God's Word does what it says - it forgives!

In nearly 25 years of parish ministry, if I heard it once I heard it a dozens of times:

Pastor, I don't know how God can forgive me.

What were some of the reasons for feeling this sense of desperation? Feeling responsible for the divorce.  Poor money management leading to bankruptcy.  Trying to make someone at work look bad.  Abandoning the children when they were so young.  Having a fling with the neighbor next door.  And these reasons are only a few of the many.

Pastor, how could God forgive a person like me?

My heart went out to those believed that God's forgiveness and grace couldn't reach out far enough to remove the guilt and shame that seemed to weigh them down like a boat anchor.

But nothing is impossible for God.  And as we turned to His Word these hurting souls discovered that God can and does forgive repentant people.

Read Isaiah 55:10-11: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and grow...so is my Word that goes out from my mount: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God's Word will accomplish what He desires it to do - it does what it says.  It can forgive the worst sinner.

When we come to worship, we come carrying some baggage.  We haven't been perfectly loving or caring.  We haven't obeyed God's Word. We haven't loved our neighbor.  We've fallen to the "you do you" philosophy of seeking what's best for ourselves without a thought about what's best for others. 

But at church we are invited to get rid of the baggage.  To let go of the guilt.  To discard the desperation.  We confess our sins.  But it doesn't end there.

God speaks to us loud and clear, clearly enough to do the thing we didn't think God could do for us.  We hear the pronouncement - "Your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen."

I've also said the same words in my office or in the living room of a person's home.  No matter the setting, God's Word does what it says.  It forgives sin.  It removes guilt.  It restores hope.

One of the privileges of being a parish pastor was to assure people that "God can and has forgiven a person like you.  He has done this for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ, who took that boat anchor of sin upon His shoulders and paid for it with His blood, shed on the cross.

And when Christ cried out from the cross, "It is finished!" His mission of forgiveness and redemption for the whole world was completed.  Even for those who believed that they were unforgivable.

How about you? Feeling like you've said or done or thought something that God couldn't forgive.  Remember that God's Word does what it says.  It accomplishes what God desires.  And He desires to forgive the repentant and give the assurance nothing can separate you from His love and grace.  Live in that grace today!

TGW - hot off the press!

 

TGW – Jan. 10-15, 2022

Monday, January 10, 2022                                  Read Joshua 8:10-29

See verse 18 again – how easy it would have been for Joshua to have said, “Really, Lord?” But Joshua obeys and takes God at His Word and Ai, his army and city are thoroughly destroyed.  Israel wins a mighty victory, orchestrated by the Lord.  Pray: As Joshua followed Your instructions, help me, God, to do Your will too.  Amen.

 

Tuesday, January 11, 2022                                  Read Joshua 8:30-35

“This event rededicates the people to the covenant and announces to those in the Promised Land that God has come to claim the land.  The Law is written in stone to remind the people it has not gone away.”  (Lutheran Study Bible, page 354).  Pray: Lord, as Your covenant was reestablished with Israel, so let me rejoice in the New Covenant You have given to me through Christ Jesus.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2022                           Read Psalm 13:1-6

Ever find yourself becoming impatient? That is the temptation David felt.  Yet, he does not let such feelings get the best of him.  He teaches us an important lesson.  In times of despair, keep on trusting in the Lord who promises to work all things for our good, His dear children.  Pray: Forgive me, O Lord, when I fail to trust in Your promises.  You hear me when I pray.  Receive my praise this day.  Amen.

 

Thursday, January 13, 2022                                Read Matthew 12:38-50

Important – a demand for miracles is prior evidence that no miracle will be believed.  Jesus’ response points to the greatest miracle of all – and one that the Pharisees will reject as well.  Pray: Dear Father, thank You for claiming me as Your child, a brother or sister of Jesus.  Amen.

 

Friday, January 14, 2022                                      Read Matthew 13:1-17

This familiar parable drives home an important point – it teaches us how the Gospel takes root in us and yields great blessings.  It is impossible to have God’s Word take root in a calloused heart.  Pray: Jesus, keep me safe in Your Word so that my eyes see and my ears hear of Your wondrous love for me.  Amen.

 

Saturday, January 15, 2022                                 Read Galatians 4:21-31

Abraham took matters into his own hands, so to speak, when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.  This displeased God who made Abraham wait 14 years before Isaac was born.  A person trying to save themselves will suffer God’s wrath for no one can live the perfect life required by God.  A person who trusts in God alone for salvation is a free child of God.  Pray: Lord, let me rejoice in the Gospel of Jesus for in Him I have salvation and life eternal.  Amen.

The Irishman's Parking Space

A man drove up to his local bar on a busy evening and was dismayed that he couldn't find a parking space.

He looked skyward and prayed, "Lord, if you'll grant me a space, I'll come to church every Sunday like a good disciple should."

Low and behold, a space opens up right in front of him.  With that the man looked skyward and said, "Never mind, I found one."

Have a great weekend! Will post again on Monday.

A faith that sees Jesus

Today is Epiphany, that day in the church year when we celebrate the arrival of the Magi who have come to see the One "who has been born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2)  We believe that the Magi traveled many months covering hundreds of miles in order to worship the new born King.

Try as we may, it is nearly impossible to imagine what it must have been like as these men first set their eyes on our Immanuel, God with us.  But author Richard Lauersdorf points out that we also have our own Epiphany experience.

Whenever we open that Word, we see the Savior.  All of its teachings revolve around its central message of God's Son coming into the world to pay for sin and prepare peace again with our Maker.  Guided by that star, we have knelt at Jesus' baby bed and cruel cross.  We have rejoiced in His resurrection and received the promise of His return.  "We have seen His star," we say with the Magi, not in the east, but, better still, in His Word.

So, it is not just the Magi who have the great blessing of seeing the Christ child.  We too, with the eyes of faith, see Jesus.  We see Him overcome the devil in the wilderness.  We see Him have mercy on those weighed down by sin.  We see Him show the religious elites as hypocrites.  We see Him cradle children in His arms while He encourages us to desire to have a faith like theirs.

We also see Jesus arrested, tried and sentenced to death.  We see Him hang in agony on the cross.  We see His suffering which is caused by our sinful ways.  We see Him breath His last and die.

We also see an empty tomb, an angel telling the women, "He is not here; He is risen!"  We see the shock and awe as the risen Jesus appears before His cowering disciples.  We see Him ascend in majesty into heaven.  We look for His return to judge the living and the dead.  We await His gathering up of all who believe in Him to be in His presence forever.

Enjoy your very own Epiphany today and give thanks for a faith that sees Jesus!

Lose That Luggage in 2022!

            Have you made any New Year’s resolutions for 2011? I shared mine yesterday - Scripture memorization.  Maybe you want to spend more time with family…get in shape or get out of debt or get better organized…quit smoking or drinking or some other bad habit…reach out to help others and perhaps the most popular – lose some weight.

            I want to lose some luggage!

            For some of you it might be just a carry-on bag.  Or maybe you need to lose the entire set.  Most of us are far more bogged down with baggage than we even realize. 

            How many handbags of animosity do you carry…how many suitcases of resentment do you pack…how many rolling bags of hatred do you take out of the closet…how many extra pounds of grudges would the airline charge you for?

            Take your lead from the apostle Paul, who wrote to the Colossians: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and…forgiving each other.

            This call to forgiveness, Paul writes, is not simply a nice suggestion but a must.  As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  Doesn’t sound like there are any loopholes, are there?

            Why would we want to live otherwise? Who wants to live weighed down and bent over carrying baggage with prevents the healing of hurts and emotions.  That is not God’s design for His chosen ones.

            You see, sin – which includes that inclination to be baggage carriers – is our greatest problem.  Forgiveness – getting that luggage out of our hands and off our backs – is our greatest need.  Forgiveness is ours as God’s free gift to us!

            However, while that forgiveness is free, it also was costly.  Jesus carried a heavy load – our baggage – to a hill outside Jerusalem.  His enemies thought He had succumbed under all of that excess baggage.  But three days later, Jesus rose victorious.  He is greater than the greatest burden we can carry.  There is nothing the devil or the world or our sinful flesh can load upon us that Jesus hasn’t already dealt with.

            Maybe you’ve tried to rid yourself of bags and bags of bitterness, anger and resentment.  And yet, you start a brand new year saddled down again with this luggage you’d rather do with.  What now?

            Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

            As we pray in this petition, we are asking our Lord to let His love lead us, to take charge of our lives.  We put on His love so that we might react with the same mercy toward others as Jesus has shown us.  Such forgiveness is the fruit of God’s forgiveness in our lives.

            Why not make an exchange.  Give Jesus your burdensome luggage for His light and easy yoke.  Jesus wants to free you from that which separates you from your friend or neighbor.  He wants nothing to stand in your way of loving and forgiving those who have become a burden for you.

            What piece of luggage will you lose this year? 

