Category: Lectionary - Wittenberg Door Campus Ministry

The End of a Series

10/28/2021

With All Saints' Day we reach the end of the annual cycle of feasts and festivals normally recognized by Lutherans. Of course, there are enough notable events and people in the body of Christ ot fill every day of the calendar. But we have visited a good number of highlights.

This post marks the end of a five year lectionary series. Beginning in 2016 we walked through the three year lectionary. In 2019-20 we read the one-year lectionary, and in 2020-21 we visited the feasts and festivals. It's been an interesting walk! Thanks for joining me. Past blog posts remain availabke, generally tagged by occasion and by book of the Bible.

Matthew 5:1-12 - Lectionary for All Saints' Day

10/28/2021

10/28/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Matthew 5:1-12 is a passage of the Bible with a name attached to it, the "beatitudes." The Latin word beatus means "blessed." So here, where Jesus speaks of the many beati people, we call the passage, in effect, the passage of blessings.

It goes without saying that people have written many books just about this passage, and even about any one of the concepts. Since we want to make a brief post, it won't do to discuss the whole passage.

The shift from the third person (they) to the second person (you) in verse eleven is intriguing to me. As a listener, I think it's all well and good when Jesus speaks about "them." But here he turns to speaking about "you." My ears perk up. How am I blessed?

He says I am blessed when people speak badly of me on account of him. It has to be false, mind you, and about him. It would be pretty easy for me to provoke people to speak negatively about me, negative but truthful things, because I deserve them. But when people speak badly of me and it is false, and it is not because of me but because of Jesus? I don't want to provoke that, and I couldn't anyway.

There is a negative attitude in our world about the things of God. God in Christ is somehow threatening, because He knows and says what is right and true. Jesus doesn't affirm us in our sin. Rather, he condemns the sin and offers us forgiveness. The condemnation is hard for people to take. And we want to work our problems out for ourselves.

Jesus will not have that. We can't save ourselves any more than we can sprout wings and fly. We need to depend on Jesus. We don't like that, but it's what the Bible presents as true.

Why would people speak badly of us for Jesus' sake? Because we speak as he does about sin, and because we depend on him for salvation.

When that happens, Jesus says we are blessed. It is the very way people treated God's prophets. Our reward is in heaven, not on earth. Jesus looks upon us and rewards our faithfulness to his message. We are blessed indeed.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 John 3:1-3 - Lectionary for All Saints' Day

10/27/2021

10/27/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

My family has a culture, with its own special traditions, holidays, and values. Your family does too. You might not understand mine, and I don't understand yours. That's perfectly fine. And the excitement around ritually covering the coffee table with coasters as fast as possible at a certain time of one day each week doesn't need to make sense or be meaningful to you.

In 1 John chapter 3 the apostle calls us children of God. His family, his household, has a series of traditions also. As we have been adopted into this family, we are taken into those traditions, that liturgy of life, in which we live day to day, year to year.

While some would minimize that element of the Christian life, often saying it is disconnected from the daily concerns we share with the world all around us, I am convinced we need to rather pour ourselves into the rhythms, the traditions, the sacred priorities of the historic Christian family life. It is there we find our place as God's children.

Though the body of Christ has an extensive and rich body of traditions, I want to urge our recommitment to just a few.

1) Prepare eagerly for and attend regularly to worship on the Lord's Day. It is in the Divine Service that our Lord gives us direction and comfort in the Word of God and his gifts of nourishment to eternal life in the Sacrament of the altar. God's priceless gifts are for us, as they have been for Christians in every age.

2) Train your family and yourself in God's Word. Learn His precepts and talk with one another about how they relate to every area of life.

3) Take advantage of the seasons and occasions of the Church year. They walk us systematically through the life of Christ and of the earliest Christians. They provide a framework for understanding our priorities.

We are children of God. Let us therefore live as participants in His household.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 149 - Lectionary for All Saints' Day

10/26/2021

10/26/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

The festive mood of Psalm 149 extends to people of various backgrounds. There are people who sing, who dance, who fight, who are judges, and, in verse five, even those who are in bed - sick, old, or tired. No matter your place in life, you arecalled to praise the Lord, on our own or in assembly. If you have an instrument, use it.

Psalm 149 never once tells a reason for praise to God. None is needed. As we consider who the Lord is and what he does, we find his praises come out of us naturally. He shows that he is the Lord of all, and he does it again and again.

The Bible presents God as the good and merciful king of all. For that, we rightly owe him ourlove, honor, obedience, and praise, both now and forever.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Revelation 7:2-17 - Lectionary for All Saints' Day

10/25/2021

10/25/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Our first reading for All Saints' Day is from Revelation chapter seven, where a dozen dozen of thousands (all significant numbers in their own right) appear before God's throne proclaiming salvation from "God" and "the Lamb" (v. 10). These people have come from every nation, and, importantly, they come "out of the great tribulation" (v. 14, ESV).

Teaching in which Revelation serves as a timeline of things to come is extremely common in popular Western Christianity. The model usually involves a period of tribulation lasting seven calendar years, which ushers in the end of the world. In these models, Christians are taken away from the world for their own protection, possibly at the start, in the middle, or at the end of the seven years.

A more historic view sees seven as a number significant of completion and the years being more figurative. It takes the tribulation as the time when we can also see Christianity on earth, always enduring some level of persecution but also experiencing the freedom of the Gospel. This is the understand Lutherans have normally held.

What is significant here, no matter the model of the end times you hold, is that God protects and gathers his people, even those who die for their faith, and keeps them for eternity. What of those who die as Christians but do not specifically die for their faith? I urge you to look at this passage carefully. The siants of God have died, yes. They have come out of tribulation, yes. But the text makes no mention of how the people died. Many endure harship and eventually die of natural causes and at peace. God gathers those people too. They too have had their sins washed by trust in Jesus' blood.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Matthew 11:12-19 - Lectionary for Reformation Day

10/21/2021

10/21/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Matthew 11:12 has often been used to toss bricks at "institutional Christianity." "The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force" (ESV). What kind of violence is going on? Many of our progressive voices will take "institutional Christianity" to be the violent, oppressive group, domineering and forcing others to toe the line, ushering in some sort of theocracy that will crush out the freedom of thought in our culture.

What is Jesus actually talking about here? In some ways, the progressive voices are right. When we view the Church as some instrument of earthly power we are barking up the wrong tree. Yet Jesus' words in verses 16-17 put the discussion into a different light altogether. Here, Jesus says that his critics in society have utterly misunderstood him by thinking his mission should line up with their ideologies. The mission of Jesus, however, is not one of earthly power at all. It has nothing to do with leveraging governments to open borders, to institute social welfare programs, or even to cease from warfare.

Jesus' concern is showing mercy on those in need. It is with reconciling the world to God. It is a change of kingdoms he is after, moving people from their sinful lives to being partakers of his kingdom, where we find peace with God. All this happens according to God's word, not our opinion. Our response, then, is to look to Jesus in repentant faith. As in verse 17, we learn to play his tune and sing his song, not our own. This is the work of Jesus' kingdom.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Romans 3:19-28 - Lectionary for Reformation Day

10/20/2021

10/20/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Justification by grace through faith apart from the works of the law. This is the call of the Lutheran Reformation, articulated clearly for us in Romans 3:19-28.

Why is this such a big deal? Chiefly because it runs counter to all our natural inclinations. We want to think of ourselves as good people. Yet in verse 19 we read that God's law, in effect, tells us to be silent before God. In response to God's demands, every one of us fails. Every. Last. One. "Wait a minute," you say. "God wouldn't command something we aren't able to do. That would be cruel!" Or possibly the entire point of God's commands is to show us that we can't earn salvation on our own, that we stand accused of sin, and that we need a savior.

If we stop trying to justify ourselves, we are left with the only option being that of Abraham, who believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. If we stop trying to justify ourselves we see that the Lord is the one who justifies us. It is not by our imperfect obedience, but by Jesus' perfect obedience applied to us.

Paul makes this clear. In verse 22 it is God's righteousness, given through Jesus. In verse 24 it is a gift of God. In verse 25 it shows God's forbearance.

We can't boast in ourselves. Salvation, if it is from God, must be from Him as a gift, not as anything we earn. It's delivered by faith.

