LÖHE ON ROMANS 12:4-6

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. (Rom 12:4-6 NIV)

Sadly people’s nature is such that each person sees him/herself as an independent entity, closed off and with no responsibility towards others. In contradiction to this the holy apostles teaches us about the Church as a body with every Christians being (just) a member of it. So nobody is a whole on his/her own. Each one is charged to get to know his/her own capacity and limitations, his/her own shape and gift together and all that he/she is to serve the entire body of Christ and to be satisfied to serve as a single member belonging to the one large, holy body of Jesus.

There is beautiful and lovely wisdom in this reality of Christ’s body and his holy Christian Church. Whoever is an enemy of egoistic Individualism, but a friend of true unity, should strife to comprehend this apostolic teaching of the Church. Each and every one is to find the one Lord, whom he can bear: Christ, the Supreme! No envy gets to him as nobody is placed into a position in this body of Christ, where he does not belong for Christ fits his members perfectly into place – created and called just for that.

Dear heavenly Father! We desire to live your community and be edified in it. Let us be living building blocks that help carry your Church. Make us faithful members of your sons body. Grant and help that we and our children are dedicated totally to you as living sacrifice and that we worship you in priestly decorum, fighting for you. Form us your evangelical Christendom to continue growing as your people and members of your boundless grace. Amen (O.J. Mehl)

Heart and heart together bound, Seek in God your true repose, In your love the price be found Of your Saviour’s love and woes; We the members, He the Head, We the rays and He the Sun, Brethren by our Master led, In our Lord we all are one.

Thus, O truest Friend, unite All Thy consecrated band, That their hearts be set aright To fulfil Thy last command. Each must onward urge his friend, Helping him in word and deed, Love’s blest pathway to ascend, Following where Thou dost lead. (Nikolaus Ludwig Graf von Zinzendorf, 1700-1760)

 (Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the 1st Sunday after Epiphany as found on Pg. 55 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.)

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 14th January 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

schirmFor the LORD God is a sun and shield (Psalm 84:11 NIV)

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2. Corinthians 4:6 NIV)

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Löhe on Romans 12:1

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

soldierTherefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1 NIV)

 Is there anything more beautiful than being a godly priest and a sacrifice pleasing to God as Jesus was – to separate oneself from the world like Paul and to incorporate oneself with ones talents and virtues into the body of the Lord as Peter did? However often we do not want this. The apostles request and admonish us to do this, but we do not listen to them. We do not know anything better or greater, yet we do not want to. However if we comply for a change, try and practice then these deeds make us rejoice and the eternal powers awaken in us. Yet we sink back into the accustomed misery, do not want to continue trying and close our eyes for the break of dawn and the coming eternal life as we are too tired and sleepy.

 Oh,  we are lost forever if you don’t help us poor people. You are the helper in all need, You remove the tombstones from our spiritual death and revive us and strengthen us for your heavenly kingdom. Do this and lift us with your hands and form and shape us according to your will and purpose, so that we be priests and sacrifices before you opposed to all worldly being and masters of your good gifts in your holy Church. Allow us to live humbly, but persistently empowered by your calling and gracious gifts. Amen.

 We need soldiers full of strength and courage who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, who are founded on the protective Word, who do not flee or falter in the onslaught, who do not rest or retire until they have banned the power of realized sin, who attack in the power of the Lord, who serve him daily in joy and willingness. Soldiers, who lay their lives on God’s altar, that continue to love godly and true, who consecrate themselves totally to their king, who are ready to die for him at any time. Soldiers, who pull others from the burning flames, reach out their hands to brothers in need, who know Jesus only and walk in his loves light. They remain victorious in battle and strive, carry his load quietly in trouble and sorrow, who do not complain or protest. We need soldiers to fight for God’s glory.

Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the 1st Sunday after Epiphany on Pg. 54 in “Eternal praise to you Jesus!” (Neuendettelsau 1948)

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Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 13th January 2013

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

trinity“He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes.” (1 Samuel 3:18 NIV)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:25-26 NIV)

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Löhe on Revelations 22:18 from “Eternal praise to you, o Jesus!”

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

BibleI warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. (Rev 22:18 NIV)

Truly if you try to explain the Scriptures through the traditional father’s oral history that’s moving away from the light and into darkness. The Scriptures are much clearer than the fathers in their context and details. The Scriptures originate over centuries and from very different authors, yet from Moses to John it’s the one harmonious God speech – even if you can’t find any other father, who remains true to himself in this way.

