On Humility

And an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But when Jesus perceived the thought of their hearts, he took a child and put him by his side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me; for he who is least among you all is the one who is great." Luke 9:46–48 (RSV)

C. S. Lewis wrote, 'Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself, rather thinking of yourself less.' Each one of us is of infinite worth to the Father. We know this as He gave His only Son as our Savior. The precious blood Jesus shed for us is proof of the Father's love for us.

Because of the Father's love for us, we have no worries about where we stand in the Kingdom or the world. We may accomplish wonders by the world's standards, rise to the height of fame and glory, or spend our days in simple daily tasks. We rejoice in all as all serve the Lord, and it is a blessing to our neighbor.

Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of dying on the cross, bids us take up our daily cross. Dying to ourselves, we can begin to live fully in Him, learning the holy forgetfulness of the world's standards. We then may see all we are and do as an extension of the Father's love in us.

It Is Good To Be Here

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"—not knowing what he said. Luke 9:33 (RSV)

St. Peter reminds me of one of those friends who often speaks, then thinks about what he should have said. He, James, and John are on the mountain of the Transfiguration. They witnessed the divine glory of Jesus as He spoke with Moses and Elijah. He utters what one of my seminary professors called 'the greatest understatement in the Bible,' it is well that we are here.

In defense of St. Peter, what could one say in light of what they have seen? What would any of us say or do? Perhaps someone would have their phone out and snap a picture. Still, what does one do in the face of divine glory?

St. Peter, James, John, and the rest of us are not ready to behold the fullness of God's holiness. As we are, we could not stand in His presence for an instant. All we could ever bear is a momentary flash of His majesty. Sinful human beings cannot come before God.

Jesus comes down from this mountain to be lifted up on a far more important hill outside the walls of Jerusalem. No one on that day thought it good to be there. On that day, no one wanted to build a shrine. Still, on that day, the barrier between God and humans came down. In three days, all will be able to come to the Father face to face.

In Christ

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Matthew 28:16–20 (RSV)

Today is the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. Tomorrow, May 13, is the Feast of St. Matthias the Apostle. Most Feast Days will pass by without much notice by the vast majority of Christians.

Christians live in Christ as well as in a world that is indifferent to the things of God. Our life in the world is directed by the demands of personal, public, and work concerns. Our life in Christ is too often confined to an hour or so on Sunday.

We will benefit from giving more attention to our daily walk with our Lord. It is a simple truth that whatever demands and gets most of our attention can become the god we worship. We do not do this intentionally. It just happens as we lose focus on Christ.

Our Roman brothers and sisters have the opportunity of daily Mass. Protestants tend to trust the individual for daily worship and devotion to God. The key is intentional, daily, consistent devotion and worship of God. We may not keep all the feast days of the liturgical year, but we can continue or begin daily worship.

Our goal is to be drawn deeper into the love and grace that lives in the Holy Trinity. In this way, we are more alive in Christ and can see Him as the measure of each day. The world's demands will not cease, but we will see them in their proper place in a Christian life.

Healing

Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:13–15 (RSV)

Our family is filled with people whom God has called into the medical profession. When I scroll through photos, I see doctors, nurses, techs, and other positions in the healing arts. All have given their lives in the pursuit of maintaining and restoring health.

I see my doctor regularly. Even as I find that the passing of time makes those visits more interesting than I would like, I am grateful for his compassion and skill.

I would never suggest to anyone that modern medicine is not a gift from God. I marvel at the strides we have made over the years of my ministry. Procedures that once took major surgery are now done as an outpatient, with no hospital stay. New and more effective medications extend both the quality of life as well as its time.

All that said, I do not disregard the power of anointing, prayer, and laying on of hands in the restoration of a person's health. Christians have always known that these gifts aid the sick in their recovery. Studies have demonstrated that these spiritual medicines do have their part in our overall health care.

However, our health care comes to us. We see it all as a blessing from God. He gives the intellect to study, the drive to offer aid and the compassion for the suffering shown in all who are in the healing arts.

We offer the Father praise for the wonders of modern medicine and those whose call it is to provide it. We thank Him for our ability to lift our prayers and anointing for those who have need.

Faith and Works

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing. James 1:22–25 (RSV)

Luther did not have a high opinion of the Epistle of James. It is understandable as James does emphasize doing as a believer, not merely being a hearer of the Word.

