“Untapped Resource”
At
the time of the Resurrection, the typical resources we might think necessary
for what would become the early church were scant to say the least. There was no property, or parochial schools,
no parish halls or parking lots. There
was not a single sanctuary, sacristy, or synod.
Before
the collection of sacred writings we call the Bible, the physical resources of
the early church were mostly made of flesh and bone.
Granted,
these were precious resources, including those who walked, talked, ate with and
traveled with Jesus. They had the
promise and comfort of the sacraments and the Words of the Savior Himself but
for the most part, the brick and mortar resources that define the church today
were far from the minds of the followers of “The Way.”
In
contrast, the Jewish establishment was entrenched in centuries of ritual and rules. And there were plenty of physical places to
go. There were synagogues for teaching
and, of course, there was the Temple in Jerusalem. It was still the cultural and spiritual
center for the majority in Israel. The
resources of Judaism were immense, both physical and personal. They were assets for continuance of the
status quo.
The
Pharisees and the Sadducees directed the daily life of the people. The High Priest along with the Sanhedrin
ensured the masses were following the laws.
The temple in Jerusalem was the only location for sacrifice and where
forgiveness was to be found.
Then
there is Saul, who was described as a Pharisee among Pharisees. He was an asset
for the establishment. However, to the
followers of “The Way,” those who had seen the risen Christ, Saul was a
liability, not an asset.
Our
text for today from Acts chapter 9 picks up the story, “Saul
kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest and asked him to
write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of
Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man
or woman who followed the way of Christ and imprison them in Jerusalem.”
(Acts 9:1-2)
At
this point Paul was a resource of oppression, persecution, and hate towards the
church and he came with credentials.
He
studied under the prominent teacher Gamaliel, and was considered a prime
example of how devout Jews should behave.
He
knew his Scriptures, he followed every point of the Law, and he was in the eyes
of many perfect because of his obedience.
He
was tapped to do harm not to help.
He
was chosen and set for a purpose—to destroy the church and its followers.
Our
text continues, “As Saul was coming near the city of
Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say
to him, ‘Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?’ Saul asked, ‘Who are you, sir?’ The person
replied, ‘I’m Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up, go into the city, and you will be
told what you should do.” (Acts 9:3-6)
Saul
is confronted on the road with the presence of Jesus himself. In that moment things changed. His allegiance was transferred. Jesus did not see him as a liability but our
generous God saw him as an untapped resource.
In
that moment the Pharisee became a man filled with humility. His pride was cut down, his self
righteousness shattered. He was blind
both physically and spiritually.
He
would in short time come to know himself as the chief of sinners and would soon
profess a personal faith in Jesus the Messiah.
This
man, called Saul, also known as Paul would go on to be one of the most
influential people in all Christianity.
In
the book of Philippians Paul described this complete change that happened in
him. He writes, “If
anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised
on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew
of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a
persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of
Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered
the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain
Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my
own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:4b-9)
Paul
was an untapped resource actively working against the Lord, but God chose him
for a purpose, set him on a path and provided him exactly what he needed. He does the same for you.
Many
times our thoughts and actions would place us in the same camp as Saul the
Pharisee. We strive, and work for what
we desire. We are spiritually
blind.
Even
if we think our intentions are good, we put confidence in our own
abilities. We often think of ourselves
better than others. We look down on
those who are different than us, who don’t work as hard.
How
often do you put confidence in the flesh?
I do, far often than I want to admit.
Everyone one of us has done harm and not helped when we should. Our credentials read, sinner, in thought,
word and deed. Your actions make you a
liability to the Lord. Your sin…my
sin…all sin separates us from God.
Here
in this place we too are confronted with the presence of Jesus. He comes to us when we hear the readings,
when we witness water being splashed on one of God’s own, when we kneel
together as one and are fed by Christ himself.
In Christ our sin has been forgiven, we are set on a new path, our
allegiance has been transferred.
In
this place, through faith, God is preparing you to be a resource in the world.
Like Saul you have been chosen and set for a purpose. Are you an untapped resource? How can God use you?
However
you spend your days, be it at the office, in the classroom, in the factory or
shop, at home, or in countless places in between, God has chosen you to be a
resource for him.
You
are an asset for God’s plan and His will is done through you.
As
Martin Luther once said, “God himself will milk the cows through him whose
vocation that is.”
Whatever vocation you have been given, you are a
resource for God.
Lutheran theologian Gene Veith said it this way, “When I go
into a restaurant, the waitress who brings me my meal, the cook in the back who
prepared it, the delivery men, the wholesalers, the workers in the
food-processing factories, the butchers, the farmers, the ranchers, and
everyone else in the economic food chain are all being used by God to ‘give me
this day my daily bread.’”
What resource have you been given that can be used
for His Glory? How might you be an asset
to the Lord’s work?
Here at Bethany we are making the first steps on a
journey of campus renaissance. We have
added staff, we will be starting a capital campaign, we hope to be swinging
hammers and pouring concrete at some point in the near future. What resources can you bring to the community
here at Bethany? What untapped resources
are out there? It could be physical or
financial, but whatever it is it can be used for God’s glory.
If you want to get involved, please let me know,
talk to Pastor Kevin and we would love to find a way for you to be an asset to
Bethany.
The Lord continues to point to untapped resources,
to Saul, to you and to me. He gives you
the credentials to do it as he calls you his own in Faith, forgives you of your
sin and points you to the cross, for we, like Paul, can count everything as
loss compared to knowing Christ and him crucified and risen again.
In Him we can be a resource to the world, so that
many may know our generous God and in him live a generous life.
Let us pray…
-Pastor Seth Moorman
