1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Love is the answer!! 31/1/10

(1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. {2} If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. {4} Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. {5} It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. {6} Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. {7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. {8} Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. {9} For we know in part and we prophesy in part, {10} but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. {11} When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. {12} Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. {13} And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Here this morning we are reminded of the one thing that is essential in all that we say and do, and which must undergird all of life. We are given some very important advice, for our lives and the life of the church that is as important today as it was the day it was written. The issue then and here now, is no different. We therefore need to listen very carefully to the message that God has here for us.

Really, the question for us here is; what is it that is essential for us as we go forward as the people of God? What are those things that are the good and enduring qualities that the Church needs as it faces the future and carries out its mission and ministry here in this community? This reading here has some very good advice for us in this regard; and it flies in the face of a lot of what we hear today, and even what probably, many of us might think.

Now today, as it was in Corinth with the people that Paul was speaking to, there is great emphasis on what we do: the focus is on ourselves; our gifts and abilities; or our weaknesses; and this is what drives us, and which we look for in the qualities of individuals and churches. We hold up things like, someone who can preach and teach in a remarkable way. Or someone who has a charismatic personality: or who speaks in tongues or prays long and beautiful prayers, or who can give wonderful testimonies, or can have and display the good feelings that we think are ‘Christian’; And I could go on. Now these may all be good and important characteristics of a Christian, but are they most important, as many seem to suggest today?

Also with our Annual meetings coming up soon, the same things applies there. Do we need a wiz-bang chairman, elders, Sunday School teachers, ushers and the like, for our congregation to go ahead and be what God wants it to be? As we go about life, is it that we have to be able to speak well for us to be able to witness to others: that we need to know our Bible and Lutheran doctrines backwards: do we need all the latest technologies and entertainment strategies for our worship services; and the like? Now again, many of these things may be good and we need to work at doing the best can in these areas, but in the end are these things all essential for our wellbeing?

Well here, we are reminded that there is one gift that is needed more than any of these other abilities that we so often hold up as being of utmost importance. Well really, we are reminded that there are three gifts that are essential – with one being the greatest. And without these three, and the last one in particular, all the rest of what we do, no matter how good they are, will not work. The best pastor in the country; the most accomplished chairperson, Sunday School teacher; and all the rest will not achieve the results that are needed, if we do not have these gifts.

However, the trouble is; it is on all these other things that we today so often place so much value on. We too often think that it is these things which will make the Church what it should be and help it grow. But in reality, I believe, we are simply looking for the easy way out, so that we can have the results without any difficulty on our own part. And of course, we like to have that which draws attention to ourselves and make us look important.

Now if we think of our reading here and the people to whom Paul was first of all writing to; that was the sort of situation and thinking that they were into. They prided themselves on their display of the great gifts within the church: Speaking in tongues, good speakers, and the ability to lead people in a powerful way: All the kinds of gifts that draw a crowd and get the people in and look up to them: as well as quibbling over who and which is more important and better. But we can see that as they put an over-emphasis on these things, it caused a great deal of disharmony and hurt within the congregation. The church was not as it should be, even though it had some very gifted people in their midst. So Paul has to write this letter to them; and in this chapter gets to the heart of the matter. In many ways, he says if they want to know what Christianity is really is all about, and if they want to be super Christians and have a genuine impact on their community, then they shouldn’t look primarily to those spectacular gifts, but instead concentrate first and foremost on faith, hope and love; and in particular love.
Paul points out that here in the kind of love that is mentioned in this chapter we have the best gift from God that his Church could ever have. It is greater and more powerful than any of those other, so called, spectacular gifts that were being sought after by so many, even today; such as a great speaking ability, healing the sick, speaking in tongues, and the like. No, for Paul the answer to the needs of God’s people and his Church is love: love more than anything else. So he continues that call of Jesus to his followers, where he reminds them and us of the great commandment to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself.’

Now here we need to remember that this love mentioned here is not to be understood in the same as way as it is so commonly understood in everyday life today. The way the word love that is used by so many today, has little or no connection with the way it is used here. This love is an all giving love: a giving without some sort of expectation on the other person. It is a love that places great value and importance on the other person and not on oneself. It puts the focus on them, and is always seeking of their good. Let me read again v.4-7. ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Now there we have qualities that build relationships rather than tear them apart. There we have that which draws people together and helps them and us to be what God intends us to be. Paul reminds us of this very clearly when he points out what happens when this love is absent: we see the negative results. Yet how often don’t we see and hear the same thing today: ‘They call themselves Christians, but look how they fight and quarrel, and run others down.’ ‘Or look how he knows his Bible, but couldn’t care less how much he hurts or takes down others.’ ‘Or see how they are involved in all these things merely trying to impress people and get them in, so that they can rake in the crowds and get the money in, or so that others can see how good they are.’ There were and are many gifted people in the church who are having a negative impact on others because they are using their gifts without love: without concern for others.

