Gone!

Left town when the residuals of Hurricane Sandy reached our area. They’ll return around the ides of March.

Collect for Reformation

Collect for Reformation Sunday: Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Collect for St Simon and St. Jude

Collect for the Feast of St Simon and St Jude (28 October): Almighty God, You chose Your servants Simon and Jude to be numbered among the glorious company of the apostles. As they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so may we with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Reformation

Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth. Protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace.

After Jesus identifies Himself as the Messiah, those who at first believed in Him quickly changed their minds. They had a change of heart; they reconsidered, when they heard what it meant to be His disciples. Since the words of Jesus are life and the central fact and event of the Christian church, which is “always in need of reform” for we are living outside of Eden, we need, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to think on the meaning of the word He has spoken and then learn to understand the importance of Jesus word.

1.       If you continue in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth.

A.      The picture of Jesus as the hero-messiah is by no means limited to the people of His day. Many modern Christians also think of Jesus as a model for social, economic and political reform. Even the disciples, as pious as they were, were looking for Jesus to come and “restore the kingdom of Israel,” (Acts 1:6) Jesus constantly had to address this issue repeatedly throughout His earthly ministry. (Matt.11:14; 17:11-12; Mark 9:11-13) Modern messianic expectations of all sorts of people are directed to the attainment of world peace, economic prosperity, the enjoyment of good things of this life. Actually, one does not need to believe in Jesus in order to live for such hopes.

B.      Those hopes contradict the Word of Jesus. This Word is important because we who believe Him shall know the truth – if we continue in His Word. It is truth regarding His person – who He is; namely, the only Son of the Father. (John 8:54-55)

Jesus is the truth in contrast to the devil, “the prince of this world,” whose nature it is to lie (v.44). It is truth regarding our condition and ourselves before God, our Creator and Judge.

According to our fallen nature, we have the spiritual image and likeness of the devil. To know the truth about ourselves is to know what has happened to us whom God originally had made for Himself. But the Jews did not want to know that. (v.33)

2.       The truth will make you free.

A.      This is not just any “truth” but the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (14:6) We confess Him as “the only begotten Son of God…who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffer and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures.”

B.      How does Jesus make us free? By redeeming us from the judgment of God on sin (Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23). Forgiveness of sin is no sentimental disposition of God: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:22) By obeying God’s law for us and by suffering the penalty of our trespass, He provided for our acquittal and life in Him (Romans 5:18-19) God as a member of His family receives the forgiven sinner. Freedom in Christ must be understood as sharing in the liberty of Him who “is all in all” (Colossians 1:15-20)

Jesus Christ, our truth and freedom, is also our continuing hope: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My words, he will never see Death” (John 8:51; eternal death) We Christians live in this hope. Reformation Day reminds us how we live in hope, namely, by daily contrition  for the sins that cling to us in this world and in the firm faith that God continually forgives us our sins for Christ’s sake.

Collect for the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem

Collect for the Feast of St James of Jerusalem (23 October): Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Your people, You raised up James the Just, brother of our Lord, to lead and guide Your Church. Grant that we may follow his example of prayer and reconciliation and be strengthened by the witness of his death; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Time in the Word - Reformation

Preparation for next week, the Festival of the Reformation

The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death  by His Grace

“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus the incarnate Son, justifies us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His Kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). For He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by hearing the Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).

Collect for Reformation Sunday: Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of St James of Jerusalem (23 October): Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Your people, You raised up James the Just, brother of our Lord, to lead and guide Your Church. Grant that we may follow his example of prayer and reconciliation and be strengthened by the witness of his death; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Collect for the Feast of St Simon and St Jude (28 October): Almighty God, You chose Your servants Simon and Jude to be numbered among the glorious company of the apostles. As they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so may we with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,.

Prayers for defending the Church from error: O Christ, our defender, protect us from all those whose plans would subvert Your truth through heresy and schism that, as You are acknowledged in heaven and on earth as one and the same Lord, so Your people, gathered from all nations, may serve You in unity of faith;

Almighty and everlasting God, You would have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. By Your almighty power and unsearchable wisdom break and hinder all the counsels of those who hate Your Word and who, by corrupt teaching, would destroy it. Enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory that they may know the riches of Your heavenly grace and, in peace and righteousness, serve You, the only true God; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for unity of faith: O God, Your infinite love restores to the right way those who err, seeks the scattered, and preserves those whom You have gathered. Of Your tender mercy pour out on Your faithful people the grace of unity that, all schisms being ended, Your flock may be gathered to the true Shepherd of Your Church and may serve You in all faithfulness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns . . .

Monday, 22 October 2012—Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; Antiphon, Psalm 119:46—The Antiphon for next Sunday’s Introit proclaims, I will speak of Your statutes before Kings, O Lord, and shall not be put to shame. This verse also serves as the inscription for the Augsburg Confession, one of the documents in the Lutheran Book of Concord. We need fear no earthly kings or powers when we make confession of our faith, for we have been set free from fear by the Gospel. Let us make bold our proclamation of confidence in the Lord, who redeems the life of His servants. For this, we bless the Lord at all times.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012—Psalm 46—This psalm of David expresses complete confidence in God, no matter the circumstance. It depicts scenes of turmoil: natural disasters (vv. 2, 3), political persecution (v. 6a), and even the end of days (v. 6b). The one who trusts in God can withstand such troubles, and be still and quiet, for God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Wednesday, 24 October 2012—Revelation 14:6–7—This first angel of John’s vision has often been interpreted by Lutheran commentators as Martin Luther, because of his clear proclamation of the eternal gospel to . . . those who dwell on earth. Certainly God worked through this man, as He works through others, to bring His message of freedom in Christ to every nation and tribe and language and people.

Thursday, 25 October 2012—Romans 3:19–28—Theologians use a Latin phrase that describes our relationship with God’s Holy Law: Lex semper accusat, that is, “the Law always accuses.” This is because none of us sinful humans can obey God’s Law perfectly. Both our original sin and our actual sin condemn us. But there is a righteousness before God apart from the Law and apart from ourselves and anything we do. This righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us through faith in the propitiating death of Christ on our behalf. Because of Christ’s fulfillment of the Law, and His blood which He shed for us, God declares us “not guilty.”

Friday, 26 October 2012—John 8:31–36—Sunday’s Gospel speaks of the freedom we find in the Truth of Jesus Christ. All of us were born into slavery—the slavery of sin. But Christ has set us free from our bondage by His atoning sacrifice. The One who declares, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life tells us here that the Truth shall set us free. The Truth has set us free: the Truth which embodied in Christ Jesus and the Truth which He declares to us in His Word. We are free, indeed!

Saturday, 27 October 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB #656) is Martin Luther’s great battle hymn of the Reformation. Based on the Psalm of the day, Psalm 46, it reflects complete confidence in God, even when faced by a host of devils and the earthly adversities they bring. They can harm us none, for they have been felled—defeated—by one little Word, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Savior.

Sources

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Lectionary summary on first page from LCMS Commission on Worship

This week’s Time in the Word is written by Pr. Jeff Keuning who serves  St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church U.A.C. Casey, Iowa  and Zion Lutheran Church, Dexter, Iowa

Time in the Word - Pentecost 21 - Proper 24

By the Voluntary Poverty of Christ,
We Enter the Kingdom of God

To love and trust in earthly wealth is vanity. For nothing of this earth will last forever, nor can any of it grant eternal life (Eccl. 5:10). But the one who trusts in God is “occupied with joy in his heart” and is able to sleep in peace, “whether he eats little or much,” because he knows that the “days of his life” are “the gift of God” (Eccl. 5:12, 18–20). The person who trusts in riches cannot sleep, because he “shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand” (Eccl. 5:15). Therefore, it is difficult “for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 20:23). Indeed, it is impossible for man, and yet, “All things are possible with God” (Mark 20:27). Thus, the Rich Man, Jesus Christ, has made Himself poor and has gone through “the eye of a needle,” through death and the grave, “to enter the kingdom of God” on our behalf (Mark 20:24–25). He is the “great High Priest who has passed through the heavens” (Heb 4:14), so that we may now enter His Sabbath rest by faith in His forgiveness (Heb. 4:3–9).

Collect for Pentecost 21—O God, Your divine wisdom sets in order all things in heaven and on earth. Put away from us all things hurtful and give us those things that are beneficial for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for deliverance from the love of money: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for the proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Prayer for responsible leaders: O merciful Father in heaven, from You comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. Graciously regard Your servants, those who make, administer, and judge the laws of this nation, and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth. Grant that all who receive the sword as Your servants may bear it according to Your command. Enlighten and defend them, and grant them wisdom and understanding that under their peaceable governance Your people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness, and unity. Protect and prolong their lives that we with them may show forth the praise of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer in time of drought: O God, most merciful Father, without Your care and preservation all things wither and die. Open the windows of heaven and send bountiful rain on us to revive and renew the land. Graciously hear our prayer that we may praise and glorify Your name forever and ever; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Monday, 15 October 2012—Psalm 34:1–4; Antiphon, Psalm 34:18—The strange circumstances of this psalm are found in 1 Sam 21:10–15. David, in a moment of weakness of faith, had sought protection from Saul in a foreign king, rather than trusting in the Lord. When he realized his sin, he faked insanity and then wrote this psalm which proclaims the truth that true deliverance is to be found only in the Lord. Neither riches nor earthly power can deliver us from our circumstances, only the Lord.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012—Psalm 119:9–16—Psalm 119, the longest of the psalms, is a hymn of praise to the Word of God. This portion sings of the blessings of storing up God’s Word in our hearts. Ofttimes our children think it drudgery to memorize scripture passages; it is not until many years later that they recognize the blessing of knowing these nuggets of truth. We should all treasure the Word of God and delight in it as much as all riches.

Wednesday, 17 October 2012—Ecclesiastes 5:10–20—Many years ago, a reporter asked billionaire John D. Rockefeller, “How much is enough?” His famous reply: “Just a little bit more.” This passage from King Solomon, who possessed wealth of wisdom that surpassed his great wealth of riches, shows the futility of such thinking. Riches can be a blessing, but if they are allowed to control a person, they become a curse. Trusting in money more than in the One who provides the material blessings is idolatry.

Thursday, 18 October 2012—Hebrews 4:1–13—This portion of our reading through the book of Hebrews contains an exhortation and a warning. We are exhorted to seek the true rest of the Lord, while warned not to make the mistake of the rebellious people of Israel, who hardened their hearts against the Lord, and did not enter into His rest.

Friday, 19 October 2012—Mark 10:23–31—Sunday’s Gospel is a continuation of last week’s. After the rich young man went away sorrowful, Jesus takes the opportunity to educate His disciples in the barrier that great wealth poses to one’s salvation. The temptation is to trust in the riches, rather than the Bestower of them. In fact, it is impossible, not only for the wealthy, but for anyone to earn His salvation by any means, even good works. Who can be saved? they ask. Who, indeed? No can, if he relies on himself. It is only by God’s grace that anyone can be saved, for all things are possible with God.

Saturday, 20 October 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day is Jesus, Priceless Treasure (LSB #743). It is a great hymn of faith, trusting in Jesus in spite of all trials and tribulations, sadness and trouble. Written in 1641, it soon made its way into most hymnals, being paired with a strong melody, one of the finest German Lutheran chorales.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Lectionary summary on first page from LCMS Commission on Worship

This week’s  Time in the Word written By Pr. J Keuning servicing parishes in Dexter and Casey, IA

Pentecost 20 - Proper 23

Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us; help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in you our heavenly treasure.

Our gospel lesson concludes with a traumatic and tragic end. Here is one of the few times that a person walks away sorrowful from the presence of Christ.  The man’s face fell. He walked away sad, because he had great wealth. Our prayer for today reminds us of two realities. The grace of God will always go before you. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you. Yet, we pray, for strength and help to forsake all trust in earthly gain only to find in Christ our heavenly treasure. There are plenty of distractions. There are plenty of diversions in our road that would disrupt us.

Give this man credit. Despite his youth, he realized there was something lacking in his life. He wanted something different from what he was experiencing. He needed something more. He simply existed. He wanted a quality life. His wealth was not enough. He needed something which money could not buy. His question is pertinent for our time, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

You can earn it. “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.” Follow the rules. Obey the laws of God. Convinced of his own righteousness, he replied, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Do you believe him? Don’t discredit him so quickly. Don’t dismiss him. He was the young man you could only hope your daughter would bring to meet the family for Thanksgiving. He had ethics. He was polite. He was pious; he was one of the few in Scripture who actually knelt before the Savior.  He had an outward form of righteousness, so we may assume that he had acquired his wealth honestly.  

Fulfilling multitudes of religious activities, he had never missed a Sunday service, he had always attended mid- week prayer meetings, he had never defaulted on his tithes. He had been quite meticulous with how faithful he had been in fulfilling the demands of the law. So yes, he was faithful. He was observant. He was a good scout.

