Löhe on Ephesians 4:23

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Baptism4And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Eph 4:23 KJV)

The Apostle is differentiating between spirit and mind. That power, which dominates our mind and is hardly ever object of our scrutiny is called the “spirit”. This powerful power is to be renewed daily so that the person is enabled to take off the old and put on the new self. That is quite extra-ordinary and doesn’t happen by itself. Yet there is still more to come. The person is to be “renewed in the spirit of the mind”. If this were impossible, the apostle wouldn’t demand it. (WW: Martin Luther sees this differently in “The bonded will”. The fact that the divine law sometimes demands something impossible, does not logically make it necessary to deduce that we are able to do the impossible – yet the demand remains and we are still duty bound and obliged to obey and keep this law. That is why it condemns us. In his “Free will” Erasmus of Rotterdam argues in a similar fashion as Löhe does here.) This is a big responsibility for a Christian as he leads his spiritual life. It is not easy to teach others in this regard. Even if I say that I have been reborn initially in holy Baptism and that I now have to be renewed in the spirit of my mind to live anew in power of the new life that has been given to me, yet I still don’t know anything about the how. That is where my renewed mind must become active, regress back into Baptism and come out daily as new person, who lives in righteousness and holiness before God eternally. Our Lord calls us Christians to this daily routine. If we are obedient to his call, then we would renew ourselves in the silent hours of devotion and worship. Our renewed spirit would use this call to carry out this business of getting rid of the old self and putting on the new one. The daily practice should make us masters at it. These scriptural passages show us the difference between the pitiful morality preached by so many and the inner life, to which the Apostle calls us.

Dear heavenly Father: In holy Baptism you have made us your own and children of your kingdom and heirs of all those heavenly gifts that you have prepared for us in your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to live our lives according to your will and holy calling, but not according to our past and sinful ways. Let us be disciples of your dear Son and obedient to your Holy Spirit. Let us serve you now and forever. Amen (Württembergisches Kirchenbuch 1931)

Renew me, O eternal Light, And let my heart and soul be bright, Illumined with the light of grace That issues from your holy face.

Remove the power of sin from me And cleanse all my impurity That I may have the strength and will Temptations of the flesh to still.

Create in me a new heart, Lord, That gladly I obey your Word. Let what you will be my desire, And with new life my soul inspire.

Grant that I only you may love And seek those things which are above Till I behold you face to face, O Light eternal, through your grace. (J.F. Ruopp, 1672-1708 tr August Crull, 1845-1923)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the nineteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 350 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 8th October

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

JacarandaGod saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  (Gen 1:31 NIV)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1Ti 1:17 NIV)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Not one jot or tittle shall pass…

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Info“The little dot on top of the lower-case letters i and j has a name. It’s called a tittle, and it’s got an interesting history for such a seemingly insignificant marker. As well as an appearance in the Bible – “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled,” said Jesus – it is the root of a common phrase in modern English. The phrase ‘to a T’ – meaning comprehensively or precisely, as in, we’ve explained the history of the tittle to a T (and aren’t you grateful) – was originally ‘to a tittle’, an older equivalent of that other common phrase ‘dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s’.” (Quoted from the Daily Maverick)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Löhe on Ephesians 4:22

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

sunflowersYou were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; (Eph 4:22 NIV)

In the former way of life, people follow their own desires. These dictate their ways and dealings. The apostle calls them deceitful, because they don’t hold their promises. Rather they disappoint and put to shame their adherents. Up front they wave the enticing colours of happiness and fulfillment, but behind they are followed by the bitter aftertaste of disillusionment and unquenched craving. You don’t need to grow old to experience the truth of this apostolic admonition. Common knowledge is the deceitful desire of transgressing against the 6th commandment: You shall lead a sexually pure and decent life in what you say and do… Even young people quickly realize the short lived bliss of contravening this. Sometimes the result is just shameless vice, corruption and deviation of God’s paradisiacal institutions, sometimes it’s just shame, misery, helplessness, but even illness and death. The shameful and deceitful desires of sinful mankind, do not only mislead, but they also debase, corrupt and eventually destroy. However if a person enters the new life with Christ, then this old self is put off. The miserable rule of the old is over and history. May the new person in you be invigorated, strengthened, vitalized just as the old one is put down, drowned and killed off progressively.

Dear heavenly Father! You would want our hearts to be filled with love for you and your godly ways. That is why your holy Word warns us incessantly against the evil, deceitful and shameful desires of our sinful past, which wants to entangle, recapture and destroy us in sinful corruption and vice. Strengthen us in you, give us the power to withstand all sinful enticing and temptation, grant us victory and triumph. Make us thankful from the bottom of our heart for all blessings and gifts that you give and grant us. Don’t let us mourn or sorrow over those, that you would prevent us from. Become more and more the one and only, who surpasses all by far – in our heart and life – now and always. Amen. (Württembergisches Kirchenbuch 1931)

1 Let me be Thine forever, My faithful God and Lord; Let me forsake Thee never Nor wander from Thy Word. Lord, do not let me waver, But give me steadfastness, And for such grace forever Thy holy name I’ll bless.

2 Lord Jesus, my salvation, My light, my life divine, My only consolation, O make me wholly Thine! For Thou hast dearly bought me With blood and bitter pain. Let me, since Thou hast sought me, Eternal life obtain.

