Repent - Part 4
Joel 2:15-17
02/15/2024
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call
a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders; gather the children, even
nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his
room, and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the
priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say,
``Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your
heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is
their God?''' (ESV)
Too many people believe if they simply go to church on
Christmas and Easter that they are pleasing God. Nothing can be
farther from the truth. All have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of God, all need to repent.
Easter is meaningless without the sure and certain knowledge
that we are the ones who caused Jesus to be nailed to the cross.
The good news of His death and resurrection for our redemption
cannot be understood unless we truly prepare by knowing of our
need for a Savior.
The prophet Joel wrote:
Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a
solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the
congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children,
even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his
room, and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests,
the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, ``Spare your
people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations. Why should they say among
the peoples, `Where is their God?'''
No one is exempt from appearing before the Lord in
repentance. The elders, the children, infants, those
celebrating, those mourning all are called upon to repent and
throw themselves on God's mercy. Know that the ministers of the
LORD are praying for your redemption, and are lifting up their
congregations to God for His grace.
May our Lord grant you the pure desire to come before Him in
repentance. Amen.Author: admin
Repent — Part 3: 02/14/2023
Repent - Part 3
Joel 2:14
02/14/2024
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and
leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and
a drink offering for the LORD your God? (ESV)
Today is Ash Wednesday. This evening, at Trinity Lutheran
Church, many of our members will receive ashes in the sign of the
cross on their foreheads. They will hear the words of the
funeral service, ``Ashes to ashes and dust to dust.''
Tonight is one of the two days in the church year when the
paraments on the altar are optionally black. Our sin caused
Jesus to suffer death on the cross, and we mourn because of our
transgressions. The forty days commemorate Jesus' temptation in
the wilderness after His baptism, a time when He fasted and
wrestled with the devil.
Yet there is hope. The prophet Joel wrote:
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and
leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a
drink offering for the LORD your God?
God allows disasters, illnesses, and tragedy to humble us
before Him. This is to call us to repentance. In repenting, we
receive the assurance that our sins are absolved, removed
completely, and we are declared holy and righteous in God's
sight.
Along with the forgiveness of sins comes every blessing from
God. Because we trust in Him, we offer sacrifices of prayer and
thanksgiving, in the same way that the Old Testament grain and
drink offerings acknowledged God's rich mercy.
We gather this evening at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity to begin this
penitential season. May our Lord bless you during these forty
days so that you may know of His boundless love. Amen.Repent — Part 2: 02/13/2024
Repent - Part 2
Joel 2:12-13
02/13/2024
12 Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with
all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and
with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
(ESV)
Joel, the prophet, wrote:
Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all
your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with
mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast
love; and he relents over disaster.
Tomorrow, as we begin the season of Lent, many of us will be
marked with the sign of the cross using ashes. This is a sign of
repentance, a sign that we acknowledge our sin and our inability
to pay for our own transgressions.
What is repentance? We believe, teach, and confess that
repentance has two parts. The first is contrition, sorrow over
our sin, and the terror or conscience that comes from knowing we
deserve eternal condemnation. The second is faith, which comes
from the Gospel, which says that Jesus Christ bore the guilt of
our sin. Faith acknowledges Jesus' death and resurrection and
trusts in Him alone for our salvation.
Why can we trust that Jesus' death and resurrection are
sufficient for our redemption from sin and eternal death?
Because of God's abundant and steadfast love, because He is
gracious and merciful.
May our Lord grant us the wisdom to see His grace, to
repent, and to hold firmly to the promise of life through Jesus
Christ. Amen.Repent — Part 1: 02/12/2024
Repent - Part 1
Joel 2:12-13
02/12/2024
12 Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with
all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and
with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
(ESV)
Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, forty days, plus
Sundays, which bring us to Easter. The Church uses this time to
reflect on our sin, to repent, and to prepare for our Lord's
crucifixion on Good Friday. Our sins, our transgressions, our
selfish nature put Him on the cross. Jesus' death and
resurrection are our life.
Joel, the prophet, is one of the men sent by God to call the
children of Israel to repent and return to God. He wrote:
Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all
your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with
mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast
love; and he relents over disaster.
The nations of Judah and Israel had forgotten God, and had
gone after worthless idols. Although God had preserved them in
Egypt, and later under David and Solomon, both the leaders and
people rejected the news of God's love. Today we find the same
sin in this nation, where we have forgotten God's rich blessings,
where everything but the good news of salvation by grace through
faith for the sake of Christ is proclaimed.
May our Lord grant that we heed His call to repent, to
return to Him, for our everlasting blessing. Amen.Watering the Earth — Part 5: 02/09/2024
Watering the Earth - Part 5
Isaiah 55:12-13
02/09/2024
12 For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in
peace; the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing, and all the trees
of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and
it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting
sign that shall not be cut off. (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah wrote:
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall break
forth into singing, and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall
come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up
the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an
everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
This week we have learned a lot about God's Word. It is
both His law, which shows us our need for a Savior, and the
Gospel, which shows us how Jesus Christ took upon Himself our
sin. It is the eternal proclamation that we are saved from sin,
death, and the power of the devil because of God's rich love,
grace, and mercy.
We believe, teach, and confess that the Bible is more than
just a good book, but it is the Word of God which was written for
our salvation. Saint John wrote:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the
disciples, which are not written in this book; but
these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you
may have life in his name.1
Please join us at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church to
learn more of God's love as found in Jesus Christ.
May our Lord richly bless you with His peace. Amen.
____________________
1. John 20:30-31 (ESV)Watering the Earth — Part 4: 02/08/2024
Watering the Earth - Part 4
Isaiah 55:12-13
02/08/2024
12 For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in
peace; the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing, and all the trees
of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and
it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting
sign that shall not be cut off. (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah wrote:
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall break
forth into singing, and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall
come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up
the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an
everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
God's Word contains both law and Gospel. As we hear His
law, we are driven to see our sin, and called to repent.
Repentant sinners are shown the Gospel, that there is truly the
forgiveness of our sins for the sake of the suffering, death, and
resurrection of Jesus. Because we are declared holy, righteous,
and not guilty in God's sight, we are given the gift of eternal
life.
Therefore, even when we have troubles, we have the peace of
knowing that we are loved by God. Problems are temporary, the
gift of salvation and God's rich favor are for eternity. Our
focus shifts from this moment of pain and frustration to God's
gift of life everlasting.
Isaiah's view of heaven, his view of eternal life, gives us
comfort even when we are suffering the effects of this sinful
world. We know, because God's Word is true, that He showers us
with His love.
May your find comfort and peace knowing that God has given
you life for the sake of His Son. Amen.Watering the Earth — Part 3: 02/07/2024
Watering the Earth - Part 3
Isaiah 55:10-11
02/07/2024
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to
the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall
accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed
in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah wrote:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and
do not return there but water the earth, making it
bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out
from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it
shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The rain comes down and waters the earth. The crops grow,
and people are fed. Because they are fed, they have life.
The law shows us how, without God's grace, love, and
intervention, we are starved for the goodness of His blessings.
When confronted with our sin, we cry out, ``Lord, what shall we
do?'' That is the first thing that proclaiming God's Word will
do, prepare us for the good news of His mercy.
For the sinner who sees from the law he has no ability to
save himself, the good news that God has provided for our
salvation is the most precious thing we can hear. Nowhere else
can we find the assurance that God had provided for our salvation
from sin and death except in the Gospel. The message of the
Gospel is simple, Jesus is our substitute, He took upon Himself
the punishment we deserve. In so doing, He has given us His
holiness and righteousness.
What do we do to earn this forgiveness? Believe that Jesus'
death and resurrection are for you, and hold firmly to Him in all
troubles. The sinless Son of God has declared that you are
reconciled to God the Father, that you have eternal life in His
name. May our Lord grant each of us the comfort and peace that
our sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ Jesus. Amen.Watering the Earth — Part 2: 02/06/2024
Watering the Earth - Part 2
Isaiah 55:10-11
02/06/2024
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to
the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall
accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed
in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah wrote:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and
do not return there but water the earth, making it
bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out
from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it
shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Who better knows the importance of rain and snow than we who
live in the rural parts of the country. Our livelihood is
affected by the weather much more than those who live and work in
the cities. When we don't have enough rain, or when we have too
much, the crops don't grow and people go hungry. Only when we
are blessed with the proper amount of moisture can we produce
that which feeds this nation with the bounty of God's rich
blessings.
The law of God is like that drought or flood which shows us
that we are helpless in the face of God's power. God's law does
not only curb bad behavior as we fear punishment, but it acts as
a mirror to show us that we are condemned because we have broken
the law. The law causes us to cry to God for relief, that God
relent in His condemnation, that He provides the help we need to
overcome sin and eternal death.
Preaching the law returns the benefit of preparing people to
hear the Gospel, that Jesus Christ bore the guilt of our sin.
Through His death and resurrection, we are offered the
forgiveness of our sin and receive everlasting life.
May our Lord grant that we hear the preaching of the law so
that we may hear the good news of the Gospel. Amen.Watering the Earth — Part 1: 02/05/2023
Watering the Earth - Part 1
Isaiah 55:10-11
02/05/2024
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to
the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall
accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed
in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)
This weeks readings in the Divine Service at Trinity
Lutheran Church focused on the Word of God. Our Gospel lesson
was the familiar Parable of the Sower, where the seed of the Word
is scattered on both good ground and bad.
Our Old Testament lesson comes from the book of Isaiah.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and
do not return there but water the earth, making it
bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out
from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it
shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall
succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
We proclaim the Word of God, the good news of salvation by
God's love alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, in the
hope that all people might know of the love of God. This is the
Gospel message, the good news that we have the hope of
everlasting life for the sake of Jesus' death and resurrection.
To prepare us to hear the Gospel, we need to know that we
are sinners who are otherwise lost and eternally condemned. That
is why we proclaim God's law, so that we know we need a redeemer
from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
This week we will look at the Word of God and see how it
contains all we need for our salvation.
May our Lord grant you His richest blessings this week.
Amen.The Presentation of Our Lord — 02/02/2024
The Presentation of Our Lord
Luke 2:22-24
02/02/2024
22 And when the time came for their purification
according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up
to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ``Every
male who first opens the womb shall be called holy
to the Lord'')
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said
in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or
two young pigeons. (ESV)
Today is the Feast of the Presentation, forty days after
Christmas, when we commemorate Jesus being presented to the Lord
in the Temple.
And when the time came for their purification according
to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law
of the Lord, ``Every male who first opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord'') and to offer a
sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the
Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
This Feast is another reminder of the awesome responsibility
God gives parents to raise their children in keeping with God's
holy Law. This includes having children baptized, taking them to
church, teaching them the Christian faith, and encouraging them
to grow in love towards God.
Today also is a reminder of the theme of the Epiphany
Season, Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, the Light no
darkness can overcome. He is revealed in the Temple as the
promised Messiah, the Son of God who will take upon Himself the
sins of the world.
There are many traditions associated with this day. Please
join us on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church
to find out how the presentation of Jesus is related to Ground
Hog's Day.
May our Lord grant that we see Jesus as the Light of the
World and as our Redeemer from sin and death. Amen.