"Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores" (Luke 16:21).
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Rom. 13:9). The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus seems to teach this commandment only through a negative example. The rich man did not care for his neighbor.
But there is in the story also a shining positive example of loving your neighbor as yourself. It is the dogs who came and licked the poor man's sores. A dog is a man's best friend. In the case of Lazarus, they may have been his only friends.
Israelites thought of dogs differently than we do. They were unclean, scavengers, and a source of disease. So we think that Jesus mentions the dogs in order to underscore Lazarus's suffering. He could do nothing to keep the dirty dogs away.
But from another angle a love shines through. What do dogs do for themselves? They lick their sores and wounds (an action that removes dead tissue and promotes healing). In coming and licking the sores of Lazarus, they give a perfect lesson on the commandment: You shall lick your neighbor as yourself.
The dogs acted instinctively. The instinct of sinful man is to love himself. The love of Christ and the Holy Spirit implant a new instinct: to love your neighbor, especially the one who is hurting.
Let's all go to the dogs, and follow their example.
Friday, August 26, 2022
Monday, August 22, 2022
The Width of Narrow
"Strive to enter through the narrow door" (Luke 13:24).
Jesus describes the door to heaven as narrow, and by the end of the Gospel it becomes possible to measure it exactly. The narrow door is the exact width of the holy cross. Another way of putting it is that the narrow door is fourteen words wide: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). And: "Take heart, child, your sins are forgiven" (Matt. 9:2). Pray and hear these words before the cross and you will enter through the narrow door.
But why does He say, "Strive (struggle, strain) to enter"? The Greek word is "agonize." Because it's going to be a fight. Jesus is calling you to a life of repentance and faith in Him. This is the life for you. But to live it will mean a fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh, all of whom want you to live for now, and not for heaven. But the Holy Spirit will aid you in the fight. The Holy Helper! And He will help you by the Holy Word and Sacrament!
Despite public pressure, don't be afraid to be narrow-minded in your faith. It is necessary in order to enter through the narrow door.
Let your faith be narrow, and let your love be broad!
Jesus describes the door to heaven as narrow, and by the end of the Gospel it becomes possible to measure it exactly. The narrow door is the exact width of the holy cross. Another way of putting it is that the narrow door is fourteen words wide: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). And: "Take heart, child, your sins are forgiven" (Matt. 9:2). Pray and hear these words before the cross and you will enter through the narrow door.
But why does He say, "Strive (struggle, strain) to enter"? The Greek word is "agonize." Because it's going to be a fight. Jesus is calling you to a life of repentance and faith in Him. This is the life for you. But to live it will mean a fight against the devil, the world, and the flesh, all of whom want you to live for now, and not for heaven. But the Holy Spirit will aid you in the fight. The Holy Helper! And He will help you by the Holy Word and Sacrament!
Despite public pressure, don't be afraid to be narrow-minded in your faith. It is necessary in order to enter through the narrow door.
Let your faith be narrow, and let your love be broad!
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Why Pastors Don't Have It Easy
"For this I was appointed a preacher" (1 Tim. 2:7).
Three reasons pastors don't have an easy job:
First, the devil and world (not to mention the pastor's own sinful flesh) are dead set against the repentance and Gospel he preaches, despite containing the most loving message ever heard.
Second, sometimes members of the congregation will oppose the pastor when he is trying to be faithful to God's Word, the church, and the people's souls. They may leave, threaten to leave, or say the pastor should leave. This is especially difficult for a young pastor, and Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus offer the best guidance available. God remains in control!
Third, it can happen that when the pastor turns to his ecclesiastical supervisor for support in a position he has taken, he will not receive it. [Pastors make mistakes and need always to be open to correction, but I am speaking here about when they are being faithful to the Word.] This lack of support is the hardest to bear, because now the pastor feels alone and is tempted to doubt. But the Lord Himself stands by him and will give him courage and peace.
The flip side is that many pastors experience the joy of supportive, grateful congregations. I am one of them! And God blesses the church with many wise, strong, and fatherly supervisors. They don't have an easy job either, and we must pray for and encourage them!
But now you know what makes your pastor's job pretty tough. It has to be this way. But maybe you will look at him a little differently, and then do what you can to make it just a little easier.
Three reasons pastors don't have an easy job:
First, the devil and world (not to mention the pastor's own sinful flesh) are dead set against the repentance and Gospel he preaches, despite containing the most loving message ever heard.
Second, sometimes members of the congregation will oppose the pastor when he is trying to be faithful to God's Word, the church, and the people's souls. They may leave, threaten to leave, or say the pastor should leave. This is especially difficult for a young pastor, and Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus offer the best guidance available. God remains in control!
