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Life: God’s Version of “Take Your Child to Work’ Day” Week 9 – But Dad, You Promised! Psalm 91:9-14
Life: God’s Version of “Take Your Child to Work’ Day”
Week 9 – He Cares for Us! But Dad, You Promised!
Psalm 91:9-14
† Jesus, Son and Savior †
May the grace, mercy, peace and comfort of God be yours, as you endure life in this broken world!
- Intro: Scratch out that title
This morning I need you to do something.
I need you to take a pen, or one of those little stubby pencils. Got it?
Now open your bulletin to the title page. Come on – this is important!
Now scratch out that crazy title – that He cares for us!
No, not just a line – scribble over it, I don’t want to see those words! Think like a 5 year old, throwing a tantrum.
Now, write in, “But Dad, You Promised!!!!”
Ever have one of those days when you were doing something with your dad and mom, and there was a promise to do something after? Then when the task was done, for whatever reason we find unacceptable, they couldn’t fulfil their promise?
“But Dad, You Promised!”
- Is Frustration a Sign of Weak Faith?
That’s my reaction this week to the reading from Psalm 91, as a mixture of emotions, none of them positive—pour out when I read, “If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.”
On Monday, I thought about talking about how much God cares for us for the promises in this passage are quite clear!
By Wednesday, and the day of 10 critical prayer requests, all involving illness and physical afflictions (which is part of the idea of plague—not just anything that is an illness – but anything that stresses you physically and emotionally. I began wondering if the angels fell asleep or went on vacation this week, for the passage promises, “For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” I mean, if we can’t blame God, maybe the angels got held up in a spiritual battle,
what part of this promise God forgot, and by Friday, I was beginning to question whether we haven’t made the Lord our refuge, we haven’t made him our shelter, all bets and promises are off.
So did God forget, were the angels lazy or delayed, or have we somehow spiritually failed?
And does my even asking that question raise a question of whether I trust God?
Where does doubt turn to sin?
And where does doubt turn to unbelief?
With promises like this, my heart cries out, seriously cries out at times, “But Fathr, You promised!”
And I struggle with the need that we have to cry that, and the fact we do…
So what is the answer? How do we explain suffering, illness and trauma, knowing the promises of God. How can I trust those promises, when it appears they aren’t kept?
I will protect him…
I will ask this again,
- How can we trust those promises, when it appears they aren’t kept?
We can’t just dismiss this seeming contradiction – we have to honestly deal with out doubts, and we can.
Of course, my private devotions didn’t help this week! From reading of the God ordained suffering in Ezekiel to this famous passage from James, “2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 (NLT2)
I use other books as well, and whether from Luther or others, everything seemed about suffering and struggling, and how we are blessed. The one based on St. Francis was pretty blunt as well, “Even though he was completely worn out by his prolonged and serious illness, he threw himself on the ground, bruising his weakened bones in the hard fall. Kissing the ground, he said: “I thank you, Lord God, for all these sufferings of mine; and I ask you, my Lord, if it pleases you, to increase them a hundredfold. Because it will be most acceptable to me, that you do not spare me, afflicting me with suffering, since the fulfillment of your will is an overflowing consolation for me.”[1]
So on one hand, we have promises that God will protect us wherever we go – and in another we have the promise and evidence that Christians do have many challenges to deal with—but here is the caveat—what is the result of all of these challenges?
What does Francis see, or James, or King David—who wrote this Psalm but whose life…had its challenges, or Paul with his thorn in the flesh?
How come they can, in on moment cry out “Father God, you promised,” and then a moment later sing his praises, or find comfort in their struggles? It is as if they believe that other promise, that God uses all things for good for those who love Him and are called into His purpose.
That’s how they get there, and how we get there, as we stop seeing the challenges as challenges, but the opportunity to see God at work, doing the miraculous to bless us and others through the suffering.
So seek your refuge in Jesus, find your home, your shelter in the presence of God. There you will find yourself held onto through the storm, even as you hold onto God. There you will find you know His name, because He has given it you as you were made His child.
The greatest example of this can be seen when Satan confronts Jesus with this passage. Jump off from these heights – angels won’t let you land hard! And while Jesus doesn’t due that, can anyone really say that evil didn’t try to conquer Him?
It did not conquer Him, although He was afflicted more than any other. He endured the cross, despite the pain and the shame the book of Hebrews tells us. But how can a sacrifice that results in your salvation be evil? Not only you – but everyone who trusts and depends on God.
There is our faith! That is why the sacraments are so powerful, as we again realize that God has brought us into His presence, as we come to the altar, as we receive His precious Body and Blood – as we realize as Francis said, that it is okay, because we are more convinced of His will, and desire it more than our comfort in this life.
This is a time of healing, this is the time where we can pour out the doubt, the questions, the pain and stress. This is the time we look at the baptismal font and the altar and take a deep breath – and remember the love of God, and that He calls us by His name-the name by which our salvation and the promise that these challenges will result in good is made…
And then, instead of crying out, “but God, you promised” we cry out, “yes God, you promised, You are my refuge, You are my Home, You are my rescuer, and my Hope! ” as we sing His praises…
AMEN
[1] Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 274). New City Press.
