

In the two and a half years since I retired, we have had the opportunity to visit with a lot of friends and reestablish connections with people we had not seen in quite some time. In some cases, we had not seen these people for thirty or forty years. It has been fun catching up and remembering the times we had together in college and seminary days.

As part of that remembering, we recalled things we did back then that were foolish and stupid and not in keeping with God’s desire for our lives. We were amazed that we survived! And on more than one occasion, someone said, “I’m just glad they didn’t have cell phones with video cameras back then!”

We all have things in our lives we should not have done, that we would like to forget or keep from others. Whether there is a video record of our misdeeds or not, they were done. We know what we did. And so does God. Nothing is hidden from Him. That is a frightening thought, a stern proclamation of God’s Law.

Psalm 69:5 You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Even though God knows all about our sin, He does not want to punish us for it. He never did. That is why He promised to send a Savior immediately after the first sin. That is why He kept that promise and sent His Son down here. Jesus was our substitute, lived without sin and took our place in punishment. Those who believed God’s promise before Jesus came were forgiven. Those who believed in Jesus once He got here were also forgiven. And those who believe in Him still today receive the forgiveness and life and salvation that He accomplished for us.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

When we admit our sin and ask God to forgive, He does so. We have His word on it. And then He forgets all about our sin.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

We have that blessed assurance because of our faith in Jesus. But those without faith in Jesus will, unfortunately, be held accountable for their sins. They will not get the forgiveness Jesus earned. It is available to everyone, freely, because Jesus already paid the price.

Those of us who live in the certainty of God’s grace need to ask ourselves what we can do to help others discover this wonderful news.

I’ve mentioned before that I like the music of James Taylor. One of his most popular songs is one he did not write, but he sang it well. It was a little piece written by Carole King.

When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand
And nothing, nothing is going right Close your eyes and think of me
and soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest night.
You just call out my name And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again. Winter – spring – summer – or fall
All you have to do is call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

We all need friends. Not the ones who say they will be our friends but don’t live up to their promise. We need the friends who will come through for us. Friendship is vital, especially when you are lonely. You want someone to listen to your problems, someone who cares, someone who loves you, even when you mess up! We need friends like that. And we need to be friends like that.

You’ve probably heard the expression “He (or she) doesn’t have a prayer.” Those words are used to describe a hopeless situation. Have you ever felt that way? Wouldn’t it have been nice to have someone to talk to? Wouldn’t it be nice to talk to God and know that He is listening? He is. This is what He says to you:

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again. Winter – spring – summer – or fall
All you have to do is call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

With God on your side, you are not hopeless. And God doesn’t just make promises and then ignore you when you call out to Him. He’s there. He comes running. He is by your side. You need to know without a doubt that God is your friend. You’ve Got a Friend.

Those first disciples of Jesus had times when they felt lonely, isolated and uncertain. They needed a friend. They might even have felt betrayed. Jesus was their friend, but He started talking about leaving them. He was talking about dying. The disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. They walked away from their fishing businesses. They left their homes, their families. They allowed themselves to believe that Jesus was the one who would change everything, who would make everything right. They believed he was the Messiah, the Savior, the Promised One.  And now he was talking about leaving them? Imagine how they felt! Why had Jesus asked them to follow Him if he intended to leave them? Why had he brought them this far only to abandon them? I’m sure the disciples felt that they needed a friend. Jesus knew that his disciples were afraid, that they needed a friend. And He would be that friend.

Jesus had come to be their friend, but He also came to be the Savior of everyone. To accomplish that, He would indeed have to die. That would be the payment for the sins of the world. But He rose back to life in victory on Easter. And that friend is still with us today.

Remember that when you feel lonely and isolated and uncertain. You need a friend. And Jesus is that friend you need.

Just recently I heard a sermon about the importance of community in our lives. The pastor mentioned that in Genesis, God looked at all of creation and declared it to be good. However, there was one exception to that.

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

People were not created to be alone, to be solitary. While some people seem to prefer to isolate themselves, most do not. They crave interaction with other people. This is especially true of the elderly, who often times because of circumstances beyond their control have been cut off from daily contact with friends and family. Video chats and phone calls are good, but they cannot replace face to face time with other people.

