Lent – Day 38 April 1

Members and friends of Grace,

Names can be confusing.  In our congregation, we have names like Stoppelmann, Van Keirsbelk, Wagenknecht, Heitshusen, and Challacombe.  But the prize for longest name goes to Joan Dressendorfer.  Thirteen letters!  Recently I heard my name introduced as "Wagoncraft" which was a new one.  Those fortunate enough to be blessed with long names know the feeling when your name is butchered.  Some names are just similar enough to be confusing:  We have two Cunninghams: Connie and Carolyn.  Until recently, two other dear ladies shared a first name and similar last names (Winnie Caswell and Winnie Kennedy have both gone to glory.) 
Both pairs of ladies are not related and don't look much alike, but both of them have been called by the other's name.  Some names you can't guess how to say: 
Do you pronounce the e's in Hoke and Bode?  (One yes, one no).  Is Thoni pronounced like "Tony" or like "Thorny" without the 'r'?  I'm flexible: you can call me "Wagon-connect," Wagon-neckt", or the German "Voggenknechchchcht" as long as you don't call me late for dinner.  And then there are first names like Kaitlin (Kate-lynn, Kaitlyn, etc) and Mikaila (Michaela, McKayla, etc.)

We can have fun with people's names, and I don't mean to "make fun" of anyone. 

Names are important.  God tells us in his Holy Book to protect the good names of others.  Our "good name" is our reputation.  We certainly don't like it when misinformation or private information is given out about us.  We should likewise protect others from gossip, speak well of them, and take words and deeds in the kindest possible way.

Of course, the most important Name for us is our God.  He calls himself many names:  LORD, Jehovah, God, Ancient of Days, Alpha and Omega, Jesus, etc.  But it's not just his proper names that are holy; everything he reveals about himself is his Holy Name, his reputation.  The proper way to use God's name is to pray to him, praise him, thank him, and tell others about the salvation he planned and carried out on our behalf.  "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  It doesn't matter if you write or pronounce his name in German, Spanish, Greek, Hebrew, English, or Arabic.  What matters is that we know He is the Son of God, who took on human flesh in order to live a perfect life and die an acceptable death as a sacrifice for all.  What matters is that we trust Him as the Risen Lord, that we lean on him, that we learn from him.  Let's remember to focus on Him this Holy Week.

Lent Day 37 – March 31

Devotion – Matthew 25:32-33 – Mar. 30, 2010 Daily devotion from Matthew 25:32-33. See series: Devotions

Matthew 25:32-33 – March 30, 2010

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Matthew 25:32-33

When Jesus returns in the splendor of his glory as true God, not only will every angel of heaven be with him, but all people of all time will be gathered before him.  No one will be absent; no one will escape; no one will be forgotten.  This is an event to which all are headed.  With his almighty power, Jesus will raise all the dead to life, from Abel who was the first man to die to the last person to die – perhaps just seconds before the Lord returns.  We marvel at the power of God which shall effect such a universal resurrection of the dead.  We stand in awe of God who will arrange such a massive gathering of billions and billions of people – all the dead will be raised to join those who are still living when Jesus returns and everyone will stand before him.  

Then Jesus will separate the mass of humanity into two groups, “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  Jesus refers to a customary practice of the shepherds in Palestine. During the daytime they allow the sheep and the goats to graze together in the same pasture, but at night they separate them. On the Last Day, the Good Shepherd will separate all the people gathered before him. While on earth his true followers coexist with unbelievers.  The relationship between believer and unbeliever can be difficult. In fact, it can be hostile as history bears out. An enmity exists between them, even as God said in Genesis 3:15 that there would be enmity between the seed of the women (believers) and the seed of Satan (unbelievers). Life for Christians can become very weary because of this hostility. Their hearts are wounded, minds troubled, spirits agitated under the pressure from the enemies of Christ. But on the Last Day, there will be relief forever. Jesus will separate his believers from the unbelievers.  And his faithful people will finally be free from all the unjust actions and attitudes they faced while living for the Lord on earth.

Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10: 9-10).  Trusting only in him, we look forward to the glorious and wonderful life he’s prepared for us in heaven!

Jesus, keep me aware that the time of the world is running out and that you will return just as you promised.  Prepare me for your coming by sustaining me in faith through the power of your Word.   Keep me faithful to the end when I will receive by your grace the crown of eternal life.  Amen.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Lent Day 35 – March 27th

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers' " (Matthew 7:21-23).

Yesterday we heard the tragic case of 'Hank', who did many things in order to try to make himself right with God.  He went to church and heard the Word, but never believed it.  He did not deny himself to bear the cross of Christ.  He
chose his own crosses, and carried them himself.  He did not do the will of God:  "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day" (John 6:40).

In the Bible we meet another doer of good deeds.  Her name was Tabitha.  Tabitha was ill, and died young.  At her funeral, many people spoke about how she had helped them with her kind words and deeds.  She made clothes for widows and orphans.  She raised money for the poor and gave to the needy.  Jesus said that Christians are like branches on a vine.  Connected to the vine, they bear much
fruit.  Tabitha was not thinking about all her good works as being something that saved her.  She was just celebrating her salvation in Christ.  God gave Tabitha a special, rare gift.  Through Peter, she was brought back to life.  You can read about her in Acts 9:36-41. 

That was 2000 years ago.  Sometime after this, Tabitha must have died for a second time.  That time, she would not have Peter to raise her up again.  Tabitha met Jesus, and Jesus said to her, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you..." (Matthew 25:34).  He recounted her acts of kindness, mercy, and charity.  But Tabitha said, "When did I do those things for you?"  And he said, "If you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me (Matthew 25:40).  So Christians will have this same experience, too.  All who believe in the Son have
eternal life.  Just as Tabitha now awaits another resurrection, we who have been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life look for that day of Jesus' return, when he will raise us, too.

Lent Day 34 – Gifts of Grace

Hank went to church every Sunday.  "It's my duty," he said.  Every Saturday, he mowed the grass in his yard, then at the church, and then at Mrs. McMurray's house next door.  He thought, "I've got a lot of sins in my life to make up for."  A patriotic American, he always voted and never missed an election.  He fought for his country in Viet Nam.    "Good father, good husband.  Helper of
the poor, generous to the needy, even paid his taxes cheerfully and willingly," they said at his funeral.  He was an amazing man, of good reputation and blessed memory.

Hank left his body below and went to meet his maker.  "Lord, I have done what you told me to do," he said.  "I lived by the golden rule, I loved my neighbor as myself.  I even went the extra mile, turned the other cheek, and repaid evil with kindness.  Remember how I suffered and sweated for you and for your name?"

And Jesus said, "Who are you?"

Please read Matthew 7:21-23.

Too many people, sadly, work hard and do so much to help others.  They benefit society, and make the world a nicer and more pleasant place to live.  They are good neighbors.  One of them might be the one who does your handy-man work, or who drove your child to the ER when he got hurt.  They haven't committed any crime.  But Jesus doesn't recognize them.  Jesus knows those who believe in him.  Those who trust him have his righteousness.  They are cleansed of all
their sins.  When they do works, they don't let themselves become distracted by the glitz and glitter of good deeds.  Instead, they humbly thank the Lord.

Some say it doesn't seem right.  How can God accept faith, and not anything else?  We cannot explain it.  We only hear God's Word and promise, and believe it.  But if you think about it, it is a great comfort that our salvation is
complete and finished by Jesus' life, death and resurrection.  If it depended on us, we could never be sure.  But with Christ as our substitute, we can be
confident.  That is what makes it a gift of grace.  And everything else that we do motivated by faith in Christ and love, God will reward:  not because we deserve it, but by his grace.

Lent Day 31 – March 23rd

JESUS CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS

There are two types of people:  those who divide people into two types, and those who don't.

That is an absurd statement designed to show the absurdity of oversimplifying people.  Nobody I have ever met is always bad all the time.  Nor have I met anyone who was always good all the time.  There are shades of grey in everyone's attitudes and actions.  Some people would be mean and selfish in my opinion, while others are kind and generous.  But those evaluations are only my opinion. 
What does God see?  He has given us the ten commandments and other statements of his expectations for people.  He summarizes the law by saying, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself."  And when he measures us against his perfect law and his righteousness, he says, "There is no one righteous, no, not one."  He doesn't compare us to any other person, just himself.  We stand or fall by our own merits.  And sadly, we all have failed the test.  Even if I could hold myself to a minimum of sins, or even just sin one time, I would be condemned by my own fault.  But it's impossible to minimize my sin.  I am completely sinful, unclean.
 
Jesus was not denying that fundamental teaching of Scripture (Total depravity, original sin) when he said (Matthew 9:13) "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  He was proposing a theoretical scenario.  If someone were righteous, he would have no need for repentance, no need for forgiveness, no need for Jesus.  Sinners need such things.  
 
Some people think they are righteous.  They make their sins sound really small; they make their charity sound really large.  But are they really righteous? Sadly, the answer is "No!"  Because they think they are, though, they think they have no need for forgiveness or for Jesus.  Through their pride, they do not accept the work of their Savior.
 
If you have been led to a point where you saw that you were sinful, the Holy Spirit called you to be Jesus' disciple through His Word and sacraments, and you now know your Savior, then don't be proud.  Thank him for undeserved mercy.  Be humble. 

 

 

 

Lent Day 27 – March 19

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song: he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name: make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”
Isaiah 12:1-5

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but there are some things for which even a picture is not good enough.  When your new born child squeezes your finger for the first time, how can you put that feeling into words?  Can that even be captured with a picture?  When the doctor says, “Your cancer is gone,” is there any way to describe that feeling?  What Isaiah is trying to explain in our devotion today is even more difficult to put into words.  He is a sinner standing in the presence of a righteous God.  He knows that he deserves God’s anger and punishment.  But something startling happens.  God turns away his anger.  Instead of punishing him, God rescues him.  

Of course, Isaiah is talking about what God does for us in Jesus Christ.  Jesus came and rescued us by paying for our sin.  Jesus bore the punishment for our sin, and now instead of facing God’s anger, we have full forgiveness and life everlasting.  How does one express the amazing relief of that enormous load being lifted off?  How does one express the sheer joy of that forgiveness?  

Expressing heartfelt thanks to God for his salvation is what Isaiah is doing here.  You can almost see him running up and down the streets, leaping for joy, trying to tell people how it feels to be saved.  Fear is gone, only trust remains.  The Lord is the true strength of his life and the song in his heart.  God sustains him with the living water which he draws from the well of salvation.  So he gives thanks to the Lord by singing his praises and proclaiming the good news of salvation to everyone.

Isaiah is expressing his gladness over all the glorious things that the Lord has graciously done for him. Listen to Isaiah shouting and singing for joy, and join him in praising the God of your salvation.

Oh, that I had a thousand voices to praise my God with thousand tongues!
My heart, which in the Lord rejoices, would then proclaim in grateful songs
To all, wherever I might be, what great things God has done for me.
(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 242)

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Lent Day 26 – March 18

Devotion – Matthew 25:1-13 – Mar. 18, 2010 Daily devotion from Matthew 25:1-13. See series: Devotions

Matthew 25:1-13 – March 18, 2010

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:1-13

Among the Jews in Jesus’ day, parents arranged the betrothal of their children at which, by mutual consent of the man and woman, they were married.  After this the bride and groom waited a certain time before they lived together as husband and wife.  Finally the wedding celebration took place and the bridegroom went to take his bride home with him.  Maiden companions of the bride would meet him and escort him to his bride.  They took their lamps to light the way.  Jesus uses this festive occasion as an example of his Second Coming.  He is the Bridegroom coming to take his bride, the church, home with him to heaven.  The ten virgins in his parable are those on earth who are waiting for his return and desiring to join him at the heavenly feast.

