Fearful Times or Times of Fear?
Dear Saints: we live in fearful times; the world has, at times,
been in a near panic because of the pandemic affecting so many. To whom do they
turn? Politicians? Too often they are following whatever direction the crowd is
heading in order to maintain their support.
You can see why the world finds this so discomfiting—who do they
turn to when those to whom they turn cannot help? It’s true not only of this
pandemic, but of life in general now; that’s why things are so disturbed in
societies around the world. A historian and philosopher recently wrote that
what we’re seeing in the world in a political and societal sense is a
renegotiating of the post-World War II order or things. We Christians aren’t
immune to this type of thinking, either. With the old sinful nature still
clinging to us, it’s easy to push God’s promises to the side and think as Adam
does: I’ll handle everything, thank you very much.
But what I mean is that whether we get sick from this or any
other disease, whether we live or die, we know that we are the Lord’s, and He
keeps His promises. This Holy Spirit-worked confidence is how Job could
say, “Though he slay me, yet shall I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). The Christian
knows where he is going, because Christ has faced the terrors of death for us.
Jesus is our substitute, and He is our prophet, priest, and king—the King of
kings who lays down His life for His subjects, and takes it back up again in
triumph. Consider these words from the hymn, “Love, Thee I Love with All My
Heart” (LSB 708, v. 3): “Lord, let at last Thine angels come, To Abr’ham’s
bosom bear me home, That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My
body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken
me, That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My
Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ , my prayer attend, my prayer
attend, And I will praise Thee without end.”
Strong words, are they not? They reflect God’s Word, so they do
have strength. We know who Jesus is; we know who we are; we know what He has
done for us. The writer to the Hebrews says, “Since therefore the children
share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that
through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the
devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong
slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring
of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so
that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has
suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews
2:14–18).
So, despite the fact that it is still difficult as a Christian
in the world, we know that our Lord Christ has conquered for us. It’s been
challenging these past several weeks, not only because of this terrible
sickness, but because we have been largely cut off from the gathering of saints
as we normally have done for so long. To not be fed spiritually fed as we have
been is shocking to us (as well it should be). So what do we do?
Wyoming District President Rev. John Hill wrote a series of
devotions for the pastors in the district, a small portion of one I’m sharing
with you. He writes, “[T]he assembling of the church has been reduced to the
size of families or eliminated altogether. This is unnatural. The church is a
gathering, an assembly. The church is made visible to us when we are gathered
to hear our pastor preach God’s Word to us and together to receive the blessed
Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood. Now a plague has driven us apart and
deprived us of this rich and priceless treasure. We have been driven by God
into the wilderness of our own homes. In this isolation, in this depravation of
the divine communion of God’s people, we are led to ponder God’s Word and seek
His mercies in prayer.”
Hear God’s Word as it’s made available to you. One of the
blessings of our time is that we have so much available to us through the
Internet. In fact, there’s so much available that we really need to practice
discernment in what we’re reading or listening to. If you find yourself in need
of something for your devotions, or have questions about anything you may be
using, please feel free to contact me. Lastly (but so very important), spend
time in prayer; most of us have extra free time now. And if Jesus, the Second
Person of the Holy Trinity, spent so much time in prayer to His heavenly
Father, how much more ought we pray. There are some prayer helps in this same
newsletter published by our partner church in Canada, the LCC. Read through
those and put them to practice, especially the Lord’s Prayer. Use it as a
“springboard” for all sorts of petitions you may bring before the Lord. And, as
restrictions have been lifted somewhat in our state, please come to hear the
Word of God proclaimed for you. May Christ continue to be with us all!
Pax
Xp—
Rev.
Kenneth L. Humphrey
LCMS Stewardship
Ministry Newsletter Article
Our
Savior calls us to follow Him in generosity. “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have
done to you.”
(John 13:15) We cannot give our lives for the salvation of the world, of
course. Praise God – that job’s already done!
But
with hearts full of thanksgiving for what Jesus has given us, we can follow
Jesus’ example of generous giving. And this is not merely an example alone.
It’s also our Lord’s command. “The one who
contributes, (let him give) in generosity.” (Rom. 12:8)
So,
when we give to help others who are in need, and when we bring offerings to the
Lord, we should strive to heed His command and follow the pattern He has
established for us. Jesus did not give us leftovers. He gave His best. So, we
should not give leftovers, either, but the first and best of what He has given
us. Jesus did not give as an afterthought, but according to the plan of
salvation God established from the foundation of the world.
So,
when it comes to our offerings to the Lord, we should make a thoughtful plan to
give generously, in proportion to the way He has blessed us. Like the Macedonian
Christians, who gave according to their ability – and even beyond their ability
(2 Cor. 8:3) – we can and should give a generous portion of the income that God
provides us to honor the Lord.
So
also, we should give freely, just as Jesus gave freely for us. There is no
compulsion involved in our works of love and our offerings to the Lord. Nor do
we give grudgingly. We should give freely and cheerfully because we want to out
of thanksgiving. “Each as he
purposes in his heart,” as the Lord says. (2 Cor. 9:7) There is no New
Testament ceremonial law involved here. Rather, we are free to give as
generously as our Savior has given for us.
In
the same way, our Lord teaches us to give generously out of love – love for Him
and for our neighbor. Genuine love is always love in deed (1 John 3:18),
love such as Jesus showed us all. It is
love that sees our neighbor in need and gives generously to help him. It is
love that hears the Word of the Lord and does what it says. If we truly love,
we give generously. If we give without love, our giving is not truly following
Jesus.
Finally,
we follow Jesus in generosity when we give for a good purpose to thank the Lord
and support His gospel ministry and other works of mercy. The people of Israel
gave generously for the service of God’s gospel purposes, to construct and
support the operation of the tabernacle. For that was the place where the Lord
received the Old Testament sacrifices, through which He bestowed the
forgiveness of sins on His people. So, they gave abundantly – so abundantly that
they had to be told to stop giving. (Ex. 36:5-6)
In
the same way, we should bring generous offerings to support the Lord’s work of
bestowing His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation in our congregations
through the preaching and teaching of His Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.
We should support the Lord’s work of caring for those who are poor and needy.
Our
Savior calls us to follow His example in generous giving. Let us then, with
thankful hearts, rededicate ourselves to following Him in generosity.
LWML CORNER
Upcoming LWML happenings:
May 13 - *change venue* We
will meet at church @ 6:00pm for our normal meeting. Pizza supper will be
provided. Short business meeting to follow.
June 18-20 - District
Convention in Rock Springs
July 12 - *change in date
& time* We will try a new day & time for our regular July meeting. We
will meet Sunday the 12th @ 2:00pm.
Tour of Immanuel School in
Alliance postponed until fall.
If
you would like to fill school bags, grab a bag, and a list and go
shopping! This is a year round project
which the LWML has adopted. The bags and
lists are available in the Fellowship Hall.
