Reign of Christ
Luke 5:1-11; 23:33-43

The sermon for the Reign of Christ Sunday is provided by Rev. Joy Streight.

Maybe when you think about God, you think about what you would have to leave behind if you were to follow Him. Perhaps your life is good; with many benefits. Aside from an ambiguous or ill-defined longing for purpose and hope; you are great! You want some assurances before you walk away from everything you hold dear.

Jesus blessed Peter’s business before He invited him to leave it. It looked better than it had for a while, and still Jesus was more compelling than a successful business.

Or, maybe your life isn’t so perfect. Perhaps your choices have been poor or your circumstances rough. Maybe you would like a new life, even need one desperately; but you’re holding onto what is familiar. You’d rather have a better version of your current life than a brand new one.

The criminals on the crosses beside Jesus were at the end of their resources. Too late to ask for a great catch of fish or a trip around the world. Life was ending. Their only hope now was a quick painless death and crucifixion would not offer that as a possibility. One man recognized Jesus as God and one did not. One joined the mocking crowd wanting to see Jesus save Himself. The other man put himself in God’s hands. When there was nothing but God, that was enough.

We went on our trip and we were forever changed. The life we came home to wasn’t the one we left. Why? The Lord helped us to let go of our life. We realized He had a better one for us that we would never fully experience if we held onto the old one. Somewhere between the United States and the South Pacific, we got to see GOD more clearly. The world shrank and He increased.

Oh great GOD, help us today. Save us from those things that insulate us from You. Don’t let us be part of the mocking crowd waiting for some temporary miracle. Give us eyes to truly see You and the realities of life as You see them. Help us see where our life ends, so we can leave it to follow You. And thank You for giving us Yourself... Every day. You are enough. Amen.

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