Opportunities
By the Rev. Norbert Tegtmeier, Messiah Lutheran Church
Friday, October 24, 2008
Bad News! Bad News! And more Bad News! It seems that every time we turn around these days, our world is filled with more bad news.
The stock market plunge has many people on edge. Many have seen their retirement accounts vanish right before their eyes. Those who were hoping to retire soon may now have to stay in the work force much longer than they anticipated. There are many who are struggling financially to hang on to their homes and put food on the table for their families.
Others, CEOs from failed companies, are running off with millions, causing anger and hatred from their clients. Many are struggling with the upcoming elections.
People are asking questions like, whom can we trust? Will the candidates really carry through on their promises? Do they really mean what they say? Do Barak Obama and John McCain and their running mates really have to say all those nasty things about each other?
Many of you have been and are being directly effected by what is going on in our world.
But is the news really all bad??? I happen to believe that our gracious God is filling our lives with opportunities. Once more, He is inviting us to put our faith, our trust and our hope in Him.
People fail us in our lives! Our possessions, our money, many times goes out much faster than it comes in. The world constantly changes, but our heavenly Father doesn’t. In the midst of all that goes on in our world, all that goes on in our daily lives, there is hope!
There is hope in the Lord. Have you listened to His promises lately?
In Matthew 28, as Jesus sends His disciples out into the world to proclaim His love, He gives them a promise: “And lo, I am with you to the very end of the age.”
In every obstacle they faced, in every trial, in every hardship, even though everything else in their lives failed them, Jesus says, “I’m going to be there!” And you know, that promise hasn’t changed! It is still there for you and for me.
In the midst of financial failure, in the times when people don’t follow through on their promises, when life seems to be dealing you a bum hand, Jesus is there with you and for you. Walk into your future trusting Him, knowing and believing that He has paid the price for us so that we might live everyday in His love, in the forgiveness and life that He alone can give.
These times also gives us the opportunity to go to our God in prayer.
He invites us to “cast all our cares and burdens on Him and He will give us rest.” God gives you and me the opportunity to pray for our leaders. He invites us to pray for Barack Obama and Joe Biden and John McCain and Sarah Palin as they seek the office of president and vice president of these United States.
I would challenge each of you, instead of grumbling and complaining about them, to lift them before the God of all grace in prayer. Pray for our leaders in the State of Kansas! Pray for our local leaders that God may give them wisdom and understanding and the desire to do what is best for the people they serve and the world in which we live. I challenge each of you to pray and then go to the polls and vote!
But I believe God gives us another opportunity. He gives us the opportunity to reach out in love to one another.
God has blessed each of us in various ways. Share those blessings with your neighbors, with the people next door who are struggling financially, with that lonely person you met downtown who simply needs someone to talk to, with the mom and dad who are frightened by the thought of not being able to care for their children.
God gives each of us opportunities. It doesn’t matter whether you have lots of money or whether you are scraping to get by. Look for the opportunities that God is giving you and follow where He leads.
Together, by the grace and mercy of our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we will overcome and in the end, through Jesus our Savior, we will receive the crown of eternal life!
Life is full of opportunities, use them to be His servants!
F “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Norbert Tegtmeier of Messiah Lutheran Church.