First Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. 9And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.
Psalm 121
1I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? 2My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot be moved and he who watches over you will not fall asleep. 4Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep; 5The Lord himself watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand, 6So that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe. 8The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore.
Second Reading: Romans 4:1-8, 13-17
1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” 13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring — not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Gospel: John 3:1-17
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
You Must Be Born Anew
How much faith does it take to follow? How much trust in God must we have? What does it mean to be part of God’s kingdom? How can we be born again? These, in essence, are the questions Nicodemus was asking. And this is the theme for our services today. How much faith does it take to follow? I came across an interesting idea this past week. I read an article that highlighted businesses that reward their employees when they make a mistake.
A temporary office-help agency in Washington DC recently began offering a $100 bonus to the employee who makes the biggest mistake of the month. Those who qualify won’t get reprimanded. They don’t get demoted. Instead, they get paid. That same article mentioned an executive for a company who contacted Sara Lee Direct who thought he was getting a great deal on a shipment of belts, so he acted quickly and bought a whole warehouse full. Only later did he discover that what he bought wasn’t manufacturing belts for the conveyor system at the factory, but a bunch of those three-inch-wide paisley belts from the 1960s. Instead of getting fired, he was awarded a bronze plaque that proudly commemorated the “Worst Buy of the Year.”
When I read this article, I had two reactions. My first thought was: Are these businesses nuts? Are they trying to go bankrupt? And my second thought was that maybe I could talk you guys into adopting a similar policy. Maybe there could be a bonus for the worst sermon of the month. Think about it, there is an argument for rewarding mistakes. The president of the temporary help company explained it this way: “The object is to get people to take risks.” An official at Sara Lee Direct put it this way, “If you don’t go up to the plate and swing hard, you’re never going to hit a home run. If you’re not willing to make a mistake, then you’re not really trying.” It would seem these companies feel that risk-taking is essential to success. Some companies found that it’s worth rewarding a few mistakes if it encourages their people to take the kind of risks that can bring huge rewards. I bring this up because the same could be said about our walk of faith.
How much faith does it take to follow? How much risk are we willing to take? That’s the crux of the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus. Baptism aside for the moment, this is what Jesus was including when He said you must be reborn. Birth and rebirth have their risks. Just ask any pregnant woman entering the labor and delivery room. Despite the advances in prenatal care, in spite of the wonders of medical science, women find themselves anxious as they’re wheeled in to give birth. Every expectant mother knows that giving birth comes with risks. Moreover, giving birth requires commitment. Giving birth requires all the woman has. And with that in mind, Jesus tells Nicodemus that being part of the kingdom of God requires the same all in commitment.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that following God takes the same all or nothing dedication; being part of the kingdom of God demands giving all that we have. Recall what Jesus said: “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.” In other words, no one can be a follower of God unless they’re willing to be fully committed and willing to take the risk. To do this, we must be prepared to let the old life go and trust in God for a new beginning, a new birth.
“You must be born again” is the way Jesus put it. In many ways, taking risks is the only way we grow — not only in business, but in our personal and spiritual life, as well. Either we step out in faith and expand the horizons of our life, or we become stagnant and, in the end, live a life of regret. In a survey asking people 95 years and older what changes they would make if they could live their life over again, one of the top three responses was, that they would take more risks.
But you don’t have to be nearly a century old to look back on life and wish you’d been more of a risk-taker. When you were back in high school, do you sometimes wish you had taken the risk to try out for a school play, or the cheerleading squad or the football team? When you look back on some of your friendships, do you wish you’d taken the risk of being more honest and open with the people you love? Many of us can look back on businesses, or investments, or personal ventures, and wish we wouldn’t have played it so safe at the time. No one can go back to seize opportunities time has snatched away. But we can go forward. We can take the risk of trusting Jesus. We can look to God to lead us and guide us. With this in mind, let’s take a moment and look at what risk is all about, and why spiritual risks are well worth taking. But first we must define what is risk.
Risk is simply the ability to stretch beyond the usual limits in reaching for a goal. Risk involves facing fear, chancing failure. Taking risks involves facing our dread of the unknown, the uncomfortable, the unacquainted. It could be facing the fear of physical harm or emotional hurt. Whatever it is, risk always involves adventure. How does the saying go, nothing ventured, nothing gained?
When I was stationed in Alaska, I had the opportunity to own a four-wheeler. I enjoyed riding the four-wheeler through the local wooded trails, but for the most part these were established trails and were a bit boring. There wasn’t much risk involved in riding on familiar paths. However, when I would take it hunting, ride on trails unfamiliar, miles away from any major road, crossing unfamiliar streams, going through mud holes of unknown depth, dodging downed trees and fallen branches, going places where there was some risk of getting out of control and crashing — then riding became an adventure. The same can be said for living a life of faith.
It’s when we face our fears and take the risk of discipleship, that we can experience the thrill of following Jesus. A life of faith, in this life, will come with risks — the risk of giving up things we like to do, a risk of being hurt by people, the risk of rejection, and for some, the risk to one’s own life. However, it’s only when we stretch the horizons of our lives, it’s only when we venture away from the comfortable to follow Christ, that faith takes on its true dimension. That’s what Jesus was trying to tell Nicodemus. You must be born again. You must risk a new beginning, a change in focus, a rearranging of priorities. You must trust yourself to a new birth in God to truly be part of the kingdom of God. So long as you hold on to the old, as long as you’re afraid to follow, as long as you’re unwilling to risk your life for God, you’ll never be part of God’s great adventure. Taking a risk for God truly is a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.
For instance, when we follow God’s teachings on honesty despite the fear of the cost, that’s spiritual adventure. When we ask God to open doors for us to make a difference in someone’s life, despite our fear of where that may lead us, that’s spiritual adventure. When we talk to someone about our faith, despite our fear of what they may think of us, that’s spiritual adventure. When we respect God enough to want to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy, despite the inconvenience, that’s spiritual adventure.
Those are the times when we leave the established paths, the safe trails for the adventure of unmarked trails — that’s when faith becomes real and that’s the new birth that Jesus is promising us. Having faith in God means leaving the comfortable behind to serve God and others. God asks us to be risk-takers for His sake and for the sake of the kingdom. God calls us to follow Jesus on the unknown paths. God invites us to venture out in faith beyond the ordinary and mundane. And how much faith does it take to follow?
Jesus, in Matthew 17, verse 20, said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain: Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The question isn’t how much faith is required to follow, it’s whether we will use the faith God gives us. It’s whether we’ll put our faith into practice and venture forth with God. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “God rewards those who seek him” (11:6). Rewards come to those who take the risk of faith. Adventure awaits those who decide to follow. God took the first step in our baptism, He claimed us, forgave us, and gave us His Holy Spirit; the next step is ours. In response to God’s mercy shown to us in Jesus, we must step out in faith and follow.
The next step in taking a risk for God is to pray the prayer that Nicodemus was reluctant to pray, God, I want to take the risks that living a life of faith requires. In baptism you claimed me as Your child and the Old Adam was drown and I was raised anew in Christ. Help me to be serious about my faith. Use me in your kingdom for your glory. This is the kind of prayer that says, “I want to be part of the action.” This is a prayer that says, “I want to grow in my faith.” This is the kind of prayer that says, “I want to be born anew in my following. I want to venture forth in faith with you, O God.”
However, I must warn you, this is a risky prayer, and a prayer that God will answer differently for each person. For some, it will mean devoting themselves to beginning a new routine of Bible reading and prayer, of deepening their faith through spiritual discipline, committing themselves to faithfully be present in worship and prayer. For others, it will mean asking God to use them to be a blessing in the lives of others, or starting a conversation about their values and faith, sharing their faith with others, and helping others to a new life in Christ It could mean setting aside some bad habit, or giving up some of the activities they enjoy, or being more loving and more present at home. Stepping out in faith is a risky venture.
It isn’t about how much faith we need to follow, but whether we’ll use the faith God has given us. When we ask God to use us, He will. We have a choice to make, let God guide us in our life as a disciple, taking risks with a faith that is alive, or living a comfortable life, maintaining a non-threatening existence, holding on to the old life that’s safe. It’s the choice that Nicodemus faced, and the choice that faces each of us. The decision we make will determine the life we’ll live, and our future.
A man looked around and saw people loving each other. He also saw that love made strenuous demands on them. It required sacrifice and self-denial. It meant there would be arguments and anguish. It involved risk and hurt, so the man decided that love cost too much. He decided not to allow himself to be hurt. The risk was too great. The man looked again and saw people striving for great goals.
He saw men and women pursuing high ideals, but he saw that the striving was frequently mixed with disappointment and the ideals often carried a great cost. So, the man decided that great goals and high ideals were too costly for him. He decided the risk was too great. Then the man looked around and saw people serving others. He saw them giving money to the poor and spending time in their care. He saw that the more they served, the more they were needed. He saw ungrateful receivers and tired out workers. He decided not to waste his life with serving. The risk was too great.
When the man died, he stood before Jesus to offer up an account his life. Undiminished, unburdened, unsoiled, his life was free of the hurts and worries of the world around him. The man proudly said to Jesus, “This is my life, safely lived and risk free.” Jesus replied, “What life? What you lived wasn’t life!”
How much faith does it take to follow? How much are we willing to risk? For however much we risk is how much our life is worth. Remember Jesus said, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the kingdom of God.”
Amen.