God's command, then, points us to our need for grace. That's Reformational thinking. No, rather, that's Christian thinking. We are saved by his grace as a free gift. Never by our works. May God be the one who justifies.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 46 - Lectionary for Reformation Day

10/19/2021

10/19/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

God's presence is the great comfort of the Christian. Even in catastrophic times, especially then, we realize, with the Psamist, that God is our help. Even if the earth gives way and the mountains move into the sea, even in such a time of terror and disorder as that, the city of God is safe and secure (v. 4).

To take confidence in God during such a time runs counter to all our intuition. We aren't that brave. What is our actual response when the world all around us engulfs us with chaos? When we hear the tornado or the gunfire, when the earthquake hits, when the tsunami is coming, or, worse yet, when our invisible enemy, plague and pestilence, is in the land?

Even though all nature should come crashing down, God is able to keep his people in perfect safety. For those who trust in Jesus, even if we should die, we know we will live. There's no fear.

Are you fearful? Battered by shock and awe? Know that the Lord is your refuge as well. He can keep you by his glad streams forever.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Revelation 14:6-7 - Lectionary for Reformation Day

10/18/2021

10/18/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

The word "gospel" is a peculiar one. It really refers to good news. And often we will make handy definitions. One common definition among Lutherans is that the Gospel is what tells us what God has done for us. Yet here in Revelation 14 the gospel which is proclaimed calls all the nations to fear God, to give him glory, and to worship him in his hour of judgment. This is not the message of good news which we might expect. Granted, it is good news that God's judgment is coming to bring his people into eternal blessedness with him. But those who are subject to the negative judgment of God face sorrows, wrath, and even condemnation.

The truth of God is a matter of good news regardless - it shows that all God's plans and decrees are for the good, since they demonstrate that he has always told the truth. None of his words has ever proven void. In that light, his act of putting all to rights again is a matter of good news and great glory.

The Lord God, king of all, remains on his throne. He reigns by his merciful decree. In light of that, then, let us all give him glory, because that is his call to each and every one of us.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

John 15:17-21 - Lectionary for Simon and Jude

10/14/2021

10/14/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Christians endure hardship. It's true. Some elements in this world throw a lot of hatred at Christians. The 20th century proved lethal for more Christians, due mostly to political persecution against Christianity, than any previous century. The 21st century is not very old yet, but it currently looks even less tolerant, not only of Christians but of a broad spectrum of religious people.

This shouldn't surprise us if we have read John chapter 15. Jesus even gives a reason to the behavior se see so often. In verse 18 he says the world hated him already, so it tends to hate Christians because they are chosen by Jesus. The world persecuted Jesus. It will persecute you too.

What do we do in light of this expectation? In verse 17 Jesus says we are to love one another. We don't build bunkers or create violent counter-persecution groups. We love one another. And while we're at it, as Jesus loved those who persecuted him, so do we.

The kingdom of God overcomes this world in the way Jesus did. Through love for the world, through the promise of forgiveness and restoration, through the message of everlasting life. In short, people called by the Gospel live by the Gospel.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Lectionary for Simon and Jude

10/13/2021

10/13/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

I don't like the times of trial. They are a pain! The apostle Paul knew this pain, as did those he wrote to. Christians in every age have endured trials. No, we don't like them.

1 Peter 3:6 describes us as rejoicing, even though we have been grieved by our trials. Our rejoicing comes not through avoiding trials but through knowledge that Jesus, risen from the dead, has proven victorious over trials. He has won the eternal battle. He will care for his people in that eternal battle.

Verse seven describes the true Christian faith as "more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire" (ESV). Even something very enduring in earthly standards will fail. But faith in Jesus, the eternal Lord, will never fail. We can rejoice in him even during the worst trial!

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 43 - Lectionary for Simon and Jude

10/12/2021

10/12/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

It's a constant temptation, at least to me, to engage in disputes with those whom Psalm 43 would call the "ungodly people" (v. 1). These disputes normally go nowhere, but they can go there really fast. In all the noise, we forget that the Lord God is the one who has the truth (v. 3).

What if the other side wins the argument? God is not defeated. He is still the one who possesses the truth. Rather than become dejected, we find God as our joy.

