Read Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Hello Family!

Have you ever watched little kids when they dress up and make believe? You kids did this yourself, and I’ve done it too! For instance girls, you would dress up in a magical little dress and we would then travel to a magical land with unicorns and castles. Boys, we would set up the train tracks going all through the house, and you guys would become train conductors.

This is what Paul tells us here in Romans. You are what you wear. In the English translations, however, it sounds as if we are the ones who have to bring about this loving to our neighbor. It sounds as if it is by our power and initiative that we serve our neighbor. But if this is really the meaning here, then how do we know when we have done it correctly? How do we know if we have done enough? Well, the answer is we can’t and we don’t.

But this isn’t up to us as individuals. It all is centered in God and His power and His initiative. God, in the person of the Christ-child, has already fulfilled all the demands of His own law! He subjected Himself to His own standards and carried them all out to perfect satisfaction in Jesus.

In Baptism, each of you received a very special and priceless gift. You each received God’s Holy Spirit when you were baptized into Jesus. That means you have Jesus, the Christ-child, dwelling within you through faith alone. And that’s pretty cool because now God has changed your identity! You are a Christian! It’s more than just a label we wear. It’s a whole change in your person. You have a new identity. You are already and right now a new being. You are a new creation right now, as the Bible says (Galatians 6:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17).

So, what’s this mean for you? Well, this “loving one another” is no longer a command for the Christian where he or she has to make sure that they’re doing something. Rather, it’s Christ in you that’s simply being lived out in the Christian’s life. Why? Well, it’s because Jesus lives in and through you by His indwelling Spirit.

Jesus is coming again for His final Advent. The time is closer than we think, and every person should think about this too. In the meantime, God says that we are to simply live in the Christmas clothes He has given to you. God has made you one of His dear and precious children in Baptism.

I love you guys! Dad

 

Read Psalm 122

Psalm 122:1  I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

I think you kids know that Dad really loves Wisconsin. That’s because there is where my roots are. I grew up in Sheboygan, met your Mom in Milwaukee, and lived there until 1991.

When we moved away from Wisconsin, I always looked forward to getting back there for Thanksgiving and Christmas–especially for Christmas! This was the time of the year when we would pack all you kids up in the van and car and make our way “back home.” On the journey to Wisconsin–be it from St. Louis or Lexington–it brought a sense of anticipation, excitement and joy. We would all be back together with family, the lights, the decorations, and familiarity (at least for Mom & me). It was a time to leave all the cares and worries behind for a time. And I knew we were getting close when we crossed the Wisconsin border and saw the sign “Welcome to Wisconsin.”

This is what Psalm 122 is about, and that’s what verse 1 says. God’s people would recite this Psalm and others as they would travel up to Jerusalem for the festivals. The journey would be long, and sometimes dangerous for some. But there it was–Jerusalem–off in the distance. They could see it. Their journey was almost over–for a time. They would see people they hadn’t seen in a while. But more importantly, they would be in Jerusalem where the Temple was–God’s dwelling place. They could worship God in thanksgiving and praise for all that He’s done for them, and continues to do.

During Advent we remember that God put flesh on Himself and caused Himself to be born in Bethlehem’s manger. God has come to us. There’s no need to journey to Jerusalem because He now dwells among us in His Spirit from Jesus. God has brought Jerusalem to us in the Christ-child born in Bethlehem. He brings the festival of joy and hope and confidence to you as you journey through this life. One day Jesus will return visibly for His final Advent. At that time He will take all His people who believe and worship Him to the New Jerusalem–the eternal City of God–to live with Him forever.

During this time of Advent, pray for Peace within the Christian Church. It’s not perfect because it’s made up of sinners–but forgiven sinners. Maybe God will use you to help bring about peace within your local congregation or situation where there may be some disturbances. Remember, no church or congregation is perfect. Don’t let that hinder or keep you away from Church. God is good, and He’s always in charge despite our foibles and failures.

You’re on your way to the Eternal Jerusalem. Your roots are in Jesus and His heaven. He brought you into His New Jerusalem in your baptisms. You’re on your way to your real Home, and Jesus the Christ-child leads you there. Follow Him.

Love, Dad

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Read Isaiah 2:1-5 & Matthew 21:1-11

Hi Kids (an anyone else who listens to this)!

Here’s my radio program for Dec. 1–Advent I. These programs run 29 minutes because I get a 30 minute time slot. However, feel free to listen through as long as you want.

I love yous guys! Dad

S.D.G.

