13th Sunday after Pentecost 19th August

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

What a wonderful time today, when we can celebrate and share Godly joy with Duncan’s baptism this morning. Thanks be to God for bringing salvation and assurance to Duncan through this washing and through His Word. This is a great day.

            Duncan is now together with us a child of God, a brother of Jesus and a member of God’s people here on Earth. But, the happiness of today will pass and things will be tough again, because although we are now of Jesus this world rejects us (John 17:14-16). Listening to the News and living with people who reject Jesus, the saviour and life-giver, we hear many things that may make us afraid of being with Christ, being a son of God with Duncan. This is a dangerous world for us, and not just socially and financially, but also spiritually.

It’s not just a vague thing of the world against us as Christians, but we are tempted all around. Tempted by the government, perhaps into hoping that they will come to save you, or anger when they don’t; tempted by the T. V., into thinking that you just need that new thing and you’ll be happy, or into wasting your life away watching it for too long; tempted by friends or maybe even family, into focussing on work, gossip or life in this world and forgetting our life in Jesus Christ; And of course we are tempted in ourselves by our own selfish desires, indulgence, pride and putting ourself in the place of God. The danger of sin is coming from all around, and Peter tells us this in his first letter ‘your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

This is the life we live as Christians, the life into which Duncan has been brought into. It’s not all rain and roses for us as Christians. Temptation is always there, so Paul tells us to be careful in our lives, in what we do and how we do it, to be wise. He writes to make the most of every opportunity, because time is short; to not be lazy in our work, in our life, our love and our faith. If we don’t we’d be like a farmer in a drought who thinks, ‘I’ll feed the stock next week, it’ll be fine until then.’ We might find that we develop habits that take us away from Christ, away from the Bible and away from prayer. This is not good.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand the Lord’s will. What is the Lord’s will? What does He want to happen? What does He want us to do? 1 Timothy tells us God our saviour desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). And from Ezekiel we learn that the Lord God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but in that the wicked turn from their way and live (Ezekiel 33:11). And of course Jesus tells us all in John 3:16 the God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have life everlasting. We know that God loves us, He loves you, and wants all to be saved from death and evil, and receive eternal life. He tells us that us and all who believe, who have the faith of a child (Luke 18:15-17), receive eternal life and ultimate salvation from our sin and the evil of this world (John 3:16; 1 John 1:9). He wants all people to hear and learn of this salvation He’s given all of us. That is why Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). And Jesus also tells us that the work of God is this, to believe in the one He has sent (John 6:29). So what does God want to happen? All people to hear His Word and be saved. And what does He want us to do? To believe in Jesus, what He said and what He has done for us; saving us from sin, death and the devil.

Thinking on this we can join with Paul from Romans 7 (:25), who can save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! We thank God for all He has done for us, joyfully receiving His good gifts; life, family, food, shelter, our siblings in Christ, the Bible God’s Word, our faith and our salvation and eternal life over death in Jesus Christ. We know what God has done for us, but He doesn’t leave us to suffer in this life alone. The Father, Son and Spirit sustain us in this life, comforting us and supporting us so that we may live wisely and make the best use of this time He has given us; to encourage and bring joy to each other and He even helps us give thanks to Him for all of this. So truly, Thanks be to God for all He has given you.

And may He now give you His peace which passes all our understanding and guard your hearts in Christ Jesus now and forever. Amen.

Pastor Joseph Graham

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