Every Christian who is honest with himself or herself knows the reality that we have not achieved all that our Lord expects of us. We struggle to do good but all too often we fail. We want to love and serve but miss the mark. What are we to do?

In a devotional book titled On Giving Advice to God–Devotions on the Wisdom of God and the Foolishness of Man the author, Daniel Deutschlander, writes:

“So then, what counsel is there for the ‘flawed saint’? It is the counsel that the best and worst need to hear again and again. Look more at Jesus than at yourself! Look more at his wounds than at your own. Look even more at his grace than at your guilt. Look more to the end of the struggle than just to the battle of the moment. For he sees and knows you. He rejoices in your times of standing by him in his afflictions, whether those be his afflictions inside of you as you struggle or those he endures from mockers and unbelievers in the world. Flee every day to the temple of his Word and often to the sanctuary of his Sacrament. There alone you will find strength to continue both the struggle against obvious sin and the struggle against despair and total surrender. There you will find peace in the midst of war, pardon in his presence, and strength in his promises. . . . Remember that it is not our struggles that doom us. It is our surrender, ultimately the surrender that gives up not just on self, but more important, on Jesus and his gospel.” (p. 145)

1 John 2:1–2 (NIV) "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

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As Paul began his letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth, he described them as “enriched in every way,” “you do not lack any spiritual gift,” and “He will keep you strong.”

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 NIV
"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

If you read the entirety of 1 Corinthians, Paul had to point out some very specific problems and sins that were occurring within this congregation. So which is it? Were they trapped in errors and sins or “enriched in every way”?

Isn’t God’s grace stunning?! He views his weak and sinful people through Jesus Christ. While his Word points out our sins, he also cannot stop speaking about how much he loves those who believe in him.

The specifics of the sins that the people in Corinth struggled with may not be the same as the list that describes you. And yet, brothers and sisters, through faith in Jesus, God forgives you and views you as one of his children who is equipped to serve him. He is faithful to you and will not leave you. Let the peace of his forgiveness comfort you and shape your view of yourself. You belong to the faithful God and so you are ready to be light for the world as you serve him.

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If you were a farmer, the list of failures in Habakkuk 3:17-18 would be devastating. The business faced utter failure.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NIV): 

"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior."

To one degree or another, we all face those moments. Life is filled with failures – failures that hurt, frighten, and change the direction of one’s life.

With defiance in his voice, Habakkuk concludes, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” The experiences of life do not deter or change the love of God. God’s love was carved in stone when Jesus died and rose for us. His proclamation to all who believe in that Savior is unending and eternal love.

Often times, faith is looking past the experiences of life that are disappointing and difficult and clinging to the promises of God to be with and bless his people. The hurt and failure may not disappear, but the love of God and the assurance of his love never change! In the moments you face, God grant you the defiant faith of Habakkuk to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in the confidence of goodness for you.

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In Romans we read, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (13:1 NIV). As we celebrate our freedom as Americans, we must always remember that all governments are established by God. He uses our leaders to protect and bless us. He can also use government as an instrument of punishment against sin (think of the empires in the Old Testament used to punish the Israelites who had turned away from God.) Whatever the case, we must remember that God is in charge! Martin Luther said it this way:

God looks upon kings as children look upon playing cards. While they are playing, they hold the cards in their hands; thereafter they fling them into a corner, under the bench, or into the rubbish. God also acts in this way with rulers. While they rule, He considers them good; but as soon as they overdo it, He ‘puts down the mighty from their seats’ (Luke 1:52) and lets them lie as discards.” (What Luther Says, page 579)

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“Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.” Hosea 7:8 (NIV)
The verse might sound silly. It was actually spoken in anger.

Imagine cooking pancakes, but never flipping them. One side would be done, even burned, while the other side was soft and inedible.

In Hosea 7, that’s how God saw the people in Israel. They were only half done. Their words and actions were inconsistent. They professed to believe in God; they even followed some of his ceremonial laws in their outward worship. But God saw their hearts and their unwillingness to live according to his will.

God has never been satisfied with or fooled by an outward show of Christianity. He has worked in our lives to make us new. We are new through faith in Jesus and the peace that comes from trusting in him for complete forgiveness. This peace washes over us and offers us relief and hope. It shapes our view of God.

We are made new so that we can live as God’s people. The line immediately before the verse above says, “Ephraim mixes with the nations.” The people in Hosea’s day were living like unbelievers, even as they claimed to be God’s people.

Christ Jesus has set you free from sin so that you can live the full life of serving him and putting him first. This will be seen in your faith that rest on Christ alone. This new life will also be seen in your desire to live a holy life and to struggle against sin.

Christ has called you out of the world’s way of thinking and acting. Make time to grow in God’s Word and in his grace so that you can see the joy of a full life – a life of believing in Jesus and serving him.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30 NIV)

The words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30 are beloved by all who believe in him. They should be.

Have you read what led up to Jesus saying these words?

At the beginning of Matthew 11, Jesus answered a question sent to him by John the Baptist, who was in prison. John wondered if Jesus was the One or if someone else would be the Messiah. In talking about John the Baptist, Jesus spoke of how the people of his day could not be pleased and would not believe. They rejected John for being too stern and rejected Jesus for being too eager to be a friend of sinners. This led Jesus to speak some harsh words against cities in Galilee that rejected him. He said that Sodom and Gomorrah, the godless cities destroyed by fire from heaven in Genesis, would find Judgment Day more bearable than the cities that rejected Jesus. That’s harsh!! Then, Jesus thanked his Father for the faith that lived in his disciples.

