Roger's Postings

Friday, August 27, 2010

Hebrews 13:1-8. Jesus is important for ALL of life!! 29/8/10

(1) Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Recently I read this quotation from Peter Berger. “The most common delusion …. is the conviction of ministers that what they preach on Sunday has a direct influence on what their listeners do on Monday….. The reality, of course, is that the person listening to the minister in the church is a radically different one from the person who makes economic decisions the next day…… In this second life of his the church is totally absent.”

Now does that mean that I am living in a fool’s paradise? Or does that mean that I only have to work on Sundays? Seriously, though, is this true? Is Christ, and what he has said and done for you, totally absent from your life from Monday to Saturday?

Unfortunately, it would appear that all too often that seems to be the case. Far too often, our lives are not in accord with the will of God. We don’t always love each other as brothers and sisters. We don’t always entertain strangers as God would have us. Often we do look down on those who are less fortunate than we are and those who are in prison. Marriage is not afforded the high regard that it should, any more. We do love our money and material things much more than we ought. We don’t trust that God and his ways are what is best for us.

Yes, we all are far from living out our lives every day, as we ought; and that is the very reason that this text was written. Here we are being reminded again, of just how God would have us live out our lives every day. Here we are encouraged to love one another as brothers and sisters, and that includes the stranger, those in prison, or who are down and out. We are exhorted to hold marriage up as a sacred institution, and to take a stand against sexual permissiveness and perversion. We are told not to let money and the material things of life take over our lives as if they are the be-all and end-all of life, but instead to be content with what we have.

Here our text is saying that, surely, the message that is preached on Sunday will influence the rest of our lives. The Christ that is proclaimed today, does make a difference to our attitudes and actions tomorrow. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” That means the he does influence peoples lives. Think back to the changes that came about in people’s lives 2,000 years ago when they came into contact with Jesus. Think back to the change that came upon Luther when he came to understand the Good News of Jesus Christ. This change is happening even today in many lives the world over. And here we are reminded that it will continue on in the future. To those who do not turn their backs on Jesus and reject him, he even today makes a difference. To those who allow him Jesus does help and guide them to live truly happy and contented lives.

The ways of the world are however not the same. Yes, they promise much; but they will not give you the peace, joy and hope that you long for. Don’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes. Those who chase after money are not happy and contented. And don’t be fooled into thinking that an extra few dollars is going to make all the difference.

The same goes for those who go from one bed to another – one woman or man to the other; they will not find the love and the perfect partner that they are looking for. That perfect man or woman is there in your marriage partner waiting to be released by Jesus Christ.

Those who put others down in order to make themselves look good do not find the satisfaction that they are looking for. While those who live selfish, self-centred lives will find that, they will have not only alienated themselves from the rest of society, but especially from God himself. They are all chasing after an illusion, which promises happiness and all the rest, but without Jesus at the centre, their search is fruitless. They unfortunately do not know that true peace and contentment comes alone from having Jesus Christ at work in a person’s life.

You and I however, surely have that peace and underlying joy. We surely have it because we know that this contentment and meaning comes from knowing how God would have us live our lives and most importantly from knowing that in connection with Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins and the assure of life and salvation. We know these words that God has spoken to us; "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Now those words surely make a difference to our attitudes and actions every day. Jesus is with us – all day – every day. He is with us every time we meet a fellow human being: in our marriage relationship; whenever we make a business decision. In all of those situations, he does not walk away and leave us to our own means. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to our sin, and the details of how we live our lives. He is right there with us through it all; urging us to live life his way; and when we are devastated because we have failed to live as he would have us, he is there to assure us of his forgiveness and ongoing help.

Yes, surely, we here can say with confidence; "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" With that knowledge and confidence, we can step forward into every tomorrow and seek to do the best we can, no matter what our circumstances. We may have to be in some ways a different person from Monday to Saturday than we are on Sunday, but the same Lord Jesus is there with us. We may face different situations in our life, but the same Christian principles apply. Even though the world we live in out there is the same as what everyone else lives in, the way we live in it will be quite different. It surely must be totally different. The way of our Lord and the ways of the world are not compatible.

As we go forward with Christ beside us, helping us in every aspect of life we will then be witnesses of the power, love and greatness of our God. As we live our lives in accord with God’s will, then others will sit up and take notice. Yes, some will ridicule, but others will then want to know more.

Yes, we know what they say when our lives do not match what we say and believe. But they will also take note when they see that we have something that is way beyond the expectations of the world around them: When they see that we have a peace and underlying joy, and the assurance of forgiveness in Jesus Christ, that is not usual for the society around them; Then they will have to make a decision one way or the other if they want Jesus forgiveness and help or not.

Let us here recognise that the more our world around us is moving away from the way that God would have us think, live and act, the more we need to seek God’s help to do so. The more the morals and beliefs of our society crumbles around us, the more we need to help and encourage one another to live as Christ would have us.

So, Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Isaiah 58:13-14. Honour the Sabbath 22/8/10

(Isa 58:13-14) "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, {14} then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
(Heb 12:28-29) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire."
(Luke 13:14-15) Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." {15} The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

Today our readings throw out a challenge to us all with regard to our Sunday worship. More to the point, we are called on to reflect on what is our attitude towards Sundays and what and why we do what we do? And on reflecting on these readings this morning we see that we all fall into the dangers that God is making us aware of here. But even more significant is the fact that we are denying God the opportunities that he wants for us.

In light of attendances across the churches, we would do well to reflect on what God has to say to us here. I recognise that there is sickness and many other issues for a number of people, but at the same time the devil and our sinful nature is at work as well. Unless we take these things seriously we too will find ourselves in serious trouble; and we will be denying God the opportunity to bring the blessings that he wants, to us and our nation. He may well level at us the term hypocrite.

As we reflect on this issue then, we see that there are three keys problems that we regularly find at work in our lives and which the devil feeds.
The first one is that we don’t need to take what God has to say with regard to the Sabbath seriously. I’ve heard many comments over the years that go along the lines of: ‘You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian? I can miss a Sunday here and there and it is not going to affect my faith! I have to do this or that on Sunday. Worship is boring. I don’t get on with the people there.’ And the list could go on. Underlying many of these comments is the attitude that we have more important things to do on Sunday, or that we decide what is good and right for ourselves.

The other problem that so often arises and which our Gospel reading places before us, is the legalism that all to often becomes associated with the Lord’s day. ‘You can’t do this or that on the Sabbath! We can only do it this way. It has to be hymns out of the hymn book or it is no good. Or the opposite, ‘We have to move with the society and the times and change everything.’ As long as I ...... Or, I cannot commune because I am too sinful. And again, the list could go on. Here underlying it all is the attitude that we must do things just the right way or else we will not receive God’s blessing.

But overarching these problems is that much deeper and more pervasive issue of the fact that we see ourselves as the centre of what the Sabbath is all about. Worship is what we do for God, not first and foremost we he does for us. It is we determining if and when, where and how, we worship, and everything else that has to do with this day. Even right down to what we think is important and what needs to be in our worship services. Or more to the point today, what we can discard and not have. Therein lies the sin of each one of us. We want to be like God and we want to decide for ourselves what we think is good and important. We want to be our own gods. And it is that attitude which brings death. And maybe there is a good indicator as to why the church today is dying in the western world.

However here it is that Jesus reminded the Pharisees of his day, as well as us today, that there is a far more central issue involved here, than what we do and how we do it. This day has to do with us being freed from that which binds us and grinds us into the ground. He speaks of being freed from Satan. It has to do with forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
It has to do with our Lord and who he is and what he does. It has to do with, as Paul says to the Hebrews:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Yes, that is what God has in mind for you and me here this morning and every time we gather here in his presence. He wants to meet with you here, together with all the saints, and he wants to reassure you that you are part of a new covenant where we can have that guarantee that we are forgiven for all our selfishness and sin, and that he has many blessings surrounding that for you and me. God and what he has to offer is what is essential for this life and the next. He is here to do just that and along with that, he gives us the directives that we need for our worship and for life.

