Pilot Knob Lutheran Naughty or Nice 11/30/2022
We are told as children that Santa knows if we are naughty or nice and that determines if we would receive Christmas presents. I guess, probably like you, that you were good each year because you received gifts. Well, I know better, I was not good most of the time especially as a teenager.
Santa has no idea if we are naughty or nice, but someone does. 1 Samuel 16:7bThe Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Chronicles 28:9b The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. How do we evaluate or judge people; by what we see, their actions and words. However, actions and words can mask a person’s heart. Others do not know who we are and we do not really want to know our true nature. But know it we must! We cannot live in denial that our true nature, our heart, is corrupt, depraved, and rotten to the core. Have you ever cut into what appears to be a perfectly good apple only to find it to be brown with spider mites in the core? That is, you and I, we may look good but our heart is infested with sin.
What can we do to heal our heart? The first step is to humbly admit to God and self we are by nature rotten, and selfish. Second, plead as did David: Psalm 51:1-2, 10a When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. God alone can see the heart. Not only its corrupt nature but also our sorrow over sin and genuine faith in Jesus Christ whose blood cleanses us from all sin, removing all condemnation. God alone does spiritual heat surgery, a surgery that determines our eternal destination. Lastly, we need to know God’s love never wavers, it’s not conditioned on being “nice.” No matter our past or present sin, God’s love remains and is geared to bring us to him so He can cleanse our hearts.
This is the true meaning of Christmas: God coming into our sin-sick world to heal and cleanse and he did it by way of the cross and resurrection.
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
Today, 4:30 Confirmation class.
December 4, 9:00 Morning worship.
10:15 Sunday school for all ages.
2:00 GriefShare orientation/agenda.
~ Past communiques and sermons can be read and heard on our website: www.pilotknob.org and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilotKnobLutheran/
Sermons may be heard on KIOW 107.3 FM Sunday mornings at 7:00. Spread the word. If you would like to support this outreach with a contribution, it costs $55 each week.
