LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 94

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In his former understanding the Word of God is
information you can take or leave, like a poster on the
wall. It’s true, but it’s up to you to accept it. So, he said,
Baptism was important, but nothing happens beyond
our action. The Lord’s Supper is commanded, but it’s
only a symbol. Nothing really happens unless you make
it happen.
In the Lutheran understanding, as this man was
coming to know it, the Word of God does what it says.
The “word of God is living and active.” 20 Jesus says,
“This is my body, given for you,” and so it is. “My blood
shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” and so it is. 21
God’s Word is not simply true information, but it
actually delivers what it promises. It is energizing. It
works. God’s Word never returns empty, but it
accomplishes God’s own purpose 22 and delivers Christ
for us. In the Large Catechism we confess:
The Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously
contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to
be without fruit. It always awakens new
understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and
produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these
words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living
words. 23
This is why there is joy in repentance. To repent is
simply to admit your need for God, to turn away from
sin and turn towards the Father, and to know that you
have nothing without Him. Often the hardest thing we
ever have to do is to admit when we’ve been wrong, but
Jesus says there is joy before the angels of God for every
sinner who repents. 24 Repentance is worked by the
Holy Spirit through the Word followed by the
energizing Word of forgiveness. This is why, through
the years, I’ve always appreciated going to a pastor
when I’m troubled by sin. He helps me peel back the
onion layers of my feelings to get at the root pride and
idolatry. Then, sent by Jesus, he becomes the voice of
Jesus Himself, “Take heart, the Lord has put away your
transgression. Your sins are forgiven you!” This Word
of God is not lazy or dead, but creative, living and it
does what it says and delivers what it promises! Here is
real comfort for the broken, because of Christ for us. 25
This is why there is also…
JOY IN VOCATION AND WITNESS
Whatever the shape of your family, it is a gift of God.
Christ for us gives joy in our families. A Christian home
is often the first place where the Word of God is at work
in our lives to reveal His grace. We learn to forgive one
another for Jesus’ sake and have joy in giving and
receiving God’s love. In families we live out our various
vocations. 26 God does not need our good works, but
94 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

other people do, especially our family. God calls each of
us to serve Him in His world to provide for others.
Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, grandparents, sons,
daughters, workers, employers, government and other
authorities are all people God uses to bring His blessings.
Not one of our families is perfect but, forgiven in Christ,
God gives joy as we serve others in Jesus’ name. In all our
vocations, but especially in our families, we are the arms,
the feet, the mouth of Jesus to love and care for others.
Baptized into His name, Christ has also made us His
royal priests, giving us joy in bearing witness to Him.
All the baptized are called to tell the great things God
does in Christ. When folks ask the reason for the hope
and joy within us, we point to Christ alone, Christ for
us. When we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come,” we are not
only praying that God would give us His Word and faith
through that Word, we are also asking God to use even
us in extending His Kingdom to many more. 27 That way
we join in the joy of the angels when another sinner
repents and receives the forgiveness of sins through
Christ. So there is also…
JOY IN PRAYER, EVEN IN SUFFERING
Because Christ is for us, our Father commands us to
pray, indeed, tenderly invites us to crawl up on His lap
to address Him as “Abba Father,” promising to hear. If,
because of your experience, you have a hard time
thinking of God as Father, come see Jesus, your brother,
praying for you in the Garden. “Father, if it be possible,
take this cup from me … yet not my will, but thy will be
done.” 28 Because Jesus drank all the way to the bottom
that cup of suffering, we can be sure the will of God is
always for our good. That very night, Jesus had
promised His disciples, “Whatever you ask in my name,
this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John
14:13–14). Luther has this wonderful example:
It’s like a time when the richest and most mighty
emperor would tell a poor beggar to ask whatever he
might desire. The emperor was ready to give great
royal presents. But the fool would only beg for a dish
of gruel. That man would rightly be considered a
rogue and a scoundrel, who treated the command of
his Imperial Majesty like a joke and a game and was
not worthy of coming into his presence. In the same
way, it is a great shame and dishonor to God if we—
to whom He offers and pledges so many inexpressible
treasures—despise the treasures or do not have the
confidence to receive them, but hardly dare to pray
for a piece of bread. 29
Christ for you is reason for joy even in suffering. Far from
being a sign that God has abandoned us, in the nailConvention Essays