60-Second Sermon

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During the French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleon Bonaparte charged the people of France with the development of a code that could not be cracked by their enemies. A single code was determined to be unbreakable, but was rejected by the military on the basis of it being too hard for the soldiers to understand. 

In the book of Isaiah, God says “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The developer of the code did not get discouraged by the military’s rejection. Instead, he made a few changes and tried again, this time presenting it to a different audience, an audience that still uses the code today … A code that has taken on the last name of its inventor, Louis Braille.

Our best-laid plans may not turn out the way we intended, and God’s plans in our lives may be different than what we had envisioned. But if we trust in Him, and faithfully follow where He leads, His peace and joy will rest on us. 

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In the book Insanity of God, Nick Ripkin tells the story of a Muslim man in the Middle East who everyday would curse and insult the workers at a Christian health clinic in his community. He did everything he could to undermine the clinic and shut it down. The man ended up suffering from cancer, however, and after all his friends turned their backs on him, the only people left to take care for him were the workers at the clinic. 

In 1 John 4:16, John reminds us that “We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.”  

Toward the end of his life, the man who was full of hatred toward the Christian workers ended up giving his life to Christ, all because of the radical love of the Christian clinic workers. Who will be impacted by Christ’s love through you this week?

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Climbing tall mountains is something most of us can only dream about, but the tallest mountain in the world has actually been scaled more times than we can count. In fact, thousands of people each year drive vehicles to the top. 

And while it stands less than half as high as Mt. Everest above sea level, it’s what we cannot see from above that counts. You see, Mauna Kea, located in Hawaii, extends nearly four miles below the water, making one mile taller than Mt. Everest.  

In 1 Corinthians (13:2), Paul reminds each of us, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Our accomplishments, knowledge and skills aren’t going to impress the God who placed more of the world’s tallest mountain under the water than above it. Living lives of love, however, will get His attention every time.

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The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth commissioned Christians artists throughout the world to create mosaics similar to Raphael’s Madonna and Child to portray their country’s version of Mary and Jesus. 

The beautiful collection of artwork is displayed throughout the church’s courtyard, and includes mosaics from Czechoslovakia to Honduras, from Italy to Brazil, from the Ukraine to the Philippines, and from everywhere in-between.

As it says in Galatians 3 (3:28), “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The message of love and unity is so important in today’s culture and climate, and we are called to be examples of this message. The love of Christ is more than skin color, more than the bottom line of a checkbook, more than past mistakes. The love of Christ is what makes us all children of God, and brothers and sisters to each other.

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The screaming, fits and temper tantrums were commonplace for the Air Force master sergeant. He was tough and mean, and yelled at the soldiers in his unit for the smallest mistake, forcing them to do humiliating, menial tasks. He wasn’t happy with who he had become, however, and when he left the military, he vowed to never again raise his voice. 

1 Corinthians 6 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

After leaving the military to embark on his second career, the tyrannical master sergeant became known to the rest of the world as something else, a man known for his soft-spoken voice and his love of happy little trees … a man named Bob Ross. 

Just as Bob Ross developed a new persona and reputation, Jesus calls us to turn away from our worldy, sinful natures and live true lives through the freedom He gives. Jesus will meet you where you are, but He doesn’t want you to stay there.

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God’s presence so often provides peace and strength when we face periods of struggle, if we will only remember to rely on and trust in Him. 

In Psalm 46, we are reminded that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

In the early 1800s, an English engineer created a new device intended to be used in prisons as a form of punishment for the inmates. The device forced prisoners to stress every part of their bodies, pushing their arms, legs and minds to their limits. This device is still around today, but it has made its way into more common areas. In fact, some of you may have one in your homes. What is this device of torture device created in 1817 by Sir William Cubitt? None other than the treadmill.

So the next time you face trials and struggles in your life, remember the words of the Psalm and turn your eyes to God. And just think, it could always be worse … you could be exercising.

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The permanent, deep-in-the-soul rest and peace we all seek is available to us, if we trust in Jesus and turn our worries and burdens over to Him. He is the provider of soul-reviving rest.

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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