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September 16, 2021September 16, 2021

Words Matter

James 3:1-5

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

We are revisiting James 3 today because in religion, culture and politics the negative power of words has become obvious. Simply by changing the meaning of words, the powerful still hope to control and mislead a people. No one knows this more than Satan himself. He used words, twisted to his purposes, to shatter our relationship with God, lie about reality, and bring suffering and death into the world. Words matter.

When we read in God’s Word about the power of the tongue, we are talking about the power of words. In particular, this section of God’s Word is talking about words used to teach lies. A liar, guided by any number of evil purposes or spirits, can cause great damage, as did the evil one in the beginning.

How can you defend yourself against such an assault? The Word of God as taught by God’s Holy Spirit is our defense. God tells us what is true, and that is the best way to recognize the lies of the evil one.

God’s Word points unerringly to Jesus. The Word of God reveals what is truly good and shows us where we have fallen short. By showing us our sins, God tells us the truth about our lost condition. By showing us our Savior Jesus — HIs life. death on the cross, and resurrection for us — God shows us the truth about Himself. The mercy of God in Jesus encourages us to repent of our sins and trust in God’s mercy.

Thus restored to God, our ears are tuned to His truth so that we can recognize false words. We are given His wisdom by which all teachers, leaders, and cultural movements are to be judged. This is why we gather in God’s house. In His church we listen to God’s Word taught rightly. We practice how to pray in keeping with God’s Word, in Spirit and in truth. And we learn how we can live our faith in the freedom from evil that Jesus has won for us.

Let us pray,

Lord I thank you for the pure teachings of your Holy Word. Bless all who preach and teach in your church during these troubled times. Protect them from the lies of the evil one and all false doctrines. Be with your people so that they will remain true to you in faith and in life. In your name I pray. AMEN

The Collect for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue and preserve Your Church is safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

September 15, 2021September 13, 2021

Tongue Trouble

James 3:1-12

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

“Concentrate on your strengths!” This is popular advice. Along with this advice you will often hear, “Don’t concentrate on your weaknesses because that will just make you weak.” It is likely true that there is more to be gained by concentrating on an area of strength. But, it is not true that weaknesses should be ignored. Weaknesses cause a great deal of damage.

The tongue is highlighted in God’s Word as a weakness that causes great sin. No matter how wonderful a person may be in other areas of life, the tongue can damage and even destroy all the good that might have been accomplished.

Tongues that were used in prayer were later used to plot against Jesus, true God come to save. Lips that could speak psalms, were used to demand the crucifixion of the Lord of Life. Like wells yielding bad water, sinful hearts were revealed in the way people misused their tongues, twisted their words, and promoted evil. But, while these things are destructive, God accomplished our salvation through Jesus life, death on the cross, and resurrection.

Today, God invites us to reflect on our personal use of the gift of speech. Our lips which speak God’s praise should not be used to sin. Our voices that ask for God’s forgiveness should also be willing to forgive. We have received all good things, even the salvation of our souls through faith in Jesus. May our words likewise be truthful, gracious, and abundant with God’s Words for the good of others.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus I thank you for granting me faith to use my lips in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Forgive my sins, and defend me from the sins of the tongue. May your Words be found in me this day and always. In your name I pray. Amen

The Collect for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord’s Prayer

September 14, 2021September 13, 2021

Walking in the dark

Isaiah 50:4-10

The Lord God has given me

the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with a word

him who is weary.

Morning by morning he awakens;

he awakens my ear

to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious;

I turned not backward.

I gave my back to those who strike,

and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;

I hid not my face

from disgrace and spitting.

But the Lord God helps me;

therefore I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set my face like a flint,

and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

He who vindicates me is near.

Who will contend with me?

Let us stand up together.

Who is my adversary?

Let him come near to me.

Behold, the Lord God helps me;

who will declare me guilty?

Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;

the moth will eat them up.

Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the voice of his servant?

Let him who walks in darkness

and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord

and rely on his God.

If you have ever tried to walk in the darkness, you know that can be terribly difficult. If you are in unfamiliar surroundings, it is impossible. But, if you know the way through a room in your house, or across a well worn path in your yard, you can often do well. You simply trust in the way you know to be true.

Life is often dark and troubling. The psalmist talks of accusation, opposition, and overwhelming abuse from others. Yet, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of the truth and faithful to God’s call. In the end his instruction is clear, if you must walk in the dark, and you have no light, trust in the name of the Lord. Rely on God. The Lord is true and He will guide you.

Jesus faced the darkest of times when He went to the cross to win the forgiveness of all your sins. He faced the greatest darkness to win your freedom and eternal life. When we face troubles in life, we can expect to feel as if we are in a dark place. But, God, through His prophet, encourages us to remember Jesus. He is the light that shatters the darkness. Those who walk in His light will not be lost, but have eternal life.

Let us pray.

I thank you Lord Jesus for facing the darkest of times for me on the cross. Guide my path of faith throughout my life. Help all people who are lost in the darkness of this world to believe in you and receive your light in their lives. In your name I pray, Amen.

The Collect for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord’s Prayer

September 13, 2021September 12, 2021

Why do you love God?

Psalm 116:1-9

I love the Lord, because he has heard

my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Because he inclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

our God is merciful.

The Lord preserves the simple;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling;

I will walk before the Lord

in the land of the living.

If you have faith in God, you know that He exists and that He is the source of every blessing. For this reason, the question, “Why do you love God” can be hard to answer. There are too many valid answers. But, Psalm 116 gives us some direction. The Psalmist writes,

“I love the Lord, because he has heard

my voice and my pleas for mercy.”

From our perspective as sinners in a sinful world, this is a profound demonstration of the grace of God. One of the first things to break down when there is conflict between people is communication. But, God shows His true nature in that He invites sinners to talk to Him in prayer. He hears our repentant prayers and grants us absolution.

As our Savior Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, He endured the faithless mocking of some. Yet, Jesus still listened to the thief crucified next to Him, and granted that thief the promise of eternal life. This is the same Savior who listens to your confession as you pray, forgives your sins, and grants you the eternal life.

Let us pray,

I love you Lord Jesus for graciously hearing my prayers. Grant me the forgiveness of all my sins, strengthen me in holy living, and enable me to love others as you have loved me. In your name I pray, Amen.

The Collect for Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Lord’s Prayer

September 10, 2021September 9, 2021

Astonishment vs Faith

Mark 7:37

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

As much as people were impressed by Jesus’ miracles, not all of them believed. This is evident from the difficulty many had when Jesus challenged them to believe in Him as their Savior. They were astonished by what Jesus did, but many would not put their faith Him.

Jesus’ own disciples believed in Him. They rejoiced in the miracles that God did through Jesus and their own ministry as His disciples. They confessed that Jesus was the Messiah. Yet, when the events of Holy Week took place, and Jesus was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, they struggled to believe.

I think that people today like to be impressed, even astonished when it comes to spiritual matters. But, being impressed isn’t the same thing as faith. Faith clings to Christ even when all seems against that confession of faith. So, while faith trusts in Jesus who brings healing, even more, faith clings to Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of the world.

This becomes personal during times of trial. When we are anxious or negative in our thinking, it is easy to feel that there is no hope. But, our feelings about our situation don’t change the reality of who Jesus is. He is our Lord and Savior. He is the one who performed great miracles, even the greatest miracle of all, when He rose in glory from the dead.

Some in Jesus day, who were rejecting Him as Savior, kept asking for signs to prove that He was the Messiah. Even though Jesus had been doing signs and wonders, those miracles didn’t matter because they didn’t believe. Yet, others, who didn’t see a miracle, believed in Jesus as their Savior. They received the greatest of God’s miracles, namely, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

Let us pray

I praise you Lord for the great miracles that you do every day in blessings all people of the earth. I praise you especially for the greatest miracle of all when you created my salvation through your death and resurrection. Help me during all times of trial to trust in you. Be with all who are troubled, anxious, or sick today. Help us all to find our peace and joy in you and your power to save. In your name I pray, AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

September 9, 2021September 9, 2021

Playing favorites

James 2:1-4

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Many years ago, while working with a group home for the developmentally disabled, I was given a memorable lesson by the director. Certainly, I wanted to treat the members of the group home like any other person attending church. This is good and is in keeping with today’s Bible reading. But, she surprised me when she said that to treat the members of the group home as fully human, I should remember that they are as prone to imperfection as anyone else! They can be petty, grouchy, and selfish – just like anyone else. To view them as angels, incapable of the full range of human behavior, is to view them as less than fully human. Obviously, that little lesson has stuck with me!

God views all humanity equally. We have differing abilities possessions, and income, but we are equal in this important sense: We are sinners in need of a Savior.