So here, we are reminded of the importance of love in all our actions as God’s people; and that is very much Paul’s point here. It is love that gives credibility and worth to all those other gifts we may or may not have. If love does not accompany the things we do then we are wasting our time and we might just as well forget it all. It is this all-giving love that should undergird anything and everything we do as Christians: and that is what is needed here in this congregation and in all our lives as we look to the future.
Here I am sure that we all could do with a little more of this gift of love; and faith and hope as well. It sure would be of great value to this church as it faces the future. Now look, I know that this love is there in this congregation – very much so – but at the same time we all could improve greatly. And with this genuine love that Paul is talking about we as a church will continue to go on having an impact on our community; building relationships and togetherness; and helping others to see the greatness of our God and his love for us.

Now of course this is not something we can achieve by ourselves. Our sinful human nature cannot come to grips with this attitude; but it prefers to change the meaning of this love and much sooner bring oneself into every situation. That being the case we need to look beyond ourselves if we are to find this true love: this love that makes all the difference. We need to look more and more beyond ourselves to source of love: to our Lord himself: For it is God alone who is love in the fullest sense of the word. It is his Spirit who gives, works, builds and encourages this love in and through our lives: and he continually points us to the Lord Jesus Christ himself who not only showed us what this love is like but he extended it to each one of us personally.

So there in Jesus we see the fullest expression of this love. We see how God gave his own Son into death on the cross, for us: paying the penalty for our disobedience and rebellion: loving us even though we have done nothing to deserve it or warrant it: forgiving our failure, and freeing us to love and serve him and each other. The more that we read, hear, and meditate on, and thereby understand the Good News of Jesus Christ, the more his Spirit is there in our lives enabling us to share that love of his with those around us. With the Lord Jesus central in our lives our faith, hope and love will remain strong, no matter what is before us.

And that is our encouragement this morning as we look forward to the future. Let us therefore seek to know and understand more and more this love of God in Christ Jesus: allowing his love to lead us, and fill us with his love to the point where it flows out more and more to others around about us. So yes, love is the answer to our future: the love of God, flowing through Jesus Christ to you and me, and then outward to those in the community around us. Now may this love and God’s peace go with you now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

1 Cor. 12:12-31a. You are all needed in the Church 24/1/10

(12) The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. {13} For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. {14} Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. {15} If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. {16} And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. {17} If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? {18} But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. {19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? {20} As it is, there are many parts, but one body. {21} The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" {22} On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, {23} and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, {24} while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, {25} so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. {26} If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. {27} Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. {28} And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. {29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? {30} Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? {31} But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

You are the body of Christ – you are the Church: that is Paul’s message to us here today. The Church is people; you and me – all of us – all of us together are the Church; as well as all of those who are not here but should be. You and all of them are important and needed: all have a special part to play in the Church; the body of Christ. But we are also here, reminded, that the Church is Christ body – his creation – with Christ as the head. He is the basis – the centre – the one who directs, controls and moves the rest of the body.
Now this is an important message for us today, because we have many who think that they can be Christians by themselves. They don’t need to come to church very often: they don’t even need the church – or other people – or even Christ for that matter. They think that their faith is simply something that is between them and God, and it really hasn’t got much at all do with anyone else: they can do and think their own thing and others can do their own. Others again seem to think that they are a bit better than some others, and therefore can be very critical and judgmental, believing that they alone have the answers and the better abilities. They know what the Church is all about and they will help lead it in the right way, and if others are not going to fit in, well that is too bad. And when it comes to the down and outs, the rif raf or those with real problems they don’t really want them; they are too much trouble – they are hard work. Others again seem to think that we can ignore the Churches teachings that have been handed down to us, and can twist and turn Scripture to suit ourselves, and can be very critical of those who hold to the Confessions of the Church.

At the same time, we all would have to say that we are not as concerned as we should be, that many people who should be with us this morning, are not. Is our attitude such that we think that if they are not here, it doesn’t really matter all that much; except for the budget? Are we more concerned about tolerance and not upsetting people, than we are of being called a fool and that sort of thing: than for fact that they are in danger of ending up in Hell? Do we care about one another and seek to give the support and encouragement that we all need, as much as we should?

In light of our reading here, we need to remember that with this thinking, we are hurting the Church and ourselves for that matter. Is it any wonder that we are living as if we are disabled in a big way, and why the Church is not as effective as it should be?
Now to help us understand this, Paul uses the image of a body: reminding us that a body is made up of many parts; each of which is different and yet important. No one part of the body can survive on its own, by itself, apart from the rest. Nor can some parts think that they can get by without certain other parts. Some parts are hidden. Some are extended due modesty, there are some we would like to think we can do without. Yet all are there for a given purpose; for the common good. All the while, the head of the body directs and controls what the rest of the body does.

The body will not function as it should if all the parts where not there. In fact, in many cases it just would not survive. Where would the body be without a heart, nerves, mouth, etc? Yet, as all work together – doing what they were created for – it is a marvellous creation, and can do a huge amount; and in fact even sustain life. The heart, brain, kidneys, arms, legs, toenails, backside, all playing their part: each on its own is nothing but a bit of meat, skin or whatever, but together they are absolutely marvellous: Here modern science is more and more discovering just how much so. Together each part is able do so much for the body, physically, mentally and spiritually. When all parts are working together the ability of the human body is almost beyond measure.

Now in the Church the same thing applies. We are not individuals, as most of us might think we are in worldly terms. But we are not – we are much more – we are the body of Christ – we are the Church. Let us remember that we are all baptized by the same Spirit. All baptized into the name and therefore being, of God himself – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So we are joined with him and thereby with each other. All created to work together for the good of the whole. All playing their part in the survival of the Church – for its own good and for its work here in this world.

Just as the body has many different parts, so do we all play our different roles. Each of us has been created differently – gifted in special ways, and yet arranged for the common good. We are not and can not all be pastors, elders, organists or whatever. Nor would we survive if we all were only pew sitters. And even less so, if we only turn up every now and again. The pastor is nothing if he hasn’t a congregation. Having a musician is pointless if there are no singers. People sharing the Gospel with other is of no value if we all live as pagans. Ushers, encouragers, prayers, committee people and listeners all play their part. By themselves they are basically nothing; and yet together they form the body of Christ – the Church.

Here too, the head directs and controls what the rest of the body does. Christ is the head of the Church. What he says: what he has given us in his Word, the Scriptures, and which has been handed down all the way through the history of the Church, is what leads and guides it. It is the Word and the Sacraments which God himself has given to the Church to feed and sustain it all along the way, which is to be upheld as of highest regard. Without him and his guidance, we are nothing. If we do not listen and follow him, we are nothing.

However, through the whole body working together under the leadership of Christ, the whole and each part is nourished and sustained: it continues to exist, year in, year out – century after century. And it continues to grow to this very day, and will continue do so into the future. At the same time it continues to be there for the rest of society - the world; helping, caring, setting a good example, calling for justice, and pointing to that which is important in life. And most importantly, that is to point others to the Lord Jesus Christ himself: sharing with them who he is and what he has done for us all. So the body of Christ performs a critical role in society – it is absolutely necessary.

This Church: this body of Christ is you and me - all of us together, using the gifts we have been given, to do all of this. Each of us being important and necessary – let us be encouraged by this; but also let us be challenged by this as well. Thereby recognizing that each of us needs to be involved; as regularly as is possible; thinking of the good of others and the whole church, all the while looking to and receiving from Christ himself what he would have for us.

Let none of us think that we are any better than anyone else – more important; nor should we be critical of others – standing in judgment over them; nor should we put ourselves down – thinking that we are not important or that we don’t have a part to play. We all have been gifted to do our bit – all of us. All of us have been arranged in the Church to do our bit for the good of the whole Church and for the rest of society as well.

