Author: knoxchurchreddeer

Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, and Romans 5:1-11

 

It is a time when thoughts of peace are desperately needed. Every time I hear world news, it keeps me from feeling at ease. I just pray that the wars end as soon as possible.

What are some things that disturb peace in modern life? Financial instability, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, concerns about parents or children, health, etc. If you look for them, there will be countless. On the contrary, I think about the elements that create peace: church members, prayer, God, sanctuary, home, food, and so on. When I think about it, I often find many reasons to be grateful.

In the story of Exodus, the Israelites, following Moses, complain because they have no water. When anyone is thirsty, it is easy to complain and lose peace. But God closely observes the thoughts of these Israelites. This is verse 7. “And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

They doubted God and tested the Creator. “Is the Lord among us or not?” Those who abide in God’s Word make different choices in times of discomfort. Those who trust in God are wary of letting discomfort turn into complaints. Everyone walked through the wilderness under the same conditions. It was not an easy journey for Moses, either. Of course, he did protest and complain to God in some cases, but fundamentally, he trusted God. He obeyed the command to strike the rock of Mount Horeb with his staff. It is strange to strike a rock with a stick, but it is not reasonable to say that water will come out of it. This is an unscientific expression.

Let’s imagine I was given a revelation that if I went out into the field and struck the ground with my staff, oil would come out. Do you believe this? You and I both think this is absolutely absurd.

However, Moses believed God’s word and experienced God’s grace and peace. The Creator gave him. Dear friends, how wonderful it would be if, like Moses, we too could hear God’s voice every time we pray. But we know this is difficult. So, we understand God’s will through the Bible and live by faith. When we read the book of Romans, we realize that Paul explains that we can find peace through Jesus Christ. By faith, we can receive grace and hope and enjoy the glory of God. When we hold this belief, we are justified. We have peace with God. Why is that? Because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

As Christians, we can sing of hope even in times of suffering. Even in times of crisis, we can seek God’s wisdom and hope for His plan to be fulfilled through us. Why is this so? Because the passionate and boundless love of Jesus Christ, who loved sinners so much that he gave himself up on the cross, is within us today. We have now received reconciliation through Jesus. I hope that during this Lenten season, we will enjoy reconciliation and peace and strive to live for them. Amen.

Genesis 12:1-4, Psalm 121, and John 3:1-17

 

When I was preparing my sermon, it was not easy to find a connection between today’s Lectionary and Lent. But as I meditated on the Word, two verses stood out to me: Genesis 3 and John 17. “³ I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” “¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Through you, through him. When Jehovah blessed Abram, the Creator said that through Abram all people on earth would be blessed. I wondered at first what connection these Bible verses might have with Lent. However, through John 3:17, I clearly understood its meaning. It means that salvation is a blessing. Just as God wanted to bless Abram, God wants to bless us through Jesus Christ. Through him we are saved. This is God’s plan from more than two thousand years ago. The plan to save humankind was thus thoroughly prepared and executed. And that plan continues to reach our neighbours and us today.

Jesus came to save humanity. He became a bridge between God and us. Now it’s our turn. Just as Abraham was the starting point for the salvation of humanity, it is our turn to begin our work.

Sometimes, the more members a church has, the more ideas and plans it has. And we discuss the direction the church should take. Through this process, the church matures, but at times it also experiences wounds and conflict. So, pastors say that each member of the congregation has their own ideal church. It’s already been a year and six months since I came to Red Deer. Some church members often tell me how much they love our church. Some people say it’s more harmonious than last year. Sometimes, new members or first-time visitors give us that evaluation. It is an expression of great joy and gratitude to me. Moreover, it makes me feel good that our church members seem to be receiving good reviews. Of course, I believe that there is no place in the world where there is no conflict. There is no church without conflict. In times of abundance, we must prepare for times of famine. Likewise, when many good things are happening in the church, we must prepare for bad things.

Even within families, there can be conflict. Personally, I braved the yellow warning due to snowfall on Thursday evening and took my kids to ice skating lessons. Normally, my wife would take my kids there, but I was worried, so I drove with them. On the way back from skating, my son complained that his mom hadn’t bought him Gatorade. I gave up my sermon preparation time to go there, but what I returned with was protests and conflict. At first, I was upset, but after an hour, peace returned to my home. Of course, there are many stories about our church that I don’t know about.

The important thing is that we must try to control all of these things in a harmonious way. God uses us just as we are. Even though we are lacking and weak, God calls us, Knox, and gives us strength to do God’s work. We, who have received various gifts, serve the church and society in the same way. Last Sunday, after the service, we had a pancake brunch where Sunday school children, elders, and many church members actively participated. Thanks to your cooperation, we raised over $500, which will be donated to the Red Deer Amethyst House. Although it’s a small step, we continue to seek additional support and discover mission tasks through the Mission Committee.

Among the doctrines of Christianity, there is the concept of sanctification. Sanctification refers to the process or act by which a believer’s religious life becomes holy. I think Lent is a good opportunity to reflect on this concept. It helps us break free from the tendency to be dominated by this world’s values. The values of this world keep us busy with our own affairs rather than God’s worldview. Sometimes it leads us away from God’s Word and from our fellow believers. But sanctification cleanses sinners from the corruption of sin and helps renew human nature in the image of God. It is both the process and the result. It is the ongoing and gracious work of the Holy Spirit that enables humans to do good deeds.

Humans have a constant desire to become more comfortable. As life becomes more difficult, people tend to think only of the benefit for themselves and their families. But when crises come to the world, Christians meditate on God’s plan. We need to think about God’s will and Jesus’ love. What does God want us to realize in this situation? How would Jesus act? We pray and meditate. So, even in moments when everyone has no choice but to think and decide selfishly, we constantly strive to make altruistic decisions. Why is that? Because there is the way of Christ. Because Jesus Christ lived that kind of life. Because He showed us the way and silently walked the way of the cross. So, as disciples, we too are walking that path today. From the mind that continues to think about earthly things and seek comfort, we choose heavenly things and discomfort. All this is possible when we are born of water and the Spirit, as in John 3:5. When we are born again by the Holy Spirit, we can enter the kingdom of God as new beings. When we live as people of the Holy Spirit, we can experience the kingdom of God on this earth. As Jesus told Nicodemus, if we believe in Him and follow Him completely, humanity will be able to see God through us. People will look at our lives and hope for salvation and eternal life. Let’s live as Christians this week, too. I deeply contemplate the weight of the word Christian and pray that the love and grace of Jesus, who gave His life for us, may fill your home. Amen.