Our arguments in this world are not the ultimate issue. 1 Peter 1:25 says that all the things of this world will pass away but that God's word endures forever. This is our hope and our joy.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Jeremiah 26:1-16 - Lectionary for Simon and Jude

10/11/2021

10/11/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

"how dare you!" We dare to speak the truth, as did Jeremiah in Jeremiah chapter 26. Nobody would have minded if Jeremiah's message had agreed with their plans. But it didn't.

What God has said, particularly about the nature of sin and salvation, goes against the grain of the majority in Western culture today. It's particularly offensive to the secularist, who has elevated politics to a religious faith and has made feelings the inviolable confession of faith.

Jeremiah's message to the people was one of doom. If they did not repent and turn to God they would find their city in ruin and disgrace. This was not what they wanted to hear. It is not what my culture wants to hear either. Calling an increasingly secularized society to believe what God has said in Scripture and to live in accord with it is decidedly not what they want. However, as with Jeremiah, so with America. It's what they need.

The priests and prophets in Jeremiah's time considered Jeremiah worthy of death. The priests and prophets of secularity in our time may wish the same. However, once Jeremiah spoke to a different group, the city officials and the people, that group managed to make the priests and prophets change their mind.

Speaking and living in a way that is faithful to God's Word is a challenge. Yet the Lord can take this radically counter-cultural message of repentance and reliance on God rather than ourselves, and use the truth for the good of our world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Matthew 13:54-58 - Lectionary for James of Jerusalem

10/7/2021

10/7/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Do you like being told what you are and what you think? Perhaps not. What about the times when the person talking about your views is apparently equipped with about fifteen minutes' worth of looking at memes which create straw men who are supposed to look like you but fail utterly? Oh, or when the person is clearly projecting his worst fears onto you?

I personally try to walk away from such encounters, though sometimes I have to cringe and bear it. Correction will accomplish very little.

In Matthew 13:54-58, the people of Nazareth knew all about Jesus based on the fact that his mother and brothers were there, and they had known Joseph, whom they presumed to be his father. Their opinion was set. They didn't have to listen to his teaching. Any miracles he did could and would be chalked up to coincidence. He seemed wise, so maybe they wondered what learned book he might have read.

How do we judge Jesus? Do we accept him as he is portrayed by his first century eyewitnesses? Or do we try to correct the account so as to agree with our more current, enlightened perspective? Do we seek to understand him, or do we read our doubts, our fears, our cravings for power and prestige into him?

Jesus presents himself as the one who can do beyond our imagination. Maybe it's time we look at him fairly and receive him with joy.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

James 1:1-12 - Lectionary for James of Jerusalem

10/6/2021

10/6/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

We love James 1:9 and hate James 1:10. What two-faced people we are! In verse nine, James says, "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation" (ESV). We love that, especially when we are the lowly brother and God elevates us in some way. We even like to see those who are lowly in comparison to us receive promotion from the Lord.

Then again, we become a little more hesitant about it all if the lowly person is about as unimportant as we are, then is suddenly better off than we are. We'd rather we had that promotion, that honor, or that windfall. But all things considered, we like verse nine.

We aren't as excited about verse ten, especially when it happens to us. Here the rich brother is to boast in his humiliation. We may well prefer that other people, who are richer or more important than we are, should be humbled. But us? We would rather that never happened.

In the end, all who trust in Christ receive untold riches, as we are made heirs of God's eternal kingdom. There's nothing we can have on this earth that will compare with that. Rich or poor, it is all alike. We look forward to our eternal reward.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 133 - Lectionary for James of Jerusalem

10/5/2021

10/5/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Psalm 133 describes brothers dwelling in unity in terms of anointing oil and dew. The precious anointing oil used on Aaron was God's way of setting him aside as a priest, one who would make atonement before God for the sins of the people. It signals that God is ready, willing and able to forgive sin and restore people to fellowship with God.

The dew on the mountain is a sign of life and refreshment. In a hot, dry place the dew means it is cool enough for rest and ease. The moisture creates beauty and is incredibly helpful to bring out the lush, green plants.

Unity in the faith gathers God's people together in peace with God and one another. It brings rest and joy. It builds prosperity and hope. It's evidence of God's blessing, now and forever.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Acts 15:12-22a - Lectionary for James of Jerusalem

10/4/2021

10/4/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

The New Testament letter of James is easily considered strongly Jewish in its tone and audience. Scholars will even draw comparisons between the theology of James and Paul, suggesting some sort of a power struggle, based on Paul's desire to care for Gentiles and James' care for Jews.