Here also remember that he was the one who set aside the Sabbath so that he could allow us to rest in his presence and receive all the good that he has in mind for us. He commands us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” That means as Luther says; ‘we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.’ We are to use the form of worship that he has set down for us since the early days of the Church.

Here also listen to what he says in our Old Testament reading today.
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

This is just as important for us today as it was back then. So we use this as an opportunity to turn away from doing that which “I” want to do and instead look to him and receive what he has to give. Following his Word, rather than the word of our sinful selves and the world around us. We take on board the fact that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” He is the one who is important, and he has much to give us as we live in a world full of temptations and troubles.

So as Paul said to the Hebrews: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. [That is Jesus and his word of forgiveness] If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

We have a great, awesome, and loving God who calls us week by week into his day of rest and receiving of all the good things that he has in mind for us. Through Word and Sacrament, he seeks to richly bless us. Who then are we to deny him this opportunity? Or do we think that we are greater, stronger and wiser than God almighty, himself? No let us be challenged and encouraged to see the Sabbath as God’s gift to us for our welfare and good. And through it, all may all glory and honour go to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Jeremiah 23:23-29. Use of God’s Word faithfully!! 15/8/10

(23) "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? {24} Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. {25} "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' {26} How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? {27} They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. {28} Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. {29} "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Here today we are challenged by God to heed carefully what we listen to and what we speak: For he is a God who knows what is going on; and even though we may be able to ‘pull the wool over others eyes’, he knows and does not approve. And in the end, his Word will have its way, and will destroy all that is not of God. This message is as important for us today as it was way back when it was written.

Now by way of example, what would you think if I was to stand up here this morning and tell you, that I had a vision two weeks ago that every Lutheran in this area should sell everything they had and give it all to the poor. Then as confirmation of this vision we had last Sunday, Jesus tell us in the Gospel reading that we should “sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor.” So obviously, that is confirmation of my vision. In that regard we need to remember that God will richly reward all those who do so, and so if you want God’s blessing on your life and you want eternal life; then go and sell everything you have and give your money to our church so that we can distribute it to the poor. When you do so, don’t worry, the good lord will take care of you.

No! Don’t get up and walk out and set about getting rid of me: nor go out from here and do what I have just said. For that is not what I would ask of you in the least. More particularly that is not what God is seeking to say through me. But the point is that if I was a good enough of a speaker and a ‘charismatic’ sort of person, and I used enough Scripture I could do a great deal of harm to this community and to peoples spiritual lives. And above all, I would not be speaking forth what our Lord wants from me. Yet this sort of thing has happened again and again many times throughout the history of God’s people and is ever prevalent in our own day.

In this day and age therefore, we too need to be very careful, on the one hand, what we listen to, and on the other, what we ourselves are saying. Let us remember that it is God’s Word that is all important; and it and its message stands on its own in being able to determine what is right and good. Yet today, we have many gurus running around with their own revelations and interpretations, and are claiming that they know where things are really at for our modern times. “I had a dream! I had a dream!” ‘I know what the church today needs to make it grow.’ ‘I have a new understanding of God’s Word for our day.’ And I could go on. All of them are wanting us to think that they have a directly inspired message for us today.

Along with that, we have many preaching a nice, soft, pleasing to the ear message. We must not ‘lay down the Law’ and tell people they are sinners. Even notice how little they focus on Jesus and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. We must not speak of hell and the inevitability of people going there who do not believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. We must not speak against Muslims and other religions, but instead suggest that they too are heading to the same God. And again I could go on, but the point is that there are many who a shifting the focus away from the central truths of the Gospel.

However, here, as in many other places, God tells us to be very careful when people start running around with new ideas and saying they are God’s word for our day. Often they are deceptive people who are ultimately leading people away from God rather than to him. Even though they use God’s word and mention his name, and have their altar calls and the like, they are leading people away from what God has said and done and placing the emphasis elsewhere. In most cases, you will find that they are not giving God’s message, but the delusions of their own minds.

Yes, they may be able to fool many people, but as Jeremiah says here, they can’t fool God. He cannot be fooled or manipulated. And if they or we are leading people astray, God will ultimately metre out his just rewards. No one can hide away in secret places so that God cannot see them.