God has a gracious purpose in showing us this truth about ourselves. Romans 11:32 “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.” When we see ourselves from the perspective of God’s Law, we see our sin and our need. We recognize our equality before God under His judgement and our common need. God’s purpose is just this: He plans to treat us equally. He plans to have mercy on us all.

Jesus came to save sinners. He offers the fruits of His redeeming death on the cross to all who confess their sins and trust in Him. Those who reject the truth of God’s Law that shows them their sin, are actually calling themselves better than all other people in the world. They will receive nothing from the Lord.

Today, clothing styles are very informal. It could actually be hard to tell if a person is rich or poor based solely on his or her clothing. Often those who are best dressed in a company, rank lower than the more shabbily dressed owner of the company. Informal clothing is a status symbol. We may have a hard time telling the difference between people, but God sees the heart.

The very poorest person, who in repentance turns to the Lord Jesus in faith, at that moment becomes the rich and an heir of eternal life. Since the Grace of God is given freely to all sinners through faith in Jesus, God calls upon us to remember His Grace when as we relate to one another. God loves to see His people treat one another with the same love, respect, and forgiveness that He has given to us in Jesus.

Let us pray,

Oh Lord you have shown me my need for your salvation. I stand equal to all sinners and confess that only through the gift of Jesus, given for the life of the world, do I have hope. Help me to love all others as you have loved me. In your name I pray, AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

September 8, 2021September 7, 2021

Be Strong, Fear not!

Isaiah 35:4-7

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

“Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,

the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

It seems that the more we are concerned about our situation, the more we are tempted to focus on ourselves and what we should do. We make preparations when emergencies threaten and we stress over our insecurities. And while it is good to pay attention to potential threats, even if we do all that we can do, our minds find no rest. This is especially true when the threats that we face are overwhelming. At those times our hearts are truly anxious and our mind has no peace.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, reminds us that we are to first put our faith in Him. The prophet reminds us that “He will come to save you.”

When we remember all that God did to save us in Jesus through His suffering and death on the cross, our hearts at last find peace. When the struggle was over the threat of hell itself, God came to save us. If our heavenly Father was willing to give everything in Jesus, He will certainly not fail to grant salvation to all who trust in Him. As Jesus rose in glory from the dead, so shall the Lord grant salvation to all who trust in Him.

Let us pray,

Lord, when my heart is anxious, help me to remember Jesus, trust in His salvation, and find peace in your eternal faithfulness. I trust in your power to save. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

September 7, 2021September 7, 2021

Forever Faithfulness

Psalm 146:5-6

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them,

who keeps faith forever;

A trustworthy person keeps faith, keeps promises, and won’t let you down. We value relationships that are trustworthy and trust that these qualities are present in close relationships. But, it isn’t until a time of testing that we find out if our faith is well placed.

Such a time of testing came for God when humanity fell into sin. What should God do? When Adam and Even disobeyed God and obeyed Satan, God had every right to disown them, and with them, eventually, us. But, God keeps faith forever.

What does that mean? God was faithful to Himself. Even though Adam and Eve fell into Sin, God was true to Himself. He who made all creation, in Love and Mercy chose to take the faithful path and save all creation.

If we were to think that our relationship with God is due to our own behavior, we delude ourselves. God shows us our sins every time we meditate on His Law of Love revealed in the Holy Bible. Instead, we trust in God’s own faithfulness to Himself. We trust in the Lord whose nature is Grace and Mercy. This is the faith that leads us to confess our sins and trust in the Lord to save us.

Because God keeps faith forever, He sent Jesus to remove the damage of our sin. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that the impossible would become real. Because Jesus kept faith forever, we will live forever.

During times of trial, we shall remember our Heavenly Father’s perfect faithfulness and trust in Jesus our Savior. When our personal imperfections dismay us, and Satan tempts us to despair, we need to remember that our faith is in God, not ourselves. When our Lord calls us to confess our sins, He is calling us to faith in Him and His forever faithfulness towards us. The Lord is our help and our hope forever.

Let us pray,

Lord, I confess to you my sins, imperfections, and weakness. I thank you for being faithful and keeping perfect the law of love. I thank you for giving yourself for me on the cross and undoing the damage of the sin of the whole world. I trust in your for life now and life eternal. Please be with all who are struggling in unbelief and especially those whose faith is misplaced. Call us all to renewed faith in your and the joy of your salvation. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

September 6, 2021September 6, 2021

Don’t idolize human leaders.

Psalm 146:3-5

Put not your trust in princes,

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

It is tempting to put a very high level of faith in a leader. Sometimes a person may even feel that a leader can do no wrong. But, just saying that out loud should highlight the problem with that idea. There is no such thing as a leader who is perfect. All human beings are sinners, including all leaders. Due to their position, leaders are prone to pride, serious errors, and terrible consequences for their nation. History is full of leaders who, confident of themselves, caused misery and death to millions of their followers, their friends, and people in surrounding countries. Having their deeply held principles based on falsehood, their decisions run from bad to worse.

Despite this sad reality, idolizing leaders is something that still goes on in the world — it seems now more than ever. How could this happen? Some leaders just make mistakes, like anyone else. But, in some cases, the leader has knowingly, or unknowingly given himself or herself over to evil. Such a leader will refuse to recognize God’s authority revealed in God’s Word. In place of God’s authority that leader claims God’s place. He or she will dictates falsehood and suppressed God’s Word and anyone who speaks out. Mounting evil consequences are either suppressed or ignored.

This has been the situation in the world in the past, and it will continue to be our plight until the Lord’s return to judge the living and the dead. On judgement day leaders will be held accountable for their sins and especially the harm they have caused to God’s people. To strengthen our hearts, God has given us this Word so that we will avoid idolizing human leaders. God here encourages us when earthly matters are dark and troublesome, reminding us that He puts limits on the evil that evil leaders can do.

Instead of failed humanity, the Word of God points us to Jesus, true God and true Man. Only Jesus gives salvation. Like no other leader, Jesus bore all the evil consequences of sin. He offered the perfect sacrifice for sin through His death on the cross for our forgiveness. He took our sins, and our death to the cross and removed them from us forever. He is the one who can give salvation. No other leader can take Jesus’ place.

And should we be called to bear witness to God during the rule of an evil leader, though we will most certainly suffer, we will not lose heart. God puts a limit on human evil. As the scriptures record, “When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” God puts a limit on evil, and evil leaders. Though they seem invincible, they are only human and will soon pass away, to await God’s judgement.

Fellow redeemed, in Jesus is eternal salvation. Put your trust in Him, and you will have eternal life.

Let us pray,

O Holy Spirit, enlighten my thinking and help me to have a pure and undivided faith in the Triune God. Strengthen my faith each day, and encourage me in troubled times with the knowledge of your control over all things, the limits you have set on wickedness and most of all your victory over all evil and the joy of the resurrection to eternal life. I pray in Jesus name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

September 3, 2021September 1, 2021

Look within yourself?

Mark 7:14-15

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

Where do you look for advice or guidance? One of the most common pieces of advice that you will hear in popular culture is to look within yourself. The idea is that deep within a person is the greatest source of wisdom.

The problem with this advice is that it couldn’t be more wrong. Jesus teaches us that “what comes out of a person” defiles him. Our sinful nature is within us! If we turn in upon ourselves, we will be overcome with evil. Where then shall we turn?

If we want to find true wisdom, we need to look outside of ourselves. But, we can’t just look anywhere. Instead, we must go to the source of truth. Jesus, in praying for us, asked this of our Heavenly Father, “17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth – John 17:17.” Jesus teaches us that we need God’s Word to know the truth.

God the Holy Spirit teaches us the truth by using God’s Word, the Holy Bible. The study of the Holy Bible isn’t just a cursory reading. Rather, it is a life-long meditation on the Word which the Holy Spirit uses to teach us about ourselves and our Savior Jesus.

When we are considering what to do in life, we are called to meditate on the Ten Commandments and all of God’s Word that tells us what to do and not to do. God’s Word clears our minds, helps us understand what truly is best, and leads us to see ourselves as we are, sinners in need of a Savior.

God’s Word doesn’t leave us without hope at this point. Rather, God shows us that He does care for us, and in Jesus has come to save us by paying the penalty of our sins through His death on the cross. Through faith in Jesus we are forgiven. Through baptism we are given faith, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to encourage us in holy living. God shows His great love and grants us the joy of knowing that as Jesus is risen in glory from the dead, so shall we rise to live with Him forever.

Where do you look for advice or guidance? By God’s Grace you have been given faith to turn God’s Word. As you hear God’s Word in church, reflect upon it in your daily life, and rejoice in the gifts of your Savior, you will receive the wisdom of God to guide you.

Let us pray

I thank you Lord Jesus for showing me the dangers that are within my sinful self. I praise you for directing me to your Word and for providing me faith to hear your voice. Forgive my sins and strengthen my daily life that I may walk with you. In your name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer