January

 

The Collect for a New Year reads as follows; Almighty and everlasting God, from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift, we give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, temporal and spiritual, bestowed upon us in the year past, and we beseech Thee of Thy goodness, grant us a favorable and joyful year, defend us from all dangers and adversities, and send upon us the fullness of Thy blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [1

We begin a New Year – 2022 A year filled with opportunities, challenges and possibilities. We enter this New Year with the same Savior by our side. The hymn writer encourages us, “With the Lord begin your task Jesus will direct it. For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.” These are not idle or pointless words. They are your reality. The Savior, whose birth we have just celebrated remains ever present to guide and direct you. The calendar might change. The LORD’s mercy will never change.       

The coming of Jesus into our world changes everything. For we do not have a God who was too proud to know His people. Or, a God content to rule from a great distance. Or, a God whose majesty was too awesome for us to behold. We have just the opposite. Jesus, the son of Mary and her husband Joseph, experienced the very same humanity, the very same problems, and the very same challenges that you do.

No, you do not walk this road alone. Jesus is the God who came down from heaven. He was that man. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed.”  – Isaiah 53:3-5

Your heavenly Father is completely responsible for your salvation from front to back! You don’t wake up one day and suddenly decide to follow Jesus – Rather, He plants the seed of faith into your heart. He then nourishes that faith by giving you His eternal Word, which is able to make us wise unto salvation.

This is what St. Paul reminds us when he tells us “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Pay close attention to the clear words, and the gentle voice of your Good Shepherd, Jesus, who says, “All that which the Father gives me shall come unto me; and he that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” – John 6:37

By faith, we knew of this reality that when God pardons, He does not say He understands your weakness or make allowances for your errors. Rather, He disposes of, finishes with, the whole of your dead life and raises you up with a new one.

He does not so much deal with your failures as does He drop them down the black hole of Jesus' death. He forgets your sins in the darkness of the tomb. He remembers your iniquities no more in the forgetfulness of Jesus' death.

He finds you in the desert of death, not in the garden of improvement. And in the power of Jesus' resurrection, He puts you on His shoulders, rejoicing, and brings you home![2] 

Faith teaches us to understood grace. And Grace is karma's worst nightmare; with grace, we get the exact opposite of what we deserve. Grace is found in the God who loves us all; who loved us even unto death, even death on a cross.

Some face the future tentatively and cautiously because of uncertainty.  Whatever we face in the future however, it will be the Lord Himself who has promised to direct us.  With His guidance in our lives, we are blessed.  With the Lord leading, sustaining, and directing us, we can face the future with courage no matter what might come our way. He leads, we follow, and together we are blessed.

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[1] Collect for New Year’s, The Lutheran Hymnal © 1941 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

[2] Robert Farrar Capon, Parables of Grace, pg. 39

January

It’s a new year and a new decade. The Gospel of Luke uses a census to explain the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Families had to register in their historical tribal town rather than where they lived. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem about seventy miles would have taken a few days to travel. Their trek was probably longer as Mary was in her third trimester of pregnancy.  

Today, the United States Census (plural "censuses" or "censi") is a decennial census mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution, which states: "Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States... according to their respective Numbers.... The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years."  

In 2020, every household will receive an invitation to complete the census over the internet, by phone or by paper questionnaire. Back then persons traveled to register at the behest of the government. Today the government shows up at our doorstep requesting information. 

As Joseph and his new bride traveled to register in Bethlehem the worship of Caesar was the official religion. His birth was the beginning of the New Year. His coming was considered good news. He was lauded for bringing peace and prosperity to the empire. Jesus came into a Romans world worshiping a “son of god” who brought good news and peace to all. Few noticed Christ’s coming. Seldom do today.    

Back then, the people were subsistence farmers, raising one bag of food for themselves and one for King Herod or Caesar. Biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan said in an interview in Christian Century magazine. “I think it’s safe to say that by our standards, injustice was built into this system--10% at the top controlled virtually everything.” While the rich prospered, the peasants suffered. Today, income inequality gaps in earnings between America's most affluent and the rest of the country continues to grow.

Jesus entered our world at a particular time and place similar to our own, a world familiar with taxation, including a census. St. Paul explains it this way, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” – Galatians 4:4 Jesus came to us as a child, raised in humility.  Who would choose such an entrance? One who did not find equality with God something to be grasped.   He emptied himself taking the form of a servant being born the likeness of men and became obedience to death even death on a cross. Such a contrast to the rulers and princes of this age. 

As we enter now into the Epiphany season the death of Jesus is still in the future yet its shadow falls on the manger. He became our suffering servant. Caesar may have brought good news and peace. The peace the Father brings through His Son is the good news of salvation which is eternal. He keeps no calendar. Through the cross of His Son there is no record of wrong. 

January

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence;

In January comes a New Year – 2019. 365 days filled with hopes, expectations and dreams for a bright future. Yet if this coming year will be like subsequent years past we know there will also come challenges and setbacks in the coming months. How will we make sense of it all as we anticipate a coming new year?

“Why are you fearful, oh you of little faith?” Jesus asks His disciples on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:26). We are inclined and tend to fear when we try to play God, to face life by ourselves. Yet the Lord urges us to live by faith. To encourage us, the Bible gives us plenty of examples of people who lived by faith. (See Hebrews 11) As we begin a new year the story of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) are perfect models for us. They believed God’s Word and acted on it.

These wise men, they really had little to go on. They saw the star. Yet they trusted God’s Word implicitly. As for you, whatever befalls you in this coming New Year look to Jesus and His perfect will for you declared in the Scriptures. In Christ, you find all you need; forgiveness, help in life’s perils, and everlasting life.   

On the church calendar it’s also a new season – Epiphany. In this new season we see Jesus for who He is – “the Word made flesh.” The theologian Augustine reminds us that Jesus has become our justice, our sanctification, and our redemption. Jesus entered time and space to be your Savior. Christ's active obedience (By doing what the law of God required — He has merited for you forgiveness and life.) is usually distinguished from His passive obedience. (Suffering for His people He paid the penalty for you) Yet every event of His life was a part of His payment of the penalty of sin. And every event of His life was a part of that glorious keeping of the law of God perfectly for you.  

We enter this coming year and this season of Epiphany connected to Christ. Christ has redeemed you. It’s easy to become distracted seemly focused on our own agendas and plans. Look instead to your Savior and His boundless love for you in giving His life for yours. And keep looking; for in His resurrection, the Lord Jesus, who took your sins as His own, now declares His righteousness to be yours. Godspeed in this coming New Year. 

Image Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Baron Julius, 1794-1872; German painter; trained principally at Vienna and Rome; earlier work shows influence of Duerer; later joined the classicists; became associated with Cornelius, Overbeck, Schadow, and Veit; later work in style of Renaissance; distinguished especially for his "Bible in Pictures," fill of creative power. 

The permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use. © WELS

January

Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone. What an excellent way to start a New Year!  As we celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation we reviewed the four key terms to our Christian faith.     At the center of this Christian faith is the understanding that a sinner is justified by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide) for the sake of Christ alone (solus Christus), a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone (sola Scriptura).

This month we review a fifth and final key term – to the glory of God alone! Glory belongs to God. Alone! God’s glory is the central motivation for salvation, not improving the lives of people—though that is a wonderful by product. Jesus is not a means to an end—He is the means and our glorious end.

The goal of all of life is to give glory to God alone: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). A new year starts before us.  God only knows what we will meet in the next 365 days. But of this we can be certain the God who created this earth will continue to sustain it. What the Father did not create He could not save. And save us He has done. He sent forth Jesus our dear redeemer to pay our random and set us free. This story, this message, this proclamation is what has changed us. With the Lord begin your task in this New Year. And in all things – to God be the glory!

January 2017

January 2017

January 1             Christmas 1        Divine Service Setting 3 Pg. 184

                                Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 - “God’s Promises fulfilled”

O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us;

January 8             The Baptism of our Lord - Matins Pg. 219

                                Matthew 3:13–17 – So who and what is this Christ?

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You pro claimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life;

January 15           Epiphany 2          Divine Service Setting 4 Pg. 203

                                John 1:29–42a - God Reveals His Glory in Christ and His Cross

Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days;

January 22           Epiphany 3 - Prayer and Preaching Page 260

                                Matthew 4:12–25 – God’s Kingdom Comes

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us;

January 29           Epiphany 4 -       Divine Service Setting 1 Page 151

                                Matthew 5:1–12 – The Demands and Rewards of the Kingdom

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations;

We enter a new year. 2017. It will be a year of adjustment. On 20 January, we will witness the inauguration of a new president. After a contentious election year, he will be summoned to lead our nation. Will he be able to lead us effectively? Can he bring this country together or will America be further divided?  What challenges will come our way?

