God Himself Will Fight For You

 

              For the past few weeks my daily morning Bible study has focused on that great Old Testament hero, Moses.  My daily reading has impressed upon me again the humility and faith that guided Moses as led God’s chosen people, the Israelites.  Given all of his experiences, Moses could have written a book.  In fact, he wrote five of them!  In reading Deuteronomy, we see Moses getting ready to turn his leadership role over to a new man.  Joshua was God’s chosen servant, the one who would lead the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan.

              Normally a job promotion is a cause for celebration.  However, one could understand if Joshua was feeling anxious about this new assignment.  Joshua knew all too well about the “stiff-necked” ways of the people.  He listened as they complained about Moses’ leadership abilities and Joshua watched as the people ignored God’s commands and, instead, led disobedient lives.  It would be no picnic dealing with this crowd.

              Joshua also knew that there would be opposition as the Israelites settled into Canaan.  Battles would be fought against powerful enemies.  Would Joshua be able to count on the support of the people in the heat of battle?  Would they be able to conquer their foes and enjoy the land God had given them?

              Moses and Joshua meet.  It is time for the transfer of power.  Was Joshua showing signs of anxiety? Was doubt written all over his face?  We don’t really know.  But listen to the reassuring words that Moses offers to the new leader of the Israelites: “You have seen with your own eyes,” Moses says, “all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings.  The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going.  Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God Himself will fight for you.”

              Is this a word that you need today?  Do you find yourself feeling anxious about the future?  Afraid that you’re going to lose your job?  Afraid that you’ll never find another job?  Or perhaps you face a different trouble?  Is the temptation to eat too much or spend too much or gossip too much getting the best of you?

              Or maybe your concern is health – yours or someone else’s health.  Maybe you’re afraid that the diagnosis or treatment is more than you can bear.  Perhaps your fearful that the medical situation you face will leave you facing life without hope.

              The words from Moses to Joshua were designed to replace fear with faith.  Let them do the same for you.  This is God’s personal word to you this week: The Lord your God Himself will fight for you!

              Think about it – Jesus has already fought for you and won!  He lived an obedient life under the Law – for you!  Satan came after the Lord with his weapons of eternal mass destruction.  But Jesus would not give up the fight.  His love for you led Him to the cross.  His cry, “It is finished,” was His victory shout!  Jesus paid for your sins.  He suffered your punishment.  In faith you are free to love God and to serve Him with joy.  You can do this with confidence because the Lord your God Himself will fight for you!

              And God continues the fight.  With His gifts of Word and Baptism and Communion God powerfully calms your fears and restores your hope.  You have seen with your own eyes how He has fought and cared for you in the past.  Your Lord won’t stop now!  Let this truth replace your fear with a renewed faith in your Savior God.  I’ll say it again: The Lord your God Himself will fight for you!

The Word of Undoubting Faith

Here's Luther from the Large Catechism:

But all depends upon this, that we learn also to say "Amen."  This means that we do not doubt that our prayer is surely heard and that what we pray shall be done (2 Corinthians 1:20).  This is nothing else than the word of undoubting faith, which does not pray on a dare but knows that God does not lie to him (Titus 1:2).  For He has promised to grant it.  Therefore, where there is no such faith, there cannot be true prayer either. 

God made Him

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

A few years ago a friend of mine worked throughout the fall so that he would have a doll house ready for his five year old granddaughter on Christmas Day.  Every free minute he had available, he worked on that house.  He put together the blue print himself.  Picked out sturdy wood and painted it with great care.  Spent night after night in his basement until he was finished.  

On Christmas morning  he watched as his granddaughter wiped the sleepers out of her eyes.  She saw the doll house and let out a joyous yell.  And my friend sat looking on with a smile on his face.  He made that doll house and he made it well.

"God made Him..." My friend knew that his granddaughter wanted a doll house.  It would the perfect gift.  We didn't know that we needed a gift from God.  We came into this world stained with the sin of our first parents and we've been sinning ever since.  Before God we were labeled "unrighteous."

"God made..." Just as my friend made that doll house with the intention that his granddaughter would have a great gift, so God very intentionally made One who would come to take upon Himself our unrighteousness and pay for it by shedding His blood on the cross.  Jesus became "sin for us,"  This Jesus did so that our sorrow for sin would be turned into joy with the knowledge that we now stand righteous and holy before the Father.

At the very beginning of time, when God was creating all things, each called each one of the "good."  But God saved His best handiwork for us.  He knew of our need.  He made Him, His only begotten Son, to be our Savior.  And now we are the ones that shout with joy, "Praise the Lord!"

Eat this book

 Here is an ancient collect of the church that is worth being prayed regularly.  Goes like this...

Blessed Lord, who causes all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant me so to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which You have given us in our Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The ministry is not about the minister

How about that? In the Augsburg Confession, one of the writings that makes up the Formula of Concord - the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church - article five is about The Ministry.  Here are parts one through three (From "Concordia - the Lutheran Confessions" published by Concordia Publishing House).

1) So that we may obtain this faith (referenced in Article 4) the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted.  2) Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22),  He works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the good news 3) that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake.  This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ's sake.

As in worship, so it is in salvation - God is the principal actor.  He takes center stage.  He is the one who works, when and where He pleases, to bring His gifts of forgiveness of sins, power for daily living and the hope of everlasting life to all who embrace Him as Savior and Lord.  May we never succumb to the ego-centric ways of some church and push God off of the stage.  "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people.  Kindle in us the fire of Your love.  Alleluia!"

Luther on prayer

God doesn't want long, drawn-out prayers.  Instead, He wants sincere prayers that flow out of a faithful heart.

Martin Luther, "By Faith Alone," Nov. 12

More on faith

Faith is merely a passive instrument, like a hand into which someone places a dollar.  The person receives the dollar provided he does not withdraw his hand; beyond that he does not have to do anything.  The donor is doing the essential part by putting the gift into the hand, not the other party, by holding out the hand.

A quote from CFW Walther's book, "Law and Gospel," as found in "Predestination" by John Moldstad Jr., page 86, Northwestern Publishing House

Where does faith come from?

Where does faith come from? Is faith something we obtain through our own efforts or works.  Do we hear about Jesus or want to draw close to God and so we somehow find faith within us to believe.  Luther's Small Catechism gives the answer:

Question 8 - What does God teach and do in the Gospel?

In the Gospel, the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ, God gives forgiveness, faith, life and the power to please Him with good works.

Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

When it comes to our salvation, God is the one who acts.  He graciously gives us what we need - faith - to believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord and to receive the gifts of forgiveness of sins, the new life in Christ Jesus and the hope of eternal life.

Praise the Lord!

When should you pray by Martin Luther

It is very wise to make prayer the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do at night.  Be very careful to avoid thinking, "Wait awhile, I will pray in an hour or so, but first I have to take care of other things."  You will only be deceiving yourself! These kinds of thoughts are only going to lead you further away from praying.  You will end up getting so busy with other things, you'll end up not praying at all that day.

Pure foolishness

You know how it is with reading the Scriptures, right?  You can read a passage or chapter a dozen times and then in the 13th reading you have one of those enlightening moments and you wonder, "Why didn't I see that before."

That's what happened to me today as I was working my way through 2 Corinthians 11.  The apostle Paul is dealing with the frustration of some false prophets who have begun to exert a deadly influence over some of the Corinthians.  These "super apostles" as Paul mockingly calls them, have come to Corinth to preach a different Gospel than the one preached by Paul and they have attacked Paul's credentials.  These opponents have spent much time boasting about their spirituality while tearing down Paul's ministry.

