The Scriptures Can Make You Wise



Morning: John 12:34-42; Evening: 2 Timothy 3:10-17



and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)



“What Little Hans does not learn, Hans will never learn,” so says a proverb. That also fits well in dealing with the Bible. What do I consider God's Word to be? To me is it a source of revelation, an historical book, or a collection of faith testimonies?



If the Bible is to be a guiding principle and true companion in my life, then in the course of my life, I need to build up a relationship with it, I need to find a way to approach it. Regular reading of the Bible is very beneficial. Many Bible reading plans can be helpful toward that goal and the readings in these daily devotions especially so. We discover the richness of the message of the Old Testament – the ever-changing story of Israel, we find comfort and strength in the Psalms and even rejoice with some of them, we are amazed at the books of wisdom and then we eventually wind up with the message of salvation in the New Testament, which is unfolded in the four Gospels, the Book of Acts, the epistles, and the Revelation of St. John. I find a selection of Holy Scripture for each situation in my life – whether it's a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, or a parable or a psalm – it fits the mood I am in. I am amazed at how up to date, how fitting and beautiful the words of the poet written about 2500 years ago continue to comfort, to pray and to praise.



“how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings – The parents, along with the sponsors are committed to educate their child after baptism, raising him in the Christian faith. A fundamental part of this is the reading, the telling, the showing of pictures and the stories from the Holy Scriptures. There is an appropriate method and version for every age level. We are required to discover it and be blessed by it. The Bible is not a book that reveals itself by sitting in a bookcase. There it all too often only gets dusty. It wants to be touched, read, and maybe even worn out. Only in the reading and exploring of it will the secret that should and will change our lives, be revealed. It speaks to each and every individual, yet nevertheless is the same book.



Lord, we thank You for Your Word. Let it grow deep roots in us that we may grow in our faith and in love. Amen.



Pastor Ingmar Hamann (Berne, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 1, Friday

The Son Will Present You



Epistle: Hebrews 2:14-18; Gospel: Luke 2:22-35; Text: Malachi 3:1-4



And the Lord Whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple..” (Malachi3:1b)

(Deuteronomy 24:18)

Hooray! He is finally here. Since Christmas, how can anyone not know? The birth announcements [that the church distributes] proclaim - “Jesus is born. We greatly rejoice over the birth of the Son of God. We look forward to living with you [forever].” [Signed] Your Church.



[We are all so happy.] Finally He has come – the One Who long has been called the Redeemer. Let us welcome Him with joyous excitement. Let us welcome you, our Morning Star. God has found us in Him, and has had us born anew as His children.



[The one who was born so that we could be born anew is the perfect image of his Father.] What is it that parents of a newborn like to do? They like to introduce their little sprout everywhere and to everyone: “Look and see the father completely in the facial expression.” [The one who was born is indeed God of God. He is the perfect image of the Father. Whoever has seen the Son has seen the Father. (John 14:9)



Jesus, the little Child, is yet ever so great. [Still, he submitted to God’s law.] Based upon the instruction which God had given Moses [Joseph and Mary bring the firstborn to the temple] in order to given him back to the Lord. [You see], after the departure of Israel from Egypt, the Almighty decreed that in the future, all firstborn sons are His possession because He had spared them in the Tenth Plague [with which he afflicted Egypt]. In the [day of presentation, [the parents presented the child to the Lord as a] thank-offering. Just like parents today when they have their children baptized – they are giving their “Gift” back to the Creator.



Today the Church celebrates “The Day of the Presentation of the Lord.” Back then, Joseph and Mary, in the service for God at the Temple held their newborn high, showing - “He belongs to You.” Pious Simeon pressed this Savior dearly to his [breast and his] heart. [But he is not like those today who say that they] “carry” Jesus in their hearts. [Simeon knows that it is Jesus] who is actually carrying him, all the way to heaven [to present him to the Father. And the Son will present you to the Father also.]



