Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Sixth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 199 - 210.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Because of the one flesh union of husband and wife, there is no greater harm to a man than to bring disgrace upon him in respect to his wife.
- Jews were commanded to marry, and therefore, adultery was the most common form of unchastity among them. Because of the disarray of marriage in our world, adultery in this command refers to any form of unchastity - in heart, lips, body, thought, and deed.
- We are responsible for also protecting our neighbor's chastity and his or her honor within this command. If we do nothing to protect our neighbor against this, we are as responsible as the one committing the deed.
- God sanctions and guards the estate of marriage in this command. He instituted marriage for man and woman that they should legitimately live together, be fruitful, have children, and nourish and train them to the honor of God.
- "Therefore I have always taught that this estate should not be despised nor held in disrepute, as is done by the blind world and our false ecclesiastics, but that it be regarded according to God's Word, by which it is adorned and sanctified, so that it is not only placed on an equality with other estates, but that it precedes and surpasses them all." Paragraph 209.
My thoughts today:
The truth is I am weak. Standing up for and defending marriage, whether that be in contrast to the government's attempt at redefining it or in disagreement with my neighbor shacking up with her boyfriend or in desperation to save a couple from divorce, is hard.
I don't want to seem mean.
I like people to like me.
I assume people already know I think this, so why bother?
Admitting marriage is between one man and one woman...
Speaking the truth in love to those who live as those who are married and yet are not...
Defending the reasons for a couple to honor their marriage vows...
These are ways we honor the Sixth Commandment, and these are ways I fail nearly every single day.
It is easy for me to believe I am honoring the Sixth Commandment just because I don't divorce my husband, cheat on him, or look at pornography.
It is harder to admit I fail it because I don't protect my neighbor from sinning against it.
To quote Luther again, because I don't believe I can read this statement enough -
"Therefore I have always taught that this estate should not be despised nor held in disrepute, as is done by the blind world and our false ecclesiastics [false ministers], but that it be regarded according to God's Word, by which it is adorned and sanctified, so that it is not only placed on an equality with other estates, but that it precedes and surpasses them all." Paragraph 209
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fifth Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fifth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 188 - the end of the Fifth Commandment.
The basics:
- Our heart is not to be full of anger and hatred for anyone, especially those who do us evil.
- You are not only guilty for doing evil to others but also for not doing good for them when you are able.
- God calls all those murderers who do not give counsel and help in distress.
- Even though we have not actually done harm to someone else who is hurting in front of us, we have nevertheless, suffered him to perish in his misfortune if we do nothing to help him.
- When we do not help someone in need when we are able, it is no different than if we were to see one drowning and could save them but choose not to reach out to them.
- God urges us to truly noble works in this command - gentleness, patience, love, and kindness to our enemies - and reminds us to remember the First Commandment, that He is our God and will assist and protect us in order to quench the desire of revenge in us.
- Luther spends the last paragraph of this section discussing the Carthusians [a group of monks who remove themselves from society and claim to live pious and holy lives]. He calls out their hypocritical behavior and their sad choice to remove themselves from the cross of living with and loving their enemies.
My thoughts today:
As a pastor's wife who had the privilege of living through the seminary years with my husband, I know something about living in a community of like-minded people. And while I miss those days with a deep longing in my soul, I have to recognize my own sinfulness in coveting that type of community. I don't mean to say loving the time there is wrong - most certainly not. Someday, on the Last Day, we will live in a community much greater and much more in unity than even those seminary days. So, hoping for that type of community is indeed hoping for the coming of our Lord. But until that Day, God has placed us out in the world to live among those who disagree with us and those who hate us and those who wish to do us harm and those who are our enemies.
My husband read (and encouraged me to read along with him, which I did...for...well, for awhile...and someday I will finish) a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran theologian during the Nazi regime. Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This book is about community. It is amazing. It details the intense desire of Christians to be in community with each other, while pointing out the needs of having Christians dispersed in the world to serve and love their enemies. This man knew something about loneliness in the faith. He knew something about enemies.
When reading about those Carthusians today, I thought about Bonhoeffer and his words concerning our balance of needing those who believe the same as us and needing to bear the cross of loneliness in a world who needs Christ's love through us.
I so desire to be the hypocritical Carthusian.
And that is a sin. It is a sin to turn my head from those who need saving.
In the words of Luther, "It is just as if I saw some one navigating and laboring in deep water [and struggling against adverse winds] or one fallen into fire, and could extend to him the hand to pull him out and save him, and yet refused to do it."
In my sorry state of sinfulness, I rejoice in Christ's forgiveness. For He is the One who reaches down to pull Peter from the waves of unbelief. He is the One who continues to pull the likes of men, even His enemies, from their own drowning in unbelief. He saves. He loves. He shows patience. He forgives. And until all the saints can be together in community, He gives me fellow believers to accompany me here and He gives me the Communion rail to find His peace with all those who have gone before me.
With that peace and with that forgiveness, I attempt to go on loving and serving those who hate me. With the help of God, I strive to honor the Fifth Commandment in a world full of drowning sinners, of which I am the chief.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fifth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 188 - the end of the Fifth Commandment.
The basics:
- Our heart is not to be full of anger and hatred for anyone, especially those who do us evil.
- You are not only guilty for doing evil to others but also for not doing good for them when you are able.
- God calls all those murderers who do not give counsel and help in distress.
- Even though we have not actually done harm to someone else who is hurting in front of us, we have nevertheless, suffered him to perish in his misfortune if we do nothing to help him.
- When we do not help someone in need when we are able, it is no different than if we were to see one drowning and could save them but choose not to reach out to them.
- God urges us to truly noble works in this command - gentleness, patience, love, and kindness to our enemies - and reminds us to remember the First Commandment, that He is our God and will assist and protect us in order to quench the desire of revenge in us.
- Luther spends the last paragraph of this section discussing the Carthusians [a group of monks who remove themselves from society and claim to live pious and holy lives]. He calls out their hypocritical behavior and their sad choice to remove themselves from the cross of living with and loving their enemies.
My thoughts today:
As a pastor's wife who had the privilege of living through the seminary years with my husband, I know something about living in a community of like-minded people. And while I miss those days with a deep longing in my soul, I have to recognize my own sinfulness in coveting that type of community. I don't mean to say loving the time there is wrong - most certainly not. Someday, on the Last Day, we will live in a community much greater and much more in unity than even those seminary days. So, hoping for that type of community is indeed hoping for the coming of our Lord. But until that Day, God has placed us out in the world to live among those who disagree with us and those who hate us and those who wish to do us harm and those who are our enemies.
My husband read (and encouraged me to read along with him, which I did...for...well, for awhile...and someday I will finish) a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran theologian during the Nazi regime. Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This book is about community. It is amazing. It details the intense desire of Christians to be in community with each other, while pointing out the needs of having Christians dispersed in the world to serve and love their enemies. This man knew something about loneliness in the faith. He knew something about enemies.
When reading about those Carthusians today, I thought about Bonhoeffer and his words concerning our balance of needing those who believe the same as us and needing to bear the cross of loneliness in a world who needs Christ's love through us.
I so desire to be the hypocritical Carthusian.
And that is a sin. It is a sin to turn my head from those who need saving.
In the words of Luther, "It is just as if I saw some one navigating and laboring in deep water [and struggling against adverse winds] or one fallen into fire, and could extend to him the hand to pull him out and save him, and yet refused to do it."
In my sorry state of sinfulness, I rejoice in Christ's forgiveness. For He is the One who reaches down to pull Peter from the waves of unbelief. He is the One who continues to pull the likes of men, even His enemies, from their own drowning in unbelief. He saves. He loves. He shows patience. He forgives. And until all the saints can be together in community, He gives me fellow believers to accompany me here and He gives me the Communion rail to find His peace with all those who have gone before me.
With that peace and with that forgiveness, I attempt to go on loving and serving those who hate me. With the help of God, I strive to honor the Fifth Commandment in a world full of drowning sinners, of which I am the chief.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fifth Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fifth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 179 - 187.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not kill.
- The first four commandments cover the spiritual and temporal government and obedience to them. The rest of the commandments concern how we should live with one another.
- This commandment is not directed to the spiritual and temporal governments, who have been given the authority to punish evil-doers by His command.
- Christ Himself explains this command - that we must not kill with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor counsel. It is forbidden to be angry except those in authority - parents and government - when their office calls for such rebuke in punishment.
- We must live among people who do us harm, and those actions encourage our sinfulness against this commandment.
- God has set up this commandment as a wall, fortress, and refuge around our neighbor, that we do him no hurt or harm, even when his actions are evil.
- "Thus we shall suffer our enemies to rage and be angry, doing what they can, and we learn to calm our wrath, and to have a patient, gentle heart, especially toward those who give us cause to be angry, that is, our enemies." Paragraph 187.
My thoughts today:
"...we learn to calm our wrath, and to have a patient, gentle heart, ESPECIALLY toward those who give us cause to be angry, that is, our enemies."
Head falls.
God be gracious to me.
My husband likes to make fun of me because I have a fiery streak and a tendency to hop on soapboxes about issues. My fiery streak and soapbox preaching is really just a nicer way to say I have an ungentle heart and I lack patience for those who give me cause to be angry.
And, of course, at this point my sinful self wants to say, "But...but...but...but they are sinning. They shouldn't be doing that. They...they...they...they hurt me."
Yep. You can stop talking now, Kelly. Someone else's sin is not a permission slip for your own.
So, I keep learning to calm my wrath. It is a lesson I will continue to learn until the Last Day. Until then, I live in His merciful forgiveness. A gift I cannot fathom, as I know I rightly deserve His righteous wrath. Thanks be to God for such mercy found in His Son.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fifth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 179 - 187.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not kill.
- The first four commandments cover the spiritual and temporal government and obedience to them. The rest of the commandments concern how we should live with one another.
- This commandment is not directed to the spiritual and temporal governments, who have been given the authority to punish evil-doers by His command.
- Christ Himself explains this command - that we must not kill with hand, heart, mouth, signs, gestures, help, nor counsel. It is forbidden to be angry except those in authority - parents and government - when their office calls for such rebuke in punishment.
- We must live among people who do us harm, and those actions encourage our sinfulness against this commandment.
- God has set up this commandment as a wall, fortress, and refuge around our neighbor, that we do him no hurt or harm, even when his actions are evil.
- "Thus we shall suffer our enemies to rage and be angry, doing what they can, and we learn to calm our wrath, and to have a patient, gentle heart, especially toward those who give us cause to be angry, that is, our enemies." Paragraph 187.
My thoughts today:
"...we learn to calm our wrath, and to have a patient, gentle heart, ESPECIALLY toward those who give us cause to be angry, that is, our enemies."
Head falls.
God be gracious to me.
My husband likes to make fun of me because I have a fiery streak and a tendency to hop on soapboxes about issues. My fiery streak and soapbox preaching is really just a nicer way to say I have an ungentle heart and I lack patience for those who give me cause to be angry.
And, of course, at this point my sinful self wants to say, "But...but...but...but they are sinning. They shouldn't be doing that. They...they...they...they hurt me."
Yep. You can stop talking now, Kelly. Someone else's sin is not a permission slip for your own.
So, I keep learning to calm my wrath. It is a lesson I will continue to learn until the Last Day. Until then, I live in His merciful forgiveness. A gift I cannot fathom, as I know I rightly deserve His righteous wrath. Thanks be to God for such mercy found in His Son.
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 7
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 7: Click here and read 166 - the end of the Fourth Commandment.
The basics:
- Luther spends this section discussing the father and mother's [and all authorities'] responsibilities to those they are given.
- God does not give authority to rulers and children to parents for them to rule over them as tyrants and to gain their own power, but to guide those under their care to Him.
- We all act as if children were given to us for our own pleasure or amusement, and servants given to us so we employ them as cattle. We do not act as if God has commanded us to raise them in the fear of the Lord. We will be asked to give an account as to our raising of those under our care.
- We must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our children so they may serve God and the world. He has given us children so we may train and govern them according to His will.
- By neglecting to raise your children to usefulness and piety, you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath by your own children. We see the effects of neglecting these commands in our world, and yet we fail to see it is our own fault.
My thoughts today:
In the daily pressures of being a mother, Isometimes almost always forget I have only one real job here. Or at least, I have only one job that really matters.
Sure, my hands clothe, feed, snuggle, bandage, educate, and otherwise care for these little people, but God has promised He will take care of their daily needs. From me, He commands I raise them according to His will. He commands I train them in His ways. Together, with my husband and all those in authority over them, I am commanded to teach them the first three commandments, from which all others will flow.
I am a mother and I am a godmother. I have only one job, and yet, I am not able to complete it by my own will. It is by the grace of God and through Him that I am able to witness my children's faith. It is a gift bestowed on my children because of the death of His Child.
People often talk of the "mommy wars," and there certainly is no shortage of blogs telling you exactly how to raise your children within every possible lifestyle imaginable. While I have my own opinions about what is right and wrong in raising a child [and I do have lots of them and I do think people are right or wrong in many cases], the truth is only one thing matters.
Did you raise them in the one true faith?
Within this question, there are so many more -
Do they know how to make a case for why they believe what they believe?
Do they know how to ask for, receive, and give forgiveness?
Do they recognize sin when they commit it or see it?
Do they know Christ's death was for them because of their own sinfulness?
Do they believe the words of the Apostle's Creed?
The burden for teaching this is far too heavy for me to carry. My husband and I pray often for our own wisdom and strength in raising children in the faith. And believe me, we have failed many times, and we will continue to fail as we raise these gifts God has given to us.
So, if you want to have a mommy war, make it be over that which really matters.
Wage a mommy war on your own failure to raise your children in the fear of the Lord.
That is a battle worth having, and the best part is you never fight it alone.
Actually, the whole war was already won for you.
The sad truth is children [and once they are grown] adults have the ability to turn away from the faith. Luther reminded me here that I earnestly desire to keep my battles where they should be kept - fighting the battle of raising them to fear the Lord.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 7: Click here and read 166 - the end of the Fourth Commandment.
The basics:
- Luther spends this section discussing the father and mother's [and all authorities'] responsibilities to those they are given.
- God does not give authority to rulers and children to parents for them to rule over them as tyrants and to gain their own power, but to guide those under their care to Him.
- We all act as if children were given to us for our own pleasure or amusement, and servants given to us so we employ them as cattle. We do not act as if God has commanded us to raise them in the fear of the Lord. We will be asked to give an account as to our raising of those under our care.
- We must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and educating our children so they may serve God and the world. He has given us children so we may train and govern them according to His will.
- By neglecting to raise your children to usefulness and piety, you bring upon yourself all sin and wrath by your own children. We see the effects of neglecting these commands in our world, and yet we fail to see it is our own fault.
My thoughts today:
In the daily pressures of being a mother, I
Sure, my hands clothe, feed, snuggle, bandage, educate, and otherwise care for these little people, but God has promised He will take care of their daily needs. From me, He commands I raise them according to His will. He commands I train them in His ways. Together, with my husband and all those in authority over them, I am commanded to teach them the first three commandments, from which all others will flow.
I am a mother and I am a godmother. I have only one job, and yet, I am not able to complete it by my own will. It is by the grace of God and through Him that I am able to witness my children's faith. It is a gift bestowed on my children because of the death of His Child.
People often talk of the "mommy wars," and there certainly is no shortage of blogs telling you exactly how to raise your children within every possible lifestyle imaginable. While I have my own opinions about what is right and wrong in raising a child [and I do have lots of them and I do think people are right or wrong in many cases], the truth is only one thing matters.
Did you raise them in the one true faith?
Within this question, there are so many more -
Do they know how to make a case for why they believe what they believe?
Do they know how to ask for, receive, and give forgiveness?
Do they recognize sin when they commit it or see it?
Do they know Christ's death was for them because of their own sinfulness?
Do they believe the words of the Apostle's Creed?
The burden for teaching this is far too heavy for me to carry. My husband and I pray often for our own wisdom and strength in raising children in the faith. And believe me, we have failed many times, and we will continue to fail as we raise these gifts God has given to us.
So, if you want to have a mommy war, make it be over that which really matters.
Wage a mommy war on your own failure to raise your children in the fear of the Lord.
That is a battle worth having, and the best part is you never fight it alone.
Actually, the whole war was already won for you.
The sad truth is children [and once they are grown] adults have the ability to turn away from the faith. Luther reminded me here that I earnestly desire to keep my battles where they should be kept - fighting the battle of raising them to fear the Lord.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 6
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 6: Click here and read 152 - 165.
The basics:
- The world is full of calamity, disgrace, unfaithfulness, and murder because one desires to be his own master and free from authority, to care nothing for anyone, and do what pleases him. We complain of these misfortunes in the world but fail to recognize our own disobedience to this command.
- There are two kinds of fathers recognized in this command - fathers in blood and fathers in office.
- Spiritual fathers [pastors] are to be honored within this command, as well.
- The world does not recognize the worth of a spiritual father and therefore begrudges him all things. Christians are obligated to esteem spiritual fathers worthy of double honor for the work of ministering to their souls. This includes dealing well with them and providing for them.
- You should not withhold providing for your spiritual father because of fear for your own bodily needs. "Therefore only do what is your duty, and let God take care how He is to support you and provide for you sufficiently. Since He has promised it, and has never yet lied, He will not be found lying to you." Paragraph 165.
My thoughts today:
I am continuously amazed by the extent to which our churches have provided for my husband and our family. I thank God for them. I know many men, faithful to their congregations, who are not so highly esteemed among the people. For this, I am sad.
I could say more, but instead, I will direct you to an amazing post about spiritual fathers from a friend of mine, Adriene Heins. While you are over there, check out the rest of her blog. It is well worth your time.
your pastor, your father by Adriane Heins.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 6: Click here and read 152 - 165.
The basics:
- The world is full of calamity, disgrace, unfaithfulness, and murder because one desires to be his own master and free from authority, to care nothing for anyone, and do what pleases him. We complain of these misfortunes in the world but fail to recognize our own disobedience to this command.
- There are two kinds of fathers recognized in this command - fathers in blood and fathers in office.
- Spiritual fathers [pastors] are to be honored within this command, as well.
- The world does not recognize the worth of a spiritual father and therefore begrudges him all things. Christians are obligated to esteem spiritual fathers worthy of double honor for the work of ministering to their souls. This includes dealing well with them and providing for them.
- You should not withhold providing for your spiritual father because of fear for your own bodily needs. "Therefore only do what is your duty, and let God take care how He is to support you and provide for you sufficiently. Since He has promised it, and has never yet lied, He will not be found lying to you." Paragraph 165.
My thoughts today:
I am continuously amazed by the extent to which our churches have provided for my husband and our family. I thank God for them. I know many men, faithful to their congregations, who are not so highly esteemed among the people. For this, I am sad.
I could say more, but instead, I will direct you to an amazing post about spiritual fathers from a friend of mine, Adriene Heins. While you are over there, check out the rest of her blog. It is well worth your time.
your pastor, your father by Adriane Heins.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 5
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 5: Click here and read 143 - 151.
