REJOICE GREATLY!

Zechariah 9:9a. “Rejoice greatly, O My people! Shout with joy! For look—your King is coming! He is the Righteous One, the Victor!” The Living Bible

GOD IS FOR US

"'If God is for us, who can be against us?' God is on our side, right or wrong, because even when we are wrong, He still loves us." Michael Card, Men's Devotional Bible

HAVE NO FEAR

"Therefore, let God's Word & command be more & count more for you than your own feelings & the judgment of the whole world, so that you do not call Him a liar & rob yourself of the Spirit of truth . . . Just as Christ tells His Christians about this suffering ahead of time, so His intent is to give this comfort & refreshment ahead of time & to teach us not to despair because of it, but only to adhere to His Word, even if it seems to be too long delayed. He wants to remind us of the promise that He will not leave us stuck in such misery, & we should do Him the honor (which is the highest honor of God) of regarding Him to be faithful & true . . . This promise is very kind & comforting, if we only learn to believe it & so experience that in our highest weakness He rules, protects, & preserves His Church through miraculous divine power, so that it nevertheless remains & is delivered . . . Christ once more says, 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom' (Luke 12:32)." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

LIFE THOUGHTS

"Jesus reaches even into our severest afflictions with presence & compassion. And He invites & encourages us also to accompany & assist rather than settling for physician assisted suicide." Grace Lutheran Church Bulletin

A GUIDE & LENS

"The incarnation of Christ provides us a guide or lens to look at Holy Scripture. The Scriptures are both divine, inspired by God & without error, while also being thoroughly human. They were written by sinful human authors who were inspiried by the Holy Spirit. They wrote in different stlyles, including a more Greek (John) & a more academic style (Hebrews). They wrote in Greek, Aramaic & Hebrew, & in poetic, narrative & other types of writing. Much of their writing is easy to understand, although some statements are difficult to understand or even confusing (like some of Jesus' own statements). The Scriptures themselves tell us about the theological errors of St. Peter that St. Paul corrected (Gal. 2:11-21). Peter himself is an author of Holy Scripture. But it's Peter who wrote of Holy Scripture, 'Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit' (2 Peter 1:21)." Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2022

A HYMN OF MISSION & WITNESS

Rise, Shine, You People (LSB 825)

Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered Our human story; God in Him is centered. He comes to us, by death & sin surrounded, With grace unbounded.

See how He sends the pow'r of evil reeling; He brings us freedom, light & life & healing. All men & women, who by guilt are driven, Now are forgiven.

Come, celebrate, your banners high unfurling, Your songs & prayers against the darkness hurling. To all the world go out & tell the story Of Jesus' glory.

Tell how the Father send His Son to save us. Tell of the Son, who life & freedom gave us. Tell how the Spirit calls from ev'ry nation His new creation.