The Theme for Lent 4, “God Receives Sinners” is seen in all
three lessons. In the Old Testament lesson - Isaiah 12:1-6 – Salvation is of
God. In the Epistle - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – Paul speaks of the renewing
quality of our salvation in Christ. We are new people. In the Gospel lesson - Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 –
We see the response to salvation. The Hymn for the Day, “Salvation unto us has
come,” sings the story of salvation.
Collect for Lent – Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your
mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment., You
receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul.
Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for
all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever.
Collect for Lent 3 – O God, whose glory it is always to have
mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them
again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the
unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
A prayer for Home and Family – Visit, we implore You, O
Lord, the homes in which Your people dwell, and keep far from them all harm and
danger. Grant us to dwell together in peace under the protection of Your holy
angels and may Your blessing be with us forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A morning prayer – Faithful God, whose mercies are new to us
every morning, we humbly pray that You would look upon us in mercy and renew us
by Your Holy Spirit. Keep safe our going out and our coming in, and let Your
blessings remain with us throughout this day. Preserve us in Your righteousness
and grant us a portion in that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A prayer before worship – O Lord, our Creator, Redeemer, and
Comforter, as we come to worship You in spirit and in truth, we humbly pray
that You may open our hearts to the preaching of Your Word, so that we may
repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, and grow in
grace and holiness. Hear us for His same.
A prayer for help in times of temptation – Almighty and
everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sins and
everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that in our daily need
and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and , by a true
and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You have promised; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Monday, 29 February 2016—Psalm 51:2-6, Antiphon, Psalm51:1
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your
abundance mercy blot out my transgressions. The psalmist asks that God in His
mercy would grant pardon. Throughout this psalm look at the words the psalmist
will use: mercy, unfailing love, great
compassion, blot out, was, cleanse, transgressions, iniquity, sin. This psalm
sings the story of salvation. As we are in the midst of Lent, our focus is now
on the cross and of Him who suffered and died for us.
Tuesday, 01 March 2016—Psalm 32; key verse, verse 11-
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in
heart. This psalm is a grateful testimony of joy from God’s gift of forgiveness
toward those who with integrity confess their sins and are receptive to God’s
rule in their lives. It is a fitting psalm to be used in this Lenten season. As
you pray this psalm, reflect on all Christ has done to win for you salvation
and life.
Wednesday, 02 March 2016—Isaiah 12:1-6–The Old Testament
lesson deals with the basic element of the Christian faith: God’s grace in the
cross for man’s reconciliation. Isaiah reminds us that salvation is from God
and that salvation is all by grace. This causes us to be thankful as we receive
this gift of salvation freely by grace through faith.
Thursday, 03 March 2016—2 Corinthians 5:16-21–Paul will
admit that before coming to faith in Christ he had a secular understanding of
Jesus based purely on human considerations. But now having been united with
Christ through faith in Him and committed to Him, now he is a new creation.
Everything in his life now centers in Christ. God takes the initiative in
redemption. He sustains it and brings it to completion. When the Savior died,
God’s justice was satisfied, His anger was appeased. At the cross, God was
reconciled to the world.
Friday, 04 March 2016–Luke 15:1-3; 11-32–The Gospel lesson
for this week assures us of God’s joyous reception for the repentant sinner.
Jesus was criticized for associating with sinners. In His defense, Jesus tells
the parables recorded in Luke 15 of God’s acceptance of a repentant sinner.
Jesus associated with sinners not because He approved of
their way of life. He knew they needed Him. They needed friendship and
understanding. He went to them for a purpose, to lead them to repentance. He
did not, nor should we, go to them to become one of them but to get them to
become one with Him. This is the reason for today’s church to go to the worst –
to win them back to God.
Do you honestly feel about sinners as God does? Are you glad
when a sinner sees his error and comes back? Do you love the sinner, and accept
him as though nothing happened? Like God will you forgive from the heart without
passing judgment or asking questions? Would you take an ex-murderess into your
home to care for your youngest child? Really?
Then you identify with the Father.
Saturday, 05 March 2016—-Romans 3:1—31; 8:1-11; Galatians
3:1-25; Ephesians 2:1-10-Sunday’s suggested hymn of the day is Salvation unto
us has come (555 LSB). Originally written for children, the hymn tells the
story of salvation from beginning to end. It teaches the faith and is a hymn
that can easily be put to memory. I recall a few years ago walking across the
playground hearing a student singing this hymn while swinging back and forth on
the swings. We are now in the middle of our journey through Lent. The cross
becomes ever clearer. As you meditate on this hymn, rejoice in your salvation.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran
Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted
for personal and congregational use
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series C – John Brokhoff ©
1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
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