Psalm 66.8-12, 16-20, Job 31.1-12, 33-40, John 9.24-41 - Lectionary for 2/28/11

Today's readings are Psalm 66.8-12, 16-20, Job 31.1-12, 33-40, and John 9.24-41.

God's providence is not as we would sometimes like to imagine it. In our Psalm today, particularly verses 11-12, we see that God himself is the one who subjects us to various trials. He is the one who presses us, who rubs us, who polishes us. And we can look at all our trials on this earth as God's work, refining us. He has promised never to leave us. We are not abandoned. Yet we endure hardship. In all this hardship, let us not forget God's gracious purpose, conforming us to his image.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 2/27/11 - "Stewardship Sunday?"

Sermon - "Stewardship Sunday?"

Our Lord, open our ears to hear what you have spoken to us. Give us hearts to believe you and rest in your promises, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There's a dynamic that emerges in the life of a Christian. We see that we are in a master-servant relationship. And unlike what we might sometimes wish, unlike what our hopes and dreams probably are, we are the servants. I know we would all like to be kings and queens, important people, the kind of people who can demand honor and respect, the kind of people who get their own way. And we easily forget that being a person of importance often means you don't get your own way. Yet we as Christians don't necessarily have that burden. We're on the other end of the relationship.

In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul introduces the idea that the apostles are stewards. I wonder if we remember what a steward is? Often we're told about "stewardship" and given the idea that it involves saving our money. We may have seen situations, there may even have been such situations here, where there is a "Stewardship Sunday." That's typically a day when a church says how much money it needs for the budget then tries to get the congregation to pledge support. I've seen it turn into a kind of emotional gut-wrenching scene where the totals pledged are added up publicly and the service isn't dismissed because the church hasn't met budget. What kind of faith do we have, after all? How are we going to reach our world for Jesus if we won't even open our bank accounts for his use? Don't we trust God to provide our needs?

That isn't stewardship. That's wheedling. That's urging people to trust in the atmosphere of the moment rather than in the God who has given them wisdom to use resources wisely and aggressively. Did I say "aggressively?" Yes, I did. Sometimes we're taught wise stewardship means earning all the money we can and putting as much of it aside for the future as possible. Now there's some wisdom in that. There are times I wish I did it better. But that can turn into a miserly attitude very quickly. It's easy to start trying to accomplish something with nothing, not because you have nothing, but because you don't want to use anything.

Yet money isn't all there is to stewardship. A steward is someone who takes care of affairs for his master. He generally runs the household, the associated properties, the businesses of a wealthy landowner. This is how Paul says the apostles see themselves. So what do we know about stewards?

The responsibility of a steward is limited. It may be great responsibility. Yet it is limited. The steward is not the master. He has authority only as it has been given to him by the master. The apostles also know their responsibilities are limited. Some people will use an illustration of two circles to picture this. I'd like you to imagine with me a big circle. You might even want to draw it in your bulletin. This big circle is the circle of concern. In the circle you can put all the things you're concerned about. And there are a lot of issues which belong in that circle. You may be concerned about the economy in the Middle East. You might be concerned about the safety of people in the new country of Southern Sudan. You might be concerned about whether it will rain or snow this afternoon. You might be concerned about how you are going to do with a project at work, or about the outcome of your next attempt at baking a pie. There are all sorts of things to be concerned about, both big and small. You'll never have trouble putting enough things into that circle of concern.

Now, draw a smaller circle inside the circle of concern. This is your circle of responsibility. I guess some of us find out that our circle of responsibility goes outside of our circle of concern, but that's a different problem. What fits into your circle of responsibility? How about tomorrow's weather? No, that doesn't go there. How about whether you have ice melting salt to deal with tomorrow's weather? Yes, that goes there. What about the price of food in a war-torn country? No, you probably can't do anything about that. You're concerned but you are not responsible for it. What about how you choose to use money which could go to feed hungry people? Yes, that's yours to deal with.

We're concerned about a lot of things. We're responsible for only some of those things. That's our area of stewardship. God has not given us stewardship over everything. Only over some things. Yet we can look at his mercy and grace and see that our Lord and Savior has taken on the responsibility for all things, whether they are in our circle of responsibility, our circle of concern, or outside of our concern. He, in fact, lovingly cares for them all, putting some of those cares and the stewardship of them into our hands.

So the apostles are stewards of God's mysteries. We see also that the apostles see and hear all manner of issues. Yet they leave God to judge. Remember? They are stewards. It is God who judges, and who will judge righteously. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to earth to reveal God's mysterious salvation to us, died for our sins and rose again from the dead in part to show us he is in fact the Lord who is able to overcome the world. So what do the apostles do when they see and hear all things? They do not judge. They leave it to God to judge. And our Lord has made judgment. He divides righteousness and unrighteousness. He divides truth and error. He divides between sin and salvation. He hears and judges rightly. We are the stewards. He is the Lord who is responsible for everything. Again, we see the circles of concern and responsibility. He has given some things to us, but not all.

So how are the apostles viewed in their stewardship? Paul's statements here to the Corinthians seem stunning, almost biting. The apostles are held in dishonor due to their humility. They have considered themselves as lowly servants of their Lord. Then the people who hear them also consider them as lowly servants.

It's all right to be lowly. It's a noble thing to be the steward. It's a good thing to be the servant of all. Jesus came to be the servant of all. A steward might not look like much. At times his work seems demeaning. Yet how important is that steward to the rich man? When the master has a document which needs care, he gives it to the steward. When he needs to be sure his will is done in a business transaction, he tells the steward what to do. When he needs to gather money, account for money, or spend money, there is the steward. The steward may be a servant, but he may also be the one who prepares and safeguards food and drink, health, and life for the master. It's been said that the king's barber is the most powerful man in the kingdom, every time the king needs a shave.

The apostles are stewards of God's mysteries. And God has given his mysteries, at least some of them, to each one of us. May he make us faithful to do his will, to look to him in faith, and to delight in the good of the works of his hand, even as he performs those works in and through us, bringing us his blessing and using us to bless others.

Lord, have mercy on us. In the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 146.5-10, Job 30.16-31, John 9.1-23 - Lectionary for 2/27/11

Today's readings are Psalm 146.5-10, Job 30.16-31, and John 9.1-23.

