/And working together, also we encourage you not to receive the grace of
God without effect; for He says, "In a favorable season I heard you, and
in a day of salvation I helped you;" look, now--a favorable season,
look, now--a day of salvation! Nothing in anyone giving reason for
missteps, in order that the Ministry not be blamed, but in all, standing
with each other as Ministers of God in much perseverance, in pressure,
in distress, in difficulties, in beatings, in imprisonments, in
disorder, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in
knowledge, in patience, in mercy, in the Holy Spirit, in God's sincere
love, in a word of truth, in God's power; through the tools of
righteousness of the right hand and of the left, through glory and
dishonor, through slander and good report, as deceivers yet true; as
unknown yet well known, as dying yet look--we live, as disciplined yet
not killed, as grieving yet constantly rejoicing, as impoverished, yet
causing many to be rich, as having nothing, yet holding fast to all things.
/
As we watch the news lately, it sure seems like a bleak week. Unrest in
Libya and the rest of the Middle East, devastation in Japan, protests in
Wisconsin, and a work-stoppage in professional football. These surely
don't seem like the best of times. Closer to home, the price of gasoline
keeps rising and that takes its toll on the household budget & the
church's. Add to that the many empty pews on Ash Wednesday... It
definitely seems like it's more like the "worst of times", doesn't it?
Surely that's how Jesus must have felt after being led off into the
desert by the Holy Ghost. There He did what no mere man could
do--fasting without food or drink for 40 days & nights. He must have
felt just miserable. Then to add insult to injury, the devil shows up,
tempting Jesus with food, with power, and with His very trust in His
heavenly Father's word. Sounds like a really lousy time for Jesus,
right? Wrong! It was the best of times for Jesus, despite how He felt,
because He triumphed over Satan!
That victory of Jesus over the tempter was for you! Without it, your
prayers that God lead you not into temptation, but deliver you from evil
would be useless. But Jesus defeated that evil one, not giving into
temptation even once. Jesus is the winner in this battle, and the loser
devil flees the scene with his pointy tail between his legs. This
victory of your Savior is shared with you! For Jesus delivers you from
that evil one, and provides for you all that you need to withstand all
his tempting assaults.
But you don't act like victors very much. Instead, you complain about
the difficulties that must be faced, and the things that are lacking.
You grumble about how much you have to put up with, and sound off about
all the injustices you bear so unfairly. You act as those who grieve a
great loss like death, rather than rejoicing as those who have won life
in Christ Jesus. Your attitude is almost defeatist at times, a "poor me"
lament. It should be triumphant focused on the riches of heaven!
You do think about the good times ahead, far off into the future in
heaven. You may be awaiting that day when God takes you from this valley
of tears and sorrow to be with Him in heaven. But God tells you that you
are concentrating your attention at the wrong time. Not "then", but
"now" should be your focus! For now is the season of God's favor toward
you, and now is the day of your salvation in Christ Jesus! Because the
victory Jesus won for you at the + is yours already, never to be taken away!
So stop acting like you receive the grace of God today without effect.
For Jesus brings His kingdom blessings down from heaven for you this
day! His ears hear your prayers this day, and His voice answers them
with His word of truth. And you *live* now on every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God. For it is God's sincere love to you in Christ
Jesus. It says to you, "I help you in this day of salvation by forgiving
you just as I did at your baptism." It declares, "You are saved--today!
Now live!"
Not only that, but God's minister is equipped with tools of
righteousness in both his right hand and his left. With one hand he
pours the water of baptism upon you to cleanse you from all your
unrighteousness. With the other He feeds you with Jesus' Own body &
blood for your forgiveness. With his hand he marks your forehead with
the sign of the cross as one absolved in God's name. With these
sacramental tools, you are given Jesus' righteousness as He resisted all
temptations.
You no longer have to act as though today is a day of hopelessness and
defeat. It is a time of God's favor toward you in Christ Jesus, and
today is the day of your salvation in His word & works of love.
In the grace and mercy of your Savior who died for you, you stand
together victorious in Christ Jesus.
John C. Drosendahl, Pastor
[email protected]