The Church has an eternal command to proclaim this message throughout the world - “Christ is born, the King of Glory, the King of people's hearts.” You keep asking, “Who is this king? Well, He is the Lord, the only One who brings life and salvation. Give Him the highest praise – and not only today.



Dear Jesus, Lord of our lives, our hearts rejoice over your birth and over your death on the cross for our sins. Finally our hearts can be at peace. We dedicate our entire lives to you. Spirit of Jesus, rule in our hearts and our minds. Thank You for the joy which we may share in you. Amen.



Pastor Konrad Ueker (Hannover, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 2, Saturday Day of the Presentation of the Lord

My apologies to all for not getting this out this morning.

FREED BY THE ABSOLUTION



Epistle: I Corinthians 13:1-13; Gospel: Mark 8:31-38; Text: Isaiah 58:1-8a



“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)



What was happening in God's congregation? The prophet at that time had to denounce a lot of injustice which was daily being committed. However, God wants His justice to rule.



Bad situations broke out amongst God's people. Many people oppressed many people. They took what was not entitled to them. In the midst of the “Israel Congregation” there was conflict between the redeemed people of the Lord. Scandalous! To this day, things like this occur where God's justice in the Spirit of Christ rule.



They were pious people. Many went to church on Sundays. The choir in the service, the liturgy – how nice, how festive! One even took part in the Confession. But – they are only doing it in such a way that they are faking their pious demeanor. They are putting a good face on the matter. They are constantly putting pressure on each other. Even in their fasting for God, they “fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist.” (58:4)



However, God does not play along with their wicked game. That is not His thing. Much more He desires that we exercise love, which is the activity of His nature. And certainly all church members, who are the creation of His hand, are called to exercise His love. Therefore – Turn around! Repent! --- But how can we do this?



[During the absolution, the pastors of our sister churches in Germany say this,] “In the power of the command that the Lord has given His Church, I declare to you (as an ordained servant of the Word) that you are completely free; your sins are forgiven you. In the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Christ speaks in this way, in the sense that He is fulfilling His mission as the Divine Redeemer - “to proclaim liberty to the captives...” (Luke 4:18) Repent, therefore, and receive the holy words of absolution whenever they are offered to you. Confess honestly from the heart – and the result? --- you will be “completely free” to forgive one another. Free from sin, each person can become what God has determined for him or her.



Belief in the Gospel makes us free. The joyous message of our redemption saves us. Believe in it and you have HIM – the One who promises joy, unimaginable joy of which the redeemed can live and share with others.



Dear Lord Christ, Rescuer of all the imprisoned, speak and make us free. Grant us forgiveness once again, so that we desire to forgive others. Praise be to You, Christ. Amen.



Pastor Konrad Uecker (Hannover, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress Freimund, 2008 February 3, Sunday Quinquagesima Sunday, Sunday of the Transfiguration

I received this early so I will send it on early.

Have a wonderful week and God Bless.

There is Liberty in the Light



Morning: Luke 13:31-35; Evening: Mark 4:21-25



“For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”(Mark 4:22)



How does one extinguish an oil lamp so that it does not smoke up the room? Because more than a blown-out candle, an oil lamp keeps fluttering. It's very simple: One inverts a container over it and pushes both under the bed so that nobody will stumble over it. And that's what the parable of Jesus wants to teach us – Nobody lights a light in order to immediately put it out again. Just the opposite – One places it on a lampstand! Who would ever do anything so silly as to light a candle in order to put it out again right away? My explanation – When someone sees something in the light that makes him really afraid, he can then put out the light right away so that everything will become pleasant again and be wrapped in undisturbed darkness.



In His parables and teachings, Jesus makes the “hidden” God, visible. Suddenly human beings are no longer among just themselves. [Such a realization makes] every person who wants to lead his own self-willed life terribly frightened [especially] if he learns the Lord's Prayer from Jesus. For in doing so, he will realize that it should not be his will but rather God's Will which should be done on earth as it is in heaven. What follows then, is this incredible wish - “Well, then, I do not want to know anything about this other 'Will' – because not knowing, I'll be at peace!”



Or – to Jesus, hidden secrets become obvious, like the secret lust for power that so many pious people have. Back then as well as today, they do not want to look their secrets in the face. And that's why Jesus had to turn away from them, for He described Himself as being the Light of the World [and they refused to receive Him, loving their darkness more than Him.]



And finally, through His Words, it was as if scales had fallen from their eyes when He told them - “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you...” (v. 24) God judges us according to our own judging! That is something that nobody wants to acknowledge. “The others are the guilty ones and they deserve the judgment they will get. But with me it's different, because I understand why I got into this mess and therefore I claim grace and not law.” [Whoever thinks in that way is like one who wants to crawl back out of the light into the darkness.] Whoever wishes such a thing for himself, forgets that God's Light comes from a good Father, who wishes to enlighten his life and does not want him to live in darkness. That's why His Light belongs on a lampstand!



Lord, You are the Light of the World. What Your Light reveals about our lives is terrifying. We are not the way we should be. Give us the courage, however, to see the forgiveness You offer us in the Light and lead us to a new life of freedom from sin. Amen.



Pastor Dr. Georg Gremels (Hermannsburg, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund, 2008 February 4, Monday

Our Concept or His Truth?



Morning: Luke 5:33-39; Evening: Matthew 11:16-24



“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces....” (Matthew 11:16a)



One can translate the parable this way -- “Am I, Jesus, somewhat of a dancing bear of the people?” Earlier such bears were a great amusement at fairs and carnivals. The bear, a harmless bumpkin on his chain, is the same bear that if free, would tear apart sheep limb from limb. And hadn't this bear recently killed a man? Now this terrifying chap has to dance at the music of his master. And even though shivers ran down the spines of the people, they nevertheless stood on the sidelines and laughed. Such a comical figure!



The Son of God commanded the demons and ruled the storms. His words were not mere talk, but rather they hit the bull’s-eye. [And so, like the bear], Jesus, exercising His freedom, often made the people scared. Again and again we read in the New Testament, when Jesus acted in His full authority and power, the people were terrified!



However, if we could get Him to dance according to our music, then everything would be perfect! Who wants to know that already this Son sits at the right hand of the Father, to judge the living and the dead? We have known already for a long time that we can no longer can speak of God in such manner. [You see, according to today's wisdom] the God of Love and Judgment do not go together. Listening to “our music”, we leave the unpleasant judgment behind [and prefer to think of God as only the God of Love, not Judgment].



If only He would dance according to our music! Then we would no longer need that annoying message of the forgiveness of sins, because it reminds us that we are sinners. No, we don't want to think of ourselves like that. We want to be lovable, polite, and pleasant human beings. We do not only want to have our neighbors like us, we also want God to like us. And that's why we cannot put up with that ugly face of sin. According to OUR music, His love covers everything up before it can reveal it!



Jesus does not fit into what our conceptions of Him are – He is neither a drunkard, nor an ascetic, yet He could fast and celebrate. We do not experience Him in His power until He releases us from the prison of our own conceptions of Him. And it's at that point that we are truly free!



Lord, You have forbidden us from making graven images. Do not let us try to capture You in our naïve conceptions [of who You are or who You should be]. Give us [the desire to know You as the Way, the Truth and the Life] that we may truly be set free. Amen.



Rev. Dr. Georg Gremels (Hermannsburg, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund, 2008 February 5, Tuesday

The World Needs the Truth



Epistle: 2 Peter 1:2-11; Gospel: Matthew 6:16-21; Text: Joel 2:12-19





Do not lie to one another... (Colossians 3:9a)



Actually, everyone knows it already – colleagues, the department heads, even the top executives – within a business it is common practice to lie. In every department of the factory, there are checkpoints for the products to be inspected. Each checkpoint always has two employees who inspect the product and then indicate their approval with their signatures. But there are not always enough employees available to inspect the product; sometimes two cannot be present. When that happens, the one inspector can get a signature from someone in a neighboring department [even though that person had not inspected the item.] As they say, “One hand washes the other.” But there are some employees [with a conscience] who [even] get sick to their stomach because they are expected to give their signatures over something they haven't even inspected. The world wants to be deceived.