Easter: Day of Resurrection! — 4/21/19

Isaiah 65:17-19

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES: Amen & Amen!

Is. 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens

and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.

18 But be glad and rejoice forever

in that which I create;

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

and her people to be a gladness.

19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem

and be glad in my people;

no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping

and the cry of distress.

Life can change so quickly. Can’t it? I have always been amazed at how fast life can change. Things are one way one day, and the next day they are totally different.

You just got the job! You just got the promotion.

I’m sorry. We have to let you go. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES.

You’ve practiced hard long hours. You’ve won first place. You’ve won the tournament.

I’m sorry. Your injuries mean that you’ll never compete again.

You say ‘I do.” You’re married

I want a divorce. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

It’s a boy. It’s a girl.

I’m sorry. Your child didn’t make it.

You’re healthy as a horse.

I’m sorry. You have terminal cancer.

Congratulations! You got your driver’s license.

I’m sorry Dad. The doctor said that you can’t drive anymore.

I haven’t seen you in such a long time. It’s great to see you today!

We’re gathered together to say farewell to our dear Christian Brother or Sister.

What a difference a day makes!!!

Today is Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a glorious day for followers of Jesus! But we can’t have Easter without Good Friday, and we can’t have Good Friday without Easter. They go hand in hand.

We need to remember Good Friday in order to really appreciate what God has done for us. On Maundy Thursday—Maundy is Latin for Mandate; Jesus mandated and gave us His Supper in His body and blood. He puts Himself in this meal to strengthen our faith. The disciples needed that 2,000 years ago because in a few short hours Jesus was betrayed into the hands of guards and Jewish officials. He was let away and tried before a kangaroo court where they found Him guilty on trumped up charges.

They brought Him before Pontius Pilate and after caving into the peoples’ demands, Pilate had Jesus flogged and crucified. The Romans were the best in history in regard to devising the cruelest of tortures. They beat Jesus. They put a crown of thorns on His head, and these thorns weren’t the little thorns found on rose bushes. They flogged Him with hooks and metal balls on the ends of leather strips. As the hooks entered into the back, the flesh was ripped and shredded. This destroyed the muscles used for making the lungs works.

At the crucifixion, the criminals were nailed to crosses with their knees bent. This allowed them to push up and down so that they could breath. Once they became to tired to lift themselves up, they simply suffocated to death.

Gruesome. Yes, very much so. But we need to hear this because this is the suffering that Jesus went through to pay for our sins. Mel Gibson did a very good job on researching the crucifixion in his movie The Passion of the Christ. It’s rated R because of these scenes. But every Christian—young and old—should watch this.

I set this up because Jesus actually died. You can say that God was killable that Day on Good Friday. Jesus heart stopped beating. His blood stopped flowing. His eyes dilated. His brain activity ceased. He became like us in every way—including death. Jesus was dead as a doornail. But something greater happened as well. God placed your sins on Jesus that Day. When Jesus died, God declared that all your sins are now forgiven. Many people simply shrug their shoulders and say, “So what?” or “Big deal.” But it is a big deal because the barrier that stood between you and God is now gone. You owe nothing to God. It’s His free and awesome gift to you. WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES.

Jesus is dead. Satan thought he had won. The world thought they finally had this Jesus out of their hair and life could go on as before. But something happened 3 days later that no expected. Jesus would be raised from being dead—dead as a doornail! And that’s where our text comes in. It’s the Resurrection! WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES!

Is. 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens

and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.

The Old Testament reading in Isaiah talks about a day that will make a difference in a lot of peoples’ lives. God speaks about a New Creation. He says, “Behold! Pay attention! Are you still tracking with Me? I create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered.”

The Greek translation of the Old Testament is called the Septuagint. What’s interesting here is that Greek word for “former things” is proteros. We get our English word ‘prototype’ from this. Do you know what a prototype is? It’s a first copy of something.

I had a friend who used to work for Buick designing cars. You have to design cars way out into the future in order to stay competitive. They then build a prototype of the car. This is what it’s gonna look like. However, no one knows what kind of technology and things will be available 10 or 15 years out into the future. So, the prototype is a functioning copy of what the final car will look like—but it’s not FULLY functioning.

All of this creation that we enjoy right now is a prototype of what God will restore in the future. These new heavens refer to the universe and the sky. Do you like looking at the sky? I do! The beautiful colors at dawn and sunset. The wonderful blues, rainbows, rain clouds. At night there are the magnificent stars, consolations and moon. When Jesus returns all of this will be restored. This is what God is saying here! Luther wrote about this. He said that on that Day when Jesus returns, we’ll look at the stars and say, “What small stars we had. And what a dim sun we had!” Think about that. You can’t even look at the sun right now without damaging your retinas or going blind. When Jesus returns, we’ll have an even better sun.

