Let It Go

Let It Go

November 24, 2024
1 John 1:8-10, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 73:1-28

If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong.  If we claim, “We have never sinned,” we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10

Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

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It is far to easy to be overwhelmed by the evil in the world around us.  Hatred, greed, fear and suffering of every kind seem like they are only getting worse.  We wonder why it seems that “bad people” seem to get away with everything while those who are genuinely striving to do what is right so often end up at the bottom.  Our cries are not new.  Even the Psalmist cried out to God asking why the wicked seemed to prosper (Psalm 73). 

As we approach Thanksgiving, let me offer two truths and a way forward regarding this pressing question.  First, God is not blessing the wicked or cursing the righteous.  Things happen, for good or bad, to all people regardless of how “good” or “bad” they might be.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust.  Furthermore, Jesus shows us in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) that those who do not seem very “blessed” by the world are already blessed by God. 

Secondly, we should approach the question of good things happening to bad people or even bad things happening to good people with a healthy dose of humility.  John writes that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8) and Jesus himself says that no one is “good” (Mark 10:18).  The idea that good things or bad things should happen to people based on our merit is a foolish notion because at the end of the day, none of us are truly “deserving.”  God’s love is not something that can be earned, but a gift freely given to all, to those who deserve it the least, and to those who mistakenly think they deserve it the most.

There is no easy answer to the injustice in our world and the seeming lopsidedness of blessing when it comes to those who gain power and wealth through evil means vs. those who suffer for doing what is right.  There is, however, a way we can begin to reframe our perspective and build resilience in the face of suffering and injustice.  It is the simple act of giving thanks. 

When life feels unfair, gratitude keeps us grounded and allows us to focus on God’s faithfulness rather than the fleeting circumstances around us. Gratitude opens us to see God’s blessing in places we might not have otherwise noticed.  And gratitude humbles us to realize that though there are many who unfairly gain blessings on the backs of others, it is also true that God is already blessing the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek and merciful, those who hunger & thirst for righteousness, those who are pure in heart, the peacemakers, and even those who are persecuted. 

Gratitude won’t solve injustice, but it will open our hearts to hope, peace, love & joy even in the darkness.

The Gift of Gratitude

The Gift of Simplicity

Simple Gifts - Part 3

Sunday, December 17, 2023
Psalm 100:1-5, Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him,  they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!”

When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left, they were cleansed.  One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice.  He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.  Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?”  Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

 Luke 17:11-19 (CEB)

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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We typically think of gratitude around Thanksgiving, but the truth is, gratitude is at the center of Advent and at the heart of every part of our spiritual lives. 

When we embrace the gift of slowing down, we notice how much of our lives are filled with clutter, both external and internal.  As we simplify our lives, we become more grateful for those things that matter most, the things that often get buried under the distractions of busyness and clutter. 

Slowing down and simplifying our lives helps bring healing to the chaos of our minds, our hearts, our spirits, and even our bodies, but if we are not careful, we will slip right back into our old habits.  Nine of the lepers were so excited when they found themselves healed that they didn’t even stop to think about the implications.  Presumably they went on and lived normal lives in a community from which they had previously been cut off, but they never pause to appreciate the significance of the gift they had received. 

Gratitude is not just about writing a thank you card for a gift under the tree or praying a blessing around the dinner table for our family and friends.  Gratitude moves us to a deeper awareness of the mysterious and surprising hope, peace, love & joy in our lives.

All ten lepers were likely thankful for their healing.  If they lived today, they would probably share it as a praise report in Sunday worship.  But only one experienced the deep, heartfelt gratitude that moved him to draw nearer to the source of his healing.  He went back to Jesus, overwhelmed by the grace and love he had received.

Notice the man who returned was a Samaritan, a foreigner, an outsider among outsiders.  Once, all ten were united by their disease which kept them in social exile, but now he alone remains an outsider, simply because he is a Samaritan.  I wonder if this is why he, more than the others, was so grateful, because he had no expectation that God should come to his aid. 

How often do we take for granted God’s presence in  because we are good Christians who deep down assume we deserve it?  The Samaritan had been conditioned to believe he was outside the bounds of God’s love.  That is why his gratitude was so much deeper.  He was not only physically healed, but because he was truly seen by Jesus, and his human dignity as a beloved child of God had been restored. 

What would it mean for you to feel truly seen by God in this season and how might a deeper sense of gratitude open your eyes to truly see others and to help others see themselves the same way?