EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER SERIES: SET A PLACE FOR GOD Rev. Kip Gilts Ephesians 5:21

 

Between Christmas and New Year's I had the chance to spend time with my family in Findlay, Ohio. I don't know how it is with your family, but we generally cover three main topics when we get together: sports, memories and TV shows. I was not aware that my family knows so much about Rachel Ray and Reality TV. One day the debate was over whether Trading Spaces or Extreme Home Makeover was the better TV show. Several family members, whom I am sure wish to remain anonymous, voted against the Extreme Home Makeover, because as they put it, "It is too extreme and too sad." I have to confess that I have never seen a full episode of this show, but did remember them coming to the Navasota area to rebuild a farmhouse for a family that rescues animals. That did not seem too sad, but as I went on-line to check out some other episodes, I found myself overwhelmed by the level of human tragedy and the depth of  ­human compassion. There were the Kubenas of East Bernard, Texas whose twin girls Sara and Tara both developed leukemia at the age of two and have been fighting for their lives for the last five years. The trailer that housed the twins, their two other siblings and parents provided no shelter from the germs that can pass between other family members. There was Shawna Farina who has battled breast cancer for years in a Midwestern home with no insulation. There was Kristina Ripatti, a Los Angeles Police Officer who was shot in the line of duty and paralyzed from the chest down. The two-bedroom house in which she, her husband and daughter lived was no longer adequate for someone confined to a wheelchair. I quit researching after those. I now understand how few people can watch the show without shedding tears of compassion and joy for a family whose heartaches have prompted a community to action.
              As I left the website that introduces all the families featured on this popular show, my heart sank. I realize that these are not the only people in need of an Extreme Home Makeover. There are many families in our communities and, in fact, some that are here today, that are in need of an Extreme Home Makeover. It may not be that the house is insufficient or that a physical limitation makes the environment unsatisfactory. You may live in a mansion on a golf course or in a third story dormitory and still be in need of an Extreme Home Makeover. The kind of transformation I'm talking about, as you may have already guessed, is not one of a physical structure, but the life that goes on inside that dwelling place. As we begin a New Year, I'd like to invite you to participate in an Extreme Home Makeover that works from the inside out. 
              We start at the Table. This is where stories are told, the day is reviewed, eyes connect. I hope that you have been at the table this past week. If not, perhaps you will make the opportunity to do so this next week. My daughter arranged her schedule in college around table time with her friends. They would all meet in the dining hall at the same time so they could eat together. Table time is possible in almost any setting. Even here.
             The Table seems to accent the importance of perspective and relationships. The Apostle Paul outlined a Household Code that speaks to life around the Table. In Ephesians 5 and 6 he wrote about relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, slaves and masters, church and preachers. The whole section, however, is written under one umbrella verse - Ephesians 5:21, found on page 195 of your New Testament. Hear now the Word of the Lord:
              Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.
              This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Don't be fooled be the brevity of this passage. If you take this one verse to heart and apply it this week, you will be well on your way to an Extreme Home Makeover. In this one verse Paul encouraged the Ephesians to look at one another in light of their relationship with Christ. Let us pray.

This week I encourage you to set a place for Christ at your table.

 

WHEN CHRIST IS PRESENT, PERSPECTIVE IS PROPER.

The perspective being promoted by Paul was mutual submission. It was one in which the darkness of immorality, impurity and greed gave way to the light of righteousness, goodness and truth. Earlier in chapter 5 Paul contrasted where the Ephesians had been before Christ was at their table and where they are now. Before hand they did things that were even shameful to mention, but now they were to treat each other with respect seeking good for one another. The whole perspective had changed.

In his book, Doing Church as a Team, Wayne Cordeiro tells the story of a friend of his who had a major paper to complete in order to graduate from college. The student did like many of us have, waited until the last minute and then spent sleepless nights and endless trips to the library. Finally the paper was complete and submitted. Three days later, Cordeiro's friend received his paper back and found these words written on the top of the paper (in red): "Good research.  Great illustrations.  Wonderful bibliography.  Grade: ‘F’ …WRONG ASSIGNMENT.”          
            Cordeiro laughs as he recalls the story, but then wrote an arresting application. "I

certainly don't want to stand before God on that final day and hear Him say: 'Nice house. Great job. Nice boat. Wonderful salary. Grade: 'F'... Wrong assignment!'" He continued to apply the story to churches who are in danger of hearing: "Great building  program. Nice socials. Great prayer meetings. Beautiful sanctuary renovation. Grade: 'F'... Wrong assignment!"
            When we -get too far away from the Table or lose sight of Christ who is with us, we can operate under some improper perspectives. This one verse assures us that when Christ is present our perspective is proper. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Set a place for Christ at your table.

 

WHEN CHRIST IS AT YOUR TABLE, RELATIONSHIPS ARE RIGHT.

There are a lot of opportunities for grudges around a table. After all, we don't need to spend a lot of time with people before we can feel wronged by them. Around our family table in Ohio, there were all sorts of trespasses that could be recalled. My brother Kemp sticking a dart in my brother Kris' back. My sister Diane, tattling on me for going out of the house when I was forbidden to do so one day. There were also bigger hurts like divorce, alcoholism, jealously and lies. It would be easy to scowl across the table and say, "There is nothing that you can say that can make me be subject to you!" But then if we look down the table at Christ, we realize how much deeper our blows have wounded him and yet he loves us - with all that he is he loves us. Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I learned a lot on this trip back to Ohio. Much of it I learned from the youngest member of the family, Ella Rose Nelson, born July 31,2006. Last Sunday at her baptism the pastor recited a letter that he had written for my great niece, my brother's granddaughter. Allow me to read an excerpt of that letter to you.

 

As Michael read that letter tears began to well up in my eyes. It is easy to forget who you are and as a result lose sight of the relationships around the table. As I look into the baptismal font I see a reflection of myself in Christ. As I come to this Table I see the presence of Christ who loved me so much that he gave himself up for me. As I look around the Table I see you and realize that Christ loves you just as much. How can we misbehave at the Table where Christ is seated?

             Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Set a place for Christ at your table.

As we prepare to come to his Table, I want to invite to do something at your table this week. Set an extra place. As you look at that place setting, know that Christ is there. How does that change your perspective? How does it affect your relationships?

 Amen.