As we consider all of this then, let us remember that we have got a lot going for us – as poorly as I and each one of us may be doing our bit; we are still the Body of Christ, the Church – it is working and functioning - it is still doing a tremendous amount of good because Christ is the head. But as each one of us allows the Spirit to work in us more and more so that we are working as he would have us – this body will be even better: it will be more like what God himself intends for it to be. Then the Church will grow – in it people will find what they need; and most importantly, the Word and Sacraments will be truthfully taught and rightly administered; Forgiveness of sins, life and salvation will be know by all its people; and of greatest importance, to Christ himself more and more glory will go. For to him alone belongs all glory, and praise now and forever. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Isaiah 62:1-5. Speak up - because of Christmas!! 17/1/10

(1) For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. {2} The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. {3} You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. {4} No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah ; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. {5} As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

In recent weeks we have again been reminded of what God has done and is doing in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christmas message assured us again of the fact that God is with us: that he is here to help, save, restore and improve life for us, resulting in peace and joy for us all. We heard again of the blessing that is promised is ours in this New Year. Here again we are reminded of other great benefits that are now ours as a result of God himself coming into our world.

So from all of this we can see that we have great things going for us. We have every reason to rejoice and be happy. We have before us the greatest news we can ever know or be a part of. Things surely must be so much different for us now as go ahead as the people of God.
But that is not the way it is - is it? As we look around us, everything is not rosy. In fact, the picture is not good at all. The reality does not seem to be what we have just heard. I think I can hear many of you saying to yourselves, ‘Come on, where is this good and positive life.’ ‘What we are experiencing is not the life that you, pastor, are trying to get us to believe.’

And on the one hand, I have to say that you are right: the scene that we are facing today and tomorrow is not good. As I look around, I too at times become despondent. As I look around and see what is happening in our church and in our society today, I am deeply saddened. As I see our church depart from the Word and the Confessions of the church and try to twist and turn it all to suit the current whims of our society: As I see so many in our society take the Almighty God for granted and couldn't really give a damn about him and his Church, and who deliberately make excuses and even flaunt themselves against God. At times, I almost cry as I think about these things. Where are we at? What is happening today? Is it any wonder that life is the way it is, with all of its hassles and hardships? If something doesn't change soon, it will be tragic for so many people.
But it is here again that this reading spurs me on. For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. I will not shut up. For your sake I can not and will not keep silent. For this community and this country, I must not remain quiet; till there is a change in the thinking, attitude and focus of us all; including our community and country. I cannot stop till God’s righteousness and salvation shines in our midst once again.

Here, let us remember that we are called by a new name - we are Christians: Christ is in us - by his calling - not our decision. We are his because of what our God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been washed clean in the waters of baptism and joined into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We just heard again in recent weeks that he has promised to be with us and bless us. Christmas and New Year Services have emphasised these things for us over and over again.

That being the case I, and we all, surely will be like Isaiah; we cannot be silent on this matter. A couple of verses on from this reading gives us further encouragement in this regard. 'You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.' Well it is time for us to call on God to remember these promises that he has made to us. Let us here, give him no rest till he gets things in order here; and let us in this regard remember the parable of the persistent widow.

[Luke 18:1-8.] 'Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"
And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Do we have this faith to believe that he has and can bring change into the thinking within our church and nation? Do we believe and trust that he can do it? Do we take seriously what he says here and elsewhere in the Bible about giving us salvation and new life: about his giving us a right relationship with himself, which includes living the right way? Does the name Christian really mean anything worthwhile to us?

Well I certainly do – and I will not keep silent for your sake or for our country. I know the Lord is faithful and trustworthy. He will not let us down. He is with us. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. He is our only hope.

That means I will hold him to his word. But it also means that I will not go easy on myself or you. I will not keep silent in your presence either, about what the Scriptures and the Church say and believe. Till God’s righteousness and salvation shines forth from your lives for others to see, I will continue to hold Jesus Christ up before you as Lord and Saviour. I will continue to challenge you and our community to take him seriously for all of life: To trust that he is more important to you than your dollars, material possessions, work, sport and merely having a good time. It is in God alone that we find meaning and purpose to life. It is in and through Jesus Christ that we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. It is in Scripture alone that we find the truth. It is what God alone has done for us in Jesus Christ that is to be our primary focus, not ourselves and what we do, think and feel. And on these things, I will not keep quiet. And if I do, please give me good swift kick.



Let none of us here be the cause of any further down-slide in what is happening in our church and our country. There is enough immorality, selfishness, idolatry, and all the rest out there without us giving further encouragement to it. There is far too much emphasis on us and what we do rather than on Christ and what he has done and what he has to say to us. The Law and Gospel needs to be kept in balance if we are to fully appreciate what Christ has done for us. A Word and Sacraments focus needs to be maintained if we are to have the comfort and assurance that forgiveness of sins life and salvation is ours and important for us.

