Sound Different | A Sermon on Mark 11:22-25

Introduction
I will never forget the first time I said "I love you" to Kelly.  She was only 16 and I was 18.  We'd only been dating for a short time.  I walked her to her door after one of our dates and said good night and then it just came out, "I love you."  I said it as much out of habit as anything (that's the what we said when we told each other good night in my childhood family).  There was an awkward pause... and Kelly did not reciprocate.

Back in the car on the drive home, I was kicking myself.  Why did I say that?  It wasn't appropriate because we hadn't been dating long enough and I didn't really mean it; it just slipped out.  When I got to my house, the phone rang and it was Kelly.  She said, "I think I should explain why I didn't say I love you back.  Those are very important words to me and I don't use them lightly.  I think you should really know that you love someone before you tell them "I love you.""

Now that sounded different—so much more mature and honest than most 16-year-old girls I knew at the time.  And it impressed me that Kelly had a deeper understanding of love and was willing to stand up for what she believed in and to call me and explain.

We are supposed to sound different than the world.  You see, long ago, God chose you to be holy different—to think different, to act different, to look different, and to sound different.  

How you sound—what you say—is serious business.  Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."  
Proverbs 15:4 says, "Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." 
And Proverbs 12:18 says, "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."  And listen to what Jesus said about the power of what holy people say. 

Mark 11:22-25
²² Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. ²⁴ I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. ²⁵ But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

In the Passage, Jesus Implies 3 Ways Holy People Will Sound Different.

First, holy people have faith to speak and move mountains.  Holy people use their words to change lives and change the world. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King, Jr. looked around and found a world full of racial discrimination and segregation.

It seemed like an impossible mountain to move, but King knew it was not right and he was a Christian leader, a holy man. So, King began to speak and what he said sounded different from everyone else. He urged non-violent protest. He spoke about how segregation and racial bigotry was hurtful not just black people, but also to white people and oppressors. King preached that we all need healing--even those who are mistreating others.

Holy people don't just sound different when they speak out on momentous social justice issues.  
Mountains are moved in small ways every day.  Does anyone know who Albert McMakin is?  Probably not.  Albert was a relatively unknown farm worker in North Carolina.  But he attended a revival service where an evangelist named Mordecai Ham was preaching.  Albert invited a 15 year old boy to go with him.  The teenager went reluctantly, but was deeply moved at the service and gave his life to Christ.  That teenager was Billy Graham.  With out the relatively unknown Albert McMakin, we would never have had the powerful evangelist, Billy Graham.

Holy people pray. Philippians 4:6 says, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."    When others get mad, get sad, get worried, get discouraged, holy people pray.  

Negative emotions produce more negative emotions.  Worry and stress produce more worry and stress.  Everyone gets to talking and dwelling on their worries and stress and all the negative emotions just get worse and more intense. 

But holy people sound different.  Holy people pray and God gives them peace.  And peace gives birth to more peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

Holy People forgive. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he looked down at the soldier gambling for his clothes and said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).  Holy people sound different because they forgive.

On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof gunned down 9 Christians in a church in Charleston, SC.  The relatives of the slain had a chance to speak directly to the gunman at his first court appearance. One by one, those who chose to speak did not choose anger.  Somehow—by the grace and power of God—they were able to speak life even in the presence of the man who brought death to their loved ones.  

[i]Nadine Collier, the daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance, said at the hearing, her voice breaking with emotion. “I forgive you,” she told him. “You took something very precious away from me. I will never get to talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you, and have mercy on your soul… You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. If God forgives you, I forgive you.”

Forgiveness sounds different. It brings healing—first it helps you heal.  Bitterness will poison you from the inside out.  Holding a grudge will tear you apart and damage all your other relationships.  Forgiveness helps you heal and move on to the brighter future God want to give you.

Are You Ready to Sound Different?
Thankfully, most of us will never experience the tragedy of our loved ones being gunned down in a church prayer meeting.  But there are still some practical things that everyone can do to sound different than the world.  

First of all, get in the Word of God.  Jesus said, "What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45).  So, fill your heart with God's Word. 
Dig into the Bible so that you are more and more like Christ in your heart.  Then everything you say will flow from your Christ-like heart and you will sound different.

Second, refuse to use abusive or vulgar language.  Don't try to tear people down in order to make yourself feel better or right.  There is already too much of that going on in our world.  Holy people should sound different.  Refrain from cutting remarks or trolling on social media.  Refuse to gossip or talk trash about people behind their backs.  Instead of texting or emailing, call or visit and talk to people directly. 

Third, encourage people with love and grace. Be kind.  Be positive.  The world has enough negativity and darkness.  Sound different.  Speak light, not darkness.  Speak life, not death.

Fourth, use your words to invite people to Jesus.  People don't just need a church to attend. They need a relationship with Jesus Christ. They need to know that God loves them, that Christ died for them, that there is forgiveness and grace and new life available through Him.

Now, inviting someone to church can certainly be part of inviting them to Jesus. We need Jesus, and we need each other. Christ calls His people to gather as the Church.  But our ultimate goal isn't simply to get people through the doors of a building.  Our goal is to help people meet Jesus.

Some will say, “But I've already talked to everyone I know.”  Then maybe it's time to widen the circle.

Jesus told a parable about a great banquet. A master prepared a feast and invited his guests, but one by one they made excuses. So, the master told his servant to go out into the streets and lanes and bring in people who had never expected to receive an invitation. And when there was still room, he said, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”

There are people all around us who are hungry for something they may not even know how to name. Some are lonely. Some are hurting. Some are carrying guilt. Some have lost hope.
Some may never respond to an invitation to “come to church,” but they might respond to someone who genuinely loves them enough to listen to their story and share their own.

So go. Build relationships with people. Invite somebody to lunch. Listen to them.  Learn their story. Tell them yours. And when the opportunity comes, tell them about Jesus.

They may be different from you. That's OK. Jesus loves different.  In fact, God chose us to be different and holy.

Don't just invite people to church. Invite people to Jesus—and then invite them to come follow Him with us.

Are you Ready to Sound Different?  Good!  Because God wants you to be holy different—to think different, to act different, to look different, to sound different, to be different.  You are His holy people, a royal priesthood set apart for His special purposes to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ to build His Kingdom.  Amen.

Look Different | A Sermon on Matthew 5:14-16

Introduction

Long ago, God chose you to be Holy and Different. Christians are meant to Think Different, Act Different, and today I want to share that we should Look Different.  

Of all the sermons in this series, I was concerned about this one the most.  Why did God want me to talk about how Christians should look?  I thought about the different ways Christians have looked and dressed over the years.  And to make things easy, I’ve compiled picture showing how Christians can look different. Maybe you would like to choose one of these looks? 

You could choose the monastic look of the monk or the nun.

You could choose the 16-17 century clerical style of Jonathan Edwards or John Wesley.

Or maybe you would like the more contemporary look of the modern worship style.

Or you could opt for a more glamorous televangelist hairdo—what I call the "GlamorEvangelist".

Or if that's not hardcore enough, you could go with the crazy street preacher look.

Maybe we should bring back hats in church?

Or, fellas, maybe you want to go with the bearded look.  There's a handy guide for Christian beard styles…

If we really want to know how Christians should look different, let’s go to the Word of God.

Matthew 5:14-16
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus’ Fashion Advice
Jesus didn’t give much fashion advice.  He did talk about the Pharisees’ clothing once.  The Pharisees liked to dress in elaborate robes ornamented with boxes called phylacteries that held tiny scrolls of scripture.  They liked to be noticed and to look "holy," but Jesus warned they were like white washed tombs, beautiful on the outside but, on the inside, full of dead men's bones.

In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus said you shouldn't worry about what you will wear; He said the lilies of the field are better clothed than anything King Solomon ever wore (and Solomon was the richest man who ever lived).

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus gives a few images of how we are to “look.”  It has more to do with our character, but it can affect the way we look too.  The images He uses are:  light, a city, and a shining lamp. 

Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and have an inner light that shines. There’s something special about them that transcends clothing, age, or the world’s standards of beauty.  Our inner light leads us and even gives light to others, but in order for the light to shine, you have to open yourself up to the Holy Spirit. 

You have to listen to what the Spirit says and then obey—even if it's uncomfortable or challenging.  When you cooperate with the Spirit, you become more like Christ.

You can also give light to others.  Christians are called to be a witness.  Church members promise to support the church with their prayers, the presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness.  Being a witness means telling people what Jesus has done for you.  Even if you don't say anything, people see the way you live.  And if you let the Holy Spirit lead you, you will shine brightly and others will see.

There's something else about that shining inner light.  Jesus said it can't be hidden.  He said we shouldn't try to hide it any more than we would try to hide the light of a lamp. 

I'm so thankful I live in America—a land where we have the freedom to live as Christians.  It was quite dangerous for the earliest followers of Christ and it is still dangerous for many Christians who live in places like North Korea, China, Africa, and Pakistan today.  Many Christians have to worship in secret and try to keep their faith hidden.  Can you imagine the burden of that?  How do you keep your faith in Christ secret when it causes you to shine like a lamp or a city on a hill? 

I'm so glad Christians in America don't have to hide our light.  And I think we ought to try and shine as brightly as we can in honor and memory of those who didn't have this privilege.  How dare we disrespect those who suffer for Christ by taking our shining privileges for granted?

Christians Gather Together
I’ve never been a big city kind of person.  I think I’m truly a country man at heart.  I love the peace and quiet.  I like my privacy.  I don’t want to be right up on my neighbors.

But Jesus said Christians are like a city on a hill.  Cities are a place where lots and lots of people gathering together.  And that tells you something about how Christians look.  Christians gather together in groups. 

You can't have a city with just one person and there are no solitary Christians.  Christians must come together.  Think of the two most important ceremonies in the Christian Church.  The two sacraments Jesus commanded His followers to practice are Baptism and Communion.  You don’t practice either of them by yourself.  You get together with other believers to experience them. 

Christians look different because we are always gathering together with other to worship, to study, to serve, to grow, to hold one another accountable, and to just share life. 

Christians Have Scars
Last week, I shared I have this old truck I call "Dry Bones."  It used to be a dump truck.  They say farm trucks live a hard life, but the life of a dump truck is just brutal! 

You can see the scars from that tough life in the rust that covers Dry Bones.  But it's the rusty old worn-out look that I like most about Dry Bones. 
It reminds me so much of the Christian life.

Jesus comes to us when we are broken and beat down by the consequences of our sin.  He loves us, despite our ugliness, and He redeems us and gives us a new life.  That's what I think about when I see my Dry Bones truck.  It was just a worn out dump truck, discarded and forgotten, but I'm bringing it back to life and making it cool.  People stop me all the time and tell me, "Man, I really love that old truck."  And they love it, not because it's shiny and new.  They love it because it’s rusty and worn-out.

Dry Bones is a good picture for how Christians look different.  Christians have scars.  Even Jesus had scars.  In fact, the risen Christ often showed people His scars to prove it was really Him.  "Look," He would say, "Here are the scars where the nails pierced my hands.  Here is where the spear pierced my side."  Jesus scars are not an ugly thing anymore.  Now, they are a badge of honor that shows what He did for us--how much He loves us.  

Christians have scares too—scars inflicted by the sins of others and some we caused ourselves.  But a scar is not a live wound.  It is a wound that has healed.  And if Jesus is healing you (that’s who Christians are—people Christ has healed and/or is healing)—you will have the scars to prove it. 

And your scars aren't an ugly thing; they are a badge of honor that glorifies God and shows what Christ has done for you.  Don't be afraid to show your scars—to say, "Here.  Here is where Christ healed me from sin."  Our scars tell our story.

Two More Scriptures for Christian Fashion
Before I close, let me share a couple more scriptures about how Christians should dress.

Luke 12:35 – Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.

1 Peter 5:5 – And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So, be dressed for service and dress yourself in humility.  That's your Christians fashion advice. 

Conclusion
Remember, God chose you long ago to be different, to be holy.   God chose you to think different, act different, and to look different. 

You should be like a city on a hill, shining for all the world to see so they may glorify God. 
Are you ready to look different?

Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem | A Sermon on Luke 19:28-40

Introduction
Just before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He told a parable about a nobleman who was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. But his people hated him and said, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’  It seems, Jesus knew there were many people in Jerusalem who would not accept Him as the true Lord. They would cheer for Him, but they would misunderstand Him.  And when He didn’t live up to their expectations, they would crucify Him.

Luke 19:28-35
²⁸ After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. ²⁹ As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. ³⁰ “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. ³³ And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

³⁴ And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

Jesus vs. Pilate
I want to pause here and point out a contrast we see.  There were two parades that happened that week.  The one not in Scripture, but known from history, is Pilates parade.  It was customary for the Romans to have a parade during religious festival times like the Passover.  This was a show of force that reminded the zealous Jewish crowds who was in charge.  It showcased Roman power with the obvious insinuation, "Don't forget, we are in control.  If you step out of line, we will put you back in your place by force."  Jesus rode on a donkey, but Pilate rode on a war horse, surrounded by armored soldiers and chariots.  Donkey's aren't rode into battle.  They're small and slow.  When a Jewish king came to a city in peace, he rode a donkey as a sign, because no one rides a donkey into battle.  They ride a war horse.  But Jesus came to Jerusalem in peace, on a donkey, to offer God's peace to Jerusalem.  That stands in stark contrast to the mighty and intimidating war horse of Pilate and the Romans.

Luke 19:36-40
³⁶ As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. ³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”^[c]

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Palms and Cloaks
You may have missed it.  The Gospel of Luke doesn’t mention the use of palm branches on “Palm” Sunday for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John all say the crowds had leafy branches or palm branches, but Luke focuses on how the crowd spread out their garments on the road ahead of Jesus.

Spreading your garments over the path of your king was an important symbolic act. 

In 2 Kings 9:13, people spread their cloaks in front of Jehu when was anointed the next king of Israel.  It was a common practice in many ancient Middle Eastern cultures.  It was a way to say,
“We will lay down our lives for you, our king.”  It’s a symbol of total submission; sort of like, “We submit to you completely.  You can walk all over us if you want.  You are our king.”

And so the people in Jerusalem say this of Jesus.  “We submit.  You are our king!”

But for many in Jerusalem, their submission was not unconditional.  It came with expectations.  They quote from Psalm 118:25 “Please, Lord, please save us!”  Which is the Hebrew expression “Hosanna!”  It literally means, “Save us now!”  

But, save us from what?

Try to imagine with me, who might be there in that crowd shouting hosanna.

The Overburdened Farmer
He has worked hard his whole life, but Roman taxes take most of what he earns. He can barely provide for his family, and every year feels harder than the last.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will drive out Rome and make life easier, not one who calls him to surrender his heart.

The Zealous Nationalist
He dreams of Israel being strong again like in the days of David. He’s angry, tired of foreign rule, and ready for a revolution.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will fight his enemies, not one who tells him to love them.

The Religious Insider
He faithfully works in the Temple and follows all the traditions. He takes pride in his knowledge and his place in the religious community.   “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will affirm his system, not one who exposes his heart.

