If you’re like every other human being, you don’t like to be told that you are wrong. Our sinful nature despises the thought of being corrected. But for us who know Jesus Christ, we are eager to do what is right. We are willing to be told that we are wrong because we do not want to continue down a path of sin. In Psalm 141:5 (NIV) we read: "Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it."

The Psalmist was willing to accept correction because he knew it would benefit him. Your sinful nature will never like being corrected, but we are not controlled by the sinful nature anymore. We belong to Christ Jesus. As a child of God who is eager to do good, accept correction in a spirit of gratitude. You are being led back to the right path. That is something that a Christian will never refuse.

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“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

As we begin a new year, it is good to recall Moses’ words (Moses wrote Psalm 90). We need to “number our days aright.” First, let’s remember that the number of days we will spend on earth is infinity fewer than the eternal days in heaven. The Children of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt was a journey to the Promised Land. The harsh desert in which they lived for forty years was not the destination; the “land flowing with milk and honey” was. Heaven is our real home, prepared for us by Jesus Christ!

But let’s also remember that the days we have in this life are gifts from God to be used in service to him. Don’t waste your days here letting sin be your master. Jesus has freed you from sin so that you can enjoy loving and serving like he did. Sure, you’re busy — everyone is — but don’t let busyness keep you from people who really matter. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to do everything, so number your days aright and chose what is best and most important. Someone once said, “The enemy of the best is the good.” Focus on what the best opportunities God gives you to serve him! Use the time God has given you in ways that please him. You will not be disappointed.

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...We celebrate the birth of our Savior. Because he came, we are saved! The following section is from a sermon Martin Luther preached on Christmas Day. He reminds us that Jesus is our Savior, not only on the cross and at his resurrection, but also in his birth.

"The real reason why a man is saved is that Christ and the believing heart are so united that what each possesses becomes the common property of both. But what does each possess? Christ has a pure, innocent, holy birth. Man has an impure, sinful cursed birth, as David says: 'Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.' There is no remedy for this sinful birth expect through the pure birth of Christ. See, in this way Christ takes from us unto Himself our birth and sinks it into His birth and give us His birth, so that we become pure and new in it, as though it were our own. Every Christian may rejoice and glory in this birth of Christ as though he, too, like Christ, had been bodily born of Mary. Whoever does not believe this, or doubts it, is no Christian." -What Luther Says, p. 197

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As she contemplated the coming of her son, Jesus, Mary’s words recorded in Luke 2 give us insight into her faith and serve as a model for us.

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.”
Luke 1:46–52 (NIV)

“He” is the most common pronoun in Mary’s song. Her faith rested on God’s actions. Her hope was in what God had done and would do. She saw God’s gracious hand doing “great things” for her. She saw him helping the lowly and poor because she knew that spiritual blessings far outweighed earthly blessings.

True faith always mirrors Mary’s faith. Our focus isn’t on what we have done, but on God’s actions. He came to the world to save us. He died and rose to take away our sins. As Christmas gets closer let your faith rest on the glorious, life-changing action of your Savior. In him is the life you seek — a life of knowing the true God and serving him with your gifts.

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During Advent we hear the preaching of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” In repentance, we prepare to meet our Savior — both to celebrate his birth and also on the Last Day. So what is repentance? Martin Luther writes this about repentance: "Beware of placing confidence in your contrition or of ascribing the forgiveness of sins to your own sorrow. For God does not favorably regard you because of contrition or sorrow, but because of faith with which you have believed his threats and promises and which worked sorrow in you. Therefore, we owe whatever good there may be in our penitence not to the conscientious enumeration of sins but to the truth of God and to our faith." (What Luther Says, p. 1213)

True repentance is more than just being sorry for sins. Even unbelievers are often sorry for what they have done. Believers add to their sorrow faith in Jesus as the one who takes away all sins.

John the Baptist tells us the action that will result in the lives of those who repent, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Repentance is a change of heart as we believe in God and respond with a change of actions as a fruit of faith. Martin Luther writes this about the changed heart of the repentant: "To probe and ponder how bad you have been is not enough if you do not ponder and probe much more how good you desire to become." (What Luther Says, p. 1214)

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To the secular world, December is all about Christmas. In the Church, we have a season called Advent. Advent isn’t Christmas. Advent is a time to think about Jesus’ coming (Advent means coming) to us. Of course, part of Advent is about Jesus’ coming at Christmas. But during Advent we also recall that Jesus will come again on the Last Day in glory and power to raise the dead and take believers to heaven. During Advent we also are reminded that Jesus comes to us in the present through Word and Sacrament to touch our hearts with a message of eternal love.

