WHY

It's always my hope that my Theological THU & Sunday Meditation posts will be edifying for those who read them. However, I post them as much for my own edification as others'.

COMFORT

Isaiah 40:1-2  'Comfort, oh, comfort My people,' says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem & tell her that her sad days are gone. Her sins are pardoned, & the Lord will give her twice as many blessings as He gave her punishment before." The Living Bible

CARELESS WORDS

"Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing." (Prov. 12:18)

"Humility--the thought that life isn't all about you--brings wisdom & kills pride. It makes the effort to consider the heart, mind, & even soul of others, & so it chooses its words wisely. If you want to stop your foolish talk, then don't talk. Silence isn't usually offensive, except when someone is expecting you to speak. But keeping your mouth shut when your deepest desire is to speak your mind is wisdom. It might be hard to talk less, & if it is, then think about not speaking at all." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

THE RULE

"The rule is this:  Christians are people who remember their own weaknesses & failure. They are under reconstruction. So they offer hope & forgiveness to people who fall & who need Jesus' healing grace & hope." Donald Joy, Men's Devotional Bible

THE CHURCH

"And the church is still here. Jesus still calls His sheep, & the sheep hear His voice, believe the Gospel & walk in love. The holy church exists wherever sinners gather at the font & are sealed with God's name in Holy Baptism, wherever a called servant of Christ announces the grace of God to sinners in Christ's stead, & wherever sinners gather in repentant joy at the altar of Christ to receive His body & blood for the forgiveness of sins & eternal life. In this Christian church, the saints believe the same Gospel & have the same Christ & the same Holy Spirit." Rev. Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

THE TRUE GOD

"However, when Christians call on Him, they call on the true God, namely, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reveals Himself to people through His Word. Besides, they have sure trust & confidence against doubt that God is gracious to us & grants our prayers for the sake of this Mediator, His dear Son . . . We see that He is well-pleased when faith clings only to Him & that (if faith becomes weak) He will take care that it is not lost." A Year in the Gospel with Martin Luther

PRIDE & HUMILITY

"Pride focuses on the weaknesses of other people, on their bad parts instead of their good. But God has no patience for pride, & when it's in your life, He promises trouble. Pride comes before the fall because pride removes God as Lord & all hope for success. Pride is worship of self, but humility is worship removed from self  turned toward God . . . Be careful that you don't make being good more important than loving God. When you make loving Him number one, there is nothing you do that He won't forgive, nowhere you have fallen that He can't lift you up from if you just take His outstretched hand. Don't be so proud that you reject His gift." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy