Ep 140 | Cover to Cover 19 | Pastor Chris Ryan | May 10, 2026

Moses reminds God’s people in Deuteronomy to break the cycle of fear and sin by trusting the Lord completely and loving Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. Even when we fail, Jesus gives us grace, forgiveness, and the promise of the true Promised Land. #StJohnsBuffalo #CovertoCoverBible #Deuteronomy #PromisedLand

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan Clark.
You are listening to a message from St.
John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 4 00:00:15,154.897901963 --> 00:00:20,364.897921037 Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praises in the name of Jesus. 5 00:00:21,4.897921037 --> 00:00:21,604.897921037 Amen. 6 00:00:23,434.897921037 --> 00:00:24,764.897921037 Ah, genetics. 7 00:00:25,234.897921037 --> 00:00:30,964.898798417 We certainly did mark each one of our three children with that distinct Ryan stamp. 8 00:00:30,964.898798417 --> 00:00:33,984.897348832 There they all are right around eight months old. 9 00:00:33,984.897348832 --> 00:00:36,904.897425126 You can certainly tell that they are siblings. 10 00:00:37,614.898416947 --> 00:00:42,174.89788289 As Ryans, there were gonna be some things that were inevitably in their genetics. 11 00:00:42,644.897196244 --> 00:00:48,174.899790238 They were gonna be born with chubby cheeks that take a while to grow into and out of. 12 00:00:48,874.896738481 --> 00:00:52,664.897654008 As Ryans, they were gonna be born with that unphotogenic gene. 13 00:00:52,664.897654008 --> 00:00:54,924.899790238 The camera just won't do them justice. 14 00:00:55,494.899485063 --> 00:01:01,404.899332475 But despite the fact that they won't like looking into a camera, as Ryans, they are gonna love looking into a mirror. 15 00:01:01,404.899332475 --> 00:01:05,194.896433305 Every Ryan that I have ever met can't resist that mirror. 16 00:01:05,504.897806596 --> 00:01:13,104.896280717 And why wouldn't they? With those fine genetic traits they got passed on to them from their dad, and of course, their mom. 17 00:01:14,304.897043656 --> 00:01:20,754.901621293 Speaking of moms, it is Mother's Day, so happy Mother's Day to all of you out there celebrating this fine holiday. 18 00:01:21,434.894297074 --> 00:01:29,324.901316117 And considering it's Mother's Day, I wanna take a second to pick on and, well, frankly, show some love to the mother that I know and love best. 19 00:01:29,324.901316117 --> 00:01:31,784.90040059 Of course, I'm talking about my wife, Catherine. 20 00:01:31,784.90040059 --> 00:01:32,464.900705766 There she is. 21 00:01:32,944.896433305 --> 00:01:38,654.895517777 She loves it when I put those nice zoomed in photos of her face up there for the whole congregation to see. 22 00:01:40,124.89673848 --> 00:01:42,834.89582295 By the way, she truly does live up to that mug. 23 00:01:42,834.89582295 --> 00:01:44,864.89460225 Catherine is an incredible mom. 24 00:01:46,114.89460225 --> 00:01:54,764.89612813 We were talking about genetics, right? Well, speaking of genetics, there are some traits that I certainly hope my kids inherit from Catherine and not from me. 25 00:01:55,394.90101094 --> 00:01:59,344.89795918 I hope my kids inherit Catherine's height, for obvious reasons. 26 00:01:59,914.89765401 --> 00:02:03,644.90101094 I hope they inherit her brains, also for obvious reasons. 27 00:02:04,144.90101094 --> 00:02:05,984.89734883 I hope they get her beautiful smile. 28 00:02:06,374.89673848 --> 00:02:09,784.90040059 I hope they get her loving, caring, compassionate heart. 29 00:02:11,544.89490743 --> 00:02:13,734.89734883 Of course, no one's perfect. 30 00:02:14,214.90070577 --> 00:02:20,724.8952126 So on the flip side, I hope there are some things that they don't inherit from Catherine. 31 00:02:20,844.89795918 --> 00:02:22,764.89612813 "No, Pastor Ryan, don't do it." 32 00:02:23,184.89429707 --> 00:02:23,834.90345235 It's too late. 33 00:02:24,84.90345235 --> 00:02:24,854.89246602 We're already there. 34 00:02:25,144.90101094 --> 00:02:28,854.89246602 I hope my kids don't inherit Catherine's ACHOO syndrome. 35 00:02:29,374.89673848 --> 00:02:33,674.89979024 ACHOO, of course, stands for Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst. 36 00:02:33,674.89979024 --> 00:02:36,604.89246602 It's where you sneeze a bunch when you look into the sun. 37 00:02:37,374.89673848 --> 00:02:40,24.89063496 20% of people have this genetic trait. 38 00:02:40,884.89124532 --> 00:02:43,514.89612813 I hope they don't get her mosquito magnetism. 39 00:02:44,154.89551778 --> 00:02:52,664.9052834 You know that 85% of your attractiveness to mosquitoes, according to recent studies, is based on your sweat composition, which is a highly genetic thing. 40 00:02:53,644.90101094 --> 00:02:57,324.89368672 I also hope they don't get her TAS2R31 gene. 41 00:02:57,674.89979024 --> 00:03:03,854.89246602 It's a gene that, well, sadly it makes certain artificial sweeteners taste bitter rather than sweet. 42 00:03:04,744.89185567 --> 00:03:18,729.89816899 How are my kids supposed to enjoy a fine Diet Coke with that in their genetic panel? Of course, at the end of the day, once again, I hope my kids primarily take after Catherine, once again, for obvious reasons. 43 00:03:18,809.8980927 --> 00:03:33,699.89795918 Because of course, we want the next generation to have the best of us, don't we? It's true today, and it was most certainly true back in our two-year Bible read-through in the Book of Deuteronomy, and that is where we are at right now. 44 00:03:33,699.89795918 --> 00:03:36,959.89818807 We have arrived at the last of those Books of Moses. 45 00:03:37,659.89704366 --> 00:03:46,739.89887471 And in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses makes it very, very clear he's hoping for the best for the next generation, the next generation of Israelites, that is. 46 00:03:47,749.89719624 --> 00:04:06,839.89734883 That previous generation, the one that had left Egypt 40 years prior, things haven't gone so well for them, have they? Because of their sin, because of their lack of trust, because they didn't have faith, because of their idolatry, only three of them remain from that generation: Moses, Caleb, and Joshua. 47 00:04:06,839.89734883 --> 00:04:09,909.89704366 The rest have perished on their way to the promised land. 48 00:04:10,859.8978066 --> 00:04:13,969.89841695 And Moses wants things to be different for the next generation. 49 00:04:13,969.89841695 --> 00:04:17,89.89734883 He wants them to break that chain of sin. 50 00:04:18,359.90162129 --> 00:04:23,29.89979024 And to help them break that chain of sin and to grow in faith, Moses preaches them a sermon. 51 00:04:23,29.89979024 --> 00:04:23,849.8952126 It's Deuteronomy 1-11. 52 00:04:24,749.90101094 --> 00:04:31,29.89979024 That's actually what your entire readings were this week, basically one continuous sermon that Moses gives. 53 00:04:32,269.89765401 --> 00:04:38,169.89917989 And in this sermon, Moses is gonna deliver God's wisdom, he's gonna deliver God's law, and of course, God's grace. 54 00:04:38,169.89917989 --> 00:04:47,299.8964333 And as you listen to this sermon about that sermon, I hope you understand that the wisdom, the law, and the grace in that sermon apply very directly to your lives as well. 55 00:04:47,969.89460225 --> 00:04:49,509.89551778 Let's dig into that sermon right now. 56 00:04:49,509.89551778 --> 00:04:52,709.90009541 It begins as any good sermon should, with a hook. 57 00:04:53,679.90131612 --> 00:04:59,679.90131612 A hook is the introduction the Pastor gives where he tries to get that congregation to pay attention to what he's talking about. 