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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I was asked to speak last week at my church, The Cross, while Pastor Yaou Yang was on vacation.
Here was my message and my prayer:
“We should be happier than we are. That’s my message and prayer today.
I’ve been thinking about it since Amazon delivered a new tee shirt to my house last week.
You have to be my age or older to remember The Partridge Family TV show. It was a sitcom about a mother and her five children who formed a band. They performed at places like county fairs or sometimes at the local Elks Club. Each episode ended with one of their songs… many of them weren’t very good. But the show’s theme song was catchy and memorable, “C’mon Get Happy.”
And that’s my new tee shirt. It has a picture of the five partridges-mama and her five babies, and it says C’mon Get Happy across the top. I would have worn it today, but it’s already in the wash.
We, Christians, are a forgiven people. And there should be great joy in that.
It is written in scripture: “He who claims to have to no sin is a deceiver and the truth is not in him.” Please take a moment to reflect about the times that you’ve fallen short of God’s standards.
Now hear the good news. Scripture also says those who call on Jesus’ name are cleansed of all iniquity. That our sin is remembered no more. It is removed as far as the east is from the west. Such forgiveness, such unimaginable grace, should make us all happy.
While we are told that God forgives us, we know there are many people who do not forgive or forget. They remember. They talk about us. God promises us that a banquet will be prepared for us in front of our enemies. Our heads will be anointed with oil. Our cup will overflow. Pray for those who can’t forgive.
And there are many of us who remember those who have wronged us. We keep score and try to get even. That anger only rots us from the inside; no one can see God within us when we are angry at others. Native American wisdom says holding onto anger is like taking poison and expecting someone else to get sick. As we are forgiven, we are called on to forgive others.
We are told, “This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” That’s not God’s commentary about the weather. If you know that you are forgiven, live joyfully, as God intends you to.”
Chris Conley
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