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August 6 & 7, 2016

A man was out hiking by himself, when he stumbled down the side of a cliff. As he plunged toward his death, he desperately grabbed the root of a tree that was jutting out from the otherwise barren wall. As he clung tightly to the root, the man looked down. His fall would have meant certain death! He looked up, but realized there was no possibility of climbing back up. As he could think of nothing else to do, he looked toward the sky and yelled, “Is there anyone up there? If there’s a God in heaven, get me out of this mess, and I’ll do anything that you ask!”

A voice boomed from the sky, “Yes, I’m here, and if you wish to be saved, all you need to do is have faith. Simply let go of that root, let yourself fall, and I will catch you in My hand. No harm will come to you.”

The man looked down again to what seemed like certain death. He paused and yelled back up at the sky, “Is anyone else up there?”

I re-tell this story to illustrate the NATURE OF FAITH. While the story is intended to be humorous, it packs a punch of stern reality! The “Law-message” is 3-fold: First of all, like the man in the story, all too often we only call upon the LORD in the midst of a crisis – hanging on for “dear life!” Secondly, we think we can strike up a “bargain” with God – “get me out of this and I’ll do whatever You ask!” – but after the crisis is over, our promise is unfulfilled and quickly forgotten. And thirdly, when God tells us “let go… I will take care of you” – we want to consider other options; including the idolatry of asking, “Is anyone else up there?”

The Scripture readings this weekend point us to the example of Abraham: “By faith Abraham (at the age of 100)… was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:1) and “Abram believed the LORD, and (the LORD) credited it to (Abraham) as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

Note that it does NOT say Abraham did what was right and the Lord rewarded him. It does NOT say Abraham was better than the others and the Lord gave him special treatment. In fact, God’s Word shows us a very human, sinful and fearful Abraham who got impatient with God and TOOK MATTERS into his own hands. Twice he lied about his wife, Sarah. In today’s OT reading, he suggested to God that Eliezer, his servant, might be his heir. In the next chapter, we read how he took his wife’s maid, Hagar, and had a son, Ishmael through her, thinking that Ishmael would be the “heir.” All of these, showing his LACK of FAITH in God’s promise; and yet God’s Word points us to Abraham as “Abraham believed the LORD and (the LORD) credited it to him as righteousness.” “By faith, Abraham…” did have a son (the son of promise) through Sarah, and through this undeserved gift, God faithfully fulfilled His eternal promise that through Isaac and his descendants, Jesus would be born as the Savior of the World!

God’s Word gives us the example of Abraham to assure us that faith is only available as a GIFT – undeserved and freely given by a gracious God! As we read Hebrews 11 – “the heroes of faith,” God’s Word does NOT direct us to the quality of faith in these “heroes” – but always DIRECTS US TO THE OBJECT of faith – Jesus Christ.

God’s Word tells us that faith was “credited” to Abraham. This sounds like a bookkeeping term. In its use here, it is really much more than a calculation of debits and credits. It is a word that has to do with the DECISION that GOD HAS MADE. God’s Word so clearly starts it: “The wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is the GIFT of God…” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This saving FAITH is God’s gift to us (just as it was to Abraham). In today’s Gospel reading, as Jesus is teaching His disciples, He points us to WHAT HE DOES FOR US, as He says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to GIVE you the kingdom…” (Luke 12:32) God gives the GIFT of FAITH so that we might RECEIVE His precious gift!

There will be weak moments in our lives, when we may feel like we are “hanging on for dear life.” As noted, God’s Word records for us many such times in Abraham’s life – as it also does for all of the “heroes of faith” as recorded in Hebrews 11, and the rest of Holy Scripture. In this respect, we, who live today, are “ONE UP” on Abraham – we have the definite advantage! Whereas Abraham could only trust what God would do for him in the future, we have the DEFINITE ADVANTAGE of knowing a God who has already acted in the past, giving us His only Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, suffered, died and rose again FOR US. This is what CREATED the FAITH and SUSTAINS us so that we too can “believe the LORD and have it credited to us as righteousness.”

