August 14, 2016

Many of you have probably been watching the Olympics some this week. And if you paid attention, there are quite a few number of Christians in the Olympics who have won Gold and have been unafraid to say that Christ is part of the reason that they're successful as Olympic athletes. You may have even seen a little bit of the controversy about the Los Angeles Times that ran a story about Michael Phelps about his turnaround from being in jail and then being in a recovery treatment program then coming out of retirement and then doing so well at the Olympics this year and what the LA times did was they edited out of the interview the original interview on ESPN all of his reference to Christ and Christianity for the reason he was able to turn his life around and other journalists pointed that out and said, how can you edit how can you write a story about a turn around and headed out the cause of the turn around and so now it's actually gotten more attention and you can go I'll try to share it on my face. Put this week the full interview with ESPN includes him saying that at his lowest point Ray lions called him. He was a good friend and a Christian and said you need to get into rehab and when he was in rehab he gave him a copy of Rick Warren book The Purpose Driven Life and from rehab Michael Phelps called him and said this is changed my life. I was considering suicide and now because of realizing my life is about more than myself He restored his relationship to his father who he hadn't seen in over 20 years just life changing events because of Christ in his life and we're living in a culture where we're going to have to be aware of those kind of things and we're going to have to in a Winsome way and I kind and gracious way. We're going have to share those things Christians do that. Well, sometimes sometimes they don't do that. Well Eric metaxas who's one of my favorite examples of living out the faith in today's culture both holding to your convictions, but being gracious and kind in the way. You share them this week. He was being interviewed or sometime the past couple weeks interviewed by CNN about Hillary Clinton pick for vice president came being a Catholic. He was brought in as a representation of Evangelical Christianity. And of course the CNN journalist said, is it is this going to be a bridge to those of Faith from Hillary's Camp? Cuz she's picked a running mate who's got a strong commitment to religion in his own Catholic faith and their many good things about Kane so I don't say that in a negative way at all, but when they discussed it Eric metaxas said, well, I suspect because Hillary Clinton doesn't have a pro-life track record that maybe she was bringing cane and because he will even shorter more of her connection to Planned Parenthood. She's putting all your eggs in that basket so to speak because Planned Parenthood loves Tim Kaine and his voting record as a pro-abortion candidate or pro-choice candidate and so in the midst of that discussion the the CNN Reporter said well, I I suppose that Planned Parenthood because of his voting record just loves Tim Kaine and Eric metaxas said yes now that he's out of the womb.

Now in that moment, there were four guests on the show. No one knew what to say. They were speechless now. I thought that was a beautiful moment of articulating the you know, his perspective is a Christian who is pro-life now the key was his father with my opinion. His follow-up was he looked at that the reporter and said was that too much and the reporter was still kind of stunned and he said we can move on. He was very gracious in that moment. Some Christians would have said another thing and gone for the jugular because their goal is to win the argument not when people to Christ And so he he modeled that beauty of being unafraid to speak the truth.

