January 23, 2012 — The First Commandment

23 Events on February 23, 2012 Board of Education Starts: 6:30 pm Ends: February 23, 2012 - 7:30 pm More details...

25 Events on February 25, 2012 Worship Starts: 5:00 pm Ends: February 25, 2012 - 6:00 pm More details...

26 Events on February 26, 2012 Communion Starts: 8:00 am Ends: February 26, 2012 - 9:00 am More details... Sunday School Starts: 9:15 am Ends: February 26, 2012 - 10:10 am More details... Adult Bible Class Starts: 9:20 am Ends: February 26, 2012 - 10:10 am More details... Worship Starts: 10:30 am Ends: February 26, 2012 - 11:30 am More details...

28 Events on February 28, 2012 Church Council Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: February 28, 2012 - 8:00 pm More details...

29 Events on February 29, 2012 Lenten Dinner Starts: 5:30 pm Ends: February 29, 2012 - 6:30 pm More details... Lenten Service Starts: 7:00 pm Ends: February 29, 2012 - 8:00 pm More details...

Pastor Jennings

So, I complained about the cold weather last week, I better remark at how wonderful it is to be close to 40 on January 23! Only 38 days until meterological Spring!

Martin Luther continues in the Large Catechism:

Besides, there is also a false worship and extreme idolatry, which we have hitherto practised, and is still prevalent in the world, upon which also all ecclesiastical orders are founded, and which concerns the conscience alone that seeks in its own works help, consolation, and salvation, presumes to wrest heaven from God, and reckons how many bequests it has made, how often it has fasted, celebrated Mass, etc. Upon such things it depends, and of them boasts, as though unwilling to receive anything from God as a gift, but desires itself to earn or merit it superabundantly, just as though He must serve us and were our debtor, and we His liege lords. What is this but reducing God to an idol, yea, [a fig image or] an apple-god, and elevating and regarding ourselves as God ? But this is slightly too subtile, and is not for young pupils.

But let this be said to the simple, that they may well note and remember the meaning of this commandment, namely, that we are to trust in God alone, and look to Him and expect from Him naught but good, as from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace, and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal things. He also preserves us from misfortune, and if any evil befall us, delivers and rescues us, so that it is God alone (as has been sufficiently said) from whom we receive all good, and by whom we are delivered from all evil. Hence also, I think, we Germans from ancient times call God (more elegantly and appropriately than any other language) by that name from the word good as being an eternal fountain which gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good, and from which flows forth all that is and is called good.

“We are to … expect from Him naught but good.” This is still something we don’t always great right. A dear loved one comes down with cancer and we believe it is from God. We say, “God has a plan. He won’t give you any more than you can handle.” My dear friends, the cancer is NOT from God. God is ALWAYS good. He does not cause bad. He may use bad for His good purposes. But He does not cause it. We live in a sinful world where bad things happen to relatively good people (we still sin, so not one of us can claim to be wholly good). While God may strengthen my faith through seeing me through a difficult situation, we cannot blame God for causing the difficult situation. He is totally good. He rescues us from bad. He protects us from evil. We take shelter in Him. He is our amazing God.

Lots of fun stuff to do today. Confirmation with our 8th graders, cover letter for contribution statements, more programs to load on this computer, all fun stuff. May God be with you as you complete your day. God bless.

By Pastor Stephen Jennings in Pastor Jennings' Blog on January 23, 2012