The Sunday of Moses (NT)

1 John 3:11-24

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 

In reading through John's epistle I have noticed his harsh tone. But maybe it is just me, reading the words about no murderer has eternal life and thinking no murderer has hope. Maybe it is just me thinking about how I do not walk in the way of the Lord. I may understand how to speak the truth, but not act in the truth. My heart does seem to condemn me.

But even though I am condemned it urges me to turn to Jesus. It urges me to look to the Cross of Christ. My hope is not in me. It is not in my strength or reason. My Hope is not found in myself. I even find the confidence before God a strange thought. St John even seems to turn belief into an action we do in following his commandments.

But there is also no shortage of reminding us that it is in Jesus Christ we are to abide. It is he alone who has laid down his life for you. He has claimed you to be his brother. He is the one who is greater than all which may condemn us. God is the actor who keeps us in his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. How does God's love abide in you? It abides in you through the Holy Spirit who has called you byt the gospel and enlightened you with his gifts and continues to strengthen you in thought word and yes even deed. So you can do more than just talk, but also act faithful.

The Sunday of Moses (CL)

Exodus 32:1-20

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. 

7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” 

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. 

15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. 16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf that they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it on the water and made the people of Israel drink it. 

God thought things were going to be better if he started over with Moses? He started with Abraham and brought forth many nations. He has to deal with the trickster Jacob, and the provision of Joseph to his brothers. He even molds this people for 400 years in the land of Egypt. Now God is going to just start all over again? Maybe he should just rethink that Rainbow thing again.

But it is Moses who learns that God is not going to start over, but God is very angery. The one who has created all things, and done what he has done to Egypt, is not the one you want to make mad. But the people have lost sight of the truth. They have so easily fallen away. They have lost their trust and denied their promises.

How often do you change your mind in a day? How often do your plans change in a Month? I have stopped planning out vacations, because they never seem to happen that way, and partially because I change my mind. We get distracted or busy with other things and forget about what was important.

The people have forgot about what was important. You might even say God forgot about what was important. Or you might say he is making sure that Moses still recognizes what is important. It is important that God fulfills his promises. It is important for us that God sent his son to die for our forgiveness. It is important we recall these promises so that we remain focused on what is important. Not a golden calf or people drinking golden water, but that God has rescued us.

The Sunday of Moses (NTA)

Acts 7:35-53

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 

  “ ‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices, 

during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 

 43  You took up the tent of Moloch 

and the star of your god Rephan, 

the images that you made to worship; 

  and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’ 

44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 

 49  “ ‘Heaven is my throne, 

and the earth is my footstool. 

  What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, 

or what is the place of my rest? 

 50  Did not my hand make all these things?’ 

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 

St Stephen recalls for us our history, as he recall the history of his brothers. He retells the story he has known from a small child. He leanred how Moses brought the people out of Egypt. He knew the story of the golden calf. St Stephen could even quote various references to these events outside of the Torah. Oh that all of us recall the history of the God's people so well.

While this presentation in Acts could teach us all that we need to know the biblical record better. It also reminds the people how they have fallen away. They have not listened to the Word of God. They have not recognized the prophecy of the coming righteous one, nor did they recognize him in their midst. And now they are going to kill someone who is once again telling them about the Jesus Christ.

The people were stiffnecked in the time of Moses. The people were stiffnecked in the time of Jesus. The people are still stiffnecked, and now I am no longer talking about Jews or Hebrews, but the people of God. We continue to seek what is right in our own eyes, and loses sight of the reason for the season, or the reason for Christ death on the cross. It was so that all people might be saved from their sins. But so many of us don't even recognize what sin is anymore.

If you are struggling try to follow in the foot steps of St Stephen. Search the scriptures and retell the story of the God and his people. It is your story. You are a stiffnecked people, but Christ has died for you.

Sunday of Moses (OTA)

Proverbs 29:3-17

3 He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, 

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 

 4  By justice a king builds up the land, 

but he who exacts gifts tears it down. 

 5  A man who flatters his neighbor 

spreads a net for his feet. 

 6  An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, 

but a righteous man sings and rejoices. 

 7  A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; 

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge. 

 8  Scoffers set a city aflame, 

but the wise turn away wrath. 

