CW 652 – Lord, Have Mercy

CW 652 – Lord, Have Mercy

During the Sundays in Lent, we are singing a newer hymn at Water of Life titled, “Lord, Have Mercy.” It is number 652 in our Christian Worship hymnal. The hymnal lists the authors as Matt Papa, Aaron Keyes, James Tealy, and Matt Boswell. The hymn, “Lord, Have Mercy” is taking the place of the Kyrie Eleison, or “Lord, Have Mercy,” in our Lutheran liturgy.

Kyrie Eleison can be a brief or long, contemplative prayer. It focuses on two things – our human, fallible needs and God’s invaluable, undeserved love. We owe God everything. God owes us nothing. We come to God with nothing, and he gives us everything we need. Everything God gives, he gives from his mercy.

Because we pray the Kyrie Eleison so often in our churches, this prayer may become so familiar that we forget to concentrate on the meaning of this ancient prayer. Sometimes adding a fresh melody can provide new life and meaning to an ancient text. I believe “Lord, Have Mercy” does that with the Kyrie Eleison.

Verse one: For what we have done and left undone we fall on your countless mercies. For sins that are known and those unknown we call on your name so holy. For envy and pride, for closing our eyes; for scorning our very neighbor. In thought, word, and deed we’ve failed you, our King; how deeply we need a Savior.

The refrain: Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us.

Praying for mercy means that God is greater than we are. It means we’ve done something wrong. It means we’ve been up to no good and we need to apologize to the One we have offended. We need to confess all our sins to our holy and just God – what we’ve knowingly committed; what we’ve unknowingly committed; what we’ve done wrong; and what we’ve failed to do right.

Verse two: For what you have done, your life of love you perfectly lived, we praise you. Though tempted and tried, you fixed your eyes; you finished the work God gave you. And there on the tree, a King among thieves, you bled for a world’s betrayal. You loved to the end, our merciful friend; how pure and forever faithful.

The refrain: Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us.

Amazingly, despite our failure, despite our disgusting disease of sin, our Lord does not withhold his mercy. With his almighty Word, his holy water of Baptism, and his precious body and blood, he responds to our cries for mercy. With these Means of Grace, the Lord finds us who were lost. He heals our diseases. He restores our souls. He cleanses our leprosy.

Jesus took our sin sickness upon himself. He was wounded for our unthankfulness. He was bruised for our lack of worship. He was chastised for our self-centeredness. Jesus descended from heaven, was raised upon the cross, rose from the tomb, and ascended back into heaven, all so we might become the objects of his mercy.

Our cries for mercy would be empty if we did not have a Savior who went to the cross to pay for these sins. These words would be hollow if God the Father did not accept his Son’s redeeming sacrifice by raising him from the dead on the third day. These words would be meaningless if the Holy Spirit did not create faith in our heart to repent and relent of our sins and accept Christ’s sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.

Verse three: For hearts that are cold, for seizing control; for scorning our very maker. In thought, word, and deed we’ve failed you, our King; how deeply we need a Savior.

The refrain: Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy on us.

We need mercy. For we are sick with sin. This sickness pervades our mind. It permeates our body. It penetrates our soul. Sin affects our mood, so we are grumpy and impatient. It causes our body to fall apart and die. It pollutes our tongues, so we belittle and gossip.

That is why we continually cry out in unison throughout our Lutheran liturgies, “Lord, have mercy!” Our liturgy puts right our wrong and brings us back to where we belong. Calling out for, and receiving, our Lord’s promised mercy.

When we know what to pray for, we can say, “Lord, have mercy.” When we see tremendous tragedy or bitter affliction or consistent suffering, we may not know what to pray, so we say, “Lord, have mercy.” When we recognize our sin and we rejoice in our Savior, we can say, “Lord, have mercy.” This new melody with fresh words connected to an ancient prayer is a painful, yet beautiful song. Lord, have mercy.

CW 863 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

CW 863: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 

You may be asking why we are singing a Reformation hymn in March. Don’t we only sing A Mighty Fortress in October? This hymn is more than just a celebration and reminder of the events of the Reformation. A Mighty Fortress is a battle hymn. It tells us of the war that is waged each day of our lives. Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh are constantly seeking to destroy our souls. Our ancient enemy wants nothing more than to rob us of the joy of our salvation. We are not alone in this fight we have a powerful champion who defeated our enemy when he crushed the head of the Serpent on the cross. Our God is a mighty fortress who will protect and shield us from the attacks of our enemies.  

On the first Sunday in Lent, we remember the battle that was fought on our behalf. Our Gospel reading this week is about the temptation of Jesus. After our Lord’s baptism, he went out into the wilderness where he was challenged and tempted by the Devil. Jesus did what we can never do. He perfectly resisted the attacks and assaults of Satan. He rebuked the Devil and remained perfectly faithful to God. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are and yet he was without sin. For this reason, he could offer his life as a perfect substitute for us on the cross. Christ became sin in our place and gave us his perfection. A Mighty Fortress is a wonderful hymn that reminds us that the war for our souls has already been one. Christ is our valiant one who defeated our enemy and gave us the certainty of victory. 

Verse 1: A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon; he helps us free from every need that has us now o’ertaken. The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight; on earth  is not his equal. 

Luther takes the title for this hymn from verses 7 and 11 of Psalm 46, “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” When we face times of trial and hardship, we can flee to the Lord. Our God is like a mighty fortress built on an unshakeable rock. Satan may launch many attacks against that fortress, but nothing can ever shake the power of our God. We are safe and secure in the palm of our Father’s hand. He will guard and protect us. Satan challenged the might of God and was cast down. Every attack of Satan will be repulsed by the unassailable power of our God. 

Verse 2: With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected; but for us fights the valiant one whom God himself elected. You ask, “Who is this?” Jesus Christ it is, the almighty Lord, and there’s no other God; he holds the field forever. 

On our own, we are powerless to resist the temptations of the devil. We were born enslaved to sin and hostile to God. It is only through the power of the Gospel working through the Word and Sacraments that we have been brought to faith. We now have Christ, the almighty Lord, fighting on our side. By his death and resurrection, Christ defeated the power of the devil. Satan has been cast down, and we have been freed from his power. Christ is victorious. He holds the field of battle for eternity. Sometimes, it may seem like Satan is winning as we see evil run rampant through this world, but we know Christ has won. Our eternal victory is certain, and Satan’s time is short. 

Verse 3: Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpow’r us. This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him. 

Our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour us. Satan hates Christ, and he hates his followers. He wants nothing more than to destroy our faith and condemn us to an eternity in hell with him. Satan wants us to believe that he is a great and terrible enemy. But we know that he has been defeated. Satan cannot harm those God has called to be his own. We are safe in the fortress of our God. Satan cannot accuse us of our sins any longer because our sins have been paid for with the blood of Christ. Christ has defeated Satan once and for all by his death on the cross. He crushed the head of the Old Serpent, who led the world astray. 

Verse 4:The Word they still shall let remain, nor any thanks have for it; he’s by our side upon the plain with his good gifts and Spirit. And take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife, though all may be gone, our victory is won; the kingdom’s ours forever. 

During the years of conflict following the Reformation, many German rulers who supported Luther adopted the motto Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum, which means “The Word of the Lord endures forever.” This is a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God’s Word based on 1 Peter 1:24-25. They understood that it is only through God’s enduring Word that we learn about salvation through Jesus Christ. The final verse of A Mighty Fortress reminds us that we will face times of trial and persecution during our lives of faith. Christ promised that the world would hate us because it hated him first. Luther and his followers faced intense persecution during their lives. But they never compromised the Word of God. They knew that the troubles of this life were temporary, but the glorious kingdom of God is ours forever! 

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God is a powerful hymn of trust in the power of our God. We know that we are engaged in a great spiritual battle. Satan, the world, and our own sinful natures are constantly fighting against us and trying to lead us away from God. When we look at all the evil in the world, we may be tempted to doubt the power of God. In those moments of doubt, we fix our eyes on the cross and remember Christ has already won the battle. Satan has been defeated! The head of the Serpent has been crushed! Christ has defeated all his enemies by his death and resurrection and holds the field forever. We are safe in the mighty fortress of our God, and nothing can ever snatch us from his hand. 

CW 803 - Day by Day

CW 803 - Day by Day

“Day by Day” expresses thanks to God and encourages dependence on the Lord for daily benefits. The text of the hymn was wri en by Carolina Vilhelmina Sandell Berg, who was born in Smaland, Sweden in 1832. She was the daughter of a Swedish Lutheran minister. As a young child, she was stricken with a paralysis that confined her to bed with li le chance of recovery. However, by age twelve she had improved so that she was able to walk. From this experience, she began jo ing down verses to express her gratitude to God, and at age sixteen she published her first book of such poems. One of her most famous hymns, "Children of the Heavenly Father," comes from her teenage years and is a testimony to the spiritual upbringing that she received in her home. “Children of the Heavenly Father” is 803 in Christian Worship.

In 1858, at the age of 26, Lina, as she was commonly called, was accompanying her father aboard a ship across Lake Va ern. The ship gave a sudden lurch which caused her father to fall overboard and drown before her eyes. Then in 1860 her mother also died. With memories of her father’s untimely death, “Day by Day” was wri en in 1865, between the time of her mother’s death and Lina’s marriage in 1867.

Despite her sufferings – or maybe because of them - Carolina authored more than 650 hymns in her lifetime, many of which were brought to America by Swedish immigrants, and she has been called "the Fanny Crosby of Sweden.

" Verse one: “Day by day, your mercies, Lord, a end me, bringing comfort to my anxious soul. Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal. Love divine, beyond all mortal measure, brings to naught the burdens of my quest; Savior, lead me to the home I treasure, where at last I’ll find eternal rest.”

In this first verse, we are told we can trust the Lord’s mercies for our anxious souls. God has promised his people strength to meet their trials in life. We don’t need to be afraid or dismayed if we don’t find rest in this lifetime. The Lord will lead us day by day to find our eternal rest in the life to come.

Verse two: Day by day, I know you will provide me strength to serve and wisdom to obey; I will seek your loving will to guide me o’er the paths I struggle day by day. I will fear no evil of the morrow, I will trust in your enduring grace. Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow till in glory I behold your face.”

In the second verse, we are told we can trust in God’s pledge for protection and providing for our needs. Though our paths are often filled with struggles, we don’t need to fear any evil. Our trust in the enduring grace of our Savior drives away all those fears. We ask the Lord to wipe the tears and sorrow from our face as we behold the divine glory of his face. The Lord will lead us day by day to meet and greet whatever challenges lie on the path before us.

Verse three: “Oh, what joy to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear; oh, what joy to know that you will hear me when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer. Day by day, no ma er what betide me, you will hold me ever in your hand. Savior, with your presence here to guide me, I will reach at last the promised land.”

In the third verse, we are told to trust in God’s care and concern because we know he is near. We often hear people tell us, “God won’t give you more than you can bear.” That sounds Christian … but it’s not. God certainly gives you more than you can bear. When you realize your burdens are too great for you to bear alone, he is right there beside you to take those burdens off you and put them on himself. No ma er what betides you, the Lord is beside you. Day by day, trust that the Lord is holding your hand, leading you to the promised land.

CW 745 - Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying

CW 745: Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying  

The Gospel lesson for the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany tells the story of the miraculous catch of fish and Jesus calling Peter to be a fisher of men. Our hymn today reminds us of the call that all Christians have been given to proclaim the message of the Gospel. We have been entrusted with the very Word of God that tells of his love for all the people of this world. Only by hearing the truth that salvation is found in Christ alone can anyone be saved. 

Our hymn for this week reminds us of our sacred duty to share the light of the Gospel with those who are lost in the darkness of sin. This may seem like a daunting and intimidating task. We may worry and even feel guilty that we are not out in the streets calling the lost to salvation. Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying is a powerful reminder of the doctrine of vocation. Not all of us have been called to publicly teach and preach the message of the Gospel. We have all been given different gifts and abilities. God asks us to use those gifts in the service of his kingdom. This is going to look different for each of us and it is going to look different as we go through different seasons of our lives. No matter our gifts or our abilities we humbly ask that God would use each of us to advance his kingdom and share his love with others. 

Verse 1: Hark, the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today? Fields are ripe and harvests waiting; who will bear the sheaves away?” Loud and long the Master calleth;     rich reward he offers thee. Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me”? 

The Bible often compares the people of this world to a field of grain that is ready for harvest. Our merciful Father wants as many people as possible to be saved. God wants all people to know the joy of heaven and not the horrors of hell. In order to be saved people need to hear the message of the Gospel. God has entrusted us with the Words of eternal life. This verse echoes the words of Isaiah 6 when the prophet is called to proclaim the Word of the Lord. God has called each of us to serve as workers in his harvest field. The work is different for each of us, but we pray that when the Lord calls us, we are ready and willing to serve. 

Verse 2: If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, you can say he died for all. If you cannot rouse the wicked with the judgment’s dread alarms, you can lead the little children to the Savior’s waiting arms. 

Spreading the message of the Gospel doesn’t need to be intimidating. We don’t need eloquent words or fine persuasive arguments. We simply need to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love. We don’t need to be afraid if people will listen to us or if they will believe what we tell them. The work of converting hearts is done by the Holy Spirit. We simply tell the story about Jesus. This can be done by reading the Word of God to someone or simply telling them the story of salvation. Most people by nature understand that there is something wrong with the world. They understand that there is sin and evil in the world. We can tell them that God in his great mercy sent his one and only Son to suffer and die to save us. 

Verse 3: If you cannot be a watchman, standing high on Zion’s wall, pointing out the path to heaven, off’ring life and peace to all, with your prayers and with your off’rings you can do what God demands; you can be like faithful Aaron, holding up the prophet’s hands. 

God has given us unique gifts and abilities. Some of us have a natural ability to strike up conversations with complete strangers. Others are terrified at the thought of having to talk to anyone, especially someone we don’t know. God does not demand that we all share the message of the Gospel in the same way. This verse reminds us of the story from the Old Testament where the Israelites were engaged in a great battle with their enemies. God had promised that as long as Moses held his hands in the air, they would have victory. But as the prophet of the Lord grew tired his hands started to fall, and the children of Israel began to lose. Aaron and Hur each took one of Moses’s hands and held them up. They supported the prophet in his work. In the same way, we can use our gifts of time, money, or abilities in the Lord’s service. We can support those who publicly proclaim the Word of the Lord. We can be just like faithful Aaron holding up the prophet’s arms. 

Verse 4: Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” while the multitudes are dying, and the Master calls for you. Take the task he gives you gladly, let his work your pleasure be; answer quickly when he calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!” 

The last verse of our hymn reminds us of the eternal stakes. Those who do not believe that Jesus is their Savior cannot be saved. This verse is a powerful preaching of the Law that we should use our time and abilities faithfully. There are many different ways that we can serve our Lord. We can tell others about Jesus. We can be good and faithful parents. We can clean the church. We can…the list could go on and on. God has given us a multitude of ways that we can serve him. In joyful thanks for all that God has done for us, we echo the words of Isaiah and answer the call of our Savior. “Here am I, send me, send me!” 

Our hymn this week is a good reminder that we have been called to serve. The fields are ripe and the harvest is waiting. The stakes are high. God has called each of us to serve in the work of his kingdom. However, this work looks different for each of us. We are called to serve in different ways. The Apostle Paul tells us that we are all members of the body of Christ, but we are not all the same. If we were all eyes, where would the sense of smell be? In the same way that each part of our bodies has a unique function that serves the whole, we too have unique gifts and abilities that serve the whole church. Let us use our gifts and abilities to the glory of God and serve him as we are called. 

CW 901 - O Christians, Haste

CW 901 O Christians, Haste

Why do churches exist? Some might say that it is to improve the lives of people in some way. Others may say churches exist to help provide people with necessities like food or clothes. Some might even think it is the job of churches to bring social reform.

That’s why the hymn before us is so refreshing. It hits the bullseye as to God’s purpose for Christian churches and Christian people. “O Christians, Haste” not only proclaims our purpose – or mission – but it urges us to carry that mission out.

Stanza 1: O Christians, haste, your mission high fulfilling, to tell to all the world that God is light, that he who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

God’s mission to Christians is to bring light to a world covered in darkness of unbelief. There is a whole world out there that simply does not have the light of Christ in their lives. That may be something that we Christians take for granted at times. We hear about Jesus at church. Our kids hear about him at Wisconsin Lutheran School and Shoreland. The light of Christ is in our lives.

But we don’t have to look far to see that many others don’t have the light of Christ illuminating their path in this world. They wander around aimlessly as if they’re lost in the woods at night. It is God’s will that every person sees the light of Christ. God does not want “anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.” (1 Peter 3:9b) With that in mind, the hymnwriter urgently encourages us to carry out our mission.

After each stanza, the hymnwriter ends with this beautiful refrain: Refrain: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace, tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

When you think of the word publish, we may especially think of putting something in writing. It certainly can and does mean that, but here it is simply telling us to get the good news about Jesus out any way that we can, taking every opportunity that is presented to us.

The refrain reminds us of the angels announcing the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. What did the shepherds do after seeing the baby Jesus? They published glad tidings by telling others what they had been told about Jesus.

Stanza 2: Behold how many thousands still are lying bound in the dreary prison-house of sin with none to tell them of the Savior’s dying or of the life he died for them to win. (Refrain)

The mission of the church will not be completely accomplished until Christ returns. Until he does, we have work to do. And there is no shortage of work to be done. There are countless people that need to be reached.

Why do they need to be reached? Because they are imprisoned by their own guilt and shame. They don’t know the key to their release from these debilitating things. You have the key and you can give them the key. The key is the Savior Jesus who lived perfectly in their place and died by crucifixion for their sins, so that they can live eternally.

Stanza 3: Proclaim to ev’ry people, tongue, and nation that God, in whom they live and move, is love; tell how he stooped to save his lost creation and died on earth that they might live above. (Refrain)

In fulfilling our mission, we need to know who we are going to. Who needs to hear about God’s love in Christ Jesus? Simply put: everyone. People of every social status. People who speak English, Spanish, or Chinese. People from every culture and nation.

They all need to hear that God is not as distant as they might think. In his love, God became one of us in order to rescue all people. They need to hear that heaven is their true home. And it is our awesome privilege to proclaim it.

Stanza 4: Send heralds forth to bear the message glorious, give of your wealth to speed them on their way; pour out your soul for them in prayer victorious; O Christians, haste to bring the brighter day! (Refrain)

Before Jesus ascended, he commissioned his disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) That’s not possible for a single Christian to do, nor is it possible for a single church to accomplish. That’s why we band together as Christian churches in order to send out missionaries on our behalf. And we as individual Christians can support this work by giving generously to missions and praying fervently for them to successfully deliver the message of Christ.

“Haste makes waste.” The saying applies in so many situations. But not here. Not with the mission God gives us. We don’t have time to waste. Souls are dying. Let’s go quickly. Let’s go now. Let’s go and bring the light of Christ to people who are living in the darkness of sin and unbelief. Let’s point them to the bright future that comes to them courtesy of the cross of Christ.

CW 384 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

CW 384 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

The woman feels imprisoned by her depression and can’t get out of bed. The man feels trapped by his anxiety and refuses to go anywhere or do anything. The teenager feels angry because she doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere. The child feels sad because her family is never together. This is the way many in our world feel. The way many of you feel. The way many of the Israelites must have felt living in Babylonian captivity. The Lord speaks through his prophet Isaiah that freedom is coming. Not in a valiant attempt at self-improvement. Freedom comes in a person. Isaiah prophecies, “The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the afflicted” (Isaiah 61:1). Our Hymn of the Day, “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed,” speaks of Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Verse one: Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son! Hail, in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free, to take away transgression, and rule in equity.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,” Jesus teaches in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4:18). The Trinity works in unity to bring good news to the afflicted. The Holy Spirit comes from the Father who has appointed his Son to be the Messiah and then anointed him with the Spirit. The good news of the Christ is meant for the people in captivity in Babylon, for those captive to their hopelessness in the Nazareth synagogue, and for those captive to their depression and darkness today. This good news is meant for you. Jesus preaches freedom. But he did more than preach. Jesus signed your pardon papers with his blood. He placed his seal on the papers when he broke the seal on his grave. He broke you free from the shackles of your sins. He released you from the guilt that imprisoned you. He gave you hope as you face the very real terror of your inevitable death. You have been set free from all the fear, sin, guilt, and death because Jesus crushed the power of sin, death and Satan once had over you.

Verse two: He comes with rescue speedy to those who suffer wrong, to help the poor and needy and bid the weak be strong, to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in his sight.

Jesus bandages your broken heart with the soothing message of your forgiveness. He releases captives bound in the hopeless dungeon of your depravity. He breaks the bondage of Satan’s controlling influence over your life. He brings resurrection comfort when you mourn the death of your Christian loved ones. The darkness of death that haunts the dreams of all people no longer haunts you. You have been set free from that fear because through faith in Jesus you will rise to life just as he did. Jesus came into our world on a rescue mission, and he now proclaims, “Mission accomplished.” You have been set free. Now you can live in peace and hope. Now you can live forever with your Savior.

Verse three: Kings shall bow down before him and gold and incense bring; all nations shall adore him, his praise all people sing. To him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend, his kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end.

The King of the Jews worshiped by the Wise Men is the King of kings and the Lord of all nations. The King who once received glittering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh now reigns over a kingdom that is “still increasing, a kingdom without end.” Like the Wise Men, we worship the King with our gifts of unceasing prayers and daily vows.

Verse four: O’er ev’ry foe victorious, he on his throne shall rest, from age to age more glorious, all blessing and all-blest. The tide of time shall never his covenant remove; his name shall stand forever— that name to us is Love.

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus was “o’er ev'ry foe victorious.” Every foe that torments you has been vanquished by Christ. You believe it. You live it. People notice it. People notice when your mourning is replaced with joy. When your despair is replaced with confidence. When your struggling marriage is being worked on. When your separation from your family is bound together with love. When your spouse is dying, and you anticipate that death with resurrection faith in the Lord. When you feel the pain of your own sin or the ugliness of people’s sins against you, but you remember the healing Jesus brings to hurting hearts. When you believe you are no longer a prisoner, but live like a perfect – and perfectly free – child of God. When you “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” who has set you free.

CW 375 - Arise and Shine in Splendor

The hymn for our devotion this week is Hymn 375: Arise and Shine in Splendor

Mornings can be hard sometimes. Especially this time of year in the upper midwest, when it’s bitter cold in the mornings and still dark until close to 7 am. Sometimes you won’t even see the sun for weeks at a time! It can be hard to find that motivation to power through those cold winter mornings when the sun hasn’t even risen yet or may not be visible at all! Therefore, if I had to choose two words to associate with rising it would not be “shine” and “splendor!” Yet those are the words the hymn writer encourages us to do when we rise with the opening line of this hymn. Why? Because someone has come, and his glory has been revealed.

Epiphany is the season of unveiling. For 30 long years, Christ had veiled his glory, patiently biding his time until he would begin his earthly ministry of preaching and teaching the gospel. And after decades of waiting, that time had now come. In Epiphany, we celebrate how the light of the gospel has come to all nations under heaven. Our hymn for today is a beautiful example of an Epiphany hymn, reminding us that the light has come to save us, and therefore we should gladly prepare our hearts and minds for that light to shine in our lives.

Verse 1: Arise and shine in splendor; let night to day surrender. Your light is drawing near. Above, the day is beaming, in matchless beauty gleaming; the glory of the Lord is here.

I’m sure you can think of a time when you couldn’t sleep because of what was happening in the morning. Maybe it was when you were little, and you couldn’t wait for Christmas morning and stayed up all night tossing and turning as a result. Maybe it was the night before your wedding, and you were kept up out of a mix of excitement and stress about how the day would go. Maybe it was a restless night waiting for the results of a surgery, or before taking an important exam. In every one of these situations, the morning brings a powerful sense of newness and opportunity with it, for good or ill. Yet one can’t deny just how welcome that sunrise is, no matter what the night held. The dawn marks a new day, and new opportunities with it. So it is with the metaphorical “dawn” in this verse. The light that is drawing near isn’t the sun rising, but the Son rising. His glory is drawing near. His time has come. The savior of the world approaches!

Verse 2: See earth in darkness lying, the heathen nations dying in hopeless gloom and night. To you the Lord of heaven—your life, your hope—has given great glory, honor, and delight.

In one of my favorite movies, The Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King, Frodo, the main character, is alone in the dark and being hunted by a horrifying gigantic spider. When he’s in the midst of this darkness, Frodo remembers a gift that was given to him to help when all other lights go out: a magical lamp that shines with the light of the stars. In the hopeless gloom and night of the wicked monster’s lair, Frodo’s light gives him hope, and with it, the path out of danger and into life! So it was with us in our darkness of sin and death. Before Christ came into the world, we were lost in the darkness. But through the preaching of the gospel, we’ve seen the light. We’ve heard the truth in the gospel that sets us free! Jesus came to die and rise again, so that anyone who believes in him will have eternal life. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Lord of Heaven gave hope and life to anyone who believes in him, not just to his chosen few people of Abraham’s descendants. And so we now have great glory, honor, and delight.

Verse 3: Lift up your eyes in wonder—see, nations gather yonder from sin to be set free. The world has heard your story; her sons come to your glory, her daughters haste your light to see.

One of the things I remember vividly from my high school chapel was the first time I walked into the room, there were flags from various countries on the back wall of the sanctuary. There’s the US flag, and then 22 other nation’s flags, each representing the nationality of a student who attended the school. It’s humbling to know that at one small high school in Michigan, 23 nations of the world have been represented there. Think of how many more will be in heaven one day! The Bible describes it as every nation, tribe, people, and language. That is the picture that is drawn for us in this verse. The salvation of the world is exactly that: it’s for the world! Heaven isn’t an exclusive club for only certain people. It’s for everyone! And because of how simple and easy the gospel is to understand, it can and will change the hearts and lives of anyone who hears it! God will draw people from all over the world to himself, and give them a new life in our savior Jesus.

Verse 4: Your heart will leap for gladness when from the realms of sadness they come from near and far. Your eyes will wake from slumber as people without number rejoice to see the Morning Star.

I think we can all think of a time when our hearts “skipped a beat” upon seeing or hearing something truly amazing. That curious sensation that one feels in their chest is something that is truly special, and can’t really be described. Anyone who’s experienced this sensation knows how uncommon it is. It’s not every day you see something that makes your heart skip a bit, or makes you elated for an extended period of time. It’s that kind of situation that we see described in this final verse. Think of how incredible it will be when, in heaven someday, we will get to see every believer who’s ever lived. Everyone from the Bible that we’ve read about all these years. Everyone from our family who believed and has died in Christ. People we haven’t even met–and never will in this life–but we will immediately know and recognize because they’re our siblings in Christ. This is what happens when people are exposed to the life-changing light of the morning star: Jesus the Savior. He has come to show us the way to heaven. And it’s nothing we do! It’s already been done. By simply believing that he is our savior from sin, we, too, will be included in this amazing scene in heaven. What a truly amazing thing to look forward to!

Epiphany is one of my favorite seasons of the church year. It reminds us that we’re not alone, and that the darkness is getting weaker. The light of the world has come, and he shines on us day after day. What an amazing gift of God that we get to rejoice in the light that has changed us! Let us arise and shine with this great morning star, for it is in that star that we have life: now and forever. Amen.

CW 377 – To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord

CW 377 – To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord

Your teenage daughter has won the lead role in her school’s musical. Your middle school son beat everyone in the conference track meet. Your 4th grade child has all A’s on his report card. Your Kindergartener brought home a wonderful finger-painted picture of your family. You take the programs, awards, report cards, and paintings and you display them on your refrigerator; you make shadow boxes; you share the news via email; you text your friends; you have the kids call Grandma; you post the video on Facebook. You do all of this because you are well-pleased with your children.

God the Father was well-pleased with his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The Father declares his pleasure at Jesus’ Baptism. Our Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, and sermon for this first Sunday after the Epiphany focus on the Baptism of our Lord. We sing of Jesus’ Baptism with Christian Worship hymn 377 – “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord.”

Verse one: To Jordan’s river came our Lord, the Christ, whom heav’nly hosts adored, the God from God, the Light from Light, the Lord of glory, pow’r, and might.

There he was, the Son of God, standing in line at the Jordan River. "The God from God, the Light from Light" waited his turn to step down into the Jordan to be baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus stands with the other pilgrims who have traveled into the desert. Yet this pilgrim has traveled farther than anyone else. Jesus has come down from heaven to stand in solidarity with his creatures. Standing with the human race against the evil one. Looking like everyone else, but in reality, he is the Lord of glory, power, and might.

Verse two: The Savior came to be baptized— the Son of God in flesh disguised— to stand beneath the Father’s will and all his promises fulfill.

Why did the Son of God, of all people, want to receive this Baptism of repentance? That is what John wanted to know: “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14) It should have been the other way around. John was a sinner who needed to be baptized by the sinless Son of God. Jesus answered John, “Let it be so now, because it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). This was what the Heavenly Father wanted. Jesus would accomplish what Adam and Eve, and all people after them, had failed to do. "In flesh disguised," the Son of God became one of us, “one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The righteous Son came to stand in the place of sinners, as he did that day in the Jordan River.

