Jesus was telling a story about forgiveness. He described a servant who owed his king far more money than he could have ever repaid. Think in terms of a man making forty thousand dollars a year and owing billions of dollars today.
And, in today’s Bible reading, we hear the servant promising to pay it back.
“Yeah. Right.” There’s no way a servant could possibly pay back a debt like that!
This was precisely Jesus’ point. Just as that servant could never have paid back his king, you and I could never pay back our God for all the times we have sinned against him. In fact, it’s foolish—and sinful—for us to even think that it’s a possibility. To think that something I do could satisfy God could somehow serve as a “repayment” for the enormous debt of sin that I owe means I am either unaware of just how great my debt is, or I am arrogant enough to believe I could pay it off.
Thankfully, as enormous as our sin is, even more, “enormous” is our salvation. Since no mere human could make a sufficient payment for sin, God stepped into the mix himself. God himself took sin upon himself, God himself went to the cross, God himself paid the full price, and announced, “It is finished.”
Wow. That’s enormous.
Prayer:
O Lord, lead me to trust wholeheartedly in your enormous saving work. Amen.
[Jesus said] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.” Matthew 18:23-25
Ten thousand bags of gold. That is what Jesus said the servant in his story owed the king. At that time, a “bag of gold” was likely the equivalent of six thousand days’ wages. So, let’s do some math. An average day’s wage in the United States is around $100.00. This would mean that, in today’s money, one bag of gold would be worth $600,000. And the servant in Jesus’ story owed 10,000 bags of gold. That’s $6,000,000,000! There was no way the servant would ever be able to pay the debt he owed the king.
Which was precisely Jesus’ point. The servant in Jesus’ story represents us. The king represents God. Like the servant, we owe a debt we can never pay. It’s not a monetary debt. It is a spiritual debt. We have sinned against God so often and in so many ways that there is no way we can ever make up for it. Think of it—how many times have you and I failed to love God with all our hearts—even just today? Has it been dozens of times? Hundreds of times—just today? And then there was yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. And, there is the issue of how many times we have failed to respect God. And then there is the issue of how many times we have failed to trust God, and how many times we have failed to love our neighbor and … well … our debt of sin just keeps piling up!
And, it is important for us to be reminded of this. Why? Because knowing the enormity of our sin means that when we hear God say, “Take heart my child; your sins are forgiven,” we will appreciate it all the more.
And, here’s the truth: because of what Jesus has done, your sins—that horrible mountain of sins—have all been forgiven. All 6,000,000,000 of them … or even more.
Thank God for his enormous forgiveness!
Prayer:
O Lord, lead me to appreciate the enormity of my sin, that I might, even more, appreciate the enormity of your forgiveness. Amen.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21,22
The apostle Peter asked Jesus an important question—one that many of us would like to ask—namely, “How many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?” From what we know about that time, about that culture, it seems as if it was culturally appropriate to forgive a person three times if they’d committed the same sin. So, when Peter suggested “seven times,” he likely thought that he was being very generous.
Jesus’ answer unmasked him. “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus’ point was clear; we aren’t to count how many times we forgive. Instead, we are to just keep on forgiving.
Why? Because God doesn’t count how many times he’s forgiven you and me. As much as I’ve messed it up—and badly—God keeps on forgiving me! Jesus’ death won forgiveness for all of it, no matter how “big” or “small” the sin was.
And no, that doesn’t lead me to say, “Ok. I can go out and sin again.” Rather, it leads me to say, “Wow! Thank you, God, for your gracious, forgiving love, which is never-ending.” And then?
And then it empowers us to forgive others. Not three times. Not seven times. Instead, we’ll forgive as many times as is necessary . . . just as God has forgiven us.
Prayer:
Lord, remind me that you have forgiven me over and over and over again, that I might be motivated to forgive others, too. Amen.
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankfulness of praise.
Please note: Worship Service Restart Plans (Bulletin pages 14,15) Worship f.)Due to the recent increase of COVID-19 virus cases testing positive in our area, worshipers are kindly asked to maintain social distancing, refrain from singing, and wear masks that cover both mouth and nose. Thank you for your consideration.
PASTOR’S WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
O Lord – our Maker, Redeemer, and Comforter – we are assembled in your presence to hear your holy Word. We pray that you would open our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of your Word we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and grow day by day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
OPENING HYMN 399 To God Be the Glory
*Indoors: sung by soloist. Outdoors: sung by congregation.