3 And Thou, O Holy Spirit, My comforter and guide, Grant that in Jesus’ merit I always may confide, Him to the end confessing Whom I have known by faith. Give me Thy constant blessing And grant a Christian death. (Nicolaus Selnecker, 1532-1592 tr Matthias Loy, 1828-1915)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the nineteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 349 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 7th October 2013

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

One ChurchThere is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. (Dan 2:28 NIV)

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col 1:26-27 KJV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Löhe on Ephesians 4:22

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

word and sacramentYou were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; (Eph 4:22 NIV)

What kind of expectations does the Apostle have for us. We are to take off the old self like an old garment even though it permeates our entire being and is really part of ourselves. Even our Lord grants that you can’t pick grapes from thorn trees nor figs from thistles. Why do we always need to hear: “Do this!” or “Don’t do that!” if it is quite clear that we can’t get it right – not even by a long shot. Do not forget the addressees of this apostolic admonition. He is writing to those, who have been reborn by the Holy Spirit. It is from them that the holy Apostle demands spiritual fruits, good works and a life according to the Holy Spirit. This fits with the prayer of St. Augustine: “Lord grant whatever you command and then command whatever you would want!” God grants the will and success – and you can achieve all and everything through him, who empowers you: Jesus Christ! You don’t need to fear if you look at your empty hands. He will provide. He will come up for the price tag. Yet go where his stewards share his precious gifts with those in need. Go there and pray for what you need and you’ll receive according to the grace and mercy of him, who hears our prayer. Perhaps you are to be blamed for your own poverty. Perhaps God’s hour has not yet arrived. He wants everybody to be helped and that they come to the knowledge of truth and that everybody would receive life and quite enough of it too. Therefore wait and pray and he will grant you his richest blessings. Amen.

We thank you dear heavenly Father that we could rest today and receive your grace and goodness! Take our restless hearts and make them find rest in you. Reveal thyself to us in your holy earnestness and in your divine power and might, but also in your loving mercy and unending patience and goodness. Reveal your holy and good will to us and lead us ever closer to you. Amen. (Württembergisches Kirchenbuch 1931)

O Holy Spirit, enter in, Among these hearts Thy work begin, Thy temple deign to make us; Sun of the soul, Thou Light divine, Around and in us brightly shine, To strength and gladness wake us. That we may be truly living, To you giving prayer unceasing and in love be still increasing.

Give to Thy Word impressive pow’r And in our hearts from this good hour As fire it may be glowing; that in true Christian unity we faithful witnesses may be, your glory ever showing Hear us, cheer us by your teaching let our preaching and our labor praise you Lord and serve our neighbour.

O mighty Rock, O Source of life, Let Thy dear word ’mid doubt and strife Be so within us burning, That we be faithful unto death, In Thy pure love and holy faith, From Thee true wisdom learning! Your grace and peace on us shower; By Thy power Christ confessing, Let us win His grace and blessing. (Michael Schirmer, 1606-1673 tr Catherine Winkworth 1827-1878

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the nineteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 349 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 6th October 2013

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

abraham“And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go.” (Gen 28:15 NAS)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Heb 11:8 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Löhe on 1.Corinthians 1:9

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Der Mond is aufgegangenGod is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1Co 1:9 NIV)

All spiritual gifts and graces are found solely in Jesus Christ. Outside of him and without him there is no spiritual fulfillment nor true salvation. Whoever is called by the triune God to believe in Jesus Christ as his only Lord and Saviour can rejoice and be grateful, because God is faithful and surely keeps his promises. The Lord himself is preparing you by his gracious means to his goal of complete harmony and union with him on that day, when he will be all in all and his glory will be manifest forever. Trust in his faithfulness. Confide in his goodness. Give thanks to him for all the grace, mercy, love and peace he has bestowed so richly on you through his Son Jesus Christ – our Lord and God. Go forward with confidence and gratitude. Continue to the very end. Experience his goodness and mercy that are new every morning. The more you enjoy, the more be grateful and sing his praises more and more.

Lord, another day and week are coming to a close. We approach you, the eternal God, who knows no change or faltering in your good will and loving resolve for us and your Church even as we pass in daily rhythm from light to darkness and night to day again.  We commit this week back into your merciful hands. Forgive were we failed, heal all shortcomings and hurting wounds. We are tired by the ever quickening pace of life. We long for your uncreated light of eternity. Lord, we thank you that you carry us in forbearance and mercy. We thank you that you are leading us to your everlasting peace. We thank you that tomorrow is your day. Let our souls rest in you. Grant that we may hear your voice clearly. Lord, forgive us, save us, strengthen and prepare us. Our hope is in you. You guide us safe and surely according to your absolute will. You will bring us to perfection. We praise you o Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You are the God of all goodness and our most blessed refuge of safety and tranquility. We praise and thank you now and forever. Amen.

1. Christ, mighty Savior,  Light of all creation, you make the daytime radiant with the sunlight and to the night give glittering adornment, stars in the heavens.

2. Now comes the day’s end as the sun is setting; mirror of daybreak, pledge of resurrection; while in the heavens choirs of stars appearing hallow the nightfall.

3. Therefore we come now evening rites to offer, joyfully chanting holy hymns to praise you, with all creation joining hearts and voices singing your glory.

 4. Give heed, we pray you, to our supplication; that you may grant us pardon for offenses, strength for our weak hearts, rest for aching bodies, soothing the weary.

5. Though bodies slumber, hearts shall keep their vigil, forever resting in the peace of Jesus, in light or darkness worshiping our Savior now and forever. (Latin 7th Century tr Alan McDougall 1895-1964)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the eighteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 347 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 5th October 2013

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Seminary tapistryThou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psa 23:5 KJV)

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Col 1:12 KJV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My grannies birthday

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

DSC_0025 (2)One hundred and two years ago my grandmother (Oma) Marianne was born.

Posted in Family and friends | Tagged , | Leave a comment