Grace Enough For One Who Worked With Disturbed Children
Sermon
We Are The Lord's
AN ANTHOLOGY OF SELECT FUNERAL MESSAGES
Dear friends in Christ:
In God's wise providence, none of us can see very far ahead. The future is always unknown. No one could have foreseen the kind of summons that brought us here for a funeral service for Jackie today.
By now, Bob, you know that you do not have to bear this grief alone. Your family and friends offer their support. All of us who find it difficult to know what to say, sincerely want you to know that we care. We care about Jackie, about you, and your son, Bryan. We share your sorrow and keenly feel your loss.
I have not known Jackie for as long or nearly as well as most of you. But I've known her well enough to respect her deep commitment to her work, and to her family and to her Lord. Her death leaves us with many questions, and I can't pretend or presume to have the answers. I can only look to that one resource that God has given us, which is his Word, and share what is there.
In these past few days at the funeral home, a woman made a remark that was appropriate. Reflecting her own faith, she said, "How good it is at a time like this that we have the grace of God to rely on." How true. How else can we deal with the sadness and the shock of the news that has brought us here?
There is a verse in Second Corinthians that some of you may have learned in confirmation class or in Sunday church school. It comes from the heart of Saint Paul, that man whose life was turned around by God. Paul refers to a "thorn in the flesh" which has bothered, and continues to bother him. He doesn't say what it was, except that it was a constant harassment. Paul said that he prayed three times imploring the Lord to take it away; but the Lord answered him with words that have since given hope and courage to countless Christians who have questioned and struggled with life's dilemmas.
The Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Grace is God's answer, and it is the only answer I know of. How good it is at a time like this that we have the grace of God to rely on! God's grace is enough, and it tells us that ...
I. God hears
God is aware of our weaknesses. He knows our problems and frustrations. He knows about our aches and pains, and what it is like to have a thorn in the flesh. He hears you in grief and in deepest sorrow, and for it all, he says, "My grace is sufficient for you."
There was a little girl who started going to Sunday church school. Some of the lessons were about prayer. One night as her mother was putting her to bed, the little girl began her prayer by saying, "Dear God ... A, B, C, D, E, F, G ..." She continued on through the alphabet while her mother listened politely. After the prayer, mother asked her why she prayed like that. The little girl said, "My teacher said that God knows our thoughts and tonight I just didn't know what to say, so I just thought I would give God all the letters and let him put them together."
There are times when you and I don't know exactly what to say or how to say it. Today is one of those times. But we remember that God's Spirit intercedes for us with sighs that are too deep for words. Today we leave it up to God's Spirit to put those letters together and make some sense out of them.
God hears what is too deep for words, and he understands and weeps with us. He hears the frustration, the anger, and the despair that you feel. He hears the agonized questions, and the inevitable "Why?"
You know, as do I, how important it is to have someone listen; to listen when we are happy; to listen when we are disappointed; or to listen when we hurt. Jackie knew that. In her work at the hospital, she had the patience and grace to work with children. She knew they needed love, understanding, and someone to listen to them. She knew how important it was to hear and to listen carefully.
But God not only hears ...
II. God helps
Although we may not care to admit it, there are times when we need help. Aunt Agatha needs someone to climb up the stepladder to take the leaves out of her eaves spouts. Little Cindy needs someone to hold the bike until she learns to balance her new two-wheeler. John is unable to fill out his medical insurance by himself. Alex, who has had an operation on his leg, cannot yet stand up by himself.
Even though we may like to think that we are self-sufficient, we all need help at some time or another. We are dependent on others around us. God's help does not necessarily come dramatically, nor is it dropped from heaven into our front yard. More often, his help comes through other people - people who care.
I think of the young man, a Christian from Nigeria, who was a student in college in the United States. He received a message to return home for an important matter, but he had a problem: he was short $75.00 for a ticket. Some friends who had met this young man were completely unaware of his need, but they wanted to do something for him. From a gift they had received, they sent him a check for $75.00. It arrived on the morning he was to make arrangements for his flight. He attributed it to the hand of God.
