Sermon for 24 August 2014, St. Bartholomew (Tenth Sunday after Trinity)

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

John 1:43-51

Come and See and Bring Others!

St. Bartholomew (Tenth Sunday after Trinity), 24 August 2014

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

The late president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Dr. A. L. Barry, often encouraged us in this way: “Get the message straight, Missouri. Get the message out, Missouri.” If we zealously protected the purity of Biblical Truth, but never told anyone the good news about Jesus, what good would that be? If we spent all our time witnessing, but had false doctrine or the truth mixed with some error, what good would that be? We must have both pure doctrine and proclamation together.

Today is the Tenth Sunday after Trinity. In Luke 19, Jesus cleansed the temple. Today is also St. Bartholomew’s heavenly birthday, the day he was martyred for Christ. Texts like the appointed Gospel for St. Bartholomew are an encouragement for us to “Get the message straight, Missouri. Get the message out, Missouri.” Come and see and bring others!

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 

Jesus gives Philip an imperative: Follow Me. It is a direct command. Even so, direct commands may be resisted. Philip followed. God commands us to follow Him. He doesn’t simply say, “Come if you want.” And that’s good for us to remember.

Philip is from the same town as the brothers Andrew and Peter. We’ve heard of them before—the fishermen—Jesus first two disciples.

Verbs are important in the Biblical text. Jesus found Philip. Not the other way around. Scripture depicts human beings as sinful from birth, sinful in thought, word, and deed, sinful enemies of God, running away from Him. Scripture describes the Lord as a good shepherd leaving the 99 and looking for the one lost sheep. The Lord does the seeking Himself. And sometimes, He delegates that holy task to His Christians.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 

Jesus found Philip. Philip found Nathaniel. The kingdom of heaven expands. Philip can say  "We have found Him,” meaning the Messiah or Christ, because Christ found him first—and others. Did you notice the plural Philip used? “We have found Him…” Philip is no longer alone. Already, here in the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, the Lord is gathering to Himself a people. John the Baptizer has recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus has called Andrew, Peter, and Philip. Nathaniel is about to meet Jesus.

"We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  That’s what Philip told Nathaniel. Moses prophesied about a great prophet to come. The Old Testament prophets foretold a priest, a king, a divine suffering servant. Here He is, Nathaniel.

At first glance, it appears odd to have a text about Nathaniel on a day commemorating St. Bartholomew as an apostle of our Lord. In fact, Nathaniel and Bartholomew are the same person—different names. Nathaniel is likely his given name. Bartholomew—a family name. “Bar” in Aramaic means “son of.” So, Bartholomew would mean “son of Talmai” or “Tolmai.” He could be called Nathaniel, son of Talmai. Nathaniel Bartholomew. In the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the names of Bartholomew and Philip are paired on the lists of the 12 disciples. In our text today, Nathaniel appears as a friend of Philip, so there appears to be an easy match.

Other information in the Scriptures about Nathaniel Bartholomew is scant. He is mentioned occasionally, often as just part of the twelve. The historian Eusebius reports that he preached in India, bringing along with him a copy of Matthew’s gospel account in Hebrew. Other traditions suggest that he also worked in Armenia. It is thought, (since Holy Scripture is silent on the matter,) that he suffered martyrdom in Albanopolis on the Caspian Sea in A.D. 68 at the hands of King Astyages, with death coming after being flayed alive and beheaded.

That faithful witness to the end amazes us, especially in light of his words in John 1: Nathanael said to [Philip], "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" We are reminded that God calls His children into His service in spite of their weaknesses, not because of their strengths. Lutherans remember saints to the remember the saint, but to remember the Lord who made them holy because of His death, resurrection, and delivered forgiveness of all sins.

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 

This doesn’t mean that Nathaniel is in some way better than us or the other disciples—it simply means that he put his cards on the table—he doubted that anything or anyone good could come out of Nazareth, and he didn’t hide his feelings.

Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 

1 Kings 4:25 suggest that the greatest peace and prosperity of Israel was under David and Solomon, when “Judah and Israel live in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree…” Sitting under the fig tree, especially in the parched areas of Palestine was considered a prime place to meditate upon and study the Word of God. Get the message straight and keep it straight! The prophet Micah says (4:4) that “they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.” This is what life will be like at the coming of the Messiah! And look, he is here! "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 

Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"  Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."  And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Nathaniel Bartholomew is the fourth to be called here at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He is amazed that Jesus saw him before Philip called him. Not only will Nathaniel see the fulfillment of Jacob’s vision of angels, commonly called Jacob’s Ladder, but even greater things—water turned into wine in Chapter 2, healings, walking on water, miraculous feedings, and above all, Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead!

Get the message out, Missouri. Pondering the Divine Word underneath the fig tree reminds us of the importance of daily, personal Bible Study, studying the Word with other Christians in an organized setting, and remaining steadfast in its truth. The Word, by the work of the Holy Spirit, bears fruit in us. That fruit cannot remain contained! It wants to grow, go forth, and to tell others.

That is what the Lord brought about in Philip. A new believer, he couldn’t contain the good news about Jesus that he had been give. Jesus came to him and he saw in Jesus true God, true man, the promised Messiah. And then Philip ran to tell someone else. When Nathaniel doubted, he said, come and see. Philip came, saw, and brought another. Later, we see Nathaniel and the rest of the 12 doing the same thing. They brought others!

It may have been many years ago, but at one time, you did not know the Lord purely, according to His Holy Word. Someone brought you. Perhaps your parents or grandparents brought you to Holy Baptism. Sunday School. Confirmation Class. Many, many Sundays at the Divine Service. Every one of us was brought. All of us, pastor and people, are given to bring others.

The Lord has gathered you to Himself around Word and Sacrament. You came, you saw. Now, bring others. There is nothing in the whole world like a personal invitation to church. Christian ministries can have all the stadium events they want. People can go door-to-door until they are blue in the face. We could send out advertisements until the congregation is broke. But nothing, absolutely nothing can do what a simple personal invitation can!

The people in your life already know you. They work with you, live near you, study with you. You’ve been at each other’s homes for meals. You’ve been there for their special times in life and they’ve been there for you. Perhaps you’ve never spoken to them about spiritual things. You might not know what their religious background is. Don’t be afraid to ask!

It is said that it is impolite to speak about politics or religion. That is tragic. If by politics you mean looking out for the common good and caring for your fellow man here in time, why wouldn’t we want to discuss that? And if we feel pressured to keep silent about the most important message in all of eternity—the good news of the complete forgiveness of sins in Jesus alone—then that is even more sad. Are we really that afraid? Is it rude to speak about politics when abuse and poverty are allowed to go on? Would we rather be polite and not speak about Jesus’ forgiveness, while so many are going straight to hell? Just as God didn’t say, “Come if you want,” He also didn’t say, “Tell other people about me when and if you feel like it.”

This text was chosen for St. Bartholomew’s day, I think, because it shows Nathaniel Bartholomew as his worst—not his best. We are not to ask, “What are we to make of St. Bartholomew?” Instead, we see here and in the rest of the New Testament what the Lord made of him—and what Our Lord makes of us. We are at the same time sinful and justified because of Jesus, the Christ, the promised Messiah, He who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, He that says to you, “Follow me.”

“Get the message straight, Missouri. Get the message out, Missouri.” It is good advice, faithful advice, Biblical advice. You have been reconciled to God. Share that reconciliation with others. There are a majority of people in this world, in this community that need what Jesus offers, what we have and often take for granted. You have been freed from sin’s bondage. Go forth with the keys to unlock the shackles of your neighbor, your family, your coworkers, and classmates.

Come and see, often—weekly, the Gifts the Lord has for you. Come and see, and bring others, so that they may have the freedom and forgiveness that we enjoy. Come and see and bring others. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Help is acknowledged from the Rev. William Otte’s study in CPR.

17 August 2014, Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Our guest preacher and celebrant this day was
the Rev. Richard O. Boche, Wyoming District President

Sermon for 13 August 2014, Wednesday of Trinity 8

Rev. Paul J Cain

Acts 20:27–38

Fierce Wolves

Wednesday of Trinity 8, 13 August 2014

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

For an Elder to Read

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Paul says farewell to the Elders, the Pastors of Ephesus with his words recorded by the Holy Spirit in Acts 20. We know that he will soon be arrested in Jerusalem and will be on his way to Rome. He would be there under house arrest for two years, be released, according to history, conduct a missionary journey to what we know as Spain, return to Rome, and die outside the walls as a martyr.

Paul’s words are words of warning against fierce wolves.

²⁷[Paul said:] For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. ³²And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. ³⁵In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said,  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

      ³⁶And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Did you hear the words of warning? Pay careful attention. Care for the church of God. Fierce wolves will come in. They will arise from your own selves, the church. They will speak twisted things. I admonish everyone with tears. I commend you to God. It is more blessed to give than receive.

In a week we have heard much about false teachers and false teaching, Paul reminds us that much false teaching within the Church comes from within the Church. Some pastors arise and begin speaking their own thoughts and theologies. They draw away disciples after them and away from Christ. These are false teachers that Jesus also warns us against.

How do we protect ourselves? How does the Lord protect us? He gives us His Word. He abides with us always. He is the Vine and we are the branches.

He teaches us His Word, that we would know it in both mind and heart, so that words of repentance and faith may always be on our lips! Lord, grant that we may hear Your Word so that we may know Your Word so that we may do your Word.

False teaching can be easier to spot if you already know the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ from Holy Scripture

True teaching includes both Law and Gospel and ultimately leads you to Jesus and His comfort. False teaching ignores true Law and/or the true Gospel and leads you away from Christ to a false comfort, and to hypocrisy and despair.

We are to identify, expose, and judge false prophets and their false teaching. We do not want anyone to be led astray and led away from Christ. We should love the sheep and even the wolves enough to speak up against falsehood and speak up for Christ’s truth.

And so tonight, we have heard the Word of the Lord. We have sung His Word, and, like Paul, we will pray together based on the Lord’s own priorities as He has made them known in His word.

Beware of fierce wolves. Respect their influence over unwary sheep. Mark and avoid them. Hold fast to the true teaching without ceasing. The Lord Jesus is greater than the roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist the old evil foe, firm in our faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Sermon for 10 August 2014, Eighth Sunday after Trinity

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Matthew 7:15-24

Beware. Depart. Fruits

Eighth Sunday after Trinity, 10 August 2014

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Law. That’s what you primarily heard in the Gospel for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 7:15-24. Jesus warns us to beware false teachers. He says that mere lip service is not enough. Those who He never knew are commanded to depart. And He speaks of fruit—Gospel fruit.

We begin with His words regarding A Tree and Its Fruit: ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I had a disastrous experience with rosebushes when we lived in Green River. I grew up with rosebushes all over our side yard. They seemed to flourish in Nebraska. My first mistake was buying them on clearance from a department store. My second mistake was planting them without any extra nourishment—no potting soil or miracle gro. My third mistake was not noticing the rocky soil of the parsonage yard there in Sweetwater County until we had to use sharp shovels and pickaxes to improve the decades-old sprinkler system. No fruits. No roses. Just thorns.

False prophets are just like those dead or dying rosebushes: no fruits, no roses, but plenty of thorns—just ask those persecuted by Islam. It is politically incorrect to say that false prophets exist. False teaching exists. Saying either of those statements can get you into trouble especially in a society like ours that has redefined “tolerate” as a synonym of “agree with me” or “treat me as an equal” even when their words and deeds trample on God’s Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.

The summary of what Jesus teaches here is very simple, and should be stated clearly: True teaching includes both Law and Gospel and ultimately leads you to Jesus and His comfort. False teaching ignores true Law and/or the true Gospel and leads you away from Christ to a false comfort, and to hypocrisy and despair.

False teaching is easier to spot if you already know the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ from Holy Scripture. The same Jesus Who says “Beware of false prophets” also says: “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Those verses I just read from Matthew 7:1-5 come before today’s Matthew 7 verses from 15-24. They belong together. They inform one another. One who dares to judge another’s doctrine and practice had better be above reproach in doctrine and practice before doing so.

Judge only if you are prepared to be judged. Repent and be reconciled to the Lord first. Have the log out of your own eye before you even think about talking about or acting on the speck in your brother’s eye.

We are to identify, expose, and judge false prophets and their false teaching. We do not want anyone to be led astray and led away from Christ. We should love the sheep and even the wolves enough to speak up against falsehood and speak up for Christ’s truth.

In the second paragraph, Jesus says, I Never Knew You: 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. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

We could substitute better words instead of those quoted by those departing from Jesus. We could say, “Lord, have mercy,” or “Our Father, who art in heaven,” or, “I believe…” or even “Amen. Lord Jesus, quickly come!”

Yet, not everyone who says the right words means them. Not everyone who says the right words believes them.

Back in February, Dr. Gene Edward Veith blogged about the word hypocrisy (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/02/the-actual-definition-of-hypocrisy/). He said:

Justin Taylor, (my editor at Crossway,) points out many people who use the word “hypocrisy” do not know what it actually means.  It isn’t /not practicing what you preach, but not believing/ what you say you do. 

From How to Stop Misusing the Word “Hypocrisy” – Justin Taylor:

Boston College philosopher Peter Kreeft: The common, modern misunderstanding of hypocrisy [is] not practicing what you preach. . . . Actually, we have misdefined “hypocrisy.” Hypocrisy is not the failure to practice what you preach but the failure to believe it. Hypocrisy is propaganda.

The great art critic William Hazlitt (1778-1830): He is a hypocrite who professes what he does not believe; not he who does not practice all he wishes or approves.

The American Heritage Dictionary: [Hypocrisy is] the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

During my Junior year of college, I thought I’d be going into politics. Today, we see all kinds of partisan “spin doctors” on news and commentary shows. Their job is to “spin” or interpret events in a way favorable to their candidate or elected official. Even twenty years ago, I knew then that political spin was out there / but to never, ever, believe your own side’s spin. In other words, never fall for your own misguided and sinful internal propaganda.

We do not want anyone to be led astray and led away from Christ. We should never condone someone else’s sin. We avoid even the appearance of immorality, so that we would not lead someone astray by our bad example. We desire for all to enter the kingdom of heaven on the merits of Christ.

Fruit.

When we ponder the “fruit of faith” we most often think about the fruit of the Gospel in our own lives. Jesus says that good prophets have good fruits. False prophets have bad fruits. Both may take time to truly notice.

The most important fruits of the Christian life are not those from your own mind, hands, lips, or heart. Even such “good works” are tainted by sin and spoiled by our pride in them. You yourselves are the fruit of Jesus’ birth, ministry, healing, suffering, crucifixion, death, and Resurrection. You are Jesus’ good fruit. You are forgiven, cleansed, and reconciled to God. You are good fruit because of Christ Jesus.

It is as if Jesus said: Heed me, the true Prophet of God, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Your sins are forgiven. Forgiveness, life, and salvation are gifts to you, fruit of my ministry. So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, for a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit. Recognize prophets by their fruit. Those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven, will truly prophesy in My name, and do many mighty works for the benefit of their neighbors. And then will I declare to them, ‘I know you by name. Come unto me, you / who are fruit of my righteousness.’

True teaching includes both Law and Gospel and ultimately leads you to Jesus and His comfort. False teaching ignores true Law or the true Gospel (or both) and leads you away from Christ to a false comfort, and to hypocrisy and despair.

O Lord, teach us your Word, that we know it in both mind and heart, that words of repentance and faith may always be on our lips! Have mercy upon us, forgive us our trespasses, lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil! Grant that we may hear Your Word so that we may know Your Word so that we may do your Word.

LSB For blessing on the Word: Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to conform those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it[. Grant this, Lord, unto us all]; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wedding Sermon for Miranda Noel Born and Samuel Wyatt Bear

The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.

Romans 8:37-39

The Love of Christ

Saturday of Trinity VII, 09 August 2014

Wedding of Miranda Noel Born and Samuel Wyatt Bear

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

Kendrick Mansion

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These verses were chosen by Wyatt and Miranda for this sermon on their wedding day. Romans 8:38 and 39 answer the questions raised in verse 35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

“No” is the answer to the second question. “Nothing” is the answer to the first. Here in Romans 8, Paul talks about nothing.

Nothing is a powerful word. It can be used in interesting ways. For example, “Eating plain rice is better than nothing.” Or, “Nothing is better than a good steak.” Does it make any sense to say, “Eating plain rice is better than a good steak”? No! It makes no logical sense. “Nothing,” appears, to mess us up.

Sometimes we don’t make logical sense either. We worry about nothing. Due to sin, our thinkers don’t think perfectly. We can think things that just aren’t true. We worry about clothes. We worry about what people will think. We worry about what people might have thought. We worry about ill family members and our own health. We worry about popularity. We worry about weight. We worry about relationships. We worry about work and school. We worry about moving. We worry about what we don’t have and why we don’t have it. We worry about money. We worry about being loved. We worry that we worry too much. And we do. We waste valuable prayer time by worrying.

When we worry, the thing we worry about becomes the most important thing in the world. It becomes an idol to us—a false god instead of the true God who loves us. No wonder we’re distracted. We worry about nothing, as if “nothing” were powerful enough to separate us from the love of Christ. St. Paul talks about nothing without ever using the word, “nothing.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Jesus loved us first. Our love of Him and our love for one another are imperfect reflections of His love. A couple in love, married in the eyes of the Lord and of Caesar needs more than their feelings for one another for their relationship to survive. They need a marriage. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote in a wedding sermon, “It is not your love which sustains the marriage, but from now on the marriage that sustains your love.” That is why holy matrimony, the lifelong union of one man and one woman wed only to each other, is still a viable institution in 21^st Century America. A marriage is built on commitment love.

Commitment love is what gets couples through the tough times. After all, forgiving each other will make your life together a lot more BEARable, and a lot more enjoyable. You need to be regularly reminded of Christ’s love for you and shown His love.

Paul continues: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is as John Piper writes, “On the cross Christ endured for us all the punishment required of us because of our sin. And in order that God, as our Father, might be completely for us and not against us forever, Christ has performed for us, in his perfect obedience to God, all that God required of us as the ground of his being totally for us forever” (Piper, John. The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2007, page 184).

That Gospel empowers our obedience as a response. Of the one whose delight is in the Word of the Lord, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water           that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

We pray for good fruit for you in the Lord, for health, for love, and for prosperity. We rejoice this day, Miranda and Wyatt, in your love for one another. Your Lord does you one better. He loves you. He showed it in a manger, on the cross, and by an empty tomb. He shows it by the absolution—the washing away—of your sins, by Holy Baptism, in the proclamation of His Gospel, and in the delivery of Himself to you in His very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins.

You are loved. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing. Not tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword. Nothing. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation. Nothing. Not even the opinions of other people, illness, lack of popularity, relationship challenges, the stress of transitions, or even a new job. You are loved. God showed that love in sending His Son to die for You. He shows you that love now in forgiving you all your sins. He wants you to be certain about His love, no matter how you feel on a given day. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loved us. Amen.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

                        nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

            ²           but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

            ³           He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

                        that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

                        In all that he does, he prospers.

            ⁴           The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

            ⁵           Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

            ⁶           for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish. ^[1]

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ps 1:1–6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.