But he also was gracious and kind because he could see that reporter and the other three guess we're kind of unraveled in that moment. They didn't know how to respond and so he was gracious instead of two months and then we can move on because he had planted that seed and so we live in a culture where we need to find gracious ways to shine the light on the reality of what Christ is doing and I love the fact that many of these Olympians 10 different ones. You can read an article in Christianity the day this week about him Proclaim their faith. They warned up nauseous about it just went ask they said, you know, it's because of my face that I'm able to do the things that I'm able to do in Phelps. This has said, yes, it's because of my face because of that book because it's turning around and realizing my life is about more than just myself. What was interesting in a lot of those Olympic athletes what you can see is that they said a similar theme over and over and over they said It's because of my faith in Christ that Christ is the ultimate thing in my life or the ultimate person the ultimate priority in my life that I'm able to succeed as an Olympic athlete. Interesting. They didn't say that Olympics are the ultimate thing in my life getting a gold medal is the most important thing to me and Christ help me along with that goal snow. They say it's because Christ is first in my life because he is Ultimate That I can succeed as an Olympic Athlete. I think when you have that ultimate issue settled. It is hot takes the pressure off making things that are genuinely important into ultimate things. And ironically then you can succeed more freely in those things that are important because you've not made them ultimate if you make your relationships here on this Earth ultimate you bring an anxiety to that marriage or that boyfriend of that girlfriend that relationship that you should not be there. You put the expectations on that relationship that it cannot bear when you make your children or your spouse or your friends that they have to fill that void in your saw but they have to meet that ultimately that you have to put too much weight on them and they actually suffer. When your career is your ultimate you risked your life itself when you put all your eggs in that basket and something happens, then you become unravel. So there's this wonderful model among these Christian athletes who said? Oh, yes, I'm a Christian. And because I realize my life is about more than just myself or gold medal or Olympics. I have the freedom to try and to fail sometimes and to succeed at other times. What a great witness. I think in that little truth there a truth that we've got to take in their own lives and hearts and live out and learn how to point out graciously and kindly the others cuz we want them to know that truth, right? It is not a battle of US versus them in this culture. Those who don't know the Lord our brothers and sisters their children of God. The Prodigal Luke 15 was the father son was he not? And the father's heart was broken over this prodigal son who had left the home and gone out and he longingly waited to do you think he would have loved it if the older brother said Dad I'll go out and look for him. I know how much he means to you. Let me go look for him instead. He stayed inside and then got jealous was all the attention to the particle. Plus everything have to be about him and not about me I missed out on the joy of his father's love with him, right then later. Jesus talks about the parable of the sheep and the shepherd leaving the 99 to find the one So it's not enough versus them. We are not out to win argument so that we can humiliate somebody or say. Hi. I was right we're out to win hearts and Minds to the truth. And it starts with us having our hearts and Minds informed by the truth and encouraged by the truth. And like these athletes who had that insight to say yes, I'm a Christian. And Jesus didn't just help me along with my goals. He is my ultimate and that empowers everything else.

Paul talks about Ultimate Reality in Ultimate goals in 1st Corinthians, and I read this passage a few weeks ago when we started this series on Colossians because Paul starts in Colossians 3:1 thing since you've been raised with Christ, he's focused on the reality of the Resurrection. If you remember when I began it, I began it with the traditional Easter saying where the person on stage says Christ is risen in the car gets response. He is risen indeed because it's really about the resurrection and listen to what Paul says I love the way the message translate this passage because it makes it very clear to understand listen what he says and especially how he ends this talking about the Ultimate Reality of the Resurrection he says, but let me tell you something wonderful a mystery. I'll probably never fully understand. So by the way Park and say this is a little bit heavy for me not sure I can tell it all down then we can feel good that that certain point. It feels like poetry and we're just going to say that beautiful not sure I could explain every word in that sense, but it's beautiful Paul says, but let me tell you something. Portable a mystery. I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die. But we are all going to be changed. It continues. You hear a blasi speaking about the end when Christ returns, you hear a blast to end all Blast From A trumpets and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes it's over on signal from that trumpet from Heaven. The dead will be up and out of their graves beyond the reach of death never to die against at that moment. And in the same way for all will all be changed in the resurrection scheme of things. This has to happen everything perishable taken off the shelf and replaced by the end perishable this Mortal replaced by the immortal. He continues then the saying will come true death swallowed up by triumphant life. Who's got the last word. Oh death. Oh death who's afraid of you. Now, it was send that made death. So frightening and the law code guilt that gave sin is leverage its destructive power, but now in a single Victoria stroke of Life all three thin guilt death argon the gift of our Master Jesus Christ. Thank God Amen Paul says because of the Resurrection which is hard for us to understand it fully but one day we'll all be changed will all be changed and death will be ultimately defeated. Now, we're tempted to stop there. That's where most of the stuff in this passage. Look at what he continues to say with all this going for us. My dear dear friends stand your ground and don't hold back throw yourself into the work of the master confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time and effort. Because the ultimate is settled in our lives as those who follow Christ because we have invited price in their hearts because we trust him the Ultimate Death itself is settled for us when that day comes when the trumpet comes will be resurrected out of the Grave will be changed in a twinkling of an eye thin no longer has victory over us death. No longer has picture of a because the ultimate is settled in our life office there for throw yourself into the work of the lord. It's settled for us. We are the Saved if you were about to cross into your heart. We are the same for that older brother who's in the home who's secure. And because of that security Paul says throw yourself into the work of the Lord reaching out loving others caring for the taking risk. Knowing it's not a waste of time or effort. St. Patrick said Christ with me Christ before me Christ behind me Christ in me Christ beneath me Christ above me Christ on my right price on my left Christ where I like right where I said Christ where I Rise Christ in the mouth of everyone who speak to me Christ in the eye of every price in every eye that sees me Christ in every ear that hears me we talked about the fact that not only is the resurrection or reality for us and it changes everything but Christ is with us you go to Psalm 139. Even the Old Testament David saw that truth and he said no matter where I go. I can go to the deepest parts of the Earth itself. God would be with me cuz I can go to the highest heavens and you are with me God. There's no place. I can go that you're not with me. And so not only do we have that promise of the Resurrection with changes everything for us. The ultimate is settled for our lives. We have that promise of Christ being with us present at every moment. And that's what Paul is talking about in Colossians here in addition to the resurrection. Romans 8 says if God is for us who can be against us think about the logic of that statement. if scripture is true And there is only one true God which is true, but my heart and mind believes that's why in passages in Corinthians. When everyone's upset about me being sacrificed to idols and all these different rules and regulations and traditions bosses will be kind and gracious and and accommodate those who might really fall away because of that sort of thing, but the truth is eating meat sacrificed and I'll does it mean anything because those Idols aren't real. There are no other. There's only one God and so in the Ultimate Reality, there was no sin Paul was saying and eating that meat sacrificed to Idols not real but be gracious if you're out at dinner and and you know, the person with you is going to stay at home and that was Sakura and Ino and so be kind and gracious and that way because there is only one God and if there's only one God who is maker of heaven and Earth and if God is for us who Can be against us.

anyone Buehler Anyone, he continues speaking about the work of Christ in this passage. He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also along with him graciously. Give us all things. If God the father and God the son got together and worked out this plan for they agreed that the sun would give up his life for us as Romans 5 is while we were yet sinners Christ died for us that his life would be sacrificed. How much more will God and Jesus be gracious to us in all things. Right in that true. How can we think that God would sacrifice his son on the cross for us, but he's not willing to forgive us because we had an argument with somebody because we missed Church three weeks in a row or because we haven't given money like we told others that was given money. We all have these little things that we hold on to me. So well, you know, that's that's the one that still in my heart. I still owe mark on my record. I better do enough good things to outweigh that bad thing that my did in my life. It's not logical if you believe in the cross if you believe that Jesus Christ died for you if you believe the gospel is God gave his own son. How much more will he be gracious and kind to us in all things Paul Wright. And so we continued use who will bring any charge against Those whom God has chosen. It is God who justifies again? If it's all true who will bring a charge against us?

If God has declared those who place their faith in Christ has forgiven. As righteous as holy who can bring a charge against us. Is there anyone?

Is your own mind superior to the will of God? Are your own doubts and thoughts above the very truth spoken by God himself know and so even if it's our own self first John says our own Hearts can deceive us and are trumped by the word of God is self. So even when it's our own heart that says, yeah, but Robbie, you're the exception to the rule you did this thing and that's in March you I have to place my faith in God and His truth revealed in his word and Noah's first John also says if we are faithful just confess our sins that he is faithful to forgive us.

So no one can bring a charge against us because it's God who justifies who then is the one who condemns? No one Christ Jesus who died more than that who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Remember Caleb talk about that a few weeks ago. That's what Paul mentions in Colossians that he seated at the right hand of God and one thing scripture tells us he's doing during this time is praying for you and I and then amazing that God has not only provided the solution for death itself the ultimate solution that we will Live Forever by our faith in Christ the resurrect himself that he's provided the Incarnation not only during Christ's time on Earth, but the Holy Spirit to be with us now so that we are not alone. He's always with us and now Christ is not only present through the spirit with us, but he's with the father interceding on our behalf praying for you and I I think we don't even begin to imagine a tenth of the blessings that God is providing for us. Sometimes sometimes we just slip Scriptural thinking and we slip into church thinking or Christian thinking in terms of our culture and we think I got to go to church as if our faith is dependent upon us and it's not instead placed in Christ. Our faith is in Christ. Our faith is not in the church. Our faith is not in the pastor. Our faith is not in the Bible study. We attend Faithfully or unfaithfully. Our faith is in Christ. And Christ is Lord of all. At Christ righteous blood was shed for us. And Christ a tribute to us his victory. He is in us and we are in him. Christ is the author the word we talked about this last Sunday the frequency if if I daresay as we said last week the word that speaks and causes reality causes matter to form into reality Christ is the word and sustainer of our life. We are in Christ and he is in us. He's also the author and sustainer of all life biological and spiritual we talked about that last Sunday Paul mentions this in Colossians. He says in Colossians 1 speaking of Christ. The son is the image of the invisible God the firstborn of all creation for in him all things were created things in heaven and on Earth visible and invisible weather Thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him, he is before all things and in him all things hold together and he is the head of the body the church He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything. He might have Supremacy for God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. And through him to reconcile to himself all things are the things on earth or things in Heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God's and we're enemies in your mind because of your evil Behavior, but now he has reconciled You by Christ physical body through death's to resent you wholly in his sights without blemish and freeform accusation. If you continue in your faith establishing firm and do not move from The Hope held out in the gospel a menace a summary of everything. I've been saying this morning that Christ is supreme and that God work through Christ to accomplish our salvation and that we are in Christ and Christ is in US And that as Christ is Holy and blameless he is making us holy and blameless through his righteous blood because of our faith and trust in him and this is true for us if our faith is placed in the gospel. If we're trusting in Christ, then it's true for us at these things are provided for us. So we come to Colossians 3. So if you've been raised with Christ and if you placed your faith in him, you have been raised with him if you trust not in yourself, but you trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then you have been raised with him seek. The things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on Earth for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Now that's an amazing passage in and of itself when Christ is revealed one day at that second coming when he's revealed you and I also will be revealed. How many remember this this football game a few years ago? He might recognize that fast. I apologize for any Patriot fans. Any Patriot fans in here Jeff. Are you a patriot fan? I think you know, that's too bad.

Will you when we have prayer time this morning if you will seek somebody out for prayer and counseling we might be able to heal that demon.

I don't like the Patriots at all. Not one bit cuz they kept beating my my Colts when I want Manning to go. They kept beating my cold with this game. I became an Eli Manning fan because I had to ship my home because Peyton couldn't get it done against the Patriots. And so then I was following Eli big fan of the Giants and this was such an amazing game to remember this catching against this was a Super Bowl game and all year long. They had said he'll I don't have what it takes. There's no way he even compared to Tom Brady but you know, the media just said Tom Brady, is it baby and Andy like he can't cut it. He's a little brother and it's never going to be anything else and so very light little to the Superbowl and they're ahead with about a minute left in the game. The Patriots are head and everyone's like out that we knew this is what going to happen Tom Brady of the Patriots are going to rule they're going to dominate there going to be a little misplaced Eli goes back and if you remember the play itself, he evades about four or five defensive players. I mean, it's stunning you're convinced him. He's talking and moving to their grab. Don't know it's going to go down. This is our last hope he's somehow gets away from all those people in Planes. This pass out there and this receiver down at the other end to jump somebody catches on his helmet. I mean, it's so high above that. He can somebody brings it down on top of his helmet and falls down and keeps it secure on his helmet and does not let it touch the ground and that reception led to the victory of the Giants over the Patriots in that Super Bowl. Is awesome. one of my favorite games Well, I've even watched that game again after I knew the outcome and I could even watch it now and guess what happens in that game, even though I know the final score was built. I still like it like this was going to happen. You know who wins but old habits die hard. I mean you watch that game and you just think I don't even know what's going to happen. What Paul says in his classroom passage that we know what's going to happen? We know how everything is going to end. When Christ is revealed Paul says we too will be revealed with him in glory. We know the ending. right We know the ultimate.

