Eastertide Devotion – May 31

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,  do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15–23

A few years ago my wife and I discovered a small intimate restaurant that had just opened. The staff was wonderful—the food was better. I mentioned that I hoped that this restaurant would do well and stay in business but not so well that it would be over crowded when we wanted to eat there. It was small precious jewel of a restaurant that I wanted to be a special place for us.

The book of Ephesians is a jewel in the Bible. It is only a few chapters long but it is overflowing in treasures. This section of Ephesians is important because it points out that in Jesus’ ascension He sits at God’s right hand ruling the world for the sake of the Church. But in these nine verses so much else is said it is hard to pick just one thing to share.

Ephesians has such a personal and intimate flavor to it, you should try to read these words and imagine that St. Paul is speaking directly to you. Think of him hearing of your faith and love. Think of him remembering you in his prayers.

I often try to think of Christ Lutheran Church the way St. Paul thought of the Ephesians. As he prays, may we have a spirit of wisdom and knowledge of Jesus.  May our hearts be enlightened to see the riches of the inheritance in heaven that Jesus won for us. May we always remember the immeasurable greatness of God’s power in our lives. This is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and brought Him to God’s right hand through His ascension into heaven.

As you go through the day remember how precious you are to God. Remember that He sent Jesus to die and rise for you.  Remember that He is using that power for your good and blessing today and every day.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the hope and assurance of eternal life and the inheritance of the saints. Grant that I may live today and everyday confident in your protection and love. Amen.

The Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:5035-20080122-jerusalem-mt-olives-ascension-edicule.jpg

From very ancient times early Christians secretly gathered in a small cave to remember Jesus’ Ascension from the Mount of Olives. As soon as Christians could freely gather, the place to remember Jesus’ Ascension was moved to its present location farther up the mount. Helen, the mother of Constantine, traveled to the holy land between 326 and 328. On her trip the local people pointed out to her various locations of events from Jesus’ life. When she returned to Rome she arranged for the building of a church on the site of Jesus’ Ascension. During a war in 614 the original church was destroyed by the Persians. By 680 the church was rebuilt. This church was also destroyed but it was rebuilt by the crusaders. Following the fall of Jerusalem in 1187 the church was again destroyed.  The small chapel we see today is all that remains from the previous churches.  It also services as a mosque.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 30

New Ascension Banner at Christ Lutheran

by Celeste Grau

Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
      Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:44–53

There is a saying, “All Good Things Must Come to an End.” Here on earth this is true. Not only do good things end, bad things also end. Concerning bad and difficult times the expression is, “This Too Shall End.” Because of sin, everything we experience in life will come to an end.

It is sad when good things end.  Friends move away and you lose contact. Dear and kind coworkers find new employment and develop a new sphere of friendships. Families are separated by distance when a community doesn’t offer the right opportunities for children. The list goes on and on but in our experience the final and most devastating separation and ending is the death of a loved one.

For some days after Good Friday the disciples experienced the loss of a dear friend, not because he moved on in his relationships but through death. It was devastating for them.  They not only were filled with a sense of loss but also fear for their lives and future. They had placed their hope in this friend and those hopes were dashed! The disciples on the road to Emmaus put it well when they said, “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21).

Yes, Jesus had died but what the disciples hadn’t realized is that although His earthly ministry and good times they had experienced with Him were over, better times lay ahead. Jesus’ resurrection proved that death need not be the end.  In fact Jesus’ resurrection illustrated that for believers in Christ, death is a new beginning.

While it is true, “All Good Things Must Come to an End,” for Christians, better things always await us. Jesus’ Ascension into heaven was the final note in the symphony of His mission of salvation here on earth. The disciples recognized this when the Bible reports that following Jesus’ Ascension, “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”

Transitions in life can be difficult and filled with anxiety. It is sad when a good part or phase of your life is over.  Graduations, weddings, and new jobs can all be bittersweet. You grieve the loss of old friendships and relationships. But as God’s people we always know better times await us. New opportunities unfold. New relationships are forged. For us as Christians we can live our lives with great joy just as the disciples did.

We know that Jesus has accomplished His mission.  He has ascended into heaven to rule the world on our behalf.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He has sent His promised Holy Spirit into our lives. We continue His work here on earth by being His witnesses and proclaiming the Gospel until the day when He returns and declares to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for your work of salvation! Grant that each day, I would be encouraged to see even better days ahead as you have promised to be with me always. Amen.


God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – Ascension Day, May 29

The Ascension of our Lord

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11

Christians love to celebrate the events of Jesus’ life here on earth. December 25th cannot pass by without the people of the world knowing that something special is being remembered and celebrated.  Reports of Palm Sunday and Good Friday observances from around the world are evident every year. Even the secular media acknowledges the importance of Easter to the Christian people.

