Untitled Sermon (8)

Introduction

Just over a week ago Larissa and I went to the York County Fair for a few hours. We drove down and met up with our friends Tim, Sasha, and their son Ezequiel, or Zeeq as we call him. It’s always fun to be around them, and it’s especially fun when we are around Zeeq.

He’s a happy 1-year old, always smiling and babbling, laughing and giggling. No matter who you are you smile when you see him smile.

Well, as we walked around and Sasha was holding Zeeq they were pointing to Larissa’s belly and saying to Zeeq “baby.” He reached his little hand out toward her belly and lightly tapped it. He didn’t say anything, but he smiled as usual and we moved on.

In that moment I felt a rush of emotion come over me as I thought our own baby. About how in just a few months we will have our own little baby in our lives. I began thinking about the amazing gift of children, how God made such an amazing process that happens in the body of a woman.

I then, of course, began thinking about how life moves along. How we all started as these little children, unable to hold our heads up, and now we are these adults with complex emotions and feelings, with the ability to do so much and see so much. To think, to process, to help or harm.

But, one of the greatest things we can do, and something that makes us different from other animals, and something that makes us close to God, is speak. We can talk.

I was thinking about that as I watched Zeeq reach out to Larissa’s belly. What it must be like for Tim and Sasha to hear Zeeq babble incoherently, knowing that one day he will start forming words and sentences, sharing emotions and feeling and thoughts in conversation.

So, now, I’m curious. What was it like to watch your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews learn to talk? How did it feel to hear them say for the very first time to you, “I love you”? What about the time they first said “mama” or “dada” or whatever name they called you?

What was it like for you when they began associating words with objects and thoughts and emotions, when they began putting all of this together in complex sentences?

I can only imagine that it was an overwhelming feeling, something amazing and

Illustrations:

-We are like God in that we can speak. Form words and sentences that carry meaning.

-Wonderful to watch children learn to speak. How does it feel to hear them say “I love you” for the first time? To say “mama” or “dada.” To start forming sentences with structure.

-But, how did it feel the first time they said “I hate you”? The first time they lied? The first time they spoke words that were nasty? The first time they spoke sentences that hurt?

Notes:

Five negative prohibitions followed by positive commands

Don’t tell lies, but tell the truth (25)

Don’t lose your temper, rather ensure that your anger is righteous (26-27)

Don’t steal, but rather work and give (28)

Don’t use your mouth for evil, but rather for good (29-30)

Don’t be unkind or bitter, but rather be kind and loving (4:31-5:2)