I almost titled today’s message; “How I Botched The Good Manners Academy”, but that would have been too much like bragging, and besides, I’m not sure our sign is big enough for all those letters. Then I thought of using: “The Lord’s Finishing School, for Slobs Like Me”, but then I started to worry that I might get into trouble. So, then I opted for; Deportment and Grace, A How to Approach, hoping I wouldn’t get busted for using the title slob on the sign out front. But it sounded wimpy and refined, so here we are; Scripture, An Owner’s Manual
And I am excited that this morning, I get to talk with you about how Scripture is an owner’s manual for us, and just how that works in our lives. Primarily as God’s Word being key in our understanding Him, and Scripture is augmented with His Holy Spirit aiding our understanding of His Word.
Additionally, from the outset, I think it important to emphasize just how consistent the Lord is throughout all of our Scripture. Both Old and New Testaments outline an unswerving covenant of His Grace, that God makes with humanity, reflecting His ongoing love for us His creation. Both of our key readings this morning (David, and Jesus), are sharing God’s instructions for a better life.
Beginning with God teaching through David’s hits and misses in life. Reading again todays Call to Worship, I will break out to comment as we work our way through Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40;
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
First David tells us; not to worry about the world that lives by chasing itself, it’s lost and will fade away. Your sole last forever. Now, verses 3-6;
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Secondly, David instructs us; that when we trust in God, transformation begins to take place, and the more I learn to enjoy this new life I am discovering. I am learning more about the Lord, myself, and as I get new insight into His creation, the more I want to commit my life to and in Him. Reward, comes from knowing where my real treasure is stored, and it aint in stuff, but in eternity with Him and you, my beautiful family. Back to verses 7-9;
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Next David coaches our family of God; to be still, reframe from fretting plus anger, and be patient. Because you are living the long game of life my brothers and sisters, and that leads to eternity. The short game of life is only concerned with getting ahead, succeeding, and living instant gratification, results in death. Or as the Lord instructs in Matthew 16:25-26
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
I learn just what this means; a little more, each time I return prayerfully to my Lord in scripture. Because like you, I am a work in progress, and why God is providing us this owner’s manual for a better life through David’s songs of praise to God. Next, what the future holds for all of us in verses 10-11;
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
David, has just provided first hand advise on what to, and what not to do in our walk in the Lord. Which is appropriate, since David lived hard, sinned hard, apologized to God by praying hard, and kept on trying hard to do better in life…
As we prayerfully return to the Lord’s instructions for a better life, we will continue to get new insight from David’s Psalm. My hope is that you will continue to return to this Psalm all the days of your life as you dwell in the house of the Lord (residing in your heart), and growing more each time of your return.
Towards the end of Psalm 37, David will recap the basics. Salvation comes only from the Lord. If someone offers you salvation that conflicts with God’s word, run Will Robison, and find your sister Penny, because you are about to be Lost in Space! Lastly in today’s reading from Psalm 37, verses 39-40;
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
A reminder that we must hold course with the Lord’s plans for us in life, because He is our stronghold and refuge from all the evil, wicked, and worldly stuff, that does not give life, but only offers separation from God which is eternal death.
To show just how consistent our Lord is, we have the Gospel of the New Testament quoting the direct teachings of the Lord to all the willing in His earthly walk and ministry. Today’s Message Reading continues the passage we looked at last week with the Lord providing Beatitudes or attitudes that provide deep joy in our lives over the bogus attitudes that offer grief.
This week we are looking at some specifics of what real Christ like behavior looks like, because it’s the logical outgrowth of thinking more like our Lord, instead of our old selfish based, ego infested, fear ridden ways of the past.
Reading again from Luke 6:27-38;
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
*Side Note; Just what are we doing having enemies to begin with? Granted we can’t make people love us. That’s how Co-dependent behavior comes into play to begin with. And I don’t believe the Lord is saying He wants you to be a whipping post for someone else. There will be times when it is simply best to move on when someone’s toxic behavior prohibits a healthy relationship. But we are not to carry grudges, fighting over stuff, much less should we be scheming to get back at people who have hurt us.
So often in life we immediately jump to DEFCON 3 preparing to nuke someone, when humility, patience, kindness, and genital explanation are all that is needed. Our Lord continues with verse 32;
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
**Side Note Again; That does not mean that you give money to someone that is going to use it to buy more of the stuff they have been poisoning themselves with. As mentioned before, that kind of behavior is Co-dependent and helps no one. Meaning this thing that we are walking through in life our Faithwalk, is not something that should be done on auto pilot. We are actually called to know the people we are trying to help, support, and love. Not just throwing our love, money, and efforts at a wall to see what sticks, but actually knowing either the agencies or the people in particular who we want to help.
But how do we accomplish what God is calling us to do? The Lord gives is more instruction about how to get our minds right about the subject of caring for and then nurturing other people He, Himself, places in our lives. Reading again from verse 37;
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
At the end of the day, we are not engaged in an insurance policy, where we craftly make God owe us by helping His less fortunate. No, that’s no better than carrying a rabbit’s foot around for good luck, and luck is only for rabbits. Nor are we doing God a favor by showing up to Church, or helping to feed those in need. God has no need of our favors, and I’m sure He is quite sick of our deal making for better outcomes.
Fact is, when I really take a close look at myself, my need to serve other people becomes more and more apparent to all who are looking. Instead of judging, we must be forgiving. That means in a healthy way instructing others humbly that their toxic behavior helps no one, including them. Sometimes we can instruct the best by the examples we set in our own lives. Sometimes we help best by saying no to unhealthy attitudes and behavior.
Here is a quick list of some random ideas for following this owner’s manual, called scripture, when trying help others and witnessing the Gospel:
- Loving the unlovable begins with a good hard look into the mirror.
- God loves us in spite of us and that should make us want to do the same.
- Love does not mean always saying yes.
- I am not giving an alcoholic a drink, in general that’s a bad idea.
- Not rewarding bad behavior.
- Our society currently is all to often rewarding the bad and punishing the good, productive, and uplifting.
- We do not have to add to the dysfunction that our society is grappling with currently
- Being forgiven and forgiving others is what a real faithwalk in our Lord is all about.
- And then forgetting after forgiving and learning to not dwell on the woe is me in life!
- Following God is not conditioned on living like a martyr
- You do not have to be a victim in order to help others.
- Break the E-ore syndrome.
- Were doomed, we’ll never make it. Wrong!
- You know we all have known one, or have been one.
- If you are miserable day after day, what kind of a witness for a joyful God are you!
- The world is a mess (it always has), our society is hurting (it always will), so what are you going to do to make your little corner of the world better?
- Transformation is at hand, when you decide to make a difference!
- One kind gesture, on kind word, at a time.
- Following our Lord means we have found joy that we thought was not available before, and we want to share that joy with others.
- Fact is, in the midst of all the pain and suffering, if we look hard, we will see all around us, there are miracles taking place constantly.
- This is not Pollyanna talk or rose color glass time. No!
- We must stop filtering out God’s miracles and begin to own them.
- You get to be a miracle, when you decide to make a difference in life!
When we change our mindset, that we have been carrying around, and now look at other people as the miracles in our lives that God has place with us, everything begins to change. And change does not always happen overnight. We are all works in progress.
If you are frustrated, and overwhelmed at the size of the job ahead, take a breath, step back and remember… God is not expecting perfection from you. Just your humble heart doing your best each day at a time, and trusting in Him!
Amen!