58 00:05:00,349.89948506 --> 00:05:05,689.89582295 Maybe the Pastor gets up there and talks about his experience waiting tables at Scooter's Cafe and Pizzeria. 59 00:05:06,199.89795918 --> 00:05:10,739.89887471 Maybe he talks about the trampoline that his in-laws got his family for Christmas. 60 00:05:11,109.90162129 --> 00:05:21,519.9052834 Whatever it is, he's trying to transition the congregation through their distraction towards that biblical text and show them the relevance that biblical text has to their lives. 61 00:05:22,449.89795918 --> 00:05:25,239.89124532 Moses, he begins his sermon with a hook. 62 00:05:25,869.89612813 --> 00:05:27,459.89246602 It's a tried-and-true method. 63 00:05:27,759.89551778 --> 00:05:29,879.89063496 He tells the congregation a story. 64 00:05:30,689.90345235 --> 00:05:35,549.9040627 You can almost picture it, right? Moses is sitting there on the edge of the promised land. 65 00:05:36,139.90040059 --> 00:05:43,579.89307637 He's got the congregation of the Israelites right in front of him, and maybe he says, "Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you from God our Father,Amen." 66 00:05:46,19.9052834 --> 00:05:53,499.90101094 And then he motions to that promised land and he says, "My fellow Israelites, this isn't the first time I've seen this sight. 67 00:05:54,389.90040059 --> 00:06:02,279.89979024 Believe it or not, I stood on this very spot 39 years ago, and I spoke to your moms and to your dads. 68 00:06:02,859.90162129 --> 00:06:05,969.90223164 And I said to them, 'See, the Lord your God has given you the land.'" 69 00:06:06,399.89796634 --> 00:06:10,389.89803548 Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors told you. 70 00:06:10,769.89814992 --> 00:06:11,569.89786382 Don't be afraid. 71 00:06:12,319.89786382 --> 00:06:13,739.89794011 Don't be discouraged. 72 00:06:14,669.89776845 --> 00:06:19,519.89814992 And I remember your moms and dads said back to me, "That sounds good to us, but first we're gonna do one little thing. 73 00:06:20,239.89841695 --> 00:06:27,349.89711995 Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to." 74 00:06:28,119.89757771 --> 00:06:36,549.89788289 Well, the idea, it seemed good to me, so I selected 12 men, one of each tribe, to go spy on that Promised Land. 75 00:06:38,29.89933247 --> 00:06:41,739.89841695 Oh, how I wish I had chosen more faithful men. 76 00:06:42,639.89612813 --> 00:06:51,789.89765401 Oh, how I wish I had been more discerning because the men that I chose, for the most part, rather than come back with a faithful report, they came back with a fearful report. 77 00:06:52,699.89750142 --> 00:06:57,349.8990273 They spied out the promised land and they said, "The people in there, they can't be beaten. 78 00:06:57,889.89612813 --> 00:07:01,569.8964333 They look like giants to us and we look like grasshoppers to them. 79 00:07:01,569.8964333 --> 00:07:03,669.89872212 They are gonna crush us like bugs." 80 00:07:05,579.89856954 --> 00:07:13,159.90040059 And because of that faith- or fearful report, well, your moms and dads were unwilling to go up into that Promised Land. 81 00:07:13,789.89765401 --> 00:07:15,999.89673848 They rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. 82 00:07:15,999.89673848 --> 00:07:23,349.8952126 They grumbled in their tents and said, "The Lord hates us, so he brought us up out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 83 00:07:24,319.8964333 --> 00:07:26,579.89856954 Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. 84 00:07:26,579.89856954 --> 00:07:28,949.90131612 They say the people are stronger and taller than we are. 85 00:07:29,179.89704366 --> 00:07:31,809.89429707 The cities are large with walls up to the sky." 86 00:07:33,419.89490743 --> 00:07:35,989.89460225 "I couldn't believe what I was hearing," Moses Minor said. 87 00:07:36,659.90040059 --> 00:07:37,509.89887471 "I begged with them. 88 00:07:37,509.89887471 --> 00:07:38,469.89795918 I pleaded with them. 89 00:07:38,469.89795918 --> 00:07:39,879.90162129 I said, 'Don't be terrified. 