Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 ESV)
This psalm (part of this morning's devotion) has comforted me, as I find myself shaken and disturbed by yesterday's events in our nation's capital city. In a troubled time such as this, how should we understand these things? And what are we, as God's people in Jesus Christ, called to do?
My friend Pastor Donald Neuendorf (of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor) has reminded his congregation that under King David, God's Old Testament people, enjoyed military victory, material prosperity and respect among the nations. But there was corruption beneath the surface. The people were drawn to false gods, and even the king was caught up in scandal. Because of the sins of Israel, God afflicted the country with an epidemic in which 70,000 died. David's son Absalom led a conspiracy to overthrow his father so serious that the capital had to be evacuated and the king was forced to flee for his life. (See 2 Samuel chapters 24 and 15 for the full story.)
Pastor Neuendorf wrote yesterday, "Our nation is not greater than Israel, and our leaders of all political parties are no less prone to sin or failure than theirs. Yet God worked in the midst of all this to achieve His plan. And His faithful were kept in His hand, and preserved in faith to eternal life."
"We cannot know where our nation will go in the months and years ahead. We have enemies abroad, enemies at home, cultural decay and growing rejection of God, and we face forces of disease and death. These things are too large for any of us to solve on our own. But they are not too large for our King, our Heavenly Father."
"We know our calling as citizens of Heaven. We are called to obey God rather than men, to bring good news not evil, to bless and not to curse. Whatever political differences we may have with your neighbors, we are called to uphold a greater law, to share a better news, and to bring a more perfect peace. We are God's people in this place. We are servants of a greater King."
I ask you to join me in prayer today and in the days to come. Let us repent of our sins of thought, word and deed against God and our neighbor. Let us take refuge in our Father's infinite mercy and forgiveness, seeking His grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us implore the Holy Spirit for increased faith, and for His fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Immersing ourselves in God's Word of Law and Gospel, let us pray for our nation; pray for our leaders, all of them; pray for our frightened neighbors; pray for the Church that we may know how our Lord would have us live; pray that we may love and forgive others as we have been loved and forgiven.
Information about this weekend's worship services and other key updates will be shared in a separate email later today. I ask that, whether in person or via livestream, you participate as you are able, respecting the decisions Messiah's leaders have made in order to continue our mission while providing for the health and safety of members, preschool families and others. May each of us grant each other the grace we have received in Christ. And may this prayer from Lutheran Service Book be a help for us all, as you and I pray:
Heavenly Father, God of all concord, it is Your gracious will that Your children on earth live together in harmony and peace. Defeat the plans of all those who would stir up violence and strife, destroy the weapons of those who delight in war and bloodshed, and, according to Your will, end all conflicts in the world. Teach us to examine our hearts that we may recognize our own inclination toward envy, malice, hatred, and enmity. Help us, by Your Word and Spirit, to search our hearts and to root out the evil that would lead to strife and discord, so that in our lives we may be at peace with all people. Fill us with zeal for the work of Your Church and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring that peace which is beyond all understanding; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Yours in Him,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
