This week’s scriptures are: Acts 16:9-15, Psalms 67, Revelation 21:10,22 - 22:5, John 5:1-9
Please pray with me:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that the words of this sermon are YOUR words, and not mine. I pray that the message here touches those that need to be touched. I pray that those receiving this sermon remember that all Honor and Glory are yours, Lord, both now and forever. Amen and Amen.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us". What GLORIOUS words these are to me. You see they remind me of simpler times. Of times when I was a child and young adult. They remind me of a great Norwegian man that was a part of my life for many years.
Art was a huge fan of "Hagar The Horrible". He often quoted Hagar. In fact it was fun to wake up on Sundays and see how would Hagar be used this week.
You see, "Art", was Pastor Arthur Solem. He was first my Chaplain at the Chapel on Fort Bliss, where he confirmed me in the Lutheran faith when I was thirteen. He married my wife and I, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (in El Paso), when I was twenty. He was there for the renewal of our vows, when I was forty-five. Easter Sunday, 2013, was his funeral service (I'm forty-nine). Yes, he was a part of my life for a long time.
Pastor Solem always ended his services with the benediction. Those very familiar words:
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'
I realize that the Benediction words that Pastor Solem used were from Numbers, but the words from Psalms 67 remind me of them. And how GREAT is it to think about God being GRACIOUS to us?
How many times have our children done something wrong and we dished out the punishment we thought was right? How many times were we GRACIOUS to them? Is God not our Heavenly Father? Are we not supposed to emulate Him? Then why are we not GRACIOUS to our children?
I've been guilty of this more times than I care to admit. You see, I have a temper that can flare at the slightest provocation. And yet, I TRY to be like God. I'm not saying that I'm abusive, although there are some, I'm sure, who would say that. I just know that I'm not GRACIOUS.
Think about Judas. I believe that even JUDAS would have experienced God's grace, had he given God the chance. And who among us has betrayed God to His enemies?
There have been many men and women who have committed horrible crimes, done terrible things. And yet, God has shown them Grace. God has reached down to them in their lowest moment and lifted them up. Bringing them into His loving arms and delivering them from sin. How AWESOME is that?
By being gracious, God blesses us. By withholding the things we deserve, we are blessed. Remember, the cost of sin is death? God's kept us from death by sending Jesus to die on a cross, so that our sins could be forgiven, if we just believe.
THAT is grace.
THAT is blessing.
So believe and receive that blessing! Receive eternal life, with God. Allow God to be gracious to you. Allow Him to bless you.
Until we meet again, may God be GRACIOUS to us!
Amen. Amen.
May the reading of this sermon bless you. May God be with you and you with Him, until we meet again.
Amen. Amen.
"The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."
Amen.
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