When you look at Jesus’ ministry, it doesn’t always seem so glorious. Yes, there are those times when he helped the sick, raised the dead, and fed the 5,000. But there are also those times when he was rejected in his hometown, ridiculed by the religious leaders, and finally hung on a cross, naked, and alone.
The Christian church also seems to follow that pattern. Yes, sometimes there are a number of new believers, unity in the church, and service in the community. But there are also times of decline, rejection from the world, and weakness.
But don’t be fooled by looking at a snapshot of God’s story. Our Lord has a history of redeeming, rescuing, and renewing his people. There was a time when God’s people were enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years. But God redeemed, rescued, and renewed his people. Then there was a time when God’s people were exiled into Babylon, but again he redeemed, rescued, and renewed his people.
The Biblical authors in the Old Testament knew that God wasn’t done yet. That’s why Isaiah wrote: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
In other words, hold on to your hats. You haven’t seen nothing yet. God was about to redeem, rescue, and renew his people again. This time God was not going to use plagues or powerful leaders. This time God himself was going to help his people through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As you look at Jesus Christ and his church, it might seem like all is lost. You might even be tempted to reject the Lord with the rest of the world. But take a long view of history. Look at God’s great work of salvation throughout time. He has always come to the help of his people. And he is planning on doing it again. On the Last Day, he will return in glory to redeem, rescue, renew, and to even resurrect his people.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, sometimes I wonder whether you are still in charge in this broken, wicked, and sinful world. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Open my eyes to your glory. Amen.
Why did the religious leaders in Jesus’ day reject him as their Savior? The short answer: They had too much to lose, at least from their perspective. If Jesus really was right, then they were wrong about almost everything. They would have to admit they were wrong when they put their ultimate trust in their position in the community. Or when they trusted in how well they followed their own rules. Or when they tried to use their authority to control the people. So instead of admitting they were wrong, they rejected Jesus even to the point of crucifying him. They thought they had just too much to lose.
There was a time when another religious leader named Paul had the same point of view. He saw Jesus as a threat to everything he had gained through his religiosity. But Jesus himself confronted Paul and opened his heart to the truth of God’s love in Christ. And so, instead of trusting in his religious accomplishments, he came to say, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7).
When Paul met Jesus, he started prizing and pursuing what God treasured. He stopped trusting and boasting about his successes, and he started worshiping and honoring his Savior.
The same option lies before us. We can follow the example of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. We could trust in our trophies, accomplishments, and religious observances. Or we could consider our record nothing in comparison to knowing Christ and being found in him.
Following Christ might mean that we lose in the eyes of the world. But whatever we might gain in this world is nothing compared to what we already have in Christ.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to trust in you, and you alone. Amen.
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest [Jesus] immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. Luke 20:19
One of the most remarkable truths of Jesus’ story is that he was killed by religious professionals. The very people who studied, memorized, and taught the Scriptures, killed the hero of their own Bible. And it’s not because Jesus didn’t try to confront them and lead them to repentance. Even when he told the stories that were meant to get their attention, they still rejected him. The Gospel writer, Luke, says that after Jesus taught them, ‘The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them.” (Luke 20:19). Instead of listening to Jesus, they rejected him and wanted to get rid of him.
You see, sometimes, even the experts get it wrong. Sometimes the very people who are supposed to represent God end up rejecting God and cause more harm than good in his church.
The same thing can happen today. Religious leaders who are supposed to represent God might use their power and authority to harm or control their congregation. They might be more of a curse to your church than a blessing. Tragically, when this happens, many people walk away from Christianity altogether.
If you have been harmed by religious professionals, remember that Jesus was also harmed by religious professionals. If you have been burned by the selfishness of some leaders, remember Jesus, the true leader of the church, willing gave up everything to serve and rescue you. If you are considering giving up on God, remember that he has never given up on you.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, lead me to build my faith on you alone, especially when human leaders fail me. Amen.
[Jesus] went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” Luke 20:9-15
In this short story, Jesus is summarizing over a thousand years of Israel’s history. God gave Israel his word and his promises. But instead of learning and sharing God’s message with the world, Israel rejected God and his representatives.
You see, hostility toward God and the rejection of his word is not a new problem. It has been going on since the first people God created disobeyed him in the Garden of Eden. What is surprising is that God has not given up on his people. Not only did God continue to send prophets and teachers to his people, but he also sent his very own son, Jesus Christ. And although Jesus was rejected to the point of death, God used their failure to provide forgiveness to the world through the cross.
Don’t be startled when you see the world walk away from the truth. That’s to be expected. But let your heart continue to be renewed by God’s long-suffering and never-ending faithfulness and love.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I can get so depressed when I see so many leave the faith. Help me to see and believe in your faithfulness. Amen.