Verse three: As Jesus in the Jordan stood and John baptized the Lamb of God, the Holy Spirit, heav’nly dove, descended on him from above.

God in the Flesh is baptized! Humanity is cleansed, reborn, restored. The new Adam, the new head of humanity is baptized for the world, and in him the whole world covered over in a gracious Flood. As God once baptized the earth in the Flood and promised with the rainbow

never to destroy the earth with water again, so here God immerses the whole world in the Person of his Son. When Jesus was baptized, the world was baptized in him.

Verse four: Then from God’s throne with thund’rous sound came God’s own voice with words profound: “This is my Son,” was his decree, “the one I love, who pleases me.”

As parents we are not happy when our children jump in mud puddles and get their clothes dirty. But our Heavenly Parent is well-pleased that his Son jumped into the Jordan to begin becoming muddied with humanity’s sins. This is what God had been working towards for all of human history. That’s why Jesus’ Baptism is so important. That’s why our Baptism is so important.

Verse five: The Father’s word, the Spirit’s flight anointed Christ in glorious sight as God’s own choice, from Adam’s fall to save the world and free us all.

God had once opened heaven and rained death and destruction upon the earth. He literally poured out his wrath upon humanity. At the Jordan, heaven opened again. This time God does not call down thunder or throw down lightning. He calls out his pleasure. Now God is using the flood of Baptism – not to destroy sinful mankind, but to destroy sin.

Verse six: Now rise, faint hearts: be resolute! This man is Christ, our substitute! He was baptized in Jordan’s stream, proclaimed Redeemer, Lord supreme.

The Father is so pleased that he doesn’t just hang up a shadow box or announce it ato few people via social media. The Father rolls back the clouds and opens the sky so that the angels and archangels and all the saints already gathered in heaven might look upon this wonder in the making. The wonder of God as man, taking man’s place in the water. He is already taking the sin of us sinners. The water of his Baptism means that the wood of his cross is not far away. Just as the curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross, opening our access to God and the Holy of Holies through the blood of Jesus – so too, already here in Jesus’ Baptism, heaven is torn open. His work of salvation has begun.

CW 383 - The Only Son from Heaven

CW 383: The Only Son from Heaven

It seems like the Christmas season gets earlier every year. Stores start putting up Christmas displays in September and October. Radio stations start playing Christmas music at the beginning of November. The unfortunate side effect of this is that by the time Christmas arrives, people are ready to be done with Christmas. I noticed a few of my neighbors already had their Christmas lights and decorations taken down the day after Christmas.

The church takes a longer view during the Christmas season. We celebrate Advent as we wait in anticipation for the birth of our Savior. The festivals of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are high points in the church year as we marvel at the incarnation of our God. The Sundays that come between Christmas and Epiphany give us a chance to reflect on the early life of our Savior and celebrate that our God loved us so much that he humbled himself to be born of a virgin.

The Only Son from Heaven reminds us of this beautiful truth. Our hymn this week tells us that our Savior came from heaven for one purpose: to conquer sin and death for us. This is the joy we have at Christmas. It’s not about the lights and decorations, or the trees and presents. Christmas is about our Savior who won for us our freedom from sin.

Verse 1: The only Son from heaven, foretold by ancient seers, by God the Father given, in human form appears. No sphere his light confining, no star so brightly shining as he, our Morning Star.

What a joy and wonder it is that God keeps his promises. The Old Testament is a record of God’s promises. He promised Adam and Eve that he would send a Savior to crush the head of the serpent. He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that all the nations of the world would be blessed through their offspring. He promised David that his throne would endure forever and through the Prophet Isaiah God promised that a virgin would give birth to Emmanuel, God with us. God kept all of these promises when he sent his Son to be born of a woman, born under law, in order to free us from our sins.

Verse 2: O time of God appointed, O bright and holy morn! He comes, the King anointed the Christ, the virgin-born, grim death to conquer for us, to open heav’n before us and bring us life again.

Christ came to this world for one purpose. He came to suffer and die to save us. As we see the baby lying in the manger, we also see the agony of the cross. Jesus Christ needed to be true God and true man to save us. As true man, he could live under God’s law and be tempted in every way that we are. As true God, he kept God’s holy law perfectly in our place. As true man, he could die on the cross and as true God his death paid for the sins of the world. By his death and resurrection, Christ conquered the power of death and hell. His death paid the debt of our sins and gave us the certainty of eternal life.

Verse 3: O Lord, our hearts awaken to know and love you more, in faith to stand unshaken, in spirit to adore, that we, through this world moving, each glimpse of heaven proving, may reap its fullness there.

The message of Christmas fills our hearts with joy. God loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us. Christ loved us so much that he humbled himself and suffered for us. As we consider the miracle of the incarnation of our Lord our hearts are filled with gratitude. As we make our pilgrim way through this world we strive to live our lives according to God’s will. We seek to keep his commands and show our love and thankfulness by using all that he has given us for his glory. We also seek to share with those lost in the darkness of sin that Christ is the light of the world. Salvation is found in he who suffered and died to save us.

Verse 4: O Father, here before you with God the Holy Ghost and Jesus, we adore you, O Pride of angel host. Before you mortals lowly cry, “Holy, holy, holy, O blessèd Trinity!”

The final verse of our hymn reminds us of the mystery of the Trinity. We worship a God who is one God in three persons, and three persons in one God. This is a mystery that goes beyond our limited human ability to comprehend. We rejoice that our God is so awesome and majestic that he is beyond our understanding. We stand in awe and praise his glorious name that our mighty Lord fought to save us and, in his mercy, lowered himself to be born of the Virgin Mary to free us from our sins.

The Only Son from Heaven is a wonderful hymn of praise that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. Christ came to this world for one purpose: to suffer and die to save us. As we move past the busy holiday season, we rejoice for this opportunity to praise God for the miraculous birth of his Son.

CW 315 - Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord

CW 315 Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord

There’s nothing quite like the birth of a child. Seeing a child’s face for the first time brings joy to parents that may be difficult to describe unless you have experienced it. It was an especially joyous time for new father, Zechariah, who had evidently waited decades before welcoming a child into the world. A child who would be known as John the Baptist. With a heart filled with joy, Zechariah was moved by the Holy Spirit to prophesy about his son, John, but even more importantly, about the one whom John was preparing the way for, namely Jesus.

Several themes of Zechariah’s prophecy are incorporated into the hymn before us: “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord.” I encourage you to read his words which are often called the Song of Zechariah. You can find it in Luke 1:67-79. As Zechariah praised God for the promise of the Savior that would soon be fulfilled, we and all the earth have great reason to praise the Lord.

Stanza 1: Let the earth now praise the Lord, who has truly kept his word and at last to us did send Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.

“He’s a man of his word.” This is said of someone who is trustworthy. Someone who is reliable. How do we determine that? By observing whether that person is true to their word. Are they keeping their promises or breaking them?

Each one of us will have to admit, that we don’t keep our promises perfectly. We fall short. Our word is not always reliable. But we have One we can rely on that never falls short – the Lord. The fact that God sent Christ into the world is evidence that God keeps his word. He does what he says he will do. And that is great news for sinners like you and me, because it is for us Christ came.

Stanza 2: What the fathers most desired, what the prophets’ heart inspired, what they longed for many’‿a year stands fulfilled in glory here.

What do you long for? You will, no doubt, answer that question according to your stage in life. Teenagers can’t wait to get their driver’s license. Young adults long for a spouse. Parents yearn for children. The elderly wish for relief from their aches and pains.

Since sin came into the world, the people of the Old Testament longed for a Savior. A Savior which was first promised by God himself after the Fall into sin. Prophets like Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah recorded more prophesies about the coming Savior as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. What they all longed for, has arrived. That’s what we are celebrating during Advent and Christmas. The long-awaited Messiah is here in the person of Jesus Christ.

Stanza 3: Abram’s promised great reward, Zion’s helper, Jacob’s Lord— him of twofold race behold—truly came, as long foretold.

It may be a little strange to our ears to hear that Jesus is a ‘reward’ for Abram or Abraham. Nobody deserves Jesus, including Abraham. And yet, that is the way the gracious LORD spoke to Abraham in Genesis: “I am…your very great reward.”

By faith, Abraham trusted that God would be true to his promise: “In your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Acts 3:26) Jesus is the one through whom all people are helped with their problem of sin. How is this possible? Jesus is ‘of twofold race.’ He is not only of the human race, but he is also divine. He is God. As such he is a powerful helper and Lord!

Stanza 4: Savior, hear my welcome cry—loud hosannas lifted high! King of glory, enter in; cleanse my soul of ev’ry sin.

What was Jesus’ reception into the world like? God made sure it did not go unnoticed. He sent an angel to announce the birth to shepherds watching their flock by night. That angel was joined by a host of angels who joined their voices in praise to give God glory. The shepherds then saw the baby Jesus wrap in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger for themselves.

We too eagerly greet Jesus, our King of glory. Through faith, Jesus is welcome in our hearts and lives. He is welcome because we know what he does for us. He cleanses us of every sin because of what he accomplished in living, dying, and rising for us. '

Stanza 5: Crush for me the serpent’s head that, set free from doubt and dread, I may cling to you in faith, safely kept through life and death.

When something bad happens to you, perhaps you have said: “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.” Your worst enemy does not have the same sentiment about you. The Old Evil Foe who disguised himself as a serpent in the Garden of Eden wants the worst for you. He wants you to suffer with him. To accomplish that, he tries to get you to either doubt what God accomplished for you through Jesus or dread death as if Jesus accomplished nothing at all. But on the cross, Jesus crushed the serpent’s head which enables us to sing these words with another hymnwriter: Teach me to live, that I may dread the grave as little as my bed. Teach me to die, that so I may rise glorious at the awefull day.

Stanza 6: And, when you shall come again as a glorious king to reign, I with joy may see your face, freely ransomed by your grace.

Jesus’ second coming will be so much different than his first. The first time he came, he was “conceived by the Holy Spirit” and “born of the Virgin Mary.” The next and final time he comes, the voice of the archangel will be heard and so will the trumpet call of God. Unlike his first coming, every eye will see him this time around.

This will be Jesus’ grand entrance to claim for himself those he bought back with his holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death. Through faith in Jesus, we are included in that number.

The season of Advent is not only about anticipating the celebration of Christmas, but it is also anticipating King Jesus’ return. When he returns, he shall reign forever and ever. Through faith in King Jesus, we shall reign forever with him in the glory of heaven. Let the earth now praise the Lord!

CW 324 - O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

CW 324: O Lord, How Shall I Meet You 

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for “rejoice!” This name comes from the beginning of the Epistle reading for this Sunday from Philippians 2, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice!” During the season of Advent, we focus on the coming of Christ. We think about his coming in the flesh at Christmas and his glorious coming when he returns on the Last Day. Both events fill us with joy. We rejoice that our God would take on human flesh to save us and that our Lord will come again to rescue us from this world of sin and sorrow.  

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You echoes these themes of Advent. We rejoice in our salvation. We marvel that God sent his one and only Son to save us from our sins. Our hearts are filled with the joyful knowledge that our sins and guilt have been washed away. Because of Christ's death, we look forward in joyful anticipation to the great and glorious day of our Lord’s return. 

Verse 1: O Lord, how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright? Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight. O Jesus, let your Word be a lamp to light my way, to show me how to please you, to guide me ev’ry day. 

Verse one reminds us that, as Christians, we want to be ready to meet our King. We look forward to his return and want our hearts to be prepared to greet him. How do we prepare our hearts to greet our Advent King? We cannot make our hearts free from sin; instead, we cling to the promise of God. John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. Repentance is a turning away from our sinful way of life and turning in faith to the salvation that is found in Christ alone. We cling to the assurance in his Word that our sins have been paid for by the blood of Christ. Because we have been born again through water and the Word, we desire to live lives that please our Lord. 

Verse 2: Love caused your incarnation; love brought you down to me. Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty. Oh, love beyond all telling that led you to embrace in love, all love excelling, our lost and fallen race!  

1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” We see the love of God echoed in the life of Christ. Jesus loved each one of us so much that he came down from heaven and was born of the Virgin Mary. This is the mystery of Christmas that God became man and made his dwelling among us. Jesus loved us so much that he willingly offered his perfect life as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. Jesus endured the shame and agony of the cross for us. He suffered the torments of hell that we deserved and was punished in our place. All this he did because he loved us and wanted to save us from our sins. 

Verse 3: Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, who sit in deepest gloom, who mourn o’er joys departed and tremble at your doom. Despair not; he is near you, he’s standing at the door who best can help and cheer you and bids you weep no more.  

This world is full of sin and sorrow. We all face times of trial and hardship, like sickness or the loss of a loved one. It can be easy to fall into deep, dark sadness and wonder if God is faithful. We can be filled with doubt and wonder if God will keep his promises. Our sins fill us with sorrow. Our guilt weighs us down. Satan loves to torment us with our guilt and shame and doubt God’s love for us. This verse reminds us that even on our deepest and gloomiest days, when all seems lost, Jesus is still there right beside us. Jesus understands what it is like to feel pain and sadness. Christmas is the fulfillment of God’s promises. In Eden, God promised Adam and Eve that he would send a Savior to crush the head of our enemy the Devil. Christ came and on the cross, he crushed Satan’s head and gave us victory. 

Verse 4: Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, let not your souls distress; your guilt the Lord will pardon and cover by his grace. He comes, for you procuring the peace of sin forgiv’n, his children thus securing eternal life in heav’n.  

As Christians, we must daily struggle against the temptations of the devil, the world, and our own sinful natures. Every day, we give in to temptation, sin, and break the Lord’s commandments. Satan loves to accuse and remind us of our sins. He wants to burden us with guilt and shame and convince us that God does not love us. This hymn verse reminds us that we do not need to be weighed down by the terrible burden of our sins. Our sins have been completely forgiven by the blood of Christ. We have been washed clean and pure by the blood of Christ. We do not need to be burdened with a load of guilt because we have been covered by God’s amazing grace. This is the joyous message of the Gospel. This is why Christians rejoice. We know we have been forgiven. We know Christ has won us the glorious reward of eternal life with him. 

Verse 5: He comes to judge the nations, a terror to his foes, a light of consolation and blessèd hope to those who love the Lord’s appearing. O glorious Sun, now come, send forth your beams most cheering, and guide us safely home. 

The final verse of this hymn shows the great contrast between believers and unbelievers. As believers, we look forward with joy to the day of the Lord’s return. We do not need to be afraid when Jesus comes again in all his glory to judge the living and the dead because we know we have been forgiven. We have been declared not guilty by the blood of Christ before the Almighty Judge. For unbelievers, the return of Jesus fills them with dread. Deep down, they know that because of their sins, they cannot stand before the throne of God. On the Last Day, their time of grace will be over, and they will be thrown into the lake of fire that was prepared for the devil and all his angels. 

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You is a joyous hymn of Advent praise. We rejoice and praise the Lord for our salvation and forgiveness in Christ. We give thanks to God for sending his Son to be born of a woman, born under the law, to free us from our sins. And we look forward in joyful anticipation to the great and glorious day when our Lord will return in all his radiant splendor and take us to our eternal home. 

CW 316 - On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

CW 316 - On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

Long before there were tweets or viral videos, long before there were nightly newscasts and morning newspapers, people received their information from the town crier. The town crier was used to make public announcements in the streets. Criers often dressed in fancy clothes, in a red and gold coat, white pants, black boots, and a three-cornered hat. In English-speaking countries, they carried a handbell to attract people’s attention. They shouted, “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!” before making their announcements. The word “Oyez” means “hear ye.”

John the Baptist was the wilderness crier. He gained people’s attention, not with fancy clothes, but with a camelhair suit. Rich and poor traveled from every direction out to the Judean desert along the banks of the Jordan River to hear John’s message. John preached, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2)! John fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy, “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. And everyone will see the salvation of God’” (Luke 3:4-6).

Our hymn for this week, “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” proclaims the message of John to us today.

Verse one: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh; come, then, and listen, for he brings good news about the King of kings.

The wilderness crier announces that the Lord is nigh. “Nigh” means that the Lord is near. Get excited in preparing for the Lord’s return. Dust away the cobwebs from your Bible. Open the Bible app on your phone. Listen to podcasts of Bible studies and hymn devotions. Brush up on what God’s Word says about your Savior. Because God’s Word is bringing you news. Not just regular news about an ordinary guy. But good news about Jesus Christ, the King of Kings!

Verse two: Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin and furnished for a Guest within, and let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there.

The wilderness crier announces that you are to cleanse your life from every sin. Discard the sin that clutters your life. Throw away the skeletons you’ve been hiding in your heart. Remove the ugly trash that keeps you from having guests come over. Because you have the most important Guest coming. This Guest is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and your Savior. Open the blinds on the windows of your mind so the warm light of God’s love can flood in. Open the door to your heart so Jesus Christ can enter and make himself welcome in your life.

Verse three: We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward; without your grace we waste away like flow’rs that wither and decay.

The wilderness crier announces that we are to praise our Savior and Lord. We join with the psalmist in why we praise our Lord. “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his

holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:1-3). Without God’s grace, we wither and decay. With God’s grace, we live now and forever.

Verse four: Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and lift us up to fall no more; O make your face on us to shine, and fill the world with love divine.

The wilderness crier announces that Jesus brings health and healing with him. We pray to Jesus to heal our illnesses and our diseases. But more importantly, we pray to Jesus to heal us from our cancer of sin and the disease of death. We end our worship services with the threefold blessing of our God, “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you his peace.” What a wonderful blessing to have Jesus shine his face on you with warmth, gladness, and divine love.

Verse five: All praise to you, eternal Son, whose advent has our freedom won, whom with the Father we adore and Holy Spirit evermore.

We join the wilderness crier in a doxology of praise to our Triune God. We give all praise to Jesus Christ, whose advent – “advent” means “coming” – won freedom from sin, death, and the devil for us. We give praise to the Father who sent his Son into the world to be our Savior. And we give praise to the Holy Spirit who created faith in our hearts to believe in Jesus as our Savior.

Jesus has come with his birth into this world. Jesus comes to us today in Word and Sacraments. Jesus is coming again in the clouds on the Last Day. This is great news! Pay attention to the news of the wilderness crier.

CW 301 - Savior of the Nations, Come

CW 301: Savior of the Nations, Come 

Advent is a wonderful time of the year. We begin a new season of the church year, and we look forward in joyful anticipation to celebrating our Lord’s birth at Christmas. The season of Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. We look forward to his birth in Bethlehem and we also look forward to that great and glorious day when he will return with all his power, might, and majesty.  

Savior of the Nations, Come is one of the older hymns in our hymnal. Christians have been singing this hymn of praise to celebrate the birth of our Savior for hundreds of years. The hymn was written by Ambrose of Milan in the 4th Century and was translated into German by Martin Luther. This hymn praises God for sending his son to suffer and die for the sins of the world. It is an amazing mystery that God took on flesh and made his dwelling among us so that he could suffer and die to save us. 

Verse 1: Savior of the nations, come; Virgin’s Son, make here your home. Marvel now, O heav’n and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. 

When we consider the miracle of Christmas all we can do is marvel at the amazing love of our God. Jesus came to this world, not with glory or majesty. He was not born in a rich palace to a mighty king. Instead, he was born to a humble virgin in a lowly stable. Christ did not come to this world to rule or lord over us as a king. Instead, he came as a servant. He lived a life of humility. He humbled himself and became obedient to death on the cross to save us. 

Verse 2: Not by human flesh and blood, by the Spirit of our God was the Word of God made flesh, woman’s offspring, pure and fresh. 

The birth of Jesus is a profound mystery! The Apostle John tells us in the first chapter of the Gospel how Jesus Christ is true God from eternity. Our almighty Lord, the very Word of God, clothed himself with human flesh and made his dwelling among us. He did this so he could live as a human and place himself under God’s holy law. He was tempted in every way that we are in, yet he was without sin. Jesus is unique in that he is the only person who never sinned. He fulfilled all the requirements of God’s law so he could offer himself as a perfect sacrifice to pay for the sins of the entire world. 

Verse 3: Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child of the virgin undefiled, though by all the world disowned, yet to be in heav’n enthroned! 

Jesus was rejected by many of the people he came to save. The Jewish leaders did not accept him as their Savior because he did not meet their expectations. They were looking for an earthly king who would lead their nation to glory. They did not understand that the kingdom of Jesus was not of this world. Jesus came with the purpose of suffering and dying to save the world from sin. Even today people do not understand the message of the Gospel. They reject Jesus as their Savior and look elsewhere for their salvation. Verse 3 of our hymn reminds us that in the end, it does not matter what the world thinks. Jesus as the wonderous Child who was both true God and true man defeated the power of sin, death, and hell. He rose victorious from the grave and is ruling over all things at the right hand of the Father. 

Verse 4: From the Father’s throne he came and ascended to the same, captive leading death and hell. High the song of triumph swell! 

Advent and Christmas give us a special time to praise God for the miracle of his Son. Jesus descended from heaven. He humbled himself even to the point of death on the cross. On Easter, he rose victorious from the grave. He defeated death and hell and gave the forgiveness of sins and the certainty of eternal life to all who believe in him. Christ ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. There he is ruling over all things for the good of his church. We know that one day he will return in glory to judge the living and the dead and take us to our eternal home. One of the reasons that blue is the color of Advent is a reminder of us to look to the skies and watch with joyful anticipation for the return of our king. 

Verse 5: Praise to God the Father sing, praise to God the Son, our King, praise to God the Spirit be ever and eternally. 

The final verse of our hymn is a doxology of praise to our Triune God. We praise God our eternal Father who created us. We praise the Son, our Savior, who redeemed us and continues to intercede for us. And we praise the Spirit who called us to faith through the message of the Gospel. All praise be to God forever and ever! Amen! 

Savior of the Nations, Come is a glorious hymn of praise. We rejoice that God sent his one and only Son to save us from our sins. During Advent, we marvel and wait in joyful anticipation for the celebration of our Savior’s birth. We also look forward to that great day when our Lord will come and take us to our eternal home. As so we join with Christians throughout the centuries and pray savior of the nations, come! 

CW 487 - Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending

Our hymn for our devotion this week is hymn 487: Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending

Around this time of year, people are preparing for family reunions of all kinds. Seeing family for the holidays gives family members a chance to catch up and talk about everything that’s happened since they last saw each other. It gives them a chance to reminisce about years past. And it gives them a chance to look ahead to the coming year and the blessings and challenges it may bring.

This coming Sunday is the last Sunday in the church year. It gives God’s people a chance to reflect on the “family reunion” we’ll soon have with our savior, brother, and friend when he returns as king and judge over all things. Our hymn for this week beautifully reflects on just how bittersweet that last day will be. Yet the beautiful truth we see echoed again and again is the undeniable glory and power Jesus wields as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Verse 1: Lo! He comes with clouds descending, once for ev’ry sinner slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Christ reveals his endless reign.

When a king would return to his city victorious from battle, he would always lead a victorious procession through the city. Typically, he would be accompanied by the commanders and key warriors that enabled his victory. This was not only to show his power, but to glorify them for their role in winning the battle. So it will be on the last day. Christ the King will return victorious to earth, but he won’t be alone. All the heroes of faith we learned about in the Bible and in the history of the church will be with him. All the faithful martyrs who died rather than deny him will be with him. Every believer who has ever died will be returning with him on the clouds of glory. Not to glorify themselves or their witness, but to glorify the one who died for sinners and was raised again.

Verse 2: Ev’ry eye shall now behold him robed in glorious majesty; those who set at naught and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, shall their true Messiah see.

This is perhaps the greatest mystery of that last day. Somehow, in some way, Christ will appear and all 8 billion plus people on earth will behold him at once. For many (about 2 and a half billion according to some estimates), this day will be a day of great joy. Their king has returned! But for the other 6 billion people, this won’t be a happy day. For the enemies of Christ and his church, they will get what they justly deserve: death and condemnation. That justice will be glorious to see for the Christians who suffered at their hands! Those enemies of the church will see that Christ is indeed king, and all their works opposing Christ and his church didn’t change a thing. Yet for billions of others, they are simply lost in the darkness. This doesn’t have to be the case! There are faithful Christians all over the world who can still preach the gospel! May this coming day of wrath be a motivating factor for us to fuel mission efforts all over the world, and to bravely venture out where and when we can to go and find those missing souls, so they don’t have to face that day of wrath.

Verse 3: Those dear tokens of his passion still his dazzling body bears, cause of endless exultation to his ransomed worshipers. With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture, gaze we on those glorious scars!

Oftentimes, scars tell a story. Maybe it’s something simple like a childhood accident or a poor teenage decision. Maybe they’re from a significant medical procedure that saved your life or brought someone else into this world. Or maybe they’re reminders of past trauma or pain that are better left in the past. Christians don’t have to wonder what Jesus’ scars from his passion will be like. They are tokens of his work in saving us, his own dear people. We don’t blanche or shy away from these wounds. Instead, we regard them as glorious! For it’s through those pierced hands and feet and side that God’s own blood was shed for us! It’s from that pierced side that flows the blood and water, the sacraments of the church! These marks signify our Savior’s love for us, and the promise that death itself is reversed because of the lamb who was slain yet lives and reigns still!

Verse 4: Yea, amen, let all adore thee high on thine eternal throne; Savior, take the pow’r and glory, claim the kingdom as thine own. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone!

What else can we say to our returning king other than praise God, amen! Nothing will be able to stop his return. And nothing will be able to make any difference to the ultimate and final authority Christ wields as king over all the earth. And what an amazing thing it is, that we don’t have to fear this absolute king! He’s no tyrannical monarch only concerned with himself or power for power’s sake. He is concerned for us! He loves us! And he will make a new heavens and a new earth on that final day: free from all fear, all pain, and all sin. And he will rule the new heavens and earth with love, justice, and mercy! Praise God! Amen! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and take your people home!

Is that reunion with Jesus going to be a happy day or a sad day? That depends entirely upon your knowledge of one person: Jesus our King, who will be returning among the clouds in glory on that day. For those who know him as King, Savior, Brother, and Friend, it will be a day unlike any other. It’ll be the fulfillment of an entire world’s worth of history, unveiled for all to see. But for those who know Jesus as pretender, myth, burden, or simply as something not worth caring about at all, it will be a very sad day. May this coming day be one we look forward to with joy and anticipation. May it move us to constantly watch and pray as we await that coming day of glory. And may it motivate us to be heralds of the coming king; messengers going out to warn and prepare the world for its Lord. Amen.

CW 546 - Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus

CW 546 Since Our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus

The Bible helps us to understand who Jesus is and what Jesus accomplished by talking about the three offices Jesus holds as Prophet, High Priest, and King. This hymn meditates on Jesus’ High Priestly office.

No one can stand before God alone. In order to help the children of Israel understand that, God established the office of priest in Old Testament times. The priest served as the one who would represent the people before God. The priest was the one who would offer sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people.

Likewise, in his role as priest, Jesus goes between God and us. This hymn celebrates what he did and still does in that role.

Stanza 1: Since our great High Priest, Christ Jesus, bears the name above all names, reigning Son of God, surpassing other titles, pow’rs, and claims— since to heav’n our Lord has passed, let us hold our witness fast!

How do we know Jesus was successful in his work as High Priest? It is because of where he now resides. He is in heaven at the right hand of God. His successful work was approved by God the Father. The Apostle Paul wrote: “9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Since Jesus successfully carried out his office of High Priest while he lived among us, we are encouraged to hold our witness fast. At the end of the great resurrection chapter, 1 Corinthians 15 (verse 58), Paul concludes: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Stanza 2: Since we have a priest who suffered, knowing weakness, tears, and pain, who like us was tried and tempted, unlike us, without a stain— since he shared our lowly place, let us boldly seek his grace.

As our High Priest, Jesus knows what we experience because he has been there. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He took our place experiencing everything that we do. Everything, that is, except sin.

The fact that Jesus did this means he is able to relate to us. It means that when we are burdened by sin and guilt, we can turn to our High Priest with confidence knowing that he treats us with his grace, his undeserved love for us. We can be bold as we plead for his mercy.

Stanza 3: Sacrifice and suff’ring over, now he sits at God’s right hand, crowned with praise, no more an outcast, his preeminence long-planned; such a great High Priest we have, strong to help, supreme to save.

While the Old Testament high priests would sacrifice animals, our great High Priest, Jesus, himself became the sacrifice. He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He did it by becoming sin for us. This was all part of God’s eternal plan. Also part of God’s plan was Jesus being exalted once again back to where he came from in the first place. The fact that Jesus has been exalted proves that he has fulfilled his goal to save us.

Stanza 4: Love’s example, hope’s attraction, faith’s beginning and its end, pioneer of our salvation, mighty advocate and friend; Jesus, high in glory raised, our ascended Lord be praised!

Jesus has ascended to heaven, but that doesn’t mean he stopped working on our behalf. He continues to be the friend and advocate for sinners like you and me. He stands ready to hear our every prayer. “So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Jesus, our great High Priest, continues to intercede on our behalf. Luther’s small catechism states that “Jesus pleads for us by virtue of the sacrifice he made for us.” In other words, Jesus reminds God the Father that even though we are sinners who are unworthy to come before the Father’s throne, Jesus laid down his life for us so that we can freely approach our heavenly Father. We are reconciled to God and we have our great High Priest, Christ Jesus to thank and praise.

CW 485 – Day of Wrath

CW 485 – Day of Wrath

The courtroom is packed. This is the day that they have been looking forward to for three years. And one man has dreaded it for just as long. Three years earlier, the family learned their daughter had been murdered. They went for two years without knowing who had destroyed their lives like this. Then - finally - someone was arrested and charged with the murder. Now the family would learn the verdict.

The family looked at the man across the courtroom. He had been dreading this day. He knew he had done it, and for a long time he thought he had gotten away with it. Then the police tracked him down. Now here he was - charged with murder. In just a few minutes, he would find out if he had really gotten away with it, or if he would spend the rest of his life in prison. The jury foreman stood up to read the verdict, and for everyone in the courtroom, three years of waiting were about to come to an end.

For one, it would be a day of relief and satisfaction. For the other, it would be a day of sorrow and agony. But for both, the day they knew was coming was finally here.

Judgment Day is coming. It seems like it is taking a long time to get here. When it arrives, for one group of people – Christians – it will be a day of joy and excitement. For the other group of people – unbelievers – it will be a day of wrath and mourning.

Verse one: Day of wrath, O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets’ warning: heav’n and earth in ashes burning.

God’s Old Testament prophets warned God’s people many times that Judgment Day would be coming. The heavens – another name for the sky and space – and all the earth will be burned up on that last, great day. Malachi is one of those prophets who foretold that this would happen. “Look! The day is coming, burning like a blast furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble. The day that is coming will set them on fire, says the Lord of Armies, a day that will not leave behind a root or branch for them” (Malachi 4:1).

Verse two: Death is struck and nature quaking; all creation is awaking, to its judge an answer making.

When Jesus returns on that last day, nature will be quaking because there will be destruction and fire upon the earth. St. Peter teaches, “The heavens and earth have been stored up for fire, since they are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7). God destroyed the earth once with water to cleanse the world of wickedness. This time, God will destroy the earth with fire to destroy the world of its wickedness and sin. He will remake it so that it is new and perfect forever.

Verse three: See, the book, exactly worded, wherein all has been recorded; thus shall judgment be awarded.

It seems like there will be two books that will be opened on Judgment Day in God’s heavenly courtroom. One book will only have the sins of the unbelievers recorded. I imagine that it will be a thick book. Those who rejected Jesus will have each of their sins read off – one by one. They will be awarded the just judgment for their sin and unbelief. The Bible also mentions the wonderful Book of Life. Jesus promises, “He who overcomes will be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels” (Revelation 3:5). The Book of Life is God’s family register where all the names of those who have been loved and chosen from all eternity are recorded. This Book of Life proves that no one and nothing can take us out of our heavenly Father’s hands. We are among God’s elect. When your name is written in this book, your salvation is secure.

Verse four: What shall I in awe be pleading, who for me be interceding when your mercy I am needing?

God’s courtroom would be terrifying if we had to defend ourselves all on our own. But Jesus Christ is there as our defense lawyer. He is pleading our case. Interceding with the judge on our behalf. St. Paul promises: “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died and, more than that, was raised to life, is the one who is at God’s right hand and who is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34)!

Verse five: King of majesty tremendous, who such grace have freely sent us, fount of pity, then befriend us.

Judgment Day will be a day of wild extremes. Some people will be going to heaven through their faith in Jesus as their Savior. Some people will be going to hell because of their refusal to believe in Jesus as their Savior. The prophet Daniel reminds us: “Many who are sleeping in the dusty ground will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). By the grace of King Jesus, we are not afraid of Judgment Day. We know “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Verse six: Think, good Jesus, my salvation caused your wondrous incarnation, made you suffer my damnation!

Jesus will judge the believers and unbelievers on the Last Day. Every wicked deed done and every good deed left undone will be recorded in one book. It will be opened and read on the Last Day. The Bible teaches about what is waiting the unbelievers whose names and works of unbelief are recorded and read on Judgment Day: “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). But for those who trust in Jesus, God covers their sins with the blood of his holy Son. God erases our sins and writes only our names in his Book of Life. The Lord promises: “I will forgive their guilt, and I will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Verse seven: On the cross your dying spared me; just and righteous you declared me; I await the joy prepared me.

Judgment Day will not mean disaster for everyone. It will be a great day for those with faith in Jesus. The Lord promises through his prophet: “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise, and there will be healing in its wings. You will go out and jump around like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). When we get to heaven, we won’t be sick with our sin anymore. Our spirit will feel good. We will want to kick and frolic like calves being released from their stalls for the first time in spring. We’ll be excited to be with Jesus in heaven!

Just like there are two groups of people who look at the judgment in a court case differently, so there are two groups of people who look at God’s Judgment Day differently. For those who refuse to believe in Jesus, it will be a day of wrath and mourning. For us who accept Jesus’ sacrifice and believe in him as our Savior from hell, the day of the Lord will bring life. That day will be the first day of our new life - our life free from sin, pain, trouble, sorrow, and death. Look forward to this Day.

CW 880 - For All the Saints

CW 880: For All the Saints  

The festival of All Saints’ Day has traditionally been celebrated by the church on November 1. All Saints’ Day has its roots in the ancient Christian Church as a day to remember the martyrs who gave their lives for their confession of faith. All Saints’ Day encourages us to look back in time and give thanks to God for the Christian saints and martyrs who have preceded us. In modern times we often use this day to remember all those saints who have been called home to heaven in the last year. The festival of All Saints reminds us that we too await that glorious day when we will be called home to heaven and receive our eternal reward. 

For all the Saints is a glorious hymn of praise that reminds us that our salvation is found in Christ alone. While we are alive in this world, we are part of the church militant. We face a constant struggle against the forces of Satan who wants to lead the whole world astray. When a Christian dies they are no longer a part of the church militant but become a part of the church triumphant. Our battle is ended, and we receive the glorious crown of eternal life that is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. For All the Saints reminds us of this truth and comforts us as we remember all those who have died and received the crown of life. 

Verses 1-2: For all the saints who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Many people wrongly believe that a saint is someone who lived a perfect and virtuous life. Scripture reminds us that there is only one person who has ever been perfect, Jesus. All of us are by nature lost and condemned creatures who deserve only God’s wrath and punishment. The saints we sing about in this hymn are the believers who have died and now received their eternal rest and reward in heaven. As we remember those who have died in the Lord we remember the example of their faith. Their faith was not based on their works or their righteousness but was founded on the solid rock of Christ alone. 

Verses 3-4: Oh, may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold fight as the saints who nobly fought of old and win with them the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

While we live on this earth we fight a constant battle against the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. This battle has been raging since Adam and Eve fell into sin. All believers throughout the ages of this world have struggled against sin and temptation. On our own, we could never win, but God in his great mercy sent Jesus to be our champion and defeat the power of the devil. By his death and resurrection, Christ has destroyed the devil’s work. When we die, we receive the glory of heaven and are freed from the power of sin and death. As we continue in our struggle, we look forward to the day we can join those who have gone before and dwell in the glory of the Lord. 

Verses 5-6: And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph-song, and hearts are brave again and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia! The golden evening brightens in the west; soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest; sweet is the calm of paradise the blest. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

As Christians we long for the day when we will be united with our Lord in the never-ending joy of heaven. We grow weary in our struggles in this world. The festival of All Saints reminds us that there is an end to our struggle. We look forward with joy and longing to the day of our Lord’s return. Heaven is a glorious rest from the pain and sorrow of this world. In heaven, we will know peace and joy as we dwell in the eternal light and love of our Lord. 

Verses 7-8: But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day: the saints triumphant rise in bright array; the King of glory passes on his way. Alleluia! Alleluia! From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

At times it can feel like we are all alone in our struggle. For all the Saints reminds us that we are part of a countless host of believers. On the Last Day, our Lord will return in all his glory, and we will join the triumphant host as we stream through the gates of heaven. On that Last Day, the church militant will no longer exist. We will all be part of the church triumphant. The struggle will be complete, and we will dwell forever in the glory of the new heavens and the new earth.

For all the Saints is a wonderful reminder of the connection we have to those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Death is a terrible thing and was never part of God’s plan for creation. Death separates us from those that we love. But that separation will not last. As Christians we know that death is not the end for us, but just the beginning of our eternal life with the Lord. As we think about those who have fallen asleep in the Lord, we rejoice in the crown of salvation that they have now received and we look forward to that great day when we will be united with all the saints at the wedding supper of the Lamb. 

CW 866 - If God Had Not Been on Our Side

Our hymn for our devotion this week is hymn 866 If God Had Not Been On Our Side

This coming weekend, many Lutheran churches across America and across the world will be celebrating Reformation Sunday. This festival in the church year is a celebration of the work that Martin Luther and the rest of the Lutheran reformers did over 500 years ago by bringing law and gospel back into the Christian church.

A common misconception is that this Sudnay is “Martin Luther Sunday.” We mention him by name in our prayers and sermons. We sing his hymns in our worship services. We call ourselves Lutheran because of him. But Luther hated the idea of his followers being called “Lutherans” (at least at first.) Rather, he preferred those who were a part of the Reformation to call themselves evangelicals (because they preached the gospel) or simply Christians. We don’t worship Luther, or give him more credit than he’s due. We simply acknowledge the work God did through him and the other reformers by bringing the life-giving gospel back into our churches.

One amazing example of how Luther brought the gospel back into the church was with his hymns. No Reformation Sunday is complete without singing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” or “Lord Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word.” But there are many other beloved hymns that Luther wrote over his career. The hymn for our consideration is one such example. It’s a paraphrase of Psalm 124, a song of thanksgiving for God’s protecting hand.

Verse 1: “If God had not been on our side and had not come to aid us, our foes with all their pow’r and pride would surely have dismayed us, for we, his flock, would have to fear the devil’s wolves, both far and near, who rise in might against us.”

