8th August 2021 Pentecost 11 (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Walk in The Love of Christ
(Scripture Reading: Psalm 130, Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2)
By Heeyoung Lim
Psalm 130 is a hymn that records the unknown psalmist’s confession of sin and God’s pardoning grace. This penitential psalm is for worshippers who are already justified by faith and have received forgiveness of their sins. Out of the depths of severe distress, the psalmist cried out to God and waits for the Lord. He confessed his sins, seeking forgiveness from God, and he encouraged others to do the same. When we have unconfessed sin in our lives, God waits for us to seek His grace and forgiveness.
The writer cried to God, “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” Nobody can stand if the Lord keeps a record. The psalmist’s source of discouragement came from sin within rather than from outside. (Psalms 130:1) When desperation filled his heart, he pleads with urgency. True repentance is accompanied by always has a sincerity, brokenness, and remorse. His cry for mercy is a confession of sin, seeking forgiveness from God.
The psalmist continues, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word, I put my hope.” (Psalm 130: 5) He waits for full restoration and trusts in God’s word which promises blessings. He waited for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. (6) Psalm 130 invites us to put our hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. (7) I believe that God’s people live and rest in his unconditional love and divine peace. We trust in God’s unbreakable covenant and hope based upon the immutable love of God. God is not absent in our despair. May we repent, be patient and remain confident in the love of God. May God’s steadfast love be upon you.
May we never do anything to grieve God, for we love God. Therefore, let us turn from the things that grieve and towards things that bring God joy. Today’s second text leads us to focus on serving and pleasing Christ.
Ephesians 4:25 begins by exhorting us to stop lying and instead make truth telling a habit of life. We should not deceive one another; rather by speaking the truth, we keep unity in the body as members of the one body.
We may not always be able to keep from getting angry, but we strive not sin when we do. When we do get angry, we must be extra careful to not harm others and deal with it before the day is through. If we are not able to control and manage the anger, it may give the devil an opportunity to gain control over our attitudes and relationships. It can be a foothold that leads to greater anger and more sin. (26-27)
Christians are not to steal, which is a timeless and universal value. We work and serve instead of stealing from the Lord and others. We live and work to worship, love, and serve Christ. The Bible describes God’s expectations for our lives. God’s work must be done God’s way through us. We are to live in such a way that our lives will be so distinctive, that neighbours and co-workers will want to know why.
Verse 29 says, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” (29) We are to speak only words that build up and encourage others. Words of a mature Christian seek to help those who listen. The unity of the body of Christ may be preserved and enhanced through our response and obedience. This is not to say we can never say anything negative. There are times when we must talk about unpleasant things, particularly in solving problems with others. All find it necessary at times, to tell the truth or offer advice even if it is unpleasant. Whether we are solving a problem or not, our intent is always to build up, not tear down, to unify, not divide. (30)
Today’s text tells us that each of us must rid ourselves of six sins: bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (31) Rather we should be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (32) We are to put on three virtues: kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, for Jesus showed us the love and forgiveness, modelled for us by Christ. God’s commands will bring challenges, but they remind us of the amazing possibilities for those who have been re-created in Christ, brought into the church, and called to live out the gospel. When we live together in the love and forgiveness of Christ, the church will be built up, people will become holy, and Christ’s body will be unified.
God’s love and forgiveness transform us to live life to its fullness as the Body of Christ. The Bible calls the church to transform its culture into that of the kingdom of God. It is just more than just getting along and doing something; it is being the Body of Christ. The church is to be motivated and governed by God’s love and witness to the love of Christ. I believe that our church will be a place of living love where Christ’s love rules. Paul reminds us to follow God’s example and walk in the way of love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. (5:1-2)
In today’s world there is an emphasis on achieving goals quickly. Many people like to do things quickly and can take short cuts, but our faith journey as followers of Jesus does work step by step.
The theologian Martin Luther said, “This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way. The process is not yet finished, but it is actively going on. This is not the goal, but it is the right road. At present, everything does not gleam and sparkle, but everything is being purified.”
The journey can be rough, but we can move forward gradually, learning to love as Jesus loves, growing towards fullness of Christ. Love and forgiveness are not from our abilities, they come from God.
Paul called upon them not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God”. (30) Christianity is an ongoing encounter with the living, and loving God in revealed in Christ Jesus. Our life of following Jesus is work in progress. We keep on striving to live out our faith through loving actions. We are always on the way with the Holy Spirit as our helper. We follow Christ in hopes that we will grow into the likeness of Christ through the Holy Spirit and that God will use us as instruments to bring in God’s peace, justice, and love.
As God’s beloved children, we do not just love God, praise God, worship God or, thank God. We also follow and imitate Jesus in faith and life by walking in love and forgiven. May we keep on becoming imitators of God and walk in the love of Christ.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials, quote by Martin Luther)