Not quite how I expected it to go

I mentioned the other day about not enjoying preaching some sermons. Well, on Sunday I preached an anti-Halloween sermon and thought that I'd get some serious push back from it. Wow, was I surprised. When I announced at the start that this was going to be a standard anti-Halloween sermon, I got several enthusiastic amens and after the altar call, I had a line of people asking for a copy of my notes so that they could explain to their families why they shouldn't/wouldn't be celebrating Halloween this year.

I had wasted quite a bit of energy being concerned about how it would be received. I shouldn't have worried. While this congregation normally listens attentively, they were hanging on my every word and soaking it all up like sponges. It's hard to make predictions in pastoring. (Except for Ice-cream socials and pot lucks, you're pretty much guaranteed that they'll go well! :-)

Heavy Load

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30

When you think of how many burdens each of us carry around when living this life the world's way, it's hard to believe that more of us don't take advantage of this offer from Jesus. There are three primary points that I take from this verse. First, I think that it's interesting that the Lord emphasizes his meekness. I believe that he does this to reassure us that we are free to approach him even if we think that our problem or need is too small for the king of kings and lord of lords. Secondly, we learn that his yoke is easy. What is his yoke? It's his word and the teachings therein. The New Testament teachings are actually pretty easy to keep; we just don't like keeping them. Third and last, is the fact that we need to take an action to receive the fulfillment of this offer. The offer is freely made, but if we don't personally take his yoke, then we find ourselves still with our heavy worldly yoke.

It's All Good

Have you ever thought about the word "good"? It's used 720 times in the King James Version of the bible and represents (if my arithmetic is right) 49 different Greek and Hebrew words. This tells me that it's a very versatile word, used to describe many different aspects of that concept. The fact that the word "good" is used to describe the works of God and as one of the attributes of God, suggests to me that we have been undervaluing this fine word. During the creation, when God had finished with each day's work, he reviewed it and saw that it was good. Jesus was described as going about "doing good". Lastly, Jesus described himself as the "good shepherd". Next time you see the word good used in the bible, remember that it means bigger and better things than it's small size might normally indicate. God is good!