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 Apostles' Creed Article 1: Click here and read 9-24.
The basics:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
- This Article aligns our knowledge of who our God is with the First Commandment - If we were to ask, "What sort of God have you? What do you know of Him?" our response should begin with, "This is my God: first, the Father, who has created heaven and earth; besides this only One I regard nothing else as God; for there is no one else who could create heaven and earth."
- Luther describes in detail all which is included in calling God our Creator: He has given and preserves my body, soul, and life; He causes all creatures to serve for their uses; He gives good government, peace, and security.
- None of us can create or preserve our lives or anything that is given in this world, because all is comprehended in the word Creator.
- God the Father, out of pure love and goodness, preserves and defends us from all evil.
- Because we have been given everything in this life from our Creator, it is our duty to love, praise, and thank Him for it without ceasing.
- If we believed this Article with our hearts, we would not boast as if we had anything because of our own merit.
- In all good that comes to us and in all calamity that avoids us, we know God the Father has given and preserved us. There we see His Paternal heart and love towards us. We are to be thankful and employ all good things to the honor and praise of God.
- The Father has overwhelmed us with unspeakable, eternal treasures by His Son and the Holy Ghost.
My thoughts today:
Have you ever known a person who glows with the humbleness of God? I have. In fact, the person I am thinking of is actually part of a whole family who exudes Christ's humility. And I have learned more from that family and their attitude than possibly anyone else.
That is what humbleness does in this world, because true humbleness given by Christ is so rare. The people who have it are like lighthouses - steady, firm fixtures of the light of Christ. And just like lighthouses, they are literally houses for the light within them. This is why they know not to boast of their own merit, because without the light they would simply be another dull and drab house in the middle of the darkness.
If we were able to fully comprehend and believe this first article of the Apostles' Creed, we, as Luther says, would stop running around acting as if we made ourselves into anything. We would only boast of the Creator, of the Light within. We would point every achievement, every talent, every gift, every award, and every honor to its rightful Creator and Giver.
