7th Sunday after Trinity

A few years ago, I had someone stop by my office after worship and ask me, “Did you notice anything different in your office.” As I paused for a moment, somewhat puzzled, I was eventually able to remember that I had seen a different rock in the rock collection that sat on my desk. It stuck out from all my other rocks because this one was polished. I also noticed how pretty it was but thought nothing further of it until the question was asked of me, “Did you notice anything different in your office?”

Well, this person had left the rock for me and shared that they had noticed that I seemed pretty tense and down recently and wanted to lift me up with the gift. The gift was a blue lace agate – very nicely polished and pretty. Blue lace agates just happen to be known as a grace rock. But not putting too much in the meaning of a rock, it was more the act of noticing a missing or empty spot in an individual and moving to help - moving without hesitation or even invitation.

This is one of the lessons we are being taught today by Jesus in the Gospel lesson and is to be applied in the service opportunities of loving God and loving others in daily life. Whether you wish to admit it or realize it or not, you're given so much by way of blessings before you even have the opportunity to ask. Jesus knows what you need before you even need it. So, today I ask you,

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

Here you are this morning – gathered among the masses, wishing to hear the Words of Jesus. You join the masses who have traveled for days. You’re among a great crowd. You don’t realize it, or at least didn’t when you came – but maybe now you’re starting to feel a little grumble. Maybe you even hear a groan or muted roar – yeah, it’s your stomach – actually – it’s your soul. You’re hungry. As we’ve made our way through the morning, we’ve worked delicately – we’ve begun to set the banquet table – we’ve spread the cloth – we’ve arranged the dishes – we’ve heard God’s Word. Through this Word spoken by your pastor, Jesus began to feed you before you even realized you were hungry. He has only begun, simply an appetizer if you will, as the meal is not finished. There’s more to come. But even with just the Word flowing from your ear to your heart – something has happened.

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

This is where it begins to get tricky for you and also a bit frustrating for Jesus. Because here’s the thing: You can’t hear God’s Word – and not have something happen to you. It’s that simple. God’s Word is a living, breathing, real, and vibrant breath of being that flows through the voice of God’s chosen writers and speakers into your ears. And when it hits Your ears, it's grabbed like a cherished treasure by the Holy Spirit who dwells in your heart, and He wraps it around your soul. You can’t be the same person you were 10 minutes ago - you can’t be the same person you were when you came here this morning – you can’t be who you want to be because God’s Word is making who He wants you to be.

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

The disciples had a hard time getting this. And many tend to join them. Of all people, those who have the opportunity to walk side by side with Jesus, day in and day out, the disciples - you - should be up to the test when Jesus puts an opportunity of service before you. Again, you are right there by Jesus’ side, just like the disciples.

You have every opportunity and then some to be along Jesus' side day in and day out. That opportunity is through His Word. Sometimes that’s easy to forget or take for granted. You tend to distance yourselves from those first pastors of the Lord’s Church - the disciples - because they lived so long ago – they lived and walked with Jesus. Well, folks, you have the same opportunity to walk alongside Jesus each and every day. All you have to do is pick up His Word, open it, and read it. And then, week after week, be here in this place where He has promised to be with you in order to feed and nurture your faith and forgive you of your sin.

But again, remember, you won’t be the same person. And that’s what Jesus is getting at with His little test of the disciples – of you. Remember, you have just as many opportunities to serve the thousands in need – to love the many who need the grace of Jesus.

Jesus’ test comes from the rumbling of His stomach – His soul. Notice the reading says that He has compassion on the crowd. A deeper definition of the word compassion is beneficial. The original language speaks of a churning of the inside – the seat of affections – an affectionate movement of the inward parts. This is what Jesus feels for the crowd. And notice again; we see Jesus here acting before the crowd even expresses or even realizes a need. “I have compassion on the crowd…”

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

The disciples don’t seem to. And that’s the way you get sometimes, too, right? Jesus stands before you many a day and proclaims His compassion through the blessings and opportunities He puts before you. But isn’t it a shame how quick many are to hide behind excuses like the disciples? “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” Don’t get too distracted or comfortable with these words of the disciples, for though they talk of bread, you can insert any excuse you come up with that makes you believe you don’t need to follow through with what Jesus has given you the opportunity to do. At the end of the day, you, like the disciples, do well to conduct an attitude check.

