And Nothing Will Hurt You

It was great to be in Gorham, leading worship and meeting with the pastoral search committee this morning.  Last year, when the congregation celebrated its 150th Anniversary, the chosen theme was Honor the Past . . . Build the Future.  I sense that this church is living into a new future.  Of the 41 folks in worship on this holiday weekend (it looked like more to me), six were guests who came to visit.  The Spirit is stirring in Gorham.  A future is being built.  It is good.

As I was preaching, a tiny text within the text caught my attention as it had not done before.  It is part of Jesus' response to the ministry of the seventy apostles that he commissioned and sent out to be his advance teams.  Here it is: "See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you."  And nothing will hurt you.  I take this to be a powerful promise.

Of course, there are things that might cause us trouble--like scorpions and snakes, biting criticism and intense conflict, boredom or restlessness of spirit, chronic or incurable diseases, grief and loss, and death itself.  Jesus does not say that snakes won't strike or that scorpions won't sting.  But his promise feels stronger to me than anything we can experience or imagine:  And nothing will hurt you.

In some respects, this reminds me of the way that Paul taunts death itself in I Corinthians 15. 

 

"Death has been swallowed up in victory."

 

"Where, O Death is your victory?

   Where, O Death is your sting."

 

 

There are still lots of things that may unsettle me and cause trouble.  Something sometime will kill me; but I hold fast to the word I heard in the midst of other words today:  "And nothing will hurt you."  Here is the source of my courage and my comfort. 

 

 

O Lord Christ, when I am tempted to fear, grant me such faith that in life and in death I may trust your presence and your promise.  You inscribe my name on your heart.  You fit me for eternal life.  You bless me with empowering assurance--no matter what comes--it will be well.  I hear you say, "And nothing will hurt you."  I take your word to heart.  You are my hope.  Alleluia.  Amen.