Category: Moments of Meditation

October 15, 2024

Broadcast

                        Seek the LORD - Part 2
                             Isaiah 55:3-4
                              10/15/2024


        3    Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your
             soul may live; and I will make with you an
             everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for
             David.
        4    Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a
             leader and commander for the peoples.  (ESV)

        The prophet Isaiah, speaking as inspired by the Holy Spirit,
   invites each person to join in God's rich banquet of wisdom and
   blessings.  This invitation gives a time and place and menu.  Now
   is the time, wherever the good news of salvation from sin and
   death is proclaimed is the place, and the menu is God's rich
   blessing of everlasting life.

        Isaiah pleads for everyone to listen to this invitation for
   their eternal blessing.  He shows by the example of God's
   promises to King David that this invitation is real and for all
   people.
        Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul
        may live; and I will make with you an everlasting
        covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.  Behold, I
        made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and
        commander for the peoples.


        What is the promise made to King David to which Isaiah
   refers?  It is the promise that the Messiah, the Redeemer of all
   people, is to be a descendant of the great king.  Indeed, the
   Evangelists Matthew and Luke show conclusively that Jesus is
   descended from David.

        The covenant God makes is simple, He grants us pardon and
   peace because His Son, Jesus Christ, took upon Himself our sins.
   This forgiveness is offered to us as a gift, not as something we
   earn.

        Who needs this forgiveness?  We do.  No one, except Jesus
   Christ, is without sin.  No one has perfectly kept the letter of
   the law, much less the spirit of the law.  Yet God, in His mercy,
   invites you to Himself, to trust in His promises, and to receive
   complete remission of our sins.  This is the message of the
   Gospel, proclaimed throughout the Old and New Testaments alike.

        May our Lord grant you the peace of knowing your sins are
   forgiven, for where there is forgiveness, there is life
   everlasting.  Amen.

October 14, 2024

Broadcast

                        Seek the LORD - Part 1
                             Isaiah 55:1-2
                              10/14/2024


        1    Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
             and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come,
             buy wine and milk without money and without price.
        2    Why do you spend your money for that which is not
             bread, and your labor for that which does not
             satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is
             good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  (ESV)

        Who in the United States has not had an opportunity to hear
   about Jesus?  Essentially every town has a church or two or more,
   each claiming to tell of Jesus Christ, each calling people to
   come to Him.  Have you heard the truth of God's love, or have you
   heard promises never mentioned by God?  Have you been taught that
   being a Christian begins with your good works, your decision,
   your becoming righteous before approaching the Almighty?

        The prophet Isaiah, writing about 750 years before the birth
   of Jesus, spoke of God's rich love, and mercy.  He spoke God's
   invitation to hear His Word, to feast on the truth that God
   desires all people to know of His grace.
        Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he
        who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine
        and milk without money and without price.

        Why do you spend your money for that which is not
        bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
        Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and
        delight yourselves in rich food.


        Often times the Old Testament compares the longing for
   wisdom and the knowledge of God to a banquet.  Isaiah invites all
   people to know of God's goodness and mercy, to take part in the
   banquet, at God's gracious invitation.  This is a gift, not the
   results of our work or our own goodness.  All our striving to
   please God fails if we believe that we must first be good enough
   to accept His invitation.

        This week we will look at the compassion of God as revealed
   by the prophet Isaiah.  May our Lord grant that we hear His
   invitation, that we receive His mercy, and that we know of His
   love.  Amen.

October 12, 2024

Broadcast

                        Jacob's Ladder - Part 5
                           Genesis 28:16-17
                              10/11/2024


        16   Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ``Surely
             the LORD is in this place, and I did not know
             it.''
        17   And he was afraid and said, ``How awesome is this
             place! This is none other than the house of God,
             and this is the gate of heaven.''  (ESV)

        On Monday we quoted an old Spiritual about Jacob's Ladder.
   The theology of the first verse did not bring the comfort which
   Jacob received from God's rich promises of presence, protection,
   and forgiveness.  But Jacob did respond to God's love, to the
   vision which brought him hope.
        Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ``Surely the
        LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.''  And he
        was afraid and said, ``How awesome is this place! This
        is none other than the house of God, and this is the
        gate of heaven.''


        The last verse of the Spiritual gives the same response.
        Rise, shine,give God glory,
        Rise, shine, give God glory,
        Rise, shine, give God glory,
        Soldiers of the cross.[1]


        God invites us into His presence each Sunday morning at 9:00
   a.m. when the members of Trinity Lutheran Church are gathered to
   hear of God's love and to respond is song and acts of mercy.
   Please join us to receive the same hope which Jacob had, that God
   will be with you to comfort you and protect you, until His angels
   ascend with you to the gates of heaven.  Amen.

















   ____________________

   1. https://hymnary.org/text/we_are_climbing_jacobs_ladder_we_are_cli/fulltexts

October 10, 2024

Broadcast

                        Jacob's Ladder - Part 4
                             Genesis 28:15
                              10/10/2024


        15   ``Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever
             you go, and will bring you back to this land. For
             I will not leave you until I have done what I have
             promised you.''  (ESV)

        Jacob received several promises as he dreamed of the ladder
   which joined heaven and earth.  This vision showed him that God's
   angels are constantly doing God's work on earth, bringing the
   message of hope to those who believe in Him.  God, Himself,
   speaks of the redemption which will be for all people through
   Jesus Christ.

        Yet the promises made by God would not be fulfilled for many
   centuries.  Jacob and his children would go down to Egypt, not to
   return for almost 400 years.  The birth of the Redeemer was even
   farther in the future.

        God reassured Jacob of His love even in the near term.
   ``Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and
   will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until
   I have done what I have promised you.''

        As Jesus was preparing to ascend into heaven, He promised
   His disciples, and us: ``And behold, I am with you always, to the
   end of the age.''[1] He is present in His Word, in the sacraments
   which He gave the Church, and in the love which the Church
   reflects in the world.  We may not see Him, but He is with us and
   will never forsake us.  In times of trial, He strengthens us with
   the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of everlasting life.

        The Bible tells us how the promises made the Jacob were
   fulfilled.  We see in our own lives how His promises of comfort
   and hope are fulfilled as He works through the Church.

        May our Lord grant us the faith to know that He is with us
   and will care for us even in times of trouble.  Amen.













   ____________________

   1. Matthew 28:20b (ESV)

October 9, 2024

Broadcast

                        Jacob's Ladder - Part 3
                           Genesis 28:13-14
                              10/09/2024


        13   And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, ``I
             am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and
             the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will
             give to you and to your offspring.
        14   Your offspring shall be like the dust of the
             earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and
             to the east and to the north and to the south, and
             in you and your offspring shall all the families
             of the earth be blessed.''  (ESV)

        Jacob had a vision of a ladder stretching from heaven to
   earth upon which angels ascended and descended.  Jesus spoke of
   this vision when He called Nathaniel to be a disciple.  ``And he
   said to him, `Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven
   opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son
   of Man.''[1] The ladder is Jesus, who is both true God and true
   Man.  There is direct communication between heaven and earth, and
   the complete reconciliation of sinners to God the Father because
   of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

        And behold, the LORD stood above [the ladder] and said,
        ``I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the
        God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to
        you and to your offspring.  Your offspring shall be
        like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad
        to the west and to the east and to the north and to the
        south, and in you and your offspring shall all the
        families of the earth be blessed.''


        God promised Jacob protection and the fulfillment of the
   promise once given to Abraham.  God spoke of the Messiah, the
   Redeemer, through whom all the families of the world are blessed.
   That blessing is our redemption from sin and death, our hope of
   life everlasting because our sins are forgiven.

        Jacob did not earn God's love, neither do we.  God's promise
   was a gift, God's promise gave hope, and God's promise was
   fulfilled.  His promise of life is also sure and certain, even if
   we are at the moment alone in the wilderness.  May our Lord
   strengthen us to trust in Him, that His Word and promises are
   always fulfilled.  Amen.







   ____________________

   1. John 1:51 (ESV)

October 8, 2024

Broadcast

                        Jacob's Ladder - Part 2
                             Genesis 28:12
                              10/08/2024


        12   And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set
             up on the earth, and the top of it reached to
             heaven. And behold, the angels of God were
             ascending and descending on it!  (ESV)

        An old Spiritual hymn is based on the story of Jacob as he
   fled from his enraged brother, Esau.  The first verse of the hymn
   says:
        We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
        We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
        We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
        Soldiers of the cross.[1]


        Moses recorded Jacob's vision:
        And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up
        on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And
        behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending
        on it!


        Immediately we see a disconnect between the song and the
   Biblical account.  Jacob was asleep.  In the vision, angels, the
   messengers of God, ascended and descended from heaven to earth to
   do as God commanded.  They bring hope to those who believe in the
   God of Abraham, they help protect the Church, they proclaim God's
   glory.

        We are not on the ladder ascending to heaven.  That would
   make heaven a reward for hard work, for our efforts.  But our
   salvation from sin and eternal death is a gift, announced by
   God's messengers, given to us out of His love, grace, and mercy.

        Tomorrow we will discover more about this vision, the hope
   it gave to Jacob, and the comfort it brings to each person.

        May our Lord grant us faith to hear, learn, and trust in His
   Word alone.  Amen.










   ____________________

   1. https://hymnary.org/text/we_are_climbing_jacobs_ladder_we_are_cli/fulltexts

October 7, 2024

Broadcast

                            Jacob's Ladder - Part 1
                               Genesis 28:10-11
                                  10/07/2024


            10   Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.
            11   And he came to a certain place and stayed there
                 that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of
                 the stones of the place, he put it under his head
                 and lay down in that place to sleep.  (ESV)

            There is an old Spiritual which appears in about 100 English
       language hymnals which is based on the story of Jacob's Ladder.
       This week we will look at the theology of that Spiritual in light
       of the story of Jacob, and the meaning of his dream.

            As you may remember, Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of
       Isaac, one of the Patriarchs of the Jewish people.  Jacob, the
       younger, tricked Esau out of his birthright and inheritance.
       When Isaac was dying, Esau vowed to kill Jacob.  Thus Jacob was
       fleeing for his life.

            Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.  And he
            came to a certain place and stayed there that night,
            because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of
            the place, he put it under his head and lay down in
            that place to sleep.


            Alone, exhausted, with scant supplies, and aware of the
       threat posed by his brother, Jacob stopped for the evening.
       Lacking any sort of provisions for his own comfort, he lay down
       on the ground with a rock for a pillow.

            God, in His grace, love, and mercy, had plans for Jacob.
       While Jacob lay on the hard, cold ground, our Lord gave him a
       vision of the future.

            May our Lord give us the faith to trust Him even when we are
       in times of distress.  Amen.
  

October 4, 2024

Broadcast

                        Serve the LORD - Part 5
                         Deuteronomy 10:12-13
                              10/04/2024


        12   And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God
             require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to
             walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the
             LORD
        13   your God with all your heart and with all your
             soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of
             the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your
             good?  (ESV)

        This week we have been looking at Moses' final words to the
   children of Israel.
        And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of
        you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his
        ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all
        your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the
        commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am
        commanding you today for your good?


        There were four questions we asked: What is a god?  Who is
   your god?  Who is the Triune God?  Why should we serve Him?

        The last question, how do we serve Him?  Moses gives us the
   answer, that we should love Him with our whole heart and soul.
   We trust in Him in stead of our own strength, instead of our
   wealth, instead of our social standing.

        What is the outcome of that trust in the LORD God?  We
   believe His Word, know of His grace, and are assured of life
   everlasting because the Son of God bore the guilt of our sin.
   The result of loving the Lord is our desire to serve Him by
   serving our neighbor.  The commandments which God gave to Moses
   instruct us on how we love God and each other, what it means to
   serve Him.

        I hope that this week's discussion as caused you to ask some
   questions, to want some answers.  Please join us as we hear and
   study God's Word each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.  at Trinity
   Lutheran Church.

        May our LORD God grant you the peace of knowing of His love
   and mercy.  Amen.

October 3, 2024

Broadcast

                        Serve the LORD - Part 4
                         Deuteronomy 10:12-13
                              10/03/2024


        12   And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God
             require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to
             walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the
             LORD
        13   your God with all your heart and with all your
             soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of
             the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your
             good?  (ESV)

        Moses told the children of Israel as they prepared to enter
   the land of Canaan:
        And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of
        you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his
        ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all
        your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the
        commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am
        commanding you today for your good?


        Why should anyone serve the Lord God?  Time and again, as we
   read in the first five books of the Bible, and as we learn from
   the books of history in the Old Testament, the children of Israel
   turned from God to idols.  Saint Paul wrote to the congregation
   in Rome:
        For although they knew God, they did not honor him as
        God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in
        their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
        Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged
        the glory of the immortal God for images resembling
        mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.[1]


        The children of Israel, like you and me, desired a god they
   to see and touch.  It is difficult to worship and trust in a god
   who is not confined to a physical place, but is present
   everywhere and for all eternity.  We desire to worship the
   created rather than the Creator.

        As we learn of God's love, grace, and mercy, we are drawn to
   trust in Him.  As we come to know that God created the heavens
   and earth, that He still sustains them, we put aside the
   creature.  As we realize that we have sinned, and that God has
   provided a Savior to redeem us, we serve Him with our heart and
   soul.

        May our Lord grant us faith to see His love and grace.
   Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Romans 1:21-23 (ESV)

October 2, 2024

Broadcast

                        Serve the LORD - Part 3
                         Deuteronomy 10:12-13
                              10/02/2024


        12   And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God
             require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to
             walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the
             LORD
        13   your God with all your heart and with all your
             soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of
             the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your
             good?  (ESV)

        Before the children of Israel entered the land of Canaan,
   Moses taught them of the God who had delivered them from Egypt.
        And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of
        you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his
        ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all
        your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the
        commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am
        commanding you today for your good?


        Who is the LORD God?  His Name, which is hidden in the word
   LORD, means ``I Am.''  He existed before the beginning of the
   universe.  He brought everything into existence with the power of
   His voice.

        Because His creation, humans, turned from His grace and
   mercy, and because of His eternal love for His people, God the
   Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price of our sins.
   The truth is simple, any sin, no matter how small, condemns us.
   It is our nature to sin, the nature which our first parents took
   upon themselves when they defied God.  Therefore, the LORD God,
   the eternal and almighty, determined to redeem us from the power
   of death.

        By our own reason or strength we cannot believe in the LORD
   God, we cannot trust in the innocent suffering and death of Jesus
   to pay the price of our sins.  Our first thoughts about the good
   news that Jesus conquered death by bursting forth from the tomb
   is unbelief.  But the Holy Spirit, who comes to us in God's Word
   and the Sacraments, creates and sustains the faith with trusts in
   God alone.

        We confess the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
   This is the God Moses calls us to serve.  May our Lord grant us
   the wisdom to hear His Word and to trust in Him.  Amen.