We know the ultimate we know that death itself. No longer holds victory over any of those who are in Christ Jesus. We know that our sins are covered through the righteous blood of Christ.

I hear all these stories sometimes about what heaven's going to be like. And I think they're well intended, but I think they're unbiblical. You probably heard these stories give her stories about you go to heaven and God is going to put on a big screen all the stand in your life. If you're that kind of story. It's going to show all those moments that you're just going to. Not that would please not that one. I'm going to camera be there, you know.

How many times or there's all these drawers in files in them and they list all my sins every in pure thought I ever had every inappropriate thing at every time I cheated on a test and every everything is listed there all these just this whole big book. I don't think scripture suggest that at all.

This idea that somehow I when we get to heaven we're going to be humiliated.

So that God can say yep. Robbie was just about as bad as any of them yet. I graciously saved him cuz I'm awesome.

That sort of image is not found in scripture what Paul is saying here is when Christ is revealed. The same way that he is revealed you and I will be revealed. And Christ will be revealed as Victorious and holy. When Christ is revealed, he will be revealed as the Victor as the one who conquered death as the one who conquered sin as the one who is righteous who is in the right relationship of God. The father is the one who comes bearing Authority as the one who has the authority in the universe to be considered righteous and holy and Victorious. And Paul says as Christ is revealed. So you and I will be revealed. Remember set your mind on these things when Christ is revealed as Victorious and holy so we will be revealed as Victorious and holy. a man because we're in Christ and Christ is in us. His righteousness is attributed to you. And I that's the gospel itself. This isn't wishful thinking this is based on the hope of the Gospel which is the death the life the burial the resurrection of Jesus Christ and as that is true, which it is and we place our faith in him. Then what's true about Christ becomes true about because we are in Christ. And so when that day comes he's going to say there's BJ righteous. My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. What's going to be the greedy one day well done thou good and faithful servant as Paul says as long as you continue to place your faith and hope in the gospel itself. This will be true about that. We will be spotless and holy because of the work of Christ in that some kind of Celebration flipping to talk about this also one of the earliest passages of scripture maybe a song Some Scholars say that he says one day Paul says Christ gave up Divinity this equality with God is something to behold onto in Grass instead. He emptied himself taking on the form of a servant on the form of man even being subjected to death itself. So that it one day every knee will bow every tongue will confess on heaven and below and above every time. And when we do that now when we do that before that day of judgement, then we are in Christ. And Christ is Enough when we confess his name now Romans 8 talked about this and act stop at if you confess Jesus Christ as Lord you are saved when we do that now, then we are in Christ his righteousness attributed to us his victory attribute his resurrection from the dead attributed to us. What a day. What a day the ultimate is taken care of for us. Now will end on this I have no idea. I'm doing good. All right, I was worried about what time it was. Knowing the certainty of your future can transform the present. You understand the logic of that. We talked about logic a couple different times of God's Force who can be against us. If God no longer judges or chooses us because of Christ then who can accuse us. So if you know the certainty of your future that can transform your present. If you know the certainty of your future, if you know that you were trusting Christ with your life trusting him, not only for eternity but trusting him right now, then your future is certain. When Christ is revealed Paul says you will be revealed just as Christ is revealed as holy and righteous and Victorious. So if your future is certain what happened that impact you?

Do you realize? Our eternity with God is the ultimate this life is just a short time span attorney is much longer. You accept that logical statement. Eternity is longer than this time. And that if eternity is settled for you and I if we place our faith in Christ and through his grace. He said you're with me. You're with me. My righteousness will be your righteousness. My death on the cross will be the payment for your since you will be reconciled to God the father because of my work if our future is settled if it's certain, how does that impact your life? If we know the outcome if I know that the Giants win that game, how can that impact those moments when I'm like stuck.

If I know the outcome can that impact the present moment when it seems like in that present moment. There's no way we're going to win this. There's no way and I'm going to hear from all my Patriot friends.

I can get depressed I can get discouraged. I can have a heart attack because I get too invested in that moment. But I have to remind myself even in that moment. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait sweating it out. You know who wins this game, you know the outcome. The Giants win this game you you don't have to to sweat it. So, please remind herself of this true that when Christ is revealed will be revealed like him that we know the outcome that can change our present that can transform our present completely it can help us to have hope in the midst of hopelessness.

I mean the doctor can come in and say there's no help.

And we can seiwell.

We'll pray about it. God might heal me. That'll be the end of that helplessness talk. Or if he doesn't heal me guess what? I'm going to live forever. Anyway, the doctor say you nut.

I place my faith not in science not in medicine. Not on what this world tells me are the limits of life. But I place my faith in the one who walked out of the grave. Resurrected from the dead and he promises me then. I could have hope in the midst of hopelessness even in the moment in that game when I think there's no way there's no way I could have made myself. Wait a minute. I know how it is. I'm horny as we win. So even in our culture in our personal lives in a week, when you feel hopeless, you can remind yourself that there is reason to hope not wishful thinking solid reality reason to Hope cuz Christ has conquered death. We can have an absence of fear in the Valley of Death itself. And that what the scripture say. When someone says hey, you know, you're hundred for Robbie. You're probably not going to make it to a hundred and five. If I get so lucky to be that old and get that blast. I don't have to go kicking and screaming and dragging my Knuckles into the grave. Is this somehow? I don't have any hope Beyond this life.

I can face death with an absence of fear. I can trust in God as the ultimate in my life.

So I don't have to panic when I get some wrinkles and run to the doctor and get him to inject something in my face. I don't have to freak out about my clothing and spend all kinds of money trying to get something that slimming, you know, start wearing black shirts every Sunday. I don't have to worry when the economy challenges my 401k and say what am I going to do? I got to have a lot of money for retirement. I got to have all these savings. Sometimes we let anxiety about this world. Keep us from living transformed life because the ultimate is transformed. so I don't have to live with this sort of fear, but because knowing the certainty of the future forgiveness is possible because we know that ultimately God wins and love wins in the form of Christ on the cross and the offer of the gospel and because of that we can offer forgiveness to others for their failures vengeance is mine saith the Lord That is a beautiful Leaf reading passage of scripture. Anybody here trying to exact Vengeance on somebody. I bet you half of us are at least that is a very gracious figure somebody treated us poorly and we decided I'll treat them poorly run back. They'll get the cold shoulder for me. Keep a record of wrongs.

But we went when we let go of that I've got to make things right. I've got exact Vengeance. I've got to settle things only realize that the truth is God has settled things and he settled things in favor of those who place their trust in Christ. He settle things in our favor the description of the way God has forgiven you so you should want forgive one another Part of the realities of us believing the gospel if we believe that we've been forgiven so graciously so open-handed Lie by God the Father then it is upon us to forgive others graciously and open handedly. Andre we refute the truth of the gospel and we would take a piece of our hearts and we let it be bitter and sore and hurts when God wants to bring life and light into that area and make it for Assurance.

