Today's readings are Psalm 118:25-29, Jeremiah 8:18-9:12, and Matthew 23:13-39.
As we look at today's readings we may see a theme of the destruction of Jerusalem. In the time of Jeremiah the people were looking at a literal, physical destruction. In Jesus' time that sort of destruction was not to come for another forty years, more or less. But see how Jesus points to the faithlessness of the Pharisees as that which brings destruction? The situation in Jeremiah's time was not so very different. At all times and in all places we destroy ourselves and our society when we depend on our own efforts, our own righteousness, our own ability to please God and to make others pleasing to God. Rather, we are to look to our Lord in faith, becoming partakers of his covenant of grace, by which he said he would bless the children of Abraham. Abraham believed God and it was accounted as righteousness. If we strive for holiness even as much as the Pharisees we earn nothing. If we trust in Jesus Christ given for us we still earn nothing. But Jesus earns the righteousness of God to be placed on us. His works become our works. We end up walking in the life he gives. And he is our promised rest, our home, our place of life and safety, never to be destroyed.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Psalm 38:9-22, Jeremiah 7:1-29, Matthew 23:1-12 - Lectionary for 11/5/11
Today's readings are Psalm 38:9-22, Jeremiah 7:1-29, and Matthew 23:1-12.
It is becoming clear from our readings that we are approaching the end of the Church year. We see more and more of God's judgment against our foolish, no, even sinful practices. It's a time to consider ourselves and repent. Are we trusting in our sacrifices and good deeds? Or do we trust in God's redeeming love? Do we think we are worthy of honor before God or do we see him as worthy of honor before man? Do we actually think our pomp and circumstance is to bring us glory? Should we not rather be looking to God who brings glory to himself?
May the Lord grant us repentance and a wholehearted trust in him, that he should be shown to be the one and only God, to whom be praise forever and ever.
It is becoming clear from our readings that we are approaching the end of the Church year. We see more and more of God's judgment against our foolish, no, even sinful practices. It's a time to consider ourselves and repent. Are we trusting in our sacrifices and good deeds? Or do we trust in God's redeeming love? Do we think we are worthy of honor before God or do we see him as worthy of honor before man? Do we actually think our pomp and circumstance is to bring us glory? Should we not rather be looking to God who brings glory to himself?
May the Lord grant us repentance and a wholehearted trust in him, that he should be shown to be the one and only God, to whom be praise forever and ever.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Psalm 110, Jeremiah 5:1-19, Matthew 22:23-46 - Lectionary for 11/4/11
Today's readings are Psalm 110, Jeremiah 5:1-19, and Matthew 22:23-46.
I'm sure I am not the only one ever to notice this. We can see in today's readings that Jesus doesn't always answer questions. There are times when he simply asserts himself and lets people have unanswered questions.
Is there any question we should not ask our Lord? No. We can ask him anything we desire. But let us ask in faith, trusting that he is who he said he is and that he has done what he said he would do, and that he has done it all for us and for our salvation. Has Jesus given his life for us? Then he will surely give us all we need and answer every question which needs an answer. What if our questions go unanswered? Does that mean we did not ask in faith? It may. Or it may simply mean we were not ready for an answer. But we are free to ask.
I'm sure I am not the only one ever to notice this. We can see in today's readings that Jesus doesn't always answer questions. There are times when he simply asserts himself and lets people have unanswered questions.
Is there any question we should not ask our Lord? No. We can ask him anything we desire. But let us ask in faith, trusting that he is who he said he is and that he has done what he said he would do, and that he has done it all for us and for our salvation. Has Jesus given his life for us? Then he will surely give us all we need and answer every question which needs an answer. What if our questions go unanswered? Does that mean we did not ask in faith? It may. Or it may simply mean we were not ready for an answer. But we are free to ask.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Psalm 15, Jeremiah 3:6-4:2, Matthew 22:1-22 - Lectionary for 11/3/11
Today's readings are Psalm 15, Jeremiah 3:6-4:2, and Matthew 22:1-22.
In our reading for today Israel is compared to a prostitute and an adulteress. We see that the spiritual life has many comparisons to a marriage. We are called to be faithful to the Lord who called us. We are not to form close alliances with others. To do so is to take what belongs to God and give it to someone else. This will not do at all, for it turns our affections from the one who loved us beyond measure and gave himself for us.
