Löhe on 1 John 3:14a

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

congregationWe know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.  (1Jo 3:14 NIV)

Love and life belong together. Just like the corollary hatred and death fitting fist-in-glove. Love and life go together, yes, love is life. Whoever loves his brothers is alive. And when he previously was hating them and now has been converted to loving them, then he has moved from death to life. We know this, writes the apostle St. John. This goes a long way to prove that this is knowable and that we can recognize it if one has moved from death into life and thus into the new, eternal life of God. It is possible to know this and that we are reborn to eternal life. This knowledge grants peace, quite and assured confidence. God wants us to have and experience this. Therefore it is not only strange, but also wrong and deplorable if somebody thinks it to be a sign of modesty and humility to be ignorant about the status of his/her soul and inner life. Often such ignorance is just a bad cover-up for the negative condition that is prevailing still. One tries to be something even though there is nothing of faithful consequence or lasting substance. Poor human race! Woe to those, who are confident in the own standing while his/her name has long ago been scratched from the list of eternal salvation.

O saviour of our souls Lord Jesus Christ! Confirm us in our gracious salvation. Let your love determine our entire being and innermost heart. Strengthen our faith, that nothing can rent us asunder from your caring hand. Grant us a sensitive conscience, that we hate and deplore sin and develop a sensitivity of all that is contrary to your will and ways and keep that far away from us and our lives. Grant us steadfastness in faith and Christian hope, that we will build entirely on your meritorious and vicarious salvation, while despairing in all our own being, thoughts and deeds. Lord, we trust in you, let us never be confounded. Amen.  

Lord – take care of me and pull me away from all that holds me back from you. Let my heart be free to join you in heaven!

Lord – take care of me and give me a converted heart and if you see anything that is against your will and way tear it out!

Lord – take care of me and let me fight bravely against Satan, sin and worldly ways held up by your victorious triumph.

Lord – take care of me in the final confrontation and temptation. Lead me safely to your eternal kingdom in peace and glorious fulfilment. (Johann Ludwig Konrad Allendorf, 1693-1773)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the second Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 230 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 10th June 2013

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

rich manIn his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)

Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones.”… But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:18-20 NIV)

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

Löhe on 1 John 3:13

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Grosse EinladungDo not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. (1Jo 3:13 NIV)

In today’s gospel our Lord Jesus Christ speaks about the great feast to which so many have been invited, yet despite the invitation so few attend. He doesn’t talk about the hatred that those, who do not want to give up their lifestyle together with their lands, their oxen and their wives have for those who actually do follow their Lord’s call to follow him and leave everything else behind. Yet this is a part of Church history and the apostle St. John highlights it in today’s Epistle reading. Here he mentions both the hatred of the world against the Church, but also about the enduring love of God for his children and their responsive love towards their heavenly Father. Whoever follows the call of the triune God to partake in the heavenly feast partake in his love, grace and mercy. Yet on the other hand they also become the target of the worlds violent and passionate hatred. This is the experience of God’s people throughout the ages. They are persecuted with vengeance, their peace is constantly put under pressure with legal and illegal means – menace by sword and death. There are numerous examples which seem to speak loud and clear about the victory of this world’s people over God’s people in the holy Christian Church. Their hatred seems to triumph over the children of God and followers of Jesus Christ. This has happened so often that we can take it for granted even – and shouldn’t be surprised. In the same vain we should be very skeptical where the Church seems to triumph in glory and the manifestation of its own success and well being. It might just be that these people are no longer part of the Church, but rather some worldly sect or partisan grouping that lives for itself and strives after it’s own goals with independent purpose and motivated drive – part of the world, accommodated into its way of doing things and far removed from following Jesus and his ways. For wherever people follow Jesus there the hatred of the world is aglow and martyrdom,  subtle or grotesque torture and even brutal onslaught and passionate warfare will not be far off.

Almighty, eternal God – you show us your heart and passionate love in your son Jesus Christ. He’s like a mirror reflecting your will and burning love towards us. You have poured out his love into our hearts through the gift of faith. We ask you: Grant us the grace that we love each other and yours from the bottom of our hearts and with passionate care even under pressure of this worlds hatred. Let us love not only with words, but also with deeds and in truth so that your love and eternal live will stay with us constantly. Give your Holy Spirit to give us his blessed testimony that we are brought from death to life in Jesus Christ, our Lord and in this faith be saved now and forever. Amen. (Hamburg hymnal and prayer book 1871)

Even if tears are your most precious pearls while sighing and painful crying are your best hymn, your blood is the only crimson gown and deprivation your only constant treasure and good – then Zion don’t despair, you can still trust in God so fair.

Do they threaten with shame and bondage, with greatest pain and even death – for sure you’re not at the end and forsaken. Remember eternity, keep the faith and fix your eyes on Jesus. He’s in control and will strengthen you all the way – without fail.

Rejoice – the end is near and the final evening is drawing nigh. Commit yourself into God’s caring hands. He’ll liberate you from all shame, blame and heinous flame and crown you with his eternal crown. Zion, you’ll rejoice once more so let the world be – God is yours and that’s our glee! (Joachim Pauli 1635-1708)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for second Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 229 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 9th June 2013

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

gottesdienst“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1Ch 29:14 NIV)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1Pe 4:10 NIV)

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

The latest LTS Newsletter is out.

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Rockrohrs 2013The latest LTS newsletter (LTSNews_June2013_hq) is out – thanks to Dr. Carl Rockrohrs for this. We wish him and his family God’s blessings as they start their new assignment in Ethiopia.

Posted in LTS in Tshwane | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

restThe Lutheran Order of Service for the 2nd Sunday after Trinity (9th June 2013) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon on Isaiah 55,1-5 written by brother Rev. F.J. Mtshali (LC Fernie, MP) in isiZulu (wz1332130609 n Tr 2) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1332130609 n Tr 2) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday. Our Lord Jesus Christ invites us so endearingly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28 NIV) The liturgical colour is green.

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.

Posted in Lutheran Order of service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Löhe on 1 John 4:19

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

icon_christ_preaching_from_boat_210pxWe love because he first loved us. (1Jo 4:19 NIV)

We human beings are sinners and as such we need lots of encouragement and motivation to love God. Well, God has done more than his fair share by his good example and the perfect love shown by his son Jesus Christ. That’s his friendly invitation to return his love accordingly. The Almighty has not only given us his permission to follow suit, but rather called us to follow in his footsteps. In his incomprehensible and unfathomable love our love grounds and is rooted. But what is our love compared with his? What is the brook against the stream, the stream compared with the ocean? Even if they are closely related to one another they still are quite different. Both are made up with water, yet the size and quantity we are looking at is just so vastly different. The love is one and yet it too is vastly different depending on the being it lives in. God’s love encompasses all – just as the oceans of this world that contain and receive all waters eventually. God’s love is more blessed and far more beautiful than anything else – and even a burning and devouring fire for those opposed to it. What is human love compared with that – even the love of the most pious and holy amongst us?

How small our love is compared with you, o Lord! Even where we go all out loving from the bottom of our heart, we remain quite insignificant and poor. We realize, we have love and that this love is from you and yet we ask and plead you: Forgive us our loving debt and all that love, that we continue to owe and that we have held back and not shared as we were supposed to. We are yearning to be fully united with you, so that your richness will compensate our poverty and that your love will be all in all. (Wilhelm Löhe)

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; All thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit, Into every troubled breast! Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find that second rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its Beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return and never, Never more Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above, Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee; Changed from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place,Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.  (Charles Wesley 1747 )

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 228 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 8 June 2013

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

matthewLet the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  (Psalm 143:8 NIV)

Jesus saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:27-28 NIV)

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

LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:20

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

luke_16_rich_man_and_lazarus1If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1Jo 4:20 NIV)

