St. John’s United Methodist Church

Competition in sports… competition in the workplace… competition in academia… competition within our families… competition within many arenas in our lives…. While competition can be good, I think constant competition can tear us down. Competition is only about the one who wins. What about the rest of us? I think that how the writer of I Timothy is as important as what he said: an encouragement to keep on keeping on…and know that he could do what he was created to do.

We’re challenged to do what we do the best we can do it and recognize that we’re not going to do it right. Oh, occaisionally. But the vast majority of the time, we’re not going to get it perfect…. But grace abounds! Christ still accepts us, loves us, deeply. There’s grace for all of us. So let’s go at this the best we can do it. Let’s be over the top, excited about what we do as the Church. And do the best we can and know that when we’ve done the best we can, grace will abound! …to make up the difference. Grace will abound! Grace will abound!

This passage of scripture to me is a picture of God. We like to see ourselves in the passages of scripture. We can find ourselves in these two parables. But I think first and foremost these parables are about God, and what God is like. And God’s great, great desire to be in relationship with us… God’s great, great desire to care for us. And God’s great nature to search for us even when it seems foolish.

I think the story we’re sharing this morning is an affirmation for us about the difference we can make in the world. And the fact that there aren’t any of us who are too small to be unimportant. And while that’s certainly the message of scripture, there are ways that writers thru the years have been able to make the same message, we understand it primarily thru the power and strength and in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christians. I don’t know what Dr. Seuss’s background was, but certainly this is a story that carries with it the same kind of message. Dr. Seuss: “Horton Hears a Who!” Not a Christian message per se, but a message that is strong, none-the-less.

I find this passage difficult, because it seems an odd thing to me that Jesus would be giving these kind of social directions. This is what it sounds like on the surface.

I find this passage difficult, because it seems an odd thing to me that Jesus would be giving these kinds of social directions. This is what it sounds like on the surface.

I think what Jesus was encouraging at the time was for us to have a vision not always changed but maybe expanded, peripheral vision expanded, to lift our eyes from that which has been holding us down… us, down… because we’ve been stuck in a certain perspective for so long.

This is a challenge to much of the contemporary church, to all churches. For it is very easy to become comfortable, and in our comfort we often cheat ourselves of the depth of Christianity that Christ calls us to. We get to that point that we go as far as fits into our life style and we ask Jesus to bless that life style. And when we’re confronted, we’re downright uncomfortable there, and want to avoid the challenge. And when we do, we lose out on the richness, I think, of what Christ had in store for that commitment and for that life of discipleship that he had in mind.

“Be dressed for action” is not about clothes, and it’s not about things… except when those things get in the way of us receiving the blessings, of experiencing the richness, the fullness, and the sweetness of God’s reign in our lives. Always be ready for God’s coming into our lives…..

I’m here on a mission: you are all under arrest!
On what charges? you ask.
You’ve been brought up on charges of being a Christian.
And you’re going to be examined and we’re going to find out for sure if there’s enough evidence to find you guilty.
…… Is there enough evidence to find you guilty of being a Christian?