Remember the Sabbath Day

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#tencommandments

 

My husband and sons were logging. Logging can be a pretty expensive business. We sometimes joked that it was just a hobby as it often felt like they were paying to work rather than earn livings since equipment breakdowns can get pretty expensive. On occasion, they would decide that they needed to work on Sunday morning rather than worship in order to make up for time lost due to the weather or equipment breakdowns. Every time they decided to do this they would have another piece of equipment break down on that Sunday morning. Do I think that God was punishing them for working on Sunday? No. I think that because they did not heed His word to rest on the seventh day that they were exhausted and when we work tired and troubled; accidents; problems occur. God does not give us the commandments so that He can punish us. The commandments are for our own good.

 

It has been many decades since I realized what this holy-day of rest meant for me. I can get pretty cranky at times. During a particularly trying period of my life I came to realize that if I did not attend worship on Sunday (or maybe Saturday evening) I was pretty difficult to live with the rest of the week. By Friday, nobody, including myself, wanted to be around me. I need to receive the means of grace, the Word and Sacrament of Holy Communion, in order for me to be a bit more graceful towards others. I need to be able to find rest in Christ in order to be refreshed for the upcoming days.

 

Thanks be to God, He has given us the gift of the holy-day to gather with the saints and hear His sacred Word.

 

God desires good for you. Receive the good gifts of His Word and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. These gifts are available freely for you every Sunday at your local place of worship. Do yourself and your family and friends a favor; go and listen to Him; receive His Word; receive the Lord in the Sacrament of Holy Communion! Join others in worship every seventh day, no matter which day that happens to fall on.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 21:5-38 - Temple of God

Luke 21:5-38 NIV
Jesus predicted the fall of the temple in Jerusalem. It happened even during the life of many of those whom he was speaking to. The end had come for the great and beautiful temple.

But, we have a more beautiful temple. It is not made with beautiful stones and other various gifts dedicated to God. It is made by God, Himself. St. Paul wrote that we are the temple of God: "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Together, we are the temple of God with Christ as our cornerstone; with Christ as the one who has built us up. What can be more beautiful than the one who has built this temple; the one who fills this temple? The things that are beautiful to the eyes of the world are nothing in comparison to the relationship we have with our Father, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. True beauty lies in that relationship. True beauty lies in the love and gifts of God. For those who live in that love, there is nothing to fear. No matter what happens, we have no need to fear an end time for we have been promised an eternity in the presence of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hosea 10 - God Brings Forth The Fruit

Israel was doing well. "Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself." (Hosea 10:1 a NIV), but "As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones." (Hosea 10:1b)

Israel did not credit their growth to God. They had become reliant on the work of their own hands and often they gave credit to false idols. God wants them to repent and turn to Him. But, they do not recognize Him or the gifts that He has given them. They will fall.

So often in the church we lift up the good works of others, those who have been busy helping the church to grow. I know that I am often thanked for all the work I do. But, that is very dangerous business. I get a little uncomfortable with talk like this. For it is not we, who grow the church, but the Spirit of Christ who does, working in, through, and all around us. It is not we, but God who should get the glory for all things.

Remember to give Him thanks and praise for the fruit that He provides for us and all people.

God's Peace - Pr. J.