It is a sad fact that many who were led by Moses out of the land of Egypt, who were “baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink” (1 Cor. 10:1-4) did not enter into the promised land. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “but with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5).

So also it is today. Not all who are outwardly affiliated with a church — even with a faithful church — not all who have been baptized or who have partaken of the Lord’s Supper will be saved. Why? Because they do not believe! And, if they did once believe, they failed to continue in the hearing of God’s Word and in the reception of Christ’s Supper and their faith in the promises of the Gospel grew weaker and weaker until it died!

This is why St. Paul writes to the believers in Corinth (1 Cor. 9:24-27): “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

It is why he adds the warning in the following verses (10:6-12): “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

And there is the warning in our Gospel reading for today in which the kingdom of heaven is compared to a landowner who hired workers to go out and work in his vineyard, going out early in the morning and agreeing to pay a penny (denarius) per day; again at 9 a.m. offering to pay what is right; at noon; at 3 in the afternoon and at 5 p.m. (only an hour before quitting time). And when he graciously paid those who had only worked a short time a denarius, those who worked all day thought they deserved more and grumbled when they were only given a denarius.

What had happened? Those who had gladly accepted the landowner’s gracious offer of a denarius a day now thought they deserved more because of their hard work all day long in the heat of the sun. Instead of being thankful for what they were given and rejoicing that those who came later were also treated graciously, they grumbled and complained and, as a result, were told to take their pay — “that thine is” — and leave.

So also it is in the kingdom of God. God finds us wasting our lives in the marketplace and employs us in His kingdom. Some are baptized as little children and spend their whole lives in God’s service, and others do not come to faith until late in life and serve only a short time before they are called home and stand before God. Yet, because their reward depends not upon their own works but upon the merits of Christ — upon Christ’s holy life and His innocent suffering and death for the sins of the world — those who came to faith late in life receive the same eternal reward, the everlasting joys of heaven!

As Jesus said in Matt. 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” The rewards God gives us are of His grace and mercy in Christ, not of works (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).

And, if we begin to think that God owes us heaven and all its blessings or that we deserve more blessings and glory than others because of all our devotion and service to Christ, we may find that we are cast out. Why? Because of unbelief, because we ceased trusting in Christ and God’s grace and favor for Christ’s sake and began to trust in our own life and works and somehow think we are worthy and deserving of God’s grace and mercy!

As Jesus said, “For many be called, but few chosen.” Though God calls all to repent of their fruitless ways and come work for Him in His kingdom, trusting in His grace and mercy which are offered and given to us for the sake of Christ and His cross, not all believe. Some turn away from Christ in order to continue on in their sinful ways, and some fail to trust in Christ because they feel deserving of God’s favor on account of their own works and service to God. The end result, of course, is the same: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16; John 3:18,36; 1 John 5:11-12).

Many are called. Christ died for all and atoned for the sins of all — He won forgiveness for all. God’s call goes out to all through the preaching of His Word, calling upon them to repent of their sinful ways and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and a place in God’s everlasting kingdom. The Holy Spirit graciously works through the Gospel to bring all who hear it to believe its promises and to place their faith in Christ Jesus that they might be justified, absolved and forgiven of all their sins.

Few are chosen. Only those who, by the grace of God, believe are justified, forgiven and absolved. And it is through the continued use of Word and Sacraments, that they are, by the Holy Spirit’s working, preserved in the true and saving faith and remain possessors of God’s gifts. And those who are preserved in the true and saving faith through God’s life-giving Word and Sacraments are also those who will be glorified and partake of the eternal joys of heaven!

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30; cf. John 17:1ff.; Eph. 1:3ff.; Col. 1:19-23; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9-10; Phil. 1:6).

O gracious and merciful God, grant that we hear Your Gospel call and trust in Christ our Savior unto life everlasting. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” Colossians 3:20-21

It is God’s perfect will that children obey their parents in all things – the only exception being when obedience to parents would cause disobedience to God (cf. Acts 5:29). Obedience to parents, God says, is “well pleasing unto the Lord.”

This, of course, is one of the Ten Commandments of the LORD God. The Bible says: “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Eph. 6:2-3).

Such honor and respect for parents and others in authority over us are sorely lacking in our day. Children, out of both selfishness and rebelliousness, dishonor parents, teachers and authorities and refuse to obey. Such disobedience and rebelliousness, they need to understand, are not only against their earthly parents and authorities but against God Himself, who placed their parents and other authorities over them for their good.

Disrespect and disobedience toward parents are disrespect and disobedience toward the LORD God. Not honoring teachers and authorities placed over us is not honoring God who created us and placed us under authority.

While it is, sad to say, the way of the world and our own sinful nature not to honor parents and authorities, those regenerated by God’s Spirit will see and acknowledge their own sinfulness in this regard and turn to the LORD God for His mercy and forgiveness won for all by the innocent sufferings and death of His own obedient Son, Christ Jesus. And, as a fruit of their faith in Jesus, they will also, with the help and aid of God’s Spirit, seek to honor and obey parents and others placed in authority over them.

Of course, the command to honor and obey parents has another side to it as well. Fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath and discouragement by being overly harsh or mistreating them. This command also applies to mothers, for they are helpmeets to their husbands.

Here, too, fathers and mothers often fail. Instead of remembering that their children are both created and redeemed of the LORD God and that He desires children to be brought to Him in baptism and raised up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4; cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Acts. 2:38-39; Luke 18:15-17), they treat their children in selfishness and anger, punishing them when they get in the way rather than when they do wrong and sin. And, all too often, parents fail to bring their children to Christ Jesus in baptism and neglect to teach them to know the LORD and His Word.

Jesus’ warning is amply clear: “Whoso shall offend [causing to sin or fall from faith in the Lord Jesus] one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matt. 18:6).

Provoking children to anger and abusing or neglecting them and their needs, both temporal and spiritual, is also the way of this world and our old sinful nature. But such behavior on the part of parents, teachers and others in authority greatly displeases the LORD God, who gave His only-begotten Son to redeem not only adults but children, both young and old.

Again, parents and those in authority who have been born anew by the mighty working of God’s Spirit through the washing of water by the Word will examine themselves and their own attitudes and actions toward their children, acknowledging their sins and shortcomings and turning to their merciful heavenly Father for forgiveness and the strength to amend their lives and bring up their children as He would have them raised. In the shed blood of Jesus, there is forgiveness. In the working of God’s Spirit, there is help and strength to change one’s attitudes and actions.

Dear Father in heaven, mercifully forgive me for dishonoring and disobeying my parents and others in authority over me. Forgive me also for failing to love the children You have placed under my care with Your love, for failing to be patient and understanding with them, for being overly harsh with them, for failing to bring them to You and teach them Your life-giving Word, and for failing to correct them and bring them up in Your nurture and admonition. Forgive me for the sake of Jesus, Your Son, and His sufferings, death and resurrection in my stead. By Your regenerating Spirit, give me the will and strength to conform my attitude and actions to Your holy will. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus tells us, as His disciples, that we are the light of the world. Note that He does not say we should be or could be – we are!

As disciples of Jesus, we are lights in this world because we know Jesus and are being changed into His glorious image (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29). In fact, we are the only reflection of Jesus that many will ever see – the only light shining in their dark and sinful world!

In the same way as one would not light a lamp and hide it under a bushel basket but put it on a lampstand to give light to all who are in the house, so also a Christian, who walks in fellowship with God through faith in Jesus’ blood, shed upon the cross for our sins, will not want to hide his faith and devotion to Christ Jesus, but let the light of God’s grace and mercy to us in His Son shine that others too might come to that light and see.

As Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Rather than hiding our faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, we are to live for Him who died for us and rose again (cf. 2 Cor. 5:15). We are to let the true Light of the world, Jesus the Savior, shine through us in this dark and dying world.

Note, too, that Jesus does not tell us to do good works that men may see and glorify us. Rather we should let our lights shine in such a way that men see the working of God in us and glorify Him! After all, it is only by God’s grace and mercy in Messiah Jesus that any of us can know God the Father or walk in His ways (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).

Jesus, God’s Son and true man, shed His blood on the cross to redeem all of us and pay the just penalty for the sins of the world that we might have pardon and peace with God our Father through faith in His name. And Jesus sent forth His Word and poured out His Holy Spirit upon us to enlighten and regenerate us, bringing us to know and trust in Christ Jesus, our Savior, and giving us new life in Him.

Indeed, Jesus is Himself that Light that we who trust in Him and follow Him are to reflect openly in this world (cf. John 8:12).

O dearest Jesus, the Light of this dark and dying world, enlighten our hearts with the good news of forgiveness and life through faith in Your name and shine upon us and through us, making us lights in this world, that others too may see and look to You in faith for life everlasting! Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible]

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13

How salty are you? No, I am not inquiring concerning your sodium content, but of your Jesus content.

Jesus tells us, as believers, that we are the salt of the earth. How is this so?

We are to be the savor of Jesus in this world. In other terms, we are to be reflections of Jesus in a world that does not know Him. People should be able to see and taste (so to speak) Jesus and His teaching in us! Cf. Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Cor. 3:18.

How can we lose our flavor? By not being faithful followers of Jesus!

If we do not abide in Jesus, walking close to Him and continuing in His Word, how can we taste like Jesus in this world? If we compromise the truth and conform to the ways of the world, if we don’t live the truth or keep it hidden away in our hearts, we are like salt which has lost its flavor. Cf. John 8:31-32.

And what good is flavorless salt? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. How can you be a witness for Christ if you do not taste like Him, smell like Him, sound like Him, and live like Him in this world?

“Ye are the salt of the earth …” Walk closely with Jesus so that you can be a savor of Him in this world!

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer from sin and death, grant that I walk closely with You and abide in Your Word that I might also be a savor of You in this world. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:1-3

We might expect it to be those who live by a certain religious code of ethics who will partake of the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus says otherwise: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

It is not the haughty and self-righteous who will inherit the kingdom of God, but the one who humbly acknowledges before God his spiritual poverty and sinfulness in thought, word and deed.

Do you remember Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the publican? Who is it who went home from the temple justified before God? It was the tax collector who wouldn’t even raise his eyes toward heaven but could only say, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:9-14).

In Isaiah 66:2 God says, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Cf. Psalm 34:18 and 51:16-17.

God desires that we humble ourselves before Him, confess our utter sinfulness and spiritual poverty, and receive His pardon and forgiveness for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ, and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for our sins.

Are you “poor in spirit”? Turn to Jesus in faith and be blessed with a place in His eternal kingdom for the sake of His shed blood.

O Dearest Jesus, I am a sinner and fail to measure up to the righteous demands of Your holy Word. I have sinned in my thoughts, desires, words and deeds. But you kept God’s commandments for me, and You went to the cross and took my punishment. Have mercy on me and forgive me for the sake of Your shed blood, and receive me into Your eternal kingdom. Amen.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Many think Jesus here refers to blessing and comfort for those who are sad now and cry much in life due to hardship and tragedy. But a study of the Scriptures will reveal that Jesus speaks of mourning over one’s sin and disobedience to God’s holy commandments. He speaks of sadness over our failures to love the LORD our God and live holy and God-pleasing lives.

In Joel, chapter 2, God warned His people of His impending judgment upon them for turning away from Him in their hearts. Verses 12-14 say: “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?”

Those who are truly sorry for their sins and lament their rebellion and disobedience to the LORD and His Word will find comfort in the good news of forgiveness and life in God’s Son, Jesus Christ (cf. Isa. 61:1-3). In 1 John 2:1,2, the Bible tells us that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus fulfilled all righteousness in our stead and then bore the full punishment for our sins when He was crucified and died upon the cross. His resurrection proves that atonement has been made that we might look to Him in faith and be pardoned and forgiven (cf. Rom. 4:23-25).

With David, we pray, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:3-5).

Indeed, it is true: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

My dear Lord Jesus, I have sinned and failed to love You and keep Your commandments. For the sake of Your holy life and innocent sufferings and death on the cross for my sins, forgive me and cleanse my heart that I might love You and serve You always. Amen.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

In this world, it appears that it is the forceful, outgoing and sometimes unscrupulous who are blessed, and the humble and meek get nowhere. But Jesus says just the opposite. It is the meek and humble who are blessed, “for they shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 37:1-11 says the same thing: “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

Why does Jesus say these words? To warn us against the folly of thinking that we are blessed and do well for ourselves by being self-assertive, less than honest and meek in our dealings with others, and unwilling to trust in the LORD and live our lives in accord with His Word. Jesus would have us repent of our wickedness and turn to Him for forgiveness, and He would have us live our lives in accord with His Word, trusting and relying upon Him for blessing.

