Lamb Food

Beyond Your Control

2012-02-12T12:41:00.001-06:00

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

2 Kings 5:1-14

Naaman was a military officer—the commander of the army of the King of Syria. He was a go-getter, a man in control. He gave orders and got things done. He yelled “Jump!” and those under his command replied “How high?” But sometimes life throws things at you that seem insurmountable. As strong and powerful and in control as Naaman was, he quickly learned what it meant to be helpless and hopeless. Naaman, you see, had leprosy—a dreaded disease that eats away at the nervous system and disfigures skin and bones. Once strong and powerful, Naaman now faced circumstances well beyond his control.

Have you ever been there? Have you ever faced circumstances well beyond your control? A layoff. Debt. Family or marital problems. Sickness or disease. The death of a loved one. Whatever trials and tribulations come your way, each and every one of you knows what it’s like to face circumstances beyond your control. Things don’t always work out in this fallen world the way you plan. You can have a positive attitude, you can be a visionary planner, you can even have a great work ethic … yet, there are still some things in life that are well beyond your control. The question becomes: How do you deal with those circumstances?

When Naaman heard there was a prophet in Israel who could heal, he bridled his horses, packed up his chariots with rich rewards, and headed for Israel. What a surprise it must have been, then, when Naaman wasn’t even greeted by the man of God, but instead was told by Elisha’s messenger: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

This did not sit well with Naaman. He had other expectations. “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.” Expecting a religious show, all Naaman got was the Word of God via a messenger, pointing him to a washing of water by the Word in the dirty Jordan River. So he turned around and went away in a rage, muttering: “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?”

Human reason is a funny thing, isn’t it. Naaman knew what the Jordan River was like. He has crossed it to get to the king and eventually to Elisha’s house. The Jordan is muddy, dirty, filthy. It empties into the Dead Sea, the lowest point below sea level on the face of this earth. In contrast, the rivers in Naaman’s hometown of Damascus were clean and clear. So he reasoned: Why not just go home and wash in them and be clean? Let me ask you: Would it have worked? If Naaman would have gone home and washed in the Abana or Pharpar, would he have been cleansed? No. Though those rivers were indeed cleaner and clearer than the Jordan, there was no promise attached to them. God’s promise, given by Elisha through his messenger, was attached to the waters of the Jordan. Thus, only in the waters of the Jordan would Naaman find healing.

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve pulled a Naaman before. There have been times when you followed your will and your thoughts and your desires rather than God’s word of promise. It probably happens a lot more often than you realize. This is so because the devil—your great enemy—dupes you into believing, time and time again, that you know better than God.

Consider how easily he leads you into temptation.

Consider how easily he entices you to covet what is not yours, to gossip about others, to hold a grudge, to use your eyes and your imagination to satisfy the lust in your heart.

Consider how easily he tempts you to become bored with God’s Word, to skip Bible study and move on to more important things, to think that doctrine is only for pastors, to be turned off by confessing your sin.

Make no mistake about it. You’ve pulled a Naaman before. We all have. And far too often. Repent. Put to death that sinful nature which has duped you into believing that you know better than God, that the things of this world are more important than His Word and Sacraments, that you can live life on your own terms rather than from the gracious gifts Christ so abundantly gives.

Thanks be to God Naaman’s servants were given ears to hear and hearts to believe and mouths to confess the good news spoken by Elisha’s messenger. “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” And then comes some beautiful Gospel, some good news, some healing from that water connected with God’s word of promise. Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

When God cleans a person, he’s clean. This cleansing caused Naaman to return to Elisha’s house and make the faithful confession: “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.”

By God’s grace, You know this as well. For the Triune God has washed you clean, cured the leprosy of your sin, and wrapped the perfect righteousness of His Son around you in Holy Baptism. You can be sure of this because God has attached His word of promise to that washing of the water with His Word!

Naaman eventually headed back home, cured of his leprosy, seemingly strong and powerful and in control again. But don’t kid yourself. Naaman was still flesh and blood. He was still assaulted by the devil, the world, his own sinful flesh, and various other circumstances beyond his control.

That’s where you are today. You walked in here this morning carrying your own burdens, your own aches and pains, your own trials and tribulations. Some of you might even be facing circumstances well beyond your control. More importantly, every one of you walked in here this morning bearing your sins of thought, word, and deed. So here is your Gospel, your good news. The same Lord who healed Naaman heals you as well. He forgives you freely and fully. Not because you deserve it, but simply because that is who He is. Gracious and merciful.

So when the devil dupes you into believing that you know better than God, when he tempts you to become bored with God’s Word, when he entices you to place more value on the things of this world than the things of God, listen to God’s servant as he calls you away from yourself and leads you back to Christ. Your Lord desires to wash you, to create in you a clean heart and renew in you a right spirit, day after day after day. His forgiveness is greater than your sin!

So cling to Christ in your time of need. Do not rely on your own merit, but take shelter in the arms of His mercy. Sometimes it takes circumstances beyond your control to be reminded of that. As Saint Paul writes: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Yes, dear friends, Christ is your strength. Even when the world comes crashing down on you. In His Word and in His body and blood, He fills you with Himself, His forgiveness, His love, and therein becomes your refuge and strength, your very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Are things beyond your control? Yes! But nothing is impossible with your Lord. He promises to work all things to your eternal good and gives you the strength in Word and Supper to endure. Thanks be to God!

Renewed Strength

2012-02-05T15:07:00.000-06:00

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Saint Mark 1:29-39; Isaiah 40:21-31

Dearly beloved, who of you does not look forward to a little rest and relaxation? Let’s face it, your job is demanding. People to please. Deadlines to meet. Reports to get done. And meetings to attend. And just when you think your day is over, there’s rush hour to face. Dinner to make. Laundry to do. Groceries to buy. Kids to run here and there. A conflict to resolve. And bills to pay. And just to keep things interesting, the faucet is leaking. Your car needs servicing. And a loved one is facing a crisis and needs your help. Yes, you lead a busy life. Your calendar is too full. That’s why you are weary. That’s why you are exhausted. That’s why you crave a little rest and relaxation, a good night’s sleep, the weekend, even a couple days away. It’s the cure for busyness. Or so you think.

Our Lord lived a busy life too, you know. That is very evident from today’s Holy Gospel. After spending much of the Sabbath in the synagogue, where He taught with authority and cast out an unclean spirit from a man, Jesus enters the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Perhaps He was looking forward to a few quite hours. But lo and behold, a need arises. Without a complaint, Jesus approaches Simon’s mother-in-law, who is ill with a fever, takes her by the hand, lifts her up, and heals her. At sundown, rather than going out on the town, the town comes to Jesus and gathers outside His door. This included the sick and those oppressed by demons. So much for a relaxing Saturday evening!

The next morning, Jesus will be greeted by His disciples with an urgent message: “Everyone is looking for You.” His reply: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” So off He goes throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues the good news of the kingdom of God.

How did Jesus do it? How did He face a busy schedule without growing weary and heavy laden? Without becoming exhausted? Without getting drained? The answer is right in today’s Holy Gospel. But first, back to you and your weariness.

The pressures of life aren’t the only things that weary you, you know. You also have to deal with your sinful flesh. The selfishness within. The anger that gets the best of you. The lust, envy, pride, and covetousness. The battle wages on day in and day out. The devil does not grow weary in tempting you. The world does not grow weary in enticing you. Their troops are always fresh and their weapons always find their mark. But you do grow weary. Your sinful flesh wants to waive the white flag of surrender and indulge in the temptation of the moment. In your struggle against the Old Adam, in your weariness during the battle, do you think that God has forgotten you, that your way is hidden from Him?

Isaiah has some good news for you. The Creator of the ends of the earth has sent His only-begotten Son to the front line to join you in the trenches, to fight with you and for you, to defeat the enemy you had no chance of defeating on your own. And win the victory Jesus has by means of His perfect life, His sacrificial death, and His glorious resurrection.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? There is One who never grows weary of hearing your pleas for mercy, One who never grows weary of forgiving your sins, One who never grows weary of strengthening your faith. That One is the same Jesus Christ who defeated your enemies on the cross. But He only gives power to the faint and only increases strength to him who has no might. That’s humbling, isn’t it. God does not help those who help themselves. He only helps the helpless. He only exalts the humble. He only binds up the broken and contrite heart. He only gives strength to the weary.

Like you, the blessed Martin Luther also grew weary. This morning’s text taught him to confess:

“We get tired and are worn out by Satan’s plotting and cunning tricks. But you have a God who does not get tired. He will set you free from the incessant stratagems of Satan. Satan and the world are our relentless enemies. They keep after us until at last they exhaust us. Here God consoles those who labor and are wearied: ‘I will not become weary. I have always been active, I am fresh and new. I can help you.’” [Luther’s Works XVII 30]

And that brings us back to Isaiah, who concludes with these words: “They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

In the midst of your busyness, look to Christ. See how He waited for the Lord. After a very busy Sabbath, Jesus woke up very early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, and went out to a quiet place. Not to play golf. Not to curl up with the good book. Not even for the ever popular “me time.” No! He went to a quiet, desolate place to pray to His Father. And in praying to His Father, Jesus was being renewed in strength and being mounted up with wings like eagles, so that as His feet led Him from town to town to preach the Gospel, He would not grow weary or faint. Do you suppose there’s something you can learn from Him?

When the disciples finally woke up, they searched everywhere for Jesus. When they finally found Him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You.” To which Jesus replied: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

Some are looking for Jesus for the right reasons. Some for the wrong reasons. But everyone needs what Jesus came to give. That’s why He preaches and teaches and proclaims the kingdom of God. He continues from town to town, delivering good news, forgiving sins, healing brokenness, and strengthening feeble lives.

As you can see, Jesus’ life never ceased being busy. In fact, His final week was the busiest of them all. Preaching. Teaching. Warning. Healing. Instituting a new and better Supper. Singing hymns. Praying for strength and faithfulness. Confessing the truth. Receiving the world’s spite. Being forsaken by His Father. Speaking seven beautiful words. And then proclaiming victory as He breathes His last. And then, a new week dawned. And again He is busy. Proclaiming victory. Speaking peace. Appearing to His own. Establishing the holy office of the ministry. All of this—His dying and rising again—He did for you!

Do you see now why Jesus woke up early and prayed? It gave Him renewed strength to preach. That is, after all, why He came.

Just as Jesus’ task was to preach, yours is to listen. So be found regularly on the receiving end of Jesus’ preaching. Here in His house the busyness of life stops, and the business of forgiveness, life, and salvation gets done. Here He pardons you for all the times you are too busy, not busy enough, or busy with the wrong things. Here He renews your strength. Here in Word and Supper He stoops down to you that He might bear you up with wings like eagles to your heavenly Father.

Remember that as you face a full calendar, as you juggle the responsibilities of family and work, chores and errands, commitments and involvements. When weariness comes, and it will, renew your strength in Christ. Renew your strength in His words of absolution, with every word that proceeds from His mouth, and with His body and blood. In these will you find the forgiveness, peace, and strength your weary soul so desperately needs.

Cohabitation: The Lie

2012-02-03T18:14:00.000-06:00

The following video is a funny, albeit sad, commentary on the selfishness, lies, and idolatry wrapped up in cohabitation.

The Recent HHS Decision

2012-02-03T17:44:00.000-06:00

A Statement on the Recent HHS Decision and Religious Freedom

We are deeply distressed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recent decision to require nearly all private health plans, including those offered by religious employers, to cover contraceptives. This will include controversial birth-control products such as “Ella” and the “morning after” pill, even though the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that such drugs can cause the death of a baby developing in the womb. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) objects to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception, and we are opposed to the HHS’ decision mandating the coverage of such contraceptives.

This HHS action relates to a provision in the “health care reform” legislation (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) signed into law in 2010. The church’s benefits partner, Concordia Plan Services, which provides health care coverage to nearly 48,000 people, has been actively monitoring this legislation and, as a result, Concordia Health Plan (CHP)—the LCMS church workers’ health plan—has been maintained as a “grandfathered” plan. As such, employers and workers participating in CHP would not be subjected to the mandate. However, many religious organizations do not have grandfathered plans and cannot avail themselves of the extremely narrow religious-employer exemption, which only is applicable to religious employers that primarily serve and employ members of that faith.

For centuries, Lutherans have joyfully delivered Christ’s mercy to others and embraced His call to care for the needy within our communities and around the world. In a nation that has allowed more than 54 million legal abortions since 1973, we must consider the marginalization of unborn babies and object to this mandate.

In addition, I encourage the members of the LCMS to join with me in supporting efforts to preserve our essential right to exercise our religious beliefs. This action by HHS will have the effect of forcing many religious organizations to choose between following the letter of the law and operating within the framework of their religious tenets. We add our voice to the long list of those championing for the continued ability to act according to the dictates of their faith, and provide compassionate care and clear Christian witness to society’s most vulnerable, without being discriminated against by government.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a church body of sinners redeemed by the blood of Jesus, has affected the lives of millions of people with care, aid, housing, health care, spiritual care and much more. We have been a force for good in this nation, promoting education (the nation’s largest Protestant school system), marriage and giving people the tools and assistance to be good citizens. We live and breathe Romans 13:3–7. The governing authorities are “God’s servant for good.” We pray constantly for our President and those in authority. We have sent our sons and daughters to fight for this country. We have provided military chaplains, elected officials, officers, including some who have held the highest military offices and other appointed positions in this country. Our people have and are serving as congressmen and women and senators.

Increasingly we are suffering overzealous government intrusions into what is the realm of traditional and biblical Christian conscience. We believe this is a violation of our First Amendment rights. We will stand, to the best of our ability, with all religious and other concerned citizens, against this erosion of our civil liberty. Come what may, we shall do everything we can, by God’s grace, to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

February 3, 2012

HT: Paul McCain, CyberBrethren

True Love

2012-02-01T09:46:00.000-06:00

February is almost a forgotten month. It is the shortest month, even though this year it boasts an extra day. But smack dab in the middle of this shortest month is Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day gets its name from Saint Valentine, a physician and priest who lived in Rome during the rule of Emperor Claudius. He died a martyr’s death in AD 270. Tradition suggests that on the day of his execution for his Christian faith, Valentine left a note of encouragement for a child of his jailor, written on an irregularly shaped piece of paper. This greeting became a pattern for millions of expressions of love and caring that now are the highlight of Valentine’s Day in many nations. [Treasury of Daily Prayer]

Love is part and parcel of our new life in Jesus Christ. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). That love extends to both friend and foe. In fact, the second table of the Law is summed up as follows: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39; Galatians 5:14; c.f. Romans 13:10). Having first received God’s love in Jesus Christ, our new life in Christ is lived extending that same love to our family, neighbors, coworkers, and world.

Sadly, outsiders see little evidence that love is part and parcel of the Christian life. Christians fail at this regularly. We hold on to grudges, anger, hatred, and resentment just as much as non-Christians. This is true even within the sacred institution of marriage. I believe this is so because there is a common misperception that love is the foundation of marriage. It isn’t. While love is an essential and necessary ingredient in a healthy marriage, it is not marriage’s foundation. Commitment is. When husband and wife are joined together, they vow to be faithful to one another until death parts them, because this is God’s will for every husband and wife. Look again at the vows:

I, name, take you, name, to be my wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy will; and I pledge you my faithfulness.

Notice that “love” is something you are pledging to do. Commitment demands love because God is love. Commitment demands forgiveness because God forgives. This is not only true for better, for richer, and in health, but even for worse, for poorer, and in sickness.

If you and your spouse are going through a difficult time, or you have in the past, or you will in the future, take it to the Lord in prayer, admit your own shortcomings, be forgiving of your spouse’s, work toward better communication, put your spouse’s needs above your own, be found daily in God’s Word, and seek the help of your pastor. Most marriages go through difficult times. Work through those difficulties and see how strong your marriage can become. Love—genuine love (Christ-centered love)—is founded on a common commitment to be faithful to one another and forgiving of one another, according to God’s will. That makes love much more than a fleeting emotion. Love is an active self-giving of one’s self to one’s spouse.

Divorce statistics don’t lie. Christians are just as prone to forsake God’s sacred bond as non-Christians. But not you. By God’s grace, you who receive Christ’s full and free forgiveness are eager to ask forgiveness, to forgive, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, each and every day until death parts you (for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health). Not because your heart will always be pitter-pattering with a fleeting emotion, but because you have pledged faithfulness to your spouse according to God’s holy will.

So enjoy your Valentine’s Day, however you celebrate it. And don’t forget to look to the cross, where you see true love in action, Love incarnate greeting you with the sweetest of love notes: “Father, forgive them! It is finished!”

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s February newsletter.

The Authoritative Word

2012-01-29T16:35:00.000-06:00

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Saint Mark 1:21-28

Dearly beloved, in a letter to Saint Timothy, the Apostle Paul once wrote:

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” [2 Timothy 4:2-4]

There is no shortage of itching ears in our day and age. And there is no shortage of pastors who are eager to scratch those itching ears. Walk into the average church or turn on almost any religious programing and you will most likely hear the pastor…

talk about himself,
tell a few jokes,
avoid any talk of sin and its consequences,
speak of Christ solely as role model rather than Savior,
urge his hearers to give more in the offering plate,
push them to try harder to be more Christ-like,
offer them self-help,
build up their self-esteem,
promise prosperity and blessings to those whose faith is strong enough, and
preach whatever it is his hearers want to hear.

Every time this happens, the devil rejoices. Every time Christ and His cross and His death for sinners is not preached, the devil rejoices. Every time itching ears are filled with spiritual nonsense, the devil rejoices. For it makes his job easier.

Before Jesus came on the scene and entered the synagogue and began teaching, the devil was as giddy as could be. For centuries he had been leading God’s people astray. He did this through rabbis who played lip service to God’s Word, but taught and applied it wrongly. Rather than pointing their hearers to the ultimate sacrifice, the promised scapegoat for sin, the rabbis taught that one could please God through works of the Law. Rather than pointing their hearers to the true Messiah who would save them from their sin, the rabbis spoke of a worldly messiah who would free the Jewish homeland from Roman control. In fact, the teachers of the Law in charge of the synagogues were very good at telling stories and citing human traditions and opinions, but very poor at leading God’s people to a knowledge of their sin and their need for the promised Seed of the woman.

That all changed when Jesus entered the synagogue and began teaching. In fact, Saint Mark tells us that the hearers “were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” Jesus’ preaching was music to their ears. He read God’s Word, opened up their hearts to hear and understand and believe it, pointed out their sin, and identified Himself as the One who would redeem them. Having heard other messages for so long, and because God’s Word cut them to the heart, the hearers were truly astonished as Jesus’ teaching.

That being said, there was one person in the synagogue who was not happy with Jesus’ teaching. This man had an unclean spirit. This is the first of many demons Saint Mark identifies throughout his Gospel. Demons are disruptive. They take control of the ones they possess. When this particular unclean spirit heard Jesus speak with authority the words and promises of God, when he heard Jesus speak of sin and grace, repentance and forgiveness, it was too much for him. So he cried out: “What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God.”

Though I doubt any of you have ever been physically possessed by an unclean spirit, you know from experience the many ways the devil continually assaults you. Temptations. Enticements. Evil desires. Your arch-enemy knows your sinful flesh and your weaknesses better than you. He knows how to incite you to anger, resentment, and jealousy. He knows what to place before your eyes to bring forth lust, greed, and covetousness. He knows how to drive a wedge between you and your spouse, how to divert you from raising your children in the fear and knowledge of the Lord, how to turn you against friend and neighbor. What’s more, he knows how to distract you from God’s Word, keep you away from Christ’s Supper, and sidetrack you so that your devotional and prayer life falls apart. Make no mistake about it, he is the master of a thousand arts and he uses them all to attack your faith in Jesus Christ. An honest assessment of your failures and sins should cause you to cry out to the Lord: “What have you to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy me? Your holiness is too much for me.”

The answer, of course, is No! Jesus has not come to destroy, but to save. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). That is evident in today’s Holy Gospel, for the same Jesus who taught with authority used His authority as God’s Son to seek and save the man with the unclean spirit. After hearing the demon’s mockery, Jesus rebuked him, saying: “Be silent, and come out of him!” And sure enough, Jesus’ word does what it says. With surgical precision, the great Physician of body and soul removes the demon’s claws from this poor man and casts him out, leaving this man free to rejoice in Christ.

Free in Christ. That is your joy as well. For this same Savior has gone to the cross and won the ultimate victory over the forces of hell. There He took into Himself every sin, was forsaken by the Father, and suffered and bled and died to make atonement. He did it all to crush the devil’s head and forever silence his accusations. He did it for you.

Yet, the evil one has not given up. Though he is headed for eternal destruction in the great abyss of hell, he still aims his flaming arrows at you. He wants to drag you down to where he is. What will you do? Will you be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, or go it alone? Will you put on the whole armor of God, or hide behind the façade of self-righteousness? Will you fill your ears with Christ, or accumulate for yourself teachers to suit your own passions?

As Saint Paul reminds us: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So be found daily in your baptism. Confess your sins and hear Christ’s absolution regularly. Hold preaching and God’s Word sacred and feast on Christ’s true body and blood every Lord’s Day. Through these, your Lord Jesus puts on you “the whole armor of God” — the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit — “that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

Friends, every unclean spirit must yield to the Holy One of God. Yet, as Jesus will later tell His disciples: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Your name is written in the book of life, signed with Jesus’ own blood. So “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). And then return home astonished, for His Word and Supper have justified you and freed you from the evil one.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

2012-01-22T14:03:00.000-06:00

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

(Sanctity of Life Sunday)

Psalm 139:13-16

Dearly beloved, how many of you have a passion for making things? A passion that consumes your time, your attention to detail, and your striving for perfection? Whether your passion is sewing or knitting, stamping or scrapbooking, gardening or landscaping, woodworking or fixing up classic cars, you invest yourself into learning, practicing, and perfecting this passion.

The LORD of heaven and earth also has a passion. A passion for creating things, forming things, making things. In fact, Holy Scripture describes Him as our Potter.

A potter takes a formless lump of clay, puts it onto a rotating wheel, and then uses his hands and some shaping tools to form a bowl or cup or vase or some other object. After the form He desires is there, he then dies, finishes, and fires the object to complete it. What once was a formless lump of clay is now a beautiful vessel that is useful and precious to the potter. Against that backdrop, listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8). Instead of clay, God the Father scooped up the dust of the ground on day six of creation, formed man with His own hands, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. That is how the Potter formed the first man.

But God’s creative work was not finished in Eden, for when God told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), He set into motion the biological process by which procreation happens. Although God delegates the procreation of life to His children, He is still intimately involved in that process, as King David reminds us:

“For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” [Psalm 139:13-16]

Friends, do you want to know how fearfully and wonderfully you were made by God the Father? Whereas Adam was “formed” and Eve was “built” by God, so you were “knit together” by God. Your life was given to you by God at conception, when you were but a single cell. The moment God brought together your father’s 23 chromosomes and your mother’s 23 chromosomes, you became an unrepeatable human being complete with your own unique set of DNA. Your sex was there. The color of your eyes was there. The shape of your nose and ears was there. Your fingerprints were there. And countless other things that make you … you! And soon that one cell encoded with your DNA divided into two, two into four, and so on for roughly five days, when at last that multi-celled little you was attached to your mother, where you continued your growth for the next nine months.

Approximately three weeks after conception, your little heart began beating on its own, pumping its own blood.

By month two, all your body systems were present, your central nervous system was functioning, and your brain waves were recordable.

By month three, your respiratory system began functioning and you were squinting, swallowing, waking and sleeping. And that’s just a sampling of the first three months of your life!

No wonder the Psalmist stands in awe as he ponders how the heavenly Potter forms each new human vessel. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he marvels how God formed his inward parts—his bones and organs and muscles and nerves. He marvels how God covered him—his skin and fingerprints and hair. What else is there to say but: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.”

But there is another side to life in the womb that we must never forget. While it is true that everything you are biologically was already there at conception, it is also true that everything you are by nature was also there—namely, your Old Adam. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,” writes David, “and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). To say that you are a sinner from the moment of conception necessarily means that you are also a living person from conception. For you cannot be a sinner without also being a human being.

And yet, despite your inherited sinfulness, God still loves you. You can be sure of this because the very same hands that knit you together in your mother’s womb He voluntarily stretched out on the cross that He might bleed and die for you and your salvation. What God created, He also redeemed. With His own precious blood. Once a broken vessel because of your sin, now, in Christ, you have been re-formed by the Potter’s hands into the perfect image of your Lord and Savior. Which is to say, the author of your physical life now gives you spiritual life as well. No wonder we exclaim: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Sadly, we live in a world that has turned God’s good gift of life into a burden, a liability, an inconvenience. If a mother deems the life inside her womb is not worthy of her time and attention, her discomfort and hard work, then the law of our land allows her to end her child’s life. Since the Roe v. Wade decision 39 years ago today, more than 54,000,000 living unborn babies have been aborted.

It may be legal, but it is not moral. Perhaps some of you men have encouraged the woman you got pregnant to abort that child. Perhaps some of you women have taken the life of an unborn child in your own womb. While those deeds were indeed sinful and selfish, know this: God forgives you! No sin is too big or too small for God’s grace. The Father sent His own dear Son as a one-cell life in the womb of His mother to be born, grow up, and become the Man who would suffer and die for every sin ever committed. Thus, when you repent of your sins of thought, word, and deed, whatever those sins might be, your transgressions are removed from you “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). They are over, done, paid for, and forever buried in Christ’s tomb, never to accuse you before God’s throne.

If you know someone who has had an abortion and still struggles with the guilt and pain that lingers, reassure her that Christ has taken away that sin. And if you know someone who is even now pregnant and struggling to make ends meet, do everything in your power to care for her and her child. Look after her. Be there for her. If necessary, take her in and help provide for her and her child’s health and well-being. If you can’t do this alone, there are numerous local agencies who specialize in caring for and supporting mothers-to-be in need. Assure her that she is not alone. Assure her that you, and we as a church, and many others are here for her and her child, both before and after the birth.

