LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 59

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60 CLOSING ADDRESS

power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). In
Today’s English Version this passage reads: “We who
have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots,
to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not
to us.”

Of ourselves and in ourselves we will not find the
willingness of heart and the power to unite as brethren
in doing the work that God would have our Synod do
during the next biennium. The “clay pots” to which
the apostle Paul likens us are of themselves empty.
Therefore, how good it is to know that “the supreme
power belongs to God, not to us!” God alone can supply
the power that enables us to accomplish His purposes.
And the power He supplies resides in the Gospel and
the sacraments. This is the spiritual treasure God has
given us. Always it is the power of this spiritual trea-
sure that unites men, women, and children under the
gracious rule of Christ, whether that be in New Guinea,
in the Philippines, in Nigeria, in India, or in the cities
and plains, the ghettos and suburbs of America.

That’s something for us to take home and share with

our fellow members of the Synod in our congregations.
Of ourselves, without the power of the Gospel, we have
neither the willingness nor the power to unite as breth-
ren and do the work of the kingdom that God has com-
mitted to us. But we are not in this work of and by
ourselves. “Our Father in heaven, Thine is the kingdom
and the power.”
“The business sessions of this convention have come
to an end, but the business of the convention remains
unfinished until we with joyful hearts give due praise,
honor, and adoration to God before we return to our
homes, our communities, and our congregations.

Truly, great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!

His judgments are unsearchable and His ways past
finding out. Always, even in a world tortured by revo-
lution, rebellion, and war, by suspicion and hatred, He
is always “the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gra-
cious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth,
keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquities and
transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6-7). Though the thun-
der of His Law ever calls men to repentance, His Gospel
invitation ever remains: “Come now, and let us reason
together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool” (Is.1:18). “Obey My
voice,” says God “and I will be your God, and ye shall
be My people.” (Jer. 7:23)

At the close of the convention we need to pray:
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name
give glory, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake”
(Ps.115:1). Indeed, we need to do more than give
glory to God with our lips. “Let your light so shine
before men,” says Jesus, “that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
(Matt. 5:16)

Let people see how bright the light of God’s love for
us shines through us in our love for one another and
our love for all men, especially those who need the
warmth of our affection, our concern, and our care.
Then the resolutions we passed during this convention
will become meaningful; then we shall have the willing-
ness of heart and the power to carry them out; then
our Father in heaven will be glorified, and our lives
will be a perpetual doxology: “Thine, O Father in
heaven, is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.”

First Vice-PresipENT R, P. WIEDERAENDERS, D. D.