A Living Faith

The 15th century theologian, Martin Luther, who’s radical beliefs form the foundation for Lutheran teachings today, is reported to have said “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their) life on it a thousand times.”

This idea of faith as a living, daring confidence in God’s grace echoes through our scripture readings this morning.

Abraham and Sarah had that kind of faith. They had a long relationship with God; it’s outlined for us today in the reading from Hebrews. God called Abraham, Sarah and their whole household to leave behind their home country and set out on the path toward freedom in a new land. God promised to give Abraham and Sarah a new inheritance and to make of (from) them a great nation. God first made this promise to Abraham when Abraham was 75 and childless. Abraham and Sarah both laughed when they heard the promise.

God reminded Abraham and Sarah of this promise (that they would become a great nation) many times over the years, as they listened to and followed God’s call to travel to a new land. It was a circuitous route, with many twists and turns, and it took many years to get where God wanted them to be.

Yet Abraham and Sarah followed God, in obedience, the best they could, given that they were, of course, humans and prone to sin.

During all these years of wandering, Abraham and Sarah remained in close relationship with God. They spoke with God often, sometimes directly (as when they discussed the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, as we heard a few weeks ago); sometimes through other people (as when Abraham and Sarah hosted the 3 strangers for a festive meal); and sometimes in visions.

Today we hear of Abraham’s vision, when God took him outside and showed him the night sky, full of stars. If you can count the stars, God said, that’s how many descendants you will have. And even though he and Sarah were very old and still were childless, Abraham finally, fully believed God’s promise.

By then, perhaps Abraham had lived long enough to realize that there was nothing he could do to earn God’s favor. He only needed to trust in God’s grace; to live in right relationship with God; to believe that God’s word would be fulfilled even when he did not know when or how or where.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their) life on it a thousand times.

[Eventually, of course, God keeps the promise made to Abraham and Sarah; it only took 25 years. When Abraham was 100, Sarah conceived and bore their son, whom they named Isaac (he laughs), the name God had told them to give him. You can read the full story of Abraham and Sarah’s long walk with God in Genesis, chapters 12-25.]

In our gospel reading this morning, Jesus calls his band of disciples – his “little flock” – into this kind of right relationship with God – this kind of trust in God to give us all we need to live fully and freely and abundantly – into this kind of faith that is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their) life on it a thousand times.

Do not be afraid, Jesus says. We have heard these words before – spoken by angels – God’s messengers – to people wondering what would happen next. These words are always followed by good news.

Do not be afraid, the angel Gabriel said to Mary, before announcing that she had found favor with God and she would bear a son, who would be called Son of the Most High.

Do not be afraid, the angel of the Lord said to Joseph in a dream, before telling him to take Mary as his wife, for she would bear a son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Do not be afraid, the angel said to the shepherds watching over their flock at night, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.

Do not be afraid, Jesus says to us today, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Did you hear that? God wants to give you everything you need now to live fully, freely and abundantly now, in this moment, in this place and in this time in history. God wants to be in close and right relationship with you. God wants to hear your voice calling out in your prayers – your requests, your longings, your joys and concerns, your laments and sorrows and, yes, even your anger. God wants to know what’s on your mind and what’s breaking your heart and grieving your soul.

And God wants you to know deep inside yourself – at the very core of your being – in the center of your heart and mind – that God is always with you, always watching over you, always keeping your foot from moving. God is always giving you the kingdom. That is God’s good pleasure.

I wonder – do you trust that this is true? Do you trust – with every part of your being – that God is giving you the kingdom today – this very day? And if you do have that trust – that faith – are you living your life without fear – boldly and publicly – following God wherever God leads you? Are you living a faith that is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that (you) would stake (your) life on it a thousand times?

The people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) publicly witness to this kind of faith as they live through the genocide and apartheid that is happening in Palestine (that is, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the Occupied West Bank). The bishop, pastors, deacons, and people of the ELCJHL remain steadfast in their belief that God is giving them the kingdom; that justice and peace and righteousness will come, one day, for all people in the land called holy, even when they do not know when or how or where. They trust that Christ is in the rubble with them and God’s love will prevail. They have a faith that is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their lives) on it a thousand times.

In a few minutes, we will sing Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning. This is an African American spiritual. The name of who wrote this text has been lost to history; we have no record ofit. This is an injustice to whomever wrote these words. As an act of reparation, as a way to atone for the sin of that injustice and to honor the writer, we invite you to make a donation to the Rose Conservatory, an afterschool music education program in Brockton.

It is likely that this song was written by enslaved people, as they sang and called out to each other in the night. It may have been used to communicate escape plans. It is a song of hope; it’s a song of promise and trust in that promise; it’s a song of liberation and freedom. It calls us to be ready; to be ready to go, on a moment’s notice, wherever God’s promise of freedom sends us. It calls us to risk our lives for that freedom.

It is a song of faith that is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their) life on it a thousand times.

The good news for today is that it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

Through the waters of baptism and the body and blood of Jesus Christ, God calls us to freedom.

God calls us to a faith that is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake (their) life on it a thousand times Do not be afraid, little flock.