April 18th - In Person

The text for this morning is a portion of the epistle lesson where we read again these words: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be called children of God. And so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and we and what we will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as he is, And everyone who has hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."

It goes without saying that God has children. We learned that already in Sunday school, didn't we? And, of course, we are God's children. John puts it beautifully as Miss Tara mentioned in her rendering - which is also my favorite rendering - "See what kind of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God. And so we are." You see, God just doesn't give His love to us, but He lavishes His love on us. In fact, we may say that He's extravagant with His love for us. We may even say that sometimes His love is exorbitant. Those are all long words just like lavished. But God lavishes His love on us, and we don't deserve it at all. God lavishes us with His love, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. Not without any merit of my own, but purely out of God's divine love and mercy, Luther says, does He bestow this love upon me. And when we look at the Creed, the Apostles Creed, the first article, second article, third article - when we read through Luther's explanation to those articles, we see how lavish God's love is to us. How extravagant it is. It's not just: He gives us what we need. He certainly does that, but He gives much more than we need.

As to food, clothing, shelter: yes, we need those things. But He's quite extravagant in giving us what we have, is He not? Even the person in the third world who simply has a hut and some food and water and clothing is content with what God has given them. Someone said to me the other day, that of all the stuff in our wardrobe - that means closet dresser everything - we probably only actually wear about 10% of what's actually in there. And I guess I tend to agree. I pretty much wear the same stuff. There's some stuff over there "Oh someday. I'll fit in it." Or "Someday, it'll be in style again."

It just really, for myself, needs to go. It's just taking up space. And I think the same is probably true when it comes to our pantries and cupboards. We probably only use about 10% of what we have stored in our cupboards. And beyond that, stuff just sits there. And we go to the store. I say to myself "you really don't need any more cans of beans." Oh, but it's such a good sale! They're five for five for the big cans. Now, that's a good sale! So my grandmother Violet in me is going to predominate, and I'll put five cans of beans in my cart, even though I don't need them, and then I'll get home, and it's like now where am I going to put these five cans of beans? You probably have the same problem like that. But yes, God does have children, and there is a special bond between God and His children that the world does not understand. John goes on and says the reason the world doesn't know us, doesn't understand us, is because it doesn't know God or understand Him. When I was young in the ministry, often times, sitting down visiting with people it would come up one of the first topics. Are you married? And I'd say "No, I'm not married." They didn't pursue setting me up with daughters, granddaughters, nieces, grand-nieces, neighbor girls, anything of that sort. Not, when I visit people, get to know them, they're getting to know me, they kind of skip over the "are you married" part and go immediately to "do you have any children?" Now, they're questions that are innocuous by themselves. They just are asking for information to get to know their Pastor, get to know a neighbor. But sometimes, those very innocuous questions become very sensitive questions, don't they? For instance, "Are you married?" That can be a sensitive question. Maybe you've been married and you're divorced and it's a sensitive question. How do I answer that? Well, I used to be married, but I'm not anymore. I'm divorced. It's a little sensitive. Or maybe your widowed. A widow or widower. How do you answer it? "Well, I was married, but now my spouse has passed away." Or maybe you're one of those that "Oh, God. I just wish I could meet the right person and get married." And maybe that's just not in God's plan for you. But it's still sensitive. Same with "Do you have children?" That can be a sensitive question.

Maybe you've tried having children and are unable to bear children. That's sensitive, then, isn't it? And may be painful. And God gives us those people in the scripture that could not have children to see how He comforts them that we too might be comforted in that sorrow of that emptiness. Or maybe you tried and tried and all of your children, they've been stillborn. That's painful. They're still your children.

Or, maybe you're divorced and your children aren't with you. Or maybe you were a step-parent and you're divorced and your stepchildren aren't with you. It can be complicated. It can be sensitive. So sometimes, we have to determine for ourselves how are we going to answer that question, how are we going to deal with it?

Some of you may know my story, my backstory, some of you may not. I was a step-father, and I'm divorced. So do I have children? No, I have no children of my own, and I had four step-children.

God blessed me through it. I did learn a couple lessons. I'll share a couple of those, and then we'll see what does that have to do with us being children of God and living in this world. One of the most important lessons I learned is that no matter how the child may feel toward their natural parent, no matter how that natural parent may have abandoned their child, neglected their child, vocally and non-vocal a given the message: "Hey, I don't want anything to do with you. Sorry." No, there's no sorry in there. That child loves them and they can say anything they want about that natural parent. Sometimes, very truthfully and harshly. But anybody else say anything against that natural parent, "Hey, that's my mom. That's my dad. Don't you go talking about them that way." Why? Because there's a bond there's a bond between the parents and the child that exists purely through birth and the fact that they share DNA, genetics. I don't know you very well. Find maybe that I know you maybe too well. But, at St. John Kellner, there are members that I know when I look at their grandchildren, how they behave their mannerisms, I can see exactly what their grandparents looked like when they were that age. And, pretty much, that's probably how they behaved. You see, the apple doesn't ever really fall far from the tree, does it?

So, there's a bond between that natural child and the natural parent.

We see that when a child is born, babies late on mother's belly to bond. They encourage Dad to hold the baby so they can bond, and that bond begins. And it strengthens over the years. But there's also a bond between Mom and Dad, between husband and wife. God speaks about it. After he fashions the woman, brings her to Adam. Adam says "you're bone of my bone flesh of my flesh." And then it goes on and "for this reason a man will leave his mother and father and cling to his wife." And there's a bond. And later on, Jesus says expands on that, and says, "What God has put together let not man put asunder. They become one flesh." If you're married and things are going well, you probably don't realize that. Well, you might just think, "We lived so long, I know what she wants before she asks." Or, "I pretty much know what he's going to come out of the bedroom wearing, because he's a creature of habit." "I pretty much know how they're going to finish their sentence, because we live together for 5, 10, 15, 50, 60 years."

But if you're divorced, you know that there's a tearing, there's a part of you missing, a part of your heart, a part of your very being is missing. Why? Because it went with that other person. And guess what? Part of them is still hanging on to you.

And if you're a widow or widower, you know that because now your spouse isn't there with you, and you've lost something. You've lost a part of you because it's become part of them, but there's no part of him that's with you.

So, what does all this have to do with us being God's children? Well, there's a bond between God and His children that doesn't exist with the world, that the world doesn't understand, that the world doesn't know. In fact, the world doesn't really care to know, as far as the world's concerned. This morning, we had the beautiful opportunity to witness Sophie's baptism. And through that water, in that Word, got bonded with Sophie. She is now one of His children. And she will be His child - pray God - through the rest of her life. But it may be possible for Sophie, or any one of us to say finally, "You know, what, God? I don't want all this lavish extravagant love. I don't need a savior from sin, and I don't need forgiveness, and I don't need anythin You're offering. You know, what? Just move on to somebody else's life." You know what? God will do that. And sometimes we don't say those things, but we behave in such a way that we really drive God out. Like, take any sitcom that's family-oriented. The in-laws come for a two-day visit, and it ends up being two weeks, three weeks. They've worn out their welcome, but everybody wants to be nice and not say "Hey, move on to the next cousins, or the other daughter and son-in-law or any of that. So they devise a plan: "Well, let's irritate them." So, then they play the loud music or they, you know, grate that fork across the plate. You know, that's always a good one. No, don't do that. But you know what I mean? It's kind of like you got squirrels bothering you. Or gophers.

I was told that you sprinkle - ask your hairdresser, stylist, barber for some of those hair leftover clippings. Drop them in the hole. Drop them in the hole. They got to go through the hole, and they got to go past those hair clippings. Guess what? They got you all over themselves and they can't stand it. And so they move out. And our sinful behavior can drive God out. And it can go so far as that He's not coming back.

But if we do repent and confess, He will come back. He will come back, but that takes faith. And so, maybe you know, somebody that's driven God away. Maybe God wants you to talk to them. I'm not saying talk sense into them, but talk to them. Speak to them about God's extravagant love. That He still loves them. He wants to be a part of their life. And if they repent and return to the Lord, the Lord will return to them. Even ask... Peter says that times of refreshment might come and that Christ may come to you. But that also includes the world. So, there's this bond between God and us. A strong-type bond. It helps us to know God, but also because God lives in us, and God's Word is in us.

Does that mean we understand everything there is to understand about God? By no means. But what is important for us to understand? We do understand, don't we? That God sent His son into the world to suffer and die, to redeem us. Again, this is love. Not that we loved God first, but rather that God loved us and sent His son to be - we could use last week's word propitiation, but I like better "for all atoning sacrifice for our sin." God sent His son.

Jesus says elsewhere, "I have sheep of other flocks that are not part of this one. I need to get them in, gather them in." John would say "God has other children that aren't part of the family yet, and He wants to gather them in." That's God's desire.

And God loves you. He gave His son to die for you. He gives you everything you need, whether you acknowledge it or not. God is the source of all that we have. Our very being. And the world doesn't understand, because they don't understand God. The world doesn't understand - I bet you know people who don't understand that you come here at 10:45 on Sunday morning to attend service, to hear God's word, to participate in the Lord's Supper. Why are you giving up that part of your day? Well, it might be, because well, that's the only time now. But I want to worship God. I need to worship God. God wants me to worship Him, and I want to be with Him.

You see, we get along as a family. We like being around family, don't we? Especially the family of God. But you see, they don't understand that, because they don't have the bond. Now, you all have pew-mates. I know you do, because everybody does. And you have the same ones that you always had, because you've always sat in the same place where you're sitting maybe now. Maybe you're not exactly sitting where you usually sit. I don't know where you sit. But I will find out.

When your neighbor isn't there, you're missing something, aren't you? You're missing their presence, their fellowship. Have you ever after service picked up the phone and said "Hey, I hope you're doing well. I just want to know I missed you today. Yeah, I worshipped, but it just wasn't as fulfilling without you being there." And that's all you got to say. "Hope you have a great day!" You don't have to say anything more. But talk to them.

And they won't understand until God allows them to understand. You know, our Gospel reading jumpped back to Easter Sunday evening. So that's why it's like "Well, why is Jesus showing Himself? He already showed Himself." Well, this is the first time he showed Himself, like the time when Thomas isn't there.

But they don't understand. They don't understand any of it, even though they lived through it, they don't understand, it doesn't make any sense until they receive the Holy Spirit, right? When they receive the Holy Spirit, wow! On Pentecost, Peter, who doesn't really understand anything, gets up and gives a pretty good sermon. In fact, it was so good that about 3,000 people were baptized that day. But the Holy Spirit put everything into place. And we don't have to know everything, but we need to know God redeemed us. God preserves us, and He calls us. We can't come to the Father unless the Holy Spirit draws and He draws us through the Word. Draws us to Him by the Word and the sacrament, the baptism, the Lord's Supper.

And our being children of God, it doesn't matter how we feel about it. Like, if we're feeling really bad because we've had, well one of those days - usually always seems to be Monday. You get up on the wrong side of the bed. And then you go back to bed and you get out on the other side, and you realize that side was the wrong side of the bed, too. I mean, you're really in for a rough day that day, aren't you? But, you see, you're still God's child, and He still loves you.

And the other lesson - doesn't matter if your step-parent or parent: your child does something wrong? They're afraid. They're afraid you're going to find out. They become like Adam and Eve and they hide. Just like Adam and Eve hid from God. That's a sure sign something's not right. They're afraid they're going to lose your love. THey need to know "We still love you. We made poor choices. We got into trouble too. We still love you."

And God says the same: "Yeah, you sin. But I still love you."

And today He lavishes love on us with the supper of His Son. Gives us that very body and blood with which He purchased our forgiveness: to remind us again, "Hey, you're loved."

And He lavishes at love on us. You see, if you're going to lavish somebody, you're going to probably have a cost, maybe a big cost. And for God to lavish all this love on us, it really cost Him His son, didn't it? We've been purchased not with silver and gold, but with the precious suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. God offers us love at great cost to Himself, knowing full well that His love may not be reciprocated.

But thanks be to God that doesn't stop Him from lavishing His love on us or calling us His children. What are we going to become? Sometimes we say, "Whatever became of cousin so-and-so? We haven't seen them for a while." Or "What in the world are you going to become when you grow up?"

Not so bad to say if they're 12 or 13. Maybe a little different if they're 32 or 33. But what are they going to become? None of us knows what we're going to become, do we? The other day, we had Chapel, and one of the young gentleman - I'm guessing he was probably sixth grade. He asked me "What are we going to look like in heaven?"

John answers that. "What we will become, we do not know." I said, "I don't know. If I could give that answer, I'd be pretty smart." I said, "All we know is we'll be glorified. Are we going to look like we look now?" I said "I do not know. But we'll all find out when we get to heaven. And we're not going to have to ask, we're not going to have to wear name tags: 'Hello, my name is,' but we will all know as we ourselves are known."

So are God's children. I'm God's child. You're God's child. And there's somebody out there waiting. Maybe they don't realize they're waiting, but they're waiting to become God's child. And Jesus and the disciples and the apostles say "We are witnesses of these things" that includes you and I - we're witnesses of these things. To share God's love, to tell them that love, to show that love, so that they can be adopted in as God's child. You see, by our very nature, we are not natural children of God, are we? All of us are adopted. Adopted in that same water baptism. Maybe at this same font. We share in the same faith, the same hope, the same Lord, the same God, Father of us all. And we've been lavished with His love. And He lavishes us once again. God has a great way of showing His wonders in the ordinary things of life. Whether it be a newlywed couple or a long-wed couple. Whether it be through separation or divorce, whether it be through death, whether it be as a parent a step-parent, or just somebody who really has a love for children, even though they have none of their own. God has a way of teaching us His love and His ways and His patience with us in those everyday tasks that we sometimes take so for granted. Even as we sometimes take that lavishness of His love for granted, but let us not take for granted that we are God's children. And that is what we are, whether the world call us something else, or the devil, or even we ourselves feel differently. We are God's children by God's choosing. And thanks be to God that He chose us before we were ever ready to choose Him. Amen. And now may the peace of God which surpasses our human understanding, keep our hearts and our minds in faith in Christ Jesus, unto life everlasting. Amen.