One Afternoon Sermon

~~~ 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ~~~ Psalm 45 ~~~ Luke 6:20-26 ~~~

Luke gives us his version...the Sermon on the Plains.

He, like Matthew, has blessings and woes. 

Luke also focuses on the physical and emotional.

Was this whole sermon just a ploy to conjure up some sort of reaction?

Was Jesus just trying to see if anyone was really listening.

Was he trying to generate some conversation among the disciples?

Was Jesus trying to create a scenario where everyone 

was included and excluded at the same time? 

His language was upsetting to the normal person who was listening.

He was speaking to all yet speaking to none.

What was he talking about?

Why was this an important sermon to give?

Why was it important to hear?

Why is it important for us to hear today?

Jesus has just chosen his small group of ordinary men

 to be his apostles and then he begins to look up

at them giving this complex sermon.

I wonder if any of them were having second thoughts?

How could they follow someone they could not understand?

How could they be an apostle for someone

 who's teachings they themselves 

could not explain or repeat?

Was he really blessing those in poverty 

and condemning those with abundance?

Blessed are you who are poor,

for the Kingdom of God is yours...

...But woe to you who are rich,

for you have received your consolation.

So much to include in one afternoon's sermon.

The new apostles must have been feeling very inadequate.
God never wants us to feel like we are not prepared...
not smart enough...not good enough.
He wants us to trust that if he sends us out
on a mission he will be with us.
He will put the necessary words on our lips.

Jesus was looking at the apostles.
Was he telling them
what not to be concerned about.
Is the message for us today too?

If we follow Jesus we will not be spared
from poverty, hunger, sadness, or being hated.

If we follow Jesus we don't have to be wealthy or happy...
people may actually hate us and speak ill of us.

None of this matters as long as you keep
your eyes fixed on the Lord.

There is no promise of an easy life
just because we are believers.
The promise is eternal life.
The promise is you have been saved by our Creator God.
The promise is you are loved beyond measure.

He Blesses us no matter what our situation.
God is Love.
~~~Peace~~~