 9  If a wise man has an argument with a fool, 

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. 

 10  Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless 

and seek the life of the upright. 

 11  A fool gives full vent to his spirit, 

but a wise man quietly holds it back. 

 12  If a ruler listens to falsehood, 

all his officials will be wicked. 

 13  The poor man and the oppressor meet together; 

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both. 

 14  If a king faithfully judges the poor, 

his throne will be established forever. 

 15  The rod and reproof give wisdom, 

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. 

 16  When the wicked increase, transgression increases, 

but the righteous will look upon their downfall. 

 17  Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; 

he will give delight to your heart. 

There are themes of Justice and righteousness throughout this text. There are also lessons on wickedness and corruption. We can see the struggle in our lives between the man of lawlessness and the man of righteousness. There are times when we wish justice would come forth, and times when we desire justice to be little relaxed.

We desire for other people who trap us or trick us to get what they have coming to them. The guy who drives his friends to the bank, and they get out go in a rob the bank, and expect him to drive away. He may want them to get thrown into jail for their actions, but he does not want to face the music himself. Likewise, the drug companies that trick us into using their drugs which provided us with limited pleasure, of which we enjoy the pleasure greatly but don't like the idea that there would be side-effects or consquences for said pleasure.

We need a faithful judge. We need a judge that will not just listen to our lies, but also our truth. We need a judge who will truly throw the book at us when we deserve it. And so Christ is our just judge. He is the one who can point out all your errors in life. He knows these sins so intimitately, he is even willing to stand up and take the blame for us. He is willing to claim your wickedness as his own. So he pays the price for our sins. Jesus gives you justice, and forgiveness.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek

September 20th

CL: Genesis 14:17-24

OTA: Jeremiah 31:31-40

NT: 1 John 2:15-27

NTA: Hebrews 7:1-10(11-28)

G: Matthew 15:32-39

GA: Matthew 11:25-30

Ps: Psalm 110:1-7

Collect of the Day:

Almighty and merciful God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified, receive the supplications and prayers which we offer before You for all those you have placed in the Order of Melchizedek, that in their vocations and ministry, they may truly and godly serve You; through Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          The Order of Melchizedek

Verse of the Week:            Genesis 14:18

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon: Jeremiah 31:31-40    Tues: Hebrews 7:1-10       Wed: Matthew 11:25-30

Thurs:            1 John 2:15-27         Fri: Matthew 15:32-39

Catechism Reading:

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers,

even to all evil people,

but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this

and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support

and needs of the body,

such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home,

land, animals, money, goods,

a devout husband or wife, devout children,

devout workers, devout and faithful rulers,

good government, good weather, peace, health, self control,

good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Third Sunday after Creation (G)

Matthew 9:1-8

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. ² And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” ³ And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” ⁴ But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” ⁷ And he rose and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. 

Which is harder to say? Most of the time we get th impression that to tell someone their sins are forgiven is harder to say. You may even get this impression because of how hard it is for you to forgive your brother for his horrifying behavior. But say these words often enough and you realize that it almost rolls off the tongue.

Now try the other words, "Rise and walk." This may not be hard to say to most people, because they can get up from their chair, pew, or bed and walk. But say it to the old lady confined to the wheel chair. Even try to say it to the child who has not yet learned to stand, and tell me which is more difficult to say. Is it easier to remind the old lady her sins are forgiven or help her walk? Is it easier to tell an infant his sins are forgiven or to teach him to use a toilet?

It is easy to say your sins are forgiven, because nothing is expected of me afterward. Christ has provided you with the forgiveness of sins. He has claimed you to be his very own. But he has also created you to be of help to your neighbor. He has created you to take care of your neighbor. You need to help care for this paralytic. This may mean helping him to walk again, or simply serving him with food  and drink.

As we fail to do the easy thing of helping, because we view both of these tasks as impossible, remember what God has done for you. He created you and taught you how to lift yourself up, so you can teach others how He has lifted us all up.

Third Sunday after Creation (NT)

1 John 2:28-3:10

²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. ²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³ And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 

⁴ Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. ⁸ Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. ¹⁰ By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 

Sin is Lawlessness. You are sinful and unclean. You are a child of Satan, or the devil. You are unrighteous. You do not love your brother. So are you really a child of God? Has God really shown you love and compassion?

John gives us the harshness of reality. He removes all sense of pride from those of us who are honest with ourselves. He might embolden those who are so prideful not to be honest about their sin anymore. While we recognize our sinfulness, does this mean we are not saved?

John does a great job of convicting us into recognizing our sinfulness. But he also reminds us that if Christ is within us, we are righteous. Jesus Christ has died for our sins, and he has made us righteous. We have been adopted as children of God, so we are no longer children of the devil. Yet, while still in the fallen world, we are still children of the devil.

So you are a child of the devil and a child of God, which is to say you are a sinner and yet have been made a saint through Jesus Christ.

Third Sunday after Creation (OTA)

Job 2:1-10

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” ³ And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” ⁴ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.” 

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸ And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 

It is interesting for me to think of God uses Satan to test his people. The Theology of the cross reminds us that a Christians life is full of suffering. So here the time of Job's suffering is just beginning. He will suffer greatly throughout this text. But nevertheless he will not follow his wife's request to "curse God and die."

Often in times of suffering our first reaction is to ask God why he allowed this to happen. I would argue are first reaction should be to turn to the cross and remind ourselves why that happened. Christ suffered and died in your place and for your sins. He took on the suffering of the cross for you. And now he calls you to suffer with him.

So should we not listen to the words of Job's wife? Job's wife is trying to find the quick fix. She is telling Job exactly how he can end the suffering quickly. Yet Job decides it is better to be faithful. He reminds us that would should take the good with the bad. We should enjoy the gracious gift Jesus Christ has given to us, and live with suffering to point us to our everlasting hope, which is the removal of all suffering.

Third Sunday after Creation (CL)

Genesis 28:10-22

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. ¹² And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! ¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. ¹⁴ Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” ¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 

¹⁸ So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. ¹⁹ He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, ²¹ so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, ²² and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” 

Jacob is looking forward to his return to be with family once again. He has partially given up all his inheritance other than his blessings. He has run away from home out of fear. God does not come to tell him to turn around, like Jonah. God rather comes to provide him with a promise, which is the same promise given to Abram and Isaac.

We know the promises God has made to Jacob. We even know how these promises were fulfilled. But we still struggle with remembering God's promises to each of us. Even here there is a great promise made to each of us, God promises to be with Jacob, and to keep Jacob.

You may argue about what "keep" means here, but we can easily recognize God is with his people. God has promised to be present in your life. Jesus promises to be with us, when two or three are gathered in his name. Jesus promises to be present in his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. So we can recognize the Lord is with you, even now as you read this blogpost. God is with you in all your struggles.

Third Sunday after Creation (NTA)

Acts 1:6-11

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 

Now is not the time for God to restore the kingdom of Israel. The reader will understand that God is not going to restore a royal kingdom, but he has established the kingdom of Christ. The Kingdom of Haven has already arrived in Jesus Christ. Now the Kingdom has to expand and grow. It will do so through these disciples.

Jesus reminds them that they are his witnesses. They will now take the good news to the ends of the earth. The kingdom rests in their hands. And so now the Kingdom rests in our hands, not to deny forgiveness to repentant sinners, but to forgive repentant sinners. Just as Jacob slept at the foot of the gates to heaven. So the church rests at the gates of heaven, pointing people to the only way, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ has died for the forgiveness of sins. He has redeemed his people. He has established his kingdom, and will return to restore all things to the way they were supposed to be. He will return and judge the living and the dead. He will raise some to eternal life and others to eternal judgment.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek (G)

Matthew 15:32-39

³² Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” ³³ And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” ³⁴ And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” ³⁵ And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. ³⁸ Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. 

Let us bring forth food, for these people who have been listening to Jesus teach for three days. You would think they might be a little hungry. You would think many probably left after 36 hours, other after 50 hours. But still four thousand plus remained in order to listen to Jesus. So he has compassion on their physical needs.

We can get consumed by listneing. I notice several people that become so consumed with listening they fail to remember to keeep their eyes open. But in this is case they have forgotten to eat. Some might even say they have not forgotten to eat, but are so consuming the word of God they no longer see the need for bread.

