Today is the day we recognize the prophet Isaiah.
Today's readings are Psalm 100, Joshua 24.1-31, and Acts 13.1-12.
We see the astonishing power of the hand of God today in our readings. Joshua charges the people of Israel and calls them to decide whether they will serve the true Lord or the false gods they have allowed in their midst. The pagan proconsul Sergius Paulus is moved to believe, having herad the teaching of the Lord and having seen his power when a magician named Elymas is struck blind by the Holy Spirit.
We often want to look for powerful signs of God like these. Yet we tend to see them rarely in our society today. Yet we see the power of the Holy Spirit all the time, as He convicts people of sin and draws them to Jesus in repentance, as He takes sinners like you and me and grants them forgiveness of sins and new life. God has not stopped working wonders among his people. The wonders change to fit the society in which God is working, but they remain the power of God. Let us turn our eyes, then, to the God of wonders, not to the wonders of God, and look to our Lord and Savior in repentance and hope.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Psalm 68.1-6, Joshua 23.1-16, Acts 12.1-25 - Lectionary for 7/5/11
Today's readings are Psalm 68.1-6, Joshua 23.1-16, and Acts 12.1-25.
Sometimes we tend to think God is different in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. Many people will draw a picture of God as a God of vengeance in the Old Testament but a God of grace and mercy in the New. Yet the Scripture does not bear this out. Observe in our Old Testament reading today that God promises Joshua and the Israelites safety and prosperity, provided they are faithful to the Lord. As they are believing in God's promises and walking according to his commands, they will find that God is indeed gracious and merciful.
What do we see in the New Testament reading today? We see that God continues to be merciful to his people who trust him. Yet what kind of curse can he pour out on those who do not believe him, who assert that they themselves are gods? Herod is struck down in his arrogance. Of course, not all who exalt themselves above God are struck down, but we see that God reserves the right to do so.
There is one God, one judge of the world, and he has not changed in his way of governing. We are always saved by grace through faith, and that faith is in Jesus Christ, who bore our sin and failing on our behalf. This is the same Gospel that Joshua had, though he hadn't yet seen the man Jesus. He trusted in him, just as we today are called to trust him.
Sometimes we tend to think God is different in the Old Testament than in the New Testament. Many people will draw a picture of God as a God of vengeance in the Old Testament but a God of grace and mercy in the New. Yet the Scripture does not bear this out. Observe in our Old Testament reading today that God promises Joshua and the Israelites safety and prosperity, provided they are faithful to the Lord. As they are believing in God's promises and walking according to his commands, they will find that God is indeed gracious and merciful.
What do we see in the New Testament reading today? We see that God continues to be merciful to his people who trust him. Yet what kind of curse can he pour out on those who do not believe him, who assert that they themselves are gods? Herod is struck down in his arrogance. Of course, not all who exalt themselves above God are struck down, but we see that God reserves the right to do so.
There is one God, one judge of the world, and he has not changed in his way of governing. We are always saved by grace through faith, and that faith is in Jesus Christ, who bore our sin and failing on our behalf. This is the same Gospel that Joshua had, though he hadn't yet seen the man Jesus. He trusted in him, just as we today are called to trust him.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Psalm 50.1-6, Joshua 10.1-25, Acts 11.19-30 - Lectionary for 7/4/11
Today's readings are Psalm 50.1-6, Joshua 10.1-25, and Acts 11.19-30.
There's a very strong international flavor to today's readings. We see Joshua and the Israelites under attack from a variety of nations, overcoming their attackers in the name of the Lord by supernatural means given to them for that conflict. We see the Gospel overcoming people wherever they go. Believers are persecuted in one area, go to another place, and bring the Gospel with them. Antioch, in Syria, quickly becomes the center of Christian activity. This is not just a movement centered in Jerusalem. It is international in scope. Our Lord conquers peoples hearts and minds in every part of the world, drawing them to him in faith, granting them eternal life and a living hope in this life. The Gospel is truly the power of God to everyone who believes.