However, not all community is good. As people who are sinful by nature, we will often seek community that accepts our sinful behavior, or even affirms and condones those sins. Have you ever wondered why gangs are so strong and popular? They accept sinful people and encourage them to stay and even grow in their sin. The same is true of what has come to be known as the LGBTQIA+ community. They affirm people just as they are. The world praises them for being accepting, but it is hardly a loving thing to let people think that sinful behavior is not harmful.

Scripture warns us about being part of the wrong community.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Churches are also made up of sinners. But instead of affirming them in their sins, we encourage people to receive the forgiveness Jesus earned for them.  When some hear hymns like “Jesus Sinners Doth Receive” and “Just As I Am,” they might be tempted to think they can stay as they are and continue to sin freely. But that is not what God wants for anyone. Yes, Jesus welcomed sinners, but when He invited them to follow and believe in Him, His admonition was to live a new way. In His encounter with the woman caught in adultery, Jesus welcomed her, refused to condemn her as the crowd did, and said:

John 8:11 “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Our community of faith is supposed to be all about God’s grace. God does not give us what we deserve: condemnation. Instead, He gives us what we do not deserve: forgiveness for all sins, life now and forever with Him, and the certainty of heaven. Jesus earned all that for us and gives it freely to those who put their faith in Him.

Think about someone today in your community of faith who needs a visit and make time for them.

There was a young man who grew up on a farm. Like many children in that situation, he spent a lot of time with chores and work on the farm. After high school, he was unsure what he wanted to do in life. One day he was driving the tractor, plowing a field, when he looked up into the sky and saw the clouds shifting. As he watched, those clouds seemed to be forming letters. When the shifting stopped, he clearly saw two letters: P and C. He took this to be calling to Preach Christ. He immediately enrolled in a Bible college. However, he did not do well at all in his classes. He was determined to continue, so he volunteered to lead chapel one day. It was a disaster. He was tongue-tied, mixed up Scripture, and his message ended up being all about people having to be good to earn their own way into heaven rather that telling people that Jesus did it all for us.

The Dean called this young man into his office and wanted to know why he wanted to be a preacher. The young man told the story of what he saw in the clouds, clearly seeing the letters P and C. The dean listened and sat quietly for a moment and considered what he had just heard. They he said, “Young man, did you ever consider that perhaps the Lord was telling you to Plant Corn?

While all the followers of Jesus are called to share Jesus, not all are called to be preachers or pastors. Everyone has a calling in life, and we should live out that calling as followers of Jesus. You need to live as a a Christian farmer, banker, pilot, teacher, realtor, physical therapist, stay at home parent, plumber, janitor, delivery person or whatever your occupation might be. Paul wrote about it this way.

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

People read that last part about “the greater gifts” and assume that those who are first in the list somehow have a higher calling. I don’t believe that is necessarily true. All Christians are called to follow Christ whatever their role in life may be. And in the verses just after this speak of a “more excellent way” of living, which is to first and foremost love as God has loved you.

Maybe the greatest thing you can do as a disciple of Jesus is to live in a way that shows your faith in Him.

Rebranding has been popular in industry for many years now. There are different elements to rebranding, but the idea is to change a company’s image with a new name or logo to draw attention to their business and make them stand out. It is done by corporations large and small. Even Walmart has rebranded itself several times over the years.

Rebranding has actually been around a lot longer than you might think.

Isaiah 62:1-5 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.  2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. 3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.  4 No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.  5 As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

This Scripture talks about some new names that God gives His chosen people. They had been called “Deserted” and “Desolate” by their neighbors, but God promises to give them new names: Hephzibah and Beulah, which mean “delight” and “married.” It was not just a cosmetic name change, but God was reaching out and proclaiming them to be His chosen, redeemed people. These are the names He gives them because they have been turned around, declared righteous by God for having put their trust in Him. These names describe what God has made them and what He wants them to be.

God rebranded each of you who have been brought to faith in Jesus. When you were baptized, God put HIS NAME on you:  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You are those who have admitted your sinful condition, heard the message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, and trust in Him for life everlasting.

Let me remind you of some other names that God has given you, and what He would like you to do for Him.

I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

As members of the royal priesthood, the holy nation, God’s chosen people who belong to Him, you should do more than just bask in the light of who God has made you. We should all declare God’s praises, calling others out of darkness to join us in His wonderful light.