We stand at a crossroads in our culture’s history. What will we do? Will we remain silent on these issues or will we stand up and proclaim the truth in love to a culture that desperately needs that truth? Will we continue to elect leaders who advance these evils or will we work to elect men and women who will defend the rights of every human life, both born and unborn? Do not think God is not watching us. He knows all and sees all. Therefore, let us heed His holy Word and “defend the poor and fatherless” and “deliver the poor and needy” (Psalm 82:3-4 NKJV).

Friends, when you were but poor and helpless in your sins, God intervened. He whose hands knitted you together in your mother’s womb sent His only-begotten Son to stretch out His hands to suffer and die and rise again to redeem you. In Holy Baptism, He washed away your sins, claimed you as His own, clothed you in Christ’s perfect righteousness, and gave you the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus, you have been marked and sealed as one “handmade and redeemed by the Triune God!” He has given you Himself. Sins forgiven. Life redeemed. Death conquered. All gifts from the Author of Life Himself!

If you remember that daily, you will have no problem valuing life, defending life, promoting life, and helping those in need, even as you daily thank and praise the heavenly Potter with words like these: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Choose Life!

2012-01-21T13:48:00.000-06:00

The following article is by the Rev. James Lamb at Lutherans for Life:

God and abortion come face to face this year with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1973, falling on a Sunday. People will gather to worship the Lord and Author of Life on the day when, thirty-nine years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively took the right to life away from the defenseless unborn and declared the right to murder them constitutional.

Since then, over 54,000,000 little lives have been slaughtered under the death cry of “the right to choose.”

Many would say I exaggerate the importance of the convergence of Roe v. Wade and Sunday. They maintain there is no connection. Their oft repeated mantra: “Abortion is political and the Church exists to proclaim the Gospel not to be ensnared in politics.” This flawed and deadly reasoning is precisely why the carnage of abortion continues.

The killing of little boys and little girls at any stage of development for any reason is a travesty. Killing little boys and little girls created and gifted by God, purchased by the blood of Jesus, and children God desires to call into an eternal relationship with Him is a travesty against our Triune God.

Therein lies the connection. Abortion is not just a choice that destroys life. It destroys life precious to God.

Add to this the immeasurable guilt and regret an abortion choice eventually brings to the hearts of those involved in that choice and you have a set of circumstances that compels the Church of Jesus Christ to speak and act. You have a mission field tailor made for the proclamation of God’s law and especially the proclamation of His life-changing Gospel.

For the Christian, abortion is at its core idolatry, a failure to “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” We choose the death of the helpless to deliver us from a difficult situation rather than trust in God “my help and my deliverer” (Psalm 40:17).

But the Church dare not merely pound her pulpits and demand, “Trust God, choose life” as if trust in God is something we can conjure up if we just try hard enough. Time and time again the Scripture associates help from God with salvation from God. “Help us, O God of our salvation” (Psalm 79:9). Those who profess Jesus Christ as the source of their salvation must be led to see and trust that the God who saved them from sin is the source of their help and will never abandon them.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32 ESV).

Because God’s love for us was demonstrated on the cross, we can confidently trust that nothing “in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39b ESV). Christ’s Church has a responsibility to help her people connect this wonderful promise to the life issues.

Our prayer at LFL, is that the Church will make this connection, not just this Sunday, but frequently Sunday after Sunday. We stand ready to help and equip the Church to connect and apply what she is already proclaiming, the Gospel, to these issues of life and death. It is the Gospel that truly changes hearts and lives.

Come and See

2012-01-15T15:26:00.000-06:00

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Saint John 1:43-51

You’ve asked the question countless times and in numerous ways. Most of the time innocently, seeking sensible answers. Is there anything good on television tonight? Is there anything good in the fridge for lunch tomorrow? Is there anything good we can get Mom for her birthday? But sometimes the question is asked cynically, skeptically, even sarcastically. Can anything good come out of Washington DC and the clowns we’ve elected as our leaders?

In today’s Holy Gospel, Nathanael is struggling with the same sort of cynicism. His friend Philip has come to him with some incredible news. “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Nathanael is a devout Jew who knows his Old Testament Scriptures. He knows the promises God has given to His people. Unlike the majority of his countrymen, who were Jews by blood only, Nathanael shares the same faith and hope as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He awaits the promised Seed of the woman, the Prophet foretold by Moses, great David’s greater Son, the One to shepherd God’s people Israel. He is part of the faithful remnant waiting for God to fulfill His promises and send the Messiah. That’s why Nathanael is confused. How can the One of whom Moses and prophets wrote be from Nazareth? Nazareth is not even mentioned in the Old Testament. Not once. What’s more, Nathanael’s hometown of Cana was less than ten miles from Nazareth. He knew that no one important ever came from Nazareth. No caesars. No olympic gold medalists. Not even a winning little league team. Thus, his question: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

How many times have you asked yourself similar questions concerning your day to day struggles?

Can anything good come out of this sickness, this disease, these aches and pains?

Can anything good come out of tighter finances, losing my job, working multiple jobs to make ends meet?

Can anything good come out of these fights with my spouse, these problems with my children, these disagreements with my friends?

Can anything good come out of my trials and tribulations?

Philip will not be the one to convince Nathanael that something good—infinitely good—has come out of Nazareth. That’s why his response to Nathanael’s question is so beautiful: “Come and see.” See for yourself. Listen to His preaching. See, by God’s grace, how it is completely in line with all of God’s words and promises. “Come and see.”

As a side note, if you want to see how easy and matter-of-fact true evangelism is, look to Philip. The joy of being found by Christ moves Philip to tell a friend the good news. When his friend questions this good news, Philip simply points him to Christ and says: “Come and see.” Philip does not attempt to argue his friend into the faith. Nor does he dumb down doctrine to make it more palatable to him. Simply: “Come and see.” Do you suppose there’s something you and I can learn from this?

Sure enough, Nathanael joins Philip and off they go to see Jesus. But before Nathanael sees Jesus, Jesus sees him and says: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Dumbfounded, Nathanael asks: “How do You know me?” To which Jesus responds: “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus saw Nathanael. Not only under the fig tree, while yet out of sight. But right to the very core of his being. Jesus saw that Nathanael was a true Israelite, a true child of Abraham, one who was waiting for God’s Messiah. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Nathanael answers Jesus with a beautiful creed: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Then, comes the finale, the crown jewel of today’s Holy Gospel. For, in essence, Jesus tells Nathanael: You haven’t seen anything yet! “You will see greater things than these. … Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

While Nathanael had no way of knowing everything our Lord meant by those words, he understand their starting point. For long ago the patriarch Jacob had fallen asleep with his head on a stone, and dreamed of a ladder connecting heaven and earth. Angels were ascending and descending that ladder, and the LORD stood above it. There the LORD promised Jacob: “In your Offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 28:14).

Nathanael was now seeing and hearing Jacob’s Offspring, the promised Messiah. What’s more, Nathanael would go on to see and hear Jesus as He preached and taught, as He healed and performed miracles, as He instituted a new and better meal, and most importantly, as He took upon Himself the sin of the world and suffered and died in humanity’s place. There, on the cross, heaven was opened. First, so that God’s wrath for sin could be poured out full strength on His own dear Son. And second, so that you would once again have access to your heavenly Father, for Christ’s atoning sacrifice opens heaven for every sinner. Jesus’ cross, you see, is the true ladder that connects heaven and earth. It’s also why God’s angels—His messengers of the Gospel—point to it, proclaim it, and preach it the world over.

Friends, for all those times in which you have questioned God’s love during times of trial and tribulation, repent. The same is true of your doubt, your skepticism, your idols, anything and everything that takes your eyes and your mind and your heart off of your Savior. Repent and look to Christ, for He is good and merciful.

As it turns out, Nathanael, something good—infinitely good—came out of Nazareth. And because Jesus Christ is with you and for you, something good can indeed come out of your sickness, your financial pressures, your strained relationships, your hardships. Among the good that can come is prayer, a refining of your faith, and a renewed trust in the God who works all things for your eternal good. And last, but not least, He who is infinitely good brings about something very good today through simple water, words, bread and wine. For these are the very means through which Jesus sees you, finds you, calls you, forgives you, feeds you, strengthens you, and gives you His perfect righteousness.

As Philip said to Nathanael, so I say to you: Come and see your Savior, today and every Lord’s Day. Come and see Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophet wrote. Come and see Him who stretched out His arms on the cross to embrace you with His unconditional love. Come and see Him who washed you clean, Him who speaks words of life to you, Him who feeds you with Himself that He might abide in you and you in Him.

Someone good—eternally good—is here, today, for you. Come and see!

Jesus = Religion

2012-01-13T15:40:00.000-06:00

Today brother Fisk tackles the YouTube video in my previous post (much more eloquently than I did). See his Worldview Everlasting response below...

True Religion = Jesus

2012-01-12T20:25:00.000-06:00

Today I saw a YouTube video titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” posted by numerous friends on Facebook, so I checked it out. The cinematography is well done, but the narration is a mixed bag. It seems this man has quite a story to tell, and some of it is well told. I commend him for that. But when truth is intertwined with half-truths, assumptions, and falsehood, it is dangerous. I wish the author would have focused on his personal story and the Gospel of Jesus Christ for sinners, without all the added baggage. I have no doubt there are some Christians who are messed up with their own religious beliefs. But let’s not paint with a broad brush where God’s Word does not. Below is the four-minute video, followed by the text of the video, interspersed with my own comments. Contrary to this man’s claim, true religion = Jesus!

JESUS>RELIGION

Interesting. True religion = Jesus. So I’m not sure why Jesus > religion.

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion.
What if I told you voting Republican really wasn’t His mission.
What if I told you Republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian.
And just because you call some people blind doesn’t automatically give you vision.

Where does Holy Scripture say that Jesus came to abolish religion? He didn’t. He is the sum and substance of true religion. He has been since the creation of man and will continue to be into eternity. And the Republican Party? Really? Moreover, it matters not who I call blind. It matter simply who Holy Scripture calls blind.

I mean, if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars?
Why does it built huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?
Tell single moms God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever had a divorce,
But in the Old Testament God actually calls religious people whores.

Religion has never started a war. Sinners start wars. And almost always for the wrong reasons. There’s nothing inherently wrong with huge churches. The same is true of modest churches and little huts and homes that serve as churches. No one feeds the poor as he should. But do not overlook the fact that Christians have done more to feed the poor in our world than any other group. If your church tells single moms and the divorced that God doesn’t love them, what type of church do you attend? And yes, God did call His own people whores, because they adulterated their relationship with Him by looking to other gods. The same type of spiritual adultery continues today.

Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice,
Tend to ridicule God’s people, they did it to John the Baptist.
They can’t fix their problems, and so they just mask it,
Not realizing, religion is like spraying perfume on a casket.

Confessional Lutheranism preaches grace correctly. Yet, there’s not a single person on earth who practices it perfectly. What problems does religion mask? Christ’s people carry the darkness of sin into the light of Christ’s forgiveness. But if you’re looking for perfection in this area, you don’t rightly understand man’s sinful nature.

See, the problem with religion is that it never gets to the core.
It’s just behavior modification, like a long list of chores.
Like, let’s dress up the outside and make it look nice and neat.
But it’s funny, that’s what they used to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath.

True religion gets straight to the core. That’s why true faith must begin with repentance. See John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ preaching as examples. Christianity is not primarily about behavior modification. It is about daily dying to sin and being raised up to newness of life in Jesus Christ (i.e. living one’s baptism). Living in Christ will indeed affect one’s behavior, for a good tree bears good fruit.

Now, I ain’t judging, I’m just saying, quit putting on a fake look,
Cause there’s a problem if people only know that you’re a Christian by your Facebook.
I mean in every other aspect of life you know that logic is unworthy,
It’s like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey.

Don’t tell you ain’t judging and in the next breath pronounce a judgment. Not cool. The rest of what you say has validity. It’s not enough to call yourself a Christian. It is a daily dying and rising in Him!

See, this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me,
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography.
See, on Sunday I’d go to church but Saturday getting faded,
Acting as if I was simply created to have sex and get wasted.

This is your personal account and I have no doubt an honest assessment. God be praised when the Good Shepherd seeks, finds, forgives, and brings home a lost sheep. That is true of every Christian.

See, I spent my whole like building this façade of neatness,
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness.
Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean.
It’s not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.

We are weak (dead in our trespasses and sins). Jesus is our strength. Well said. The church is indeed an ocean of grace. I pray no one claims it’s a museum for good people (it would be empty). It always remains a hospital for sinners (in which we remain patients till our Lord calls us home).

Which means I don’t have to hide my failure, I don’t have to hide my sin.
Because it doesn’t depend on me, it depends on Him.
See, because when I was God’s enemy, and certainly not a fan,
He looked down and said, “I want that man.”

Amen!

Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it He called them fools.
Don’t you see, so much better than just following some rules.
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the Bible, and yes I believe in sin.
But if Jesus came to your church, would they actually let Him in?

Again, where does Holy Scripture say that Jesus hated religion? He hated self-righteousness. Would my church let Jesus in? He comes each and every Lord’s Day. Baptism. Absolution. Gospel. Lord’s Supper. He is present with His grace and mercy, calling sinners to repentance, forgiving sins, strengthening faith, and empowering His people to live out their vocations in faith toward God and love toward neighbor.

See, remember He was called a glutton and a drunkard by religion men
But the Son of God never supports self-righteousness, not now, not then.

True.

Now back to the point. One thing is vital to mention,
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums.
See, one’s the work of God and one’s a manmade invention.
See, one is the cure but the other is the infection.

True religion = Jesus. They are not opposite spectrums. Jesus is not the work of God. He is God. And true religion is not a manmade invention. It is Christ’s people gathered around Him to receive His good gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation. In fact, Jesus calls us “My church” (Matthew 16:18). Paul calls several congregations “the church of God” and calls the church of the living God “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). So why is religion manmade? Why the infection? Jesus is the cure. But He delivers the cure within religion, within His holy Church, by means of His Word and Sacraments.

See, because religion says Do, Jesus says Done,
Religion says slave, Jesus says son.
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free.
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see.

True religion does not say Do. It says Repent and Believe. Jesus has taken your sin and paid its penalty on the cross. You are forgiven. True religion grants freedom, sight, hearing, faith. Why? Because true religion = Jesus!

And that’s why religion and Jesus are two different clans.
Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man.
Which is why salvation is freely mine and forgiveness is my own,
Not based on my merits, but Jesus’ obedience alone.

The drum you’re beating is not Scriptural. True religion is God searching for man, finding him, and redeeming him via the cross. The last half of this section proves this.

Because He took the crown of thorns and the blood dripped down His face,
He took what we all deserved, I guess that’s why we call it grace.
And while being murdered, He yelled, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Because when He was dangling on that cross, He was thinking of you.

Amen!

And He absorbed all your sin and He buried it in the tomb,
Which is why I’m kneeling at the cross, saying, “Come on, there’s room.”
So, for religion, No, I hate it, if fact I literally resent it.
Because when Jesus said, “It is finished!” I believe He meant it.

The first half of this: Nice! But why hate true religion? Why resent it? True religion = Jesus. When Jesus said, “It is finished!” He did mean it. Sin is finished. So is atonement, redemption, salvation. His words have nothing to do with religion. He is the ground and source of true religion. Always has been. Always will be.

Perhaps what this man is trying to say is that most religion is false. With that I can agree. If he is looking for true religion, I invite him (and you) to visit us at Divine Shepherd. Jesus dwells among us in His Word and Sacraments, full of grace and truth, welcoming all. We are His people, sinners made saints through His blood. Don’t expect perfection though. We remain patients in this hospital, daily living from the medicine of immortality Christ gives us. At Divine Shepherd you will find that true religion = Jesus!

Kneel Down and Receive Him

2012-01-08T16:37:00.000-06:00

The Epiphany of Our Lord

Saint Matthew 2:1-12

This past Thursday the Christmas season came to a close. For twelve days we celebrated the mystery of the incarnation, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word becoming flesh to save us from our sins. What traditions were part of your celebration? A tree? A stocking? A crèche? Believe it or not, many of the Christmas traditions we do actually stem from our Lord’s epiphany rather than His birth. The star on top of the Christmas tree. The lights on the tree. Even the giving of gifts. So let us turn our attention to today’s Holy Gospel and learn what our Lord’s epiphany means for you and me.

That first night in a stable is now well behind our Lord and His parents. The shepherds have gone back to their flocks. Simeon has held the Christ-child in his arms and is ready to depart in peace. Anna too has rejoiced in His birth. Now the holy family is back in Bethlehem, residing in a rented or relative’s house.

Just a few miles to the north, in the capital city of Jerusalem, King Herod is troubled. Nothing new there. King Herod was troubled most of his life. Whenever others became a threat to his throne, he had them killed. Relatives. Mother-in-law. Several sons. Even a wife. That is why all Jerusalem is troubled with him. They know his murderous ways. The news that visitors from the east are looking for a newborn king is sure to bring about more bloodshed. And so, instead of hope there is fear. Instead of news of the Messiah’s mercy, there is news of Herod’s wrath.

The magi from the east were magistrates who studied the heavens. When God’s special star caught their attention, they searched their writings and discovered that centuries earlier the prophet Daniel had taught their forefathers that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Number 24:7). So they packed up and headed westward. It’s interesting that God sent these magi the light of a special star to lead them westward, and yet that star later becomes hidden for a time. That’s why these magi go to Jerusalem. They assume that’s where they will find the newborn King. After all, the king’s palace is there. So is the temple. Thus, their question:

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

Herod becomes furious. He is the people’s king. Yet, he hides his rage so that he might learn more about this new threat, and inquires of the chief priests and scribes where the Christ was to be born. That’s an easy one. For God’s Word has already answered that question. Who? What? Where? When? Why? All answered in the Holy Scriptures. The entire book is about Him. That’s why the religious leaders are quick to answer:

“In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”

As you can see, the lesser light (the star) disappeared for a time so that the greater light (Holy Scripture) could shine. And shine it did. God’s Word pointed the magi southward to the little village of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was David’s hometown, where he grew up as a shepherd. Now this little village boasts another shepherd—the Good Shepherd who will give up His life for the sheep. In this little house of bread, He who is the Bread of life now resides as a little Child. The people’s king might reside in Jerusalem, but God’s King resides in Bethlehem.

So off the magi went. And behold, the star they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the Child was. Whey they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. These magi come from the area of paradise lost to see and behold and receive the One in whom paradise is regained. And having received Him, they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts.

Gold, suitable for the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Frankincense, normally burned during the hour of prayer, suitable for the great High Priest of our salvation.

Myrrh, normally used to anoint a dead body, suitable for the Lamb of God who was born to die that we might be born again in Him.

Three prophetic gifts, given in response to the greatest gift ever given. That is what faith does. First it receives. It receives God’s good gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in Christ. Then it gives. It gives praise to God and love to the neighbor.

What have your gifts confessed about your faith?

How do you put to use the time, talents, and treasures God has entrusted to your care?

What does your daily life profess about your Savior?

Are you more like the chief priests and scribes, content with knowledge of the facts, or the magi, willing to seek the Christ where God has promised Him to be found?

Is your baptism a distant memory confined to a photo album, or something you daily and joyously live?

Is God’s Word collecting dust on the bookshelf, or do you daily read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it?

Is the sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood just a bland and stale practice, or do you faithfully hunger and thirst for what our Lord desires you to receive regularly?

Being a Christian is so much more than a few certificates in your scrapbook, a cross around your neck, and a word on your Facebook profile. Being a Christian is something you are from head to toe, from body to soul, for it is a daily dying to sin and rising to new life in Jesus Christ.

The wise men forsook all and sought Jesus because they recognized their need for Him. I pray you do the same, day after day. You need not worry where to find Him. He is where He has always been—in the same Word that led the magi to the infant Christ. Here, robed in Word and Sacrament, is your King, infant though He be, come out of eternity into time to bring you out of time into eternity (Gerhard).

This Jesus is your Jesus, dear friends. He is your forgiveness, your life, your salvation. So follow the magi and leave behind all that would keep you from this Bethlehem, where Christ comes to dwell with you. Sit and listen to His Word. Stand to speak to Him. Kneel down to receive His good gifts. And then return home in the grace and knowledge that you are God’s beloved child. You may not have traveled hundreds of miles to get here this morning, but the Christ you are even now receiving, beholding, and adoring in His Word is the same Christ worshiped and adored by the wise men.

That is what our Lord’s epiphany means for you. May every Christmas star, every string of Christmas lights, and every exchange of gifts remind you of Him who is the Light of the world. He is the Father’s gift to you and me and every sinner. Behold, your Savior. Kneel down and receive Him. Happy Epiphany!

Sinners Wanted

2012-01-07T11:29:00.001-06:00

All Christians are saints by virtue of Christ’s perfect righteousness. The problem arises when Christians begin to think and act like they are somehow better or holier or less sinful than others. That’s hypocrisy and it has no place in Christ’s Church.

Martin Luther sums this up beautifully in his sermons on the Gospel of Saint John:

May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the faint-hearted, the feeble, and the ailing, who feel and recognize the wretchedness of their sins, who sigh and cry to God incessantly for comfort and help, who believe in the forgiveness of sin, and who suffer persecution for the sake of the Word, which they confess and teach purely and without adulteration.
Luther’s Works XXII 55

Christ’s Church is for sinners. Period. No exceptions. May our merciful God preserve us from a Christian Church in which anyone believes he is a saint apart from Christ’s mercy. Come to God’s house each Lord’s Day a sinner, be fed with Word and Sacrament, and then return home in His forgiveness—i.e. a saint!

Not a Tame God

2012-01-02T20:05:00.000-06:00

In The Chronicles of Narnia, author C.S. Lewis repeatedly reminds the reader that Aslan (the Christ-like figure) is not a tame lion. He acts how, when, where, and why He wants. Sadly, we live in a post-Christian society that continues to do everything possible to tame the one true God, to domesticate Him, to shape and mold Him into our own image so that He is more palatable to our self-centered ways. This is most prevalent in the belief system of the youngest generations, though it affects their parents and grandparents as well.

A couple years ago, sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Denton did some extensive research on spirituality among teenagers. They discovered a dominant creed with the following beliefs:

A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth.
God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.
God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.
Good people go to heaven when they die.

In their 2005 book Soul Searching, Smith and Denton labeled this taming of God “moralistic therapeutic deism.” That’s a mouthful. So let’s break it down. Moralistic has to do with God wanting you to be good, nice, and fair to others. Therapeutic has to do with God being a coping mechanism, someone to affirm the decisions you’ve already made, a personal genie in a bottle to call on when things are so bad you need some help. Deism has to do with God being a distant divine Being who occasionally steps into the human story to strengthen the cause of good. All of this is little more than generic mumbo-jumbo, void of sin and grace, Law and Gospel, repentance and forgiveness. And yet, high school and college age youth all across our country are flocking to this type of spirituality, hand in hand with their parents.

As you know, our country’s youth did not invent this stuff. They have learned it at home and school. Via the internet, music, television, and movies. Even at church. Smith and Denton summarize: “God is something like a combination Divine Butler and Cosmic Therapist: He is always on call, takes care of any problems that arise, professionally helps His people to feel better about themselves, and does not become too personally involved in the process.”

The one true God of Holy Scripture, however, is not a tame God. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). The one true God is no one’s butler, no one’s therapist, no one’s genie, no one’s self-esteem builder. He answers to no one. He is holy and just and righteous. Everything He does is good. His hatred of sin: good. His love for sinners: good. His punishment of evil: good. His grace and mercy and forgiveness: good. He is Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier rolled into one. He is Savior. His Word is truth. His Sacraments are life-giving. He dwells among us in grace and truth. He deals with us not on the basis of our merits, but on the basis of Christ’s merits.

Let’s keep this one true God at the heart and center of everything we do. Not just here at church, but even in our homes. Talk to your children and grandchildren about Christ, God’s Word, and the Christian faith. Bring them to church on the Lord’s Day. Encourage them to participate regularly in Bible study and youth classes. Pray with them. Pray for them. And lead by example in all that say and do.

Church, after all, is not about feeling good, recharging your batteries, or self improvement (though these things might happen along the way). Church is about receiving Jesus Christ as He comes to you in Word and Sacrament to forgive you, strengthen you, and lead you into all truth. Church is not an exclusive club of saints, but an open-door hospital for sinners. A refuge for the weary. A home for God’s people to sit at their heavenly Father’s table, partake of His good gifts, and bear one another’s burdens.

The one true God is not a tame God. But He is a merciful God. In fact, He has ordered all things for the sake of His Church, that sinners might find forgiveness, life, and salvation in Christ alone. And that’s just the type of God we sinners need!

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s January newsletter.

The LORD Delivers

2012-01-01T12:56:00.000-06:00

The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

Saint Luke 2:21

Dearly beloved, as you look back over the past twelve months, what lessons have you learned? What mistakes have you made? For what sins do you need forgiveness? As you begin this new year in Christ’s name, it is good, right, and salutary to return to the Lord with the same plea with which you filled His ears all throughout this past year: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Despite your unworthiness, God continues to fill your ears with the same words He loves to speak: “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” All so that you may learn daily to crucify your sinful flesh, be raised up in newness of life, and live from every word that proceeds from His mouth.

Today is the eighth day of Christmas, the day the one holy Christian and apostolic Church celebrates the holy name of Jesus, the name first given to Mary by the angel Gabriel, and later given to Joseph by an angel in a dream. Today’s Holy Gospel is short and sweet and filled with good news:

“And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”

“Jesus” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” It means “the LORD delivers.” Joshua, the successor of Moses, was God’s Old Testament instrument of deliverance. He delivered God’s people from their forty years of wandering in the desert, led them across the Jordan River into the promised land, and helped them win victory over their enemies. But as wonderful as that deliverance was, Joshua could not deliver God’s people from what truly plagued them. He could not save them from their sin. That’s why God had to send a new and better Joshua. When the fullness of time had come, God kept His Word and sent the Christ-child, the God-man, the Immanuel, and named Him Jesus. Unlike the first Joshua, this second Joshua was born to deliver His people from their spiritual enemies—the devil, the world, and their own sinful nature.

In Jesus, you find God turning the tables on sinful man. Back in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve strove to become like God and therein brought sin and darkness and death in the world. But in Bethlehem, you have God becoming man to bring forgiveness and light and life back into the world. That full and free forgiveness, that true light which scatters the darkness of sins, that true and abundant and eternal life, is found only in Jesus.

Don’t short change Him, though, by molding Him into something other than a Savior.

Though He taught, do not reduce Him to a teacher.

Though He healed, do not reduce Him to a physician.

Though He worked miracles, do not reduce Him to a show of power and might.

Though He has promised to work all things for your eternal good, do not reduce Him to a problem solver.

Though He always followed the will of His Father, do not reduce Him to a role model.

Though no greater love has anyone for you than Him, do not reduce Him to a buddy or a pal.

His name is a constant reminder of who He is and why He came. He is Savior. And He came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

We see a portion of that saving work today, as eight-day-old Jesus is circumcised according to the Law of Moses. But why circumcision? Why this strange ritual? Why the cutting away of part of man’s procreative organ?

The command to circumcise takes us back to the covenant God made with Abraham—namely, that in his Seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. That Seed, of course, “is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). As a perpetual sign of this covenant, every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day. The reason God chose the procreative organ, I believe, is twofold. First, God puts the sign of His covenant where He does as a vivid remember that man inherits his sinful nature, his Old Adam, from his father. And second, God puts the sign of His covenant where He does as a vivid reminder that mankind’s only hope is in the promised Seed of the woman, the Messiah.

It’s no coincidence that circumcision was accompanied by the shedding of the blood. On the one hand, original sin leads to actual sin and both lead to death. On the other hand, it is only through the shedding of blood that the promised Seed of the woman will win the victory and save His people from their sins. Though Jesus has no sin of His own, He undergoes the same circumcision sinners undergo so that He might fulfill the Law and redeem sinners. The shedding of His blood here at the hand of his earthly father points us forward to the ultimate shedding of His blood on the cross, in obedience to His heavenly Father, for the sin of the world.

And to incorporate you into His new covenant, God also circumcises you. Not outwardly, but inwardly. By cutting away that which is sinful and unclean in your heart in Holy Baptism. Paul writes: “In Him ... you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11-12).

God’s people of old were circumcised on the eighth day. Baptism is your eighth day, the day God cuts away the sinfulness of your heart and puts His name on you and blesses you. Take a close look a the baptismal font and the floor beneath it when you come forward to receive Christ’s body and blood in a few minutes. Each has eight sides as a visual reminder that Christ rose from the dead on the beginning of a new week, on the eighth day, to share with you His victory over sin and death, the victory He gave to you when you were baptized into His name.

As you can see, there is a lot of good news wrapped up in today’s Holy Gospel. First, there’s the holy name of Jesus. The holy name that takes away your sin. The holy name you call upon in the day of trouble. The holy name you bless in thanksgiving to the Father. The holy name at which every knee will bow, in heaven and one earth and under the earth, when He returns again in glory. And second, the shedding of His blood for the very first time here on the eighth day of His life. Fulfilling the Law for you. Redeeming you from the curse of the Law. Looking forward to the cross and the ultimate sacrifice of love. For you!

No wonder Paul writes: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus. Jesus. Only Jesus!

How fitting, then, that we begin this new year in His name. And not only today, but each and every day, as Saint Paul reminds us: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). In the holy name of Jesus, the LORD delivers you. All so that you may live as people washed in His blood and named with His name.

To that end, come forward and receive the benefits of the new covenant that God has made with you in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Do this often, and do it faithfully, in remembrance of Him, and you are sure to have a blessed new year. God grant you this for Jesus’ sake!

Circumcision Points to Christ

2011-12-31T19:35:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. Circumcision on the eighth day under the old covenant points us forward to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on the eighth day and the establishment of the new covenant. Holy Baptism incorporates us into Jesus’ death and resurrection, whereby the foreskin of our sinful heart is cut away and filled with Christ’s healing blood. See Romans 2:28-29 and Colossians 2:11-14.

In commenting on circumcision in Genesis 17, the blessed Martin Luther makes the following observation:

The mystic reason which the Master of the Sentences and other teachers adduce is passable. They maintain that circumcision was deferred to the eighth day because in the resurrection, which is signified by the eighth day, we shall be perfectly circumcised, in order that we may be free from every sin of the world.

We not only do not reject this thought, but we confirm it as godly and learned. In an allegorical sense the eighth day signifies the future life; for Christ rested in the sepulcher on the Sabbath, that is, during the entire seventh day, but rose again on the day which follows the Sabbath, which is the eighth day and the beginning of a new week, and after it no other day is counted. For through His death Christ brought to a close the weeks of time and on the eighth day entered into a different kind of life, in which days are no longer counted but there is one eternal day without the alternations of night.

This has been thought out wisely, learnedly, and piously, namely, that the eighth day is the eternal day. For the rising Christ is no longer subject to days, months, weeks, or any number of days; He is in a new and eternal life. The beginning of this life is perceived and reckoned, but there is no end. In that life the true circumcision will be carried out. At that time not only the foreskin of the heart will be circumcised—which happens in this life through faith—but the entire flesh and all its essence will be cleansed from all depravity, ignorance, lust, sin, and filth. Consequently, the flesh is then immortal.

This allegory is a prophecy that when Christ rises again there will be a spiritual, true, and perfect circumcision outside time in eternal life.

[Luther’s Works 3:140-141]

Both the baptismal font and the marble floor beneath it here at Divine Shepherd are eight sided as a reminder that we are incorporated into Christ’s death and resurrection in Holy Baptism and await with joy the final cleansing of the entire body on the Last Day.

Truly Human

2011-12-26T16:15:00.000-06:00

The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Day

Festive Divine Service

Saint John 1:1-14

What attributes come to mind when you think of God? Most Christians describe God as big, strong, mighty, all-knowing, present everywhere, exalted, and awesome. Yet, these attributes only give you one side of the story, for they describe God in His exaltation, in His glory. But Christmas reveals another side of God we are tempted to overlook and forget—His humiliation, His laying aside the attributes that are His from all eternity. Christmas reveals to us that God is also true Man in Jesus Christ. Here on earth, in His humiliation, He is tiny, weak, fragile, limited, confined to time and space, humble, and ordinary. In short, He is human. Like us, He has flesh and blood. But unlike us, He is what God originally intended humanity to be.

In the beginning our first parents had the image of God. They were truly human. But then along came the tempter, who planted words of doubt into their ears. Sure enough, Adam and Eve were no longer happy being human. They wanted to be “like God” (Genesis 3:5). And in striving to reach that goal, they lost their humanity. Which is to say, they lost the image of God in which they were created.

All of us sons of Adam and daughters of Eve are no different. Despite all of our knowledge, achievements, and abilities, we are less than human, a disfigured shadow of what we were originally created to be. This inhumanity manifests itself in our relationships with others. Disrespect. Anger. Hatred. Grudges. Jealousy. Gossip. Unkind words. And so much more. This inhumanity also manifests itself in our relationship with God. Our independence. Our striving to be like God. Our desire to be in charge, calling our own shots, doing our own thing, exalting ourselves above the God who created us. Sad but true, we are less than human, less than what God originally intended us to be.

Where, then, is humanity’s hope? In the manger! Our hope, our only hope, was born this day in the city of David, wrapped up in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger. God in a stable. God in diapers. God in the lap of His virgin mother. As big and strong and mighty as God is in His glory, He became tiny, weak, and fragile here in time to save us from ourselves. God decided to restore humanity by becoming human Himself. Saint John writes:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. That is the first gift and wonder of Christmas. It’s what we call the Incarnation, the enfleshment of God, the historic fact that some 2000 years ago in a village called Bethlehem God visibly entered this world as true Man. The Word became flesh. The Creator became a creature. The Infinite entered the finite. The Eternal One broke into time. He, God enfleshed, became the least among us, a tiny, poor, and helpless Infant. We did nothing to bring Christ down to us. He came without our invitation, without our preparation, without our decision, without our welcome. He was sent by the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. All this He did without consulting us, without our help, because His nature (not ours) is love.

Why did the Word become flesh? To redeem and cleanse our inhumanity with His holiness. In that Bethlehem stable, we see Jesus as the new Adam. “As in Adam all die,” writes Paul, “so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). To redeem and cleanse our inhumanity, God the Son took our humanity into Himself. And He did it without sin. That is the one difference between Jesus and us. Jesus has no earthly father. He is not a son of Adam, but the Son of God. Thus, He bears our humanity without the inherited stain, the original sin, of Adam. This, too, is cause for great rejoicing, because we see that our sin is something foreign to our humanity. The Word became flesh without sin. We think that our coveting and lusting and grudges and jealousy and lying and greed are just part of being human. “To err is human,” we say. But such nonsense makes sin God’s fault and proclaims Him to be a liar, for He called His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31). You can see how inhuman we’ve become, always looking to blame someone else, and indirectly blaming God.

But the Word who became flesh tells us it is not so! To sin is not human. Jesus was human and He never sinned. To sin is inhuman. It dehumanizes us and makes us less than human. It is a foreign object, a cancer, a toxin that has seeped into our human nature and polluted it. It robs us of our dignity. And it leads to death.

But fear not, O sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which are for all people. The Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us, has recovered our humanity and restored the image of God to our flesh and blood via His cross. That’s why the heavenly hosts began singing glory to God and announcing peace on earth to the shepherds. For when the Word became flesh, the beginning of our salvation had been accomplished. By uniting our humanity with His divinity, God made our cause His own. He is our powerful ally who alone has the power to defeat the enemy. Whatever the devil did to us, he has done it to God as well. And that simply won’t stand! God came to defeat the devil, to crush His head, via the Word made flesh.

The second gift and wonder of Christmas flows from this first one.

“We have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

To look into the face of this Baby lying in the manger, as Mary and Joseph and the shepherds did, is to see the face of God revealed to us. He is full of grace and truth. He is the Incarnation of God’s grace, His undeserved kindness, His unmerited favor toward us. We have done nothing to deserve this Child. He is God’s gift. He takes up our sin into His perfect humanity and in return gives us His perfect righteousness as our own clothing. Which is to say, we are truly human again!

How do you know you are the object of God’s grace? How do you know you will stand in God’s favor on the Last Day? Look to the One who is full of grace and truth. Look to the Child in the manger, the Man on the cross. There you will see God, full of grace and truth. Look to your Baptism, by which He joined you to His death and resurrection. Look to His Supper, in which He feeds you His life-giving Body and Blood. Look to His Word, by which He forgives you and declares you to be His own dear Child. In Word and Sacrament, you see His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Here is where the Word made flesh continues to dwell among you!

So go ahead and describe God as big, strong, mighty, all-knowing, present everywhere, exalted, and awesome. But don’t forget that He also became tiny, weak, fragile, limited, confined to time and space, humble, and ordinary to save you from your sins. He, a little Infant, is your Savior. Look closely at Him and see how God works in this world. Not through strength and might. But through suffering and the cross. That is the path of this true Man in restoring our humanity. His little eyes eventually saw the hatred of those He came to save. His little ears eventually heard the insults hurled His way. His little back eventually received the lashes of an ungrateful world. His little head eventually was pierced with a crown of thorns. His little hands and feet eventually felt the hammer blows as spikes were driven through them, attaching Him to the cross. His little beating heart eventually grew to be pierced with a spear, and from it flowed the blood that cleanses us of all sin.

All of that is wrapped up in this Christ-child, in this Word made flesh. He became flesh to restore humanity, to make you human again, to give you anew the image of God. You won’t find this gift under your Christmas tree. But thankfully, God has wrapped Him up in flesh and blood and placed Him right here in your midst, mangered in His Word and Sacraments, for you! So go ahead and join the angels in singing Gloria to our newborn King. He, the Word made flesh, has restored humanity. In Him, you are truly human again.

That is God’s Christmas gift to you! Merry Christmas!

Special thanks to brothers Cwirla and Koch, who provided inspiration for this sermon.

Look! Believe! Rejoice!

2011-12-25T01:09:00.000-06:00

The Nativity of Our Lord—Christmas Eve

Candlelight Lessons and Carols (Early Service)

General Homily

Dearest children of the heavenly Father:

There is so much to contemplate, so much to take in, so much to take to heart, so much to live from … in tonight’s Scripture readings. And it all centers in a newborn Babe, wrapped up in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

He who will one day walk on water cannot yet walk Himself.

He who will one day feed 5000 cannot yet feed Himself.

He who will one day lift up the lame cannot yet stand Himself.

He who will one day speak words of forgiveness cannot yet speak Himself.

He who will one day free mankind from the stench of sin first finds Himself in a smelly stable.

He who will one day be nailed to the wood of the cross first finds Himself lying in the wood of a manger.

He who will one day be wrapped in linen cloths following His death first finds Himself wrapped in swaddling cloths following His birth.

He who will one day be the Bread of Life who satisfies man’s greatest hunger is first born in a village whose name means “house of bread.”

He who will one day be the Good Shepherd who gives up His life for the sheep is first visited by local shepherds.

He who will one day be the Light of the world who scatters the darkness of sin is first visited by wise men who follow the light of a star.

Yes, there is so much to contemplate, so much to take in, so much to take to heart, so much to live from … in tonight’s Scripture readings. And it all centers in a newborn Babe, wrapped up in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.

So take a closer look.

Look at His little head, formed in His mother’s womb to be pierced with a crown of thorns.

Look at His little hands and feet, formed in His mother’s womb to be pierced with nails.

Look at His little side, formed in His mother’s womb to be pierced with a spear.

Look at His little back, formed in His mother’s womb to receive the lashes of an ungrateful world.

Look at His little eyes, formed in His mother’s womb to see the hatred of those for whom He’s come.

Look at His little mouth, formed in His mother’s womb to speak words of forgiveness that largely fall on deaf ears.

Look at His little ears, formed in His mother’s womb to hear words of betrayal, accusation, and “Crucify Him!”

Look at His little heart, formed in His mother’s womb to throb with a love that is infinitely more powerful than the thorns, the nails, the spear, the lashes, the hatred, the deaf ears, and the betrayal. For this little heart is big enough to love the whole world unconditionally—even you, a poor, miserable sinner.

If you look closely, with the eyes of faith, you will see Him. Even here tonight. In this manger called Divine Shepherd. In these swaddling cloths called the sacred Scriptures. He is here. Immanuel is even now with you, saving you from your sin.

Now that you’ve looked, believe! For Christ, the Lord, is born for you. Yes, you! Fess up. You need this Savior. His forgiveness. His healing. His peace. After all, that Christmas photo you sent out—the one with everyone smiling and happy—is only half the story. For behind that photoshopped version of you is a person with flaws and imperfections, weaknesses and failings. A person who speaks unkind words. A person who harbors grudges and anger and resentment. A person who is quick to see the speck in the eyes of others, but blind when it comes to the log in your own eye. A person whose prayer and devotional life is not what it should be. I know this because, to one extent or another, it is true of each one of us. God’s Word says so. “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh,” writes the Apostle Paul. “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18-19).

But here’s the good new of great joy that God’s Son came to deliver. Your sins, which once separated you from God, have been taken away and paid for by this Christ-child. All those evil thoughts and desires, all those unkind words, all those sinful deeds … gone. Forgiven. Removed from you as far as the east is from the west. And in return, He gives you His perfect righteousness!

That is who this Christ-child is. The world’s Savior. Your Savior. So take up your cross and follow Him. Repent and believe. Live your baptism. Daily die to sin and rise to newness of life in Him. There may not have been room in the inn, but let there be room in your heart, your mind, your life, and your schedule for Him whose tiny arms are yet long enough to include you in His warm embrace.

And now that you’ve looked and believed, rejoice! For this Babe gives you...

reason to celebrate;
reason to return to God’s house regularly and worship Him;
reason to hear all that He has to say;
reason to believe all that He has done for you;
reason to shape your life by every word that comes from His mouth;
reason to sing His praises with the angels;
reason to glorify and praise Him with the shepherds;
reason to kneel down and adore Him with the wise men;
reason to ponder all these things in your heart with Mary.

Look. Believe. Rejoice. For God’s Son has become a child of Man, that in Him you might become a child of God! What else is there to say, but to pray...

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!
[LSB 361, stanza 4]

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

Many thanks to some brothers in the ministry, who provided inspiration for this sermon.

By His Poverty

2011-12-23T09:23:00.000-06:00

It should be carefully noted that the sign given of the Saviour’s birth is not a child enfolded in Tyrian purple, but one wrapped round with rough pieces of cloth; He is not to be found in an ornate golden bed, but in a manger. The meaning of this is that He did not merely take upon Himself our lowly mortality, but for our sakes took upon Himself the clothing of the poor. Though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that by His poverty we might become rich (cf. 2 Cor 8:9); though He was Lord of heaven, He became a poor man on earth, to teach those who lived on earth that by poverty of spirit they might win the kingdom of heaven.

The Venerable Bede

The Seed of the Woman

2011-12-18T12:25:00.000-06:00

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Saint Luke 1:26-38

The very first command given to our first parents was this: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). But before our first parents began to be fruitful and multiply, they disobeyed God, ate the forbidden fruit, and brought sin and death into God’s very good creation. So God punished them, even as He promised a Savior to crush the serpent’s head. Immediately after God spoke these words, and before God clothed His shamed children with garments of skin, Adam took hold of God’s promise and named his wife. “The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). Ironic, isn’t it? This mother of all the living, because of sin, is now the mother of all the dying. For Eve could only give birth to children who would someday die. And yet, in the name Eve there is an expression of hope for the future through the promised Seed of the woman, for He alone brings life to all the living.

In today’s Holy Gospel, we see God at work again, miraculously bringing forth Life, this time to end death once and for all. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said:

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

You can imagine Mary’s fear and surprise and wondering what sort of greeting this might be. It’s not every day an angel appears. So Gabriel continues:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

The question Mary asks next is a logical one.

“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Mary is not naïve. She knows about the birds and the bees. She knows the terms virgin and mother are mutually exclusive. In all of human history there had never been a virgin mother, even though God had worked other miracles. Although Sarah and Elizabeth were past the age of child-bearing, God gave each a child. Although Rebecca, Rachel, Manoah’s wife, and Hannah were infertile, God opened up these barren wombs and gave each a child. In all six of these instances, God miraculously intervened. But each and every time He used the marital bond of husband and wife to bring about a child. Thus, you can understand Mary’s question. It’s quite practical.

“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

So Gabriel answers her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Which is to say: Don’t go looking for an example of this in the past, Mary. You are a one-of-a-kind mother. A virgin mother. The Child conceived in your womb is not from Joseph, but from the Holy Spirit. He has a full compliment of your DNA and a full compliment of God’s deity dwelling in Him (Colossians 2:9). Miracle of miracles, Mary, not only are you simultaneously virgin and mother, but the Child in her womb is simultaneously Son of Man and Son of God. It has to be this way, for every child of Eve conceived by a human father is a sinner and must one day die. But this Child is different. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, He is free from original sin. Thus, He does not have to die, even though He will willingly undergo death and the grave to conquer sin.

Do you see God’s promises being fulfilled? In the Garden of Eden, God announced to the serpent that the Seed of the woman — not the man and the woman, but the woman — would crush his head (Genesis 3:15).

Later, when the time was closer, God foretold through the prophet Isaiah that “the virgin” — not a man and a woman, but the virgin — “shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Then, when the time had fully come, “God sent His Son, born of a woman” — not a man and a woman, but a woman — “born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4).

Friends, what happened in Mary’s womb at the angel’s announcement is the foundation of what happened to you in Holy Baptism. Through water and the Word, the Spirit came upon you, the power of the Most High overshadowed you, you were born anew, and the Father called you holy—a son of God by adoption into His family. Saint John says it this way: “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Saint Paul adds: “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

To all of this, Mary replies:

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

With these words, Mary provides us with a wonderful example of faith. God presents His will, His plan, His bidding to her. And even though being an unwed mother will mean ridicule for her, she submits to God’s will. “Not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Submitting to God’s will is not easy, is it? Especially when God permits you to endure times of unemployment, financial hardship, family struggles, or health issues. Learn from Mary and pray for Christian humility and wisdom to submit to God’s will and speak back to Him: “Behold, I am Your servant; let it be to me according to Your Word.” You may not know all the details—how He is going to see you through today and tomorrow and so on—but you do have His Word that He will never leave you or forsake you (Romans 13:5), that He will deliver you (Psalm 50:15), that He will work all things for your good (Romans 8:28), and that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to you (Romans 8:18).

Today’s Holy Gospel is the reason we confess every Lord’s Day:

“I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, …
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary
and was made man.” [Nicene Creed]

From Eve until Mary, death reigned. But then God worked His miracle through a virgin mother. He brought into this world the Seed of the woman, who is both true God and true Man, to save us from our sins, and conquer death once-and-for-all. And so, when this God speaks, listen. What He promises, believe. Where He comes in Word and Sacrament, go and receive His good gifts. What else is there to say to such a faithful, loving, and merciful God than this: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.”

+ Elaine Bambule +

2011-12-15T13:58:00.000-06:00

Elaine Mary Bambule

1938-2011

Sometimes the death of a loved one is met with shock and grief; other times with relief and peace. It depends, doesn’t it? An early or unexpected death can leave you devastated, while a death that follows old age or extensive sickness and suffering can set your mind at ease. In either case, there is reason for hope and joy and thanksgiving when a child of God falls asleep in Jesus Christ. In fact, that is why we are here today.

Our gracious Lord granted Elaine 73 years, 3 months, and 25 days during her earthly pilgrimage. She married her sweetheart Robert and the Lord blessed their years together with five children. Today you, Bob and Linda, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren trace part of their heritage back to Elaine.

As most of you know, Elaine did not have an easy life. Nearly four decades ago she was widowed. She also lost three of her children. No doubt each of these events weighed heavily on her over the years. Yet, behind the sadness in her life, Elaine still, in her own ways, reflected the light and love and joy of Christ to those around her. Many of you, no doubt, reminisced about those things yesterday, and will do so again in the days ahead.

Whether her parents knew this or not, the English name Elaine is derived from the Greek name Helena, and means “torch” or “shining light.” In what ways was Elaine a shining light to you? In a variety of ways, she reflected the light of Christ to those around her. It is the light of Christ we celebrate today.

Christmas and Light belong together. And I’m not just talking about Christmas tree lights, icicle lights, and candlelight services. Centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2). Then, just months before Jesus was born, Zechariah described Christ as the Sunrise who would visit us from on high “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79). Saint John says of Jesus’ birth: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Simeon held the Christ-child in his arms and exclaimed Him as “a light for revelation” (Luke 2:32). Last, but not least, it was the light of a special star that led the Wise Men to Him who is the Light of the world.

The ultimate light, of course, is Jesus Christ. He came down from heaven to earth to scatter the darkness of sin with the light of His forgiveness. During His own ministry, He exclaimed: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Ironically, it was during three hours of total darkness on the cross that the Light of the world once-and-for-all scattered the darkness of sin. He carried Elaine’s sin, and your sin, and my sin, and the world’s sin on His shoulders and there suffered and died in our place. Then, on the third day, He rose triumphantly that you and I might share in His new life.

When just 3½ weeks old, Elaine was baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, where she received the new birth of water and the Spirit in Holy Baptism. At the age of 14 she confessed her faith publicly and received the Lord’s Supper for the first time during the rite of Confirmation. And yet, Elaine would be the first to tell you she wasn’t perfect. She knew her faults, her shortcomings, her sins. But she also knew and understood and believed that Christ was her light, her forgiveness, her strength, her shepherd, her life, her salvation, her Savior.

By God’s grace, Elaine is now at home with her Savior, where there is no more sorrow, no more tears, no more hospitals, no more pneumonia, no more cancer, no more sin, no more death. Only life. Love. Light. Peace. Joy. Rest. Perfect communion with God and one another.

Therefore, we give thanks this day for Elaine’s life and death and eternal life. We say goodbye for the time being, even as we eagerly await a joyful reunion with all of God’s elect around His throne of grace. And while you wait, your Good Shepherd still comes to you in Word and Sacrament to forgive you, to plant the seed of His Word within you, to create in you a clean heart and renew in you a right spirit, and to scatter the darkness of your sin with the light of His forgiveness, that you, like Elaine, can dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

So go ahead and grieve. That is good and proper. But mix your earthly sorrow with eternal joy, for Elaine, a shining light by God’s grace, is now at peace and rest with Him who is the Light of the world. And so we pray:

O Jesus, precious Sun of Gladness,
Fill Thou my soul with light, I pray.
Dispel the gloomy night of sadness
And teach Thou me [on] Christmas Day
How I a child of light may be,
Aglow with light that comes from Thee.
[TLH 88, stanza 4]

May He who is the Light of the world grant you His peace and goodwill, His forgiveness, life, and salvation, this Advent, this Christmas, and always!

A New Covenant

2011-12-14T20:57:00.000-06:00

Advent Midweek

The Prophet Jeremiah Foretells the Christ

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Holy Scripture is filled with contrasts. Life and death. Light and darkness. Good and evil. Heaven and hell. Sinner and saint. Lost and found. In tonight’s Scripture reading, the prophet Jeremiah uses yet another contrast — old and new — as he foretells the Christ in a most beautiful way: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…”

A covenant is an agreement between two parties, signed, sealed, and delivered through the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Six centuries before the birth of Christ, Jeremiah prophecies of a new covenant. But in order for God to make a new covenant with His people, there first had to be an old covenant.

The old covenant is spelled out in great detail in the book of Exodus, shortly after the LORD led His people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, to Mount Sinai. There God gave them the Law—the Ten Commandments—and established His covenant with them. If they obeyed His Law, He would bless them and be their God. But if they transgressed His Law, He would punish them. “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,” said the LORD, “you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). Later, after Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, they answered him: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). Then Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said: “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exodus 24:8). And with that, the original covenant was in place.

How long do you suppose this covenant lasted? After sprinkling the people with the blood of the covenant, Moses ascended Mount Sinai and spent forty days with the LORD. While he was up there, the people fashioned for themselves an idol of gold—the golden calf. So much for having God as their God and obeying His Law. So God punished them. Throughout the forty years in the wilderness that followed, God’s people rebelled against Him again and again. So God punished them again and again. This pattern repeated itself time and time again throughout the Old Testament. God’s people forsook Him, so He punished them.

It is in the midst of yet another rebellion by God’s people, God sends them the prophet Jeremiah with some very harsh words of warning: “If you don’t want Me as your God, then have it your way. I will remove My hand of blessing from you. Your armies will be defeated. Your cities, temple, and homes will be destroyed. And you will be exiled.” In tonight’s text, Jeremiah sums up the old covenant with these words: “…not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.”

Sinful human nature proved to be too much. Man could not keep his part of the old covenant. So God, being rich in mercy, and because of the great love with which He loves, established a new covenant with His people, a new covenant announced by the prophet Jeremiah:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The new covenant is this: God puts His law within you and writes it on your heart. The Hebrew word for law used here is torah, which means teaching. This word includes both the Law (the Ten Commandments) and the Gospel (the good news that Christ has taken away your sin on the cross). God puts His torah within you and writes it on your heart in Holy Baptism, in Absolution, in the proclamation of the Gospel, and in the Supper of Christ’s body and blood. Through these means, God calls you to and keeps you in the one true faith, even as He exclaims to you: “I am your God; you are My child.”

Unlike the old covenant, which was an agreement between God and His people, the new covenant is a one-sided agreement—proclaimed by God. Man contributes nothing to this new covenant. He is not active in it all, but passively receives what God gives. It is pure gift. By grace alone. Through faith alone. In Christ alone. Jeremiah lays out this one-sided agreement, this gift, with the most beautiful of words:

“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Wickedness forgiven. Sin forgotten. Pardoned for the sake of Jesus Christ. Christmas, you see, is God ushering in the new covenant by sending His dearest treasure—His only-begotten Son—to take on human flesh and blood that He might save you from your sin. Three decades later this new covenant was finally established as Jesus redeemed you, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. Remember, this new covenant, like the old one, was signed, sealed, and delivered through the shedding and sprinkling of blood—Jesus’ blood.

Wickedness forgiven. Sin forgotten. No strings attached. No conditions to be met. No penance to be done. When God forgives, it is pure gift. Unconditional. Complete. God forgives your iniquity because Christ paid the penalty you deserve. God remembers your sin no more because He remembers His Son’s perfect sacrifice for you. That is the new covenant—God’s gracious Christmas gift and Good Friday gift and Easter gift to you and yours and the entire world.

Wickedness forgiven. Sin forgotten. All because Jesus’ shed His blood for you on the cross. But covenants are also about blood being sprinkled. The Lord’s Supper is where Christ’s blood is sprinkled on you to include you in this new covenant. Remember Jesus’ words: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25; cf. Luke 22:20). The author of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 in its entirety (8:8-12) as he points us to Jesus Christ, the “Mediator” (12:24) of this new covenant, and bids us: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…” (10:22).

Remember, the old covenant—the one based on the Law—makes clear that sinners cannot keep God’s Law. But the new covenant—the one based on the Gospel—makes even clearer that sinners stand justified before God. Because of Christ, God forgives your iniquity and remembers your sin no more.

And so, no matter what trials and tribulations assail you, know that your faithful God always stands with you and for you. In Christ, “the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new covenant of Christ’s body and blood, for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

Wickedness forgiven. Sin forgotten. Merry Christmas … from God to you!

Make Straight the Way

2011-12-12T09:24:00.000-06:00

Third Sunday in Advent

Saint John 1:6-8, 19-29

There are lots of voices vying for your attention this time of year. The voices of business: “Make straight your way to our products.” The voices of children: “Make straight your way to our Christmas lists.” Even the voices of family and friends: “Make straight your way to our dinners and parties.”

But the most important voice vying for your attention is “the voice” foretold by Isaiah, the voice of the last Old Testament prophet, the voice belonging to a man so extraordinary that Jesus says of him: “Among those born of women there has arisen no one greater” (Matthew 11:11). This voice belongs to John the Baptist, who was sent from God to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him. Thousands came out to hear his voice “crying in the wilderness.” The question is: What is he saying? That is what you need to find out and listen to and believe this Advent if you are to enjoy a Merry Christmas. So hear again what John’s voice says to you: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

“Make straight the way of the Lord.” If the way of the Lord needs to be made straight, evidently it is crooked. Which is to say, the way by which our Lord Jesus comes to you and makes His dwelling within you is out of whack. We know this because Isaiah says so: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain” (Isaiah 40:3-4).

John the Baptist knows human nature. He knows you have strayed from Christ’s Word, which is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. He knows you have fallen into ruts and valleys, that you have exalted yourself, and that you have placed obstacles between yourself and the one true God. That’s why he calls out to you: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

John the Baptist knows you have idols. He knows you fail to call upon God in every trouble, to pray, praise, and give thanks as you should. He knows your Savior is often relegated to an hour on Sunday morning, a rare Bible study, a quick prayer here and there, and a dusty spot on the coffee table. That’s why he calls out to you: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

John the Baptist knows how comfortable and at home you’ve become in this world. He knows how readily your eye strays, your mind worries, and your heart covets. He knows how easily you hold a grudge, resent others, and withhold forgiveness from those who have wronged you. That’s why he calls out to you: “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

Let’s face it, you and I are crooked sinners. We are roads beyond our own repair. That’s why we need the voice of John the Baptist. He is the voice of God. So listen up and do what he tells you. “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

One of my most distinctive memories from grade school came when I was a first grader. I was trying to get the attention of another kid, oblivious to the fact that it was quiet time. All of the sudden, I was lifted out of my seat by a firm tug of my ear. I have never forgotten that moment. It hurt. Though I did not appreciate it at the time, getting my ear pulled was exactly what I needed and deserved. I even took the opportunity to thank this teacher when I saw her four years ago.

Today John the Baptist takes you by the ear and says to you: “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Bulldoze those mountains of pride in your heart. Fill in those valleys of anger and resentment. Demolish those perverse thoughts and crooked desires. Stop making excuses. Die to sin and rise to newness of life in Christ.

To make straight the way of the Lord, John calls you out of your comfortable life in suburbia into the wilderness of God’s Law, where your eyes behold with clarity the desert of your own heart, the wild monsters of your sin, and the emptiness of your love for God and neighbor. Pick up a handful of sand and watch it trickle between your fingers. Behold, your origin and your end. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. There, in the wilderness of repentance, where the pride of life is absent and the humility of death is inescapable, you confess what is obvious and true:

I have lived as if God did not matter and as if I mattered most.
My Lord’s name I have not honored as I should; my worship and prayers have faltered.
I have not let His love have its way with me, and so my love for others has failed.
There are those whom I have hurt, and those whom I have failed to help.
My thoughts and desires have been soiled with sin.

The reason John calls you out into the wilderness of repentance is ultimately to show you that there is life only where there is water. Remember, John is the baptizer. His job is to lead you to that place where the fountains of living water drown your sin and then raise you to new life. For there, in the Jordan River, just as here, in the baptismal font, stands your Savior—the same Savior who carried the burden of your sin to the cross and died in your place. John points to Him and says: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

And ever since the day John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, our Lord has been found in the water. In fact, He locates Himself and His blessings there for you. To forgive your sins. To bestow on you His Spirit. To clothe you with His perfect righteousness. And to name you as the Father’s beloved child. You were baptized only once. Yet your entire life as a child of God is lived in daily remembrance of this life-giving washing of water with the Word.

Thus, when you find your mouth parched from foul language, gossip, or unkind words, drink deeply of Christ’s forgiveness. For He promises: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give Him will never be thirsty again” (John 4:14).

When you find your heart scorched from selfishness or greed or lust or pride, find shade and refreshment in the shadow of the cross. For He says: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

When you find your conscience darkened from temptation or idols or spiritual neglect, return to the Light of whom John bore witness. For He exclaims: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

In many and various ways John bids you to “make straight the way of the Lord” so that your Savior can come to you, wash you clean, and fill you with Himself, His life, His love. As this daily cycle continues—confession and absolution, dying and rising again—you will begin to see the love of Christ at work in you, turning a proud heart into a humble heart, a self-centered heart into a faithful heart. That is how John makes straight in the desert of your heart a highway to your Savior.

So let John take you by the ear this Advent season and lead you to the Lamb of God. Of all the voices out there vying for your attention, attune your ears to John’s voice. Let John “make straight the way of the Lord” in your life, lifting up every valley, bringing low every mountain and hill, making level the uneven ground, and smoothing out the rough places. If you do, I promise you that you will enjoy a Merry Christmas, for you will have “the Lamb of God” mangered in your heart, wrapped up in the swaddling clothes of faith, granting you God’s peace and goodwill.

God grant you this for Jesus’ sake!

+ Earline Davis +

2011-12-10T05:59:00.000-06:00

+ Earline Davis +

1925-2011

On November 19, at the age of 86, Earline Davis fell asleep in Christ. Though Earline was homebound for the past several years, many at Divine Shepherd knew her. Some knew her well. She loved to visit and play Rummikub with friends. She was kind, competitive, stubborn, and generous (all wrapped into one).

I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Earline on a monthly basis, bringing her Christ’s holy Word and the blessed Sacrament of His body and blood. She often had questions about faith, forgiveness, and salvation. Hearing her confession and knowing that she took to heart, believed, and lived in Christ’s forgiveness is a great comfort to me. For I know that her soul now rests in the Lord, even as her body awaits the day of His reappearing.

Sadly, the saints at Divine Shepherd never got a chance to say good-bye, pay their last respect, and rejoice in Earline’s victory at a funeral or memorial service. For reasons unknown to us, the family has never contacted our congregation. If they knew Earline, they would have known it was her desire to have a funeral service here at church among her brothers and sisters in Christ. Nonetheless, I thank God for leading Earline to our congregation, for the faith He gave her in Christ, for the privilege of serving as her pastor, and for taking her to Himself.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” [Revelation 14:13]

The LORD Is Our Righteousness

2011-12-08T17:20:00.000-06:00

Advent Midweek Service

Jeremiah 23:1-8

Jeremiah’s parents gave him a most wonderful and prophetic name, a name that literally means “the LORD will raise up.” Tonight’s reading teaches us exactly who the LORD will raise up and what this means for us sinners.

But before we take a closer look at the Scripture reading, first a little background. Jeremiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, together with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. These four are called major prophets, not because they are more important than the others, but because the books bearing their names are generally more sizeable and substantive than the books of the twelve minor prophets that conclude the Old Testament.

More than 600 years before the birth of Christ, the LORD sent Jeremiah to the southern kingdom of Judah to call them to repentance and warn them of their upcoming conquest and exile by the Babylonians. Jeremiah eventually witnessed this in 586 BC. God’s people had reaped their reward for forsaking the true God and worshiping false gods. But in the midst of all this turmoil, Jeremiah, who at one time was thrown into a pit by his own people and left for dead for speaking God’s Word, proclaimed some good new to God’s faithful remnant. That good news begins with these words: “Behold, the days are coming...” Those words point forward to the very first Christmas and the advent of the promised Messiah, who would be born to save His people from their sins.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD...” Those three little words declares the LORD are words of divine authority. So listen up. God is speaking.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up...” Hmmm. Jeremiah’s name means “the LORD will raise up.” You’re about to find who He is going to raise up.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David...” Ah, shucks. It’s only for David. But wait a minute, if it’s for David, it’s also for you. For you, by faith, are David’s heirs.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David [and you] a righteous Branch...” A righteous Branch! The word branch normally brings to mind an individual branch of a given tree. But this branch is different. For starters, the Hebrew word for branch used here is never used of an individual branch on an existing tree. Rather, it is a new growth directly from the ground, directly from the roots of an earlier tree that is no more.

That’s significant, for the roots of this branch were already planted way back in the Garden of Eden. There, beneath a branch of the Tree of Knowledge, our first parents reached out their hands in the hope of becoming “like God” (Genesis 3:5). But by disobeying God, they lost His image and brought sin and death into God’s “very good” (Genesis 1:31) world. But even as the proverbial ax was laid at the roots, sin and death would not win the day. For the Triune God planted within mankind’s ears that day this seed of hope: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). This Seed of the woman “is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). And with that promise, God planted a new Tree of Life for all mankind, the same Tree of Life which Jeremiah calls a righteous Branch.

This Branch would not be a mere branch of David’s family tree. He would be established as a fresh growth, springing up from the seemingly dead root of the house of David, growing up by the power of the omnipotent Lord into a new tree, a family tree with countless branches and leaves, of which even you are a part.

And sure enough, Jeremiah’s prophecy of a righteous Branch was fulfilled at the dawn of the New Testament era. For “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman” (Galatians 4:4). There, in the virgin’s womb, God became Man. He, the Seed of the woman, the Son of David, was born in David’s hometown as the true King of David’s people, the righteous Branch of Jeremiah’s prophecy. He came as King to deal wisely with sinners, to fulfill God’s purpose for humanity, to take His place under God’s wrath and condemnation and give you His holiness. That is how He executes justice and righteousness.

And then Jeremiah gives you His name. “And this is the name by which He will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” Was there ever a more beautiful name than this? The LORD is our righteousness as a title for Jesus Christ is used only here in the entire Bible. He is not just “a lord” but “the LORD.” There is only one. You may also have noticed in the text that the word LORD is entirely capitalized. That’s because this is His sacred name—Yahweh—the name God gave to Moses at the burning bush, the great I AM. Sure enough, the righteous Branch is none other than Yahweh Himself, wrapped up in human flesh and blood.

What’s more, He is our righteousness. That word our makes it personal. He is your righteousness. Don’t ever forget that, for you know what Holy Scripture says about your own attempts at righteousness. “All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV).

That’s why you need this LORD, this righteous Branch, this Christmas Babe to be your righteousness. He—the Righteous One—humbled Himself to be born of a sinful virgin and to be laid in a cattle trough. He then lived the righteous life you could never live, died on the cross to put to death your unrighteousness, and rose again to declare you righteous. All of that is wrapped up in this Messianic title: “The LORD is our righteousness.”

And this universal, objective declaration of righteousness now comes to you personally in God’s good gifts. In Holy Baptism, Christ’s righteousness is wrapped around you like a pure and holy robe. In Absolution, Christ’s re-clothes you over and over again with this same righteousness. In the Gospel, Christ fills your ears with His righteousness. And in His Supper, Christ pours His righteousness into you and becomes one with you. That is how your heavenly Father delivers “the LORD is our righteousness” to you.

To sum it up, the righteous Branch came to this place where no one was righteous, not even one, and lived a perfectly righteous life so that He might give you His righteousness as a free gift. Paul writes: “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, ... the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).

And so, no matter how busy you get this month, no matter how strapped you are for cash or job or health or peace of mind, know for certain that you have the righteous Branch as your Lord and Savior. He was born that He might die, and died that you might live, and lives that you might be His eternally. [Lehmann]

That’s what Jeremiah teaches you tonight. This prophet whose name literally means “the LORD will raise up” teaches you who the LORD will raise up—namely, His own dear Son, the righteous Branch, the One who is your righteousness, that you might dwell with Him for all eternity in His heavenly home. Indeed, “the LORD is our righteousness!”

It's Not About You

2011-12-04T13:03:00.000-06:00

Second Sunday in Advent

Saint Mark 1:1-8

Did you know that Americans spent more than $584 billion in the 50 days leading up to Christmas last year? $584 billion! Some of those gifts are no doubt still being used and enjoyed. Many of them, however, were exchanged for something else or refunded for cash. Still others were kept, but not needed or wanted, and probably have never been used. Let’s face it, we Americans enjoy our toys. We are materialistic. And we love to overspend and overindulge.

But what if this Christmas was different? What if you bought fewer gifts, and instead gave something even more precious? Like your time. Talking. Visiting. Playing games. Baking. Volunteering. Bringing someone to church. Making some gifts from scratch, like you did as a child. By spending less, you can actually give more. And the money you didn’t spend. What if you gave some of it away? To a food pantry, or a homeless shelter, or the Giving Tree, or the many organizations within the church that bring the Gospel of Christ to others.

One of the many things you can learn from John the Baptist this Advent is his humble lifestyle, his witness against decadence and materialism, and his godly example of seeking first God’s kingdom and Christ’s righteousness.

John did not own a nice home in the suburbs, but spent his years in the wilderness (the desert) until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

John did not try to impress the girls by lifting weights and becoming strong in body, but spent his time in God’s Word becoming strong in spirit.

John did not wear designer clothing, but was clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist like the prophets of old.

John did not feast sumptuously on what his belly craved, but ate locusts and wild honey as he lived from every word that proceeds from God’s mouth.

Let’s face it, John the Baptist does not fit the American mindset of what Christmas is all about. He does not preach a message of shop, shop, shop, or spend, spend, spend, or indulge, indulge, indulge. Nor does he care if you’ve been naughty or nice. Instead he uttered the one word your sinful nature cannot stand to hear: Repent! Yes, John had the audacity to proclaim “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Day after day John preached the same sermon. He never tired of preaching it, for good news never gets old. He preached repentance to the rich and poor, to the young and old, to the Pharisee and sinner, to the hypocrite and believer. Since we all suffer from the same spiritual disease, and there is only one cure to that disease, how could John do anything less?

We live in a world that teaches you: It’s all about you! Pursue whatever makes you happy. Spend whatever it takes. Eat whatever you want. Take whatever you can get. Surround yourself with people who scratch your back, sing your praise, and affirm your decisions. Be spiritual, but not religious. Put your faith in a Jesus who is accepting and tolerant and makes no demands of you whatsoever, instead of the Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and grew up to die for your sins.

Well, let’s be honest. The world is wrong. It’s not about you! Your life, first and foremost, is lived in faith toward God. Receiving His forgiveness, His Word, His Supper, His strength. He is the same God who created you and still preserves you. The God who redeemed you, who purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. The God who calls you by the Gospel, enlightens you with His gifts, sanctifies and keeps you in the one true faith. Then, in joyful response to the one true God, your life is also lived in fervent love toward one another. Your family. Your friends. Your coworkers, neighbors, classmates, and church members. Even your enemies.

Today, John the Baptist reminds you that there is only one path that leads to life everlasting. It is the path paved between God and sinners by John’s preaching of repentance, baptism, and Christ. To walk that path—the way that leads to life eternal—necessarily means that everything sinful in you must die. And it must die daily. Do you see now why John preached the way he did?

So listen up. Take John’s words to heart. Examine your life. Test your thoughts. Scrutinize your desires. What do you see? Coveting? Gossip? Greed? Jealousy? Lust? Anger? Resentment? Mixed up priorities? Foul language? Pride? Selfishness? Perhaps even a few idols?

Friends, whatever idols contend for your attention, whatever temptations and sins you battle, don’t excuse them. Don’t sweep them under the rug. Confess them. Own up to them. Carry them out of the darkness of your heart and into the light of Christ’s forgiveness. And do it daily. Then, remember your baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection and know for certain that your sins are gone, paid for, separated from you as far as the East is from the West, forever buried in Christ’s tomb. Every absolution, every sermon, every meal of Christ’s body and blood delivers your Savior to you anew.

In Christ (and Him alone) you find the strength to bear the cross He has appointed for you.

In Christ (and Him alone) you learn not to lay up for yourself treasures on earth, but treasures in heaven.

In Christ (and Him alone) selfishness gives way to generosity, worry gives way to trust, greed gives way to contentment, and resentment gives way to love.

In Christ (and Him alone) you die daily to sin and rise to newness of life, that you might finally live from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Remember, it’s not about you. Life is about Jesus Christ and Him crucified for your salvation. That’s why John confessed: “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” On another occasion he said: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). John’s ministry was never about himself. He was just a mouthpiece, who spoke of Christ. A finger, who pointed to Christ. And a hand, who baptized into Christ. Such also is your new life in Christ. You too are a mouthpiece, proclaiming the hope within you to those around you. A finger, pointing others to the Baby of Bethlehem as the only One who saves them from their sins. And a hand, extending Christ’s mercy to your neighbor in need.

So go ahead and give gifts to your loved ones this Christmas. There’s nothing wrong with that. But don’t make Christmas all about the gifts, or the tree, or the meal, or even the family time. Keep it about Christ—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That is what John the Baptist wants you to hear and believe as he continues to preach the same sermon to every generation. Repent, dear friends, because your sins are either with Jesus or they are with you. It is only the sins you hold onto that can damn you. So let them go. Confess them. And believe that Christ has taken them all away on the tree of the cross.

A Reminder from Linus

2011-12-02T19:24:00.000-06:00

There are many Christmas shows and specials on television throughout the month of December. But the one that is most near and dear to me is A Charlie Brown Christmas. In the midst of a world that focuses almost exclusively on lights and decorations and parties and Santa Claus and gifts and shiny aluminum trees, Linus reminds Charlie Brown—and us as well—that the true meaning of Christmas is found exclusively in God’s Word. Standing center stage, he quotes from memory the following portion of the Christmas story from Saint Luke’s Gospel:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. [Luke 2:8-14 KJV]

As Saint Luke reminds us, the birth of Jesus Christ gives all glory to God in the highest, for He is the One who not only promised a Savior, but fulfilled that promise in the incarnation and birth of Immanuel (God with us).

Christ’s birth also reveals the peace of God’s good will toward men on earth. The peace Jesus brings is the peace of sins forgiven. That’s why Isaiah calls Him the “Prince of Peace” (9:6). Likewise, Micah states that He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord and “be their peace” (5:5). Before Christ came and took your sin upon Himself, you were at enmity with God. But then Jesus came and defeated sin, death, and the power of the devil on your behalf, “making peace,” writes Paul, “by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). The very first word Jesus spoke to His disciples after rising from the dead was “Peace!” (John 20:19). That single word, spoken by the Prince of Peace Himself, means that your sins are forgiven, forever removed from you. Which is why Paul writes: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

I hope and pray you will always remember and never forget your sin and your plight apart from Jesus Christ, and then, with the heart and faith of Linus, that you will receive with joy the Christmas Gospel that there was born to you “this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Glory to God. Peace to men. That is what the birth of Jesus Christ is all about. If you remember that, you are sure to have a Merry Christmas!

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s December newsletter.

Free Condoms: Go and Fornicate

2011-12-01T12:33:00.000-06:00

In observance of World AIDS Day today, the city of Chicago is distributing 20,000 free condoms at various CTA stops. According to myfoxchicago dot com, the goal of the department of public health is to give away 10 million condoms from now until the end of the year. Aren’t you glad your tax dollars are hard at work promoting fornication?!

The message behind these freebees is simple. Free condoms: Go and fornicate.

Sadly, city officials are peddling a lie. There is no such thing as safe sex (i.e. sex without consequences). Not in the eyes of the Triune God. Sex outside of marriage—whatever form it takes—is always sinful. Always.

“Out of the heart proceed … fornications.” [Matthew 15:19]
Neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites … will inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-10]
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication… [Galatians 5:19]
But fornication … let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. [Ephesians 5:3]
Put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication… [Colossians 3:5]
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. [Hebrews 13:4]

Stop the lie. Sex is a wonderful gift from God. However, it is to be enjoyed exclusively between husband and wife within the sacred institution of marriage.

Before I Formed You in the Womb

2011-12-01T08:48:00.000-06:00

Advent Midweek

The Prophet Jeremiah Foretells the Christ

Jeremiah 1:1-19

What can you tell me about the prophet Jeremiah? Anything? Don’t worry. You are not alone. Most Christians know very little about this Old Testament prophet. So let me give you a few of the basics.

Jeremiah lived during the seventh and sixth centuries before Christ. He was called by God at a very young age, perhaps while still a teenager, and preached to the Southern Kingdom called Judah during the reign of its final five kings. Because he preached repentance to a people who had forsaken the true God for false gods, his hearers hated him. Some in his hometown plotted to assassinate him (11:18-23). He was attacked by his brothers (12:6), beaten and put into stocks by a priest (20:1-4), and imprisoned (37:15), threatened with death (38:4), and thrown into a cistern (38:6) by the officials. His entire ministry was spent preaching repentance, rebuking, warning, and prophesying about the judgment God would bring upon His people for their idolatry, including the destruction of Jerusalem and their sacred temple. He authored the OT book that bears his name, the book of Lamentations, and possibly portions of 1 and 2 Kings. Finally, he is often referred to as the “weeping prophet” because of the sad message of judgment he delivered to God’s people and because so few believed him or even listened to him.

Jeremiah never asked to be a prophet. Nor did he want to be one. Like Moses, he did not believe he was gifted in the area of public speaking. Nor did he believe he was old enough for such a task. But the LORD had great plans for Jeremiah:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

In His infinite wisdom, God knew that Jeremiah was going to preach during Judah’s most troubled times.

God knew that little nations like Judah were nothing but pawns in the never-ending power struggle between the superpowers of that day—Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.

God knew that Jeremiah’s closest ally—King Josiah—would die on the battlefield in the midst of one of those power struggles.

God knew that a later king would take the hand-written book that was Jeremiah’s life work, rip it to shreds, and throw it piece by piece into the fire.

God knew how much Jeremiah would suffer for preaching what God sent him to preach.

God knew that Jeremiah would be jailed, persecuted, and nearly put to death by the very people who should have been protecting him.

But God also knew how He would carry Jeremiah through all those troubles. He knew that Jeremiah would suffer while serving Him on earth, but then rejoice with his Lord in heavenly joy. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” God told Jeremiah. And God did know Jeremiah. God had a gracious, loving plan for Jeremiah. And I guarantee you this: However hard life on earth was for him, Jeremiah is eternally grateful for what God called him to do and say and preach.

Just as God the Father had a plan for Jeremiah, He also had a plan for Jesus. Before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, before He was conceived in the womb of His virgin mother by the Holy Spirit, before He as the Word of God created all things, God knew Him and consecrated Him and appointed Him as Savior.

In His infinite wisdom, God the Father knew that Jesus would be persecuted and hated for preaching the Word.

The Father knew that Jesus would not be welcome in His own hometown.

The Father knew that Jesus’ own brothers would not believe in Him.

The Father knew that Jesus would have nowhere to lay His head.

The Father knew that some would plot to stone Jesus.

The Father knew Jesus’ closest friends would deny Him and desert Him when He needed them the most.

