(UMH 795); Romans 7:15–25a; Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30
Title: Refreshingly Detached In a Uncertain Time
Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Psalm 45:10-17; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
GOSPEL
Matthew 11:25-30 (One of the most gracious commands in the Bible, Jesus' invitation to come (lit, "Come now!") speaks to all who are oppressed by routine, monotony, overwork, responsibility, and tension. Those who side source, causing what we would today call "burnout." Jesus' form of rest is not absence of work but rejuvenation and refreshment.
When you hear the word 'Refreshing' what does it hold for you? Is it a sweet cold drink on a hot day without having worry or dread in your mind, watching a really entertaining movie at a local theatre, or reading an excellent book that gives you a warm sense of Peace and Love? Or how about something more localized like greeting people with a smile, hugging, and shaking the hands of those you care about. Helping the homeless in their time of need, get to know the children better, what about the children's welfare and education being mitigated on, and so on… So many things we can add to this list as well.
For my wife and me, we do miss going to local nurseries and look at the selection of beautiful plants, then head on over to the yard accessories section to see what new items we haven't seen before or maybe replace one that we already have. Now I am guilty of this, going to dairy queen and get a tasty drink and I'll ask my wife first of course.
So how can we enjoy myself in this so-called new 'norm.' Is this life all there is to offer in times of panic and need? Has God truly abandoned us? Is this the end?
Friends, do not think that way! God has not abandoned you, forgot about you, left you with needs not being met. Instead, there is a positive thing to think about during this time and to be ‘Refreshingly Detached in an uncertain time.' Have you ever noticed how God gets our attention in mysterious ways? How he sparks up an idea from nowhere (a eureka moment), make a unknown pathway lay straight in front of you that wasn’t there before, open doors that was once closed to you, answer a prayer that seemed to be hopeless request and so on.
So many examples like this we read in the scriptures of how his people's faith falls little short but are reminded how God had already taken care of them. In another example, let us look at the disciples rafting trip on the sea of galilee. HAHAHAHA
While Jesus was fast asleep in the boat, waves crashing around and making the disciples fearful, they cried out to God, right? He awake, and what's the first thing scripture says he mentioned, "Why are you fearful, Oh yea of little faith."
Saving the lives of his children is a priority to God, my friends. His Love and compassion stretch beyond what we are able too as it should! He acts when we can't act!
Sure we don't understand what its all about, why someone had to experience such a thing, why this pandemic is so traitorous. Still, my friends, God has our best interests in mind, and if you haven't listened to anything else, I said, please listen to this, "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow. Tomorrow has already been set up for another day; all I have to do is 'TRUST' Jesus to lead me the way!
When we are weary, tired, exhausted, mentally differed, worried, anxious, ill, Jesus tells us in Matthew to 'Come to him,' Remember, friends Jesus Acts for us when we can't! It is in this comfort he gives us that surpasses all understanding that we are to become 'refreshed'. This overwhelming sense of Love, Peace, Joy, Compassion that only Christ gives that the world can never attempt to provide.
Yes, we are facing a circumstance today, but not just COVID-19, what about someone's health, financial problems, children's addictions, parental abuse, the deaths of those lost during this time, and their families, world hunger, and so on.
There is always something else worse that we could experience. With that, we find it here that while we are attempting to adjust to things, Christ not only promises but freely gives of himself to help sustain us, to be what Paul tells us 'be content in whatever circumstance I am in.'
Talking about a uncertain future, there was about 55 men that help write the Constitution and of those 39 where mostly present to sign it. These men that represented a new nation of people was about to send a letter of separation to a known King of England that already had its armies present on the American soil, but making a noble act of conquest to free themselves from a dictator. By this time, French and Indian war already took place with many lives lost, the Boston massacre that claimed the first fatalities in the American Revolutionary War and just a few months before July 4th, Thomas Paines ‘Common Sense’ was published that sold more than 100,000 copies in just few months that paved the way for our Independence.
During all this time my friends, uncertainty was not only present but it was literally foremost on the forefathers minds. Even though most of the signers of the Constitution was Godly men, all had a intimate experience in illness, pain, suffering, anxiety and not just being elected officials but in their personal lives.
Here is quote from George Washington
“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the bible.”
Thomas Jefferson
“The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty…Students’ perusal of the sacred vaolume will make us better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.”
Andrew Jackson
‘The bible is the rock on which our republic rests”
Ulysses Grant
“Hold fast to the bible, To the influence of this book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future”
WOW! Lots of great words of wisedom from people that know turmoil, separation, anxieties of a uncertain future. They, as we should, attempt to rely on a unshackable foundation, the Rock, where we should put our faith, our trust, out future. That Rock is Jesus Christ our Risen Lord!
My Friends, as you look around you, look at your circumstance, when you hear the word COVID, smile like you mean it! Rejoyce in your heart knowing God has got this! When you see someone wearing a mask, say “Jesus is my comforter”, “Jesus is my Rock”, “Jesus is my Savior”. Be ever consistent in reminding ourselves how much we should depend on God, not because we are weak, but because he requests it.
Dr. David Jeremiah said this:
(One of the most gracious commands in the Bible, Jesus' invitation to come (lit, "Come now!") speaks to all who are oppressed by routine, monotony, overwork, responsibility, and tension. Those who side source, causing what we would today call "burnout." Jesus' form of rest is not absence of work but rejuvenation and refreshment.
Think about your worse day ever to date! I challenge you to write that down and place it somewhere that no one else can see it. When you think of that event, I’m sure many flooding thoughts come to mind such as feelings of hurt or dread, painful memories of a loss, anxieties of the unknown outcome of something, what ever it was. Now think where you are at right now! Are you sitting down listening to this message, has God brought you out of what you wrote down? Yes you may still feel pain over it, but the key factor is, you was brought safely through it and ultimately you learned from it.
No Christian walk in admist of trials will ever take place where we are NOT to atleast learn something from it. Remember friends God promises in 1 Corinthians “No temptation or trial, will take you beyond what you are able but with the means God will offer a way to escape that you may bear it.”
When we face trials, temptations, uncertaintities we can follow these 5 steps of the Letter F:
Fight the battle with the heart of a believe in Christ our Rock. Don’t be passive, resist and fight
Follow the example Christ gives us (Resist the devil and he will flee from you)
Flee and do not remain in the presence of temptation (Do not give room for it to fester, flee from it immediately)
Fellowship which is opposite from Isolation (a breeding grown for temptation). Go to a safe harbour with fellow believers, watch programs of faith, etc…
Feed your soul with Gods word. Glisten to his voice and don’t base your decisions souly on feelings
What we fill our minds with will have a direct impact on how we will handle the situation. Without Christ we can do NOTHING, say that with me “Without Christ we can do NOTHING.” Remember Christ is the vine, and we are the branches, Amen
PRAYER
Father in Heaven, we thank you for this day you given to us. Thank you Lord Jesus for your willing sacrifice to save all mankind from their sins and thank you Holy Spirit for being in our lives daily to guide and direct our paths. Let us Lord walk worthy in your sight, fully pleasing to you and be fruitful in every good work we can do with your strength and help us increase in knowledge of God to your glorious power, patience, longsuffering with joy, giving thanks always to you for everything and who has qualified his chosen elect to be partakers of your inheritance. Help us in the journey we are on Lord, and help us always remember who you are in our lives and how ever present you are in every aspect of our lives no matter how minute we think it is. Keep us safe during this trying time of the world and bless us your people with the direction of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name we pray Amen.