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Please pray with me and for me.
Father God, in this hectic world that we live in may we remember who we are and that life is about living and not that of this world. Amen
Hear these words by singer Jim Croce. Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name. "Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad I’ve got a name, I’ve got a name. And I carry it with me like my daddy did but I’m livin the dream he kept hid. Movin' me down the highway; rollin' me down the highway; movin' ahead so life won’t pass me by. Like the north wind whistling down the sky I’ve got a song, I’ve got a song. Like the whippoorwill and the baby’s cry I’ve got a song, I’ve got a song. And I carry it with me and I sing it loud. If it gets me nowhere, I’ll go there proud. Movin' me down the highway; rollin' me down the highway, movin' ahead so life won’t pass me by. And I’m gonna' go there free like the fool I am and I’ll always be. I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream. They can change their minds but they can’t change me. I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream. Oh, I know I could share it if you want me to. If you’re going my way, I’ll go with you. Movin' me down the highway; rollin' me down the highway, movin' ahead so life won’t pass me by."
Years ago there was a man who was restless for wealth. He sold his beautiful farm in South Africa to go in search for diamonds and gold. He traveled from country to country. He followed every clue, but found nothing. In despair and broken wealth, he threw himself into a river and drowned. The man who bought his farm was walking over the land one day and stepped across the stream. Something caught his eye. He bent down and picked up a stone, a magnificent glittering stone-a diamond. He found one, then another. On that farm were the most magnificent, riches, diamond field in the world
Did you ever stop to think that the kingdom of heaven might be where you are at this very moment? Or are you so busy looking that you can’t see the riches of what lies before your very eyes at this moment? We are an “I want bigger and better” society who fails to realize the value of what lies right before our very eyes. Is the world laughing with you but you cannot feel the joy of laughter for the pain of living?
In 1977, the popular television show called “Chico and the Man” was about two men from radically different culturally backgrounds who grew to respect each other. Chico the young enterprising Chicano was determined to go into business with cranky, cynical mechanic Ed Brown. Ed was a widower who spent the majority of his time complaining and alienating people. On the outside Ed was a mean old man but Chico saw inside to Ed’s heart and was determined to befriend Ed which Chico eventually did.
Freddie Prinze was the star of the show that played Chico and at twenty-two years old committed suicide. Freddie Prince had everything going for him: youth, a million dollar contract with a Las Vegas night club and one of the highest status roles in his work.
Though millions laughed with him, Freddy Prince was unhappy. In his despondency he would ask, “Where do I fit in? Where is my happiness?” When Freddie Prinze was told that his happiness was in being a star, he sadly said, “No, that’s not happiness for me anymore.”
At this very second where is your happiness? Are you so busy looking for riches and a quick fix in this world that you are going to die without knowing how rich you really are? Are you so determined that you have to be number one that you are missing out that you are already number one?
Hear the parables of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:44 and the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, Matthew 13:45-46
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
A parable is words of wisdom told in a story form which Jesus was known for. The parables of the pearl have identical meanings. Both picture future salvations as something hidden from most people but so valuable that most people who have salvation revealed to them are willing to give everything up and trust God.
One day a dad told his young child to get cleaned up and then daddy will take you for a ride in my brand new car. After awhile the little child with great excitement came running out to the front of the house as he couldn’t wait to go for a ride in daddy’s brand new car!
With disappointment the little child heard their daddy say, “I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GO GET CLEANED UP! YOU ARE STILL DIRTY!”
The little child replied, “But daddy, I did get cleaned up.” “IT SURE DOESN’T LOOK THAT WAY TO ME YOUNG MAN replied his daddy.
“BUT DADDY I DID GET CLEANED UP CAUSE I WANT TO RIDE IN YOUR NEW CAR! MOMMY CLEANED ME UP DADDY!”
Without saying another word the little child’s daddy picked them up carrying them into the house and standing them in front of a mirror.
“NOW YOU HAVE TOLD ME YOU CLEANED YOURSELF UP! TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR?” The child replied, “I’m sorry daddy, my mouth is dirty.”
Each and every one of us is like this little child for all of us can have a dirty face. Our righteousness is inadequate. Without the admission to Our Father Who Art In Heaven, that our face is dirty, we can never be cleansed unless God cleanses us.
In the Old Testament of the Bible there are Laws to live by. When we broke those laws, sinned, we could only be forgiven by making an animal sacrifice or confessing to God through a priest. In the New Testament we no longer have to make an animal sacrifice for our sins or confess through a priest. Jesus shed blood on the cross at Golgotha cleanses us of our sins when we ask God directly to be forgiven.
Peter told Jesus in John 13:8, “You shall never wash my feet” and Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.”
Where do you live at this moment of your life for it only takes one breath to enter this world and one breath to exit? What is your name, your song and your dream in life? What do you see when you look in the mirror? What are you saving time for and what are you missing in looking everywhere but where you are at this very moment?
Are you the master of your own fate and the captain of your own soul? In the Book of Acts 9:1-30, we meet a man named Saul who had quite a record of his own. Open your Bible to Acts 9:1-9:
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he journeyed he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him. And Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
And Saul, said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the voice said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days Saul was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Continue with me, Acts 9:10-17:
Now there was a disciple of Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And Anani’as said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to Anani’as, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Taurus named Saul; for behold he is praying, and he has seen a man named Anani’as come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.” But the Lord said to
Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; (believers and non-believers} for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So
Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on Saul Anani’as said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Irrelevant of what we have done in our life, irrelevant of what those we may meet on the journey with Jesus may think of us. You and I, WE, are a pearl, a precious gift, in the eyes of God whose treasure is greater than anything of this world if only we believe Saul. For then and only then, irrelevant of what the world thinks, can our lives be turned around and may we truly feel inner peace.
Acts 9:18-22,
“And immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he regained his sight. Then Saul rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened. For several days Saul was with the Disciples at Damascus. And in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called on Jesus name? And he has come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests.” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded by the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
If you have something weighing you down leave it with God before you leave this place of worship today. “It takes one breath to enter this world and one breath to exit. Every breath in-between is a gift.” Bring what ever is weighing you down to the altar this morning and leave it at the feet of God for then and only then will you truly be free on the inside and know whom you are.
Listen carefully, God never forgets us. God is always thinking of us. We make the choice to turn away. God understands and still loves us. We YOU AND I, WE, NEED TO BE true to the truth.
Psalm 40:17,
“I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me.”
Be true to the truth at this very moment as the altar is open as we enter into prayer.
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. If anyone at this moment has a burden they are carrying, a burden that is weighing them down at this moment Father God may they trust and obey you. Trust and obey you having the wisdom to lay their burden at your feet. May we all be true to the truth and leave the burden at your feet and walk away. Walk away being free, mentally, psychologically, emotionally, for only the truth through you Father God shall set us free. Amen.
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