Then suddenly the words of Matthew 11:28-30 came out of Jesus’ mouth.

Of course, we rightly find rest in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus freely gives to all who believe in him. These sins make us “weary and burdened,” but his grace comforts and renews us.

But aren’t we also burdened, as Jesus was, by the unbelieving world. So many reject him and openly live contrary to his will. Aren’t we, like John the Baptist, burdened by doubts as the events we see around us do not match up to our expectations? Doesn’t the relative “doom and gloom” of most of Matthew 11 match what we see going on in a sinful world?

Jesus’ words thunder to those who live in this sinful world. In him is rest. No, the problems of life may not disappear – his “yoke” may not (will not!) go away. But in the midst of whatever today brings or tomorrow threatens, “you will find rest for your souls” in Jesus. His love has not stopped and will never stop. His plan for you, carried out when he died and rose for you, is that you be with him forever in heaven. You may face burdens today, but by faith, you know the rest of a Savior who will not leave you. Trust in him and know the true rest that your Lord wants you to have.

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The Christian constantly faces two opposite, but deadly, dangers. Read the following from Martin Luther:

“Without the Holy Spirit hearts are either hardened in sins or they despair. But both are contrary to the will of God. By the Holy Spirit the godly navigate between the satanic Scylla and Charybdis [see explanation below, if needed] and cast themselves upon the superabundant and infinite mercy of God. They confess their sins, but at the same time they also confess the immeasurable mercy of God.” (What Luther Says, p. 662)

[Scylla and Charybdis were sea monster in Greek mythology. Scylla was a six-headed monster on a rocky cliff and Charybdis spit out water that created a giant whirlpool. They were located so close to each other that to avoid one meant getting too close to the other. The myth is probably the origin of the English phrase “between a rock and a hard place.”]

Luther used Scylla and Charybdis to picture the two deadly temptations we constantly face: hardened heart or despair — God doesn’t want either of those attitudes in us.

Pride causes hearts to become hardened. I do my best. I’m better than most people. I go to church or went to a Lutheran grade school and/or high school. Pick the reason, the heart that is proud is looking at itself, not at Jesus!

Despair overcomes hearts that focus on their failures, sins, and troubles. With this focus, a person feels unworthy and views their situation as hopeless. In the end, this heart is not looking at Jesus either.

Look at Jesus and see God’s grace for you. Do not look at Jesus so you can ignore and indulge your sins. Confess your sins; wrestle against them as you grow into Christ. But never stop looking at Jesus as your source of hope and strength. In him you will always find forgiveness. In him, you are righteous before God. Let this be your comfort and strength as you daily focus your faith on his love for you.

Lamentations 3:22–24 "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

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The Bible is an endless source of comfort and strength for new believers and life-long believers alike. Read the following section from 1 Peter. The verses teach us about what Jesus has done for us; what this means for our Christian living; conversion; the Word of God; and other doctrines. With these relatively few verses you will find plenty to feed your faith and guide your life of service. 

1 Peter 1:13–2:3 (NIV):
"Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again —not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.

So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good."

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"Since we have such a hope, we are very bold."
2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV)

You have the glorious hope – such a hope – of knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior. He has purified you and made you to be his child. You live in the peace of perfect forgiveness and love that is yours though faith in Jesus.

This hope makes us bold. We are bold to face the troubles of life with the confidence that God’s love is without limit. We are bold to face ourselves – including the guilt of our own sins – and know that God has removed every spot of sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus and he considers us his very own. We are bold to live as God’s people – guided by his Word and will – in a world that often rejects the things of God. We are bold to love and to forgive and to give.

We are bold because we know Jesus . . . and Jesus knows us!

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We celebrated the Festival of Pentecost. In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther wrote about the work of the Holy Spirit in his explanation of the 3rd Article of the Creed:

"Now this is the article of the Creed that must always be and remain in use. For we have already received creation. Redemption, too, is finished. But the Holy Spirit carries on His work without ceasing to the Last Day. For that purpose He has appointed a congregation upon earth by which He speaks and does everything. For He has not yet brought together all His Christian Church or granted all forgiveness. Therefore, we believe in Him who daily brings us into the fellowship of this Christian Church through the Word. Through the same Word and the forgiveness of sins He bestows, increases, and strengthens faith. So when He has done it all, and we abide in this and die to the world and to all evil, He may finally make us perfectly and forever holy. Even now we expect this in faith through the Word."
(paragraphs 61-62)

The work of the Holy Spirit continues even today as he strengthens your faith and creates faith in the hearts of new believers. He carries this work out through the church and as the gospel message is proclaimed. You continue to enjoy the blessings of Pentecost as you hear God’s Word, recall the blessings of your baptism, and receive the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Spirit is truly at work in these to strengthen you in faith and empower you to live as God’s child – whether you feel it or not. Make time in your life – both personally and as a member of our congregation – to regularly hear the Word of God so that the Spirit’s ongoing work comforts you by pointing you to Jesus.

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”  John 15:26  (NIV)

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