There's a very strong international flavor to today's readings. We see Joshua and the Israelites under attack from a variety of nations, overcoming their attackers in the name of the Lord by supernatural means given to them for that conflict. We see the Gospel overcoming people wherever they go. Believers are persecuted in one area, go to another place, and bring the Gospel with them. Antioch, in Syria, quickly becomes the center of Christian activity. This is not just a movement centered in Jerusalem. It is international in scope. Our Lord conquers peoples hearts and minds in every part of the world, drawing them to him in faith, granting them eternal life and a living hope in this life. The Gospel is truly the power of God to everyone who believes.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sermon for 7/3/11 "Thanks Be to God"
SERMON “Thanks Be to God” Romans 7.14-25
Our Lord, hear our prayer. As we shelter under your protecting wings, nurture us and teach us to hear your Word. Amen.
“I’m old enough to know better but too young to resist.” Maybe you’ve tried saying this to someone. Or maybe you’ve tried telling it to yourself. We usually think of a statement like that when we’re found out, when our treachery is exposed. Maybe it was something little, a humorous prank. Or maybe it was something that brought harm to someone. Old enough to know better. Yes, no doubt about it. Too young to resist? I’m completely unconvinced.
Do we know how we are supposed to live? Has our Lord shown us through Scripture and also usually through the example of others in our society, what is appropriate? We know it’s bad to hurt people. We hardly need anyone to tell us that. We know that there’s nobody who likes to be dishonored and humiliated. No question about that. And you don’t have to be around Christianity for long to get the idea that God is God, that he has a holy standard, and that we don’t live up to that standard. God’s Law is quite clear. We know plenty to convict ourselves and anyone else. We do know how we’re supposed to live. As one 19th century humorist put it, “I’m not so bothered by the things in the Bible that I don’t understand as I am by the things I do understand.” We know how we’re supposed to live.
So do you really want to do good? This is the question that parents often end up asking their children. I’ve been thinking about that question a lot lately. It’s one that I’ve been known to ask my children. But it’s really not a very fair question. What was the apostle Paul’s answer to the question? Yes, he wanted to do what was right. Yet he had another answer at the same time. No, he really didn’t want to do what was right, because he went ahead and did what was wrong. In the world of biblical counseling we have a name for what we end up doing. It’s called “blame shifting.” You know how blame shifting works. If you’ve forgotten, watch the little children for a while. They aren’t quite as sophisticated about it as adults are. “Why is your sister’s hair blue?” “Ralph made me do it.” “Really? How did he make you do it?” “Well, he made me do it. He wanted me to color it blue so I did.” We can bring this to a more adult level. So why didn’t you show your husband the credit card bill? Who made you hide what you were doing? We know what’s right and on one level we want to do what’s right but we go ahead and do what’s wrong, don’t we? We make up all sorts of explanations and try to excuse ourselves, but at the end of the day sin is still sin and we know that we have done what we did and we were aware of it. Nobody made me treat my wife badly. Nobody made me snap at my daughter when she asked me a question. I can do all those things all by myself. I know what’s right, and I do want to live a life pleasing to the Lord, but I’m not wholehearted. I show it all the time, sometimes in little ways, sometimes in big ways. But I’m double-minded. And so is everyone else in this room.
What if I’m doing pretty well, though? Remember the opening of Luther’s Small Catechism? What does the First Commandment mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. How do we violate this First Commandment when we act in obedience to God? What about when we do something good and kind? It’s all well and good until we realize we did something good. What do we do then? That’s when we start patting ourselves on the back. That’s when we start trusting in ourselves, loving ourselves, giving ourselves the glory rather than giving God the glory. Yes, even our good works are sinful once we examine the attitude we have. We are wretched indeed. We’re cursed. We have fallen in Adam, our father, whose sin infects all that we do.
It’s just at this low point, when we realize that we are in sin, that we can start seeing Jesus as the one who is full of righteousness. It’s at that point that we, like Paul, can turn around and say, “Thanks be to God!” It is in and through Jesus that we see God’s righteousness fulfilled. Jesus is the one who tells us again and again what is pleasing to God the Father. Jesus is the one who lives that life which is pleasing to the Father. And he lives it on our behalf, without our doing anything, without our being able to reform ourselves. Jesus lives a life of perfect righteousness and then he says it is the life he gives to us. Jesus Christ credits his own righteousness to us, forgiving us in the waters of baptism, washing us with repentance, granting us forgiveness because he has borne the penalty for our sin, feeding our faith with his body broken for us and his blood shed for us. Jesus delivers all the good that we need. Jesus delivers all the grace there is for us in eternity. It’s Jesus who has risen from the dead so we can know that we will rise. It’s Jesus who gives us the foretaste of the feast to come in eternity. It’s Jesus to whom all glory belongs. It’s Jesus who gives us good deeds to do and shows us they are done on his behalf, so he is the one who receives the glory. It’s Jesus who shows us that he has caught us in our sin, that he knows all about it, that it put him to death, and that he has forgiven us. It’s our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who forgives us again and again and again. It’s Jesus who loved us when we were yet sinners, including today, and has provided the cure for sin through his death.
Are we wretched? Yes. Are we blessed? Yes. Thanks be to God! Let’s rise to pray.
Our God, you who have delivered your forgiveness and grace to us, remind us of that grace from day to day. Drown us daily as we remember that we are buried with you in baptism. Raise us daily to newness of life as we repent of our sin and receive your forgiveness. As we eat and drink, let us remember your body, the bread of life, broken for us; your blood shed for us, for the remission of sins. Nurture us in this most precious faith, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Lord, hear our prayer. As we shelter under your protecting wings, nurture us and teach us to hear your Word. Amen.
“I’m old enough to know better but too young to resist.” Maybe you’ve tried saying this to someone. Or maybe you’ve tried telling it to yourself. We usually think of a statement like that when we’re found out, when our treachery is exposed. Maybe it was something little, a humorous prank. Or maybe it was something that brought harm to someone. Old enough to know better. Yes, no doubt about it. Too young to resist? I’m completely unconvinced.
Do we know how we are supposed to live? Has our Lord shown us through Scripture and also usually through the example of others in our society, what is appropriate? We know it’s bad to hurt people. We hardly need anyone to tell us that. We know that there’s nobody who likes to be dishonored and humiliated. No question about that. And you don’t have to be around Christianity for long to get the idea that God is God, that he has a holy standard, and that we don’t live up to that standard. God’s Law is quite clear. We know plenty to convict ourselves and anyone else. We do know how we’re supposed to live. As one 19th century humorist put it, “I’m not so bothered by the things in the Bible that I don’t understand as I am by the things I do understand.” We know how we’re supposed to live.
So do you really want to do good? This is the question that parents often end up asking their children. I’ve been thinking about that question a lot lately. It’s one that I’ve been known to ask my children. But it’s really not a very fair question. What was the apostle Paul’s answer to the question? Yes, he wanted to do what was right. Yet he had another answer at the same time. No, he really didn’t want to do what was right, because he went ahead and did what was wrong. In the world of biblical counseling we have a name for what we end up doing. It’s called “blame shifting.” You know how blame shifting works. If you’ve forgotten, watch the little children for a while. They aren’t quite as sophisticated about it as adults are. “Why is your sister’s hair blue?” “Ralph made me do it.” “Really? How did he make you do it?” “Well, he made me do it. He wanted me to color it blue so I did.” We can bring this to a more adult level. So why didn’t you show your husband the credit card bill? Who made you hide what you were doing? We know what’s right and on one level we want to do what’s right but we go ahead and do what’s wrong, don’t we? We make up all sorts of explanations and try to excuse ourselves, but at the end of the day sin is still sin and we know that we have done what we did and we were aware of it. Nobody made me treat my wife badly. Nobody made me snap at my daughter when she asked me a question. I can do all those things all by myself. I know what’s right, and I do want to live a life pleasing to the Lord, but I’m not wholehearted. I show it all the time, sometimes in little ways, sometimes in big ways. But I’m double-minded. And so is everyone else in this room.
What if I’m doing pretty well, though? Remember the opening of Luther’s Small Catechism? What does the First Commandment mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things. How do we violate this First Commandment when we act in obedience to God? What about when we do something good and kind? It’s all well and good until we realize we did something good. What do we do then? That’s when we start patting ourselves on the back. That’s when we start trusting in ourselves, loving ourselves, giving ourselves the glory rather than giving God the glory. Yes, even our good works are sinful once we examine the attitude we have. We are wretched indeed. We’re cursed. We have fallen in Adam, our father, whose sin infects all that we do.
