LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 100

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100 OTHER PRESENTATIONS

minded of St. Paul’s words to the Philippians: “I thank my
God every time I remember you, in all my prayers for all of

you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in —

the Gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-5).

A Word of Encouragement.  —_-
ing with the frequent exhortation of God’s Word. In a great
“therefore” passage, St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians:

“He four Lord Jesus Christ] died for us so that, whether we
are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. There-
fore encourage one another and build each other up, just as
in fact you are‘doing” (1 Thess, 5:10-11). And the writer of
Hebrews reminds us: “Let us encourage one another—and
all the moré‘as you see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).
~ We indeed need to encourage one another, for we are liv-
ing in‘a tinié of unprecedented challenge to the church of
Jesus Christ, including our éwn Synod. Let me cite partic-
ularly three areas of challenge and need: (1) the ‘great evil
we are experiencing in our generation; (2) the many, many
people in our world of five and a half billion people who do
not Know and believe the love of God in Jesus Christ; (3)
and the world of Lutheranism which is undergoing some-
what of an identity crisis in terms of both witness and rela-
tionships. More than ever before, for the sake of others, and
for ourselves, we need to be bold in our proclamation and
confession of the Gospel and faithful.in our use of the
Gospel and-sacraments. God’s means of grace are also His
means of power, for through them, He gives His Holy
Spirit, when and where He pleases, together with His gifts,
in rich abundance. This is no time to trust simply in politi-

But let me add a word" f encouragement, too;

cal power, convention resolutions, or vaunted traditions.
This is no time to substitute narrowness for conservatism,
control for freedom, pastoral authority for pastoral care,
self-preservation for mission outreach, institutional isola-
tion from other Christians for responsible ecumenical in-
volvement, or Law for Gospel. Se,
But it is time to have the Gospel of God’s love in Christ
hold sway among us! How pointedly last Sunday’s epistle
addresses us at this time in our history: St. Paul Writes to
the Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand fast, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened
with a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). What a powerful, strong
word of encouragement that is for each of us, and for our
congregations, too! Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us en-
courage one another with that word—especially now, as we
see the day approaching! a,
As we confess our many sins, individual and corporate,
and look again to the cross and empty tomb of our Lord, the
most amazing word of encouragement is simply this: God

still loves and forgives all our sins for Christ’s sake! And

He empowers us again and again in Jesus Christ. He
makes all things new, including us/ What great and Good
News that is, particularly now as we prepare to celebrate
150 years of His grace and blessing among us. That Good
News remains His powerful, life-giving word of encourage-
ment and hope to all of us as we return to our homes and
congregations, ready to answer His call and be sent forth
again by His blessing. ,

What a wonderful God He is! May His grace, mercy, and
peace, as well as the freedom with which He has made us
free, abound among us, now and forever!

Ralph A. Bohlmann, President Emeritus