And those who do so will be blessed – if not now in this life, when Jesus returns to establish His eternal kingdom. Then, indeed, the meek shall inherit the earth!

Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for being envious of the wealthy and powerful and for seeking to get ahead in this life by being selfish, deceitful and less than honest and considerate in my dealings with others. Give me faith to trust in You and live my life in accord with Your holy Word. Amen.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Those who honestly look upon themselves in the mirror of God’s law will see that they are unrighteous and unholy by God’s standard. The Bible tells us that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6).

But, for the sake of the shed blood of Messiah Jesus, we sinners are made acceptable in God’s eyes – all our sins are washed away in Jesus’ blood and God counts us righteous through faith in Him and His promises! Cf. Eph. 1:6-7; Col. 1:19-23; Rom. 3:21-28; 4:5.

One of the marks of a true believer in Christ Jesus is the desire to be like Him. John writes: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

A true believer trusts in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins and to be counted righteous in God’s eyes; but a fruit of such faith is the desire to live a righteous and holy life for Jesus while awaiting His return (cf. Rom. 6:1ff.; 2 Cor. 5:15-17; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 3:1-21). Indeed, one who knows of his own sinfulness and utter failure to live according to God’s holy will and who also knows and trusts in Jesus Christ as His Savior will also hunger and thirst after righteousness.

And such are blessed because “they shall be filled.” Through faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, they are already counted perfectly righteous and holy in God’s eyes. And, during this earthly life, the Holy Spirit is at work transforming those who trust in Christ into His image, giving them a desire to live for Christ Jesus and keep His commandments (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:4ff.). But, as true believers also know, we will not be entirely free of sin until we are with our Savior in heaven. Then, we will finally be like Him and see Him as He is.

As the Scriptures say, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). Then, indeed, we “shall be filled.”

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for bearing upon the cross the full and just punishment for my sins and winning for me God’s pardon and peace. Thank You for counting me to be righteous in Your sight for the sake of Jesus’ shed blood. By Your gracious Spirit, give me also a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and grant that this hunger and thirst be satisfied both now and hereafter in eternity. Amen.

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

One who knows God and has received of His mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus will also show mercy unto others. That is why Jesus teaches us to pray: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). He also adds the explanation: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15).

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt. 18:21ff.), the king’s servant who was forgiven an enormous debt but would not then show mercy to a fellow servant who owed him only a small debt in comparison showed his lack of appreciation for the mercy shown him and forfeited that mercy. He was delivered to the tormentors until he paid his debt in full. And Jesus says, “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt. 18:35).

Whether we realize it or not, God has shown great mercy to each of us. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve (cf. Psalm 103:8-12) but instead laid the guilt and punishment for all our sins upon His own Son, Jesus Christ (cf. Isa. 53:6). Jesus took our punishment and suffered and died in our place that God might be merciful to us, forgive our sins and give us a place with Him in heaven. Even now, God is patient with us, desiring that all would repent and turn to Him for mercy and forgiveness in His Son (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9).

When we are graciously brought to faith in Jesus and receive of God’s mercy and forgiveness, we will also be merciful and forgiving toward others, desiring that they too would be saved. Thus, the Scriptures urge us to “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

Then, on the Last Day, when Jesus returns in judgment, those who have received God’s mercy in Christ Jesus and, as a result, also show mercy to others will receive mercy from the LORD God. But those who have not received God’s mercy and forgiveness through faith in His Son – and thus were not merciful unto others – will not receive mercy of the Lord but suffer the torments of hell to pay in full for their sins!

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for being gracious and merciful to me and sending Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to bear my sins, die in my stead and rise in victory. Graciously grant that I receive Your mercy and forgiveness by faith and also show mercy unto others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Psalm 24 asks the question: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully” (verses 3-4).

Who is it that will be privileged to stand in God’s presence and see His face? Jesus says it is “the pure in heart.”

Being pure in heart is more than just outward obedience to God’s commandments; it is loving God with all the heart, mind, and soul, and having nothing but holy thoughts and desires as well! The problem is: Whose heart is pure?

Jesus said of the most religious people of His day, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8, quoting from Isa. 29:13). He also said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Matt. 15:19-20).