Please stand.
INVOCATION
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Lord, we pray that your mercy and grace may always go before and follow after us that, loving you with undivided hearts, we may be ready for every good and useful work; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Be seated.
✠ T H E W O R D ✠
The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Genesis 50:15-21NIV (today’s sermon text)
Summary: Joseph assured his brothers of forgiveness
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: `This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
PSALM OF THE DAY 103
*For your personal devotion at home.
Refrain
I will hear what the Lord proclaims: peace to his people.
Praise the LORD, O my soul;*
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
He forgives all your sins*
and heals all your diseases;
he redeems your life from the grave*
and crowns you with love and compassion.
Refrain
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,*
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve*
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,*
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,*
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Refrain
As a father has compassion on his children,*
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,*
he remembers that we are dust.
Our days are like grass, like a flower of the field;*
the wind blows over it and it is gone.
But the LORD’S love is with those who fear him*
from everlasting to everlasting.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
SECOND LESSONRomans 14:5-9 NIV
Summary: We who are forgiven honor God not ourselves
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
VERSE OF THE DAY Romans 15: 4 NIV
M: Alleluia. Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia.
Please stand.
GOSPEL LESSONMatthew 18:21-35 NIV
Summary: Forgive from the heart
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,’ he begged, `and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. `Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, `Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,’ he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Please be seated.
HYMN 493 Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive
*Indoors: sung by soloist. Outdoors: sung by congregation.
SERMONETTEGenesis 50:15-21 NIV
“Forgiveness Is Our Way Of Life”
It reflects God’s love to us
It results in God’s blessings for us
Please stand.
APOSTLES’ CREED
*For your personal devotion at home.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker or heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
BEFRIEND A MISSION PRAYER & INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
*Intercessory prayers listed on page 12.
LORD’S PRAYER
*Spoken by congregation.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY
*Read by pastor.
Please be seated for the distribution.
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service. See page 13 for communion schedule and distribution information.
Be seated.
CLOSING PRAYER
M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
Then Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.
Amen.
Be seated.
CLOSING HYMN 326May the Grace of Christ Our Savior
*Indoors: sung by soloist. Outdoors: sung by congregation.
Announcements
September 27 – October 3
Sun.
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Worship with communion
Mon.
Tues.
6:30 p.m.
Bible Study at Emmanuel
Wed.
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.
4:30 p.m.
St. John’s Outdoor Worship
Next week’s theme:- October 4, 2020 18th Sunday after Pentecost“God Acts in His Own Way, According to His Nature (Not Ours) By Grace” (Note: Pastor Dolan will lead services.)
8:00 a.m.
Emmanuel Worship
10:00 a.m.
St. John’s Worship
St. John’s Lutheran Church Montello & Emmanuel Lutheran Church Mecan
Updated Response to Worship Concerns Created by COVID-19
July 30, 2020
When will we worship? An outdoor Saturday service is being added to help members worship in a safe environment. This service will replace the Wednesday evening service.
Saturdays @ 4:30 pm (Any St. John’s or Emmanuel members)-Beginning Saturday, August 15
Sunday @ 8:00 am Emmanuel (Emmanuel members)
Sunday @ 10:00 am St. John’s (St. John’s members 55 and older)
Online worship services continue found at stjohnsmontello.org
Where will we worship? Groups should be 50 or less indoors. To provide safe worship experiences, the new Saturday worship service will be held outdoors when weather permits.
Saturday @ 4:30 pm will be an outdoor service on the lawn behind the parking lot of St. John’s. In case of inclement weather, we will move to the sanctuary.
Sunday @ 8:00 am at Emmanuel in the sanctuary
Sunday @ 10:00 am at St. John’s in the sanctuary
How will we worship? Providing a safe worship experience is a high priority for the leaders in our congregations. Because the virus continues to spread, and because of the science regarding singing and speaking, the following policies will be continued and new ones enacted immediately:
Please use the hand sanitizer upon arrival at the worship service.
Masks will currently be optional at all services (see below**) Masks will be available.
Designated seating will be provided indoors to provide for social distancing.
Please bring lawn chairs for the outdoor service. Some seating and a canopy may be available.
The congregation is asked to not sing for the time being.
Services will be shortened to a length of approximately 40 minutes.