Sometimes as Christians, it can feel like we’re surrounded. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking to devour us. He erodes faith through a constant stream of doubts and questions throughout the day and throughout our lives. He will never stop hunting us and seeking to undermine our faith. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we also live in a sinful world that hates and rejects the message of Christ. Jesus told us to be prepared to be hated by the world because it hated him first. At best, we can expect indifference to the life-changing gospel. But a time may come when the gospel message won’t just be ignored, but it will be stifled and repressed. And perhaps worst of all, even though we’ve got the devil and the world out to get us, our own sinful nature is constantly warring against the gospel message in our hearts and minds. Every day it’s a struggle to lead a God-pleasing life. Yes, our foes are certainly powerful, and they are seeking to dismay us. But we have God on our side! These enemies rise against us every day, but we don’t have to fear them because God will fight for us. He daily pours out his Holy Spirit on his people. That Holy Spirit works through the means of grace, the gospel in word and sacrament to increase our love and strengthen our faith. We have nothing to fear.

Verse 2: “Their furious wrath, did God permit, would surely have consumed us and as a deep and yawning pit with life and limb entombed us. A hellish storm would o’er us roll from Satan, who desires our soul and seeks to overwhelm us.”

Around this time of year, people love watching and talking about football. For fans of both college and professional football, every weekend there are dozens of games that can be found on a number of television networks. Sometimes in those games, the matchup between teams is very one-sided. It’s not unheard of to see scores like 49-6, or 21-0 even before the game is finished. Sometimes announcers will talk about how teams get “eaten alive” by the other team, or they’re “dead and buried.” The odds are simply too great to overcome. The other team is simply too good. Player morale is too low to make a comeback. It’s those kinds of situations that we on this earth would be facing if we didn’t have God on our side. The foes that face us are simply too powerful for us sinful human beings to overcome. If God allowed it, we’d be eaten alive by that roaring lion, or we’d be dead and buried because of a sinful world and our own sinful flesh. Our enemy wants us completely defeated and hopeless without a chance for a comeback. But that’s why Jesus came to give us the victory. God did not permit our foes to overwhelm us. Rather he overwhelmed them by sending his only begotten son to die for us and rise again. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 3: “Blest be the Lord, who foiled their threat that they could not devour us. Our souls, like birds, escaped their net; they could not overpow’r us. The snare is broken—we are free! Our helper and our strength is he who made the earth and heavens.”

There’s something so encouraging about watching people rescue helpless animals who are trapped and in need of assistance. Whether it’s a sick-looking cat or dog found on the side of the road, or an owl or hawk trapped in a soccer net, or a cow or a sheep trapped in a farmer’s fence, it’s so gratifying to see an animal escape being trapped and being released back to freedom. It’s that picture of a helpless animal that’s trapped and in need of assistance that King David used in Psalm 124, and the picture that Luther used in his final verse of his hymn. Just like those animals who were trapped with no way out, our souls were trapped in our ways and sin. Without assistance, we were destined to die without any hope of saving ourselves. This was the plan of Satan, who first led us into sin. But God foiled his plans! Jesus came and crushed satan’s head, and freed us from sin forever. The same God who made the earth and heavens became a helpless baby, lived like us, and died for us so that we might rise again. The same God who set the stars in place and raised mountains from the ground is our helper and our strength in times of trouble. That gospel truth is what frees us to lead lives of faith, free from the cares of the world and the guilt of our sins. It frees us to live as Christians and rejoice in the gospel day after day.

When looking back on his career as a reformer, Luther said “I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing… the Word did everything.” God’s Word is powerful and effective. It’s like a hammer that breaks rock. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. It is the mighty rock upon which we build, and the sword that breaks our chains and frees us to go and lead lives of faith. That is what we celebrate on the Reformation, and every day when we live our lives as Christians liberated by the Word. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone taught in scripture alone on account of Christ alone. It is Christ alone who frees us. He is on our side, still fighting for us and forgiving us day after day. It is Christ alone who promises to bring us at last to the joys of heaven. It is Christ alone we celebrate on Reformation, and no one else. Glory to God alone for his forgiveness found in Christ alone! Amen.

CW 540 - O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild

CW 540 O Jesus So Sweet, O Jesus So Mild

It isn’t surprising that this hymn is sometimes sung at Christmas since it emphasizes Jesus becoming a child. The original German title – O Jesulein süss – makes that clear. Translated literally, it means: “O sweet little Jesus.” Doesn’t that immediately make you think of Jesus as a baby? The description of Jesus as sweet and mild are words that we often associate with the babies we raise.

While this hymn pictures Jesus as a small child, it also declares that Jesus completed the work he came to do which benefits each one of us.

Stanza 1: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, for sinners you became a child. You came from heaven to fulfill your Father’s just and holy will, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.

It doesn’t take long to realize that the innocent looking baby in our arms is not always sweet and is not always mild-mannered. The baby in our arms is a sinner like you and me. The baby, like us, needs a Savior. It is the sweet and mild Jesus who takes on that role for us.

And it was God’s will for Jesus to take on human flesh and blood and come into this world. Jesus willingly and obediently followed his Father’s will. In German, the word translated mild can also have the idea behind it of being charitable. Doesn’t that help describe Jesus’ attitude toward us? The Apostles Paul wrote these words in his first letter to Pastor Timothy (1:15): “This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” of whom I am the worst.” Thank God that Jesus is mild toward us!

Stanza 2: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, with God we now are reconciled. You have for all the ransom paid, your Father’s righteous anger stayed, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.

Our relationships with people are often fractured. Sometimes we can resolve those things on our own. Sometimes we need a professional to help mediate.

Because of sin, our relationship with God was completely broken. It is not within our capability to make that relationship whole. It was, however, within God’s capability to fix it. So, he sent a professional: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6) Jesus paid the ransom for us with his holy precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death. O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild!

Stanza 3: O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild, joy fills the world which sin defiled. Whate’er we have belongs to you, O keep us faithful, strong, and true, O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild.

What hasn’t sin touched? Paul says: “For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22) Because sin affects all of God’s creation, it affects us and everything that we do. It even affects our moods and our attitudes.

But because of Jesus, there is joy in the world. True joy. Lasting joy. Joy that is rooted in substance. This is not a manufactured joy, but one that comes naturally from believing hearts.

The second to last phrase of this verse is a petition to Jesus: “O keep us faithful, strong, and true.” Being faithful, strong, and true is not an easy task. It means following the example of Jesus and being ready to sacrifice. Not to win Jesus’ love, but because Jesus loves us.

We may look at a baby and say “Isn’t she sweet.” Isn’t that really a commentary on how precious that child is? How much more true is that of Jesus?! There is no one more precious to us than Jesus. There can be no one more precious to us than Jesus. In his grace, he showed his love for us, mercifully making us his own. May we live for our sweet Jesus!

CW 560 - Your Works, Not Mine, O Christ

CW 560 - Your Works, Not Mine, O Christ

One of my biggest fears is to be trapped. Not just trapped so I can’t get out. But trapped so I can’t even move. Trapped under an avalanche of snow. Trapped under a cave-in of rocks. Trapped under a pile-up of vehicles on the freeway. There is a huge weight pressing down on me. And I can’t move! Terrifying!

The law of God is like that weight. We are hopeless to move under it. God’s laws weigh us down, crushing us under the burden of all the perfection God’s demands of us. “No one will be declared righteous in [God’s] sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin … because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:20, 23).

The relief comes through Jesus Christ. He takes the unmovable weight and moves it off us through his sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Our Hymn of the Day, “Your Works, Not Mine, O Christ,” speaks of this weight that is taken from us by Jesus Christ.

Verse one: Your works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me all is done, they bid my fear depart. (Refrain) To whom but you, who can alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I f lee?

We die and are damned if we attempted to be saved by our good works. It is the works of Jesus Christ that only save us. His work of being born in our place. His work of living perfectly for us. His work of paying for our sins. His work of dying our death. His work of rising from the grave. These works alone atone for our sins and make us “at one” with our holy God.

Verse two: Your blood, not mine, O Christ, can heal my sinful soul; your wounds, not mine, contain the balm that makes me whole. (Refrain)

The Bible teaches that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). God demanded blood as payment for sin. That’s why there were so many bulls, sheep, and goats sacrificed to the Lord in the Old Testament. But the Bible also teaches that “the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). All that blood shed upon the Old Testament altars pointed ahead to the blood of Jesus Christ – a lamb without blemish or defect – that only cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Verse three: Your cross, not mine, O Christ, has borne the dreadful load of sins that none could bear but the incarnate God. (Refrain)

The load of our sins is a crushing weight upon us. The Bible says, “God erased the record of our debt brought against us by his legal demands. This record stood against us, but he took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). We cannot begin to bear the dreadful load of sins. The only One who could bear this weight is the Son of God in human flesh, our incarnate Christ.

Verse four: Your death, not mine, O Christ, has paid the ransom due; ten thousand deaths like mine would have been all too few. (Refrain)

The devil trapped us. He was holding us ransom. We could try to pay that ransom price on our own ten thousand times, and nothing would work. Only the death of the Son of God is the acceptable ransom price. Jesus said of himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Now we are free to go. Now we are free to live.

Verse five: Your righteousness, O Christ, alone can cover me; no other righteousness can set a sinner free. (Refrain)

The Bible teaches, “All our righteous acts are like a filthy cloth” (Isaiah 64:6). Even our best attempts at righteousness are tainted by sinful motives (Romans 8:7-11), but in Christ we are clothed in his perfect righteousness. The Bible also teaches, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27). Only the righteousness of Christ can clothe us. Only the righteousness of Christ can set us free. As we sing in the refrain, “To whom but you, who can alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?”

The weight of sin buries us. Christ takes that weight off us and places it upon himself. That is why we can sing, “Your works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me all is done, they bid my fear depart.”