Do you follow political news avidly, mostly try to avoid it, or do you participate in the political process but are generally lukewarm about the whole thing?

It’s difficult to stay out of it completely. How soon will we get a new speaker of the house? How will the president handle the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine? You might have some passionate opinions to share, or you might be undecided or neutral, but either way they’re topics of discussion that are out there and come into our lives in different ways.

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:5). Our Christian conscience moves our attitude toward government up another notch. … for the authorities are God’s servants (13:6). It’s not just a matter of avoiding punishment. How we live and speak in our civil society comes out of a conscience that has been formed over years by the teachings of the Word.

Romans 13 is one of the big sections on government in the Word. It doesn’t tell us how to vote or which politicians will ultimately be the best for the country, but it does urge respect. Those we agree with, and those we don’t.

However we engage with government (and it’s good and necessary to engage with it!), we will be able to follow our Christian conscience, informed by the Word of God, and treat all the people involved in it with loving respect.

Come and hear more about the topic at Sunday worship!

We Are Not Ashamed!

Which of these would you proudly let people know about?

“My granddaughter is the lead in Alice in Wonderland, her grade school play.”

“I lost 10 pounds last month.”

“My candidate is ahead in the polls, and will probably win.”

“We just got a new couch.”

“I found a great fishing spot.”

“___________________________________________” (fill in the blank)

“I know the gospel, and live with the righteousness of Christ.”

They’re all great. Nothing to be ashamed of. Why would you be? Except maybe the one about the gospel?

It can be an odd part of Christian life that we proudly let people know all kinds of things about ourselves, but with the whole core and center of our life in Christ we’re not as forthcoming.

We will be blessed if we take a page out of the Apostle Paul’s book at the beginning of Romans, when he writes:

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

Jesus has given us a life without the guilt and shame of lingering sin, because he has covered us in his righteousness through the gospel to us. We are proud to live by faith!

I will sing for the one I love
    a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
    on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
    and planted it with the choicest vines. (Isaiah 5:1-2)

Love songs are probably one of the most common things in human existence. There have to be millions written over time. The oldest love song was usually considered to be the Song of Songs in the Bible, but there appears to be at least one even earlier than that dating to thousands of years ago. They are poems, but apparently ancient poetry was often sung. The phenomenon continues up to the present time, when just this year there are at least enough to make up a “top 100 love songs of 2023” list.

This love song in Isaiah 5 is fairly unique in that it’s about a vineyard. But there’s plenty of love in gardening and working on a farm. You who know the joy of sowing and caring for new plant life. You also know the work and love that goes into it. Here God is the gardener. We are the vineyard.

God has gone to a tremendous amount of trouble to plant you in his kingdom and take care of you as you grow. If you were blessed to be called by baptism early on and have continued in the faith over a long life, you might be a 70-year growing season or more for the Lord!

No matter how long you have planted in faith in Christ, God put things into place for your baptism, sent people to watch over your faith and support you, provided his Word and fellow believers for encouragement, and lifted your soul with the hope of eternal life. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Over a lifetime.

Unfortunately, if you read Isaiah 5, the people of Israel who are the vineyard do not produce a good crop of grapes, but instead only bad fruit. The warning is to not show a lack of appreciation to our loving and gracious gardener.

Instead, we remain close to Jesus and his Word and bear good fruit to the glory of his name! I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

“A chip off the old block” is usually a good thing. A child is following his or her parent in a gift for singing, or a quality of generosity, or an interest in electricity. People generally quote that saying with a proud smile.

In the book of Ezekiel we see another saying about parents and children that brings out a negative side of the relationship, that “leaves a bad taste in their mouth” we could say.

“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:

“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge’ (Ezekiel 18:2)

The people of Israel were reaping the consequences of many years of turning away from God through defeat and exile in the country of Babylon. They were understandably upset by this time of losing their homeland and having to live as captives in another country. Those are the “sour grapes.”

A big part of the problem, though, with the Israelites quoting the proverb is that they seem to be using it as an excuse, or a way to get out of their own responsibility. “It’s our parents who caused this problem. It’s not our fault, but our ‘teeth are set on edge’ now too.” Meaning their teeth were suffering the sourness of the exile as well.

God’s response is that he treats everyone as an individual. Each person has his or her own life before God.

Are there any bad habits or customs that you’re repeating from your past experiences or upbringing? God doesn’t allow us to place the blame on our parents or anyone else. There’s no need to continue eating the same sour grapes. God lays on us the responsibility of our own spiritual lives. And at the same time he gives us the wonderful and amazing liberty of his grace to repent and find new life in his Son Jesus.

Let’s leave the sour grapes in the past, and look forward to the freedom of Christ’s renewal for us and in us!

I remember the first time I heard the phrase “aha moment” was years ago in Milwaukee. (I may have been behind the times because apparently the phrase has been around since at least 1931). We were in a presentation about kids’ behavior in school, and the presenter talked about “aha moments” in understanding better what was behind “difficult” kids’ actions and reactions in class. Much of it had to do with biological responses in children who unfortunately did not have the benefit of safety, care or good nutrition in their home. There were some “aha moments” for all of us who were there, and the stories we heard had a big impact on us.

Jesus came to have a big impact on the world with his teaching, and he often used parables. Stories. And particularly stories we could relate to in order to let us in on how things work in God’s kingdom.

As we read and hear the parables our minds and hearts are opened by the Spirit to understand life in a different way. Often they amaze us and give us an “aha!” response. Parables turn our perspectives upside down because God’s message is totally different than the messages of the world.

Over the next four Sundays we’ll ask Jesus to “tell us a story.” Each parable will cover one of the important topics of generosity, sincerity, patience, and rejection. Come and join us in worship for some of your own “aha moments” with your Savior!

After a football game this past weekend, one of the main players contributing to his team’s victory said more than once in the interview, “I’m so thankful for this opportunity. I just didn’t want to let my teammates down. I just didn’t want to let my teammates down.”

Especially when it comes to people we care about, we hate the thought of causing them sadness, offending them, or inconveniencing them in any way.

The Holy Spirit does a great and amazing work in us that only God can do. He turns our rebellious natural heart into a heart of faith and love for the Lord. And then he watches all those he has converted to see how they are living in their spiritual lives.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)

These are the things that make the Spirit sad, make the Spirit grieve, even offend the Spirit of God. Bitterness. Rage. Anger. Brawling. Slander. Every form of malice. As people who have been sealed by the Spirit for eternity, we want to get rid of all those things so we don’t let him down.

Now, of course, that’s a warning. The law. “The Spirit is watching. Don’t grieve the Spirit.” Our true gospel driver for kindness, forgiveness and compassion is the loving, fragrant sacrifice of Jesus for us all.

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)