Sermon - Our Response

A sermon detailing the proper response to God's love and mercy demonstrated towards us in his son Jesus Christ.

The video cuts out at the 29:50 mark however the sermon wasn't finished. Here is what I had left to say.

Is this list surprising? It shouldn't be. Its merely the words of Christ with a 20th century psychologists flair. Jesus said that we fed the hungry, we gave water to the thirsty. These are number one on Maslow's list of needs. Jesus said that we welcomed in the stranger. Third on Maslow's list. Jesus said that we gave clothes to those in need and cared for the sick. Second on Maslow's list. Jesus said that we visited those in prison. Fourth on Maslow's list. So what does Jesus mention that meets Maslow's fifth need? According to Maslow, the fifth most important human need was self fulfilment by using one's talents and potential. Isn't this exactly what we are doing when we feed the hungry, welcome strangers, visit prisoners, care for the sick, protect the weak, clothe the poor and in need? Aren't we in fact meeting our own human need by helping to meet the needs of others?

I recently had a chance to talk with someone who was planning a charity event. She had done nothing like this before. She felt out of her depth, a little bit lost and a tad bit frightened, but she also felt alive and that what she was doing had meaning. Seeing her eyes light up when she talked about how she was focusing on sharing love and hope with those in need was inspiring. She was helping those in need and at the same time having her needs met.

When Jesus sent out his Disciples (Matthew 10:5-8) he gave them a specific set of instructions. They were to go and preach to the lost sheep of Israel that "'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'" His instructions did not end there, they were to follow up the word preached with the word in action. They were to "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons." Why? Because they had been freely given God's love and so they should freely give it.

I think it wonderful that God would design such a system. A system where when we love God, we love others, when we love others, we are having our need for fulfilment met, and at the same time we are loving God, because what we do for God's children, we do for God. When we love God's children, we love God.

The Apostle John uses a wonderful metaphor in his first epistle. He talks about how God is light and that we are to walk in the light. If we hate our brother we walk in darkness, but if we love our brother we are in the light. The light is God's love. Jesus calls us the light of the world and that we are to let our love shine forth "that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Our actions show to the world God's love.

Our actions speak to the faith that we profess.

To many what we say matters little, its what we do that matters. Parents know that they can tell their children to do something one way, but they will in the end mimic the parent. They will do it the way the parent does it and they will compare what was said with what was done. The truth of what was said depends on whether it matches what the parent did. James makes this clear, if we see someone in need and profess love towards them and wish them well but leave it at that, is that love? No, but if we backed up our words with action it would be meaningful. Then the person would truly know that they are loved.

Many miss the message of God's love. The Israelites of Micah's day ignored God's love preferring works. The Israelites of Jesus' day ignored God's love preferring legalism. Let us not be added to the list of those who would hear the words of God but not live them. Instead let us love. Let us love so that we would be that light upon the hill. Let us love so that our needs our met. Let us love so that the world will know the truth of Christ. Let us love so that those in darkness will know that the Christ we profess with our lips is alive in us and in the world. Let us love so that God will be glorified. Let us love because God first loved us. Let us love.

And so now I'll finish with the words of the Apostle Paul, who has professed and lived the love of Christ far better than I (Ephesians 3:16-19).

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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Education

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• Christian
• Sermon