Yet it is a sad commentary on the state of the Church in our country—even among Lutherans—that Ascension Day can pass by without anyone taking notice.  I count it a privilege to serve a congregation that gathers to celebrate the completion of Christ’s mission on earth and His triumph over sin, death and the devil.

Since the time of the Reformation, Lutherans have recognized the importance of Christ’s ascension into heaven.  It is commemorated in the art work displayed in many Lutheran Churches. In those houses of worship, Sunday after Sunday the faithful see Jesus being received into the clouds of heaven while the disciples watch in awe.

The following hymn summarizes so well the meaning of The Ascension of our Lord for all believers. Please read each stanza and reflect upon its meaning for our daily lives here on earth.

On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build

By: Josua Wegelin, 1636

On Christ’s ascension I now build

The hope of my ascension;

This hope alone has always stilled

All doubt and apprehension;

For where the head is, there as well

I know his members are to dwell

When Christ will come and call them.

Since Christ returned to claim his throne,

Great gifts for me obtaining,

My heart will rest in him alone,

No other rest remaining;

For where my treasure went before,

There all my thoughts will ever soar

To still their deepest yearning.

Oh, grant, dear Lord, this grace to me,

Recalling your ascension,

That I may serve you faithfully,

Adorning your redemption;

And then, when all my days will cease,

Let me depart in joy and peace

In answer to my pleading.

Hymn # 150 from Lutheran Worship

Etlich Christlich lider

Tune: Nun Freut Euch

1st Published in: 1524

Bach composed the cantata based on this hymn in his second year in Leipzig for the Feast of Ascension. It was first performed on May 10, 1725. You can hear Bach’s cantata on Youtube:  “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128.”

Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein

ich meine Nachfahrt gründe

und allen Zweifel, Angst und Pein

hiermit stets überwinde.

Denn weil das Haupt im Himmel ist,

wird seine Glieder Jesus Christ

zur rechten Zeit nachholen.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ascended to the right hand of the Father. From there You rule over all things for me and Your Church. Give me confidence that the gates of Hell will never prevail against me as part of Your Church because of Your divine rule and protection. Amen.

Ascension

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

oil on canvas (93 × 69 cm) — 1636

Alte Pinakothek, Munich

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/609.html

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 28

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. 1 Peter 3:21

I suppose it is in our nature to believe that life is the most difficult for us now in our age. Things are moving so quickly. Technology that is dreamed of today is here tomorrow and obsolete the day after. The environment has many problems that need to be tackled.  The governments of the world can’t seem to get along.

On a personal level we all face challenges. Friendships come and go.  It is hard to know whom we should trust. People you once opened your heart to have betrayed and left you. Work and school seem to be more challenging and difficult every day.

Morality in the world appears to have fallen to an all-time low. Things that were once unquestionably wrong are now praised as noble. People are deserting the Lord and His church.

Yet as we join together in declaring, “Woe is me!” it may be good to pause and take a broader perspective. There was a time when things were much worse but God did not abandon His people.

In the days of Noah “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11). At that time there were only eight believers in the whole world! At that time God chose to cleanse the world with a flood.

On the basis of 1 Peter 3:21 Martin Luther says Baptism is a greater flood than Noah’s! When we see all the corruption around us, we ought not to be blinded to our own personal corruption of the human heart. The corruption of our internal spirit and being is much more dangerous to us than the circumstances in which we live. But that internal corruption is washed away in the flood of Holy Baptism.

Your own personal flood happened when you were sanctified and cleansed “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). Each day when you return to God in repentance, you return to your baptism. Jesus' life, death and resurrection is applied to you in baptism.  You receive it by faith and live in it daily.

When you hear of crime and violence, when you feel overwhelmed by the world, when it seems that no one loves the Lord, remember He cradles you in the Ark of His Church and has cleansed you by the washing of water through the word!

Prayer: Lord, when difficult times surround me grant that I may feel secure as you float me above the flood waters in your loving care. Amen.

The Baptism of Jesus

Paolo Veronese 1528 – 1588

oil on canvas

Museum Palazzo Pitti, Florence

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/29.html

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 27

Because I live, you also will live. John 14:19

“Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice” is one of Luther’s most loved hymns.  It has been connected to Luther’s Preface to the New Testament written a few months earlier in 1522.  Many consider this hymn to be a confession of faith that stands alongside Luther’s other great Reformation writings that deal with justification as well as Law and Gospel.

About 100 years after Luther, a University of Wittenberg faculty member exclaimed that this hymn is “an excellent and comforting summary of the totality of the evangelical Lutheran foundation of faith. It contains  the whole of Theology, Christology, and Anthropology, or what we should know from the word of God about God, about Christ and our wretchedness and its solution in the kingdom of grace through the merit of Christ, as well as the certainty of the eternal joyful kingdom”

It is a commentary on Romans 1-8 in hymn form:

Stanza 1    Romans 1:16-17
Stanzas 2-3 Romans 1:18-3:20
Stanzas 4-6 Romans 3:21-6:23
Stanzas 7-10 Romans 8

As you read this amazing hymn think of God’s great love for you in Christ.

Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice

1
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
    With exultation springing,
And with united heart and voice
    And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God has done,
How His right arm the vict’ry won.
    What price our ransom cost Him!

2
Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay;
    Death brooded darkly o’er me.
Sin was my torment night and day;
    In sin my mother bore me.
But daily deeper still I fell;
My life became a living hell,
    So firmly sin possessed me.

3
My own good works all came to naught,
    No grace or merit gaining;
Free will against God’s judgment fought,
    Dead to all good remaining.
My fears increased till sheer despair
Left only death to be my share;
    The pangs of hell I suffered.

4
But God had seen my wretched state
    Before the world’s foundation,
And mindful of His mercies great,
    He planned for my salvation.
He turned to me a father’s heart;
He did not choose the easy part
    But gave His dearest treasure.

5
God said to His belovèd Son:
    “It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright jewel of My crown,
    And bring to all salvation.
From sin and sorrow set them free;
Slay bitter death for them that they
    May live with You forever.”

6
The Son obeyed His Father’s will,
    Was born of virgin mother;
And God’s good pleasure to fulfill,
    He came to be my brother.
His royal pow’r disguised He bore;
A servant’s form, like mine, He wore
    To lead the devil captive.

7
To me He said: “Stay close to Me,
    I am your rock and castle.
Your ransom I Myself will be;
    For you I strive and wrestle.
For I am yours, and you are Mine,
And where I am you may remain;
    The foe shall not divide us.

8
“Though he will shed My precious blood,
    Me of My life bereaving,
All this I suffer for your good;
    Be steadfast and believing.
Life will from death the vict’ry win;
My innocence shall bear your sin,
    And you are blest forever.

9

“Now to My Father I depart,
    From earth to heav’n ascending,
And, heavn’ly wisdom to impart,
    The Holy Spirit sending;
In trouble He will comfort you
And teach you always to be true
    And into truth shall guide you.

10

“What I on earth have done and taught
    Guide all your life and teaching;
So shall the kingdom’s work be wrought
    And honored in your preaching.
But watch lest foes with base alloy
The heav’nly treasure should destroy;
    This final word I leave you.”

Public domain

The Resurrection of Christ

Rembrandt

oil on canvas (92 × 67 cm) — ca. 1635/39

Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I always rejoice in the victory you won for me on the cross. Grant that I may always stay close to you, my Rock and Castle. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – Memorial Day, May 26

many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the law,
    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 2:3-4

Our American observance of Memorial Day originated with the end of the Civil War as a day to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. Its original name was Decoration Day as the graves of these fallen loved ones were decorated with flags and flowers.

Peace following the Civil War was fleeting and the United States became engaged in World Wars I and II. Thousands upon thousands were added to the list of American war dead.   Next came the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the wars in the Middle East. Today Memorial Day is designated to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

 Early in the conflict that came to be known as World War I, John McCrae, a Canadian poet and soldier, fought in the second battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium where the German army launched one of the first chemical attacks in the history of war. Following seventeen days of fighting, McCrae, while standing at the fresh grave of a close friend, noticed how quickly poppies grew in this new cemetery. The next day he composed “In Flanders Fields” while sitting in the back of an ambulance.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

      Between the crosses, row on row,

   That mark our place; and in the sky

   The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

   Loved and were loved, and now we lie

         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

   The torch; be yours to hold it high.

   If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

         In Flanders fields.

Many of us were required to memorize this poem in grade school and even until today, poppies are a symbol of Memorial Day.

As we remember and commemorate those who have died in service to our country, it is important to remember that war is a most horrific reminder of sin in our world. The only answer to sin is God’s own Son, the Prince of Peace.  He came into the world to grant us forgiveness, life and salvation.  During this Easter season we look forward to the day of resurrection when all who make war shall “beat their swords into plowshares.”

Prayer: Lord thank you for the freedom I have because others have sacrificed their lives for me. Grant that I may experience the peace of your kingdom, now in time and there in eternity, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Tomb of the Unknowns 

located in Arlington National Cemetery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_the_Unknowns.jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – The Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 25

[Jesus said:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

On this Memorial Day weekend it is appropriate for us to remember all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. During this 70th anniversary year of D-Day our thoughts often turn to World War II and those who died there.

While war is always repugnant, during that global conflict it was possible to determine that we were fighting not only for self-defense but for the protection and liberation of oppressed people all over the world. On June 18, 1940 in the House of Commons, following the collapse of France, Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Finest Hour” speech. In this speech there is an important but often overlooked statement, “I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.”

What Winston Churchill said in 1940 was believed by most Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. But today no politician would dare call our American way of life and Western culture, “Christian civilization.”

The day when it was generally understood that we should keep Jesus’ commandments seems to be long gone. Large numbers of people in our society proudly profess to be atheists and agnostics. They want nothing to do with Jesus and His morality. Also through the decades Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others have swelled our ranks. Christian civilization means nothing to them. Finally there are many who, although they may claim to be Christians, have no real desire for Him and His word of truth.

As you can see, although Jesus’ words seem to be simple, in practice they are quite problematic. But our difficulties don’t stop there. Jesus has said the greatest commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Do we keep this greatest commandment? NO! Even we, who claim to be faithful Christians, fall short when it comes to keeping this simple command of Jesus. In fact no one keeps Jesus’ commands. The Bible tells us, “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12).

Thank God that we are not saved by our love of Jesus, because in this we fall short every day. Thank God that we are saved by God’s love for us in Jesus. Thank God that Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for our sins upon the cross. Trust in Him for your salvation.

When we learn of Jesus love for us, we cannot help but love Him. Although we fail daily, we truly want to keep His commandments. May the Holy Spirit strengthen you for this task today and every day.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord that this statement is true: It is “not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Grant that I would always believe this. Amen.

Graves decorated with flags at Arlington National Cemetery

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graves_at_Arlington_on_Memorial_Day.JPG

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 24

(Jesus said to him,) “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

Martin Luther writes so winsomely about these words, I could never hope to improve. Here are his comments for you to savor. May they speak to your heart of Jesus’ love.

“The first thing you see in this Person of Christ is that He does not look at anyone with a sour face, treat anyone in an unfriendly manner, or frighten and drive anyone away from Him; He invites and draws all men to Him in the kindliest manner, both with His words and with His bearing. He shows Himself as a servant who wants to help everybody. Furthermore, He lets Himself be crucified for you and freely sheds His blood. All this you see with your eyes; and with your ears you hear nothing but friendly, sweet, and comforting words, such as: “Let not your hearts be troubled”; “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden” (Matt. 11:28); “Whoever believes in Me shall not be lost, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), etc., etc. The Gospel of St. John is full of such verses. From this you can infer with certainty that He is not hostile to you but wants to show you all grace and goodness. Cling to this; hold firmly to it; do not permit your eyes and your thoughts to stray beyond this; and let nothing else that occurs to you lead you off the right path.

“And as you now hear and see Christ revealing Himself to you, you can rest assured that the Father is disposed toward you in like manner. For a little later (v. 10) Christ states: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority,” but they are the Father’s words. And at another place we read (John 6:40): “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life.” He who grasps this in faith cannot think that God is angry with him or will reject and condemn him. For here there is neither a word nor a sign of disfavor, but only friendly, gracious words, a loving and kind look, in short, sheer fervor and ardor of ineffable, fatherly, and sincere love.” (Luther's Works, 24:60-61)

Prayer: Lord, let me never doubt your kindness and love. Grant that I will always trust your friendly, sweet and comforting words. Amen.

The Isenheim Altarpiece

Unterlinden Museum 

Colmar, Alsace, in France.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mathis_Gothart_Gr%C3%BCnewald_030.jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 23

Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

The antiphon for the Introit on Sunday was Psalm 119:105. This important verse in the longest Psalm is one that you may have memorized at an early age, (although you may have forgotten the reference).

We all have experienced darkness but we almost never experience darkness in the same way as people who lived in Bible times.  It may be dark when you awaken in the middle of the night but with the coming of electricity, light is only the flip of a switch away. Children have night lights. Cars have head lights. Cities have street lights. Even stores that close at night keep their parking lots lit and security lights on in the store.

Since we can’t fully experience the darkness of an overcast moonless night, we can’t fully experience the gift of light. There are so many references to light in the Bible that are not well appreciated because we take light for granted.

Close your eyes for a moment and mentally transport yourself into a first century home like one that Jesus and his disciples may have lived in.  It is night time. There is one oil lamp burning in a niche in the wall. This is your only source of light. Now with that image in your mind silently repeat to yourself, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

You may begin to see how the Psalmist treasures God’s word. Without it we are lost in a sea of darkness and despair.  There is no hope of finding your way. It is no wonder that the world is filled with so much trouble when people live in spiritual darkness.

We thank God for the treasure of His holy word.  It is a light that illumines our sin, Christ’s cross, and His love for us. It shows us clearly the path of righteousness that Jesus’ followers want to take.

Pray that God would move us and our loved ones to more deeply embrace the light of God’s word and live according to it.

Today’s prayer is the collect from Sunday:

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Antique bronze oil lamp with the "Chi Rho", a Christian symbol (replica)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oil_Lamp_Christian_Symbol.jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 22

Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Psalm 146:3

Psalm 146 is our Psalm for this week. It points to the heart of so many issues facing us in life. Our natural tendency is to trust in human solutions for our problems.

This verse speaks first about people in leadership and authority in the government. It has become more and more common for our society to look to the government for answers. In its earliest form governments (kings and princes) provided for the defense of a country. Europe is dotted with castles and strongholds as testimony to this. Over the years we have turned to our secular authorities for everything from health care to life style management of our children.

But governments are not the only places we inappropriately place our trust. Unfortunately we seek salvation in human wisdom, reason and inventiveness. It must be admitted that governments, wisdom, reason and inventiveness all have their place but we must never sell our souls to these human institutions.

Kingdoms fall.  Castles are destroyed. Human reason has repeatedly failed us.  Assured and settled science has been proven to be false.  Psalm 146:3 is a sober reminder that it has never been wise to trust in people for salvation.

Rather: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5). While God may use princes or other human agents to help us, our ultimate help and salvation comes from the LORD. He is the source of all life.  He sent Jesus to be the Prince of Peace who brings life and salvation.  We trust in Him.  He sets prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, upholds the widow and fatherless and brings the way of the wicked to ruin.

Spend a moment and meditate on Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
    in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
    on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7     who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, grant that when I am tempted to trust in human understanding and might that I may be drawn back to trust in you for my salvation. Amen.

OLD WARDOUR CASTLE

WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-wardour-castle

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 21

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59

The story of Stephen is heart rending.  He was a man of “good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” and also “a man full of faith.”  He obviously loved the Lord and His Church.

He is chosen and ordained to assist the apostles in the work of the fledgling congregation in Jerusalem. We learn that “the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.” No doubt Stephen had his hands full with this growing assembly and was extremely dedicated to the work given to him by the Church. In fact, Luke reports, “Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”

Without knowing the end of the story, it would be easy to assume that Stephen was destined for a long and productive ministry.  He was set to go from success to success.  After all, isn’t that what we’ve been told?  If you are doing the Lord’s work, God will bless you with success and prosperity!

Indeed he is granted success but not the kind the world would recognize.  He is given the opportunity to preach to the assembled enemies of Christ and His Church. Just as Peter had done on the Day of Pentecost, Stephen is able to preach the full severity of the Law of God to these unbelievers. On Pentecost the people repented and 3000 were baptized.  Not so on this day.  Rather than repentance the Bible records: “Now when they heard these things they were enraged.”

Which of these two were more faithful? Peter or Stephen? In our modern culture of demographic success many in our churches would say Peter because as a result of his preaching thousands were converted. The story of Stephen shows the folly of this thinking.  By the working of the Holy Spirit both Peter and Stephen are faithful.  They both bring the same message.  Yet in God’s infinite wisdom the outcome is different for each. Peter goes on to have many more years of ministry and Stephen’s life comes to an end with a gruesome stoning and his martyrdom.

In the church and in life, it is easy to become discouraged and believe that the success of Peter’s preaching on Pentecost is awaiting every congregation if they just had the right preacher. The short and poignant ministry of Stephen shows that growth is in God’s hands and that faithfulness is required not worldly success.

None of us knows what God has planned for us. For most it is somewhere between Peter and Stephen.  May we never grow wearing in pointing to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection until the day when we too see “the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” as Stephen did.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus, thank you for Peter and Stephen and all who are faithful in proclaiming your holy word.  Grant that I will be faithful unto death and so receive the crown of life. Amen.

The Stoning of St Stephen 

Rembrandt — 1625

oil on panel (90 × 124 cm) 

Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/682.html

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 20

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Peter goes on to say, “Once you were not a people.”  Most of us have experienced a time in our lives when we were left out—not invited to the party, not chosen for the team, left out of a trip, not chosen for a job, sat at home during prom, emails and phone calls not returned.

Most of these situations are annoying but not overly serious when you consider your entire life. New opportunities present themselves.  Your mother was right when she said, “There are more fish in the sea!”  But sometimes being unchosen and neglected can have dire consequences, both physically and spiritually. But for you this is not the case.

In a sinful world, hurtful and thoughtless people abound. Their callousness is hard to take. Yet while living in this cruel world you have been chosen.  The Holy Spirit has worked in your life to make you a child of God through faith. You have been called out of the darkness of sin and death. You have been chosen to live in God’s marvelous light here in time and there in eternity.

This marvelous light is the light of the Gospel. It is the light of forgiveness of sins that shines from the cross. It is full of marvel and wonder because God’s own Son has sacrificed Himself for us sinners.  Inconceivable! But true. God’s grace in Christ is the most marvelous light and it shines brightly in this dark, dreary world of disappointment and sadness.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for calling me out of the darkness of sin and death. Thank you for making me part of your family. Grant that each day I may proclaim the excellence of your grace in Christ. Amen.

Descent from the Cross

Rembrandt 1634

Hermitage Museum

Saint Petersburg, Russia.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Descent_from_the_Cross_(Rembrant).jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 19

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

The Gospel lesson for Sunday began with these words.  About them Martin Luther says:

It is as if He were saying: “My dear disciples, I know very well what your lot will be after I depart from you and leave you alone. Sheer terror and fear will overwhelm you. The spectacle of My fate will fill you with trepidation. Your hearts will melt within you, and you will scarcely know where to turn. I am telling you this before it happens, to keep you from growing fainthearted. Be bold, and prepare for the struggle that lies ahead. When this time comes, then think of My admonition, lest you soon lose heart and despair.” (Luther’s Works 24:10)

If you are familiar with Martin Luther’s life, you know that he had many opportunities to fear. He also certainly must have draw comfort from these very words of Jesus.

When you don’t know where to turn; when you are fainthearted, hear again the words of Jesus, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”  Be bold, be calm, and rejoice in the salvation won for you by Jesus. Remember that He has gone to prepare a place in the mansions of heaven specially for you!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you know the struggles I have with fear and anxiety.  Grant me the trust and faith I need to relieve my troubled heart. Amen

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld's (1794-1872)

depiction of the New Jerusalem, Jesus, and Mary

surrounded by a myriad of angels. 

http://www.pitts.emory.edu/dia/detail.cfm?ID=11970

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – The Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 18

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Today is our Confirmation Day at Christ Lutheran Church. This is one of the most joyous days of the year.

In Matthew Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Confirmation is not commanded in the Bible but everything we do in Confirmation is. Jesus directed that disciples should be made by baptizing and teaching. When their parents brought these young people to God in Holy Baptism, they were doing what Jesus had directed.

When they brought their children to be instructed in the teachings of the Bible, they were doing what Jesus instructed. Jesus had not said, “Teach them the very minimum to get by.”  He said to teach them “all that I have commanded.” Confirmation instruction is part of fulfilling Jesus’ words.

Jesus said: “Whoever confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father in heaven.  But he that denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33).  Jesus does not expect that we will keep our faith a secret.  Confirmation gives us the opportunity to confess Jesus publicly.

In part, Confirmation is the occasion for each of these young people to stand before God’s altar and declare that Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life.”  And that they would suffer all, even death rather than fall away from Him.

May God keep each of these His children in His loving care. Pray that they would be faithful unto death and so receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

Prayer for the newly Confirmed: 
Almighty and most merciful Father, in the waters of Holy Baptism You have united Your children in the suffering and death of Your Son Jesus Christ, cleansing them by His blood. Renew in them the gift of Your Holy Spirit that they may live in daily contrition and repentance with a faith that ever clings to their Savior. Deliver them from the power of Satan and preserve them from false and dangerous doctrines, that they may remain faithful in hearing Christ's Word and receiving His body and blood. By the Lord's Supper strengthen them to believe that no one can make satisfaction for sin but Christ alone. Enable them to find joy and comfort only in Him, learning from this Sacrament to love You and their neighbor and to bear the cross with patience and joy until the day of the resurrection of their bodies to life immortal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Confirmation 2014

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 17

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:7

Today is the last day of Good Shepherd week and we haven’t begun to exhaust this incredible theme found in Holy Scripture expressing God’s compassionate love for us. Psalm 95:7 may be one of the more familiar shepherd verses for you. We sing it as part of Matins. The Latin name for Psalm 95 is Venite!

Matins is a morning service. In the English church it is called Morning Prayer.  In Luther’s time Matins was sung every morning during the week therefore the people began each day singing:
“He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

While Good Shepherd week has come to a close, may we also be reminded each day that “He is our God.”  He is the God of creation.  He is the God who cared for the people of old and led them out of bondage in Egypt through the Red Sea and wilderness to the Promised Land.  He is the one who set David on his throne and promised the coming King who would be greater than David and all other kings.  He is the one who sent the prophets and their words of comfort. He is the one who promised a Savior.  He is the one who sent His only-begotten Son. He is the one who sent the Good Shepherd to lay down His life for the sheep.

And we are the sheep of His pasture. He lovingly cares for us each day.  He comes to seek and save the lost sheep who have wandered and strayed.  He makes us lie down in green pastures. He restores our soul. He anoints our head with oil. He makes our cups overflow. He brings us to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer: O Good Shepherd, thank you for your tender care. Grant that I may always be your little lamb and when my short life is ended may I by your angels be attended. Amen.

I Am Jesus' Little Lamb

I am Jesus’ little lamb,

Ever glad at heart I am;

For my Shepherd gently guides me,

Knows my need and well provides me,

Loves me ev’ry day the same,

Even calls me by my name.

Day by day, at home, away,

Jesus is my staff and stay.

When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,

Into pleasant pastures leads me;

When I thirst, He bids me go

Where the quiet waters flow.

Who so happy as I am,

Even now the Shepherd’s lamb?

And when my short life is ended,

By His angel host attended,

He shall fold me to His breast,

There within His arms to rest.

Public domain

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 16

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalm 95:1

Psalms are for singing! The people of God were already singing the Psalms for at least a thousand years when Jesus was born! And we have been singing them ever since!

Psalm 95:1 was part of our Introit on Sunday.  Each week when we chant the Introit we are singing part of an ancient Psalm that God’s people have been faithfully singing since David first picked up his lyre.

Psalm 95 begins “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord.” These two verbs “come” and “sing” are keys to the Christian life. Sunday after Sunday Christians come to church and sing.  In their singing of Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs they are strengthened in faith.

Did you notice the invitation to come and sing? The pronoun is US.  Singing in the church is collective activity.  When I hear you and all the other gathered Christians sing, I am encouraged. It is fine to hear yourself sing in the shower but how much more of a blessing it is to join with all the saints in singing praise to God in His Holy House.

Singing in church is more than listening to beautiful solos and groups of singers.  It is joining with the unrestrained happiness and joy of knowing the Rock of our salvation—Jesus Christ, born, lived, died, and rose again for you and me!

Some of us are blessed with high voices and some with low, some with loud and some with soft, some sing on pitch and some not so much. Regardless of our abilities this Psalm invites us to MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE to the rock of our salvation!

Oh come! Let us gather together in church this week to sing to the Lord. Let the rafters be raised by the joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Prayer: O Rock of our salvation, thank you for the gift of eternal life. Grant that my lungs will swell this Sunday with a joyful noise of praise and thanksgiving to You for all of Your benefits to me. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 15

This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 1 Peter 2:19

Suffering is an unavoidable fact of life. It is particularly heartbreaking to see an infant or child suffer.  It is distressing to know that a young enthusiastic preschooler will soon enter a world of bullies and persecution.

None of us will live on this earth without suffering. Suffering is the consequence of sin. It is unfortunate that some preachers of the so called “prosperity gospel” falsely imply that deep faith and righteous living will eliminate suffering, disease and hurt from your life.

Jesus and His Apostles clearly teach in Holy Scripture that suffering will come to all, even (and sometimes especially) Christians.  Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Indeed much of our suffering comes as a consequence of sinful activity. Immoral and criminal activity will eventually lead to temporal suffering and if there is no repentance, also to eternal suffering. But St. Peter reminds us that some of our suffering comes unjustly. When we endure these sorrows, it is a gracious thing.

He says we have been called to follow Christ who also suffered for us.  He committed no sin. When He was abused and insulted, He did not return this abuse. Instead He entrusted Himself to God who judges justly. He bore our sins on the cross so that we would die to sin and live to righteousness.

Prayer: O Shepherd of my soul, thank you for suffering the cross for me. Grant me the grace to endure unjust suffering and bear my cross as I walk in your footsteps. Gather me in your arms when the way becomes too difficult. Amen.

The Good Shepherd 

Stained glass window at the front of

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church

Courtland, MN.

http://mnprairieroots.com/2009/08/26/

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 14

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most cherished portions of scripture.  It is almost as familiar to people as the Lord’s Prayer.  When I read the 23rd Psalm at a bedside very often people in the room join me speaking the words from memory.

“The Lord is my shepherd” is a comforting statement. God in His mercy cares for me with all of the sensitivity and concern that a shepherd has for his sheep.  There is tenderness in the Lord’s care that is beyond compare.  Certainly the Lord’s greatest act of caring was sending Jesus to be my Savior so that I can dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

One way to add calm and peace to your day is to read the 23rd Psalm multiple times during the day.  One older pastor suggests reading it carefully and thoughtfully five times a day: once when you get up then again at each meal and finally at bedtime. It has been his experience that when people try this, their lives have been changed for the better.

Psalm 23 (ESV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Prayer: O Shepherd of my soul, remind me of your constant care. When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, keep me from fear.  Let me recognize your goodness and mercy all the days of my life as I await living in your house for all eternity. Amen.

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church

Ashfield, New South Wales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass_GoodShepherd_Portrait.jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 13

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

Good Shepherd Sunday reminds us of Jesus and His great love for us.  It also reminds us that we act like sheep. Isaiah clearly declares:

“All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:6

Indeed there is no one in Christ’s flock, the Church, who deserves to be there. Every one of us, left to our own devices, would find ourselves lost and stranded in the wilderness of sin, death and the devil. The notion that church is for the good people is the false idea of the Pharisees.

St. Paul puts the record straight when he affirms, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” 1 Tim 1:15.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Each day we thank God that He has found us and made us His own.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending the Good Shepherd to find me. Keep me safe in His flock, the Church.  Keep me from straying again. Amen.

Good Shepherd Window

First Lutheran Church

Papillion, NE 

(When I was pastor at First Lutheran, I could see this window every Sunday from the pulpit.)

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 12

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus, the Good Shepherd comes to give us life in all its abundance. In contrast the thief only wants to steal, kill and destroy.

It is interesting and sad to observe young celebrities self destruct. It seems that each week or sometimes every day, we hear the heartbreaking details of a youthful star destroying himself or herself by succumbing to the temptations of the world.

