Löhe on Galatians 5:16

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

walk in the spiritSo I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal 5:16 NIV)

The battle between flesh and spirit within us rages back and forth. One is tempted to ask, whether the almighty Spirit is not able to overcome the dead flesh. Yet in this matter we people do have a certain liberty – even if it is only with a negative inclination and bias. The almighty creator has various creatures which he determines absolutely. With us human beings however he has left us with a measure of freedom and self-determination. The world on which we dwell is an imposing body for sure. Yet God’s mighty word reigns absolutely and even irresistibly on it.  How small in comparison with this world is the minuscule human being? Yet in its moral life it doesn’t take coercion freely. That really is our Lord God’s most wonderful prerogative to have created free beings besides himself. That’s what people are. If he is converted, he receives a new life. In the pedagogy through word and sacrament he gains strength of youth to do good. Yet if he resists this, he remains what he is. Therefore don’t resist. Let the Spirit rule. He’ll rejuvenate – yes more that that, he’ll recreate you as Christ’s new creation. Use this new vigour and drive eagerly. Lying fallow it falls into disrepair and may even get lost again. Awaken the gift that is in you. The victory will surely follow – and victory after victory. The apostle would not admonish the Galatians to walk by the Spirit if that was not possible by divine encouragement and input.

Oh exulted Lord and God! You give us your Holy Spirit as a sure guide and comforter, so that he would daily encourage, comfort, teach and reprimand us in his most holy Word. Awaken our ears that we would hear clearly. Grant us hearts to trust in you completely. Rule our thoughts and minds that we would faithfully obey you and your instructions. In all uncertainty guide us safely, in despondency revive and restore us, in rebellion convert  us and let our ways be your ways and help us out from the unrest in this time to the peace and joy in joy there. Amen. (Hermann Bezzel)

I teach you how to shun and flee What harms your soul’s salvation, Your heart from every guile to free, From sin and its temptation. I am the Refuge of your soul And lead you to your heavenly goal. (Johann Scheffler, 1624-1677 tr Charles Schaeffer, 1813-1896)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the fourteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 313 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 1st September 2013

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

DSC_0150Yet you know me, LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. (Jer 12:3 NIV)

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. (Heb 3:12 NIV)

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Löhe on Leviticus 11:45

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

confessionI am the LORD… your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. (Lev 11:45 NIV)

Remain confessing until the End! He remains absolving. He says the same again and again. That doesn’t bother and concern him really as it serves a good purpose, namely to confirm us in the true faith of the full validity of Christ’s merit and vicarious salvation. Therefore remain faithful confessors of your sin and adherents to his holy absolution by which he remits all of your trespasses and forgives all your iniquities! That’s how you remain standing in this struggle and that’s how you enter through to victory finally. That’s how you get admitted to the victor over death and devil so that you too can fall down and worship him, who alone is worthy of praise, honour and glory + Let us strive in this way and desire to reach there, where no shadows taint our faith and where at last we will see the fulfilment of the clear demand and promise: I am the LORD… your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Lord Jesus, you are the life and light of your people. We ask you to illuminate us with your Holy Spirit so that we may recognize ourselves and you properly – us in our sinfulness and you in your holy love and grace. Help us self-centred people to earnestly and realistically deny ourselves. Lord Jesus, in our lives we have take far too much time away from you and for idleness and spiritual sloth and laziness. Enlighten and strengthen us through your Holy Spirit, that we seriously resist our sin and strive to give up all sinfulness. That we will no longer embellish or whitewash our corruption and rather crucify ourselves onto your cross. Tear us away from our own sinful being o Lord Jesus. Wherever this struggle of self-denial is fought amongst us – even in privacy and hiddenness, there assist and enter the fray to strengthen the embattled and grant victory to those under attack. Where you find pride and false security among us, come and destroy all that can’t live up to your ways and good will. O Lord Jesus, create in us a new heart and grant us willing spirit to commit ourselves entirely to you – even unto death. Amen. (H. Lauerer)

Let me be Thine forever, Thou faithful God and Lord; Let me forsake Thee never, nor wander from Thy Word. Lord, do not let me waver, but give me steadfastness, And for such grace forever Thy holy name I’ll bless.

Lord Jesus, my salvation, my light, my life divine, My only consolation, oh, make me wholly Thine! For Thou hast dearly bought me with blood and bitter pain. Let me, since Thou hast sought me, eternal life obtain.

And Thou, O Holy Spirit, my comforter and guide, Grant that in Jesus’ merit I always may confide, Him to the end confessing whom I have known by faith. Give me Thy constant blessing and grant a Christian death. (Nikolaus Selnecker, 1532-1592 tr Matthias Loy, 1828-1915)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the thirteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 312 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 31st August 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

baptism 1You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. (Psa 86:5 NIV)

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (2Th 3:5 NIV)

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Seminary Open Day: Saturday, the 7th September

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

2013 Invitation ProgramIn a week’s time the Seminary Open Day is to be held at the LTS. Here is the planned program.

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Dikgang tse di Khutshwane tsa Kereke ya Lutere

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

LCSA Letterhead-002And here is the Church news in seTswana too. Dikgang tse di Khutshwane tsa Kereke ya Lutere September 2013 (Tswana): wt130828 Kga September 2013. Thanks to my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD for writing these updates for the LCSA! 

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IziNdaba eziFingqiweyo for September

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

LCSA Letterhead-002And here is the latest news from the LCSA in isiZulu: IziNdaba eziFingqiweyo zekerike ngokobuLuthere September 2013 (Zulu) emiBhalweni naseziVumeni zeKerike ngokobuLuthere: wz130827 NDA Septembe 2013

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Löhe on Galatians 3:22

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

forgiveness 1But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Gal 3:22 NIV)

At Sinai God through his legislation had the very clear intention of damning sin in a clear and impressive way. He condemned sin and the sinner too and everything that got into contact with sin in some or other way. That’s what is meant when St. Paul acknowledges: “Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin.” Everything – not just people or mankind. Just as the lightning at Sinai illuminated the desert, so the word uttered on Sinai  illuminates our hearts and lives with regards to sin. Just as the thunder roared over the wilderness at Sinai so too God’s curse thunders over all who transgress the law. The law clearly reveals the condemning consequences of disobedience and contravention against God’s will. Yet that is not the final goal of God’s revelation of the law.  Rather the apostle clarifies that God gave the law with the intention “so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.” So the locking up of all under the control of sin was not final nor conclusive, but rather to prevent anybody of trusting in the law to help and save on the one side and to encourage everybody to look for help and salvation only in grace. This promise does not point to an earned compensation, but rather a free gift of the almighty God to those poor and miserable sinners seeking help and salvation with Jesus Christ alone.

We are a people swallowed up in a tide of guilt. Yet our pilot has patiently wrested us free from death’s grip. His mission saved us from the stormy sees in which now stands tall and strong the saving cross of Golgotha.

We are a people tired from our toils and struggles. Yet our Lord is strong and stands tall above all else. His pastoral staff comforts me and all still tired and strained. The comfort in death’s grip is the cross of Golgotha.

We are your people even in passing ages. You remain the master of all time. We are yours in eternity – you the Alpha and Omega. The zenith of all ages, periods and epochs remains your saving cross of Golgotha.

(Hugo Reich, 1854* tr Wilhelm Weber)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the thirteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 311 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 Friday, the 30th August 2013

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

DSC_0135Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. (Isa 2:5 NIV)

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. (Phi 2:14-15 NIV)

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Löhe on Galatians 3:21

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

moses and the law chagalIs the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. (Gal 3:21 NIV)

Old and New Testament, old and new ages arranged next to each other, although they are so different. It’s one of those great mysteries how these two belong and fit together. St. Paul addresses enemies of the gospel. They make life and salvation dependent of legal requirements and not grasping the gospel, which lifts high the cross for veneration and trusting faith. His enemies did not understand the difference between law and gospel properly. The apostle St. Paul works hard at clarifying this so that all might recognize that neither life nor righteousness emanate from the law. At best the law can protect and guard given life and righteousness, but it can never give it to those, who have lost these precious treasures. This is a given handicap of the law and legalism. God – our Lord – did not have the intention of sharing life and righteousness when he pronounced his commandments. Everybody can experience the truth of the apostles saying in his own life, because who ever saw his spiritual life and willingness to do good grow when the law of Sinai was proclaimed and pressed home? The louder and clearer the trombone of the law sounds, the more the hearers feel their own poverty and lack of righteousness. The more demanding the law pushes its requirements, the more the hearer is conscientized regarding his sinful being.

We bow down before you, o God and Lord, weighed down by our sin, our anxiety and our desire. Forgive us all our trespasses. Forgive our hastiness with which we have tended to not hear your word and soft-spoken admonition as carefully and attentively as we should have. Take all guilt away from our soul. We seek your grace and forgiveness. Grant peace to our hearts o Father. You know what is good for us. You see to it that you don’t load up burdens too heavy for us. Enter the fray of our thoughts, where we accuse and excuse ourselves, and grant to us, who don’t even understand ourselves, gracious pardon and rest. Show us that, which is needful and grant to us that peace that the world does not know. Amen. (Arper-Zillessen)  

All civil and legal righteousness is of no avail to reach the heavenly goal. Trusting our own endeavours, we are lastly but shamed and disappointed. The work of Jesus Christ alone saves me and all, who believe and are baptized. (Johann Heermann, 1585-1647)  

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the thirteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 310 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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