“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.”  (Psalm 51:3-4)

Against the Lord have we sinned.  Yes, but what about sins against another?  All sin is ultimately against the Lord, which is why Jesus was able to forgive sins.  He forgave not only what was against others, but because all sin is ultimately against Him, He was able to forgive us.  This is why there was puzzlement that He forgave sins.  Yes, God forgives and His forgiveness is complete.

Lord, I have sinned against You even when I have sinned against my neighbor.  Help me I pray to live life in repentance that I would see that there are no small sins, but only sins against You.  Lead me to see my heart changed to be so intimate with You that I never forget this simple principle.  Lead me to live life righteously and teach me to look to You always and for all things.

Lord Jesus, the magnitude of what You have done is greater than I can begin to imagine.  Help me, I pray, to see in You the hope of glory and the truth of the grace I need.  Lead me in truth so that I may forever hold fast to what You have done from the cross.  Lead me today and always to know that against You only have I sinned, but the by repentance You will restore me to wholeness.  Amen.

“For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.   “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you associate with adulterers.”  (Psalm 50:17-18)

Such is the way of the world.  Leave behind the commands of the Lord and justify behavior by hanging out with those who sin boldly.  It has been happening since the beginning, but the call to you is to turn to the Lord and learn from Him the way life is supposed to be lived.  Come to the Lord and see that His ways are right and good.  Know the Word of the Lord and know wisdom.

All around me Lord is the reinforcement of living a life that serves the self.  I see what we call entertainment supporting this and tearing down the barriers that Your commandments have made.  Guide me O Lord that I would walk in Your ways and learn from You the way life was created to be lived.  Help me O Lord to come to You and turn away from the temptations of this world.

Lord Jesus, You walked in the middle of the mess of this world in order to lift up with You all who would come to You.  Guide me now and always to walk in Your ways that I would learn from You righteousness.  Lead me today and by Your grace help me to follow.  Help me learn to love the way You have established and to look to You for all things to live through all things.  Amen.

“[Jesus said] to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’”  (Matthew 22:21)

What a horrifying statement.  Is our Lord Jesus Christ actually suggesting that some things don’t belong to God?  Is He giving Christians permission to participate in the sinful institutions of man?  Doesn’t He know that God wants us to be perfect, as He is perfect? (Matthew 5:48)

First, no; second and third, yes.  Of course our Lord knows that all things belong to God.  Engaging debate as a good rabbi, He simply makes a thought-provoking distinction with few words and a strong image.  But yes, He is giving His followers the freedom to participate in government, economy, and other institutions of this world, and He does so precisely because He knows that our Father wants us to be perfect as He is perfect.

For the Father’s perfection is known in this: His beloved Son assumed the flesh of this world, and dwelt and worked among sinners, for the sake of redeeming them—He even assumed the sin of the world on the cross.  Thus gifting us with His enduring friendship, God frees us—He frees you—to take on the burdens of your neighbors, too, even in something as sinful as government or (gasp!) capitalism, for the sake of love, kindness, and mercy.

LET US PRAY:  Father, Your perfection makes all things perfect!  Grant me such faith in Your Son’s mercy towards me that I take up the yoke of loving as He has first loved me; in His name I pray.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19)

Joseph’s brothers had cruelly rejected him and sold him into slavery.  Now, in the days following their reconciliation, and even though he has shown them great kindness, they fear that he might turn on them.  Here you and I see ourselves when guilty consciences drive us.  No matter how kindly someone treats the sinner, the sinner always watches his back.

So the brothers come to Joseph, asking for him to affirm his forgiveness again.   He responds, “Am I in the place of God?”  It’s an interesting response.  Both condemnation and forgiveness presume a certain authority over the person being condemned or forgiven.  Joseph seems to demur in the face of either option, refusing be either Judge or Savior.  He simply resumes his love for them as their brother.  Thus he affirms (in a brilliant way!) that their sin is so long forgotten, it doesn’t even merit forgiveness!      

It’s a crucifixion, of sorts.  Joseph dies to all his rights, and thus bestows great privileges and blessings upon his family—he even frees them to enjoy those gifts with neither guilt nor resentment.  Our Lord did the same when He carried His forgiveness to the cross and grave and then back to us again.  He let Himself be crucified, turned powerless and inferior, to affirm that He’d rather die than raise even a pinky finger against a sinner.  His forgiveness comes freely, to set you free.

LET US PRAY: O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: You willingly bore the shame and lowliness of our sin so that we might bear the glory of Your kindness and love.  Grant that this glory would crown and adorn us all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau