THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS

Micah 5:2.  “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village yet you will be the birthplace of My King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” The Living Bible

THE ROADSIDE GUTTER

"The message is gripping:  Show a man his failures without Jesus, & the result will be found in the roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, & the result will be arrogance in a three-piece suit. But get the two in the same heart--get sin to meet Savior & Savior to meet sin--& the result just might be another Pharisee turned preacher who sets the world on fire." Max Lucado, Men's Devotional Bible

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

"And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29) "God calls you to love all people who are in need. Anyone you encounter in your vocations who is in need is your neighbor. Thank goodness that Jesus is not picky about whom He chooses to be His neighbor. Thank goodness that Jesus is not selective about whom He loves . . . But because of His great love for you--& this entire world--Jesus could not pass you by. Jesus could not avoid Calvary's cross. Indeed, the Son of God could not avoid the cross & died for all of humanity because He has a gut-wrenching compassion for humanity, for you. He bled, died, & rose for you because you are indeed His neighbor." Matthew Richard, Minute Messages

SHOWING MERCY

"Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives. God can guard you so that you don't fall." (Jude 23-24) "Mercy can't be afraid of getting dirty. When you reach out to help those who are hurting & have turned their backs on God, you can't be afraid of getting a little messy . . . Mercy demonstrates a desire to show others the God who saves. How will they know if they haven't heard? How will they hear if you don't speak up? Mercy requires fearlessness. Mercy's target is misery--the misery of those who suffer because they don't know God or understand his love. Because of this darkness of their soul, they don't understand what they are doing; they don't know the depths of their sin. Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Show them mercy, because they are in misery.

"When people insult you, gossip about you, or otherwise prove their distance from the Father, as a God Guy you should have mercy on them, for their soul is in distress. You should find ways to serve, rather than to criticize. Your trademark reaction should always be showing mercy & compassion to those who are weaker than you. 'God can guard you so that you don't fall & so that you can be full of joy' (Jude 24), but you must put all your hope in Him & turn all your thoughts onto Him. Never focus so much on other people's misery that you take your eyes off of God. Obey Him, love them, show them mercy & compassion, pray for them, but never fear them & never turn your back in indifference or hate." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

SUFFERING

"Suffering is a constant, so it is a continual duty of the God Guy to suffer. But you are to suffer not as a nonbeliever but as a believer, with the confidence that suffering produces something holy within you. That suffering should never be in vain but should be used for good, for character building, for strength, for perseverance, & for the development of trust . . . 

"Don't allow the rough parts of life to convince you that God is absent when they ought to convince you that He is present--shaping you, guiding you, purifying . you. Never let the opportunity of suffering to go unused Instead let it do its work within you so that you will be mature & complete, not lacking anything. (See James 1:2-4.)" Devotions for the God Guy

THE OFFICE OF THE PASTORAL MINISTRY

"The point is this:  The Office of the Pastoral Ministry is foundational in the faith & life of God's people. Through this office--through the voice & ministry of the pastor on behalf of Christ--the Holy Spirit works faith in His people through the preached Word & the Holy Sacraments. The pastor serves as the steward of this Word & these Sacraments He is formed, called, & ordained into this Christly office to impart this saving faith through preaching, teaching, feeding the Lord's Super, baptizing & serving God's people with faithful pastoral care. Christians need pastors, & our Lord supplies them through His church for the saving faith of His people. The pastor teaches God's Word to God's people. Through the ministry of the pastor, God forms His people in the Word to understand it, believer it & live it, including parents, commissioned church workers & pious laypersons." James Baneck, The Lutheran Witness, Aug 2021. I have a confession to make. I have not always spoken highly & respectfully of pastors. Despite some of the bad experiences Lois & I have had with pastors, I sincerely regret my bad attitude & harsh words. We have had pastors who are & continue to be good friends & mentors, & for that I give thanks to God. We are also facing a severe shortage of men & women to enter the ministry, & I also pray that God would raise up men & women to serve as ordained & commissioned ministers to His people.

A BAPTISMAL HYMN

Father Welcomes (LSB #605)

(Refrain) Father welcomes all His children To His fam'ly through His Son. Father giving His salvation, Life forever has been won.

Little children, come to Me, For My kingdom is of these. Life & love I have to give, Mercy for your sin. (Refrain)

In the water, in the Word, In His promise be assured:  Those who are baptized & believe Shall be born again. (Refrain)

Let us daily die to sin; Let us daily rise with Him, Walk in the love of Christ our Lord, Live in the peace of God. (Refrain)