WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Grace and peace to you from God our Father for my Lord and Savior 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:04.400 Jesus Christ. 3 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.300 Amen. 4 00:00:06.800 --> 00:00:12.600 When I was a new pastor serving in Kettering, Ohio, I bought a house 5 00:00:12.600 --> 00:00:16.300 that just happened to be right across the street from the church that 6 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:21.400 I served at in a small subdivision that was built on land originally 7 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:25.000 owned by the congregation when it was a church plant and sold to fund 8 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:27.700 some of the development and the building of that church. 9 00:00:27.700 --> 00:00:32.600 So my house and my yard, we're right across the street from the church 10 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:37.400 and right across the street from it was another house built in exactly 11 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:42.300 the same style as mine with a mirror image of the house plan the yard 12 00:00:42.300 --> 00:00:47.700 plan and so on. And our neighbors in that house will I will call Tim 13 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:52.400 and Justine to protect the innocent where a young couple that had no 14 00:00:52.400 --> 00:00:55.200 kids and they had great paying jobs. 15 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.600 I was a brand new graduate of this fine institution, which meant I had 16 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:01.000 no money. 17 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:05.000 I also had five small children and a pretty tired wife. 18 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:07.700 She was pretty but she was also tired. 19 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:14.100 And Tim and Justine had all the newest stuff done on their home. 20 00:01:14.100 --> 00:01:18.500 They had new brick and tuckpointing newly resurface driveway. 21 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:20.800 These houses have been built in the 70s. 22 00:01:20.800 --> 00:01:22.700 This was the early 2000s. 23 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:26.300 We bought our home from the original owners who had let the place go 24 00:01:26.300 --> 00:01:30.300 some. A number of things needed to be repaired the brick and the trim 25 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:35.200 looked a little dated the driveway at been around while. Their yard 26 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:41.000 was perfect. Grass was thick and green they had great landscaping they knew 27 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:42.800 the names of all of their plants. 28 00:01:43.600 --> 00:01:47.200 We had green ground cover of some sort in our yard. 29 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:49.600 I'm not sure that it was all grass. 30 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:53.900 I don't know what the names of any of the plants were growing around 31 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:56.200 our house or even if they were supposed to be there or not. 32 00:01:56.200 --> 00:02:01.400 We had some massive pine trees that needed to be removed and we had 33 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:03.300 not a lot of resources to get that done. 34 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:07.900 So we had the tale of two houses on Concordia Circle in Kettering, 35 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:08.699 Ohio. 36 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:15.600 The Dayton Daily News had an annual contest to on an annual basis gave 37 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:19.800 an award for the best lawn and curb appeal in each little town around 38 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:25.700 Dayton. And guess what in the fall of 2006 or sorry in the spring of 39 00:02:25.700 --> 00:02:32.500 2006 Tim and Justine won the award for best lawn in our town that 40 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:34.300 summer. Then as 41 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:35.200 we got close to fall 42 00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:39.400 I noticed one of Tim's perfectly manicured pine trees a little 43 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:43.800 off-color getting a little brown and it seemed not to be doing well. A 44 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:44.400 couple weeks later 45 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.000 there was a bit of a windstorm nothing major really it did knock that perfectly 46 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.000 manicured but slightly brown pine tree over onto their perfectly 47 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.500 manicured landscape yard and a little bit on their house. 48 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:56.300 And 49 00:02:57.700 --> 00:02:58.600 you know what I did? 50 00:02:59.500 --> 00:03:03.500 I saw Tim outside working on cleaning up that Pine Tree and that house. 51 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:07.400 And I said Tim boy that is really a shame to see your tree down like 52 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:07.600 that. 53 00:03:07.600 --> 00:03:08.600 I'm so sorry about that. 54 00:03:08.600 --> 00:03:09.200 But you know what 55 00:03:09.200 --> 00:03:14.700 I felt like inside? I was full of satisfaction and glee that Tim's 56 00:03:14.700 --> 00:03:18.500 perfect yard got set back a little bit. And you know what that's 57 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:18.800 called? 58 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:25.500 It's called jealousy and it is ugly and I'm not proud of it. Jealousy, 59 00:03:25.500 --> 00:03:29.700 jealousy at the heart of things for the Christian, jealousy is 60 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:32.400 basically when you're angry with someone. But when you stop and think 61 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:34.000 about it, you're not really angry with them. 62 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:38.900 You're angry with God at the fact that he has given them more than 63 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:43.600 what you have and you resent that. Given him a better situation and it 64 00:03:43.600 --> 00:03:46.200 means you're angry with God because he's the one who gives all things 65 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.800 all resources and so on. 66 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:52.400 I think it's easy to be jealous of people. My pastor in Concordia, 67 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.500 Missouri who was a graduate of this institution from the same class as 68 00:03:55.500 --> 00:03:55.600 me, 69 00:03:55.600 --> 00:04:00.000 by the way. That dude is as skinny as a rail and he can eat multiple 70 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:05.600 donuts and in one sitting he exercises 0 minutes a day. And his wife is 71 00:04:05.600 --> 00:04:08.700 always posting pictures of all the baked goods that they create 72 00:04:08.700 --> 00:04:11.200 together and they're perfect little family eats and none of them 73 00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:13.800 gained any weight. And meanwhile as I've been talking about it 74 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.600 I've gained 5 pounds in this pulpit right now just thinking about the 75 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:19.200 donuts they eat and that's not fair. 76 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:20.700 It's not fair. 77 00:04:20.700 --> 00:04:25.800 I run multiple 5 K's every week and I'm still up for gaining weight. 78 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:28.500 Just thinking about the food they eat and you know that you know that 79 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:32.200 deal when it seems like there's somebody I think everybody has 80 00:04:32.200 --> 00:04:35.400 somebody in their life where you feel like this person has it all 81 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:41.400 together. And when that person falls a little bit or your perfect 82 00:04:41.400 --> 00:04:44.400 brother or sister in law puts on a couple of pounds of their kids 83 00:04:44.400 --> 00:04:48.000 don't get in the best school that little feeling of happiness that you 84 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:49.300 get just a little 85 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:50.800 bit there 86 00:04:51.900 --> 00:04:58.700 it's called jealousy and it's ugly. And jealousy is what drove the 87 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:02.900 leaders of Persia to plot against Daniel in the text read here and 88 00:05:02.900 --> 00:05:06.600 Daniel 6 little bit ago. Daniel 6 just at the beginning it pleased 89 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:11.200 Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps these Governors or 90 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:15.700 administrators throughout this rather large Kingdom that Darius rules 91 00:05:15.700 --> 00:05:22.500 over and over them verse 2-3 High officials of whom Daniel was one. 92 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:26.400 So Daniel has already been elevated over these other rulers and to whom 93 00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:29.500 these satraps have to give account. So this is powerful people that Daniel has a 94 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:33.200 little more powerful than they are so that the king may suffer no loss. 95 00:05:33.200 --> 00:05:36.600 Verse 3 then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high 96 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:42.000 officials and satraps because an excellent Spirit was in him. And the 97 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.700 text says in the version read the king planned to set him over the whole 98 00:05:45.700 --> 00:05:49.200 Kingdom. Or a different translation could read the king 99 00:05:49.200 --> 00:05:51.700 it was already in the works the plan had already been 100 00:05:51.900 --> 00:05:55.700 set in motion and folks knew that Daniel is going to be set above 101 00:05:55.700 --> 00:05:59.700 everyone over the whole Kingdom. 102 00:05:59.700 --> 00:06:04.300 And as you heard in the reading they look for a way to discredit him. 103 00:06:04.300 --> 00:06:08.100 The other folks day became jealous because Daniel had something that 104 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.200 they didn't have he was recognized in a way 105 00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:11.600 they weren't recognized. 106 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:14.500 They looked for a way to discredit him, but they couldn't find one 107 00:06:14.500 --> 00:06:19.400 unless it has to do with his God but jealousy drove them to 108 00:06:19.400 --> 00:06:25.800 essentially trick the king into punishing Daniel for this matter of 109 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:31.200 his religion. Jealousy, jealousy is what often drives us to break the 110 00:06:31.200 --> 00:06:34.100 8th Commandment that we read her a little bit ago as well. At first 111 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:34.400 blush 112 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:37.200 it looks like the 8th commandant should be easy enough to keep. You 113 00:06:37.200 --> 00:06:39.100 shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 114 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:40.500 That sounds like okay. 115 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:43.800 I'm not actively testifying falsely against my neighbor. 116 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:45.400 I'm not even in court or anything like that. 117 00:06:45.400 --> 00:06:49.900 But of course Luther's explanation drawn from all over the scripture 118 00:06:49.900 --> 00:06:51.300 summarizes 119 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:51.600 what 120 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:55.300 is really the intent behind that commandment and how often we break 121 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:58.600 this Commandment. And how impossible it is to keep we should fear and 122 00:06:58.600 --> 00:07:02.100 love God, but we do not tell lies about our neighbor how hard is that? 123 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:07.500 How easy that can be to betray him to slander him even just a littlest 124 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:08.600 bit. 125 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.100 To hurt his reputation, but we should fear and love God that we defend 126 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:21.000 him like all the time that we speak well of him, even if he or she 127 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:26.000 doesn't deserve that and this one always gets me explain everything in 128 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:27.400 the kindest possible way. 129 00:07:28.700 --> 00:07:32.800 Guilty, that one that one is a killer explained everything in the 130 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:37.200 possible way that last part gets me every time. And in Luther's large 131 00:07:37.200 --> 00:07:37.400 catechism 132 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:42.400 he goes even further writing beside the body referring to the 133 00:07:42.400 --> 00:07:45.800 commandant's that preceded this besides our own body our spouse and our 134 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:46.700 Temple of property. 135 00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:52.500 We have one more treasure that is indispensable to us namely our honor 136 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:57.100 and our good reputation. For it is important that we not live among 137 00:07:57.100 --> 00:07:58.800 people in public disgrace and dishonor. 138 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:03.300 Therefore God does not want our neighbors deprived of their reputation, 139 00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:07.300 deprived of their honor, deprived of their character any more than he 140 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:08.900 would their money and possessions. 141 00:08:08.900 --> 00:08:14.500 He wants everyone to maintain self-respect before their spouse, child, 142 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:17.000 servant and neighbor. 143 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:23.100 But how often we look at others and see what they have and what we 144 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.800 don't have. How often we think about 145 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:30.300 how we'd like to bring them down a notch and we find a way to 146 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:33.799 discredit them and lower them and raise ourselves up. 147 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:37.299 It's the way of doing things according to the way of the world. 148 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:41.799 It's the way the natural way that our sinful flesh reacts. And many 149 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:42.000 times 150 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.799 we don't even know that we're doing it. 151 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:44.400 It's so harmless. 152 00:08:44.400 --> 00:08:47.400 We maybe gossip a little bit about something that didn't go 153 00:08:47.400 --> 00:08:51.300 well. We point out someone's flaws not the them necessarily but the 154 00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:54.600 someone else they have you noticed that she's put on a pound or two. 155 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.300 I'm a little obsessed with weight. 156 00:08:57.300 --> 00:08:58.000 I apologize. 157 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:04.700 We have a deep-seated fear and anger but often driven by a jealousy a 158 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:08.200 deep-seated fear and anger that something somebody has something that 159 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:13.500 we think we should have but it's so important to have a good name that 160 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:15.300 Luther goes on writing in the large catechism. 161 00:09:15.300 --> 00:09:19.100 If something is done in secret, even if it's true, if it's not our 162 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:23.200 place to bring it up and to judge it publicly what she means later on 163 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:23.700 explain. 164 00:09:23.700 --> 00:09:28.200 If you don't hold the rule of Judge then keep it to yourself, even if 165 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:30.300 it's true keep it to yourself. 166 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:34.500 In many of the places, I've had the privilege to work and then many of 167 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:34.900 the folks. 168 00:09:34.900 --> 00:09:38.100 I've been in contact with in my time with Lutheran Bible translators. 169 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:42.900 I seen how in some cultures this dynamic of honor and shame is even 170 00:09:42.900 --> 00:09:44.500 more pronounce much more pronounced 171 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:47.300 then we have it in our Western culture. 172 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:51.400 This idea of Shame is so strong and the idea of going to great lengths 173 00:09:51.400 --> 00:09:56.200 to protect your neighbors honor is so meaningful and so palpable in 174 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:59.500 those contexts. And it is a matter of life and death in some situations 175 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:00.100 keeping 176 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:03.700 the eighth commandment is honestly a matter of life and death. There are some 177 00:10:03.700 --> 00:10:07.300 places where some people would rather suffer death even death by their 178 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:11.200 own hand, then suffer public shame and humiliation even over what may 179 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:14.600 seem to us to be the most minor things and so this keeping the eighth 180 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:19.500 commandment and not being driven by jealousy is critical and make no 181 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.200 mistake about it. 182 00:10:20.800 --> 00:10:24.900 For you men and women who are studying for pastoral Ministry and 183 00:10:24.900 --> 00:10:29.600 diaconal Ministry and for you folks who lead them here in the Seminary 184 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.100 and instruct and teach them. 185 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:38.900 Jealousy is a killer in Ministry. Jealousy is an absolute killer in 186 00:10:38.900 --> 00:10:39.400 Ministry. 187 00:10:39.400 --> 00:10:43.600 It's so easy to see that somebody else has a better call than you do. 188 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.500 Or somehow 189 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:48.200 it appears that they have it easier than you do. Or their congregation 190 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:51.900 is growing or their Ministry is so much more vibrant. Or more 191 00:10:51.900 --> 00:10:53.400 confessional or whatever it is 192 00:10:53.400 --> 00:10:56.300 you think that it should be for you that you're not quite seeing and 193 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.500 you see somebody else have it. 194 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:02.600 There is no win in comparison when it comes to Ministry and so many 195 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:06.500 brothers and sisters working in Ministry become victims of friendly 196 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:10.500 fire from other colleagues in Ministry who are simply jealous that 197 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:14.300 somebody else has what they think they should have. But honestly since 198 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:18.200 it is God who ultimately that places us where we serve and in the 199 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:19.500 circumstances in which we serve. 200 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:25.700 It's an anger in a dissatisfaction with God that causes jealousy and 201 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:29.300 the sinful Behavior which Springs from it. And it's from that that were 202 00:11:29.300 --> 00:11:34.800 called repeatedly to turn away to repent and return to what we are 203 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:40.500 called to in the eighth commandment. Proverbs 22 verse 1 a good name is 204 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:45.200 to be chosen rather than great riches. A good name is to be chosen 205 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:50.100 rather than great riches and favor is better than silver or gold. The 206 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:53.700 writer of the Proverbs says, this great reputation is more valuable than 207 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:58.300 all the money that there is there is power in a good name. 208 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:02.800 I noticed what Daniel who is highly regarded does when he's falsely 209 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:05.300 accused of ill intent toward the king in the Kingdom. 210 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:08.600 He doesn't react against the king or the king's colleagues who have 211 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.100 betrayed him. 212 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:12.100 He doesn't seek to disgrace them the way that he is disgraced. 213 00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:15.700 And in fact, he doesn't say one bad thing about them. 214 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:23.100 He puts his trust in the one whose name is above all names whose 215 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.900 reputation will be restored. 216 00:12:24.900 --> 00:12:28.700 He's trusted his reputation will be restored or that you will suffer 217 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:33.700 loss even maybe loss of life, but he puts it in God's hands where it 218 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:39.100 belongs instead of stooping to the world's games and playing it their 219 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:43.500 way. And the Lord delivers him in his time and not without test and 220 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:49.700 trial. Daniel needs only pray and trust in the Lord. And I think it may 221 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:53.600 go without saying that in our politicized time and National and 222 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:55.300 sometimes even Church environment. 223 00:12:55.300 --> 00:12:58.700 We can learn something from that of remembering that God is still in 224 00:12:58.700 --> 00:13:03.100 control and placing things in his hands. Prayerfully trusting 225 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:06.100 that he will guide no matter the outcome. 226 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:13.900 For us we put our hope in the name that is above all names. Salvation is 227 00:13:13.900 --> 00:13:18.400 found in none other name under heaven and given to mankind that there 228 00:13:18.400 --> 00:13:21.900 is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we may be 229 00:13:21.900 --> 00:13:25.500 saved that Acts 4:12. And when we have been loved and saved in this 230 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:27.400 way, there's no room for jealousy. 231 00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:30.800 There's no room for being less than charitable and not putting the 232 00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:33.600 best construction on things. When we do these things 233 00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:38.700 and we will do them there so easy, but we're called to return once 234 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:43.400 again to Jesus the name above all names who has given us a good 235 00:13:43.400 --> 00:13:48.700 reputation and a good name before our Father in heaven. And I've 236 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:53.100 learned as in my time of ministry it's 15 years since I graduated from 237 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:57.400 here and have been in Ministry that as a forgiving child of God the 238 00:13:57.400 --> 00:14:02.600 most effective way to root jealousy out of my heart is by praising and 239 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:06.400 celebrating folks that I would normally feel jealous of. When that 240 00:14:06.400 --> 00:14:08.700 twinge of jealousy starts to ping my heart. 241 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:13.300 I say to that other Mission leader nice work on all those missionary 242 00:14:13.300 --> 00:14:15.400 fruits that you've gotten in sent to the field. 243 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.800 And you might say well do you really feel that? 244 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:21.600 It's not being dishonest to yourself and we'll know because it is nice 245 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:21.900 work. 246 00:14:21.900 --> 00:14:26.300 It is a win anytime missionary recruits are trained and sent around 247 00:14:26.300 --> 00:14:27.200 the world to proclaim the Gospel. 248 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:30.300 That is good work and he should keep doing it and it is right for me 249 00:14:30.300 --> 00:14:34.600 to say that because it really is a win. Even if it's not my mission 250 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.900 organization. To the all the folks 251 00:14:35.900 --> 00:14:40.000 I work with who have all the great ideas that I wish I had, good idea. 252 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:45.200 You know, why because it is and when I make my mouth say those things 253 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:49.500 I overtime I train my heart to recognize that God is the giver of all 254 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:53.900 good things and to praise those things and to praise him. 255 00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:55.700 He is to be celebrated in these things. 256 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:58.700 Even my brother-in-law who have great hair and seems to have more 257 00:14:58.700 --> 00:14:59.500 money than I do all the time. 258 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.100 Yeah. 259 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.600 I'm even celebrating him these days. 260 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:08.400 And you know what in the summer of 2007 Tim and Justine won the Dayton 261 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:12.600 Daily News best yard award for our town again back-to-back, which has 262 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:15.000 never been done except this time. 263 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:19.900 I'm the one that nominated them and their yard because their yard was 264 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:24.300 fabulous. And you know, what else some trustees from the church came to 265 00:15:24.300 --> 00:15:28.100 talk to me and asked if I wanted those trees taken down cuz they look 266 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:31.100 like they could be a problem. And a landscaper who was a member of the 267 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:34.300 church donated his time and talents to make our house look really 268 00:15:34.300 --> 00:15:34.500 good. 269 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:37.200 But really it's not about any of those things. 270 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:42.400 It's about the fact that we have been given a good name by our Lord 271 00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:43.300 Jesus. Who found it 272 00:15:43.300 --> 00:15:47.400 so important to protect our reputation and to give us a good name that 273 00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:50.200 we be reconciled to God forever and to our neighbors that he gave his 274 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.700 life to that end. 275 00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:54.100 And he loves them so much too. 276 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:57.400 And he wants to have their reputation protected and a good name that 277 00:15:57.400 --> 00:16:00.400 he calls us to protect it to speak 278 00:16:00.400 --> 00:16:01.100 well of them. 279 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:05.500 Yes, even that person that requires extra Grace in your family and 280 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:10.000 your class in your church or your seminary community to interpret all 281 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.900 things in the best possible light. 282 00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:16.700 May you give us strength both to will and to do that that his good 283 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:19.900 name will be glorified by us and all the Earth in Jesus name. 284 00:16:19.900 --> 00:16:20.700 Amen. 285 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:25.100 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts 286 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.000 and minds in Christ Jesus. 287 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.100 Amen.