SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
TEXT: 13We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers. THEME: Living into life with God’s love. INTRODUCTION Faith is to be lived out every day, in ordinary ways. Living out our faith should be as natural as being ordinary, but we also have holidays in which we remember special events of faith and celebrate, lest we forget. With short memories, we human beings can be unappreciative, self-centered and isolated. All Saints Day is a Holidays that gives us cause to remember champions of faith and loving individuals who have influenced and shaped our spiritual lives. This is one of the challenges of living under the oppression of COVID-19, how do we celebrate special days, when COVID-19 is trying to make every day conformed to safety? We just finished preaching from the book of Exodus, highlighting the life of Moses. An extraordinary prophet, with very human faults. His life becomes a lens from which we can see God and how to live in relationship with God. This was true with the characters in Genesis as we followed Abraham and Sarah, and their descendants; Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all the way to Egypt. Real human beings with stories of how to live with God, good and bad behavior that informs, encourages, and guides our living with the reality of God who loves and cares for us. All the way to our present, where God’s love has been revealed to us through Jesus the Christ. We have new promises to look forward towards and live, and yet, Christ’s second coming is delayed and some of those among us have passed missing out on Christ’s glorious return. What about them? The Apostle Paul address these fears, anxiety, and worries of the first century believers in this oldest written document of the New Testament, his letters to the church in Thessalonica. Paul begins by reminding them of his time among them. SCRIPTURE These are the qualities Paul writes about, the kind of qualities we see in those around us, in our past, in history, and in the world, who shape our faith and influence us to live in compelling ways for God. Paul and company brought the good news of Jesus Christ without any coercion. Missionaries tried, without any ulterior motive, to bring the goodness of Jesus with no strings attached. The Apostle recalls paying for his own way while in Thessalonica, toiling night and day. I had a friend come up to me and asked if I would sell Amway products. It became very clear to me that there could be confusion between the virtue of a cleansing product and the gospel. That if Amway couldn’t get a stain out then maybe the gospel, I touted wouldn’t be able either. I stayed with the compensation the church offered me as all that I needed. The proof of a person’s integrity can be seen by their actions. This year, in memoriam, we recall the life of Civil Rights Leader-Senator John Lewis, the advocacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsberg and actor Chadwick Boseman who was a super hero in real life, their life’s stories reveal how remarkable these people were. The servants of the Gospel bring us into community. There is advice given like a parent breaching and difficult topic for the welfare of the child. The speaking of the truth while upholding the consecutiveness and integrity of that family member. The shared vision, hope, potential, and joy of the realized life with God. Who have been the saints in our lives that have brought the Word of God to light? Who have lived examples that we could imitate? Who have been loving and gracious with us so we could do the same? Who have been example to us of how to live our relationship with God in real, authentic ways that are joyous? We give thanks for those people who show us the genuineness of life with God. APPLICATION The Apostle Paul is a Saint. His actions are above reproach. His intensions are not for himself but for the welfare of the Thessalonians. Who are those in our lives who have had our best interest at heart and have nurtured and steered us in the direction to receive the Word of God as the rule and measure of our lives? Living our lives, as best we can with God. When we mess up, admit it, ask for forgiveness and do what we can to make things better. We are not called to live perfect lives, just lives that are guided by our relationship with God. We will be influential in ways we won’t even know. We never know who is taking notice. Like at the rummage sale. Some patrons waiting for the doors to open, heard us pray before we began and listened to the laughter from the kitchen and saw that we really enjoyed each other. During the time Evangelist Jim Bakker was caught in adultery, the Christian leader for Inter Varsity Christian Fellow also admitted to an affair. They both submitted themselves to the discipline of the Church. Jim Bakker emerged a couple of weeks later healed of his condition, while Gordon MacDonald’s process took longer, making amends, rebuilding trust, asking for forgiveness to rebuild the broken covenants. We all sin, but Gordon MacDonald’s course of recovery was an example that anyone who has broken covenant, and caused the hurt others could do to set things right with God and others. He repaired his relationship with his wife, his reputation, and place in the Christian community. Sometimes the example of a saint is not in projecting an image of a perfect life, as it is to be an example of how to navigate through sin, failure and disappointment to restoration, healing and reconciliation. CONCLUSION Maybe there is nothing ordinary about having faith. It is the extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit in us that sparks a trust in God. Living by faith makes our lives profound, provocative and compelling. Doing Good for others has that effect on people. Speaking the words of justice, compassion, grace, forgiveness, honesty, truth and love, encourages communities to aspire to live philanthropic lives. Love that draws us into relationships of care, help, fellowship, laughter and support. Through Christ, we all have the potential, by grace and love, to be Saints.
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