September 30 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Fourth Commandment--Honor your father and mother.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

Romans 13:2--Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Devotion--When sin entered into the world, so also did the need for enforcing laws that would serve to protect society.  One of the very first episodes in the Bible demonstrates this need, as Cain, in a moment of hatred, kills his brother Abel.  Almost immediately, we see that the entrance of sin into the world also creates a need for authorities to enforce God's will and rules and laws.

In our nation, we have many different authorities who oversee our daily life, and who seek to serve and protect us and our neighbors.  They have a sacred duty, even as they serve in a very secular realm.  After all, as the verse above from Romans indicates, they are serving in an arena that God has established.

So what happens when we despise parents and other authorities?  Not only do we endanger the lives of our neighbors, but we also fight against something that God Himself has established for our own good.  In essence, when we resist the authorities, we're also resisting God.  And none of us could possibly hope to prove that doing this is what God has in mind for His people.

Are there ways in which you are guilty of despising the authorities?  Are there some areas of your life that could use a little reflection, to see what your attitude toward the authorities betrays?  The truth is, we all have these inside us, and that's why we are so thankful for the loving sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who truly is the authority above and behind all other authority.

September 29 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Fourth Commandment--Honor your father and mother.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

Ephesians 6:2-3--“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Devotion--I remember clearly one time when a fellow Christian was talking to me about her mother, who was elderly and not doing so well.  In the course of our discussion, I asked her the question, "What does it look like to honor your mother?"  It seemed rather apparent that this wasn't something that she had given a great deal of thought to.

What does it look like to honor our parents?  Maybe you haven't thought much about that question either.  Does it mean that we do what they say?  Does it mean that we respect them for what they did in raising us?  Does it mean we follow them blindly, and never question what they say?

I hope you give some thought to this question today.  Up front, I want to say that I don't have the "correct" answer.  But I can say that God's Word gives us a few clues as to what it looks like to honor our parents.

Listen to them respectfully, and learn wisdom from what they have been through.  When the things they say and tell you to do are in agreement with God's Word, then do them wholeheartedly.  Remember that they have sacrificed much to raise you, and take that into account in your interactions with them.  Pray for them regularly, giving thanks for what they have done, and lifting up the concerns that they have in life.

God's Word gives a promise to this commandment, and I'm convinced it's not only for the people to whom the commandment was initially given.  When families find themselves in harmony, life does go much better.  When the home is a caring, loving environment, everyone tends to do much better.  And while that may begin with the parents, it is also impacted by the way we honor, love, and obey our parents.

September 28 Catechism Devotion

Third Commandment--Remember the Sabbath day, by keeping it holy.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Hebrews 10:25--not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Devotion--The repeated call for God's people to be together, especially when it comes to worship, should come as no surprise.  One thing that we find throughout the Scriptures is that God cares for His people in a very incarnational way.  He does it through other people.  While God can surely perform great miracles to care for His people, more often He does it through the hands and heart of other people.

That is a great comfort to us, to know that God cares for us through His people.  And yet, we also need to remember that God works through our hands and heart in caring for other.  We are not only receivers of God's care, but we also have abundant opportunities to be providers of God's care.  And that is why our presence is needed when God's people gather together.

As you gather for worship at the next corporate worship time, who is there who needs your presence?  How will you discover what their need is, and then, how will you go about filling that need in their life?  You can do so as one who has been claimed by Christ Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, and through your Baptism.  Now you can show that same care in the midst of God's people.  So how will you do that next time you are with them?

Prayer--Lord God, help me to have eyes that are open to the caring that I can do when Your people gather together.  May I rejoice in the gifts and care that You provide to me, and may I equally be giving of those gifts as others have need.  Let my hands and heart demonstrate Your care as I care for Your people.  I ask this in Jesus' name.  Amen. 

September 27 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Third Commandment--Remember the Sabbath day, by keeping it holy.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Acts 2:42--And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Devotion--Why did those early Christians find it so important to regularly gather together?  Well, we could probably think of a number of reasons.  They were just beginning to discover what it meant to be God's people, and how Jesus' life, death, and resurrection was a part of that.  They were the minority in pretty much all the places they lived, and needed the mutual encouragement of each other in times of adversity.  They wanted to learn more about what their faith meant for their lives, and the best way to do that was to gather together to talk about it and work through situations in life as they arose.

Perhaps you can see how things may have changed in the centuries since then.  For many of us, we have at least some background in the Christian faith.  Perhaps we attended Sunday School and catechism class.  We've worshiped with some degree of regularity in our lives.  We live in a nation where we may not necessarily be the minority, at least in cultural terms.  So some of the reasons that the early Christians may have gathered may not necessarily be the same for us now.

And yet, don't we still need regular encouragement in the living out of our faith?  Don't we need to be growing in our understanding of what we believe, and how that impacts all parts of our life?  Aren't there times when we need to get together and lament the fact that so many around us just don't seem to understand what it means that we are God's people?  Don't we still need strength and encouragement for the journey of faith?

There is a very personal component to our worship times together, in which many of these concerns and needs are cared for.  We pray for each other.  We encourage each other.  We teach each other about our faith and life.  We are strengthened by God for the journey of faith and life.  And we all need these as we walk through life. 

September 26 Catechism Devotion

Third Commandment--Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

Matthew 11:28--Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Devotion--Jesus gives the promise that we can find rest in Him.  One of the chief ways that we find this rest is through His perfect life, death, and resurrection, where He made us right with God.  We don't have to go out of our way to make God happy with us.  God has already taken care of that for us through Jesus.

And yet, we find a great number of other burdens that we deal with as we live life.  Burdens of relationships, of possessions, of work.  Burdens of the consequences of sin, of the consequences of our words, and of our actions.  We suffer through many of these, and find them like a heavy weight that we carry around on our shoulders and in our minds.

So when Jesus makes the promise of rest, it sounds good.  But we can also struggle with exactly how we find the rest He promised.  Will He miraculously take it away from us?  Where is that rest found?

As we think about the third commandment, it seems that one place we find that rest and relief is in the company of our fellow believers.  We need to hear that we are forgiven, and we hear it from them.  We need support and encouragement for the struggles of life, and we find it in their words and presence.  We find it as we are reminded of God's grace toward us as we hear God's Word, and as that Word is proclaimed to us.  We find that rest as we remember our gifts in Baptism, and as we receive the body and blood of Jesus Himself.