Another case – a young man is learning the publishing business. During his training, he also has to sit at the cash register of the company's bookstore. In comes a good, regular customer who buys a book for her leisurely reading. However, she wants the young man to write on the receipt that the purchase was for school. That way she could get reimbursed for her purchase. The young man refuses. At the next available opportunity, the company finds a reason to dismiss him. And so for his honesty, he pays a very high price.



But does the world really want to be lied to? Our Heavenly Father does not want lying and cheating to continue. He has interrupted this world's vicious circle of lying and deceiving, but in doing so, He has paid a much higher price – He sent His beloved Son Jesus Christ into this world. He bled to death for us in order that we can become God's children. When we enter His heavenly glory, we will no longer live in a world with lying and cheating. But while here in this world, we still will have to struggle against dishonest signatures and untrustworthy business practices – each person has his own personal dealings.



Father in Heaven, I thank You for each day that I am not under pressure to lie. Give me the courage and the strength to always side with the truth and thereby give You honor. Amen.



Pastor Bernd Albrecht (Jabel, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 6, Ash Wednesday

Honest?



Morning: Zechariah 7:2-13; Evening: Colossians 3:5-11





“...rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God.” (Joel 2:13a)



There are people who always and in every circumstance do the correct thing – at least that's the impression they give. They constantly act like they are perfect, maybe even blaming mistakes on others and assuming no guilt for themselves. They do not notice in the slightest how much they bug other people with their arrogance and become offensive. Such people are terrible. Who can tolerate them? It sure is good that both of us – you and I – do not belong to such a class of people. For we certainly know our mistakes and we even work to make up for them. But that isn't always so easy to do. Besides – we're not all that bad anyways. After all, nobody's perfect. Not even us. However, we'd rather not say that too loudly, nor would we admit it to others. We'd much rather give the impression that we always and in every circumstance do the correct thing...



However, if we are honest – and towards God we should be honest – we must admit that there have been plenty of times when we, too, have been arrogant, put someone's nose out of joint (made them angry), and therefore have sinned against them. Now such relationship problems stand between such people and us, but they also make a good relationship with God impossible. Nevertheless, as hard as it is to understand, He still responds to us in love. Nothing can separate us from Him. He Himself has taken care of all the filth that we have caused and which made it impossible for us to stand before Him. And therefore, we can be honest with each other, and those to whom we have sinned against, we can ask them for forgiveness, as well as our Heavenly Father. “For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Joel 2:13)



Help me, Heavenly Father, to recognize my sins against You and others, and then to pattern my life according to Your Word. Amen.



Pastor Bernd Albrecht (Jabel, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 7, Thursday

Johnny 4:20 "Free the weed. Plant the seed"

I Do Not Understand My Own Actions



Morning: John 8:21-30; Evening: Romans 7:14-25a



I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)



An upsetting section from the Epistle to the Romans. A soliloquy of all soliloquies, I'd like to say. It is shocking how bluntly Paul describes the conflict going on inside of himself. The conflict between what he wants to do and what he actually does is destroying his life. In his conscience, he has to agree with God's Law, but at the same time he realizes that he does not fulfill God's Law. Paul confesses to a double sense of powerlessness. He not only has to admit that his power to keep God's Law is limited, he must also conclude that because his power is limited, he is guilty of breaking God's Law.



From this section, comes Reformation theology's concept of pre-determined will (as opposed to free will.) At the beginning of the Lutheran worship service, we hear (and join in speaking) – Let us confess before God, that we....cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition..(LSB p.203) Opinions have always differed on this teaching. The person who has not come to grips with his relationship to God's Law will be angry at this teaching. But the person who can honestly say that he has failed at keeping God's Law will be thankful for this section of God's Word. Where these words are taught, there occurs the transition to Christian freedom. They represent the narrow gate of which Jesus spoke. (Matthew 7:13) If would be a serious weakening of these words, if one thinks that a Christian should not speak them. Paul wants to describe his experience “under the Law.” We Christians repeat these words [in our worship services] because we are thereby confessing that our salvation and freedom always and faithfully comes from God.



Dear God! If there's nothing left for us to do but cry out to You for Jesus' sake, then let us experience that with You, all things are possible! Amen.



Pastor Johann Hillermann (Baden-Baden, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 8, Friday

So That We Do Not Forget



Morning: Daniel 5:1-7, 17-30; Evening: Deuteronomy 8:11-18





“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God...” (Deuteronomy 8:11a)

(Deuteronomy 24:18)

“...and forget not all His benefits...” (Psalm 103:2b) God's Word holds a mirror before our eyes. More than anything else, we need God's blessing and protection to stay alive. We take God's help for granted. Sad to say, that when we are greatly blessed by God, then giving Him credit for the blessings is the furthest thing from our minds. “when you eat and are full...then guard yourself that your heart not become proud and you forget the LORD, your God.” - namely the God who had mercy upon you for your salvation. Our text lists and calls to remembrance the miracles God performed for Israel in the wilderness. Lest we forget. This is a phrase we use in our day and age so that people do not forget something horrible that happened in the past; but what blessings do we get from remembering something horrible? Isn't it much more beneficial, much more important to us if God does not withdraw His blessings from us? For God's people in the Old Testament, manna is what preserved them through the wilderness. In the New Testament we hear of all the things that God has done for mankind through Jesus – His wonderful, unspeakable love which He revealed in His incarnation – His stature as a servant, as a preacher as a comforter – His willingness to go the way of suffering and death, His unconquerable victory for us in His resurrection. We should be mindful of all these things every day, because every day we live under the shade of God's actions towards us. Forgetting comes from us alone. It does not come from God and God does not forget us. Those last five words are really comforting to know for those times that we have forgotten Him: [“God does not forget us.”]



Dear God, please guard our hearts against pride and against forgetting You. Please meet us in Your Word so that Your miracles are always before our eyes. Amen.



Pastor Johann Hilbermann (Baden-Baden, Germany

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 9, Saturday

WE WILL PERSEVERE IN THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION



Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-16; Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11; Text: James 1:12-18



Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. (James 1:13)



There are situations in our lives that make it challenging for our Christian faith. We find ourselves in a tight squeeze and staring at the ground. And right away we find the ones who are at fault. We say, “Others are to blame for my situation – or at least the circumstances.” We fall into temptation and then we blame God for our predicament. We don't point the finger at ourselves except as a last resort – if even then. How do we get over such temptations?



The Apostle James reminds the Christians of his time, as well as us, that God does not tempt anyone- and certainly not to harm us. At the same time, He also does not tempt even the wicked – for He knows all of our intentions from the start (Genesis 6:5 and John 2:25) and so God leads none of us into temptation. Therefore we ask Him in the 6th Petition: “Lead us not into temptation.”



However, God often puts our faith to the test. In that way we prove that we are His disciples. In times of need and sickness, we may, as children of God call out to our heavenly Father for strength and patience, yes, even that He would make this testing into a blessing that we may finally and completely overcome it and win the victory. And the victory has already been given to us in Jesus Christ [and in the forgiveness that he won for us]. For He also was led into temptation, not from God but from the devil, and through God's Word, Jesus put the devil to flight. On the cross and through His victorious resurrection Christ decisively defeated the old evil foe. Therefore we want to and should – hold to Jesus Christ in times of testing and temptation. We want to look upon Him and trust in His great love, for we know with certainty that God is on our side and everything will turn out for good in His time.



