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