Life: God’s Version of ‘Take Your Child to Work’ Day Week 1: Time to Get Ready – A sermon on Colossians 3:1-10
Life: God’s Version of
‘Take Your Child to Work’ Day
Week 1: Time to Get Ready
Colossians 3:1-10
† I.H.S. †
May the grace, mercy and peace of God be yours, as you labor in the faith, rejoicing as God brings His lost home!”
Robert Webber, the great modern expert on Liturgy wrote, “The purpose of worship is not only to glorify God by celebrating the work of his Son but also to assimilate in our own lives the pattern of dying to the sin that Christ died to destroy and rising to the new life that Christ rose from the dead to inaugurate.”
It’s an interesting thought, and it goes with the theme of the next 8 weeks. Whereas his statement is more from our perspective, we are going to look at how God assimilates us into this pattern of Christ’s death, resurrection and eventual ascension….as we begin to live life in the way that God has chosen for us, a life filled with love, and peace and mercy.
The way we are going to picture that goes back to an old practice, where dad’s would take their boys to work with them, so they could learn two things. One, to introduce them to a potential career, and two, to respect their father’s hard work.
It’s too bad the practice has been pretty much forgotten, or because of insurance and OSHA rules, stopped!
Some of my friends’ families really got into it, even make the children clothes that would resemble their dad’s – making them “twins” for the day! Some of my friends loved it, the banker’s son had to wear a suit, the police Lt.’s son had a uniform—complete with BB gun, the fireman and doctor’s kids dressed up to…
The only friend I had that didn’t like that day, was the kid whose dad owned the septic tank cleaning company…he had a crappy day…
Each and every morning you and I wake up, God is taking us to His work, to learn how and what He’s doing in the world, and teaching us to do the same work, as we learn how, and grow even more in our adoration and respect for Him.
So, it’s time to get ready, and for today, we will look at the very beginning fo the day, and getting ready, getting dressed to go to work, with Dad.
Get undressed
Unless you are a pre-school teacher or maybe an elementary school teacher, most of us don’t go to work in pajamas or whatever we wear to bed…. and I think that’s a good thing!
Can you imagine if Deacon Bob was wear his flannel “spidey” pajamas under his role?
But the first step in “getting ready for work,’ is leaving the clothes of the night, behind.
Paul says, “5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
The phrase for “you have stripped off” is the based on the word “dyo”, to undress, to shrink out of, to remove.
The clothing of the darkness, the clothing of the night, needs to be removed, before we can get ready for work. We have to be stripped of it, it has to be removed, no matter the cost.
But look at what’s being removed…
The sinful matter described in these verses. It starts with desires and sexual immorality and all that goes with it, the desires, and it moves on to the bad stuff, uncontrolled anger, bad behavior – in fact, the word “bad” is the word for human waste product, the stuff they make fertilizer from. The list goes on and includes slander —what we term gossip today, and dirty or inappropriate language.
All that stuff has to be done away with, like the pajamas that are tossed in the hamper in the morning – they have to be put aside, even as Paul says, put to death. This is not only so we can go to work with God – but that we can live with Him.
The challenge is that we can’t – those stupid sins stick to us worse pajamas after a humid night in the 90s…. or some people stick to their bed despite 6 or 12 alarms going off!
The gospel begins as God causes us to rise out of bed, shrug off the pajamas, and He cleanses us like a steaming shower…
And now that we are cleansed, the gospel dresses us up… and get us ready to go to work…with dad.
Getting Dressed.
The same word that has a negative to it to make “undress” appears again- without the negative. Paul writes, “10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
It is interesting that where as the behaviors of the old nature, the pajamas, the clothes worn in darkness are well documented, the behaviors to be expressed as we are clothed in Christ, as we are made ready.
We don’t have to describe the behaviors, the actions of those who are dressed with the nature of Jesus, because God walks with us, He guides us, He causes us to love and serve those who are different, those who are broken, those who lives the world has tossed aside, or glorified fro the wrong reasons.
To me this is the most amazing thing about God taking us to work –the complete change he works within us, the unbelievable peace and love that fill our lives, as we live in Christ with God our Father.
This is seen in Paul’s words to the council of Athens,. 28 For in him we live and move and exist.’ Acts 17:27-28 (NLT2)
This idea of is expressed as we are told to put on Christ, that the Holy Spirit dwells in us, the we are in fellowship with God, that He will never leave or forsake us.
And He takes us to work every day, that we might share in His joy when He shows us how He saves, heals and equips others just like us… and the learn that when Jesus rose from the dead, we did as well, to share in His life, and His dad’s work.
AMEN!
Reserved in Heaven, for YOU! A sermon on Col. 1:1-14
Reserved
in Heaven, for YOU
Col. 1:1-14
† In Jesus Name †
May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ strengthen your trust in Him, as you are prepared for that which is reserved for you in heaven!
- Registered and Reserved
Last week, when deacon Bob preached, his sermon revolved around a word… anyone remember it?
Bob- you do remember it, right?
The focus was your names being REGISTERED in heaven, proof you belong there. I believe you referred to the fact that you and everyone can find the proof of your married in the place it is registered – the County Registrar’s office.
Today takes off of that word “registered” which focuses on the who, and works around the concept of who – in the case of marriage – Bob and Helena… in the core of the message – your name being registered in heaven.
Today we move passed that to what our names are registered for, and we see the impact of what is reserved for us. It is one thing to know someone has our name and we are going to get something… but our response is based on what is waiting for us. What are we expecting, that is reserved for us….