In chapter 11, Paul goes on the offensive - but he hates every moment of it.  To boast of what he has done in ministry is to stoop to the level of his opponents.  To boast about oneself is, according to Paul, "foolishness."  The world and worldly people brag about themselves, how wonderful they are, how much they know, how spiritual they are.  As you read the chapter, you almost feel the sense that Paul has dirtied himself, stooping down to their level.  Paul would always rather point to Jesus Christ - for in Christ there is forgiveness, salvation, righteousness and peace. 

For some reason I hadn't really caught the impact of chapter 11 in my previous readings.  I suppose I am tempted, like you, from time to time to boast about my accomplishment (or what I think I've accomplished).  And usually this happens when I've been with another person or group of people who are boasting about something they've done or something their church has accomplished.  But Paul makes it clear - you stoop down to the level of those around you when you choose their tactics instead of simply letting what God has done through you speak for itself.  I have a feeling I'll be pondering Paul's words all day and probably offering a prayer for forgiveness for all the times I boasted foolishly.

From there I went on to do today's readings in the Treasury of Daily Prayer, an excellent resource from Concordia Publishing House.  I couldn't help but smile as I read the Hymnody appointed for the day:

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
  Save in the death of Christ, my Lord
All the vain things that charm me most
  I sacrifice them to His blood.

From "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" Lutheran Service Book, #426, verse 2

At least the rattlesnake was dead

For the past two days my dear, sweet wife and I have enjoyed the company of our grandson, Will.  He has spring break this week so it was a good time to have him over.

Yesterday, we had a plan.  We would go out to Lake Pleasant for a picnic and then drive over to the movie theatre to see the film, "Mummies."  Then it would be back home for a spaghetti dinner.  A perfect day!

We found a lovely spot on top of a hill which allowed us to see much of the lake.  The sky was clear, the water blue and a nice breeze made us feel pretty comfortable.  After we finished our lunch, we decided to walk back down the road and hike down to the edge of the lake.

Will and I were in the lead with Sherri following us.  As we reached the end of the road we suddenly heard, "Ugh, Ugh, UGH!"  We turned to see Sherri standing about 10 feet away from a rattlesnake!

Sherri began slowly backing up.  I looked around for something on the ground to protect Sherri.  But I noticed that the rattler wasn't moving.  A slightly closer look revealed that the snake was dead.  We weren't sure if it had been runover by a vehicle or if it had been shot.  It's head was gone but the rattles were still attached.

Sherri took a wide berth around the snake but not before taking several pictures to send to the grandkids. The whole incident only confirmed in my mind that hiking is very dangerous, even life-threatening.  Walking around our neighborhood works just fine for me.

Will said he dreamed of rattlesnakes all night long.  I'm not sure I believe him.  I think I dreamed about many things last night but none involved a snake of any kind.  We've been watching a sitcom called "Raising Hope" before going to bed.  It's a silly show which I think led me to have some silly dreams.  And I want to keep it that way.

God does the extraordinary!

While doing today's reading in "Treasury of Daily Prayer," I read these words from Acts 19:11: And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.

These words were an excellent reminder that...

When the words of absolution are spoken during worship, it is the Lord's who is doing the forgiving.

When the water is applied to a person, little or big, in baptism, it is the Lord's baptism.

When the bread and wine are being distributed, it is the Lord's Supper.

God uses people like pastors to proclaim His Word and administer His sacraments.  But these are not the pastor's things.

These are the Lord's things and it is He that is doing the miraculous in our lives - calling us to faith, giving us the new birth and new life, enabling us to embrace Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, keeping us in this one, true faith until we called to our heavenly rest. 

Praise the Lord that He still does the extraordinary in our lives!

Some things to be thankful for this week

Successful surgery - it was minor but I still marvel at how well the surgeon did his work.  Feeling great today.

Visit with oldest daughter - her birthday is tomorrow so Sherri and I were glad that we could spend some time with her this week.  She is an amazing daughter, wife, mother, aunt and friend to so many.

Our dog, Jake - when I wasn't feel so well earlier this week, Jake kept me company (except for those times when someone, anyone was walking down our street.  He thinks he owns Kimberly Way.)