A soloist will sing the hymns and any liturgical responses.
Continuous communion will be practiced on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. The Saturday before the 2nd and 4th Sundays will also include communion. Family units are encouraged to commune together.
The congregations should exit the sanctuary from the back at the end of the service, taking all belongings including the bulletin along with them.
The sanctuary will be cleaned and sanitized between services.
**We will abide by any state or local mandates that may change any of these policies
As we hold firmly to the truths of scripture, we know that God continues to keep his promises to us. He has promised the wonderful spiritual blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation. He has not, however, promised that things will always remain the same. In the words of our synod president, Mark Schroeder, “we recommit ourselves–as individuals, as congregations, and as a synod–to the mission that God has called us to carry out, trusting that he will bless us in that work.” Let us work together as we move forward as a congregation. Let us help, support, and encourage each other as we gather around God’s Word.
Question or Concerns? Contact your Elders or pastor
Emmanuel Elders: Darrell Buchholz (608) 215-7871, Wayne Stelter (608) 369-1790
St. John’s Elders: Jerre Duerr (608) 697-8706, Jay Eisermann (608) 297-8171, James Wachholz (608) 369-4006 – Pastor Pete Zietlow (608) 408-7830
Christians – Models of Forgiveness
Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost – A
God’s Word for Today
One timeless truth that we review Sunday after Sunday is this: God, in his boundless grace and mercy, has forgiven me, a poor, miserable sinner. One of the special blessings of having Christian friends is that they, too, forgive. Today, in His Word God speaks to us about the correlation between being forgiven and being forgiving.
First Lesson (Genesis 50: 15-21)
1. Joseph wept as his brothers spoke to him. Were these tears of sorrow or tears of joy?
2. What comfort does the Christian find in verse 20?
Second Lesson (Romans 14: 5-9)
3. What advice does Paul give for the maintenance of Christian harmony and charity in the church?
4. “Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s (v. 8b). Apply these words to your life.
Gospel (Matthew 18: 21-35)
5. Put into practical terms the meaning of Jesus’ command to forgive “not seven times, but seventy- seven times.”
6. What makes the first servant’s lack of mercy so revolting?
7. Paraphrase the parable’s application as found in verse 35.
Answers:
1. Likely, both. There were tears of sorrow as it grieved Joseph to think that his brothers believed him capable of such retaliation. Also, his eyes welled with tears of joy over the evidence of his brothers’ complete repentance.
2. God, in His love and providence, frustrates the evil intent of those who oppose us and turns the intended evil to work good in our lives, in this case, for the salvation of many.
3. Let him that eats not despise him that doesn’t eat, thus looking down with contempt on the weaker brother and his scruples with regard to food. On the other hand, the one that refuses to partake of meat should not condemn him that eats, as though he were less spiritual. Thus, the warning against judging is substantiated in this, that God has accepted him. Do not pass judgment on a brother who is Christ’s own.
4. The mind of the Christian, whether he partakes of certain foods or not, whether he observes certain days or not, is always directed to the Lord, because the whole life of the Christian, as well as his death, is devoted and consecrated to the Lord. Since his soul and body, thoughts and acts, are dedicated to the Lord, the believer will naturally think of His honor first in all things.
5. Christ’s answer is staggering! Jesus did not begin with an insignificant number, nor would he be tied down to any definite sum. No number can begin to show the greatness of forgiving love that is found in the hearts of Christians. There is no set number of times that we should forgive an erring brother and reinstate him in our good graces. Love and forgiveness go beyond petty calculations.
6. Moments after receiving an immeasurable present of mercy from the king, the servant hunted down, seized by the throat, and choked a fellow-servant who owed him an insignificant sum, then wreaked his vengeance upon him by casting him into prison.
7. Ignorance and forgetfulness of our own guilt leave us harsh and unforgiving toward others. But remember, God will be merciless to the merciless. Without exception, He wants us to be ready at all times to forgive from the heart, just as He in mercy has forgiven our enormous debt.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21,22
“How can I forgive you?” Perhaps you’ve said that to someone. The person really hurt you. And this isn’t the first time. The person has wronged you before. Now it’s very hard to find the inner strength or motivation to forgive and forgive again.
The apostle Peter raised a significant question when he asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Peter’s question is direct and to the point. How often should he be willing to forgive someone who sins against him repeatedly—perhaps with the very same sin? Is there a limit to the times that he should forgive others? At what point is he to say, “That’s enough; I can forgive you no more!”
Relationships between sinful people are often marred by sinful words and actions—some recurring over and over again. In every marriage, in every family, in every friendship, there is the continuing need to forgive those who repeatedly sin against us. However, we, too, may wonder with Peter whether our forgiveness toward others has limits. Since we identify with Peter in this question, Jesus’ answer also applies to us: “I tell you (to forgive), not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
How is this possible? How do we find the love and strength to forgive those who sin against us? We remember how much God has been willing to forgive us. In spite of our many sins—in fact, because of our many sins—God sent his Son, Jesus, to this world. His perfect life and innocent death earned forgiveness for us. What a patient and forgiving God we have!
Remember this the next time it is your turn to forgive those who have sinned against you, whether it is the seventh or the seventy-seventh time.
Prayer:
Jesus, in the peace of forgiveness that I have through you, give me the ability to forgive others. Amen.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; . . . Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. . . . Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:1,2,7
Mitchell shuffles over to his crying sister. “I’m sorry I hit you.”
“That’s okay,” his sister sniffles.
How many times have we responded to an apology with those very words? Of course, we can understand it in the right way, but isn’t it a bit inaccurate? Was the sister really saying it was okay that Mitchell slugged her? Being wronged is never fine and okay.
So let’s listen again, but notice the difference:
Mitchell shuffles over to his crying sister. “I’m sorry I hit you.”
“I forgive you,” his sister smiles.
What an impact those three words make: “I forgive you!” Forgiveness acknowledges the wrong, yet, offers something more substantial than a cliched “That’s okay” response.
God deals with us in the same way. When we pray, “Lord, I’m sorry I’ve sinned,” God would never respond, “That’s okay.” Sin is never okay. Instead, God responds with something better for those who trust in his Son, Jesus. God says, “I forgive you because of Jesus.” It’s a response with substance!
That’s why, with faith in Jesus and anticipation of God’s forgiveness, we can confidently pray:
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. . . . Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. . . . Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” Amen.
Dr. Robert Morin transforms lives. There simply are no two ways about it.
Dr. Morin specializes in reconstructive surgery. Every year, he gathers a medical team and travels to a poverty-stricken part of the world. There, he and the team offer to restore the faces of children—children whose faces have been broken for a wide variety of reasons.
The waiting lines are long to see Dr. Morin’s team. The work is exhausting. It’s not uncommon for the staff to labor from sunup to sundown for six days straight. Family after family. Face after face. Heartbreaking story after heartbreaking story. Procedure after procedure. After each one, however, there are tears—tears of gratitude from the families; tears of joy from the medical team. The tears come easily. After all, everyone there knows that such a restoration will transform that child’s life.
Imagine you are part of Dr. Morin’s team. Imagine how it must feel to have in your hands the means to change a life. According to Jesus, we do.
In love, Jesus saw our lives in all of its brokenness—lives broken by our own sin. He knew we were helpless to put the pieces back together. And so he came to us. He became one of us. In our place, he lived a perfect life—sinless and holy. On our behalf, he carried the entire sorry mess of our wrongs to the cross, blotting them out in his blood. Then he rose from death. Now he comes to each of us through his living Word. He calls us to repentance. And in his gospel message of forgiveness, he brings us healing. He brings us restoration. In himself, he puts the pieces of our lives back together.
But as he does, he also entrusts us with something extraordinary. He entrusts us with that same message of restoration. He says that because he has paid for the sins of the whole world, we have the right to announce forgiveness to repentant sinners–to restore their relationship with God.
And the beauty of this restoration is that it does not simply last a lifetime. It lasts forever.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your gospel message of restoration. Move me to bring your healing to a broken soul. Amen.
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Matthew 18:15
Essayist Leah Hickman has spoken to what she sees as a growing fear in our society. It’s the fear of the awkward moment—the fear of experiencing what follows in the presence of someone else when you need to raise a difficult subject or when you have to deal with a difficult situation. No one ever enjoys awkward moments, of course. But Hickman makes the case that, somewhere along the line, uncomfortableness has grown into outright fear.
It can be fun recounting awkward moments. They’re part of life. On the other hand, a fearful impulse to avoid the awkward at any cost is nothing to smile about. Hickman cites an older gentleman who’s observed, “It seems as if fear of awkwardness has become a barrier to doing the right thing.”
