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.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die. (Rom 8:13 NIV)
A Christian can do good. The closer the Holy Spirit is to him and the more he dwells in him, the more good he will be able to do prompted and motivated by this very same Spirit. Yet he can do bad stuff too. This choice between good and evil is before him daily and in all life situations. Making bad choices and following evil ways, the new life slowly but surely dies off bit by bit and step by step. It becomes a habit and the ongoing rejection of the Holy Spirit’s influence and working leads to his repression and severe limitation until the Holy Spirit is cast out and the new life dies off entirely. That is what St. Paul speaks of in this verse and passage. Many have experienced the truth of this personally. They had all that was required to fight the good fight as Christian soldiers victoriously. Yet their mind was not focused on the goal. Their will lost sight of their purpose in life and they afterwards became worse than they were before. The opposite is also true however. If the Christian lives according to the prompting and guidance of the Holy Spirit, then the new life becomes stronger and stronger with every victory of good and godly blessings. A certain practise encourages familiarity and even a degree of perfection in virtuous living. That is a good and God pleasing life.
Dear and beloved and most faithful saviour Jesus Christ. You have brought the world an eternal salvation and you want to bring your people to the freedom of the God’s children. We ask you: Free us from the blatant and obscure fetters of sin. You know them all. You know our desire and longing for freedom and purity. You alone can satisfy this sufficiently and effectively. Help us to pray and wrestle at your side, so that we too may finally be victorious and carry the crown of glory. Let us experience the joyful truth: Whomever you liberate, is truly liberated. Amen. (Church book of Württemberg 1931)
Fight the good fight with all your might; Christ is your strength, and Christ your right. Lay hold on life, and it shall be Your joy and crown eternally.
Run the straight race through God’s good grace; Lift up your eyes, and seek His face, Life with its way before us lies. Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.
Cast care aside, lean on your guide; His boundless mercy will provide. Trust, and enduring faith shall prove Christ is your life and Christ your love.
Faint not nor fear, His arms are near; He changes not who holds you dear; Only believe, and you will se That Christ is all eternally. (John S. B,. Monsell, 1911-75)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the eighth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 272 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.
“This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.” (Jer 32:42 NIV)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luk 12:32 NIV)
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. (Rom 8:12 NIV)
This sinful body and its nature and being are alive and active as long as we’re still living on this earth. Yet, we are under no obligation towards it anymore. We have been freed from its tyranny and sinful reign. It’s temptations and invitations are more or less pressing on us and our ways as if we owe it our attention, service and allegiance even. Too many advocate the cravings and inclinations of our body and mind as if they have their own right and a ruling status. They seem to believe that if we don’t obey our sinful nature, then we are going to loose out or at least miss our highest calling. Nothing could be further from the truth! God’s holy word reveals to us, that we owe our sinful nature nothing. We are debtors of the Holy Spirit, yes! He grants us his gifts and treasures. He gives us his most holy fruits. He calls, pulls and motivates us. Faithfully he presents us with most precious offerings and gifts. That is why we should be grateful to him and we owe him our allegiance and most faithful and dedicated service. Dear brothers and sisters: You are God’s children. Since your holy Baptism you have been gifted with the Holy Spirit. Even if you have resisted his most loving influence and persuasion up to now, you should rather give in to him without further delay. Follow his holy calling willingly and live according to his most holy will and determination. It is for your best!
Almighty and most merciful Father! We laud and magnify your holy name, that you have made yourself our Father. Create in us – your holy children – a pure heart so that we would abide faithfully in you and your ways o Lord. Let us live according to your will and commandments, so that the world may see your grace, that we have received. Let our ways reflect your goodness, that they may thank and praise you too. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me No thought can reach, no tongue declare; Unite my thankful heart with Thee And reign without a rival there. To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live; Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give.
O, grant that nothing in my soul May dwell but Thy pure love alone! Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My every act, word, thought, be love.
This love unwearied I pursue And dauntlessly to Thee aspire. Oh, may Thy love my hope renew Burn in my soul like heavenly fire! And day and night be all my care To guard this sacred treasure there.
In suffering be Thy love my peace, In weakness be Thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, Jesus, in that important hour, In death as life be Thou my guide, And save me, who for me hast died. (Paul Gerhard 1607-1667 tr John B Wesley, 1703-1791)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the eighth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 271 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.
Wilhelm's space 