3/14/2021 - God So Loved the World that He Gave His Son

Fourth Sunday in Lent

You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”  There’s a snarky alternative to that saying that goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.”  Complainers usually find each other - misery loves company.

Despite the fact that the Bible encourages us to speak well of everyone and to pay our leaders honor and respect, complaining continues to be one of America’s favorite indoor sports.  Since it’s typically done behind the backs of those we are speaking badly about, it is never constructive.  Although we know in our hearts that it’s wrong, we usually rationalize complaining as “it helps us vent.”  The sad irony is that complaining hurts the complainer worst.  Complaining is selfish, bitter, arrogant ingratitude that corrodes our souls.

The Israelites found themselves in a downward spiral of complaint.  They spoke against God and Moses both, and let them have it with both barrels!  God never blesses sin.  He was not about to let the squeaky wheel get the grease.  He did not cave into their entitled ultimatums, and sent poisonous snakes as a curse to make his point emphatic!

“We sinned when we complained.”  Have those words ever fallen from your lips?  They fell from the Israelites’ lips.  The snakes served a useful spiritual purpose:  the Israelites repented.  In grace, God invited the Israelites to look to the bronze snake, lifted up on a pole.  In faith, the Israelites looked and lived.

By grace, through faith we are saved from our bitter complaining, and every other sin, too.  By grace, God lifted up his Son on the cross.  Through faith, we look and live.  Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14).

God bless your worship!

READINGS

First reading: Numbers 21:4-9 - Israelites saved through faith in the promise

Second reading: Ephesians 2:1-10 - Saved by grace alone, through faith alone

Gospel: John 3:14-21 - God so loved the world that he gave his Son

Sermon text: Numbers 21:4-9 Sermon theme: Faith Looks Up to Christ

View or download this week’s service folder HERE.

Watch the March 14 - 10:45am service live HERE