The bride and her attendants were certain that the groom was coming, but they did not know exactly when he would arrive.  This is the same with Jesus’ return.  He will come back just as he promised.  There is no question about the certainty of his coming.  What is unknown, though, is when he will return.  

With this parable Jesus emphasizes the need to be ready for his coming.  He describes five foolish and five wise virgins waiting the bridegroom.  They all took their oil lamps.  But five took no oil; they had only that which was in their lamps.  That was foolish.  The supply wouldn’t be enough while they waited.  Five were wise; they had a good supply of oil and thus were ready when the bridegroom arrived to burn their lamps for the festive procession to the house.

The lamp oil represents faith in Jesus as Savior.  “Wise” Christians have faith which endures to the end.  They do so in the only way possible: hearing and learning the Word of God.  By the energy of his Word, God causes the flame of faith to burn in their hearts.  Not so with the others who will foolishly claim to be Christians at Christ’s return but lack faith.  Perhaps they once started strong in the faith; their lights burned brightly and they were excited in the anticipation of the glory which the returning Christ would bring them.  But Jesus has tarried a long time, and in that period of time the oil of faith in these people has been used up.  

So Jesus says to us, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”  Since we cannot know the time of Christ’s final coming, the spiritually wise course for us is to be alert and watchful at all times.  We will fill ourselves with God’s Word, and by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we will be ready to meet Jesus at the all-decisive hour of his return.  Then we will rejoice because Jesus our heavenly bridegroom will welcome us to the feast of eternal joy!

Fuel my faith with the energy of your Word.  Anticipating your glorious return, preserve me in saving faith until the end and take me to live in glory with you.  Amen.

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Lent Day 24 – March 16

Members of Grace,

There's a space hidden, deep in your heart and soul.  We all have a secret place, dark and musty.  We visit it regularly, and from time to time.  It's the place we keep our secret sins.

A man clicks on an image on his computer screen and sees pictures and movies he knows he shouldn't stimulate his imagination with.  It is his secret.

A businessman travels to a conference hundreds of miles away from his wife and family.  A colleague meets him there, hundreds of miles from her husband.  They
keep the secret.

A woman smiles as her sister talks.  But deep inside her, from a secret place, a voice cries out "Don't forget!  Never let it die!  Remember what she said, what she did.  The day will come and she'll be sorry!"

The lifelong church member stands and speaks the words of the confession of sins:  "I am a sinner," he says.  But in his heart's secret corner he is thinking, "I am so glad that I'm not so bad.  Not like him..."

The Gospel tells us not to worry about money, our food, or what we will wear.  "Trust in God," it says, "All these other things will be given to you as well.  God knows how to give good gifts to his children, and he answers the prayers of his people."  But in the secret place we think, "What am I going to do?  The debts are mounting up and the checking account is overdrawn!  I'm ruined and am about to be discovered for being such a fake!"

In the secret place, someone has a pile of small things he took over the years...things that don't belong to him.  A few pens, a few "borrowed" books, some CDs and DVDs.  Loose change and petty cash that no one missed or ever will
notice.  Stamps taken for personal use.  Holiday Inn towels.  Time...hours, adding up to days...wasted. A defaulted debt, thankfully now past the "statute
of limitation."

She feels guilty, so she seeks comfort.  The bottle of wine and a joint always seems to help.  In her secret place.

He confesses his faith.  He invites his friend to church.  He defends the Lord's honor.  But in his secret place, he hides...afraid and ashamed to admit his doubts.