Lord God, heavenly Father, open our hearts and our eyes to Your great love in Jesus Christ. Help us, as Your children, to persevere during times of testing and temptation and to praise You. Amen.



Pastor Richard Tepper (Uelzen, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress Freimund, 200 February 10, Sunday 1st. Sunday in Lent (Invocavit)

Do We Really Have a Loving Father?



Morning: I John 3:7-12; Evening: John 8:37-45





Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me....“ (John 8:42a)

“God, yes – but Jesus? - I can't have anything to do with Him.” This is the opinion of many of our contemporaries. They believe in a “superior being” as they say, or even in a godly principle. Some agree with [the German poet] Schiller and think that up above the canopy of stars a loving father must live. Let's not get disgusted too fast over such a shallow, yes even false picture of God. Do we really have God as a father? Do we love and trust in Him in all things, just like a child turns in full trust to his mother of father? The fact that He is called Father in the Lord's Prayer is not good enough. Jesus Christ, who has God as His Father, makes this clear. He comes direct from God. He came forth from God and was born as a human being. He can say, “I and the Father are one. Who sees Jesus, sees the Father in heaven. Whoever believes in the Son of God, truly believes in God and has God as his Father. And on the opposite side – whoever does not believe in Jesus, does not believe in God, and he has no father in heaven.



The Jews at the time of Jesus were disgusted. They claimed Abraham as their father. That way, they figured, God would also be their father and everything would be fine. But Jesus had to say to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me.” But there was not a trace of love in them. Just the opposite – they tried to trip Him up. And finally, they accomplished that. They crucified the Son of God, Whom God out of love had sent to them. His purpose – to save Jews and Gentiles from sin and being eternally lost.



We are blind by nature to this divine truth. But [through the work of] the Holy Spirit [in the Word], a miracle happens – we recognize God's pure love to us. The fact that God the Father's heart was broken when He allowed His Son to die on the cross so that we might live eternally, prompts us to be both humble, while at the same time joyful, and have hearts overflowing with love for God and Jesus Christ.



Lord, open our hearts and our eyes to Your great love. You have sacrificed Your Son for us, so that we, as Your children, may ever be before You. Grant that we may daily thank You for Your love. Amen.



Pastor Richard Tepper (Uelzen, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund, 2008 February 11, Monday

Guard Us From Self Confidence



Morning: Job 1:1-22; Evening: Mark 14:17-31



And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away...” Peter said to Him, “Even though the all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:27a; 29)



Fall away from Jesus? What serious Christian admits that he does that? There are times, though, when we get worked up for His sake and even for His Name. The church, her outcasts and even the godless always give us reason enough to do so. But being so worked up actually enlivens our egos. One could, as it were, climb up next to Peter on his pedestal. However, this pedestal, this foundation, is not the rock upon which Jesus wants to build His church. This pedestal is one of conceit; elevating myself above the others. Though unspoken, we privately remember the words of that thank you prayer - “Lord, I thank You that I am not like the others.” And it sure is aggravating that Jesus already exposes such ways of thinking as being hypocritical. Yes, indeed, the conceited and overly self-confident ones are already disgraced.



Hadn't Peter and the other ten disciples just gotten up from the Lord's Table aware that the fellowship with their Lord had become particularly close and had been sealed by the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation? And now, after only the one had come as a traitor, weren't the loyalty and the faithfulness of the others beyond reproach? Such proud and joyful feelings lasted only a short time – the distance it took to go from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives, from the [glorious experience of being at the] Lord's Table [back to] normal, everyday life. For then comes the sobering announcement - “All of you will also fall away from Me, and you, Peter, will deny Me.” The one who bragged about his loyalty and steadfastness bit off more than he could chew. He must come down from his pedestal in order to experience the Grace of God. [It is God's grace which saw through Peter and humbled him. It is His grace which will establish in Him a faith that confesses Jesus as His Lord. It is such a faith and confession ] that become the rock upon which Jesus will build His Church.