So why is there evil in the world? Who sinned, that the man in John 9 was born blind? It was not his sin, nor the sin of his mother and father. It wasn't the midwife who attended his birth. It wasn't the medical profession, the pharmeceutical company, or the fault of his mother's diet. Why was he born blind? He was born blind because the world is cursed with sin. God wants us to see sin, to know how bad it is, to be overwhelmed with suffering that we endure and witness. In this way he can show his glory through redemption, healing and life. 

A Christian view of life consists of polarities. We see the glory of God as it is lifted up in stark opposition to the fallen condition of this world. We see the enormity of sin so we can see the weight of glory in Christ.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 3, Job 21.1-21, John 8.39-59 - Lectionary for 2/26/11

Today's readings are Psalm 3, Job 21.1-21, and John 8.39-59.

Things are not always as they seem. The Psalmist sees enemies all around, rising against him. The world is full of dangers. Job observes the evil people prospering and appearing to have wealth and power which will last forever. Yet God paints a very different picture of the world, one in which Gid will come in the last day and make all things right, according to his wisdom, goodness, and sovereign power. Therefore we do not have to fear, though thousands surround us, full of hostility. God has chosen to redeem the world through Jesus Christ, God the Son. He will gather all who come to him in faith in the last day. There is nothing to fear.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 112, Job 20.1-23, 29, John 8.21-38 - Lectionary for 2/25/11

Today's readings are Psalm 112, Job 20.1-23, 29, and John 8.21-38.

From beginning to end of today's readings we see that trust in the Lord is what sets us free. Our world will tell us differently. Isn't it demeaning to subject yourself to religious demands, to the authority of a Church, to think there is some sort of a God over all who will enslave you? Doesn't this lead to all sorts of fanaticism and unthinking submission to oppressive rulers? On the contrary, trust in the Lord, according to Scripture, sets us free from the bondage to sin and death. We are always going to be subject to some rule. The question is what rule we are willing to receive. There is the rule that I can hold, which leads me ultimately to my own destruction. Or I can trust in God's merciful rule, which leads me to an abundance of life.

What if I'm wrong? What then? I guess then I reach the end of my life and can see that I have brought some encouragement and comfort to some people around me. Not a bad situation at all. And if I'm right, I gain an incredible reward as an heir in God's kingdom.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 30.1-5, 8-12, Job 19.1-12, 21-27, John 8.1-20 - Lectionary for 2/24/11 - St. Matthias, Apostle

Today is the commemoration of St. Matthias, Apostle.

Today's readings are Psalm 30.1-5, 8-12, Job 19.1-12, 21-27, and John 8.1-20.

Some days we look at our lives and wonder why we bothered to get up. We find ourselves deceived and entrapped, sometimes by our own sin, sometimes by that of others, most times by a combination of the two. The story of the woman caught in adultery reminds us of God's great love for us in Christ. We, like that woman, are caught in our own sinful actions. We don't have a valid excuse. There isn't one. Yet in his mercy, Jesus comes to us, interrupts our lives, tells of his forgiveness and love, and then takes upon himself the penalty we have deserved.

Let us look to Jesus, the light of the world, bearing accurate witness, judging righteous judgment, just as he promises to do, on our behalf.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 42.1-6a, 9-11, Job 18.1-21, John 7.32-53 - Lectionary for 2/23/11 - Polycarp of Smyrna

Today is the commemoration of Polycarp of Smyrna, Pastor and Martyr.

Today's readings are Psalm 42.1-6a, 9-11, Job 18.1-21, and John 7.32-53.

As we approach the end of the season of Epiphany, the season of the appearance, or revelation, we find ourselves frequently confronted with Jesus' claims to divinity in the Gospels. Yet, like the original readers of the Gospels, we are not told what to think. Rather, we see the picture of Jesus and have to come to our own conclusions. Like the officers who were sent to arrest Jesus, we see that Jesus is different. He speaks like nobody else. He has a powerful claim to be who he says he is. We are persuaded to believe him.

Like the very first believers, like Polycarp, who walked with the apostles and later gave his life for his faith, testifying of God's faithfulness to the very end, we can take this message of Christ as it is given to us. We follow our Lord and give our lives for the Christian faith, whether it means dying under persecution as Polycarp did, or simply dying to ourselves and living to Christ in our communities.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 25.15-22, Job 17.1-16, John 7.14-31 - Lectionary for 2/22/11

Today's readings are Psalm 25.15-22, Job 17.1-16, and John 7.14-31.

We look to our God in faith. But is that faith a step in the dark? Does it mean that we are blindly trusting in something that may or may not be true? The Christian faith has often been characterized that way in recent generations. But a genuinely biblical view of faith says that faith is a certain hope in God's promises based not on our impressions but on the many proofs God has given of the validity of our faith. We look to Jesus, who has proven himself to have power even over life and death.

Our faith is a walk in the light of Jesus self-revelation. Let us look to him in faith and trust, knowing that he has done what he said he would do.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12, Job 16.1-22, John 7.1-13 - Lectionary for 2/21/11

Today's readings are Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12, Job 16.1-22, and John 7.1-13.

God's temple, his dwelling place, drew Jews from all over the world to return for worship, healing, and forgiveness. The place where God is present is the place of healing. As Jesus came to Jerusalem in John 7, he went at the time of the harvest festival, the feast when people would gather to bring of their harvests, making offerings to the Lord, receiving forgiveness.

God's forgiveness is available where he has promised it will be. In the New Testament we see God promising his gracious presence to forgive in the proclamation of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments. Let us look with confidence to our Lord who has promised to be there for us, whenever we assemble, wherever the Word is proclaimed and the Sacraments are administered rightly.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 16.1, 4-6, 9-11, Job 15.1-23, 30-35, John 6.60-71 - Lectionary for 2/20/11

Today's readings are Psalm 16.1, 4-6, 9-11, Job 15.1-23, 30-35, and John 6.60-71.

I'm torn about what to comment on. Maybe I can work both of my two hobby horses in today.  The Psalmist reflects that life is good. I wonder how many times we really think about the blessings we have. By some people's standards, I suppose, I don't have much. We live in an older, inexpensive house. We drive an older car, and have only one. I do some of my clothes shopping at secondhand stores, though other things we'll buy new. We try to get good quality products because they will last better. I don't have a high power career. We have a pretty modest family income. But life is good. We have what we need and some of the special treats we want. We have a happy family. We see God's blessings on us. Life is good, even at the moments when there are struggles. Those struggles remind us of how good things can be. And when I look at some other families it seems our struggles are relatively minor.