Let us not keep silent for each others sake. Let us remind our Lord and each other of the many promises that we have before us. Let us rejoice and be glad for the salvation that has been won for us, and the righteousness that has been given to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. And let us not be complacent as we go on from here. There is a great need for changes ahead, and we have God promise of his presence and blessing. So let us not be quiet for each others sake; or be silent because of the need of our nation, till righteousness and salvation is the shining light for all to see: till every knee bends and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. To him be glory and praise now and for evermore. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Matthew 2:1-12. Wise People?? 10/1/10

(1) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. {4} When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. {5} "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: {6} "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" {7} Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. {8} He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." {9} After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. {10} When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. {11} On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. {12} And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Our reading here this morning tells us about the coming of the wise men to see and worship Jesus. But what is it that made these men wise? At the same time, we need to consider what criteria we use to determine who is a wise person? Then also we are drawn to think about who the wise people are for us today: who are the people in life who we look up to as the ones who have got it all together? Is it those men from the East or would we sooner follow in the steps of King Herod? This is something we all need to ponder long and hard over at the present time; because there are many who think they are wise, but in many ways, they are too clever for their own good. They know a great deal – have an enormous amount of knowledge, but in reality are fools, because they fail to use the knowledge they have in the right way and more importantly they have a wrong focus in it all.

As we think about this, we find that by today's standards it would seem that King Herod is the truly wise one in this story. He had power and authority – the best of living conditions; He could get on with all kinds of people including the despised Romans. And according to this reading, he even wanted to know where Jesus was born and wanted to worship him.

Herod put on the guise of being interested in these men and what they were on about, and that he was a religious person; but in reality was out to serve himself, and himself only: to get out of life what he could, while he could; even if it means killing a few innocent, defenceless children, as we find King Herod did when he heard that this little baby Jesus just might happen to be king one day: he was out to maintain his power and position, whatever the cost. There we have the wisdom of Herod for you. There we have the wisdom of much of the world today.

Today here in our own community, we have people who would call themselves Christian: who call themselves religious and spiritual people, who operate by the same philosophy of life. Who have stopped going to church regularly; who stay away from church in their droves so that they can play their sport, work, or do other things, and they are the smart ones: They don't get too committed- don't go into things too deeply, and stay very shallow in their faith, thinking as long as they are a reasonably good person it will all work out alright: or who think that they can flit from this church to the next and it doesn’t really matter: and they all think that they are wise?

Now, we have many very knowledgeable people today, who have done years of study and know all kinds of scientific theories; but their thinking has become all screwed up and their knowledge has become destructive instead of helpful: Who put their theories and ideals into obtaining selfish power and wealth, and couldn't care less about people, and who think that they don't need to heed God and his Word. And they think that they are wise. Yet they don't have the wisdom to understand that this is why God has allowed the moral decline we have in our nation at the moment and the other difficulties that we are facing in our community at the moment. By thinking only of self, glory, and riches more and more people will become lonely, frustrated and suicidal. And yet we think that we are wise.

Let us think again. Why is it, that history declared those men from the East to be wise? Was it because they were intellectuals - highly educated people - people who were into astrology? Was it because they were obviously fairly well off as we can see from their gifts? Was it because they could mix it with the rich and famous? No, that is not why they were called wise. They were deemed to be wise because they made their quest for God. They took him very seriously; and when he gave his sign to them, they sought after him - they knew he was for real – they knew he had an important message for them and us all. They knew full well the importance of God for all of life, and they took time out to find him and worship him: in fact they went miles out of their way to worship him. Now, no doubt, they were busy men also - they would have had things to do, places to go, and people to see - just as urgent as our work, families and the like are for us. But they put themselves out because they knew God to be all important. He was not someone to be taken lightly - to be sought after only when it suites us. No, it is he who holds the destiny of all things in his hands and who has power over the whole world. So they sought after him, instead of their own selfish desires. For this, they were deemed to be wise.

Secondly, they were considered to be wise because they were prepared to seek guidance. They saw the star and were prepared to follow its leading. At Jerusalem they went and asked those who should know for their assistance, and they got the help they needed from those who went to the Scriptures for their guidance. They didn't poo-hoo the Bible as being outdated and of little use, or try to twist and change it to suite their own thoughts and desires; but instead heeded the advice and prophecies given from it, even though they were given hundreds and hundreds of years beforehand. And as a result of their humble acceptance, they reached the Christ-child, and then even allowed God to lead them to go home by another way, instead of keeping favour with Herod. For this, they were wise.

