Cross of Christ Lutheran Church - Liverpool, NY (WELS)

“Are you a man or a mouse?” That’s a rhetorical question. Nobody who asks that is seriously questioning your identity. Are you a human being or a rodent? You’re a human being. The implication is, then act like it. You’re not a mouse, so don’t go skittering around scared. Be what you are. Be brave. This morning, the apostle Paul holds up the same dual options. So let’s ask ourselves, “Am I darkness or light?” Then live as children of light.

The people sinfully wondered, “Is the Lord among us or not?” and the Lord showed them he is still the same Lord of grace who has always been with them. He stood by and revealed himself in water from a rock. He gave thirsty grumblers life-giving water.

Abraham’s story doesn’t prove you’re saved by being a good person like he was. It proves that even the best of people must be saved by faith.

God’s not fair, but death has nothing to do with it.

We feel the tension in relationships when big things like jobs and scholarships are on the line. What if your life were on the line instead? We all know what this feels like firsthand. We call it guilt. It’s the realization that right and wrong exist, and I have chosen to do something categorically and universally recognized as wrong.

After rescuing Israel, God made them an offer. “If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Will there be any proud and arrogant people in heaven? Reading Zephaniah, the answer appears to be no. It doesn’t take a lot of self-reflection to be terrified by that thought. What does Zephaniah mean?

If you can, imagine someone comes from a planet where there is no death. They visit Earth. What would they be shocked by? What cruel behavior that we call normal is actually the result of living under the shadow of death. Can we conceive of such a world where that behavior doesn’t exist? The shadow is so pervasive, so all-encompassing. To us, it’s always been there and has always been that way. There’s no escape.

We needed a secret weapon against the forces of darkness. Except, we weren’t going to stop the forces of darkness from advancing. It was too late for that. Mankind had essentially already lost.

God sent his servants on a rescue mission, but who’s going to rescue them?