90 00:07:39,879.90162129 --> 00:07:40,889.89612813 Don't be afraid of them. 91 00:07:40,889.89612813 --> 00:07:46,479.90009541 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you just as he did for you in Egypt.' 92 00:07:46,479.90009541 --> 00:07:49,319.8964333 Don't you remember? It just happened. 93 00:07:49,789.89765401 --> 00:07:59,929.89806409 Don't you remember the plagues? Don't you remember the parting of the Red Sea? Don't you remember how God crushed that Egyptian empire?" But they wouldn't listen to me. 94 00:08:00,29.89796872 --> 00:08:00,349.89790196 No. 95 00:08:00,679.89806409 --> 00:08:09,69.89769215 Instead, your moms and dads turned tail and they ran, and I watched in abject horror as the Amorites who lived in those hills came out against them. 96 00:08:09,249.89799733 --> 00:08:12,539.89795918 They chased them like a swarm of bees and beat them down. 97 00:08:14,889.89794011 --> 00:08:22,159.89792104 And your parents, who should have been that generation who entered the Promised Land, couldn't because they didn't trust God. 98 00:08:23,879.89818807 --> 00:08:27,429.8983788 And Moses says, "I hope you learn your lesson from them." 99 00:08:28,499.89807362 --> 00:08:39,349.89750142 And isn't that what the Pastor does so often, by the way? At the end of the introduction to a sermon, the Pastor will tell you exactly word for word what he hopes you get out of the upcoming sermon. 100 00:08:39,349.89750142 --> 00:08:40,19.89757771 I did it today. 101 00:08:40,19.89757771 --> 00:08:51,49.89826436 I'm sure you heard it, right? I said, "I hope you understand that the wisdom and the law and the grace that Moses gives in the sermon today applies very directly to your lives." 102 00:08:52,89.89917989 --> 00:08:53,459.89887471 And Moses tips his hand. 103 00:08:53,459.89887471 --> 00:09:01,329.89704366 He hopes that next generation of Israelites, that they're chain breakers, that they trust God where the previous generation did not. 104 00:09:03,539.89793773 --> 00:09:10,879.89814992 And to help them trust God, he gives them this sermon, and as part of this sermon, he shows them and tells them exactly what it looks like to fully trust God. 105 00:09:11,719.89830251 --> 00:09:16,939.89761586 In fact, just like pastors today have very important points, Moses had his very important point. 106 00:09:17,959.89807362 --> 00:09:19,619.89887471 It's Deuteronomy 6:4-5. 107 00:09:19,619.89887471 --> 00:09:25,289.89704366 It's actually our highlighted verse of the day, one that's well worth highlighting, one that's well worth memorizing. 108 00:09:26,589.89818807 --> 00:09:29,709.89711995 Jewish people today, they still call these verses the Shema. 109 00:09:29,789.89704366 --> 00:09:32,479.89757771 It comes from that Hebrew word for hear or listen. 110 00:09:33,379.89719624 --> 00:09:37,289.89704366 And Moses says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 111 00:09:37,819.89963765 --> 00:09:42,669.89811177 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." 112 00:09:43,139.89933247 --> 00:09:47,499.89612813 It's very, very important to do that, and Jesus would agree, in fact. 113 00:09:48,709.8990273 --> 00:09:53,989.8978066 He said it's the most important commandment there is, to love God with all your heart, soul and strength. 114 00:09:55,589.89628072 --> 00:10:03,319.89933247 Understand that when Moses says hear, when he says listen, he's not just talking about letting sounds fall on your eardrums. 115 00:10:04,79.89933247 --> 00:10:07,799.89917989 He's talking about actually doing the things that God wants you to do. 116 00:10:08,879.90101094 --> 00:10:14,139.89551778 And when he talks about love, he's not talking about a feeling like we so often use that word love today. 