Vengeance is mine! Jerusalem was a walled city, fortified against attack. It had been a holy place since the time of Melchizedek, back to the time of Abraham. By Jesus’ time, it had been a holy place for about two thousand years. When we hear “Vengeance is mine, says the LORD”, we probably think first …
Are you a Saint? “He/She is such a saint”. When we hear that declaration about someone, it’s usually in reference to a display of patience in difficult circumstances. However, when the Bible talks about saints it is talking about those who persevered in the faith, also in difficult circumstances. Why are they problematic? Because the …
Why we need both In our Lutheran circles, we espouse the Gospel. We emphasize forgiveness of sins, grace, and mercy. We lean on the Solas – Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and Sola Gratia. We know God’s love for us. This means that sometimes, the Law is set aside. Oh, we know it’s there but it’s …
Just follow your heart How often have you “followed your heart” and it didn’t turn out well? Today’s culture focuses on self-empowerment, self-help, and self-love. We are told to be authentic and believe in ourselves to manifest our own destiny. Sure, a strong dose of confidence can be beneficial but where does it lead us …
Do you exercise enough? If you’re like the majoirty of Americans, you could probably stand to exercise a bit more. We know the human body needs food, water, exercise and shelter to achieve optimal performance. Doctors advise healthy choices like a balanced diet of protein, fat and carbs, and to engage in daily–or at least …
What do you have in common with a leper? If you’re familiar with Scripture, you may know that leprosy is mentioned several times throughout it. What was significant about leprosy? There were other easily transmittable diseases but Old Testament ceremonial law required that lepers, in particular, present themselves to the priests. When the priests deemed …
Frustrated with God? Society is bitterly divided with an us-vs-them mentality. Christianity is ridiculed. Corrupt government officials are exposed, but nothing is done about it. The land is filled with lawlessness. Does this refer to the present day or the time of the prophet, Habakkuk? The answer is both! Habakkuk was fed up with the …
Do you pray for your enemies? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes shall be saved”, John 3:16. I don’t have the research to back this up, but I’m willing to guess this is the single most well-known Bible passage. Even non-Christians are familiar with …
Are you a sinner? For many people, it’s hard to admit that we sin, much less that we sin a lot, every day. But if you’re Lutheran, you’re probably familiar with this line from our Liturgy, “I, a poor miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities”. We own it. We know that …
Who do you put first? There’s a popular saying in our culture that goes, “Happy wife, happy life”. It implies that if the husband puts his wife’s wishes first, then all parties will be happy. And while that might be true in some cases, it’s really not what God asks of us. Yes, the husband …