Jeremiah 17:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-20; Luke 6:17-26

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It would be nice if choices in life were clearer. We wouldn’t have to question whether we made the right decision or if we messed up horribly. Yet, we know that life is just filled with this “gray” in-between choices. There’s both right and wrong in all options given to us. This is why we must simply “do our best” and struggle through the gray.

However, when we read Scripture, we don’t often see this gray mindset. God always talks in black and white. It’s the clear distinctions between right and wrong that stand out for us. God, in many ways, doesn’t care about our rationale for all the evil we do, even if it was meant with the best of intentions. Vice versa, God rejoices when we do good no matter how we eventually got there.

In our Gospel lesson, we find these black and white distinctions as Jesus teaches the crowd. And we’re left here wondering, which side is for us? Jesus says things, like, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God... Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation,” Luke 6:20, 24. If I’m poor one day, but rich the next... which one is for me? Or what about these words, “Blessed are you who are hungry now... woe to you who are full now,” Luke 6:21, 25. I was hungry yesterday, but I’m full today. So, do I receive woes or blessings? It’s not very clear, is it?

In these beatitudes, we begin to see a description of the Christian life. Blessings are for the poor (v.20), the hungry (v.21), those who weep (v.21b), and those who are hated for Jesus’ sake (v.22). All of these point us to a reality that extends beyond material blessings to eternal blessings. That is, woes are for those who look only for the good things in this life. Woe to the rich, the full, the happy, and famous. For we see that a Christian doesn’t stop being a Christian if they aren’t poor, or hungry, or always weeping. On the contrary, a Christian is one who knows in these situations that they have a reward far greater than any material blessing.

What moves us then from woes to blessings? Is it not Christ? Indeed, woe to us who are sinners, who rely on our flesh, our wealth, and the blessings of this life as our god. But blessed are sinners who turn to Christ and are forgiven their sins! We find that all the woes that Jesus pronounces here are meant to drive us away from ourselves and to Jesus, to put our trust and faith in him! “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord,” Jeremiah 17:7. Jesus takes our “woes” upon himself. Jesus goes to the cross so that all the woes he speaks to us may turn into blessings. For by the cross, Jesus shows us that life isn’t about material blessings, but about the riches and mercy and grace of God given for all eternity! So, let us look beyond our present afflictions or blessings that we may trust in Christ for the blessings that are eternal! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.