"On August 22, Consider This" New Year’s Eve December 31, 2010 Romans 8:31-39
Each year includes a lot of days that are like most other days. They are ordinary. But there are always a few days out of the year that stand out. Some of these are national observances like 9/11 or the Fourth of July. Some we celebrate in the Church such as Christmas or Easter. Some are in our personal lives, our birthday or anniversary. But most days are similar to most other days. In the year that starts tomorrow this is what it will be like. There may be some dramatic change or changes in your life, but even so, most days will kind of meld together. It’s for this reason I chose a random date in the new year. I checked to make sure there was no major reason that August 22 stands out for most people. If it happens to be someone’s birthday or other significant day in someone’s life, then they can pick a day that doesn’t have any particular significance. Because one thing you should do in the new year is consider this: If God is for us, who can be against us? There will be times in the new year you will be overwhelmed. This might be stress or hardship. In those times it will be hard to see that God is for you. It might seem He’s against you. But in those times, consider what the Word of God says to you: if God is for you, who can be against you? Can the stress or hardship you endure overcome God? No, and in those times where it seems that way, consider that God is for you—no one and nothing can be against you. But there will also be times when things are rolling along just fine. They may in fact be going along great. It’s in those times where it may well be easy to feel that God is for you and that nothing is against you. But it’s also in those times where there’s a danger of not thinking about God all that much. That can be as harmful as not trusting in God when things are tough. So when those good times come, consider what God tells you in His Word: that He is for you, no matter what, in the good times and even if the good times don’t last, even if they turn south. We’ve hit two portions of the year ahead that will be challenging to keep in mind what Paul says about how God is for you and that nothing can be against you—in the hard times and in the good times. But what about most of the year? What about most of the days where you’ll be going along, day after ordinary day? It may not seem like you need the Almighty Lord behind every move you make, maybe just a little help here and there. But this is dangerous too, to not consider the fact that God is for you, who can be against you? God doesn’t tell you in His Scriptures that your hands must be folded in prayer 24/7. What He tells you is that “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” This is remarkable. This is worth considering each day in the new year. Not just the big days. Not only through the hard days. Not even only in the good times. Every day. Each day. On August 22 and every other ordinary day in 2011. God gave His own Son, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? He will give His help in the difficult days. He will keep us grounded during the good days. He will bless us abundantly even in every ordinary day. This is not only worth considering, we must believe it. So in all those various times next year, consider who your God is and what He has done for you. He will guide and guard you in the year ahead. And believe that He, as the Epistle reading says, is the one who justifies you. He does this by delivering to you the forgiveness won in His Son dying on the cross for the sin of the world and rising from the grave. Paul talks of Christ in this way: what Christ has done for us and what He continues to do: “who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” There is nothing that can happen in the new year that can separate you from this kind of love. There is nothing that will occur—good, bad, or ordinary—that can separate you from the love of Christ. As you consider this each day of the new year He will strengthen your faith in Him. This won’t just be something you consider, something you know intellectually. You will believe this. You will trust in Him in all things. That’s why He went to the cross. That’s why He stepped forth from the grave. Spending time in the Word of God and in prayer each day helps you to consider this, and He works through His Word to strengthen you. Beginning each week here in God’s House in the new year gives you that blessing of receiving His forgiveness and strength in His Word and Sacraments. Just as He gave Himself up on the cross and stepped forth from the grave, so He often gives Himself to you in His body and blood in His Holy Supper and steps forth into your life to strengthen your faith in that very Holy Supper. That’s something worth considering, tomorrow and each day in the new year. Time does not exist as far God is concerned. He loves you eternally. Each day is alike to Him in that regard. But what He will do is give you all His eternal blessings in time, in each day of the new year. That’s because God is for you, who can be against you? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? You know this. You believe it. Wake up each day next year to that reality, whether it be August 22 or any other day. Amen. SDG -- Pastor Paul L. Willweber Prince of Peace Lutheran Church [LCMS] 6801 Easton Ct., San Diego, California 92120 619.583.1436 princeofpeacesd.net three-taverns.net It is the spirit and genius of Lutheranism to be liberal in everything except where the marks of the Church are concerned. [Henry Hamann, On Being a Christian] ___________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author (as long as no charge is made for the work and it is not made part of a compilation), as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? 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