However, the discussion we have recorded in Acts 15:12-22 gives us a very different picture. Here, James, who is recognized as the lead elder, or bishop, of Jerusalem, has heard Peter's description of the Gospel coming to the Gentile household of Cornelius. The Holy Spirit fell upon the people even before Peter was finished speaking of God's grace in Christ.

James recognized the Scriptural pattern and drew from Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel to explain that God's desire is to redeem Jews and Gentiles together. This hardly sounds like someone who wants to prove that Jews are better than Gentiles. James is also the one who makes the recommendation which is accepted by the apostles and elders. Gentiles should be called to God and not be constrained from most of their cultural habits. However, (v. 21), since Moses has been preached all over the world, they should abstain from four things which are particularly offensive to Jews. They should avoid idolatry, sexual immorality, and eating things strangled or blood.

The first two are part and parcel of the godly life anyway. The last two, which very clearly point forward to the Christian view that the only blood we consume is that of Christ, are also culturally offensive to Jews.

In the end, James is saying that God welcomes Gentiles and wishes them to look to Christ, trusting Him in word and deed, trying to avoid giving offense to their Jewish neighbors. A good word for us as well.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 10:1-9 - Lectionary for St. Luke, Evangelist

9/30/2021

9/30/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

In Luke 10, Jesus sends 72 people out, in pairs, to bring the good news of God's kingdom to the towns where Jesus himself would shortly go. According to the 2nd century historian Polycarp, Luke the evangelist was one of these people.

Though we don't know all the details, here's some of what we know. Jesus spoke of a plentiful harvest. In our Christian work, are there people around? They need to know of God's kingdom. We have no idea who will respond. Jesus also said the work could be difficult or dangerous. We also are like lambs among wolves. The 72 were to trust in God's provision. God raised up those who would care for them. He still does the same. Finally, Jesus sent his people to pray peace upon the places they visited. He gives his gifts through his people.

No matter who we are or where we go, Jesus can use us as messengers, preparing our generation for the coming of the Lord. He has never changed in his intent toward our neighbors.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

2 Timothy 4:5-18 - Lectionary for St. Luke, Evangelist

9/29/2021

9/29/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

I spoke with someone once who had retired from a long military career. Among other jobs he had filled, he had spent some time as a base commander. He said that was the loneliest time of his adult life. Nobody would talk to him though everyone saluted him.

In 2 Timothy 4:5-18 Paul expresses a similar idea. The apostle who everyone would look to as an example, who receives great honor in our generation, when he wrote to Timothy, had been deserted by all except Luke. If he were to be held up as an example, it would not be an example of victory, but of hardship. Maybe everyoe would salute him (doubtful), but certainly nobody was talking with him.

Christian workers often face this challenge, especially those who are in the pastoral office. While they are called to be steadfast in their work of evangelism, training, and passing the Christian faith to the next generation, it may be very difficult to get that next generation to speak with them. It seems everyone has walked away.

Would you like to do something great for your pastor? Be like Luke. Stay there. Remain in communication. Ask questions. Borrow a book (and read it). Grow in Christ.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 147:1-11 - Lectionary for St. Luke, Evangelist

9/28/2021

9/28/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

We want it. Now! All the way! Though Psalm 147:1-11 speaks of the assurance we can have, that all God's promises sare good and that he meets his people's needs, the provision we receive may not appear immediate or complete.

In verse 3 God binds up wounds. They are still there, but bandaged. In verses 8-9 God makes everything grow, but it is not ready for harvest, much less sitting on the table.

God normally works through what we would see as natural processes. He turns water into wine, but over the period of time as the vine grows, sets fruit, it ripens, comes to harvest, and is processed and aged. God heals us, but it is often gradual. Yet he does it.

While we wait on God's care for us, we sing praises to Him. It is pleasant and fitting (v. 2). He's at work.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Isaiah 35:5-8 - Lectionary for St. Luke, Evangelist

9/27/2021

9/27/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

I really don't like it when something is called "foolproof." Experience shows that a fool can make a mess of anything. Yet when Isaiah describes the pathway made by the Lord, in chapter 35 verse eight, he says even fools will not go astray. What can this tell us about the new creation God is preparing?