How can we have a clean and pure heart? Only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus, for the Bible tells us that it is His blood that “cleanseth us from all sin” and makes us acceptable in God’s sight (1 John 1:7; Eph. 1:6, 7; Col. 1:12-14, 19-23)! For the sake of Jesus, God reckons those who trust in Him to be righteous and holy.

Of course, those who trust in Jesus’ blood and righteousness for pardon and acceptance in God’s eyes also desire to be “pure in heart.”

After confessing his sin and turning to the LORD for forgiveness, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). And so, we also who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins desire that God would create in us pure and undivided hearts to love and serve Him and keep His commandments, for it is our desire to see our Savior when He appears and to be like Him (cf. 1 John 3:2-3; Psalm 86:11; 119:1ff.).

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my heart is evil and defiled by sin. Forgive my sin for the sake of Your blood, shed for me upon the cross, and create in me a clean heart that I might love You and serve You all of my days. Amen.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Though God will not tolerate our sin and rebellion against Him and does not mince words in telling us the truth about our sinfulness and His condemnation of sin, God is a God of peace. He does not desire our condemnation and so sent His own Son to bear the punishment for our sins, and He calls upon all of us to repent and turn to Him for full pardon and peace.

When speaking about the coming day of judgment, the Bible tells us: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9; cf. Ezek. 33:11).

The Bible also says that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:19-21).

As children of God through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Gal. 3:26), we who now have peace with God for the sake of Jesus’ shed blood also seek to live in peace with others. Like our heavenly Father, we desire that others repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and peace with God. Like our heavenly Father, we cannot tolerate sin and rebellion against God and we must not hesitate to speak the truth of God’s Word; but we do so in love, desiring that our fellow sinners also repent and return to their Father in heaven for pardon and peace (cf. Eph. 4:15).

Again, St. Paul writes, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).

Though some who claim to follow Christ are quick to stir up contention and strife; that is not what Jesus would have us do. The Bible tells us: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18; cf. Heb. 12:14; Psalm 34:14; Mark 9:50).

While we must hold fast to and contend for the true teaching of God’s Word, we are not to become involved in foolish arguments over things not clearly laid out in the Scriptures (cf. 2 Tim. 2:22-26; 3:1-17). After all, who is won for the truth through bitter strife and arguments! Rather, all we can do is bear witness to the truth with a kind and humble spirit and let God’s Spirit do the rest.

Paul writes to the church in Ephesus: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Eph. 4:31 – 5:2).

Remember Jesus’ words: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of peace, so often my ways are not set on peace, but on strife and contention. Graciously forgive me for the sake of Your holy and precious blood, shed on my behalf, and give me a heart like that of our heavenly Father – a heart that holds fast to the truth but also seeks peace through humble submission to God’s truth. Amen.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Before His crucifixion and death, Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me” (John 15:18-21).

St. Paul also wrote to Timothy: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:12-17).

Followers of Jesus do not seek persecution, but it is a fact that those who follow Him and hold fast to His Word will suffer persecution. The world does not like to be reminded of its sinfulness and the coming judgment of God (cf. John 3:19-21), nor do worldly people like it when one turns from his former evil ways to Jesus for forgiveness and life. Followers of Jesus are a constant reminder to the people of this world that they are on the wrong path and will soon be judged by God. And, it is for that reason that true believers are reviled and persecuted in this world.

The Old Testament prophets, too, were a reminder to those whose hearts had turned away from the LORD that they were turned aside from the truth and headed for God’s judgment. And, from the blood of Abel to Zechariah, many of these true prophets of God suffered great persecution and even death for their testimony to the truth (cf. Matt. 23:31-39). Those who thought they were righteous by their own practice of religious rites did not want to hear of their sin and need for repentance and faith in Messiah Jesus.

Many might see the suffering and persecution which comes upon followers of Jesus even today and think that surely they are not blessed of God, but Jesus says, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

This does not mean followers of Jesus have a place in God’s eternal kingdom because of their suffering here in this world. Rather, they are blessed even in the midst of their suffering because they have a place in God’s eternal kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, their Savior, who died for the sins of all and rose again in victory. They have reason to rejoice even in the midst of persecution!

They are “begotten … again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Dear Lord Jesus, grant that I not shrink back from faithfulness to You, but trust you, follow You, live for You, and proclaim Your Word to those around me in the world. If persecution comes, grant me the strength to endure and faith that looks forward to the eternal rewards of heaven which are mine for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]