God helps in a way that no one else can, through his promise of forgiveness. Every one of us falls short. None of us is ever fully sufficient for the needs of those around us. We do the best we can as mothers, fathers, and as husbands and wives, but down deep, we know how imperfect we are. God's help comes through that age-old announcement of the Cross of Jesus Christ. His great love, proved through his suffering and death, has paid for our imperfection. The love of Jesus Christ reaches out to each one of us, and that is the best help of all.
III. God heals
It takes time to heal. You just can't rush that process. Especially in the case of bodily injuries, it takes time. Broken bones take weeks to mend. Cuts and scratches may heal sooner, but they too, take time. The healing has to come from within.
In his providence, God will heal this hurt too, in his good time. We don't forget the hurts we have had, but time makes them a little easier to bear. God's grace is that healing power that works from within.
In those words of Saint Paul, he said, "My power is made perfect in weakness." When I hear those words, I think of that song, so often sung in Sunday church school:
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to him belong
They are weak, but he is strong.
The "little ones" in that song are not only children. There are many times when you and I feel small ... the times when we feel helpless and powerless ... the times when we feel perplexed and alone. If we were so big, we wouldn't need God, but his power is made perfect in weakness.
When our children were small, one of their favorite things was to get out their "little people." These were the little round people, made by Fisher-Price, that fit into a school bus, or an airplane or a schoolroom. Our children and other children would line them up, place them here or there in a land of make-believe,
It makes me think of God's care for his "little people" on this earth. He looks after us. He places us in families and watches over us. He knows there are times when we don't know which way to turn or what to do. He knows there are times when we aren't very strong. It is then that he holds us in his hand, just as the Psalmist says, "My times are in thy hand." (Psalm 31:15)
As we gather today, still numb from the news of Jackie's death, God's answer is simple: "My grace is sufficient for you." His answer may not tell us why, but it is enough.
"Let us then with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
In God's wise providence, none of us can see very far ahead. The future is always unknown. No one could have foreseen the kind of summons that brought us here for a funeral service for Jackie today.
By now, Bob, you know that you do not have to bear this grief alone. Your family and friends offer their support. All of us who find it difficult to know what to say, sincerely want you to know that we care. We care about Jackie, about you, and your son, Bryan. We share your sorrow and keenly feel your loss.
I have not known Jackie for as long or nearly as well as most of you. But I've known her well enough to respect her deep commitment to her work, and to her family and to her Lord. Her death leaves us with many questions, and I can't pretend or presume to have the answers. I can only look to that one resource that God has given us, which is his Word, and share what is there.
In these past few days at the funeral home, a woman made a remark that was appropriate. Reflecting her own faith, she said, "How good it is at a time like this that we have the grace of God to rely on." How true. How else can we deal with the sadness and the shock of the news that has brought us here?
There is a verse in Second Corinthians that some of you may have learned in confirmation class or in Sunday church school. It comes from the heart of Saint Paul, that man whose life was turned around by God. Paul refers to a "thorn in the flesh" which has bothered, and continues to bother him. He doesn't say what it was, except that it was a constant harassment. Paul said that he prayed three times imploring the Lord to take it away; but the Lord answered him with words that have since given hope and courage to countless Christians who have questioned and struggled with life's dilemmas.
The Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Grace is God's answer, and it is the only answer I know of. How good it is at a time like this that we have the grace of God to rely on! God's grace is enough, and it tells us that ...
I. God hears
God is aware of our weaknesses. He knows our problems and frustrations. He knows about our aches and pains, and what it is like to have a thorn in the flesh. He hears you in grief and in deepest sorrow, and for it all, he says, "My grace is sufficient for you."
