THE GOD WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES

2 Chron. 6:14.  “O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You in all of heaven & earth. You are the God who keeps His kind promises to all those who obey You, & who are anxious to do Your will.” The Living Bible                      

PSALM VERSES FOR TODAY

"O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled . . . Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love . . . The Lord has heard my pleas; the Lord Lord accepts my prayer." Psalm 6:  1-2, 4, 9

A COMMITTED FATHER

"A boy who has a father who is committed to his mother will have a tremendous advantage when he becomes a husband. He will have an intuitive understanding that his commitment in marriage is not a right to be happy, but to demonstrate a willingness to be responsible. Even when its inconvenient. Even when it crowds out his personal happiness." Steve Farrar, Men's Devotional Bible

ERRORS IN SCRIPTURE?

"Holy Scripture is God's own divine/human Word. Just like Luther, who spent a lifetime studying the Scriptures & scratching his head over challenging texts, we will find apparent mistakes & contradictions in the Bible, but these are a result of our limited human understanding, not of errors in the Word. It's great comfort to know Jesus' view of the Bible, & also to know that Christians from the beginning have wrestled with the very same texts. Most difficulties melt away with good instruction:  the assistance of a pastor, the guidance of The Lutheran Study Bible or insight from a reliable commentary. Some will cause us to scratch our heads, perhaps until the resurrection. And in such cases, with Luther, we'll doff our hat to the Holy Spirit, knowing He's a better theologian than we are. Like the divinity/humanity of Christ, so also the divine/human nature of the inerrant & infallible Scriptures will remain an article of faith, not sight." Rev. Matthew Harrison, President of the LCMS, the Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2022

LOVING OUR ENEMIES

"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matt. 5:39) "These words in the Sermon on the Mount immediately precede the injunction of Jesus that His disciples must love their enemies. When Jesus says, 'not to resist evil,' He simply points to one of the ways in which love must manifest itself toward the enemy. If we are wronged, the proper reaction is not revenge, but love. Instead of hurting those who are injuring us, we should lovingly minister to their needs." William Arndt, Robert Hoerber, Walter Roehrs, "Bible Difficulties & Seeming Contradictions

FREE FROM THE LAW

"A Christian has been placed into the Spirit's freedom from the Law & all its bonds. He is not to be & cannot be bound & made captive with laws, rules, & works which people may suggest to him so that he can be justified before God through the . . . Thus with faith in the Word & in his Baptism he remains a free man, above all laws, because through Christ he has the forgiveness of sins, God's grace, & the Holy spirit & i governed in his whole life according to it. Through the Holy Spirit working in his heart, he has not beenjustified & made alive, so that he does not needto seek another law, work, or holiness, except as the Spirit guides & leads him through the Word." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

A PASTOR'S MAIN JOB

"Your pastor's main job is not to be a friend, comedian, entertainer, or spiritual inspiration, but to prepare you for death. Furthermore, the purpose of Christ's Church is not to entertain you or be a service club, modern monastery, or a place to hang out & socialize. Instead, Christ's Church is the place where the Lord keeps you safe until your death. Christ snatched you from the devil & placed you into the ark of the Church until you fall asleep in Jesus & are tucked into your grave for the resurrection. Wake up! Do not drift into mindless unbelief. Be in the moment. Now is the time to hear the Gospel. Now is the time to remember your Baptism. Now is the time to hear the Absolution of your sins. Now is the time to receive the body & blood of Jesus in His Holy Sacrament . . . Lord, protect us from drifting into mindless unbelief. Preserve us & keep us to the very end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen. 

A COLLECT FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

"Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son that at His second coming we may worship Him in purity; who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Worship

AN ADVENT HYMN

What Hope! An Eden Prophesied (LSB #342, Sts. 3-4

As banner of God's love unfurled, Christ came to suffer loss, That by His death a dying world Would rally to the cross.

Come, Jesus, come, Messiah Lord, Lost Paradise restore; Lead past the angel's flaming sword--Come open heaven's door.