The basics:
- Servants are to obey and also honor those they serve. In their work, they should be content because they know they are honoring God's commands.
- Instead of honoring father and mother and those who rule over us, we have run to do good works in the church through pilgrimages or pay indulgences to the church as a form of work for God. God commands the work of honoring father and mother. Indulgences and pilgrimages do not clear the conscience.
- If you perform your daily domestic tasks, your work is just as good to God as that of the monks.
- "For in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him, but the works are for the service of man." Paragraph 147.
- Obedience to government is included in obedience to father. For through them, as through our parents, God gives us gifts. It is our duty to honor and esteem them as great treasures.
- When we are disobedient in regards to this command, what we seek outside of His command and what we deserve is paid back to us - war, pestilence, famine, tyrants, etc.
My thoughts today:
If I could only choose one sentence to explain vocation to someone, I would choose Martin Luther's words in paragraph 147, "For in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him, but the works are for the service of man."
It is unlike me to only choose one sentence about anything, though, so I shall go on...
The works God has placed for me on this earth are here for service to others.
It may be changing a diaper.
It may be cooking a meal.
It may be writing a blog encouraging others to read the Large Catechism.
The point is, these works are for the benefit and service of man. I can do nothing for God. If I could, He would not have had to die for me. He gives me a vocation so HE can serve others through my hands. He has set me up as a mother, so my children will receive gifts from Him. He has given me a mother and father, government, pastors, and all in authority over me, so He can give me gifts.
He does all the work. I don't do good work. In Martin Luther's words, the only thing which serves Him is my faith. And incidentally, He gives that, too.
In my vocation, in my life, and in my faith I am weak.
"...I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 5: Click here and read 143 - 151.
The basics:
- Servants are to obey and also honor those they serve. In their work, they should be content because they know they are honoring God's commands.
- Instead of honoring father and mother and those who rule over us, we have run to do good works in the church through pilgrimages or pay indulgences to the church as a form of work for God. God commands the work of honoring father and mother. Indulgences and pilgrimages do not clear the conscience.
- If you perform your daily domestic tasks, your work is just as good to God as that of the monks.
- "For in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him, but the works are for the service of man." Paragraph 147.
- Obedience to government is included in obedience to father. For through them, as through our parents, God gives us gifts. It is our duty to honor and esteem them as great treasures.
- When we are disobedient in regards to this command, what we seek outside of His command and what we deserve is paid back to us - war, pestilence, famine, tyrants, etc.
My thoughts today:
If I could only choose one sentence to explain vocation to someone, I would choose Martin Luther's words in paragraph 147, "For in the sight of God faith is what really renders a person holy, and alone serves Him, but the works are for the service of man."
It is unlike me to only choose one sentence about anything, though, so I shall go on...
The works God has placed for me on this earth are here for service to others.
It may be changing a diaper.
It may be cooking a meal.
It may be writing a blog encouraging others to read the Large Catechism.
The point is, these works are for the benefit and service of man. I can do nothing for God. If I could, He would not have had to die for me. He gives me a vocation so HE can serve others through my hands. He has set me up as a mother, so my children will receive gifts from Him. He has given me a mother and father, government, pastors, and all in authority over me, so He can give me gifts.
He does all the work. I don't do good work. In Martin Luther's words, the only thing which serves Him is my faith. And incidentally, He gives that, too.
In my vocation, in my life, and in my faith I am weak.
"...I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 4
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 134 - 142.
The basics:
- The godly and obedient shall live in pleasant quietness and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation; the ungodly shall be blotted out.
- Luther speaks so frankly about the reward and punishment of this command so it will be impressed upon the young, because no one takes this command very seriously.
- Within obedience to parents belongs obedience to all in authority over the household. This would include teachers, when children are not able to be educated at home, government, and those whom parents place in authority over their household.
- In Scripture and in history, men with authority over households were called "father" even when they were not the physical father of a group. They were honored as such by servants and people whom they might rule over. In turn, they should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates.
My thoughts today:
Living in pleasant quietness.
I like that, Luther. "But the godly and obedient have this blessing, that they live long in pleasant quietness, and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation."
A blessed life with the full reward of this commandment is not riches or glory or easiness or fun or power. The blessing is pleasant quietness to live a full life. I can deal with that kind of reward.
In a world that recognizes the loud, hears the boisterous, and answers the squeaky wheel, we are given the reward of a pleasantly quiet life. Pleasant quietness is not synonymous with invisible and unheard. It is a state of contentment with one's life and vocation. It is a gentleness only manageable through the gentleness of Christ within us.
Pleasant quietness is the ability to...
...give an account as to the hope which is within us, while quietly honoring those who have been placed as mothers and fathers over us.
...confess our sins in faith, while quietly learning from our pastors.
...boldly condemn sin in our world, while quietly tending to our neighbors' needs.
...stand against sin in the government, while quietly praying for those who rule over us.
In our honoring of the Fourth Commandment (through His honoring of it for us), we are gifted the reward of pleasant quietness. We are gifted the contentment to fulfill our vocation here on this earth.
It is a pretty sweet reward.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 134 - 142.
The basics:
- The godly and obedient shall live in pleasant quietness and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation; the ungodly shall be blotted out.
- Luther speaks so frankly about the reward and punishment of this command so it will be impressed upon the young, because no one takes this command very seriously.
- Within obedience to parents belongs obedience to all in authority over the household. This would include teachers, when children are not able to be educated at home, government, and those whom parents place in authority over their household.
- In Scripture and in history, men with authority over households were called "father" even when they were not the physical father of a group. They were honored as such by servants and people whom they might rule over. In turn, they should have a paternal heart toward their subordinates.
My thoughts today:
Living in pleasant quietness.
I like that, Luther. "But the godly and obedient have this blessing, that they live long in pleasant quietness, and see their children's children to the third and fourth generation."
A blessed life with the full reward of this commandment is not riches or glory or easiness or fun or power. The blessing is pleasant quietness to live a full life. I can deal with that kind of reward.
In a world that recognizes the loud, hears the boisterous, and answers the squeaky wheel, we are given the reward of a pleasantly quiet life. Pleasant quietness is not synonymous with invisible and unheard. It is a state of contentment with one's life and vocation. It is a gentleness only manageable through the gentleness of Christ within us.
Pleasant quietness is the ability to...
...give an account as to the hope which is within us, while quietly honoring those who have been placed as mothers and fathers over us.
...confess our sins in faith, while quietly learning from our pastors.
...boldly condemn sin in our world, while quietly tending to our neighbors' needs.
...stand against sin in the government, while quietly praying for those who rule over us.
In our honoring of the Fourth Commandment (through His honoring of it for us), we are gifted the reward of pleasant quietness. We are gifted the contentment to fulfill our vocation here on this earth.
It is a pretty sweet reward.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 125 - 133.
The basics:
- God has set parents up in His stead on this earth.
- We all forget how much good our God and our parents have done for us.
- To God, to parents, and to teachers we can never render sufficient gratitude and compensation.
- God has attached a temporal promise to this commandment - That you may live long upon the land which the Lord has given you. Following this commandment is not only pleasing to God, but also for our own physical good.
My thoughts today:
As I was trying to write this, my four-year-old and three-year-old sons were horsing around like they often do. I told them they were not allowed to do flips off the couch.
That, of course, made it a little more exciting to do flips off the couch.
The four-year-old slipped, crashed into his brother, and both fell into the table. Tears and screams abounded. Although I wanted to make sure they were actually physically okay, I had to laugh inside at the timing of such disobedience. Toddlerhood is a great example of God's temporal promise added to the Fourth Commandment. If only my toddlers would listen to me, they wouldn't get hurt so much.
But alas. We all sin. And sometimes our sins are directly responsible for our suffering.
And just like a toddler, I have disobeyed my parents and gotten burned, too.
Sometimes I like to think about Jesus as a toddler. I mean, a sinless toddler, can you even imagine? We serve a God who has so much power over His own flesh that He even controlled it in toddlerhood. As an adult I like to think sinning is so much harder to avoid now, but the truth is sin is unavoidable for every age. It lives in our hearts. It is found spewing from our mouths and our actions. But not from His. And He chooses to stand up and say, "No, it was Me. I paid for that already."
Pretty amazing. We have a God who came here and lived as a toddler who obeyed His earthly parents and heavenly Father perfectly. He lived as an adult who continued to do the same until His last breath as He gave a disciple the job of caring for His mother in His absence. He knew being obedient even until death was something we would not do. He did it for us.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 125 - 133.
The basics:
- God has set parents up in His stead on this earth.
- We all forget how much good our God and our parents have done for us.
- To God, to parents, and to teachers we can never render sufficient gratitude and compensation.
- God has attached a temporal promise to this commandment - That you may live long upon the land which the Lord has given you. Following this commandment is not only pleasing to God, but also for our own physical good.
My thoughts today:
As I was trying to write this, my four-year-old and three-year-old sons were horsing around like they often do. I told them they were not allowed to do flips off the couch.
That, of course, made it a little more exciting to do flips off the couch.
The four-year-old slipped, crashed into his brother, and both fell into the table. Tears and screams abounded. Although I wanted to make sure they were actually physically okay, I had to laugh inside at the timing of such disobedience. Toddlerhood is a great example of God's temporal promise added to the Fourth Commandment. If only my toddlers would listen to me, they wouldn't get hurt so much.
But alas. We all sin. And sometimes our sins are directly responsible for our suffering.
And just like a toddler, I have disobeyed my parents and gotten burned, too.
Sometimes I like to think about Jesus as a toddler. I mean, a sinless toddler, can you even imagine? We serve a God who has so much power over His own flesh that He even controlled it in toddlerhood. As an adult I like to think sinning is so much harder to avoid now, but the truth is sin is unavoidable for every age. It lives in our hearts. It is found spewing from our mouths and our actions. But not from His. And He chooses to stand up and say, "No, it was Me. I paid for that already."
Pretty amazing. We have a God who came here and lived as a toddler who obeyed His earthly parents and heavenly Father perfectly. He lived as an adult who continued to do the same until His last breath as He gave a disciple the job of caring for His mother in His absence. He knew being obedient even until death was something we would not do. He did it for us.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 114 - 124.
The basics:
- If youth wish to serve God with their works, they must first do what father and mother have commanded. Through this commandment, we can be certain of our obedience to God when we are obedient to our parents.
- Obedience to the father and mother is a great work toward God, as long as the will of the father and mother is not contrary to the three previous commandments.
- Luther gives us examples of people trying to do good works for God and forgetting this as the greatest good work. He says their good works hold no place over that of a child who obeys his parents.
- The world does not see the holiness in obedience to father and mother. "But this is the plight and miserable blindness of the world that no one believes these things; to such an extent the devil has deceived us with false holiness and the glamour of our own works." Paragraph 120
- Luther goes on a bit of a rant as to the state of disarray in the family, and the disobedience of children and the ignorance of parents. "As a rule, the parents, too, are themselves stupid and ignorant; one fool trains [teaches] another, and as they have lived, so live their children after them."
My thoughts today:
It is impossible to recognize the amount of responsibility God gives to parents. I am one, and I have no idea. In this reading, I was given a little more of a glimpse as to the enormity of it all. My children are commanded to honor and obey my husband and me, as long as our will is aligned with the first three commandments. Ummm...who is responsible for teaching those three commandments, again?
Oh. Yeah...that's my husband and me. We are in charge of teaching those first three commandments. So, should we fail in correctly teaching the will we should be aligned with, our children will have no basis for recognizing when to obey.
If we fail to teach the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, then our children will have no idea they are sinning against anything.
"Letting my children decide for themselves," is no answer, parents. That answer is just shirking off your own responsibility. Your children are commanded to obey you. You are commanded to raise your children in the fear and reverence of the Lord. It is a command given for our good - all commands are. We remember from our earlier readings - God commands these to us so we are directed toward Him, the source of all good, and away from all evil.
I, in myself, am not worthy of my children's obedience. I have failed them too many times, but thanks be to God, there is forgiveness. In His Word, through His Word, by His command, and in my vocation as mother, I am worthy of obedience. If you are a parent, you are as well, my friends.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 114 - 124.
The basics:
- If youth wish to serve God with their works, they must first do what father and mother have commanded. Through this commandment, we can be certain of our obedience to God when we are obedient to our parents.
- Obedience to the father and mother is a great work toward God, as long as the will of the father and mother is not contrary to the three previous commandments.
- Luther gives us examples of people trying to do good works for God and forgetting this as the greatest good work. He says their good works hold no place over that of a child who obeys his parents.
- The world does not see the holiness in obedience to father and mother. "But this is the plight and miserable blindness of the world that no one believes these things; to such an extent the devil has deceived us with false holiness and the glamour of our own works." Paragraph 120
- Luther goes on a bit of a rant as to the state of disarray in the family, and the disobedience of children and the ignorance of parents. "As a rule, the parents, too, are themselves stupid and ignorant; one fool trains [teaches] another, and as they have lived, so live their children after them."
My thoughts today:
It is impossible to recognize the amount of responsibility God gives to parents. I am one, and I have no idea. In this reading, I was given a little more of a glimpse as to the enormity of it all. My children are commanded to honor and obey my husband and me, as long as our will is aligned with the first three commandments. Ummm...who is responsible for teaching those three commandments, again?
Oh. Yeah...that's my husband and me. We are in charge of teaching those first three commandments. So, should we fail in correctly teaching the will we should be aligned with, our children will have no basis for recognizing when to obey.
If we fail to teach the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, then our children will have no idea they are sinning against anything.
"Letting my children decide for themselves," is no answer, parents. That answer is just shirking off your own responsibility. Your children are commanded to obey you. You are commanded to raise your children in the fear and reverence of the Lord. It is a command given for our good - all commands are. We remember from our earlier readings - God commands these to us so we are directed toward Him, the source of all good, and away from all evil.
I, in myself, am not worthy of my children's obedience. I have failed them too many times, but thanks be to God, there is forgiveness. In His Word, through His Word, by His command, and in my vocation as mother, I am worthy of obedience. If you are a parent, you are as well, my friends.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Large Catechism: The Fourth Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 104 - 113.
The basics:
- Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.
- The role of father and mother have been given special distinction above all other roles.
- To honor means to both in heart and body act as to show that we esteem one very highly, so highly that next to God, one is esteemed highest.
- However lowly, poor, or frail the father and mother are, they are given by God. They are not to be deprived of their honor because of their failings.
- Parents are the most precious treasure on earth. We are to serve them, help them, provide for them when they are old, sick, or poor, and act gently and honorably toward them.
- Any command given by God is far nobler and much better for us than anything we devise for ourselves. Therefore, we know that honoring the father and mother above all others is best for us, even when we recognize their failings.
My thoughts today:
My mother is reading this. So, Mom, this is to you (and you can read it to Dad, too).
I really really really stink at the Fourth Commandment. I have failed to listen to you as I should. I have failed to care for you the way you deserve as my mother and father. I have failed to, both in heart and body, act as to show the esteem I hold for you.
I know you see your own faults. I know you think you have failed me at times. The truth is watching you live life as a sinner and saint has made me better at confessing my own failures. God works through you as a parent, and through you He has taught me how to forgive and how to be forgiven.
Parents are the most precious treasure on earth. You, my mom and dad, are my most precious treasure on earth. I don't always act that way. I don't always say it. I don't always show it.
I will fail at recognizing what a great treasure you are again and again.
Maybe you can just bookmark this page on your desktop, and remind me of it when I get a little rebellious...
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Fourth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 104 - 113.
The basics:
- Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.
- The role of father and mother have been given special distinction above all other roles.
- To honor means to both in heart and body act as to show that we esteem one very highly, so highly that next to God, one is esteemed highest.
- However lowly, poor, or frail the father and mother are, they are given by God. They are not to be deprived of their honor because of their failings.
- Parents are the most precious treasure on earth. We are to serve them, help them, provide for them when they are old, sick, or poor, and act gently and honorably toward them.
- Any command given by God is far nobler and much better for us than anything we devise for ourselves. Therefore, we know that honoring the father and mother above all others is best for us, even when we recognize their failings.
My thoughts today:
My mother is reading this. So, Mom, this is to you (and you can read it to Dad, too).
I really really really stink at the Fourth Commandment. I have failed to listen to you as I should. I have failed to care for you the way you deserve as my mother and father. I have failed to, both in heart and body, act as to show the esteem I hold for you.
I know you see your own faults. I know you think you have failed me at times. The truth is watching you live life as a sinner and saint has made me better at confessing my own failures. God works through you as a parent, and through you He has taught me how to forgive and how to be forgiven.
Parents are the most precious treasure on earth. You, my mom and dad, are my most precious treasure on earth. I don't always act that way. I don't always say it. I don't always show it.
I will fail at recognizing what a great treasure you are again and again.
Maybe you can just bookmark this page on your desktop, and remind me of it when I get a little rebellious...
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Large Catechism: The Third Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 94 - end of the Third Commandment section.
The basics:
- God will punish those who despise His Word and refuse to hear it and learn it, especially refusing it during the time and place appointed for that purpose (the Divine Service).
- Sinning against this commandment includes refusing to attend the service and attending the service only out of custom and not caring to learn or pay attention.
- You must not only be concerned with hearing, but also retaining and memorizing the Word.
- Even if you know everything perfectly, the devil is still waiting to steal the Word from you. Thinking you know too much to listen intently to a sermon is just as great of a sin as not attending.
- "...whenever it [the Word] is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words."
My thoughts today:
It is pretty easy for me to sit on my high horse and look at all those non-church goers...
I am so much better than them. Look at them sinning against the Third Commandment.
Look at those people working on a Sunday. I don't do that. Sunday is the Lord's day.
That drunk can't even wake up to go to church. Shame on him.
Ha. Luther smashes me and my sinfulness yet again.
When I fail to pay attention.
When I fail to care.
When I think I know more than the pastor.
When I choose to close my ears.
When I care more about who is missing in the pews around me than I do about the words from the pulpit.
When I spend my time thinking about how much I dislike the hymn we just sang.
When I hear the Law preached and think, "Yeah, THAT guy needs to here this."
When I hear the Gospel preached and think, "I already know that, Pastor. Preach something new."
When I do all those things (and believe me, I have done all those things), I am just as guilty as the drunk in the tavern on Sunday morning.
My sin is no less.
Thanks be to God, my Savior is much more.
He continues to give His good gifts to me, this poor miserable sinner and holy saint that I am.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 94 - end of the Third Commandment section.
The basics:
- God will punish those who despise His Word and refuse to hear it and learn it, especially refusing it during the time and place appointed for that purpose (the Divine Service).
- Sinning against this commandment includes refusing to attend the service and attending the service only out of custom and not caring to learn or pay attention.
- You must not only be concerned with hearing, but also retaining and memorizing the Word.
- Even if you know everything perfectly, the devil is still waiting to steal the Word from you. Thinking you know too much to listen intently to a sermon is just as great of a sin as not attending.
- "...whenever it [the Word] is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words."