In our reading from Job, Eliphaz reminds us that we don't want to trust in ourselves. He's quite right, though he has diagnosed the source of Job's problems incorrectly. So where do we look for this good life the Psalmist talks about?

On to John's Gospel. We look to Jesus, the one who has the words of life. He is the one who we come to know as the Son of God. When in doubt, whom should we trust? Ourselves? No, we look to Jesus. He's the trustworthy one.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 2/20/11 - "How Holy?"

Sermon - "How Holy?"

Lord, grant us your wisdom, that we may see your glory and be conformed into your image, in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Be holy! Be perfect! Build with the right building materials! Show yourself approved! God pours out his commands on us, over and over again telling us to attain to his perfection. Years ago, when I was involved in a very conservative Protestant denomination, I lived on a steady diet of these commands. We were taught to do all sorts of things, good things, things which are pleasing to God. Yet we were taught to do these good works, works like prayer, fasting, meditation on Scripture, evangelizing, and teaching, not simply because they are good and pleasing to God, but because they served, in some way, as a measure of our spirituality. Are you someone the Lord is blessing? Then you'd better be having that "quiet time" in prayer, the first good hour of the morning, praying for all the missionaries you can think of and for all the unbelievers you know, specifically. Didn't the Holy Spirit wake you during the night by laying a burden on your heart for Sister so-and-so? Maybe the Lord isn't working in you so much right now then. And it goes on and on. It seems that in our current culture either we are told that we prove our righteousness by the works we are doing or the supernatural signs we receive, or else we are in that portion of Christianity that says God doesn't actually care what we do, that he issues the Ten Suggestions which are good guidelines for what he'd enjoy.

We don't have permission from God to go either of those directions. He has made his demands very clear. Be holy. Be perfect. Build rightly. Your failure will be obvious to all one day, and your failure will cause harm. Our Lord demands nothing less than perfection. Only that which is perfectly holy can stand in the last day. Without perfection, the world is doomed to destruction. In the beginning it was all created perfectly. God proclaimed the world "very good" and he expects and demands nothing less.

We who are recipients of God's commands are aware of our Lord's holiness. We are aware of his perfection. We know that he himself is the perfectly holy one who will not allow that which is impure in any way to stand in his presence. Our Lord is a consuming fire. He will come in the last day in judgment. He will reveal our building materials and their nature by fire, testing our work. This is a serious judgment. Just as we confess that we are sinners, just as we realize that we have failed to do some of the good our Lord demands, just as we realize that we have done what is wrong in the sight of the Lord, and that we have done it on purpose, we realize, deep down, that we also deserve God's condemnation.

What hope is there, then? We have much hope in every way. Consider the fondation on which we build, the foundation of Jesus Christ. He himself is the ground of our faith. Jesus Christ, God the Son, is the one upon whom we build. In fact, as the Scripture portrays us as living stones in God's temple, we can say that Jesus is the one upon whom we are built, set up together, as God ordains it. Jesus is the foundation. Because he is rock-solid and secure, we are also secure. Because Jesus has given his life to pay the penalty for our sin, we live in him. Because our Lord has risen from the dead, we who have died to ourselves have been recreated in him, living anew. We live to Christ. Because our Lord has given us his name when we were baptized in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are partakers of his nature. And as we pray, "hallowed be thy name," we are praying not only that God's name will be exalted, but that it will be exalted in us, who are partakers of his name. We have much hope in every way, for we have been transformed into the image of God by faith in Jesus Christ. We have become partakers of his divine nature. Look around the room for a moment. Do you see what our Lord sees? God looks upon his people and he sees people who are chosen in him, who are partakers of his nature. God the Father looks at you and sees God the Son.

How does our Lord work out his holiness in and through us? How does he carry out this perfection in our world? There's that sermon title poking out. "How holy?" So we are not asking "holy to what extent" because we already know that. We are called to perfect holiness, and our Lord has provided that because we couldn't provide it ourselves. But we're asking "how" meaning "in what way."

As we read in Leviticus, God shows his holiness through his people in the way they act toward their neighbors. You see that God provides for the poor and needy through you. You see that God uses your integrity to protect your neighbor's assets and good reputation. You see that God uses you to keep people safe from harm. You see that God uses you to show kindness. He shows his holiness by using us to fulfill his command, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19.18b, ESV).

So is this the end of the story? Because we are created anew in Christ we look in the Bible and see what God's commands are and we then do them? Do we keep our justification in this way? Not at all. The Bible paints a picture of our relationship with God which is dynamic. It's living. Our life of service to our neighbor as God's hand extended changes day by day and moment by moment.

Our Lord gives us a will to do good. We who have been created in Christ have been chosen in him for good works. Our Lord has placed in us a desire for the good of those around us. We are God's instrument, doing what Jesus did, which is for the good of our neighbor.

Our Lord tells us in his Word what is his good will. He tells us what is right and wrong. And he is quite definite about right and wrong. It isn't our choice. We don't have to come up with the principles. God has revealed to us what is good and what we ought to be doing. Some examples were here in Leviticus today. And we see others all over the Bible.

Our Lord corrects us in our sin. He tells us what is good. That ought to be adequate, right? If we are busy doing what is pleasing to God and living a life of humble and obedient thanksgiving we probably won't have time or energy to depart from God's perfect will. Yet God also tells us what is displeasing to him. Again, we don't have to look too far into Scripture to see the attitudes and actions that fail to hallow God's name. So God gives us a will to do good, tells us what is good, and corrects us in our sin.

Then our Lord forgives us and confirms us in righteousness. Did you ever think of how useful correction without forgiveness or affirmation is? Not to compare believers to dogs, but I think there's some similarity. When training a dog, what does the wise owner do? He affirms every good behavior and every attempt at obedience. Then what happens when the dog misbehaves? The sharp, "NO," the glare, the stern attitude are all effective. If all the dog knows is correction and rebuke the dog will never know how to bring delight to the owner. If the dog knows forgiveness and confirmation the dog will learn to be pleasing. Likewise, when we repent, we are forgiven. We know the forgiveness is real because God's Word says it is real. We know Christ died to bring us healing and life because he told us what he would do, then he did it. We know he is nourishing us as partakers of his name because we are reminded of it all the time, not the least as we are partakers of his body and blood in communion.

How does God show his holiness then? He gives us a will to do good, he tells us what is good, he corrects us in our sin, he forgives and confirms us, and he uses us as his hand of mercy. We who believe are in fact reaching to our world as Jesus himself reaches to the world through us. We show God's mercy to those around us. We bring words of comfort. We act in ways of comfort. Have I seen believers helping one another to stand and walk to receive communion? Have I seen believers assisting one another in receiving blessing from God? Could I expect to see you sharing God's grace, peace, and mercy with one another and with your neighbors? "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." And our Lord closes his command with a reason in Leviticus 19.18. "I am the Lord."

Let us stand to pray.

Our Lord, you have loved us. You have placed your name upon us. And as we ask that your name should be hallowed, we confess that we have acted in ways that bring shame upon you rather than honor. Forgive us our sin. make us to walk in your paths. And as we see that you are the Lord indeed, may we have your grace to love our neighbors. Reach out to our world through us as you live in us and love our neighbors. We pray this in the name of ┼ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 53, Job 14.1-22, John 6.41-59 - Lectionary for 2/19/11

Today's readings are Psalm 53, Job 14.1-22, and John 6.41-59.

We all think that we know how life works. We have seen a few things and have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Unfortunately, according to the Scripture, we don't know all we think we do. Our understanding of life is limited. It's been hindered by the curse of sin. Our expectation is that man is temporary, mortal, and will pass away, leaving little or no trace. Under these conditions, Jesus brings out our indignation. He incurs our wrath.

Jesus has a clear picture of what the world is really like. He is the one who has graciously given himself for our sin, to restore the world to its right nature, to bring us back to what we are intended to be. He knows what real life is. He not only knows the answer, but he is the answer.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 105.1, 23, 37-43, Job 13.13-28, John 6.22-40 - Lectionary for 2/18/11 - Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor

Today is the commemoration of Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor.

Today's readings are Psalm 105.1, 23, 37-43, Job 13.13-28, and John 6.22-40.

The Psalmist gives thanks because God has remembered his people. This remembrance God makes of his people is not a mere realization that they exist. It is not simply recall of what has happened in the past. God's remembering his people indicates that he is aware of our struggles and that he is doing something to help and save us. Job longs for a chance to meet God face to face. And in John we see that we have indeed met God face to face in the person of God the Son, Jesus Christ. We know that in Christ God has remembered his people and come to rescue them.

Throughout history God has remembered his people and raised up leaders in the Christian faith to call people to repentance, drawing them to see the forgiveness he has created for us. May we remember also, and delight in the fact that our Lord has not forgotten us.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 37.25-29, Job 13.1-12, John 6.1-21 - Lectionary for 2/17/11

Today's readings are Psalm 37.25-29, Job 13.1-12, and John 6.1-21.

In our readings today we see a contrast we could find throughout the Scriptures. But it's laid out for us very neatly today. In the Psalm we see that God's people can have a confidence in God who will provide for their every need. In the reading from Job we see that our trust in God is sometimes beyond our understanding. We don't see where God's provision is coming from, we may indeed doubt whether he is going to take care of us. Then we see in John that Jesus knows exactly what he is going to do, that he knows how to provide for our needs, and that his ability to provide for our needs goes beyond our reason. We turn then back to the Psalm and see that we do have good reason for the confidence the Psalmist proclaims.

Sometimes we won't see how God can meet our needs. But we always know that God is exactly the kind of God who does meet all our needs, through his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 91.1-6, 14-16, Job 12.1-6, 12-25, John 5.30-47 - Lectionary for 2/16/11 - Philipp Melanchthon, Confessor

Today is the birthday of Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), author of the Augsburg Confession.

Today's readings are Psalm 91.1-16, 14-16, Job 12.1-6, 12-25, and John 5.30-47.

What confidence can we have in this life and in eternity? The Psalmist reflects on how near God is. He is there, watching over us, sheltering us, guarding us from all evil. There is no danger which can come against us with God overshadowing us.

I'm reminded when I read passages like this to pray for those who are enduring persecution for their faith. The twentieth century was the most deadly century in history to be a Christian. This century does not look better. Yet Christians have always confessed that, regardless of what people may do to our earthly lives, our treasure and hope is in eternity, which cannot be taken away from us by any executioner.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 57.1-5, 8-10, Job 11.1-20, John 5.19-29 - Lectionary for 2/15/11 - Philemon and Onesimus

Today is the day of Philemon and Onesimus. Today's readings are Psalm 57.1-5, 8-10, Job 11.1-20, and John 5.19-29.

In today's readings we see people in bondage calling out for deliverance. Our desire is for God's mercy. Yet we don't always see his mercy very clearly. With the Psalmist we cry out to God, we see the dangers around us, we wonder a little bit, maybe a lot, whether God will rescue us, and we give glory and praise to God anyway. We know, despite our circumstances, that God is the merciful Lord who will deliver his people from all the dangers which surround them.

Jesus tells us how this is working. God's love is shown to the world through the love the Father gives to the Son, who will care for his people to the end. Do you want to see the love of God? Look to Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, God the Son, who has come to give life to his people, to all who believe he is able to rescue them from sin and death. 

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 119.153-160, Job 10.1-22, John 5.1-18 - Lectionary for 2/14/11 - Valentine, Martyr

Today is the day of Valentine, Martyr. Today's readings are Psalm 119.153-160, Job 10.1-22, and John 5.1-18.

Today's readings are appropriate for a day commemorating St. Valentine, the third century physician and martyr, who gave his life for Christ today in the year 270. According to early tradition, the day he was to die, he sent a note of encouragement to his jailer's child, showing the love of God in Christ.

As we look at all our readings we see that afflicted people are calling out to God for help. What is the help we receive? Jesus heals the man at the pool of Bethesda. He heals only the one who is calling out to him specifically, at least at that time this is the extent of his actions. Is Jesus able to heal everyone, all at once, with a word or, for that matter, without a word? Certainly he is. But this is not how he has chosen to reveal his love. He reveals his love and mercy by bringing healing and life to those who call upon him. And sometimes that healing and life is not seen until a later time, when we pass from our mortal life into eternity through death.

Has Jesus died for the sins of the world? Yes. His redemption goes as far as the curse of sin, to all who look to him in belief. In some instances we will face suffering and death, as did Valentine, as have countless other people through history. Yeet as we look to Jesus in the hope of the resurrection we know that he is able to raise up even our deadness to life in him.

Let us encourage one another in the hope of the resurrection.

 

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 95.1-7a, Job 9.1-35, John 4.46-54 - Lectionary for 2/13/11 - Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos

Today is the commemoration of Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. Today's readings are Psalm 95.1-7a, Job 9.1-35, and John 4.46-54.

