Words of Encouragement for May 20, 2010

Meditations in the Parables of Jesus

THE LOST SHEEP AND THE LOST COIN

Read Luke 15:1-10

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

How important are lost souls to you? When publicans, those who collected taxes for the Roman government and overcharged to make their living, and other sinners came to Jesus to hear Him and learn of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life which He offered to all, the Pharisees and scribes were critical of Jesus for associating with such sinners.

Jesus told the two parables in our Scripture reading to point out that it is perfectly normal for anyone who loses something to seek it until he finds it. A shepherd with one hundred sheep who loses one does not say, “I still have ninety-nine,” and then forget about the one that is lost. Even the scribes and Pharisees would not do such a thing! Nor would a woman with ten silver coins who lost one of them just forget about the one lost coin and be content with the nine. Both the shepherd and the woman in these two parables would seek out and find that which was lost. Then they would rejoice because they had found that lost sheep or that lost coin. Wouldn’t we also act the same way if we were to lose something of ours?

So also every lost soul is extremely important to the Lord Jesus. Our God created man to live for Him and serve Him in eternal righteousness. Because man fell into sin and was lost, God sent His only begotten Son into this world a true man, that He might fulfill the righteous demands of God’s Law and suffer and die for the sins of all. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. During His earthly ministry, He sought out all sinners and turned away no one who came to hear His saving Gospel. Since He had come into this world to redeem fallen mankind by His innocent sufferings and death, it gave our Savior great joy, along with the angels of God in heaven, when a lost sinner repented and turned to Him for forgiveness and life everlasting. Our Lord Jesus was not afraid to associate with sinners; He shed His blood to redeem them!

Since Christ died to redeem us, should not we also live in daily repentance, being truly sorry for our sins and trusting in our Savior for forgiveness and eternal salvation? It gives our risen Savior, as well as the angels in heaven, great joy when we hear His Word and live in daily repentance. We certainly should not, as did the scribes and the Pharisees, consider ourselves righteous and in no need of repentance (cf. I John 1:8-9; 2:1-2; Prov. 28:13).

Like our Savior, we also should seek out lost souls and rejoice when they are brought to repentance. We should not be satisfied if ninety-nine percent of our members are continuing in the truth and only one is gone astray; we should seek that one until he is found and returns to the fold. The same is true of the lost souls who are not under the care of our congregation. We should, in the love of our Savior, seek out the lost and seek to bring them to the Good Shepherd by sharing with them the saving truths of God’s Word. Christ Jesus shed His holy, precious blood to redeem them. We also ought to care enough for their souls to share with them the good news of forgiveness and life everlasting through faith in the Savior. Never should we be ashamed to be seen sharing the Gospel with lost sinners, no matter how bad their past reputation!

Knowing Thee and Thy salvation, grateful love dare never cease to proclaim Thy tender mercies, Gracious Lord, Thy heav’nly peace. Sound we forth the Gospel tidings to the earth’s remotest bound that the sinner has been pardoned and forgiveness can be found. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #498, Verse 4)

Pastor Randy Moll

When others gave up, Jesus in faith gave thanks

Scripture Reading – John 6:1-14

1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

How many of us stop and give thanks when the cupboards are bare or the bank account is down to the last dollar or two? Or, how many of us would take on a huge task – whether it be some charitable work or a mission endeavor – when we have insufficient means to accomplish it? Would we give thanks for what we’ve been given and step out in faith? Or, would we give up and say there’s no way we can do it?

Jesus and His disciples were faced with just such a situation. Jesus and His disciples crossed the sea of Galilee to a deserted place to have time away from the crowds of people who followed Jesus everywhere He went. But, as we read, the people followed Him there because they saw His miracles – His healing of the sick and diseased.

Jesus didn’t send them away. He was moved with compassion for the people and taught them of the kingdom of God and healed the sick and diseased among them (cf. Matthew 14, Luke 9 and Mark 6).

The Scriptures say that “when Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.”

The other Gospel accounts tell us that when it was late in the day, Jesus’ disciples urged Him to send the people away so that they could walk to neighboring villages and towns and buy food to eat since they were in a deserted place. But Jesus told His disciples, “Give ye them to eat.”

How did Philip answer Jesus when Jesus tested him? What was the response of Jesus’ disciples? Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Basically, the answer of Phillip and Andrew was, “We can’t do it. We don’t have the money or the resources to begin to feed this big crowd of more than 5,000.”

Two hundred pennyworth is not a mere $2 worth of bread, for the penny in old usage was a coin containing between one and two grams of silver and of similar use and value to the Roman denarius – the coins to which Philip referred in the Greek text. Elsewhere, Jesus refers to the denarius, or penny, being a day’s wage (Matthew 20). Thus, we are talking about 200 day’s wages here – thousands-of-dollars-worth of bread in today’s currency values.

