They say that as you go through life it isn’t as important what you know as whom you know. This morning, I want to suggest this is true, but I’ll go even one better. It’s not even so much who you know, but the one who knows you.
Even in a competitive, knowledge-based industry like computers – something I do every day – I have to tell you, there’s a lot of truth to that statement. Now, I’m not saying knowledge is useless. Trust me, the more you know, the better off you are. It’s just that who know you, and more importantly – who knows you, can make or break a career.
Melinda French is a bit of a celebrity in my software development world. She’s a pretty smart cookie: you have to be if you are going to work at Microsoft. Unlike her college-dropout husband, she got an MBA – from Duke no less. Beginning in 1987, she started taking over different products like Publisher, Expedia, and even their online encyclopedia: Microsoft Encarta.
But her real claim was a piece of software called ‘MS Bob.’ Even today, ten years after the product was withdrawn from the market, it’s still talked about by geeks like me who appreciate computer history.
The idea had been to take a nice simple Windows interface and sugar-coat it so that it would be ‘easier.’ Instead of launching programs, you went into virtual rooms to click on stuff. Sadly, if you use Windows, you still even see traces of it. You know that stupid little dog that comes up when you’re just trying to find a file? Or even worse, that Satan-spawned Paper Clip who hijacks your help? Well they were both part of MS Bob. It all came out of this one piece of software.
But there was just one problem with it: Nobody wanted to use something that stupid and condescending. It was one of the biggest flops that Microsoft ever produced. Now, I have to tell you. In most companies, if you’re the lead on a multi-million dollar fiasco, while you probably are thinking about your next position, you aren’t looking up in the scenario.
But instead of being let go, Melinda French ended up still moving on to bigger and better things.
Now, to be sure, Microsoft has a pretty firm rule about failures like this. It’s an unwritten rule that people who try something new but fail aren’t fired. As the company line states, ‘you can’t buy the kind of knowledge failure brings.’ But even in Melinda’s case, this was a bit special.
Out on her own, she may still have rallied and been pretty successful. But in Melinda’s case, her move up involved changing her name – to Melinda French Gates. Yes, she is the woman who snagged the world’s wealthiest CEO, William Henry Gates III, aka Bill Gates. I think it’s safe to say that by the world’s standards, she’s pretty much as successful as gets, and it isn’t because of her advanced degrees from Duke. Heck, everybody knows she married to the famous college drop-out of them all. It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.
I say this all this all this morning because of our text. Admittedly, in the spirit of Labor Day, I had initially chosen it because of how nice sounding rest is. But the more I got into this text, the more I realized that this passage here strikes at the very essence of what it means to be a Christian. After all, what is our life except a series massive blunders, stumbling from one fall to the next, but all done in the knowledge that the CEO of it all is in love with us?
Heck, the one who loves us never even started college, let alone finish it. But I’ll tell you this: Jesus is a mighty good friend to have.
You see, if you want to be successful in your life, it all boils down to this. It’s nice to smart, it’s nice to be hard working – but if you really want to succeed, you simply need to know the right person: Jesus. If you are willing to come to him, you can get everything you’ll ever need.
Jesus has said as much. ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ He’s saying pretty much the same thing here, and he expands on it and makes it a bit more clear how we should respond. Take up my yoke he says, and learn about me. Exchange your heavy burden. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
If you compare Christianity to just about any other ‘religion,’ you’re going to find something that sets us apart. I don’t care if you look at Islam or Buddhism or Hinduism – they are all going to teach that if you do certain things, you can earn their god’s favor. In a transactional world like ours, it makes sense. God is just another consumer offering a deal.
But our Jesus doesn’t operate on those terms. You see, he doesn’t need our worship, he doesn’t need us to do anything for him. In fact, he doesn’t need us at all. But he does love us. The Scriptures say that we are his bride, the one he desires to save. And, let’s face it. What real relationship was ever based on transactional love?
Jesus’ love for us isn’t based on who we are or even what we’ve done; we’ve all had colossal screw-ups. But it doesn’t matter. He still loves us. He still desires to give us good things.
Now, we have a fancy word for that. It’s called ‘grace.’ Unmerited Favor. A gift. It all means the same thing. Something you don’t deserve from someone you clearly don’t deserve.
If you’re married, I hope you’ve had a time in your marriage, where you wake up one day and just realize how completely blessed you are to be next to the one you love. Or, maybe that’s your Father or your Mother. I know in my case, I definitely married up. That blessed feeling of joy is a model of what it means to be loved by the one who clearly is beyond us.
But, it’s just a model. It’s only a miniature version given so we can comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth of what it means to have Christ dwell in your heart, rooted and grounded in his love [Eph 3:17-18].
You might say, well, I haven’t had that relationship. Well, we live in a fallen world. Not all models are faithful representations. But it doesn’t matter, because ultimately, there is a God who loves you. If you come to him in prayer and meditation, with an open heart, you still feel that love.
You guys know I love my wife even as I tell you this: His love is even better than hers. That’s hard for to say. It’s like filet mignon is better than tenderloin. You start getting that good its hard to distinguish. But when you come to him, you realize it’s true.
But, I’ll tell you something about a relationship. A relationship built on a one-time event is destined to failure. Imagine, for a minute, that you got married, and then decided, okay, I’ve made that commitment. Now, I don’t have to do anything else.
How long do you think that marriage is going to last?
Look at Bill and Melinda. If Melinda just sat around the house all day, what do you think Bill would think? You just know how lazy that man is!
What is the key to a relationship that lasts? It keeps on working, doing things together. In Bill and Melinda’s case, their passion is their foundation – now larger than many small countries they seek to help.
That ‘come unto me’ thing? It’s a progressive sort of thing. Keep coming! We have work to do. Don’t get me wrong – it’s work you’ll love. It’s easy, it’s light. It will fit you well. It is the vehicle by which that relationship will grow.
In your relationship with Jesus, it may be as simple as getting to know more about him. Reading that first love letter he wrote you. It may mean putting hands and feet to the love he has given you. It may mean screwing up the courage to share that love with your neighbor or your friend. But it will always means a continual coming to him.
No relationship is static. It is either growing or its dying. It starts that fateful moment when you first meet. But it always blossoms and develops from there. Last week we talked about the meekness in that relationship. On both sides. And yes, Melinda Gates even found a meek part of Bill Gates, as amazing at that might be. It had to have been pretty cool to be wooed by the richest man in America. But imagine how much more precious it is to be introduced to the very Son of the God who made it all.
Now here’s the amazing part. You don’t need a formal introduction for that special friend of a friend. You don’t have to worry about getting that lucky break. You don’t even have to worry about making the perfect first impression on Jesus. He’s already cleared his calendar. He’s opened it up wide and said to you, ‘Come unto me, all of you who are laboring, who are laden down by the burdens of life. Come unto me, and I will give you rest.’
We are about to partake of this invitation…
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 146
Invocation
*Opening Hymn #76
“My Jesus, I Love Thee”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer [See Insert]
*Hymn
“Hail Jesus, You’re My King”
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #403
“What a Friend We Have In Jesus”
Offertory Mr. Witt
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture Matthew 11:28-30
Sermon Michael Hollinger
“The One Who Knows You”
Invitation Hymn #190
“Softly and Tenderly”
The Lord’s Supper
*Benediction and Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ of Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created by Him for good works, which God prepared before hand to be our way of life.
And Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also.
So again Jesus said to them, Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me as I abide in you.
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Eph 2:8-10; Jn 14:1-7;10:7-11;6:35;6:32-34;15:1-11;Mt 11:28;
MORNING PRAYER
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, we beg of your mercy that you would forgive us these our sins.
PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SIN
Hear us, O Lord, We boast in your mercy.
Lord, you are shown strong in our weakness; Intercede for those who need your strength we pray. O giver of life, we pray that you would continue to sustain those we love. Work miracles for Martha, we pray, in her body and in her family show your Providence we pray. Lord, we praise you for Chester, and ask that you would shade him in your wings. Be also with Susan. Stand guard over her and her family. Bringing healing there, we ask. Lord we pray for Warren, strengthen his heart. Lord, too we beg your continuing mercy for Irene and Kathy and Mark and all those we ask for now.
PRAY FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS
Hear us, O Lord, We boast in your mercy.
God, your foolishness confounds the wise; You have granted this church the privilege of participating in your Kingdom, continue to let us do that we pray. Likewise, Father, we praise you for the mercy you have shown our country. Lead our President and Governor, reason our Congresses, inform our judges, and bless our enemies even as you our people placed in their way. Grant us Your mercy, we ask.
PRAY FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND CHURCH
Hear us, O Lord, We boast in your mercy.
We praise you, Lord, for your mercies. We praise you for the power you show in our lives. We praise even for the privilege of being able to return the prayer you once taught us as we say, Our Father who art in heaven, …
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEXT WEEK, we’ll be celebrating the 220th Anniversary. To prepare, there is a signup sheet on the piano – please volunteer to take out a task and do it! Any items not done by September 16th will be done that day by all of us who can show up. Thanks to Betty Privett and Richard Puryear for already knocking some items off the list!
Our homecoming speaker for September 17th will be Melissa Fox, pastor of Marshall Baptist Church – one of the six started by our church. Please be sure to invite your friends. Note: This is a change!
Bill Matlack will be starting up Sunday School soon. We will be reading Phillip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace? Tentatively assume that it will begin sometime after Homecoming – possibly even on September 24th.
SCRIPTURE READING
25 At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Title: The one who knows you.
Text: Matthew 11:28-30
FCF: As you go through life – it isn’t what you know, but Whom.
MP: Don’t tire yourself out chasing the things that aren’t worth it. Come to Jesus instead, and he will give you rest.
Intro:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek [gentle and humble in heart], and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
