II JOHN 4-6 | ONE STEP FORWARD

ONE STEP FORWARD

II JOHN 4-6

MAY 14, 2017

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I WAS TALKING TO OUR CHILDREN DURING THE CHILDREN’S MOMENT ABOUT GOD SHOWING US THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WE ARE TO WALK;

HOW GOD IS OUR GUIDE AND STRENGTH; AND HOW WHAT WE LEARN HERE AT CHURCH, IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, AND AT HOME FROM OUR PARENTS, HELPS US WALK IN THE WAYS GOD WOULD HAVE US GO.

AT ONE POINT I MENTIONED HOW OUR YOUNGER DAUGHTER HAS A TATTOO OF A COMPASS ROSE ON HER FOOT.

I TOLD THE CHILDREN WHILE I WASN’T SURE ALL OF WHAT THIS TATTOO MEANT TO OUR DAUGHTER, I DID KNOW, IN PART, IT HAD TO DO WITH HER SEEING IT IS A REMINDER OF GOD SHOWING HER WHERE TO GO, AND GOD’S GOING WITH HER, WHEREVER SHE GOES.

I NOTICED, AT MY TELLING THIS, ONE OF THE CHILDREN’S HEADS SORT OF SNAPPED BACK; THEY HAD SORT OF A SHOCKED/AMAZED LOOK ON THEIR FACE; THEIR EYES GREW WIDE – THAT OUR DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE A TATTOO, AND IN THAT MOMENT, I WONDERED IF I HAD GONE TOO FAR.

I WONDERED TOO, IF I WAS GOING TO GET A CALL FROM THE CHILD’S PARENTS, OR GRANDPARENTS, ABOUT WHAT I HAD SAID ABOUT ASHLEY’S TATTOO.  I DIDN’T.

I SUPPOSE, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TMI – TOO MUCH INFORMATION FOR SUCH YOUNG MINDS;

BUT WHAT IS TRUE, IS THAT OUR CHILD, A CHILD OF FAITH, A BELIEVER, HAD FOUND HER OWN WAY OF EXPRESSING THE WORDS OF PSALM 119:

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.”

OR TO USE THE WORDS OF JOHN IN OUR READING FOR THIS MORNING:

“I WAS OVERJOYED TO FIND SOME OF YOUR CHILDREN (YOUR CHILDREN) WALKING IN THE TRUTH…”

YOU SEE, WHERE OUR FEET ARE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE OUR LIVES ARE; WHERE OUR INTERESTS ARE; WHERE OUR LOYALTIES LIE.

“VOTE WITH YOUR FEET,” PEOPLE SAY, NOT JUST WITH YOUR HEADS, HEARTS, OR BEST OF INTENTIONS.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN I HAVE SAT IN CHURCH MEETINGS, SESSION MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND LISTENED AS PEOPLE SAY: “WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS OR THAT;” “WE NEED TO HAVE THIS SERVICE, OR THAT CLASS, OR THIS PROGRAM;” “WE NEED TO PLAN THIS OR THAT…”

AND THERE ARE LOTS OF “YEAS,” AND GOOD INTENTIONS, AND “THE CHURCH SHOULD” AND “THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO,” BUT WHEN THE EVENT, THE CLASS, THE SERVICE, ETC. IS HELD, PEOPLE VOTE WITH THEIR FEET;

AND THERE ARE FAR FEWER FEET THERE THAN THERE OUGHT TO BE;

INCLUDING A LACK OF THE FEET OF SOME OF THOSE WHO THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA IN THE FIRST PLACE; SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO BE DOING.

NOW, I DON’T WANT TO BLAME THE FEET, PER SE, THEY CAN ONLY TAKE US WHERE OUR HEADS AND HEARTS LEAD THEM;

BUT THEY ARE, NEVERTHELESS, A GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO US; OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO US.

(IT’S NOT UNLIKE THE OLD CHECKBOOK ANALOGY – DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?  LOOK AT YOUR CHECKBOOK – LOOK AT WHERE YOU SPEND MONEY – THAT’S WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU.)

JESUS SAID AS MUCH, “WHERE YOUR HEART IS, THERE WILL YOUR TREASURE BE.”  AND THE SAME GOES FOR FEET!  “WHERE OUR FEET ARE, THERE WILL OUR TREASURE BE.”

IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, WE VOTE WITH OUR FEET.  LOOK DOWN, WHERE ARE YOUR FEET RIGHT NOW?

CIRCLING BACK TO THE LETTER OF JOHN FROM WHICH WE READ A MOMENT AGO, JOHN GOES SO FAR AS TO SAY, THAT WHERE OUR FEET ARE, LIKELY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S FEET ARE, AS WELL.

JOHN’S OVERJOYED TO FIND THAT THE FEET OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE WALKING IN TRUTH; AND WHAT BETTER MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGE IS THERE THAN THAT?

OR AS PROVERBS 22:6 SAYS IT:

“TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE/SHE SHOULD GO: AND WHEN HE/SHE IS OLD, THEY WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.”

THAT’S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MATTERS OF FAITH, BUT IT IS ABOUT FAITH;

AND LOTS OF OTHER WAYS WE “TRAIN UP OUR CHILDREN,” AND “SHOW THEM THE TRUTHS IN WHICH THEY ARE TO WALK.”

THE IMPLICATION IS: IF THE PARENTS AREN’T WALKING IN THE TRUTH, THERE’S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE THEIR CHILDREN WON’T BE EITHER;

SO, WHERE OUR FEET ARE, SO OUR CHILDREN’S FEET MAY BE…

LOOK AT YOUR FEET; WHERE ARE THEY?  ARE YOUR CHILDREN WALKING IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?  ARE THEY ON PATHS YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE?

HAVE THEY TAKEN PATHS BETTER THAN YOUR OWN?  DIFFERENT?  WORSE?

IF YOU STILL HAVE SOME INFLUENCE OVER WHERE YOUR CHILDREN’S FEET ARE WALKING – IN CHILDHOOD, IN THOSE TEEN YEARS, IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD, EVEN WITH OLDER CHILDREN –

WHAT CAN YOUR OWN WALK SAY TO THEM, IF ANYTHING, AND HOW IS IT THAT WHERE YOU ARE WALKING SENDS A MESSAGE TO THEM ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU?  AND THEREFORE, WHAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO THEM…

IT’S MOTHER’S DAY – WHERE ARE YOUR FEET?  WHERE ARE THE FEET OF THOSE YOU LOVE AND RAISED?

SPECIFICALLY, ACCORDING TO THE PASSAGE FROM THE LETTER OF JOHN WE READ, ONE OF THE PLACES GOD WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR FEET WALKING, AND OUR CHILDREN’S FEET WALKING, IS IN THE “NEW COMMANDMENT,” THOUGH JOHN IS QUICK TO TELL US THAT IT’S REALLY NOTHING NEW.

IT WAS “NEW” ONCE; WHEN JESUS HIMSELF SAID IT; HE EVEN USED THE SAME WORDS.

SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH, BEFORE HE KNEW HE WOULD BE LEAVING HIS DISCIPLES, JESUS SAID TO THEM, SAYS TO US, ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN:

“I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.”

BY THE TIME THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER OF JOHN GOT AROUND TO WRITING IT, SOME 60-80 YEARS HAD PASSED, SO HE TELLS HIS READERS:

“BUT NOW, DEAR LADY, I ASK YOU, NOT AS THOUGH I WERE WRITING YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT, BUT ONE WE HAD FROM THE BEGINNING, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

NOT NEW, BUT EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT: “LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

AND JUST HOW IS IT THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER OF JOHN SEES US DOING THAT?

“AND THIS IS LOVE, THAT WE WALK (WALKING FEET, VOTING WITH OUR FEET) ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS.”

AT FIRST GLANCE, AT OUR FIRST HEARING THAT, HEARING THE WORD “COMMANDMENTS” WE MIGHT HEARKEN BACK TO THE TEN BIGGIES:

• HAVING NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME;
• NOT TAKING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN;
• HONORING OUR FATHER AND MOTHER;
• DON’T KILL, DON’T STEAL, DON’T COMMIT ADULTERY, DON’T BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DON’T COVET;
• AND SO ON.

AND THOSE ARE ALL WELL AND GOOD, AND DO, IN FACT, SHOW GREAT LOVE FOR GOD, AND FOR ONE ANOTHER, BY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, AND NOT THE WRONG THINGS, TO GOD AND TO OTHERS.

BUT JOHN SPECIFICALLY SAYS, “AND THIS IS LOVE, THAT WE WALK ACCORDING TO HIS COMMANDMENTS;” THE “HIS” ALMOST CERTAINLY MEANING JESUS, SO IT’S POSSIBLE THE AUTHOR OF JOHN HAS SOME OTHER COMMANDMENTS IN MIND, AS WELL.

SPECIFICALLY, THE TWO COMMANDMENTS WHICH JESUS SAYS SUM UP ALL THE REST:

THE FIRST IS: “YOU ARE TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH; AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

WALKING IN THE LAW – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – SURE;

BUT ALSO, WALKING IN LOVE FOR GOD, NEIGHBOR, AND SELF AS WELL.

IT’S WHERE OUR FEET ARE THAT COUNTS!

YOU’VE LIKELY SEEN THE COMMERCIALS FOR LYRICA, A PRESCRIPTION DRUG USED TO TREAT DIABETIC NERVE PAIN IN PEOPLE’S FEET; PERHAPS YOU ARE A CONSUMER OF THIS MEDICINE.

ONE OF THE COMMERCIALS IS ABOUT A WOMAN WHO SAYS BEFORE SHE EXPERIENCED NERVE PAIN IN HER FEET, THEY HAD GROWN UP IN A FAMILY WITH FOUR BROTHERS, MARRIED HER HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, AND PURSUED A DEGREE IN EDUCATION…

IN ANOTHER OF THE COMMERCIALS A MAN SAYS BEFORE HE EXPERIENCED PAIN, HIS FEET SERVED HIS COUNTRY, CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF HIS FAMILY, AND WALKED HIS DAUGHTER DOWN THE AISLE…

ANOTHER IS ABOUT A POLICEMAN, ANOTHER ABOUT A PRO-GOLFER, AND STILL ANOTHER ABOUT A SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD…

IT’S JUST ANOTHER WAY OF REMINDING US THAT WHERE OUR FEET ARE, OUR TREASURE IS, OUR LIVES ARE, AND THAT OUR FEET ARE A PRETTY GOOD INDICATOR OF WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO US.

LOOK AT OUR FEET – ARE WE WALKING IN LOVE?  THERE’S NO ESCAPING THE REALITY OF WHERE OUR FEET ARE…

IN OUR HEADS WE MAY THINK THIS OR THAT, EVEN THINKING ONE THING AND DOING ANOTHER.

IN OUR HEARTS WE MAY FEEL DEEPLY ABOUT THINGS, AND YET, NEVER ACT UPON THOSE FEELINGS.

BUT OUR FEET, OUR FEET, WHERE WE GO, WHAT WE DO, WHERE WE TAKE A STAND, THAT’S WHERE WE REALLY ARE.

NOT JUST GOOD INTENTIONS, NOT JUST HOPES AND DREAMS, NOT WHERE WE “SHOULD BE” OR “OUGHT TO BE,” NOT THE BEST LAID PLANS, NOT FEELING STRONGLY ABOUT SOMETHING…

BUT WHERE OUR FEET ARE.  WHERE WE STAND.  WHAT WE ARE DOING. VOTING WITH OUR FEET.

IN ONE OF HIS PERIOD PIECES, A NOVEL, ABOUT ST. BRENDAN, FREDERICK BUECHNER WRITES OF AN OLD WOMAN LEADING A CHURCH DEEP IN A FOREST:

“SHE TAUGHT THEM HOLY MATTERS AS WELL.  HER WOOD CHURCH WAS LONG AS IT WAS BROAD.  IT HAD A THATCH ON IT AND DAUBED WITH THE GAUDY DOINGS OF SAINTS INSIDE.

IT HAD A HEWN STONE FOR AN ALTAR AND SEVEN FINE LAMPS ON IT LIT DAY AND NIGHT, AND A CROSS WORKED WITH FACES AND LEAVES TWINED TOGETHER.

ITA’S VOICE WHEN SHE SANG WAS LIKE A SHEEP CAUGHT UNDER A GATE NOR COULD SHE KEEP A TUNE TO SAVE HER SOUL FROM THE FIRE BUT SHE HAD HER LITTLE ONES CHIRPING MASS TO AND FRO SO SWEET AS TO WRING TEARS FROM A LIMPET.

ALL SCRUBBED UP THEY WAS TOO IN THEIR SNOWY GOWNS LIKE ANGELS.

“MAY THE SHADOW OF CHRIST FALL ON THEE.  MAY THE GARMENT OF CHRIST COVER THEE.  MAY THE BREATH OF CHRIST BREATHE IN THEE,” SHE TOLD THEM EACH MORNING AT SUN-UP.

WINTERS THEY’D SIT THERE WITH BLUE NOSES AND FROZEN FINGERS AND THE WAY THEIR BREATH COME OUT OF THEM IN WHITE PUFFS YOU COULD ALMOST BELIEVE IT WAS CHRIST’S INDEED.

TRUE FAITH.  A SIMPLE LIFE.  A HELPING HAND.  SHE SAID THOSE WAS THE THREE THINGS PRIZED MOST IN HEAVEN.  ON EARTH IT WAS A FAIR WIFE, A STOUT OX, A SWIFT HOUND.

BEG NOT, REFUSE NOT, SHE SAID.

ONE STEP FORWARD EACH DAY WAS THE WAY TO THE LAND OF THE BLESSED.

DON’T EAT TILL YOUR STOMACH CRIES OUT.  DON’T SLEEP TILL YOU CAN’T STAY AWAKE.  DON’T OPEN YOUR MOUTH TILL IT’S TRUTH OPENS IT.”

ONE STEP FORWARD – THAT’S WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO TAKE; A WALK IN THE TRUTH;

WALKING IN THE COMMANDMENTS – THE TEN BIGGIES – YES;

BUT EVEN MORE, IN THE TWO BIGGEST – LOVE GOD – HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH, (AND WITH OUR FEET!) AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

AND ULTIMATELY, WALKING IN THE ONE NEW ONE;

THOUGH NOT SO NEW ANYMORE, BUT EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT:

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”