November 1 , 2009
BEGIN WITH PRAYER – Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN!! (LSB, p 308: prayer 148)
REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET!!
This week Saturday is Reformation day – a day we Lutheran’s celebrate when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Thesis (or statements) on the door of the Catholic Church beginning the Protestant reformation. A reformation (according to Dictionary.com) is: “the act of reforming and the state of being reformed” and being reformed means - forming again. This week’s readings show’s that we most definitely are REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET! Confused? Read on….
REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET!!
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-10
Look at the picture of the great multitude – all wearing white robes and holding palm branches. White symbolizes purity (the white robe of righteousness), and the palm branches symbolize victory (as the victory of war). As followers of the Lamb we are REFORMED TO BE, pure, holy, and victorious NOW through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. But, we have NOT YET been reformed to the fullness of the Glory we shall experience when the Lamb comes again. When Christ comes again, ah, the Glory we shall see. COME LORD JESUS COME!!!
REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET!!
“Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” Psalm 149
Because of the blood of the lamb we have been REFORMED TO BE: glad in our maker, rejoicing in our King, singing for joy, and adorned with salvation. We rejoice NOW, but NOT YET to the full extent of what the praises that will ring for followers of Jesus when He comes back!! When He comes back, ah, the joyful noise that will be heard!!! COME LORD JESUS COME!
REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET!!
“Friends, NOW we are children of God, and what we will be has NOT YET been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Because of the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ, we can NOW with all confidence call ourselves children of God. But, the reality of that title has NOT YET been made known to us. But when He comes, ah, when He comes we shall see Him fully, know Him fully, and realize just how blessed we truly are. COME LORD JESUS COME!
REFORMED – NOW AND NOT YET!!
“Blessed are…..” Matthew 5:1-11
We are REFORMED TO BE; BLESSED. NOW we are poor in spirit, we mourn, we are meek; and we hunger and thirst for righteousness; YET when we confess, repent, and trust in the forgiveness, grace and mercy of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God comes NOW to rule in our hearts.
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16) - that’s ours NOW through Jesus. But, because we still live in a sinful world, in a sinful body, with Satan prowling around, we have NOT YET experienced the full extent of God’s Grace. But, when Christ comes again, ah, when He comes again, I can only imagine the blessing and Glory we shall see!! REFORMED TO BE – NOW AND NOT YET!! COME LORD JESUS COME!!!
Week ending: November 1, 2009
Monday – (Old Testament)
Revelation 7: 9-17
READ
Tuesday – Psalm 149
MARK
Wednesday –(Epistle)
1 John 3:1-3
LEARN
Thursday – (Gospel)
Matthew 5:1-12
INWARDLY DIGEST
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –
