Cantate Wednesday - Devotion in Exile
Lection for Cantate Wednesday
Leviticus 23:23-44 Luke 12:35-53
In the text from Luke’s Gospel which you just read, there are some parts that come off rather confusing, and some other things which many find downright discouraging.
Leviticus 23:23-44 Luke 12:35-53
In the text from Luke’s Gospel which you just read, there are some parts that come off rather confusing, and some other things which many find downright discouraging.
Let
us take a few moments to consider what Christ is talking about in regard to
what He says about the family.
“Do
you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather
division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three
against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and
son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against
mother-in-law.”
(vv. 51-53)
This
seems difficult, but it truly is not. In fact, most people understand it
immediately, they simply do not like to admit what it is saying. These words of
Jesus do not fit our 21st Century definition of being nice. It certainly
says something different than what some people proclaim, “Jesus never rejects
anyone. Neither do we.”
Is it
true that Jesus rejects nobody? I suppose it all depends on what you are trying
to say by those words.
It
is most certainly true that Jesus did give His life as the ransom for all. He
died to pay price demanded as the penalty for all sin. He died to purchase
forgiveness for all no matter what their sinful condition might be. But does
that mean that as He paid the sacrifice for sin, that we may continue to live
our lives in impenitence? Since all sin is paid in full, since Christ’s death
is the all atoning sacrifice, does that mean we are allowed to continue in same
sin impenitently, without any repentance, and expect God is going to be happy
with that?
Jesus
also said, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is
perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)
If I
were to walk out of the grocery store with two Cokes that I tucked secretly in
my pocket, and did not pay for them, that would be stealing. If I am unwilling to
admit that it is stealing, and if I were to continue to do it day, after day,
after day, always denying that it is stealing – and if I were to continue to do so
until my dying day, is there forgiveness?
Okay,
let's say I only do it occasionally and not every day. But, if I still refuse
to call it stealing and also refuse to repent of the times I have done it in
the past – is there forgiveness?
Jesus
proclaimed, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for
her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28) You can
commit adultery in your thoughts, how much more with your bodies?
But
didn’t Jesus come to abolish the Old Testament rules? By His own lips He
proclaimed, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did
not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17) He fulfilled the Law! He kept it perfectly – in thought, word, AND deed – what no one before, or since, has been
able to keep. It is this perfection which He sacrifices by His death upon the
cross.
As I
said, Jesus paid the price for all sin, but if I do not believe that I need it,
then I do not trust in Jesus as my Savior – I think I am doing it myself.
I am not perfect! Those who repent of their sinfulness – that is, have sorrow over their sin, agree to amend their sinful life (with the help of God), and turn to trust in the forgiveness Christ purchased – are perfect and holy, just as Christ is, for they are now in Christ.
I am not perfect! Those who repent of their sinfulness – that is, have sorrow over their sin, agree to amend their sinful life (with the help of God), and turn to trust in the forgiveness Christ purchased – are perfect and holy, just as Christ is, for they are now in Christ.
In
Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words which reflect the words of our text.
“Do
not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring
peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a
man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy
of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of
Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My
sake will find it.”
(Matt. 10:34-39)
When
family members overlook the sins of their family members, without begging them
to repent and trust the work of Christ, they are not worthy of Christ.
I
desire to amend my life of those things which God has declared that I am not to
do in my thoughts and in my deeds, both toward Him and toward my neighbor. I do
not excuse them, nor think lightly of them – I confess them as sins and ask God’s
grace to help me live a new life – a life in obedience to His Word and will –
and at the same time, trust that in Christ all my sins are forgiven.
Let
us pray: Gracious God, Your Son
appeared to His disciples in His resurrected flesh to ordain them and to send
them out into the world, that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be
proclaimed in His name. Continue to raise up for us faithful men to serve in
the Office of the Holy Ministry, and sustain those whom You have sent with
courage and endurance to proclaim Your Word in truth and purity that people
would be brought to confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior God. Amen.
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