My thoughts today:
It is pretty easy for me to sit on my high horse and look at all those non-church goers...
I am so much better than them. Look at them sinning against the Third Commandment.
Look at those people working on a Sunday. I don't do that. Sunday is the Lord's day.
That drunk can't even wake up to go to church. Shame on him.
Ha. Luther smashes me and my sinfulness yet again.
When I fail to pay attention.
When I fail to care.
When I think I know more than the pastor.
When I choose to close my ears.
When I care more about who is missing in the pews around me than I do about the words from the pulpit.
When I spend my time thinking about how much I dislike the hymn we just sang.
When I hear the Law preached and think, "Yeah, THAT guy needs to here this."
When I hear the Gospel preached and think, "I already know that, Pastor. Preach something new."
When I do all those things (and believe me, I have done all those things), I am just as guilty as the drunk in the tavern on Sunday morning.
My sin is no less.
Thanks be to God, my Savior is much more.
He continues to give His good gifts to me, this poor miserable sinner and holy saint that I am.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Large Catechism: The Third Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 87-93.
The basics:
- To sanctify the holy day is the same as to keep it holy (to be occupied in holy words, works, and life).
- Sanctification of the holy day does not happen while sitting idly with folded hands doing no work.
- We should rightly keep everyday holy, but the holy day is set apart to be a rest and to be concerned with holy things alone (the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, etc.)
- Luther speaks out against using relics to make one holy. He talks against thinking a pile of saint bones can sanctify anything, but holds up God's Word as the sole way of keeping a day and a person holy.
- "At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all." Paragraph 91.
My thoughts today:
Keeping the Sabbath holy is a pretty hard thing for me in this stage of life. The Sabbath day ends up being somewhat chaotic, rushed, and tiring. I have three children four-and-under. I am married to a pastor who has two churches.
My pew doesn't seem very holy most Sundays.
But here Luther reminds me what sanctifying the holy day means. It means hearing the Word taught and preached. It means focusing on the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. Sometimes between two potty breaks, a blow-out diaper, busy hands with crayons, a ripped hymnal page, and 16 dropped toys, I don't really feel like I heard much of anything.
But God's Word isn't like some speech you go to and decide what to hear and what to avoid. God's Word, preached rightly, is living and active and creates faith in you. Sure, it is best when I can actually recount some of the basics from a sermon. Sure, it is pretty awesome when I get to say the words of the Creed with my children. Sure, it is REALLY rough when I feel embarrassed by the behavior of my children and even more embarrassed by my own behavior in retaliation.
But you know what? God's Word is promised to me in the Divine Service. Whether I feel it really makes no difference. Feelings are fickle. Feelings don't give the gifts of Christ.
The Third Commandment is given to us so He can give to us. He gives so much in the Divine Service - to me and to my squirmy children. He gives faith. He gives life. He gives salvation. He gives forgiveness. He gives His Body and His Blood. He gives to all those people in the pew (or under or on or around or wherever the toddler may be during the service).
I guess my pew really is holy.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 87-93.
The basics:
- To sanctify the holy day is the same as to keep it holy (to be occupied in holy words, works, and life).
- Sanctification of the holy day does not happen while sitting idly with folded hands doing no work.
- We should rightly keep everyday holy, but the holy day is set apart to be a rest and to be concerned with holy things alone (the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, etc.)
- Luther speaks out against using relics to make one holy. He talks against thinking a pile of saint bones can sanctify anything, but holds up God's Word as the sole way of keeping a day and a person holy.
- "At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all." Paragraph 91.
My thoughts today:
Keeping the Sabbath holy is a pretty hard thing for me in this stage of life. The Sabbath day ends up being somewhat chaotic, rushed, and tiring. I have three children four-and-under. I am married to a pastor who has two churches.
My pew doesn't seem very holy most Sundays.
But here Luther reminds me what sanctifying the holy day means. It means hearing the Word taught and preached. It means focusing on the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. Sometimes between two potty breaks, a blow-out diaper, busy hands with crayons, a ripped hymnal page, and 16 dropped toys, I don't really feel like I heard much of anything.
But God's Word isn't like some speech you go to and decide what to hear and what to avoid. God's Word, preached rightly, is living and active and creates faith in you. Sure, it is best when I can actually recount some of the basics from a sermon. Sure, it is pretty awesome when I get to say the words of the Creed with my children. Sure, it is REALLY rough when I feel embarrassed by the behavior of my children and even more embarrassed by my own behavior in retaliation.
But you know what? God's Word is promised to me in the Divine Service. Whether I feel it really makes no difference. Feelings are fickle. Feelings don't give the gifts of Christ.
The Third Commandment is given to us so He can give to us. He gives so much in the Divine Service - to me and to my squirmy children. He gives faith. He gives life. He gives salvation. He gives forgiveness. He gives His Body and His Blood. He gives to all those people in the pew (or under or on or around or wherever the toddler may be during the service).
I guess my pew really is holy.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Large Catechism: The Third Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 78-86.
The basics:
- Thou shalt sanctify the holy day. [Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.]
- In the Old Testament God appointed the seventh day as a day of rest. This law was given as a rest from toilsome work, but the Jews' overreaching adherence to this led to their inability to accept Jesus' healings and other works on the Sabbath.
- The meaning of the commandment is not in the total absence of work but the sanctifying of the day by keeping it holy. This should rightly be done everyday, but the Sabbath is set apart for the divine service.
- When holidays [rest] are observed, they should be devoted to hearing God's Word.
- Resting should not be so strictly interpreted as to forbid other incidental work that cannot be avoided.
My thoughts today:
From Paragraph 85 -
"...we also should continue the same, in order that everything be done in harmonious order, and no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation."
Don't we create a lot of disorder in the name of innovation? God on the other hand only creates order. The disorder and chaos and confusion in our lives is our own sinful doing. Everything God creates and commands is ordered - the days and nights, the Sabbath, marriage, bearing children, and the list goes on.
We just seem to go and disorder it all up in the name of newness and tolerance and happiness.
Our God is one of order. Our divine services, our relationships, and our lives should reflect His order, not our whims.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Third Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 78-86.
The basics:
- Thou shalt sanctify the holy day. [Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.]
- In the Old Testament God appointed the seventh day as a day of rest. This law was given as a rest from toilsome work, but the Jews' overreaching adherence to this led to their inability to accept Jesus' healings and other works on the Sabbath.
- The meaning of the commandment is not in the total absence of work but the sanctifying of the day by keeping it holy. This should rightly be done everyday, but the Sabbath is set apart for the divine service.
- When holidays [rest] are observed, they should be devoted to hearing God's Word.
- Resting should not be so strictly interpreted as to forbid other incidental work that cannot be avoided.
My thoughts today:
From Paragraph 85 -
"...we also should continue the same, in order that everything be done in harmonious order, and no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation."
Don't we create a lot of disorder in the name of innovation? God on the other hand only creates order. The disorder and chaos and confusion in our lives is our own sinful doing. Everything God creates and commands is ordered - the days and nights, the Sabbath, marriage, bearing children, and the list goes on.
We just seem to go and disorder it all up in the name of newness and tolerance and happiness.
Our God is one of order. Our divine services, our relationships, and our lives should reflect His order, not our whims.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Large Catechism: The Second Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 69 - the end of the Second Commandment.
The basics:
- Where children are able to do as they are pleased, no good results. Luther denounced the whole world as being full of "unbridled men," and expressed the need for strong discipline.
- Children should be trained to always have God's name on their lips; for what begins and reigns in the heart is then expressed through the lips.
- The devil cannot remain where the Lord's name is called upon rightly. We should be using it as protection and praising it for even small gifts.
- We should be in the habit of daily commending our selves, our bodies, our souls, our families, and our lives to God. This can be done in ritual prayers in morning, at meals, at bed, and through crossing ourselves when we experience fear or see danger.
- We are to train our children in the first two commandments. Luther is not against punishment by the "rod," but he says that if their obedience is strictly due to this, then they will fail to bear fruit after the rod is gone. We must train with discipline and with kindness.
My thoughts today:
"Little cornfields have big ears." You ever heard that? Maybe it is just a saying in the corn states, but it is oh so true. There is not much that comes from my mouth that doesn't soon come from my children's mouths. They hear everything.
I kind of hate to admit that sometimes.
Oh, it is great when they say "thank you" on their own.
Or, you know, when they answer a question in an adult Bible study that no one else knows.
But it isn't so great at other times. You can make your own guesses as to what I am speaking...
Anyway, my point is this - when I sin through my mouth, I am taking the Lord's name in vain. I claim with this same mouth my Christianity. I claim with this same mouth my faith. Then, I sin with it. And what comes from my mouth, was originated in my heart. And what comes from my mouth will soon come from my children's. And what comes from my children's mouths, will soon take root in their hearts. And there it will bear fruit. With the help of God, it will bear good fruit.
So, I confess regularly in front of them, hoping that they too will confess they are poor, miserable sinners. Train children in the fear and reverence of the Lord. Easy to say. Hard to do. We will daily continue to call upon His name to aid us in this monumental task.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 69 - the end of the Second Commandment.
The basics:
- Where children are able to do as they are pleased, no good results. Luther denounced the whole world as being full of "unbridled men," and expressed the need for strong discipline.
- Children should be trained to always have God's name on their lips; for what begins and reigns in the heart is then expressed through the lips.
- The devil cannot remain where the Lord's name is called upon rightly. We should be using it as protection and praising it for even small gifts.
- We should be in the habit of daily commending our selves, our bodies, our souls, our families, and our lives to God. This can be done in ritual prayers in morning, at meals, at bed, and through crossing ourselves when we experience fear or see danger.
- We are to train our children in the first two commandments. Luther is not against punishment by the "rod," but he says that if their obedience is strictly due to this, then they will fail to bear fruit after the rod is gone. We must train with discipline and with kindness.
My thoughts today:
"Little cornfields have big ears." You ever heard that? Maybe it is just a saying in the corn states, but it is oh so true. There is not much that comes from my mouth that doesn't soon come from my children's mouths. They hear everything.
I kind of hate to admit that sometimes.
Oh, it is great when they say "thank you" on their own.
Or, you know, when they answer a question in an adult Bible study that no one else knows.
But it isn't so great at other times. You can make your own guesses as to what I am speaking...
Anyway, my point is this - when I sin through my mouth, I am taking the Lord's name in vain. I claim with this same mouth my Christianity. I claim with this same mouth my faith. Then, I sin with it. And what comes from my mouth, was originated in my heart. And what comes from my mouth will soon come from my children's. And what comes from my children's mouths, will soon take root in their hearts. And there it will bear fruit. With the help of God, it will bear good fruit.
So, I confess regularly in front of them, hoping that they too will confess they are poor, miserable sinners. Train children in the fear and reverence of the Lord. Easy to say. Hard to do. We will daily continue to call upon His name to aid us in this monumental task.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Large Catechism: The Second Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 57-68.
The basics:
- God has a threat attached to the second commandment: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
- We all hold within us the desire to cover up our sins and make ourselves look holy and righteous. In so doing, we are using God's name in vain.
- Children are to be taught to hold the first two commandments in high regard. Luther says children are to be brought up with discipline and the reverence and fear of the Lord.
- Besides knowing how NOT to use God's name, we must be taught how TO use it rightly. The Lord's name has been given to us to be of constant use and profit.
- When the Lord's name is called upon in all praise, thanksgiving, need, truth, and right teaching, His name is being hallowed, as we pray in the Lord's Prayer.
- Swearing in God's name in court is not done in vain when one uses it to pronounce truth and for the good of the neighbor.
My thoughts today:
I can't read about swearing in a courtroom without thinking of our oldest son, who was adopted at birth. My husband was giddy about taking the stand on our behalf at his adoption finalization. He boldly and proudly swore to tell the truth, so help him God.
The "so help him God" was the most important part of that sentence. Just as following a birth, parents who are adopting have no idea what they are signing onto. The trials, the joys, the frustrations, the laughs, the pain, the love. It is not imaginable on that first day. Sometimes when I try to explain this to people I compare adoption to the vows you take in a marriage. When I married my husband, I had absolutely NO CLUE what those vows were going to mean down the road.
But with the help of God, I vowed them that day.
And with the help of God, I honor those vows daily.
The same is true with adoption.
With the help of God, we swore to raise and care for him.
With the help of God, we honor that vow daily.
So, using God's name to serve your neighbor is pretty awesome. Whether that neighbor is your husband or your son or your friend or your parent or your next-door neighbor. With the help of God, we keep on serving.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 57-68.
The basics:
- God has a threat attached to the second commandment: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
- We all hold within us the desire to cover up our sins and make ourselves look holy and righteous. In so doing, we are using God's name in vain.
- Children are to be taught to hold the first two commandments in high regard. Luther says children are to be brought up with discipline and the reverence and fear of the Lord.
- Besides knowing how NOT to use God's name, we must be taught how TO use it rightly. The Lord's name has been given to us to be of constant use and profit.
- When the Lord's name is called upon in all praise, thanksgiving, need, truth, and right teaching, His name is being hallowed, as we pray in the Lord's Prayer.
- Swearing in God's name in court is not done in vain when one uses it to pronounce truth and for the good of the neighbor.
My thoughts today:
I can't read about swearing in a courtroom without thinking of our oldest son, who was adopted at birth. My husband was giddy about taking the stand on our behalf at his adoption finalization. He boldly and proudly swore to tell the truth, so help him God.
The "so help him God" was the most important part of that sentence. Just as following a birth, parents who are adopting have no idea what they are signing onto. The trials, the joys, the frustrations, the laughs, the pain, the love. It is not imaginable on that first day. Sometimes when I try to explain this to people I compare adoption to the vows you take in a marriage. When I married my husband, I had absolutely NO CLUE what those vows were going to mean down the road.
But with the help of God, I vowed them that day.
And with the help of God, I honor those vows daily.
The same is true with adoption.
With the help of God, we swore to raise and care for him.
With the help of God, we honor that vow daily.
So, using God's name to serve your neighbor is pretty awesome. Whether that neighbor is your husband or your son or your friend or your parent or your next-door neighbor. With the help of God, we keep on serving.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Large Catechism: The Second Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 49-56.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
- The first commandment instructed the heart, and the second commandment directs our mouths and tongues to God.
- It is misusing God's name when we call upon it for purposes of falsehood in any way.
- Examples include taking an oath in a court where one side lies against the other, in worldly business where an oath has been made and broken, in marriage when two betroth themselves in God's name and then separate, and in false prophets who preach lies in God's name.
- Luther calls the misuse of God's name by false prophets the greatest abuse of His name.
- We are to guard with all diligence against misusing the holy name as the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed.
My thoughts today:
"As the First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught [the basis of] faith, so this commandment leads us forth and directs the mouth and tongue to God. For the first objects that spring from the heart and manifest themselves are words."
God knows us pretty well. He sets up His commands to protect us and guide us to Him. As we read in the First Commandment section, He wishes to steer us away from all evil and direct us to Him - the source of all good. This command is both a command for our life and a guide to point us back to the First Commandment. When we hear from the mouths of others falsehood in the name of God, we know we are witnessing one who has made for him or herself a god. Or when we hear from our own mouths falsehood in the name of God, we know we are making our own god.
Sometimes it is easy to just think false prophets aren't that bad. They are all around. They tell us God's Word couldn't possibly say what indeed it says, or at least it couldn't possibly mean what it says. They tell us things we want to hear. They tell us to be happy and do what makes us happy because God wants us to be happy. They twist God's Word, just like Satan has done since the Garden of Eden.
This commandment reminds us that false prophets really are that bad. For what springs from the heart is first made public through words. False prophets teach us a false language. Don't read their books. Don't watch their videos. Don't listen to their sermons. Their words confuse the Gospel, and they can eventually confuse us.
If a preacher preaches from Scripture but does not believe Scripture to be wholly true, how can we trust any of it? Scripture is either completely false or completely true. They either have no other god before Him or they don't. They either preach complete truth in His name or they don't.
Fill yourself with the correct language (the Large Catechism) and read the right stuff (the Holy Bible). This will help guard you from those who are trying to deceive you. It will help guard you from yourself. For what springs from your mouth is first formed in the heart.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Second Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 49-56.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
- The first commandment instructed the heart, and the second commandment directs our mouths and tongues to God.
- It is misusing God's name when we call upon it for purposes of falsehood in any way.
- Examples include taking an oath in a court where one side lies against the other, in worldly business where an oath has been made and broken, in marriage when two betroth themselves in God's name and then separate, and in false prophets who preach lies in God's name.
- Luther calls the misuse of God's name by false prophets the greatest abuse of His name.
- We are to guard with all diligence against misusing the holy name as the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed.
My thoughts today:
"As the First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught [the basis of] faith, so this commandment leads us forth and directs the mouth and tongue to God. For the first objects that spring from the heart and manifest themselves are words."
God knows us pretty well. He sets up His commands to protect us and guide us to Him. As we read in the First Commandment section, He wishes to steer us away from all evil and direct us to Him - the source of all good. This command is both a command for our life and a guide to point us back to the First Commandment. When we hear from the mouths of others falsehood in the name of God, we know we are witnessing one who has made for him or herself a god. Or when we hear from our own mouths falsehood in the name of God, we know we are making our own god.
Sometimes it is easy to just think false prophets aren't that bad. They are all around. They tell us God's Word couldn't possibly say what indeed it says, or at least it couldn't possibly mean what it says. They tell us things we want to hear. They tell us to be happy and do what makes us happy because God wants us to be happy. They twist God's Word, just like Satan has done since the Garden of Eden.
This commandment reminds us that false prophets really are that bad. For what springs from the heart is first made public through words. False prophets teach us a false language. Don't read their books. Don't watch their videos. Don't listen to their sermons. Their words confuse the Gospel, and they can eventually confuse us.
If a preacher preaches from Scripture but does not believe Scripture to be wholly true, how can we trust any of it? Scripture is either completely false or completely true. They either have no other god before Him or they don't. They either preach complete truth in His name or they don't.
Fill yourself with the correct language (the Large Catechism) and read the right stuff (the Holy Bible). This will help guard you from those who are trying to deceive you. It will help guard you from yourself. For what springs from your mouth is first formed in the heart.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Large Catechism: The First Commandment Part 5
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 5: Click here and read 41 through the end of the first commandment section.
The basics:
- The world does not believe the threat and promise attached to the first commandment or regard it as God's Word, because it sees those who trust God suffer and those who trust false gods have power, favor, honor, possessions, and every comfort in the world's eyes.
- Luther describes the lives of King Saul and King David as examples.
- Do not let the devil and the world deceive you with their show, which remains for a time but finally is nothing.
- Luther described the first commandment in great length because it is of great importance. For where the heart is rightly disposed toward God and this commandment is observed, all others follow.
My thoughts today:
The world is a lonely place for a Christian. The world sees our faith in God (who gives all good gifts), and laughs at the very few good gifts we have (in their eyes). The world trusts what it sees. The world has a very short attention span and an even shorter memory. It sees only in time and not in eternity.