Luther and James are both correct. Luther would argue that it is by grace alone we are saved, apart from any works. James argues that faith if it does nothing with its redemption, is dead.

Ascension Day is this coming Thursday. It was on Ascension Day that Jesus gave the Great Commission to His disciples. The Commission is full of activity and doing. The faith within the disciples is to be shown in how they act.

Our Lord was clear about this long before Ascension Day. He taught His disciples that following Him meant taking up our cross daily and following Him. Our Lord does not nullify salvation grace but teaches that our salvation compels us to act for the blessing of the world.

Thus, we can be clear, with Luther, we affirm that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. We can add nothing to our salvation in Christ. St. James is equally clear that our salvation is meaningless if we hoard it selfishly for ourselves. A redeemed person will act on their faith.

So, giving thanks for so great a mercy which save a fallen wretch like me, I can also now say, "How might I serve Thee this day?"

A Mouth House

“All the commandment which I command you this day you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 8:1–3 (RSV)

Luther described the Church as a 'mouth house', a place where the Word is spoken and heard. It is the place where we begin to fulfill the Great Commission our Lord gave as He was about ascend into heaven. We speak the Word, confident that the Holy Spirit will use it to create saving faith.

It is a Word which should be as common in our daily lives as bread. Bread is the symbol for all that we need daily to sustain our physical being. The Word sustains our entire being.

We can physically survive for many days without bread, but our spirit begins to die if we deny it the Word for even a day. The Word not only sustains us, but it is our shield against the assaults of the evil one.

Our Father desires that we have the fulness of life we were created to enjoy. This blessing begins in HIs Word in which we daily dwell. As we attend to the Word, the Spirit is at work opening it in our spirits so we may become strong in the Lord.

Growing in Christ

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1–6 (RSV)

Human beings are challenging creatures. We are communal by nature, but we also can be quite individual. We need a community in which to live. At the same time, we can find it challenging to live with everyone in our community.

The ideal of a Christian congregation is to embody the very best of both of these very human traits. We are to bear with one another so we, as the Body of Christ, mature and grow. Our Lord does not desire a stagnant congregation. Through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, a congregation is guided toward the fullness of Christ.

Some mistake this for 'least common denominator Christianity, that is to say, 'we will do whatever it takes to please folks.' Bearing with the weak among us does not mean giving in to what they want. This does not allow them to mature and grow in the faith.

Living together in Christ is being willing to demonstrate care for one another without diminishing the strength of our witness to Christ. Our Lord did this as He lived among His disciples. He guided them in their weakness but did not allow them to remain in that weakness.

Laughter

While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:49–56 (RSV)

'Your child is dead' are words no sane parent ever wants to hear. The devastation that invades a family when a child dies disrupts everything. It brings grief that is the stuff of nightmares. A marriage often dies with the child. Who could laugh at such a time?

Yet, when Jesus announced that Jairus' daughter was merely sleeping, someone laughed. Amid heart-rending sobs, someone laughed at Jesus. It may have been that the overpowering sorrow of the moment burst forth in laughter at the suggestion that the child was not dead.

We take death more seriously than we do the promise of the resurrection. Our eyes behold the power of death, and it seems laughable that anything or anyone could undo it. The world thinks it the ravings of a madman to hint that anyone could reverse death's course.

It matters little who laughed in Jairus' house that day. Their laughter only reflected the world's wisdom, not God's. It was telling all who could hear that hope was gone. It did not find willing ears in Jesus.

Their laughs did not deter Jesus. He took the child's hand, speaking to her, she heard His voice through the veil of death. The dead do not hear the laughter of the world. They hear the voice of the Savior who calls them from the grave into the marvelous light of the Father.

We know that our sorrows will one day become joy. We confess that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. He is victorious over this final foe of our race, so the hour will come when our sobs will become laughter.

Salvation Is Near

Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans 13:11–14 (RSV)

Our salvation is already a reality. It is not some future event waiting for us at the end of days. Salvation began as our Lord Jesus died on Good Friday, fulfilled as He rose on the first day of the week. We are baptized into His death and resurrection. We will not be any more saved tomorrow than we are today.

Why is St. Paul warning us about the hour? He is warning those who either have not trusted in the only Son of God or those who want to wait to get serious about Jesus. He is warning those who have a passing knowledge of Jesus but do not want to give up their earthly ways just yet. St. Paul is shaking these dullards awake from their self-centered existence to a life in Christ.

St. Paul also reminds those who confess and trust in the Risen Lord, who are clothed in His saving grace, to live in that salvation. We have left behind the works of darkness to live our lives in the light of Christ. Our Lord bids us live more fully in His love, both here as we wait and in the great day when His Kingdom comes in all its fullness.

Think of Yourself

For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3–8 (RSV)

It may be how the words are ordered or the truth they speak, but the opening sentence of this passage from St. Paul's letter to the Romans grabs me. He charges us 'not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.'

Some will automatically take this to mean that a Christian is a groveler, loudly proclaiming his unworthiness. This cannot be further from St. Paul's intent. Humility and meekness are not evidence of a weak, spineless person who can only lament the wretchedness of their sin.

A Christian knows themselves as they are before God. We see the truth of who we are. Yes, we live in repentance, for we will always be sinners. This does not mean that we have no value before the Father. Our repentance clears aways the barriers so we might know our talents and their limits. We can take what the Father has given us, making use of it for the blessing of all.

Our Lord wishes that we see ourselves as clearly as He does so we might let go of what is not useful and take up the good we have been given to accomplish.

A Sinner's Tears

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." Luke 7:36–39 (RSV)

There are at least two sinners in need of God's mercy in the Pharisee's house. The woman had no illusions about who she is. St. Luke introduces her as a 'woman of the city,' a polite way of naming her profession. In case his readers might be uncertain, St. Luke adds, 'who was a sinner.'

It is unlikely that she lacked help remembering her sin. Whispered conversations as she went about the village. Disapproving looks should she dare to pause too long in the presence of 'respectable folk.' A confrontation by a synagogue leader or Pharisee about her life was not uncommon.

She probably did not ask anyone's permission to enter the Pharisee's house. She wanted to be a Jesus' feet, to weep over her broken life and hope for some shred of mercy.

The Pharisee, if he thought about his sin at all, would have rated it on a sliding scale. His minor failures on one end, the woman's terrible transgressions on the other. Instead of seeing that he should join the woman weeping at Jesus' feet, his estimation of Jesus fell.

The woman and the Pharisee needed Jesus, for they were both enslaved to their sins. She saw it. He could not. The Pharisee had fallen into the snare of the devil, where religion is used to beat down sinners. Instead of seeing hope for the woman in Jesus, the Pharisee only could wrongly judge them.

The Pharisee was more lost to the Father than the woman. She could only weep at Jesus' feet. He trusted in his goodness by comparison. The Father blesses a sinner's tears.

From the Beginning

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–17 (RSV)

'God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.' When we calculate the universe's age, we are considering numbers so large that the mind struggles. On top of those ages, there is the void out of which the cosmos was called. Time did not exist before God spoke all things into being, and who can begin to speak of what it was before that moment of beginning.

We are cautioned not to dwell too long on these things. Acknowledge their existence, but put no effort in attempting to pull back the veil covering the mystery of creation. Human explanations too easily stray into error when we try to grasp the mind of God.

It is well that we receive the wonder of God's choosing us before all things were. We rest in the peace that God's love has no boundaries, nor has it ever had. We need not concern ourselves with the 'how,' rather live in the 'because' we are loved.

We have been created to be loved and to live out that love.

Everything In Jesus

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12–17 (RSV)

'Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,' thus St. Paul describes our life within the Body of Christ. It sounds so simple there on the pages of the Bible. 'Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,' as easy as taking a breath.

Can St. Paul mean 'everything'? We read through the partial listing of what 'everything' means, and our failures begin to add up. Compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and on goes St. Paul. Can he be serious?

'And above all, put on love,' tops it all. Love as Christ has loved us, love, because each life is worthy of Jesus' innocent suffering, death and resurrection.

We stand bewildered, for we know that we do not have this within us on our own. It must come from outside us. It does, day after day, the Lord seeks us out, allows us to see our sin, forgives our repentant hearts, and cloths us with His righteousness.

Our Lord does this as we learn that we can, by His grace, put on all that St. Paul has laid before us. By each sin forgiven, every godless thought forgotten, the unkind word left unspoken, or evil intent released, we become less a sinner, and we become the love that has saved us. We grow into the holiness that is our Lord.