Finally and most importantly however, as wise men they worshipped Jesus: They saw him as king - king over all God's People. And even though he looked nothing like king: Just a small, insignificant baby – the son of a lowly carpenter – a nobody. They saw and understood him to be one who was ‘specially sent’ - who would do great things for his people. And they worshipped him as such: they knelt before him and presented him with gifts that befit the birth of a king. In fact, they gave him their very best - not their left-overs – gold, frankincense and myrrh - nothing was too good for their king.

As a result of all of this, they have been considered wise, right down through the ages. Yes, they were wise because they took the Almighty God seriously, and sought after the saviour who they were told had come into our world, and they worshipped him as such. So these men now stand as a wonderful example to us all. There we find in those men from the East what constitutes one who is truly wise.

Now, as we began, there is something here for us to ponder on – long and hard. For there are many today who thinking they are wise, but are nothing but fools. Sadly, this occurs both within and outside the church. There are many today who do not take the Almighty God all that seriously, and who are prepared to twist and turn Scripture to suite themselves; or who seem to worship what they can do for God rather than God himself. Then there are those who seek after all kinds of other gods – power, prestige, material possessions and the like, and are prepared to follow in the way that leads to destruction. Sadly, it seems that they are not even prepared to give it a second thought. But like Herod, their day will come.

But for us here, let us learn from these wise men from East: let us recognise that the Almighty God is the One who is all important in life, and seek out our God in and through the Lord Jesus Christ; seeking genuine guidance in doing so, and then giving him our very best: worshipping him and seeking to live in a way that is pleasing to him and which builds up his kingdom. Let us make this a top priority in our lives; not because these efforts will save us - that has already been done for us by our Lord Jesus Christ; But because he is God and King, and that he has far better things in mind for us.

And to conclude, let us remember that our wisdom for the future will not come primarily from the education system of our country, money, material possessions, power and the like; but from God alone. There in Jesus Christ we find true life and its meaning: there in him we find salvation, forgiveness and love; there in the Scriptures, as we take it as God’s Word, we find all that is truly valuable and worthwhile. So let us be wise also. Let us not allow anything to distract us from the importance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and King. Let us worship him and give him our very best. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

John 1:1-18. The Good Word for the New Year 3/1/2010

(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. {6} There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. {7} He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. {8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. {9} The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. {12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. {15} John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" {16} From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. {17} For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. {18} No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Well, here we are into another new year – the parties are almost over and now we have to get on with the realities of life once again. We have had our diversions, and let our hair down: we have had our break, and now again we have to think about our regular day to day life once again. We probably also have thoughts of, what has this New Year in store for us: what kind of things do we need to keep in mind in order to survive and for life to go well for us? So here today, what are the things we need to keep in mind and that should be important to us as we go forward into this New Year. In other words, what is the Good Word for us in order for this New Year to go well for us?

It is here that our reading has something to say to us; because here is that Good Word for us; and that which is vital for us and for our future. Go wrong here and you can be sure the future will bring disaster. Nothing is surer. However, with this Word, we are assured that life and blessing will go with us; and God himself will be with us and go with us.



So what is this Good Word for us? Here we are reminded, that this Word is much more than just a few nice thoughts; a few good intentions and ideas that we or someone else thought up: it is more than a good philosophy of life; it is even more than a book itself; the Bible. Here we have the very heart of God - here we have God himself; always there - always active - always giving life.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Now if we want something in life that is constant, timeless, powerful, life-giving, and which will light up life for us, well here it is. This Good Word was there at the beginning and throughout life, bringing it all. And this Word we are told was not only with God - but was God. The Word, God, and the person of Jesus are all inseparable. Just think about that for a minute: where the Word is, there is the Lord Jesus, and there is the Almighty God himself. In other words, all of you have God with you at home - on your shelf as you go into this New Year.
[I wonder, is that where he stays – on the shelf, ignored.]

When we look for answers as to why something has gone wrong; perhaps the weather or whatever, and we are wondering why: wondering what God is trying to say - do we look to that Word? When we are looking for an encouraging or a helpful word from a friend – a word of forgiveness, do we know that Jesus does just that, in and through his Word, the Bible? He is there - he is the Word - he comes to you personally. And there we have a very impressive aspect to this Good Word as we go forward into the future: God always there for you and me. We now know that where the Word is - there God is - with us - with a message for our lives.