Reading the Bible (Löhe writes: German Bible = Luther’s translation WW) you can come to inner consent with the prophets and apostles, yes with God and his servants. However who and how many could be expected to find this agreement by researching the fathers? That would be like expecting a homesick child that is only a few miles away from home to travel there not directly by via the various continents. We should not lead our poor people into the desert if we could lead them to green pastures and quite waters. Helpful traditions have mostly passed away. Guilty are weak lips that have been skewed the message of holy lips beyond recognition – sometimes even with blatant lies. However the word remains. Lucid and clear, unambiguous and firm it shines into the night of this world. There everybody finds the truth, poor laity and pious theologian. One confirms the age-old, golden treasure to the other. All that simply read it – humble and prayerfully – are enlightened by it, satisfied and sanctified. All faithful readers and prayers (Beter) confess that the scriptures do not require tradition to explain the dark passages, just as the Church does not need any other light besides that of scripture for its gathering and its sojourning towards Zion. God has given it this light of scripture, which does not require the light of the fathers, but loves these as they are children of the same light. (Translation of a devotion by Pastor Wilhelm Löhe for the 12th January from the “Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!” edited by A. Schuster and published by the Freimund-Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949. Pg. 53)

May glorious truths that we have heard, the bright sword of your mighty word, spurn Satan that your Church be strong, bold, unified in act and song.

Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true; preserve our faith our whole life through – your word alone our heart’s defense, the Church’s glorious confidence. (Nikolaus Selnecker 1532-92)

 

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 12th January 2013

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

grave of Private John HendersonBut God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.  (Psalm 49:15 NIV)

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25a NIV)

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Löhe on 2. Peter 1:19

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Herr Dein Wort lass alwegAnd we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2Pe 1:19 NIV)

From the very beginning the Lord of the Church has spread his truth by people. He has increased his church by the church making her not only a congregation of the faithful, but also a gathering of those, who are yet to believe.

This wonderful treasure and beauty of the Church should not intoxicate the poor servants of God, but rather humble them continually. For even as faithful members of the Church they do not deserve to be bearers of the exclusive means of saving grace. These precious means by which they save others, have saved them too. Even if the Church is so very bright and beautiful, her prophetic and apostolic word by far exceeds this shine and luster as the Lord himself comes in and through this as the brilliant light to enlighten all the world.

May the living Lord lift up his gracious countenance over us and grant his divine word to us so that we may gladly do his bidding even if some of us may have forgotten this calling to proclaim his word as faithful witnesses and bowing down before him in true faith, love and fear, adhering our eyes and senses only to his lucid words until he comes again in glory! (Translation of a devotion by Pastor Wilhelm Löhe from the “Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!” edited by A. Schuster and published by the Freimund-Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949 )

Let us pray: “O Lord Jesus, shine your light over us that we may live in your light and that enlightened by your grace and truth our quest may find its goal in you, our search reach rest in your clarity, our hearts recline in the peace of your grace and forgiveness. By this your light enlighten also the confusion, trouble, the unresolved, weirdness and darkness of our hearts and minds. Grant us this day so much grace and peace that we may have enough. Your name be praised o Jesus! Amen” (Translation of a prayer by A. Hermann)

Dein Wort, o Herr, laß allweg sein die Leuchte unsern Füßen; erhalt es bei uns klar und rein; hilf, daß wir draus genießen Kraft, Rat und Trost in aller Not, daß wir im Leben und im Tod beständig darauf trauen.

Gott Vater, laß zu deiner Ehr dein Wort sich weit ausbreiten. Hilf, Jesu, daß uns deine Lehr erleuchten mög und leiten. O Heilger Geist, dein göttlich Wort laß in uns wirken fort und fort Glaub, Lieb, Geduld und Hoffnung.

(David Denicke 1603-1680)

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Gott ist Licht, und in ihm ist keine Finsternis. (1.Johannes 1,5b)

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Light of the worldIn Gottes Licht sehen wir das Licht. Er schafft klare Verhältnisse, denn er ist das gleißende Licht ohne Schatten. Heller als tausend Sonnen! Er vertreibt die Dunkelheit und verjagt durch strahlenden Glanz jede Spur der Finsternis. Da bleibt keine Grauzone, nichts von zwielichtiger Undurchsichtigkeit oder trüber Ungewissheit. Vielmehr herrscht bei ihm leuchtende Klarheit und ihle Wahrheit, denn bei ihm ist heller Tag, lichtes Leben. So brach er zuletzt siegreich strahlend aus dem Grabesdunkel als heller Morgenstern, er, dessen Wahrzeichen der Wunderstern war, mit dem er schon als Kind den Weisen den rechten Weg wies. Er ist selber die helle Sonne, bricht das Monopol der Todesnacht, macht es um uns licht und hell, schenkt neues Leben im Gnadenlicht.