Grief Support Group - I have the privilege of meeting with a dozen people who have lost loved ones every Friday.  We are following a study which uses Holy Scripture to bring us into God's presence where the Holy Spirit can do His comforting work.  The people who attend are wonderful and really lift up each other.

Great Friends - on Monday we celebrated some birthdays with some of our closest friends.  The conversation was great, punctuated by much laughter.  What a great blessing our friends are.

My dear, sweet wife - she was there for me while I was recovering at home.  Being a nurse she knows exactly how to carry out all of the post-surgical stuff that needed to be done.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman for sure.

Hope your week was full of blessings too.  God bless your weekend!

Chip Hilton - my hero

My favorite sports hero didn't even exist - except in the mind of one man, Clair Bee.

When I was a kid growing up in Tucson, I spent hours reading and re-reading the Chip Hilton sports stories.  Clair Bee was a famous college athlete and, later, coach.  I don't know how he found the time to write books as well.  But starting in the 1940's and through the 60's, Bee crafted a wonderful series of stories around the fictional hero, Chip Hilton.

Hilton was someone that a youngster like myself could look up to.  I loved sports and played them all, just like Hilton.  By reading the books I learned lessons about character, fair play, being a good friend, giving my all and winning (but not at all costs).  My dad, who was an insurance auditor, had as one of his customers a bookstore.  Every time he visited the store he took me along and allowed me to buy a new Chip Hilton book.  Over time I probably collected a dozen or so of the stories.

When we moved to Mesa, in 1968, I gave the books away to younger friends in the neighborhood.  What a fool! The books are now out of print and have become collectors items.  So, as I find a Chip Hilton book at Goodwill or Savers I buy it.

Earlier this week I was looking around Half Price Books when I discovered, under lock and key, a Chip Hilton book.  It carried a hefty price tag so all I did was look.  When I got home that evening, I told my wife about my find and she said, "Why didn't you buy it!" Well, that was a green light if I've ever heard one!

I went back the next day and purchased the book.  I'm better than half-way through it but I'm trying to read slowly, trying to savor the joy of reconnecting with an old friend and a great hero. V

Finding yourself under a freer sky

How much larger your life would be if your self could be smaller in it.  You would break out of this tiny and tawdry theatre in which your own little plot is always being played, and you would find yourself under a freer sky.

GK Chesterton - as quoted in :"Because of Bethlehem" page 87

The devil is a robber

Satan's is to rob us of our thankfulness for God's good gifts.  If it were within Satan's power, he wouldn't let us have a single piece of bread, not a single penny of income, not even a single hour of life.  But since that's not in his power, he'll try to rob us of God's blessings by making us ungrateful and unappreciative of them.

John C. Jeske, Connecting Sinai to Calvary, Northwestern Publishing House, pg. 52

A Bible summary in 50 words

Not sure where this came from.  Interesting....

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread

God remained.

My afternoon with my grandson

Yesterday, my son and daughter in law were in a pickle.  Both had important meetings at work so they needed someone to pick up their son, my grandson, Will.

I volunteered to do so but I was a little nervous.  What if I get stuck in traffic and show up late? What if I get in the wrong pickup lane.  I hear Moms are pretty serious about following proper pickup procedures.

I asked my son for some instructions about doing the pickup properly and he responded with clear instructions.  

Here's one - At 2:40 they will allow the line you are in to enter the pick up lane.  Follow the car in front of you.  I guess he didn't want me cutting in and out of traffic.

Here's another - the pickup lane winds behind the school.  It's similar to picking up someone at the airport curb.  I thought, "That's great!" That airport pickup is very stressful for me, finding the pickup, getting close to the curb, having the roving policeman yelling at you, "You can't park here! Move along!"

Fortunately I got there in plenty of time to get in the first line. I got in the proper line.  I moved along slowly but surely until I got to the gate where Will was waiting for me.