God commands in the first commandment that we fully trust in His Word. He demands we see with His vision and not the world's. If I was able to see this way, all the commandments would be followed. If I can do the first, I can do them all.
I can't.
For this reason, Jesus made Himself the lonely one. He saw in eternity the sins of all, the failure of all to have no other gods, and the inability of all to see correctly. He chose to follow God's Law and make no other god, even to the point of death, so when our Father sees us, He sees Him. No other god in all of history has taken the place of man's guilt and sin. No other god will die for you.
Thou shalt have no other god. Thanks be to God!
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 5: Click here and read 41 through the end of the first commandment section.
The basics:
- The world does not believe the threat and promise attached to the first commandment or regard it as God's Word, because it sees those who trust God suffer and those who trust false gods have power, favor, honor, possessions, and every comfort in the world's eyes.
- Luther describes the lives of King Saul and King David as examples.
- Do not let the devil and the world deceive you with their show, which remains for a time but finally is nothing.
- Luther described the first commandment in great length because it is of great importance. For where the heart is rightly disposed toward God and this commandment is observed, all others follow.
My thoughts today:
The world is a lonely place for a Christian. The world sees our faith in God (who gives all good gifts), and laughs at the very few good gifts we have (in their eyes). The world trusts what it sees. The world has a very short attention span and an even shorter memory. It sees only in time and not in eternity.
God commands in the first commandment that we fully trust in His Word. He demands we see with His vision and not the world's. If I was able to see this way, all the commandments would be followed. If I can do the first, I can do them all.
I can't.
For this reason, Jesus made Himself the lonely one. He saw in eternity the sins of all, the failure of all to have no other gods, and the inability of all to see correctly. He chose to follow God's Law and make no other god, even to the point of death, so when our Father sees us, He sees Him. No other god in all of history has taken the place of man's guilt and sin. No other god will die for you.
Thou shalt have no other god. Thanks be to God!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Large Catechism: The First Commandment Part 4
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 29-40.
The basics:
- There is a terrible threat and comforting promise attached to the first commandment. "For I am the Lord, thy God, strong and jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments."
- God's anger does not cease until the fourth generation, while His comfort and mercy extends for thousands.
- God has demonstrated this wrath throughout Scripture - He has and does eliminate all idolatry and overthrows all false worship.
- Those who hate God are those who persist in defiance and pride, they do not listen no matter what is preached, and they become mad and foolish when they are told they are sinning.
- The threat is scary, but the promise of comfort and blessing for thousands of generations is much greater.
My thoughts today:
I can't turn on the news or flip through my newsfeed without seeing the threat of persecution as a Christian. Real beheading type persecution. It is terrifying. And it is overwhelming. And it is maddening. And it all leads back to the first commandment. Most sins do. Actually, all sins do.
Luther reminded me today that God prevails. He has proven His power over every false worship throughout history. He will continue to prevail through the rest of time and into eternity. And while there is so little consolation to those who have lost their children or parents or friends to beheadings in the name of some false god, we do hold firm to His promise. He will avenge the wrong. He will rain down the blessings on those who are adopted into His generations - thousands of them.
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 29-40.
The basics:
- There is a terrible threat and comforting promise attached to the first commandment. "For I am the Lord, thy God, strong and jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments."
- God's anger does not cease until the fourth generation, while His comfort and mercy extends for thousands.
- God has demonstrated this wrath throughout Scripture - He has and does eliminate all idolatry and overthrows all false worship.
- Those who hate God are those who persist in defiance and pride, they do not listen no matter what is preached, and they become mad and foolish when they are told they are sinning.
- The threat is scary, but the promise of comfort and blessing for thousands of generations is much greater.
My thoughts today:
I can't turn on the news or flip through my newsfeed without seeing the threat of persecution as a Christian. Real beheading type persecution. It is terrifying. And it is overwhelming. And it is maddening. And it all leads back to the first commandment. Most sins do. Actually, all sins do.
Luther reminded me today that God prevails. He has proven His power over every false worship throughout history. He will continue to prevail through the rest of time and into eternity. And while there is so little consolation to those who have lost their children or parents or friends to beheadings in the name of some false god, we do hold firm to His promise. He will avenge the wrong. He will rain down the blessings on those who are adopted into His generations - thousands of them.
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Large Catechism: The First Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 26-28.
The basics:
- Anything we receive from any man or woman is indeed from God.
- Parents, rulers, and every neighbor have received the command from God to give us all manner of good, and we receive these blessings not BY them but THROUGH them from God.
- We should not presume to take or to give anything except as God has commanded, because it is His gift to be given. If we do, we are not receiving from God but seeking for ourselves.
- If your heart clings to God in all distress and expects all good from Him, you have the one true God. If you cling to anything else in distress, you have an idol.
My thoughts today:
"For even though otherwise we experience much good from men, still whatever we receive by His command or arrangement is all received from God. For our parents, and all rulers, and every one besides with respect to his neighbor, have received from God the command that they should do us all manner of good, so that we receive these blessings not from them, but, through them, from God."
This is such an excellent reminder of the One who is the giver of all good gifts. My husband, my children, my parents, my family, my friends, my church family - they all provide such marvelous gifts. Here, Luther reminds us these gifts are given through the hands of those God has given us.
I have a tendency at times to make my husband my god. That may seem weird, but go with me here. In times of distress, in all times of need, in daily pressures, where do I turn? Who do I expect to give me comfort? Who do I depend on more than any other? My husband.
Luther reminded me to find my comfort in the gifts HE provides me THROUGH my husband. It may just seem like semantics, but I truly believe this takes an enormous amount of pressure off of my husband's shoulders. He is the bearer of gifts from One greater than he; he is not the creator of good gifts for me. And I for him, as well.
In my role as wife and mother and daughter and friend and church member, God gives the gifts to those around me. I am simply the hands blessed to bear such gifts.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 26-28.
The basics:
- Anything we receive from any man or woman is indeed from God.
- Parents, rulers, and every neighbor have received the command from God to give us all manner of good, and we receive these blessings not BY them but THROUGH them from God.
- We should not presume to take or to give anything except as God has commanded, because it is His gift to be given. If we do, we are not receiving from God but seeking for ourselves.
- If your heart clings to God in all distress and expects all good from Him, you have the one true God. If you cling to anything else in distress, you have an idol.
My thoughts today:
"For even though otherwise we experience much good from men, still whatever we receive by His command or arrangement is all received from God. For our parents, and all rulers, and every one besides with respect to his neighbor, have received from God the command that they should do us all manner of good, so that we receive these blessings not from them, but, through them, from God."
This is such an excellent reminder of the One who is the giver of all good gifts. My husband, my children, my parents, my family, my friends, my church family - they all provide such marvelous gifts. Here, Luther reminds us these gifts are given through the hands of those God has given us.
I have a tendency at times to make my husband my god. That may seem weird, but go with me here. In times of distress, in all times of need, in daily pressures, where do I turn? Who do I expect to give me comfort? Who do I depend on more than any other? My husband.
Luther reminded me to find my comfort in the gifts HE provides me THROUGH my husband. It may just seem like semantics, but I truly believe this takes an enormous amount of pressure off of my husband's shoulders. He is the bearer of gifts from One greater than he; he is not the creator of good gifts for me. And I for him, as well.
In my role as wife and mother and daughter and friend and church member, God gives the gifts to those around me. I am simply the hands blessed to bear such gifts.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Large Catechism: The First Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 13-25.
The basics:
- The first commandment calls us to cling to God with the heart. To cling to God with the heart is to trust in Him entirely.
- This commandment is given to us because God wishes to turn us away from everything that exists outside of Him and draw us to Himself, because He is the only eternal good.
- It is easy to see in the world that everyone throughout time has set up his special gods (whatever he looked to for blessings, help, and comfort).
- Luther gives us examples of gods, and states that this worshiping of false gods is not just in graven images and idols but in the heart.
- The conscience seeks through its own works help, comfort, and salvation. Luther discusses our tendency to count the number of times we have fasted or attended mass, and our inability to accept anything (even church) as a gift from Him. Instead we count attendance as our own merit, and therefore set up our own god within ourselves.
- We should remember this simple meaning of this commandment - we are to trust in God alone, look to Him and expect of Him nothing but good. From God we receive all good and are delivered from all evil.
My thoughts today:
Here's a newsflash, Kelly - God doesn't give us the Law to be a mean ole papa. He doesn't want to kill our fun and give us a ton of rules because He's the boss.
Sometimes as a mother, I give rules just because I'm the boss. Sometimes I totally make rules because it is best for ME if they do what I say. What can I say? I am a mother who also happens to be a sinner. Have mercy on me, a poor sinful being. But God isn't a sinner. Luther says we are to EXPECT from God all good things. We expect from God all good because God IS indeed all good.
But saying What God Ordains is Always Good (a hymn found here), is a whole lot easier when you feel like God is giving you all good things. It doesn't feel good when I am lonely. It didn't feel good when our unborn child died. It doesn't feel good when someone else gets something I thought I needed. That is when human feelings and understanding will get you.
Our oldest son has some very anxious moments. He doesn't like change or uncertainty. When he feels uncertain about something, he begins questioning us repeatedly about what is happening. We try our best to answer his questions and calm his fears, but sometimes we simply have to say, "Honey, we need you to trust we are doing what is best for everyone. Can you trust us?" Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he doesn't. It is in those moments I am reminded of my own anxiousness toward God. But where I have failed as a parent and deserve distrust at times, God has not. My mind will never quite understand how something which feels so bad to me can be good from God, at least it won't understand it on this side of eternity. And that is why I keep sinning against the first commandment - I do not expect all good from God.
And yet I am thankful He keeps giving me all good.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 13-25.
