Misericordias Domini Thursday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Misericordias Domini - Thursday
Exodus 38:21-39:8      Luke 8:1-21

What is it that scares you? Lions? Tigers?  Bears?  And yes, you need to have a hearty,” oh my,” come at the end of that phrase.

How about this, “birds, rocks, thorns, oh my.” You are not worried about lions or tigers or bears because they are all out of sight, and hence, out of mind.

According to our text we should be a little concerned about birds, rocks, and thorns.  These are things which Jesus uses in today’s parable, to explain that which can rob us of faith and leave us in a seriously ugly condition for eternity. Our text is a parable, so we need to understand some things. First, the sower is our Heavenly Father, and the seed is Christ, the very Word of God which became flesh for us.

Birds, rocks, and thorns, for these are the things that can rob us of our faith in Christ. Satan is like the bird that eats the seed on the path, who takes the Word from the hearts of those who heard it. Satan, the father of lies removes faith by tempting with falsehood and deception. Dear friends, as numerous as the birds of the air – so are the cunning lies of the devil.

Some seed fell on rocky ground, are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. How many have had a beginning in faith, but when trials come along they fall from faith. How many think that since they are believers in God, they should therefore be immune from all trials and troubles in life. Plenty of preachers proclaim such lies, saying that if you love God, then God will make sure you have no problems and God will give you all you desire. It is a bold-faced lie which leaves people vulnerable. 

In a world corrupted by sin, with death as the wages awaiting us all, be sure of this fact – trials and tribulations will come into every life. If you do not believe me, all you need to do is see the situation we presently find the entire world in today. Jesus Himself instructed us to take up our cross and follow Him. If we do not understand this, when trials come along, then faith in God quickly crumbles, especially when we believe that all should be glorious in the life of a believer. Many who have this thinking fall from faith when trials and tribulations come along.

We also need to watch out for thorns. Jesus explains thorns as the cares and riches and pleasures of this life that keep fruit from maturing. What keeps people who were baptized and confirmed, and live still live in the area of their home church, fall away from gathering each week to have faith strengthened and nourished?  What is it that keeps people away from Bible Study where they could have faith strengthened and nourished? Often it is the cares and riches and pleasures of this life that get in the way of the fruit of the faith coming to full maturity.

What types of things? After work it is the couch, the TV remote, and the bottle opener that get a nice work-out, but the Bible and devotional book don’t.  If the pastor is coming over, those books might get dusted off and prominently placed on the coffee table – but when the pastor picks them up, he knows they don’t get get opened, for the binding creaks. The world would end if bowling night or pool league had to be skipped one week.

But to gather with brothers and sisters in Christ to have faith fed and nourished in Word and Sacrament gets scheduled in after all the “important stuff” (sic) gets done first. Bible Study doesn’t get into the schedule. After all, the world and everybody else tells us that there are a whole lot better things to do than spending an hour reading and studying the Bible.

How many people cannot get to church either Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, can’t be bothered with Bible Study, haven’t opened their Bibles since Confirmation – but when it comes to religious discussions, they know more than the pastor. AND, if the pastor disagrees with them, he’s just an idiot, he needs to get with the program.

Thorns choke out some plants so that no fruit matures on them. Faith gets squelched by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. Many people will complain that it isn’t fair to make such an assessment about their faith. But if you ask them why this Sunday was the only Sunday they made it to church in the last month, they have a thousand and one excuses. And their excuses only help prove the point that too much is going on in their lives, and God’s taking a back seat to the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life.

Do not try to figure out which soil you are. On any given day you may be any one of these soils at any given time. You may even be multiple types of soil at one time. The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh are continually tempting us to unbelief, fear, great shame and vice.

You may be a little discouraged right about now. “Birds, rocks, thorns, oh my… My faith is in trouble. I am lost, woe is me.” 

Dear friends, consider this. The purpose of seed is to grow up and produce fruit.  The Word of God – Christ – is the seed. God’s Word goes forth from His mouth and does not return to Him empty, but accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it.

The Word comes into the world to bear fruit. Christ will bear fruit.

Satan tempted Him, but He accomplished His task without sin. Testing and trials came upon Him, but He held firm to His course to redeem us from our sin.

The cares, riches, and pleasures of this life enticed Him, but He went forward to the cross.

The Word knew that He would be persecuted for His innocence, that He would suffer at the hands of evil men, and that He would die – but He endured it all anyway. Three days later He was raised again, bringing with Him life eternal to those who believe.

He comes to bear fruit. God sows the seed of His Word, Christ comes to accomplish His task. He comes to build and strengthen faith. He doesn’t care the condition of the soil, He is the seed sown, and this seed bears fruit. The Word will accomplish the task for which it is sent.

In baptism the seed is sown, Word of Christ – Christ Himself is present – hidden from our eyes, Christ comes to unite us to Himself – to His death for the forgiveness of her sins. Word of Christ is unites to His resurrection to give new life and hope on the last day.

When you hear the Word of God, Christ goes forth into you to accomplish His task. Christ chases away Satan, for Satan has no power over you. The Word cleanses you of your concerns over the trials that come upon you. Christ forgives you for your sinful pre-occupation with the cares, the riches, and the pleasures of this life, and fills you with Himself. In the Word of Christ you are strengthened in faith and life to bear the fruit of faith, for it is the Word which bears fruit in you with patience. 

Let us pray:      Almighty Father, bless the Word

Which through Your grace we now have heard.

Oh, may the precious seed take root,

Spring up, and bear abundant fruit!

         (Lutheran Service Book #923 vs.1)