The second great point arises out of this first one. Where God is, there is life: where Jesus is; there is life: where the Word is, there is life. The same Word that was there at the beginning of time to create life from nothing is the same Word that comes to us today, with the same power. When we are told that our sins are forgiven for Jesus sake; it is so. When we are told, that God loves us; it is so. When we are told, that God works all things for our good; it is so. When we hear, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, even as a baby; it is so. When we hear this is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; it is so. And I could go on.


Now that surely is encouraging for us as we go forward in life. To know that when that Word comes to us, it does something that is more than merely words: that it does give life to existence: it is powerful. And it certainly gives light for our lives: it illuminates a whole new perspective to life. So instead of groping around in and through life, not sure what is going on and why: what the future holds for us; now we are able to see and have an understanding of what is happening. Sure we won't always know at the time quite why and how, or what the reason and purpose is for certain things; but we know that where the Word of the Lord is, it is there to give life and to bring good out of the situation; and that he can, and has the power to do so, and promises to do just that.

So we have something and someone to turn to and to help us all along; and in fact know that this Word is already there and active, even before we turn to it, this surely brightens our days and gives us confidence as we go forward in life. At last, we can see what is important in life - who is really important – and what needs to be focussed on if we are to find our way through life with all its dangers and pressures. Now there is a pathway through life lit up for us to find our way safely to heaven; and the same Word and God goes with us every step of the way; directing, forgiving, helping and even carry us along; and so we can go forward far less fearful of stumbling and falling: knowing all the while that this timeless, life-giving Good Word is there to give light and salvation to all who remain connected to that Word – the Bible; the Lord Jesus; God himself.

Now there are many in our community who don't know or understand this, even though they have a desire to. For them God and his Word, is like a UFO – a bright light in a dark night: they know it is there: they catch glimpses of its light; and yet they just don't understand it or want to make sense of it. For them it is something mysterious that doesn't make much sense at all: it is something to be left alone or taken not too seriously; for fear of being hurt or being caught up in something that they can't handle: afraid of the commitment to follow something which might draw criticism and which calls for a change of lifestyle. And isn't that just the way it is for so many? But once again, this Good Word clearly portrays that is what is happening in life: this is the way it is for many people who choose to ignore this Word. And that too should help us when we start to think that maybe these other people are on the right track. Here the Word tells us that there are many who do not and will not understand the light. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. So again, the Word gives light and life to existence for us; and what is happening around us.

Already in just these few thoughts, we can see something of the tremendous value and importance of this Good Word for our lives in this coming year. And we haven't even looked at the whole concept of this Word becoming flesh and living amongst us: the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection: and the fullness of his grace and undeserving love that he has extended to us through that, and the blessing that this brings to us – it is all truly magnificent - it really is something that is way beyond what we would normally associate with a word. This Good Word can and does open up a whole new dimension and understanding to life.

Here I can do no more than encourage you to remember that this Word is with us, and for you to heed this Word – to heed Jesus. He is there to give us life. He is there as a light for our lives - to give meaning, purpose and hope to each one of us. This Word, Jesus, is basic to our existence. Yes we can ignore it - leave it on the shelf – fail to take notice of it; but we do so to our own detriment: to our own pain and hurt: and perhaps even eternally. But this does not alter the fact that this Good Word is there in life for us, in its many facets: it is life and light for us - if we allow it.

Here God personally says to us, that this is what life is all about. Sure, it doesn't take all the hassles and problems out of life. He never promised that. In fact, he does the opposite. But it does illuminate those areas for us so that we are able to see that they are very much our own humanities faults and failings, and so turns us back to that Word - back to the Lord Jesus Christ. So again, we are brought face to face with the timeless, all-powerful, life-giving and life-renewing Word. As we cling to that Good Word and allow it to light up the path ahead, we can go forward knowing that because of that Word there - there is also life for us and for the people that we are sent to.

Yes this same Word: this same Lord Jesus; that was there in the beginning creating life out nothing; and again recreating it through his life, death and resurrection; and again gave you life in the waters of baptism; is the same Word – the same Jesus that is there with you and for you as you now go forward into this new year. This same God is there for you, full of grace and truth, so believe - live in light of it – and may this Good Word bless each and every day of this New Year for you. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish