Sermon Text: Psalm 19: 7-14
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Morning Message:
Bumbling, fumbling, and stumbling! Sounds like watching a Steelers’ football game. This sermon title just came to me after reading the scriptures for today. There are different ways that we can hear and take in these readings today. One way is to be discouraged by the demands that God’s perfect law and the words of Jesus seem to put on us. In my devotional this week I read this: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. (Matthew 11: 5) Notice in this scripture that Jesus is illustrating that God is correcting terrible circumstances in the lives of His people. Another way that scripture says this is, “Those who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Discouragement, if we allow it to, can take away our joy. Inspirational author Orison Marden believed that discouragement was one of the germs that kills the prosperity and happiness of tens of thousands of people every year. Everyone faces discouraging events. When our expectations or hopes collapse, it’s like a punch in the stomach. But Proverbs 25: 25 says, “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land”. When we’re living for the Lord, there is always a silver lining. Somewhere there’s a Romans 8: 28 moment. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” When John the Baptist grew discouraged in prison, Jesus sent him a word of Good News! So if you’re discouraged right now, look around quickly for something good from God. For why should you feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should your heart feel lonely when Jesus is your portion, your constant friend? Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever. When you listen to me preach I hope that you will realize that I work very hard to never mislead you. The truth, the reality of Christian life in this world is something that we must face, but we can face it knowing that God will prevail
Let’s look at today’s first scripture reading. I don’t want us to ignore the warning that Jesus gives in verse 42. This is not part of my larger point today, but I believe that it is a very important warning for all of us to follow, especially those who teach and preach. The warning is for anyone who might cause a fellow Christian to stumble. It says little ones but in fact it could be any Christian that is not quite mature or strong in their faith. God’s word is not to be changed, twisted, or compromised in any way that would mislead someone, even if it seems to make accepting it easier. One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is to preach or speak a more acceptable gospel to try and win someone to Christ.
Now sometimes we have to be careful to not take the words of Jesus to literally. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. My grandson, when he was very little once said when his ears were in the way, “where are my scissors, I will cut them off”. How many of you actually think that Jesus wants you to cut off or pluck out a body part if, in your estimation, it causes you to sin? If this were the case none of us would make it to heaven in one piece because no matter how hard we try we are all bumbling, fumbling, and stumbling through this life. This is simply Jesus’ way of magnifying his point. Nothing on this earth, no earthly pleasure, nothing that you have or can gain by physical means is worth losing your soul in hell. If you really think about it the description that is given here is terrifying. Where the worms that eat them never die, and the fire is not quenched.
As human beings living in these sinful bodies of flesh we cannot completely avoid bumbling, fumbling, and stumbling, but we can work to minimize our shortcomings. I have a challenge for you this week. Most of you will not take me up on it, but if you do you will find that it is a worthwhile practice. Everyday this week open your Bible and read Psalm 19: 7-14. Don’t just read it, pray it. Oh Lord, your law is perfect, Father in heaven, your statutes are trustworthy, and your precepts are right. I know Lord that if I follow them, I will have the wisdom that I need for this life and the result will be joy in my heart. Lord your commands are not easy for me to follow but please help me try because I know that they are right, open my eyes to see them from your perspective. Lord I know that I fall short and do not always follow your ways but know that your decrees are firm and everything that you say and do is righteous. I fear you and respect you for you and you alone are God, all-knowing creator of all things and Savior of the world. I’m not going to give you the whole prayer because it needs to come from your heart. It does, at least for me, end just the way that it is written. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. If you want to stumble less, you need to follow the perfect way. It won’t make you perfect, but it will make you better.
In Christ’s Love and Peace
Pastor Bob
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