It makes a big difference, let me explain
- Failed Faith from Failed Expectation
Back in high school we had a vice principal whose primary job was to be the disciplinarian – you were only called to his office when someone registered a complaint against you. So for him to call you out of a crowd… well…it wasn’t good! (normally) Well, one day in my senior year I am walking down the hall with my friends, and he sees us, and he calls out, “Hey Darren get in here…”
My instinct I am safe…so I turn around and walk away, leaving Darren Nelson, Darren Cobb, and Darren Degenhardt in the hall to deal with the gruff and mean vice principal.
Until I heard, “Parker, don’t walk away from me…” and all the Darrens breathed and relaxed!
Anxiety level 10 and growing quickly.
He did have my name! Somehow, my name was registered with him… and now I had to to find out what was reserved for me….
I think we often look at God that way, as the disciplinarian who only calls us out when we’ve done wrong?
Even those of us who have heard the gospel, the good news, still can have the impression that God is out there, waiting to give us detention, or suspend us, or kick us completely out, as Moses warned the people of Israel. Sin too much, or certain sins, and unless mercy reigned, outside the people’s camp you were sent, either for a week, or forever…
Paul’s prayer for these people is that they don’t get caught up back in that loop, for they were already living a life that testified to God’s work transforming them! They loved God and all of God’s people because they had the confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.
- Expecting Heaven, knowing God better
If I had only known what the vice president reserved for me, if I only knew my name and likeness registered in his mind, I would have had a far different attitude. And the Darrens wouldn’t have been relieved either, they might actually have been jealous!
That is the point Paul is making here… hear it again, “we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.”
Our lives are changed by this expectation, by knowing that life is given to us, not just life now, but life eternal, eventually life in the very presence of God, life witout pain and sorrow, life where loving even the least is just how we live.
As Paul would put it, 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
In some of my vacation reading, I came across a lot of similar thoughts by Luther, Augustine and Pope Benedict XVI. All were saying the same thing—that theology wasn’t about academic pursuits or knowledge of doctrine, but the ability to know God, to experience His love more. To know He knows your name, to know He has reserved a place of you, to know He loves you and died for you
So he could, as Paul says “rescue us from kingdom of darkness (and anxiety that is caused as He calls your name) for He is transferring us to the Kingdom of Jesus, who purchased our freedom, and forgave our sins.
So rejoice – you are registered, and you have a reservation.. and you are remade for that reservation! Amen
More Blessed to Give than Receive (what actually?) A sermon on Acts 20
More Blessed to Give (What actually?)
Acts 20:17-35
† In Jesus’ Name †
May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ descend upon you, enabling and causing you to give Jesus to the world!
The Temptation
Did you ever have a thought that was, at least in your opinion, quite brilliant, and in many ways it still is, but then you realize it is not quite the thought you were looking for?
It was oh so close, and then you realize, it doesn’t just quite fit the context!
I did that this week as I read a key verse, and the basis for our sermon, from the Acts reading this week. It says there, “‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
And my brilliant, first reaction was, was a great text to preach on, for mother’s day!
At least from my perspective, I see this as true in many of your lives, as you light up when you tell me all the things they do well, and I know part of the reason is all that you did over the years, to make it happen.
You ladies know the truth of this statement in general. I can say that because I have seen you do it, and have seen you worry and try to figure out how to do what is best for you children- biological, adopted, or just accepted as part of the family!
Great idea – combines several things together, lets me praise some great examples of sacrifice (yeah your kids may never know)
Except I was wrong.
While the idea is true, there is one specific issue that this is talking about – not just sacrifice in general, but a very specific context, a very specific thing to give…
And we are called to learn this lesson, as we continue to work in the harvest with our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
The Threat
As the Apostle Paul is talking to the church leaders that he poured a lot of time and effort into, several words caught my eye…
26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
Paul sees the truth of the “it’s better to give” concept in the fact that what he gave to the Ephesians was that which saved them from eternal death. What He gave them was Jesus.
It’s like me saying that no member of Concordia doesn’t know that the Lord is with them, than because the Lord is risen, you are risen, and no deacon, vicar or pastor I have supervised can say that they don’t know what the purpose of this place is…
Heck – Bob sent me a quote from the new pope that even he knows this, as he talked about “our first talked is to teach what it means to know Jesus Christ! (Maybe he knew a few Lutherans growing up in Chicago. BTW Bob, his brother said the one thing he didn’t understand about their new pope was that he was a packers fan)
But Paul’s comment is that he gave away what was most priceless, and yet costly, the knowledge that God loves us, that Jesus died as the remedy that saves us from Hell, eternal death.
The message
That’s where we are all heading, if we don’t know and depend on Jesus for what he’s done for us.
And it wasn’t Paul’s fault if they didn’t know it, just as hopefully its not my fault or Bob’s if you don’t know it. Of everything we could give you….that is the most valuable.
Aand if we don’t—we are partially at fault for your destination… you see, the message of Jesus’s love, of His presence in your life, of His saving you and forgiving all your sin is that important in you life.
Hearing and trusting it is the difference between eternity in God’s presence, and eterniny in that eternal death known as hell.
And the Blessing
And this is what is even more blessed to give, than it is to receive.
I’ve seen it, but I’ve also seen two lives change because they were part of giving eternal life and faith to people.
The first is our beloved former deacon Chuck. He did everything he could to fix everything he could try when I arrived. But he was a bit fatalistic about it, and sometimes a little grumpy.
Until the day I made him stand right here while I baptized two girls from our school, Kay and Rachel. All he did was hold my book open.
And a speed faster than a softball pitch, Chuck was blessed by helping give someone the gifts or repentance, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection and live everlasting.
It was so transformative for him that he got a bit possessive of the role of standing next to me when I baptized someone!
The other is his sidekick Tom, and I wouldn’t tell you this if he was here. But Tom becoming a elder didn’t hit home, till I asked to visit Margaret’s son Teddy in the hospital. He brought a communion kit, and for the first time, gave someone communion at my request.
And then Ted’s dad, and then and then… it’s like something in him snapped as he did this. As Tom realized the blessing it was to share with something the Lord’s Supper – and see their faith come alive, his did even more.
I could toss Debbie and Tom in here, as they cared for and made sure their moms could find Christ’s peace.
I could toss Jim in with them, as he wrote me last summer on his “mission trip”. He was more excited about sharing the gospel with some folk than seeing all the beautiful places he stayed. And his emails and texts described the conversations, and the hopes he had for there people, that was a blast to read.
Or Sue, who takes many people back and forth to this doctor, that test, and stays with them, wanting them to know God’s peace in the middle of challenging times.
There is a list in Hebrews, that I could duplicate here, people that made a difference because they trusted and were empowered to by God. Each on named starts off with… by faith they…Manny and Lili, Dane and Gerry, Lissa and sandie, Colleen and Ben,, and we have a similar group here. We are blessed – because we give Christ…
We have the ability to help people gain eternity, and peace, and a perspective that comes from knowing there are forgiven, they are loved, they are important to God himself, who wants to share forever with them…
And when they hear this…and respond… you will know how Paul felt. For it is even more to share you faith with someone who gains eternity, than it is to receive it yourself…
So be blessed, knowing the peace that is yours in Christ will be theirs as well, even if it is beyond words!
For the Joy Set Before Us… Restoration/Revival Is Set Before Us Psalm 85
Concordia Lutheran Church
March 23, 2025
For the Joy Set Before Us…
Restoration/Revival Is Set Before Us
Psalm 85
† In Jesus Name †
May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ revive and renew you–as promised!
- You did it once, could you please…
A long time ago, an apprentice asked his mentor about how to deal with repetitive betrayals. How to deal with being made fun of and being backstabbed, not to mention all the gossip being spread about him by this horrible wretch…who was as close as a brother.
The apprentice was tired of it all and wanted to know if there was a point that would be crossed when mercy was no longer beneficial, were it needed to stop, because the continual sacrifice was being taken advantage of, and the pain was unbearable.
After a moment’s thought, the apprentice was given an answer he didn’t like, as the limit of mercy seemed, well beyond anything humanly possible, never mind acceptable.
I mean, it wasn’t like his brother Andrew was a complete stranger. He also was an apprentice… of Jesus…
Seven times Seventy? Really?
I can imagine, Jesus smiling with a great deal of… amazement… knowing how many times he forgave both of them, and the cost he would pay, so that the Father would see them as forgiven. 7×70 and Peter, you are getting close to 70×70,000! I I can almost picture Jesus saying to himself, “Simon Peter, if you only knew the truth…but you will!
Which is what our Psalm 85 discusses this morning.
God’s incredible mercy… His incredible, patient, long-suffering mercy.
That restores and revives us, as we learn to look forward to eternity with great joy!
- The track record qualifies
The Psalmist starts by noting that incredible mercy! Here it is again,
“LORD, you poured out blessings on your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. 2 You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins. Interlude 3 You held back your fury. You kept back your blazing anger.
This is an amazing level of grace that the psalmist recounts, a track record of God’s love for His people, What a description of the love of God—a love that covered every sin, every one of them, from the Abraham lying to Kings about Sarah being his sister, to all the sins during the Exodus, during the times of the Judges and the time of King Sault into David’s reign as King
And boy, could those people sin!
Yet He restored and revived them!
They were experts in idolatry, and in using God’s name in vain, they were known for dishonoring parents, and for their hatred, mocking and murder of others, they were held up as examples of sexual immorality, having gone farther than their heathen neighbors, and they gossiped and schemed to get what they want that others had…
And God forgave, restored and revived them!
Which leads the psalmist to humbly beg, “
Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. 5 Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? 6 Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? 7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation!
For some reason, these people whose ancestors and even they had known such forgiveness, fell back into sin. The temptations were too hard, they ended up getting distracted from spending time with God, both individually and as a people, and they didn’t have the strength to be holy on their own…
And they started to be oppressed by sin again.
Sound familiar?
It should, it happens to all of us.
It might even be where we are this morning, as you sit there, wondering how to deal with whatever temptations you face.
And perhaps feeling guilty or ashamed at how you fell back under the spell of that sin.
- Ther Nature of holiness
While this should not be an excuse, I do believe that a portion of the problem is that we define holiness as a measurement based on behavior and not relationship.
We even talk about it that way, when we think of Spiritual disciplines or the spiritual exercises – as if they make us stronger, rather than building the relationship—building our trust and dependence on the Spirit’s guidance, and on the grace revealed in Christ.