It’s just at this low point, when we realize that we are in sin, that we can start seeing Jesus as the one who is full of righteousness. It’s at that point that we, like Paul, can turn around and say, “Thanks be to God!” It is in and through Jesus that we see God’s righteousness fulfilled. Jesus is the one who tells us again and again what is pleasing to God the Father. Jesus is the one who lives that life which is pleasing to the Father. And he lives it on our behalf, without our doing anything, without our being able to reform ourselves. Jesus lives a life of perfect righteousness and then he says it is the life he gives to us. Jesus Christ credits his own righteousness to us, forgiving us in the waters of baptism, washing us with repentance, granting us forgiveness because he has borne the penalty for our sin, feeding our faith with his body broken for us and his blood shed for us. Jesus delivers all the good that we need. Jesus delivers all the grace there is for us in eternity. It’s Jesus who has risen from the dead so we can know that we will rise. It’s Jesus who gives us the foretaste of the feast to come in eternity. It’s Jesus to whom all glory belongs. It’s Jesus who gives us good deeds to do and shows us they are done on his behalf, so he is the one who receives the glory. It’s Jesus who shows us that he has caught us in our sin, that he knows all about it, that it put him to death, and that he has forgiven us. It’s our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who forgives us again and again and again. It’s Jesus who loved us when we were yet sinners, including today, and has provided the cure for sin through his death.
Are we wretched? Yes. Are we blessed? Yes. Thanks be to God! Let’s rise to pray.
Our God, you who have delivered your forgiveness and grace to us, remind us of that grace from day to day. Drown us daily as we remember that we are buried with you in baptism. Raise us daily to newness of life as we repent of our sin and receive your forgiveness. As we eat and drink, let us remember your body, the bread of life, broken for us; your blood shed for us, for the remission of sins. Nurture us in this most precious faith, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalm 84.5-8, Joshua 8.1-28, and Acts 11.1-18 - Lectionary for 7/3/11
Today's readings are Psalm 84.5-8, Joshua 8.1-28, and Acts 11.1-18.
The Psalmist reminds us today that our strength is in the Lord. He is the one who works all things in and through us according to his good pleasure to accomplish his purpose. What then of the intricate plans we make? See how Joshua has leadership of his army and does command them to follow his plans. If God did not tell him very specifically what to do he would carry on with the plan that seemed right to him. Likewise Peter. We see his journey in Acts 11.2 takes him to Jerusalem as a result of what he has heard, not as a result of some specific divine leading. He needs a divine vision to prepare him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles in Cornelius' household. But he doesn't need a special vision to tell him there is controversy brewing and he needs to go to Jerusalem and talk with the other Christian leaders. God directs us through specific statements, particularly those of Scripture, and through our circumstances, which will show us how to carry on in most situations we face. Yet the leadership is still divine if we are Christ's people, believing on him and trusting him as the redeemer of the world who is always with us.
May the Lord guide our paths today.
The Psalmist reminds us today that our strength is in the Lord. He is the one who works all things in and through us according to his good pleasure to accomplish his purpose. What then of the intricate plans we make? See how Joshua has leadership of his army and does command them to follow his plans. If God did not tell him very specifically what to do he would carry on with the plan that seemed right to him. Likewise Peter. We see his journey in Acts 11.2 takes him to Jerusalem as a result of what he has heard, not as a result of some specific divine leading. He needs a divine vision to prepare him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles in Cornelius' household. But he doesn't need a special vision to tell him there is controversy brewing and he needs to go to Jerusalem and talk with the other Christian leaders. God directs us through specific statements, particularly those of Scripture, and through our circumstances, which will show us how to carry on in most situations we face. Yet the leadership is still divine if we are Christ's people, believing on him and trusting him as the redeemer of the world who is always with us.
May the Lord guide our paths today.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Psalm 51.1-9, Joshua 7.1-26, Acts 10.34-48 - Lectionary for 7/2/11
Today's readings are Psalm 51.1-9, Joshua 7.1-26, and Acts 10.34-48.
