Sermon Texts

November 13, 2022 – Stewardship Sunday                            Text:  Luke 12:13-21

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Almost everyone in the world from Alaska to Australia, from Siberia to South African observe a general festival of thanksgiving.  In Bible times both Pentecost and Succoth were such festivals.  The idea did not originate with the Pilgrims.  We mark the completion of seedtime and harvest.  In reality, we usually spend the weekend overeating, oversitting and overspending.  Prayerfully, we remember our many blessings.  We have a total dependence upon God.  It is Stewardship Sunday, and this question is posed . . . 

“DO YOU HAVE A LASTING BLESSING?”

    Stewardship Sundays are usually on one of three topics – our talent, our time, our treasure.  Looking at sermons of the past on this day they have usually been on time and talent with a little treasure thrown in.  That is my fault.  I don’t like people telling me what do with my treasure so I have shied away from preaching on it.  But that is ridiculous as this is a biblical topic.   When we sent the letter out earlier this year on the state of the church’s finances you brothers and sisters are so amazing you thanked us for it.  You want to know.  It’s your church.  We are in this together.  This sermon like the letter is not an “open your pocketbooks” more Law sermon.  It is a reminder of what good fortune we have been blessed with.  It is that reminder that all good gifts come from God.  It is that reminder that what we have is temporary in one way but what the Lord provides is eternal.  

    Only about half of you who are in the pews this morning will stay for our meeting today.    I don’t need to reiterate the challenges we faced at the end of last year and beginning of this year.  It has made…well 2022…a good exercise in frugality.  But as always, along the way the gracious hand of our Lord has been a constant.  We approached a few tipping points and then boom….thank you Lord!  

    Do you know the most surprising part of the pandemic for those of us in the clergy?  The offerings given.  Never expected it.  75-80% of LCMS churches saw higher offerings in 2020.  Studies have been done as to why, but the main reason…God is good.  Most churches have seen the opposite in 2022.  Why?  Because people are scared.  Why did people build bomb shelters in the 1950’s or why did those who lived through the Depression horde food?  Fear.  It paralyzes us.  As I said earlier in a sermon and it has borne itself out in our giving, $5 gas scared us.  You then add on the cost of energy, food, sundry items and we all start to look inward instead of outward.  Why can’t we in the 21st century figure out a way to have new cars on the lots?  Cars are being made, we all know that.  When life doesn’t make sense where do we go?

    God’s Word.  It is really that simple.  Today’s text has been called “The Parable of the Rich Fool.”  However, he wasn’t a fool for being rich.  He was probably a great farmer or good business manager.  The man was a fool because of the wrong conclusions he drew from being rich.  His riches were foolishness because they were wrongly used.

    His biggest problem was that he his didn’t realize his riches had no lasting value.  “Fool!  This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (v. 20)  He had a temporary blessing.  Sooner or later, it would be taken away.

    Look at all the pronouns in this text they are almost all “I” and “my”.  It is the same way we speak.  My house, my car, my money, my clothes.  Are they really ours?  Does the farmer cause the seed to germinate and the rain to fall and the sun to shine?  That all comes from the hand of God.  God entrusts us with many things, but they are really His because He provided them.

    Do you have a lasting blessing?  Today people are not buried in a shroud.  It is usually a nice suit or dress.  In earlier times a shroud was used.  But it lacks one thing – pockets.  The reason?  We take nothing with us when we go, even as we brought nothing with us when we came.  Jesus came into the world with no home, no fancy clothes, no comfortable bed.  Still, on the Last Day, every knee will bow before Him.  Why?  Because he was poor?  No, because He faithfully carried out the Father’s will to save us.

    You see the Lord knows you are sacred.  He made you.  You are the crown of His creation.  He provides you with the greatest riches.  Your fear is replaced with hope.  Your inward cocoon now sees outward possibilities.  He unfolds your tight fists with percentage giving.  It is all made possible through His love and grace.  A Calvary Cross.  An empty tomb.  A promise to always be with us.  What is there to be frightened of?  Read your history.  Really, everything in His hands.  We have a priceless inheritance with Christ in heaven.  I can’t wait for that lasting blessing to be an eternal joy.  Are you there, with me?  I look forward to seeing you.

    Today is again a reminder that we are all rich.  In a way the world doesn’t understand.  May God grant us such a faith in Him, that our hearts and eyes will be fixed where true joys are to be found.  That we will be grateful stewards of the material things entrusted to us and use them for God’s glory and the welfare of others. 

                            Amen.           

October 30, 2022                            Text:  Revelation 14:6-7

Dear Friends in Christ,

    We all can be disagreeable.  What disagreements are worth it?  In my anecdotal evidence collecting of the last 30 years there is one thing that stands out this time of the year especially among spouses.  What temperature are we going to set the thermostat at for the winter months?  There seems to be a lot of disagreement among spouses.  One of you likes it   cooler, one of you likes it warmer.  Most of us end up compromising and set it at a temperature we can live with.  The same thing tends to happen with the summer thermostat setting.  At the Lueck household we have learned that we are not going to agree.  I prefer sauna.  Toni prefers igloo.  We have found the disagreement is not worth it.  With the price of natural gas this winter, I am willing to concede another degree or so.  How does it play out at your home?  We even have the same challenge here at church with competing voices.  

    Today is Reformation Sunday.  Was the disagreement Martin Luther and the reformers had against the Roman Catholic Church at the time worth it?  Is the disagreement still worth fighting for today?  Let’s see where we land as we answer . . .

“WAS (IS) THE DISAGREEMENT WORTH IT?”

    Our text is from Revelation 14.  “I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.” (v. 6)

    Having been Lutheran my whole life I learned for the first time this week that many Lutherans thought for years that the angel or messenger referred to here is the reformer, Martin Luther.  C.F.W. Walther, the first president of the LCMS preached in a sermon just 177 years ago this, “The angel, the one sent from God, who flew through the midst of heaven is Luther, and the eternal Gospel that he preached is Luther’s doctrine.”

    For the last one hundred years not a single Lutheran can be found who still believes this way.  But it is not far-fetched that many felt this way for so long because Luther, by the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, had set them free from utter bondage.  And that was no small thing.

Walther characterizes it this way:  “Before (Luther’s Day), nearly a thousand years of spiritual darkness had settled over all of Christianity…The light of the pure Gospel was lost nearly everywhere…the Holy Scriptures lay in dust, right in the midst of Christianity…Christianity languished in fearful despair and anxiety.  Thousands had, in their previous predicament of sin, cried out in vain, ‘What must we do to be saved?’ but there was no answer.”

It was really bad.  It does not get more desperate or worse in this life, than when a man does not know, cannot find, the gracious God revealed at last in the Gospel that Luther discovered in the Scriptures and proclaimed so clearly.

This idea of infused grace, conditional penance and mitigated forgiveness could not satisfy his yearning to know that God was his friend and not his enemy.  The Roman Catholic system at the time was good at raising money but had little to deliver man under the burden of the flesh a clean conscience and confidence with God.  

Luther with a great desire to understand the Bible and with God’s grace found that Christ is his Savior from sin.  God the Father declares him righteous in love.  Christ is your Savior.  His death on the cross has taken away your sin, given you eternal life, despite your sin, entirely apart from any works of yours.  No credit belongs to us poor sinners, but all the glory for our salvation, our standing, and our confidence belongs to God alone.  This is what Luther preached.

So is what he did worth it?  Was the disagreement worth everything that he gave up, including his freedom for a time?  We have to respond yes.  His grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone preaching and teaching was and is important.  We no longer have to worry about doing enough.  Christ has done it all in our place.  This is a free gift given to us by our gracious Lord.  This message is still important.  It transforms lives.  Both in Luther’s Day and in our day.  

We continue to battle for the truth of the Bible.  The inspired, inerrant Word of God does not change.  We preach and teach the Law and Gospel.  Yes, we struggle in our sin but we are saved through forgiveness that comes through Christ Jesus.  We are strengthened in the Word and the Sacrament.  

The thermostat may not be worth the battle, but the Word of God always will be.  It needed to be reformed in Luther’s Day and so many believers came back to what our text says, “Fear God and give him glory…worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”  Our text also says, “the hour of his judgment has come.”  Therefore, we continue to stand for the truth of His Word.  We desire, through the Holy Spirit, as Scripture declares, “that all people be saved.”  We still have work to do.

The Reformation disagreement was and is worth it.  We do well to remember it with thanksgiving to God.

            Amen.              
    

October 23, 2022                                        Text:  Genesis 4:1-15

Dear Friends in Christ,

    “Raising Cain.”  Do you know where this statement and its variations come from?  Well, you are fortunate to be here this morning, because you are about to get the answer.  In the May 2, 1840 edition of the St. Louis Daily Pennant they had this quote, “Why have we every reason to believe that Adam and Eve were both rowdies?  Because…they both raised Cain.”  In modern day lingo we may say, “He said he would raise Cain if they didn’t give him a refund.”

    We still have a saying that ties us to the beginning of the world.  “Raising Cain” can be defined as causing trouble or behaving disruptively.  Cain does that in our text, doesn’t he?  What led to his action?  What motivated his behavior?  

“WHAT DOES GOD CONSIDER AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE?”

    Both these sons of Adam and Eve were workers.  Cain tended the soil given to Adam and Abel tended their flocks.  At the end of the growing season, they were bringing an offering to the Lord.  But what makes the difference here and then leads to murder?

    Cain’s heart was not right with God. His offering was given without a love for the Lord God.  Abel’s heart was right with God.  He wanted the Lord to have the firstfruits.  What kind of heart is not right with God, making a sacrifice unacceptable?  Someone just going through the motions because it is expected.  Cain simply brought some of his fruit.  The text does not say he brought the best or did it gladly.  Abel gave the firstborn of his flock and the fat portions.  He gave the Lord his best.

    Because of this the Lord “had no regard” for Cain’s offering and Cain became angry and “his face fell.”  We could say Cain’s heart wasn’t in it.  But then he is not bothered by the fact his sacrifice was unacceptable to God.  Rather, Cain was concerned that he was “shown up” by his brother.  Cain’s pride took a hit, he hated Abel so much he killed him.  It was all about Cain, not about God.

    Today we are all about the show.  “Don’t show me up.”  We can’t have our pride dented.  This week in the baseball playoffs a home run was hit, nothing unusual about that.  But as the baserunner rounded the bases, he rocked his arms back and forth to tell the pitcher “he was his baby.”  The video was everywhere.  Do you know what is going to transpire next?  This guy is going to get plunked, which means a pitcher on the opposing team is going to hit him with a baseball.  In the unwritten rules (does anyone know what that means?) you don’t “show up” another player.  Anger ensues.  Somebody is going to “raise Cain.”  

    Do you and I ever “raise Cain” because someone showed us up?  I have numerous times playing sports.  My anger came out.  What about you?  Maybe not in sports, but in a sibling rivalry?  Maybe a friend did something that you took the wrong way and the “I am going to get them” came out.  Do we ever take a joke from a family member the wrong way?  

    God warned Cain and gave him a chance to repent but it never happened.  Even after the murder Cain was only about his own safety.  We pray to the Lord to keep us from having such a heart.

    So, what kind of heart is right with God, making a sacrifice acceptable?  The heart of faith.  We are enemies of God who are headed to hell.  We are unable to earn salvation.  Faith is created and preserved by God, in His grace, mercy, and love.  This heart believes in the triune God, and in Jesus Christ as Savior.  This heart confesses wrongdoing and receives from Christ forgiveness and everlasting life.  The believer is covered with the righteousness Christ acquired for all people by His holy life and His innocent suffering and death.  Because of Jesus, the sacrifices of believers are acceptable to God.

    Abel had, and we have, this kind of heart.  Abel believed the Gospel promise of Genesis 3:15.  His parents, Adam and Eve, believed this Gospel, looking forward to the future Savior.  Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.  And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

    Abel does still speak to us.  Our heart of faith leads us to bring our best to the Lord.  Everything we have is from His hand, His blessing.  We bring our best sacrifices to the Lord willingly, with sincerity, because we love the Lord and because we are grateful for the salvation He freely grants to us.

    What are the sacrifices we bring to the Lord today?  Our monetary offerings.  Our sacrifice of praise.  Our lives are given to the Lord as a sacrifice.  We dedicate ourselves to God and to serving Him.  Empowered by His Word and Sacrament, we live according to His will, doing good, and showing love to others.

    “Raising Cain” can lead to unacceptable sacrifice.  But the Lord, through Abel, has shown again today what He expects from us.  Thank God that because of His saving work in our lives, we offer sacrifices that are acceptable to Him.  By His grace and power – let us continue!

                                                Amen.         

October 16, 2022                                Text:  Luke 18:1-8

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Phillips Brooks was an American clergyman of the Episcopal church who died in 1893.  You know him as the man who wrote the words to “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”  The story goes that at times he suffered moments of great frustration and irritability.  One day, a friend saw him pacing the floor.  He asked, “What’s the trouble, Dr. Brooks?”  And Brooks replied, “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God is not.”

    Hit home for some of us?  Remember this, (God says) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Is. 55:8). There are many things that test our faith and the “things” have intensified.  So the question is . . .

“WHEN JESUS COMES BACK WILL HE FIND FAITH ON EARTH?”

    If God is real and full of love than why doesn’t He stop all the wars and hatred and molestations and shootings and starvation and…you name it.  Have you ever slandered someone?  Why didn’t God stop that?  Have you ripped someone’s heart with your words?  Why didn’t God stop that?  Ever told a lie or used God’s name in vain or lusted or flirted with someone other than your spouse?  Why didn’t God stop that?  Ever wished someone were dead?  Why didn’t God stop that?  Ever got caught up the peripherals of church instead of focusing on whether God’s Word is being preached here?  Why didn’t God stop that?

    Here is a better question.  Why doesn’t the human race stop doing all the terrible things they shouldn’t be doing but they do them anyway?  Why do the atheists and cynics ask all the pathetic questions that make no sense?

    Our text ends, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  The implication is that there is something wrong with all of us.  Something that drives us into all sorts of horrible thinking and verbalizing and deeds.  Something…called sin.  Why doesn’t man stop it?

    You have heard the parable, so what does it all mean.  First, the parable is not a comparison between the unjust judge and God.  The parable is a contrast between the two.  When the widow keeps persisting what is the motive of the judge?  “Because the widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” (v. 5).  God is not an unrighteous judge.  But even if an unrighteous man will give justice to the persistent, how much more will our righteous God do so?

    God has a deep and abiding love for His people.  It is expressed in these words of Jesus:  “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn. 10:14-15). Time and again, the Gospel impresses upon us that Christ died for sinners.

    Ok, I know what some of you are thinking.  It is in the text, “Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?  Will he delay long over them?  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” (vs. 7-8a)  How many of us are like Phillips Brooks?  We are in a hurry for a resolution, but God doesn’t seem to be?  “Why doesn’t God do…?”  And you fill in the blanks.  

    When Jesus said these words in Luke 18, what was near?  The most decisive act of God in vindicating His elect, namely the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Why doesn’t God stop our bad acts?  Because He can’t.  We are men and women who have free will.  But He will do something so we don’t carry around the guilty baggage.  He sent his Son, our Lord, to be the atoning sacrifice for our bad choices.  He forgives our slander, and bad words, and lust, and hatred and when we lose focus on the Gospel.  He sees them all and He forgives them all.  In our daily prayers, don’t many of us ask for that forgiveness?  The need never goes away.  The Good News is that God’s gift of salvation through Jesus never goes away.  The last verse of our text says, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  This is a rhetorical question, urging faithfulness.  This is the key ingredient in our prayers – faithfulness.

    Now let’s get to question:  why doesn’t God act quicker?  Scripture answers that.  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)  Are you and I thankful that the Lord did not return the day before we were brought to faith?  Right?  It might seem a crazy question since we were brought to faith, but think about it.  Not wishing that any would perish.

    Matthew tells us, “lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Mt. 24:12)  The admonition is clear, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt. 24:13)

We as God’s people will not escape bearing the cross or suffering for Christ.  The focal point is not this world.  It is this, “your redemption is drawing near.”  “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

    God help us to answer in the affirmative.  “Always pray and never lose heart.”  The persistent widow is our example.  God’s answer is our strength:  “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?”

                        Amen.

October 9, 2022                                  Text:  2 Timothy 2:1-13

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Have you ever been invited to a prison?  In this profession you get to go to a lot of places you never imagined.  I have been to a county jail, a juvenile detention center, and a minimum-security prison.  As they say, “it is not a good feeling when those doors clank behind you.”  It helps to understand the freedom taken away. 

    Paul invites Timothy to Rome, but this is no vacation.  There will be no visiting of interesting sites or a day excursion to the Mediterranean.  Paul is in prison.  Why invite Timothy?  All he could do was minister to a weakened, doomed old man.  He was also risking guilt by association which could mean his own imprisonment or execution.  Yet, Paul makes a compelling argument.

    In our text this morning Paul issues us the same invitation.  How eager will be to join him?  

“HOW CAN WE ANSWER THE CALL TO SUFFER FOR THE GOSPEL?”

    The first thing Timothy needs, and you and I need is strengthening.  “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (v. 1)  Paul uses three analogies to help Timothy understand his pastoral task:  the Christian is like a combat soldier, a competing athlete, and a hardworking farmer.

    Can you relate to any or all three?  I believe most of us can.  A soldier follows commands, despite the suffering involved.  We follow God’s Word even though it could involve mental, physical, or emotional pain.  As an athlete we have had to work for the win, we had to compete to be crowned the victor.  When I ran suicides on the gym floor I wasn’t celebrating inside, I was sucking air.  But that burning sensation in my lungs put me in shape for the fourth quarter.  No sucking air just stamina to win the game.  As a Christian the only way to receive the crown is to be in the arena competing.  Sitting on the sidelines is not an option.  Believe me I try, and the Lord just keeps pulling me in.  He could use my witness.  He can use your witness.  For the farmer, his hard work would give him a first claim on the best crops.  The Lord gives us the best as the seed is planted in our heart.  The word of faith grows and prospers and allows us to share the best crop with others.

    I love what Paul does here for Timothy, he tells him to remember.  “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.  But the word of God is not bound.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (vs. 8-10)

    Paul is not just under house arrest, he is in a dark, dank, smelly dungeon.  But it is a good comparison that the living and active Word cannot be imprisoned or chained – it accomplishes God’s desires.  He is enduring for the elect, that is the Christians.  We all need each other so that we can answer the call to suffer for the gospel.

    Is any of this a picture of what motivates you to stand up for Jesus and His Word?  All of it should.  I know this is what happens in my brain when confronted with those who want to bash the name of Jesus or His teachings.  I am strengthened by Him.  My athletic training helps me endure.  I remember Jesus and what his Word can accomplish and then I do it for the other Christians in my life.  I want the boys to see what Christian involvement looks like.  I want to strengthen our marriage as Toni and I stand together.  I want the Lord to use my situations to encourage the situations of you brothers and sisters in the pews.  You do the same for me.  I am strengthened by your witness.

    Paul was in chains not for what he believed but for what he preached.  The world will not slight you or hate you for what you believe – as long as you keep it to yourself.  We pray for the strength to share this wonderful message with the world.

    Contrary to legal understanding, God’s justice is not fairness or giving one what he deserves.  We deserve condemnation for those times we don’t open our mouths, or we allow the Word of God to be defamed.  A fair God would give us what we deserve.  Punishment and imprisonment forever.  Thank the Lord that His justice justifies us sinners.  He deems us righteous, on account of the person and work of Christ.  

    The temptation is to lose heart in these last days and believe the maxim, “justice delayed is justice denied.”  In God’s case, this is a lie.  Though the appearance of God’s Kingdom and his justice may seem delayed, “he will give justice.”  Indeed, He already has.  His justice, His righteousness, has already been passed on to you through your Baptism.  His Kingdom comes to you this morning as you participate in the feast of His Kingdom.  Do not lose heart, dear saints.  It is not fun in the sun every day here.  Let us endure suffering for the Gospel because it is God’s way of bringing others to glory.  Remember Jesus.  He is true to His promises.

                                            Amen.             

October 2, 2022 – LWML Sunday                            Text:  Romans 8:31-39

Dear Friends in the Christ,

    Think of the powerful images being conveyed by someone holding another’s hand.  The long-married couple clutching hands as one lies in a hospital bed.  The parents holding the hand of a newborn son or daughter.  The young couple on a first date nervous about touching each other’s hand.  Fast forward to that same couple grasping tightly those same hands in front of God’s altar as they make a lifelong commitment to each other.  

    Earlier this summer when we went hiking in the Colorado Rockies there were opportunities to grasp each other hands.  There were a few treacherous turns and loose rocks where a helping hand was wanted.  A good grip was needed.

    Today is LWML Sunday.  The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is an auxiliary organization of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  Their mites, small offerings that when combined throughout Synod make millions of dollars every few years for mission projects around the world.  For decades this organization has given a strong witness to how God’s love holds each of us.

    Our text is from Romans 8.  God is . . .

“FOR US AND WITH US”

    The main subject in our text is God.  The danger for us is that at times we may think our success depends upon our grip, our hold, our work.  The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives a different perspective.  It is quite clear that God’s everlasting love holds us.

    Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of condemnation.  Paul writes, “What shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.” (vs. 31-32).  What things?  Paul has just acknowledged that God has done everything for our salvation.  Therefore, how should we respond?  Paul continues:

    “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn?  Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (vs. 33-34)

    Why did Jesus die?  You know, to pay for our sins.  Why was He raised?  Because the Father accepted this payment.  The check has cleared.  He died so that we might live.

    Now Jesus is interceding for us.  He is in the battle for us.  Corrie Ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”  Think about your life?  How did things go this week, for you?  Did you speak to a loved one in a tone you would like to take back?  Did you push away someone trying to assist you?  Did you refuse a helping hand?  We all fall short of the glory of God.  The pit can be quite deep at times…but God’s love is deeper still.  His arm is long and able to rescue us.  Those arms and legs were spread on a cross to rescue us.  Those limbs were made alive again as Jesus was raised from the dead.  Jesus is with us and for us.

    Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have no fear of separation.  God will not let go of your hand.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vs. 35-39)

    Notice what Paul does not say in the text.  He does not say that our lives will be free of challenges or suffering or heartache.  He doesn’t say that danger will not happen.  Paul had his struggles.  We have ours too.  What weighs on your mind this morning?  What permeates your thoughts?  What would you include?  Who would you include?  No matter what you are facing, God declares you righteous and loved in Jesus.  Our assurance comes from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    Lutheran Women in Mission have served each other for many years.  They have been there for their fellow sisters when lives seemed out of control.  They remind each other that God is in control.  They hold a hand and our reminded of God’s love in Christ.

    Because Jesus is for us and with us, we have certain victory.  Our baptism is the guarantee.  St. Paul writes in Romans 6:4:  “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  Baptism is victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.  We are more than conquerors.

    Our victory is not secure because of our hold on Christ, but by His hold on us.  We can live confidently each day trusting in Jesus.  Remain in his Word and grace and the Lord holds on to you – forever.

    We thank the Lord for the hearts and hands of the LWML.  They encourage our service with their service.  May God continue to hold us in his love, the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.                    Amen.