Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: July 2019

Sunday, July 28, 2019

1. Peter 2,2-10. 6. Trinity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

1. Peter 2,2-10 4119

6. Sn. n. Trinitatis 051

Pataleon, physician, Martyr 303.

Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantor, ✠ 1750

George Frederick Handel, Hymn writer, ✠ 1759

28. Juli 2019

1. O Holy God, You are our Judge and Redeemer; direct our trust upon Christ Jesus, so that we depend not on our righteousness but His that opens up the reign of heaven for us. Amen. (Matthew 5,20)

2. »Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you draw near 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. For it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a Cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. [Isaiah 28,16] So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe: The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone, and A Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense. [Psalm 118,22; Isaiah 8,14] They stumble because they disobey the Word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.«

3. The Apostle Peter is drawing attention in his epistle to the Prophet Hosea. The people of Israel (the 10 Tribes of the North) had forsaken the Lord for other gods. The Lord had sent them prophets to lead them back to Him, but the people were unrepentant and intransigent in their idolatry. So the Lord told Hosea: »Name your newborn daughter No Mercy (Lo-ruhamah) for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all, but I will have mercy on the house of Judah and I will save them« (Hosea 1,6-7). Then the Lord told Hosea: »Name your newborn son Not My People (Lo-ami), for they are not My people and I am not their God« (Hosea 1,8-9).

4. The The apostle Peter exhorts us to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander (1. Peter 2,1) for such are the wicked fruit of idolatrous or godless people. God hates and detests such wickedness (Proverbs 6,16-19. The curse of the old Adam skulks deeply within our flesh and bones bidding its time to rear up and lead us into idolatry and wickedness. The Apostle Paul summarizes our fallen nature in his epistle to the Romans, where he writes: »I know that nothing good dwells in my flesh. 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. It is sin that dwells within me. Wretched man that I am!« (Romans 7,18-20.24). Therefore the Prophets and the Apostles exhort us in the Holy Scriptures to acknowledge our sinfulness, confess it and ask God to help us live as his righteous children.

5. God through Christ Jesus delivers us from this body of wickedness and death (Romans 7,25). Once we were not a people, but now we are God’s people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. For as the Lord spoke to the Prophet Hosea: »I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People: you are My people, and they shall say: you are my God (Hosea 2,23. The apostles proclaim throughout the Gospels and the Epistles that this is the physical manifestation of God the Father’s mercy and love.

6. Jesus is the Cornerstone of God the Father’s Heilsgeschichte (salvation history), and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. For in Christ Jesus we are made righteous, and this righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees who worked to earn it through the keeping of the law. God does not forsake His people, and He shows us His mercy. St. Paul declares: »God is faithful, by whom we were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, for the preaching of the cross is the power of God« (1. Corinthians 1,9.18). Before His Ascension, Jesus promised His disciples: »I am with you always, to the end of the age« (Matthew 28,20). Again the Apostle Paul: »We know that for those who love God all things work together for good« (Romans 8,28); »He will supply every need of ours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus« (Philippians 4,19). God’s Word does not change and His promise is the same for us now and always. Trust in Him, for He has redeemed us and sustains us. Paul says of his suffering: »We felt that we had received the sentence of death, but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again.« For such strength and endurance we pray for all who suffer, petitioning God to keep them in the faith and to restore His blessing to them. Amen.

7. Let us pray. O Christ, the Cornerstone of our salvation; pour into us the fullness of the Holy Spirit, so that we have the confidence and competence to proclaim You as the Righteous One who shows mercy upon those distraught. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Matthew 9,35-10,1.5-10. 5. Trinity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Matthew 9,35-10,1.5-10 4019

5. Sn. n. Trinitatis 050

Praxedis, Virgin, ✠ 129

21. Juli 2019

1. O Heavenly Father, The Lord of the harvest; send us out as Your laborers, so that we may bring in the bountiful harvest of those seeking Your mercy. Amen. (Matthew 9,36-38)

2. »And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples: „The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.“ And He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. These Twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them: „Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers and cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.“«

3. John the Baptizer had prepared the way for Christ Jesus (Matthew 3,3). People from Jerusalem, Judea and at the region of Jordan went out to hear him and were baptized by him, confessing their sins (Matthew 3,5-6). John’s ministry soon came to an end, and Jesus reaped the fruits of John’s ministry. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 9: »The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.« Then Jesus sent out His 12 apostles to bring in the harvest, proclaiming: „The reign of heaven is at hand, and this reign is the work of God in Jesus Christ on behalf of His treasured, faithful people“ (Gibbs).

4. The reign of heaven is manifested in the person of Jesus and is at hand in His midst (Matthew 3,1-3; 4,17). Now this reign is manifested in the ministry of His apostles who speak and act in His Name and by His authority they bring unto the people the gracious, saving reign of heaven into history. In their ministry, the power of sin, death and the Devil are undone, because their ministry is centered upon Jesus who would give His life as a ransom for everyone (Matthew 20,20-28) whereby righteousness and eternal life are giving out (Matthew 25,46). This is the Lord’s Heilsgeschichte (salvation history).

5. In Matthew 10, Jesus sent the apostles only to the Jews, who He calls the lost sheep that are on the house of Israel. In Matthew 28, Jesus sent the apostles to baptize and teach all the nations (Matthew 28,19-20). Jesus’ ministry began locally, in Galilee and Judea, has become global for all people, Jew and Gentile alike. The Church today carries on Jesus’ great commission.

6. The reign of heaven thus centers upon Jesus for He is the One sent by His Father to make sinners righteous and merits their eternal life. We gather each Sunday to thank Jesus for His steadfast love and wondrous work shown to us in His passion, death and resurrection. Through this act of vicarious sacrifice and resurrection, Jesus has pardoned those in rebellion against Him, delivered those in distress and brought those in darkness into the light of His truth and grace (Psalm 107,11.13-14). The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, for in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith (Romans 1,16-17). The righteous shall live by faith in Jesus (Romans 1,17), and so you are righteous on account of your faith in Jesus. Go in peace; your sins are forgiven; live lives dedicated to God’s will as taught in His Ten Commandments; tell others about Jesus, for the harvest is ripe. Amen.

7. Let us pray. O Lord, You make known to us our salvation; send us out to Your harvest, so that we may proclaim Your righteousness unto our neighbors. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Gibbs, Jeffrey A. Parables of Atonement and Assurance: Matthew 13:44-46. http://www.mtio.com/articles/bissar54.htm

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Luke 6,36-42. 4. Trinity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

Luke 6,36-42 3919

4. Sn. n. Trinitatis 049

John Bonaventure, Bishop of Albano, Italy, ✠ 1274

14. Juli 2019

1. O Gracious God, our Merciful Father; help us to be merciful and giving, so that we may strive after Your heart and act as You do. Amen. (Luke 6,36-38)

2. »Jesus said to the crowd: „Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.“ He also told them a parable: „Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother: ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.“

3. St. Luke records perhaps the most misquoted and misinterpreted phrase spoken by Christ our Lord: »Judge not.« Many people interpret this to mean that Jesus has called us to be nonjudgmental and therefore not pass judgment upon other people. From these two words, Christians and non-Christians alike are fond of saying: „Who am I to judge?“ or „Don’t judge me!“ This is an extremely popular opinion in our politically-correct, over-sensitive culture.

4. The problem with this popular interpretation is that if it is true, then Jesus failed to follow His own teachings. Jesus actually judged people on a regular basis, and quite harshly at times. He began His public ministry by telling His fellow Nazarenes in the synagogue: »Truly, I say to you: no prophet is acceptable in his hometown« (Luke 4,24). We know Jesus was judging His fellow Nazarenes because their reaction to this statement was to become filled with wrath, whereupon they drove Jesus out of town and tried to throw Him down the cliff (Luke 4,28-29). Jesus judged the traditions of the Jewish elders by doing on the Sabbath what tradition said was illegal (Luke 6,1-5). Jesus judged His own disciples when He called out from among them twelve men whom He anointed as His apostles (Luke 6,12-13). Jesus judged people when He taught them using parables. »To you, My disciples, it has been give to know the secrets of the reign of God, but for others they are in parables so that they may hear but not understand« (Luke 8,9-15). Jesus called lawyers and the Pharisees fools and pronounced woes upon them; the lawyers and Pharisees were insulted by these statements Jesus said against them (Luke 11,37-54).

5. We might interpret this as unloving on the part of Jesus, but Jesus judged people so they would recognize their sin, repent and turn unto Him for mercy. Judging people, properly done, is a Godly and important action for people to perform. We are to pass judgment on criminals and punish them for breaking society’s laws. We judge society’s morality with the Holy Scriptures. We judge ourselves with the 10 Commandments so that we also recognize our sinfulness.

6. Jesus tells us to evaluate ourselves under the law. He tells us the reason why: »First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your neighbor’s eye.« „Our log is not only so large but also so near to us that it blocks our vision and we do not even see it. Jesus is the one who gives sight to the blind. He reaches out His hand to our log and pulls it out. ‘This must go. I want you to see.’ Jesus takes the logs out of our eyes. He drags them to Calvary, and on the timber that blinds and kills, He is killed. Jesus dies for our sins, and the wood we have supplied becomes, by His death, a declaration of that sin’s forgiveness. When the logs from our eyes have been through Calvary, we see. We see Jesus on the cross supplied by us, for us. We see ourselves as forgiven sinners. Then, when we bump into another sinner, we are able to help, for love comes sideways. We know the things that contradict Christ and the pain and ruin they work. We want each person we meet to be freed of them, and we are there to help him or her“ (Nagel 170,4-5).

7. Running these logs and specks through Jesus makes all the difference. Jesus began this periscope by saying: »Be merciful, even as your Heavenly Father is merciful.« We see God’s mercy on full display at the crucifixion of His Son, for on that cross God’s mercy is revealed in the crucified Jesus. Then Jesus says: »Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;« God’s judgement and condemnation were poured out in full upon the crucified Jesus. He has born all our sinful judgement and condemnation under the law, suffered as one found guilty under the law. On the cross, God’s judgement and condemnation have been poured out, satisfied and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. How does God forgive? He forgives through Jesus who is the Certainty of our forgiveness and salvation. Thus the Apostle Paul can proclaim: »There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit« (Romans 8,1-4). »Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.« Is there any more a gracious giver than God? He gives to us abundantly through Christ Jesus. He holds nothing back, for He pours out His grace so that it overflows. Again Paul: »Sin reigned in death, but grace also reigns through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord« (Romans 5,21).

8. There is sin in our lives, sin as big and bulky as logs. But we have a Lumberjack who is good at taking logs out of peoples’ eyes and sending those logs down river to be disposed of at the cross „You have some logs to confess, logs to be pulled out and dragged to Calvary. Cleansed and forgiven, you may then see as a servant sees, as a burden-bearing Savior sees. Lord, take from us, though it hurts, all that blinds us and hinders the flow of Your love“ (Nagel 172,11).

9. And with the logs removed from our eyes we now see clearly God’s love for us and our neighbors. God’s love is a salve on our eyes and helps us to in turn love others. That love is manifested as the Apostle Paul describes it in his Epistle to the Romans: »Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all« (Romans 12,17-18). This is the love that Jesus shows to us, and it is the love we in turn show to our neighbor. We first receive forgiveness before we forgive; before we are merciful, we must receive mercy from God (Luther 102,15). God shows us forgiveness and mercy through Jesus Christ. „Our Savior gives us all things, physical and spiritual, earthly and eternal, gratuitously [freely] and out of pure goodness“ (Luther 100,10). May the Holy Spirit move in our hearts to love others as Christ loves us and loves them. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, we give thanks to You and sing praises to Your Name; O Most High, bless us with Your love so that we in turn can share that love to our neighbors and be a blessing to them in this world that often oppresses people. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

1. Timothy 1,12-17. 3. Trinity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

1. Timothy 1,12-17 3819

3. Sn. n. Trinitatis 048

Willibald, Bishop of Eichstätt, Germany, ✠ 786

7. Juli 2019

1. O Heavenly Father, who rejoices over one sinner who repents; help us to urge sinners to repentance and those who have forsaken You to return to the faith, so that those who are lost may be found again. Amen. (Luke 15,10.6)

2. »I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor and violent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus entered the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To God alone, the Eternal King, who is immortal and invisible, be honor and glory forever and ever.Amen.«

3. In today’s gospel pericope, Jesus teaches about finding the lost and rejoicing when he or she is found. In his 1. Epistle to Timothy, the Apostle Paul describes himself as a »blasphemer, persecutor and a violent opponent« to Christ Jesus and His Church. St. Luke writes of this in his book of Acts: »Now when the Sanhedrin heard these things, that Steven said, proving from the Scriptures, that Jesus is the Christ, they became enraged, then they cast him out of Jerusalem and stoned him. And Paul approved of this execution. Paul was ravaging the Church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and commended them to prison. Still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, Paul went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogue of Damascus, so that if he found any Christians, he might bring them down to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him: „Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting Me?“ And he replied: „Who are you, Lord?“ And He answered: „I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise and go to Damascus and you will be told what you are to do.“ So Ananias lay his hands on Paul and he gained his sight. Then Paul rose and was baptized« (Acts 7,54.58; 8,1.3; 9,1-5.17-19).

4. This Paul, though a Pharisee and well-versed in the Scriptures, nevertheless was lost; he did not have faith in Jesus as the Christ, and even persecuted Jews who confessed Jesus to be the promised Christ of their Scriptures. Paul argues that he had acted ignorantly in unbelief. Ultimately, everyone acts ignorantly and Amberley. Those of us who were baptized as an infant were later taught the Christian faith so that what we did not know about God was replaced with what the Scriptures teach us about God. Others receive Christ later in life when they are adults; all the misconceptions about God need to be replaced by the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Some fall away from the faith; they need to be found and brought back to the saving doctrine proclaimed by the Church. There are several reasons someone leaves the faith: 1. the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3,12-13), 2. the cares, riches and pleasures of this life (Luke 8,12-14) and 3. tribulation (Luke 8,12-14). Restoring those who once believed is often a painful, long and difficult task, because they often have hardened their hearts to Christ and His gospel.

5. The Apostle James concluded his epistle with this godly wisdom: »If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, then let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins« (James 5,19-20). We begin by praying for those are lost, asking God to open their hearts and minds to His gospel. We pursue opportunities to speak the truth in love. This may not always be a religious discussion, but first as opportunities to connect and relate, over coffee, a meal or some other such thing. Strengthening the bond of friendship or family through love whereby trust is strengthened, we then look for opportunities to engage them in religious dialogue, seeking openings to urge them back to God and proclaim the gospel to them. This requires a great deal of patience as someone who has a hardened heart toward God is not easily persuaded to change their attitude.

6. Jesus seeks out such people who are lost. His grace overflows for all of the faith and love that are in Him. Christ Jesus arrived on this earth to save sinners. This is His ministry and His gospel. The angels rejoice when just 1 sinner repents (Luke 15,7.10). We rejoice for them as well. We also rejoice at our salvation; we should be joyous every time we draw near to God the Father confessing our sins and receiving His absolution, for this is a joyous act of repentance. God is merciful and quick to forgive.

7. To seek and to save the lost is the great unfolding story of the Lord’s Heilsgeschichte (salvation history) as recorded in the pages of w Scripture that is played out in the history and lives of men and women. In spite of the sinful nature of mankind that is prone to curse the Lord, walk away from Him, trample upon His people and do violence to the prophets, apostles and rank-and-file believers, nevertheless the Lord kept His promise and continues to keep His promise to redeem fallen men and women. The Lord’s word is His bond, and His bond is His word; the Lord does what He promises: He finds the lost and saves them. Christ is the fulfillment of this promise: we were once lost, but Jesus has found us; in this we rejoice. Amen.

8. Let us pray. O Lord, Thou art merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness; give us joyful hearts, so that we rejoice when a sinner repents and one who was lost has been found by Your grace. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Monday, July 1, 2019

Isaiah 55,1-5. 2. Trinity

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

Isaiah 55,1-5 3719

2. Sn. n. Trinitatis 047

Commemoration of St. Paul

30. Juni 2019

1. O God, the Lord of the heavenly banquet; help us to receive Your invitation with joy and thanksgiving, so that we are blessed to eat bread in the reign of God. Amen. (Luke 14,15-16)

2. »Thus says the Lord: „Draw near, everyone who thirsts, go to the waters; and he who has no money, draw near, buy and eat! Draw near, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and draw near to Me; hear, so that your life may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you will call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you will run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.“«

3. The Lord invites all to His heavenly banquet. He exhorts all to drink and eat without cost or price. The Scriptures referred to this as the meal the Lord shares with us in the kingdom of God that is enjoyed on the resurrection at the last day.

4. The Prophet Isaiah exhorts us to incline our ears and draw near to the Lord; hear, so that we may live; and He will make with us an everlasting covenant. The Lord grounded this covenant upon the House of David, the royal line of Judah. The Son of David would inaugurate this everlasting reign. The Apostle Paul proclaimed this, writing: »We bring to you the gospel that what God promised, this He has fulfilled to us by raising Jesus, for He whom God raised did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore that through Jesus forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and by Him everyone who believes is free from everything from which you could not be freed up by the law of Moses« (Acts 13,32-33.38-39).

5. Yet many who are invited to eternal fellowship with God will reject that invitation. In Jesus’ day, many Jews made excuses as to why they could not or would not receive Him as the Christ and the invitation of eternal life He brings. Jesus thus went to the destitute, the downtrodden and the Gentiles; these received Him and welcomed His unexpected invitation. Jesus sent out His apostles to continue His work.

6. The apostles preached the Word and wrote the Gospels and the Epistles; the Holy Scriptures are the Lord’s invitation to us to join Him at His heavenly banquet. Baptism too implies an invitation (Giertz 74). It is through baptism that we have been received into the kingdom of God (Giertz 74). But how many Christians make excuses like the Jews did 2000 years earlier? Some reject their baptism and faith, others get caught up with the wealth of this world and see no need to heed the invitation and still others seek another religion for their security. For us there is always the possibility of wriggling loose from the grip of God (Giertz 75).

7. But there is also the possibility of returning home to God (Giertz 75). The Prophet Isaiah assures us, writing: »Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked person forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon« (Isaiah 55,6-7).

8. In this temporal life, it is never too late to return to the Lord. God desires to forgive and to heal (Psalm 103,3), for as far as the east is from the west, so far does the Lord remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103,12). Thus Jesus declares: »Draw near unto Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls/lives. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light« (Matthew 11,x), and again: »Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!« (Luke 11,28). Beloved people, let us hold fast the Word of life and be concerned with hearing, learning, understanding and applying the Word of God in our lives (Giertz 75). And always remember that God in Christ Jesus has forgiven our sins, brings healing to our troubled hearts, restores to us the joy of His salvation and uphold us with a willing spirit (Psalm 51,12) all through Christ Jesus. Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Beloved Lord, our Strength and Rock; deliver us from all temptation, sin and wickedness, so that we rest secure in Your safety. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Sunday, July 28, 2019

1. Peter 2,2-10. 6. Trinity

Monday, July 22, 2019

Matthew 9,35-10,1.5-10. 5. Trinity

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Luke 6,36-42. 4. Trinity

Sunday, July 7, 2019

1. Timothy 1,12-17. 3. Trinity

Monday, July 1, 2019

Isaiah 55,1-5. 2. Trinity