More times than not, it’s attitudes and victim mentalities that get in the way. Poor and selfish attitudes look at the blessings and opportunities of serving those in need as an inconvenience. You look at those in need and see their poor decisions - their mistakes, or what have you - and conclude that their problems are their problems - they caused their situation in life - you don't need to get involved. And then victim mentalities make you see most comments and acts by others as a personal attack. Never is it your fault - or never do you need to find your place in the issue - how dare someone question your work, dedication, or heart.

And when one gets comfortable in this pathetic way of living in a community, you tend to step back and wait for others to do the work – to do the hard stuff. Certainly, it’s easy to come and sit here and look good. It’s easy to come here and act like you confess your sin. It’s easy to come here and take and eat and drink what you think is your right to have. It’s easy to act like a Christian. But that’s not what Jesus is asking and instructing you to do. He’s guiding you, like the disciples, to live it. And that’s something the old sinful self has a hard time doing. So how about you get serious about it and repent?

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

It’s this call to repentance that will allow you to continue to come closer to the difference that Jesus desires for you. Notice what He does when the disciples fail His test. He moves to action. He provides for the needs of those around Him – the large crowd and, yes, even the disciples. He feeds them without question. And here’s a great lesson for you as we look at the feeding of this multitude – there’s a stewardship lesson from Jesus.

Jesus takes all he has and gives His first fruits to where, to who? The church – the ministry – the people. He gives first and doesn’t worry about His ability to eat – His ability to continue on through the day. And notice what happens. After they were all satisfied, there were leftovers – enough for Jesus and the disciples.

That’s how stewardship is supposed to work – Jesus sets the example for us to give of the first fruits of time, talent, and treasure – and things will work out how they are supposed to. And it’s not about treasure alone – it’s all three arenas of stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. When all three are working together, the church has no problem. But the disciples didn’t think this way. They saw a little, and little was their faith. Jesus sees a little, and little was His doubt.

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

Thankfully, we have a gracious and loving God, Who, despite the fact that we struggle to tread water in the great sea of faith – He rescues us with grace. And here’s where we get back to the table we began setting this morning. You've been blessed by hearing God’s Word – he’s worked in your heart and soul even as you’ve been sitting here listening to His inspired message come from my mouth. And as we move from the sermon, to the prayer, to the offering, and beyond, we move to the heart and soul of this blessed gift we call worship.

And this is where that difference in your heart begins to become more clear. You’ve confessed your sin – you’ve heard the Word – that’s that setting of the table I talked about. The appetizer has been served – the Word and sermon you have heard, and soon will be enjoying the main course – the foretaste of the feast to come - the glorious feast in heaven.

Right there, on the altar, in the bread and wine, is Jesus Himself, coming to you and giving you everything you need – before you even know you need it. He’s promised to care for you – "Come to me," He says. He’s accomplished for you all that ever needs to be accomplished – "It is finished," He cried from the cross. All the temporal things of this world that you chase after – enjoy them if you wish, but don’t make them your priority, for the things of this world will decay and rot away, but the glory of the Lord will last for eternity.

Do you notice anything different in your heart?

Yeah, you do. It’s Jesus’ love for you. He’s calling your name right now. And He wants your all. You will soon come and taste the most precious fruit of the vine and the most wholesome bread of the field. May you long to do this often. May you realize that this is the most intimate and precious thing you can ever do and have in this life – in this world.

There are many a day when you struggle and are heavy-laden. Many days you feel all alone – you feel as though you are carrying such a burden. And during these times, you can get to a point where you may think no one cares – no one notices – or no one gets it. And truth be told, some don’t. But then, one day, someone walks in and asks – do you notice anything different?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I want you to hear this loud and clear – when you leave this place today, you will be different – you will notice something different in your heart – it’s called the love and grace of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s the truth that you are forgiven of all your sin. Amen.