But for our part here, let us take note of what our Lord says and beware. Yes let those who want to play around with their own thoughts and ideas do so. They really are only playing around in the straw. We however need to concentrate on the grain of God’s Word.

Now what a good illustration that is for us, of straw and grain. Now a farmer doesn’t spend all his time and effort in growing and gathering straw, and letting the grain go to waste on the ground. He knows what is important and valuable; so he gathers the grain, and sees the straw as only a secondary product.

So also do we need to concentrate on that which is valuable and not simply on the straw, when it comes to the Christian faith: That of course is the Scriptures themselves and its central focus which is Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. There is what is of absolute necessity for our lives. If we want something which will change peoples lives and give them the certainty of eternal life, then look no further than what Scripture has to say to us with regard to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. There God’s love and power is truly evident. There we know that God is near for us. There we have that which can cleanse us from all impurity and rid us from the secondary straw of all of our good deeds. And it is that Word alone which can smash the hardest heart.

Yet it is that Word which the lying prophets are avoiding again and again. The lying prophet likes to speak smooth words which are pleasant to the ear and encouraging to the ego. The focus is not on the stumbling block of the Gospel but on what you and I must do, and on health, wealth and happiness theology. The fire of God’s Word which separates and divides must be avoided. That which smashes the ego and leaves us shattered as to our human aspirations is seen as abhorrent.

Yet it is this Word of God that we are called to speak faithfully; even though it is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. Because it is only then, that the sweet word of God’s forgiveness in Christ Jesus finds its way into our hearts and the hearts of unbelievers. So we are called to faithfully speak God’s word of truth, in season and out of season. We are to speak it and listen to it even though it is not what our itching ears want to hear. Then with the faithful proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for our salvation will come forth a rich harvest of souls. God will again lift up his people and richly bless them.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus reminds that this truth will however bring division and derision. Standing for the truth will divide families and friendships; but that is simply a sign of the times. Pointing out the fact that we all are sinners is not what many want to hear: Just as is, the fact that God will cast into hell all those who reject Jesus and the importance of his death on the cross.

However, for all those who faithfully look to and trust Jesus and what he has done for us, have the certain hope that we have eternal life with our God as a guarantee.

So to close, let us take heed to our second reading from Hebrews, which has an encouraging challenge in this regard. (Heb 12:1-2) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, [that is Christians who have gone before us holding to the truth of God’s Word and trusting that God has given us life and salvation through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross] let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Yes, let us look alone to our Lord Jesus, and give him thanks and praise, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Luke 12:32-40. Ready and Prepared 8/8/10

{32} "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {35} "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. {37} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. {38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. {39} But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. {40} You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

What a tremendous thing God has done for us by not just promising us the kingdom of heaven, but also making it possible for it be ours. He even had his own Son to die in our place so that it can be ours: all and more guaranteed. And despite our track record, he is only too pleased to give it to us, who trust in him and what he has done for us. Wow! This is the best – the most important and valuable thing to have happened in our life; right?

‘Well, yes it is terrific. We are thankful for all that has been done for us. It is important. But. But, look I have all these other things to do and focus on. Look I need to get my nice house, car, caravan, boat and be able to go on long holidays and enjoy my life here now. I need my security and I have all these other things to that I have to do. Yes, it is good to know Jesus and what he has done. Well, in the end, it will good to known that; but for now I have got all these other things that have to be done. My life is just so busy - well bit later - she'll be right.’

Yes, our heart will always be where treasure is!

That is why Jesus gives us both an encouragement and a warning here in this reading. Make sure we are alway ready and prepared. He is seeking here to impress on us the importance of this for all of us. And he uses a couple of real life situations so that we get the idea. The servants are to be ready and prepared for when the master comes home. Also, the owner of a house is to be prepared for a thief when he comes. Now I would like to update these illustrations just a little, this morning.

