February 6, Ash Wednesday Service 6:30 pm

Lesson: Joel 2.1-2, 12-17, 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10

Sermon Title: Day and Time

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  1. God has set boundary lines beyond which we, of ourselves, cannot go.

  2. We, too, draw lines and follow them.

    1. GOAL LINES (which are personal and community)

      1. Not those at each end of a football field.

      2. Goals that we intend to accomplish.

      3. How hard are we willing to work for them?

    2. HIGHWAY LINES (which are personal and community)

      1. Streets have broken lines, solid lines, yellow lines, double ones.

      2. The lines are there to help us avoid running into each other.

      3. They tell us when, according to the Department of Transportation it is safe to pass.

      4. Sometimes our lines merge with another's and then we have to be careful.

        1. Careful not to run into other people or hurt their feelings.

        2. We have expectations that they will do the same for us.

    3. BOUNDARY LINES

      1. International, property, state, school district, personal.

      2. Not always easily identifiable, but often necessary.

      3. Uses of personal:

        1. How far do you let another person use you?

        2. How far do you allow yourself to stray across your line?

        3. Where do you draw the line?

        4. What do you use to draw the line?

    4. TIME LINES

      1. Remember to be home by 10 o'clock!

      2. Each of us have only so much time.

      3. We learn to use time wisely

A man was driving out in the country and saw a strange sight.

A farmer was holding a pig up to an apple tree,

Out of intense curiosity, the man stopped and talked with the farmer.

"It looks like you are feeding your pig."

"Yes," said the farmer.

"Do you feed all your pigs this way?"

"Yes," said the farmer.

"Doesn't it take a long time to feed your pigs this way?"

"Yep," said the farmer, 'but time don't mean nothing to a pig."

      1. Time does mean something special to us.

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  1. God has set a time line for humanity.

    1. There is a point beyond which the average human being may not go.

    2. This is why Paul writes as he does in 2 Corinthians 6:2, 11, 13, NRSVA.:

2For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you,

and on a day of salvation I have helped you."

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

11We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.

13In return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also.

  1. Time is a boundary that may be crossed by those who have accepted the loving provision of God for our salvation.

    1. That is why we seek spiritual growth through forgiveness and the blotting out of personal liabilities and anxieties.

    2. This is why we enter into act of confession and repentance.

    3. We desire to cross the human boundary line and enjoy the benefits that are available to us through Jesus Christ.

Amen

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