What do we do then? We give to God the things which are his - love, trust, and obedience - and we come to him gratefully, recognizing that he has given us forgiveness and life through trust in him.
In our reading for today Israel is compared to a prostitute and an adulteress. We see that the spiritual life has many comparisons to a marriage. We are called to be faithful to the Lord who called us. We are not to form close alliances with others. To do so is to take what belongs to God and give it to someone else. This will not do at all, for it turns our affections from the one who loved us beyond measure and gave himself for us.
What do we do then? We give to God the things which are his - love, trust, and obedience - and we come to him gratefully, recognizing that he has given us forgiveness and life through trust in him.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Psalm 118:22-24, Jeremiah 1:1-19, Matthew 21:23-46 - Lectionary for 11/2/11
Today's readings are Psalm 118:22-24, Jeremiah 1:1-19, and Matthew 21:23-46.
Jeremiah is possibly one of the most interesting of the prophets. He is brutally honest and fearless in calling the people of Israel to repentance. Yet he cries out to God because the people are intent on rejecting the will of the Lord. In today's reading God appoints Jeremiah as a wall of defense for Judah. Through his preaching and prophetic words God will continue to protect his people.
This is a word of encouragement to all who seek to handle God's word carefully, whether pastor, scholar, or simply friend. As our Lord has promised, his word is effective. It is profitable. And God uses his servants, speaking his words, to change this world. Do we always see results? Like Jeremiah, we also see results. Sometimes people heed God's word and grow in grace. Sometimes, like Jeremiah, we are imprisoned, even tortured or killed. Yet we do not know how God is accomplishing his will. We simply obey, pray, and let God bring his results through his word.
Jeremiah is possibly one of the most interesting of the prophets. He is brutally honest and fearless in calling the people of Israel to repentance. Yet he cries out to God because the people are intent on rejecting the will of the Lord. In today's reading God appoints Jeremiah as a wall of defense for Judah. Through his preaching and prophetic words God will continue to protect his people.
This is a word of encouragement to all who seek to handle God's word carefully, whether pastor, scholar, or simply friend. As our Lord has promised, his word is effective. It is profitable. And God uses his servants, speaking his words, to change this world. Do we always see results? Like Jeremiah, we also see results. Sometimes people heed God's word and grow in grace. Sometimes, like Jeremiah, we are imprisoned, even tortured or killed. Yet we do not know how God is accomplishing his will. We simply obey, pray, and let God bring his results through his word.
Sermon for 11/1/11 "Who Are These Saints?"
Sermon “Who Are These Saints?”
Let us see you in the beauty of your mercy, Lord. Amen.
Today, on All Saints’ Day, we join with believers of every age in worship and praise to the Lord. We join in with all the saints. But who are these saints? Why are they called saints? Are we among them or are we just watching from afar?
In our reading from 1 John 3 we are called children of God by the hope in Christ crucified for us. This, in the Scripture, is what makes us saints. It is what makes anyone a saint. There is no other qualification. We are made saints by hoping in Christ. Do you hope in Christ Jesus? Do you realize with gratitude that he gave his life as a substitute for you so as to rescue you from sin? Then you are a saint.
But there’s a little more to joining with the saints than simply saying that you’re a saint and I’m a saint. How does God see these saints? We see in Revelation chapter 7 that there are four very important aspects of sainthood.
First, the saints are pictured as those who gave their lives in a time of tribulation. Tribulation is a fancy word that means persecution, opposition. And while there are some people, probably many people in this country, who look to a time of tribulation that will be a literal seven years starting sometime in the future, most of historic Christianity, and all Lutherans, according to our confessions, say that we are now in a time of tribulation. We see the Church age as that tribulation. The figure of seven years indicates a time which will be fulfilled. Seven is a number of completion in Scripture. So we have been in a time of sorrow and trouble ever since Pentecost and will continue in that time of sorrow and trouble until Christ comes to claim us again. We are both in a time of God’s blessing and a time of tribulation. Unless Jesus comes for us first, every last one of us will die in a time of sorrow. Our world is cursed, we become aged, we become diseased, we have pain, and we die. That’s God’s view of tribulation. Some of the people who die in this time of tribulation die of injury and attack, often attacks against them because they are Christians. The 20th century was the most dangerous century on record so far to be a Christian. More people died for their faith in the 20th century than in any other time period in history. The 21st century is shaping up about the same. May the Lord protect us and his other saints through this time of tribulation. And we see in Revelation 7 that he does protect his people. They may die from having their heads severed from their bodies, but they are not deprived of the eternal comforting presence of God.
