Meditations in Genesis
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:3-4
Does this sound familiar? Strife and discord within families is all too normal. Even though God created the first family perfect and without sin, everything changed after the fall of Genesis 3: Cain killed Abel; Lamech took two wives and killed men for hurting him; believers married unbelieving wives, with the result being rampant unbelief and wickedness in the earth; Abraham had a son through Sarah’s servant and at times said that Sarah was his sister; Isaac and Rebekah showed favoritism toward their sons; Jacob had two wives and two concubines and showed favoritism to Rachel’s children; Judah had sons through a daughter-in-law; David had many wives and a son who rebelled against him; and the list continues on through the Scriptures and to the present day.
Ever since Adam and Eve first disobeyed the LORD God and brought sin into the world, God’s design for a perfect marriage union between a man and a woman and children who grew up knowing and loving the LORD God has been unattainable for mankind. Even the good marriages and the families where discord is less frequent still fall short of God’s design. Husbands fall short of loving their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives fail to love their husbands and submit to them as the church is to submit to Christ, in all things (cf. Ephesians 5:22ff.). Children fail to obey their parents and to love each other as they should. And, of course, we know all too well that many, many marriages end in divorce with families split apart.
The Bible tells it like it is. The Scriptures don’t paint flowery pictures of life after the fall. If the Bible were a religious book like others – even if it were written by churchgoers of today or of generations gone by – it’s unlikely that the wickedness and shortcomings of man would fill the pages. Instead, the pages would probably be full of holy lives held up as examples for us today. But, of course, the Bible was not authored by man. It is the inspired Word of God, with men, chosen of God, writing as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). Thus, God’s book describes mankind as mankind is – sinful – and God describes families as they are – tarnished by sin!
Why would God tell of the sins of men like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Peter and Paul? Why would he tell of the family troubles and strife even in the families of believers? The answer is simple: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). Not a single patriarch, prophet or apostle was saved by his own righteousness. All were saved through faith in Christ’s righteousness and His innocent sufferings and death in their stead! Not a single Christian today can boast of his own righteousness. A Christian’s only hope is in the perfect righteousness and atoning sacrifice of God’s Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ!
And, yes, there is hope – a sure hope and confidence – for all who trust in Jesus! He fulfilled the righteous demands of God’s law for all, and He paid in full for the sins of all when He suffered and died upon the cross. Jesus’ resurrection is proof (cf. Romans 4:25). This hope and assurance is not only for those whose lives appear good and upright; it is for those whose lives and families have been ravaged and torn apart by sin. In Jesus there is forgiveness and hope for all sinners, regardless of their failures.
If God could have mercy upon Jacob and make him the father of His people Israel, if God could forgive David for adultery and murder and make him a man after God’s own heart, if God could show mercy to Peter who denied Him and to Paul who persecuted Him, He can show mercy to you and to me and accept us as His own dear children through faith in Christ Jesus!
O dearest Jesus, I have sinned and gone astray. For the sake of Your blood shed upon the cross, forgive my sins and wash my guilt away. Amen.
Luther’s Large Catechism
Short Preface of Dr. Martin Luther
This sermon is designed and undertaken that it might be an instruction for children and the simple-minded. Hence of old it was called in Greek Catechism, i.e., instruction for children, what every Christian must needs know, so that he who does not know this could not be numbered with the Christians nor be admitted to any Sacrament, just as a mechanic who does not understand the rules and customs of his trade is expelled and considered incapable. Therefore we must have the young learn the parts which belong to the Catechism or instruction for children well and fluently and diligently exercise themselves in them and keep them occupied with them.
Therefore it is the duty of every father of a family to question and examine his children and servants at least once a week and to ascertain what they know of it, or are learning, and, if they do not know it, to keep them faithfully at it. For I well remember the time, indeed, even now it is a daily occurrence that one finds rude, old persons who knew nothing and still know nothing of these things, and who, nevertheless, go to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and use everything belonging to Christians, notwithstanding that those who come to the Lord’s Supper ought to know more and have a fuller understanding of all Christian doctrine than children and new scholars. However, for the common people we are satisfied with the three parts, which have remained in Christendom from of old, though little of it has been taught and treated correctly until both young and old, who are called and wish to be Christians, are well trained in them and familiar with them. These are the following:
First – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain [for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain].
3. Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day. [Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.]
4. Thou shalt honor thy father and mother [that thou mayest live long upon the earth].
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle [ox, nor his ass], nor anything that is his.
Secondly – THE CHIEF ARTICLES OF OUR FAITH.
1. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
2. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
3. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Thirdly – THE PRAYER, OR “OUR FATHER,” WHICH CHRIST TAUGHT.
Our Father who art in heaven.
1. Hallowed be Thy name.
2. Thy kingdom come.
3. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
4. Give us this day our daily bread.
5. And forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespass against us.
6. And lead us not into temptation.
7. But deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.] Amen.
These are the most necessary parts which one should first learn to repeat word for word, and which our children should be accustomed to recite daily when they arise in the morning, when they sit down to their meals, and when they retire at night; and until they repeat them, they should be given neither food nor drink. Likewise every head of a household is obliged to do the same with respect to his domestics, man-servants and maid-servants, and not to keep them in his house if they do not know these things and are unwilling to learn them. For a person who is so rude and unruly as to be unwilling to learn these things is not to be tolerated; for in these three parts everything that we have in the Scriptures is comprehended in short, plain, and simple terms. For the holy Fathers or apostles (whoever they were) have thus embraced in a summary the doctrine, life, wisdom, and art of Christians, of which they speak and treat, and with which they are occupied.
Now, when these three parts are apprehended, it behooves a person also to know what to say concerning our Sacraments, which Christ Himself instituted, Baptism and the holy body and blood of Christ, namely, the text which Matthew 28:19ff. and Mark 16:15f. record at the close of their Gospels when Christ said farewell to His disciples and sent them forth.
OF BAPTISM.
Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
So much is sufficient for a simple person to know from the Scriptures concerning Baptism. In like manner, also, concerning the other Sacrament, in short, simple words, namely, the text of St. Paul [ 1 Cor. 11:23f.].
OF THE SACRAMENT.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples and said, Take, eat; this is, My body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.
Thus would have, in all, five parts of the entire Christian doctrine which should be constantly treated and required [of children], and heard recited word for word. For you must not rely upon it that the young people will learn and retain these things from the sermon alone. When these parts have been well learned, you may, as a supplement and to fortify them, lay before them also some psalms or hymns, which have been composed on these parts, and thus lead the young into the Scriptures, and make daily progress therein.
However, it is not enough for them to comprehend and recite these parts according to the words only, but the young people should also be made to attend the preaching, especially during the time which is devoted to the Catechism, that they may hear it explained, and may learn to understand what every part contains, so as to be able to recite it as they have heard it, and, when asked, may give a correct answer, so that the preaching may not be without profit and fruit. For the reason why we exercise such diligence in preaching the Catechism so often is that it may be inculcated on our youth, not in a high and subtle manner, but briefly and with the greatest simplicity, so as to enter the mind readily and be fixed in the memory.
Therefore we shall now take up the above-mentioned articles one by one and in the plainest manner possible say about them as much as is necessary.
To Be Continued….
Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday
Scripture Readings appointed for Sunday are: Psalm 112; Isaiah 58:1-14; Acts 25:1-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.
The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 15:18ff (esp. v. 22ff.).
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, as well as for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – for Sam Rusch, who has had repeated stays in the hospital; and for Regina Wood (the sister of Lonnie Moll), who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families and for Christians who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations which desire to remain faithful to Christ and His Word, 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 next congregational evening Bible study is tentatively planned for 7 p.m. on Feb. 16. We will take up what the Scriptures teach concerning man.
The choir continues to practice after church services on Sundays. More voices are welcome.
The Church Council will next meet at 7 p.m. on Feb. 9.
On-line video of worship services can be found at: http://goodshepherdrogers.org/blog/worship-service-video/.
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.
“Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.” Psalm 112:1