Löhe on 1.Peter 3:10-11

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

peaceFor, “Whoever would love life and see good days … must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” (1Pe 3:10-11 NIV)

A true idiom says of peace amongst human beings: “Peace nourishes, while war devours!” Such peace is a very delicate matter and there are so many troublemakers, that we have to seek peace diligently and fervently. If peace wants to slip away, we should pursue it urgently and spare no trouble to get it back. Dear old peace is worthwhile all sorts of effort and going all the distance to try to keep and maintain it. Peace makes up more than half of all our good days. Yet it would be a big mistake to think that peace is just a product of human endeavor, work and strategy.  Peace is like all good seeds that only sprout and flourish under God’s blessing. So we don’t just need two partners to make peace, but rather three. For the Lord our God is the maker and giver of peace. Without his blessing all our efforts remain in vain. He, the almighty God has given peace his blessings. He crowns peace with good days and lets the peaceable live secure and in quietness. With his good care and watchful eye, he precedes their efforts to watch over them and grant them peace. The Psalmist describes it well: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psa 91:1-2 NIV)

O God of peace, grant your peace to all, who ask you for it. Grant peace to our conscience, our homes, our congregations and communities, your Church and to our nation and continent. Lord, you have in the past been merciful to our fathers, be merciful to us also and grant us your peace here in this age and there in eternity. Amen.

Give good governance to those in office and grant righteousness to all that peace and goodness embrace each other in our land and bless both employer and employee.

Grant good peace and let all our enemies tire, give good air to breath and spare us with hard times when all cry in vain for daily bread and a safe haven to rest.

O Lord, you are the one, who grants all this in mercy and your good will. We pray and close with “Amen” trusting in Jesus name for you to hear us. (Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 253 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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 3rd July 2013

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

brotherhood-alliance2“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you.” (Isa 42:6 NIV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Rom 8:35 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Peter 3:10

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

AstroVenusMorningStar4For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. (1Pe 3:10 NIV)

This passage from the Holy Scriptures sings praises to silence. However this is not just silence in general, but rather in response to evil and deceit. This evil is nothing else than affront and reviling offense, whereas deceit includes lies, malevolence and wicked hatred. Faced with this malice a Christian is to practice himself in silence and patient endurance. Our lips and tongues are to keep still. Our entire lives are to let go of such evil and even more than that is expected of us. We are to bless and to speak well and promote good instead. That is a divine ordinance and mandate for us. This needs wisdom and discipline so as to not appear arrogant or as if we were just poking fun and making a mockery of this high road of Christian good and virtue.

The holy Apostle describes a life, which should be led, if you love life and want to see good days too. To come to such a rewarding harvest, we are to plant the good seeds in patience, but also diligently and with great care. We should keep the goal in mind and always pursue those things, that promote good life and days. Whoever wants to finally inherit blessings will have to practice blessing here. He is to meet all people – even his enemies and those hating, hurting, pursuing and discriminating him – with mild friendliness and gracious kindness. Whoever practices this godly lifestyle and becomes a master at it, is well on the way towards perfection – which we will reach by God’s grace at his final appearance for our fulfillment and merciful salvation.

Lord Jesus Christ – nobody passes your pure and unfailing judgment without being perfectly holy and true. Grant us an upright heart and a truthful mouth. Prevent all false pretence and lies, so that our will, mind and heart – our thinking, talking and doing will coincide harmoniously and faithfully. Grant that our tongue will not fail and give that our speaking and our silence will be according to your holy and loving will.  Amen.  

Now it’s time to sleep and whoever can’t, join me in prayer to worship the great name, whom day and night, heaven and earth and all give praise, honour and glory: O Jesus! Amen.

Away with misleading fantasy – my Lord and God is here. You never sleep – my faithful watch keeper! So I wake in your gracious presence. Your holy sacrifice sanctifies me and my life +

All stars are bright in honour of your glory, while I’m alone in deaths dark vale. Yet Lord speak put one word and your servant will be healed. Your goodness and grace saves and keeps me in most silent darkness + (Gerhard Tersteegen, 1697-1769)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 252 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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 2nd July 2013

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

rock and redeemerMy salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. (Psa 62:7 NIV)

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1Co 15:58 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Peter 3:9

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Christ crucifiedDo not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1Pe 3:9 NIV)

These words take us right into this our world. There we are drawn into the horrible conflicts with the children of this world and tempted to respond in kind pitting insult against insult and answering evil with evil too. Christians are provoked by their inherent natural bent towards retaliation too. Yes, revenge in word and deed is a serious temptation for us following Christ too. That is why the holy Apostle takes sides so clearly against this negative tendency and temptation, showing the better alternative in the salvific way opened by Christ to us following him and trusting in his superior ways and gracious promises. Christians have a higher calling and should walk the high road of Christ’s example – not dropping down to the levels of worldly evil – even if there’s always the danger of falling right down there very quickly.

Christians are called to inherit the divine blessing. At the end of time and at the last judgment they are to hear the gracious and sweetest words of God, receiving them in salvation and eternal bliss. Just think how a good word of encouragement and motivation from above does to suffering and downcast people. Then imagine what a comfort and upliftment these words of the highest authority and absolute Judge carry for us and all tired pilgrims, who are struggling to keep the faith in this our tempted and assaulted life! He has promised to invite us in with these wonderful words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Mat 25:21 NIV) Doesn’t that prospect move your heart to joy and great expectation? Then don’t repay evil with evil nor insult with insult. Remember you are Christ’s own. Follow him and his way +

Lord Jesus Christ – our savior and redeemer: Help that we don’t align ourselves to this world. Prevent us from repaying evil with evil or insult with insult. Let us not follow the alluring ways of this world or the insinuations of the evil one. Rather grant us a rich measure of your grace, that we follow your example and bless even our enemies and wish well, where we have been insulted and aggrieved. May we inherit your blessings and enter your eternal joy and peace. Amen.  

Be faithful in your love towards God, who loved you from the beginning. Practice to be good to your neighbour even if he’s hurt and insulted you wrongly. Remember your saviour and how he interceded for his enemies! So lift your eyes up to him crucified and learn to live faithfully like him+   (Benjamin Prätorius, 1636-1674)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 251 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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 1st July 2013

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

segenI save you, and you will be a blessing. (Zec 8:13 NIV)

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1Pe 3:9 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Peter 3:8

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

brotherhood-alliance2Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. (1Pe 3:8 NIV)

These lovely words serve us well as a mirror to reflect how we are and how we should be. These words describe Jesus Christ’s members and how they should be towards one another. They should be of one mind, desiring and avoiding the same, judging all things in the light of the gospel and filled with the same Spirit and will. If people are of one mind, but fail in being sympathetic, then their lives remain miserable. This word describes the manner of being compassionate and caring. You need a soul that is sensitive and understanding for that. Thirdly you need brotherly love. This presupposes a common lineage and heritage, which binds together in an indissoluble togetherness and even unity. Compassion and humility add even more to this wonderful fellowship and brotherhood amongst Christians. If these virtues determine life, then the glory of God is reflected therein.

Lord Jesus Christ: Grant that we put off the old sinful version of ourselves and give us your Holy Spirit that we be clothed with your holy being and thus renewed by your grace and virtue. Take all that hinders and keeps us from you and grant us all that would promote us towards you. Create us to be people subject to your will and living according to your ordinances and mandates. Live in us and work your good in us for your love’s sake. Amen.  

He is to grow, so that in our pilgrimage he’s more and more visible and I elected by his grace am prepared likewise to be his child and heir more and more.

His hands I kiss since he has graciously fulfilled his promises to me and remember sadly that my own ways had just caused damage and sinful hurt. Yet by grace he saved me!

He’s growing and joy, peace, liberty and life too. Eternally with us, he takes us forward step by step and brings us home to see, what we have been hoping for all along.

He’s growing, so that in our pilgrimage he’s more and more visible and for his sake others too will follow in his narrow ways – going home to be where we belong.  (Hedwig von Redern, geb 1866)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the fifth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 250 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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 30th June 2013

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

“I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Gen 32:26 NIV)

When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” (Act 3:26 NIV)

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Löhe on Luke 6:38

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

inselA good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. (Luk 6:38 NIV)

Nobody will miss the obvious promise, but also the hidden threat in these words. Even if love does not work for reward or gratitude, yet our love is not just divine, but also rather human. Therefore it needs motivation and encouragement now and again. That is why our good Lord, who knows us well, has given us such comforting promises, but also such serious warnings and admonitions. It is his gracious will that his servants and ordained ministers would present both to his people – especially the holy Church. The warning threats should frighten the sluggish and lazy, whereas the promise should encourage the despondent and dejected. If the Lord is not ashamed to warn us with admonition and to motivate us with his promises, then we should not be ashamed if we accept these warnings and motivations in good faith and spirit too. Whoever deems that he can do without these “means of grace” from God’s side, doesn’t really know them and their benefit. Whoever believes it is just too common and below himself to strive after heavenly reward and to flee all punishment, should take good care that he doesn’t fall down from his imagined loftiness and lands down amidst the ruins of his own expertise and vain craftiness.

Lord God, heavenly father! We pray: Work in us with your gracious Spirit, that we shall not rest assuredly in our own sinfulness, but rather remain in constant repentance and contrition, willing to daily renew the faithful resolve to only follow your word and will. Comfort us with what your Son Jesus Christ has graciously achieved for us, the forgiveness of our sins and the reconciliation with you our heavenly father. Help us out mercifully to come to your eternal kingdom! Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

Oh you have patiently sought out my soul to draw it ever closer to you, so that I might be pulled from sin and rather be found in you, where I have reconciliation through your most precious blood. Thousand, thousand times be thanks to you for that o King.

You’ve worked with love, you worked with sorrow – just to make it right with my heart and soul o God. You would have me be dedicated totally to you and live in and with you now and always. Thousand, thousand times be thanks to you for that o King.  (Ludwig Andreas Gotter, 1661-1735)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the fourth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 249 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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 29th June 2013

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

hummingbirdWhen my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. (Psa 142:3 NIV)

Jesus said: But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. (Luk 21:14-15 NIV)

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