Prayer--Lord Jesus, You have promised to give rest to us when we are burdened.  Help us to see that You give us that rest through our fellow believers, and through the means by which You give us Your grace.  May we often be found meeting with one another, and finding Your rest at such times.  Amen.  

September 25 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--3rd Commandment--Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

Leviticus 23:3--Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation.  You shall do no work.  It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.

Devotion--A theme throughout the Bible is the gathering of God's people regularly.  Whether it be in the synagogue, in peoples' homes, or just the usual gatherings for prayer and worship, God makes a point that His people need to be together regularly.  They are people who have a common faith, who have a common future, and who need daily encouragement in the walk of life that pertains to that faith.

Yet, for many Christians, the day of gathering can seem to be somewhat optional.  We are always on the lookout for something better or more pressing to do (like sleep, or watch football, or go skiing or camping, or the like).  We have the tendency to think that our relationship with God is okay, and God won't miss us this week (or the next, or for several months in a row at times).

While the gathering of God's people is important for us as individuals, we also need to ask ourselves one other question.  Since God is so insistent on this point, are we gathering together for His benefit, for our benefit, or for someone else's benefit?  A simple look at those three options should point us to something rather startling, as we think about it.

Do we gather for God's benefit?  We are His whether we are in the gathering, at home, on the lake, in the mountains, or anywhere else on God's green earth.  God doesn't need us to be there with His people since God knows us intimately, knows where we are, and knows where our hearts truly are.

Do we gather for our benefit?  God has made us His own through our baptism.  Do we need to have that faith regularly strengthened?  Sure, and the gathering of the saints is one way that God works that in us.  But we can get that in other ways outside of the gathering, even if they aren't God's preferred way. 

Do we gather for the benefit of others?  By this point in the devotion, you've probably thought that this was where we were heading.  Truthfully, it's not so much that we gather for God's benefit or for our benefit, but that we do so for the benefit of our fellow believers.  They need our presence to speak a word of comfort to them.  They need us there for the strengthening of the body (which never takes place individually, but only when we are all together).  They need us there because our faith is something we have in common, and we humans need the community of each other in more ways that merely the building up of our faith.

So why is your presence important at the gathering of God's people?  Sure, it carries great benefits for you, but it's probably even more vital that you be there for your brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our love for God is reflected in great ways by the way we demonstrate that we love our neighbors as ourselves, and we have the great opportunity to do that when we gather with them.

September 21 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--2nd Commandment--You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.  What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

Matthew 7:21--“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Devotion--The words of Jesus in the verse above should bring a bit of a shock to all of us who wear Christ's name upon us.  It points out that there may be those who truly think that they are Christians, and yet who are not part of the kingdom of heaven.  The quick thing that I'll point out in that regard is that Jesus shows us here that our hope is really is more about what God has done for us, and that our faith clings to Jesus' action, than it does to anything that we would do.

 As we look out our lives, it is inevitable that we will discover some ways that our lives do not accurately reflect that we wear Christ's name.  When we engage in sinful behaviors, or even when we find ourselves doing things that bring offense to our fellow Christians, our lives do not reflect that we wear Christ's name.  In that circumstance, we essentially are "deceiving" by God's name.

What does this look like in your life?  Are there any actions or behaviors that you find yourself making excuses about when it comes to explaining why you should be able to do them?  Or do you even find that your Christian life is more about a certain type of morality than it is about a living relationship with God through Jesus?  As you look through your life, you will undoubtedly be able to find numerous examples of these.

I want to give you some reassurance first.  Your life with God is more about God's faithfulness to you than it is your faithfulness to Him.  We can never be so faithful as to have no worries about our standing with God.  However, God's faithfulness toward us is undying.  That's the meaning behind the cross and resurrection.

Part of our lives as Christians is to accurately reflect God in our lives.  That's why we look for these areas that may be deceiving by God's name.  It's not for God, but it can prove helpful to our faith walk, and can be a means of giving glory to God on the part of others in our life.

September 20 Catechism Devotion

1st Commandment--You shall have no other gods.  What does this mean?  We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Philippians 2:13--for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Devotion--It's mostly hidden from our eyes, but God is actively at work in our lives, and in everything that happens around us.  In one way, this is a good thing.  Were God to completely reveal Himself as the holy and just God, everyone who has the taint of sin upon them would be destroyed.  So God's hidden-ness actually serves to protect us from condemnation.

However, we also have some difficulty with the hidden-ness of God.  It comes from the fact that there are way too many times when we simply cannot see what He is doing.  When we face a significant challenge in life, is God telling us to take another path, or is He teaching us to persevere?  Because God is hidden, we cannot always see what He is doing clearly.

Sometimes it also takes another person to see what God may be doing in our own lives.  We get lost in the proverbial forest simply because all we can see are the trees.  We see the immediate circumstances, and fail to see how the larger picture can actually be at work for good in our lives.  And that's where we greatly benefit from the help of another believer.

In that same vein, we can also be the one who helps another see the active work of God in their lives.  Since we put our trust that God is actively at work in this sinful world, we can point out that activity to one another, especially when a brother or sister cannot see it clearly.  And quite often, what we see can be the very source of comfort and help that they need to endure through the circumstance they currently face.

In your life today, who could use your eyes to see God's activity in their life?  What can you point out to them?  What might their eyes be blind to seeing simply because they are too close to the circumstances?  Having seen that, how will you communicate what you see in a way that directs them to God's gracious work in their lives?

Prayer--Lord God, You are actively at work in this world all the time, though our eyes may be blind to seeing that work.  Help our eyes to see that work in the lives of others, and may we be of help to them in seeing that gracious action.  By Your Spirit's work, give us the words to speak to point them to Your gracious action.  We ask this in Jesus' name.  Amen.  

September 19 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--1st Commandment--You shall have no other gods.  What does this mean?  We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Matthew 22:37--And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Devotion--Very few Christians would say that they do not love God.  In our lives, we find many examples of our love for God, demonstrated in such things as our assistance to one another in times of need, our gathering for worship, the times we study God's Word, and the like.  We see these, and they are evidence of the love that we have for God.

Yet, as we take our faith seriously, we can also take a closer look at those words of Jesus up above.  In particular, today I want to point out the word "all" that is found there three times.  It isn't just that we have evidence in our lives that we love God.  What Jesus is saying is that all of life should be a demonstration of our love for God, and that's where we fall far short.

Taking our faith seriously doesn't necessarily mean that we suddenly try to find unnatural ways to squeeze God into every facet of our lives.  Rather, it means that we open our eyes to the areas where we have the opportunity to demonstrate our love for God, and we make the necessary changes to demonstrate that love in those circumstance.  It may start off small, such as trying to have a faith related conversation to build up a fellow Christian, or to simply tell someone that you thank God for what they do in your life.  From there, we can then start to see just how many opportunities that God gives us to demonstrate our love for Him, and we slowly grow in that demonstration of love.

We don't do this to earn God's favor toward us.  Rather, what we recognize is that God has made us His own.  God's love and grace to us will never waver or flag.  As His baptized, forgiven children, we will always be His through our faith in Christ Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection.  

So our demonstrations of our love for God are not for God's benefit.  Instead, they are to demonstrate to others who the God is that we love.  And as we do this, we also seek to show that it isn't just for set times, like Sunday mornings, but that our love for God is evident in all parts of our lives.  

So what is one way that you can further demonstrate your love for God in your life?  When will you take up the opportunity and show that love?  May God bless you as you seek to do.

September 18 Catechism Devotion

1st Commandment: You shall have no other gods.  What does this mean?  We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

1 John 5:21--Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Devotion--It's often easier for someone on the outside to see the things that really seem to matter to us.  We may think that some activity or "thing" isn't really all that important, and that we don't dedicate much time to it, but another person may be able to give us a better idea of just how much time and dedication that we really are giving to it. 

That same thought can be applied toward the things that can potentially draw us away from God.  We might look at them in our own lives and fail to see just how great their pull is upon us.  But another person, standing outside of our shoes, may see where we are being drawn toward that thing and away from God.  Their gentle words and caring attitude can often be the help that we need when we discover that some activity or thing is threatening to draw us away from God.

Likewise, we can serve in that same way for one another.  It seems like that's the kind of thing that the elder John was encouraging God's people in their life together.  They were not to turn a blind eye toward each other's idols, but were to be caring enough to help one another deal with them.  If something threatened to draw one of them away from Jesus, then the rest were to caring-ly work to restore them and keep them in God's grace.

As you live life together with your fellow believers, how can you lovingly help them to be aware of the idols that they may be facing in life, and how can you help them in the battle against them? 

Prayer--Lord Jesus, there are many things in this life that threaten to draw us away from You.  We pray that we would find help from our fellow Christians in battling the idols of our lives.  In the same way, graciously allow us to bring others to an awareness of the idols they may be facing, that we may speak Your Word of grace to them.  We pray this in Your holy name.  Amen. 

When you just have no energy

I'm writing these words on a Monday afternoon.  For some reason, my head and motivation just don't seem to be up to the task of the day.  And yet, I find that there are still things that need to be done. 

Sometimes we just feel like we are running out of energy.  It could be that we got a poor night of sleep, or that we had a really busy day or two or twenty.  We may have done some physical activities that are more than what our body was prepared for, and we end up feeling a bit run down.  A nap seems to beckon us.  We feel like we just need to close our eyes for a bit.

One of the ironic things that I have discovered about myself is that, when these times come up, I seem to be most open to a time of reflection.  I put on some Christian music, whether it be hymns or songs, or even just instrumental pieces.  I will also typically find a verse or two from the Bible, close my eyes, listen to the music, and reflect or meditate upon those words.

I have to say, I have been amazed at how often that brief interlude in the busy-ness of the day brings about the refreshing I need.  It's times like those where I realize that God really does mean it when He says that His word is one that refreshes the spirit.  It's happened way too many times to simply be a coincidence, or some figment of my imagination.

Why not try it yourself next time when you feel like you need a little break, or a little boost.  I'm pretty sure that God's Word is better than any five hour energy drink you could find, even better than a cup of strong coffee. 

September 17 Catechism Devotion

First Commandment: You shall have no other gods.  What does this mean?  We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Matthew 4:10--Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Devotion--It sounds so easy, doesn't it?  Don't have any other gods in your life.  And there's a part of us that cries out, "I don't have any other gods.  I only believe in the God that the Bible teaches about."  After all, we don't go worship at the sacred places of other religions.  When we fill out surveys, the automatic answer for us is to indicate that we are Christians.

From that standpoint, it seems pretty cut and dried that we don't have any other gods.  However, if we look deeper at what it means to have other gods, we might start to feel a bit more uncomfortable.  Throughout the Bible, we find God defining another god as anything in which we put our trust and hopes.  And you and I might find that to be a rather vague definition, one which reinforces that we don't have any other gods.

Until we start to examine what it means to put our trust and hope in something.  That's when we start to have our eyes opened.  Do we trust that God will provide everything that we need in life, or do we put our hope and trust in our training, in our career, and in our abilities?  Do we trust that God will ensure that we are protected from harm and danger, or do we put our trust in the strength of our military?  Do we look to God to give justice, or do we rely on the justice system that is currently at work in our country?

These questions start to reveal that we have different parts of our lives which threaten to draw us away from God.  Some things start to take on a greater importance than He does.  And the thing is, this is going to happen in our lives.  Even we who profess to be Christians will find other things drawing our hope and trust, and will call for our time and attention, and will threaten to become false gods.

As you examine your heart and life, what are some potential gods in your life?  Are there some things that you put your trust in, and don't see God as being a big part of it?  Are there parts of your life that you give more time and dedication to than you do for God?  Doing this will reveal where we have potential gods, and reminds us of our need for forgiveness.

What are those potential gods in your life?  Are there any ways that you can go about putting these in their proper perspective?

September 16 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Baptism part 4

Romans 6:3-4--Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Devotion--It's very likely that many of us who read these devotions have things in the past that we are ashamed of, but our past is really not all that bad of a journey.  If you are anything like me, the trials and tribulations that you have gone through in life pale in comparison to what others have gone through.

I don't write this with the intention of starting a comparison game.  Rather, what I want to convey is that many of us may not really understand the depth of the "newness of life" that Paul is talking about in the verses above.  Sure, we have things that we'd rather not be part of our past, but to say that we would want an entirely different life might not be at the forefront of our mind.

And yet, Paul is writing to every single one of us.  The thing that can be so challenging for all of us to remember is that, by our nature, even before we performed a single sinful action, we were already condemned in God's eyes.  The new self that was put on us in Baptism changed our eternal destination from God's perspective.

That's the situation for all of us who have been baptized, who have been put to death with Jesus and raised to life with Him.  We are a new creation, and Paul calls for us to put on the new self.  This new self looks to do the things that God wills for His people to do, caring for others, speaking the truth in love to one another even when it's difficult to do.  That's the new self that God has created in us at Baptism, which Paul exhorts us to put on.

So how can you aid one of your fellow Christians in the putting on of that new self?  Is there someone that you know that seems to rest almost too securely in their gifts of God's grace, and therefore don't seem to take God's continued will seriously?  That can be the very person who needs the encouragement to put on the new self, who is created in the image of Jesus Himself.

May we strengthen one another in putting on the new self, who seeks to do what God wills in our lives.

September 15 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Baptism part 4

Romans 6:3-4--Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Devotion--At the risk of sounding overly grammatical, look at the different pronouns used in the two verses above.  You'll notice that Paul uses "we" and "us" when he is talking about those who have been baptized.  It means that each of us who is baptized has been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection, but that we are also all connected in that death and new life.

Baptism creates a Godly unity out of sinful people.  We aren't baptized and then merely have an individual connection with God.  We are joined together as God's holy people.  In some of the biblical imagery, we're all one body, which is then incomplete if we think we can disconnect ourselves from the body and only have a relationship with Jesus all by ourselves.  The body of Christ, our fellow believers in Christ, are critical to our life of faith.

As people who are connected with each other in our baptism, we have a special bond.  When one of us struggles with the outward expression of some sin, it does have its effect on all of us.  And that is why God has put us all together, to walk our lives together.  We are called to be of help and assistance to one another, especially when it comes to the battle against sin in our lives.

Sadly, most of us are too proud or ashamed of our sin to genuinely ask another Christian or Christians for assistance with the outward expression of that sin.  However, we sometimes catch sight of that sin in the life of another believer.  And that is when it is appropriate to seek out ways to help that fellow believer to "put off" the outward expression of that sin.

We can speak God's word of forgiveness to that person, since they are a baptized child of God.  But what's more, we can then offer to walk with them through their struggle, to give help and support in time of need.  As they struggle to put off the outward expression of sin, we can be there as a help and encouragement.  And who knows, that might even give us the insight and courage to ask for that same kind of help when it comes to putting off our own outward expression of sin.

Prayer--Lord Jesus, You have washed us all in the waters of our Baptism.  We now walk with one another in faith and life.  Help us to recognize how we can be of help and encouragement to one another, especially when it comes to the battle against sin.  Also help us to cast aside our shame and pride, and to ask for that same help as we have need of it.  May we do this so that Your body may be built up in every way.  Amen.  

September 14 Catechism Devotion

Catechism--Baptism 4

Ephesians 4:24--...and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness...

Devotion--This fourth part of Luther's explanation of Baptism contains two things that happen in the baptized Christian on a daily basis.  The Old Adam, the sinful nature, is daily drowned and dies, along with sins and evil desire.  While we understand that God permanently forgives our guilt and kills the Old Adam when we were baptized, we also understand that the battle remains within us.  We still find those sinful actions that we can control, at least in regard to their outward expression.

But that's not the end of what happens in our Baptism.  God doesn't merely drown the Old Adam.  He also creates a new person within each baptized Christian.  It's a new person that is pure and perfect in God's eyes.  It's the new person who has been fully and completely forgiven, and who is now that new creation that can stand before God with full confidence as God's own holy child.

This new person also finds its outward expression in our lives as Christians.  This outward expression happens when we engage in the active living our of our faith, doing the things that demonstrate God's care, forgiveness, and grace to others.  The new person seeks to live in line with God's will, demonstrating love for our neighbor in all things.  And that demonstration of love is not merely in avoiding the things that God says to avoid, but in actually taking up the cross and showing sacrificial care and compassion to our neighbor as we have opportunity.

The reason that Paul can say that these actions are righteous and holy is not because the actions themselves are such.  It's because such actions flow from faith on the part of the Christian.  God finds that all good which is done out of faith is holy and righteous in His eyes.  And that is what the new person in baptism seeks to do in our lives as Christians.

Prayer--Lord God, as You daily drown my old sinful nature and bring forth a new creation, I ask that You would guide me to those works of faith which are righteous and holy in Your sight.  Open my eyes to the many opportunities that You provide for me to live out my baptismal grace and faith each day.  In Jesus' name.  Amen. 

September 13 Catechism Devotion

What does such baptizing with water indicate?  It indicates that the Old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.  Where is this written?  St. Paul writes in Romans chapter 6, "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Ephesians 4:22--...put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires...

Devotion--Luther's imagery of baptism in this particular explanation is a great one.  Daily the old sinful nature should be drowned and die, along with all sins and evil desires.  Then, in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he tells them that they are to put off the old self, which we would equate with the Old Adam in the baptismal explanation.

Putting off sin and sinful desires.  Sounds good, and yet the reality that we face is that it is very challenging.  Some of you may have tried to quit a bad habit before.  How easy was that to do?  How much more challenging would it be to put off a sinful desire that is so deeply rooted within you that you have to die for it to go away?

And yet, we find that God's grace does indeed give us a strength that we could not have imagined through our baptism.  While we may never be able to put off the sinful desire, to some degree, we do have control over how that sinful desire springs up in our life.  A sinful desire of lust does not have to lead to the sin of adultery, or of viewing pornography, or the like.  While it may not be easy, to some degree we can "put off" the fruit of the sinful nature.

Is it easy?  No.  It may even require that we humble ourselves and ask for help from God and from other people.  We may have to build in some form of accountability to give us assistance in putting off the sin.  We may need to go to our pastor or a trusted fellow Christian who can hear our confession and announce God's grace and forgiveness to us.  These may be some of the ways that we can work to "put off" the outward expression of the Old Adam.