Another feature of the saints in Revelation is that they have been clothed in white robes. This is God’s symbol of purity. We all know that we are impure. We confess our sin day after day, and no matter how forgiven we are, we end up in sin again. Yet the saints have been dressed by God. They have put on white robes of purity which will remain on them in eternity, never staining, never wearing out, because the saints are dressed in the righteousness of Jesus. And you and I can have confidence that Jesus dresses us in his righteousness as well. Do we need forgiveness? We look to our Lord who has purchased forgiveness on our behalf. We too are dressed in those white robes.
How about the purpose of the saints? They serve a purpose, and that purpose is that they should live in the blessing of God. Do you know why God loves you? It’s because he decided to love the whole world. Do you know why God forgives your sin? It’s because he decreed that whoever looks to him in faith and repentance is forgiven. Do you know why God keeps you around? It is because it is his good pleasure to have you live in his blessing.
So what are those saints doing in eternity? They live now and forever to praise God. This is what will consume our lives. We will have nothing to do, and we will desire nothing other than to praise God forever. Does this seem uninteresting to you? I’ve had conversations with people, especially young people, who wonder if it won’t be boring to spend eternity in worship. Let me ask you this. If God gives you a desire to do something, a consuming desire to do something, are you going to find it boring? Not at all. It will consume your interest. That’s what you’ll want to do. The fact that we find ourselves wandering in worship is explained by the fact that we are not glorified yet. We still have the sinful nature which doesn’t desire fellowship with God. But when we have been glorified in the presence of God we will no longer have those other desires. We will be wholehearted and focused on our Lord forever.
Is this a blessed life? Yes it is. Even in this time of tribulation we see that we are blessed. And we see it in our passage from Matthew 5 when we see that Jesus is our perfect peacemaker, the one who is perfectly poor in spirit, the one who is perfectly humble, the one who is described as blessed. Do we find it a difficult life as well? Of course we do. We’re in a time of tribulation. But we see that Jesus is applying his perfect righteousness, his perfect life, death, and resurrection to us, so as to make us like he is. He has proclaimed us saints. So we join in the fellowship of the saints through all the ages, bringing him praise and worship.
Our Lord, give us a heart to praise you. Draw our attention, our trust, our hope, and our worship to you as we join with all the saints, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us see you in the beauty of your mercy, Lord. Amen.
Today, on All Saints’ Day, we join with believers of every age in worship and praise to the Lord. We join in with all the saints. But who are these saints? Why are they called saints? Are we among them or are we just watching from afar?
In our reading from 1 John 3 we are called children of God by the hope in Christ crucified for us. This, in the Scripture, is what makes us saints. It is what makes anyone a saint. There is no other qualification. We are made saints by hoping in Christ. Do you hope in Christ Jesus? Do you realize with gratitude that he gave his life as a substitute for you so as to rescue you from sin? Then you are a saint.
But there’s a little more to joining with the saints than simply saying that you’re a saint and I’m a saint. How does God see these saints? We see in Revelation chapter 7 that there are four very important aspects of sainthood.
First, the saints are pictured as those who gave their lives in a time of tribulation. Tribulation is a fancy word that means persecution, opposition. And while there are some people, probably many people in this country, who look to a time of tribulation that will be a literal seven years starting sometime in the future, most of historic Christianity, and all Lutherans, according to our confessions, say that we are now in a time of tribulation. We see the Church age as that tribulation. The figure of seven years indicates a time which will be fulfilled. Seven is a number of completion in Scripture. So we have been in a time of sorrow and trouble ever since Pentecost and will continue in that time of sorrow and trouble until Christ comes to claim us again. We are both in a time of God’s blessing and a time of tribulation. Unless Jesus comes for us first, every last one of us will die in a time of sorrow. Our world is cursed, we become aged, we become diseased, we have pain, and we die. That’s God’s view of tribulation. Some of the people who die in this time of tribulation die of injury and attack, often attacks against them because they are Christians. The 20th century was the most dangerous century on record so far to be a Christian. More people died for their faith in the 20th century than in any other time period in history. The 21st century is shaping up about the same. May the Lord protect us and his other saints through this time of tribulation. And we see in Revelation 7 that he does protect his people. They may die from having their heads severed from their bodies, but they are not deprived of the eternal comforting presence of God.
