To what or whom do you cling?
Who or what gives you security?
In the comic strip Peanuts, Linus is always with his blanket.
I remember reading a strip where Linus is pictured
sitting on the ground holding blanket and sucking his thumb.
He is sound asleep.
In the next frame is a picture of Snoopy crouching ready to attack.
The next few frames show Snoopy running to Linus
and grabbing the blanket to steal it.
Much to Snoopy’s dismay, Linus holds on.
Snoopy runs all over the yard
trying to shack Linus loose from the blanket.
In the last frame Snoopy is clutching one end of the blanket
and Linus is clinging to the other end.
(Pause)
The blanket is stretched across the top of Snoopy’s house
dangling Snoopy and Linus on each end.
No one could take Linus’ blanket away from him.
(Pause)
Don’t we want something or someone to cling to for security.
Linus clings to his blanket, what do you cling to?
Clinging to some one or something can be good or bad.
It all depends on why we cling.
Clinging is unhealthy when we cling to people or things that hold us back.
Linus has a co-dependent relationship with his blanket.
His blanket provides a false sense of security.
He expects from the blanket what it cannot deliver.
Clinging is healthy when we cling to people or things that help me grow.
If someone truly loves you,
they will want you to be the best person you can be.
They will do whatever they can to help you excel in life.
(Pause)
During our life time,
we will cling to many people who will shape us
into people of character and integrity: parents, grandparents, teachers, friends.
Healthy relationships are those where we are encouraged, challenged, supported, and loved.
The problem is this.
Even healthy, solid people make mistakes.
Even the person you admire the most will let you down some time.
From time to time even the most wise person will make the wrong decision.
We are all sinful human beings.
(Pause)
So, who can we cling to who will never let us down or who will never mislead us?
Who can we cling to who will help me to grow into a mature spiritual person.
Well, we can cling to Jesus because…
He is the Son of God
(Pause)
We can cling to Jesus because as the Son of God,
he has complete authority to help us
with our problems which can be handled in many ways.
(Pause)
We also can cling to Jesus because…
He understands my weaknesses (4:15).
Even though Jesus is the Son of God,
he became a human being so that he could relate with us.
He became a human so that he could communicate
the Good News of God’s love and God’s forgiveness.
While Jesus was fully human, he experienced life just like we do.
* He got hungry.
* He got tired.
* He got frustrated with people.
* He laughed.
* He cried.
* He loved people.
* He was used by people.
* He was hurt by people.
* He was misunderstood by those closest to him.
* He was limited to time and space just as are.
Jesus understands our limitations and weaknesses because he has been there.
Clinging to someone who understands gives us comfort and encouragement.
This is why support groups are so important.
When we are struggling with something and need help,
we want to talk to someone who has been through it
and has overcome or is overcoming the problem.
We want to talk with someone who has more wisdom and experience than we have.
We want to talk with someone who can help me
to objectively see the whole situation.
(Pause)
Jesus understands our weaknesses.
But he doesn’t allow us to use our weaknesses as an excuse.
We tend to use our weaknesses to excuse ourselves
from doing the right or responsible thing.
(Pause)
Learning that we have weaknesses can be liberating
because we finally understand why we behave the way we do.
However, if we’re not careful,
we will begin to use our weakness as an excuse
not to do what God is calling us to do.
So, instead of clinging to the One is greater than our weaknesses,
we cling to our weaknesses because we feel safe within them.
(Pause)
So today we go through changes in our life as the church and personally…
Who will we depend on?
Verse 16 contains a great promise.
Because we cling to Jesus,
we can boldly come to him when we need help
and we will receive grace, mercy, and the help we need.
(Pause)
To whom or what will you cling to as we continue on from today?
We need to Cling to Jesus.
Cling to his every word.
For us when we cling to Jesus,
which can be easier said then done,
but I know we can do it with the help and love of each other….
we can have a life that is filled with love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.