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12,14
“Citius, altius, fortius” is a Latin phrase meaning “swifter, higher, stronger.” It is the motto of the Olympic games and does well to embody what our calling in Christ pursues.
Christ has already taken care of saving us for a Christian life and setting us apart for an eternal life in heaven. He’s placed us on the path of righteousness but still lets us run. Swifter we flee from temptation. Higher we stretch ourselves to practice Christ-like love. Stronger we stand in the midst of suffering in this world. A shining example of this kind of fortitude was revealed in the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico.
A Tanzanian marathon runner named Akhwari was the last man to finish the marathon race. He arrived in the stadium staggering and limping; and finished his race long after the winner did. Of course, this prompted all kinds of post-race questions as to why he continued when he had no chance of winning.
He simply replied, “My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish the race.”
A Christian who knew why God saved him and set him apart, the apostle Paul, also spoke in similar terms, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me . . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12,14).
Run, Christian, run. Finish the race.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know you can understand me when I feel weak because you became weak. You became weary and tired. You were exhausted at times and overworked—like me. Sometimes I just want to sit down and give up and look for easier ways, but I know you don’t want that for me. Help me finish the race. Lift my feet to follow your steps. Extend my arms to reach others in love. Wipe my tears of sorrow so that I can better see the path. Lead me on, Lord. Lead me on. Amen.
Have you ever heard the saying: “whistling past the graveyard”? It is used to describe people who know they are in a terrible situation yet remain confident even in the face of overwhelming odds.
That saying can describe Christians. Isaiah 12:2 tells us why. It says, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.” We human beings face a terrible situation and overwhelming odds. Sin infests our hearts like a disease, showing itself in hateful thoughts, hurtful words, and hostile actions toward others. The result is that we are headed for the graveyard, facing the death of our bodies and souls forever as our just punishment. And there is nothing we can do about it. There is nothing we can do to make up for our sins or set our wrongs right.
We need saving, and that saving comes not from us but from God. He has become our salvation. He sent his Son, Jesus, to endure the punishment for all our sins by giving his life on the cross. But that’s not all. Jesus not only fought our fight against sin and won, but he also rose again, conquering death. In Jesus, we have victory over sin and the grave. His work on our behalf gives us unshakable confidence in the face of overwhelming odds.
We can sing past the graveyard because, in Jesus and his sin-conquering strength, we have forgiveness. We can sing past the graveyard because the grave is not our end. Instead, Jesus makes heaven our eternal home. So, no matter the terrible situation, no matter the overwhelming odds, Jesus and his salvation give us strength for singing.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, you are my salvation. Give me strength not to be afraid even of death itself because you defeated sin and death for me. Give me strength to sing of the salvation I have in you. Amen.
Order of Service: The Service Setting Two – pg. 172
Today’s Theme: People often look to the judgment of experts, and are influenced by them. That poses a problem when it comes to Christ. The world’s experts generally see little value in Christ and his Word. Christ reminds us that when it comes to judgments about him and his kingdom, only one opinion matters – God the Father. Learn to evaluate the world’s experts properly, and trust’s God’s Word.
Hymns:914, 861, 517
Psalm:73B
Special Music:
Sermon:Philippians 3:4b-14 “Take Out the Garbage!”
LESSONS
Isaiah 43: 16-21
16This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 17who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 20The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Philippians 3:4b–14
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Luke 20:9–19
9He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:9,10
Have you ever received a gift that made you so excited that you never used it? I doubt it! When we get a gift, we’ve longed to receive, it’s only natural to begin using it immediately.
Maybe you remember a toy you received as a child for Christmas. You couldn’t wait to get up the next morning to play with it again. Maybe you received a puppy and couldn’t wait to take it for its first walk around the block. Or maybe it was the gift of your newborn baby, and you couldn’t wait for the nurse to place that little one into your arms for the first time.
When you receive a wonderful gift, it just makes sense to use that gift immediately and often. To lay it aside and live as if you hadn’t received it simply would not make any sense.
So why would we ever think of laying aside the greatest and most precious gift we can ever receive—the gift of God’s Holy Spirit? When we freely receive the Spirit of Christ, we also receive the perfect forgiveness of sins, the assurance that our eternal condemnation is crushed, and the certainty of an eternal home in heaven. In short, the Spirit gives life, now and forever. Use it! Live it!
The apostle Paul could not have been clearer. “If Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” Through the gift of God’s Spirit, Jesus’ righteousness—his perfection—is yours. That’s the gift of life! Use it!
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, inspire me to use my new life in service to you and others in love. Amen.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