The task Jesus wanted His disciples to perform was staggering and beyond their reach. All they could round up was a boy’s lunch, consisting of five small barley loaves and two small fish. That really wasn’t even worth counting, considering the number of people there to feed.

But this was what they had – insufficient in man’s eyes but not so with God.

“Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”

If we were faced with such an impossible task – like feeding more than 5,000 people with only a boy’s lunch – would we give thanks to God for what He had provided? I expect not, and that in itself is a part of the problem!

Jesus looked to His Father in heaven, gave thanks and blessed the loaves and the fish. He then distributed them to His disciples, who in turn distributed them to the people. And they all ate until they were filled, and there was more left over – 12 baskets full – than what they had in the beginning. Amazing, isn’t it!

Why is this miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 recorded for us in all four of the Gospels? Is there a point here which God certainly doesn’t want us to miss?

Yes, it proves that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah He claimed to be. His divine power is clearly revealed in His feeding of more than 5,000 with just five barley loaves and two small fish.

His miracle is also a lesson to us about trusting in our heavenly Father to provide when the cupboards are bare and the bank accounts empty. We can and should give thanks for what He has provided even if it seems inadequate for the present needs. And, like Jesus’ first disciples, we so often are of “little faith.”

For our lack of thankfulness and our lack of trust, we have need to repent, turning to our Father in heaven to have mercy upon us and forgive us for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead. In Jesus, we find mercy and forgiveness for our failures to fear, love and trust in God above all things.

We might also learn that God tests and proves us through the difficulties and apparent shortages in our lives – He does so to teach us to rest in Him and give Him thanks always.

But there is one daunting task laid out before each of us as followers of Christ Jesus – that of teaching or discipling the nations.

After His sufferings and death for the sins of the world and His glorious resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). Before He ascended into heaven, He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Until the very end of the world, we have the task of preaching the Gospel to every creature and discipling all nations by going out, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and teaching them all things that Jesus has commanded us.

Is this task daunting? Does it seem impossible? How can we preach the saving Gospel to every creature? How can we go to all the nations and teach them of the Lord Jesus?

We could and often do sit back and say it’s hopeless – that we just don’t have the ability or resources. We might say: “I don’t know how to evangelize, so how can I preach the Gospel to every creature?” “I can’t afford the gas to drive across town, so how can I take the Gospel around the world?” “Our congregation is so little – a mission congregation itself – and we have our own expenses, so how can we send missionaries to others?”

“But when [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:36-38).

Jesus had and still has compassion on the multitudes. Nothing has changed. People around us and around the world are like sheep without a shepherd, wandering here and there in search of life and true happiness but not knowing where to find it. The harvest remains plenteous. Everywhere we turn – whether at school, in our work or at play – there are people who do not know Christ Jesus and the salvation He has provided for all. They wander aimlessly through life toward death and everlasting punishment.

Those who know and profess the saving Gospel of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross are few in comparison to the task – and many of them seem uninterested in the work Jesus has put before us.

What should we do? Throw up our hands and say, “It can’t be done?” Should we send people away, so to speak, to fend for themselves and find their own way?

What does Jesus say? “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest”

Don’t give up; pray! Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send more laborers out into his harvest.

And what did Jesus do? He sent out the 12 disciples, inept as they initially were (Matthew 10:1ff.). And Jesus sent them again after His death and resurrection, and He sends you and me to preach “repentance and remission of sins” in His name among all the nations (cf. Luke 24:46-47).

Like the feeding of the 5,000 where the resources at hand were insufficient for the task, so you and I and our abilities and resources are insufficient for the task before us. “What are we among so many? Who are we, that we should carry the Gospel into all the world?”

But our insufficiency is before the Lord Jesus adds His blessing. It doesn’t take into account the mighty working of His Holy Spirit, whom He has poured out upon us and also sends forth into the world to convict hearts through the preaching of God’s law and to comfort them through the preaching of the Gospel of forgiveness and life in Jesus’ name.

You and I are in so many ways like that lad’s sack lunch – barely enough for a single meal. We struggle in our own walk with Jesus, continually failing and falling and continually being picked up, forgiven and carried by our Savior. How can we evangelize the world?

The answer is really quite simple. We see it in the words and actions of Jesus on that desert mountain by the sea of Galilee. He saw the need of the multitudes and had compassion on them. Though supplies were indeed short, He gave thanks to the Father for what they did have and blessed it. He distributed it to His disciples and His disciples, to the people. Jesus worked a mighty miracle, using what little He had to nourish a multitude.

