Our text today contains a phrase that is almost foreign to our world. Freely Given. God has freely given salvation, blessings, grace, and mercy. God’s rain benefits even the most undeserving and uncaring as well as the just. All this is our simply because God has a heart that is generous and loving. There is no limit to God’s generosity and compassion. We are not worthy of the blessing and favor that we enjoy, but nonetheless, it is ours. It is frightening to think what life would be like without a mercy seat; without a throne of grace. Everything that we have that matters, we have because God willed to give it to us. We all stumble. God sees every fault, but He freely gives his blessing to us despite our failings. He gives it not because we deserve it, but because we need it! The only reason we are here today is that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son….” The word give (or some form of it) is used many times in the bible, and it is because of that freely given sacrifice, we have hope.

Our text today contains a phrase that is almost foreign to our world. Freely Given. God has freely given salvation, blessings, grace, and mercy. God’s rain benefits even the most undeserving and uncaring as well as the just. All this is our simply because God has a heart that is generous and loving. There is no limit to God’s generosity and compassion. We are not worthy of the blessing and favor that we enjoy, but nonetheless, it is ours. It is frightening to think what life would be like without a mercy seat; without a throne of grace. Everything that we have that matters, we have because God willed to give it to us. We all stumble. God sees every fault, but He freely gives his blessing to us despite our failings. He gives it not because we deserve it, but because we need it! The only reason we are here today is that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son….” The word give (or some form of it) is used many times in the bible, and it is because of that freely given sacrifice, we have hope.

The circumstances of life can change very quickly. Things can be calm one moment, and in tumult in the next. In our text, the cloud came on the disciples suddenly and produce fear. Scripture describes many effects that fear has on a person. Defeating, demoralizing, paralyzing, or silencing their testimony. The circumstances in our text came on so quickly, that it overwhelmed Peter, James, and John. While they were fearful, the voice of God came out of that cloud and calmed them. God’s voice always tries to focus us back onto what really matters. Moses and Elijah were important, but not as important as Jesus. There is nothing that the enemy would like to see more is to have us so confused that we do not know what to do. If he can distract us, he can keep us from being effective. The voice of God will bring us back to what matters.

The circumstances of life can change very quickly. Things can be calm one moment, and in tumult in the next. In our text, the cloud came on the disciples suddenly and produce fear. Scripture describes many effects that fear has on a person. Defeating, demoralizing, paralyzing, or silencing their testimony. The circumstances in our text came on so quickly, that it overwhelmed Peter, James, and John. While they were fearful, the voice of God came out of that cloud and calmed them. God’s voice always tries to focus us back onto what really matters. Moses and Elijah were important, but not as important as Jesus. There is nothing that the enemy would like to see more is to have us so confused that we do not know what to do. If he can distract us, he can keep us from being effective. The voice of God will bring us back to what matters.

Time is a strange thing. It is expressed in days, weeks, and months. We cannot prevent time from advancing. Some would say that times are hard or difficult. The wise man observed in our text, that better is the end of a thing than the beginning. Why do we say that the former days were better than these? Other translations of our text say that finishing something is better than in the beginning. We are not very good at understanding the meaning of the times in which we live. We misinterpret life's purpose and meaning. For many people, their best life is over. Life for them is as good as it will get. For these people, the best days are behind them and they feel like they have to endure the rest of their life. This mindset belittles God and prevents Him from being a blessing in life. Many yearn for the “good old days.” The truth is that the good old days, were not always that good. Our memories are selective, and tend to forget the troubles and challenges of the “good old days.” Out text declares that is not wise to yearn for the “good old days.” When we glorify the past, we diminish God. God is not limited by time. If God did it then, He can do it again. God is a present help in time of trouble. When we glorify the past, we limit the present. God is not past tense. A child of God should always believe that our best days are ahead. The terror of the times is that the enemy can keep us focused on the past with no hope for the future. The hope of the times is just the opposite; God has better things in store for us all.

Time is a strange thing. It is expressed in days, weeks, and months. We cannot prevent time from advancing. Some would say that times are hard or difficult. The wise man observed in our text, that better is the end of a thing than the beginning. Why do we say that the former days were better than these? Other translations of our text say that finishing something is better than in the beginning. We are not very good at understanding the meaning of the times in which we live. We misinterpret life's purpose and meaning. For many people, their best life is over. Life for them is as good as it will get. For these people, the best days are behind them and they feel like they have to endure the rest of their life. This mindset belittles God and prevents Him from being a blessing in life. Many yearn for the “good old days.” The truth is that the good old days, were not always that good. Our memories are selective, and tend to forget the troubles and challenges of the “good old days.” Out text declares that is not wise to yearn for the “good old days.” When we glorify the past, we diminish God. God is not limited by time. If God did it then, He can do it again. God is a present help in time of trouble. When we glorify the past, we limit the present. God is not past tense. A child of God should always believe that our best days are ahead. The terror of the times is that the enemy can keep us focused on the past with no hope for the future. The hope of the times is just the opposite; God has better things in store for us all.

Our world is in desperate need. The news brings us stores of suffering, depression, and hurting. We look around and see people that are suffering and hurting from situations in their lives. We have become experts at hiding that pain. Many face shame and hurt from past failures or situations that cannot be forgotten. Even people who were raised in the church all their lives, and appear to have perfect lives, struggle with hidden truths of addiction, lust or some other sin. How many are teaching Sunday school, singing on the platform, or sitting on a pew are hiding a pain that they are slowing dying from? We find ourselves at our wit's end. The enemy wants to keep us there and he will use lies and deception to keep us there. People make mistakes and we do not easily let them get past these mistakes. We label and judge them. This is not how Jesus treated people who needed help. He told the woman accused of adultery to “go and sin no more.” One act of grace can take the worst moment into a turning point in life. Our text describes the two men as malefactors. Other gospels refer to them as thieves. It is clear that they were not good people. They were labeled and waiting for their fate. In the final moments, one asks Jesus to remember him. It is never too late to respond to Jesus. No one is too far gone for Jesus to reach them. God wants all to be saved no matter when they respond. One of the men crucified with Jesus came to the end as a doubter. The other knew he was not worthy, but responded to Jesus knowing He was the Christ. It is never too late to respond.

Our world is in desperate need. The news brings us stores of suffering, depression, and hurting. We look around and see people that are suffering and hurting from situations in their lives. We have become experts at hiding that pain. Many face shame and hurt from past failures or situations that cannot be forgotten. Even people who were raised in the church all their lives, and appear to have perfect lives, struggle with hidden truths of addiction, lust or some other sin. How many are teaching Sunday school, singing on the platform, or sitting on a pew are hiding a pain that they are slowing dying from? We find ourselves at our wit's end. The enemy wants to keep us there and he will use lies and deception to keep us there. People make mistakes and we do not easily let them get past these mistakes. We label and judge them. This is not how Jesus treated people who needed help. He told the woman accused of adultery to “go and sin no more.” One act of grace can take the worst moment into a turning point in life. Our text describes the two men as malefactors. Other gospels refer to them as thieves. It is clear that they were not good people. They were labeled and waiting for their fate. In the final moments, one asks Jesus to remember him. It is never too late to respond to Jesus. No one is too far gone for Jesus to reach them. God wants all to be saved no matter when they respond. One of the men crucified with Jesus came to the end as a doubter. The other knew he was not worthy, but responded to Jesus knowing He was the Christ. It is never too late to respond.

Our text describes a group of men; loyal to David; as mighty men. They were warriors. They were men of courage who were experts with weapons and waging war. The bible says they were famous in their own families. Of all the places we should want to be famous, and to excel, is in our own families. Men are successful in other areas, but a failure in their own families, is truly a failure. This does not imply perfection, simply to be the man that God created us to be. The world defines masculinity as physical strength, sexual prowess or financial success. If we look to the world’s definition of success; it will be wrong. In the Hebrew text, the word has several references. The first definition refers to Adam. Man means God’s creation. God created us in His image, and to compare manhood to something else is inaccurate. Adam had two responsibilities: to keep the garden clean and to protect it. Man’s purpose is to keep the home clean and to keep it safe. The other word used for man is a gender reference. It draws a distinction between a man and a woman. There should be no confusion about how God created us and what those roles should be. The world will try to rewrite our identity, but that is contrary to God’s definition. The third definition of a man used in scripture depicts his strength. God created men to be protectors of his family. God created us to have dominion and authority; not to be dominating, but to be a leader. To be a hero and be famous, start in our own family.

Our text describes a group of men; loyal to David; as mighty men. They were warriors. They were men of courage who were experts with weapons and waging war. The bible says they were famous in their own families. Of all the places we should want to be famous, and to excel, is in our own families. Men are successful in other areas, but a failure in their own families, is truly a failure. This does not imply perfection, simply to be the man that God created us to be. The world defines masculinity as physical strength, sexual prowess or financial success. If we look to the world’s definition of success; it will be wrong. In the Hebrew text, the word has several references. The first definition refers to Adam. Man means God’s creation. God created us in His image, and to compare manhood to something else is inaccurate. Adam had two responsibilities: to keep the garden clean and to protect it. Man’s purpose is to keep the home clean and to keep it safe. The other word used for man is a gender reference. It draws a distinction between a man and a woman. There should be no confusion about how God created us and what those roles should be. The world will try to rewrite our identity, but that is contrary to God’s definition. The third definition of a man used in scripture depicts his strength. God created men to be protectors of his family. God created us to have dominion and authority; not to be dominating, but to be a leader. To be a hero and be famous, start in our own family.