That is what the Psalmist is asking God to restore and revive- not just the adherence to a set of rules, but a deep strong relationship and communication that has as a benefit the change of our behaviors.
Hear again Him speak of it, 8 I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.
That is holiness, that moment when you know God’s unfailing love and truth have declared you as cleansed, and His. That moment when we realize He is lifting the burden of every sin we have ever committed.
He speaks peace to His people…
His salvation is near…
- Go and Sin no more!
One last thing to deal with in this passage In the middle of that news of the gospel, there is a phrase, “let them not return to their foolish ways.” It brings to mind the words of Jesus to the lady caught in adultery who heard, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”
That sounds like more law –- a command not to break and more of God’s commands, with the underlying threat of hell. If it is law, then we are going to have a problem, because we all struggle with sin, and we all struggle with falling back into old sinful thoughts and sinful habits.
But this is a statement of freedom—to help us realize the power of sin is shattered, that we are free to not sin—that we are free to live life – a holy life, separated to God. This is an encouragement to rejoice in this revival and renewal of our lives, and to live in the truth of the gospel.
My friends, the power of sin had over you is broken, you have been restored, and revived from the death it causes, so stay away from it! Live in these blessings, live in this peace. AMEN!
For the Joys Set Before Us! Week 1: The Celebration Set Before us! A Lenten Sermon based on Deuteronomy 26:1-11
For the Joys Set Before Us!
The Celebration Set Before us!
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
† In Jesus Name †
May the grace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ create in you a great desire for the Celebration when we are before the Father’s throne!
- The Boring Commands of Deuteronomy?
I would love to ask this question of you all this morning, but I won’t. I will state the question anyway.
“How many of you have read the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy?”
Maybe I should ask it this way, “How many of you enjoyed reading the Old Testament Book we call Deuteronomy”
Yeah, when we think of Deuteronomy, we usually don’t think of pleasure and enjoyment. If we know the book, it’s basically a cross between a pastor’s manual and California Penal Code, detailing the law of Moses, and the punishments for breaking those laws God put into play.
But some of the laws…well, you almost can’t think of them as laws. I mean – hear this one, “— This is a time to celebrate before the LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you.” Dt 16:11
Here’s a command from God… CELEBRATE!!!
Oddly enough to not do so, is a sin.
It doesn’t sound so much as a command in our reading this morning, but it is, “11 Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.
Have a great celebration, ahave an incredible time celebrating how good God is, and be so amazed by that goodness that you drag everyone in town, including all the pastor types and immigrants to the celebration!
That’s why they call them Old Testament Feasts!
And while the Jewish people in the desert looked forward to that feast whey could finally enter the Holy Land, we have a feast to look forward to – one with God, as we boldly enter His presence, and are welcomed home.
- The Preparation/Confession
Here is a question for you.
How longer after a incredibly successful Advent Tea do you think it is prior to Carol and Linda starting to prepare for the next Advent Tea?
This year I think they were procrastinating, because they waited until after church on Sunday before they asked me about the theme for Advent 2025. Obviously procrastinating!
Preparing for the feast to be held when Israel finally entered the Holy Land took 40 years! Forty years of dealing with the sin that had ensnared Israel after they were freed enslavement in Egypt.
When they finally arrive in the Holy Land, what they are commanded to do is to remember and confess that God had to rescue them.
5 “You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation. 6 When the Egyptians oppressed and humiliated us by making us their slaves, 7 we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. get us out of Egypt with a strong hand and powerful arm, with overwhelming terror, and with miraculous signs and wonders!
They had to confess a need to be rescued and that God did that! Oppressed and humiliated, they needed to be helped, even as God had already told them He would.
Lent is our memory, not just of oppression and bondage to sin, but of the way in which God sustains His people and prepares them for the feast. Whether that is the feast of Israel, or our feast celebrating the Lord’s Supper, or what both are a glimpse of, the feast in heaven of all God’s people gathered in His presence.
- The Feast
That is what this is all about – from the feasts on the Sabbath and the Lord’s Supper on Sundays, to Passover and Maunday Thursday/Good Friday, to Tabernacles and Pentecost – all are a picture of the celebration that occurs when all who are rescued by God arrive before His throne. Every thing in Christianity points to this incredible celebration that is set before us, that we are moving towards, in which we are promised entry, because Jesus would die on the cross and rise again to guarantee it.
Hear the words again,
“O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him. 11 Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.
While we are in Lent then, why don’t we spend as much times as we can, considering what God has provided to us through Jesus Christ, and then praise Him for it!
After all – when we think about what God has given to us from the ground, we might be able to remember the words from the other night, and remember that we are what came to life, as Christ was planted in the ground!
And then, let’s feast—including all those who, like the Levites serve the people of God, and those who are not yet part of the family…the foreigners living in our midst….
After all, we are commanded to enjoy this grace, together!
From Glorious Light (Epiphany) to Glorious Light (Transfiguration): More Glorious – A sermon on Hebrews 3:1-6
From Glorious Light to Glorious Light
More Glorious!
Hebrews 3:1-6
† In Jesus’ Name †
May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, convince you that you are home, with them!
- Who gets the glory, the attention?
We started this sermon series on Epiphany, the day we celebrate that into Jesus presence the wise men from the East came giving Him presents, acknowledging Him as King.
We complete the series today, with the account of the Transfigurations—where into the presence of the glorified Jesus come Moses and Elijah—again with the responsibility of identifying Jesus as the chosen Messiah, preparing him for the journey to the cross, the grave.
In both of these historical accounts, we see the glory of Christ, in the manger where the shepherds were in awe, or as Peter, James and John stand on the mountainside,
I have found that there is something else these two events have in common. People are as interested, if not more, in those that come into the presence of God in Jesus, than they are in Jesus.
How many wise men? What kind of Gold did they bring and how much, what is the symbolism of that, and the myrrh, and frankincense. All these questions while over in the corner lay the baby who would die to save the world! How did Peter know they were Moses and Elijah? I mean Peter didn’t offer to set up a tent for Jesus every night—but he had to offer it for the two Old Testament heroes.
And the voice of the father – interrupting their disappointment at the disappearance of the two prophets – telling them…”listen to my Son!” Or as our reading from Hebrews phrases it, “1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession…”
Consider Jesus – or as it will say in chapter 12, look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
- Our tendency to false idols
Looking to Jesus first, or to use a reformation idea that is is “Christ alone” from which comes a justice that doesn’t condemn us for our sin. But that was hard for the Jews, who despite heroes like David and Daniel, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah and priests like Samuel still considered Moses as the ultimate servant of God.
And the Book of Hebrews applauds him for that – honoring that he was faithful in his work as a leader of the people of God.
But he was still just a servant.
Yet he was the ultimate hero – and people idolized him.
There was none greater – it is in him they found hope, and they glorified the days of his being in charge, ignoring the scripture which showed he was a sinner just like us. So adamant were they about Moses, and to a lesser extent Abraham, that the writer of Hebrews has to make it clear – as God did – that Jesus deserves more glory.
We do the same thing today—whether it is entertainment figures- actors and musicians, sports figures, political figures, how many of them do we allow to become idols, agreeing with everything they sing or say or do—even if we know its immoral and unjust. We will justify their evil actions, dismissing them “because they aren’t as bad as…
And somehow, as we are glorifying our heroes, we miss the glory of God in Christ Jesus.
And if we miss that – we neglect this great salvation He offers!
- Christs faithfulness building the house
But while we make heroes out of house servants, the book of Hebrews tells us to look to Jesus, who is worthy of more glory! He is the one transfigured, He is the one whom the voice from heaven identifies as His Son, the one through whom he will save the world.
Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus isn’t just a servant in the House of God, but the one through who builds and maintains the house of God.
In doing acknowledging that Jesus is the builder, we see why Jesus is more glorious than Moses was, Here is what was said, “3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
Occasionally, I encounter people who claim the Bible does not teach that Jesus is God… this passage is one of the 40 or so I can use to counter their position. But this is why we look to Him.
He can do something to help us, for He is making us a part of the house, the home of God. And He does that faithfully making us part of His home – starting with rescuing us from the brokenness of sin. But salvation is only the beginning of the relationship, only the beginning of the home…. And that is important to realize.
That we are part of the Father’s house, His home is incredible, it is at the core of Christianity, hear the last verse again,
“And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”
What confidence do we hold fast to? That Jesus leaves the mountain, heads to Jerusalem to die, to be buried, to rise again, that we are made part of the family, the house of God.
For He came and laid in the cradle, causing John to write:
14 So the Word became flesh and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14 (NLT2)
In order that He could cause us to be born again, and made our home in His presence.
There is nothing more glorious than this…to share in His glorious love…
And for that. He receives all glory, honor, and praise. AMEN!
From Glorious Light to Glorious Light: God’s Law is Glorious! A Sermon on Nehemiah 8
God’s Law Is Glorious!
Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10
† In Jesus’ Name †
May the grace and mercy of God our Father and the Lord Jesus create in you a hunger to discover the treasure that is our scriptures- which reveal God’s love for us!
Read Wha???
The experts tell us that the average attention span of an American has been shrinking for decades. I remember reading how that affected advertising, especially on Television and Radio, and how they moved commercial breaks from every fifteen minutes to every 7 and ½. And the commercials themselves shrunk – from 2 minutes to 30 seconds.
SO as I was preparing this sermon, I looked it up—and according to one recent APA study, the attention span is now….
8.25 seconds.
So imagine what would happen if we had a day like Nehemiah, where the elders and I read, and explained, the first five books of the Bible… in one setting?
80,000 words, plus or minus 500 depending on translation.
That is roughly 80-85 times the length of one of my sermons… not counting all the explanations they had to offer. That’s at least 20 hours – perhaps 30 hours. Even three into, the people where still excited, even the point of chanting or cheering AMEN!
3 hours – a quick break and back into it, and then Nehemiah tells us,
When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.
6 Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Should we do this today?
Deacon Bob, grab one of those Bibles there… let’s go!
Oh wait, you all thought worship was only seventy-five minutes or so?
Moving from Amen to Mourning?
They were so excited to hear of the story of God and His people! To hear the promises that were made for the redemption of all of mankind from the very first days as they were led from the Garden.
But things change… and they did that afternoon. For as the books are read, the people’s demeanor changed. Here is how that is described,
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
What could make them go from a million plus people chanting Amen! Amen! weeping to that same group of men, women and children weeping? What did they hear? What could flatten the emotions of a million people at once?
