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!
