(Readings)
We are made by God for good things. One good thing is that the
Lord has patience with us, as we try to realize the good for which we are made.
The lottery jackpot was over billion dollars. I didn’t win. That’s
a lot of money. Some of us may have said a little prayer like maybe, Lord let me win this billion dollars; I’ll
give you your share… (Are you guilty?)
It is good that God has patience with us.
It’s hard to understand the truth of a billion dollars and how it would
impact your life. One man I heard being interviewed understood one thing. He said
if he won “I’d have to leave the country because all of his friends and relatives
would show up asking for something.”
Like James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who came to Jesus,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we
ask of you.… Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the
other at your left."
They were thinking in their own terms. They wanted glory and
probably the riches and power that came with it.
He answered, “Can you drink the cup
that I drink?”
It was hard for the disciples to understand the truth of who Jesus
was.
Peter, James and John had witnessed the transfiguration. His
disciples had witnessed the miracles. Jesus had told how hard it was for a rich
man to enter the Kingdom of God. He had foretold of his passion, three times; yet,
they still didn’t understand Jesus.
None of the disciples did. Instead, they were waiting to win the
lottery looking for their billion dollars. It is good that God had patience
with them and has patience with us.
How many of us know Jesus’ story, but ask God for the wrong thing. (I’ll raise my hand.) Sometimes, we
pray for the easy way.
God’s will for us is not always the easy way. Jesus is our
example.
The Word of God took human flesh not to take the easy way. He felt
what we felt; He suffered as we suffer. He came to know our weaknesses. He came and was tested just
like us, in every way.
The temptation of wealth and power and glory can lead to sin. The
devil tempted Jesus with all these. Yet, he
remained without sin. He did not seek wealth, power, or glory; instead,
He gave all he was, all he had, and all he did to God the Father.
Jesus told that earthly glory is ruin. Those
recognized as rulers hold it over the people and make their authority felt. (Politics
anyone)
Whose authority do we follow?
Jesus told his disciples and tells us: Whoever
wishes to be great will be a servant; whoever wishes to be first will be the
slave of all.
This was His lesson in the truth of riches, power, and glory. It
is those who serve others that find true glory. It doesn’t come from all you
have, but from serving others.
James and John asked to be at Jesus’ side when he was raised in
glory. But, as Jesus was raised on the cross two others shared in his glory.
One was on his right and one on his left. Two thieves but only one came to know
the truth of His glory.
That glory is the salvation the cross. It is the eye of the
needle, the entrance to the Kingdom of God. It is the single point that is the
fulfilment of all joys and all desires.
It is good that God has patience with us. On the cross, our Lord
prayed- Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
It is good that God has patience with us. Even now, He sits at the
throne of grace, the right hand of the father, to intercede for us.
It is good that God has patience with us.
True glory is not found in the riches or the power or the glory of
this world. True glory is to give all that we are, all that we have, and all
that we do to God by being servants to all.
Many find this truth hard to understand. Only some will understand
the true glory of salvation.
We are made by God for good things. It is good that God has patience with us. Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way
you live and love one another. Amen.
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