We read today how God pours out the Holy Spirit, but he does it in two different ways in our readings. In Joshua we see the terror of the coming of God. He has identified the person who was tempted and disobeyed the specific command of God to the soldiers who invaded Jericho. This man who turned his back on God is confronted by his sin, is brought to repentance, and yet dies, reaping the fruit of his sin. In Acts we see the liberation of the Holy Spirit. As the people of Cornelius' household are repentant, they receive the Gospel with joy and believe on Jesus, who has died in their place. The Holy Spirit falls upon them, causing them to speak in tongues and praise God. What's the difference between these two events? Jesus has died in our place. He has paid the penalty for sin. While sin still brings death, that death rests on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that Christians who are repentant do not die as a result of their sin? Not at all. In both the Old and New Testament we see that sometimes people who are confronted with sin die, sometimes they do not. What we can have confidence in, though, is that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for sin. As we are confronted by the Holy Spirit, realize our sin, and repent of it, we also receive the comfort of the Gospel. Our sin has been atoned for by the person and work of Jesus. We do not have to bear our sin any more.
We read today how God pours out the Holy Spirit, but he does it in two different ways in our readings. In Joshua we see the terror of the coming of God. He has identified the person who was tempted and disobeyed the specific command of God to the soldiers who invaded Jericho. This man who turned his back on God is confronted by his sin, is brought to repentance, and yet dies, reaping the fruit of his sin. In Acts we see the liberation of the Holy Spirit. As the people of Cornelius' household are repentant, they receive the Gospel with joy and believe on Jesus, who has died in their place. The Holy Spirit falls upon them, causing them to speak in tongues and praise God. What's the difference between these two events? Jesus has died in our place. He has paid the penalty for sin. While sin still brings death, that death rests on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that Christians who are repentant do not die as a result of their sin? Not at all. In both the Old and New Testament we see that sometimes people who are confronted with sin die, sometimes they do not. What we can have confidence in, though, is that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for sin. As we are confronted by the Holy Spirit, realize our sin, and repent of it, we also receive the comfort of the Gospel. Our sin has been atoned for by the person and work of Jesus. We do not have to bear our sin any more.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Psalm 47.1-7, Joshua 6.6-27, Acts 10.18-33 - Lectionary for 7/1/11
Today's readings are Psalm 47.1-7, Joshua 6.6-27, and Acts 10.18-33.
Our culture often tells us that the Church is not interested in "outsiders" any more than Israel was interested in foreigners. That's fine with me, but I'd like our culture to know how interested Israel was in foreigners. In today's readings we see that Rahab, a prostitute and dweller in Jericho, the city destined for destruction, was welcomed, with her family, into the people of Israel. Rahab is not the first or the last foreigner to join with God's people, Israel, in the covenant He provided for them. Israel was consistently interested in bringing outsiders in, sharing the grace of God with all who would believe.
The Church is no less interested in "outsiders." Did Jesus not come to seek and to save the lost? See how Peter is sent to bring the Gospel to the house of Cornelius. See how Jesus was called a friend of sinners. And realize that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. Yes, the Church is interested in these "outsiders" just like Israel was interested in foreigners. May the Lord bring us as many as he will so we can share this glorious Gospel with all nations.
Our culture often tells us that the Church is not interested in "outsiders" any more than Israel was interested in foreigners. That's fine with me, but I'd like our culture to know how interested Israel was in foreigners. In today's readings we see that Rahab, a prostitute and dweller in Jericho, the city destined for destruction, was welcomed, with her family, into the people of Israel. Rahab is not the first or the last foreigner to join with God's people, Israel, in the covenant He provided for them. Israel was consistently interested in bringing outsiders in, sharing the grace of God with all who would believe.
The Church is no less interested in "outsiders." Did Jesus not come to seek and to save the lost? See how Peter is sent to bring the Gospel to the house of Cornelius. See how Jesus was called a friend of sinners. And realize that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. Yes, the Church is interested in these "outsiders" just like Israel was interested in foreigners. May the Lord bring us as many as he will so we can share this glorious Gospel with all nations.
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