Sermon  Dec. 10, 1997  Text:  1 Peter 1:18-25   "Straw Has its Uses"

How shall we prepare a place for the Lord?  And where?  This Advent we look
at some of the simple materials which surrounded our Lord at His birth.  We
hope to find lessons there which will prepare us for His coming.  For this
service our focus is on straw.  This material is presumed to have been
present based on tradition and not any biblical evidence.  Yes, we sing in
"Away in the Manger" of the "the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay."  The
hay is presumed to be present, because all Scripture mentions is that Jesus
was laid in the manger.  The manger was a feeding trough, and if it was
made of stone as we suggested last Wednesday, then it would be good to have
some padding, like hay or straw.

Straw and grass in the bible have an important characteristic, that being
they are not permanent.  Straw is something which is consumed, expended,
and replaced.  Animals may munch on it, bed down on it and eventually the
stableboy, like pictured on the cover of your bulletin, will replace it.
Straw is there to serve its purpose and when it has been used it is gotten
rid of.

How does the Bible speak of straw and grass?  John the Baptist explained
that God was coming to separate the wheat from the chaff.  The chaff is
burned up to get rid of it.

Matthew and Luke share Jesus' teaching "grass withers, and gets thrown into
the fire."  Eventually it is consumed as fuel.  Even this temporary
material God cares for, so will he not care for us all the more?

Psalm 37 says that the wicked wither like grass.  In Job, too, we are told
that the godless ones, those who forget God, will wither more quickly than
grass.  The same book tells us that the wicked facing God's anger are like
straw before the wind or chaff picked up by a gale.

Our reading from 1 Peter also compared people to grass.  We are short lived
in our sinful lives like grass has a short life.  In our guilty, unforgiven
state, we do not have long to live.

As Christmas approaches, we ought to consider how we use things.  Are we
tempted to hang on to things that should be used instead?  Are we tempted
to stockpile them and treasure them instead of using them as God intended?

How about the season of Advent and Christmas.  Does it become an end in
itself for us, rather than a means of worshipping God and accepting His
gifts.  Some say they wish the season would last all year.  The season,
however, is like straw and exists not for the purpose of Christmas, but for
the purpose of proclaiming Christ.

How about our money and possessions?  Are we tempted to treat these as
something which we can hold on to permanently?  They are, rather, given to
us to use, to expend, to be consumed according to God's will.

Also, how about the love and care we should be expending?  Are we tempted
to hoard these as well, and only give them out grudgingly, in small doses
and only to those who we consider worthy?


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What a joy it is to tell you that God has not hoarded His love for us.  God
did not hold back but gave freely, in the most incredible gift.  That gift
came as a child, asleep on the hay.  That one the Father sent because He so
loved the world.

Like straw, our Savior came to be used.  He came to die as the sacrificial
lamb in our places.  He came to be expended and consumed for our benefit.
He did not expend perishable things such as gold or silver, but rather His
precious, holy blood.  He gave His life, and got it back again, in order to
provide us with something permanent.  A life is provided for us which is
not built like a house of straw, but, rather, built on a rock.  The solid
foundation of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection are that which we can
securely base our faith and life.  This word of the Lord endures forever.
In Christ, we are born again, and we inherit eternal life, not the short
life our sins deserve.  The living and enduring word of God we are born of
imperishable seed.

"Grass withers and flowers fade."  That does not testify to their lack of
importance.  Rather it indicates their usefulness.  They are important
because of how they are to be used.  Our Savior is also important in how He
should be used.  He should be used as the focus of our love and trust.  Our
confidence lies in His works to secure us freedom from punishment.  May you
make good use of your Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.






























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