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Deuteronomy 4:1-9

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. 4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

If you have ever played any kind of musical instrument, you may have heard this little sentence: “Practice makes perfect.” But, there is another version of this sentence that is a great improvement, “perfect practice makes perfect” Just rehearsing isn’t good enough. Why?  If you have ever tried to play a musical instrument you also know this: It is all too easy to practice mistakes!  Mistakes, if practiced, become nearly impossible to overcome.  

If this is true when it comes to musical instruments, so much more is it true of holy living according to the Law of God.  We may feel that we are practicing God’s will in our lives, but our opinion of ourselves isn’t the same as objective truth. There is one way to judge our performance.  That one way is the revealed will of God in the Bible.  There God give us His holy law.  There God tells us what we are to do and not to do.  There in the Holy Scriptures is perfection.

However, when we study the Bible, we don’t find that we are perfect, instead, God shows us our sins.  God does this so that we will repent, receive His salvation through Jesus, and amend our sinful lives.  God does this so that we will not continue to practice sin, but instead be set free from it!

Jesus, through His death on the cross forgives our sins.  In His resurrection Jesus shows us that perfection and eternal life are ours.  He has sealed them to us in our baptism.  

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for your Word.  Grant me faith to study your word daily, share it with my family, and grow in grace and holiness.  I thank you for you for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 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.

Ephesians 5:22-33

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

What is the best advice that you could offer to a couple who is about to be married?  Nearly everyone has an idea about what is needed for a great marriage.  But, some might be reluctant to offer advice.  The fact is, the great variety of opinions on this subject illustrate the problem.  Marriage is difficult.  And what seems to work for one couple, doesn’t work for another.  Why?

We are not perfect.  Even the best marriages have areas that could have been better.  And, even if imperfections are not obvious to others, they are obvious to the Lord.  Also, there is so great a variety between people that a “one size fits all” kind of advice would be difficult. And, human examples all fall short,

St. Paul, in teaching about marriage by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, avoided this problem.  Certainly, he teaches how husband and wife can serve one another in love.  He describes love in terms of self sacrifice and respect.  But, in the end, he shows us what pattern God really has in mind for us.

All the time that St. Paul was talking about marriage, he was thinking about Jesus and His church!  We are Jesus’ bride the church, and Jesus is the one who gave all things to save us.  Jesus did this through His death on the cross and resurrection.  Our responses to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving are first acts faith and then acts of love towards God, who first loved us.

So, what advice might be the best for Christian marriage.  Remember Ephesians 5 and the pattern of Jesus and the church. In light of that, stay close to Jesus in your personal prayer life and in your church life – where you receive God’s Word and the Sacrament of the Altar.  Experience His love for you in the ways that He has ordained.  Through His gifts you will be strengthened to trust in Him above all things.  Remember, only through faith in the Lord can we meet the challenges of marriage in this troubled world.  But, with the Lord, there is love for all eternity.

Let us pray.

I thank you Lord Jesus for loving me perfectly, despite my sin.  Strengthen my faith in you so that I will be able to follow your example in my relationships with others.  In your name I pray, 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.

Isaiah 29:16-19

16 

You turn things upside down!

Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,

that the thing made should say of its maker,

    “He did not make me”;

or the thing formed say of him who formed it,

    “He has no understanding”?

17 

Is it not yet a very little while

    until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,

    and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?

18 

In that day the deaf shall hear

    the words of a book,

and out of their gloom and darkness

    the eyes of the blind shall see.

19 

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,

    and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

In our day the world is upside down. The meanings of words are being changed.  Truth is molded like silly putty. Cities suffer daily violence. Our borders are in chaos. Leaders are unable, or worse, unwilling to help.  It is easy to feel angry, and after that, feel hopeless over the state of the world.  Is there an answer?

Yes.  The answer to our upside down world is the Lord.  When people try to take God’s place, the worst happens.  This is clear from the condition of the world.  As further proof of this, we have history as it is recorded in the Bible.  When Israel’s leaders tried to take God’s place, the country suffered terribly.