And the earth will be restored as well. ALL of creation will be restored by God back to the way He originally intended it to be. The rivers, lakes and seas will be pristine—just like God created them to be. The trees will be treeier; the flowers will be flowerier; greens will be greener; the scents will be more fragrant;

Is. 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

the lion shall eat straw like the ox,

and dust shall be the serpent’s food.

They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain,”

says the LORD.

Satan, sin and death do not have the final word. God does. We do not get our own individual clouds to hover on for all of eternity. We’re not going to be playing bumper clouds. And we don’t get wings either.

God gives this only to people who die in the Christian faith—followers of Jesus. If people don’t want to spend time with Jesus here on earth, then they don’t have to worry about spending eternity with Him either. But that’s not you! You are followers of the Jesus, the resurrected Lord, and this is what God has waiting for you!

Is. 65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever

in that which I create;

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

and her people to be a gladness.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES!

But there’s still one more thing. Where does this leave you and me in all of this? Well, you too will be raised from your graves—unless Jesus returns before that. Remember, Jesus was dead as a doornail. But He was raised from being dead to being alive nevermore to die! The Bible says that Jesus is the Firstfruits of the dead. Paul wrote this in 1Corinthians 15: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–21 ESV). Jesus was physically raised from the death. Matthew’s Gospel says that the women grabbed Jesus’ feet. Ghosts don’t have feet. On the first Easter evening Jesus appeared in the room with the disciples. He said to them, “Put your hands in My side and put your fingers in My wounds. I’m real. I’m not a ghost.”

This means that you better get used to your bodies you have right now because you’re going to be spending eternity in them. But they will be restored to the way God originally intended them to be. No more worrying about losing or gaining weight. No more blindness. No more deafness. No more cancer or stroke or dementia or Alzheimer. No more wheelchairs or walkers or canes. Those who lost limbs or were born without them will have them fully restored. No more emotional or mental issues; no more depression or bi-polar. None of those things and more because these are consequences of the powers of Sin and Death.

This, dear friends, is what Good Friday and Resurrection Day is all about! Just think: those who are blind—the first thing they will see is Jesus! Those who are deaf—the first thing they will hear is Jesus and the heavenly choir! WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES!

You’ve been united with Jesus in Baptism. What happens to Jesus happens to you. He was raised from the dead never to die again, and that’s our confidence and certain hope too. This is what Easter is all about. It’s about Jesus’ death and His resurrection for you.

What more is there to say to this except AMEN AND AMEN! YES, YES it shall be so!

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Alleluia and Amen!

S.D.G.

Maundy Thursday: 4/18/19

Lord’s Prayer 6th Petition & Lord’s Supper

Lead Us Not Into Temptation: An Opportune Time

Bible Readings:

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Luke 4:12-13 & Luke 22:1-23

In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant of God; Dear Precious People of God:

Lead us not into temptation. The Gospel reading for this evening begins with the end of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the Wilderness. It’s fitting that we begin the season of Lent with the Temptation of Jesus and close out the season of Lent with it as well because when Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, that wasn’t the end of Satan’s temptations against Him.

Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

This doesn’t mean that Satan simply rolled over and played dead with Jesus. He didn’t. He continued to tempt Jesus throughout His life and ministry. Jesus said so as He and his disciples celebrated the Passover: Luke 22:28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials

If Satan continued to tempt even the Son of God, you can bet that he continues to tempt us as well. He has never given up and he will never give up until the Day when Jesus returns.

Satan departed from Jesus until an opportune time. And the time Satan waited for was when Jesus was at His weakest. He needed to keep Jesus from going to the cross. He needed to keep Jesus from suffering, bleeding, being whipped and nailed. He needed to keep Jesus from wearing that crown of thorns. The opportune time he waited for was the night Jesus would celebrate the Passover with His disciples for the very last time.

Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

We want to blame Judas. He gave into the temptation of greed and financial gain by betraying his trust, friendship, and loyalty to Jesus. Temptation itself is not a sin. It’s when we give into it and consent that faith is compromised. Luther explains this in the Large Catechism concerning this petition: Lead us not into temptation:

[106] This, then, is what “leading us not into temptation” means: when God gives us power and strength to resist, even though the attack is not removed or ended. For no one can escape temptations and allurements as long as we live in the flesh and have the devil prowling around us. We cannot help but suffer attacks, and even be mired in them, but we pray here that we may not fall into them and be drowned by them.

[107] To experience attack, therefore, is quite a different thing from consenting to it or saying “Yes” to it.

Judas was tempted and he said ‘Yes’ to it. He gave into that temptation.

Jesus experienced temptation on the Mount of Olives. He prayed to the Father: Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:42). This was Satan’s opportune time. This is what the devil was waiting for. He used Judas to carry out his plan. He committed sin and in doing so he betrayed Jesus and handed him over to the guards and officials. They led Jesus away that night and Jesus was found guilty of blasphemy in their kangaroo court. From there they led Jesus to Pontius Pilate to be beaten, whipped, flogged and nailed to the cross. But Jesus said, “NO.” He did not give into temptation.

We might be quick to judge Judas; to vilify him as if we have never given into temptation ourselves. Peter thought he could hold out, but he denied ever associating with Jesus—not once, but three times! And this was when Jesus needed him the most.

Right after the Lord’s Supper the disciples’ sin of pride got in their way. They argued with one another about who is the most important in Jesus’ inner circle—right after receiving the Lord’s Supper!

It’s interesting and very important to notice that NONE of the Gospel writers vilify Judas. They remember what Jesus said John 8:7 “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And later Paul would write: 1Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Who is this Judas? Who is the betrayer? Faced with this question, are we capable of more than asking with the disciples: “ Surely not I, Lord?” Before we condemn Judas too quickly, we need to take a look at our own lives. What temptations have you given into? What sins have you committed and are still committing. We are all guilty of breaking the covenant with God. We are all guilty and therefore none of us has a right to pass judgment on other people when they fail and fall. Satan is ALWAYS looking for an opportune time in your life to have you slip and fall from grace and faith. This is why Jesus told us to pray: Lead us NOT into temptation. Luther teaches us this in the Large Catechism:

[104] Then comes the devil, who baits and badgers us on all sides, but especially exerts himself where the conscience and spiritual matters are concerned. His purpose is to make us scorn and despise both the Word and the works of God, to tear us away from faith, hope, and love, to draw us into unbelief, false security, and stubbornness, or, on the contrary, to drive us into despair, denial of God, blasphemy, and countless other abominable sins. These are snares and nets; indeed, they are the real “flaming darts” that are venomously shot into our hearts, not by flesh and blood but by the devil.

Satan is ALWAYS looking for an opportune time in your life and mine. And there’s no shortage of them. That’s for sure.

But God also made a promise to you. We heard it again this evening in the Old Testament reading in Jeremiah:

Jer. 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant … 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, …33 For this is the covenant … I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The Hebrew meaning for ‘remember’ in this verse means “to hold against them.” What God promises to you is that He will NOT hold your sins against you or hold you accountable for them. Why? Because He held your sins against Jesus. He became accountable for your sins. And that’s called grace and mercy. Satan tried to tempt Jesus from going to the cross. Remove this cup from Me if it be Your will. It wasn’t the Father’s will to do so because the Father’s will is to save you from your sins—the sins we commit as we give into temptations. The Father kept pressing and squeezing Jesus on the cross with His wrath. Jesus was drinking the Cup of God’s wrath filled with your sins and mine, and the sins of the whole world. And as He was squeezing Jesus with His wrath, Jesus was bleeding out the Cup of Blessing for you and for me. Jesus was bleeding out the New Covenant God made with you: I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.

This is what Jesus gave His disciples on the night He was betrayed. This is what Jesus gives us in His Holy Supper. It’s not a cup of God’s wrath, but rather it is The cup of blessing and the New Covenant. This was Jesus’ opportune time to trump Satan and his schemes to tear you away from God’s grace.

Luke 22:17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. … 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

You see, the 6th Petition and Maundy Thursday go hand in hand. We most certainly will give into temptations. But rest assured dear Christian friends, that God’s grace and mercy to you far outstrips our sins against Him. Once again this evening is an opportune time for us to repent and receive God’s grace to you:

…33 For this is the covenant … I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Lead us not into temptation.

To Jesus be the glory.

Amen.

Transfiguration Sunday: Deuteronomy 34

Upon Which Mountain Do You Live?

Hi Kids,

Here’s a recording of today’s sermon. I had a number of positive comments on it, so I thought I’d share it with you. This is a recording of today’s radio program.

I love yous guys! Dad

 

Do you hear God? Or do you listen to Him? Receive your PhD from God! You’re invited to to class!