It had to be bad news, something that would shock them, something that would raise anxieties, that would raise fears, that would show them that they could lose something that they should be treasuring.
They began to realize that all the suffering of the people of God was because of their own actions.
You see, the relationship between God and mankind is kind of simple – there are things theologians call the “promises”, the things God swears He will do for His people. The other part is often called the “terms”, which something equates to the obligations we have,
It is made more condemning when we hear that the parts of the covenant are the parties, the terms and the promises – as if the terms must be met prior to receiving any of the promises.
I can see them going – we do all the same things that got our ancestors in trouble… we’ve been doing. They wanted what their neighbor had, we aren’t satisfied with what we have, and want others humbled to our level. They gossiped, yeah we do that too! We may not steal, but we want deals that always favor us, even if it means others don’t.
I could run through the rest of the commandments, and what was done in Moses’s and here in Nehemiah’s time, let’s be honest, exist today outside the church, and sadly to say, inside the church.
As they hear the consequences of sin that are prophesied in the Books of the Law are read, those consequences and fear, guilt, shame and it all overwhlems them, as it should.
This Isn’t About Mourning… it’s a celebration!
Earlier in the children’s message, I brought up the idea that we need to hear the entire message, They heard the first tule, but no one bothered to ask about the second rule. It is the same thing here, listen to all the Nehemiah said,
“Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
People make two large errors when it comes to scripture and especially the Old Testament. And that is because they don’t understand God, and God’s strongest desire—the desire that drove God to create in the first place.
The first is that the people didn’t keep listening to the solution God promised to provide to take care of our brokenness, to heal those damaged by sin and the guilt and shame and anxiety it
The second is that the terms precede the promises – and that God won’t be faithful to what He promised unless we deserve it. That is completely wrong -we don’t come to God perfect and holy, having fulfilled the law completely before He will bless us – the blessing is He invites us to come to Him, and His promise is to recreate us in His image!
The ”terms” then are the results of the changes God has made in us, the very picture of Christ that is reflected in our lives. It is the effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of the Spirit of God living in us.
That is why Nehemiah and Ezra say, “it’s time to party, to celebrate this sacred day, when we realize what God promised to do – for God’s joy- His desire to save usis the very strength that dwells within us—and has, since the day of our baptism, the strength nourished as we commune, and take His body and blood to eat and drink in the Lord’s Supper. The very thing we confess we depend on when I say, “the Lord is with you!” AMEN!
The Plan: Revealed and Realized! The Plan Which Includes “US ALL!” A Concordia Sermon on Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
The Plan: Revealed and Realized!
The Plan Which Includes “US ALL”
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
† I.H.S. †
May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ help you to see His plan for us all!
When you have something this good!
One of the most influential missionary/professors in my life passed away this week, a man I was blessed to talk to a couple of times, and hear preach four or five times. But I remember his stories of grace, I remember the lessons he shared with me and thousands of others.
One happened on a very cold, frozen Philadelphia morning back in the early 80s. He took the train into the city, where he was meeting with a bunch of corporate donors, 7 figure donors, who wanted to hear about his mission work in Haiti
Tony gets off the Metro train, flips up his collar and starts the 3 block walk to his meeting. As he does, being a city boy, he is aware of his surroundings and sees an obviously homeless bum between him and his goal. He tries to see if he can cross the street to avoid him when he realizes the homeless guy has targeted him, and is walking toward him, with a large Styrofoam coffee cup in his hands.
His heart keeps wavering – he doesn’t want to be the guy who ignores the obvious needs, but he can’t be late for the meeting. As he mind flips and flops, the homeless guy is now only a block away…now 200 feet, now 100 and the guy begins to cry out “Mister! Mister” and extends a cup out to him….
Tony thinks it is his offering cup and takes off his glove to reach in his pocket to see if he has any change…feeling guiltier and guiltier…
The man, with a grimy face and absolutely filthy clothes is saying “this is for you Mister! God want you to have this!” And the coffee cup – Tony now sees has a lid, and steam coming out.
He goes on to say, “I don’t want any money Mister! My cup of coffee was so perfect this morning, I just had to give one to bless someone else with one – and God said you were it…” “Haven’t you ever had anything so good – that you just have to share it with someone else?”
As Tony politely and tearfully takes a sip of the coffee, the man’s smile grows infectious, And Tony realizes he was right, it was the perfect way to enjoy the frozen air and icey sidewalks of Philly that morning.
The man nods his head, having shared more than a cup of coffee, he’s shared something inspiring and full of awe.
Preparations are Scary – and Should Be!
As Tony feared the approach of the homeless guy, as he didn’t know if would just be uncomfortable, or maybe mugged, so I think many people fear the coming of Christ, and the Judgment Day.
Even the description in Daniel is scary!
(judgment) thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
10A stream of fire issued and came out from before him;
I don’t think we are going to see this and say, wow, this is incredible as if we are watching some science fiction movie. I think this is the kind of vision where we see the anger of God about to be unleashed with extreme prejudice.
With all the power, with millions of angels serving Him and waiting on Him, what chance do sinners have?
We who count ourselves as good Christians need to hear this as well.
Consider these words from Ezekiel…
21 But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. 22 All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done. 23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
That’s the good part! We like it….
24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins. Ezekiel 18:21-24 (NLT2)
May I remind you of the fiery throne, chariot and wrath of God?
We need to take our confession and absolution time seriously. We need to know that if we deny our sin, we are simply deceiving ourselves – but if we confess it God is… faithful and just… and the judgement is seen in the rest of the vision!
It Begins!
If the vision of the Father on the fiery throne is terrifying, the vision of the Son of Man is one that will bring tears – tears of joy!
and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
The cloud is an incredible vision you see the Hebrew for cloud there pictures the entire company of heaven, arriving with Jesus, the son of man.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)
As the Son of man, Jesus, is presented to God the Father, he brings us all with Him! Over and over this is the message of scripture, for as we died with Him we will certainly rise with Him, and He will lead us into the Father’s presence.
On the day when Jesus the Messiah is given dominion, and glory, when He is crowned King of King and Lord of Lords, even as He enters His glory, we will enter it with Him!.
This news is better than a cup of coffee on a frozen winter day. SO make sure others know it is coming, for God is coming..
And that news should help you dwell in God’s peace now – a peace that passes all understanding, a peace which the King of Kings will keep you in until His return! AMEN!
God’s Plan! Revealed and Finally Realized! The Plan: To Satisfy Us and Bring Us Joy! A Concordia Message on Psalm 90:12-17
God’s Plan! Revealed and Finally Realized!
The Plan: To Satisfy Us and Bring Us Joy!
Psalm 90:12-17
† I.H.S. †
May the grace and peace of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ satisfy your desires and bring you the greatest joy! AMEN!
Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
As we talk about God’s plan in this sermon series, there are a number of rules about what is called in business “strategic planning, that when taken together give us some basic understanding of the necessity and need for adapting our planning. Both come from the military, and both have been accepted in corporate and educational leadership as laws.
The first they must have worked on forever, trying to come up with a memorable phrase. It states, Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents &#*$ Poor Performance.
An obvious illustration of this comes out of a story during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where people were building nuclear shelters in their back yards. One story comes out of that time where a man build the best shelter, the highest technology possible, and 20 years of canned food and water stored up. The story went along that one day, during a potential missile launch, he went down, locked himself in for 10 years, and then realized he forgot one thing….
A can opener.
Proper planning and preparation….could have prevented perishing
But as we move towards the end of time, and toward the judgment, what kind of planning and preparation can we devise that will see us through something more overwhelming than war?
We need proper planning and preparation…..
Or we will cry out with the Psalmist, 13 O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
For if we don’t know the plan, how can we prepare for it?
All Strategic Plans Dissolve in the first moment of battle
The second rule almost invalidates the first. It’s not fancy, with each first letter matching. It is from a German Field Marshall, but has been requoted by other military leaders, business leaders and politicians since. It says, No plan survives first contact with the enemy! (Or the customer, or the media!)
You can make all the greatest plans, but they fail if they are our plans. This is especially true spiritually!
How many of us plan to never sin again – especially that one sin—you know the one I am talking about… And then the temptation we pray against comes, and we find ourselves falling again, because our plan failed in the first contact with temptation, evil, and Satan and his demons.
While planning and preparation is needed our own desire will fail at times, we will still need something more—readily accessible to depend on In those situations.
Make no mistake my dear people, this Is spiritual warfare. And Satan will do anything to get our focus on us, letting us plan, letting us think we are in control, allowing us to mature, only to trap us in our pride.
But we aren’t the only ones, who plan can fail in the heat of the moment. For Satan’s plan ha already fallen short….
Even as the people of God recognize and call for God’s help…. God was already moving heaven and earth….for His plan and preparation was faultless, and His plan included not surviving.
God’s plan!
What I love about this Psalm is the confidence, the faith that the psalmist has is impressive! For he knows the plans God has for him – and for his people. Look at these requests he makes of God,
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom!
Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
Replace the evil years with good.
Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory!
And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!
These are the cries of one who is facing defeat, they are the cries of one who knows the heart of God, yet has found their own plans, and their people’s plans trashed. But knowing the heart of God, knowing His plan for us makes the differences here.
For every one of those things are the things God has always done in the past for His people!
The things He did in David’s time, what Jesus did while here was here what the Spirit has done in the church throughout time, showing grace, mercy and love.
I really want to focus on our reaction to this work of God, the request of the psalmist that God “14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives”
First that word “satisfy.”
When I first hear the word, I think of the minimum possible positive result – they satisfy the requirements for the position. The work meets the standard. But the Biblical concept is far deeper than that – think of how you are satisfied after a thanksgiving feast.
When God satisfies us, it is talking about the highest level, that kind of satisfaction that provides for total contentment. It’s the kind of satisfaction that leaves everything and everyone peaceful, ready to relax and celebrate.
It is being assured that the war is over, the battles are won, and everyone has returned home, those who were damaged and broken healing nicely, relationships restored.
Perhaps you would say that this is still in the future, isn’t it? Aren’t we still in a spiritual battle? That is why there is a reference to the unfailing love that will bring us the contentment and satisfaction that will lead us to the joy that we can sing about to the end of our lives.
His Is why Paul would pray,
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT2)
This is what we need to know each day, each morning, to keep our legs moving, to know that we are not alone, and that Goves us, and restores us.
For that is the wisdom we pray for – to know that God has a plan – and God will make it happen.
AMEN!
