“A Question of Focus”                 2011

Psalm 103:1-5, 14                        Romans 11:33-12:5

 

Psalm 103:1-5, 14

1Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits— 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 14For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

 

Romans 11:33-12:5

33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35“Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” 36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

12I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

 

During Sunday worship a few weeks ago, some of our youth

            told about their experience on a recent mission trip,

                            and the difference it is making in their lives,

                                    spiritual journey and faith-walk with the Lord.

 

Their stories and descriptions were wonderfully inspiring

            and a number of you have commented since then

                        on how encouraging it was to hear their testimonies.

 

For me, spending time with our youth on that mission trip

            and then listening to them describe their experiences,

                            has helped me    refocus  on our mission,

                                    and who God   has called this church to be …

    … clearly that mission trip   was money and effort   well spent.

 

When I served as an intern at a little church in Washington State,

            usually about once a month,

                        one of the church members would be invited to share

                                    a story about their faith journey during worship.

            They were asked to answer this question:

                                    "Tell us about   when God became real for you."   2x

 

The stories they shared

            were remarkable, inspiring and insightful;

                        about the many different and unique ways that

                                    our loving and infinitely wise God touches and                                                             changes human lives with grace and compassion.

 

Their stories focused on the will and life-giving purpose of God,

            and how at just the right moment,

                        through an event, life-circumstance or another person

                                    somehow God connected with truth and compassionà

            à  in a meaningful way that they could hear and understand…

… that got their attention and refocused their life

             toward truth, significance and God’s purpose for them.

 

One time during college,

            I went the beach at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina,

                        with some classmates,  mostly other science majors…

…and we got into an intense discussion about the existence of God.

 

            I argued that the complexity of nature and the universe

                        strongly suggests an intelligent designer and creator…

                                       and that the wonder and mystery of creation itself

                                                proclaims the majesty and glory of our Creator;

                  but I was unable to convince my agnostic  science-friends

                        that the God of creation and Scripture really exists.

 

Cape Hatteras is a long and narrow strip of land

            that extends way out from the mainland coast,

                        and in those days, it was sparsely developed

                                    so there was very little ambient light at night.

 

  As we were lying out on the beach, there was a full lunar eclipse.

                And that night, when the light reflected by the moon

                        was blocked by earth’s shadow, everything darkened,                                                                                     and the skies

                                        came alive with more stars than I have ever seen…

 

            … and there was an unmistakable feeling of wonder,

                        and the glorious mystery and immensity of the heavens --

                             --- way beyond the comprehension of mortal beings.

It was a remarkable and inspiring glimpse into the infinite

            as millions and billions of stars became visible;

   and moved my classmates to reconsider their agnostic certainty.

 

We were all amazed by the brilliant majesty of the heavens…

            … which powerfully and convincingly   illustrated my point,

                        that there is far more to God’s creation than

                           we finite mortals can possibly perceive or measure.

 

Sometimes we need to be reminded, humbled by the majesty of God,

            and how utterly beyond understanding and explanation

                        our God, our Creator  truly is…

 

            … and that glorious experience at Cape Hatteras that night

                   really did push my friends to reconsider their assumption

                          that the universe simply happened without a Creator.

 

I continue to marvel at the glory and wonder we saw that night;

            and how God communicated and connected with my classmates

                        in a way beyond mere words;    probably the only way

                                    that they would listen, refocus and understand.

 

Ever since that night and that experience of the lunar eclipse,

            I have had a new appreciation for how God communicates;

                         and gets our attention so that we can hear

                                    above and beyond our assumptions à

                                         and the clutter and distractions of our lives.

 

Most of the time,

            the moon’s reflection, clouds or the light of civilization

                        interferes and blocks us from being able to see

                                    all the stars we saw that night at Cape Hatteras.

 

So too the demands and busyness of our lives can distract us,

            block & limit our view & perspective; consume our attention

                        which keep us from recognizing and appreciating

                                    the blessings, benefits and glory of God

                                                that surrounds us and is present    as the Lord

                                                            is at work in our world and in our lives.

 

That is the point made by the psalmist who reminds us, vs. 1~5, 14

            Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits— … who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good … For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

 

The psalm reminds us and urges us not to forget or lose focus,

            that God made us, that God created us to love and bless us,

                        and God’s grace and compassion will never come to an end.

The Lord, having made us, is fully aware of our limitations,

            and chooses to see us  beyond our failures and flaws,

                        and mercifully forgives for   he remembers that we are dust.

 

That is    who God is,

            and the psalmist doesn’t want us to forget it… à

à that we are loved by our God of grace who calls us

            to live meaningful lives of blessings and significance.

 

Usually when I counsel with a couple before their wedding,

            I ask them each to write out a list of ten things

                        that their fiancé does, that makes them feel loved.

