Sermon August 5, 2010

God’s Heart

Scripture Hosea 11:1-11and Colossians 3:1-11

Psalter of Psalm 47 #194 “Peoples, Clap Your Hands”

Celebration of Our Lord’s Supper and Reception of New Members

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ August 1, 2010

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Hosea 11:1-11,
Throughout this passage, we sense the deep tides of God’s compassion surging against the rock of a justly-deserved punishment for the people’s faithlessness. There is here no cheap grace, no easily won indulgent love. Rather we glimpse the pain of a parent’s heart, torn by the thoughtless straying of a wayward child, yet God continues to loves us still. Here in the words of the prophet Hosea, we glimpse the hope for the future of the child lies not in a change within the child but in the “turning” within the heart of the parent. Here we are shown the Holy One who is beyond our ways, whose steadfast love outlasts all betrayal.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. 3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim (ēf•rah'•yim) to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. 4I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. 5They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. 7My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all.

8How can I give you up, Ephraim (ēf•rah'•yim)? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah (ad•mä')? How can I treat you like Zeboiim (Tsĕbo'iym)? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. 9I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. 10They shall go after the Lord, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. 11They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.

Colossians 3:1-11
Commentator, William Loader writes:
Setting one's focus on something creates its own dynamic, like when two people set their hearts on a marriage. Many actions follow from that single goal, most of them spontaneous and all of them motivated by this single aim. In the same way, to set one's focus on God, is to create a dynamic with consequences which touch every part of life. There is an element of the automatic, but there is also the need to keep focused. The writer (of Colossians) is aware of this (need to be focused) and therefore gives this exhortation. We need, he is arguing, to be what we have become, to realize our potential. Turning to Christ meant changing our focus, indeed, changing the goal or god of our lives. That meant dying to the old life and beginning anew. The newness is not as simple as a new resolution. It is a new relationship.

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.

8But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

Sermon
In Hosea we hear the words of a parent looking back at the pictures of an innocent child as the young adult goes off on their own, full of independent ambition and pride and unaware of the pitfalls that lie ahead. Our Parenting God watches as we like the people of Israel become more and more distant. Hosea says: “The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their priests, it devours because of their schemes." Pastor Mimi Walker writes:

These aren't words of punishment; rather, they are the recognition of the consequences that follow the choices of a headstrong and wayward people. And how many parents have watched as their children are being swept up into the world of addictions and its companion crime? Like our loving God, a loving parent waits in anguish for their children to return. God does not enable our behavior but there are terrible consequences of the choices we make. It can even seem like God is punishing us. But God’s tough love is found in the cross of Jesus. It is revealed in sacrifice not punishment.

I ask our confirmands to write a statement of faith. Putting into words what we believe is part of the Reformed Tradition. In Christopher’s statement of faith he wrote:
God loves everyone equally.
Jesus is the son of God and gave his life to forgive everyone of their sins.
Jesus is gentle. He would not tolerate bloodshed even to keep himself from being crucified.

We all have a place in God’s heart. Christopher and Aaron’s parents sought from the very beginning to place their children within the body and being of Christ which seeks to reach out with love into the world. There is almost a sense of security in the statement that we are hidden in Christ. Being in and part of the church keeps us safe and protected, but not from disease, disaster, persecution, or any of the ills of this world. Being part of the body of Christ places us in an environment with a different set of priorities. At some point children must chose who will be in charge of their life. When they chose to be a part of the family of God to dwell in God’s heart, they are choosing all that is good and beautiful and true. In God’s heart we are like dinner guests invited to partake of the finest food freshly prepared and displayed. To turn from God is like eating the same food after it has been dumped in the garbage. It just is not the same. What parent does not want the very best for their children? Libby and John want the very best for Christopher and Aaron, just as all of us want the best for our children and grandchildren. In fact, we want all children welcomed to the feast of God. At table with God we learn and grow in relationship with God. We learn we are precious and discover our gifts and talents and we hear our call to service.

I have designed our confirmation study around the Biblical nature of being called by God. We learned that often the one called would try to find some way out of the responsibility. But God was persistent. I asked Christopher what he understood about the nature of his call and he wrote:

"I believe God wants the church to help the less fortunate, teach His word, and to make the world a better place. I believe my call is to help the needy." Sounds like a young man who is dwelling in the heart of God. May you too hear God’s call for your life. Amen.

RESOURCES
Pentecost 10, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia. See: http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au


See: http://day1.org/2108-broken_hearted_god