Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment. (Zep 3:14-15 NIV)
Jesus Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1Pe 2:24 NIV)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2 NIV)“Burdens” signify all that can bear heavily on somebody, be it their mistake, some sin, particularity or foible. Perhaps it also includes those things that we would summarize under “antipathy”. Even if only sins were targeted here, it would still include enough admonition to bear these with peaceful forbearance and such promise could strengthen the will and heart of the weak. Whoever bears these burdens patiently fulfills the law of Christ. Christ’s law is no hard or threatening, but rather a holy rule of life which was revealed in his word’s and blessed example. The Sum and pinnacle of this law is the joyful endurance of other’s mistakes, faults and shortcomings – all those things that even Christians view as burdensome and taxing. Therefore we should not just withdraw ourselves as some lonesome recluse, isolating ourselves in self-satisfied sanctuary of our own choosing, but rather seek the fellowship and communion of other Christians – weak, stressed, afflicted, sinful and hurting like ourselves – seeking sanctification and healing together. Even if this means bearing some or other burden, we should recognize this as holy calling and remember that we too give more than our fair share of burdens to others to carry also. It is a sign of true spirituality and wholesome attitude if we are patient and forbearing to those, who burden us with weights and loads and troubles.
Merciful and gracious God! Invigorate us with the Spirit of your love and mercy so that we would serve each other and bear each others burdens, troubles and sorrows too. Bless the orders of civil society and all humanitarian care and welfare – and those in our congregation and church. Let us experience your truth that it is far more blessed to give than to receive. Strengthen our love that will not be embittered. You are such a rich God: Grant us all that we need for our souls to flourish and that we would confess joyfully and truthfully: I lack nothing for you refresh my soul even as I pass through death’s dark vale I fear no ill, for you are with me. Amen.
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.
From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free, And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity. (John Fawcett 1772)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the fifteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 323 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.
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. (Psa 33:16 NIV)
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. (Mar 10:43 NIV)
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. (Gal 6:1 NIV)In this life a lot goes against this bible verse. Even amongst Christians there is common talk like: That can’t be a Christian if he did this or that sin. Or: How can he speak like that if he is a Christian? Or: She can’t be a Christian as she was linked up there and then. Or: Since he/she has done this, I can’t stand him/her. Etc etc. This strict judgment mostly does not expect any improvement or even insight into wrongdoing and consequently repentance even if love hopes everything and doesn’t give up on anybody. It seems as if it was never written: “Whoever stole, shall steal no more!”, but rather “Whoever sins, is lost!” What do these very fine and illustrious judges say about David, Peter and so many other saints, whose lives don’t follow the sure and peaceful course of a brook in the field, but rather represent a turbulent cascade of some waterfall in the hills, which speeds towards its goal over numerous obstacles and breaches? And this judgmental prejudice is even called “Christian prudence”. Don’t they realize that this is rather hypocritically and vain? O Jesus – friend and companion of sinners – grant us patient forbearance with sinners!
Jesus sinners does receive; Oh, may all this saying ponder Who in sin’s delusions live And from God and heaven wander. Here is hope for all who grieve Jesus sinners does receive.
We deserve but grief and shame, Yet his words, rich grace revealing, Pardon, peace, and life proclaim; Here their ills have perfect healing Who with humble hearts believe Jesus sinners does receive.
Sheep that from the fold did stray Are not by the Lord forsaken; Weary souls who lost their way Are by Christ, the shepherd, taken In his arms that they may live Jesus sinners does receive.
Oh, how blest is it to know, Were as scarlet my transgression, It shall be as white as snow By your blood and bitter passion, For these words I do believe Jesus sinners does receive. (Erdmann Neumeister 1718)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the fifteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 322 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.
And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. (Psa 12:6 NIV)
Jesus Christ said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Joh 8:31-32 NIV)
The Lutheran Order of Service for this years 16th Sunday after the high holiday of the most holy and venerated godly Trinity is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word from the gospel of the evangelist St. Luke in the 7th chapter verses 11-16 (Jesus raises the son of the widow at Nain from the dead) by the late Pastor Sibiya in isiZulu (wz1346130915 n Tr 16) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1346130915 n Tr 16) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).
The readings for this Sunday are:
Old Testament: Lamentations 3:22-26.31-32
The Epistle: 2.Timothy 1,7-10
The Gospel: John 11,1 (2) 3. 17-27 (41-45)
The liturgical colour is green.
May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday: Our Saviour, Christ Jesus has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Ti 1:10 NIV) – and if you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true and faithful words, biblical pictures and stories to preach his holy will purely and his promises faithfully! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen for God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)
We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Gal 5:26 NIV)If your ways are constantly questioned, your objectives misunderstood and your person put into a bad light it adds up to a rather sad and depressed life. Yet sometimes it just works out that way that the righteous person stands in a bad light and has to live up against a whole barrage of distorting rumors and nasty prejudices of envy and provocation. If you have to bear this sad and heavy lot you should not try to oppose these attacks and insinuations. Don’t strive for recognition instead or attempt to change this on your own. A Christian is to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit especially if he suffers injustice. He is not to oppose this as he is not conceited himself. Honor and recognition are not his objective – and he does not strive after them even if they are rightly his and are just withheld due to the nastiness and envious malice of others. He will not demand honor and glory as these would just fuel his own sinful inclination towards conceit and pride. He rather keeps his peace, remains humble and does not fall into the trap of provoking others. He knows that only the humble will see God’s face.
Merciful God and Father! You know how difficult we find it to be content in your justification and gracious acknowledgement only. Yet do continue to break away all sinful striving for recognition and praise amongst our fellow human beings and help us to trust you only in all our doings and in all truth. In this trust we commend ourselves and all our loved ones – far and near – into your fatherly protection and care this night. Protect us from all evil, danger, harm and illness. Keep us from all calamity by fire, water, storm and tempest, but also from robbery, assault and murderous violence. Enshrine and encapsulate us in your gracious mercy and peace. Surround our congregation and Church with a protective wall and sanctuary. Hold your mighty hand over our country – the high and lowly places – the cities and rural areas especially over us, who depend on you for security and protection in all trouble and risk. Strengthen our faith in you as our only God and helper, our savior and Lord so that we remain in you and follow your guidance and keep to your ways. Amen. (A. Hermann)
In all the strife of mortal life our feet shall stand securely; temptation’s hour shall lose its pow’r, for thou shalt guard us surely. O God, renew with heav’nly dew our body, soul and spirit until we stand at thy right hand thro’ Jesus’ saving merit. Amen. (Joachim Magdeburg, 1572 tr Benjamin H. Kennedy, 1863)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the fifteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 321 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.
They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. (Jer 50:5 NIV)
Christ is the mediator of a new covenant. (Heb 9:15 NIV)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal 5:25 NIV)The apostle differentiates between two things: Living by the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit. Both aspects are off course linked together. Whoever doesn’t live by the Spirit, can’t keep in step with the Spirit either. However you can live by the Spirit and yet not keep in step with him even if that’s quite detrimental to do that on the long run. The evil which is then tolerated starts to overwhelm the good until it is quite suppressed. The apostle does not want this ambiguous situation to continue. Therefore if the new life is alive in you – starts to bud and sprout, prosper and flourish and if the Holy Spirit motivates you to do good, then don’t linger in the old and sinful ways, but rather proceed to the light and live in the light with body and soul. If you don’t, this light might fade and even be extinguished. The Holy Spirit is alive and motivates, but the old ways have a habit of popping up again and again. This is a constant struggle in Christians and gives them most pain and troubles the caretaker of souls too. The Word of God and his faithful admonitions seek to help. A life by the Spirit needs to become one in step with the Spirit. This happens by the efficacious Word of God, which motivates us by magnifying the merits of Christ and his vicarious sacrifice. That is the true driving force of any holy life.
O God and Father! Form us into your property and instruments so that we don’t desire or do anything without or against your will. Sanctify us with your Holy Spirit, that we will desire good and do it too. Bring us to the holy community of Saints, to which you have called and elected us. O great God, let us be enlightened by your light and lighten up all darkness that keeps us from beholding your goodness and glory. Fix all our senses onto you and your kingdom, subject us to your good will and lead our mind and being to never depart from you. Abide in us, so that we might be in you for ever and ever. Amen. (J.Böhme)
Who trusts in God, a strong abode In heav’n and earth possesses; Who looks in love to Christ above, No fear his heart oppresses. In Thee alone, dear Lord, we own Sweet hope and consolation, Our Shield from foes, our Balm for woes, Our great and sure salvation. (Joachim Magdeburg, 1572 tr Benjamin H. Kennedy, 1863)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the fifteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 320 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.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. (Psa 25:16 NIV)
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Act 1:11 NIV)
Wilhelm's space 