LÖHE ON 1.CORINTHIANS 9:24

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

competiton2Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1Co 9:24 NIV)

The apostle uses a two-fold picture to describe zeal in sanctification: the racetrack and also the competition.  Athletic contest was popular amongst the Greeks. The athletes demonstrated their talents. The runner showed off his fleet feet, the strong man his power and agility of his limbs. Each one pitched his own strengths against another to establish the best and ultimate winner. Whoever reached the goalposts first, succeeded victoriously. Whoever managed to pin the other down, would carry the crown of victory.

The apostle uses this popular imagery in his letter to the Corinthians. He compares life with a racetrack.  The crown of victory is comparable to the eternal award of grace, that awaits us finally at the gateway to heaven. Whoever wants to receive the eternal reward then, must persist until the very end of life and until he/she reaches the gates of eternity.

Lord, our God! You have placed us into a serious time full of weighty decisions. There is a fight going on, a war for and against Your truth and kingdom. Our conscience accuses us, that in this battle we have lacked in zeal and faithfulness. Grant us to regain clarity and new commitment and faithful decisions. Let us run in the way of Your commandments. Amen. (O. Michaelis)

Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you, O Christians, lest the Foe destroy you, For Satan has designed your fall. Wield God’s Word, a weapon glorious! Against each foe you’ll be victorious; Our God will set you o’er them all. Is Satan strong and fell? Here is Immanuel. Sing hosanna! The strong ones yield, With Christ our Shield, And we as conqueror’s hold the field.

Cast afar this world’s vain pleasures, Aye, boldly fight for heavenly treasures, And steadfast be in Jesus’ might. He will help, whate’er betide you, And naught will harm with Christ beside you; By faith you’ll conquer in the fight. Then shame, thou weary soul! Look forward to the goal: There joy waits thee. The race, then, run; The combat done, Thy crown of glory will be won. (Wilhelm Erasmus Arends, 1677-1721. Translated by Richard Jordan)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the Sunday Septuagesiame as found on Pg. 98 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 Tuesday, the 29th January 2013

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus blesses“God is with you in everything you do.” (Genesis 21:22 NIV)

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (1Thessalonians 5:28 NIV)

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LÖHE ON 1.CORINTHIANS 10:1-6

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

IsraelFor I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. (1Co 10:1-6 NIV)

This passage I want to summarize in the following way: You will loose eternal salvation even if you live in sacramental community, but you do not let the power of the sacrament heal your soul. You must strive for sanctification or even the reception of the sacrament will be to our detriment. The apostles uses the fate of the Israelites in the desert as proof for this. They had experienced wonderful miracles by God’s grace, miracles that had a lot in common with the sacraments according to form and content. They travelled under the pillar of cloud, which covered them like a blanket. They went through the Red Sea as if through a passageway. Cloud and water saved them in this time of Moses just as we are saved from eternal condemnation through baptismal waters. They ate the miraculous food from heaven called “Manna” and they drank water from the rock because Christ was with them. So they also had wonderful food and drink, just as we also eat wonderfully in the Lord’s Supper.

And yet God was not pleased with most of them, but struck them down in the desert. All, who left Egypt died in the desert – except Joshua and Caleb. Nobody entered the Promised Land – even Moses and Aaron died at its portals.

So even midst the greatest miracles and gracious wonders of our God, we can get lost, if you don’t let his grace lead you to sanctification. Whatever happened to the Israelites, occurred as examples to us.

Therefore o man consider this well und contemplate these beneficial deeds. Thank God from the bottom of your heart, that he gave us his only Son and with him the sacraments and pure doctrine structured for sinners, that they may receive help against death and all complaints, that could harm us eternally. If you believe his words and your heart trusts in his grace alone, then your soul is well off!  (Veit Dietrich, 1506-1549. The translation is rather literal and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the Sunday Septuagesiame as found on Pg. 97 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 28th January 2013

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

jesus-heals-blind-manThe Lord put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.  (Psalm 40:3 NIV)

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. (Luke 18:42-43 NIV)

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LÖHE ON GENESIS 24:31

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Cross“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” he said. “Why are you standing out here?” (Gen 24:31 NIV)

“Septuagesimae”: 70 day’s of Lenten preparations before Easter have now begun. The first Sunday of nine, which fall into this period is already in full-swing. Although these Sundays fall into this penitential schedule, they are siblings of Easter and therefore reflect the joy of the resurrection already during Lent. The earnestness of repentance has cast its shadow on these Sundays too. As we get closer to Good Friday the Gospel and Epistle readings progress to speak more and more clearly about the suffering, death and burial of Jesus Christ. The lessons were chosen to highlight the suffering of Christ and also our due response in repentance.

We can bow our hearts in this penitential seriousness as this bowing down is no enemy of the Sunday’s joy and Easter’s delight. Ernest seriousness and joyful delight go nicely together, are like good friends and companions and blessed guests, that we do not leave either outside but rather call them both as Elieser was called: “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” he said. “Why are you standing out here?”

Lord Jesus: You are the mediator between God and humankind. With humble gratitude we remember you in this sombre time of Lent, recollecting the gospel of your suffering, cross and dying. You suffered all that for us. By your grace help us that we follow your holy suffering and dying faithfully and win from it serious repentance, living faith and thankful love towards you – our Saviour – who is praised eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  (Arper-Zillessen)

Why do you want to stand outside, o you Blessed  of the Lord? O my star, let it please you to enter me/mine. You, my Jesus, are my joy and helper at the right time. O Saviour help my heart of all wounds that hurt me.

In joy, o Lord Jesus Christ rest all comfort and joy. Your delight is the pasture, where one is satisfied and happy. Oh joyfull light light up my life before my heart breaks. Allow me to be revived in you o Jesus, come and let us see you!  (Paul Gerhard, 1607-1676. The translation is rather literal and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for  Sunday Septuagesiame as found on Pg. 96 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 Sunday, the 27th January 2013

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Plough“Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.” (Jeremiah 4:3 NIV)

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NIV)

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Devotions at LTS

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Church at prayerAs we look forward to the next academic Quarter at LTS, the prospect of regular devotions at LTS is uplifting. Find the schedule for the main worship services during weekdays here: 13,I Devotion LTS. Before the beginning of our regular classes at 8h00 we start with the Order of Responsive Prayer.

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Lutheran Order of service

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

matthew.9.9-13The Lutheran Order of Service for Septuagesimae (3rd Sunday before Lent) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on the gospel of the evangelist Saint Matthews in the 9th chapter verses 9-13 by our brother Rev. Mkhabela (Gamalakhe LC, KZN) in isiZulu (wz1311130127 Septuageisme) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1311130127 Septuagesime) 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 Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword from the prophet Daniel: We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. (9:18 NIV)

The liturgical colour is green and the Hallelujah verse is omitted.

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LÖHE ON ACTS 20:32

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

insuranceSt. Paul says: “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Act 20:32 NIV)

Wherever God’s word is present, there he is with his grace too. Wherever one of his promises is present even if only in a few words, there he himself is too, there his helping hand is available, his eyes to lead and guide. Perceive what an immense fill of his presence is put right there in your hand.  He opens his most gracious lips. Fall down and praise him: “Speak, o Lord, your servant is listening!” Is it not so that it is very pleasant if someone speaks such weighty promises of life and salvation and simultaneously he is truly eternal, his words matter come what may and they hold fast and true even when yours are silenced? He has certified life insurance for you that remains valid and in power even beyond death and the limits of your earthly life. Yes, his words and firm promises of life and salvation are truly a pillow to rest safely and securely on. They are the caring hands that close our eyes at the end, the grave clothes initiated for us by his resurrection, the trombones and cornucopia at the end of time and this world. So by his grace and merciful promise I know more about him and the fruits of his death for my life with him in eternity than I know about this very present life I am going through here on earth.

O Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we keep your holy word as our most precious treasure in all poverty of this life, that we preserve it as dear and close as the most endurable comfort in all sinful distress, as firm guarantee of our eternal salvation and redemption. We ask this of you, the true and dependable word, the perfect light and most lucid clarity, worthy of praise and adoration and worship in eternity. Amen. (Hermann von Bezzel, 1861-1917)

Your Word, o Lord is mild dew for souls in need of comfort; do not allow just one little plant growing in your garden lack this heavenly nourishment. Rather let it revive those in need that each will flourish and blossom and in your time and future bear blessed fruit and seed aplenty.

Your Word, o Lord is a flaming sword, lightning that shatters rock, fire that consumes hearts and enters the very marrow of our bones. O let your word continue to destroy the power of sin and evil, purifying all hearts and lives.

Your Word, o Lord is the true guiding star on our pilgrimage; it even leads fools heavenward and makes wise the simple. Do not extinguish your heavenly light for us, but rather enlighten each soul, that nobody might miss you. (Karl Bernhard Grave, 1763-1841. The translation is rather literal and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for  Saturday after the 6th Sunday after Epiphany as found on Pg. 95 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 Saturday, the 26th January 2013

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus-watches-his-disciplesThe Lord gives grace to the humble. (Proverbs 3:34 NIV)

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. (Matthews 20:26 NIV)

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