It's Call Season

JESUS APPEARS TO ALTER OUR PERSPECTIVE: 4th Sunday after the Epiphany, February 2, 2020

In the late 1990's, Microsoft had such a monopoly on personal computing that every computer sold with the Microsoft operating system became known as a "clone." An upstart challenger, Apple, ran a now famous ad campaign with the slogan, "Think Different."

This Sunday's lessons suggest a spiritual parallel.  Everyone enters the world as if they were cloned in exactly the same way, conceived and born in sin.  That lasts until God calls a person to faith in Jesus.  No longer are we unbelieving clones slavishly obeying a sinful operating system.  We've been rebooted; we are children of God.  We are redeemed by Christ!  The Gospel teaches us to think different.

All of our readings unfold and expand on the wonderful way Christianity alters our perspective.  Where the world touts bravado and pride, Christians value meekness and humility.  Where the world champions comfort and excess, the Christian values sacrifice.  Where the world picks a fight, Christians fight for peace; where the world celebrates self, we celebrate Christ.  Jesus alters our perspective; we think different.

You may already know that an Apple computer operates differently than a clone PC.  It's also true the Christians who think different also operate different.  Our different thinking leads to different behavior.  Godly behavior that is informed and guided by the Bible doesn't break or crash or need to be updated.  It's stable, reliable, and leads to better productivity and "up time" in life.

Pay close attention to the lessons so that your mind might be shaped by God.  "Seek humility," "God chose foolish, weak and despised things of this world," and "Blessed are those who are persecuted" and just a few passages that suggest we think different.  And then pray God that you not only think different, but act according to your godly thinking.

► Readings:

• Zephaniah 3:3, 3:11-13: The faithful seek righteousness and humility.

• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: God chooses the weak and lowly things to faith.

• Matthew 5:1-12: The Beatitudes.

• Psalm: 1

► Sermon theme on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: "It's Call Season" (Sermon Video) (Sermon transcript)