Sunday, December 8, 2024 - WHY ADVENT PREPARATIONS?

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Sunday, December 8, 2024 - Day 342 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Daniel 11,12; 3 John)

WHY ADVENT PREPARATIONS?

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2 ESV)

Daniel isn’t mincing any words here. There are only two eternal options, eternal life or everlasting contempt, heaven or hell.

Therefore, as you look forward to Christmas and the birth of Jesus your Savior, don’t forget your Advent preparations. Repent and believe that the Babe of Bethlehem came to purchase your salvation. You can now face your eternal future with peace, confidence and eager anticipation because you know that everlasting life is yours in Christ Jesus.

1. The advent of our King

    Our prayers must now employ,

    And we must hymns of welcome sing

    In strains of holy joy.

2. The everlasting Son

    Incarnate deigns to be,

    Himself a servant's form puts on

    To set His servants free.

3. O Zion's daughter, rise

    To meet your lowly King,

    Nor let your faithless heart despise

   The peace He comes to bring.

4. As judge, on clouds of light,

    He soon will come again

    And His true members all unite

    With Him in heav'n to reign.

5. Before the dawning day

    Let sin's dark deeds be gone,

    The sinful self be put away,

    The new self now put on.

6. All glory to the Son,

    Who comes to set us free,

    With Father, Spirit, ever one

    Through all eternity.

    (Lutheran Service Book #331)

Lord God, heavenly Father, graciously keep me close to You through saving faith in Jesus, my Advent King, so that I may spend eternity with You. Amen. 

“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!

Pastor David Paape

Saturday, December 7, 2024 - GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, December 7, 2024 - Day 341 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Daniel 9,10; 2 John)

GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE 

“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3 ESV) 

Advent is the time in the church year when we prepare to celebrate the coming (advent) of the Christ Child that first Christmas. 

The words from John’s second letter reveal the blessings Jesus brings to all who, like the shepherds, worship and adore Him. “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.” 

God showers all who trust in His Son as their Savior and Lord with His grace, mercy and peace. In fact, these are the treasures you find every time you attend church and He comes to you through His Word and Sacraments. How do we get to respond?

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing all repentant sinners, including me, with Your grace, mercy and peace. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

“See” you in church tomorrow morning!

Pastor David Paape

Friday, December 6, 2024 - PERFECT LOVE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Friday, December 6, 2024 - Day 340 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Daniel 5,6; 1 John 4)

PERFECT LOVE

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18 ESV)

John’s first letter is jam-packed with spiritual gems that are extremely practical and applicable to the Christian’s daily life. Of course this is true of the rest of the Bible as well. Here are a couple of examples from 1 John.

v 4 “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 

v 10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 

v 12 “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”

v 15 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

v 19 “We love because he first loved us.”

When it comes to the daily pressures we all face, it is certainly assuring to know that “perfect love casts out fear.” 

So, don’t worry, the perfect love of Christ...

● sent Him to the cross for sinners like you,.  

● will see you through your daily struggles,

● will show itself in us as we live for Him,

● will lead others to Him as we model His love.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your perfect love lavished upon this sinful world. As You comfort me with the eternal promises Your love imparts, please use me to share Your love with others. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Thursday, December 5, 2024 - LOVE IN ACTION

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, December 5, 2024 - Day 339 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Daniel 3,4; 1 John 3)

LOVE IN ACTION

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18 ESV)

Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross is the ultimate display of love in action. John tells us to be willing to lay down our lives for others. Then he gets specific: “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” 

The picture shows a man putting his love into action by giving a cup of something warm to what appears to be a homeless man. 

We all have opportunities to share the love of God with people in need. The person is helped, and we get to serve Jesus.

1. Love in Christ is strong and living, 

    Binding faithful hearts in one;

    Love in Christ is true and giving, 

    May His will in us be done.

2. Love is patient and forbearing, 

    Clothed in Christ’s humility,

    Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring, 

    Reaching out in charity.

3. Love in Christ abides forever, 

    Fainting not when ills attend;

    Love, forgiving and forgiven, 

    Shall endure until life’s end.

    (Lutheran Service Book #706) 

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your overwhelming love for me. May I reflect Your love in my life by caring for others and pointing them to You.  Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - BLIND HATE or DIVINE LOVE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - Day 338 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: 

Daniel 1,2; 1 John 2)

BLIND HATE or DIVINE LOVE 

“Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:10-11 ESV)

Activity contrary to John’s clear intent in these verses is rampant in this hate-filled world of ours. We see this in our homes. We see this on the job. We see this in our families. Unfortunately, we see hatred being fueled by many who should know much better.

