Good morning Children of God!The following prayer for church unity is from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. p.73. It is offered as a prelude to today’s message.
Most high and holy God, pour out upon us your one and unifying Spirit, and awaken in every confession of the whole church a holy hunger and thirst for unity in you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Wednesday’s Message
July 22, 2020
I finally got to see the hit musical “Hamilton.” Gratefully, it is available for viewing on television through Disney +. The show was great but one problem is the catchiness of the songs. They are sticking in my mind and won’t leave.
The one that I especially can’t escape is called “My Shot.” Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Daveed Diggs, it is a song about the ambition of the young immigrant and eventual founding father of our country, Alexander Hamilton. Here is the chorus of the song:
I am not throwin’ away my shot
I am not throwin’ away my shot
Hey yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwin’ away my shot
Recently as the tune and lyrics were roaming around in my head it struck me that this captures the spirit of one of the Lord’s beatitudes:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
O, to hunger and thirst for righteousness as Hamilton did for fame and fortune! Hungering and thirsting for righteousness first and foremost means desiring friendship with God and a life influenced by the ways of God. Jesus says that those who have such a longing will not be disappointed. That is what God wants too. That is why Jesus was sent into the world. His life, death and resurrection have made it possible for us to experience life as friends of God. Our redeemer and savior quenches our thirst and satisfies our hunger for God. We are filled to the brim and our cup overflows.
Frequently, Jesus warned his disciples not to throw away their shot at righteousness. A good example of this is when he rebuked Peter saying, “you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Matthew 16:23) Setting one’s mind on divine things as opposed to human things is a constant challenge for Christians. It requires a young, scrappy spirit to overcome the lures of the world.
Sometimes we don’t feel so young and scrappy. That’s especially the case for those of us who are a bit older. Take heart, for “Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31) Having a desire for life with God through Jesus Christ withstands age, weariness with the world, and the accompanying exhaustion. Take God at his word when he says: “I will strengthen you, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10b) Jesus is God’s assurance to us that our Father has not thrown away his shot to overcome the world for us.
Jesus told his disciples, “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) The Son of God who has conquered sin, death, and all evil, is the source of your heart’s desire for God. By his amazing grace he blesses you with a young, scrappy and hungry spirit. No shot at righteousness is ever wasted when it involves trusting Jesus. The opportunity to be loved eternally by him and to love him in return is assured. Let that thought stick in your mind and never leave. And, may you possess the ambition of Hamilton and the grace to direct it toward God.
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill