Words of Welcome

Genesis 29:15-28 This summer I had the privilege of officiating at the weddings of two  of our couples.  I’ve done a few weddings in my time, so I’ve got a bit of experience with these sorts of things.  It’s clear to me that wedding customs have changed somewhat since Cheryl and I were married thirty-one years ago.  I think things were a bit simpler back then, or at least that’s the way it seems to me and others my age.  But, that’s the way life is – things tend to change. The reading from Genesis this morning tells an interesting wedding story. It’s part of a larger story that goes back to when Jacob tricked his brother Esau out of his inheritance.  From the very beginning of the story, we learn that Jacob, who is one of the heroes of the Bible, is also a  trickster who gets by on his wits. But sometimes tricksters get tricked, and that’s what happens here.  What stood out to me as I read this passage is how different our customs are from those in the ancient world.

Romans 8:1-11 I’ve been preaching from Paul’s letter to the Romans these past several weeks.  In Romans Paul contrasts two paths – the way of death and the way of life, the way of the flesh and the way of the Spirit.  That theme continues in Romans 8, where Paul begins with an important announcement: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  To live in union with Christ means being set free from the guilt we often carry with us in life.  That guilt can include the things we’ve done, and the things we’ve left undone. There’s another way of putting it – from now on, we don’t have to live with regrets.  No more – I wish I’d done that; or, I wish I hadn’t done that.  And we all have a treasure trove of regrets to let go.  In fact, we’re seeing this play out right now as LeBron James returns to Cleveland.  He has regrets about how he handled his move to Miami, and the owner, Dan Gilbert has regrets about what he said and wrote after LeBron

Romans 7:15-25a “We know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh.”  Those words come right before our reading from Romans.   According to Paul, it’s difficult to do the right thing, even when you know what the right thing is! Does that seem to describe your reality?  Could it be that there is a war going on inside us? Paul seems to think so, which is why I titled the sermon: “I’m so confused.” In Romans Paul talks a lot about how difficult it is to keep the law of God. While the Law reveals God’s desires for our lives, it doesn’t have the ability to help us fulfill these desires.  The Law is good.  As the Psalmist puts it: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous