Seeing God’s Back — Part 1: 01/15/2024

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                      Seeing God's Back - Part 1
                            Exodus 33:17-18
                              01/15/2024


        17   And the LORD said to Moses, ``This very thing that
             you have spoken I will do, for you have found
             favor in my sight, and I know you by name.''
        18   Moses said, ``Please show me your glory.''  (ESV)

        The Epiphany season, the portion of the Church Year between
   Christmas and Lent, is a time when the Church learns that Jesus
   is both true God and true man.  He is revealed as God's Son and
   the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world during His
   baptism.  Jesus first shows the world His divine power as
   recorded by Saint John when He turned water into wine.

        God has always interacted with His people.  As Moses led the
   children of Israel out of Egypt, God was with them.  When the
   children of Israel displeased God by making a golden calf, God
   did not abandon them.

        Moses prayed that God would continue to go with them as the
   traveled from Mount Sinai to the promised land.
        And the LORD said to Moses, ``This very thing that you
        have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my
        sight, and I know you by name.''  Moses said, ``Please
        show me your glory.''


        God knows each of us intimately, our strengths and our
   weaknesses.  As with Moses, He knows us by name, and desires that
   we hold to Him in faith, no matter our circumstances.  God grants
   us His favor, His grace, love, and mercy, through the death and
   resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son.

        This week's Old Testament lesson from Exodus shows us how
   sinners cannot fully comprehend God.  Moses asked, ``Show me your
   glory,'' so to learn more about God.  The response, which we will
   discuss this week, is surprising, especially as we see Jesus
   revealed in His glory as our Savior.  May our Lord richly bless
   you and the work you are doing to serve God and neighbor.  Amen.

The Lord’s Chosen Servant — Part 5: 01/12/2024

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                  The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 5
                             Isaiah 42:5-7
                              01/12/2024


        5    Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens
             and stretched them out, who spread out the earth
             and what comes from it, who gives breath to the
             people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
        6    ``I am the LORD; I have called you in
             righteousness; I will take you by the hand and
             keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the
             people, a light for the nations,
        7    to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the
             prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those
             who sit in darkness.''  (ESV)

        God the Father recognized Jesus as His beloved Son when
   Jesus was baptized to take upon Himself our sins.  Isaiah wrote,
   almost six hundred years before Jesus was baptized, about the
   Father commissioning His Son as the Redeemer.
        Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and
        stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what
        comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and
        spirit to those who walk in it: ``I am the LORD; I have
        called you in righteousness; I will take you by the
        hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for
        the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes
        that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
        dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.''


        Jesus showed that He is the righteous Son of God by
   fulfilling the demands of God's Law on our behalf.  He took our
   sin and gave us His righteousness.  This was for all people from
   the beginning of time until our Lord returns to judge the living
   and the dead.

        The Gospel accounts in the New Testament are from
   eyewitnesses who saw Jesus heal the blind, raise the dead, and
   make the lame walk.  By His death He defeated death, freeing us
   from the prison of our sins.

        There is much more to learn about Jesus than we can discuss
   in these short devotions each morning.  Please join us at Trinity
   Lutheran Church on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. to hear more of
   our Savior's love for you.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing your sins are
   forgiven.  Amen.

The Lord’s Chosen Servant — Part 4: 01/11/2024

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                  The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 4
                             Isaiah 42:5-7
                              01/11/2024


        5    Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens
             and stretched them out, who spread out the earth
             and what comes from it, who gives breath to the
             people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
        6    ``I am the LORD; I have called you in
             righteousness; I will take you by the hand and
             keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the
             people, a light for the nations,
        7    to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the
             prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those
             who sit in darkness.''  (ESV)

        God the Father said ``This is my beloved Son in whom I am
   well pleased,''3 when Jesus stepped out of the water after being
   baptized by John.  We believe, teach, and confess that the Father
   sent His Son to take upon Himself the sins of all people.

        Isaiah confessed that the Father, the LORD and creator of
   heaven and earth, willingly gave His Son for our salvation.
        Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and
        stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what
        comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and
        spirit to those who walk in it: ``I am the LORD; I have
        called you in righteousness; I will take you by the
        hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for
        the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes
        that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
        dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.''


        As we read and hear the words of the prophet Isaiah, we come
   to know that God, out of His grace and mercy, created the heavens
   and the earth.  Because we are created and not the product of
   random chance, we have the desire and ability to serve our
   neighbor, to work for the good of others.  Yet, because we have
   sinned, we don't always act according to our beliefs.

        May our heavenly Father grant us the desire to recognize Him
   as our Creator, and give us the desire to live according to His
   will.  Amen.

   ____________________

   3. Matthew 3:17

The Lord’s Chosen Servant – Part 3: 01/10/2024

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                  The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 3
                              Isaiah 42:4
                              01/10/2024


        4    He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he
             has established justice in the earth; and the
             coastlands wait for his law.  (ESV)

        When John the Baptizer consented to baptize Jesus, our Lord
   began His task of redeeming the world from sin and death.  The
   promise made to Adam, the curse given to the serpent on the day
   that Adam sinned, is fulfilled in Jesus.  God told the serpent:
   ``And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
   thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
   bruise his heel.''2

        From this first promise of a Savior, we know that He will
   overcome Satan and restore all of creation.  This salvation will
   come at a great cost, not only on Good Friday, but for Jesus'
   entire life.  From the time of His birth, the devil and this
   sinful world sought to put Him to death, to thwart Him in His
   task of fulfilling God's Law perfectly on our behalf.  Isaiah
   wrote: ``He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has
   established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his
   law.''

        Though hungry, homeless, and betrayed by His friends and
   disciples, Jesus none the less held firm in His resolve to do His
   Father's will.  Where others would give up, Jesus alone took on
   sin, death, and the power of the devil.  When Jesus said from the
   cross, ``It is finished,'' He had defeated those who would take
   us away from God's love.

        We praise and thank God, through Jesus Christ, that He did
   not get discouraged, but that He died and rose again for all
   people.  May you find strength and comfort in Christ Jesus, who
   bore all things patiently for your salvation.  Amen.

   ____________________

   2. Genesis 3:15 (KJV)

The Lord’s Chosen Servant – Part 2: 01/09/2024

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                  The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 2
                             Isaiah 42:2-3
                              01/09/2024


        2    He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or
             make it heard in the street;
        3    a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly
             burning wick he will not quench; he will
             faithfully bring forth justice.  (ESV)

        Many congregations celebrated Jesus' baptism last Sunday,
   the First Sunday after the Epiphany.  Jesus was baptized by John,
   the forerunner of Christ, so to place Himself under the Law.  In
   so doing, He took upon Himself our transgressions and willingly
   bore them to the cross.

        God freely offers His love, mercy, and grace to all people.
   He invites us to accept the gift He gives, the forgiveness of our
   sins for the sake of the suffering, death, and resurrection of
   Jesus.  For this reason Jesus was born, was revealed to the Magi,
   was baptized, was crucified, and rose again.

        This offer of God's grace is a gentle invitation, not
   demands where He comes with might and force to impose His will on
   all people.  Isaiah wrote of the Lord's Chosen Servant:
        He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it
        heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break,
        and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will
        faithfully bring forth justice.


        The weakest faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and
   death is saving faith.  We are given eternal life because of
   God's love, not because of our heroic deeds or great strength.
   God gives us the forgiveness of sins for Christ Jesus' sake even
   when we do not live the perfect, holy life.  The truth is simple,
   each Christian daily sins, is spite of our desire not to go
   against God's law.  Yet each day we are given the assurance that
   Jesus took upon Himself our failures and has given us His
   righteousness.

        May our Lord continue to comfort us with the truth of His
   grace, love, and mercy.  Amen.

The Lord’s Chosen Servant – Part 1: 01/08/2024

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                  The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 1
                              Isaiah 42:1
                              01/08/2024


        1    Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in
             whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon
             him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
             (ESV)

        Last Saturday the western Church celebrated the Feast of the
   Epiphany, the revealing of Jesus as the Savior of the Gentiles as
   well as the Jews.  For the next several weeks our readings will
   focus on Jesus being revealed as both true God and true Man, sent
   by our heavenly Father to bear the guilt of our sin.

        One of the traditional readings early in the Epiphany season
   is the account of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John the
   Baptizer.  Here the three Persons of the Trinity are present as
   Jesus is anointed with water to take upon Himself the sins of the
   world.

        The Old Testament lesson for this week, from the forty-
   second chapter of Isaiah, introduces the Servant of the Lord, a
   prophesy about Jesus.  As in the accounts of Jesus' baptism,
   Isaiah speaks of the Trinity.
        Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my
        soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will
        bring forth justice to the nations.


        When Jesus was baptized, the Father said from heaven, ``This
   is my beloved Son, with whom I am will pleased,'' and the Holy
   Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.1 Jesus would
   bring justice and righteousness to the nations by bearing the
   sins of all people.  Yet He brings salvation, not by force, but
   by gentle invitation.  ``Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at
   hand,'' we heard both from John the Baptizer and Jesus, Himself.
   The Kingdom He brings is of God's love, the gift of forgiveness
   and eternal life.

        May our Lord grant that we see in Jesus the Servant of the
   Father who is revealed to us through the working of the Holy
   Spirit.  Amen.

   ____________________

   1. Matthew 3:16-17

The Gentiles’ Christmas — 01/05/2024

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                        The Gentiles' Christmas
                             Isaiah 60:1-3
                              01/05/2024


        1    Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the
             glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
        2    For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and
             thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will
             arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon
             you.
        3    And nations shall come to your light, and kings to
             the brightness of your rising.  (ESV)

        Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany when the Church
   celebrates the Wise Men visiting Jesus.  Epiphany comes from the
   Greek word meaning sunrise or dawning.  As such it has come to
   mean an unveiling, a showing, or appearance of something
   previously hidden.  How fitting the meaning when the Old
   Testament reading from Isaiah is remembered,
        Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of
        the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness
        shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
        but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be
        seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light,
        and kings to the brightness of your rising.


        The day is called the ``Gentiles' Christmas'' because it is
   the first time that the Bible records people outside the Jewish
   community worshiping Jesus.  Luke had recorded that Jewish
   shepherds sought Jesus in the stable the night of His birth.
   Simeon and Anna, both devout Jews, adored Jesus on the fortieth
   day of His life when He was presented at the Temple.  Now,
   however, Jesus is shown as the Redeemer of all people, not simply
   the biological descendants of Abraham.

        Trinity Lutheran in Slayton and Saint Paul Lutheran in Fulda
   are gathering tomorrow evening, January 6, at 7:00 p.m. to
   celebrate this important Feast in the Church Year.  Please join
   us in this celebration.

        We also invite you to join us on Sunday morning at Trinity
   Lutheran in Slayton at 9:00 a.m. for the Divine Service where we
   will commemorate the Baptism of Jesus.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing of His love,
   grace, and mercy as found in Christ alone.  Amen.

The Righteous Branch — Part 4: 01/04/2024

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                     The Righteous Branch - Part 4
                              Isaiah 11:5
                              01/04/2024


        5    Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and
             faithfulness the belt of his loins.  (ESV)

        Isaiah wrote: ``Righteousness shall be the belt of his
   waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.''  What do we mean
   when we say God is righteous.  In all things, God seeks that
   which is good and rejects that which is evil.

        The will of God is for all people to be saved, to come to
   the knowledge of the truth of salvation by grace through faith
   for the sake of Christ.  Jesus, as the Messiah, did everything
   towards the goal of earning for you the forgiveness of sins and
   life everlasting.

        The triumph of Jesus was overcoming the evil which clings to
   our nature, which is passed from Adam through each father to each
   child.  Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, because
   He had no human father, Jesus did not have the original sin with
   which we are born.  In this way, Jesus is like Adam before the
   fall into sin, being in the image of God, perfect and holy.

        The Messiah was truly righteous, perfect in every way.  He
   overcame the temptations of the flesh, unlike our first parents.
   He fully trusted in His heavenly Father, even when it cost Him
   His life.  He burst forth from the tomb on the third day after
   His crucifixion because sin and death had no hold on Him.

        Jesus exchanged our sin for His righteousness.  Although we
   still struggle with sin, although we will experience the sleep of
   temporal death, we are declared holy in God's sight for the sake
   of Christ.  His righteousness overcame sin, death, and the power
   of the devil.  His righteousness is our hope and our salvation.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing you have been
   given the righteousness of Christ.  Amen.

The Righteous Branch — Part 3: 01/03/2024

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                     The Righteous Branch - Part 3
                             Isaiah 11:3-4
                              01/03/2024


        3    And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
             He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide
             disputes by what his ears hear,
        4    but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
             and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
             and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his
             mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall
             kill the wicked.  (ESV)

        Isaiah continued his description of the Messiah, the One God
   sent to redeem His people from sin and death.
        And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.  He
        shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide
        disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness
        he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the
        meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with
        the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips
        he shall kill the wicked.


        There are two things which stand out.  First, Jesus delights
   in respect, awe, reverence, and trust in His heavenly Father.
   The fear of the Lord is not terror, but an acknowledgment that He
   is our creator and the One who sustains us.

        Second, as a judge, Jesus does not look at the external
   evidence only.  There is frequently an appearance of justice that
   does not take into account the heart and soul of those involved.
   This means, we will be surprised at some of the people we see in
   heaven, and surprised at some of the people excluded.  We see
   actions, evidence of faith; our Lord sees the faith itself.

        The Messiah seeks to help the poor, those with physical
   needs, as well as those who are weak in spirit.  His delight is
   in saving all people from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

        May our Lord grant us the strength of faith to trust in Him
   for our redemption.  Amen.

The Righteous Branch — Part 2: 01/02/2024

Broadcast

                     The Righteous Branch - Part 2
                              Isaiah 11:2
                              01/02/2024


        2    And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
             the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit
             of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and
             the fear of the Lord.  (ESV)

        This week, as we prepare for Epiphany, also known as the
   ``Gentiles' Christmas,'' the readings which we heard in the
   Divine Service tell us about the identity of Jesus.  We know that
   Jesus, as truly human, was a descendant of King David, which
   fulfilled several prophecies written half a millenia before His
   birth.

        Jesus is also the Son of God, as we are reminded in one of
   the most famous verses in the Bible, ``For God so loved the world
   that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in
   Him should not perish but have everlasting life.''2

        Isaiah wrote of the Messiah, Jesus, the promised Savior:
   ``And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of
   wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the
   Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.''

        Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit, being one with Him as
   part of the Trinity.  Therefore, Jesus had complete knowledge of
   God, and understood all the mysteries of God.  He was present at
   creation and all things were made through Him.  As a result, with
   perfect understanding, with the creative power of God, Jesus as
   true man lived perfectly according to God's law.  Only as true
   God could Jesus perfectly keep the law.  Only as true man could
   His keeping of the law redeem us from sin and death.

        May our Lord grant us the grace to know, accept, and trust
   in Jesus as the incarnate Son of God who has earned for us the
   forgiveness of our sins.  Amen.

       ____________________

       2. John 3:16