Sand Mountain Sermonette 76
Luke 15:1-2; Romans 8:15
Sand Mountain Sermonette 76
Induction into the Hall of Faith
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15
Growing up in Alabama, my dad, brother, and I were Atlanta Braves baseball fans, but mom loved the New York Yankees. However, it was in Winter Haven, Florida, where I was serving as an associate pastor at Beymer Memorial UM Church that I met one of my favorite Major League baseball players by complete surprise; one not on the Atlanta braves.
Nancy and I had been invited by some folks in our congregation to dine with them at a popular and rather famous restaurant of the day located in Winter Haven. It was a wonderful old-styled restaurant with a very welcoming and inviting décor. Not long into our meal, one man seated at our table leaned over and showed me a father and son who were sitting at a table about twenty feet from our own. It was MLB player Carl Yastrzemski and his dad. My church friend invited me to walk over to his table and see if I could receive his autograph, and although I was scared and feeling a little unworthy to do so, I did walk over only to find he and his father very kind and receptive. I briefly introduced myself and offered him my business card inviting him to sign the back “for myself and for my kids” if he didn’t mind. And, with a big smile on his face and his father’s face as well, he signed my card. I recently checked on Carl Yastrzemski and discovered that he played for the Boston Red Sox his entire career from 1961-1983; and that he was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame his first year of eligibility in 1989 which was about a year prior to my having met him.
Luke tells us in the first two verses of his fifteenth chapter that Jesus sought to welcome, receive, and dine with sinners whereas the Pharisees and the scribes “muttered” among themselves with disapproval! Wow! How often we have it turned around. As churches we often seek to maintain the ship while passengers are being lost in the turbulent waters below! The Bible tells us that we as Christians, are to receive the lost into our churches and welcome and dine with them with love in our hearts for them like Jesus had, for the truth is, we are all numbered among “the tax collectors and sinners.” Notice the sinners were drawn to Christ not to those who rejected them. And then, it’s in this setting that the Holy Spirit transforms hearts and lives.
In essence, when one becomes a child of God, that person is inducted into God’s present and eternal Kingdom through faith the first time out! Now that’s living the game of life as a winner under the auspices of our Savior Jesus Christ! You may approach the Father and the Son through the Spirit with confidence, reverence, and great anticipation of His love and acceptance through Christ who loves you so!
Pastor Louie