Like clay telling a potter what to do, people who ignore the revealed law of God cause their own misery.  But, God who is rich in mercy has had pity on our condition and sent Jesus to save us.  Jesus, who offered Himself on the cross for our sins, calls us to repent of all unbelief and acknowledge the Lord.  In the scriptures God tells us not only what to do and not to do, but also what He has done to save us.  God is gracious, therefore, faith in God is our one great hope.

As upside down and miserable as the world is becoming, God is still the potter.  He is merciful and continues to supply His Word and truth through the Holy Scriptures.  Through faith, we receive God’s gifts in Jesus. God opens His Word to us so that His Will for us can again be in our daily lives. God shows us that because Jesus is risen from the dead, there is the perfect life yet to come at the restoration of all things. We trust in the Lord. He is directs human history according to His Gracious purposes in Jesus.  We confess, God is the potter.  Amen

Let us pray

I thank you Lord for all that you have made.  Please forgive my sins and grant me faith to trust in you alone.  As you have made all things, I look forward to the day when you restore all things as you have promised.  I thank you for restoring me and in my baptism giving  me your gifts.  In your name I pray, 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.

Isaiah 29:13-14

13 

And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

14 

therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

“Too good to be true” is something that we recognize very quickly.  Whether it is a sale price on an item that seems very low, or a promise that seems to hard to keep.  But, in this case, we have something else.

Here, God describes the reality of human unfaithfulness.  

“…This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.”  

It is clear from the Scriptures that this behavior is true!  People do have false motives when it comes to the Lord.  Here is the proof, according to the Bible.  If they produce rules to follow, the rules are their own ideas, and they replace God’s teachings.

We would expect that God would wash His hands of such a people.  But, here is where we meet the “too good, but still true” part of this scripture from Isaiah 29:14.  

“therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

See the great wonder!  God chose to be gracious towards sinful humanity.  He does not return to us as we deserve.  Instead, He has mercy on us in our misery and has come to save us.

Jesus, suffered on the cross for the sins of the world, and wonder upon wonder, through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven.  The wisdom of this world is replaced by Jesus, the wisdom of God.  He baptizes us, forgives our sins and gives us a share in His resurrection and eternal life. 

Behold, God has done wonderful things in Jesus.  He who forgave our sins, allows us to walk in the ways of our Savior.  May God bless you today through faith in this seemingly “too good”, “but still true” hope through faith in Jesus.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord for the great wonder of your gracious response to my need.  Lord Jesus you came to save me from sin, death, and the devil.  Be with all your people who hear your Word today, so that they will rejoice in Your salvation and joyfully speak words of faith in their prayers and actions of your loving will in their lives.  In your name I pray, 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.

Acts 1:12-14 (after Jesus’ ascension)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Today we remember St. Bartholomew, one of the 12 apostles of the Lord.  He was present with Jesus throughout His ministry, and witnessed Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after He had risen from the dead.  In the reading for today from Acts 1, we see that Bartholomew also witnessed Jesus ascension.  

Bartholomew, along with the other apostles, continued to share the gospel as Jesus had commanded them.  What other things Bartholomew did isn’t recorded in the Bible.  Even his name is sometimes in question because he isn’t mentioned in the Gospel of John.  Therefore, Bartholomew is sometimes thought to be another name for Nathanael. 

Tradition places Bartholomew’s ministry in India, Ethiopia, Armenia and other places. But, one of the most memorable things about Bartholomew comes from the world of art.

There are many painting and sculptures of St. Bartholomew. They are striking, because they usually depict him in connection with the means of his martyrdom.  Tradition records that Bartholomew was martyred by being flayed alive.  As horrible as this thought is, some of the sculptures in particular, picture the saint quietly holding his skin like a robe, and continuing to faithfully bear witness to Jesus.

So, what are we to learn today as we remember St. Bartholomew.  He was a faithful disciple of the Lord who went on to share the Gospel far and wide.  He steadfastly suffered the burden of his ministry and perhaps was martyred.  But, because of His Lord Jesus, Bartholomew’s martyrdom wasn’t the end of his story.  He now lives in Christ, and the message He proclaimed not only saved Him, but all those who are still touched by his apostolic witness around the world.  We ourselves are among those who are being saved by the Gospel that our Lord Jesus sent to us through the blessed apostles, of whom Bartholomew was one.

The power of the Gospel of Jesus is seen in the lives and deaths of His servants.  Though the evil one would terrorize us into submission through the fear of death, Jesus has come to steal the power of death through the forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus died and rose victorious, so that all who live and believe in Jesus have eternal life.  

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for the faithful witness of your apostles and for your apostle Bartholomew.  Strengthen all your saints who boldly bear witness to you in the world today.  Though the evil one still desires to terrify humanity, you have come to give peace and eternal life. I thank you for your salvation.  Grant steadfast faith and comfort to all your saints who are persecuted for sharing the Gospel.  Encourage and embolden us in all things we ourselves face, so that we will not fear, but rejoice in the one eternal Gospel.  In Jesus name. 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.

Psalm 14

1

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;

    there is none who does good.

2 

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,

    to see if there are any who understand,

    who seek after God.

3 

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;

    there is none who does good,

    not even one.

4 

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers

    who eat up my people as they eat bread

    and do not call upon the Lord?

5 

There they are in great terror,

    for God is with the generation of the righteous.

6 

You would shame the plans of the poor,

    but the Lord is his refuge.

7 

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,

    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Do you talk to yourself?  People often joke about this, but we do talk to ourselves. An example of the practice is even in the Bible reading for today.  “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  

Self-talk is a term used to describe a person’sinternaldialogue. It springs from the subconscious mind, and expresses a person’s thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas. Because of this, it is important that we pay attention to the ramblings of our thoughts and test them to see if they are true.

What I am describing here is often called “self-examination.”  Through God’s Word we test our thoughts and feelings to see if they are true or false. In this way, the foolishness of unbelief is rooted out and replaced by truth.

What is the truth?  In the context of Psalm 14, it is this: God is faithful and will bless us.  Even if the situation for God’s people seems impossible, at the proper time God will restore those He loves. This is the pattern that we see in the life and ministry of Jesus.  When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed that all was lost.  But, this was not the case.  In fact, through Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross all the horrible sins and power of the sinful world were destroyed.  God now forgives our sins as a gift through faith in Jesus.  In Jesus Christ, we have the forgiveness of our sins, peace with God and in the end, resurrection from the dead and eternal life.

Let us pray

“A fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Oh Holy Spirit, enlighten my inner mind so that I recognize the temptations of the evil one, repent of all unbelief, and trust in Jesus Christ my Savior.  I thank you heavenly Father for your eternal love.  Strengthen the faith of all your saint who face trouble or persecution this day.  I ask this in the name of Jesus.  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.

I Samuel 7:12-14

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

Today we remember Samuel, God’s prophet and leader in Israel.  Often when considering Samuel in the Sunday readings of the Church, we hear of Samuel’s call to serve as a young boy.  Today, we will hear of Samuel’s leadership in Israel and how God used Him to bring peace to Israel.

Often, in thinking about leadership and peace, we are drawn to emphasize a leader’s intelligence or shrewdness.  These do have their place, but they are not the main thing.  Peace between nations comes from the Lord.  God’s Word teaches that the leader who honors the Lord and instructs His people to do likewise, is the one who brings God’s blessings.  On the national scene, the foremost of those blessings is peace.

Israel had been battling surrounding competitors, and losing.  The people, at last, were so frightened that they asked Samuel to intercede with the Lord for them.  Samuel didn’t simply give them advice about how to win battles or negotiate with their neighbors.  Instead, Samuel confronted the people over their idolatry.  They worshipped false gods, were involved with impure practices, and were offending the almighty God through their many sins.  They could never hope to have blessings, much less peace, if they were not living in faith towards God.  Samuel instructed them to repent and put aside their sinful practices.  He then offered a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  God heard the prayers, forgave their sin, and gave them victory over their enemies and a lasting peace in their region.

What can we learn from this page from the history of God’s people.  Just this: when we are coming to the Lord and asking for blessings, we must first consider our own standing before the Lord.  Are we involving ourselves in persistent sin and walking apart from faith in God? Since such sin is idolatry, should we not also repent?  How shall we expect that we will have any good thing from the Lord if we treat Him with idolatrous contempt?

Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ has come as our prophet, priest, and King.  As our prophet, Jesus stands in the place of Samuel and preaches repentance and faith in God.  As our High Priest, Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world when He died on the cross for us.  As our King, Jesus will come again in glory at the resurrection to condemn all enemies of His people and to receive those who trust in Him into eternal life.  Jesus will grant everlasting life and everlasting peace.

Consider a faithful leader like Samuel, and then remember Jesus.  Examine your own life, repent of your sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and then watch how the Lord Himself will bring the blessings that He has chosen for you today.  And anticipate the blessings that your Lord Jesus will bring to you for all eternity.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord God for the faithful ministers you provided for your people, like your servant Samuel.  Help me to listen intently to your Word so that I will receive all the blessings that you intend for those who trust in Jesus.  I also pray for faithful leadership for our nation.  Direct, correct, and guide our country so that we will repent of our sins, have peace with other nations, and joyfully give you all glory.  I pray in Jesus name.  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.

2 Corinthians 10: 17-18

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

It seems odd for protestants to consider Bernard of Clairvaux today because he is an example of monastic life and theology.  Why remember a monk when we have the pure Gospel of Christ?  We remember this particular monk because of His faith in Jesus and his wonderful teachings about Faith and Grace.  He was influential in the developing faith of Martin Luther and was one who Martin Luther called “the best monk that ever lived, whom I admire beyond all the rest put together.”  With such appreciation from the reformer, it is good for us to consider Bernard today to remember that the teachings of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ will be heard all through the ages.  At the right time, God caused the teachings of Bernard of Clairvaux bring the light of the Gospel to the church.

Bernard was the son of Tecelin, a knight and vassal of the Duke of Burgundy.  He was distinguished by his studious and meditative habits.  He left his noble family and a life of ease that he enjoyed there, to enter a monastery in 1113.  His life in the monastery was simple and marked by holiness, prayer, and caring for others. He established 163 monasteries throughout Europe.

But, it wasn’t the monasteries that brought him the highest regard among the reformers.  In fact, monasteries were later seen as being in conflict with higher vocations in the home, family, and community.  Instead, it was Bernard’s emphasis on the Biblical teachings of God’s Grace and personal faith for salvation that opened the hearts and minds of so many to the true Gospel. 

Our Bible passage for today reminds us that all that we accomplish is only truly good when it comes from the Lord.  The Lord used Bernard of Clairvaux to shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus. What is that Gospel?

God so loved the World that He sent His Son Jesus.  Through faith in Jesus and His redeemed work on the cross, we have peace with God, resurrection and eternal life. The witness of God’s love in Jesus was the faith that influenced Bernard of Clairvaux. The Gospel that inspired Bernard’s witness to Jesus helped those who would follow, including Martin Luther.  

We thank God for the faithful pastors and teachers in our lives.  And most of all, we boast in the Lord.  For as we share the Gospel, the work of God is a message that leads to eternal life.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord for Christians who have faithfully taught and lived among us.  I thank you for the life and work of Bernard of Clairvaux and the influence he had upon the joyful news of Gospel of your Grace and Faith in Jesus.  Help me this day to trust in my Savior Jesus for my salvation and joyfully follow in His steps.  In Jesus name I pray, 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.

Proverbs 9:6-10

6 

Leave your simple ways and you will live;

    walk in the way of insight.”

7 

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

8 

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

    rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9 

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

10 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

The book of Proverbs contains short statements of instruction that are easily remembered.  Such balanced and wise advice is helpful.  The proverbs for today are particularly on point. When considering the wise teachings of God’s Word for today, it is no wonder that nerves are worn and social conduct has frayed. 

But, while it is good to be cautious in the way we speak in this contentious age, there is a time to speak.  Jesus spoke clearly and faithfully, even when He knew it would bring the contempt and anger of powerful people.  Why did Jesus do this?

Jesus, in His prophetic role, called people to repentance and invited them to believe in Him for their salvation.  Many people gladly believed in Jesus and loved Him.  But, many other people hated Jesus for His words.  This was especially true when He showed them their sins.  They had no room for His teachings.  Why did Jesus bother to instruct them when they would clearly not listen?  Especially, when Jesus knew that they would hate Him and later crucify Him?

Jesus came to save sinners from themselves, even though it would mean the cross.  Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him and still invites all people to repent and be saved. Through faith in Jesus, His redeeming death, and glorious resurrection, sinners can be saved.  Through faith in Jesus we are restored to God and to one another.

Let us pray,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

I thank you Lord Jesus for boldly preaching the Gospel in the face of terrible opposition.  I praise you for the forgiveness of all my sins and the certain promise of eternal life through faith in you. Help me, as you direct me to bear witness, to speak wisely and boldly of your love and redeeming work. In your name I pray, 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.

Hebrews 4:9

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

Today the church remember Johann Gerhard.  He was a pastor and teacher during difficult times.  He was born in 1582 and at age 15 nearly died of serious illness.  During that illness he promised to become minister if he recovered.  He also struggled spiritually, in a way similar to Martin Luther.  Still, by God’s grace he kept his promise and served the Lord faithfully all his life. 

You may like to read more about his life.  But, for now, I will just share a few things about his life.  He is viewed as the third pillar of the Lutheran tradition, after Martin Luther and Martin Chemnitz.  He is considered to be the foremost Lutheran Theologian of time of Lutheran orthodoxy.  But, as wonderful as this all sounds, these accolades have a dark backdrop.

Most of Johann Gerhard’s life was spent during the thirty years war in Europe.  It was a terrifying time. Besides death and plague, including his own personal illness, he suffered the death of his first wife, and many of his children. Johann witnessed armed conflict and political upheaval. His own home was attacked and destroyed because of His public witness.

But in the midst of all these trials, he was a man who trusted in the Lord and clung to the Gospel.  He taught others the hope that was within Him, that through faith in Jesus all our sins are forgiven and we have eternal life as our future.

The Bible passage for today was one of His favorites.

“9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;” (Hebrews 4:9) Rejoice! The trials and pains of a sinful world will not endure forever. There is at last a perfect rest, a Sabbath for the faithful.  Rest in God’s Word now, a word that is grounded in the completed work of Jesus who rested in the tomb when he broke all the power of the devil.  And in the end rest in God’s presence at our own resurrection with Jesus who is risen from the dead.

May these words from Pastor Gerhard encourage you today.  He said: “I am not afraid by reason of my sins: for Thou art my righteousness; I am not afraid by reason of my ignorance: for Thou art my wisdom (I Cor. 1:30); I am not afraid of death: for Thou art my life (John 14:6); I am not afraid of my errors: for Thou art my truth; I am not afraid of corruption: for Thou art my resurrection (John 11:25); I am not afraid of the sorrows of death: for Thou art my joy.”

Let us pray

I thank you Lord for faithful pastors who proclaim your word.  Please guard and keep all those who serve your church and teach your Gospel so that we will be encouraged and sustained in all things unto life everlasting.  In your Name I pray.  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.