The thing that we are thankful for, however, is that God has already washed us through the baptismal waters.  We struggle to put off the Old Adam for our sake, and for the sake of our neighbor, not because it calls for more of God's grace.  In fact, our starting point in this struggle is that we are already forgiven and washed by God.  The Old Adam has been drowned.  We have the victory through Jesus, and that gives us strength and hope as we battle to "put off" the old self.

Being Critical and Loving at the Same Time

One of my observations of people in our current day and age is that most people seem to assume that you cannot be critical of another person and still care about them.  In my own mind, it seems that people are just a little too hypersensitive, and therefore take any criticism as though it means you completely disapprove of them as a person.  Perhaps the most blatant example of this that I have seen tends to come in the whole homosexual issue.  Many who are homosexual seem to think that, if you disapprove of this particular behavior, you disapprove of their entire life, and that may not necessarily be the case.

So the question before us seems pretty simple.  Is it possible to be critical and yet loving/caring at the same time?  I would argue that it is, though in this age of hypersensitivity, you really do find yourself walking on eggshells.  But overall, it is possible to be critical of another person, especially when it comes to a sinful behavior, and still be very caring toward that person.  The challenge is to help them see that your criticalness of one area doesn't negate the entire relationship you have with that person.

I realize that I have written pretty generally so far, but I also have to admit that it's pretty challenging to present more substantial examples.  This is mostly because any of the examples that come to my mind involve people who would probably not feel comfortable with me using their example.  So, let's go with this completely fabricated example.

You encounter your friend Joanna one day.  You like Joanna, but you also realize that she likes to talk a lot.  That in and of itself isn't really the problem, it's that she tends to talk a lot about other people, and quite often what she says demonstrates a very critical view that she has of other people. 

Sure enough, when you see her, Joanna comes over and starts to talk.  After telling you about how good it is to see you, she starts to talk about your mutual friend Bernard (I love when I get to make up names for people in my stories!).  She tells you that she heard that Bernard got in trouble with his wife the other day because he had lunch with an attractive colleague of his.  You hadn't heard this story, but from what you know about Bernard, there had to be something more to the story than what Joanna is telling you.

However, Joanna is not only telling you something that she can't verify, and that, quite frankly, you don't need to know.  She's also talking as though she has already made the assumption that Bernard must be having an affair.  You like Joanna, and you know that she has a tendency to jump to conclusions like this.  In the past you've just let it slide, but you also know that some of Joanna's friends have stopped wanting to be around her because of she does this.

So here's your quandary.  How can you be critical of what Joanna is doing, but at the same time, be loving?  How would you go about showing her that it's not merely that you disapprove of her behavior, but that she is hurting her own reputation by doing these things? 

Now, I could make a number of different suggestions, but they would be specific to this particular fabricated story.  So, once again, I fall back into some generalities to give us some thoughts, and perhaps you can think about them in regard to some specific situation that you may find yourself in.

As a general suggested approach, you need to remind the person that you really do care about them.  I know, this is generally how tough conversations begin, but I also think that it is necessary to remind the person that you aren't trying to hurt them or be critical of them because you find some perverse pleasure in seeing them suffer.  They need the reminder that you are doing this because you care about them, and you may even have to remind them of that several times during the conversation, and in the time following that conversation.

Another general suggestion is to offer some specific ways to help them work through this, and say that you are willing to help them if they would like your help in doing so.  You might find that they have no desire to do something about it, but you still have reminded them that you are willing to help them if they should.  But I think this is one of the critical components that is so often missing in situations like this.

If we fail to extend our willingness to help them work through the issue that we have been critical of, then we are being hypocrites in some ways, and not really caring in others.  It's almost like saying, "Here's your problem, now go and figure out how to take care of it" without offering any help.  That's not really helpful to most of us.

A final suggestion is to be patient.  Change is not going to take place instantaneously.  Change takes time, and often needs a lot of support.  Not only should you be willing to follow through on your ideas for helping, but you can also ask if there is anything else you can do to help.  And don't just agree to something with no intention of following through.  Let your yes be yes, and if you have to say no, be clear on why you cannot help with that particular thing.

I know, I've rambled quite a bit.  Maybe that's where my mind is today, but I really do hope that you find something of value in these rambling words.

September 12 Catechism Devotion

Catechism: Baptism part 3

Titus 3:5-8--he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy.

Devotion--Notice the number of plural pronouns in the verses above.  (Just in case you have forgotten, pronouns are the "he" and "us" words!)  Notice that Paul is writing this letter to Titus, and yet he keeps using words that indicate more than one person.  He (God) saved us (more than one).  He poured out on US...WE might become heirs.

In the Christian faith, there is very little language in the Bible which speaks of the Christian who goes about his/her faith all alone.  In reality, the Biblical picture of the people of faith is that they are all together, and that they have the desire to be together with each other.  The idea of the "Lone Ranger" Christian is as foreign to the Bible as is the idea that God's people should sin so that grace may abound even more.

Many of you who read this are baptized.  Your baptism introduced you into a community of faith.  The initiation into that community is the water of baptism, where God's Word connects and combines with the water in a mysterious way to do God's saving work.  That's why Paul can write confidently, "He SAVED us."

As you live your life in connection with other Christians, what are some of the ways that you can build each other up in your baptism?  There are times where I think it would almost be awesome to meet fellow Christians and to make the sign of the cross on each other's foreheads, as a reminder that we each have been baptized.  While you may not be ready to take that extreme form of greeting, what are some ways that you can encourage your fellow baptized in their baptismal grace?

Tuesday Reflections on 9/11

It all seemed unreal when it happened 11 years ago.  I remember a student stopping by my office to tell me that a plane had crashed into one of the Trade Towers.  I decided to go home and learn a little more, and then watched on TV as that impactful morning unfolded.  Still today, I remember many of the details that kept being shown on the news that day.

It's now been 11 years.  The mastermind behind the attacks is no longer living in this world, though terror still finds itself attempting to influence politics around the world.  And in the aftermath of that momentous day, many Christians still cling to the hope they have through Jesus and the cross, that this life is not the only one that we will live, and in that new life, nothing like that will ever happen.

It still saddens me that we humans tend to resort to extreme measures to get our way.  And no, Christians are not immune to this, either.  Anyone who has withheld offerings or left a church because they didn't agree with the pastor or the direction of the church has basically resorted to extreme measures to display their disagreement.  And sadly, in many churches, there are those who will give in to such measures and allow these Christian "terrorists" to win.

That's the trouble with the fact that every single one of us is conceived and born sinful.  We simply cannot help ourselves.  It comes so naturally, and we don't want to think that we are sinning when we resort to such tactics.  And yet, God's Word is very clear.  Anything that isn't proceeding from faith is sin.  Anything not done out of love for neighbor is sin.

9/11 now gives us a day to remember the tragedy, as well as a chance for us to think that we would never resort to doing such things.  However, it pales in comparison to Good Friday, where Jesus endured the greatest act of terrorism of all time, as the weight of the sin of the entire world was pinned on Him unjustly and cruelly.  And yet, out of that action, came the greatest gift that the world could ever hope for; forgiveness and new life through faith in Jesus.

As I think about 9/11 today, more than anything, I am thankful for one who saves me and so many that I love from a life that will always be defined by terror and sin.  I look forward to the new, eternal, perfect life in which such things will never occur.

September 11 Catechism Devotion

Catechism Section--Baptism Part 3

Ephesians 5:26--that [Jesus] might sanctify [the Church], having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.

Devotion--Jesus has cleansed the Church, the entire body of all who believe that Jesus died for them, taking away their sins, and that He rose again, and now gives them new life.  And in the Bible, the particular way that God tells us that this happens is through the waters of baptism.

Every day, as Christians, we walk around as cleansed, forgiven people who have been given new life.  In a way, we have a new outlook on life.  No longer is life a hopeless endeavor that ends at death, but our lives have been redeemed and made new.  Now the things that we do in this world carry over into eternity, even if we don't fully understand exactly how.  And the interactions that we have with our fellow Christians are not just interactions for this life, but will continue on forever in the presence of God and the Lamb, Christ Jesus.

When we receive that eternal inheritance, we will interact with one another perfectly.  No sin will stain our relationships.  Love will be perfectly lived out.  But while we wait for the time when we come into that eternal inheritance, we still have the opportunity to "practice" that life.

You, dear Christian, have been cleansed and sanctified through your baptism.  That means that you now have the opportunity to live in forgiveness, in compassion, in love, and in truth with all other people, but especially with your dear brothers and sisters in Christ.  No, you don't do that as though it achieves more in God's eyes.  That's been fully taken care of through Jesus and your baptism.

You do it, however, for the benefit of each other.  Every word of forgiveness that is spoken furthers the will of God, who desires that His disciples go forth and announce forgiveness.  Every act of compassion demonstrates the grace of God, who acted on behalf of those who didn't deserve it.  Every word of encouragement that is spoken builds up, reflecting the God who acts through His spoken and declared word.

Today, how will you relate to any of your fellow baptized believers as people who have been baptized?  What opportunities to forgive, to encourage, or to build up do you have?  In what way will you make the most of them?  After all, you do this, not so much for God's benefit, but for the benefit of your neighbor.

September 10 Catechism Devotion

Just as a note for future catechism devotion posts, I will only include the full text of the particular part of the catechism on the first day in which that set of devotions is drawn from that particular part.  Usually, we will only be spending four days on each part, so you shouldn't have to scroll back too far in my posts to see it.  Or, you can always use your own catechism at home!  I will, however, mention the part that it comes from.

Catechism: Baptism, part 3.

Romans 6:6--We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Devotion--You died.  You have been put to death.  Somewhere in Jesus and His death on the cross, your sinful nature was present, dying with Jesus as He gave up His life.

For the Christian, that means that there is victory over our sin.  While it is true that we simply cannot escape our sinful nature while we still live in this world, we also are keenly aware that we have the victory over it through Jesus.  It has died, and so we also have died to sin.

How does that death to sin find itself being played out in your life?  When you find yourself battling against sinful passions and urges, what are some of the ways that you discover that you have a measure of control over their outward appearance? 

One trap that we can easily fall into is to think that, since we are completely covered by God's grace through Jesus and the cross, we don't need to battle against our sin in our lives.  After all, if it has been defeated, then we have nothing to worry about, right?

Paul answers that question in the very same book of Romans.  Shall we continue to sin so that grace may abound?  Absolutely not!  We died to it.  How can we still let it live in us?

I would suggest that Paul is talking here about our active and sometimes willful sin, when we know something is contrary to God's will, and yet we do it anyway, under the guise of grace.  That is the kind of sin that we will continue to wage war against, but also have some measure of ability to put to death in our daily lives.

we won't win that war on our own.  In fact, even though we may try our utmost to get rid of it, don't be surprised when it persists.  However, also don't give up your efforts to put that sin to death in your life.

September 9 Catechism Devotion

How can water do such great things?  Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water.  For without God's word the water is plain water, and no baptism.  But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus chapter 3: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Lord so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying."

Galatians 3:26-27--You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Devotion--Paul writes that you "clothed with Christ" through your baptism.  Now, for most of us, our clothing is a rather obvious thing.  What you wear is readily apparent to others.  In my case, sometimes my clothing reveals the fact that I suffer from colorblindness (not to mention mere bad taste, as well).  So once I got married and had a wife to run my shirts and ties past, my clothing seemed to improve greatly.

As a Christian, our baptism clothes us with Christ.  While it may be incomplete as long as the sinful nature still remains within us, as Christians, that clothing should also find occasion to shine through.  While we simply cannot say that the Christian will completely overcome their sin, we can also confidently say that any Christian in whose life Christ fails to shine through is not fully living out their baptismal grace.

If the people in your life had only the actions and words of your life to base their thoughts upon, would they see that you are "clothed with Christ?"  If you never told them that you were a Christian, a follower of Christ, or that you had been baptized, would they see God's grace still covering you?  If so, in what ways?  If not, how can you better reveal the clothing that you wear?

Prayer--Lord Jesus, You have clothed me with Your very own life through my baptism.  I ask that You would help me live in such a way that my "Christ clothing" shines through brightly.  Even though I am still sinful, I pray that my life would also reveal that You have clothed me with your forgiveness and grace.  Amen. 

September 8 Catechism Devotion

What benefits does Baptism give?  It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.  Which are these words and promises of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Acts 2:38--And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Devotion--Everyone who is baptized and who puts their faith in Christ Jesus has the forgiveness of their sins.  This creates a special bond between all believers in Christ Jesus.  The Bible paints a clear picture that every single person who is created in this world is separated from God because of the infection of sin from Adam and Eve.  Every person, regardless of when or where they were conceived, or even in what manner, carries the taint of sin, which calls for condemnation.

That's a harsh truth, and it's one that the Christian faith sometimes seems to forget.  And yet, despite such a grim reality, there is good news.  All who believe have been rescued from that condemnation.  And even better, the action of baptism brings the gift of forgiveness and rescues us from condemnation.

Now, if you were rescued from a burning building along with a number of other people, do you think that you might spend some time talking about how you had been rescued?  And then, even years later, if you happened to see one of your fellow people who had been rescued, don't you think that you would relive the rescue?  It might even seem unnatural not to do so.

As Christians, speaking with one another often about our baptism, and about our forgiveness, would seem like one of the most natural things to do.  And yet, how often have you been involved in a discussion about your baptism, even at your local congregation?  Maybe it's time to remember what you have been rescued from, and then start reliving the experience with those who have also been rescued.

Prayer--Lord Jesus Christ, You have rescued me from death and the devil, and have given me the forgiveness of sins.  Thank you for rescuing me and others.  Help me to relive that experience with my fellow believers, and help us all to build each other up in the gifts You have given through baptism.  I ask this in Your holy name.  Amen. 

September 7 Catechism Devotion

What benefits does Baptism give?  It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.  Which are these words and promises of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Titus 3:5--He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Devotion--Our baptism is intensely personal.  It is where God's gifts are given to us as individuals.  And yet, as a baptized Christian, we are not left all to ourselves.  We're part of a larger community, a community of faith, joined together in ways that we cannot understand.  (The Bible uses several different pictures of this, such as branches attached to the vine, which is Jesus, or a human body, with Jesus as the head.)

As people who are joined or united in some way beyond our understanding, we also live with one another in such a way that we recognize and encourage one another in our baptism.  As part of our worship life together, one of the first things we do is recall that God's name has been put upon us all (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a reminder that God's name has been put on us in baptism).

How do you encourage and remind others of the benefits that they have received in their baptism?  While there are many different ways to do this, perhaps a few suggestions would be helpful.  When you remind others that their sins are forgiven, you are building them up in their baptism.  When you forgive another person for their sin against you, you are building them up in their baptism.  When you remind someone that God has put His name on them, and that they are His, you are building them up in their baptism.

Is there someone whose path you will cross today who could use the reminder of God's benefits to them in their baptism?  If so, I pray that you will make the most of the opportunity to build them up in their baptismal faith and grace.

Prayer--Lord Jesus, You have given me and all believers great benefits through our baptism.  As one who is united to You and to others who share my faith, help me to build up and encourage my fellow believers in their baptism.  Today show me one way that I can remind a fellow believer of their baptism, that they will be strengthened in their faith.  I ask this in Your holy name.  Amen. 

September 6 Catechism Devotion

What benefits does baptism give?  It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believer this, as the words and promises of God declare.  Which are these words and promises?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Mark 16:16--whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Devotion--You have been baptized.  The benefits of baptism have been extended to you, and are now yours, the result of your faith in God's action in Jesus and in your baptism.  And yet, you may not see the direct result of those benefits in your day to day life.

Do you ever wonder exactly how it can be that God sees you as one who is completely forgiven?  Do you ever wonder where the eternal life that you now have is living inside of you?  Maybe questions like these have never crossed your mind.  After all, spiritual things seem a lot more abstract to see, or to take hold of.

From this standpoint, our baptized life isn't one that is going to be easily discernible as we live our lives.  It never is with spiritual things.  And yet, Jesus calls His people the salt of the earth, and the light of the world.  In some ways, it would seem, even these spiritual realities will shine through in our lives.

How do the people around you "see" that you are a baptized child of God?  Do you believe that there are even ways that other people can "see" that hidden reality?  If you were to show someone that you were baptized without being able to directly say it to them, how would you go about revealing your baptism?

Prayer--Dear Lord God, You have made me Your own through the waters of baptism.  Even though the benefits of baptism are spiritual, I ask that You would help me to live in such a way that I demonstrate to others that I am Your own child, baptized into Your holy name.  Amen. 

September 5 Catechism Devotion

What benefits does baptism give?  It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.  Which are these words and promises of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Romans 6:3-5--Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

Devotion--Paul paints a pretty graphic picture.  When you were baptized, you died with Jesus, and since Jesus rose from the dead, you also rose from the dead.  Now, for most of us, this death didn't really seem like death.  We don't recall dying, nor coming back to life.  That's because Paul isn't talking about what happens to our physical bodies in baptism, but our spiritual lives.

It's hard for us to think that our soul is eternally separated from God because of our sin.  One of the pictures that the Bible paints is that we are dead to God when it comes to our sin.  Sin is what causes that death, and therefore, in order to make us right with God, that sin has to die.  But because our sin is so caught up in our soul and life, we also have to die to get rid of that sin.

From a spiritual standpoint, we died when we were baptized, and we were raised to new life.  That means that we now have the benefits of forgiveness and eternal life.  That's right, you have eternal life right now!  That gift is yours, even though the body must die and be raised again in order to bring both body and soul into perfect alignment in God's enduring kingdom.

Everything that would separate you from God has died with you in your baptism.  You now live a new life, and are a new creation!  As you go about living your life today, what does it mean that you are a new creation?  In what ways do you see that it matters that you are a new creation?  What comfort do you receive from knowing that your sin and your sinful self has died?

Prayer--Lord Jesus, thank you for killing me and my sin in baptism, and for raising me to new life through Your resurrection.  May my life today reflect that I have died to sin and been raised to Your righteousness.  Amen. 

September 4 Catechism Devotion

Matthew 28:19-20--Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

What is baptism:  Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command, and combined with God's Word.  Which is that word of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Devotional thought--God gives gifts that are very personal to us.  In our baptism, we are given the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and we are made a new creation through Jesus' resurrection.  These gifts are for each of us personally when we are baptized, and they never depart from us.

The thing is, God doesn't give His gifts to simply be kept for ourselves.  He gives them as a means to further the sharing of faith and His Word of hope, forgiveness, and salvation.  The same goes for your gifts in baptism.  Yes, they are yours, and God wants them to be living and active in your life, but He also doesn't want you to simply keep them to yourself.

