Excellence in Christ
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
For as long as Bobby could remember, his mother had dressed him in red socks. There was never an exception to the rule. Anytime Bobby left the house he was wearing red socks. Of course, such a thing made him the target of jokes and wisecracks by his friends.
For as long as Bobby could remember, his mother had dressed him in red socks. There was never an exception to the rule. Anytime Bobby left the house he was wearing red socks. Of course, such a thing made him the target of jokes and wisecracks by his friends.
Finally, Bobby asked his mother, “Why the red socks? Why am I the only one who has to wear red socks?” His mother replied, “It’s for your own safety. If you get lost or wander away, we’ll be able to find you easily. I’ll just tell people, “Look for the handsome little boy in the red socks.”
I have given each of the 8th graders a pair of green socks. Your classmates have the same socks so they can encourage you to stand up and stand out for your faith. If you become lost in the ways of the world, your classmate can just tell people, “Look for the good looking teen with one green sock.” I also gave you green socks for WLS. Besides, red is the color for Friedens.
Many of us have at one time or another felt like God has dressed us up in the red socks of faith. He expects us to do things nobody else has to do. We have to go to church to worship Him. We have to give our offerings to support ministry at our churches, school and missions. We have to behave, work hard in school, play hard in sports, listen to our parents, watch our language and do a ton of other things that other people don’t. Even worse, those red or green socks of faith get us picked on.
But God wants us to gladly put on those socks of faith, stand up and stand out – to be excellent in Christ. Our theme this school year has been “Excellence in Christ” based on Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
God called Abraham in his senior years to be a stranger in a strange land. God called Joseph to stand strong in the empty cistern, as Potiphar’s slave and the jailer’s prisoner. God called Moses to lead a stubborn people out of harm’s way through walls of water, the dry desert and venomous vipers. God called Joshua to challenge the whole Israelite nation: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
You know that wearing socks and sandals together looks goofy (unless soccer players are wearing them), but these heroes of faith were gladly and proudly wearing their socks of faith under their sandals. They stood up and stood out. They were excellent in the coming Christ.
What about you? WLS students, were you excellent in Christ throughout the year? Did you always strive for that A, take good notes, listen to your teacher’s instructions, follow your coach’s correction and obey your parents exhortation? Did you put in the time and effort in the classroom, on the athletic field and at home with your family to be excellent in Christ? Could people see the socks of faith you were wearing?
8th graders, when you are in high school in 3 months, will your classmates be able to see that you are different from everybody else – in the prayers you say in the lunchroom, the gossip you refuse to listen to, the language you refrain from using, the clothing you wear, the messages you post, the relationships you have and the love you express? Will you be excellent in Christ? Or will you blend in with the crowd, hide your faith and cover up your socks?
Parents, grandparents and everybody else, what does it say about our Savior when you, His people, do an inconsistent job on the assembly line? What does it tell the curious when they see you doing work in a slipshod manner? What does it say when you respond to God’s love in a shoddy way with your poor worship, prayer and Bible study habits? Have you been excellent in Christ? Or can people see the tan lines on your legs because you have taken off your socks?
Sadly, regrettably, ashamedly, whether a grade schooler, a future high schooler or an adult, we have not been excellent, nor is there any hope for us to be excellent. Except … except … in Christ.
Truly we give thanks that our God doesn’t ever work the way we do. We can rejoice that we don’t have a cut-rate, bargain-basement God who is always looking to get off as easily as possible. We are encouraged that we don’t have a God who gets economical when it comes to our salvation.
God always, always gives His best. He is always excellent through Christ.
When God created the universe and all it contains, everything was “excellent.” When He wished to redeem doomed and damned sinners, He sent us His most excellent gift – His very own Son. God saved us from our previous empty way of life through the excellent blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. In the waters of Baptism, our heavenly Father covered us with Christ and said of Jesus, “This is my Son, whom I love, I am pleased with His excellence.” When Christ wants to feed and forgive our faith, He doesn’t just give us a morsel of bread or a sip of wine, but He gives us His own excellent presence where He is both Host and Meal. When God wishes to tell us the gracious story of salvation, He put it in a Book and blessed the messenger and hearer saying, “How excellent are the feet of those who bring good news!”
The Lord, who created us and brought us to faith, doesn’t stop there. He now grants us the talents we have and empowers us to live a life of love. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10). We have been saved so we can now serve the God who saved us. God even places specific works before us to do so that we might be a blessing to people around us. Those opportunities don’t appear by chance. God Himself throws them in our path.
Nearly everywhere you look you’ll see people to love, serve and forgive. Across the dinner table you’ll see a spouse who needs more than a meal or a paycheck – she needs your attention, appreciation and affection; he needs your support and encouragement. Locked away in his room you’ll find a teenager who needs more than clothing, a cell phone and a stocked refrigerator; he needs your time and your interest, even if he imagines that the stocked fridge will suffice.
Next door you’ll see a lonely widow who feels forgotten; she needs your company. Across the street you’ll spot a neighbor juggling six boxes after returning from the store; he needs your hand. At the office you’ll notice a co-worker swamped with responsibilities; she needs your empathy and your assistance.
The person who sits next to you in church needs your prayers. The unchurched, grumpy neighbor needs you to share Christ’s message of love, grace and forgiveness. The people in our church and community need the ministry and missions provided by our churches and this school.
Every need is an opportunity for you to be excellent in Christ.
I can tell you that Bobby’s story ended with him appreciating his mother, her thoughtfulness and his red socks. Elijah was outnumbered 450 to 1 on Mt. Carmel
For all of you, but tonight especially for you 8th graders, God is calling upon you to put on your green socks – to stand up and stand out – to be excellent in Christ. You’ll be easy to spot. And as you’re wearing them, remember these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Amen.
Closing service and graduation for Wisconsin Lutheran School, May 26, 2011
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