Drugs, alcohol, and wild living are very attractive, especially to the young.  The Thief is so deceptive. He makes it look so appealing. A young person free from the bonds of parental control may now believe, “This is really living!”

But as we have observed over and over, this uncontrolled lifestyle is not “living.”  It is the path to destruction. Drugs, alcohol and wild living actually are stealing the very thing that they have deceived us into believing they are giving: life itself.

Of course the Thief not only attacks young people. Men and women of any age believe they have life when they have the things that support the biology of life. Yet often these are the very things that he can use to steal and destroy spiritual and eternal life.

Only the Good Shepherd comes to give life rather than take it.  The irony is that to give us life, it cost Him His own life. The life He gives is abundant, lacking in nothing. As a believer in Christ, you have it now!   And you have it for eternity!!!

Prayer: O Good Shepherd, thank You for the abundant gift of life You have given to me. Keep me ever faithful to Your flock. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – Good Shepherd Sunday, May 11 – Mother’s Day

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and by one of those odd coincidences that happen when you combine the Church Year with the secular calendar, today is also Mother’s Day. One temptation in the church might be to simply go with the flow and forget about the Good Shepherd and focus on Mother’s Day.  The other temptation would be to imagine that the church exists in a vacuum and whatever is happening in the world around us is never mentioned.  What is the proper approach to the day?

It certainly wouldn’t be one that focuses on the gift and forgets the giver. God is the giver of gifts. In His grace and mercy He gives us the gift of Mother’s. We receive God’s gift of Mother’s with thanksgiving.

The Good Shepherd is one of the most cherished images of our Savior, Jesus. It has been treasured by Christians from the earliest times. The first known statue of Jesus is Jesus as the Good Shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. An unknown artist produced it in the early 300s.  Even earlier is painting of Jesus as the Good Shepherd in a catacomb produced in the mid 200s.

This idea of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is so loved that countless churches have installed Good Shepherd stained glass windows.  Many Lutheran churches bear the name “Good Shepherd.”

Personally I find this image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd very appealing.  How often I have either lost my way or found myself stuck in the briars and brambles of life. The Good Shepherd has always been there to tend to me.

On Mother’s Day we can be thankful that the Good Shepherd sent Mother’s into our lives to tend to our needs, to bandage our scrapes, to comfort us in distress and to show us the same love that the Good Shepherd has for His sheep.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the Good Shepherd and His self-sacrificing love for me, His little lamb. Thank you for mothers who love their children with this same self-sacrificing love. Grant that I may learn to love in a self-sacrificing way. Amen.

Good Shepherd

Early Christian Sculpture, marble, 92cm high, 

Vatican Museum, Rome, circa 300 AD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Good.Shepherd.Vatican.Museum.jpg

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – May 10

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
     when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1

Psalm 133:1 is the beginning of the Introit for last Sunday. For the three great festivals of the year, the people of God would travel to Jerusalem to worship at the temple and celebrate their communion with their heavenly Father. As they approached Jerusalem these pilgrim bands would swell in ranks and sing the Psalms of Ascent as they climbed to the heights of Jerusalem and saw the temple towering over the city.  How delightful it was to celebrate their unity with one another as they gathered to worship the one God and to receive His blessings!

Our lives are filled with conflict. Factions and cliques push their agendas. At work or school schemes are hatched by self-serving people. In traffic, horns are sounded if someone inadvertently impedes the way of another. Generosity and kindness are a rare commodity.

How good and pleasant it is then when we can gather with fellow believers in Christ on the Lord’s day to hear His holy word, receive His gifts and sing His praise.  In the Church we are all poor miserable sinners who kneel before the cross to receive forgiveness, life and salvation.

In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther puts it this way as he describes the Holy Christian Church and the Communion of Saints in the Large Catechism

“But this is the meaning and substance of this addition:

 “I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ [Ephesians 1:22].  This group is called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with many different gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms [Ephesians 4:5–8, 11]. I am also a part and member of this same group, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses [Romans 8:17]. I am brought to it and incorporated into it by the Holy Spirit through having heard and continuing to hear God’s Word [Galatians 3:1–2], which is the beginning of entering it. In the past, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of the devil, knowing nothing about God and about Christ [Romans 3:10–12]. So, until the Last Day, the Holy Spirit abides with the holy congregation or Christendom [John 14:17]. Through this congregation He brings us to Christ and He teaches and preaches to us the Word [John 14:26]. By the Word He works and promotes sanctification, causing this congregation daily to grow and to become strong in the faith and its fruit, which He produces [Galatians 5].”

Prayer: Lord thank you for making me part of this little group you call your own, the Holy Christian Church. Keep me in Christ and His word until the Last Day. Grant me the opportunity to worship with my fellow believers in church on Sunday for this will be good and pleasant. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus