The King
Portraits of Christ from the Gospel of John Chapter Twelve Not many people in our world know what it is like to have someone as a king Many countries, such as ours, have representative governments…
Firstfruits for Life
A drive through the countryside shows that this year’s long harvest season is finally drawing to a close. After a very wet October and long backups at the grain elevators in November, the crops are finally in.
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that our annual Thanksgiving celebration comes at this time of year, at the close of the harvest, when we can clearly see how the Lord has blessed the land and us.
In Bible times it was different. Their thanksgiving came at the beginning of the harvest. The farmers would take the very first of their produce, put it in a basket, and present it before the Lord as their offering of “firstfruits,” as it is described in Deuteronomy chapter 26. In this way they gave honor to God. It was their way of saying “This is just the beginning, O Lord, and it all belongs to You, for it is You who made the soil and the sun. You are the one who brings the rains, and causes the seeds to grow.”
Our annual in gathering of crops should be a reminder to us all of a greater harvest day that is coming. It will be a harvest of all people, on the day that our Lord Jesus will return and raise all the dead. He will gather all His believers to His right hand side and invite them to enter with Him into eternal life. The Bible says that there will be a great many others who will not be a part of this harvest that leads to life, but will instead be condemned for eternity.
Will you and I be at the Lord’s right hand side on that day? How can we know?
I Am Full
Thanksgiving Devotion Please read Philippians 4:10-20 If ever there was a holiday when it was fitting to talk about being “full,” Thanksgiving would be that day Eating is what most people associate with Thanksgiving Day.…
The Big Test
Studies in Second Timothy (Please read 2 Timothy 1:1-7) Since Christ’s Ascension, millions of people have died for His sake, and thousands of people throughout the world become martyrs in His Name every year. But…
When God Comes Down!
“Boys, don’t make me come up there!” It happened very seldom, but that’s how my father would warn us when my brother and I were making too much bedtime noise. It was all in good…
Chapel Talk on Chapter 17 of “Out of Necessity”
Dear Friends in Christ, Chapter 17 of the history of the CLC is entitled “Doctrinal Controversies.” Yes, we have to admit that in the history of our church body there have been serious debates and…
Thanks, But No Thanks
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” — Psalm 100:4-5
I invite you to consider with me two common expressions with the word “thanks” in them, and to apply them to spiritual matters.
The first is “Thanks, but no thanks.”
This expression is used in our society as a polite way of acknowledging the generous offer of someone but then for whatever reason declining the offer. Perhaps we don’t want the contents of the offer or we may think that the offer is too much and we are undeserving of it.
During this month our country as well as many others set aside a specific day to remember to give thanks for what we have been given.
Thanksgiving was declared a holiday by our government in 1863 during the Civil War, and a fixed day—the fourth Thursday in November–was set by Congress in 1942 during World War II.
Surely there is nothing wrong with a day devoted to giving thanks, although for a Christian it is appropriate to do so every day. And certainly there are many reasons for Americans to be thankful–food, shelter, family, freedom, and so on.
But this holiday, like many others, would be empty without the main reason for giving thanks to God. That reason is Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)
Unfortunately, many people are blind to this true reason for giving thanks. Perhaps they don’t want what Jesus has to offer. Perhaps they feel the offer of forgiveness of sins is too much and they are undeserving. For them it is “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Defending the Good Name of a Seminary Dean
It all began as a book review intended for the Lutheran Spokesman. Early in 2009 your editor had in mind to inform our readers of a book of sermons titled Morning Bells at Our Saviour’s…
Novermber 01-06, 2010
01 Matthew 21:33-46 – TLH 257 Spiritual indifference leads to rebellion. 02 Matthew 22:1-14 – TLH 407 Jewish rebellion escalated to murder. 03 Matthew 25:14-30 – TLH 395 The LORD rewards personal enterprise. 04 Ephesians…
When will they Ever Learn
In the aftermath of the Reformation celebration, we append to this “Cross Purposes” feature a brief but timely commentary by Pastor Fleischer. — Editor “Pope John Paul II whipped himself with a belt, even on…