Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 8th May 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ox and donkeyThe Lord says: “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but my people do not understand.” (Isa 1:3 NIV)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:17 NIV)

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On friends, visitors and strangers …

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Hours of prayer“Friends are thieves of time. And if friends are thieves of time, what shall outsiders, strangers, and those less familiar be? Nevertheless, here you will have need of great wisdom and care, lest, if you avoid too much the companionship of men, you fall into the society of evil spirits, or on the other hand, consorting too much with them, you are trampled by swine. Therefore when God calls you – when it is necessary to serve, counsel, and speak with your neighbour when his salvation or other necessity requires it – then no law nor rule, no matter what institution you may belong to, dare keep you from it. All laws, even the rule of prayer and holding services, must give place to love. But when you are not called do not force yourself upon anybody, lest you begin to desire to gain the world and then suffer detriment to your soul.” (Martin Luther quoted in Dobberstein, 277) 

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LÖHE ON JAMES 1:26

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

no-cussingIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (Jam 1:26 NIV)

The apostle postulates that human life is a worship service that is to please God. It is to be conducted earnestly and in conscious faithfulness. You might consider someone, who continues in prayer and sings joyfully, is devoted to divine worship and strives to make every place into a divine sanctuary and every occasion into an hour of devotion. If however such a person has a loose tongue and can’t control his speech, then all other doings are tainted by this lack of discipline and the apostolic judgement fits right on: Such religion is worthless. Whoever practices it in this way deceives himself and others. Now how could it be different? A loose tongue doesn’t fit appropriate devotion and godly worship. It spoils everything. Therefore we should heed this apostolic admonition and if we want to adhere carefully to God’s word then we should also discipline ourselves and especially our tongue and all speech under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. God’s thoughts and words are to purify and sanctify our thoughts and words. He even converts the  chatterer, windbag and even blatherer enabling him to master his tongue so that he is in control of his words and sayings to the glory of God and benefit of his fellow human beings. Consider this and beat your chest in contrite recognition of yourself and in joyful anticipation of what the good Lord can and will do for us and our salvation – even with regard to our tongue and speech.

Lord Jesus Christ! You are the light and the truth. Nobody can stand before you if he’s not out of your truth. Grant us an upright heart and a truthful mouth and appropriate speech. Prevent all deceit and lies and give that our thoughts, words and thoughts will be aligned to your truth. Keep our tongue from failing and grant that we will have speech and silence according to your will. Amen. (Churchbook of Würtenberg)

Take my voice and let me sing, Always, only for my King; Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store; Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee. (Frances R. Havergal, 1836-79)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday following the fifth Sunday after Easter: Rogate. It is found on Pg. 196 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 7th May 2013

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Holy-BibleDo not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  (Josua 1:8 NIV)

Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21 NIV)

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LÖHE ON JAMES 1:23-25

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

mirrorAnyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. (Jam 1:23-25 NIV)

That hearer of the word, who does not do what it says, did not hear as he should have heard. That is why he did not become a doer of the word. If you look into a mirror once you will receive but a fleeting memory of your image. However if you do this regularly and for some while then you will get to know your facial expression and you will remember it too. Thus it is with the word of God and his most holy gospel as well. If you look at it once only you will not get a lasting impression of the image of our Lord Jesus Christ depicted throughout Holy Scripture as its core and substance. His vicarious love and salvation will remain but a passing fancy. Therefore look and listen carefully and continually. You’ll see that the image of our most beloved Jesus Christ will become dearer and more and more adorable. It will fill you with more and more love and worship, which will again strengthen you with peace and joy. Motivated by this efficacious image you will grow in obedience to God’s will and hold him more and more precious and dear.

Beloved Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! You demand that we be not just listeners, but do what we hear too. Continue to show us, how best we can follow your precepts and do your holy will. Prepare our hearts that even difficult tasks will not put us off. Let us always remember your way here on earth and how you were obedient till the very end even unto the cross and let us continue to consider and ponder all you did for us and our salvation in your eternal kingdom. Amen.  (Churchbook of Würtenberg 1931)

Open ears and heart that we grasp your word in love and sorrow, in joy and pain never neglect it, so that we are not just listeners, but doers of your word bringing fruit a hundredfold. (David Denicke, 1603-1680)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday following the fifth Sunday after Easter: Rogate. It is found on Pg. 195 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 6th May 2013

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

bribery“Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.” (Exodus 23:8 NIV)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12 NIV)

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LÖHE ON JAMES 1:22

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

word of GodDo not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (Jam 1:22 NIV)

Is it possible to be a hearer of the word, but not do what it says? Does not the light and power enter the ears and into the heart? And is it possible that you are motivated and driven by the word to act accordingly and you still don’t do it? The ears, heart, hand and feet are members of one body and the same person. The entire human being is not such a undefined entity that the word of the almighty God would not saturate him completely like potent yeast a mass of dough.  There is a pond. Throw a stone into it. You’ll see waves rippling throughout the surface. There is a church. Speak a word and its sound carries throughout the sanctuary. And the word of God should not master the entire human person?

