“Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

“Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Luke 14:25-35

“You are the salt of the earth. But remember that salt is useful when in association, but useless in isolation.” Israelmore Ayivor

I have often thought about this saying about salt and its saltiness and wondered exactly what it had to do with the preceding verses. But, after some time and thought and reflection, it seems to me that it all has to do with relationships – relationship at least with Jesus. Under the title of the “Cost of Discipleship”, Jesus tells two stories about beginning something without having made adequate plans for its completion. The relationship to discipleship is this: it is a warning not to begin a relationship with Jesus if we are not prepared to follow it through. G-d has laid out a redemptive plan through Jesus Christ – and G-d will be faithful in G-d’s plan. Should we not then be prepared to follow Jesus and continue that relationship even through the bad times in our lives? For, if we give up on G-d in the rough times of our lives, we are no better than salt that has lost its saltiness. G-d will stay true to us – will be stay true to G-d?

Pastor Dave

Woe is me. This is how I often feel when I am confronted with preaching sermons on Trinity Sunday – and Pentecost Sunday – because they both concern preaching on something that is almost un-explainable. How do you make sense of what happens on the Day of Pentecost – the rush of the wind, the tongues of flames on each disciple, and people hearing strangers speaking in their own languages? The same is true with Trinity Sunday – how do you explain a G-d that we know as three entities — Father, Son and Holy Spirit – yet our G-d is not three G-ds but One G-d? I would rather try to explain that scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But here is one thing I do want to say to you about the text from Isaiah – his experience is not just about his unworthiness to be in the presence of the Lord – it is about G-d making him worthy. It is a reminder that G-d makes us all worthy – because from the sheer terror of being in the presence of G-d, G-d acts to make Isaiah worthy – G-d acts first to blot out his sin. More importantly, once Isaiah is made worthy, G-d gives him a personal invitation – “Will you go for me?”

As I think about this text, this is how I think we should end each service – not with an
imperative: “Go in peace, serve the Lord”
Instead the service should end with a Divine invitation:

“Will you go to serve the Lord?” And the response: “With the Lord’s help – we will – we will.”

Now you might be thinking: “I don’t have what it takes to be a servant for the Lord, like Isaiah – I feel more like Job or Jonah – I feel more like running away or reminding G-d how I do not have the time.”

Look, none of us have what it takes to be a servant for G-d – if we just rely on our own strength. This is why it is fitting to begin today with the story of King Uzziah. Why? Well, if you think about it, King Uzziah initially was with the Lord – relying on the Lord for guidance – and so he was successful. He built up the kingdom he reigned over. Then he cast the Lord aside and tried to go his own way, and G-d had a message for him – if you spurn the teachings and the ways of G-d – if you determine to go it all alone, then you risk the Lord’s wrath – or worse, we risk trying to make our own way without the Lord’s help.
Isaiah first said “I am not worthy”. The Lord said “I make you worthy”.

So, what makes you and I worthy to be servants for the Lord? Why should we be so bold to answer the Lord’s calling with “Here I am – send Me”?

This is where the Romans text helps us out this morning. Paul says:
“You have received a spirit of adoption. It is that Spirit (the Holy Spirit) that bears witness for our spirit which claims us as Children of G-d.” And he goes on to say, “if we are children of G-d then we are heirs of G-d and “joint-heirs” with Jesus Christ.” This is a radical claim – and bears repeating so we can hear what he is saying. Paul is saying that we are not JUST Children of G-d – but we are “Co-heirs” with Christ – we are WORTHY to share the riches of G-d’s love for Christ.

How could we be “Co-Heirs” with Christ? We never died for the sins of the world. So how could we become “Co-Heirs” with the one who died for all people, suffering on the cross for the sake of the Kingdom of G-d?

It is called the “Happy Exchange”. Now that sounds inviting doesn’t it – the “Happy Exchange”. It goes like this. G-d became human – through Jesus Christ, G-d came to be just like you and me – so that you and I could become just like Jesus. So there is nothing we need to do to be worthy of G-d’s love, mercy and Grace – G-d makes us worthy because it pleases G-d to treat us as G-d’s children. This is what makes John 3:16 so appropriate in its simplicity:

G-d so loved the world (first) that G-d gave the world G-d’s Son, Jesus Christ. G-d acted first. G-d did not ask our opinion first. Just like G-d did for Isaiah – G-d did not ask Isaiah his opinion first – G-d made him worthy. G-d swept up Isaiah into his throne room and said “You are worthy to be my servant.” This is what G-d does for you and me, through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave