The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1908, Page 82

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82

nected with them, and therefore they also are means
of grace. According to Scripture, Baptism is ap-

plied “for the remission of sins,” and is the “wash-

ing of regeneration.” And Christ Himself tells us
that in the Holy Supper He gives us His body given
for us, and His blood shed for us, “for the remis-
sion of sins.” Where there is forgiveness of sins,
there is also life and salvation. In: these means
of grace, which’God Himself has ordained, Christ
comes to us with all the treasures of salvation. He
comes in mercy and in love to enter our hearts as
our Savior and our King. “Behold,” He says,
“J stand at the door and knock; if any man hear
my voice and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.” It is this
that makes every church-year a year of grace. It
is this that moves Christians to carry on mission
work, by which the means of grace are brought to
men and Christ with His salvation comes to sin-
burdened souls.
“He comes, the broken heart to bind,
_ The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of His grace
To enrich the humble poor.”

CuRrisT WILL come. “They shall see the Son
of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power
and great glory,” says Christ. And when He had
ascended into heaven in sight of His disciples, two
angels appeared and said to them: “This same
Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall
come in like manner as ye have seen Him go to
heaven.” He will come visibly at the end of the
world to judge the quick and the dead. That com-
ing of Christ will be a terror to all unbelievers.
They will be sent as His enemies into everlasting
damnation. But it will be a joy to all the children
of God. They will enter into the joys of their
Lord and will behold His glory in their heavenly
home. May we by true faith be at all times pre-
pared for that coming of Christ, which every set-
ting sun brings nearer! “Yet a little while, and
He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. ¥

“He will come to judge the nations,
A terror to His foes,

A light of consolations

And blessed hope to those

Who love the Lord’s appearing.

O glorious Sun, now come,

Send forth Thy beams so cheering,
And guide us safely home!”

Tus is the nature of true faith that it is in-
cessantly growing and increasing. — Luther.

The Lutheran Pioneer.

Offer unto God Thanksgiving.

It would render us more thankful and make
every day a thanksgiving day if we would at all
times consider our own unworthiness over against
God’s great mercy. When Jacob thought of the
gifts and blessings which God had bestowed upon
him, he, in the sense of his unworthiness, cried out
with a thankful heart: “I am not worthy of the
Icast of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which
Thou hast showed unto Thy servant.”

We are sinners, and even the best of us must
confess with the words of the Catechism: “We daily
sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punish-
ment.” And yet God daily bestows upon us in-
numerable gifts and blessings all the year round.
“What hast thou that thou didst not receive?” It
is God from whom all blessings flow, and we un-
worthy creatures owe all the benefits which we daily
enjoy to His unmerited goodness. He bestows all
His blessings “purely out of fatherly, divine good-
ness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in
me; for all which it is my duty to thank and
praise, to serve and obey Him.” ‘Therefore, “bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His bene-
fits!” “Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy-
vows unto the Most High.” “Give thanks unto
the Lord, for He is good ; for His mercy endureth
forever.”

How a complaining woman was once reminded
of her own unworthiness and moved to give thanks
unto God, is told by a well-known German Lu-
theran pastor as follows:_

I once asked a woman in my first charge, “How
are you getting along?” She began to complain
a great deal about her difficulties and trials. I al-
lowed her to finish and then said to her: “Well;
my dear woman, I guess we will have to repeat the
Catechism together. J’ll ask and you answer.”

“Do you believe that you are a sinner?”

“Yes, I believe it, I am a sinner.”

“How do you know this?”

“From the Ten Commandments; these I have
not kept.”

“What have you deserved of God by your sins?”

“His wrath and displeasure, temporal death,
and eternal damnation.”

“Ts what you have just. said true?”

- “Why, certainly it.is true, pastor!”

“And still I see that you have daily bread, have
clothing and shoes, house and home; haye a kind
husband and healthy children, have Jesus for your