If you were to ask people if they would rather abide in the light instead of stumbling around in the darkness, a good number would choose the light. However the One who does the choosing is not us, it is Jesus. And since He has chosen to make us His own by showering us with His soul-cleansing love, how can we not share His love with others? Yet too many choose to live their lives in the blindness of hate.

So, what is the answer to blind hate? The answer is the love of Christ Jesus, the Lord of all!

     Love divine, all loves excelling,\

     Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!

     Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,

     All Thy faithful mercies crown.

     Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

     Pure, unbounded love Thou art;

     Visit us with Thy salvation;

     Enter ev'ry trembling heart!

     (Lutheran Service Book #700)

Heavenly Father, thank You for delivering us from blind hate by means of the hate-conquering love of Jesus. As He has showered His love upon me, may I learn to love others - in His name. Please grant Your peace in all places on this earth where hatred is destroying relationships among people. In Jesus’ loving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - Day 336 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 47,48; 1 John 1 )

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9 ESV)

In today’s verses, John is calling us to be honest with ourselves and with God. Don’t deny your sins; instead, confess them to God. This is difficult, yet necessary. It is a natural tendency for us proud human beings to deny that we have done anything wrong. Yet God’s Law rings out clearly, “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:3 ESV)

There are great emotional benefits to confessing our wrongs, our misdeeds, our sins. A child who has done something wrong is filled with a gnawing guilt until he or she tells mom or dad. Their relationship is restored. Yes, confession is good for that child.

Look at the second sentence in today’s Biblical selection. Confession is good for the soul of the child of God because God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

While it is important to be reconciled to one’s parents, it is far more crucial to be reconciled to the One who controls eternity. Because God the Father accepted His Son’s sacrificial death on the cross as payment for our sins, He now mercifully forgives us and washes all of our sins away. Confession truly is good for the soul of the believer!

Rejoice every time you hear your pastor proclaim Christ’s words over you and to you: Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

1 "Comfort, comfort ye My people,

   Speak ye peace," thus saith our God;

   "Comfort those who sit in darkness,

   Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load. 

   Speak ye to Jerusalem 

   Of the peace that waits for them;

   Tell her that her sins I cover

   And her warfare now is over."

2 Yea, her sins our God will pardon,

   Blotting out each dark misdeed;

   All that well deserved His anger

   He no more will see or heed.

   She hath suffered many a day,

   Now her griefs have passed away;

   God will change her pining sadness

   Into ever-springing gladness.

3 Hark, the herald's voice is crying

   In the desert far and near,

   Calling sinners to repentance,

   Since the Kingdom now is here.

   O that warning cry obey!

   Now prepare for God a way;

   Let the valley rise to meet Him

   And the hills bow down to greet Him.

   (“Comfort, Comfort Ye My People,” LSB #347)

Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to forgive me when I repent. Help me to resist the foolish attempt to cover up and deny my sins, so that I may know the joy of Your forgiveness and reconciliation. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Monday, December 2, 2024 - JESUS IS COMING SOON!

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Monday, December 2, 2024 - Day 336 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 45,46 2 Peter 3)

JESUS IS COMING SOON!

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:9-10 ESV)

As time continues to go on, the inhabitants of our planet have an extremely difficult time believing in Judgment Day. The verses for today contain both a clear warning about the impending end of all we see around us, and a glimpse into the compassionate heart of God. While He is planning to expose the sins of all members of the human race, He fervently desires that all repent and turn to Him for salvation.

Peter then shares what should be your personal response to the impending end:

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God!” (2 Peter 3:11-12a ESV)

Wake up and take seriously God’s call to repentance, and know the peace that flows from a soul made pure in the blood of the Lamb.

   1. The King shall come when morning dawns

And light triumphant breaks,

When beauty gilds the eastern hills

And life to joy awakes.

   5. The King shall come when morning dawns

And light and beauty brings.

Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray:

Come quickly, King of kings!

(Lutheran Service Book #348)

Heavenly Father, thank You for warning me and calling me to the holiness and godliness that comes from repentance and absolution. Lord Jesus, may Your body and Your blood be for my soul the highest good as I keep my eyes focused on You in these last days. Amen.

Pastor David Paape