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A sermon is a manner of oral communication and therefore words and sentence structure/order would be added, altered, or deleted at the moment of delivery. + In Nomine Jesu + The Rev. Evan Gaertner A hazardous materials accident requires special training. When there is a haz-mat accident usually you and I are the people that are going away from it, trying to get away as far as we can. But first-responders, fire fighters, EMT’s, police officers, and others, are going into the mess. Hopefully they go into the situation prepared to help and not become victims themselves. I have a friend in the FBI who has his doctorate in chemistry who works with confidence around bombs, hazardous materials, and other things that I don’t want to know about. What I remember most about his confidence was not that he was the “I wanna be a hero type,” but that he knew that he was well trained and surrounded by people that were well trained. In our epistle lesson we hear from Jude, the brother of James and so most likely the brother of Jesus, about how we are to have mercy upon those who doubt, save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude is very honest about the danger of sin in this world. The treacherous lives of others deserve our fear. He said, “to others show mercy with fear.” We are wise with fear of the dangers of sin. Going into this sinful world is like walking into a burning building. To reach out and help someone is to touch a garment stained by disease. But we go. But we reach. We do not walk away. Before a SWAT team goes to execute a dangerous warrant, they will as a team walk through the procedure. Jude reminds us, “beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” It is important to remain in the word of God, to build up our most holy faith. Keep yourselves in the embrace of the love of Jesus Christ. By faith we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Ephesians to put on the breastplate of “righteousness.” Before a firemen goes into a burning building he puts on his gear. The gear is going to be heavy and may feel like a burden but he knows that it is necessary. Dear faithful brothers and sisters our Christian life will at times appear like a burden. But we know that without the spirit of God, the power of sin, death, and the devil will overtake us. When making a difficult visitation to a family that is grieving, I will pray in my car before I get out. I will pray for a spirit of wisdom and a heart of comfort and that through all that I will say and do that I will give witness to the hope of the resurrection in Jesus Christ. I will then get out of my car and walk towards the hospital room, the funeral home, or the house. We live in a dangerous time. The world around us is filled with reasons for disappointment, frustration, and anger. But we are not slaves to this world’s troubles. By your faith in Jesus Christ you are being built up. Jesus is the king of kings, the lord of lords. He is the not the king of slaves, the lord of fools. Stop living as a slave to your fear and doubts. Stop being frozen by your fear of failure. Even in your failure God has loved you. Even in your fear and doubts Jesus reached out to you with mercy. Jesus is a kingmaker. I do not want you to think that being a Christian is to be a fool. I do not want you to live in this world like a door stop. You are a king. You are a chosen people. God does not choose failures. God chooses you to walk with mercy to those in doubt. God choose you to bring mercy. Being built up by the love of Christ you go where others walk past. Being kept firm by the love of Christ you reach out a hand of mercy where others bring a strike of anger. You are a chosen people, chosen in Christ. The first responders are prepared to walk into danger because they are clothed in their protective gear. One of the most enduring images of 9/11 is the firefighters covered in ash walking towards the buildings when everyone else was running away. There are families dealing with substance abuse…. A mother who loves her son dearly will struggle of how to reach with mercy. The rest of the family is walking away from this guy because of his drug and alcohol problems. But this mother continues to receive her son with mercy. But this mom is wise about her son’s troubles. She shows mercy with fear. She loves her son but knows his sin stains much of what he does. The stained garments of sin are dangerous. But we bring new clothes. The king of kings has given us his robe of righteousness. Walk in the way of kings not in the way of slaves. The grace of God is filled with the knowledge that we are sinners and yet he loves us dearly. God sent his son into the fire of our sin. He was on the cross. But death could not consume him. We are alive. Because Jesus responded first to our sin with his love and sacrifice, we are called to be first-responders in this world of sin with love and sacrifice. Soli Deo Gloria -->> Home |