First, you are working for a company where the big boss told you that he would be coming to visit your office in the near future to give a hefty bonus to all the workers. Now, a number of weeks passed and he still hasn't come, despite the fact that you know that he is one who keeps his word. How happy will you be if the boss finds you working diligently when he comes? Particularly when you find he intends also to sit down with you and put on a real banquet. Of course, the other side of the situation also needs to be kept in mind. Can you imagine, if when he comes he finds you instead of working at the task that is set for you, he finds you working on your own projects in the bosses time, using his resources for your own gain, and using his good name and company contacts for your own ends, to detriment of the boss and his company. Do you think he would be happy with what he finds? Would you expect him to still give you a bonus, as well as keep your position? Hardly likely! If that is case, think about this with regard to your spiritual life.

Secondly, if we knew a thief was at work in town and many, many house in the area had already been broken into, surely we would take every precaution to lock our place up and be vigilant in ensuring that we have every deterrent possible used. There is no way that we would leave our windows and doors open and go out for hours on end. Even go away for a week at a time, leaving the papers on the lawn and the mail in the letter box for all to see. Thinking, she'll be right, it won't happen to me. We are not that stupid, are we? Well, if I think of the spiritual life of many people, I am not so sure.

Again, think about what the Lord has done for us - what he has promised us. He reminds us that he is only too happy to give us a part in his kingdom: ensuring eternity in heaven where he himself will give us the best of everything that we need; ensuring us an eternity free of suffering and death. His rule will be the absolute best - without end. This is surely the best treasure and wealth that we could ever have or want. And he wants it to be ours – he is only too pleased to ensure that it is there for us. Isn’t that something that is so good and important for us? Doesn’t that surpass all that we are so desperately chasing after in this life, which is here today and gone tomorrow? Surely, this is a real treasure for us? Surely?

But here again there is problem for many of us. Where is it? We can't see it – or experience it – or wait for it. We want it now and at the same time to be able to do as we please. However, the coming of this kingdom is delayed. It is not here yet visibly - within our grasp. So we look elsewhere for our pleasure and security. Because his time is not yet right – because there are others he wants as a part of his kingdom, we give up on the idea and the promise. After all, the world around has many good things for us to have and enjoy; and they promise us that the rewards are great. Never-the-less, this kingdom is ours guaranteed by our faithful and trustworthy God. In many ways, this kingdom has come already, but physically, for the moment, it is not our experience.

As a result, we are too often tempted to look elsewhere: To place our interest and trust in other things; and even work at ensuring our own future, security and welfare. Other things can so easily become our riches and we become complacent in our Christian life. We all too readily live for now and give little thought to the future and the important things of life. It is almost as if we afraid of being out of step with the rest of society, or that this ‘christian stuff’ may not be for real in the end, or that it doesn’t really matter.

But hear again, what Jesus says: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Be faithful, in the midst of the times we are living in. Be sure that Jesus and what he has to say is for real. Remember the treasures of this world do not last and we cannot take them with us: Whereas the treasures that he has in mind for us are truly great and lasting, even though we are not fully experiencing them now. Remember both the glories and sufferings of this life are nothing in comparison to the riches of the glory that he has in mind for us for the rest of eternity. Here remember God’s Word is proved to be true and reliable. History has again and again attested to this fact. God and what he has promised is for real.

Now this is the treasure that we are to hold as of greatest importance. Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us and won for us is surely the best that we could ever have. So let us hold this wonderful treasure near and dear to us. The things that our world has to offer are nothing by comparison to the greatness of all that we have in and with Jesus Christ.

Along with that however, we need to also remember that our Lord will come and he will come unexpectedly: our time will come sooner or later; and we are called on to be ready and prepared. We are called on to repent – to turn back to God and take him seriously - seeing the Lord and what he has to offer as our greatest treasure that we could ever have.

Also, remember the parables and the implication for those that are not ready and prepared and are caught up in the treasures of this life. God Word is clear that those who turn their back on Jesus and reject what he has to offer, by clinging to the treasures of this world as though they are all important; they will not be receiving the kingdom. They in stead will be cast into hell.

So to conclude, remember the Son of Man; Jesus himself, will come again when we are not expecting him. So be ready and be prepared. But above all, do not be afraid to trust in all of this, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. To him be all glory and honour, now and always.
AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish