Fix your thoughts on Jesus!

You've been asked the question a thousand times - "Whatcha thinkin?" It seems that where there is no better way to start a conversation, a question like, "What's on your mind," is a good way to get the discussion rolling.

There are lots of things upon which we can focus our attention.  A new Covid 19 threat.  Rising gas and food costs.  Whether or not the Suns will be able to sign Chris Paul to a new contract.

If there is any one thing you could focus your thoughts upon, the writer to the Hebrews would suggest this: "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."  (Hebrews 3:1)

A very good suggestion indeed.  But how does one go about thinking on Jesus? First, you could start by pondering the meaning of Jesus' name.  His name means Savior.  You could think and pray and give thanks that Jesus is your Savior from sin and death.  In 3:1, Jesus is called an "apostle."  This is a reference to Jesus' mission to carry out the will of the Father and bring reconciliation to the world.  You could think and pray and give thanks that you are now a child of the Father through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus is also called a "high priest."  This refers to the sacrifice that Jesus made, paying for all your sins on the cross.  You could think and pray and give thanks for the forgiveness and new life you've received through faith in your great "high priest."

Do you have a lot on your mind? You can clear your head! "Fix your thoughts on Jesus!"

The story of the waiting father

The parable of the prodigal son is really a story about the waiting father.  I know who the prodigal is.  It is I who so foolishly and so often have left the Father's house.  What I need to know is about the heavenly Father.  Does He write me out of HIs will or long for my return home? Will He slam the door of heaven in my face or open His arms to me? Will He treat me like some slave or take me back as a son or daughter? Here's the answer! Because of another Son, named Jesus, who left His Father's house on the task of salvation and returned with it completed, my Father will be waiting for me.

From "Together with Jesus," July 20 devotion

Simply to Thy cross I cling

A friend of mine once said, "George, do you know why so many lawsuits get settled on the steps of the courthouse? Because no one wants to appear before the judge!"

There is a righteous judge we will all stand before on the Last Day.  The Bible teaches that every person who has ever lived will have to give an account of their life.  Is there much of a case that we could present before Almighty God? Not really.  This is how the apostle Paul puts it in Romans 3:10 - "There is no one righteous, no, not one."

Discouraged? Keep reading Romans 3.  Think of Paul as your defense attorney.  Look at the case he presents on your behalf in Romans 3:21-26.  Paul presents the great doctrine of "Justification by Faith."  Paul teaches that a person is declared just or right in God's sight (justification) on the basis of God's grace.  This is through faith alone in Jesus Christ, apart from our good works or our trying to keep the Law perfectly.   Having been declared righteous by God, He hands down His verdict on you and me - Not Guilty!

Left to our own devices, none of us could ever satisfy God's demands for perfect holiness.  But what God demands, He also provides for us through the suffering, death and resurrection of our Savior.  Through faith in Christ alone, we are declared righteous in God's sight and we live in peace with our Heavenly Father.  Like the hymnwriter, we say: "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling."

Come, Lord Jesus!

Of all the prayers we teach our children and grandchildren, this one (next to the Lord's Prayer) may be the most beloved:

Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.  And let these gifts to us be blessed.  Amen.

Not only does this little prayer invite Jesus to be our unseen guest as we give thanks and partake of the gifts He gives for our nourishment, "Come, Lord Jesus" also reminds us that:

* Jesus will come again on the Last Day with great power and glory

* Jesus will come to judge, as we confess in the Creed, "the living and the dead"

* Jesus will come again at a time when we least expect Him

* Jesus will come and we, His people, will be filled with much hope and joy

When we become adults, sometimes we set aside the prayers we prayed as a child.  Not so with this one.  Its words express the longing of every believing heart.  And so we pray Come, Lord Jesus!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What do we have in our baptism?

In Holy Baptism we have obtained the status of being children of God.  He is our Father and we are His children! He will sustain, preserve and provide for us.  He will never forsake us.  We have also received the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  All that Christ has obtained for us by His suffering and death has been given to us and made our own in Holy Baptism.  We have truly been united to Him.  He is our vine and we are the branches.  Through Him we obtain new strength for every good work, light, wisdom and grace.  There has been imparted to us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  He makes His home in us, sanctifies our hearts, governs our tongues and our lips, and enables us to order our lives according to the Word and will of God.  By this indwelling power of the Holy Spirit we are more and more drawn away from evil, and we begin to grow in faith, in godliness, and in the fear of God - just like a newborn baby grows in years and strength.  We also obtain everlasting salvation! When this life is over, we shall share eternal joy and glory.

"Starck's Prayer Book," pages 22-23

Seek His presence always

A favorite verse from the Psalms is "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."  (105:4)

Of this verse, theologian HC Leupold wrote: "For such seeking of God is nothing other than maintaining continual and fresh fellowship with Him, the unfailing source of all our strength, and so this means drawing ever closer to Him."

How does this "seeking" work? First, start in His House, listen to His Word, and respond by offering Your prayers.

Seek the Lord is worship each Sunday.  He's not hard to find.  God is present where His Word is, where His people gather.  He offers forgiveness for sins, His Gospel is worth hearing and obeying, His Body and Blood will fill you with peace.  But then continually "seek" the Lord by listening to Him as He speaks to You in His Word.  God's Spirit will enlighten you and help you deal with people and opportunities and problems.  God will surprise you with those "Ah-ha" moments when you open up Your Bible.  Then, offer up your praise, thanksgiving and petitions to the One who is glad to hear the voice of His dear child.

There is no magic to this "seeking" business.  Simply look for the Lord in the places where you know He will be found - in Word and Sacraments - and God will fill you with the faith and the strength you need for living out your new life in Christ!

Begin with thanksgiving

Have you ever begun your prayer time and couldn't think of a thing to pray about? Sometimes it happens.  You might be tired or fatigued.  Maybe you're puzzled by problems at home or work.  Occasionally we sit down to pray and our mind resembles an Arizona desert - dry, barren, lifeless.

The apostle Paul provides a tip for us who sometimes have trouble getting on with our prayers.  In verse three of chapter one of Philippians, Paul writes, "I thank my God every time I remember you."  

So, the next time you're stuck at "Dear Lord," think of the people in your life and give thanks for them.  Paul thanks God for the church at Philippi.  He gives thanks for their "partnership in the Gospel."  The Philippians gratefully received the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  This good news filled their hearts with great, great joy.  Not only did they hear God's Word but they also put it into practice.  The Holy Spirit, working through the Word of God, enabled the Philippians to stand firm in times of persecution while motivating them to help and encourage one another with their time and riches.  Seeing these people growing in Christian faith was a help to Paul, especially since he wrote Philippians while under house arrest in Rome.

Not only does Paul see the church growing in true faith, he has also been on the receiving end of their generosity.  When they learned of Paul's detention, they quickly gathered an offering to help the apostle with his needs.  You can see why every time Paul thought of the Philippians, he offered up to God a prayer of thanksgiving.

For whom can you give thanks? Who in your life has been such a blessing that they deserve a special petition of thanksgiving to the Lord? Your spouse...your child or grandchild...your best friend...a person you pray with or worship with?  If you're not sure where to begin when you pray, follow Paul's example - begin with thanksgiving!