This word presses mightily for the continuation of love for God in fervent love towards ones brothers. It exposes all declarations of love towards God that doesn’t show love for ones siblings, next-of-kin, neighbors and fellow-human beings as empty words and even lies. Strong words by this holy apostle, who is demanding love and accuses those of lacking it of being liars. There may yet be plenty of those, who hold against him that they do indeed love God even though they don’t love their brother. God is perfect, but we humans are imperfect. It is far easier loving the one, who is so absolutely worthy of all our love than our kindred beings, who lack so much and are hardly worthy of any love after all. In our interaction amongst ourselves we are always hindered and thrown back again and again by the numerous mistakes and shortfalls of others. Thus a person may argue even if this opinion is utterly false and diametrically opposed to the divine word of God. The apostle teaches us that it’s not so much our fellow-beings wrong doing that make love amongst ourselves so difficult, but rather the invisibility of God that strongly challenges our love towards him. As we don’t see God it is virtually impossible for us to love God. However as he commands love towards himself, he has found means and ways to make this possible. He let his son Jesus Christ become our brother. His glory was revealed on the cross, where he showed his love towards us while we were still sinners and enemies of God. In him let us love God and our brother and sister – for Christ’s sake. It remains the truth: The far easier thing is to love our imperfect brother than to love the invisible and absolute perfect God.

Lord Jesus Christ! You bore our ill and took upon yourself our pain. Let us show our gratitude in our lives while loving our brothers. You have visited us in your gracious mercy as the living God from on high to be revealed as savior to all those suffering. You have entrusted to us as your special bequest and legacy all those in poverty and illness, those tired and heavily burdened, those lost and struggling. Let all of us that know and love you, learn mercy and compassion from you. Let no widow be without comfort in your kingdom and merciful realm, no orphan without care, no poor without help, no sinners without seeking love and caring goodness. Let us work as long as it is day and before night falls, when nobody can work. Amen. (A. Stöcker)

God’s grace, goodness and mercy remain steadfast throughout. Blessed is he, who takes care of the poor as if it was his own concern doing good with loving care. God himself will compensate him from the fullness of his grace and goodness so that he suffers no lack nor loss.

Whoever gladdens those in trouble will be please by God in the highest. Whatever tired hands distribute and share on earth will be given back from on high in richest measure. Whoever gives much, will receive more. Whatever his heart desires and wishes for will be granted from on high as sure as God is God and carries out all to our best in his good time. (Paul Gerhard 1607-1676)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 227 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

LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:18B

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

burning bushThe one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1Jo 4:18b NIV)

Fear of God and of the eternal Judge over living and dead is a condition that is to be wished, hoped and prayed for – especially that those people get it, who don’t fear him yet, because this fear could lead them to repentance and conversion. The pardoned sinner loses this kind of fear. He/she is liberated from this fear of punishment and is filled with the confidence of eternal life to stand reconciled and justified in God’s final judgment. And yet even as he/she is drawn towards God and into his unfathomable love through Jesus Christ, he/she will not loose the awe and holy admiration for the divine majesty and glory either. On the contrary, he/she will recognize this more and more profoundly and thus worship him more and more devoutly and fearfully as is befitting his supreme magnificence and ultimate splendor. Even if this scriptural verse seems to convey the sense that love destroys all fear, yet it remains a powerful invitation that we, who are but dust and ashes, should be free to love the almighty, eternal and holy God. This filial fear will not diminish the heartfelt love, but will preserve it in pure humility and grateful joy and peace and keep it from straying off. Yes, it is true, we are full of longing desire for our God and our heavenly destination. Yet we are still timid and shy before your greatness and grandeur. We are so keen to worship, praise and thank you o God and are filled with fear and love at the same time. Grant and preserve me in the true faith of your forgiving goodness and mercy o God.

1. God Himself is present: Let us now adore Him And with awe appear before Him. God is in His temple– All within keep silence, Prostrate lie with deepest reverence. Him alone God we own, Him, our God and Savior; Praise His name forever.

2. God Himself is present: Hear the harps resounding; See the hosts the throne surrounding! “Holy, holy, holy”– Hear the hymn ascending, Songs of saints and angels blending. Bow Thine ear To us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises That Thy Church now raises.

3. O Thou Fount of blessing, Purify my spirit, Trusting only in Thy merit. Like the holy angels, Who behold Thy glory, May I ceaselessly adore Thee. Let Thy will Ever still Rule Thy Church terrestrial As the hosts celestial. (Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729 tr Frederick W. Foster, c.1826)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 226 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