Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you. (Hos 10:12 NIV)
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:24 NIV)
TRIBUTE: FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE PIUS LANGA
I have learned with great sadness of the death of former Chief Justice Pius Langa and would like to convey my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
As one of the first Judges appointed to our Constitutional Court after 1994 – and later in the key role of Chief Justice from 2005 until his retirement in 2009 – Justice Langa played a crucial role in laying the foundations for our young constitutional democracy and continued to promote the integrity and independence of the judiciary as a cornerstone of our democracy. During his tenure at the Constitutional Court but also after his retirement, he worked tirelessly to help build – in a balanced and fair manner – a non-racist, non-sexist and just society founded on the values of human dignity, equality, supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
Justice Langa’s legacy as constitutionalist and jurist will continue to serve as a sterling example of independence of mind for generations to come.
FW DE KLERK
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear. (Rom 8:15 NIV)
According to this word many people are in slavery and live in slavish fear. Whenever the voice of the living God of Sinai is heard, wherever the trumpets and trombones of the final judgment sound and the earth with all its mountains starts to tremble, when God punishes his people in the course of history and goes some distance to prove his almighty power and divine magnificence – then obviously this deep feeling of utter dependency arises, there we feel our own insignificance overwhelmingly and we realize our failures, shortcomings and iniquities and that we owe him not only justification, but all and everything. We are utterly and entirely his. This is the situation created by God’s will and eternal law. It’s the situation the Jews of Israel found themselves in. It’s our situation as Christians too. If God opens up our eyes by the workings of his Holy Spirit, then there’s this primordial dread and horror of guilt and debt incurred, which we can’t address or pay off ever. It’s the condition of self-incurred indebtedness, serfdom and slavery that we find ourselves in before God. The God, who finally will prove himself righteous and will gather in his own – against all odds. It’s dreadful. Reason enough to be afraid – deadly afraid, because the living God is out to get his own and not loose out. He will not let us get away with lawlessness or any kind of sin against his will – and there is nowhere to hide except under the cross and in the gracious care and sanctuary of the crucified Christ.
Only if the Holy Spirit grants faith in the vicarious satisfaction and justification obtained by our Lord Jesus Christ – only if we trust that his righteousness is ours in the eyes and judgment of God – that he has done enough for us, that he has paid the debt for us and on account of us – that we are free, no longer slaves, no longer doomed, but pardoned – then do we realize and believe that we don’t have to be afraid anymore. That’s the treasure of the Church – the sermon of the liberty and peace granted by our Lord Jesus Christ and deposited into our hearts by the instrumentation and workings of the Holy Spirit through his means of grace. That’s how he teaches us to pray faithfully: “My dearest Jesus Christ – you are my God and my Lord!”
1 Drawn to the Cross, which Thou hast blessed With healing gifts for souls distressed, To find in Thee my life, my rest, Christ crucified, I come.
2 Thou knowest all my griefs and fears, Thy grace abused, my misspent years; Yet now to Thee with contrite tears, Christ crucified, I come.
3 Wash me and take away each stain; Let nothing of my sin remain. For cleansing, though it be through pain, Christ crucified, I come.
4 And then for work to do for Thee, Which shall so sweet a service be That angels well might envy me, Christ crucified, I come. (Genevieve M. Irons, 1855-1928)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the eighth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 275 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.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. (Psa 51:1 NIV)
Jesus said: “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luk 7:47 NIV)
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Rom 8:14 NIV)
Whoever is led and motivated by the Spirit of God will discard his own will more and more and even given up temporal desires and hope that is focused on this fleeting life only. His aim and goal will become those of his Lords. Whoever continues to look askance to the passing pleasures and desires of this world, will loose the joyful focus of his soul to serve the celestial bridegroom wholeheartedly and with complete determination.
The striving for honor and recognition from others is another serious danger to loose this focus. God’s Holy Spirit teaches us to live humbly and to associate with those who are lowly and needy too. Their motto in life is: “Our lives are hidden in God.” It is as Luther once said: “Before God uses a person for his high purpose, he must have come to the very bottom of things. His heart must first be broken and his cheekiness destroyed before it can be fixed and uplifted.” Strange, but true.
Lord my God! If in me there is still something alive in my, that does not relinquish the old ways and that doesn’t rejoice in serving and worshipping you o God – then let your most Holy Spirit not stop until he has destroyed my old sinful being and made room for your new and pure being in me. Then I will serve you in your strength – for when I am weak, then I am strong in you. Lord, I want to serve you in your people. I desire to shine as your light – being consumed in serving you and yours. My calling is my joy. Your approval is my comfort and desire. My prayer and communion with you are my bliss and fulfilment until I die. Amen.
“Come unto Me, ye weary, And I will give you rest.” O blessed voice of Jesus, Which comes to hearts oppressed! It tells of benediction, of pardon, grace and peace, Of joy that hath no ending, Of love that cannot cease.
“Come unto Me, ye wand’rers, And I will give you light.” O loving voice of Jesus, Which comes to cheer the night! Our hearts were filled with sadness, And we had lost our way; But Thou hast brought us gladness And songs at break of day.
“Come unto Me, ye fainting, And I will give you life.” O cheering voice of Jesus, Which comes to aid our strife! The foe is stern and eager, The fight is fierce and long; But Thou hast made us mighty And stronger than the strong.
“And whosoever commeth, I will not cast him out.” O patient love of Jesus, Which drives away our doubt, Which, though we be unworthy Of love so great and free, Invites us very sinners To come, dear Lord, to Thee! (Jacob William C. Dix, 1937-1898)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the eighth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 274 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.
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. (Jer 15:16 NIV)
Now, Lord, enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. (Act 4:29 NIV)
If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Rom 8:13b NIV)
St. Paul does not write about the physical death or life, but rather of spiritual life and death. He wants us to know, that our inner life grows or fades, flourishes or diminishes depending on the degree our will, mind and inner being is led and controlled by the divine Spirit or not. It’s a very promising state of affairs if the will exists and the true desire is present to serve God and to obey his Holy Spirit. There is nobody who is always and in everything absolutely determined by the triune God and who doesn’t have the negative pull and inclination exerted by the old sinful being. Rather in all Christians there is a struggle going on and thankfully the Holy Spirit assists such Christians and people continuously. He does not only dwell in those, who are absolutely holy and pure. Otherwise he’d not find any dwelling among human beings. Rather he is gracious and merciful, patient and of great goodness and faithfulness. Whenever he enters into a person, then he knows perfectly well how much work and effort need to be put in to address the ongoing work of healing and sanctification, of purification and curing. He knows how ill and in what a bad and corrupted state we are. So these words: If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live (Rom 8:13 NIV) need to be understood from such a modest and merciful evaluation of our human existence in this world – even as Christians. I think I must emphasize this, because there are too many, who judge themselves too harshly and plague themselves too much. It’s for them to hear, that by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ they too are to live – forever.
Lord our God! We have burdened you with our sinfulness and have caused you much labour with our iniquity. Yet we thank you from the bottom of our heart, that you have not given us up. Rather you continue to carry us patiently and care for us mercifully. Grant that we will mortify our sinful ways with the aid of your Holy Spirit so that you will flourish in us more and more. We are yours. Let us not be lost or forsaken. Amen.
Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer; Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare, Fight for us once again! So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise A mighty chorus to Thy praise Forevermore. Amen. (Jacob Fabricius, 1593-1654 tr Catherine Winkworth, 1827-78)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the eighth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 273 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.
But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad. (Psa 5:11 NAS)
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (Joh 15:10-11 NAS)
Noch eine kritische Stellungnahme zur Orientierungshilfe (= OH) der EKD „Zwischen Autonomie und Angewiesenheit: Familie als verlässliche Gemeinschaft stärken“. Dieses Mal von Prof. Dr. Ulrich Eibach / Bonn: 09072013u.eibachethischenormativitaetdesfaktis
Dear Bishop
I really want to share with you all that one of my brother was killed. He was killed by the Boko Haram and the burial will take place in Abuja Nigeria on Thursday 25, they are 17 of them were been killed.My family need your prayer all, the prayer of comfort.Thank you.
Yours faithful.
SIMON I GYANG.
We commend Simon and his family to the living God, to comfort him and his people with the hope of the resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, who overcame sin, death and devil on the cross of Golgotha and by his victorious resurrection from the dead on the 3rd day. Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison + May the triune God teach all of us that we too have to die, so that we may gain wisdom.
Wilhelm's space 