Christmas is on our minds, so we sing some Christmas songs in our worship services and put up Christmas decorations. But the themes of Advent are different than Christmas. The significance of Advent is more than just a warmup for Christmas. In Advent we celebrate that Jesus has come, will come, and is coming. That certainly makes this a joyous season!

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

John 6:63 (NIV)
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV)
"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God."

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As we prepare to pause for a national day of Thanksgiving, let these words of Psalm 138 remind us of our greatest reason to be thankful. The Lord, the great and glorious God of all things, has worked for our salvation and continues to bless us, even in the midst of troubles. He will not leave us! He will save us!

We have countless reasons to be thankful – big and small reasons. God’s grace is our greatest reason to be thankful! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!

"I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted.
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly,
but the proud he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes,
with your right hand you save me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands." (Psalm 138 NIV)

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What are you looking for in life? There are times when we are actively looking for something. Maybe you have hunted for a new job. When looking for a car, you shop and compare. Even when doing something as simple as buying an apple, you look carefully; you don’t take the top one but want one that looks ripe and is not bruised.

Believers are told to “pursue” the traits in the verse below. We are to actively chase after and find these.

Make time for God’s Word in your life. There you will find “righteousness, faith, love and peace.” In the Scriptures you hear the reality of who you are. You are a forgiven and dearly loved child of God. You are the object of his attention and work.

Life doesn’t tell you that. Hardships, failures, sins, and death would suggest we are on the outside. But that is not true! Because Jesus is your Savior, you are one of God’s people. His death and resurrection proclaim that you are alive and will be live for eternity. You know the peace of his love and forgiveness. Your gifts, abilities, and talents are the ways that you can serve him now.

Look for righteousness, faith, love and peace as you hear and believe God’s Word. Look for them in how you think and speak and act as God’s child. Pursue God’s grace and his ways. The effort is always worth it!

"Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace." (2 Timothy 2:22)

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It is not easy to be a Christian. God calls us to believe things we have never seen. We believe our sins are forgiven – not because of anything we have done to erase them, but because he is gracious. We believe in a God we cannot explain – he is one God who is three separate persons. We believe that in the water of baptism God washes away sins and creates faith and that in the bread and wine of communion we receive Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

God also calls us to live in a way that is not easy. We struggle against the sinful urges that come from within us. We do not follow the ways and philosophies of the world. We recognize and identify evil in the world – even when others try to rationalize, excuse, or accept evil. We want to live godly, loving lives of service to others is a way that reflects God’s will and the grace he has showered into our lives.

What hope do we have to believe the impossible and live as God’s people in a sinful world? In his letter to the Colossians Paul wrote this:
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." (Colossians 1:9–12 NIV)

Through Jesus, the Father “has qualified” you for life in his kingdom! He has worked faith in your heart through the Holy Spirit. He continues to strengthen and guide you with his Word. He has washed away your imperfections in the blood of Jesus and now views you as qualified to be in heaven!

It is not easy, but by God’s grace, you are a member of God’s kingdom for all eternity. Be strong and take comfort in his grace! Crush your doubts with the promises of God’s Word. Renew your strength as you hear and believe the good news of what Jesus has done for you. You are perfectly qualified to be God’s child because Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

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You cannot help but think about our government as our nation has had another election. Regardless of the outcomes of any of the elections, God’s Word has instruction and encouragement for God’s people. In Romans 13:1 (NIV) 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.” Christians, more than all others, recognize that God has established government and will use it according to his will. As such, we are called on to respect our leaders.

Martin Luther wrote a great deal about the government. Among his many comments, he reminds us to be respectful. He wrote, “Respect for a governmental official is a very necessary requirement in a state. Therefore, we should pray to God for the officers of the state, for they can easily become corrupt, since 'honores mutant mores, numquam in meliores' (honors changes morals, never for the better), and they are easily turned into tyrants.”

Yesterday was a day to vote. Today is a day to pray for our leaders and nation. Today is also a day for us to show respect for our leaders in the way we talk about whoever wins the elections.

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