Whose word are you willing to take?
A Sermon by Pastor Jim Kreft on Matthew 7:1-11 for Lent 1, series A
There are many voices in our world that want you to listen to them. They all have a message they want you to hear, believe, and follow. Do you believe advertisers sponsor television and radio programs as a public service? No, they want you to buy their product. After all, that’s why they’re sponsors. We need to realize that fact while listening to what they have to say. They’ll tell us just about anything they can get by with to make us buy their product.
In the same way it’s important to know some background when listening to the two sides speak on any political or moral question, such as abortion. In the abortion debate, each side wants you to listen to and agree with how they view the issue. So each presents his or her case in the best possible light and the other side in the worse way possible.
Those for allowing abortion claim to be “Pro-Choice.” Their choice of words emphasizes their support for a woman’s right to control her own body. Doesn’t that sound better than “pro-abortion” or, even worse, “pro-death?”
Those who believe abortion is wrong say they are “Pro-Life.” While they believe in a woman’s rights, they believe the child’s right to life comes first. So when you listen to the arguments you have to know where each side is coming from if you are to understand what they’re saying.
This is true for Christians, too. We need to see and understand the implications of the conflicting messages we receive. The “world” gives one message while God gives another. Satan serves as chief spokesperson for the world. His message is this: enjoy life to the fullest for that’s all there is! Life is for pleasure. “Eat, drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die!” And death is “the end.” If something makes you happy and helps make you feel good, just do it! That’s what is important and determines whether you should do something or not.
God’s message is radically different. He tells us that we’re sinners. That means we’ve gone against what is right and just and true. God calls us from continuing along the “my pleasure above all else” life path. Instead, God calls us to repent of our sin and turn to Him through faith in Jesus. Quite obviously God’s message is completely at odds to the message that the world, through Satan, gives us.
So we hear both sides. We must choose who we will believe. The message we believe will help shape what we think and, therefore, how we live. So I ask the question: whose word are you willing to take?
In today’s Gospel lesson we see a conflict between these “two words,” Satan’s view and God’s view. As we look at this conflict, each of us must decide whose word we are willing to take as truth.
In Jesus’ temptation the first word we hear concerns how people receive God’s Word. How will you accept it, in doubt or trust? Through Satan the world says, “Doubt God’s Word!” Satan started off by saying to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God…” How can I be sure You are Who You say You are? I’ll believe only if You do this and that and then I’ll know for certain.
Yet in Jesus God says “Trust My Word!” We are to trust God’s Word for He says it is: His Word given to us. You can believe it. Don’t question it like Satan did and continues to do even to this day.
Yet how often do we say “if” by both our words and deeds? We’re not certain. Can God really save me? Am I certain beyond doubt or is there still that little bit of doubt left in me?
Jesus responded, “It is written…” What He was saying was this is true! You can be sure that God’s Word is trustworthy and true. Satan will question it. He’ll try to have you question it, too. Yet God says “Trust My Word.” Whose word are you willing to take: Satan’s or God’s?
The second word we hear here concerns how we are to use God’s Word. We can misuse it or use it properly. Through Satan the world says, “Misuse it.” Here in Jesus’ temptation we see Satan misusing God’s Word to tempt Jesus. “Throw Yourself down, Jesus, for God’s Word promises that He won’t let You fall and hurt Yourself.” Satan was using God’s Word for his own purpose, using in such of way that it was out of context and misinterpreted.
That is a strong temptation for us, too. Often we want to take a passage say, “God’s Word says this and that. Therefore, you have to do what I say! You’re wrong and I’m right!” Of course when we try to do that we find passages to support our position. We use it so others will have to do what we say they must.
Yet through Jesus God says “Use My Word properly.” Here Jesus replied to Satan, “Don’t test God.” Good words for those of us living today to hear, too. Don’t put God to the test. His Word is true and trustworthy. Believe that it is so! Trust Him and His Word. That’s simply all you need to do.
The third word we need to hear concerns how we live out God’s Word. We can either disobey or submit to it. Through Satan the world says “Disobey it.”
Here Satan cleverly tempted Jesus. “All” Jesus had to do was to bow down and worship Satan. Then Satan would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world! Such a deal, right?
Yet there were two major problems with this “deal.” First, those kingdoms Satan offered weren’t his to give away. And, second, you are not to worship Satan. Jesus said, “Away from Me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Jesus stood up to Satan’s ploy.
Instead He listened to and obeyed God’s Word. He submitted to it. He would only worship and serve the Lord. He wouldn’t fall to the temptation to own all the world’s kingdoms.
Jesus’ example is the one for us to follow. If we listen to God and submit to His Word, we will worship God alone and no one or nothing else. Many in this world of ours have listened to Satan instead and worship someone or something else. They do not give glory only to God. So who you listen to helps determine who you worship.
It is the same with whom we serve, too. Who we serve depends upon whose voice we listen to. The world calls us to self-service. It calls us to feel good about ourselves, even if we hurt others though what we do or who we are. That’s what sin is. Yet if we listen and submit to God’s Word then we’ll serve only God. Who we listen to will determine to whom we submit: either Satan’s sinful influence or God.
So we come back to that question that we started with: whose word are you willing to take? The many choices really boil down between just two opposed “words.” We can either choose to listen to and obey Satan or God. Whose word are you willing to take?
Look to Jesus as your example. In both life and death Jesus followed God’s Word—no matter what the outcome. By following the Father’s way Jesus went to the cross for us and died upon it. Though faith in Him, we can be God’s own people.
So whose word are you willing to take? Satan’s word, with its lies and falsehoods? Or God’s Word, with His truth and Good News? May we all live by listening, believing, and following the Good News that comes only from God Himself. May we all follow Jesus’ example and listen only to God’s Word to us. Amen.