Yet religious observance can only get you so far. Jesus alone is able to judge and observe the heart. “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone! Herein lies the man’s problem. He though he was good enough to earn his keep. He was convinced that he had legal ground for him to stand on before God. Convinced he could earn his way based on his performance in the second table of the law he forgot his duties on the first table, his response to God. He forgot the standard placed before all - If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.^[1] He struck out on two counts. He believes he could stand upright before God when He would mark iniquity. And with respect to the Father’s forgiveness? He did not need to revere the Lord, for he didn’t really need His forgiveness. He was too proud. He was not about to accept charity.  Only the poor receive assistance. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

You can buy it. There are three ways of understanding the power of money. Some believe money is to be spent. Some believe money is to be saved. The third class believes money is nothing. Those who have it, have it good. Or do they? At what cost is a human life? What is the cost of a human soul? Both are priceless. The wages of sin place upon us a heavy price that none is able to pay except for the One who sacrificed His life for you.  “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Receive it as a gift. This is the only way to receive real and lasting life. Read, and mark those wonderful words most of you have put to memory. Whom -  I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.  He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being.  What - He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, How - not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. Why - He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. ^[2]

And how did this happen to you? Again, you know this!  I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him. Instead the Holy Spirit has calls me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith. Just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.  Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins - mine and those of all believers.  On the last day, the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life.  This is most certainly true! 

Your life is a gift given by grace. Serve your Savior out of devotion, love and esteem. He has given you the greatest gift, real and abundant life at the price of His own life - Just as I am Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve. Because Thy promise, I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

---

[1] Psalm 130:3

[2] Luther’s explanation to the 2^nd Article of the Apostles’ creed

Time in the Word Pentecost 20 - Proper 23

Christ Jesus Is the One and Only Good 

by Whom You Inherit Eternal Life

The Lord is the Author and Giver of Life, as well as a consuming fire of judgment against all “who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate” (Amos 5:12). “Seek the Lord and live,” therefore, by hating what is evil, loving what is good and doing what is just and right, according to His Word: “And so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you” (Amos 5:6, 14–15). Understand that “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).  The life that you are called to live is found neither in your “great possessions,” nor in your good works, but only in Christ Jesus. Let go of “all that you have,” and follow Him, even unto death, and “You will have treasure in heaven” (Mark 10:21–22). Do not harden your heart against His voice, nor turn away from Him, lest you “fall away from the living God.” Rather, hear and heed His call, cling to His Word and “exhort one another every day,” that you may remain steadfast in Christ and “firm to the end” (Heb. 3:12–15).

Collect for Pentecost 20: Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in You our heavenly treasure; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for deliverance from the love of money: Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your children and heirs of Your gracious promises in Christ Jesus. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may forsake all covetous desires and the inordinate love of riches. Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for the proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Prayer for the unemployed: Heavenly Father, we commend to Your care those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Grant that the wealth and resources of this rich land be profitably used so that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for the nation: Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Prayer for grace to love and serve God: O God, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You pour the gifts of love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant Your servants health both of mind and body that they may love You with their whole heart and with their whole strength perform those things that are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Monday, 8 October 2012—Psalm 112:3–6; Antiphon, Psalm 112:1—Sunday’s Introit tells of the blessedness of the man who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. This man delights especially in the First Commandment, You shall have no other gods. He fears, loves, and trusts in God above all things, especially earthly things. Thus, he is truly wealthy, for he possesses wealth that is far greater than material things; he has the righteousness of God that comes by faith.

Tuesday, 9 October 2012—Psalm 90:12–17—Psalm 90 is a psalm written by Moses, and is a great comfort in times of sadness. It starts out with a confession that the Lord abides with us always: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Verses 12–17 are a prayer for the continuation of God’s favor, and the wish that He would carry out His work of salvation and bless His people’s undertakings to that end.

Wednesday, 10 October 2012—Amos 5:6–7, 10–15—The prophet Amos lamented over the Israelites, who had turned their back on the Lord. Here the Lord exhorts the people through His prophet: Seek the Lord and live. He judges them for delighting in material things—houses of hewn stone and pleasant vineyards—but taking advantage of the poor and afflicting the righteous. Again they are exhorted, Seek good and not evil, that you may live.

Thursday, 11 October 2012—Hebrews 3:12–19—This portion of our reading through the book of Hebrews also contains an exhortation, that the hearers not be like the Israelites of old, who rebelled against God. No person, on his own, can fully withstand temptation. But God has given us His Word and Sacraments to keep us strong in the faith, and He also provides what our Confessions call the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren (SA III, IV). Therefore, we Christians exhort one another, that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Friday, 12 October 2012—Mark 10:17–22—The rich young man was off in his thinking from the very start, when he asked, What must I do to inherit eternal life? Inheriting eternal life is not a matter of our doing; it is a gift of grace. Jesus tried to show the man that he could not earn his salvation, by directing him to the commandments. Yet, the young man persisted in his self-righteousness by proclaiming that he had kept them all from his youth.

