I Have a Dream

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

 

 

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln spoke these words at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”.

 

On January 20, 1961 newly elected president of the United State, John F. Kennedy, gave his inaugural speech which included the following: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.

 

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and spoke these words: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”.

 

Just as these visionary men gave motivational speeches that changed the world around them, Moses spoke to the nation of Israel. He reminded them how the LORD had delivered their ancestors from slavery. He reminded them how the LORD had performed miracles to bring them to this location at such a time as this.

 

Now was the time for Israel to make a decision. It was time for them to take the land that the LORD had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A land flowing with milk and honey.

 

But crossing the Jordan River would mean a huge change in their lives. They were used to living on manna and quail. They were used to wandering from place to place. They were used to being nomads, living in tents. The thought of crossing the Jordan River to an unknown life must have both excited and scared them.

 

During turbulent times Martin Luther King spoke of equality in America, and inspired a national movement for civil rights. At a critical point in time Moses spoke about the character, promises and expectations of the LORD, and inspired a nation to embrace Him.

 

You and I face decisions every day of our lives. For me, when they occur, I have a dream to “love the LORD my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength”. I pray that you have this same dream.

 

Fiddler on the Roof

Matthew 15:7-20

 

In the movie “Fiddler on the Roof”, the main character, Tevye, is fighting to uphold the ancient traditions of his faith. A fiddler playing on the roof top serves as a metaphor for the Jewish traditions that Tevye is defending. Like the fiddler, these traditions are at risk of losing their balance and falling; and with it, people’s lives would never be the same.

 

Following the Babylonian exile, Jewish rabbis began to develop a system of meticulous rules and regulations governing the daily life of the people. There may have been good reasons for this in the beginning, but by the time Jesus appears, they had become a burden and did more harm than good. But, like Tevye, the Pharisees are defending their system of oppressive rules.

 

It is a system that focuses on the outside of a person and not what is on the inside. That is precisely what makes it so appealing. After all, if your salvation is dependent on your ability to obey and follow the rules, what do you need God for? You can put God in a box that you open on Sunday, or other designated times, and then put Him back in the box when you are done.

 

How appealing that is to human nature. From the time of Adam and Eve, human nature has coveted to control their world and be like God. And in a very real way, to become your own god. All you need to do is focus on the outside and not look at what is going on inside your soul.

 

We can look good on the outside: wear designer clothes, drive a luxury car, live in the best neighborhood and say all the right things – but be ugly on the inside. We can go to church every Sunday, pray every day, read our Bible and get involved in church committees – but our hearts can still be cold towards God.

 

Our identity is in Christ, not rules or traditions or some other substitute. So ask yourself, “What have I used to take God’s place”, and then ask God to take His rightful place in your life. If you do this, the fiddler on the roof will come tumbling down, but your life will have so much more meaning and purpose that there is no comparison.

 

 

What Team Do You Follow?

1 John 4:16-21

 

 

Is it the Buckeyes, the Browns, the Bengals or maybe the Steelers? Football fans come in all sizes and shapes and wear their team’s colors to show it. They invest their hard earned money and their limited time to watch and cheer for their team. They might even put a decal on their car to proclaim their loyalty, or maybe a flag in their front yard. Whatever the case, you can tell from their actions what team they follow. That’s what John is talking about in these verses.

 

“If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.” 1 John 4:20-21 The Message

 

John wrote a lot about loving God and loving others. Because of this, you might picture him as an all-around nice guy. After all, he was an apostle of Jesus and was referred to as “the disciple who Jesus loved”. He was with Jesus during the most important occasions like the Mount of Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane. But there was another side to John.

 

When Jesus called John and his brother James to follow him, he referred to them as the “Sons of Thunder”. It wasn’t because they were meek and mild. John was a fisherman. He worked in the family business with his hands. He was an action kind of guy who sometimes spoke without thinking.

 

On one occasion the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. Shortly after this, James and John asked Jesus if they could be at his right and his left when he came to power. They even solicited their mother to lobby for them. Another time, they wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village. From these examples, it is hard to tell just who John is following.

 

From the time when John was a “rough around the edges fisherman”, to arguing about being the greatest, to wanting to call down fire on others; he changed. Jesus changed John so that his greatest weakness became his greatest strength. I hope and pray that Jesus does the same for me and for you so that others can tell what team we follow.

Jonah: Prodigal Son or Older Brother?

Jonah 4:1-11

 

“Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

“So, God, if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!”           The Message

 

You’re probably familiar with the story of the Prodigal son. The younger son asks for his inheritance and spends it on wild living, while the older son stays at home, obediently working for his father. When the younger son realizes his sin and repents, his Father welcomes him home with open arms. But the older son resents him deeply.

 

The story of Jonah reminds me of this parable of Jesus. First you have the Ninevites – bad guys to the core. They represent everything that is evil and unrighteous before the Lord, but eventually repent.

 

Then you have Jonah – an all-around good religious guy. He is a prophet of the Lord, who God believed in enough to call him to minister in one of the most important cities of the day – Nineveh. But he rebels and condemns the Ninevites.

 

As a result, Jonah instead of following God’s word, heads off to Spain – the total opposite direction of Nineveh. Despite Jonah’s rebellious behavior, the Lord pursues him and shows His love and mercy to him. Following God’s saving grace, Jonah obeys and goes to Nineveh. And low and behold, the people repent!

 

You’d think at this point Jonah would be excited about how God has used him in His plan of redemption. NOT! Instead he is angry at God for showing grace and mercy to the hated Ninevites. This is the same grace and mercy that God had shown to him. It is the same grace and mercy that God shows to you and to me.

 

In this story we come face to face with ourselves. In so doing, we must ask ourselves the question that the title asks of Jonah: Are you like the prodigal son or the older brother? Or are you like the Ninevites or Jonah?

 

We also come face to face with a loving and merciful God and must ask ourselves another question: Will you accept His love and forgiveness only for yourself or will you pass it on to others. The choice is yours.