The Weary Father
He is trying to hold his family together in a world that feels unstable and unsafe. He wants security, peace, and a future for his children.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will fix his circumstances, not one who asks him to trust God no matter what.

The Successful Merchant
His business is doing well, and he enjoys a comfortable life. Still, he worries about instability and wants protection for what he’s built.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”   He wants a Messiah who will secure his success, not one who might ask him to loosen his grip on it.

The Quietly Numb Believer
He still shows up. He still goes through the motions. But somewhere along the way, his passion has faded and his faith has grown cold.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will comfort him where he is, not one who calls him back to wholehearted devotion.

They all shouted the same words, but they were not all asking for the same kind of salvation.

Jesus Riding Into Jerusalem
Perhaps you can imagine yourself in that crowd–waving palm branches, spreading your cloak on the ground in front of Jesus as a sign of submission and allegiance.  We all want solutions to our problems.  Stress and anxiety, financial pressure, health problems, broken relationships, loneliness, guilt and shame, addiction, uncertainty about the future, lack of purpose, loss and grief…  It would be great if Jesus would deliver us now and on our own terms.

Jesus brings the answers—but not according to our plans or expectations.  He brings them on His terms. He is Lord. And when we surrender, we experience His Kingdom.  We find peace, even when life in this world is still hard.  And we hope that we will be made right with God and, ultimately, every broken part of our world will be made right too.

But many in that crowd chanting hosanna were not ready to truly welcome the Messiah.
Within a week, many would chant “Crucify Him!” and “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
And so, Jesus enters Jerusalem and weeps in Luke 19:42-44, “⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.^[d]”

Closing
The crowd laid down their cloaks and shouted, “Hosanna!” But many were not ready to let Jesus truly be their King.  The question for us today as we clos is not what the crowd did, but it’s "what we will do."  Will we welcome Jesus as He is?  Or only as we want Him to be?

How will you respond to Jesus today?

Jesus Greives Over Jerusalem | A Sermon on Luke 13:31-35

Introduction

Throughout this season of Lent, I’ve been sharing stories of Jesus’ final weeks leading up to His crucifixion in Jerusalem.  To get to Jerusalem, He probably traveled south from Capernaum in  Galilee down through Samaria.  Then he crossed over to the east side Jordan River—a region called Perea, where Herod Antipas ruled as a puppet of Rome.  He spent several days ministering in Perea.  Then, Jesus crossed back over the Jordan into Judea, visited Jericho (where He eats at the house of Zacchaeus, the wee little man), and finally He made His ascent up to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday and events of Holy week.

But today, we find Jesus in Perea and He is thinking of Jerusalem, lamenting over the Holy City lost in rebellion against God.

Luke 13:31-35
³¹ At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”

³² Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. ³³ Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

³⁴ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. ³⁵ And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’^[a]”

A Warning for Jerusalem
When Jesus speaks these words in Luke 13, He’s not talking about just any old city. 

He is talking about Jerusalem.  This is the Holy City of God.  It’s supposed to be the capital of God’s Kingdom on Earth—at least in the thinking of the Jews of Jesus’ day.

It was the center of worship.  The home of God’s Temple.  The place where people believed God’s presence dwelled.  Is there any church that is more holy, more important than the Temple of God in Jerusalem?  If any place on earth seemed secure… it was Jerusalem.

And yet Jesus says:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…”  Do you know what happened to Jerusalem? 

Not many years later, it was utterly destroyed by the Romans. The Temple was torn down.  Not one stone was left upon another.  Why?  Because Jerusalem would not turn back to God.

Jerusalem and the Holy Temple were supposed to point people to God.  But many people in Jerusalem became so enamored with their city and temple that they loved them more than God.  Their Temple.  Their traditions.  Their history.  Their identity.

They loved those things so much, they could not let them go—even when God Himself (Jesus) was standing right in front of them.  They chose their symbols over the Savior.

I once visited Jerusalem.  It was clear that every square inch of the city is considered sacred.  It is so sacred, it's hard to get anything done.  Our tour guide explained about someone who began to construct a building.  They got all the necessary permits.  However, when they dug down to lay the foundation, they ran into some artifacts.  (Artifacts are littered under almost all the city, because it has stood in the same spot for 5,000 years.)  Experts were called in and it was determined the artifacts were very important sacred relics.  Therefore, the owner was no longer allowed to build on the property.

They people of Jesus day wee no less protective of their city, their traditions, and their buildings.  And Jesus knew their hearts, even before He arrived in Jerusalem.  He knew they would not change, even when the Son of God came asking them to turn back to God and receive peace and forgiveness.  And Jesus grieved, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”

How could they miss it?  How could they love a city and its buildings more than they love God?

What About Us?
We might shake our heads at Jerusalem’s folly, but we need to be careful.  What might Jesus be saying to us today?  Because we often do the same thing.

We love the things of this world—the things of our life—more than God.

I recently moved to a new town to serve a new church.  It was hard to leave my previous home.  We lived their for 15 years--longer than we lived anywhere else in my life.  I loved my church and my friends there and it was also the first home we'd ever owned for ourselves.  And I often heard Satan whispering in my ear, "Chris, you can't leave this place.  Look at al you've done here.  Look at what you've built.  This is your home. Are you really going to leave this behind just because God tells you to go somewhere else?"

And I would have to shew Satan away like a fly, because i knew it was God that brought me there.  And it was God who would lead me to my knew home.  And it is God who I serve and who is the first priority of my life.  I will love Him above everything else.  And I will serve Him.  And I will go where He leads me.  And I will die to whatever tries to take His place in my life. 

We are often tempted to be like the people of Jerusalem in Jesus’ day.  We make an idol of our church.  We become so attached to our church buildings, our traditions, our memories of “how things used to be”, our favorite ministries or mission projects, that we begin to love those things more than we love God Himself.  And when that happens, even good things become idols.

We can make an idol of anything—if we love it more than God.  We might make an idol of our children, our family, our romantic relationships.  Money, sex, or influence can become an idol.  We can even turn our patriotism into and idol when we become so enamored with our nation that we love America more than we love God and we trust in our military strength or our political leaders more than we trust Jesus. 

We have idols in our own personal lives too—things we hold so tightly that we resist God when He calls us to change. It might be:

• A habit we don’t want to give up
• A relationship we know isn’t right
• A lifestyle we’ve grown comfortable with
• A bitterness we’ve learned to live with
• A sense of control we refuse to surrender

We may try to excuse ourselves and say, “This is just who I am.” 
But what if God is saying, “No… I want more for you than that”?

And remember, God did not spare even Jerusalem, even His Temple, when it refused to turn back to Him.  And we should not assume that God will protect anything in our lives that takes His place.  Not our nation. Not our traditions. Not our comfort.  Not even our church.  Not if they ever become more important to us than Christ. 

The Heart of Christ
I know.  It sounds harsh.  But I don’t want you to miss this:  Look at Jesus’ heart.  He’s not speaking in anger.

Jesus is weeping.  “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”

Jesus doesn’t want destruction.  Jesus doesn’t want to punish.  It hurts His heart all the more, because Jesus knows there’s a gentler way forward; they could repent and God would forgive.

Embedded in Jesus’ lament is the best option for all of us.  Turn back to God. 

Turn away from the path of destruction and find peace with God.
Let go of what you are clinging to and return to the One who truly gives life.

Invitation
Jesus grieved over Jerusalem.  But the real question for us today is not:  “What was wrong with Jerusalem?” 

The question is:  "Is there anything in my life that I am holding onto more tightly than I am holding onto Jesus?"

Because Jesus is still calling:  “Come to me.”
And the safest place to be is not in a building, not in a tradition,  not in a memory.
The safest place to be is in the arms of Christ.

Choose today who you will serve.  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.