2-6-2017

Good Morning All,

          2 Corinthians 1:20; “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

(For Hannah, Grace, and Noah)  The other night I went to watch one of the local high schools compete in the state one-act play contest.  They put on a play entitled “Struggles”.  It was a depiction of a young gal in high school and how she struggled with all the self-doubts of life.  She wasn’t the greatest student and her classmates found her odd so she struggled with this as well.  The other actors were dressed in black outfits and they personified her “struggles”.  They were always telling her she was worthless or that she was hopeless.  They called her a failure and a loser among other names.  Towards the end of the play, a few actors came out dressed in gray and they represented the “good voices” which encouraged her to keep trying and to work on the things she liked and was good at such as art.

    The part of the play I couldn’t quite figure out was why or how the good voices won out over the struggle voices.  There were more struggle voices than good voices.  There were more of her teachers and classmates who were negative towards her than there were ones who were positive for her.  Yet she makes the amazing transformation by the end of the play.  As I watched the play from my back row of the auditorium (like any real Lutheran); I wanted to run to the stage and tell them how she would be capable of this transformation but it was a long ways and it would have caused a brouhaha so I sat and waited.

     All of us battle “the Struggles”.  We never really get over them.  The devil and the world keep hounding us with accusations and taunts.  They call us names, hurtful and dismissive names.  None of us want to be the guy not invited to the party.  None of us want to be the guy that is always on the outside looking in and “the Struggles” tell us that is exactly where we belong.  The devil and the world always tell us “No”.  “No” you cannot accomplish that.  “No” you cannot possibly succeed at that.  “No” there is no one to love you.  “No” you will never be worth anything.

     It is that world that Jesus comes to you and says to you “Yes”.  “Yes” you have great value.  “Yes” you are loved.  “Yes” you can do this, you can succeed.  Everything that God has promised us, eternal life, fellowship, the love of God the Father, the companionship of God the Holy Spirit, the promise to hear our prayers, the promise to bless us and give us peace all find their “Yes” in Jesus.  That is how we, as redeemed children of God, find our ability to transform who we are.  We are no longer losers or worthless.  We are part of God’s elect; redeemed, loved, and equipped.  We find our “yes”, our good voices, in the blood of the Lamb.  Jesus quiets the voices of failure and gives us hope.  Jesus gives us our “Yes.”

Father, through your mercy you have taken us from this world of hate and fear into your loving kingdom.  In Jesus, you say “Yes” to us with the perfect love that brings us healing and hope.  Be with all who are struggling.  Let them know your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret