Cheaper Than a Therapist’s Couch
Cheaper than a therapist’s couch
SERMON PREP
Ephesians 2:1-3
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.\”
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When a pile of significant losses hit at once in August 2014, I went to a therapist in Scranton. Her suburban office was in her home, right off the front door, and the whole space wreaked of cats. Bad cats. Really smelly, bad cats.
Before sitting on this stiff, unforgiving antique furniture piece (it wasn’t quite a chair or couch), I knew what you should know if you go into therapy: The therapist will guide you. The pro will talk to you, empathize with you, and offer a snapshot glance only a stranger can give. But the truth is the truth. You have to do the work. It’s on you.
Or is it? Here in Ephesians, Paul gives it to us on a plate similar to one we had this past Thursday. It’s just full of weight and meat, like the Thanksgiving meal you just enjoyed. Like a grandma passing you more food than you have the stomach for, the Apostle doesn’t hold back. He tells us why we are dead (disobedience and many sins) and (gulp!) can feel the affects of one angry God when we obey the devil, the command of the powers of the unseen world.
Boom. Truth. A lot of truth.
And Paul is right. He shares what we need to hear—whether we are ready for it or not. We all used to live in sin. We used to obey the devil. But there is good news. He says the Spirit is at work.
And it is.
Follow that Spirit’s pull on your soul and get to Advent. A pew isn’t as comfortable as a couch (but is more comfortable than that piece I was on). Find peace. Experience peace. Live peace. Get to Advent which starts tomorrow in a church near you. Follow the passionate desires and inclinations of your perfect heart, the one that wants to live with Emmanuel, God with us.
Amen.
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