Do you wonder what you would act like if Jesus were here now?  What if he were your chaperone on every date, every business trip?  What if he ate every meal with you and sat next to you at your computer?  What if he slept on a little mat next to your bed, and watched every tv program and movie with you?  What, in the last week, would you have done differently?  What if Jesus looked at your face
and knew exactly what you were thinking and feeling and planning?  What if he told you he knows all about your secret place and what you are hiding there?  Would you burst into tears?  Would you admit the whole thing?  Would you confess your sins?  Fact is, Jesus does know our secret sins.  He knows our bad attitudes and hypocrisies.  He knows the weakness of your willpower, and your sneaky way of avoiding accountability.  Of course you know Jesus said, "I am with you always."  As God he is present everywhere, all the time, knowing everything.

But here's a surprise.  He loves you anyway!  Without being afraid, you can let him into that secret place.  Lay those sins on his strong shoulder.  Watch as he carries those sins to Calvary and nails them to the cross.  Watch as he says, "It is finished.  Paid in full."  Hear him invite you to come to him, weary and burdened as you are.  Receive his peace.  His rest for your soul.  Know that with his strength, he will help you fight.  He will send his Spirit to help you...even in your secret place.

And God has given you resources to help you in your struggle.  All the sins listed in this devotion are things a pastor would not be shocked to hear about.  In fact, I would be glad to hear them confessed, to help you get them off your heart.  I would consider it a privilege to be able to say to you, "Be of good cheer.  Your sins are forgiven."  All of them have been paid for and forgiven,
and you have been redeemed.

Lent Day 23 – A Father’s Reckless Love March 15

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Luke 15:11-21

Could you imagine what this man’s neighbors might have said?  “Parents just don’t raise their kids like they used to.  First the boy runs off with the inheritance, and now dad’s running out to welcome him?  I tell ya, if that were my kid it would be a whole different story.  He’d have to come crawling back on his knees.  I’d tell him quite frankly, ‘You blew it! The shame you have brought on this family, you don’t even deserve to stand on my doorstep.’  Maybe, just maybe, if he straightened his life out, stopped partying, and showed up for work every day, I’d think about letting him live in the old shack down by the gate.  But to welcome him back like that?  Never!”

The love of this father goes far beyond what we would expect.  It is reckless, maybe even foolish.  But that’s how God loves us.  He loved us even though we were dead in our transgressions and sins.  He sent his one and only Son to die for us while we were still sinners.  Why?  Because he was filled with compassion for us.  His love goes far beyond anything we could expect or imagine.

This reminds us that we can always return to our heavenly Father.  Whether we have been living in open rebellion like the lost son, or we have been rebelling with secret sins that lurk deep within our hearts, we can always say, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you,” and be confident that God in his grace will run to us with his arms wide open.

Thank you Jesus, for proving your love for me at the cross.  When I am down, when I doubt your care and concern, lift my eyes to your cross and comfort me with your care.  Amen.

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Lent Day 21 – Worship

Good day!

The meeting began with the question, “What is the purpose of worship?”  For a minute or two, everyone brainstormed the purposes of worship:

to praise God
to encourage each other
to hear the gospel
to receive the sacraments
to refill your gas tank
to confess our sins and hear of our forgiveness…

You can probably add a few more purposes of your own.

Then, another question.  Suppose my left hand represents the statement “In worship I do something for God.”  My right hand represents the statement, “In worship God does something for me.”  Obviously, in worship I praise God, serve fellow believers, proclaim the Word.  But God is doing work for me.  He gave the gospel, the Word, the sacraments, the Spirit.  Even when I am serving God, it is him working through me.  The gospel I speak to encourage my brothers and sisters is God’s gospel!  On the worship continuum representing my work in worship and God’s, isn’t it almost all God’s work?

Secondly, let’s say my left hand represents the statement, “In worship it is important that I am pleased.”  My right hand represents, “In worship it is important that God is pleased.”  Isn’t the truth that worship must be God-pleasing?  That is so much more important than my feelings and preferences.

In worship, we meet God.  He comes to us in Word and Sacrament.  We respond with prayer and praise.  We could not long remain Christians without being in worship and connecting with his Word.  Come worship Christ!  Hear and listen to him!  Let him strengthen you! 

Set your clocks forward one hour tonight so that you're not late!