Instead of focusing our eyes on our insufficiencies to carry out this great task of teaching the nations, we too ought give thanks for what God has given us, pray God’s blessing and begin sharing it with the world. Jesus has given us the task of preaching the Gospel in all the world – of proclaiming repentance and remission of sins in His name. That begins here where we live and extends out to all places the Lord enables us to carry His life-giving message.

Though we are commanded to preach and teach and baptize, it is God Himself who convicts hearts of sin and comforts them with the assurance of forgiveness and life for the sake of the shed blood of Jesus. God has commanded us to spread His Word, but it the Holy Spirit who teaches us God’s Word, guides us as we proclaim it, and uses it to bring others to faith in Christ Jesus. The work is the Lord’s. We are but His instruments and spokesmen.

And when we quit saying we can’t and trust the Lord God to do with what He’s given us, we might be thoroughly surprised by the result. Remember, the leftovers from the five barley loaves filled 12 baskets! Considering that God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and the weak things of this world to confound the mighty (cf. 1 Corinthians 1) that He might receive the glory due His name, God may indeed use you and me, insufficient as we are, to carry the preaching of Christ crucified around the world.

We may think we don’t have much, but we have the Bible and – by the grace of God – know the mercy and forgiveness of God for the sake of our crucified and risen Savior. We have His Spirit dwelling in us and leading and guiding us into all truth through His Word. And we have Jesus’ command, not to send them away empty, but to feed the multitudes by sharing with them the Bread of Life He has so freely given us!

Give thanks for the blessings He’s given us, and feed the multitudes with the good news of forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus our Savior!

O dearest Jesus, thank You for shedding Your holy and precious blood to redeem me, forgive me and make me your own. Use me to reach out to others here and around the world with the teaching of Your Word that they too might repent and look unto You for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting Your won for them. Grant me Your Holy Spirit and bless the sharing of Your Word. Amen.

Pastor Randy Moll

The Brief Statement

of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod as adopted in 1932

(Editor’s Note: This remains the official position of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod yet today, though in practice, many have departed from it.)

Of the Election of Grace

35. By election of grace we mean this truth, that all those who by the grace of God alone, for Christ’s sake, through the means of grace, are brought to faith, are justified, sanctified, and preserved in faith here in time, that all these have already from eternity been endowed by God with faith, justification, sanctification, and preservation in faith, and this for the same reason, namely, by grace alone, for Christ’s sake, and by way of the means of grace. That this is the doctrine of Holy Scripture is evident from Eph. 1:3-7; 2 Thess. 2:13,14; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:28-30; 2 Tim. 1:9; Matt. 24:22-24 (cp. Form. of Conc. Triglot, p. 1065, @ 5, 8, 23; M., p. 705).

36. Accordingly we reject as an anti-Scriptural error the doctrine that not alone the grace of God and the merit of Christ are the cause of the election of grace, but that God has, in addition, found or regarded something good in us which prompted or caused Him to elect us, this being variously designated as “good works right conduct,” “proper self-determination refraining from willful resistance,” etc. Nor does Holy Scripture know of an election “by foreseen faith in view of faith,” as though the faith of the elect were to be placed before their election; but according to Scripture the faith which the elect have in time belongs to the spiritual blessings with which God has endowed them by His eternal election. For Scripture teaches, Acts 13:48: “And as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed.” Our Lutheran Confession also testifies (Triglot, p. 1065, @_ 8; M., p. 705): “The internal election of God however, not only foresees and foreknows the salvation of the elect, but is also, from the gracious will and pleasure of God in Christ Jesus, a cause which procures, works, helps, and promotes our salvation and what pertains thereto; and upon this our salvation is so founded that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it, Matt. 16:18, as is written John 10: 28: ‘Neither shall any man pluck My sheep out of My hand’; and again, Acts 13:48: ‘And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.’”

37. But as earnestly as we maintain that there is an election of grace, or a predestination to salvation, so decidedly do we teach, on the other hand, that there is no election of wrath, or predestination to damnation. Scripture plainly reveals the truth that the love of God for the world of lost sinners is universal, that is, that it embraces all men without exception, that Christ has fully reconciled all men unto God, and that God earnestly desires to bring all men to faith, to preserve them therein, and thus to save them, as Scripture testifies, 1 Tim. 2:4: “God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” No man is lost because God has predestinated him to eternal damnation.-Eternal election is a cause why the elect are brought to faith in time, Acts 13:48; but election is not a cause why men remain unbelievers when they hear the Word of God. The reason assigned by Scripture for this sad fact is that these men judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life, putting the Word of God from them and obstinately resisting the Holy Ghost, whose earnest will it is to bring also them to repentance and faith by means of the Word, Acts 13:46; 7:51; Matt 23:37.

38. To be sure, it is necessary to observe the Scriptural distinction between the election of grace and the universal will of grace. This universal gracious will of God embraces all men; the election of grace, however, does not embrace all, but only a definite number, whom “God hath from the beginning chosen to salvation,” 2 Thess. 2:13, the “remnant,” the “seed” which “the Lord left,” Rom. 9:27-29, the “election,” Rom. 11: 7; and while the universal will of grace is frustrated in the case of most men, Matt 22:14; Luke 7:30, the election of grace attains its end with all whom it embraces, Rom. 8:28-30. Scripture, however, while distinguishing between the universal will of grace and the election of grace, does not place the two in opposition to each other. On the contrary, it teaches that the grace dealing with those who are lost is altogether earnest and fully efficacious for conversion. Blind reason indeed declares these two truths to be contradictory; but we impose silence on our reason. The seeming disharmony will disappear in the light of heaven, 1 Cor. 13:12.

39. Furthermore, by election of grace, Scripture does not mean that one part of God’s counsel of salvation according to which He will receive into heaven those who persevere in faith unto the end, but, on the contrary, Scripture means this, that God, before the foundation of the world, from Pure grace, because of the redemption of Christ, has chosen for His own a definite number of persons Out of the corrupt mass and has determined to bring them, through Word and Sacrament. to faith and salvation.

40. Christians can and should be assured of their eternal election. This is evident from the fact that Scripture addresses them as the chosen ones and comforts them with their election, Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13. This assurance of one’s personal election, however, springs only from faith in the Gospel, from the assurance that God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; on the contrary, through the life, suffering, and death of His Son He fully reconciled the whole world of sinners unto Himself. Faith in this truth leaves no room for the fear that God might still harbor thoughts of wrath and damnation concerning us. Scripture inculcates that in Rom. 8:32, 33: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” Luther’s pastoral advice is therefore in accord with Scripture: “Gaze upon the wounds of Christ and the blood shed for you; there predestination will shine forth.” (St. Louis Ed., II, 181; on Gen. 26:9.) That the Christian obtains the personal assurance of his eternal election in this way is taught also by our Lutheran Confessions (Formula of Concord. Triglot, p. 1071, @_ 26; M., p. 709): “Of this we should not judge according to our reason nor according to the Law or from any external appearance. Neither should we attempt to investigate the secret, concealed abyss of divine predestination, but should give heed to the revealed will of God. For He has made known unto us the mystery of His will and made it manifest through Christ that it might be preached, Eph. 1:9 ff.; 2 Tim. 1:9f.” In order to insure the proper method of viewing eternal election and the Christian’s assurance of it, the Lutheran Confessions set forth at length the principle that election is not to be considered “in a bare manner (nude), as though God only held a muster, thus: ‘This one shall be saved, that one shall be damned’” (Formula of Concord. Triglot, p. 1065, @_ 9; M., p. 706); but “the Scriptures teach this doctrine in no other way than to direct us thereby to the Word, Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 1: 7; exhort to repentance, 2 Tim. 3:16; urge to godliness, Eph. 1: 14; John 15: 3; strengthen faith and assure us of our salvation, Eph. 1: 13; John 10: 27 f.; 2 Thess. 2:13 f.” (Formula of Concord. Triglot, p. 1067, @12; M., p. 707 ). To sum up, just as God in time draws the Christians unto Himself through the Gospel, so He has already in His eternal election endowed them with “sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth,” 2 Thess. 2:13. Therefore: If, by the grace of God, you believe in the Gospel of the forgiveness of your sins for Christ’s sake, you are to be certain that you also belong to the number of God’s elect, even as Scripture, 2 Thess. 2:13, addresses the believing Thessalonians as the chosen of God and gives thanks to God for their election.

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings for Sunday are Psalm 143; Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John 14:23-31. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Pentecost Sunday. How do all the Scripture readings relate to the event we celebrate this Sunday? What does Psalm 143 teach of the Holy Spirit and our need for His indwelling presence in us? Why did God confuse the languages in Genesis 11? Why did Jesus pour out the Holy Spirit on His disciples and move them to speak in other tongues or languages? Of what was this a sign? What Old Testament Scripture did this fulfill? What did Jesus say of the Holy Spirit before His death?

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John in chapter 6.

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us; for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families, for Christians who are alone and have no congregation, and for our adopted soldiers. Pray for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Churches in the Philippines, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Events and Announcements

The Choir is practicing for upcoming services. More voices are always welcome.

Congregational Evening Bible studies will continue again at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 40:1-5

[Scripture in this Newsletter is taken from the King James Version of the Bible]