Sometimes I get a little worried about the church.  We’ve been without a permanent pastor at JOY Lutheran for almost a year and I’m concerned that we may be forgetting who’s in charge here.  Pastor Wayne is graciously filling our pulpit for the month of December, but he’s not in charge. We have many people who volunteer most their working hours at the church. We could not operate without them, but they’re not in charge. I’ll be Council President next year, but I’m not in charge. We have a rich tradition both in the Lutheran Church and from our past leaders, but neither that tradition nor history is in charge. Pastor Art will begin shepherding JOY beginning January 1, 2017, thanks be to God! But, even he will not be in charge, nor will any of the Bishops or Lutheran world leaders. So, “Who’s in charge here???!!!!!”

We answer this question every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Ah, so God is in charge. We are asking God to be in charge– for God’s will, not our will to be done. But how do we translate that into who’s in charge at church, and how we make decisions at church? That’s a big question. I’d like to address one part of it today and take one small glimpse into discernment – discerning God’s will.

I think God has a great sense of humor and a great plan for all of us. God made each of us different. When we each try to assert our own will the results run from comical to tragic. However, when we work in relationship, loving God and loving each other – being open to one another and our different gifts, the results are miraculous. What if we set aside our individual will (“But, I think …” “I want…”) and try to problem solve together? What if we start by learning about what everyone thinks, rather than just asserting our own thoughts? What if we work together to see the opportunities God places before us which we will discover and realize only by working together, in relationship, using all our different gifts and personalities? What if we talked TO each other and not about each other? What if we always remembered, even when we see things differently, that each of us are God’s creation, God’s adopted children, one of “the least of these” in the Kingdom of Heaven? What if we remember that if we are to use all the talents that God has given us, we must work together? What if we are only going to be able to learn God’s will and do God’s will, together?

When we act like this, together, for God’s glory, I know we have nothing to worry about at JOY or anywhere else in our lives. When we do this, we will know and act like we know who is in charge here. God is.

Read 1 Peter 4: 8-11 and remember, God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!

Mike

Today’s reading can be found at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+4%3A+8-11&version=NRSV