April 14, 2015

“Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13 – 16

“Many people would gladly be G*d’s witnesses when everything goes according to their wishes. They like to be Holy, as long as their devotions are not too much of a burden; they would be happy enough to experience great fervor and profess their faith openly, if only there were no distress, no grief, no drudgery involved. Once, however, they know the terrors and temptations of spiritual darkness, as soon as they no longer experience the emotional comfort of G*d’s closeness, and feel forsaken within and without, they turn back and they are no witnesses at all. All men desire peace and they look for it in all kinds of ways and places. Oh, if they only could free themselves of this illusion, and learn to look for it in tribulation. Only there is born abiding peace, lasting peace that will endure; if you look for it elsewhere, you will fail miserably.” Johannes Tauler (1300 – 1361) Sermon 21 “For All The Saints” volume III (P. 1086)

When we think of the followers of Jesus, we think “What a joy it must have been to be in the presence of Jesus”. How quickly or conveniently we forget that most of the twelve original disciples died for their relationship with Jesus and the ministry they tried to establish in His name. Their closeness with Jesus did not bring them everlasting, outward peace. Even when they were originally called by Jesus, they did not go on to easy lives filled with roses and sunshine. The disciples experienced the length and breadth of fear, terror, doubt, questioning, arguing, and loneliness. But we have to believe that each of the disciples found the peace they were hoping for – in the midst of all of the trouble and doubt – their hope was in Jesus, strengthened by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Some people, when they experience the first sign of trial or tribulation in their lives, they turn away from G*d because they believe that faith brings only comfort and peace. They are like the seed that is planted in shallow soil, once they are inflicted with the heat of the day, their faith withers and dies. The Grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is most fully understood when the soil in which it is planted is good. If it is Good Soil, if it is planted in soil that has been enriched by G*d’s word, presence, love, mercy and grace, then the tribulations and the heat of the day will not whither the believer, but it will have the same reaction of the refiner’s fire – it strengthens us for all tribulations.

Pastor Dave