Schatten des Todes, grauenvolle Finsternis und Sündennacht waren vorher unser Zuhause, ehe uns Christus in der Taufe neugeboren und so zu Kindern seines Lichtes gemacht hat. Mit seinem kostbaren Blut hat er uns rein gewaschen von unserer Schuld und Sünde, hat uns so geläutert, geheiligt und sich ihm einverleibt. So leben wir in seinem Licht. Darum sollen wir uns nicht vom Zwielicht locken lassen, noch in der Dämmerung aufhalten und schon gar nicht im Finstern verlieren. Vielmehr sollen wir bei ihm und in seiner Gemeinschaft bleiben.

Epiphanias als Weihnacht der Heiden feiert die Kirche traditionell in der dunklen und trüben Jahreszeit mit Lichterglanz und frohen Klängen: „Es leucht‘ wohl mitten in der Nacht und uns zu Lichtes Kindern macht.“ Von Weihnachten wird’s heller bei uns. Es währt nicht mehr lange, dann herrscht die liebe Sommerzeit. Das gilt erst recht von Christi Licht bei uns. Dass ist freudige Zuversicht der Christenheit gegen dunkle Gedanken und getrübte Einsicht.

„Wir danken dir, Herr, insgemein für deines lieben Wortes Schein, damit du uns hast angeblickt und unser mattes Herz erquickt.“ Amen

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Ihr habt Christus … kennengelernt. (Epheser 4,20)

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

jesus-children-iconHurra Ferien! Gloria Weihnachten! Prost Neujahr! Vielleicht hallt der Festjubel noch etwas nach? Eventuell hat der graue Alltag uns schon wieder im Griff? Mag sein. Doch Epiphanias schenkt Grund, anhaltend froh zu sein: „Jesus ist kommen Grund ewiger Freude!“

Er, der von der Jungfrau Maria geboren und in Bethlehem Mensch geworden ist, hat mit seiner Erscheinung die Zeitenwende eingeleitet und so ziemlich alles tief greifend verändert. Wo vorher Heidentum, Nichtigkeit, Entfremdung, Unwissenheit, Verstockung, Abstumpfung, Ausschweifungen, Habgier und Unreinheit das  Leben ohne Christus beherrschten; wo wir ohne ihn im Unglauben fest im Griff des Teufels, der bösen Welt und sündlicher Bindung gefangen waren, da ist in und mit ihm neues Leben geworden. Durch die Taufe in, mit und durch Jesus Christus sind wir den Verderbensmächten gestorben und sie uns. Sie haben uns nichts zu sagen und wir nichts von ihnen zu erwarten. Darum sollen wir mit ihnen nichts mehr zu tun haben. Sie gehören wie alte Lumpen auf den Müll, auch wenn sie modisch kleidsam erscheinen. Legt sie ab! Schmeißt weg den trügerischen Kram, der nur Verderben nach sich zieht. Dagegen lebt als Neuschöpfung Christi Vorbild nach heilig, gerecht und gut!

Wir haben ihn kennengelernt. Er ist unser Heiland. Das wissen wir. Darum vertrauen wir ihm, gerade weil er uns alle Sünden, jegliche Unheiligkeit und schlimmste Ungerechtigkeit reichlich und täglich vergibt, abnimmt und uns so erneuert und sich immer ähnlicher macht.  So wunderbar schöpferisch, heilsam, erlösend und heiligend haben wir ihn kennengelernt. Darum ist auch im neuen Jahr nach Weihnachten im grauen Alltag Grund zur ewigen Freude. Halleluja!

„Ertöt‘ uns durch dein Güte, erweck uns durch dein Gnad‘. Den alten Menschen kränke, dass der neu leben mag wohl hier auf dieser Erden, den Sinn und al‘s Begehren und Gedanken hab zu dir.“ Amen.

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Lutheran order of service in isiZulu and seTswana

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10 NIV)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10 NIV)

The Lutheran Order of Service for the 1st Sunday after Epiphany is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on the gospel of Jesus Christ’s Baptism by Saint John the Baptist as recorded by the evangelist and apostle Saint Matthew in the 3rd chapter verses 13-17. The sermon was written in isiZulu (wz1309130113 Epi 1) and in seTswana (wt1309130113 Epi 1) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

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.

I pray you have a very blessed Epiphany season and have time to meditate on the watchword from the apostle Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 NIV)

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