The Father knew that the religious leaders would have Jesus arrested, persecuted, slapped, spit on, mocked, beaten, whipped, and eventually crucified.

But the Father also knew how He would carry Jesus through all these troubles. He knew that Jesus would carry out the world’s redemption on the cross, and then return and be seated at His right hand for all eternity. “Before I formed You in the womb I knew You.” And the Father did know Jesus. He had a gracious, loving plan for His Son. And I guarantee you this: Despite the enormous weight of man’s sin that He shouldered and carried and paid for on the cross, Jesus was happy to do it for you, for me, for all mankind.

Before I formed You in the womb, says the Father, I appointed You to be the Seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Before I formed You in the womb, I appointed You to be the Offspring of Abraham through whom all nations will be blessed (Genesis 22:18).

Before I formed You in the womb, I appointed You to be a prophet like Moses to whom they should listen (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Before I formed You in the womb, I appointed You to be born of a virgin and called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

Before I formed You in the womb, I appointed You to named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Before I formed You in the womb, I appointed You to be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah and shepherd Your flock in the strength of the LORD (Micah 5:2-5a).

Before I formed You in the womb, I knew You and consecrated You and said to You: “You are My Son; today I have begotten You” (Psalm 2:7).

Yes, God the Father planned it all. Your salvation. Your redemption. Your eternal life. “Before I formed You in the womb I knew You,” He said to Jesus.

And now we turn to you. Do not think you are unimportant to your heavenly Father. Do not think He has left you in your sin, abandoned you because of your disobedience, or forsaken you as a result of your unfaithfulness. On the contrary. Even to you God says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

Before you were born, before you were conceived, before your parents first laid eyes on each other, before your ancestors came to this country, even before the foundation of this world was created, God knew exactly how He was going to rescue you in Christ and bring you to faith in Holy Baptism and preserve you in that faith through Word and Supper. He knew you and still knows you, better than you know yourself. He knows the sins of your youth, the Old Adam you daily battle, the struggles you even now face, and everything that still lies ahead for you. That’s why, even before you were conceived and born, He consecrated you and appointed you to be His own dear child in Jesus Christ.

Out of love for you, the Triune God has prepared an eternal kingdom for you “from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

Out of love for you, the Father chose you in Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:3-4) that you should be hold and blameless before Him.

Out of love for you, the Triune God wrote your name in the book of life “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 17:8).

So learn from God’s words to Jeremiah. Be reminded how much God loves you in Christ. Know for certain that your faithful God always stands with you and for you, despite the sin and trouble and chaos that assail you in this life. To you, even you, God says:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew You … and consecrated you … and appointed you to be My child. I love you and have given you My greatest treasure. And I am even now preparing a place for you here with Me!”

Rend the Heavens

2011-11-28T10:14:00.000-06:00

First Sunday in Advent

Isaiah 64:1-9

Our Advent journey to the manger begins approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ. God’s people—the Israelites—have returned from their exile in Babylon and now, at last, are back in their own land. But things are not as they once were. Jerusalem is a wasteland. The city walls are fallen. The houses are destroyed. Even the sacred temple lies in ruins. Devastation not only surrounds them, but consumes them. Dark days are ahead. Uncertainty and doubt fill their minds. For the God who once dwelt among them is nowhere to be found.

In today’s Old Testament reading, the prophet Isaiah pours out his heart to God on behalf of the Israelites:

“Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down.”

Those words, that prayer, is a plea for God to open heaven, come down, and again be with His people to help, comfort, and save them.

Have you ever felt that way? Abandoned? Helpless? Have you ever prayed, wondering if anyone was on the receiving end of that prayer? Have you ever, in your own way, asked God to rend the heavens and come down to help you. Like Isaiah, you and I yearn for divine help in our lives. Terrorism. National debt. Inept government. Job and financial uncertainties. Family struggles. Health issues. The battle against one’s Old Adam. There is only One who can see you through this mess. There is only One who can help, comfort, and save you.

That’s why there is much you and I can learn from Isaiah’s prayer. Wrapped up in his request — “rend the heavens and come down” — is, first and foremost, a confession of sin. The last thing the world wants to hear about this time of year is sin. Most people prefer to mask their ills, their troubles, and their messy lives with happy-go-lucky holiday music, merriment, and cheer. But that’s like putting a bandage on a cancerous growth. It might cover up the problem, but it doesn’t solve it. Isaiah, on the other hand, goes right to the heart of the matter. He lays bare man’s sin and refuses to sugarcoat the ugliness.

“We sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.”

When God hides His face from you, watch out! The Israelites knew this firsthand. Their iniquities and impenitence moved God to do just that. We would do well to learn from Isaiah’s words. For the mess that surrounds us is largely our own doing, and the mess inside of us is clearly our own doing. That’s why we approach the Lord with a contrite heart, confessing our sin, seeking God’s forgiveness, pleading that He make His face to shine upon us and be gracious to us, asking Him to rend the heavens, come down, and dwell among us as Lord and Savior.

Isaiah then ends his prayer by reminding God that they are His covenant people, the ones to whom He promised the Messiah.

“But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people.”

The words Isaiah uses here take us back to Genesis 2:7, where the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground. And there’s a lot of cool things in that verse! For starters, the Hebrew word for “formed” (yatsar) is the word commonly used of a potter and his trade. What’s more, man is called ’adam because he comes from the ’adamah—the ground. Both of those Hebrew terms refer to the reddish brown color of clay soil. So there, at the beginning, on Day Six, you have the Potter forming the clay. Isaiah acknowledges this as he reminds the Lord that the Israelites are His covenant people, the holy nation through whom the promised Messiah would one day be born.

God, in His wisdom, did not answer Isaiah’s prayer immediately. He did not “rend the heavens and come down” right then and there and return Jerusalem to its former glory. He did, however, dwell among His people again, through the same means He had earlier established. He came to them in the reading of Moses and the Prophets. He comforted them in the singing of the psalms. And He continued to point their eyes forward to the Seed of the woman by means of the daily sacrifices, the annual festivals, and a variety of ceremonial laws.

And then, when the fullness of time had come, God finally did “rend the heavens and come down” to earth. He did this by sending forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5). Isaiah’s prayer had been heard. And it was answered 700 years later in a stable outside of Bethlehem. For there, in a manger, in human flesh and blood, wrapped up in swaddling cloths, God did “rend the heavens and come down” to save us from our mess. God’s answer to our sin: a Baby. The Potter’s new masterpiece: divinity wrapped up in human flesh and blood. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Later, when this Christ-child grew up and was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, the heavens were again ripped opened, the Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice exclaimed: “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17).

And then, when this Christ finally exchanged His manger for a cross, the heavens were again ripped opened. This time for good. This time for all eternity. Because sin and death have met their match in the holy precious blood of Christ, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Sin no longer separates you from your Creator, your Potter, your Father. It is why you sing: Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.

Today, God continues to “rend the heavens and come down” to you, His people. He comes to you mangered in water, in words, in bread and wine. These are the swaddling cloths by which He comes to dwell among you, forgive you, strengthen you, and be with you. It was Isaiah who foretold this Child’s name: Emmanuel. God with us. He has ripped open the heavens and come down to dwell with you.

Remember that as you face your own exiles, your own dark days, your own uncertainty and doubt. Remember that when the consequences of sin threaten to overcome you. Remember that when it seems God is nowhere to be found. Learn from Isaiah. Approach the Lord with a contrite heart, confess your sin, seek God’s forgiveness, plead that He make His face to shine upon you, and ask Him to rend the heavens, come down, and dwell among you.

And then, remember your baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. Listen to His Word. Eat and drink His blood and blood. In the midst of these good gifts from your heavenly Father, you will see that He is with you in this messed up life. He has torn open the heavens and come down. Thus, you are not without hope. You are not alone. One stronger than sin and death has come and won the victory. Emmanuel is His name. God is with you. And blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Psalms of Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:50:00.001-06:00

National Day of Thanksgiving

The Psalter

Dearly beloved, you don’t need a presidential proclamation, an act of Congress, or a fourth Thursday in November to give thanks. Thanksgiving is part and parcel of your daily duty as those who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. Giving thanks is what Christians do!

In tonight’s Old Testament reading, Moses spoke some very important words to God’s people of old before they entered the promised land: “Remember … the LORD your God. … Take care lest you forget” (Deuteronomy 8:2, 11).

Of the millions who were led out of Egypt by Moses, only Caleb and Joshua and those under the age of 20 remembered the Lord and eventually set foot in the promised land. Of the ten lepers who were healed, only one remembered the Lord in thanksgiving. Of the thousands who heard Jesus’ preach and witnessed His miracles, only a handful followed Him to the cross and rejoiced in His resurrection.

Do you remember the Lord on a daily basis? Do you look to Him for every good of body and soul? Do you return to Him in thanksgiving, in both good times and bad? Saint Paul reminds you to be “giving thanks always and for everything” (Ephesians 5:20), to have “thanksgiving in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16), and to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Over and over again he directs you back to the one true God, who alone hears and forgives and helps and provides. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Go ahead. Ask the Triune God whatever you want. Lay your anxiety at His feet. Confess your sin. Implore His help. Pray for food, clothing, shelter, healing, whatever it is you need. Just remember to do it with thanksgiving, for the same God who sent His only-begotten Son to shed His blood for you on the cross has promised to provide for your every need of body and soul. Trust that. He loves you dearly. He knows you better than you know yourself, right down to the number of hairs on your head. No detail of your life is too small or insignificant. You are precious and holy to Him. As precious as the blood of His Son that purchased you from sin and death. As holy as the pure and perfect life of Jesus who became your sin so that in Him you might become His righteousness.

With that kind of God, how else could one respond than with heartfelt thanksgiving! To that end, I want you to sit back, close your eyes, clear your mind, and meditate on the following psalms of thanksgiving. Each of these psalms of thanksgiving will, in one way or another, direct your ears and heart to Jesus Christ. So listen closely and place yourself into the psalmist’s shoes, that your voice might join his in thanking God for His many blessings.

“I will give to the LORD the thanks due to His righteousness.” [Psalm 7:17]

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart.” [Psalm 9:1]

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.” [Psalm 28:7]

“Sing praises to the LORD, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name.” [Psalm 30:4]

“O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever!” [Psalm 30:12]

“Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!” [Psalm 33:2]

“I will thank You in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise You.” [Psalm 35:18]

“In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.” [Psalm 44:8]

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.” [Psalm 50:14]

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me.” [Psalm 50:23]

“I will thank You forever.” [Psalm 52:9]

“I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.” [Psalm 54:6]

“I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.” [Psalm 56:12]

“I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.” [Psalm 57:9]

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” [Psalm 69:30]

“We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your name is near. We recount Your wondrous deeds.” [Psalm 75:1]

“We Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation we will recount Your praise.” [Psalm 79:13]

“I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.” [Psalm 86:12]

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” [Psalm 92:1]

“Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!” [Psalm 95:2]

“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to His holy name!” [Psalm 97:12]

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” [Psalm 100:4]

“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!” [Psalm 105:1]

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” [Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1, 29; 136:1]

“Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise.” [Psalm 106:47]

“Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!” [Psalm 107:21-22]

“I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.” [Psalm 108:3]

“With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng.” [Psalm 109:30]

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.” [Psalm 111:1]

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.” [Psalm 116:17]

“Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.” [Psalm 118:19]

“I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.” [Psalm 118:21]

“You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol You.” [Psalm 118:28]

“Give thanks to the God of gods, … give thanks to the Lord of lords, … give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.” [Psalm 136:2-3, 26]

“I give You thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.” [Psalm 138:1-2]

“Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.” [Psalm 140:13]

“All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, and all Your saints shall bless You!” [Psalm 145:10]

“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving.” [Psalm 147:7]

There you have it. A smorgasbord of psalms that place thanksgiving into your heart and onto your lips. Each, in its own way, reminds you that thanksgiving is much more than a pious prayer and an attitude of gratitude sandwiched between the turkey and the pumpkin pie one day a year. It happens each and every day a baptized child of God remembers his Savior, his heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit who delivers these good gifts.

Moses said it beautifully: Remember the LORD your God. Build your life on the foundation of Christ and His Word, and thanksgiving will follow. The sort of thanksgiving that causes heads to bow, knees to bend, hands to fold, and hearts to be lifted up. The sort of thanksgiving that opens ears to God’s Word, mouths to receive Christ’s body and blood, and tongues to speak and sing words of prayer and praise. The sort of thanksgiving that is lived out in faith toward God and love toward the neighbor. In Christ, faithful hearts are grateful hearts, and grateful hearts are quick to pray:

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!”

God grant you a blessed Thanksgiving!

Thankfulness

2011-11-23T07:46:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for God the Father, who created and preserves all things, knit me together in my mother’s womb, provides for me, and defends me, all out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me.

I am thankful for God the Son, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; He became sin for me that I might become the righteousness of God in Him and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.

I am thankful for God the Holy Spirit, who called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; He daily leads me to Christ, reminds me of my baptism into His death and resurrection, and forgives my sin.

I am thankful for Lori, my beautiful bride, the love of my life, my soul mate, my better half, my “rib,” the mother of our children, and the woman I am pleased to grow old with.

I am thankful for Zachary, Caleb, Michael, and Adam, gifts from God whom I am privileged to be raising, caring for, and bringing up in Christ.

I am thankful for my parents, who continue to be godly examples of our heavenly Father’s love, and my siblings, who are wonderful companions on this earthly pilgrimage to our true homeland.

I am thankful for the saints at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, whom the Lord has given me to serve with His holy Word and blessed Sacraments, and for their support, friendship, faithfulness to the Gospel, and love for one another.

I am thankful for my forefathers in the faith, those who modeled Christ to me in childhood, those who continue to model Christ to me, my synod’s faithfulness to Christ and His Word, my father confessors, my brothers in the ministry, and every sheep of the Good Shepherd.

I am thankful for good friends, their companionship, honesty, integrity, forgiveness, strength, humor, and faith.

I am thankful for this country, its freedoms, those who gave their lives in defense of its freedom, those who serve in the armed forces, those who serve in our communities, and all who are fighting for limited, constitutional government.

I am thankful for every blessing of body and soul, good gifts from the Triune God who loves us all in Christ.

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever!”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Centers in Christ

2011-11-22T22:09:00.002-06:00

Here is a sampling of what Saint Paul and Saint John say about thanksgiving. Notice that true thanksgiving is always directed to the one true God and centers in Christ!

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 15:57]

“Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Ephesians 5:18-20]

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” [Philippians 4:6]

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” [Colossians 3:15-17]

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” [1 Thessalonians 5:18]

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Timothy 2:1-4]

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” [Revelation 7:12]

At Your Right Hand

2011-11-21T07:49:00.001-06:00

The Last Sunday in the Church Year

(Series A: Proper 29)

Saint Matthew 25:31-46

Dearly beloved, Lutherans usually squirm at the notion that we will be judged on our works. Are you one of them? On Trinity Sunday we confess the Athanasian Creed, which ends with these words:

“At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds. And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire. This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.”

Do you know why we confess these words? We confess them because they are Scriptural. Jesus Himself exclaimed: “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29). Saint Paul later added: “We must all appear before judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

As you can see, there is no reason to squirm at the notion that you will be judged on your works. However, don’t confuse judgment with salvation. For faith alone saves. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). But while faith alone saves, faith in Christ is never alone. Good works always follow it. A good tree automatically produces good fruit. Today’s Holy Gospel is yet another example of this truth.

When Jesus comes in glory on the clouds of heaven with all His angels on the Last Day, He will sit on His glorious throne. Then all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the sheep from the goats. The believing sheep will hear: “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” The unbelieving goats will hear: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” This separation is not based on works, but on faith in Christ. Faith alone saves.

Each and every one us sinners deserves to hear the words: “Depart from Me, you cursed.” We’ve earned that verdict. We’ve worked hard at it by constructing our own idols, taking God’s name in vain, and despising His Word, not to mention the disrespect, resentment, lust, greed, envy, gossip, and coveting that are never far away. The evidence is damning. And “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). If salvation is based on works, then we are all doomed to hell!

But miracle of all miracles, “in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). That is why the King will say to you on the Last Day: “Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Those words are dripping with grace, for your works don’t merit Christ’s kingdom. It was prepared for you before you were even born, from the very foundation of the world, the very same phrase used in Holy Scripture to describe the Lamb who was slain. Your salvation, you see, is necessarily tied to Jesus Christ. He went to the cross, shed His blood, and died for you, to win you the kingdom. Thus, Jesus describes the kingdom as an inheritance, a gift. Because you are a child of the heavenly Father, you get the inheritance.

Then, after welcoming you home on the Last Day, Jesus will commend your works: “I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.” Faith alone saves. But faith in Christ is never alone. It always produces good works.

The irony here is that there are plenty of unbelievers who also feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and go to those in prison. There will be plenty of nice people in hell, fine citizens and good neighbors, people who outwardly did good to others. What, then, is the difference between the good works of the sheep and the good works of the goats? Faith. Apart from faith in Jesus’ forgiveness, one’s works remain stained and corrupted, and one’s righteousnesses are nothing more than filthy rags. Saint Paul writes: “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). The author of Hebrews adds: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith in Christ crucified is what differentiates the sheep from the goats. Thus, the works of the sheep are cleansed and sanctified by Christ, while the works of the goats are not. What’s more, Christ receives good works done in faith as works done in Him and for Him and to Him. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.”

That is why today’s Holy Gospel speaks of the works of the sheep. Jesus not only declares you righteous, He also declares your works righteous and receives them as gifts of love. You have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you (Galatians 2:20) and works good through you. Saint Paul beautifully weaves together the proper relationship of faith and works: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Good works. Prepared beforehand for you. That you should walk in them. That is your new life in Jesus Christ. These good works come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from the grandiose to the mundane:

Helping a neighbor.
Feeding the hungry.
Visiting the sick.
Making a meal.
Teaching your children about Christ.
Changing a diaper.
Being a faithful employee.
Sharing the hope within you to those around you.
Assisting an elderly member.
Bringing your loved ones to church to receive Christ’s good gifts.

You don’t have to go searching for good works, dear friends. God has placed them all around you, and continually works through you to benefit your neighbor.

Finally, we would do well to remember that this final separation of the sheep and the goats begins at the cross and is pictured for us there. It was a goat who was crucified at Jesus’ left, one who mocked Him and didn’t believe. But crucified on Jesus’ right was a sheep who prayed in faith: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

Fellow Christians who believe and are baptized, you are even now at Jesus’ right hand. And just as our Lord will come on the Last Day with all His holy angels, so also He is here even now with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven to bring you His kingdom in the Sacrament of His body and blood. Come, eat and drink, and be filled with your Savior! [Koch]

Grace alone. Faith alone. Christ alone. Put those three together and you find yourself at the Good Shepherd’s right hand, numbered among the sheep of His flock. And what else is there to do at the Good Shepherd’s right hand but sing the praises of another shepherd—King David—who wrote:

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” [Psalm 16:11]

God grant you these Christ-centered pleasures, now and always!

Different? Better?

2011-11-18T12:52:00.001-06:00

I received yet another flyer in the mail from yet another local “community church.” No mention of sin or grace, forgiveness or cross. Lots of babble about being a different kind of church, a better take on what Jesus came to bring us, relevant sermons, real people on a journey, an alive youth group, and amazing coffee. Really?

A different kind of church. “Different” usually means confessing something new, novel, or watered down from what the one holy Christian and apostolic Church is and teaches. Beware!

A better take on what Jesus came to bring us. How can one improve on confession and absolution, the proclamation of Christ crucified and the totality of Holy Scripture, our Lord’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, a life of faith toward God and love toward neighbor?

Relevant sermons. Becoming a better you. How to do or achieve X, Y, or Z. Relevant means it’s all about you, rather than being about Christ for you. If it isn’t Christ-centered, cross-focused, and Law-Gospel-divided, then it’s not relevant.

Real people on a journey. As opposed to what? Robots sitting still? Real people are sinners. Real people need the Savior. And the only journey worth talking about is the daily dying to sin and rising to newness of life that is ours in Christ.

An alive youth group. Much better than dead kids, I suppose. But what does this mean? Life—true and abundant life—is found only in Christ, not in the gimmicks found in most youth groups.

Amazing coffee. When you have nothing substantial to offer sinners, you brag about your coffee. I prefer to drink deeply of Christ, who alone quenches my thirst.

God save us from different, better, relevant, real, alive, and amazing churches!

Spiritual Autonomy

2011-11-02T08:02:00.001-05:00

We live in a world that encourages autonomy. In fact, it’s woven into the fabric of our culture, even our humanity. As a child, you are necessarily dependent on your parents for food, clothing, shelter, and the like. As you grow up, you are taught to be more independent, more self-sufficient, more autonomous. In a worldly sense, there are good and worthwhile aspects to autonomy. For example, you are to work and therein provide for yourself and your family.

And yet, autonomy only goes so far. Try it in the spiritual realm and you’re headed for spiritual suicide. The reason so many people drift away from their Lord and eventually fall from faith is their desire to be spiritually autonomous. The word autonomy literally means “a law unto oneself” of “self-governance.” In the spiritual realm, this involves becoming a god unto one self, setting one’s own rules, and governing one’s own standard of right and wrong.

The path to autonomy (and therein falling from faith) happens slowly and subtly. Someone doesn’t wake up one morning and suddenly forsake Christ. It’s almost always a long, drawn-out process, where an individual begins to find spiritual autonomy in himself, probably completely unaware it is happening at all.

Take John Doe as an example. John’s path to spiritual autonomy begins with a very busy week at work. Add to this his children’s sports schedules and his own desire to follow his professional sports teams. Add to this paying the bills, mowing the lawn, a movie with his wife, and a busy Saturday. All this leaves John too tired to get up for church on Sunday morning. He misses a worship service. Nothing bad happens. He misses another, and another, and another, and still nothing bad happens. His car doesn’t break down. His skin doesn’t break out in hives. His children are no worse and maybe even a little better now that he don’t have to drag them to church and fight with them in the pews.

Not going to church, not listening to God’s Word, not receiving Christ’s true body and blood, frees up more of John’s schedule and gives him more “me” time. And that means more time for the stuff he views as truly important: himself, his family, an extra hour or two of sleep, the big game, etc. Pretty soon, John doesn’t even miss church.

Add to this John’s relative, who always thought he was strange for believing in this God stuff anyway. And his coworker, who has handed him more than one article challenging religion in general and Christianity in particular. And his buddy, who doesn’t go to church but seems “spiritual” enough because he’s a pretty decent fellow who helps and volunteers. Tribulation comes and John questions God’s love. The cares of the world catch his fancy. His heart begins to desire a bigger this and a better that. To add insult to injury, someone at church—maybe even the pastor—offends him by asking him why he hasn’t come to church in a while to receive God’s good gifts.

Then, one day, the dimly flickering light of faith simply goes out, like a little candle in a puff of wind, and John doesn’t even notice. Faith doesn’t die with a shout of protest or a clenched fist of defiance. Faith simply dies away after a long, drawn-out period of removing oneself from Christ’s Word and Sacrament.

John’s path to spiritual autonomy (and therein unbelief) is not unique. It happens regularly, though the specific circumstances vary from person to person. Some of those who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and catechized in the faith have forsaken their Lord. Some who once confessed Christ’s saving name no longer do. Some who were called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light have wondered back into the darkness of unrepentant sin.

Perhaps you’ve been there. Almost certainly you know someone who has or is. As the end of the church year approaches, let us return to the Lord our God in repentance and faith. Let us confess: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). And let us pray: “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Thankfully, we have a gracious God. He loves to show mercy. He forgives sinners for Jesus’ sake. He is continually searching for all His lost sheep, that He might carry them home in the arms of His mercy. God bought you at a great price—the blood of His own dear Son. He loves you. And now He wants to feed and strengthen you regularly through Word and Sacrament, right here in His house, right here with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Friends, no one can snatch you out of God’s hand. But you can walk away willingly. Therefore, be on your guard. Recognize that your entire life as a child of God is lived not in autonomy, not independently of your loving heavenly Father, not self-sufficiently apart from Christ’s Word and Sacrament. You are—and always will be—dependent on the Father’s grace, on Christ’s forgiveness, and on the Spirit’s working in you. If, by God’s grace, you understand this, then reach out in love and humility, with patience, to those closest to you who don’t.

There’s a reason Jesus says that man lives “by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). There is eternal life only in the Triune God. Only in Christ’s sacrifice for sinners. Only in Word and Sacrament, through which the Spirit delivers Christ’s forgiveness, life, and salvation. God loves you too much to send you off into spiritual autonomy. He sent His own dear Son to the cross so that you would be His beloved children. And as you know, children are part of a family, brothers and sisters who are necessary dependent on their heavenly Father.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” [1 John 3:1]

The article appears in Divine Shepherd’s November newsletter.

Clothed in Righteousness

2011-10-30T18:07:00.001-05:00

Reformation Sunday

Romans 3:19-28

It’s that time of year again, time when both children and adults will put on costumes, masks, makeup, and wigs and assume a new identity. The possibilities are endless. A variety of occupations are popular. So are animals and scary costumes. Even superheroes, princesses, and movie stars.

Putting on costumes is nothing new. It as old as the world in which we live. Immediately after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths. This costume, they reasoned, would hide their nakedness and shame from their Creator. But Adam and Eve fooled no one except themselves. “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Let’s face it, the apple does not fall very far from the tree. We too put on masks and costumes to conceal things from others and God.

More than once you’ve put on a happy face, even though you’ve felt otherwise. A smile can temporarily cover up an emotional scar, heartache, despair, or loneliness. A confident demeanor can temporarily hide a lack of self-esteem. Telling lies can temporarily disguise doubts, inadequacies, secrets, or addictions. Be honest. There are certain things you work hard to conceal. In fact, all of us—at various times and in various ways—try to camouflage our sins, failings, and imperfections.

The deeper question is this: What costumes do you wear before God? The truth be told, you can conceal things from others, but you cannot conceal anything from God. For “no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

Jesus reminds us that in His Church there are to be no masks and no costumes. He knows you struggle with sinful thoughts and desires. He knows you give in to temptation. He knows you worry, are anxious, and don’t always trust His words and promises. He knows there’s a part of you that loves earthly treasures and pleasures. He know you’ve failed to live your baptism daily. He knows there are certain pet sins that keep rearing their ugly head in your life. That’s why He bids you to take off the masks, put away the costumes, and come to Him as you are. Come to Him as a poor, miserable sinner.

Today’s epistle reading speaks about one of the most popular costumes people wear. It’s called one’s own righteousness. But such a costume fools no one, as Paul writes: “By works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight.” And again: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Simply put, dressing up in one’s own righteousness is a lousy costume, for no one can mask his sins of thought, word, or deed from God by striving to live a good life, by striving to do the right thing, or by striving to love his neighbor as himself. No one knew this better than Martin Luther. Luther entered the monastery, gave up worldly possessions, prayed and fasted and worked his fingers to the bone trying to please God with his own righteousness. Thankfully, as Luther studied the book of Romans, he soon discovered that all of his good works were nothing more than a phony mask, a cheap costume that God saw right through. What’s more, he also learned where one does find true righteousness.

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”

Whereas man’s righteousness is nothing more than filthy rags in God’s eyes, Christ’s righteousness is a perfect righteousness. To pay the penalty for your sin and win your salvation, Jesus clothed Himself in our flesh and blood and became one of us, one with us, one for us. He placed Himself under the Law that He might fulfill it in your place. He took your sin upon Himself and endured the Father’s wrath that you might never be forsaken. The price of this wondrous love: His blood. He died that you might live. He rose again that you might walk in newness of life. Then He returned to the Father’s right hand that you might approach Him in your time of need just as you are, without any masks.

Our first parents had it all wrong. Fig leaves, costumes, and masks are for hiding. Sinners don’t need to hide from God. They simply need to come to God as they are. Poor. Miserable. Dead in their trespasses and sins. Then and only then can God do what He does best. Forgive you. Create in you a clean heart. Renew in you a right spirit. And clothe you in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

That last point is especially fitting. For in Holy Baptism, the nakedness of your sin and shame is covered with the perfect righteousness of your Savior. The Apostle Paul says it this way: “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). To put on Christ is to be clothed with Christ. Which is to say: His perfect righteousness has been wrapped around you from head to toe.

Martin Luther was so happy to learn this, he did his best to live it daily. He risked his life to preach Christ and Him crucified. He preached sermons, wrote hymns, traveled, and taught, all in an effort to point sinners to Jesus Christ and teach them Christ’s words and promises: “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). That word, that truth, is this: You, dear friends, are justified, declared righteous, saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

So take off your masks and expose your sin and imperfections to the only One who can cure you of them. And then, clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness, walk in His love and forgiveness. If you want to wear a costume, then let it be the one Luther suggests when he writes:

“It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.”

Remember those words as your head home today, as you wake up tomorrow morning, and every time you are tempted to put on your own costumes before God and others. To your family and friends, your neighbors and coworkers, even your enemies, you are the hands and feet and mouth of your Savior. Reflecting His love. Speaking His forgiveness. Serving others as Christ has first served you.

So put on a fun costume for a few hours tomorrow if you want. That type of costume is harmless. Just remember who you are in Jesus Christ. Make the sign of the cross in the morning and remember that you are a child of God, clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness. Then go about your daily routine. Work diligently. Serve your neighbor. Love everyone with whom you cross paths. Be Christ to your neighbor. Then, at the end of the day, make the sign of the cross again and know that you are still justified in God’s eyes because of Jesus Christ.

That is what the Reformation was all about. And that is what the Lutheran Church is still all about. Christ’s perfect righteousness is wrapped around you from head to toe. No costumes. No masks. Just beautiful, holy, and righteous in God’s eyes!

God's Handiwork

2011-10-28T08:10:00.001-05:00

Cliche: When Times Are Dark

2011-10-27T12:42:00.000-05:00

Another cliché spotted on a church sign:

When times are dark, let God light the way.

Are there times when you don’t need God to light the way? Do you go it alone when times are light? How presumptuous, self-centered, and egotistical. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Not just when times are dark. Even when times are light. All depends on God’s grace in Christ.

Forego the clichés and stick with God’s Word!

Paul Gerhardt, Hymn Writer

2011-10-27T07:37:00.000-05:00

Few Lutherans know his name. But most know his hymns. Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) is one of the greatest hymn writers of the Lutheran Church. Here is a German film on the life of Paul Gerhardt, narrated in English:

Gerhardt has 16 hymns in Lutheran Service Book:

334 - O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
360 - All My Heart Again Rejoices
372 - O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is
375 - Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising
438 - A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
449/450 - O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
453 - Upon the Cross Extended
467 - Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
596 - All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
683 - Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
724 - If God Himself Be for Me
726 - Evening and Morning
737 - Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing
754 - Entrust Your Days and Burdens
756 - Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me
880 - Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow

May our gracious Lord continue to send faithful hymn writers to His Church, that Christians may rightly know their sin and faithfully cling to Christ crucified for their forgiveness, life, and salvation!

Lutheranism's Treasure

2011-10-24T09:13:00.001-05:00

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 25)

Saint Matthew 22:34-46

200 years ago this Tuesday (25 October 1811) a baby boy named Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was born in Saxony, Germany. As a child, Walther did not look like he had much to offer. He struggled with doubt and unbelief. Even when he reached adulthood, Walther still did not look like he had much to offer. His cheeks were sunken. His hair was ruffled and his beard untrimmed. He even suffered from depression. By today’s standards, he looked unkempt and unhealthy. But behind that shoddy exterior was a faithful pastor, an avid hymn writer, a theologian of the cross, and the very leader our Lord raised up here in America to restore the gospel of Christ crucified to the center of everything we believe, teach, and confess as Lutherans.

The author of Hebrews wisely reminds us:

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” [Hebrews 13:7]

There is much we can learn from C.F.W. Walther, for he, like Martin Luther before him, and like the Apostle Paul before him, faithfully pointed his hearers to Christ crucified for the life of the world. Walther grew up in a culture not all-together different from our own. Most people in his day and age were religious. Most strove to be pious in their day to day lives and virtuous in their dealings with other people. However, most people in Walther’s day and age—like our own—confused Law and Gospel and therein tried to justify themselves before God.

Take, for example, the words you heard in today’s Holy Gospel. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” For most people, these words are little more than encouragement to live a good life, to love God as best you can, and your neighbor as much as humanly possible. If you do this sincerely, to the best of your ability, and don’t mess up in any big way, then God will certainly love you and accept you and welcome you into His heavenly kingdom.

Do you see the folly in such reasoning? No one—and I mean no one—loves God and neighbor as he should. Not a single one of us. By nature we are self-righteous, self-centered, self-seeking. By nature we are arrogant, proud, unloving. Saint Paul condemns us all: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).

When one confuses Law and Gospel and imagines he can justify himself before God, he nullifies Christ’s sacrifice for sinners. When you finally stand before God on the Last Day, will you stand there on your own, with your own seeming righteousness, or will you stand there in Christ, wrapped up from head to toe in His perfect righteousness? That is the difference between Law and Gospel. The Law focuses on you and what you have failed to do; the Gospel focuses on Christ and what He has completely done for you!

When it comes down to it, there is an age-old question every person of every generation must answer. How you answer this question ultimately leads either to life everlasting or eternal condemnation. Jesus poses this question in today’s Holy Gospel, where He asks: “What do you think about the Christ?”

So, dear Christian friends, what do you think about the Christ? Who is He? Why did He come? What was His purpose? How do you see Him?

If you see Christ primarily as a lawgiver, as one who takes all the fun out of life, you do not yet rightly know the Gospel.

If you see Christ primarily as a stern judge, as an enforcer of the rules, you do not yet rightly understand the Gospel.

If you see Christ primarily as a role model, as an example to follow, you do not yet rightly grasp the Gospel.

Those who confuse Law and Gospel do not see Christ as the Savior, but as a stern judge, a lawgiver, or a role model. In turn, their soul is either terrorized by its sin, or becomes smug and self-righteous before God. Jesus asks the question He does—“What do you think about the Christ?”—because He wants sinners like the lawyer, like the disciples, like Paul, like Luther, like Walther, like you and me, to take our eyes off of the Law and ourselves and place them on Him, for He is pure Gospel, full of grace and truth, overflowing with forgiveness and mercy. And that is wonderfully important. For when you see the Law as God’s mirror, which shows you your sin, and as God’s hammer, which smashes to pieces your own attempts at righteousness, you rightly despair of yourself. Then, and only then, can the sweet Gospel be applied to remedy your situation. For Christ did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance and faith.

The Gospel is for sinners, dear friends. So don’t hide behind your feeble attempts to love God and neighbor. Instead, confess what is true of you and then look to Christ. He stretched out His arms on that instrument of death, that you might see in Him the Father embracing you with His mercy. He hung there naked before God’s justice in your place, that He might clothe you with His own perfect righteousness. In short, He died, that you might walk in newness of life.

Because this precious Gospel is continually in danger of being changed, covered up, or done away with, the Church must safeguard it, even as she proclaims it faithfully and boldly to her members and the world around her.

C.F.W. Walther may not have looked much of a leader, but our Lord raised him up to ensure that Lutherans in 19th century America remained faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. Under his leadership, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) was formed in 1847 and he was chosen as its first president. To this very day, one of Walther’s greatest gifts to the Church at large, and to the Missouri Synod specifically, is the proper distinction between Law and Gospel. Walther’s writings point us again and again to Jesus Christ, our Savior. That is why we remember him. That is why we commemorate the anniversary of his birth. That is why we give thanks to God for his life and his work.

Hermann Sasse, one of the chief theologians of the 20th century, once noted: “It is always a sign of a deep spiritual sickness when a church forgets its fathers.” As God’s people, let us never forget our fathers in the faith, who founded this Synod squarely and firmly upon the sacred and inerrant Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. We’ve wavered now and then. But the foundation was built so well that today, 164 years later—despite our many weaknesses and faults—the LCMS remains committed to the same confession of faith because it’s true. [Harrison]

The challenges we face today are many. For not only is the world hostile to the Church’s pure proclamation of Christ, but so are many within Christendom. Some are laying a new foundation and building a sleek, snazzy, 21st century church that reflects the wants and desires of our fickle culture. Jesus is still asking His question: “What do you think about the Christ?” How will you answer? Where will you be fed? Where will you raise your children? Where the Gospel is purely preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered? Or where there’s lots of fluff and eye candy and a confusion of Law and Gospel?

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” [Hebrews 13:7]

By God’s grace, dear friends, follow the examples of Luther and Walther. Hold fast to the sacred Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, both of which hold up the bright jewel of Christ crucified for the life of the world. One lost, you are now found. Once blind, you now see. Once dead in sin, you are now alive in Christ.

That is Lutheranism’s treasure to share with the world!

Christ's Likeness and Inscription

2011-10-17T11:06:00.001-05:00

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 24)

Saint Matthew 22:15-22

Dearly beloved, in today’s Holy Gospel the Pharisees and Herodians—normally enemies of each other—join forces in an attempt to take Jesus down. “Tell us, [Jesus], what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” The average Jew hated Rome and Caesar’s claim on their homeland. So, if Jesus answers “Yes, it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,” then the Pharisees will spread the word that Jesus is unpatriotic toward Israel and turn the common people against Him. On the other hand, if Jesus answers “No, it is not lawful to pay taxes to Caesar,” then the Herodians will run back to Herod and accuse Jesus of treason—a crime against the state, punishable by death.

Our Lord Jesus, aware of their malice, uses this occasion to teach His questioners—and us—a profound truth about our relationship to earthly authority and our relationship to God. “Show Me the coin for the tax,” He says. The coin for the tax was the common coin of the day—a denarius. One side bore the likeness or portrait of Caesar and the inscription “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.” The other side bore another likeness of Caesar and the inscription “Great Ruler.” There was no mistaking who issued this coin, and who wanted it back in the form of taxes from his subjects. Jesus holds up this coin, shows them both sides, and then asks: “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” The answer is obvious. “Caesar’s.” To which Jesus responds: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”

Those words are hard to hear and even harder to put into practice, aren’t they. None of you relishes tax time. You are taxed on your income, on every purchase and every sale, on your property, and in countless other ways. In one way or another, your government is always reaching deeper and deeper into your pockets. Here in America, unlike ancient Rome, you have the wonderful privilege of electing your leaders. Thus, if you think government is demanding too little or too much of you in taxes, you should act accordingly. But at the end of the day, you are still called to render to government the things that are government’s.

You may or may not like your president, your congressional representatives, your governor, your major. They might lie, cheat, or abuse the authority entrusted to them. They might be two-faced, corrupt, self-seeking, or immoral. Nonetheless, you are to honor them as God’s servants. You are to pray for them. And you are to obey them in all things where sin is not involved. For by honoring them, you are really honoring God Himself. Tiberius Caesar was in no sense of the word Christian. Yet, Jesus had no problem reminding His hearers of their civic obligation: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.”

Then comes the most important, the most profound, and perhaps the most difficult part of Jesus’ response to hear and believe and put into practice. “And [render] to God the things that are God’s.”

The things that are God’s. Why, that’s everything! Psalm 24 states: “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Since everything is God’s, God wants all you are and all you have. Do not think you’ve done your duty when you give God an hour on Sunday morning and a certain percentage in the offering plate. God has a claim on your entire life. He is your Way, your Truth, and your Life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. He is your Forgiveness, your Life, and your Salvation every waking hour and every sleeping hour. Thus, He desires to be the heart and center of everything you are, think, say, and do. To render to God the things that are God’s, therefore, means to honor Him with your whole being—your heart, soul, strength, and mind. As a sinner, this is impossible on your own. You know that. But remember, you are not on your own.

Think back to the coin Jesus held up. Because the denarius bore Caesar’s likeness and inscription, it was to be given to Caesar in the form of taxes. So let me ask you: Who is it that perfectly bears God’s likeness and inscription? Jesus Christ! He is once again—as always—at the heart and center of today’s Holy Gospel.

Saint Paul tells us that Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). As the likeness of Caesar was pressed into a coin, so Christ is the perfect likeness of God “coined” in human flesh. And as coins were rendered to Caesar to pay taxes, so Jesus rendered Himself to the Father to pay the debt of your sin on the cross. Jesus purchased and redeemed you, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood. And yes, there was even an inscription placed over His head as He made this payment. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37).

When it comes to rendering to God the things that are God’s, to settling accounts, to paying off the debt of your sin, there are really only two options. Either you can render to Him your own good works and your own best of intentions and your own righteousness, which always falls short and always results in damnation, or you can render to Him a Spirit-wrought faith in Jesus Christ, whose work and sacrifice rendered to the Father the full and complete payment for your sin, and always results in eternal life.

As you can see, rendering to God the things that are God’s is simply to believe in Jesus Christ.

Rendering to God the things that are God’s is to point to Christ crucified and say “There is my salvation.”

Rendering to God the things that are God’s is to live from every word that proceeds from His mouth, to die to sin and rise to newness of life daily in Him, to eat and drink of Him regularly and faithfully for the forgiveness of your sins.

Rendering to God the things that are God’s is to know and trust that Christ is for you, that His righteousness is yours, that you are sons of God in Him.

And because Christ is for you, He is not the only one who bears the likeness and inscription of the Father. By God’s grace, you do as well! For though you bear the tarnished likeness of Adam by nature, God gives you the likeness of Christ in that washing of water with the Word, where He clothes you with the perfect righteousness of His Son. And though you bear the inscription of death because of the wages of your sin, God inscribes His triune name on you, and stamps the sign of the cross on you, in Holy Baptism, thereby joining you to Himself. Which is to say: You are now God’s holy coinage, His cherished treasure, bearing His likeness and inscription. [Koch]

What, then, shall you render to the LORD for all His benefits to you? The psalmist answers: “Lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:13). Saint Paul adds: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). Which is to say, render your ears to the hearing of God’s Word. Your mouth to the receiving of Christ’s body and blood. Your lips to the speaking and singing of His praise. Your eyes to the study of Holy Scripture. Your heart and mind to the things of God. Your hands and feet to the service of God and your neighbor. And your time, talents, and treasures to furthering the spread of the Gospel and the upkeep of this house of God. For ultimately your entire being belongs to God and is rendered back to Him in a life lived in faith toward Him and fervent love toward one another.

How could it be otherwise? Christ, the perfect likeness and inscription of His heavenly Father, has rendered Himself for you, that you might share in the riches of His eternal kingdom!

A Marriage Made in Heaven

2011-10-09T18:11:00.000-05:00

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 23)

Matthew 22:1-14

The wedding hall is decorated. The flowers are in place. The candles are lighted. The dance floor is polished. The musicians are warmed up. The prime rib and twice baked potatoes are ready to be enjoyed. The choicest of wines is cascading freely in the fountain from which it will soon be poured. A silver serving knife sits in waiting, right below the towering cake. The guest book lies open and the fountain pen has plenty of ink. Everything, even the little glittery things that are thrown all over the tablecloths, has been perfectly placed.

Meanwhile, the servants are out in the streets inviting people into the wedding reception. This invitation goes out to as many as they find, men and women, adults and children, rich and poor, good and bad. Everyone gets the same invitation, for it is based on grace, not on works or social standing. In a world with no free lunches, the offer of an endless banquet in paradise seems too good to be true. But it is true. All the expenses have been paid. All things necessary have been sacrificed. And it is prepared for you at no cost, no price. It is pure gift!

Sadly, many reject the Gospel’s invitation. Some are actually hardcore rebels. They know the invitation is from the King of kings, but don’t care. They hate the King and would rather rule themselves. Others simply don’t believe the invitation is valid, that it is from the King, or even that there is a King. They have lived in delusion for so long that it has become comfortable. They are afraid of change, afraid to risk anything, afraid to let go of the things of this world, afraid to come out of the darkness of sin and be exposed. They don’t want to be noticed. They want to hide. They want to keep their pet sins secret and enjoy life to the fullest.

Still others make light of God’s invitation. Oh, it’s not that urgent. I have more important things to do. Maybe later. Maybe when I’m retired. Maybe when I’m less busy. Maybe when my kids don’t have soccer games on Sunday morning. Maybe when there are eight days in a week, or thirty hours in a day. Then I’ll try to commit to something with God. The problem is, what if later never comes? Making light of God’s gracious invitation is like playing with fire. And believe me, you don’t want to get burned. Not in eternal hellfire.

People make light of God’s gracious invitation because they are threatened by it. The Word of God wields supernatural power. It changes things. It kills and makes alive. “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This very Word threatens to curb your desires, restrain your thoughts, and keep in check your words and actions. It calls you to a position of weakness and vulnerability, of faith in things you cannot see. And what you can see—a man hanging on a cross, His followers persecuted and martyred, a life of denying yourself and taking up your own cross and following Him—that’s a radical calling. What would your friends and relatives think of you? Are you really ready to give up your love of this world and everything in it? Most people aren’t. Most people scurry back to the darkness of sin and therein find shelter.

That’s why God’s Word continually calls you to repent of your sin. The spirit may indeed be willing, but the flesh is weak. We get so caught up with work and family and activities and recreation that God’s gracious invitation often times goes by the wayside. When God’s Word wakes you up to that reality, don’t be too proud to confess your sin and throw yourself upon God’s mercy. You who are weary, find rest in Christ. You who are weak, find strength in Christ. You who are sinners, find forgiveness in Christ. You who are defeated, find victory in Christ.

Thanks be to God that His Holy Spirit has led us here to God’s house this morning. We come to be forgiven, fed, and strengthened. We come to receive from the Lord the very power to accept His Gospel—the good news that despite our sinful nature, despite our sins of thought, word, and deed, we are at one with God through the previous blood of Jesus Christ. That is why you are here today. To hear how your Lord took upon Himself your sins. To hear how He suffered your punishment and died your death. To hear how He rose victoriously from the grave. And to hear how even today He comes to you to reign in your heart. At His invitation, you come empty to be filled. You come poor to be enriched. You come weighed down by your sins to be raised up with the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

But your heavenward journey is not finished yet. For the time being you are still pilgrims here on earth. In God’s wisdom, you still have things to learn and things to suffer. God’s Word is still working on you and in you and through you. His Spirit is still creating and renewing you. He is still teaching you humility and self-control and contentment. He is still turning your eyes away from the pleasures and treasures of this world to the pleasures and treasures that are found solely in Christ. He is still taming your tongue and teaching your lips how to praise Him. He is still molding and shaping you, as a potter forms a clay vessel, that you might be an instrument of His love and forgiveness and compassion to those around you. He is still enlightening you with His Word and Sacrament, that the light of Christ might burn ever brighter in your words and in your deeds.

Thanks be to God, therefore, that His Word penetrates sinful hearts such as yours and mine. Having been baptized into Christ, you are now sons and daughters of your Father in heaven. He has embraced you with His love and mercy. You are home at last, clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, the very wedding garment required for access into the banquet hall of God’s eternal kingdom.

The whole point of Jesus’ parable is this: Only those who are not too proud to repent and believe, only those who do not refuse God’s gracious invitation, only those wearing the wedding garment of Christ’s perfect righteousness will celebrate with our Lord Jesus at His heavenly wedding feast for all eternity. It does not matter whether you are young or old, male or female, rich or poor. All that matters is that you recognize your plight, confess your sin, and believe that God, for Christ’s sake, forgives you freely and completely.

And Wow!, what a wedding feast is in store for you. The wedding hall of paradise is decorated. The flowers and the tree of life are in place. The living waters flowing from the throne of God promise eternal refreshment. The heavenly choirs are even now singing with joy. The guest book—the book of life—already has your name in it, signed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. And the endless banquet of the choicest meats and the finest wines is ready to be enjoyed. It all awaits you.

But still there is one more surprise that God the Father has in store for you. For when at last you arrive at the heavenly wedding feast, you will find that you are not merely a guest, not just an honored niece or nephew, not even a brother or sister of the Bridegroom. You are the very Bride of Christ, the one for whom He did it all, the one for whom He died, the one He loves. It is you He will embrace. With you He will rejoice. With you He will eat, drink, and be merry. And with you He will dance for all eternity. You and Christ … now that’s a marriage made in heaven!

The Holy Grail

2011-10-08T22:50:00.001-05:00

This evening I watched the made-for-television movie Merlin with my boys. I originally saw this movie years ago. Not bad for a low budget movie. Magic. Wizards. The “old ways.” Even King Arthur and his search for the Holy Grail. Gave me a lot to talk about with my boys before bedtime.

Whether it’s King Arthur or Indiana Jones, it seems the world is intrigued with the idea of a Holy Grail, a magical cup with power to heal and grant unending life. Sadly, the world desires such a cup for all the wrong reasons, and thus misses the true Holy Grail each and every Lord’s Day on the Lord’s altar.

It’s not the cup, you see. It never was. When Jesus took the cup after supper, just hours before He was betrayed, He joined His Word to it.

“Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament, in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as You drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
[Mt 26:27-28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25]

Saint Paul calls this cup “the cup of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 10:21; 11:27), not because of the design or construction of the cup, but because of what the cup contains. This cup is precious, life-giving, and full of good gifts precisely because it contains “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19). This “blood of Jesus … cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). And where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

So don’t go searching from some imaginary Holy Grail. The real one has been right in front of you all this time. Simply come to the Lord’s table in faith and receive the cup of the Lord and therein the true blood of Jesus Christ, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins!

“I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.”
[Psalm 116:13]

HT Radio Interview

2011-10-07T22:52:00.001-05:00

This week I had the privilege of talking with the Rev. George F. Borghardt III, host of Higher Things Radio, about the “H2O: Ordinary & Extraordinary” breakaway session I presented at the Coram Deo Lutheran youth conference in Bloomington-Normal this past July.

Click here to go to the Higher Thing website and listen to Episode 155: October 7th, 2011. Our discussion focused primarily on Holy Baptism and spans the first half of this specific episode.

Tune in to Higher Things Radio each Friday for confessional Lutheran theology and a good dose of fun as well!

How to Appreciate Your Pastor

2011-10-06T10:03:00.001-05:00

Below is a nice writeup posted by a brother pastor...

How to Appreciate Your Pastor

It’s October, which means it’s Pastor Appreciation Month.

Now there are many websites giving suggestions for ways to celebrate your pastor. Some of their suggestions include giving a card shower, holding special banquets in their honor, giving a trophy, or even a surprise vacation.

Now, it’s not that those aren’t nice things to do. But this is not how you should appreciate your Pastor.

So how should you show appreciation for your Pastor? To answer that question, you must first ask “Why should a Pastor be appreciated at all?”

It’s not because he’s well liked, has a good personality, or is a snappy dresser. It’s not because he’s really good with kids or tells funny jokes. It’s not because he’s likable in any way. Your Pastor may very well be someone you can’t stand at all. Maybe you even pray that he takes a call somewhere else, and yet, you should still appreciate him.

Why? Because he’s the one chosen to stand in the place of Christ for you. He’s Christ’s mouth for you, delivering the Holy Words of God in Law and Gospel. He’s Christ’s hands for you, delivering life, salvation, and the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament.

You appreciate your Pastor not because of him as an individual, but because of the office in which he stands.

So back to my original question, how should you show appreciation for your Pastor?

Here it is: Simply let him do those things for which he is called to do. Go to Church. Go to Bible Study. Let your ears be filled with the Word of God and your mouths be filled with the Body and Blood of Christ. Receive what your Pastor is there to give you. For when I urge you to go to the Divine Service and go to the Sacrament, I am doing nothing less than urging you to be a Christian. Be a sheep unto your under-shepherd, your Pastor.

Do this and your Pastor, if he’s worth his salt, will feel more appreciated than ever.

“For the gospel is not delivered unto us that we should thereby seek our own praise and glory, or that the people should honour and magnify us which are the ministers thereof; but to the end that the benefit and glory of Christ might be preached and published, and that the Father might be glorified in his mercy offered unto us in Christ his Son, whom he delivered for us all, and with him hath given us all things.”
Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, 5:25

Thanks for reading!

Click here for the original post.

HT: Rev. Anthony R. Voltattorni

Christ, the Cornerstone

2011-10-03T12:12:00.001-05:00

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 22)

Psalm 118:22

Architects will tell you that a stone structure needs a cornerstone. The cornerstone is both the first stone laid and the most important stone. It is carefully chosen by the builder and laid down with absolute precision. This is so because every other stone is aligned with the cornerstone. If the cornerstone is off, the entire structure will be off as well. What’s more, structures get their strength from the corners. Thus, the cornerstone must be strong and sturdy, firm and unyielding, stable and secure so that the structure is firmly supported.

Holy Scripture reminds us that there is only one structure strong enough to last into eternity. Despite their massive size, outstanding construction, and alluring grandeur, I am not referring to the pyramids of Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, or the Great Wall of China. I am referring to the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. Saint Paul writes: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Today’s Introit from Psalm 118 speaks of the cornerstone of this holy temple:

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

The builders in this text are the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. To them was entrusted the task of helping place the chosen cornerstone into position. They were to do this by proclaiming the promised Messiah to God’s people. But rather than building on the foundation of God’s prophetic Word, the majority of these leaders rejected this stone and attempted to build their own religious house on their own system of rules and regulations. Among the huge heap of stones rejected by these builders was the ultimate stone—Jesus Christ. Jesus, you see, is not foreign to the Old Testament. He is the one stone found in all of the prophetic Scriptures. The one stone to whom all the prophets pointed. The one stone on which the entire Church must be built, else it will crumble and fall.

What the cornerstone is to a stone structure, Jesus is to the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. He is the first, chief, and primary stone, carefully chosen by His heavenly Father and laid down on the cross with absolute precision. It has to be this way, for the entire foundation—the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures—are dependent on Him. What’s more, the entire structure of living stones—those called to faith in Christ through the waters of Holy Baptism—gets its strength from this strong and sturdy cornerstone.

You, dear friends, are living stones in God’s holy temple. This means your very faith is based on and grounded in Jesus Christ. He is the foundation upon which you are built. He aligns you perfectly with God’s will and Word. And He alone supports the full weight of your atonement, your redemption, your salvation.

Sadly, sinful man is not always happy to be aligned with Jesus Christ. There’s no wiggle room, after all. Jesus alone grants access to the Father. It is His righteousness, and not yours, that saves. And His Word is black and white. That doesn’t sit very well with the culture around us. Even many Christians have little more than a play-dough Jesus—a Jesus you can shape and mold into whatever kind of god you want. Or a tolerant Jesus—a Jesus who winks at sin so that you can live life to its fullest—sin and all. Or a buddy Jesus. Or an I-don’t-need-to-go-to-church Jesus.

Unlike the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, you have not rejected the cornerstone. However, you know there are areas in your own life in which you stumble and fall short. Your will is not always aligned with Christ’s will. Your daily life is not always built on the solid foundation of God’s words and promises. At times you harbor anger and resentment in your heart. At times you refuse to forgive, or refuse to stop worrying. At times lust or greed or envy or covetousness gets the best of you. At times gossip or cursing or unkind words spew forth from your mouth. In one way or another, your sinful flesh daily tries to push you out of alignment with the cornerstone. So ask yourself: In what areas of my life do I fall short? What pet sins get the best of me? Does my eye look at what it shouldn’t? Do my ears delight in rumors or foul language? Does my mouth join in the debauchery? Does my heart desire earthly things more than heavenly things?

Fear not, O sinner, for you have a gracious heavenly Father who never tires of hearing you confess your sin, who never tires of forgiving you and re-clothing you in Christ’s perfect righteousness, who never tires of re-aligning your life with the perfectly positioned cornerstone of your salvation—Jesus Christ.

You are who you are, dear friends, only because of who Christ is and what He has done for you on the cross. His blood covers all your sin. His righteousness clothes you. And His new life is now yours to live to the glory of the Father.

Therein lies the greatest strength of the Lutheran Church. Though the church of his day wanted to build God’s house on multiple cornerstones, Martin Luther and our Lutheran forefathers held fast to the pure teaching of the doctrine of justification, which states that you are declared righteous by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The waters of this doctrine are not muddied up with your good works in an attempt to appease God’s wrath. On the contrary. When Jesus washes you, you are cleansed completely. This Reformation treasure remains the cornerstone upon which the Lutheran Church continues to build. And while we face many challenges throughout the world, built on Christ our cornerstone we face them with joyful hearts and gladness. [Harrison]

Saint Paul boldly confesses this: “No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Saint Peter adds: “As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Do you see what this means? In Christ you are a living stone in God’s temple. In Christ your life is lived in perfect alignment with the Father’s will. In Christ you receive forgiveness for today and strength for tomorrow on the rock-solid foundation of the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures.

Remember that when life throws you a curve ball, when the economy goes south, when your finances dwindle, when your health deteriorates, when a loved one betrays you, when worry consumes you. God has aligned you with Christ the cornerstone and positioned His Son to bear your burden.

That is why you sing so boldly and joyously:

Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ, our head and cornerstone,

Chosen of the Lord and precious,

Binding all the Church in one;

Holy Zion’s help forever

And our confidence alone.

[LSB 909, stanza 1]

Scriptural Duties of a Congregation

2011-10-01T23:04:00.001-05:00

Why does Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church exist? Why are we here? What are we to be doing? The temptation is to think of our congregation primarily in terms of a place to network with fellow Christians, a place to enjoy activities and potlucks, a place to find good Christian books and resources, a place to put one’s talents and abilities to work.

As good and useful and enjoyable as those things might be, none of them is at the heart and center of why we exist. C.F.W. Walther, our Synod’s first president, describes the following Scriptural duties of a congregation in his treatise The Proper Form of an Evangelical Lutheran Congregation:

Duty #1: To see to it that the Word of God may richly dwell and have full and free scope in its midst.

Duty #2: To care for the purity of doctrine and life in its midst and to exercise church discipline in these matters.

Duty #3: To concern itself also with the temporal welfare of all its members that they may not suffer want of the necessaries of life nor be forsaken in any need.

Duty #4: To see that in its midst “all things be done decently and in order” and to “provide for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.”

Duty #5: To be diligent “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” also with all parts of the orthodox Church.

Duty #6: To do its part in building up and promoting the welfare of the Church at large.

Note the importance of God’s Word and the purity of doctrine and life. These supersede everything else. Without these, the temporal welfare of members, the administrative tasks, the walking together as synod, and the evangelization of unbelievers are nothing more than a sham.

Sadly, many self-professing Christians want nothing to do with the totality of God’s Word or with pure doctrine. They are quick to say: “Deeds, not creeds!” (The irony is that such a statement is a creed—a statement of what one believes!) What they mean is this: What you do is more important than what you believe and confess. No! What you believe and confess comes first. Only then comes the deeds.

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). Only after we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone do we confess that faith and produce the fruit of good works (i.e. deeds). “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Do you see why Divine Shepherd is so adamant about preaching and teaching everything in accordance with God’s holy and inerrant Word? Why purity of doctrine and life is of the utmost importance? Tolerance of false doctrine is never the way of God’s people. The Good Shepherd’s sheep need to be given new life in Holy Baptism, scrubbed clean in Holy Absolution, fed and nourished with God’s Word, and forgiven and strengthened in Holy Communion. That is the Good Shepherd’s command for His Church. May it always be our driving principle as well!

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s October newsletter.

An Anniversary

2011-09-29T08:23:00.001-05:00

Today—the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels—is the ninth anniversary of my installation as pastor of Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. God has blessed me with a wonderful flock to serve. The sheep entrusted to my care are repentant sinners who rejoice in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for them, faithful hearers who live from every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God, frequent partakers of our Lord’s holy body and precious blood for the forgiveness of their sins, and beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you, members of Divine Shepherd, for your faithfulness in clinging by faith to Christ, for your love of one another, for honoring and supporting the Office of the Ministry by which our Lord Jesus feeds us, and for your friendship and support. Lori and the boys join me in giving thanks to God for all of you!

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [1 Corinthians 1:4-9]

Who Are You?

2011-09-25T13:49:00.001-05:00

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 21)

Saint Matthew 21:23-27

“Who do you think you are?” You’ve heard those words before. Perhaps you have even spoken them. Almost always they are words of confrontation.

“How dare you tell me what I should be doing. Who do you think you are?”

“Who are you to condemn my actions? Who do you think you are?”

“What gives you the right to judge me? Who do you think you are?”

To put it simply, those six words are most often used to question authority.

In today’s Holy Gospel, the chief priests and elders came up to Jesus as He was teaching and asked: “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Which is to say: “Jesus, who do you think you are?”

The things Jesus was doing included preaching the Gospel, forgiving sinners, rebuking false teachers, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, having compassion on the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and raising the dead. And the authority behind these things was none other than God the Father (John 7:17-18; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10). Saint Matthew tells us that Jesus taught “as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:29). He demonstrated this authority in both word and deed, which served as the testimony of His life and ministry, the fulfillment of all that was written about Him in the Old Testament, the essence of His divine mission, and the heart and soul of what His Spirit now gives us in faith.

Sadly, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were more concerned about power and authority, clout and control, muscle and sway. They viewed themselves as the ruling class, as God’s spokesmen on earth, and as peacekeepers between Rome and Israel. They more interested in protecting their own place in the religious establishment than in confessing Jesus as the Seed of the woman, King David’s greater Son, the promised Messiah, to whom “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given” (Matthew 28:18).

That type of leadership is familiar, isn’t it. Many of those whom we send to Washington DC, to Springfield, even to city hall, are more concerned with accumulating power and control and enslaving people with rules and regulations and taxes than they are with serving the people. They are more concerned with political expediency than they are with making decisions based on the founding documents of our country and doing the right thing. They are more concerned with getting reelected and keeping the dollars flowing their way than they are with protecting our freedoms.

Sadly, there are also some in the church who operate the same way, more concerned with their own power and control, their own name and reputation, their own gospels and programs, than they are with proclaiming Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the life of the world. The same is true in your workplace, your neighborhood, and among your family and friends.

Jesus sees right through the shallowness and self-centeredness of the chief priests and elders of His day. To point out their hypocrisy, He asks them a question: “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”

Like the religious leaders’ question, Jesus’ question also has to do with authority. Was John’s baptism from heaven or from man? The chief priests and elders huddled together and searched for an answer. “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus: “We do not know.” Then He said to them: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

As you well know, John’s authority was from heaven. The same is true of Jesus’ authority. The things He said and did come from God the Father. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day couldn’t handle this truth because they were solely concerned with their own authority. But you, by God’s grace, know exactly who sent Jesus, who this Son of Man is, and why He came. Our Father who art in heaven sent His Son to redeem the world, to redeem you, by taking your place under sin’s condemnation and paying it’s penalty by the shedding of His blood. The Son of God was forsaken that you might become sons of God. He died that you might live. And He rose again that you too might rise to newness of life in Him.

And that changes everything. It changes who you are, how you think, and what you say and do. Knowing what Christ has done for you on the cross, believing that He is for you and not against you, trusting that He will work all thing to your eternal good, you are now free to live your life in His baptismal grace, loving both friend and foe, showing mercy to those in need, and serving others as Christ has first served you. Remember what Jesus told His disciples? “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

In what areas of life are you more concerned about your own power and authority than you are about love and service? In what areas of life are you more concerned about your own reputation and clout than you are about Christ’s name and truth? In what areas of life are you more concerned about getting your way than you are about having God’s will done? Search your heart. Own up to your sins. And look to Christ both for His forgiveness and for the strength to amend your sinful life.

Today’s Epistle reminds us what the new life in Christ entails. “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. … Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life” (Philippians 2:3-4, 14-16).

There is no other way. Only by holding fast to the word of life will you believe and confess that Jesus is your Lord. The events that follow today’s Holy Gospel prove this. For at the end of the week in which the chief priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority, He was betrayed, arrested, tried, beaten, spit upon, and crucified. He put on a servant’s form for you. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, for you. And by that blessed sacrifice He has redeemed the world, even you!

So, dear friends, who do you think you are? Why, that’s an easy one. You are a poor miserable sinner. You have sinned against God in thought, word, and deed. Yet, at the same time, you are a baptized child of God. You daily die to sin and rise to newness of life in Christ. You live and move and have your being under the authority of God’s Son, who loved you and gave Himself up for you. And that means you hunger for every word that proceeds from God’s mouth, you devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers, even as you are a conduit of Christ’s love and mercy to the world around you. That is who you are in Christ. Thanks be to God!

Eyes Focused on Christ

2011-09-18T13:31:00.001-05:00

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 20)

Saint Matthew 20:1-16

The eye is a small but wonderful organ, designed by God to distinguish millions of colors, perceive depth and detail, and send detailed information about one’s surroundings to the brain for interpretation. But the eye is also one the devil’s best tools to deceive mankind. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).

How have your eyes led you into sin and other great shame and vice? Have you looked at “the speck that is in your brother’s eye” without first removing “the log that is in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3)? Has your eye lusted after someone who is not your spouse, or delighted in inappropriate smut? Has your eye coveted what God has not given you? Whatever the particulars, each and every one of you has eyes that are quick to see the faults in others, quick to lust, and quick to covet.

“The eye is the lamp of the body,” says Jesus. “If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23). And again: “If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away” (Matthew 18:9). In today’s Holy Gospel, our Lord Jesus uses a parable and eight powerful words — “Is your eye evil because I am good?” — to remind us that our eyes are very much in need of His forgiveness and healing and refocusing.

The parable begins at the unemployment office early in the morning. Those without work in Jesus’ day didn’t have unemployment benefits. Most had families that depended on them. And so, they showed up in the marketplace, uncertain and anxious, and waited to see if anyone would hire them. To their delight, a kind and generous landowner came into town, saw them standing idle, and offered them a decent wage—a denarius—for an honest day’s work. This landowner didn’t check their resume or ask for references. He didn’t interview them or do a background check. He was thrilled to hire any and all who were willing to work and promised them a decent wage. Grateful to earn an honest day’s work and appreciative of the landowner’s generosity, the laborers went out into the vineyard and began to work.

As sunrise turned to mid morning, the landowner returned to the marketplace and recruited more laborers, offering to give them what is right. He did the same at noon, in the middle of the afternoon, and an hour before dinner.

When evening came, the landowner said his foreman: “Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.” Those who had worked one hour received a denarius. So did those who worked three, six, and nine hours. When those who were hired at sunrise came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. So they grumbled to the landowner: “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”

Do you see how one’s eye can turn gratitude and appreciation into resentment and anger? When these workers focused their eyes on the generous landowner in the morning, they were happy to work for him for an honest day’s wage. But when these workers focused their eyes on the other laborers at the end of the day, their heart became filled with envy, jealousy, greed, and resentment.

Human nature is downright ugly, isn’t it. Regardless of what your salary is, it bothers you that many make more than you. Though you have a nice place to call home, it bugs you that others have nicer homes. You own a decent car, yet contentment quickly turns to jealousy when a friend or coworker gets a nicer car. The same is true of your computer, your smart phone, and every other toy you cannot wait to hold in your hands, until you get bored with it and want something newer. Perhaps our gracious Lord is leading us through high unemployment and difficult financial times to wake us up from our grumbling and discontentment.

After the early morning laborers complained, the landowner responded to one of them: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” That last question—do you begrudge my generosity—is really a much sharper question in the Greek: “Is your eye evil because I am good?”

Sadly, your eye is evil. So is mine. Repent. Stop looking at others and comparing yourself to them. Stop trying to outshine those around you. Stop thinking you are more deserving of God’s kingdom than the murderer, adulterer, thief, or terrorist. You aren’t. The wages of sin is death. And we’ve all earned those wages.

The whole point of Jesus’ parable is not found in the workers, or in the time they worked, or in the work they performed. It is found in the grace, mercy, and generosity of the landowner. The landowner is none other than your heavenly Father, who is good and gracious and merciful to all in Jesus Christ.

When the Father looks down upon His creation, His eyes see the sinners who messed it up. But instead of giving man what he deserves—the wages of sin—He sends His own dear Son to redeem them. With eyes that can pierce skin and bone and penetrate the heart, Jesus looks out at sinful humanity and sees them as “sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). So He goes to the cross and there lays down His life to receive the wages of man’s sin, and in return, to earn for man the richest treasure of all—the denarius of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Christ makes no distinction. All have sinned. And so, all have been redeemed.

What that means is this: Every Christian, great or small, rich or poor, long in the vineyard or just now called from idleness, receives the same new birth into a living hope through the same cleansing waters of Holy Baptism.

Every Christian, regardless of the length of his list of sins to confess, receives the same Absolution through Christ’s death and resurrection.

No Christian has a bigger or better Jesus than another, but all possess the one and only Jesus who went to the cross and shed His blood that you might live.

Every laborer in the Lord’s vineyard receives the same denarius, the same Jesus, the same forgiveness, life, and salvation in the same beggarly hand of God-given faith.

Who could possibly begrudge generosity like that? Only a fool would grumble and complain about such free and abundant gifts from a loving and generous heavenly Father.

Remember, dear friends, when your eyes are focused on others, your heart will quickly find reasons to harbor envy, jealousy, greed, and resentment. But when, by God’s grace, your eyes are focused on Christ, your heart is free to see and recognize and rejoice in your Father’s compassion, kindness, and generosity.

Simply put, you are not better or more deserving than others, nor are you worse or less deserving than others. Like all of humanity, you have sinned and fallen short. But fear not. For Christ has redeemed the world—even you, whoever you are, whatever you have said and done. Therefore, with eyes focused on Christ, come into His vineyard of grace, eat and drink of the Father’s goodness in Christ as you do the work He has given you to do, and rejoice that He is pleased to give you the full denarius.

Forgiven to Forgive

2011-09-12T06:55:00.001-05:00

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 19)

Saint Matthew 18:21-35

Dearly beloved, ten years ago today Lori and I woke up to a beautiful, sunny Tuesday morning. Lori was nearly eight months pregnant. I was getting ready to walk over to church to get some work done. Our two little boys were playing happily with their Thomas trains in the living room. Then Lori’s sister called. Seconds later we turned on the television and the rest of the day was spent watching the images and chaos and interviews over and over again, wondering how anyone could do such an evil thing, and praying for the volunteers, the injured, and those who lost loved ones in this cowardly act of terrorism.

I wish I could tell that you all my thoughts and desires were pure that day. They weren’t. I was angry. I wanted justice to be done. Forgiveness was the last thing on my mind. If I had been God, I would have wiped out every last terrorist on the face of the earth with a single word that day. Thankfully, I am not God. And thankfully, God’s ways are not my ways, nor are His thoughts my thoughts. God is patient and long-suffering. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wants him to turn from his way and live (Ezekiel 33:11). He desires all people—even terrorists—to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

In today’s Holy Gospel, Jesus reminds Peter, the disciples, and each of us that there are no limits on forgiveness. That being said, forgiveness does not deny justice. Remember, God has established the governing authorities to punish those who do evil. And yet, forgiveness must rule in the hearts and lives of God’s people. To be unforgiving is to deny God’s forgiveness in Christ. And that can only lead to a dying, or dead, faith.

“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” By human standards, Peter is very generous with his forgiveness. Seven times is no small matter. If someone sins against you and minutes later asks for your forgiveness, you are happy to forgive and reconcile. If that person does the same thing to you later that same day, it becomes a little tougher to forgive. Add a few more identical sins that same week, and the words “I forgive you” become much harder to speak.

While Peter is willing to count up to seven, Jesus declares that true forgiveness keeps no record. “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” In other words, there is no limit to the forgiveness given and received between disciples. And to illustrate this, Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant.

A certain king wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One of these servants was found to owe the king a huge debt—equal to about 60 million days’ wages. Because this debt could never be paid, the king demanded he and all he had be sold. This servant then fell to his knees and begged: “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” Although this servant could not possibly pay off his debt, the king had mercy on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

This servant then hunted down and grabbed by the throat one of his fellow servants who owed him a far lesser amount—equal to about 100 days’ wages—and demanded that he pay up. Falling down to his knees, this second servant begged for mercy: “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But in a shocking reversal of what the king had done to him, the first servant had the second servant thrown into prison. He who had received mercy showed no mercy to others.

When word of this reached the king’s ears, he called the scoundrel before him and said to him: “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” Then the king delivered him to the jailers. And just in case we missed the point, Jesus concludes: “So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Friends, don’t ever forget those words of warning from the mouth of your Savior. Think for a moment how many times God has forgiven you. All those times you placed more importance on earthly things than heavenly things. All those times you took God’s name in vain. All those times you despised preaching and His Word. All those times you disobeyed your parents. All those times you harbored hatred or anger in your heart. All those times you lusted. All those times you cheated or stole. All those times you gossiped. All those times you coveted what was not yours. If God withheld His forgiveness for even one hour, there’s not a one of us who would not instantly die and be sentenced to hell for all eternity.

But fear not, O sinner. “For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn His face from you, if you return to Him” (2 Chronicles 30:9). He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8). In fact, that is the whole point of Jesus’ parable. God the Father is the King to whom large debts are owed by you, me, and all mankind. These large debts are our sins. In fact, Saint Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer makes this crystal clear: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Like the first servant in Jesus’ parable, you could work a lifetime and never pay off the debt of your sin. That’s because sin can’t be worked off. It must be paid for with blood and therein cancelled. And sure enough, that is exactly what the King does for you. He cancels your debt. He calls you before Him to forgive you. Paul writes: God “shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The debt you owe to God does not go unpaid. It is paid—paid in full—not with gold or silver, but with the holy precious blood of Jesus Christ. He became what you owe. He was transformed into the debt itself, and having paid the price He proclaimed from the cross: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). “The debt of your sins has been paid in full. You are forgiven.”

The sequence of Jesus’ parable is intentional and crucial. The king acts first. Which is to say, God takes the initiative and forgives you your massive debt in Jesus Christ. And then, having been forgiven, you are now to forgive your brother. You are to be merciful, compassionate, and loving.

To forgive is to release someone else from the retribution and retaliation that, according to normal human relationships and even God’s Law, he very well may deserve. This forgiveness is to be complete and unconditional. The forgiveness with which the Lord has filled your ears is to overflow from your mouth into the ears of others. That’s hard, isn’t it. Some sins leave deep wounds. For that reason, forgiveness necessarily involves setting aside your emotions. The Old Adam in you might have to be dragged along kicking and screaming as you forgive the one who sinned again you, but the Spirit of Christ has freed you from your own sin so that you can freely forgive even those who have deeply wounded you. You also pray regularly for such strength when you say: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

And so, the next time someone sins against you, forgive him. And if he sins against you again, forgive him again. Not just seven times, but endless times. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32), writes Paul. Forgiven to forgive. By God’s grace, that is you. Forgiven in Christ to forgive your spouse, your parents and children, your coworkers and neighbors, even the thief, murderer, rapist, and terrorist. Forgiven in Christ to forgive others. God grant you this for Jesus’ sake!

A Prayer for Our Nation

2011-09-10T18:26:00.001-05:00

A Prayer for Our Nation

on the 10th Anniversary of 9-11

Heavenly Father, we come to Your throne of mercy, bowed down and wearied by the weight of suffering and disaster visited upon our country ten years ago. Continue to protect this nation and to thwart the plans of any and all terrorists who seek to harm and murder. We thank You for granting bravery and courage to all those involved in the rescue efforts, and ask You to shower Your mercy upon those who were injured or lost loved ones. We also acknowledge our own trespasses before You and look to You for forgiveness, salvation, hope, and life. Turn the hearts and minds of all to You, that they might find peace in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Let us not be confounded or dismayed, so that we, children of Your grace, may courageously speak to this needy world of the hope that is within us. Make us instruments of Your peace in a world of conflict, witnesses to the power of faith in a world lost in unbelief, and bearers of the joy that overcomes the sorrow of this fallen world. Grant to the leaders of this nation and all the nations of the world wise counsel, calm thinking, and unselfish aims. Amid the tumult of disaster, build Your kingdom and turn even more souls to Yourself. Because of Your grace, we are not altogether lost but find peace and forgiveness in You. O Lord, give us the grace to seek You, trust You, and confess You; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

adapted from Lutheran Book of Prayer

Willing to Work

2011-09-09T19:56:00.001-05:00

“If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”
[2 Thessalonians 3:10]

I know many who are unemployed or underemployed in this bad economy and unsteady job market. It is during tough times like these that one’s character can speak volumes.

Some are actively and regularly seeking work, sending out resumes, going on interviews, following up on leads, collecting unemployment for a short time but earnestly desiring to earn their own wages. Others are working two or three temp jobs for wages far less than what they used to make, cutting back on luxuries and sometimes even basics to make ends meet. I have nothing but the highest respect for these hard-working men and women, and I pray that our gracious Lord will continue to care for them, provide for them, comfort them, and (most importantly) work all things to their eternal good in Jesus Christ.

Then there are those who are content to sit on the couch and collect unemployment, doing little if anything to seek a job and earn their own wages. It’s not the unemployment check that bothers me, it’s the laziness and misuse of the system by some that does. I pray that our gracious Lord will turn the hearts and minds of such men and women, instill in them a desire to work hard and earn their own wages, and (most importantly) work all things to their eternal good in Jesus Christ.

Christ’s forgiveness is an amazing thing. It frees us from our greed and selfishness, even as it instills in us a life of love and service to our neighbor. Grant this, Lord, unto us all!

True Greatness

2011-09-05T12:43:00.005-05:00

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 18)

Saint Matthew 18:1-4

If I asked you to list your top five greatest athletes, greatest musicians, greatest actors, or greatest friends, each of you would have your own criteria for putting together such a list. And yet, there are undoubtedly certain things those individuals have said or done that prompted you to list them. In one way or another, they stand out and have earned the title of greatness in your eyes. A world-class athlete. A chart-topping singer. An award-winning actor. A loyal friend. Let’s be honest. Greatness in the eyes of the world is earned and achieved.

Contrast that with today’s Holy Gospel, where we learn that greatness in the eyes of God is just the opposite. It isn’t earned. It isn’t achieved through talent or hard work or exalting yourself. It is a gift. And it is given only to those whose hearts have been turned and humbled to see their own helplessness apart from Christ.