We see this in Jesus' words above.  Go!  Make disciples!  Teach them what I have said and commanded!  Our baptism joins us to the community of faith, but those gifts aren't even intended only for that community.  They are intended to be shared with the entire world.  That means that God's hope and will and desire is that you find and make the most of the opportunities that He provides you daily to share your baptismal grace, not only sharing it with fellow Christians, but even with those who do not yet believe.

As you live your life, you can do so in a way that declares that you are God's forgiven, chosen person.  While I could give you specific things that you could do, the reality is that each of us has different opportunities, different relationships, and therefore, we simply cannot have a blanket, one size fits all approach.  Rather, we live as people who have been forgiven, and who are unafraid to ask for forgiveness.  We live as people who have been forgiven, and therefore, we look for opportunities to forgive others, and to share with them the source of our forgiveness.  We have a new life, and we live in such a way that we actively look for opportunities to share the source of that new life.

How will you recognize the opportunities that God is providing in your life (and yes, they are there)?  What strengthening and equipping do you need to recognize these, or to make the most of them?  Where will you start?  Who will you ask for help if you need it?  Who is there that you know of where you can speak that word of forgiveness, ask for forgiveness, or share about your new life?  When will you take up Christ's will and teach them what He has said, about His grace, and about what He has done for them?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to recognize that my baptism has given me gifts that I can share in my daily life.  Help me to recognize the opportunities you provide, and to make the most of them.  Give me strength and courage to ask for help when I need further equipping.  Let my life declare Your grace, which You have given to me through my baptism.  Amen. 

September 3 Catechism Daily Devotion

Acts 2:39--For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.

What is baptism?  Baptism is the water included in God's command and combined with God's Word.  Which is that word of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Devotional Thought--As Peter spoke to the crowds on the day we now celebrate as Pentecost, many people who heard about Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection were "cut to the heart" and asked what they should do in light of this.  Peter responded that they should be baptized, and then he spoke the words in the verse above. 

In baptism, God's people receive God's promise.  In verse 28, Peter spoke about the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which are given in baptism.  He then calls it a promise that is for those who heard that day, for their children, and for everyone that the Lord God would make His own.

In your baptism, you are connected to a greater community than you could ever imagine.  It's not only all who are alive today, but all who will live, and all who have lived and now received their eternal inheritance.  While you individually have been baptized, that action of God's has made you a part of a huge community.

That means that the life you live in your baptism is not your life alone.  It is a life that is shared with every other person who has been baptized.  If you neglect the gifts of your baptism, it affects the community.  When you rejoice in your gifts in baptism, and announce them to others, or share them with others, it also affects the community.

Being included in God's promise, being forgiven, and being given God's Spirit changes you.  Yes, it brings you from God's wrath and condemnation into His eternal grace and kingdom.  But it also changes how you see your life.  You're now connected intimately to a large community, and what you do will affect part of that community.  How you wear God's name impacts the believers around you.

As you think about your life, how does your baptism affect the group of God's people that you regularly worship with?  Do you experience that baptismal connection with them, or do you simply treat one another as you would any other person?  As a person who has been given God's gifts in baptism, what could you do differently to demonstrate that you take your baptism seriously in relation to your connection to other believers?

September 2 Daily Catechism Devotion

What is baptism?  It is the water included in God's command, and combined with God's Word.  Which is that word of God?  Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:38: And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Devotional Thought: When you look at the verse from Acts 2 above, you see a couple of the gifts that God gives through the cleansing waters of baptism.  In particular are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that He comes and makes His dwelling within you in such a way as to bring you the saving grace of Jesus, and the forgiveness of sins which Jesus purchased and won on the cross and in His resurrection. 

These gifts are for each of you.  They are personal gifts from God the Father Himself.  While it is common for us to think about the fact that Jesus forgave the sins of the world, it strikes home in that Jesus has forgiven YOUR sins.  Those sins that haunt you, the ones that weigh you down, the ones that you simply cannot forget or lay aside, those are the sins that are forgiven, and that forgiveness is yours through baptism.

Many of us walk around in life feeling guilty for many of the things we've done.  We think of words or actions that have hurt others, and we still keenly feel the sting of our guilt.  And yet, there is God's promise.  They have been forgiven through your baptism.  That guilt has been paid for and removed.  Sure, you may still deal with some of the consequences, or the regrets that come along with your actions or words, but from God's standpoint, they have been washed and forgiven through the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

God has forgiven your sin, and that forgiveness is yours like it is for no one else.  Every one of us has our own set of sins and guilt, and in your baptism, that sin is forgiven.  You have been washed and cleansed by the Holy Spirit, who now works to constantly remind you that you are God's forgiven child.

How can such assurance in your forgiveness be apparent in your life?  In what parts of your life are you still dealing with guilt that God has forgiven through Jesus?  How does the assurance of forgiveness change the way that you live your life?

September 1 Catechism Devotion

Welcome to the first installment of the daily Catechism Devotion.  You will likely find it helpful to have a copy of Luther's Small Catechism and the Bible, though most of what we will focus on will be written out here for you.

Small Catechism: Baptism part 1, which asks, What is baptism, and responds, Baptism isn't just plain water, but the water included in God's command, and which is combined with God's Word.  Which Word from God is that?  Christ says in the last chapter of Matthew, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  (Matthew 28:19, which is our verse for today.)

Devotional Thoughts: When you were baptized, God's name was placed upon you.  You became a part of the family.  In a way, it's kind of like having a very strong family name.  Each of us has a given family name that we share with the members of our family.  That name has a history.  That name has meaning.  And so also does God's name which is upon you.

Most of us find times in life where we stand up for our family name.  Even though we may not always like it, it's ours.  It means something to us and to our family.  We don't like to have that name disrespected, and quite often wear that name proudly.

God's name is upon you through your baptism.  You are part of God's family, made so through your baptism.  You wear God's name everywhere you go.  As you think about your life, when do you find that you spend time or make efforts to let others know that you wear God's name?  Are there times where you can let others know about that name even more?  In what kind of ways can you let people know that you are part of God's family, and that you wear God's name, as you go about living your life in your daily interactions? 

Part of taking our faith seriously is recognizing that God's name will take on the reputation of those who wear that name.  Today, may you give serious thought to how you grow and enhance God's reputation as you wear His name.