The basics:
- The first commandment calls us to cling to God with the heart. To cling to God with the heart is to trust in Him entirely.
- This commandment is given to us because God wishes to turn us away from everything that exists outside of Him and draw us to Himself, because He is the only eternal good.
- It is easy to see in the world that everyone throughout time has set up his special gods (whatever he looked to for blessings, help, and comfort).
- Luther gives us examples of gods, and states that this worshiping of false gods is not just in graven images and idols but in the heart.
- The conscience seeks through its own works help, comfort, and salvation. Luther discusses our tendency to count the number of times we have fasted or attended mass, and our inability to accept anything (even church) as a gift from Him. Instead we count attendance as our own merit, and therefore set up our own god within ourselves.
- We should remember this simple meaning of this commandment - we are to trust in God alone, look to Him and expect of Him nothing but good. From God we receive all good and are delivered from all evil.
My thoughts today:
Here's a newsflash, Kelly - God doesn't give us the Law to be a mean ole papa. He doesn't want to kill our fun and give us a ton of rules because He's the boss.
Sometimes as a mother, I give rules just because I'm the boss. Sometimes I totally make rules because it is best for ME if they do what I say. What can I say? I am a mother who also happens to be a sinner. Have mercy on me, a poor sinful being. But God isn't a sinner. Luther says we are to EXPECT from God all good things. We expect from God all good because God IS indeed all good.
But saying What God Ordains is Always Good (a hymn found here), is a whole lot easier when you feel like God is giving you all good things. It doesn't feel good when I am lonely. It didn't feel good when our unborn child died. It doesn't feel good when someone else gets something I thought I needed. That is when human feelings and understanding will get you.
Our oldest son has some very anxious moments. He doesn't like change or uncertainty. When he feels uncertain about something, he begins questioning us repeatedly about what is happening. We try our best to answer his questions and calm his fears, but sometimes we simply have to say, "Honey, we need you to trust we are doing what is best for everyone. Can you trust us?" Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he doesn't. It is in those moments I am reminded of my own anxiousness toward God. But where I have failed as a parent and deserve distrust at times, God has not. My mind will never quite understand how something which feels so bad to me can be good from God, at least it won't understand it on this side of eternity. And that is why I keep sinning against the first commandment - I do not expect all good from God.
And yet I am thankful He keeps giving me all good.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Large Catechism: The First Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment: Click here and read through paragraph marking 12.
The basics:
- Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
- We are to expect all good from and turn in all distress to the one true God. If we turn to anything else, we have made that our god. That which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.
- Examples of other gods are given - money, possessing skill, friendships, etc.
- Luther discusses the seeking of and praying to saints in the Papacy as a form of creating gods.
My thoughts:
Wow. I think I need some private confession and absolution after reading this. Luther's explanation of this commandment is so clear, straight, and focused. What I set my heart on is my god. What I turn to in distress is my god. It seems I have made for myself quite a few gods.
I have to quote something from this reading, because there are no better words (emphasis added) -
"Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God, and clings to Him alone. That is as much as to say: 'See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another,' i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other."
Those are some pretty powerful words.
Require true faith and trust.
The only true God.
You let Me alone.
Never seek another.
Expect it of Me.
Look to Me.
Whenever you suffer.
Creep and cling to Me.
I will give you enough.
Let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.
Yep.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The First Commandment: Click here and read through paragraph marking 12.
The basics:
- Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
- We are to expect all good from and turn in all distress to the one true God. If we turn to anything else, we have made that our god. That which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.
- Examples of other gods are given - money, possessing skill, friendships, etc.
- Luther discusses the seeking of and praying to saints in the Papacy as a form of creating gods.
My thoughts:
Wow. I think I need some private confession and absolution after reading this. Luther's explanation of this commandment is so clear, straight, and focused. What I set my heart on is my god. What I turn to in distress is my god. It seems I have made for myself quite a few gods.
I have to quote something from this reading, because there are no better words (emphasis added) -
"Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God, and clings to Him alone. That is as much as to say: 'See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another,' i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other."
Those are some pretty powerful words.
Require true faith and trust.
The only true God.
You let Me alone.
Never seek another.
Expect it of Me.
Look to Me.
Whenever you suffer.
Creep and cling to Me.
I will give you enough.
Let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other.
Yep.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Large Catechism: Short Preface Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Short Preface Part 3: Click here and read the sections titled "Of Baptism" and "Of the Sacrament."
The basics:
- Go into all nations, baptizing and teaching them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Luther says this statement is sufficient knowledge of Baptism from scripture.
- Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper by saying, "This IS my body. This IS my blood." in reference to the bread and wine.
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper, along with the three parts studied before (the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer) make up the five parts of the entire Christian doctrine which must be constantly reviewed, quoted, and studied.
- After learning these five parts, hymns and Psalms may be added to the learning.
- The Catechism should be preached simply as to be entered in the mind for memory.
My thoughts:
My family and I just returned from an amazing church retreat focused on Baptism, and today happens to be our youngest daughter's first Baptismal birthday (we will celebrate at our local frozen yogurt joint in a little while). Baptism is awesome, isn't it? And it is amazing that we can think we know so much about Baptism, and yet we are as simple minded as an infant at the font.
At the retreat, a group of very wonderful and faithful pastors gave presentations and sermons on topics surrounding Baptism. I could write for about 10 pages on all the goodness I received from each of them (aren't faithful pastors the greatest gift?), but since I will have so much time to discuss Baptism with all of you as we continue reading, I will just give a few points that really struck me.
1. When people ask why we Baptize infants, our response should simply be, "Why shouldn't we?" There are no Biblical answers to that question.
2. When considering what Baptism signifies, we should break down the word signify. Baptism is a sign on us - a sign that shows Christ has taken our sins upon Him and filled us instead with His righteousness. And the significance of this is that we are covered in Him, and therefore, heirs to His kingdom.
3. Baptism is an adoption into Christ's Holy Church. As an earthly example of this type of relationship, we compared the adoption of a child into a family. We discussed being heirs to a kingdom because of our birthright as adoptees. We discussed who holds the power in adopting us - Christ in Baptism versus the judge in a courtroom.
4. When Christ says, "Do this in remembrance of me," remembrance takes on a very physical and earthy remembering. This word does not just mean you think back and say, "Yes, I remember when you did that." This word means you are physically connected to the events of all of Christendom. Receiving the Lord's Supper in your mouth connects you to your Baptism, to Christ death on the cross, to His healing of the blind and lame, to the sacrifices of lambs in the Old Testament - ALL of it. Every single story of Biblical history - the Lord's Supper ties you to each of those in a true remembrance.
5. Time is a human condition. God created time for us, but He exists outside of time. Therefore, we live in two realms - one in time and one in eternity. Therefore, we were baptized in time, and we are baptized in eternity. As Christians, we are continuously living in our Baptism in the present tense, and yet we know there was a particular time and place in which we were Baptized.
Seriously, I could go on like this forever. It really was that good.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Short Preface Part 3: Click here and read the sections titled "Of Baptism" and "Of the Sacrament."
The basics:
- Go into all nations, baptizing and teaching them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Luther says this statement is sufficient knowledge of Baptism from scripture.
- Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper by saying, "This IS my body. This IS my blood." in reference to the bread and wine.
- Baptism and the Lord's Supper, along with the three parts studied before (the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer) make up the five parts of the entire Christian doctrine which must be constantly reviewed, quoted, and studied.
- After learning these five parts, hymns and Psalms may be added to the learning.
- The Catechism should be preached simply as to be entered in the mind for memory.
My thoughts:
My family and I just returned from an amazing church retreat focused on Baptism, and today happens to be our youngest daughter's first Baptismal birthday (we will celebrate at our local frozen yogurt joint in a little while). Baptism is awesome, isn't it? And it is amazing that we can think we know so much about Baptism, and yet we are as simple minded as an infant at the font.
At the retreat, a group of very wonderful and faithful pastors gave presentations and sermons on topics surrounding Baptism. I could write for about 10 pages on all the goodness I received from each of them (aren't faithful pastors the greatest gift?), but since I will have so much time to discuss Baptism with all of you as we continue reading, I will just give a few points that really struck me.
1. When people ask why we Baptize infants, our response should simply be, "Why shouldn't we?" There are no Biblical answers to that question.
2. When considering what Baptism signifies, we should break down the word signify. Baptism is a sign on us - a sign that shows Christ has taken our sins upon Him and filled us instead with His righteousness. And the significance of this is that we are covered in Him, and therefore, heirs to His kingdom.
3. Baptism is an adoption into Christ's Holy Church. As an earthly example of this type of relationship, we compared the adoption of a child into a family. We discussed being heirs to a kingdom because of our birthright as adoptees. We discussed who holds the power in adopting us - Christ in Baptism versus the judge in a courtroom.
4. When Christ says, "Do this in remembrance of me," remembrance takes on a very physical and earthy remembering. This word does not just mean you think back and say, "Yes, I remember when you did that." This word means you are physically connected to the events of all of Christendom. Receiving the Lord's Supper in your mouth connects you to your Baptism, to Christ death on the cross, to His healing of the blind and lame, to the sacrifices of lambs in the Old Testament - ALL of it. Every single story of Biblical history - the Lord's Supper ties you to each of those in a true remembrance.
5. Time is a human condition. God created time for us, but He exists outside of time. Therefore, we live in two realms - one in time and one in eternity. Therefore, we were baptized in time, and we are baptized in eternity. As Christians, we are continuously living in our Baptism in the present tense, and yet we know there was a particular time and place in which we were Baptized.
Seriously, I could go on like this forever. It really was that good.
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