Another feature of the saints in Revelation is that they have been clothed in white robes. This is God’s symbol of purity. We all know that we are impure. We confess our sin day after day, and no matter how forgiven we are, we end up in sin again. Yet the saints have been dressed by God. They have put on white robes of purity which will remain on them in eternity, never staining, never wearing out, because the saints are dressed in the righteousness of Jesus. And you and I can have confidence that Jesus dresses us in his righteousness as well. Do we need forgiveness? We look to our Lord who has purchased forgiveness on our behalf. We too are dressed in those white robes.
How about the purpose of the saints? They serve a purpose, and that purpose is that they should live in the blessing of God. Do you know why God loves you? It’s because he decided to love the whole world. Do you know why God forgives your sin? It’s because he decreed that whoever looks to him in faith and repentance is forgiven. Do you know why God keeps you around? It is because it is his good pleasure to have you live in his blessing.
So what are those saints doing in eternity? They live now and forever to praise God. This is what will consume our lives. We will have nothing to do, and we will desire nothing other than to praise God forever. Does this seem uninteresting to you? I’ve had conversations with people, especially young people, who wonder if it won’t be boring to spend eternity in worship. Let me ask you this. If God gives you a desire to do something, a consuming desire to do something, are you going to find it boring? Not at all. It will consume your interest. That’s what you’ll want to do. The fact that we find ourselves wandering in worship is explained by the fact that we are not glorified yet. We still have the sinful nature which doesn’t desire fellowship with God. But when we have been glorified in the presence of God we will no longer have those other desires. We will be wholehearted and focused on our Lord forever.
Is this a blessed life? Yes it is. Even in this time of tribulation we see that we are blessed. And we see it in our passage from Matthew 5 when we see that Jesus is our perfect peacemaker, the one who is perfectly poor in spirit, the one who is perfectly humble, the one who is described as blessed. Do we find it a difficult life as well? Of course we do. We’re in a time of tribulation. But we see that Jesus is applying his perfect righteousness, his perfect life, death, and resurrection to us, so as to make us like he is. He has proclaimed us saints. So we join in the fellowship of the saints through all the ages, bringing him praise and worship.
Our Lord, give us a heart to praise you. Draw our attention, our trust, our hope, and our worship to you as we join with all the saints, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 21:1-22 - Lectionary for 11/1/11 - All Saints' Day
Today is All Saints' Day.
Today's readings are Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, and Matthew 21:1-22.
Today, on All Saints' Day, we see Moses passing his anointing on to Joshua. It strikes me today that Joshua received his wisdom for rule by the laying on of Moses' hands. We see in the New Testament that Timothy received his gifts as hands were laid on him. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles by breathing on them. People heal others in Jesus' name by laying hands on them. Elders anoint people with oil and pray so they are healed. And Jesus washes people from sin using water and the hands of his servants.
This Christian faith is a very concrete thing. It's tactile. We see, touch, and smell the ways that God imparts his gifts. So let us pass the faith along to future generations as it has been passed along in the bygone generations - hand to hand, face to face, dwelling with one another, dwelling in the Word and in the power of God.
Today's readings are Psalm 150, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, and Matthew 21:1-22.
Today, on All Saints' Day, we see Moses passing his anointing on to Joshua. It strikes me today that Joshua received his wisdom for rule by the laying on of Moses' hands. We see in the New Testament that Timothy received his gifts as hands were laid on him. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles by breathing on them. People heal others in Jesus' name by laying hands on them. Elders anoint people with oil and pray so they are healed. And Jesus washes people from sin using water and the hands of his servants.
This Christian faith is a very concrete thing. It's tactile. We see, touch, and smell the ways that God imparts his gifts. So let us pass the faith along to future generations as it has been passed along in the bygone generations - hand to hand, face to face, dwelling with one another, dwelling in the Word and in the power of God.
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