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The disciples ask this question because deep down they want to know how they can be the greatest. Jesus, the loving Shepherd, does not rebuke them for their question, but uses the opportunity to teach them—and us—a very important lesson about true greatness. He calls to Himself to a young child and puts him in the midst of the disciples and says to them: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Most hear the word turn as a command. Turn around. Once you were going this direction, now stop and go the other direction. The problem with this is twofold. First, you cannot by your own reason or strength turn from your sin and follow your Savior. Second, the verb turn used here is a passive verb. It’s not something you do, but something that is done to you. Thus, Jesus is reminding you that you need to be turned, converted, changed by something outside of yourself: His Word.

Then comes the words become like children. Why like children? Is it because they smile a lot? Is it because they seem so sweet and innocent? Is it because they rarely get into trouble like adults do? If you have children, you know how dangerous and wrong such thinking is. Children are not innocent. They are not pure. Nor are they without sin or fault. Jesus is not holding up children as an example because they are meek and gentle and sinless. On the contrary. The point here is that children are helpless, dependent, weak, constantly in need of someone else’s love and care and protection. No infant feeds himself. No toddler changes his own diapers. No little child brings home the bacon, provides for his family, and protects his household.

That is why Jesus takes a very young child, places him front and center, and exclaims: Unless you are turned and believe this is you, unless you empty yourself of all pride and self-sufficiency and see yourself as helpless, dependent, and weak, unless you believe that you cannot save yourself but must rely entirely on God’s grace, you cannot be saved or receive the kingdom of heaven. And since My Spirit has turned and humbled you to become like such a child, why are you arguing about who is greatest? The greater your faith, the more you will recognize that you are weak and helpless. That you are utterly dependent. That you cannot save yourself, but come by God’s grace to Christ and confess:

“Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
[LSB 761, stanza 3]

The remainder of today’s Holy Gospel is a continuation of this theme. Do not cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin. Do not tempt them. Do not despise them. Instead, receive them in My name. View them as precious lambs of My heavenly Father. And lead them to repentance and faith when they go astray.

Why such concern for children? Why such concern for those young and old whom the Gospel has turned to become as little children? Why such concern for the baptized who now confess that they are helpless, dependent, weak, and constantly in need of God’s love, care, and protection? The answer is simple. It is not the will of our heavenly Father that even one of His children should perish!

That’s why God places such a high value on His Word.

“These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” [Deuteronomy 6:6-9]

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” [Proverbs 22:6]

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:19-20]

Parents, how seriously do you take those words? Are you more concerned about your children’s involvement in sports, music, drama, and other activities than you are about their faith in Christ? And what about your own soul? You, too, have been called by the Gospel to become as a little child. Do you hunger for every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, or do you get your fix on the sugary snack of what passes nowadays as spirituality?

Thanks be to God for today’s Holy Gospel. Thanks be to God for Baptism’s power to turn us away from our egotistical selves. Thanks be to God for Christ’s strength to become as little children. On our own, we deserve the millstone around our necks and being drowned in the depths of the sea. But look to cross. There you will see sin’s consequences. There you see what you deserve. Don’t turn away. Take a closer look. For there you also see the love of your heavenly Father. There you see Jesus Christ, stretching out His arms to embrace the world, to embrace you, with His forgiveness. There He died for you, that you might live eternally with Him!

So, what has Christ imparted to you today? The faith to believe that you are numbered among His little ones. The faith to believe that you are helpless, dependent, weak, and constantly in need of God’s love, care, and protection. And the faith to believe that He is your Help, your Strength, your Savior. Remember the words you learned as a child?

“Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.”
[LSB 588, stanza 1]

As you can see, true greatness is never self-seeking or self-serving. It is never earned or achieved by the things you say and do. On the contrary, true greatness is a gift from the Father through the Son and in the Spirit. It comes to you each and every time the Word converts you, turns you, and transforms you into a soul that looks not to self but to Christ and His all-atoning sacrifice for sin. What’s more, such humility also benefits your neighbor, for it causes you to put his needs above your own.

Rejoice, therefore, that through Word and Sacrament, Christ has humbled you and turned you to recognize your helplessness, your inability to save yourself, and your dependency on Him for everything. In Christ and Him alone have you finally received true greatness. It is His greatness, after all. And what is His from all eternity He delights to share with you, for you are His beloved children!

A Joyful Heart

2011-09-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Christians lose their way. They sulk when trial and tribulation come their way. They mope and grumble, pout and complain. Their faces are gloomy and downcast. Their words are negative and pessimistic. And their attitude is damaging and destructive. Don’t get me wrong. There is a time and a place for sadness and grief, for tears and concern. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: … a time to weep … a time to mourn … a time to cast stones … a time to cast away” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). But all too often Christians mope and grumble, pout and complain simply because they fail to look to God for every good and cling to Christ at all times.

The truth be told, our Lord wants us to live joyful lives. He knows there are good days and bad days. He knows we face trial and tribulation. He knows we live in a sinful world. Yet, He has won for us the deepest of all joys on the cross—the joy of His forgiveness, salvation, and redemption. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). This joy—if properly understood and believed—cannot help but work its way outward into our thoughts, words, and deeds. Joy is, after all, one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is also listed as one of the characteristics of God’s reign in our lives: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

So ask yourself: Am I a joyful person? Where do I find joy? Is it in the things of this world? Is it in the things of God? Both are important, you know. God wants us to find joy in His creation. But even more importantly, He wants us to find joy in Christ, in His forgiveness, in His Word, in His sacraments, in His house, in His people, in His promises. “In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). “Your testimonies … are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:11). “Your words become to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).

Do you view God’s house that way? God’s Word? God’s salvation in Christ? Sadly, too many Christians dread church, Bible study, and personal devotion. Others take part in these things, but mostly just go through the motions. The problem, of course, is that we believe we can find joy—true, lasting joy—in the material things of this world. The reason why joy so often escapes us is that our priorities are mixed up. Jesus hits the nail on the head when He says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

The Christian faces life—all its ups and downs—with the joy that Christ has redeemed him, the Father has promised to provide for him, and the Spirit has made His temple within him. This is true when things are going well—your job is secure, your bills are being paid, your family isn’t fighting, and your health is good. It is also true when things are not going well—you are unemployed, your bills are piling up, your family is squabbling, or your health is waning. James reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). Joy? Yes, joy! Because Christ has redeemed you. The Father will provide for you. And the Spirit is templed within you.

The icing on the cake is this: Not only is joy a fruit of the Spirit, it brings peace of mind and aids your body in all sorts of ways. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). So, having been redeemed by Christ, find joy in Him. Find joy in your family. Find joy in your neighbor. Live. Laugh. Smile. Rejoice. You are a beloved child of God, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and privileged to bear the fruit of the Spirit. That’s cause for a joyful heart!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s September newsletter.

The Things of God

2011-08-30T10:46:00.001-05:00

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 17)

Saint Matthew 16:21-28

Dearly beloved, today’s Holy Gospel marks a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Up until this time, Jesus has been preaching the kingdom of God, teaching in parables, healing the sick, and raising the dead, not only out of compassion for those wandering aimlessly like sheep without a shepherd, but also in fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the promised Messiah. But now the time has come for Jesus to reveal the ultimate goal of His ministry.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” While this is the first time Jesus explicitly predicts His suffering, death, and resurrection to His disciples, you can tell from Peter’s response that he does not understand or agree that these things must take place. “Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” God have mercy on You, Jesus. You are the Messiah. You are the King. You are about to dominate the world with peace and righteousness as You claim Your throne in Jerusalem. No one is going to kill You. Why this talk of suffering and death? That is not the type of Messiah we are expecting.

Though Jesus has just articulated His central and necessary role in God’s plan of salvation, Peter has a different plan. One that bypasses suffering and death. One that focuses instead on saving His life and gaining the whole world. Peter, here, is the perfect example of how sinful humans tend to think about God and mold Him in their own image. They attempt to use God for their own power and success and happiness, for living their best life now, and for glorying in the things of man.

But Jesus is steadfast. He knows why He has come. He knows the Father’s divine plan. He knows it is necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, to suffer, to be killed, and to be raised on the third day. And so He turns to Peter and says: “Get behind Me, Satan!” Stop acting as the devil’s mouthpiece, as My adversary, tempting Me to forsake My Father. “You are a hindrance to Me,” a scandal, a stumbling block, with your visions of grandeur. “For You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” You don’t want the sin of this world crucified in My flesh and blood. All you want is glory, strength, honor, and power right now. You want your inheritance today. You want cheap grace, forgiveness without the shedding of blood, salvation apart from the cross.

Sadly, Peter was not setting his mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. The things of man all have to do with me, me, me. The things of God, on the other hand, all point to Christ. His perfect keeping of the Law. His holy precious blood. His suffering and death. His redemption and salvation. His resurrection on the third day. His ascension to the Father’s right hand. His holy Word. His life-giving Baptism and absolution. His true body and blood for the forgiveness of your sin. Yes, the things of God all point to Christ. Always.

Peter struggled with this. So do you and I. Our expectations of who Christ is and how He should act in our lives center primarily on the things of man. We come to church expecting 10 steps to become a better spouse, the right formula to raise one’s kids, the perfect words to fix so-and-so because I just cannot get along with her until she changes her attitude. We approach God’s Word looking for financial help, earthly wisdom, practical advice to live a happier, healthier life. Yet, when is the last time you prayed for increased faith? For a deeper hunger for our Lord’s body and blood? For growth in your knowledge of God? For wisdom and understanding? For patience and hope? For love and mercy? For the strength to forgive those who have wronged you? For sufficient grace to endure that thorn in your side, by which God’s power is made perfect in your weakness?

That you might learn to have in mind the things of God and not the things of man, our Lord Jesus teaches you: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

The world tells you to love yourself, to embrace who you are. Christ says the opposite: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself.” You must deny yourself because deep down you are sinful and unclean. You desire what you shouldn’t desire, say what you shouldn’t say, and do what you shouldn’t do. You even try to justify yourself before God by your own good works and best of intentions. That’s why Jesus tells you: Deny yourself. Disown yourself. Turn your mind away from the things of man, your heart away from the idols of this world, and your eyes away from the temptations that entice you.

“If anyone would come after Me,” continues Jesus, “let him … take up his cross.” In its most basic form, taking up your cross involves the daily struggle against sin and the self-denial just mentioned. As you do this—and as you confess Christ in your words and deed—your cross may also take the form of ridicule, being excluded, perhaps even persecution and death. As Christ endured suffering and cross to win your salvation, so you, too, must take up your cross and bear whatever comes your way for confessing His name, counting it all as joy.

“If anyone would come after Me,” concludes Jesus, “let him … follow Me.” Those two little words “follow Me” are an exclusive call. You are not to follow false teachers or spiritual gurus or talking heads that promise you the world, inner peace, a self-seeking joy, and full acceptance of who you are by nature. These lead only to hell. Instead, you are to follow Christ and Him alone. That’s going to be offensive to some in your family, at your workplace, and in your neighborhood. Yet, only in Christ is there discipleship. Only in Christ will your mind be set on the things of God. For only in Christ is there forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Do you see now why you and I are privileged to come into God’s house and receive His good gifts? All that Christ has done in His suffering, death, and resurrection is given to you anew this day. A clean heart, a right spirit, and a pure conscience. Peace, joy, and hope. Faith, forgiveness, and strength.

Because your children and grandchildren are bombarded with the things of man day in and day out, they need you to set their mind on the things of God. Bring them regularly to the Divine Service and Sunday School. Read the Scriptures and Small Catechism with them daily at home. Sing with them. Pray with them. Fill their ears with Christ and His forgiveness. Place before their eyes the blessed cross. Remind them of their baptism and all the blessings given to them therein. Show them by example that Christ’s true body and blood are the very means by which He dwells in you and you in Him. In short, set the joy of this new life in Christ before their eyes and ears that they too might see and hear and receive and believe the good news that Christ is their Lord as well.

When it comes down to it, it is only in denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Christ that you really start living. So learn from Peter and never tire of hearing of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. For the things of God are stronger than your sin, and thus deliver to you the peace that passes understanding, the faith that endures, and the joy that you are God’s beloved child.

And in Christ, you are now free to hold fast to what is good. To love one another with brotherly affection. To outdo one another in showing honor. To be fervent in spirit and serve the Lord. To rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. To contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. To bless those who persecute you and rejoice with those who rejoice. To live in harmony with one another and peaceably with all. To associate with the lowly and do what is honorable. And to overcome evil with good.

The things of God are truly remarkable, aren’t they. For they all point to Christ. In Christ, and Him alone, your life is everything God would have it be!

The Christ and His Church

2011-08-22T15:49:00.001-05:00

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 16)

Saint Matthew 16:13-20

Dearly beloved, “who do people say that the Son of Man is?” That is the question Jesus posed to His disciples. The answers varied. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life. Others thought Jesus was Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets because of His mighty words and deeds.

In our day and age there are all sorts of opinions about who Jesus was. One of the up and coming theories is that Jesus was a socialist. In The Washington Post this past week, Gregory Paul notes that Jesus reached out to the poor and needy and the early Christians sold their possessions to care for one another. From that he draws the conclusion: “Now folks, that’s outright socialism of the type described millennia later by Marx—who likely got the general idea from the gospels.” Let me be clear. Jesus is not a socialist. Nor is he a capitalist. Simply put, He is the Christ. He is Lord and Savior. He is Redeemer. Anyone who turns Jesus into anything other than the Christ is a liar and deceiver.

After asking the disciples what others were saying about the Son of Man, Jesus then asks them: “But who do you say that I am?” The question about Jesus’ identity has been on the table ever since John the Baptist asked from prison: “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). The disciples are the ones to whom the mysteries of the kingdom were being revealed. Their eyes and ears have been declared blessed because of the things they were seeing and hearing. But the question remains: What will come out of their mouths? What will their teaching be? Who is this Jesus?

Simon was no different from you and me. He too stuck his foot in his mouth on way too many occasions. But here, in today’s Holy Gospel, the Father places a beautiful confession into Simon’s mouth, a confession about who Jesus is: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Truer words could never be spoken. Although the disciples have already confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, this is the first time within the Gospel narrative that anyone confesses Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, Israel’s anointed deliverer.

What’s more, this confession is not ultimately Peter’s. For Jesus is quick to remind him: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, by My Father who is in heaven.” The same is true of you. Whenever you confess Christ, it is not your own doing, but the Father’s doing through His Son and in His Spirit.

In response to Simon’s faithful confession, Jesus gives him a new name. In Hebrew: Cephas. In Greek: Petros. In English: Peter (“rock”). Simon was one of the most common male names in use in Palestine in this time period. In fact, there are five different Simons named in Saint Matthew’s Gospel. Contrast that with the new name Jesus gives Simon: Peter. Nowhere in Hebrew or Greek literature is Peter used as a personal name before Jesus gives it to this apostle.

In addition to giving Simon a new name, Jesus also gives three promises to Peter, to the disciples, to His Church. The first promise is this: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.” The rock on which Jesus builds His Church is nothing other than Peter’s God-given confession that Jesus is the Christ. Our Lord doesn’t build His Church on the person of Peter. Nor does He build His Church on you or me or anyone else. He builds His Church on His own Word of truth, on the faithful confession that He is the Christ—the One who redeems the world by means of His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. In other words, He builds His Church wherever the Father causes sinful mouths to confess Jesus to be the Christ. Thus, in his role as one to whom the Father has revealed the true identity of Jesus, Simon Peter will, in fact, come to serve with the other apostles as the solid foundation and rock upon which Christ builds His Church.

The second promise is this: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” These words teach us that the Church is under assault. The evil one continually tries to thwart the proclamation of the Gospel. However, he will not ultimately win the day. Jesus here promises that.

The third promise is this: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” These words, coupled with Jesus’ words in the upper room on that first Easter evening, teach us that He is entrusting to Peter and the other apostles—and therein to His Church—the ability to open and close access to God’s grace in Christ. The apostles began to exercise this office after our Lord’s Resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. And to this day, penitent sinners are forgiven, while impenitent sinners are not. That is the Church’s calling.

Some have taken these three promises too far. They believe Peter and his successors to be the vicar of Christ on earth, and thus the voice of ultimate truth. While the Gospels do indeed name Peter first among the disciples, he is, as the rest of the New Testament testifies, the first among equals. The Office of the Keys is given equally to all the apostles and therein to the entire Church. The apostle Paul states clearly that the Church is built, not on Peter, but “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).

Do you see now how Christ builds His Church? He builds it on the rock-solid foundation of His own Word concerning the Christ, revealed by the Father, given voice and power in the confession of who Jesus is and what He has done.

What’s more, in Peter you find a wonderful picture of who you are by grace. By nature Peter was a sinner. He was a denier and a deserter. He even tried to force his dietary laws on those whom the Gospel had freed. Yet, God had mercy on Peter. God’s Word of forgiveness in Christ entered Peter, created in him a clean heart, renewed in him a right spirit, and opened his lips to make the faithful confession. What Peter could not say on his own, God said for him and through him. Peter’s mouth, by grace, declared God’s praise: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

So it is that the Father also works in you. Though conceived and born in sin, the Father has washed you clean and given you a new name in Holy Baptism. He has sent you the Holy Spirit. He has wrapped you up in the perfect righteousness of His Son. And He has declared you well-pleasing in His sight. Thus, you have been freed from sin and shame to confess with Peter. By grace, you sing God’s praise and confess Christ’s name. And at His direction, you now offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. No longer are you conformed to this world, but you are being transformed by the renewal of your mind. No longer do you think more highly of yourself than you ought, but you use sober judgment. No longer do you harbor grudges or hatred, but as members of one body you love as Christ loves and forgive as Christ forgives. And to the extent God has gifted you, you confess, serve, teach, exhort, contribute, lead, and do acts of mercy.

Don’t get me wrong. You do these things imperfectly. So find your help, your comfort, your forgiveness, and your strength in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God. His blood, shed for your redemption on Calvary’s cross, is being poured forth today from this cup of blessing to cleanse your lips and inspire your confession, that you, like Peter, might be found on the rock-solid foundation of Christ’s Church!

Coram Deo

2011-08-01T07:56:00.001-05:00

It was an honor to accompany six of our congregation’s youth to the Higher Things youth conference on the campus of ISU in Bloomington-Normal this past month. 1,229 youth from 148 church groups in 25 US states and 4 Canadian provinces attended this four-day conference, one of three conferences put on by Higher Things this summer.

The schedule was packed with 10 worship services, 4 plenary sessions, 6 breakaway sessions, good meals, lots of walking, close of the day devotions in the dorms, and plenty of opportunity for entertainment and fun, including a waterpark, talent show, rock climbing, various sports, and much more.

This year’s theme was Coram Deo. Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means “before God” (i.e. in His presence, before His face, under His reign). The main question posed to the participants was this: How does a sinner stand coram Deo (before God)? “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” (Job 4:17).

On our own, we stand coram Deo (before God) in our sin and shame. The Law rightly condemns us, for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. In disobeying God, the first Adam brought sin and death to all humanity. So God sent a second Adam—Jesus Christ—to pay the penalty for our sin, redeem us, and win our salvation. Whereas Adam brings sin, death, and condemnation, Christ brings forgiveness, life, and justification. He won these on the cross and delivers them to us in the Divine Service. God doesn’t rehab the sinner. He kills and makes alive. He drowns the Old Adam and raises up the new Man—Christ in us—that we might stand before Him in righteousness and purity.

And so, in Christ, life coram Deo (before God) is a restoration of what God intended when He made man in the beginning. By grace through faith for Christ’s sake, we stand before God righteous, justified, holy.

What’s more, we stand coram hominibus (before man) as those who bear Christ’s name, who confess His saving work, and who love and serve our neighbor in the various vocations in which He has placed us.

The ramifications of life coram Deo (before God) and coram hominibus (before man) for the youth were driven home as they attended six breakaway sessions of their own choosing from a list of 49 topics, including dating, marriage, feminism, manhood, world religions, baptism, Christ in the Old Testament, various Scriptural books, creation, apologetics, modern heresies, vocation, internet use, addictions, movies, music, homosexuality, suicide, and sanctity of life issues.

The ramifications of life coram Deo (before God) and coram hominibus (before man) for you are driven home each Lord’s Day in the Divine Service, where your faith, hope, and love are strengthened by Christ’s forgiveness. What’s more, Bible Class and Sunday School, as well as personal devotions, help you and your children grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for sending our congregational youth to this conference. As they are growing up in a world that increasingly denies Christ, rejects truth, and preaches tolerance, opportunities like this are indeed a blessing. I pray the seed of God’s Word that was planted in their hearts at the Higher Things youth conference, and continues to be planted in their hearts regularly here at Divine Shepherd and at home among their families, will spring up and bear abundant fruit. So that, what the Apostle Paul said of Timothy may also be said of them: “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

Coram Deo. Coram hominibus. We stand before God righteous for Christ’s sake, and we stand before our neighbor as instruments of Christ’s love and service. What a joy and privilege this is!

This article appears in Divine Shepherd’s August newsletter.

The Bread That Satisfies

2011-07-31T14:36:00.001-05:00

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

(Series A: Proper 13)

Saint Matthew 14:13-21

Dearly beloved, today—in the feeding of the 5000—our Lord Jesus shows us what true compassion looks like. It is found in the bread He provides, the bread that satisfies, the bread that endures to eternal life.

Shortly after John the Baptist was beheaded, Jesus withdrew in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. The crowds, having heard His teaching and seen His miracles, followed Him on foot. When Jesus came ashore, He took note of them, saw their needs, and was filled with compassion. Because they were spiritually wandering like sheep without a shepherd, our Lord shepherded them, cared for them, had mercy on them. He knew the trial and tribulation sin brought into their lives. He saw their sickness and disease, their brokenness and pain, their desire for healing and hope. And so He acted. He preached and taught. And He healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples were concerned for the well-being of the people. So they said to Jesus: “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Hmmm. Here we have the children of Israel. They have just seen God’s miraculous power at work in the person of Jesus. They are in the wilderness. And they are hungry. Where have we heard that before? You remember. Shortly after God, through Moses, parted the Red Sea, allowing them to cross over to safety, God’s people grew hungry in the wilderness. So God provided for them. He sent them bread from heaven. He sent them manna each and every morning to satisfy their hunger.

How quickly the disciples forgot this. For when God’s people are again hungry in the wilderness, all they can come up is sending them into town to buy food for themselves. Jesus has other plans. “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Those words must have hit the disciples like a ton of bricks. Their eyes glossed over. Their mouths hung open. Their faces looked blank. Where in the world are they going to come up with supper for 5000 out in this desolate place, away from town, resources, and food? Finally, they muster up a frustrating response: “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” Which is the sophisticated way of saying: “Sorry, Lord, can’t do it. Can’t feed them.”

Why does Jesus give the disciples such an absurd request? It would have been absurd had there been 12 loaves and 12 fish. Even 100 loaves and 100 fish. Jesus does this because He is teaching His disciples. He wants them to see Him as the promised Messiah and to rely on Him for everything. And so He shows them their inability to do this apart from Him. And once they have come to this knowledge, then Jesus says to them: “Bring [the bread and fish] to Me.” Then He does what only He can do. He breaks the bread, gives thanks, gives the bread to the disciples, and feeds the crowd. Everyone eats. And when all is said and done, not only is everyone satisfied, but there are twelve baskets full left overs.

Earlier in His ministry, Jesus refused to turn stones into bread for His own benefit, and instead was content to live from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Here, however, Jesus works His miracle and uses bread for the benefit of others. He provides. He shows mercy. He turns compassion into action and takes care of their immediate need by satisfying their hunger.

The same is true of you, you know. You come here this morning with your own set of needs, your own trials and tribulations, your own aches and pains, your own burdens and afflictions. The question is: How often do you overlook your Lord’s help, as the disciples did? Do your prayers stop when they seem to go unanswered? Do worry and anxiety weigh you down? Do apprehension for today and fear for tomorrow ever come your way?

Whoever you are, whatever your circumstances, see yourself in the disciples and repent of those times you failed to look to Christ and trust that He will provide, that He will do what is best for you, that He will work all things for your eternal good. Jesus wants you to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” He wants you to seek His help daily and trust that He will provide. He also desires you to labor not “for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27). In good times and bad, in plenty and want, in health and sickness, even in what fanatics are calling debt crisis, God is your God. He is always good and gracious. And He has promised to provide for your needs of body and soul. That’s why He said on another mountain: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Just as the bread kept coming until every need was met, so also Christ’s mercy comes to you without end, until every need is met. His forgiveness exceeds your every sin. His compassion exceeds your every trouble. And His provision exceeds your every physical need. Faith believes this and prays: “The eyes of all look to You, [O Lord,] and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16).

And where the miracle of the miraculous feeding really hits home for you, dear friends, is right here at the Lord’s Table. Today your Lord feeds you with food you have not worked for, prepared, earned, or merited. He does the work. He is the food. He—the very Bread of Life—gives you Himself. The very same body and blood He took upon Himself at the incarnation, the very same body broken and blood shed on the cross, He multiplies so that He might feed and satisfy your soul. Miracle of all miracles, Jesus Christ—true God and true Man—continues to feed generation after generation with His own body and blood, satisfying humanity’s deepest need without ever running out.

Sadly, there are many who teach that Jesus cannot physically be present in the Lord’s Supper because His body is in heaven. They reason that if Jesus started giving away His true body and blood, eventually He would run out. You be the judge. Jesus doesn’t seem to have any trouble taking five loaves of bread and feeding 5000 people and ending up with more than He started. If Jesus can do that with physical bread, why can’t He do that with Himself when He says: “Take, eat; this is My body”! Who are we to say Jesus cannot do what He says He is doing?

Friends, your Lord is pleased to work His miracle and feed you with His body and blood, that you might eat and be satisfied. In Word and Sacrament, He gives you all you need and more. Forgiveness. Life. Salvation. Strengthened faith toward God and fervent love toward one another. And since He has given you these spiritual treasures, do you doubt He will take care of your physical needs as well?

What’s more, today our Lord has had compassion on little Isaak and worked a wonderful miracle on him in Holy Baptism. Through water and the Word, Isaak is now the Father’s beloved child, clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.

May he—and each of us—continue to live, not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. For Christ alone is the bread that satisfies!