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“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15-21).

That can seem both obvious – and challenging.

Of course, if you love someone, you want to do things for them to show that love. You want to give of self because you love them. It flows naturally. It is self-evident. “Love is a verb” as the saying goes. (Note: it’s also a noun!)

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 14:15

The converse is also true: if you aren’t giving of self to another, it is probably an indication that there is a lack of love present.

But whenever we have sentences with “if” in them, we can get uneasy. It seems so…transactional. Standoffish. Perhaps even cold. It causes us to wonder if we are truly fulfilling that “if” well enough to meet the “requirement” stated.

“If I love God” – how much? I “will keep [His” commandments” to what level or extent?

And then we go on to see, “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me” (John 14:21).

But in that case, we’re the ones trying to codify a simple statement into a complex one. We’re the ones taking a statement of Truth and muddying it with conditions.

Love Jesus, and that will naturally manifest itself in willing obedience.

It really is as simple as that.

Love begets obedience.

Not out of fear; not out of obligation; not out of coercion. Out of gratitude; out of heart-felt desire; out of selfless yearning!

And the reason is simple: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Jesus loved His Father, loved the world, loved us so much that He selflessly, willingly, lovingly, suffered, died, and rose for us.

And it goes on!

Because He loves, He obeyed; because He loves, He saved; because He loves, He sends the Holy Spirit, the Helper; because He loves, all things are accomplished, fulfilled, given!

Because He loves, how could we not love back?! Because He has sacrificed and given so much, how could we not want to obey and keep every good, Holy, loving, challenging, blessed, enriching, edifying, disciplining, gracious, blessed Word and commands He has given us!

And through all of that loving, we are not only blessed with a more abundant and blessed life, but we also receive the Holy Spirit for discernment and Holy living and the love the of the Father as well!

What is not to love here?! “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for showing us Your love through Your actions. Grant us a willing, gracious, and loving heart that responds in grateful, obedient actions. Fill us with the Holy Spirit – the Helper so that all we think, say, and do is in line with Your will, Your Word, Your commandments. In the precious name of Jesus do we pray, O Lord. Amen”

Scripture

• John 14:15–21
• Psalm 66:8–20 (Responsory)

Peter has a lot to say in his first letter to believers; about how to live and stand firm in the Faith of Jesus amidst difficult people and a challenging world.

Part of today’s Scripture remind us that we start somewhere and end elsewhere. That is, we may start as believers who do not know how to live as God’s children when we come to Faith, but through that Faith, we “are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood…acceptable to God” (1 Peter 2:5). We are to begin by craving “pure spiritual milk, so that by it [we] may grow up in [our] salvation, now that we have tasted that the Lord is good” (2 Peter 2:2-3).

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV84)

In other words, if we are to be faithful as children of God, we don’t remain where we are. We are to grow up – in our Faith, in our living, in our understanding, in our service – in every aspect as a Christian.

God has called us to be “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (2 Peter 2:9).

If we examine ourselves – our hearts and actions, we know that we have been far from those descriptors.

So it’s time for us to “grow up in [our] salvation” (1 Peter 2:2)! And we do so because we crave it. We crave Him! We see all that our loving, reigning, and living Lord Jesus has done for us and we can’t wait to grow in our love, faith, and service to Him and all whom He loves!

Today we celebrate Holy Communion, where we grow up in our salvation by receiving the true Body and Blood of Jesus through bread and wine.

Today we rejoice at a baptism, where God brings His precious child into His family through water and His Word.

Today we delight at nine young men and women who Confirm their faith publicly.

Through these beautiful events – and so many others – we all “grow up in [our] salvation;” are “built into a spiritual house;” are living out lives as a “holy nation…belonging to God.” Today we vow to not remain where we are, but crave growing into being closer to the “holy” people God has called us to be.

All because of Jesus, through whose suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension made our Fatih possible. All because of the Holy Spirit who moved us to Faith at all. All because of our heavenly Father, who loves us and desires to be with us forever.

We have everything through our Lord. Let us respond by growing up and holding steadfast to the gift of Faith in and through our lord and savior, Jesus Christ!

“Lord, You have chosen us to be royal and holy. You have called us to be built up in the Faith You have given us. You desire that we grow up in our faith and our Christian living. Send us Your Holy Spirit, Lord, and help us do this. Create a craving in our heart and soul, not just to be steadfast, but to push forward in every way You want us to grow. In thanks for Jesus and in His precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scripture

• 1 Peter 2:2-10
• Psalm 146 (Responsory)

The time in the Church after the resurrection of Jesus is extraordinary! A whirlwind of amazing events.

Before our text today we see Jesus ascending; Matthias chosen to replace Judas; Pentecost taking place, with Peter preaching and about 3,000 souls being added to the Body of believers.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42

Praise the Lord!

Then comes our text for today. It begins with “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) and ends with “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

The believers “devoted themselves” to the things the Church should be doing. Getting into what God teaches, providing for each other, worshipping and Communing together, doing things for the benefit of people.

And then comes the last sentence, “the Lord added to their number.”

The believers were being the Church and God was being God!

God brought people to faith, and those in faith were living it out!

And the cycle repeated.

Too often we think that we need to do certain things for others to come to faith. We get the mistaken idea that we make believers.

Only God does that. Only God can do that.

We are called to live the life of faith. To do the faithful things. To be the Body of Christ. And when we do that, God uses us to bring others to faith, too.

Jesus is alive and has sent the Holy Spirit to us, to help us in our sanctified living and to bring others to faith. Our Call is not a difficult one, but rather one of privilege and honor: devoting ourselves to a life of discipleship in all areas – and letting God add to number of those being saved.

May the cycle repeat!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus for rising, ascending, and sending the Holy Spirit to us. Move us to be ‘devoted’ as Your disciples in every area of Christian living and move those who do not yet believe to faith in You. Help us be faithful in our following, winsome in our actions, and joyful in our service. In Jesus’ precious name do we pray; amen.”

Scripture

• Acts 2:42-27

I can be…non-observant; not noticing things going on around or perceiving of things right in front of me.

It can take many forms.

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Luke 24:31-32

In some cases, it is being completely unaware to my surroundings; not noticing (or remembering?) that our master bathroom had wallpaper after living there for several years. Or that my wife had hung up a simply painting on the wall of the house.

Other times it in the form of my focus on something I’m working on, while being shockingly oblivious to the fact that my wife had come home, done work in the kitchen, had a conversation on her phone – all while I worked at my desk a few feet away until I look up and ask in wonder, “when did you get home?”

It can be quite impressively shocking and scary!

Perhaps I am rare in the scale and scope of my ignorance of surroundings, but I do not think I’m alone in it. (And, “no,” it’s not just a husband thing!)

I do wonder, however, if a lot of the disciples were plagued with some version of this. Seeing Jesus’ miracles all the time, yet not grasping the significance of Him being Lord of all. Hearing His words and message but being clueless as to what He meant. Having eye-witnesses see Jesus alive after His death and not connecting to this reality that confronts them.

And the two in our text today even speak with Jesus face-to-face and start to eat with Him – and still don’t “see” or recognize Him – until ‘the breaking of the bread!’ Then they saw Jesus, recognized Him, and realized the burning that was happening in their hearts was due to Him!

Now I think that Jesus was having some fun here. Whether or not He was intentionally obfuscating their view until the right time, allowing it to happen, or it was simply due to gross unawareness may be debated. But Jesus took the time to walk with these two, share the Gospel, and ‘acted as if He were going further.’ Really, I think He was enjoying this!

But the fact is, Jesus made Himself known through His actions, through His Word, through Himself – and He is to be recognized and seen!

I wonder how different things would be if we intended to intensely hone our hearts, our gaze, and our very being on Jesus; if we made Him our world and being; if we made Him our focus rather than our periphery.

Jesus and His victory over sin, death, and the Devil isn’t some side-story that can be missed, forgotten, or disregarded; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to be seen, believed, and followed!

Open your hearts and eyes! Look at Him! Look to Him! Let your hearts burn with Him and His Word every day and in every way! Don’t miss Him! Let your eyes be opened – for Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

“Amazing Lord Jesus; thank You for not only saving us, but for being the One to look to as the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Send us Your Spirit to ignite our hearts, open our eyes, and strengthen us for holy service. In Your risen and reigning Name do we pray. Amen!”

Scripture

• Psalm 116:1-14 (Confession & Absolution)
• Luke 24:13-35

We are weak out from Easter. Last week we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then, well, it seems like kind of a letdown. Somewhat anticlimactic. From this highest of highs to just regular day living.

You have to wonder about “doubting Thomas.” He gets a bad rap. In the same situation under the same circumstances I wonder how many of us would believe just because others seemed delusional and like they were hallucinating. His doubt is understandable. I mean, after all, how many times have we seen someone raised from the dead? True, they saw some like Lazarus, but it’s hardly a common or usual occurrence.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Thomas has to go this whole next week without having seen Jesus. It makes you wonder what that week was like for him. What kind of heartache he still held. His world having been turned upside down. And if he didn’t believe what everyone else was telling him, what hope was there for him? What future was there for him?

Sometimes we like Thomas. In doubt. Or maybe we’re just forgetful. We forget the goodness of God; forget the grace of God; forget the miracles that we have seen time and time and time again; forget that God has given us everything. Given us an inheritance.

That’s what our passage in 1st Peter talks about in chapter one.

It reminds us that God has “caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for [us]…by God’s power…being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed at the last time,” and then it goes on, “for a little while…[we] have been greed by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of [our] faith—more precious than gold…may be found.” And it says, “though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice, that with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls” (1 Peter 1:3-9).

What a wonderful description! Thomas had these times of grieving; times of doubting; times when he wondered about what his faith and hope were going to be like.

We exist in that situation, too. We doubt. We grieve. We lose hope.

Those are times of testing of our faith.

But they are for a little while. We are grieved for a little while. We have trials for a little while. But the truth is, we have an inheritance that is kept for us through faith in Jesus. That is, through faith in Jesus, the One who has come the One who died; the One who rose the One who is living now and prepares a place for us — that inheritance is ours and is being kept for us, so that no matter what trials and heartaches we are going through now, we have an assurance that something greater awaits us; something that is far more than we can think or even imagine.

In our baptism, God makes this promise to us when he pulls us into his fold when he grants us forgiveness and faith; when He makes us His own. At that moment, he is guaranteed that inheritance for us through that faith. We realized that last week on Easter, and that fact still exists today! Through faith our inheritance is kept, no matter what doubts and trials we have — and that is something to celebrate. It is something to celebrate because “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!” and amen.

“Gracious Lord God, Jesus Christ; we praise and thank You that Your Resurrection wasn’t just a one-time deal. You have kept our inheritance the salvation of our souls certain and sure, waiting for us. So, we need never fear any doubts and trials and temptations now. We know that not only will we get through them, but through faith in You, they have been defeated. Remind us of that daily, Lord. In Your precious and victorious Name do we pray. Amen!”

Scripture

• 1 Peter 1:3-9
• John 20:19-31

“Christ is risen! He has risen, indeed! Alleluia!”

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”’”

Exodus 8:1 (ESV)

Today, we look at Easter Sunday – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What an awesome day! This is what a great day to gather and worship and celebrate the pivotal event in all of history.

When we think about “defeating the odds,” there are positive iterations of that and negative ones.

Negatives like getting struck by lightning; of getting attacked by a shark; of developing an extremely rare type of disease.

But there’s also the positives of winning the lottery, or getting that great promotion, or marrying well above your station.

We’re in our last day of looking at our journey through “Exodus: Let my people go!” series. In that book, there aren’t many greater examples of people defeating the odds: being locked in slavery and oppressed for hundreds of years, and yet against all odds, God saved them. Moses, one who had been wanted for murder, going back and addressing Pharaoh face to face with God’s command and God’s power and being triumphant through God’s word, God’s actions, and God’s plagues; against all odds. Being trapped against the Sea and God dividing it so that the whole nation of Israelites walked over a dry ground while all of Pharaoh’s army drowned; against all odds. Having no water or no food, and God providing water from the Rock and Manna every single day; against all odds. Receiving God’s covenantal promise through His Words on Mount Sinai and being selected as His people, even through their continuous disobedience and rebellion; against all odds. Time and time and time again we see God defeating all odds on behalf of His people out of His mercy and grace.

Our epistle text says, “‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting as death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives the victory to our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). God gives the victory over death, against all odds. That is the very reality that encounters us this day; this special day; this pivotal day; this highest, holy day. Death doesn’t have the last word! Defeat doesn’t have the last word! Depression doesn’t have the last word! Disease doesn’t have the last word! Demotion doesn’t have the last word! God has the last word; and that last word on the matter is Life from death; joy from mourning; hope from despair.

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:5-6

Jesus is not in the tomb; He has risen, just as He said. Do not be afraid, no matter how stacked the odds are against you. Today is a day when we look in an empty tomb and instead hear of a risen Christ. We look to victory over death and see, against all odds, everything that we could possibly want or even imagine for eternity: grace, mercy, forgiveness, life – all of it. Against all odds. Odds that said we should be in death; that we should be in despair from our sins; that this was the end; there is no hope there is no future. And against all odds, “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!”

“We thank you, Lord Jesus, for conquering sin, death, and the devil against all odds of the evil one – for us and for our Salvation and for creation to be made new. We praise and thank You for this day above all days, because You are King Above all kings and Lord above all lords. Help us to celebrate this day, not just today, but every day, in Your previous, glorious, victorious, reigning, living Name, Jesus. Amen!”

Scripture

• Exodus 15:1-18
• 1 Corinthians 15:55-58
• Matthew 28:1-20