Jesus knows that man does not live on bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. These people are truly living in a dead, desolate place. You may find yourself in a booming metropolis or in a small rural town. Either way you probably do not think you live in a desolate place. There is plenty of food available. But you most certainly live in a dead place.

All the world is full of dead people in need of the resurrection. Even after a while we start to remember that we do live in a place desolate of the word of God. The town is desolate of the morality of God, and love for God. The Metropolis is void of any talk of God, other than in a few places once a week. We truly live in a dead and dying world. Jesus has compassion on those who are places like that. He especially has compassion when they are trying to hear his word over the groaning stomachs of hungry people.

Yes, most assuredly Jesus does a miracle bringing bread to lips and stomachs of hungry people. But he also brings his word that provides life to the desolate places. He brings the Word of God and with it forgiveness of sins and redemption. So may all who are desolate places and dying times, find their hope in the Word of God made flesh to die for the forgivenesss of all sins.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek (NT)

1 John 2:15-27

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 

¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ²⁰ But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. ²¹ I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 

²⁶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. ²⁷ But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. 

He who confesses the Son has the Father and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with them is worshiped and glorified. So if you confess God most high, you must be confessing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, right? But if you claim to have Jesus, and not the Father and the Holy Spirit, then you are an antichrist. Likewise, if you claim heavenly Father and deny the Son and the Father are one, then you are an antichrist. What if I claim the Holy Spirit as the regenerator of my soul and I confess Jesus, but without the Law, does that make me an antichrist?

"Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come." They are all around you. They are on your television, in your magizines and newspapers, they are even in our churches. These antichrists have develop new denominations and taken over older ones. Please consider and point out all the different antichrists you are hearing on a regular basis.

I know that I listen to several, and I like to say mainly for comic relief. But all these things have influences on you. They will consume you. Thus, John writes so that you would not be deceived. He warns you, and points you back to the one that is not of this world. There is one Lord Jesus Christ who died for the forgiveness of our sins. He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the only true God. Let their word abide in each of you and strengthen you through His holy Word.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek (GA)

Matthew 11:25-30

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus expresses something that many of us can find comfort in, as well as take dramaticly out of context. Jesus offers us rest. For those who have worked a hard and long day they are in much need of rest. For those who have beeen putting up with young children struggling to sleep, you need rest. Similarly, those who are forced awake by stress and anxeity in their lives are in search of rest.

Sorry to say the rest Jesus is offering is not the rest you may be desiring. Many of us are just simply desiring a nap. But Jesus is giving you the opprotunity to be burdened with lighter activity. This is not the sleep you are looking for, it is the day spent with a good book. It is the time spent with family and friends in quiet reflecting on the joys of life, or celebrating a blessed event.

Jesus has revealed to you the Father who is in Heaven. He reveals to you the peace that surpasses so much understanding that we rarely even see it in our busy days. He is not taking away all burdens, but providing you with a help through your burdens. He is going to provide you with hope that one day your burdens will not be done, but bring joy, happiness, and excitement to your heart. 

Jesus has a yoke and a burden, which is not nothing. But he is going to trade with you. He will take your heavy yoke and all your sins, anxieties, guilt, shame, and devistating reminders. He is going to carry it through the streets of Jerusalem, spilling his blood all over it. He he then going to seal it away in a tomb, which will become empty.

But in return you get have Jesus' yoke. You get to be perfect, and treat everyone as he has treated you. You get to turn back to the ten Commandments and do them. Oh ... Don't worry he will give you a helper called the Holy Spirit. He will work with you to lead a good life, and be a good person. This yoke and burden is a lot easier. Oh wait ... Okay he will also continue to trade yokes with you until he returns, and then we will finally have rest. But not sleep, like RIP, we will still have work to do, it will just be enjoyable.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek (NTA)

Hebrews 7:1-10

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³ He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 

⁴ See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! ⁵ And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. ⁷ It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. ⁹ One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Melchizedek is only very briefly mentioned in scripture. His name only appears 10 times in all of scripture, and the most accurances are here in Hebrews. The author makes the connection between Jesus Christ the Son of God, King of all creation and Prince of Peace, to this Old Testament King, who was also a priest, and prophet.

Many uses this to illustrate the three offices of Christ. But it almost sounds like in verse 3, the author is saying Melchizedek may even be Jesus. It would not be too great of a stretch for someone to think that, since many agree the Angel of the LORD in the burning bush was Jesus. Others will say one of the three men who visits Abraham before the destruction of Sodom was the Son of God. There are even others who place Jesus in several other places throughout the Torah.

But so what if it is Jesus? Jesus has a step-Father and a mother, he even has a genealogy. God's plan and work of Salvation is not so limiting to be all about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Nor is the priesthood limited to sons of Levi. God places leaders over his people. God places people into the vocation of King, Prince, Ruler, Governor, or other Leaders. God places people into the position of Priest, Pastor, Teacher, Evangelist, Apostle, and even Prophet. 

Abraham does not give Melchizedek tribut because he is the King or Priest or Prophet. Abraham has gives him tribute because he has placed their by God. Likewise, Melchizedek does not bless Abraham just because he won the victory over several kings. He does it because he is a priest of God most high.

Thus, it does not matter how much you give, you should support your Church and Pastor and government because they are given you by God. Likewise, They should help, care for, protect, and bless you because you are under their charge by God. This does not just apply to Christians but to all people.

Sunday of the Order of Melchizedek (OTA)

Jeremiah 31:31-40

³¹ “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. ³³ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” 

³⁵  Thus says the Lord, 

who gives the sun for light by day 

and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, 

who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— 

the Lord of hosts is his name: 

³⁶  “If this fixed order departs 

from before me, declares the Lord, 

then shall the offspring of Israel cease 

from being a nation before me forever.” 

³⁷  Thus says the Lord: 

“If the heavens above can be measured, 

and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, 

then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel 

for all that they have done, 

declares the Lord.” 

³⁸ “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. ³⁹ And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.” 

Can we measure the expanse of the Heavens? Can we explore the center of the earth and its foundations? How far have we come? If we can do these things does that mean that Israel is no longer God's people and that God has cast out their offspring forever?

Jeremiah is not telling us not to learn and expand our understanding of God's creation. This is not about stopping exploration. This is about remembering who knows it all already. On does not need to ask their neighbor who God is, one needs to ask God who he declares himself to be. Likewise, one does not need to ask the creation where it comes from, we can inquire of the creator himself.

Some may think this to be silly, you can't ask God! But you can and just has he gave the answer to Jeremiah concerning the return of the people of Israel to the land of Israel. Jeremiah expresses that they will rebuild and dwell in the promised land again. Likewise, he talks about how God remembers the covenant he made, while the people deny the promises they have made.

Humanity no longer recognizes itself to be the bride of God. It does not even know what gender it wants to be. Humanity seems to spend all its time searching for problems with the answers we already know. God even tells us there are tons of things out there I have not given you the answer to, how about you explore some of those things.

Yeah I can tell you the answer to all our immorality, sin, death, disease, and environmental disasters. I can tell you Christ has died for the forgiveness of sins, he has risen to bring an end to death and as the first fruits of a new creation. But how about you still work on ways of helping creation which is suffering until Christ returns.

The Fifth Sunday after Creation

CL: Judges 7:1-25

OTA: Judges 7:1-8, 19-24

NT: 1 John 4:1-21

NTA: 1 John 4:1-6

G: Matthew 18:1-14

GA: Matthew 10:5-15

Ps: Psalm 79:1-13

Micah 7:1-13 (OTA of Sixth Sunday after Creation)

October 11th

Collect of the Day:

O God, who sent your only-begotten Son into the flesh, reveal to us your glory found in your Son who died for the forgiveness of all sins, continue to make yourself known by your Word; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Theme for the Week          God's Glory Revealed

Verse of the Week:              Judges 7:20

Daily Bible Reading List:

Mon:  Matthew 18:1-14       Tues:  Matthew 10:5-15      Wed:  Judges 7:1-25

Thurs:            1 John 4:1-21          Fri:  Micah 7:1-13

Catechism Reading:

The Second Article: Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God,

begotten of the Father from eternity,

and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,

is my Lord.

Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person,

purchased and won me from all sins,

from death, and from the power of the devil;

not with gold or silver,

but with His holy, precious blood

and with His innocent suffering and death,

that I may be His own

and live under Him in His kingdom

and serve Him

in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.