Lord, our God, when we think that will remain faithful to You and that You can depend on us, then show us how foolish and overconfident that is. Guard us from such self-confidence which leads us to promise things that we cannot keep. Instead, let us trust in Your promises, that You want to build Your Church, nevertheless, with us. Amen.



Pastor Siegfried Peleikis (Cuxhaven, Germany)

Feste Burg / Mighty Fortress, Freimund, 2008, February 12, Tuesday

God Loves All His Chosen Ones



Morning: I Corinthians 10:9-13; Evening: I Samuel 18:6-12



And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands.” (I Samuel 18:7)



At a festive company celebration, complete with song and dance, everyone should participate. However, in this instance, a little word generates an ugly dissonance -- “but”. It depresses one of those who was celebrating. Envy and jealousy creep into his heart, for now, it seems, the other one – the new one – has become the darling of the people. Indeed, this is an evil spirit who whispers into the ear of the supposedly “degraded one” --- “The other one is more important than I am. He counts more than I do.” Envy, this dark power from the depths of hell, can make a person raving mad.



The fact that Saul's fit of rage came from an evil spirit sent by God is a mystery to us. What was the cause and effect of this? Wasn't Saul the chosen one of God? Envy and anger apparently caused him to forget that. A new chosen one can only be seen by him as being an irritating competitor. Blind with rage, he flings the spear. Then it becomes obvious – with his jealousy, he has thrown away God's favor and the Lord has given him what he wants. Saul's wicked thoughts and suspicions, have paved the way for the evil spirit.



Had God trusted the wrong man and now had to withdraw Himself from Saul? The parallel to Jews and Christians as the old and new chosen ones of God certainly suggests itself in this story. God promised His faithfulness to the old as well as the new, and God's promises cannot be revoked.



But the desire to be God's exclusive chosen ones can lead to envy and jealousy, which can make life miserable for both chosen ones. Does this have to be so? [God’s chosen people are confident because they have been chosen in Christ. This confidence leads them to desire to bring Christ and his Gospel blessings to others.]



Lord, our God. Your faithfulness remains throughout all time. Keep us from begrudging others. Keep us also from getting jealous over the success of others. And give us joy [of bringing to others the Gospel] blessings you have given us. Amen.



Pastor Siegfried Peleikis (Cuxhaven, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 13, Wednesday

The Victory is Yours



Morning: James 4:1-10; Evening: I Thessalonians 3:1-13



… and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the Gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions... (I Thessalonians 3:2-3a)



Paul worried about his congregation in Thessalonica. Already for a long time, he had wanted to visit along with his coworkers Silvanus and Timothy. Again and again he was hindered from these plans. That's why he's now sending Timothy.



The congregation was imperiled by various hostilities. That is somewhat a distinguishing feature of the congregations of Jesus. In this world they're often in conflicts. For one thing, the problems often come from the outside, such as when a Christian congregation of people is surrounded by people from other religions. But often Christians themselves make life difficult for each other.



Ultimately, the congregation is not threatened by people, rather they are threatened by the adversary of God – the devil. He has one clear aim – and that is to destroy the faith of Christians. He wants to separate them from Jesus. For then and only then can he home in on them. Since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, however, he is playing a losing game.



Timothy was now to remind the Christians in Thessalonica what the apostle had proclaimed to them. He is to admonish them to remain steadfast in their faith in Christ. For where Christ is, there the devil no longer has any power. The apostle's coworker will encourage them to receive Holy Communion with great joy. For here, with the Body and the Blood, they receive forgiveness of all their sins.



Being saved in Jesus Christ, you have him living in you and you can be certain: your Savior is fighting for you and in you. Nobody can take the victor away from him. And therefore, no one can take the victory from you. This, the Thessalonians back then and us today, have to have proclaimed to us again and again so that we do not forget, but rather lead happy, confident lives.



Provost Johannes Rehr (Bad Essen, Germany)

Feste Burg / A Mighty Fortress, Freimund 2008 February 14, Thursday