And the challenge is to Simply trust him. I trust that you provided for my salvation. And that you've been amazingly gracious and there's not going to this day whenever set of mine is displayed for everyone to see and Snicker at instead. Your righteousness is going to be attributed to me. And so father if you say to me forgive others the way I forgiven you then should we do it? I mean if we really believed that were forgiven shouldn't we run to the opportunity to be gracious and kind to others to be forgiving? Love without condition. Means just that that we have freedom to love others and not say why don't know that person or that person hurt me or that person. You know, I don't know just wait and see and maybe if they accomplish the six things that somebody has to accomplish for me to possibly become their friend and care for them that sort of done it we can let go of all that and say that God has called me to love others. . Right in that what Jesus modeled? Keyboard Concepts and him you can't like that person. You can't hang out with them. It's going to hurt your reputation and some of their sin will rub off on you and you got to get away from them and you can't be there and you can't be here in Jesus instead trusted that what would rub off would be God's goodness. God's grace God's love we didn't pack them more than their struggle with impact him. So our challenge is to be people who love without condition. I'm going to go out to worship team to come forward as we close this morning one other point, we can, maybe practice this week and reasonable even foolish kindness.

Look at it. The ultimate is settled then we don't have to have this anxiety about our careers or are our relationships are our retirement fund not this crippling anxiety that keeps us from living free. In the truth that Jesus said he is the truth and if we know him will be set free instead of we know our future if we know that the ultimate is taking care of it can free us up. You can free us up to take risk to be kind. Paul said that others will look at our trust in Christ on the cross and call it foolishness. Well, so be it. right I'd rather be taken advantage of be considered foolish in the name of trying to be gracious and kind and christ-like. Then I would play my cards close. No one's ever going to pull one over on me. I'll make sure I protect me and mine. Everything is nice and neat. Look Lord. I buried this treasure that you gave me right here. And when you return I'll get it back to you untouched instead. He wants us to take risk. They wanted to know that we can take risk because he has secured our future. We can take the risk of loving others. We can take the risk of trusting him. We can be gracious and kind and forgiving in a way that doesn't make human sense. Because of his divine presence in our life. So this week I challenge you to take a risk. Maybe a small risk. Maybe I'll just introduce yourself to someone. Maybe just buy the meal of somebody behind you in the car as an act of kindness. Maybe it'll be a big risk. Maybe you've got somebody you need to call and say can we talk if you got somebody you need to try to reconcile with their forgiveness you need to offer or ask for. I don't know scale could go from Tiny to ginormous.

The Christ is bigger than all those things that feel like challenges to us and we can trust him we can take that risk we can let go of can you imagine right now if you left this morning? And you you let go of bitterness you had you might have in your heart. For somebody that hurt you years ago or last week. I don't know. And there's marriages that are cold. Any other person just not doing what they're supposed to do?

You need to hear from the Lord. That when you didn't do what you were supposed to do that he was still gracious and loving and kind while we were yet sinners he died for us. Invite us to have the sort of foolish open-handed graciousness wolf. I just forgive won't they just do it again, maybe?

What you're accountable for is your behavior? Will you behave like Christ in response to his great love and grace? Because it's a better way to live. Anyway, it's not a burden for the Mitten Matthew 11 when he said come take my yoke is light. You live without bitterness. If you live without Grudge if you live trusting in the goodness of the father. But even though there's a moment when you think there's no way we're going to win this game. I can't believe he dropped that ball. I can't get them when you even other moments like that. You get back out there. Wait a minute. I know who wins so I'm just going to trust in a place my faith. I live open handedly. Please stand as we sing Our Song of commitment. If you have a prayer needs lb Folks up front for prayer. I didn't say that earlier and put them on the spot. They don't have to hurry. They'll be folks in the back. And in the front. I'll be in the back if you have a decision to make or pretty find me or one of the other folks during this song.