I really appreciate these comforting words from the Great Reformer:
Thus before our Lord God, death is not death but a sleep. For us, where we die it si and is termed death, but before God it is but a sleep and a very light sleep at that.
Martin Luther, as quoted in "Thank, Praise, Serve, Obey," page 158
It sets my heart soaring to know I can stand before Him deserving only judgment but receiving only mercy.
WELS Daily Devotion, September 10, 2018
But some might say, "Waiting for marriage is unbearable and aggravating!" They're right! It's very similar to other difficulties requiring patience that believers must face, such as fasting, imprisonment, cold, sickness, and persecution. Lust is a serious burden. You must resist it and fight against it. But after you have overcome it, lust will have caused you to pray more and grow in faith.
From "Faith Alone," devotions by Martin Luther, April 24
I love this turn-of-phrase from Jaroslav Pelikan as found in "Unparalleled" on page 160.
If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen, nothing else matters.
This is the truth that the apostle Paul shares in his first letter to the Corinthians: And if Christ is not raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (verses 17 & 20)
Because Christ is risen from the dead, you and I and all who believe can look forward to a glorious resurrection on the Last Day. And no matter how challenging or difficult life is, none of it matters because we have an eternity that awaits, an eternity spent in the presence of Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior.
And really, in the end, that's all that matters.
In the September 11 edition of "World" Magazine, I read a story of how a Oklahoma woman managed to evacuate 10 Afghan school girls, saving them from Taliban terrorists.
The woman, Allyson Reneau had connected with the girls at an event in Washington DC in 2019. With the help of a friend in Qutar, paperwork was processed and officials on the ground in Afghanistan were able to put the girls on a plane . Reneau then flew to Qutar to connect with the girls and make arrangement for them to come the the US where they will continue their studies.
What caught my eye was something Reneau was quoted as saying: "It was a very narrow window of opportunity" (to get the girls out of Afghanistan).
"Opportunity." In St. Luke's account of the Temptation of Jesus, we know that the evil one could not lead Jesus into sin, not even once. Then, in verse 12 we read, When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time.
Satan may have felt defeated after a futile 40 days, but He never gives us. The "opportune" time came three years later. How the devil must have rubbed his hands in glee as he saw the hatred for Jesus by the religious leaders of the Jews. Now, the opportunity had finally come. Moved by the evil placed in their hearts, the leaders tried and convicted Jesus. They drug the Lord before Pilate who caved into their demands as he felt the pressure of the leaders and the bloodthirsty howls of the crowd - "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Finally, in the afternoon at three pm, Jesus breathed His last. Surely, the devil must have thought that all his waiting had finally produced the result he wanted - the Son of God dead and buried!
You and I know that no matter how tough and crafty the devil is, he is no match for our Mighty Lord and King. The devil played into God's plan for Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. What Satan meant for evil, God used it for good - our good. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead! Our debt to God, because of our sinful past, was paid in full.
Talking about an opportune time, remember these words from Galatians, chapter four: But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those those under law...(verses 4 & 5a).
Paul leaves not doubt - our salvation is the work of God beginning with the promise found in Genesis 3:15 until Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His final coming to judge the living and the dead.
And one more thing - Satan and his henchmen will receive what God has already prepared for them - everlasting punishment.
Now is the time for you and me to look for those opportunities to show and share the love of Jesus in our words and our deeds. Pray that God will give you the chance to invite a person to church or be there to pray for them when needed or do a Bible study together. Pray for the opportune time to share your Savior with someone else!
At all costs cling to the revealed God. Allow no one to take the child Jesus from you. Hold fast to Christ, and you will never be lost. God the Father longs for you. God the Son wishes to be your Savior, your Liberator. In this kind and lovely manner has God freed us from these terrible assaults and trials.
Martin Luther, from "For All the Saints," Vol II, page 1199
Last Sunday is a day I will not soon forget. Life in Christ sent me off in retirement in style. Everything was perfect - the service, the festivities, the meal. My dear, sweet wife and I have always said that Life in Christ is the best - no other church compares (I know, we're slightly prejudiced). Praise God for His church and His people!
We flew to Florida this past Monday morning for some rest and relaxation. I took along with me a book I had read before - Brennan Manning's "The Ragmuffin Gospel." If you've not read this dandy of a book, find it and read it. I seemed to highlight something on every page.
For example, take a look at this heartfelt prayer of confession: Lord Jesus, we are silly sheep who have dared to stand before You and try to bribe You with our preposterous portfolios. Suddenly we have come to our senses. We are sorry and ask You to forgive us. Give us the grace to admit we are ragamuffins, to embrace our brokenness, to celebrate Your mercy when we are at our weakest, to rely on Your mercy no matter what we may do, Dear Jesus, gift us to stop grandstanding and trying to get attention, to do the truth quietly without display, to let the dishonesties in our lives fade away, to accept our limitations, to cling to the Gospel of grace and to delight in Your love. Amen.
They say, "Confession is good for the soul." The Psalmist David would agree. In Psalm 32 he writes how a guilty conscience leads to misery. But then in verse five he writes: I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and You (the Lord) forgave the iniquity of my sin. It's no accident that our worship each Sunday begins with confession and absolution. We "ragamuffins" need to confess our sins. And then we hear those comforting words, "For the sake of Jesus Christ, God forgives you all your sins." As you go to worship tomorrow, praise God for His gift of forgiveness!