July 14, 2008

Good Monday!

            During our second worship service yesterday I invited the children of the church to come up to the front and listen to a children’s lesson that I had prepared just for them.  During the summer when we do not have a Junior Church Program either I or our son Matt will teach a short, simple lesson geared just for them.  Yesterday was my turn to come up with the lesson.  I have been teaching children’s sermons ever since I first went into ministry and could probably tell all kinds of stories on things children have said.  They are a riot and they tell the absolute truth—except for yesterday.

            I was sharing with them that on Saturday I “celebrated” another birthday.  As I set the story up I asked them if they enjoyed having birthday parties and the told me that they did.  Since I told them that my birthday was on Saturday, I asked them how old they thought I was.  I said, “Give me a number.”  They got really quiet and they seemed like they wanted to give me a number but they were afraid of what I might say.  So I asked one of the little boys, “Do you think I am older or younger than your grandparents.”  He hesitated for a moment and then he said, “Younger.”  I told him I appreciated that and pressed them for a number.  They just wouldn’t budge.  I could not get them to give me a number.  So I told them, “OK. Since you won’t give me a number I’ll tell you how old I am.” I then said, “I am 152 years old.”

            Of course they laughed but I could tell that they didn’t believe me.  I said, “I have made a decision that from here on out, I am going to add 100 to the actual number so that when people ask me how old I am I will tell them this outrageous number so that they will in turn say, ‘Well you look pretty good for 152 years of age.’”  I have to think that this should always work in my favor.  Then I told them that most everyone thinks that I am older than I really am, especially when I am standing next to my wife who looks a bit younger than I do. (This is where I sneak in some kind of line to mention that she is actually a bit older than I am—but don’t tell her that I said that).  Of course then people don’t believe that.  But now that I am 152, and people say that I look pretty good for that age, I’m feeling pretty good about my self.  Except that it is not true.  All I am looking for is some kind of affirmation that I look pretty good for my age—even my real age. 

            As I continued in my teaching to them, I said, “Really though, looks have nothing to do with it as far as God is concerned.  I then told them the story of how the prophet Samuel was told by God to go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse (1 Samuel 16).  God told him that one of Jesse’s sons would become the next king of Israel.  So, one by one, Jesse paraded 7 if his sons before Samuel only for Samuel to hear from God that none of the 7 were the one.  At one point Samuel was convinced that one of the boys was surely the anointed one because of how tall and strong he looked.  But God said to him in verse 7, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

So Samuel says to Jesse, “Are these all the sons that you have?”  And Jesse responded, “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” (v. 11) The young shepherd boy was brought from the fields to Samuel and immediately God says, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one. (v. 12)  And from this point on we would read at different times in the story of King David that he (David) was a man after God’s own heart.  Now does this mean that David was perfect?  Of course not.  We know the story of his sin with Bathsheba and though he was still a godly man, that sin was very costly—for it cost David and Bethsheba their child. But in spite of this, David’s heart was devoted to God and he and God had a wonderful relationship.

 How is your heart?  Is it a heart that is in love with God? Is it a heart that when God looks at it is one that wants to please Him?  I want to encourage you to develop a heart relationship that puts God first in EVERYTHING—regardless of how good you look.  He desires that we love him with all of our heart, strength and mind. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him and He is not at all consumed with your looks, your status in society, your family name—whaterver.  He is interested only in your heart.  So let everyone of us take a very close look at our heart.  Is it in love with God?  Does your heart and your character match?  Are you a believer who wants to do whatever God wants you to do?  These and many more issues can be compared to your heart condition.  My prayer is that when you do a study of your own heart, that it can be said of you that you are a man or woman after God’s own heart.  That when people see you, they see God.

Here is hoping that you have a wonderful week and I will continue to pray God’s blessings upon you.  Until next Monday…

Pastor Tim