All of which brings us to Jesus, and his unapologetic love for every soul. When the Lord puts me in a position to speak in loving concern to someone about a specific sin—a specific sin that threatens to create spiritual harm in all kinds of ways—such a moment is tailor-made to be awkward. In all candor, you and I must confess to our Lord that there have been all kinds of times when we have retreated from speaking the truth in love—often from a simple fear of the awkward.
When fear of the awkward has been our motivation, however, you and I must also confess that we have been guilty of placing our own precious comfort zones ahead of a precious soul for whom Jesus died. I am placing my convenience ahead of someone else’s need. And that is a profound wrong.
But that’s when I remember that Jesus’ blood not only washes away the sins of the whole world. He washes away my sins too—including my sin of neglecting a precious soul.
And so let’s take a walk to the cross. Be washed in the blood of God’s Son. And as we see what he was willing to suffer to save us, may it make us willing to move out of our comfort zones, when necessary, to warn others about the sins that endanger their souls.
Prayer:
Lord, my fear of awkward moments has often overpowered me. Forgive me and renew my zeal to love others enough to warn them about sins that separate them from you. Amen.
It’s World War II. It’s nighttime. A paratrooper is about to jump out of a plane. Just before he does, he looks down from the plane’s open door. He sees that he is about to jump into an air space that is alive with explosions, bullets, and flak. “Lord,” he prays, “if you get me through this night, I’ll never have a bad day again.”
The Lord got him through that night. And, as the old veteran loved to say for the rest of his life, “I’ve never had a bad day again.”
Think about that. So profound was the man’s gratitude for the Lord’s deliverance from death, that for the rest of his life he happily obligated himself to look upon the remainder of his days as all good days—every single one.
It’s the same kind of grateful spirit that the good news of Jesus works within Christians. In Romans chapter 13, Paul speaks of what he calls, “the continuing debt to love one another.”
This turn of phrase describes something unique. This is not a debt in the sense that I need to pay something off to God before I get something good in return. Jesus has already paid the debt of my sin in full. On my behalf, he has already lived a life of perfect love. In my place, he has already carried away the guilt of my every sin at the cross. And now, through faith in my risen Savior, I live. I stand forgiven. I am at peace. Heaven awaits.
In light of all this, something wonderful happens. The more this good news sinks in, the greater the gratitude grows. As it does, the Christian soul searches for some way, any way, to show thankfulness to Jesus. And one immediate way to do it is to demonstrate love toward others.
And so there it is. Just as a grateful survivor of war happily obligated himself never to have a bad day again, Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness empowers you and me to obligate ourselves in love to others. We do it not to get something, but to thank God for what we already have.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you. Give me opportunities to thank you more every day. Amen.
“As surely as I live,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn!” Ezekiel 33:11
There’s only one road into Wabush. It also happens to be the only road out.
Wabush is a remote town in the middle of the Canadian wilderness with a population of about two thousand people. You’ll find friendly people there. You’ll find all the basic amenities, along with a post office, bank, barbershop, bowling alley, gymnasium, swimming pool, library, and hotel.
But if you find yourself in Wabush because you took a wrong turn, you cannot simply drive through it and keep going. Remember, Wabush is the end of the road. If you’re lost, and you want to get back to where you need to be, you’re just going to have to turn around. In Wabush, it’s that simple.
Left to ourselves, you and I are lost. We are lost in a wilderness of our own making. Our sinfulness makes us naturals at isolating ourselves from each other and isolating ourselves from the God who made us.
And so God marched into our wilderness to rescue us. He did so in the Person of Jesus Christ. Through the sinless life, he lived on our behalf, and through the death, he died on the cross to wash us clean, Jesus is the way out. Jesus is the way home.
Where do you find yourself in your life right now? Could it be that, for some time, you have been making a series of turns—reckless turns, distracted turns, rebellious turns, selfish turns—a series of turns where you now find yourself isolated, alone, despairing?
God does not want you to despair. As we heard him say in our Bible reading for today, he wants you to turn from your sins and live. He loves you. He proved this when he sent his Son to save you from those sins. So, don’t delay! Turn to him and live!
Prayer:
Many times, Lord Jesus, I’ve gotten so lost. Thank you for coming to find me. Remind me of your love and forgiveness and empower me to turn from my sins to you. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
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