117 00:10:14,139.89551778 --> 00:10:19,309.90131612 He's talking about the action of giving all of yourself to God in every area of your life. 118 00:10:21,99.89460225 --> 00:10:25,459.8952126 And he's basically saying that if you love God, you're gonna do the things that he wants you to do. 119 00:10:25,459.8952126 --> 00:10:29,249.89612813 If you trust God, you're gonna do the things that he wants you to do. 120 00:10:30,439.89856954 --> 00:10:32,289.89704366 By the way, Jesus agrees with this, too. 121 00:10:32,289.89704366 --> 00:10:35,329.89795918 He says, "If you love me, you're gonna keep my commands. 122 00:10:37,119.89887471 --> 00:10:40,779.89490743 You're gonna make my commands be at the center of your lives." 123 00:10:41,379.90101094 --> 00:10:43,569.89582295 In fact, that's what Moses goes on to say in this sermon. 124 00:10:44,69.89582295 --> 00:10:47,929.8964333 He says, "These commandments that I give you today, they are to be on your hearts. 125 00:10:49,29.89490743 --> 00:10:50,849.89460225 And don't just leave them on your hearts. 126 00:10:51,349.89460225 --> 00:10:52,769.90040059 Do better than your parents did. 127 00:10:53,329.89795918 --> 00:10:55,719.89734883 Pass them on to the next generation. 128 00:10:55,989.90162129 --> 00:10:57,309.90131612 Impress them on your children. 129 00:10:57,649.89765401 --> 00:11:02,689.89856954 Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 130 00:11:03,269.90040059 --> 00:11:06,669.89429707 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 131 00:11:07,29.89490743 --> 00:11:10,459.8952126 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 132 00:11:11,349.90223164 --> 00:11:19,449.89307637 Everywhere you go, look for opportunities to teach the next generation about the commandments that I am giving you today." 133 00:11:20,469.89734883 --> 00:11:25,29.89490743 And Moses does give them those Ten Commandments once again in the Book of Deuteronomy. 134 00:11:26,209.902842 --> 00:11:32,379.90101094 In fact, the word Deuteronomy, it comes from the Greek word deuteronomion, which means second law. 135 00:11:33,39.90467305 --> 00:11:41,139.89551778 In Deuteronomy, Moses gives the law to the Israelites a second time, and he says, "Do better than your parents did." 136 00:11:43,409.89794726 --> 00:11:47,309.89786382 And then he gets to that part in the sermon that you are oh so familiar with. 137 00:11:48,659.89776845 --> 00:11:53,279.89765401 He says, "You know those people that we've been talking about? You're just like them." 138 00:11:54,149.89753957 --> 00:12:00,374.89887471 We do this all the time up here, don't we? We say, "You know those Israelites, you know those Pharisees, you know those disciples." 139 00:12:01,44.89797587 --> 00:12:02,44.89791627 You're just like them. 140 00:12:02,44.89791627 --> 00:12:07,544.89803548 You break God's law in the same way, and Moses says, "You're a whole lot like your moms and your dads." 141 00:12:08,434.8983788 --> 00:12:16,494.89879842 The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness 40 years until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone. 142 00:12:17,184.89742513 --> 00:12:28,134.89818807 And here you are, right on the edge of the Promised Land, a brood of sinners standing in the place of your fathers right where they stood, and you're making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 143 00:12:29,754.89711995 --> 00:12:36,804.89826436 Not only are they committing the same sins as their moms and dads, things have gone seemingly from bad to worse. 144 00:12:38,184.89933247 --> 00:12:43,814.89658589 They're no different than the previous generation, are they? They're committing the same sins. 145 00:12:43,944.89765401 --> 00:12:45,624.89795918 The previous generation was idolatrous. 146 00:12:45,624.89795918 --> 00:12:46,294.89612813 So are they. 147 00:12:46,564.89658589 --> 00:12:48,34.8978066 The previous generation didn't trust. 148 00:12:48,294.89612813 --> 00:12:49,904.89673848 They don't trust either. 149 00:12:51,224.8964333 --> 00:12:53,294.89612813 They're no different than the previous generation. 150 00:12:53,294.89612813 --> 00:12:56,164.89887471 They haven't been chain breakers at all. 151 00:12:58,274.89793773 --> 00:13:04,564.89795918 And like any good preacher, Moses would have let them sit in that moment for just a minute and consider their sinfulness. 152 00:13:06,734.89793773 --> 00:13:12,154.89807362 And then he would have gotten to that next part of the sermon, the part of the sermon that you know and love. 153 00:13:12,154.89807362 --> 00:13:14,104.89788289 You're very familiar with this. 154 00:13:15,114.89811177 --> 00:13:21,454.89826436 He would have said, "Just like God's grace to that previous generation applied to them, it applies to you as well." 155 00:13:22,274.89795918 --> 00:13:30,294.89841695 They didn't deserve to leave Egypt, and you don't deserve to go to the Promised Land, but you're gonna get there anyways, not because you deserve it. 156 00:13:31,74.89719624 --> 00:13:39,454.89826436 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. 157 00:13:40,534.89628072 --> 00:13:41,574.89719624 You don't listen to God. 158 00:13:41,574.89719624 --> 00:13:43,294.89841695 You don't submit to his authority. 159 00:13:43,294.89841695 --> 00:13:45,984.89704366 You put yourself first in every way imaginable. 160 00:13:45,984.89704366 --> 00:13:52,484.89704366 And yet despite that, God is going to keep his promise to you out of his grace and his love for you. 161 00:13:52,854.89979024 --> 00:14:03,624.8964333 And that next generation of Israelites, they did get to go to the Promised Land, that land flowing with milk and honey, a place they didn't get to, a place they didn't deserve to go to at all. 162 00:14:05,634.89856954 --> 00:14:13,484.89704366 And as they reflect on entering the Promised Land, Moses says, "There is a proper response to God's great love that he has given to you." 163 00:14:14,974.89490743 --> 00:14:18,124.8964333 And the Pastors are always gonna do this as part of a sermon as well. 164 00:14:18,934.90162129 --> 00:14:22,394.90070577 He says, "Now respond to God's great love for you by loving him back." 165 00:14:22,664.89734883 --> 00:14:27,814.89887471 And as his sermon closes out in Deuteronomy 11, Moses repeats that Shema once again. 166 00:14:28,404.8952126 --> 00:14:32,34.90009541 He tells the Israelites once again to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength. 167 00:14:32,834.89551778 --> 00:14:35,864.89429707 Except this time he says, "Don't do it to get God's love." 168 00:14:36,694.89612813 --> 00:14:38,694.89612813 He says, "Do it because you already have it." 169 00:14:39,244.89917989 --> 00:14:47,314.89887471 This is the proper response to God's love for you, by loving him back, and you show that you love him by doing the things that he wants you to do. 170 00:14:49,94.89765401 --> 00:14:54,874.8964333 And maybe he said, "And my prayer for you this week is that, that you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 171 00:14:55,344.89765401 --> 00:14:55,804.89673848 Amen. 172 00:14:58,199.89798779 --> 00:15:01,9.89793057 Quite the sermon if I do say so myself. 173 00:15:01,579.89786382 --> 00:15:07,769.89792104 I actually looked it up in the audio Bible this week, and it took Moses 54 minutes to preach that sermon. 174 00:15:08,809.89788289 --> 00:15:09,159.89826436 Now St. 175 00:15:09,159.89826436 --> 00:15:14,559.89788289 John's family, we cannot let Moses win, so we've got a few more things to go through today. 176 00:15:16,769.8979568 --> 00:15:19,719.89806409 As we close out this message, I want you to understand a few things. 177 00:15:20,989.8978066 --> 00:15:24,599.89841695 Understand that that Shema, that is not just a thing of the Old Testament. 178 00:15:24,599.89841695 --> 00:15:29,829.89795918 That's not just a thing of the past that other people did, that previous generations did. 179 00:15:30,719.89830251 --> 00:15:33,139.89742513 That Shema, it applies to you. 180 00:15:33,369.89887471 --> 00:15:36,969.89734883 You are too to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 181 00:15:37,179.89834065 --> 00:15:39,459.89711995 So I want you to take a second and reflect. 182 00:15:40,559.89750142 --> 00:16:25,249.89612813 Look in the mirror for just a minute and ask yourself how you doing on this commandment? Is God always your top priority? Consider, are you putting God first in every area of your life? How about your finances, right? If someone looked at the way you spent your money over the past month, what conclusion would they come to about what is most important to you? Or how about that precious time that God has entrusted to you? If someone looked at the way that you spent your time over the last week, what conclusion would they come to about what is most important to you? Or the talents God has entrusted to you, or the people that God has entrusted to you, and the relationships that you have, and how you talk to those people and pray for those people. 183 00:16:26,749.89612813 --> 00:16:51,569.8982644 What conclusion would people come to as they looked at all those things about what is most important to you? Ooh, that's not one mirror that's fun to look into at all, is it? Because as you look in that mirror, you're gonna see someone who's a whole lot like the Israelites in our text today, aren't you? You're gonna see someone who's stiff necked, someone who is proud, stubborn, and unwilling to change or submit to authority. 184 00:16:52,279.8973488 --> 00:17:06,799.8978066 You're not gonna see a chain breaker at all, are you? You're gonna see someone who sins just like the previous generations, someone who doesn't follow that Shema just like the previous generations, someone who is just like those Israelites out in the wilderness. 185 00:17:08,589.8987221 --> 00:17:10,219.8997902 Just sit there with that for a second. 186 00:17:11,549.8978066 --> 00:17:22,299.8978066 Doesn't feel good, does it? Of course, just like the law and the text applies to you, know that God's grace in the text applies to you as well. 187 00:17:23,319.8982644 --> 00:17:33,409.8984169 You see, our sin had left us separated from God, hadn't it? We weren't chain breakers, but God sent a chain breaker just for you, just for me. 188 00:17:35,289.8994851 --> 00:17:44,149.9000954 Celebrating Mother's Day today, right? Well, there is almost certainly a photo, if you will, of the most celebrated mother of all time, the Virgin Mary. 189 00:17:45,379.895823 --> 00:17:54,274.8979878 Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit so he could overcome and break the chain of sin that we could not earn. 190 00:17:54,554.8979592 --> 00:17:59,674.8978447 Born of woman, born under the law to redeem those under the law, and that's exactly what Jesus did. 191 00:18:00,364.8983788 --> 00:18:04,684.8980736 And the way He did it was by living out that Shema perfectly. 192 00:18:05,794.8977303 --> 00:18:11,74.8984169 Every single moment of Jesus' life, God was always His top priority. 193 00:18:11,664.8985695 --> 00:18:13,594.8988747 Consider how incredible that is. 194 00:18:14,74.8984169 --> 00:18:27,4.8987221 Every minute, every second, it was all about, "God, what would you have me do for you?" Jesus lived out that Shema perfectly, and then He took his perfect self to the cross. 195 00:18:28,414.8985695 --> 00:18:33,904.8964333 And on the cross, Jesus gives and God gives that next generation the best of Himself. 196 00:18:35,334.8967385 --> 00:18:44,404.8964333 When Jesus dies on that cross for all generations, He gives them His righteousness and He takes our sins onto Himself. 197 00:18:46,804.8979401 --> 00:18:51,524.8977303 And because we get Jesus' righteousness, we get something that we don't deserve at all. 198 00:18:51,524.8977303 --> 00:18:55,94.8983788 Isn't that right? We get to go to the Promised Land. 199 00:18:55,994.8979973 --> 00:19:08,494.8970437 Because of what Jesus did, we get to go to that Promised Land of Heaven, a place where there is no more hurt, no more pain, no more anxiety, no more worry, where Jesus personally wipes away every tear from our eyes. 200 00:19:10,264.8975014 --> 00:19:15,754.8972725 We didn't deserve that at all, not with these stiff necks that each and every one of us has. 201 00:19:17,804.8984169 --> 00:19:22,294.8962807 And my friends, there is a proper response to what Jesus has done for you. 202 00:19:22,904.8968911 --> 00:19:25,174.8973488 And believe it or not, it's my very important point of the day. 203 00:19:26,24.8996377 --> 00:19:29,374.8981118 The proper response to what Jesus has done for you here, oh St. 204 00:19:29,374.8981118 --> 00:19:31,884.8964333 John's family, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 205 00:19:32,194.8978066 --> 00:19:36,884.8964333 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 206 00:19:37,224.8965859 --> 00:19:39,484.8987221 And in case you forgot, this is very important. 207 00:19:39,864.8997902 --> 00:19:43,264.8975014 In fact, Jesus said it's the most important commandment there is. 208 00:19:45,124.8981118 --> 00:19:55,564.8967385 So once again, as we close out this message, look in that mirror and ask yourself, "Where am I not putting God first?" But don't wallow in that sin. 209 00:19:56,874.8942971 --> 00:19:57,684.8994851 You don't have to. 210 00:19:58,94.8955178 --> 00:20:03,814.8967385 Because Jesus broke the cycle of sin, you get to go through this cycle each and every day. 211 00:20:04,544.9000954 --> 00:20:09,524.895823 You get to look in that mirror, realize where you fall short, and you get to go to God. 212 00:20:09,694.9016213 --> 00:20:14,634.8964333 Repent of those sins, be turned away from them, and turn towards the one who can actually do something about them. 213 00:20:14,964.8982644 --> 00:20:16,304.8946023 Receive His forgiveness. 214 00:20:16,574.8988747 --> 00:20:17,534.8979592 Ask for His help. 215 00:20:17,634.8964333 --> 00:20:23,934.8994851 He empowers you to then respond to His great love by loving Him back and doing the things that He wants you to do. 216 00:20:25,904.9007058 --> 00:20:26,524.895823 And of course, St. 217 00:20:26,524.895823 --> 00:20:29,814.8967385 John's family, my prayer for you this week is that you do just that. 218 00:20:30,204.8961281 --> 00:20:36,634.8964333 May you receive Jesus' love each and every day and respond to His great love by living out that Shema. 219 00:20:36,854.897654 --> 00:20:39,44.9000954 May you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 220 00:20:39,304.8946023 --> 00:20:41,534.897654 May you do this because of Jesus, in Jesus' name. 221 00:20:42,494.897654 --> 00:20:43,4.897654 Amen. 222 00:20:46,425.8979592 --> 00:20:48,75.8979592 You've been listening to a sermon from St. 223 00:20:48,75.8979592 --> 00:20:50,155.8979592 John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. 224 00:20:50,475.8979592 --> 00:20:52,275.8979592 If you would like more information about St. 225 00:20:52,275.8979592 --> 00:20:57,935.8979592 John's and any of our ministries to our community and beyond, you can go to our website, www. 226 00:20:58,25.8979592 --> 00:20:58,265.8979592 stjohnsbuffalo. 227 00:20:59,505.8969592 --> 00:20:59,835.8969592 org. 228 00:21:00,215.8969592 --> 00:21:01,505.8979592 Thank you and God bless you.