Take a look at the progression of events in today's readings. Our Psalm proclaims the glory and might of God. Job, heavily burdened with his illness and loss says he wishes there were a way he could actually talk with God. And in John we see God in the flesh, walking around, showing himself to be the God who loves his people, who cares for us, and who is able to give healing and life.

Our Lord is the truly present one, Jesus Christ, God the Son, as we confess, fully man and fully God, two natures in one person, God with us.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 2/13/11 - Yes or No

Sermon - "Yes or No"

Our Lord, grant us ears to hear and a heart to believe, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Bible is full of distinctions. Our world reflects this too. We can look at the world of work, where one person is hired, another isn't. One person gets a bigger pay raise than another. Not everyone is promoted at the same rate. Not everyone has the same job. And this is good and right. Or we look at the world of education. For the past fifty years we've been teaching children that it's good to be non-competitive. Everyone gets to play, we'll try to avoid having winners and losers. That is, until we start playing football or basketball. Or until we start looking at college admissions and scholarships. Then everyone wants to be the best. In fact, from what I hear as a teacher, every one of my students is the best, all of them are deserving of top marks in every area, each one is a top student and should get into the most prestigious college with a full scholarship, and if the student is not at the top of the class there must be something wrong with the way I am teaching him. Hmmm.

Our world is full of distinctions. And here, in Matthew 5, we see some very stark distinctions. Not everyone is the same. Our actions and the attitudes that underlie them do matter.

Before we dig into this text, I'd like to address a misconception about the Sermon on the Mount, this passage from Matthew 5-7, very briefly. Especially in the late 1800s and the early part of the last century, Bible scholars had a tendency to look at Matthew 5-7 and say it was a restatement and reinforcement of the Ten Commandments. We can look at today's passage, Matthew 5.21-37, and see it has a passing similarity to a commentary on God's commands about murder, adultery, and bearing false witness. But the overall passage talks about concepts that are not addressed specifically in the Ten Commandments. It also is missing some of the Commandments. Jesus does not seem to be restating the Ten Commandments here. He has some other purpose in mind, namely showing that he is the Lord of the Commandments, the one who will show how deadly sin is, and how in fact he is the one life-giving God. So the purpose of this passage is a little different from a re-statement of the Commandments.

We first see Jesus' proclamation of the value of life. It was a well-established fact that God's people were to value life. But in verse 22 Jesus increases the stakes. Can we be guilty of murder without laying a hand on anyone? Jesus says we can. Through our insults, through our slanderous speech, we may render ourselves guilty in the same way we would be guilty of murder. We're all familiar, I trust, with the passage in Matthew 18, where Jesus tells us to go to our brother who has sinned against us and ask him to repent and be reconciled with us. But sometimes we forget this passage, Matthew 5.23-24. If we realize someone might have something against us, going and being reconciled is more important than trying to make our gift at God's altar, the thing God has commanded most strictly. We are considered outcasts from God's people if we are not striving to be at peace with our brothers.

This is the passage that led to the rise of the "pax Domini," the asking of the peace of the Lord, in our divine service. It's right before the service of communion for a reason. Unfortunately, many people have misunderstood that practice, and misunderstood it so seriously that, after discussion with the leaders of the church, I chose to leave part of it out. You may have noticed it. We'll have to consider whether we can bring it back next week and try it or not.

Wishing the peace of the Lord is not the same as welcoming someone. It is not the same as a quick fellowship break. We have a time for shaking hands, checking up on people, and whatnot. It's called the time before the start of the prelude or after the end of the postlude. That isn't part of the divine service.

Asking the peace of the Lord is more than that. When Jesus sent his seventy disciples out to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God, they were to ask God's peace upon the household where they would stay. If it was not a worthy household, God's peace would rest on the disciples but not on the household. This is a picture of what we call performative speech. When we turn to one another and ask God's peace, we are seeking reconciliation and healing of relationships. We are granting our neighbor the gift of God. We bless those who curse us, and we pray for them. Can you imagine what the Lord will do in our midst as we believe that the divine service is a time of forgiveness and healing? Can you imagine the blessing you are asking on your neighbor when you pray God's peace on him as he prepares to take the Sacrament? It isn't a "let's be happy, welcome one another, shake hands, and make friendly" time. It's a, "may the Lord watch over you and grant that you should be reconciled with me and with all the other people who have sinned against you" time. Wow.

This is a hard thing. But our Lord has said we are to make peace with our brothers. It is more important than bringing our offerings. What's the promise? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has seen our state. He died for us while we were yet sinners, while we were haters of God, while we were at enmity against God. He left his gift, he came to us, and he was willingly rejected and despised by men.

Very quickly now, we have eleven more verses to look at. What about Jesus' teaching about adultery? He says it isn't merely physical. He says it starts before there's even physical opportunity. He says the covetous attitude is every bit as important as any action we can perpetrate. He says it condemns us to hell. Why is adultery so important in God's eye? For many reasons, but probably most of all because the Scripture paints God's people as his bride, his dearly beloved one whose very best fortune is to be faithful to him. Adultery, apostasy, departure from the faith, they are all painted as one thing in Scripture. Again, what did Jesus come for? He came to rescue us from sin, to bring us into a true and faithful relationship with the Father, to purify us as the bride of Christ. We are to flee adultery. And as we are claimed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we would never wish to do something that would drive others into such a situation. We banish it from our lives. Are we successful? No. So again we see we need a savior, one calling us to repentance, and one granting us repentance to faith and everlasting life.

What about the oaths, the swearing falsely from verses 33-37? Let God be true. Our promise, the oath we can swear, this pledges ourselves to do something, often offering a pledge we are not able to provide. See how the examples of oaths Jesus gives all seem to offer security which is something we cannot offer? Rather, we simply make our promise. We say yes or we say no. We know there's a distinction. We may be able to accomplish what we try. But we may not. We're back to those distinctions again, aren't we? And those distinctions, that "yes" or "no" is what works in all our lives. We see God holding out before us life and death, good and evil, blessing and cursing, the distinction between a spiritual and a carnal life, the difference between God's commands and our attitudes, the difference between the power of God's work and the ability we have to work.

In the end, this Christian life is all about what Jesus has done. He is the one who has made reconciliation. He is the one who claims us as his pure bride. He is the one who makes promises and can guarantee that he will keep them. He is the mighty one of Israel. He is the one who has given himself for his people.