It is a wondrous mystery that the almighty Lord has limited the effect of his word. It is his mysterious will that his word can overcame all and everything, but will not force human opposition into servile submission. Just as the human will can not do anything for its salvation, it can do a whole lot for its damnation. It will have to stop to promote its damnation by opposing the word. It must hear the word as the vital instrument for its salvation. It must hear, listen and obey it. That is crucial. God’s word will overcome the opposition. He will awaken interest and even knowledge and insight. And still it remains a divine mystery of God’s grace and goodness that somebody is converted by the word and brought to saving faith – no longer opposed, but attached and obedient to the gracious gospel.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! We praise you for the richness of your gifts and goodness, especially the gracious gift of our salvation given to us through your Son Jesus Christ. Grant us here and in all places faithful teachers, willing hearers and obedient doers of your word. Let its light shine in all hearts that commit themselves into your hands, into your grace and care as the night is falling. Let your word remain with us until the new day appears and let it accompany us all the way to where your dear Son will be our light and salvation in eternity. Amen. (Hermann Bezzel)

Stay with us, till night has come: Our praise to You this day be sung. Bless our bread, Open our eyes: Jesus, be our great surprise.

Walk with us, our spirits sigh: Hear when our weary spirits cry, Feel again Our loss, our pain: Jesus, take us to Your side.

Walk with us, the road will bend: Make all our weeping, wailing end. Wipe our trars, Forgive our fears: Jesus, lift the heavy cross.

Talk with us, till we behold A joyful life You will unfold: Heal our eyes To see the prize: Jesus, take us to the light.

Stay with us, till day is done: No tears nor dark shall dim the sun. Cheer the heart, Your grace impart: Jesus, bring eternal life. (Herbert F. Borkering *1926)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the fifth Sunday after Easter: Rogate. It is found on Pg. 194 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 5th May 2013

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

kalahari sunsetIn your anger do not sin.  (Psalm 4:4 NIV)

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26 NIV)

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LÖHE ON LUKE 9:57

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

eagles wingsAs they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (Luk 9:57 NIV)

He says many thousands of encouraging words to go the best way. He calls you to share his glory and kingdom. Take the most holy resolution possible and answer your saviour, whose calling you with the most friendly invitation: “Follow me!” with the “Lord, where shall I go? You are the one who enlightens my path, you make it more and more to be a sanctified sanctuary. I will follow you. I count my days since following you as the start of my life. Just as the ship follows the guidance of its ruder, so I follow the bidding of your blessed word. I desire to complete my days following you obediently!”

Lord Jesus Christ, you call your people to follow you in good and bad days, grant that we persevere with you in proper faithfulness and by your strength and support overcome all hardship and challenges. Grant us in your grace the conviction of eventual victory and help us thus to peace and lead us all to eternal life and salvation. Amen. (Hermann Bezzel)

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,

who abide in His shadow for life,

say to the Lord: “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”

        Refrain:  And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,

                      bear you on the breath of dawn,

                      make you to shine like the sun,

                      and hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,

and famine will bring you no fear:

under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield.

        Refrain:  And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,

                      bear you on the breath of dawn,

                      make you to shine like the sun,

                      and hold you in the palm of His hand.

You need not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day;

though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come.

        Refrain:  And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,

                      bear you on the breath of dawn,

                      make you to shine like the sun,

                      and hold you in the palm of His hand.

For to His angels He’s given a command

to guard you in all of your ways;

upon their hands they will bear you up,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Refrain:  And He will raise you up on eagles’ wings,

                      bear you on the breath of dawn,

                      make you to shine like the sun,

                      and hold you in the palm of His hand. (Michael Joncas *1951)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the fourth Sunday after Easter: Cantate. It is found on Pg. 193 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 4th May 2013

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Alexander Master, Jesus sets a child among his disciples, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, 1430Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? (Psalm 94:9 NIV)

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me.” (Luke 9:46-48 NIV)

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