God strengthened Abraham’s faith in an interesting way. He said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to Him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) To strengthen Abraham’s faith, the LORD pointed him to look at the stars – (every night?) – God directs our eyes, not to the stars, but to His Son, Jesus Christ and to the cross which symbolizes all that He has done for us. In FAITH, we look back to the already-accomplished work of Jesus as recorded for us faithfully in God’s Word.

We must be constantly reminded of God’s promises and faithfulness. That is why we meet regularly for worship and Bible study; come OFTEN at Jesus’ invitation to the Lord’s Supper; encourage one another daily. This is why we visit the sick, reach out to the unchurched, give offerings for the work of the Lord as well as out-reach beyond our community. “Reaching the Lost and Strengthening the Saved” – That is why we SEEK to point others to Jesus Christ and what He has done and continues to do for us so that they too might “believe the LORD and have it credited to them as righteousness.”

Looking forward to worshiping with you this next weekend – and continuing to grow together in the faith this week in daily prayers and devotions.

Pastor Myers

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July 23 & 24, 2016

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Pentecost 9 – July 16 & 17, 2016

As we heard last weekend, the expert in the law asked two wrong questions: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and “Who is my neighbor?” In answering, Jesus gave us the two RIGHT questions: “What has Jesus done for our salvation?” & “How can I be a neighbor?” This weekend, we see Martha and Mary were “good neighbors” / “Good Samaritans!” Jesus had no home of His own – although He fed the 5,000 with a little boy’s lunch – most of the time He and His disciples needed to eat.  Martha and Mary knew of their “need that they could help fill.”

So… wouldn’t we expect that Martha is to be praised? She is the one who DOES something when she sees her “neighbors” in need!  Martha’s middle name could have been “hospitality!” Each of the 3 times we read about her in Holy Scripture (here, John 11 and 12) she is busy welcoming or serving.

At first glance, doesn’t Mary seem like the priest and Levite in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan who DIDN’T DO anything? I can certainly relate to Martha – “Don’t just sit there, DO something!”

But Jesus has a much greater lesson as we read, “As Jesus and His disciples were on their way … Martha opened her home to Him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” (v.38-42)

Martha’s desire was NOT wrong – just misdirected. She loved Jesus and wanted to give Him her very best!  But she was “distracted” – literally “pulled or dragged away” from Jesus and WHAT HE CAME TO BRING by all her “preparations” that she wanted to make. Jesus said she was “worried and upset about many things” – because of this she almost MISSED OUT on “the Very Best” of Jesus “divine hospitality” at her house!

The same is true with Abraham (in OT reading) – Genesis 18, Abraham welcomed the “three men” as his special guests. Although Abraham prepared a very special meal for The Lord, it is obvious that The LORD came NOT TO BE SERVED A MEAL BY THEM, BUT TO GIVE THEM “THE GIFT” of a child. Through faith, Abraham received the “gift” of Isaac (the “son of the covenant promise”); which pointed to “The gift” of THE Son of the covenant promise – Jesus Christ– some 2000 years later.

How often is your life so hectic that when time for worship came, you rushed to get to church but you had so many “distractions” going through your mind that you left the worship service wondering why you even came? Because you were “worried and upset about many things”, you didn’t receive the “divine hospitality” God so freely gives; you didn’t “hear” the “gifts” of God that He gave through the hymns, the liturgy, the Scripture readings, the sermon, the prayers and especially, The Lord’s Supper?  It’s not just to Martha, to whom the Lord speaks these LOVING words of CORRECTION, but to all of us who are often “distracted,” “worried and upset about many things:” (insert your name) “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Remember the White Rabbit in the story of Alice in Wonderland?  He ran around saying, “I’m late, I’m late for a very important date, no time to say hello, goodbye, I’m late, I’m late.” His entire life was driven by “the tyranny of the urgent.”  Our world is filled with “busy people.” “Movers and shakers” is a term given to people who get a lot of activity done, but often end up “worried and upset,” “distracted by their many preparations.”  It is not surprising that these people are often unhappy, anxious, stressed-out and troubled.

God would remind them also, “One thing is needed” – what Mary chose – to quality time, at Jesus’ feet to listen and to receive His “divine hospitality” – the “gift” of His Word.

Today’s Scripture readings are NOT JUST about Abraham & Sarah, Martha & Mary; like all of Scripture, they are about Jesus! The promise of a child to Abraham & Sarah; the blessings that Mary received that day; were not because of what they did; IT WAS WHAT JESUS DID AND CONTINUES TO DO that transforms the ordinary times and places to the very special blessed events! Some would encourage us to “be more like Abraham”  “be more like Mary” – that’s ridiculous. (Oh, how much would NOT get done if we didn’t have so many “Martha’s” in our church – thank God also for Martha’s!)  Jesus commended Mary for making the right choice, but she acted in response to Jesus presence.  When Martha was doing good deeds, Jesus RE-DIRECTED her priorities to that of FIRST RECEIVING “the one thing needed” that He came to give.  Mary and Martha were blessed because Jesus is the Blessing and they were with Him!

God’s Word and His Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) are “the one thing needed” / the “divine hospitality” that Jesus desires to bless us with in our daily lives. And what a blessing that in places all over the world, not just on Sundays, but every day of the week, the Word of God is read and studied and shared!  JESUS is the one thing needed – what is better – that will not be taken away from His dear children.

God’s blessings with the “one thing needed” each day this week – and see you in worship the coming weekend!

Pastor Myers

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July 9 & 10, 2016

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a familiar story. Children learn it at quite an early age, adults refer to those who help others as “good Samaritans,” There is even an organization of campers called “The Good Sam Club,” Isn’t it interested how this image has completely changed since the time Jesus told this parable!

At Jesus time – the two words “good” and “Samaritan” certainly weren’t thought about together!  (Luke 9:51-56 – James and John saw nothing wrong with asking, “Lord, do You want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”) The Jews thought of the Samaritans as we might consider the radical ISIS groups that seek to destroy us – certainly NOT “good!”  Although this parable is quite familiar, what is the important meaning that Jesus would have us to know?

Jesus told this parable in reply to “an expert in the law” / lawyer (v.25) who challenged Jesus with two questions!  Jesus answers not the wrong ones but the two questions that should have been asked!

This lawyer came to test Jesus / to debate.  Jesus did not come to debate, He came to teach the truth and to lead all to receive eternal life as a free gift from God. (This is a good reminder to us that we are not to debate God’s Word with people but to share the truth and point them to Jesus as their Savior.)

The lawyer asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v.25) This question was wrong and unnecessary because it was already clearly answered in Holy Scripture. In fact, every Jewish boy could have given the correct answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself.” (v.27) This was common “knowledge.” But Jesus knew that this was only “head knowledge,” and this lawyer proved this when he, “wanting to justify himself” (v.29) asked the 2^nd “wrong question” – “And who is my neighbor?”

In response, Jesus set the stage for his answer. “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.” (v.30) Along came a priest, and then a Levite, good religious men, the kind who always talked about good works and how to get eternal life. But when these two saw the man in need, they “passed by on the other side.” (v.31) These men, like this lawyer, were good with words, but had no actions to back up those words.

Now, to be fair, I’m sure that they had good excuses. Stopping to help would have gotten them ritually unclean, maybe even late for a service or Bible class, maybe they were afraid for their own safety on this dangerous road. There are always plenty of excuses not to help someone in need.

After Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of saying one thing and doing the opposite, Jesus said the most shocking thing!  He said, “But a Samaritan (a radical ISIS, Muslim) as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, … took him to the inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins (2 day’s wages!) and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

To the Jews, especially a Jewish lawyer, the very name of “Samaritan” was unspeakable! (Notice that the lawyer referred to him as “the one who had mercy on him” and would not even speak the name “the Samaritan!”) This despised and rejected man, a Samaritan, showed by his actions of unselfish love that he was better at loving his neighbor than the other Jewish leaders!

Jesus would have the lawyer see that by asking such questions, the lawyer was the priest and Levite, and therefore would miss totally the real “Good Samaritan,” Jesus Himself! Jesus was “despised and rejected by men” (Isiah 53:6a) Jesus came to where the broken and hurting people were and gave of Himself to help them. Jesus came to give both actions and words!

In a much greater way, Jesus came to all who hated Him, while we were dead in trespasses and sins! By nature all of us were enemies of God, doomed to eternal life in hell. Because of sin we had no hope of eternal life, no matter what we tried to do! Therefore, God came to us in our greatest need. And God spared no expense. God’s Word tells us clearly: “…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son…” (Romans. 5:10)  Jesus is truly the greatest “Good Samaritan”! Jesus spared no expense in order to be our “Good Samaritan!”

Today, as always, this saving knowledge of what God has done for us comes through faith. The lawyer asked the wrong question when he asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v.25) Instead, we ask: “What has Jesus done in order that we might receive eternal life?” It is through faith that the Holy Spirit leads us to confess: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)

And now instead of asking the question, “Who is my neighbor?” we ask the correct question: “How can I be a neighbor?” And the answer comes as Jesus again reminds us that He is the Real “Good Samaritan” who has provided for all our needs, so that now, through faith active in love we might put away our excuses, repent of the times we have “passed by” on the other side of those who are in need, and through God’s love that flows through us, we might heed Jesus’ command: “Go and do likewise.”

God’s blessings this week as we “serve our neighbors” and see you in church this coming weekend.

Pastor Myers

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July 2 & 3, 2016

In the Gospel reading, Jesus impresses on His faithful followers that there is nothing as important as the “harvest!”

Whether you are from a “farm background” or not, you might easily imagine that there is nothing (or at least there are “few” things) more important to the farmer than the harvest. Everything he does – plowing, planting and praying – all focus on preparing for, anticipating and safely bringing in the largest harvest possible!

Jesus’ whole earthly ministry was about “bringing in a harvest of souls!” His preaching and teaching focused on bringing the message of the Father’s love, forgiveness and salvation which He, Himself, would accomplish for us through His sacrificial death on the Cross as our divine substitute. To assist in the proclamation of this life-giving message, He had called and sent the twelve Apostles, and now He was calling and sending seventy-two others into the work of bringing this Good News to people in towns and villages everywhere.

He “sent them two-by-two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.’” (Luke 10: 1-4)

He didn’t want them to waste time with “excessive preparations” or to be “side tracked” by unnecessary distractions. He wanted them to go quickly and to rely completely on His protection and provision for them! As they came to each town, they were to find homes in which to stay and were to announce God’s peace and blessing on those who welcomed them. He gave them His authority to preach repentance, to drive out demons and to heal the sick. And they did so!

If they came to places where they were unwelcomed by people who were unwilling to hear the message of salvation, these disciples were to pronounce judgment (Law) and were to “wipe the dust of that town off their feet” before they went elsewhere with their proclamation of eternal life through the Messiah, Jesus, who was soon to come among them. You see, it was all about “The Most Precious Harvest” – the harvest of souls!

Jesus is sending us – you and me – out too! He doesn’t want us to delay; to get “bogged down” in preparation! He sends us out as individuals, as couples, as families and as a church into the fields which are ready for harvest. Where is He sending you? Where does He want you to carry the gospel? Who around you (at work, school, in your family or neighborhood) needs to know the love of God in Christ and the message of salvation? When was the last time you shared your faith in Christ with someone else; when did you last invite someone to come with you to church?

Through faith in life-giving sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you, God has filled you with peace and now He calls you to be His spokesperson of peace. As you follow His calling wherever it leads you, you can joyfully expect His power, protection and Peace and Blessing as you go. Listen to His Spirit leading you through His Word and empowering you through the sacraments.

Get ready. Get set. Yes, but above all…. “GO!” May He grant you health, strength, peace and joy in Jesus as you work and pray for “The Most Precious Harvest” – the harvest of souls!

See you in church this next weekend!

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Snow

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June 25 & 26, 2016

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