When God restores his people he truly intends to draw them out of trouble and darkness to set them on the right path, the way of life. His way of holiness is a place where those who pay attention to God's calling, even if they know nothing else, will be perfectly safe and secure. He will not leave us to get lost and wander into trouble. He will keep us moving toward him, even if our grasp of his kingdom is limited.

Does this mean that Christians should be happy to be ignorant and uninformed? Not at all. But it does mean that as we walk with Christ we have nothing to fear. He has done all that is necessary for our salvation.

In these last days, Jesus has restored all things, and all nations, to himself. He demands only that we look to him with trust that he is the redeemer. We are then placed under his care and guidance, that we may walk with him, even though we may be fools.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Luke 10:17-20 - Lectionary for St. Michael and All Angels

9/23/2021

9/23/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Where do we get something to be glad of? A life of victorious power? defeat of our foes? The ability to do mighty works of service to God and His people? All these are temptations to the followers of Jesus in Luke 10:17-20. They have just seen God working wonders through them.

Jesus then points out that he himself saw the fall of Satan, a greater sign than the disciples would ever see. He gives his disciples authority, but they are not to rejoice in that.

The source of joy for the Christian is that his name is written down in heaven. Jesus has adopted all Christians. He has given them a new name and identity. This is the source of our rejoicing. It is the way we live in eternal bliss with our Lord.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Revelation 12:7-12 - Lectionary for St. Michael and All Angels

9/22/2021

9/22/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Revelation 12 describes a war of truly cosmic proportions. Here we are reminded not only of the power of God, which far exceeds the power of Satan, but we are also reminded that Satan is that same serpent who deceived the man and the woman in the garden. His demons are angels who have been stripped of their power and purity, attributes that rightly belong to God.

The battle between good and evil, God and Satan, is fierce. But it is never in question. In fact, God himself doesn't show up for the battle. Satan himself is a fallen angel. The angels who are not fallen can take care of it.

When God's salvation, power, and kingdom overcome Satan, the glory and praise belong to God. The evil which has befallen humanity is put to an end. God's people are vindicated. This is the certain future outcome.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Psalm 91 - Lectionary for St. Michael and All Angels

9/21/2021

9/21/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

There are two ways we can read Psalm 91. One way is to take it to be about the Christ, who dwells in the shelter of God. He is safe from everything, even if people are falling all around him. No evil comes upon him. Even death cannot hold him. He tramples the lion and the adder, pictures of Satan.

The other way to read Psalm 91 is a little more complicated, but possibly more satisfying to us. We who depend on God are dwelling in his shelter. We, then, are perfectly safe.

As I said, this is more complicated. My writing schedule finds me working on this postas the recent news speaks of many Haitians who have lost all their possessions and even their lives from an earthquake and a tropical storm. We are also seeing the images of people desperately attempting to escape from Afghanistan, and hearing of Christians who, despite credible threats, intend to remain there, bringing words of eternal life. How is God keeping these people?

He looks at the eternal. The one who has put his hope in God, who comes to him for security, is perfectly safe. Even if thousands should die by our side, and, for that matter, even if we should die, that death will not keep us. As Jesus rose from the dead, so we will rise in the last day.

Regardless of the way we interpret Psalm 91, we still conclude that God is able to keep those who trust in him. This is most certainly true.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

Daniel 10:10-14; 12:1-3 - Lectionary for St. Michael and All Angels

9/20/2021

9/20/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

"If I pray, does anyone care?" We easily think of God in terms of our own experience or attitudes. So we ask if maybe God is too busy, unconcerned, unable to help. As a result we might not bring small needs to him. We might also hesitate with big matters. After all, what if he were not to respond?

In Daniel 10:10-14, the prophet had seen a terrifying vision which he didn't understand. What was he going to do? He prayed for help. However, according to verse 13, there was a delay of three weeks. This is the only place in Scripture where God's angelic servants are hindered.

The answer comes anyway! The angel brought an answer for Daniel. And the answer was in time. It wasn't according to Daniel's plan, but it was in accord with his need.

What do we need to bring before God in prayer? He hears and understands - the big, the little, the in-between. He is ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. Though God's timing and answer won't always match our desires, he will never be too late. He will always bring us what we need.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.