There was a little girl who started going to Sunday church school. Some of the lessons were about prayer. One night as her mother was putting her to bed, the little girl began her prayer by saying, "Dear God ... A, B, C, D, E, F, G ..." She continued on through the alphabet while her mother listened politely. After the prayer, mother asked her why she prayed like that. The little girl said, "My teacher said that God knows our thoughts and tonight I just didn't know what to say, so I just thought I would give God all the letters and let him put them together."
There are times when you and I don't know exactly what to say or how to say it. Today is one of those times. But we remember that God's Spirit intercedes for us with sighs that are too deep for words. Today we leave it up to God's Spirit to put those letters together and make some sense out of them.
God hears what is too deep for words, and he understands and weeps with us. He hears the frustration, the anger, and the despair that you feel. He hears the agonized questions, and the inevitable "Why?"
You know, as do I, how important it is to have someone listen; to listen when we are happy; to listen when we are disappointed; or to listen when we hurt. Jackie knew that. In her work at the hospital, she had the patience and grace to work with children. She knew they needed love, understanding, and someone to listen to them. She knew how important it was to hear and to listen carefully.
But God not only hears ...
II. God helps
Although we may not care to admit it, there are times when we need help. Aunt Agatha needs someone to climb up the stepladder to take the leaves out of her eaves spouts. Little Cindy needs someone to hold the bike until she learns to balance her new two-wheeler. John is unable to fill out his medical insurance by himself. Alex, who has had an operation on his leg, cannot yet stand up by himself.
Even though we may like to think that we are self-sufficient, we all need help at some time or another. We are dependent on others around us. God's help does not necessarily come dramatically, nor is it dropped from heaven into our front yard. More often, his help comes through other people - people who care.
I think of the young man, a Christian from Nigeria, who was a student in college in the United States. He received a message to return home for an important matter, but he had a problem: he was short $75.00 for a ticket. Some friends who had met this young man were completely unaware of his need, but they wanted to do something for him. From a gift they had received, they sent him a check for $75.00. It arrived on the morning he was to make arrangements for his flight. He attributed it to the hand of God.
God helps in a way that no one else can, through his promise of forgiveness. Every one of us falls short. None of us is ever fully sufficient for the needs of those around us. We do the best we can as mothers, fathers, and as husbands and wives, but down deep, we know how imperfect we are. God's help comes through that age-old announcement of the Cross of Jesus Christ. His great love, proved through his suffering and death, has paid for our imperfection. The love of Jesus Christ reaches out to each one of us, and that is the best help of all.
III. God heals
It takes time to heal. You just can't rush that process. Especially in the case of bodily injuries, it takes time. Broken bones take weeks to mend. Cuts and scratches may heal sooner, but they too, take time. The healing has to come from within.
In his providence, God will heal this hurt too, in his good time. We don't forget the hurts we have had, but time makes them a little easier to bear. God's grace is that healing power that works from within.
In those words of Saint Paul, he said, "My power is made perfect in weakness." When I hear those words, I think of that song, so often sung in Sunday church school:
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so,
Little ones to him belong
They are weak, but he is strong.
The "little ones" in that song are not only children. There are many times when you and I feel small ... the times when we feel helpless and powerless ... the times when we feel perplexed and alone. If we were so big, we wouldn't need God, but his power is made perfect in weakness.
When our children were small, one of their favorite things was to get out their "little people." These were the little round people, made by Fisher-Price, that fit into a school bus, or an airplane or a schoolroom. Our children and other children would line them up, place them here or there in a land of make-believe,
It makes me think of God's care for his "little people" on this earth. He looks after us. He places us in families and watches over us. He knows there are times when we don't know which way to turn or what to do. He knows there are times when we aren't very strong. It is then that he holds us in his hand, just as the Psalmist says, "My times are in thy hand." (Psalm 31:15)
As we gather today, still numb from the news of Jackie's death, God's answer is simple: "My grace is sufficient for you." His answer may not tell us why, but it is enough.
"Let us then with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
