We no longer emulate the ways of the Gentiles, put aside all of our dark ways. The things we do and think and say which we hope never sees the light of day. The empty words we listen, telling us stay asleep, stay in the dark. The Light of the world has come and we all sing in unity “Awake Oh Sleeper, Arise from the dead, Christ will shine on you.”
What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
What does this mean? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
Kevin and I (Pastor Cris) had the great opportunity to talk with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service at the FLGA convention today. They were telling us of all the ways LIRS is supporting the children who have been in the news lately on our southern border. We were impressed by the care they are bringing in this very difficult situation.
MOST BELIEVERS have questions about life. Sometimes there are answers, sometimes there aren’t. When life doesn’t seem to make sense, when we are tempted to rationalize our circumstances or explain our situation according to reason or Christian principles, the lesson from Job reminds us how far God is beyond our understanding. Our life in relationship with Him is more about trust than understanding. Trust is God’s gift that reminds us of our humanity and God’s incredible power, power that loves us and makes us His own.