 The following prayer, from Billy Graham, written for The Saturday Evening Post nine years ago in 2008, is just as relevant this year.

Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

And in the midst of our daily preoccupations and pursuits, open our eyes to the sorrows and injustices of our hurting world, and help us to respond with compassion and sacrifice to those who are friendless and in need. May our constant prayer be that of the ancient Psalmist: “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end” (Psalm 119:33).

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also, and assure them of Your love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us—far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank You for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

The new year stands before us. A blank page. What will be written upon it concerning your life? The following hymn I find appropriate.

Son of God, eternal Savior,

Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us

Hallow all our human race,

You our Head, who, throned in glory,

For Your own will ever plead:

Fill us with Your love and pity,

Heal our wrongs, and help our need.

© Lutheran Service Book #842

Together we face the future. May the Savior direct our path and carry us as we enter this new year. 

January

January 3,        2^nd Sunday after Christmas – Divine Service

                        Luke 2:40-52 – Christ our exemplar

January 10,      The Baptism of our Lord – Matins

                        Luke 3:15-22 - Heaven is open to You

January 17,      2^nd Sunday in Epiphany – Divine Service

                        John 2:1-11 – Christ man manifest in His miracles

January 24,      3^rd Sunday in Epiphany – Setting Three without Communion

                        Luke 4:16-30 – Christ made manifest in His preaching

January 31,      4^th Sunday in Epiphany – Divine Service

                        Luke 4:31-44 – Christ made manifest in His forgiving sin

A national election will held on Tuesday, 8 November 2016. As a nation, we will be electing leaders on a local, state and national level. A yearlong debate will remain as the nation considers which individuals will be our country’s leaders. Discussions begin in earnest January 1.

According to the doctrine of the Two Kingdoms (referred by many as the doctrine of Church and State), we Christians recognize our president (and all elected leaders whether on the local, state or national level) as God’s man for this time - whether he knows and understands it or not. St. Paul in Romans 13:1 reminds us, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” For this reason we are directed to “give everyone what you own him: If you owe taxes, pay tassel if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect, if honor, then honor.” [Romans 13:7]

Daily we should pray for our leaders that the Lord would give them wisdom. They need the Lord’s direction to use their power for our country’s good so that we may live in peace and safety. They need divine guidance that we as free people might exercise our rights of free assembly and worship. We need to treasure our freedoms and support those who have sworn to protect them so that we can gossip the Gospel before the Lord returns in glory.

We live under a representative republic, which means we elect individuals to stand in for us for a certain moment of time. Every four years we inaugurate a head of state, not a king. When we are satisfied with our leader’s work, they are re-elected. If not, others will take their place. We are given freedoms in this great country: to speak our mind, to disagree, and to come together. Every time a new administration is elected, there is a peaceful transfer of the figurehead of power. There are no riots. Life does not cease. In all reality, not much changes. The bureaucrats keep their jobs.

We are living in challenging times. In many respects, we are entering uncharted waters. Some of these challenges we have not had to confront in over fifty years. Others have been looming over us for a while. Now they need to be addressed. We will need the best minds our country has to face the difficulties and challenges of our 21st Century. In this New Year, commit yourself to daily pray for those who serve as your representatives. Vigilance is needed. Serving both God and country is what makes us model citizens. Love God. Serve your neighbor. Be a sermon in shoes.

As we begin a new year we find ourselves in the Christmas/Epiphany season. Epiphany is the shepherds recognizing the Messiah. It is the Magi acknowledging the king of glory. It is Peter's "You are the Christ...." It is the two disciples on the way to Emmaus having their eyes opened. It is any time that our eyes are opened to the manifestation of God in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The experience of Epiphany is the most important goal of Christian teaching or preaching. It is the moment when Christ is perceived by the eyes of faith. Throughout this coming year may we see God’s hand at work among us, drawing us closer to Him has He continues to order our days directing us through every circumstance of our lives. Christ has come to bring light and life. May His hand guide us throughout this coming year.