Scripture: Romans 15:4-13
15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
15:5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,
15:6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
15:9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name";
15:10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";
15:11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him";
15:12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope."
15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Take off your pack. Telling someone to "take off their pack" is an old military term meaning to "stand down," to use another military term, to relax, to not be so tense about something, to not worry about it.
When soldiers take a break during a long hike, or at the end of the hike, they are told to take off their pack, to relax, to take a break. Take off your pack.
More directly, in this case, take off your pack, join hands and pray up a storm. Stand in the will of Almighty God and worry about nothing.
The politicians and ruling class making classic mistakes about the economy, about jobs, about health care and the general running of the nation? More and more people out of work? The ground being cut out from under those who provide national security, amateurs in charge of decisions about international relations?
The very first verse of our scripture today reminds us, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."
Our hope cannot be in the intelligent use of people's wisdom, cannot be in the efficient use of plans and diagrams and programs, nor in the best use of force or political power, or diplomacy.
No, the answer lies in what Romans 15:5-7 says, that "the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
Christian with Christian with Christian, therein lies the answer. For if it is
Christians side by side, back to back, and living, loving and remaining within the will of God, then nothing else matters.
Wherever you go these days, there is concern and worry about the state of the nation, about its economic future, about the longevity of jobs people have even at this point. There is talk of hoarding food against coming shortages, when even a loaf of bread will be beyond the ability to pay, when the sick and the aged will not be able to afford healthcare, when the jobs and the future of this nation will be assumed by foreign countries.
There is deep concern, frustration and disappointment with elected officials and their lack of commitment to honor, integrity and promises made. And because these actions are rampant in this nation, there is great fear, paranoia, and lack of trust runs like rivulets of water before a crumbling dam.
All about us are people urging that we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and "take hold." Others want us to join hands with those who would be our enemies, chanting "can't we all just get along?"
And still others want to do away with all judgment of others altogether and simply live by majority rule, whatever that majority says, goes.
But there is a better way. There is a more lasting way. And in a sense, it is a way that is already in motion, waiting for us to simply get there, if we will accept what has already been done for us.
More than 2,000 years ago, a flesh and blood man, born of a woman on this earth, and yet also a man of God, because He is God, set aside His power and allowed Himself to be tortured and painfully crucified on a cross, a very instrument of torture, so that we might be reunited with God. Since we are finite, we die, we constantly break the laws of God, we serve ourselves and our interests first, misusing ourselves and others, because we are flesh and blood, we have nothing close to the holy, righteousness of God. So Jesus Christ, Son of God, He who died on that cross, clothes us in His righteousness, and makes us acceptable to a holy, righteous God.
Jesus did that for us, if we accept His gift. If we don't accept it, He still did it for us.
So we have a future with God, in eternity, if we want it. This is a future that goes far beyond the life of any sordid events taking place now, far beyond the lives of anyone exercising power, good or bad, over us now; far beyond the life of any decision we make now, except the decision to accept what Jesus Christ has done for us. That decision has a life all its own, stretching into a future beyond anything we know.
But that is still future. What about we who are still here, now? There is a great labyrinth of a forest that stands between us and then, the "then" that's way out yonder. And this forest is impenitrable to our foresight, with paths that twist and turn, with low hanging branches of temptation that threaten to sweep us off our feet, full of storms with great thunder and lightning that may give us pause and frighten us. What are we to do with this "now" that we are in, right now, and coming directly at us at the speed of 60 minutes every hour?
Allow me to return to the very first verse of today's scripture, Romans 15:4, which says, " For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope."
What was it that was "written in former days"? It is the inspired word of God, which God knew we would need, and so sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in its understanding and application.
We have no need of worry or concern. Nothing of what we are seeing, nothing of what is happening, nothing of what is even threatened is a surprise to the God who created the universe, and who has kept it intact and operating in ways that provide for our well-being. Take the very worst of situations, war, for example. There has always been war on earth, and there is war in heaven. So long as there are conflicting ideas, cross purposes, greed, desire, sin, there will be war. We are in the midst of it, constantly, but God is dealing with it for us, for us who belong to Him.
One of my very favorite verses is Romans 8:28, "God works all things together for good to those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purposes."
Notice what that verse does not say. It doesn't say "if I take arms against His enemies," or "if I work hard to change the government from bad to good," or "if" anything. But there are still some "if's" at work here. For example, if we understand the importance of recognizing the fruit of the spirit for the purposes of discernment, if we understand that vengeance belongs to God and not to us, if we know and accept that Jesus said "love" is a higher law, then we can stand with full confidence in the power and purposes of God's holy will, and not worry.
Now, I know that sounds simplistic to some, and sometimes that which seems too obvious also seems too easy, and we question whether or not we can trust it as truth.
So let me point out that our scripture for today also talks about how "Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that He might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy."
For ages upon ages, the Jews, the circumcised people of God, were "THE people of God," and there were none like them. Suddenly they are told that "their" Messiah is now going to share God with an uncircumcised people, an "unclean people." But notice what else the verse says. Not only has the Christ "become a servant of the circumcised", but He has done so "on behalf of the truth of God in order that He might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs...." Those are "their" patriarchs.
How God works is not at all simple, and is beyond our understanding. We see only the results of how He works, and even then "through a glass darkly." What we do know for certain is that God is at work, and He is working in behalf of His own. As far back as the ancient text of Jeremiah 29:11, we are assured, "I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you."
For those who belong to Christ, nothing has changed. Almighty God is still in charge, and we are invited to stand confidently in His will, not to fear, not to worry, but to stand. Take off your pack, and stand in His will.
Amen.
Daily Scripture Readings for December 5 -- 12, 2010
Monday -- Luke 1:5-25
Tuesday -- Luke 1:57-80
Wednesday -- Matthew 3:1-12
Thursday -- Isaiah 62:1-12
Friday -- Luke 12:35-48
Saturday -- Isaiah 51:1-8
Sunday -- Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
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