Third, it can happen that when the pastor turns to his ecclesiastical supervisor for support in a position he has taken, he will not receive it. [Pastors make mistakes and need always to be open to correction, but I am speaking here about when they are being faithful to the Word.] This lack of support is the hardest to bear, because now the pastor feels alone and is tempted to doubt. But the Lord Himself stands by him and will give him courage and peace.
The flip side is that many pastors experience the joy of supportive, grateful congregations. I am one of them! And God blesses the church with many wise, strong, and fatherly supervisors. They don't have an easy job either, and we must pray for and encourage them!
But now you know what makes your pastor's job pretty tough. It has to be this way. But maybe you will look at him a little differently, and then do what you can to make it just a little easier.
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Strength for Today
"Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11).
God gives us what we need one day at a time. He is determined to teach us trust. He calls us to trust that He will provide again tomorrow as He did today.
In the Old Testament He instructed the Israelites to gather just enough manna for the day. He sent it again the next morning. In the New Testament, in which we live, He teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." In other words, just enough strength for today. He will supply it again tomorrow.
All of this leads to two definitions:
Anxiety = looking at tomorrow's challenges without tomorrow's strength.
Trust = knowing that tomorrow's strength will be a match for tomorrow's challenges.
You are not yet in possession of tomorrow's strength. It will be yours tomorrow morning, but not before. You are given strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and the most blessed of all things: trust in your heavenly Father.
With love,
Pastor Matt
God gives us what we need one day at a time. He is determined to teach us trust. He calls us to trust that He will provide again tomorrow as He did today.
In the Old Testament He instructed the Israelites to gather just enough manna for the day. He sent it again the next morning. In the New Testament, in which we live, He teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." In other words, just enough strength for today. He will supply it again tomorrow.
All of this leads to two definitions:
Anxiety = looking at tomorrow's challenges without tomorrow's strength.
Trust = knowing that tomorrow's strength will be a match for tomorrow's challenges.
You are not yet in possession of tomorrow's strength. It will be yours tomorrow morning, but not before. You are given strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and the most blessed of all things: trust in your heavenly Father.
With love,
Pastor Matt
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Oyeoflittlefaith
In spiritual matters, there is a danger of hearing God scolding us when He is really not. Of thinking that He is disappointed in us when, in fact, He is speaking to us so very gently and kindly. Such, I think, is the case with "O ye of little faith."
Sermons on this concept tell us that we should have more faith. But evidence points to a Lord who has come up with a loving nickname for us: Yeoflittlefaith. English hides the fact that in Greek it is only one word. It is used only by Jesus and it is unknown outside the Bible. It has the look and sound of a nickname. More than that, a term of endearment and affection.
If you look at the occasions when Jesus uses the term, His followers are anxious, fearful, or confused.* What kind of Christ would scold people already in this condition? No, a more tender name for us Christians cannot be found. He is saying how much we need Him. Little faith doesn't need more faith. A little faith needs Christ.
In a way, "O ye of little faith" is a promise that He will never leave, based on the fact that He never could! And in a mystery, it is a little faith that holds all of Christ. But perhaps it is more true to say that He holds our little faith as a precious thing to Him - guarding and protecting it.
Remember the little children brought to Jesus? Bring your little faith to Him. He will take it, bless it, and say, "To such belongs the kingdom."
Rejoice to be called "Oyeoflittlefaith."
*Matt. 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, and Luke 12:28
Sermons on this concept tell us that we should have more faith. But evidence points to a Lord who has come up with a loving nickname for us: Yeoflittlefaith. English hides the fact that in Greek it is only one word. It is used only by Jesus and it is unknown outside the Bible. It has the look and sound of a nickname. More than that, a term of endearment and affection.
If you look at the occasions when Jesus uses the term, His followers are anxious, fearful, or confused.* What kind of Christ would scold people already in this condition? No, a more tender name for us Christians cannot be found. He is saying how much we need Him. Little faith doesn't need more faith. A little faith needs Christ.
In a way, "O ye of little faith" is a promise that He will never leave, based on the fact that He never could! And in a mystery, it is a little faith that holds all of Christ. But perhaps it is more true to say that He holds our little faith as a precious thing to Him - guarding and protecting it.
Remember the little children brought to Jesus? Bring your little faith to Him. He will take it, bless it, and say, "To such belongs the kingdom."
Rejoice to be called "Oyeoflittlefaith."
*Matt. 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, and Luke 12:28
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)