 

Then I encourage them to keep their lists,

            so that down the road of their married life together,

                                    when things get more difficult and complicated

                                                when there is an argument or someone

                                                            has said or doing something hurtful…

            … those lists can be their reminder

                        of why they wanted to get married in the first place.

 

In the Romans text, Paul is making a similar move…

            … he begins by proclaiming and celebrating the glory of God…

                              …as perhaps we too should make our list

                                                of 10 things God does that makes us feel loved.

Paul writes:  vs. 33-36

            O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord? … To him be the glory forever. Amen.                        

           

Then, because of God’s grace and blessings, already given,

            we are called to make an appropriate response;             vs. 1

                        I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 

Because of God's mercy to us, and what it has accomplished,

            we present our whole selves as a living sacrifice to God.

    God gives,  and so we respond  by giving ourselves back to God.

Far more than just plopping a dead animal on the alter

            according to Paul, we become, a “ living   sacrifice”.

 

Scientists generally refer to something as ‘living’,

                        if it has the capacity

                                    to grow, reproduce and continually change.

            This means that the living sacrifice that God desires,

                             is a faithful and sacrificial Christian life

                                    that grows, reproduces and continually changes.

 

Paul’s point is that

            we don’t just decide to become a Christian, then we’re done,

                        but also includes every little decision from then on --

                                    - for every choice  we make in every situation

                                                either brings us a little closer to Christ,

                                                            or in rejection,   moves us further away.

 

And a  crucial part of making faithfully   Christian decisions,

            is in our choosing, either

                        to conform to the corrupt ways and values of this world,

                                    or it is our decision   to become more Christ-like;

                  by choosing carefully what we will allow to influence us…

vs. 2

            Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

Paul is saying that rather than living our lives

            guided by the ways, rules & values of this world and culture,

                        we who have received the blessing of God’s gracious love

                                    are to be  continually transformed à

 

            by the power of Scripture, prayer, worship and fellowship;

                        by the life and ministry that we share as Christians;

                                    as we are set free from this world’s corrupting ways

                                                and led from within by the Holy Spirit, who isà

                                                            present, active  and at work in our lives.

 

Paul is describing

            a fundamental change in response to the gift of God's grace

                        in how we live and function within the world around us.

 

Here is the challenge we face,

            both as individual Christians and together as the Church.

All who know us, our friends, family and community

            are all watching, observing and deciding,

                        do we  really trust God, or is it all just pious talk?

            Will we stay on mission or be driven by fear and panic?,

                        is our focus on God, or is it on the things of this world?

 

Our community is watching First Presbyterian Church right now;

          will we implode, will we split into separate factions,

                   or will we stay focused on Jesus Christ and our mission?

 

When we go through struggles, difficulties and challenges,

            will we be just like the rest of the world,

                        the same fights & conflicts   over money, control & power

                                    the same the harsh methods of doing battle,

                                       just like the rest of the world, they’re watching.

 

Yet they are also hoping;   hoping that maybe the Gospel is true,

               hoping that maybe the love and grace of God

                        actually can transform people into a caring family,

                                    into a welcoming community of faith and grace;

                        that actually does respond and live by God's love

                                    that actually does reflect a grace-orientation

                                       as a people  through whom God  does love the world.

 

God's love, truth, mercy and grace

            confronts and challenges all of our lives and relationships,

                        and all of the choices and decisions we make,

                                    and calls us to consider and reconsider our focus à

     à is it on Jesus, our call to serve  and to fulfill our mission?

 

During times of uncertainty, confusion and stress,

            it is easy to lose focus and get off track;

                        so let me suggest three areas for our consideration:

 

1)        What are my true motives?

                        In my nearly infinite capacity  to delude myselfà

                                    that my motivations  really are all noble and godly;

                                                   I need fellow Christians I can trust

                                                            who will be wise, blunt and truthfulà

          à to challenge me and question my real motivationà

                    like passing through a checkpoint, before I proceed.

 

Why am I really doing this?  What am I expecting to gain, and why?

            Is it really to honor and please God, or is it for me?

                        Honestly, what are my true motivations in this?

 

2)        Am I putting others first,

                   or assuming that my way is the only faithful way to see it?

 

As Christians we are commanded to love one another,

            and sometimes that means considering

                their interests put ahead of our own.

            Yet it’s not just a matter of being nice or always yielding,

               but a focus on building up the people of God & God’s kingdom.

So is my focus primarily on God’s will and purpose,

          and am I really focused on the true priorities of the Lord?       

 

3)        In the Gospels we are given the example   of Jesusà

                        demonstrating how to truly be human and walk with God.

                                So am I living, thinking and speaking

                                      in ways consistent with the ways of Christ?

 

 

These are not easy or comfortable times in which we are living,

            but we have also most definitely not  been abandoned by God.

Our call, as individuals and as a church body

            is to focus and refocus constantly

                        on our Lord Jesus and the mission entrusted to us by God.

 

As we read in   2 Timothy 1:6-7

            For this reason   I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.