He told me about his day at school and he wanted to know about mine (his was much more interesting).  We stopped at Wendy's for an ice cream and then headed home.  Will is all about cars these days so we made plans to go to an auto museum in a couple of weeks.  He also showed me some car racing games he had on his iPad.  His instructions were very good but I couldn't get the hang of keeping the car on the raceway.  Finally, Will said, "Poppa, just watch me."

His Mom arrived in the evening and I made my way back home.  But I felt it was a pretty successful afternoon.  I picked up my grandson just as I was supposed to.  We had a great time together.  Except for the car racing game, the day was perfect.  

I hope your day and weekend goes perfectly too.  Have a great weekend! 

A Word from God that got my attention

Recently, I have said the same prayer at the beginning of my morning Bible reading and prayer time. I pray: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening," the words that young Isaiah spoke to the Lord.

As I was reading Psalm 80, it seemed that the Lord really got my attention with verse 19: Restore us, O Lord God Almighty, make Your face shine upon us, that we might be saved.

Restore us, O Lord God Almighty...  To restore something is to return it to its former condition.  Israel prays that God Almighty will restore the nation and its land from the near total desolation of the land by the hands of their enemies.

Interestingly, this verb in the Hebrew language can also be translated, "to restore to life."  The consequence of sin is, as Paul writes to the Romans, "death."  (Romans 6:23).  When Jesus came to atone for our sins, His death and resurrection restored "life" to you and me. (Also Romans 6:23 - read the entire verse).

Make Your face shine upon us...  These words take us back to the Old Testament book of Numbers and the blessing that Moses gave to Aaron and, in turn, Aaron would give to the people of God.

We, too, cherish receiving the blessing and promise of God as it is usually spoken at the end of each worship service.  Through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection and being clothed in Jesus' righteousness, we are certain that God looks upon us with grace and loves us just as a father loves his child.

That we may be saved...  Asaph and all of Israel are looking for a king who will come and save them from their oppression.  The psalmist prays this petition three times, in part, because as he writes, there doesn't seem to be that leader in their midst and God's help is desperately needed.

God, in mercy, sent His Son to be our King (this is one part of Jesus' three fold office of being our Prophet, our Priest and our King).  Our King governs us, His church, in grace and will one day lead us into the kingdom of heaven.

How wonderful it is when God speaks to us through His Word, His promises of forgiveness, new life and salvation give joy and light to our lives.  Say it again, O Lord: Restore us, O Lord, God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved! 

Acknowledge our errors?

John H. Holiday, who was the founder and editor of The Indianapolis Star, stormed into the composing room of the newspaper one day.  He was mad...ticked off.  He had been reading the newspaper when he found a story where the word "height" had been spelled as "hight."  Holiday was determined to find the person who had made the mistake and really let them have it.  A copy editor checked the original copy of the story and discovered that it was Holiday himself who was responsible for the misspelling.  When he was told that he said, "Well, if that's the way I spelled it, then it has to be right!" For over 30 years The Indianapolis Star misspelled the word "height."

Holiday's actions sometimes mirror ours.  We find it difficult to admit our mistakes, don't we? At time, a three word sentence is the hardest for us to say: "I was wrong."  Rather than admit our guilt or acknowledge our missteps, we cover up, make excuses, or shift blame to someone else.  We'll often do anything but own up to a mistake.

Remember Cain? He became jealous because of his brother's offerings were received by God while his own were not. God gave Cain a chance to correct his mistake and do the right thing.  But Cain refused and his anger ultimately led to his act of murder against Abel.

Mistakes are inevitable.  We are not perfect people.  We sin daily.  So we have two choices.  We can behave like Holiday and fail to acknowledge our error or we can humble ourselves before Almighty God and, in repentance, tell Him, "I was wrong."  Like the psalmist David, you can say, "Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' - and You forgave the guilt of my sin."  Don't let foolish pride get the best of you.  It is God's nature to forgive and restore.  Know that as you pray to the Father, "I was wrong," He is always ready to answer, "You are forgiven for the sake of My Son.  Go in peace."  Amen!