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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:18A

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

last judgement2There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  (1Jo 4:18a NIV)

There are more than one kind of fear. Here St. John doesn’t write about the fear we have here on earth and during our temporal lives, but rather about that fear that is going to befall the godless in the final judgment. In this temporal life people don’t normally fear God. If somebody is afraid then it’s rather due to psychotic influence or – even if this is rather seldom – by the working and wholesome influence of the Holy Spirit. Whoever is healthy and rather ok, but still fears God, has all reason to thank and praise God for his presence and positive persuasion in this regard. If the holy singer admits: “My flesh trembles in fear of you!” (Psa 119:120 NIV), then not too many will have shared this experience. Yet everywhere the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Therefore our Catechism also starts off the explanation of each commandment with the words: “We should fear and love God …”. In the holy Bible we find passages like: “Fear the Lord, you his saints…” (Psa 34:9 NIV). Accordingly there are two types of fear – one, that is compatible with love and another that isn’t. The second is the one, which has to do with punishment and follows from a conscience that is not reconciled with God, but is turned away from him and rejects him and his gracious forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Almighty and eternal God! You teach us with your holy word. You show us your will and ways in your holy law, demonstrating what we should do and what not in thought, word and deed. Mentor us in your wholesome ways from our youth on and grant that we fear and love you above all things – and trust you alone. Help us to continually strive for a pure heart o God. Keep us from godless temptations and doings. Preserve us as your children and friends and make us inheritors of your eternal kingdom o God. Amen

When in the hour of utmost need We know not where to look for aid, When days and nights of anxious thought Nor help nor counsel yet have brought.

Then this our comfort is alone, That we may meet before Thy throne, And cry, O faithful God, to Thee For rescue from our misery.

To Thee may raise our hearts and eyes, Repenting sore with bitter sighs, And seek Thy pardon for our sin And respite from our griefs within.

For Thou hast promised graciously To hear all those who cry to Thee Thro’ Him whose name alone is great, Our Savior and our advocate.

And thus we come, O God, today And all our woes before Thee lay; For sorely tried, cast down, we stand, Perplexed by fears on every hand.

Ah! hide not for our sins Thy face, Absolve us thro’ Thy boundless grace, Be with us in our anguish still, Free us at last from every ill.

That so with all our hearts we may Once more our glad thanksgivings pay, And walk obedient to Thy Word, And now and ever praise the Lord. (Paul Eber 1511-69 tr Catherine Winkworth 1827-78)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 225 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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LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:17A

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Last judgement1In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1Jo 4:17 NIV)

Most people just hold the doctrine of the final destruction of this world and the coming last judgment for an old fairy tale or myth of the dark and past ages. Nearly all people trust in a perpetual continuance of this visible world and a large multitude even join in the loose talk of the mockers quoted by St. Peter: “They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2Pe 3:4 NIV) Yet even in those quarters, where the doctrine of eschatology – the last things – is taught and the final judgment considered, it’s but a side-issue and doesn’t move people in this or that direction. It is true that this doctrine of the Church is so extra-ordinary and magnificent, that without a deep appreciation of God’s boundless love towards us, we can’t come to grips with this in any way. However if I rest in God’s peace even during the greatest of troubles and if in the final hours of destruction, turmoil and even my own demise he holds me in the faith that he is my joy, peace and salvation – then I truly can be quiet and commit all into his fatherly goodness and caring hands. It is God’s love, which he demonstrated towards us in his Son Jesus Christ, which he has had proclaimed to us, which has created our faith and generated our responding love, which has granted us courage and strength to draw nearer to God full of trust and childlike confidence – it is this very divine and gracious love, which will also carry me through the final throughs of death and hold me steadfast in the last judgment and even joyful before the ultimate judge. As the sinful world passes away, we belong to God still and will be saved eternally by him.

O God and Lord before it all comes to an end and we are finished here on earth and as all constructs and artifacts of our own righteousness and self-justification come tumbling down, let us experience temporal grief, shame and even doom as you deem fit for us and our salvation, but do spare us the final destruction and punishment in hell. And if you consider it good, meet and salutary that we go through poverty, destitution and deprivation becoming helpless and weak, then o Lord Jesus Christ enter in with your grace and mercy. Let your holy word shine in our lives as the morning star of deliverance and salvation proclaiming to our weary soul: “I am your help!” Let us build up our life on your grace alone! Even in death let us hope solely in your deliverance! Grant that we hear your gracious word in eternity: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world!” (Mat 25:34 NIV) Yes, o Lord Jesus Christ grant us, that we will live here in you, suffer through you and die with you so that we may finally inherit eternal life in you. Amen. (Hermann von Bezzel)

Everything dies and all earthly beings find their grave on this earth; all pleasure of this world passes and each heart finally stops beating. Our being is but temporal and will decay, the hottest flame will burn-out, tightest bondage will relent and release even as the most beautiful flower withers and falls.

Yet the mighty Lord stands beyond and calls you and me: “Trust in me and don’t loose hope. Don’t be afraid, don’t throw away your faith and don’t give up. Keep your eyes and heart fixed on me! I will hold and keep you throughout as I have written you into the book of eternal life. Nothing will pull you from my care!” (Philipp Spitta, 1801-1859)

 This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 224 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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LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:16A

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Christian ChurchAnd so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.  (1Jo 4:16 NIV)

As God is truly Trinitarian, so he is also for ever and ever true love – the essential, Trinitarian love. To live out this holy and divine love God did not need the world or anything outside of himself. He is love before and independent of the world. However he created this world out of love and showered his love on his creation without compulsion, yet with great passion, mercy and goodness. Loving this world is an expression of his divine love and caring goodness. His eternal love is mirrored in his creation – even if in a fallen and somewhat depleted way. This divine love shown by the creator to his creation and creatures is a two-fold love. A general and a specific love. The first and general way of loving is for all creatures visible and invisible. The second and specific way of loving is reserved for his one holy Christian Church. Our epistle refers to this second and specific love of God towards his congregation of saved and sanctified saints. God loves these his elected people, whom he has saved in Jesus Christ and whom he has made his children and part of his family through the Holy Spirit. This specific and most concentrated love of God for his Church however does not keep him from loving all and everybody in general either.

Oh triune God, we fall down before you in amazement and deep adoration and worship. You have loved us although you did not need us whatsoever. Yet you loved us from the very beginning and you have chosen, saved and sanctified us by your passionate and sincere love and grace. Let us become a mirror of your deep love so that we may be a witness to this world of your love and in praise of your glorious grace and mercy. Amen.

God loves me dearly Grants me salvation, God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

Refrain: Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, Loves even me. 

I was in slav’ry, Sin, death, and darkness; God’s love was working To make me free. Refrain

He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer, He sent forth Jesus And set me free. Refrain

Jesus, my Saviour, Himself did offer; Jesus, my Saviour, Paid all I owed. Refrain

Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal; Now I will praise You All my life long. Refrain

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 223 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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LÖHE ON 1 JOHN 4:21

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

rich man and lazarusAnd he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1Jo 4:21 NIV)

Poor Lazarus lies at the door of the rich man. A poor, naked and sick beggar full of sores and no real attraction to that wealthy man dressed in silk and precious linen and feasting consistently off extravagant opulence and abundant luxury. Between the one and the other there seems to be a high and impenetrable wall that can not be surmounted except by one filled with the love of God and for his fellow beings. However this rich man doesn’t know about this kind of love. There is no real love for his fellow man outside, just as there is no love for God in him either. How could he recognize his brother in his misery if he doesn’t recognize their one and common Father in heaven?  That is obvious if we look at the example of this rich man. Yet did that rich man just live once? Don’t we find his type everywhere and at all times? Do we find him only amongst those extremely rich or not also amongst us, who have enough to get by every day? You get my drift dear brothers and sisters? My goal is your heart. My questions are testing you. It is my desire to bring you to insight that all lack of brotherly love that plagues us here on earth is due to the lack of love for God amongst us people. You either have them both or none of them. Blessed is he, who recognizes this and lives in the love of God with his brothers and sisters.

Gracious God and Father! In your Son you have loved us from the very beginning. Through him you have graced us with countless gifts and blessings in body and soul. Ignite in us your love by your Holy Spirit and keep us from all that opposes you. Help us that we may be willing to serve, help and support our fellow beings gladly and joyfully – and thus gratefully respond with active love and service to your Son Jesus Christ, who was made for us to be wisdom, righteousness, holiness and salvation. (Prussian Agenda, 1895)

Blessed are those who mercifully take care of foreign need and have compassion with the poor, bringing supplications for them to God, serving them with good advice and helpful works of mercy. They too will receive help and mercy as they need it. (David Denicke, 1603-1680)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 222 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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