7-20-2023

Good Morning All,

            John 13:17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

    This verse comes from what we call the “Upper Room” discourse.  Jesus is spending the last night with his disciples before he is betrayed by Judas.  He was giving them the instructions that they would need to manage these next few days.  In the first part of chapter 13, we see Jesus as he demonstrates true humility.  In the next section he teaches about holiness.  In this verse, Jesus tells us about happiness or being blessed.  Our happiness is based on holiness and humility.  We are given Jesus’ holiness so that we can stand before God, so we can come to God in prayer in confidence.  This is given to us; we do nothing to earn it.  Because of this fact, we should be humble, humble before God.

    But we see that knowing what is right isn’t enough to keep us happy; we must put this knowledge into practice.  Jesus has just shown his disciples a lesson in humility, in serving others.  The world will ask,” how many people serve you?”  God asks us,” how many do you serve?’  How many do we help?  How many feet have you washed today?  While this may sound strange to the world, God gives us peace and happiness in our task.  We have no great effort to do to earn our salvation, we have no great work to do to battle the devil; Jesus has done this already for us.  Now that we are saved, we are free to enjoy his grace and to share his love with those around us.  This is part of God's plan for you; to enjoy the life that He gives you.  So be happy with God's blessings!

    This is to draw us back to our original purpose. We were created to be caretakers. We were to care for the Garden and for creation. This includes our fellow man. We are to look outwards and to see the needs of others. Yet sin causes us to look inward with a selfish desire that looks only to our own desires, greed, and selfishness.  Sin always points inward. It is always about why I am “above the Law.” Sin is always about me putting me on the throne of creation rather than God. This puts God’s creation out of balance and as we all have seen, when sinful man is in charge pain soon follows. Hatred, prejudice, oppression, and injustice are just a few of the results.

    Yet there is some hope. Jesus has empowered us by the Holy Spirit to begin to reclaim our role as caretaker. We will not do this perfectly, not until Jesus returns. But we can make a difference. We can speak of God’s love; we can demonstrate this love to others by how we care for them. And as we do these actions of love, our hearts will be filled with the love of God which will comfort us, sustain us, and give us peace. God’s grace is for you to forgive your sins and to give you hope as you love your neighbor as you are loved.

Lord Jesus, we are too often unhappy because we do not place our trust in you.  Forgive us our weaknesses and sins.  Give us strength to follow you with all humility and holiness.  Use us as your hands to serve others that we know true happiness in your grace.  In your name we pray, Amen!

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret