Especially for a sermon
June 28, 2011 (Tuesday)
The title of my sermon last Sunday was “Steal, Lie and Swear!” The history of that title goes back 45 years to a salesman in a Corpus Christi department store. Wanda and I were there to buy something, although I cannot remember what it was. I can’t recall the name of the store, either, but I do remember the salesman and especially his story.
He said he had had a nanny as a child, and that’s what she taught him, only she went on to explain what she meant: “Steal away from sin, Lie in the bosom of Jesus, and Swear by the Bible as the Word of God.” Good advice for a child about to grow up and good advice for us all.
“Steal away from sin.” The child of God has a new nature and has the responsibility to crucify the old sinful nature, but he/she is still tempted to do wrong. Even though we are Christians, we can still sin. Let us remember 1 Cor 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (NIV).
“Lie in the bosom of Jesus.” Find that secret place in your life where only you and Jesus commune with each other. Set aside a time each day to read the Bible, pray and think deeply about spiritual things. Maintain a devotional life. The hymn rejoices: “What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms!”
“Swear by the Bible as the Word of God.” The Bible is a collection of 66 books, written over long periods of time by many different people, all of them guided by the Holy Spirit. “Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21 NIV). “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NIV).
In the words of the Nanny, repeated for my sake 45 years ago, “Steal, Lie and Swear,” if you know what I mean.