God’s forgiveness gives reason to keep serving

The Labor Day holiday is celebrated this weekend. That means school has started. This holiday also means the Alaska State Fair is almost finished. We also all know that with the end of the summer activities, the full work schedule begins in earnest. Schools, businesses, even churches get in to the swing of their full schedules at this time of year.

So, what is the work that God’s people face? In worship the last few Wednesdays we have been focusing on the assigned epistle lessons from Hebrews. God has expectations for his people, and in these lessons God speaks plainly about the discipleship he expects from those who follow him. This week’s lesson is from Hebrews 13.

In Hebrew 13, we learn about God’s expectations for his people in regard to loving those around us, even those we don’t know. We learn about God’s expectations in regard to sex and marriage. We also learn about God’s expectations in regard to money, faith and the church. Sometimes when God’s people hear of his sacrificial love we can forget God’s continuing call to serve and obey him. Unfortunately, none of us are perfect when it comes to God’s call to faith and love and righteousness. Life as a child of God is a struggle, but that doesn’t free us from God’s call that being his children brings. The call to obedience is real.

This week I took Friday off and played golf with Ryan Strehlow, the director of Christian Education from Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak. My golf game is a struggle. My shots seem to travel shorter distances these days and my scores seem to go higher. But there are some things that could help my game. Lessons would help. Good equipment helps. Practice helps. My struggle is not without some hope.

God has real help for our struggles to live as his children. That is part of what happens in the full schedule of activities in the church. In addition to worship opportunities where we hear God’s word and bring him praise, Sunday School and various Bible studies are offered. Worship and Bible study help God’s people with the struggle of discipleship.

But there is one more powerful help for God’s children as we seek to fulfill God’s expectations. That help is God’s love and forgiveness. It can be discouraging as a golfer to try to hit a good shot and fail time after time. It can cause a person to consider giving up the game. But one little tip that leads to one good shot makes me, at least, want to keep playing. It can be discouraging to know God’s expectations for our lives and to know our failure. God forgives us and continues to offer his love without fail. So even in our failure, God is there. God’s presence and love and forgiveness to strengthen us for discipleship when we might want to give up in discouragement.

In Hebrews 13:5-6, after calling God’s people to love, faithful marriages and a proper attitude toward possessions, we are assured: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”

I pray that you see the coming activities of the church as opportunities for strengthening your faith and your life as God’s child. I pray that when you struggle with God’s expectations, his forgiveness gives you reason to keep seeking to serve him.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer.

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