WEBVTT

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 Now, we turn to read together from God's Word, and we have two Bible readings this morning.

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 The first from the Old Testament, from the book of the prophet Micah, and we'll read from chapter 6, and the verses marked 1 to 9.

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 This is the Word of God.

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 Hear what the Lord says.

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 Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

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 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth.

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 For the Lord has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.

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 O my people, what have I done to you?

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 How have I wearied you?

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 Answer me.

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 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

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 And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

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 O my people, remember what Balak, king of Moab, devised, and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him.

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 And what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of God.

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 With what shall I come before the Lord, and by myself before God on high?

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 What shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

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 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of ram, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?

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 Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

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 He has told you, O man, what is good.

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 And what does the Lord require of you?

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 But to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

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 And then our second reading is from the Gospel according to Matthew chapter 5, the beginning of the famous sermon on the mount.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 5, reading from the beginning of the chapter.

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 Jeremiah said that.

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 Jeremiah said that.

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 Why God was a stranger in the land in Scotland.

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 Because Jeremiah said he was a stranger in ancient Israel because the irreligious had no time for God.

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 And the religious people had no heart for God.

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 And the leaders had no zeal for God.

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 And even committed believers had no thirst for God.

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 And of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, of course.

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 And of course, that description of that land then is a description that could fit many lands at many times through history when we think of how it is.

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 But into the situation in Israel at one stage comes the prophet Micah.

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 And he comes really with a message that says, look, God is a stranger in these days because the people are practicing idolatry.

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 And bribery and corruption, the people are being oppressed by the rich.

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 The religious leaders are career diplomats just supporting the status quo because it's in their interests.

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 And then it's now commercial interests.

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 Money was the first commandment.

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 It was what ruled in all things.

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 And Micah comes into this situation and this scene where God seems to be a stranger.

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 And he brings a message from God.

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 And the message from God is there will be judgment.

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 There will be destruction.

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 There will be ruin and exile.

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 But he brings a message of hope as well.

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 Because he said, look, if you will just listen to God, if you will listen to God, he will actually bring deliverance to you.

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 Deliverance from those armies of neighboring nations that are ready to invade you.

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 He'll spare you that.

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 He will actually bring blessings.

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 And he will send a savior who will be born in the city of David in Bethlehem.

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 This is what God will do.

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 But you have to listen to him.

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 You have to set your hearts to obey and to follow and to serve him.

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 You have to change your behavior and live as God requires.

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 And if you do that, the future will not be one of darkness and destruction and ruin.

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 And so in verses 6 and 7 that we read, eventually, I'm sorry about that.

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 But the people were talking to Micah and they were saying, well, look, what have we got to do?

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 Okay, we're with you.

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 Yeah, we forgot what God had done for us in the past.

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 All his mighty acts and how good he was.

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 We forgot all that.

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 But what have we got to do?

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 Have we got to bring, you know, burnt offerings?

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 Will that please God?

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 Will we, you know, will we sacrifice thousands of rams?

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 Would that do?

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 Or what about, will we even offer up our firstborn children?

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 Is that what God wants?

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 And Micah comes and in those famous words that I'm sure maybe nearly all of us must know and have heard about,

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 he says, no, look, you already know.

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 You know, the scriptures, there are so many different places where God has made it clear what he wants.

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 He's told you what he wants.

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 You're to do justly.

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 You're to love mercy.

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 And you're to walk humbly with your God.

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 Simple, but not easy.

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 Clear, not confusing.

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 On Wednesday, those of us who were here at our New Year's Day service,

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 our minister, Corey, was reminding us that this is a good time.

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 For people to have a checkup on their health.

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 Or maybe to have a checkup on their finances that everything is okay.

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 But it's also a very good time for a spiritual checkup, isn't it?

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 You know, the old year is past and God has promised to leave that in the past.

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 The new year is coming.

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 So how is it going to be with us?

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 We read what Jesus said about the character of his followers at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

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 But there's a sense in which these few verses in Micah, they're just that bit clear.

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 They're very basic, aren't they?

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 To the Christian life as we've been taught it.

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 We are to do justly.

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 We are to love mercy.

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 And we're to walk humbly.

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 We're to do justly.

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 That just simply means, doesn't it, we are to live rightly with integrity.

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 The scriptures teach us again and again that our God is a God of love.

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 And it is righteousness that he loves.

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 He is a righteous God.

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 His ways are righteous.

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 Always, always have been.

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 And he wants his people to live righteously.

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 The prophet Habakkuk says, look, God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.

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 He hates that which is wrong, which is evil, which is wicked.

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 And doing justly, it just means, doesn't it, living rightly, honestly.

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 Not lying, not deceiving, not stealing, not taking advantage of other people.

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 But living in a way that's upright, that's fair, that's just, that's honest.

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 Keeping your word.

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 Now, we can all see that that's not happening in the world as it is at the minute.

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 We can all see that.

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 We can all see how other people aren't doing justly.

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 They're not living rightly.

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 You know, politicians, estate agents, second-hand car salesmen, they've become a stereotype, haven't they,

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 for people who are crooks, who are not doing right.

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 Now, not all of them are like that.

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 But we've just got used to thinking in that way, they're not going to be straight with you.

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 You know, and people talk about spin nowadays.

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 You know, where you turn the facts around so that they're not absolutely the way they should be presented,

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 but they're presented in a way that helps you.

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 You know, and it's almost become the norm that it's all right to cut corners in your work.

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 You know, it's kind of all right, you know, to run other people down and be critical of them.

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 You know what, look, the smart fellow, the guy who gets away with things.

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 There's kind of, you know, a wee bit of grudging respect.

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 An American told me not so long ago about the President-elect, Donald Trump,

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 how he'd actually got away with not paying tax for a while.

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 And I said, well, gosh, you know, I thought that would be kind of a bit strange.

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 You know, I think in Britain, we maybe wouldn't elect somebody who, you know, evaded tax or tax.

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 Oh, but he said, a lot of folk in America think that's a great idea,

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 and they would do it if they could.

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 You know, now, you know, Americans are no worse than us.

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 It just, it's pervasive, this lack of righteousness and integrity.

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 But we see it so easily in others.

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 But what about us?

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 Are we absolutely honest and upright, totally just in all of our dealings?

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 You know, because it's very easy to be tainted by the world's standards.

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 And honesty and integrity isn't the common virtue that it used to be.

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 I'm sure some of you will remember the story.

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 I think it was August or September last year,

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 the man who found a bag with £10,000 in used banknotes on the London Underground.

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 And the story became national news because he actually returned it.

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 And that was so unusual.

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 People would not expect that to happen.

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 But what about God?

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 We know how we ought to act with our relations, with our families,

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 with the people we work with, with our neighbours, the people in church.

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 But, you know, we have a good idea about that.

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 But, you know, Micah is challenging the people here

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 because they're going against God.

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 They're living in a way that is offending and hurting the living God.

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 And God himself says to them,

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 Look, what have I done to you, my people?

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 What have I done?

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 You know, how have I worried you?

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 You know, they weren't living for him.

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 And you and I have a relationship with God if we're Christians.

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 And are we being honest with God every day, every week?

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 Do we act justly towards him?

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 You see, we've all made vows, haven't we?

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 When we come to communion, we're making vows.

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 When we become members of a congregation like St. Columbus, we make vows.

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 And when we marry, when we're baptised as adults,

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 or we confirm our baptismal vows.

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 You know, all of those things, you know, we make these vows.

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 And God warns us in his word, the wise man in Ecclesiastes,

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 When thou vows to a vow unto God,

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 Defer not to pay it, for God has no pleasure in fools.

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 We have to honour those vows to God.

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 And, you know, it's by righteousness

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 that we will one day be judged when we stand before God.

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 Let's not be like those people.

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 John Calvin talked about the people who attended his church in Geneva.

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 And he said,

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 All of them have a vague general reverence for God.

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 But not all of them truly love him.

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 C.S. Lewis, he talked about people who were semi-believers.

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 You know, they believed enough to come to church and sing hymns and that,

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 but it didn't go really very deep.

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 Do justly.

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 Let's think about doing justly in this new year.

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 Love mercy.

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 Ours is a religion of the forgiven.

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 Somebody has written that.

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 And our God is a God of mercy,

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 a God of forgiveness.

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 Mercy, forgiveness is the bedrock of our faith.

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 And we are Christians

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 because we have been forgiven

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 by a merciful God.

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 And the word that Micah uses here,

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 it's a word,

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 Corey's explained it to us quite a few times,

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 a Hebrew word, chesed.

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 And it really means, you know, loving kindness.

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 Faithful loving kindness.

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 Always being honest and faithful.

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 And it embraces compassion as well.

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 You know, and we're told here not just to show mercy,

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 but to love mercy.

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 You know, and that means,

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 that means being glad,

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 being willing,

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 being delighted

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 to reach out in forgiveness

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 to people who've done us wrong.

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 To reach out in compassion

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 to people who are in need.

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 You know, not just to forgive,

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 in a way, grudgingly,

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 or with a bad grace,

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 or feeling,

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 well, it's my duty,

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 I have to do it.

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 That's not what God requires of us.

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 He wants us to love mercy.

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 And it's not so much the action

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 as the attitude.

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 And again, it comes from the heart.

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 True forgiveness,

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 true mercy comes from the heart.

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 But listen,

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 it is not easy.

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 For natural men and women,

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 in fact, it's impossible.

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 But even for those of us

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 who are Christians,

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 it is very hard.

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 And the Jewish theologian,

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 Dr. Jonathan Sachs,

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 he has a book called

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 To Heal a Fractured World.

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 And in it, he says,

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 forgiveness or mercy

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 is so difficult

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 because of justice.

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 And he's right, isn't he?

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 You know,

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 when we're told

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 we've got to forgive somebody,

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 they've been,

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 ah, but yeah,

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 but look what they did to me.

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 You know,

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 and that's the difficulty.

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 They should be punished,

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 not forgiven.

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 But for those of us

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 who've been forgiven

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 by Jesus,

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 it should be part of our life.

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 It should flow

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 from our hearts

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 because He is Lord

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 of our lives now.

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 In Mark 3,

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 there was awful words,

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 you know,

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 that Jesus,

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 it said He was grieved.

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 What was He grieved on?

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 When He saw the Pharisees,

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 He was grieved

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 at the hardness

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 of their hearts.

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 You know,

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 a hard-hearted,

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 an unforgiving Christian

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 is a contradiction

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 in terms.

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 There isn't any such thing.

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 There just isn't.

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.800
 And again and again

00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:17.740
 in the Gospels,

00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:18.860
 we read of Jesus

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:20.560
 reaching out

00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:22.039
 in compassion,

00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.060
 you know,

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.300
 to those who were in need

00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:28.820
 and those who were

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:31.120
 neglected by others.

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:31.920
 Now,

00:21:32.800 --> 00:21:34.320
 you know,

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.259
 the people that Jesus

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.240
 reached out to,

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.759
 some were suffering

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.620
 and it was their own fault.

00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:41.539
 And some were suffering

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.800
 and it wasn't their own fault.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:44.240
 But it didn't matter to him.

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:46.119
 He reached out to them.

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.139
 And,

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.659
 you know,

00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.119
 you,

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.599
 you would be very unusual

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:54.000
 if you've never been wronged.

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.180
 You know,

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.159
 if someone has never

00:21:56.159 --> 00:21:57.480
 lied about you,

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.339
 if someone has never

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:01.259
 taken advantage of you.

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.879
 And,

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:04.259
 certainly as a Christian

00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.279
 in these days,

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:07.659
 you're bound to have been mocked

00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.700
 or sneered at

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.180
 or have your views

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.299
 misrepresented.

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.879
 I mean,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.240
 that,

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.619
 that,

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:13.799
 that,

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:16.079
 that just all happens.

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:19.039
 But the amazing thing

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.059
 about grace

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.000
 that we,

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.180
 we sing about it

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.019
 being amazing,

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.279
 the amazing thing

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.119
 about it is

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.079
 that the grace of God,

00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.200
 when it transforms

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.980
 our hearts,

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:31.940
 makes us able,

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:34.059
 if we're walking

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.980
 closely enough

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.599
 with God,

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.000
 it makes us

00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.740
 able

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:39.699
 to forgive

00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:41.899
 and to show compassion.

00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:43.419
 And,

00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.039
 by the way,

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:44.759
 that's a,

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.879
 that's a,

00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.219
 a,

00:22:46.219 --> 00:22:47.500
 a big,

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.179
 big part

00:22:48.179 --> 00:22:49.799
 of evangelism,

00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.019
 of reaching out

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:52.139
 to folk

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.119
 in our families

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:54.240
 or our work

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.859
 or whatever

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:56.500
 who are not Christians.

00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.519
 because it is

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.420
 a fact.

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.480
 It is

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.319
 Christians

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.740
 with large hearts

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.319
 that God

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:05.859
 uses

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.920
 in large

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.480
 measure

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:09.859
 to move

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.400
 people

00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:12.220
 in large

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.700
 measure.

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.680
 Compassion.

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.160
 There's so much

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.259
 gratuitous

00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:17.900
 cruelty

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.119
 and wickedness

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.819
 in the world.

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.639
 if we will

00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.559
 just love

00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.000
 mercy

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:24.179
 and show it

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:25.879
 what a difference

00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.779
 that can make,

00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.679
 what a witness

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:29.019
 that can be.

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.079
 And finally,

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.960
 walk humbly

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:33.740
 with your God.

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:33.980
 Now,

00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:35.119
 you know enough

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.500
 to know,

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.139
 I'm sure,

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.579
 that humility

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.559
 doesn't mean

00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.319
 thinking that

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.079
 you're no good,

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.179
 that you're useless,

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:43.799
 you won't ever

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.460
 be able to do

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.559
 anything to please

00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:45.919
 God.

00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.139
 That's not what

00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:47.960
 humility is.

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.779
 Humility

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.720
 is having

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.140
 a realistic

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:52.380
 view of yourself,

00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.700
 an honest view

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.079
 of what you're like.

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.620
 A sinner,

00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:57.380
 yes,

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.240
 but a sinner

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.420
 who has had

00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.000
 their heart

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.500
 and life

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.319
 transformed

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:02.680
 by God.

00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.880
 The Puritan

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.940
 John Flavell

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.700
 helps us

00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.440
 to understand.

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:06.920
 He wrote

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.620
 on one occasion,

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.680
 he says,

00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.100
 they that know

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.640
 God

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.700
 will be humble

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:13.299
 and they

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.880
 that know

00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:14.539
 themselves

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:16.059
 will not

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.720
 be proud.

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.500
 And the book

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.279
 of Proverbs

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.059
 helps us

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.899
 also to

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.839
 understand it

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.519
 by contrasting

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.779
 it.

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:25.639
 You know,

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.619
 the man or woman

00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:27.720
 who is modest,

00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:28.899
 humble,

00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.599
 careful in the

00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.160
 way they live

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:34.339
 is contrasted

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.279
 with people

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.480
 who are arrogant,

00:24:37.639 --> 00:24:38.480
 presumptuous,

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.359
 and full of

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:40.940
 themselves.

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.140
 lives.

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.220
 And, you know,

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.200
 Micah speaks

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:45.779
 here about

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.180
 walking humbly,

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:47.900
 walking

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.559
 carefully

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.799
 with your

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.240
 God.

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.220
 And he always

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:52.220
 has in mind

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.340
 here people

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:54.480
 who already

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.340
 have a faith.

00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.539
 You know,

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.320
 people who have

00:24:57.320 --> 00:24:58.759
 already been

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.620
 touched by

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.519
 the grace of

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.920
 God and had

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.660
 their lives

00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.380
 transformed.

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.720
 And he's

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.740
 talking about

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.559
 a life of

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:07.140
 ongoing communion

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:08.700
 and fellowship

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:10.060
 with God.

00:25:10.780 --> 00:25:11.220
 Look,

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.280
 we have to

00:25:13.280 --> 00:25:14.200
 have a realistic

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.500
 take on

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.000
 ourselves.

00:25:16.540 --> 00:25:17.560
 And when we

00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:18.520
 weep and

00:25:18.520 --> 00:25:19.600
 mourn for

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.240
 the wrong

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.960
 that we've

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.280
 done,

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.759
 the psalmist

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.460
 promises,

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.740
 a broken and a

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.740
 contrite heart,

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.740
 the Lord

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.880
 will not

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.740
 despise.

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.759
 Jesus tells us,

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.400
 blessed are the

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.560
 poor in spirit,

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.400
 those who

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.300
 realize,

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.059
 those of us

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:36.799
 who realize

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.659
 that we need

00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.500
 the grace of

00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.599
 God and the

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.399
 help of God.

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.460
 And blessed

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.399
 are the merciful.

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.039
 You know,

00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.759
 those who show

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.000
 mercy will get

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.419
 mercy.

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.139
 But on this,

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.099
 you know,

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.019
 these are days,

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.480
 it's difficult.

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.079
 And let me tell

00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.559
 you, as you

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.460
 get older,

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.480
 you know,

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.039
 it's not so

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:58.279
 easy listening

00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.000
 to all that

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.819
 goes on in

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.680
 the world.

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.960
 Not that our

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.819
 generations were

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.659
 any better than

00:26:03.659 --> 00:26:04.259
 any others,

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.359
 but things

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.119
 changed so

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:06.519
 much.

00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:07.819
 When we were

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.579
 growing up,

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.220
 you know,

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.819
 and Billy Graham

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.000
 and others

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.900
 will tell you,

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.379
 you know,

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:13.980
 children,

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.240
 we were seen

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:16.200
 and not heard.

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.400
 Our opinions

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.359
 didn't count.

00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:20.440
 You know,

00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:21.859
 nobody in school,

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.079
 nobody wanted

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.879
 to hear what you

00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.539
 thought about

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.339
 Henry VIII

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.039
 and his wife.

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.700
 You know,

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.379
 you were told

00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.019
 what to think.

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.359
 Now,

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.059
 it's a good

00:26:31.059 --> 00:26:32.299
 thing that

00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:33.240
 young minds

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.140
 are made

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.519
 to be

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.000
 critical

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.660
 and thinking.

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.000
 But along

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.599
 with that

00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.980
 has come

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.620
 with self-promotion

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.700
 and

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:43.859
 entitlement,

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.140
 you know,

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.960
 and everybody

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:48.079
 wants to

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.859
 organize the

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.259
 world

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.740
 to suit

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.259
 themselves,

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.400
 to suit

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:52.660
 them.

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.539
 That's not

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.200
 how we should

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.579
 be.

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.039
 That's not

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.779
 how we should

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.180
 be.

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.460
 Vanity is

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.160
 not a good

00:26:59.160 --> 00:26:59.620
 thing.

00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:01.479
 It is

00:27:01.479 --> 00:27:02.239
 good

00:27:02.239 --> 00:27:03.159
 to have

00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:03.799
 a realistic

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.459
 view of

00:27:04.459 --> 00:27:04.839
 yourself.

00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:05.519
 There's a

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:05.979
 wonderful

00:27:05.979 --> 00:27:06.839
 historical

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.779
 parable

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.399
 about it.

00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:09.479
 In the

00:27:09.479 --> 00:27:10.059
 days of

00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.339
 the

00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:11.519
 Austro-Hungarian

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.079
 Empire,

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.139
 the

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:14.839
 emperors

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.659
 were buried

00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.759
 in a little

00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.299
 friary

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.979
 way outside

00:27:18.979 --> 00:27:19.639
 the city.

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.000
 And

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.519
 when the

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.539
 emperor died,

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.979
 after a

00:27:23.979 --> 00:27:25.319
 great service

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:25.779
 in the

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.359
 cathedral,

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:28.500
 a great

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.119
 procession

00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.519
 would make

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:29.919
 its way

00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.879
 down out

00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.199
 of the

00:27:31.199 --> 00:27:31.699
 city to

00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:32.240
 this little

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.899
 friary,

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:34.319
 the grand

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.819
 duke would

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.339
 wrap on

00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:35.899
 the door,

00:27:36.439 --> 00:27:36.740
 a little

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.339
 window would

00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:37.659
 open,

00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:38.219
 and who

00:27:38.219 --> 00:27:38.740
 is it?

00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:39.740
 Oh,

00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:40.799
 Franz

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.639
 Ferdinand,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.299
 emperor of

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:43.679
 the Holy

00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.839
 Roman Empire,

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.079
 and whatever.

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.059
 We don't

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.459
 know him,

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:48.959
 and it

00:27:48.959 --> 00:27:49.559
 would close.

00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.479
 And then

00:27:50.479 --> 00:27:50.959
 the duke

00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:51.619
 would wrap

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.179
 again,

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.839
 and who

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.259
 is it?

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.119
 Oh,

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:54.859
 Franz

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.579
 Ferdinand,

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.339
 electoral,

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.679
 of the

00:27:56.679 --> 00:27:56.959
 Pope,

00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:57.819
 Margrave

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.659
 of Hungary,

00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.859
 and we

00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.279
 don't know

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.439
 him.

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.659
 And a

00:28:01.659 --> 00:28:02.399
 third time,

00:28:02.959 --> 00:28:03.199
 he would

00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:03.740
 wrap on

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.139
 the window

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.619
 would open.

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.419
 Who is

00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:05.639
 it?

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:06.979
 Franz

00:28:06.979 --> 00:28:07.719
 Ferdinand,

00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:09.399
 a wretched

00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:11.719
 sinner who

00:28:11.719 --> 00:28:12.319
 looks for

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.759
 somewhere to

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.240
 lay his

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.740
 bones.

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.139
 Only in

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.079
 death were

00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.099
 those great

00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.819
 emperors

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:21.459
 divested of

00:28:21.459 --> 00:28:22.099
 their vanity.

00:28:23.479 --> 00:28:24.199
 For us as

00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:24.779
 Christians,

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.039
 we should be

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.819
 going through

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.779
 this world

00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.139
 remembering

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:30.480
 that we

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.279
 are just

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.819
 sinners,

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.799
 saved by

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.319
 grace.

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.680
 We've

00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.559
 finished an

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.099
 old year,

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:39.759
 and we're

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.339
 beginning a

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:40.839
 new year.

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.339
 I'm sure

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.619
 you've

00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.480
 reflected on

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:42.839
 it,

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.240
 however

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.819
 young or

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.339
 old you

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.700
 are,

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.180
 and you

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.940
 remember that

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:48.480
 God's been

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.180
 good to you.

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.220
 He has been

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.619
 good.

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.619
 God's been

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.619
 good to you

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:52.779
 and how in

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.500
 his providence

00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:54.119
 he's taken

00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.859
 care of you

00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.359
 and brought

00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.539
 you to the

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.279
 start of this

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.239
 new year.

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.319
 And you

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.979
 can't doubt

00:29:00.979 --> 00:29:02.219
 his love for

00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:04.079
 you in giving

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.719
 Jesus to be

00:29:05.719 --> 00:29:06.479
 your saviour.

00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.039
 So what do you

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.899
 do in return?

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:11.219
 What do we do

00:29:11.219 --> 00:29:12.599
 to show our

00:29:12.599 --> 00:29:14.299
 gratitude to

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.099
 our loving God?

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.740
 Well, we do

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.139
 what he's

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.779
 asked us to

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.059
 do.

00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:18.359
 You know,

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:19.419
 we do justly.

00:29:20.179 --> 00:29:21.519
 We live with

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.319
 integrity in a

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.159
 fallen world,

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.179
 whatever it

00:29:25.179 --> 00:29:25.599
 costs.

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.359
 We show

00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:27.719
 mercy.

00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.319
 We reach

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.959
 out with

00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:32.519
 compassion to

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:34.240
 everyone because

00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:35.000
 there's so little

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.579
 of it about.

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.599
 And we walk

00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.099
 humbly with

00:29:39.099 --> 00:29:39.779
 our God,

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.539
 never forgetting

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:43.219
 that we are

00:29:43.219 --> 00:29:44.199
 just sinners

00:29:44.199 --> 00:29:45.079
 saved by

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.480
 grace.

00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:46.259
 That's what he

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.619
 wants.

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.000
 Nothing more,

00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.859
 nothing less,

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:51.759
 nothing else.

00:29:52.899 --> 00:29:53.659
 Let's pray.

00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.619
 Our loving

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.500
 Heavenly Father,

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.679
 help us to

00:29:59.679 --> 00:30:01.559
 seal your

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:03.299
 words in

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.899
 our hearts

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:05.279
 and to go

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.059
 into this

00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.079
 new year

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:09.379
 knowing the

00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:10.500
 grace of God

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.799
 in our hearts

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.419
 and in our

00:30:12.419 --> 00:30:13.720
 lives and

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.220
 seeking,

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:14.720
 Lord,

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.539
 above all

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.360
 other things

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.319
 to honour

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:19.180
 you by

00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:21.539
 doing justly,

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.720
 by loving

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.180
 mercy,

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:25.299
 and by

00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.279
 walking humbly.

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:29.059
 in Jesus name we pray this

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.599
 Amen