Dear Fellow Children of God
If you read the last verse of the book of Judges you may
think that this verse is talking about our western world today. The English Standard Version of the Bible
translates this verse as, “In those days
there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
(Judges 25:21) If there were 1
million or more Israelites in Canaan, and we are told that 600,000 men and
their families were part of the Exodus, then that means that each person
determined right and wrong for themselves.
Do you see how over one million versions of what is right and true can
lead to confusion and disagreement?
Today the estimates are that there are 325 million people
in the U.S. It often seems like every
person in our country has his or her own definition of right and wrong. Even Christians can disagree. No wonder our nation, and our churches, can
be so divided!
My wife has lamented at times, “Why, if I disagree with
someone, do we automatically have to stop talking? Why in today’s world can’t we discuss
differences?” Personally, I have found
that if I disagree with someone, but if we can find an area of agreement, we
can start at that area of agreement and then proceed to discuss even disagreements. However, sometimes it is difficult to find
that lowest common denominator. My
personal hope when discussing a difficult topic with someone is that the
individual might agree with me that the Bible is the Word of God Himself, and gives
us the truth of God. (2 Timothy
3:16-17) If we agree that God’s Word
speaks truth, then we can probably at least discuss any issue, even if we end
up agreeing to disagree in the end.
The gospel reading in most traditional churches for this
Sunday, February 12, will be Matthew 5:21-37.
We will hear Jesus speak in The Sermon on the Mount about God’s
standards for behavior in regard to loving one another, in regard to sexual
behavior, and in regard to how we talk. Actually,
Jesus is teaching people about God’s ultimate demands concerning three of the Ten
Commandments. If we listen to what Jesus
says, we will find that God sets His standard high. God’s standard is one of perfection, of
sinless hearts and actions. Unfortunately,
we all fall short of God’s calling as His children.
One of my daily devotions is from Dr. Dale Meyer,
President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
His devotion for Thursday spoke to this Sunday’s Gospel lesson. I find that preparation ahead of time can
help in understanding what we discuss or study on Sunday. So, for all who will hear Matthew 5:21-37
read this Sunday, I share Dale’s thoughts.
Perhaps these thoughts can prepare your hearts and minds to hear these challenging
words of our Lord.
Claiming to be Christian carries
responsibilities, and a chief duty is to obey the words of Jesus. St. Paul says
that grace brings about “the obedience of faith” and St. Peter says Christians
are people “having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth” (Romans
1:5; 1 Peter 1:22). However, we often follow our impulses and rationalize our
disobedience.
If you go to church Sunday… Why go? It’s so
irrelevant! But if you go, here are some words that we would have liked
Jesus to say. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not
murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ You haven’t murdered,
so you’re good with God. I say to you that everyone who is angry with his
brother should post his anger on Twitter and Facebook. Whoever insults his brother
should carry a grudge. And whoever says, ‘You fool’ should be celebrated for
courage. Don’t come to terms quickly with your adversary, lest your anger turn
into bitterness so deep-seated in your soul that it may be impossible to repair
the damage your anger has done. Truly I say to you, go with your impulse and do
not fear being handed over to the Judge.”
Jesus didn’t say that, did He? You
can review His real words in Matthew 5:21-26, part of Sunday’s Gospel reading.
Anger, grudges, slamming others on social media, going public when something
should be private… Washington D.C. is putting the worst on display, further
degrading our life together. Sin multiplies sin. People who follow Jesus
are different. The Spirit takes His words down into our being and changes us.
Or does it? If it hasn’t [changed you ]yet, His word can. Who says church is
irrelevant? It’s not, if you come in “the obedience of faith.”
Living as a child of God is wonderfully affirming because
God loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus, to live and to die and to rise for
us. In love God saves us from sin and
death and judgment through Jesus.
But, because God loves us enough to send His Son, our
lives should be different. We should
live lives that are more holy and obedient than if we did not know God’s love. Our love for God should lead us to seek to
live in obedience to His law. God’s law calls
us to love our Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength,
and with all our mind. God’s law calls
us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
(Mark 12:30-31)
If we can agree that Jesus speaks the word of God, we can
find ways to discuss matters about which we might have disagreement. Together, as God’s children hear and follow
His word and His teachings, our lives will be different and will make a
difference in this world for righteousness and for good.
Prepare to be challenged as you hear Jesus speak this
Sunday.
A Child of God, Learning my Shortcomings,
yet Seeking to Serve My Savior,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S.
On Sunday, February 5, we rejoiced in the baptism of Jack and Josie
Nance. Here are a couple of pictures.
P.P.S. This past Monday, February 6, was a beautiful
winter day and produced some good fun ice fishing with friend and St. John
member, Herman Griese. Here are some
pictures from our fishing trip. We even threw
back many, many fish!
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE
PASTOR’ - I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to
all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly
adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this
e-mail for the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this
e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for
this message.
****
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