Pious Lutheran

Merry Christmas! When six weeks had passed, and the time for the purification according to the Law of the Lord had come, Joseph and Mary took their infant baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. As they entered in, they were met by Simeon who “ blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. ” Indeed, Christ has come as a sign that is opposed, a sword to pierce the hearts of His people, so that we may be saved. I know Christmas is such a joyful time! It really does bring out the best behavior and attitudes in many people. The sad and lonely are often comforted, the bored are made lively, and even the marginally Christian consider themselves slightly more Christian on Christmas. It’s a time of year many people anticipate with great excitement and expectation. First we have Halloween...

Merry Christmas! God’s richest grace and blessings be unto thee this joyful day whereon we celebrate the birth of our Savior by hearing the Word, singing our praises, and being fed the feast of Christ’s body and blood. St. John writes: “ In the beginning was the Word. ” Those words hearken back to the first words of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, “ In the beginning. ” The birth of Jesus is for us Christians a new beginning. Have you ever wanted that before? A new start on life. A New beginning. Looking back on this last year, or even the last decade or more, do you have any regrets? I know there are the sayings so many live their lives by, maybe you too: “Never look back!” or “No regrets!” Well it’s not such a bad idea to look back. When St. John says “ In the beginning ” we can do nothing but look back. So look back, and what do you see? Do you have any regrets? If you have any modicum of decency or even the slightest resemblance of a conscience, you will look back on your life and fi...

“ Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ” What things do you treasure up and ponder in your heart? Today it’s December 24th, the end of a long year. As you ponder back on the happenings of the last 12 months, what things run through your mind? Maybe the birth of a child, the death of a loved one; a move to a new house, selling an old one; an 18th birthday or an 80th birthday. Maybe nothing’s really changed, it’s the same old same old, and now at the end of year you’re tired of the grindstone and need a break.  In the midst of the shortest and darkest days of the year, tired from the happenings of the last 12 months, Christmas comes. “ The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. ”In the midst of such a dark and tired season, a light shines in the darkness. What things do you treasure up?  Maybe it’s the chance to see family again today or soon. Maybe it’s the good...

St. John the Baptist, “ he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed. ” One of the greatest confessors in the history of the church, John, when confronted with the most elite aristocracy of his time did not shake like a reed in the wind, but he confessed, not denied, but confessed Jesus to be the Christ.  It would have been tempting for him to simply say yes to the questions asked of him. Yes, he’s the Christ; yes, he’s Elijah; yes, he’s the Prophet. He could have said yes and been worshipped by the multitudes, placed high upon a throne for all of Israel to bow down towards. But he confessed the truth; he said no.  Instead of baptizing with a baptism of repentance, instead of preparing hearts, instead of making straight the way of the Lord, he could have been nice. He could have affirmed the people in their sins, he could have said the pharisees had no need of the Messiah, he could have spoken flattering words to all. But he confessed the truth; he called all people to r...

Do you believe that prayer works or that it does anything? I will admit that I’ve had my fair share of doubts about whether prayer works or not. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t pray as much as I should. I should be spending far more time in prayer than what I currently do.  But I don’t think I’d be alone in saying this: it’s hard to pray. It’s so much more tempting to spend time doing the things I’d be praying about than it is to take time out of my day and pray to God about them. It’s tempting to follow the old untrue phrase which says: “God helps those who help themselves.” No, actually God helps those who can’t help themselves, try as they might. The reason prayer is so difficult for us is that when we pray, we are admitting that we’re too weak on our own, we’re not capable of accomplishing everything. We need help because we can’t do it. That’s hard for us to admit. But because it’s true, God commands us to pray. God promises to hear our prayers because He is our d...

John the baptist was a fascinating fellow, conceived and born 6 months before the Christ, He was the forerunner of Jesus prophesied by Malachi: “ Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. ” John the Baptist was the last of the great Old Testament prophets who declared that the Messiah was coming.  He was an odd fellow, as he was dressed in camel’s hair and ate locust. Not really a civilized sort of man. He lived in the wilderness calling all peoples to repentance and announcing that the Kingdom of God is near. He was the kind of man you see on the side of the road and avert your gaze, ashamed of what you see. Yet John the Baptist was sent by God to proclaim a holy message from the Lord. What is this message that John proclaimed? Upon seeing Jesus he announced: “ Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the Word! ”  Now even from behind the bars of prison, his impending beheading looming over him, John continues to direct...