A New Year's Resolution Worth Making

Made any new year's resolutions? I'm making one - only one - and I'm looking forward to getting started today.

A few years ago we encouraged Scripture memorization at Life in Christ.  We provided cards with Bible verses printed on them and encouraged folks to pick them up and memorize the verse.  One person told me they walk on a treadmill every morning so they taped the cards where they could see them and practice them.  Another person said that working on memorizing the verses while making their commute to work helped the trip feel a bit shorter.

When we began this exercise I shared some tips for memorizing the verses.  They were:

Write it down - some people find it helpful to write down several times on a piece of paper the verse being memorized.  Writing down each words and connecting one thought to another makes memorization easier.

Listen up - An audio Bible is a great tool for those who memorize and learn better by hearing.  Listening to the Scriptures will help you recall the verses you've already worked on.

Tape it up - I've already touched on this and, for some, this is a very helpful way of keeping those memory cards front and center, so to speak.  Wherever you spend lots of time, whether it is in your car, in front of your computer or at the refrigerator, tape copies of the cards and post them in those places where you're sure to see them regularly.

Be accountable - Ask your spouse or friend to check up on you each week to make sure that you're working on your memory verses.  Gentle encouragement can go a long way to making sure you're memorizing and treasuring God's Word.

Here's a verse to get started. I don't think I know anyone who hasn't memorized John 3:16.  The Gospel in a nutshell, some people call it.  But what about the next verse, John 3:17?

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Here we are reminded that Jesus' mission wasn't to be one of judgment but salvation for you and me.  That's good news worth memorizing.

Are you up to making Bible memorization a new year's resolution? Give it a try! You might find that your faith in the Lord is strengthened as you make memorizing His Word a priority this year.

TGW for Jan. 3-8, 2022

Hello everyone! Hope you had a blessed Christmas and a New Year's celebration with family and friends.  Here's a great way to start the first Monday in January - with a reading from Treasuring God's Word.  God bless your week!

TGW – Jan. 3-8, 2022

Monday, January 3, 2022                                     Read Joshua 7:15-26

“Give glory to God” is an interesting phrase.  In so many words it means “tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”  Achan does just that.  He makes no effort to deny his thievery.  God’s judgement seems harsh but it sends a clear message – Hear the Lord!  Pray: Thank You, God for the promise that You forgive my sins and cleans me from unrighteousness.  Amen.

 

Tuesday, January 4, 2022                                     Read Joshua 8:1-9

Now that Achan’s sin has been dealt with, God gives Joshua and the people a second opportunity to defeat Ai.  Even though the battle has yet to happen, the victory is as certain as the sun rising in the east.  Pray: God, when I am afraid, help me turn to Your Word where you will speak comfort and help to me.  Amen.

 

Wednesday, January 5, 2022                              Read Psalm 12:1-8

Everywhere the psalmist David looks, he sees deceitful, evil people.  No one can be trusted.  He cries out for the Lord’s protection and trusts that God will rise up and answer his prayer.  God’s words are flawless; the same word is used in the Old Testament in describing an animal for sacrifice.  Pray: O God, Your Word is flawless.  Help me to hear Your Word and obey it.  Amen.

 

Thursday, January 6, 2022                                   Read Matthew 12:1-21

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”  With these words Jesus shows us that God looks for us to offer mercy to others that reflects the same mercy we receive from Him.  Jesus shows mercy to the man with the withered hand, which leads the hypocritical Pharisees to hate Jesus even more.  Pray: Jesus, I am like the bruised reed or the smoldering wick.  Have mercy upon me this day.  Amen.

 

Friday, January 7, 2022                                         Read Matthew 12:22-37.

Jesus teaches that the miracles that He does gives solid proof that the Kingdom of God has come.  “Blasphemy against the Spirit,” is simple unbelief in Jesus; to reject the Gospel is to reject Jesus Himself.  In that there can be no forgiveness.  Pray: Jesus, thank You for the forgiveness and new life You won for me at the cross.  Help me live for You.  Amen.

 

Saturday, January 8, 2022                                   Read Galatians 4:8-20

In his ministry, Paul wore many hats.  In this section, he writes as a pastor.  They are dear to him, like little children.  Paul does not want them to relinquish the freedom they received when the Gospel was preached to them.  The apostle can’t stand the thought of the people becoming enslaved by laws and traditions that drive people away from faith the true God.  Pray: Lord, prepare my heart to hear and receive the blessings found in the Gospel of Jesus in worship.  Amen.