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Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 5, 2015
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The Words of Eternal Life — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 5, 2015

“Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, said, “This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it?” When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before? The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) So Jesus added, “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.” After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You donʼt want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” John 6:60-69

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” Do you think that includes Judas? Judas is still part of the Twelve even in the upper room the night before Jesus died, yet in his heart and soul it’s very possible that Judas now turns away. And Jesus knew it. He knew right at this moment that Judas would be a traitor. Jesus knew even a few years ago when he was deciding whether or not to call Judas as a disciple that Judas would betray him. And still, Jesus chose him. Still, Jesus loved him. We want to scream out to Jesus, “He’s not worth saving!” but Jesus knew that about Judas, and knows that about us. Jesus knows I will betray him again with my sins, and he still loves me. I’m not worth saving. You’re not worth saving. Jesus knows that. But he loves us anyway. He never gave up on Judas, even to the end, and Jesus will never give up on you. So don’t leave his life-changing love. Don’t turn away from his call to discipleship no matter how difficult. Don’t give up learning about him and from him so that you can better follow him.” “Follow Jesus as a Life Long Learner” (gracedowntown website, Milwaukee, WI – September 6, 2009)

“Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The words for eternal life were intended for all people. They were intended for Peter, Andrew, James, John, Judas, Paul, Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Hobbes, Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as Hitler, Jim Jones, and your greatest enemy. We may think that these words of eternal life were only for “those worth saving”, but these words are all inclusive words — because Jesus thinks all people are worth trying to save. We cannot give up on Jesus, no matter how wrong we think our lives have turned out, because Jesus will not give up on us.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 17, 2015
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A Talking Donkey? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 17, 2015

“God’s anger was kindled because he (Balaam) was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck it again. Then the angel of the Lord went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!” But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?” And he said, “No.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down… Numbers 22:22-31

“Do we see the danger? Or do we not notice how increasingly our own will, our own passion, our own stubbornness sneaks into our confession? Do we not notice how our pious self-confidence puts itself in the place of faith? How our human goals shove aside Christian hope?” Martin Niemoller (1892 – 1984)”For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 239)

We do not always see the danger of allowing our own will, desires, and plans to supersede the will, desires and plans that G*d has for us. Balaam was blind to the presence of G*d, and thus his own will took over. It took the unexpected surprise of the donkey talking to open his eyes to seeing the Angel of the Lord. This reminds us that G*d will come to us in expected ways, and often in unexpected and even extraordinary ways — all in an attempt to get our attention. But in this distracted world in which we live, it may take something extraordinary to get us to look up — look up from our phones, our tablets, our computers, and look up to G*d.

Be open today to how G*d might be interceding in your life. I doubt you will encounter a talking donkey — but don’t put anything outside of the realm and the desire of G*d to get your attention.

Pastor Dave