The Father Has Chosen To Give You The Kingdom

Two weeks ago I found myself in the midst of 25,000 Lutheran youth (along with their frazzled adult leaders)—a literal sea of Lutherans. It was an intense, wild and meaningful experience. I almost got trampled, but that’s a story for another time. By the way, the youth who attended this event will be sharing their stories after the 10:45 service tomorrow/today. Try to make time for that if you can—I think you’ll be impressed by what they made of their opportunity.
The theme of the National Youth Gathering can be summarized in one word: Chosen. And that word was everywhere, from the first event to the last; on backpacks and Bibles, on T-shirts, hats, bracelets and buttons. Chosen, chosen, chosen. By the end of our time in Orlando, quite frankly I think everyone was a little tired of the word Chosen. It had gotten to that saturation point. But, a day hasn’t gone by since that I haven’t given some thought to what it means to be Chosen by God.
So I get home and start to work on the service and the sermon and lo and behold, what do all three readings for this week have in common? That’s right. Being Chosen. Being Chosen by the God who loves to make unlikely choices; strange choices; daring choices. That God has chosen you in Jesus Christ. You know that, don’t you? He has chosen you to belong to Him; and He has chosen you for a purpose, and because He has, we can live courageous lives in Christ.
In the Old Testament lesson we become acquainted once again with Father Abraham. At this point, actually, he’s still Abram, which mean exalted father. Interesting name for a childless man. That goes to show us how God loves to choose the unlikely and the unreasonable to accomplish His purposes. Because it gets worse. Abram, Mr. Exalted Father (with no children yet) is told by God that he will have as many children as there are stars in the sky. Abram, whose father worshipped the false gods and idols of his culture, and had probably taught his son a thing or two. Abram, with not one child yet to show for it, is repeatedly told by God, you’ll have as many offspring as the sand on the beach and the stars in sky. Unlikely? Absolutely. Unreasonable? Of course. God’s choice? Yes! Abram would not be at the top of any congregation’s call list. But he’s God’s choice. And here’s the kicker. Abram believed the Lord. He believed it! Doesn’t mean he did all the right things! But he believed the Lord, and God credited it to Abram as righteousness. What do you know, righteousness through faith in the Old Testament!
And let’s quickly look at what that faith caused Abram to do. In Hebrews 11:8 it says “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where He was going.” I just love that verse, because I can totally relate to that last part. Maybe you can too. So many times in service to God I find myself in situations where I don’t know where I’m going! I don’t know what to do! I wonder, why have you chosen me to deal with this? Isn’t there someone more qualified, with more experience, with wiser words to share? If you want me to go, I’ll go—but I don’t know where I’m going.” Ever felt that way? Do you see what the writer of Hebrews is trying to say? We can look up to Abraham because of his great example of faith—faith that caused him to obey God, and that obedience caused him to go where God told him to. I’m pretty sure we get the faith part; it’s the obeying and the going that we get hung up on. Do you get the sense that God is calling you to go in a certain direction with your life? Are you resisting him until you get more information? Or until circumstances in your life change? Did Abraham gather the facts and debate the pros and cons? Or did he obey and go, even though he didn’t know where he was going?
Well, you might say, I’m not chosen like Abraham was chosen. Sorry, I’d have to disagree. In today’s gospel lesson we have some marvelous teachings of Jesus, where he warns against the fruitless exercise of worry; and strongly encourages us to make God’s kingdom our first priority, and then he says this: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. In the words of our hymn: The Father has chosen to give you the kingdom. Please think about that for a second. Think about what Jesus, God-in-the-flesh is saying. The Father has chosen to give the kingdom—His kingdom—to you. Unlikely? Absolutely. Unreasonable? Of course! God’s choice? Yes, God’s choice. You may feel, because of what you’ve done; because of what you’ve been; because of what you’re going through now that you’re an even more unlikely and hopeless choice than Abram was: but guess what? Here you are. Here you are because God has chosen you. God has touched your life in some way that makes you open and eager to hear his words. So hear this and take it to heart: the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom! Can you believe it? Yes, you can! Because the one who said it is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
Ah, but what does it mean? Well, let’s state the obvious; God’s kingdom is not a political entity; you can’t find it on Mapquest; It’s not the Magic Kingdom outside of Orlando. Simply put, God’s kingdom is wherever Jesus is. God’s kingdom is wherever Jesus can still be found giving out His gifts of forgiveness, new life, salvation. God’s kingdom is wherever Jesus is serving the undeserving. It’s where Jesus’ words are still broadcast and listened to and believed; it’s where Jesus gives his own body and blood away for the forgiveness of sins. Is the picture starting to form for you? The kingdom of God is in the United States, yes, but it’s also in Africa, in Asia, in South America, in Russia, it’s everywhere Jesus is. This kingdom belongs to you, and you belong to it.
God chose you in Christ to be a citizen of His Kingdom, and citizenship definitely has it’s privileges: for starters, there’s freedom from sin, death, and hell; complete and total forgiveness through Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross; real life that happens to have no end that flows from the risen life of Jesus; faith to believe these promises; spiritual gifts and abilities to be used in works of love and service; fellowship and community in a disintegrating culture…I could go on. The Father has chosen to give you all of this and more through His Son Jesus Christ.
The kingdom is yours. What are you going to do with it? Will you take risks like Abraham who obeyed and did as God said, even though he didn’t know where he was going? The kingdom that has been given to you has a mission statement, you should know. It sounds like this: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the close of the age.” How are you going to go? What part will you play in making disciples? How will the teaching of Jesus Christ come to life in you? You have been chosen for this. But have no fear…for Jesus is here. Amen.

Delivered August 11 & 12, 2007