Jesus uses very potent imagery in Mark 9. If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out.
Is Jesus condoning self mutilation? Isn’t injuring ourselves sin?
No, Jesus isn’t condoning us hurting ourselves. Yet His point is very powerful. Do not let the things of this world, even your own body, lay risk to your salvation. It is better to be crippled or lame or have to squint than to spend an eternity in hell where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
Our body leads us to sin when we disobey the commands of God. But more so, our body leads us to hell when it tempts us to trust in ourselves and our own good works, instead of in the sacrifice of Jesus.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Proper 20
Jesus said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
I recall how one of my teachers in grade school tried to drill this point home to us. When we would come in from recess we would have to line up at the door before we could enter the school. Occasionally he would invert the line, so that the last one was first and the first last.
While that wasn’t exactly what Jesus meant, it certainly has helped me remember this important biblical truth. Jesus was the last of all. He was the servant of all. Even though He should lead us from a high an lofty position, He came to earth to serve me by dying on the cross by a lowly and painful death. Thank you Jesus for being the last of all and the servant of all.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
I recall how one of my teachers in grade school tried to drill this point home to us. When we would come in from recess we would have to line up at the door before we could enter the school. Occasionally he would invert the line, so that the last one was first and the first last.
While that wasn’t exactly what Jesus meant, it certainly has helped me remember this important biblical truth. Jesus was the last of all. He was the servant of all. Even though He should lead us from a high an lofty position, He came to earth to serve me by dying on the cross by a lowly and painful death. Thank you Jesus for being the last of all and the servant of all.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Proper 19
A man whose son was possessed by a demon cried out to Jesus for help, “’But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!’"
Indeed Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief!” I see all of the works of evil, yet I know that you have won the victory, “I believe; help my unbelief.” I know that you care for my sick child, yet healing seems so far away. “I believe; help my unbelief.” I know that you have forgiven me through the blood of your Son on the cross, yet my sin seems so great. “I believe; help my unbelief.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Indeed Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief!” I see all of the works of evil, yet I know that you have won the victory, “I believe; help my unbelief.” I know that you care for my sick child, yet healing seems so far away. “I believe; help my unbelief.” I know that you have forgiven me through the blood of your Son on the cross, yet my sin seems so great. “I believe; help my unbelief.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Proper 18
When we read of miracles in the Bible, like those performed by Jesus, we can often become discouraged. After all, who of us hasn’t had a friend, family member, or even ourselves who were sick and we prayed for a miracle, but it didn’t seem to come. Mark 7 tells of such a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. The deaf man’s friends begged Jesus to cure the man. And with Jesus’ own fingers and a little saliva, Jesus did.
While we may long for miracles that remove every disease from this world, in this earthly life, it will never come. Jesus’ miracles of healing showed His love for our physical bodies into eternal life. His redeeming sacrifice on the cross, redeems our bodies for the resurrection day when no more disease will ever diminish our bodies again.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
While we may long for miracles that remove every disease from this world, in this earthly life, it will never come. Jesus’ miracles of healing showed His love for our physical bodies into eternal life. His redeeming sacrifice on the cross, redeems our bodies for the resurrection day when no more disease will ever diminish our bodies again.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Proper 17
Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
When we think of armor, we might think of the towering Medieval knight with thick metal encasing his body. That metal had one purpose only: to protect the knight from whatever kind of attack the enemy could throw at him.
So also the whole armor of God, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, and salvation. All of these pieces are there to protect you from the old evil foe who intends to do you eternal harm.
We have one sure and certain weapon, the sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God.
The very Word of God who is Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin, death and hell.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
When we think of armor, we might think of the towering Medieval knight with thick metal encasing his body. That metal had one purpose only: to protect the knight from whatever kind of attack the enemy could throw at him.
So also the whole armor of God, truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, and salvation. All of these pieces are there to protect you from the old evil foe who intends to do you eternal harm.
We have one sure and certain weapon, the sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God.
The very Word of God who is Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin, death and hell.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Proper 16
Marriage is a profound mystery. I can easily be talking about that beautiful relationship between husband and wife. That God would bring two people together to experience life for richer or for poorer in sickness and in health forsaking all others until death parts them. Because how can we accomplish that on our own? Indeed a profound mystery.
But Paul tells us in Ephesians that it is a profound mystery, and he says that earthly marriage refer to Christ and the church.
It is so profound because we reflect in our human married relationship the love that Christ has shown the church by giving Himself up for her in death to remove all of her sin. And the church acknowledges that Jesus is her head, submitting to His will, that is knowing that He has only good things for her.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
But Paul tells us in Ephesians that it is a profound mystery, and he says that earthly marriage refer to Christ and the church.
It is so profound because we reflect in our human married relationship the love that Christ has shown the church by giving Himself up for her in death to remove all of her sin. And the church acknowledges that Jesus is her head, submitting to His will, that is knowing that He has only good things for her.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