Still, Jesus looked on him with love and compassion, as a wayward sheep. He directs the man to the First Commandment, by asking him to give up all he had. This young man loved the things of the world more than the things of God, and so he went away sorrowful.

How can any person enter the Kingdom of God? Not on his own merits, for with man it is impossible…but all things are possible with God.

Saturday, 13 October 2012—Sunday’s hymn of the day, Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (LSB 694) is a hymn of resolute determination to love God above all things, not of our own selves, but prayerfully asking, Permit me nevermore to stray (v. 4).

 Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Lectionary summary on first page from LCMS Commission on Worship

This week’s Time in the Word is written by The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning, Pastor St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church  Casey, Iowa  and Zion Lutheran Church Dexter, Iowa

Pentecost 19 - Proper 22

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.

Today is LWML Sunday. What does LWML stand for? It simply stands for the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League. This organization is recognized as one of the two official auxiliary arms of our Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Along with the Lutheran Layman’s League, the LWML dedicates itself totally to the mission spirit of our Savior Jesus Christ.

LWML is a “League” a recognize service organization within our national church-body. It is organized as a “Missions” endeavor. It is “Lutheran” in doctrine and ideology. But the LWML is a “Woman’s” movement within our church. It is a society within our church, which is centered on women; Christian women, doing the work of the Lord. How fitting it is then, that on this LWML Sunday the appointed Old Testament reading would give emphasis on the role that women play in the life of the church.

Certainly, these are fitting words for our women to hear but what about the men? This morning’s theme - “The Divine Design For Women”, does this imply that these words do not apply to men? On the contrary, these words apply to all of us; to women but also to the men.

Our Lord Himself said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” The cause God to create a woman. No amount of vegetation and no number of animals could be a satisfactory companion to a human. Woman was made for man, and it’s normal and right for men and women, male and female to be together as companions and friends.  In a word, it is called, a family.

It is significant that Eve was neither an isolated nor an independent creation. Eve was formed out of Adam by the use of a rib. Male and female are not two separate creations, each going his/her own way they were not made to be independent of each other.

Eve was made from Adam to indicate that they were of the same material and were meant for each other. And why the rib? Why not the head or the foot? Is it not true that the rib is the closest thing to the heart?  Husbands, God has created your wife to be your life partner. She is your confidant. You are fortunate and blessed to have her in your life. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you. You’re fortunate to have her in your life. So don’t get annoyed when she reminds you of this fact, every day.

As we have entered now the second decade of the 21^st Century, and on this LWML Sunday our text answers a pertinent question for us to consider. As husbands and wife, as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers – what is the role of women in the world today? God has a divine design for women, especially within the framework of the family.

First, she is man’s companion. “Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone I will make him a helper fit for him.” -V.18 The Lord speaking tells us plainly – it is not good for the man to be alone. To that end He created for Adam a companion; his wife Eve. In marriage, a man and woman share the joys, the sorrows, the disappointments as well as the accomplishments of life. Consider the vows, which we speak to each other in the marriage service.  “…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy will.” LSB pg. 276 A man wrapped up in himself makes a small package. To help us grow and to create not merely harmony but rather to make symphony woman was created to be the companion for man.

She is also man’s assistant. Together the husband and wife, the man and the woman make up a partnership. They are a team. Together in a spirit of unity, they live their lives as one. In this partnership, there are no competitors, but together they work for a common goal. In this regard, the most important thing a man can know is that, as he approaches his own door someone on the other side is listening for the sound of his footsteps.

When the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the one man the very angels leave heaven, come, and sit in that house. For it is God who joins us together in marriage and as He so loved us and forgave us so He has taught us to love each other.

God’s divine design for a woman is that she is a component part of the male/female union. “The man said, this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and they become one flesh.”

In marriage, two become one. In marriage, we witness a new creation; two independent parts become a brand new one. It is God who does this. The Savior, the maker of marriage knits two hearts into one. It is a miracle, which He has performed for our joy, and happiness as Luther summed it all up, “We are all made for marriage, as our bodies show and as the Scriptures state.” All this is a gift from God.

It is important to know that this passage does not teach nor does it even hint or imply that woman is neither inferior nor subordinate to the male. In truth, God has made us each male and female to complement each other. He has created us as such to give us the best in this life. After He created Eve, the Father was finished with His work of creation. At the end of every day, God concluded that His work was “good”. But when He had joined Adam and Eve together He said it was, ‘very good,’ ‘very good indeed!’ Together as husbands and wives, may Christ enter our homes and pronounce such a benediction on each of us.