April 25, 2021, Pastor Wesley Menke
Have you ever felt a pain in your heart? How many songs are there with the theme of heartache? It can be caused by a difference between what you want and what you have. Also the heart feels bad when there is a difference between the words you say and your actions. You can hurt not only your own heart but also the hearts of others. This is called hypocrisy. 1 John 3: 16-24 says that our love is not only in words, but is demonstrated in deeds.
The solution to this problem is: change the words. Works and facts are difficult to change. Words are much easier to change. But words have much more power to change and motivate actions. The pen is mightier than the sword. So if you want to change your actions first change your words. Do not abandon words for hypocrisy. No. Change your words to change your way of thinking and ultimately your actions.
In the holy gospel according to John 10: 11-18 Jesus says, “The sheep listen to my voice.” Once upon a time, a youth pastor started serving a church in the country. In this church there was a family of ranchers. There were sheep on his ranch. ” The head of the ranch, who was a member of the church and also a dad with youth, invited the youth pastor to the ranch for a field trip. After exploring the entire ranch, the chief told the shepherd, “It is time for the sheep to eat. So yell at them ‘food’ to come. ” The pastor yelled, “Food!” But the sheep did not pay attention to the shepherd. The rancher said, “Louder!” And the pastor tried several times without results. Finally the rancher said to the youth pastor, “Look. A) Yes.” And in a whisper he said, “food.” And immediately all the sheep started running to the rancher. They ran very fast. The rancher said, “The sheep listen to my voice. You are not a shepherd of these sheep. You are the pastor of my children and the youth of the church. They are going to listen to you. Please use the power of your voice with care. ” Words have the power to motivate and change actions.
Jesus Christ is our good shepherd. He has power in his voice to guide us. Psalm 23 describes the process of being led by God. Jesus guides us through the calm waters and makes us rest in green pastures so that we don’t eat too much either. Our pastor God guides us on the paths of justice. I love justice. I am glad to know that God guides us on the paths of justice. But where do the paths of justice go? The psalm says: although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. What thing! Following the path of the Lord implies that we do not avoid the valley of shadow, on the contrary the path of justice crosses the valley of the shadow of death. You cannot follow the Lord without entering or crossing this valley.
God does not call us to a path without giving us help. The psalm says that we are not afraid because God protects us. Your rod and your staff infuse me. God protects us and helps us precisely because following the path of justice will bring it to injustice. The path of life will lead to death. But we are not going to fall into injustice or death. No. God wants us to bring life, light, and justice to the missing corners. God will prepare a meal in front of the enemies to strengthen you to fight against death, and injustice.
It will hurt your heart, because you will find the difference between the love of God and the facts of the world. The solution to this grief is the word of God that has the power to change the actions not only of everyone, but especially for you. God’s word changes us and the world.
Has anyone ever told you, “The only thing you have to do to be saved is have a relationship with Jesus”? Too bad that relationships require lots of hard work. Of course we should try to have a relationship with Jesus. That goes without saying. But what helps us with that relationship? Words do. God’s words help us. God’s words of unconditional love stir our hearts and are the foundation on which the relationship is built. Thank God for God’s words of love. Amen.
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