The Large Catechism – part 138
Scripture Text: Revelation 21:9–11
Would you do things to brighten your standing with God? Then you would simply shine with your own dim, human qualities. The Christian, however, reflects a divine glory...
Sola Devotions
The Large Catechism – part 137
Scripture Text: Revelation 20:12
When the scroll of life is opened, what will it say about you? How will it record your response to the great commandment? Will you have loved the Lord your God so much as to believe in him and take him at his word?
The Large Catechism – part 136
Scripture Text: Revelation 20:5–6
Faith embraces its vocation because it is freed to do so, because it trusts in another. The one who has faith, trusts in God instead of his or her own talents, work ethic, labor, or cunning.
The Large Catechism – part 135
Scripture Text: Isaiah 10:15
Should the created vaunt itself over the Creator? This logic follows downward. Next to the Father come father and mother, those whom God has put in charge.
The Large Catechism – part 134
Scripture Text: Isaiah 9:13–15
If you will not do your job, it will be taken from you. Parenting is important, especially godly parenting. There is no difference between the old leaders of Israel...
The Large Catechism – part 133
Scripture Text: Isaiah 9:4
Why does God promise such a great blessing as long life? How does it work out that his promise may come to pass? He does so by delivering the faithful from sin and its consequences.
The Large Catechism – part 132
Scripture Text: Luke 22:46
Looming heartbreak had brought the disciples to the point of collapse, and so naturally, they were dead to the world when Jesus returned to them.
The Large Catechism – part 131
Scripture Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:3
These traditions that we have learned from our parents (if only our parents in the church) are a great and lifelong blessing. Through these, God is faithful...
The Large Catechism – part 130
Scripture Text: Isaiah 6:3
Most of us have encountered a willful child whom we conjectured would either not live a long life or would be the death of his parents. But there is more to being an obedient child than civil order.
The Large Catechism – part 129
Scripture Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
These verses urge us to honor those who do the principal work of ministry in congregations. But it is good counsel to think of our parents along these lines too.
The Large Catechism – part 128
Scripture Text: Isaiah 5:13
We garner our initial knowledge of the Lord in the home. There, we learn how to honor our parents, and in so learning, we learn that we are not the center of all things.
The Large Catechism – part 127
Scripture Text: Isaiah 3:8
The people of God rebelled against his authority, largely because they were disrespectful to their elders. When this happens, society is ripped apart to the extent that even God cannot heal their wounds.
The Large Catechism – part 126
Scripture Text: Isaiah 2:5
Being obedient does not always make sense to us. This was especially the case when we were children. My father drove me crazy with his demands and discipline. He makes more sense to me now, some 50 years later.
The Large Catechism – part 125
Scripture Text: Zechariah 14:6–7
Frankly, things look practically dark. It is difficult to look at the world and think otherwise. Look at all the young people out there who did not learn enough sense from their parents...
The Large Catechism – part 124
Scripture Text: Ephesians 1:15–18
True holiness and enlightenment is that which receives its righteousness and revelation from the living Christ, rather than trying to squeeze piety and secrets from the dead husk of works and religion.
The Large Catechism – part 123
Scripture Text: Ephesians 1:3–10
We are the workmanship of God, and have been created in Christ for good works. Though God’s grace saves us through faith in Christ Jesus, we are nonetheless, expected to bear fruit...
The Large Catechism – part 122
Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 3:10–11
“I will give up heating this year for God! He will respect me for that sacrifice and grant me entrance at heaven’s gates.” As some old friends of mine used to say mockingly, “Let me know how that works out for you.”
The Large Catechism – part 121
Scripture Text: Luke 18:15–17
Mothers and fathers are given a great honor; let them rise to the responsibility of that honor. Let them teach their children the commandments and the whole Word of God...
The Large Catechism – part 120
Scripture Text: Revelation 13:5–10
Those who depend upon their works instead of their hope and faith in the great work of Christ Jesus have already bowed to the beast. In doing so, they have knelt before the dragon...
The Large Catechism – part 119
Scripture Text: Revelation 12:17
It is not easy to be a child. Nor is it easy to be followers of Christ, his church. One may, at first, imagine the difficulty lies in keeping the commandments—for who can do so with the slightest measure of perfection?
The Large Catechism – part 118
Scripture Text: Luke 11:27–28
How ironic that we consider the Fourth Commandment while reading today’s gospel lesson. A woman in the crowd seeks to honor the mother of Jesus, and Jesus improves upon her blessing...
The Large Catechism – part 117
Scripture Text: Luke 11:23
We cannot imagine how something could be so; the Lord surely did not mean it that way. Perhaps it was just a man writing down his own thoughts that came to be considered The Holy Bible.
The Large Catechism – part 116
Scripture Text: Luke 10:25–28
Even Jesus obeyed the commandment to honor his earthly parents, as well as his heavenly Father. Honoring one’s parents is an extension of the greatest commandment.
The Large Catechism – part 115
Scripture Text: Micah 4:2
Feeling angry, arrogant, rebellious? Would you vent your frustrations on the Lord using insolent words? Of course not; you should not do so with your parents either.
The Large Catechism – part 114
Scripture Text: Luke 10:2
The harvest begins at home. Knowing how the kingdom laborers will be limited, God orders matters efficiently from the outset. There are two workers assigned to each of us so that we may each be properly gathered into his harvest.