We may never come close to the fullness of Christ while in this flesh; still, we can begin to glimpse what will be as we are dressed in the righteousness of our Lord.

Hid With Christ

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:1–11 (RSV)

If you are baptized, you have been raised with Christ. We have been baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our old nature has been put to death, and we now live in Christ. God acts in the waters of baptism, and we are a new creation.

This simple explanation of who is a Christian is the starting point for our new life in Christ. We see the things of this life, of this world, in the light of Christ. We recognize so many things that would stand between our Lord and us. We see that, though we are redeemed in Christ, sin is all around us, striving to draw us away from the Lord.

St. Paul lists some of the ways in which sin shows itself in our lives. It is not an exhaustive list. If you don't find your pet sin in this passage of Scripture, it does not mean that you are off the hook. A Christian is never wholly free of sin on this side of Jesus' return. We are, to be honest about that, sinners.

We are forgiven sinners whose deepest desire is to become more like Jesus every day. A Christian lives life with eyes wide open. We see our sin clearly, making no excuses for it. We name it for what it is, bring it to the foot of the Cross, seeking the new life our Lord grants through His mercy.

The Lord's Planting

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:43–45 (RSV)

I love the rolling fields of Iowa. They are full of promise these early days of spring. As the seeds are planted goes the prayers of those who till and keep the land. We cast hope into the soil each year, trusting God to send the rains, call forth the life within the seed and measure the days until we gather the harvest.

Jesus may have been a carpenter, but his heart is that of a farmer. He redeems us so we may become that good soil in which His Word is sown. He tends and keeps us so that we might become for Him a bountiful harvest in His Kingdom.

He pours the Spirit upon us to nurture the faith He has given. He seeks the good crop He would have us be in this world. It grieves Him should we seek after the unfruitful things of this dying age. Jesus does not cease to seek after us that He might transform us from a useless weed in the field of the Lord to a harvest of blessing we are created to be.

Humble Strength

"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:27–31 (RSV)

It is a mistake if one thinks that Christians are whimpering weaklings, afraid of standing up for themselves, sheepishly taking whatever abuse the world chooses to heap on them.

The thugs and bullies of our race will point to a passage such as this from St. Luke as evidence that Christians have to take whatever they choose to dish out. This is false in every way. A follower of Jesus is not a helpless, frail creature cowering from anyone stronger than they are.

It takes strength and courage to love those who would do you harm. A person who is confident in the presence and justice of God can do good rather than evil to their bitterest foe. Those who stand in the Lord will receive the violence some would dole out to allow the love of Christ within them to soften the hearts of the abuser.

A Christian will receive the blows of the wicked to protect the helpless and innocent. As Jesus bore the cross to confront the power of sin and death, we in the same humble strength He displayed will confront those who would harm. A faithful follower of Jesus will not stand idly by while an abusive person attempts to inflict their rage on a weaker, more vulnerable person. They will intervene, receiving the violence themselves for the sake of others.

Thus, we will love our enemies but not become their enemies. We will do good to those who hate but never return hatred to them. We will pray for those who would abuse the weak but not allow them to abuse. We will feed our enemies and offer them our material goods, hoping it will soften their hearts.

Theirs is the power of a world that is passing away. We have the authority of He who has redeemed the world by confronting the world's evil with His own life. Though the world and the devil thought they had crushed Jesus, His rising from the grave has undone them.

We stand in all humility in the power of He who has conquered the world. We stand in the strong love of God through His Son.

Luther on God's Call

But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing." His mother said to him, "Upon me be your curse, my son; only obey my word, and go, fetch them to me." So he went and took them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savory food, such as his father loved.

Genesis 27:11–14 (RSV)

But above all a ruler in the church should pray in this manner: "Lord God, Thou hast appointed me in the church as bishop and pastor. Thou seest how unfit I am to attend to such a great and difficult office, and if it had not been for Thy help, I would long since have ruined everything. Therefore I call upon Thee. Of course, I want to put my mouth and heart to use. I shall teach the people, and I myself shall learn and shall meditate diligently on Thy Word. Use me as Thy instrument. Only do not forsake me; for if I am alone, I shall easily destroy everything." Luther's Works Volume 5:123

Luther was a solid teacher of Holy Scripture. He was teaching on the book of Genesis in late 1541 or early 1542, when he was musing on the folly of Jacob's deception of his father, Isaac. In danger of being found to be a fraud and not trusting in God's guidance, Jacob was selfishly not only trying to cheat his brother Esau but sidestep God's purposes as well.

Yet God made use of Jacob and his trickery in the fulfillment of His will. Even when we act the fool or thief, God's will is not thwarted. Jacob, who would become Israel, was led by God to accomplish His purpose of creating the people of Israel.

The quote from volume 5 of Luther's Works has been called 'Luther's Sacristy Prayer.' It is often placed where the pastor might see and pray it before leading worship and proclaiming the Word of God. I find great comfort in knowing that even Luther felt the weight of his office. He confessed that he would fail in his calling to serve God's Church without God's grace.

It remains the prayer of most pastors I have been privileged to know. We give thanks that the Father makes use of us in His Church. We give thanks for the many saints of the churches we serve who lift us in prayer, that we might accomplish what the Father desires.

As Jesus Loves

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.

Colossians 1:1–5 (RSV)

St. Paul loved the churches he founded. Even when he writes to admonish them, his love for them is evident. It is at the heart of our faith when we share the Gospel; we are sharing the love of Christ.

A good friend, as he explained the love of God for us, reminded us that when you love as Jesus loves, at times loves says, 'no.' A 'love' that only allows all things or is concerned for what it can get, is not Christ's love. The love we receive from our Father is the love that is always looking beyond itself.

The Church is a community living in the love of Christ. It is a community that receives the love of God as His gift. We are a community that seeks to love one another as we are loved in Christ. Jesus commissions us to proclaim His love to all the world.

We love, not as the world 'loves' for the world has some very strange ideas about love. Most appear to be focused on some form of personal pleasure that uses others to satisfy itself. We are living witnesses that there is a much better way to love.

So we, in Christ, are willing to do the hard work of love. Loving as we have been loved, we can be that guiding light our world needs.

Recovery

After this he (Jesus) went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he left everything, and rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick;

Luke 5:27–31 (RSV)

I only knew him as a recovering alcoholic. He had been sober for nearly twenty years, living one day at a time. He was grateful for the Lutheran pastor who helped him crawl out of the bottle. I cannot say how it began, but the pastor started a friendship with the man, often going to the bar where the man spent his time drinking.

I want to say that all the pastor's parishioners were supportive of his efforts. I want to say it, but it wouldn't be true. The pastor was criticized for going to the bar. He was criticized for spending time on a drunk who wasn't a member of the congregation. A common trait among Pharisees is they see other people's sins so clearly that they cannot see their own.

The Gospel is for sinners. The Gospel is for those enslaved to sin which can see no way to be healed. A recovering alcoholic will tell you that the first step toward sobriety is admitting that you are powerless over the booze. A forgiven sinner will say much the same. We cannot free ourselves, and we are slaves to sin.

Luther was clear; we are to die daily to sin and be raised in Christ. We confess what a recovering alcoholic knows; it is not in our hands. It comes to us as grace from God, who raised Jesus from the dead. When we remember this truth, we give God thanks for His healing and new life in Christ.

Some

The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever:

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 2 John 1–4 (RSV)

One lifetime is not enough to thoroughly learn all the lessons that Scripture has to teach. You could read it through every week and still would encounter new insights with each reading. Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit is at work, enlightening us through each reading.

I had not paid any attention to the word 'some' before my last reading of this passage. 'I rejoice greatly to find 'some' of your children following the truth,' Some, but not all, of her children, are within the Body of Christ.

I think of a conversation with a colleague whose children had all wandered from the faith. They were raised by loving, Christian parents who taught them well the treasure we have in Christ. They were never overbearing or unkind, showing the love of Christ in all circumstances.

Still, once grown and on their own, all had stopped worshiping or expressing any interest in following their Lord. It was tough for my friend as they watched their children leave behind the faith in which they had been raised.

However, they did not despair but continued to pray for their children, live as they could in Christ, and trust that the Holy Spirit was ever at work in the lives of their children.

As in the parable of the prodigal son, we all wander into that far country where we think we will find our real freedom. Even there, the Holy Spirit is working so that when we come to ourselves, we realize our true freedom, our true home, is in our Father's house.

My friend continues to pray for their children that they will remember their Lord and come home to Him as they journey through their lives.