I was pleasantly surprised on a recent Monday, when I received multiple words of affirmation concerning my sermon the weekend prior. 

It’s not that I don’t usually receive some “Good sermon, pastor” comments from worshippers. Many of you go out of your way to affirm that part of my vocation, especially when a sermon strikes you as helpful or inspirational. (NOTE: Some of my brother pastors comment that they rarely, if ever, receive that kind of praise, so thank you for that!) But that Monday was different. That Monday I had spent a good part of my Sunday afternoon concerned that I may have upset or offended someone.

The law … the news that we have fallen short of God’s expectations … can be difficult to preach and very often very difficult to hear, ESPECIALLY when we have done something wrong. When I was a kid we were blessed with some very large front yards and cutting grass was a task we kids were expected to complete.  When I was lazy and did not complete the task, at least not in a timely manner, I knew my father would be upset. Hearing him call me to task and talk about my failure was very difficult. “I’m very disappointed in you, John!”

God’s word includes many, many reminders that we fall short of God’s righteous expectations. PREACHING that word can be difficult. No one wants to hear that they have done something wrong and have not lived up to God’s expectations! ESPECIALLY because, by earthly comparison, we are pretty good folks! We don’t waste lots of time on unfruitful activities.  We DO go to church … most weekends. We don’t get angry all the time. We don’t hurt or kill other people.

The problem is, when it comes to God’s law, the standard by which we are measured is not a comparison to other people … good or evil. The standard is the righteousness of God revealed in the scriptures and confirmed by the life and teachings of his prophets and others, the primary one being God’s Son, Jesus.

As a child and now as an adult I remember looking forward to receiving a word of instruction from my father mostly because he was very thoughtful and educated. I could trust what he told me. It’s the primary reason I miss him so much today. I would love to get his input on something happening at St. John’s or get his advice about a personal matter. I loved my father and wanted more than anything else to know what pleased him!

I think that is probably why so many folks offered words of affirmation in response to a sermon that mostly spoke of that which God desired (i.e. “commands”). That being said, the law always accuses. Even when I want very much to know what God wants from me, I know I often fall short. But because I know God mostly through the love of Jesus the Christ, most often I look forward to receiving a word concerning God’s commands. I know that God loves and cares for me. We can trust what God tells us and we, God’s child, want more than anything else to know what pleases Him.