Let us rise to pray together.

Our Lord, you are the fulfiller of all your commands, and you have fulfilled them on our behalf, in our stead. By placing your name upon us you have claimed all your righteousness for us. Turn our hearts that we may live and walk in the righteousness you have placed upon us, rejoicing in your presence with us, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 71.1-6, 17-18, Job 8.1-22, John 4.27-45 - Lectionary for 2/12/11

Today's readings are Psalm 71.1-6, 17-18, Job 8.1-22, and John 4.27-45.

God's people are motivated to do particular things. It isn't that we earn any sort of favor or prove our righteousness. But we are motivated to certain actions based on our beliefs about God. As we see in our selection from Psalm 71, those who have seen God's great works, his redemption, his work of rescuing his people are motivated to tell about God's good deeds. We see this in action in the Gospel reading, as the Samaritan woman is telling everyone about Jesus' claims and promises to her.

Why are we so hesitant to tell about God's great mercy in Christ? Maybe we don't realize how great it is. Maybe we are afraid of rejection. Maybe we don't think eternity without Christ's forgiveness of sins applied to people is as bad as the Bible says it is.

Let God be true. Let's tell freely about what our Lord has done.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 147.1-3, 6-11, Job 7.1-21, John 4.7-26 - Lectionary for 2/11/11

Today's readings are Psalm 147.1-3, 6-11, Job 7.1-21, and John 4.7-26.

As we read in our Psalm for today, our Lord is the one who builds, gathers, heals, restores, and exalts those who trust in him. He provides all that we need in this world. We can therefore have the utmost confidence that this eternal God is able to provide all that we will need in the life to come. As the Psalmist says in a very understated way, "it is pleasant" (Ps. 147.1b, ESV).

Yeah. Have a pleasant day.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 38.1-3, 6, 9-11, 21-22, Job 6.14-30, John 3.22-4.6 - Lectionary for 2/10/11 - Silas

Today is the day of Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Today's readings are Psalm 38.1-3, 6, 9-11, 21-22, Job 6.14-30, and John 3.22-4.6.

I've been seeing a theme emerging in the lectionary readings. I guess it's really the big theme of the Bible, so it isn't surprising that it should emerge. In our Psalm and our reading in Job we see that life is rough. We are running out of hopes. We are confronted with the fact that our world tends to crush our hopes and dreams. Along comes the Gospel reading, pointing us to Jesus. See John 3.34b, where God "gives the Spirit without measure" to Jesus. And what does Jesus do? He turns around and pours out the Spirit on his people. He restores our hopes and dreams. In fact, he does more than that. He gives us his hopes and dreams. 

All things are possible for God. Let us look to our Lord in faith, realizing that he does all things well.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 23.1-5, Job 6.1-13, John 3.1-21 - Lectionary for 2/9/11

Today's readings are Psalm 23.1-5, Job 6.1-13, and John 3.1-21.

Nicodemus, a Jewish scholar, a leader of Israel, comes to Jesus secretly, at night. He is burdened with a realization of his sin. He sees that all his efforts may be to no effect. What hope might Jesus have for him? In their discussion Jesus shows Nicodemus again and again that he is not able to understand the workings of God. God doesn't work according to Nicodemus' plan, but according to his own plan. He does not work salvation in the way we might devise. He works it in his own way. And look how he works it out.

You thought I would move to verse 16, right? But look at verses 14-15 instead. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wildnerness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life" (ESV). Recall the serpent in the wilderness, a bronze version of the live serpents which were killing people of Israel, lifted up on a pole so that whoever looked to the image and believed God would provide rescue from the venomous creatures would live.  Likewise, Jesus, very man and very God, is raised up on a pole, taking our sin, that which is venomous to us, and becomes the one who saves us. How does he save us? By our looking at him in faith we are saved. Salvation is of God. It is not through a means we would choose. It is through God's means. As he goes on to say in verse 16, "God loved the world in this way..." (personal translation). The word normally translated as "so" is an adverb. It indicates the way in which someone does something, not the extent to which he does something. 

This is how God loved the world. He provided salvation by grace through faith, on his own terms, not the way we would devise.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 69.1-4, 8-9, 24, 29-30, Job 5.1-27, John 2.13-25 - Lectionary for 2/8/11

Today's readings are Psalm 69.1-4, 8-9, 24, 29-30, Job 5.1-27 and John 2.13-25.

The situation our Lord deals with in the cleansing of the temple shows us that we are capable of taking the best possible opportunities and turning them around for our own selfish desires. God's temple was a place appointed to give people access to worship of the true God. This worship was normally accompanied by offerings, and the offerings God required were often perfect animals. Because it is very difficult to bring an animal for sacrifice over a long distance and have it arrive undamaged, people would sell locally raised animals for sacrifice outside the temple. This would allow worshipers to travel with money and to arrive in the temple with a suitable offering. It's a very good plan. Yet the people who stood to benefit from it financially chose to engage in usury. They would accept only local money and would charge substantial fees to exchange money. They would sell substandard animals, again at an outrageous price. How is a person to come and worship the true, living, and pure God in this situation? The fact that the people engaging in this commerce were hindering worship - that's probably the worst of all their actions.

Look how Jesus deals with it. He disrupts the business but he does not ruin the stock. He doesn't take away the money, he simply scatters it. He releases the animals which can be gathered up again relatively easily. He doesn't let the birds out of their cages. He simply sends away the people selling them, along with their cages and birds.

Our Lord makes it clear to all of us that he is ready to confront sin. Yet his desire isn't to destroy us. His desire is to change us. May we look to the Lord's correction in humble repentance and gladly receive the change he works in us.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Hippolytus' Apostolic Traditions

Dix, Dom Gregory, ed. The Treatise on The Apostolic Tradition of St. Hippolytus of Rome. London: Alban Press, 1992 reissue.

Hippolytus' Apostolic Tradition attempts to lay out in order the historic practices of the Church as, according to Hippolytus' understanding, she had always engaged in worship and order. Written about 215, Hippolytus seems to have been dealing with a dispute about appropriate developments in liturgy. He, on the conservative side, objected to developments being accepted among the Roman Christians under the leadership of Callistus.
This treatise appears to have been mostly ignored and lost, rather than serving as a document which sparked widespread reform or opposition. Though there were a few ancient translations of it and some comments on portions during the Medieval period, the work has not been found complete in any manuscript. It has been pieced together from fragmentary remains recently, within the last two centuries.
It is a good thing to discover such ancient writings and have the opportunity to study them again. A discovery like this opens a window on what was considered timeless and historic liturgy by saints who were living and worshiping after some 175 years of Christian history. By seeing what they saw as the timeless liturgical tradition we may gain insight into the traditions we hold dear.
The text of Apostolic Traditions is divided into an introduction and three main parts. The first part treats clergy, the second part laity, and the third part church order. Particularly notable in the first part is the distinction among biships and presbyters. Both are considered clerical offices, while the deacons are not. It seems to be assumed that any sizeable community will have a bishop and several presbyters. The bishop ordains presbyters, while other presbyters act in agreement. Deacons, unlike presbyters, are not considered a clerical office but work to support the bishops or presbyters. A confessor who is imprisoned or killed for his faith is considered a presbyter but does not need to be ordained. Also of note, in chapter four we see a liturgy which has been retained through the centuries to our time by congregations preparing to receive communion.
In the second portion of Apostolic Traditions we see various practices related to the laity. It is assumed that people converting to Christianity will receive substantial catechesis prior to baptism or reception of communion. In the event of the arrest and martyrdom of a catechumen the Church would consider the catechumen to be baptized. Baptismal rites are discussed in some detail, including fasting and exorcism.
In the third portion of Apostolic Traditions we see a smattering of typical matters of local church order, including the way bread and wine are distributed in communion, practices of having meals together, treating food offerings as opportunities for the bishop and congregants to dine together, typical times for fasting and prayer, the assembly of deacons and presbyters on a daily basis for instruction and prayer, and provision for the poor. Of particular note are times of prayer discussed in chapters 35 and 36.
As an epilogue, Hippolytus urges readers to keep the traditions passed down from the beginning. This is an important safeguard against all sorts of heresies. We are also well advised to consider historic Christian practice as important. There is much to be gained by an awareness of the lives of saints who came before us.

Psalm 4, Job 4.1-21, John 2.1-12 - Lectionary for 2/7/11

Today's readings are Psalm 4, Job 4.1-21, and John 2.1-12.

We wonder when God's deliverance will come. In our pain and suffering we look to God, but often we don't look in trust. We look in expectation, but our expectation is that he might not care for us according to our ideas of his love. What kind of struggles do we have? We know God is able to care for all our needs. But do we think he actually will?

Jesus' mother here gives an example of the faith that we ought to have. Is there anything that is too trivial to bring before our Lord? Is there anything that is too difficult for him to take care of? Is there anything which should give us reason to doubt the sufficiency of Jesus' death and resurrection on our behalf? No, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing. Let us look to him in trust then, not doubting. All he has promised he can and will do on our behalf. We need only trust.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 77.1-3, 7-12, 15, Job 3.11-26, John 1.35-51 - Lectionary for 2/6/11

Today's readings are Psalm 77.1-3, 7-12, 15, Job 3.11-26, and John 1.35-51.

I preached a sermon about this Gospel lesson several weeks ago. Rather than rehash that, though, here's my observation today. The first disciples become convinced, at least for long enough to start following him, that Jesus is the Messiah. And as they follow him they become convinced that he is indeed the Messiah.

From our Psalm and our Old Testament reading today we are led to ask about our circumstances. They can look pretty grim at times. Is this all we have? The Scripture says that we have more than is apparent to us. Our circumstances shouldn't rule our lives. The reality of God's gracious presence, particularly as seen in the person and work of Jesus should rule us. That is reality. It is in Jesus that we see grace and truth incarnate. Let us look not to our circumstances but to our Savior.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Sermon for 2/6/11 - It's God's, Not Mine

Sermon: "It's God's not Mine" 1 Corinthians 2.1-12

May we see Your glory and Your priorities rightly. May we be conformed to your image by Your mighty power, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We take joy in our personal possessions and in our creations, don't we? I remember my wife starting to learn to sew. She was so very pleased to be able to say that she made something herself. And we can do a lot of things that we take some pride, probably a positive kind of pride in. I remember when I made a bookcase unit that exactly fit one entire wall of our home. It worked neatly around the window in our master bedroom. It even had one shelf that was extra deep right at the side of our bed so I would have a nightstand built in. Everyone liked it and I enjoyed the fact that people liked it. How about a parent's knowledge of and pleasure in a child? We're rightly proud of our children's accomplishments and the positive fruit we see in their lives. And we know them in some ways better than they know themselves. Certainly we know them better than any stranger would know them. We know what makes our children tick.

How well does our Lord know this world he has created? He has complete, intimate knowledge of it. He knows what is right and wrong. He knows what is good and productive. He knows what makes it tick. And he takes pleasure in that knowledge, in that understanding of his creation. He takes pleasure in what is good for this world. God, in fact, knows how life and salvation work. And he defends it, nurtures it, rejoices in it.

So why is it that we seem to think it would be a good idea to be God for the day? I've recently been reviewing Luther's Small Catechism on the 1^st Commandment. What's the first commandment? (wait for response) What does this mean? (wait for response) We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. This means that we let God have his say. We let him govern this world that he created, understands, and redeemed. We take God's attitudes seriously. We ask him to conform us to his image, rather than trying to conform him to our image.

Here are just a few of the differences I noticed between God's attitudes and our attitudes in today's readings.

From Isaiah?

God says that all sin is deadly. We would rather characterize sin as just a mistake, normally not important.

God says that our works need to be entirely consistent. We do things and say we really didn't mean it. We might think we could worship an idol or do some other act that denies God but not mean it.

Our Lord indicates that true worship releases us from bondage. It's about God and his activity. We tend to think that worship is really about us and the way we feel.

God pictures himself as truly involved in this world and all its affairs. We quite frankly think that we don't want to bother God with the details of our lives, our fears, our hurts.

In Matthew 5 we see that God views his Law as perfect. We'd rather think that God is suggesting things or giving advice.

Our Lord pictures a world in which we are truly bound, obligated, to obey God. We tend to think obedience is merely good, genuinely optional.

And as we get to 1 Corinthians 2, we see that the Gospel is simple. Paul pictures the Gospel of Christ as something that can be understood by anyone. We have a tendency to think that good teaching is a difficult thing, that most people really won't understand anything that is important, at least not if we try to explain it clearly and in detail. I don't know where we get this idea. After all, if you tell someone about something clearly and in detail, the person really should be expected to understand, right?

We see that Christ crucified for sin actually changes us. This is the Gospel that Paul is talking about. It's good news. Jesus Christ, given for our sin, really does take away our sin and change us. However, we seem to think that Jesus is just here as an object lesson, that we merely learn from Jesus' good attitude and love.

The message of Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 is that God's wisdom never changes. The same Gospel which has been operative since the foundation of the world is still in effect, it is still God's power. We seem to think we need to come up with good new things, and that whatever is old must be ineffective.

The message of the Scripture is about a God who reveals himself, who has revealed himself in these last days in the person and work of Jesus Christ, crucified for sinners, dead, buried, resurrected, and ascended, who will come again. Salvation begins and ends with the work of Christ. Our message sems to be that we are the mediators of our life and salvation, that we reach up to God and prove our worthiness to him.

When Paul came to Corinth he made a point to stick to the message, God's message, Christ crucified for sinners. This is the Gospel we look to as well. We look to the Gospel shown here and now in bread and wine, body and blood. We look to Christ's death applied to our account, bringing us life and salvation.

May the Lord ever confront us with his Gospel, Christ crucified for sinners, God's sufficient answer to our sin. Let us pray.

Our God, we thank you that you have given us your Gospel. We thank you that you have revealed your love for your people in these last days by providing for life and salvation, giving your Son to take our place in death for sin. Draw us to you in faith, believing that you are indeed the one who redeems the world to yourself. This we ask through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

-- 

Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 31.1-2, 23-24, Job 2.1-3.10, John 1.19-34 - Lectionary for 2/5/11 - Jacob (Israel), Patriarch

Today is the day of Jacob, the Patriarch. Today's readings are Psalm 31.1-2, 23-24, Job 2.1-3, 10, John 1.19-34.

Job confesses that the day he was born was a bad day. He realizes that life in this sinful world is crushing and oppressive. Looking from his perspective, what is a man to do? In fact, there is nothing he can do except turn to God in hope of redemption.

What hope of redemption do we have? Look no farther than our Gospel reading for today. We see, as John sees, the Lamb of God, the one who has been called to come and die as a sacrifice for our sins, to put an end to the suffering of this sinful world. Jesus, the one on whom the Holy Spirit descends and remains, is the true Son of God, come to rescue people like Job, people like us, from the dominion of darkness.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Blog Revisions

I hope you enjoy the new background and format chosen by my tech-savvy wife, Martha, first mate of the Marmoset. I've shifted a few boxes around on the screen and have added a box in which I'll post lectionary readings and a small segment from Luther's Small Catechism on a weekly basis. Our plan is that when we gather at the Captain's Mess on a daily basis, provided duty doesn't call anyone away, we'll read and review that segment of the Catechism. By doing so, we'll walk through the entire catechism a little more than once a year. Within a few years we should all be prepared by daily practice to have an answer for many of the situations life throws at us.

As I end up with catechumens, both youth and adult, I hope they will look to the catechism and the daily lectionary readings to grow in their faith.

Feel free to share this address with others! Maybe the resources will be useful.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 127, Job 1.1-22, John 1.1-18 - Lectionary for 2/4/11

Today's readings are Psalm 127, Job 1.1-22, and John 1.1-18.

In our lives and in today's readings we see that we all receive easy and difficult things, good and evil. Job receives his good things then loses them. We see that God has blessed the world through the living Word of God, even though the world has rejected him. But we see all the threads pulled together in our Psalm today. Does anything good happen in this world? If it does, it is from God. Through our best efforts we can ultimately accomplish nothing of lasting value. Yet we find that our God is the one who brings us safety, prosperity, and good reputation. We can do all we want. But in the final analysis it is God's will to care for his people which gives us all security.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 47, Zechariah 14.1-21, Titus 2.7-3.15 - Lectionary for 2/3/11

Today's readings are Psalm 47, Zechariah 14.1-21, and Titus 2.7-3.15.

The life of the Christian is a life of expectancy. In Titus 2.13 we see our hope is in the coming of our Lord, who will execute justice on those who reject him and will gather his people together into permanent healing and blessing. This is the message Paul tells Titus to emphasize. "Let no one disregard you"( 2.15, ESV). 

It is very easy for us to fail in our insistence on the truth. But this is destructive to our world. It does not love our neighbors when we leave them to blithely ignore God's Law and Gospel. May the Lord remind us constantly that we are working with life and death issues.

--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 75, Zechariah 12.1-13.9, Titus 1.1-2.6 - Lectionary for 2/2/11 - The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord

Today is the commemoration of the purification of Mary and the presentation of the Lord. Today's readings are Psalm 75, Zechariah 12.1-13.9, and Titus 1.1-2.6.

Zechariah and Titus stand in stark contrast. God's shepherds have proven to be evil shepherds who harm the sheep. God will strike the shepherds who have led Israel astray. He will establish his own reign, bringing justice. And that reign which God establishes is the reign of his Son, Jesus, administered through those he has appointed, the elders (presbyters - - bishops, terms used synonymously in the New Testament) of his Church. 

We look at the qualifications of elders laid out in Titus chapter 1. See that these qualities are what we would hope for in a mature Christian. Except for the requirement to teach and the statement that the elder seems always to be a married man, we would see these qualities in just about everyone who takes God's word seriously.

Let us look to our Lord, respecting those whom our Lord has given us to shepherd us wisely, bringing his realm to our world.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com

Psalm 28, Zechariah 11.4-17, 2 Timothy 4.1-18 - Lectionary for 2/1/11

Today's readings are Psalm 28, Zechariah 11.4-17, and 2 Timothy 4.1-18.

Our reading in Zechariah talks about a very sad situation in the life of national Israel. The kingdom is being broken. The people who are charged with caring for God's people have departed from their responsibilities. They do not heed the warnings of their God or of his servant the prophet. The people will run to their own destruction, for the Lord will not keep warning them forever.

Paul points out to Timothy that not much changed between the time of Zechariah and his own time. People still reject sound teaching and exhortation. They are still stubborn. They still refuse to listen. It seems that sin has condemned us to engage in more sin, destruction condemns us to pursue more destruction. 

No matter what our society looks like, Paul says, we can look to our Lord who will rescue us and confirm us in his righteousness, giving us his healing and grace. What if we are tired of telling the truth in love? We go ahead and do it anyway. It's the message our world needs to hear. We are persuaded it is right to tell of our Lord's great love for his people. So we do it despite what others may do to us.

Things haven't changed much, have they?

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com