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Psalm
119:145-152

 

 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. (ESV) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra Nos

Friday of Easter 3

27 April 2012

We use far too many terms that begin with the word self. There is self-seeking, self-motivation, self-esteem, self-love, self-regard and so on. Our heart is very much turned in on itself. In spiritual matters this is a great danger. While our life in the world may be benefited by being self-motivated, such a thing does not apply in the life of the spirit, because of our depravity. I saw a website that warned of the risk that churches run, because they are open and accepting communities. This makes churches a target for child molesters. One such convicted molester said that church people "seem to want to believe in the good that exists in people. I think they want to believe in people." Such a desire, however, is not based on the specific teachings of God's Word. God's word warns us that human beings are by nature fallen and depraved; that the blood of Adam flows through the veins of every person conceived in a natural way. Confessional Christians ought to be aware that "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Rm 3:12). When it comes to humans, including ourselves, a healthy dose of skepticism is appropriate, even necessary. We certainly don't want to believe in people, because what is in them is not worthy of belief.

 

What's in us is the problem. We should never presume that it is good. We should never believe in people. Only God is true. The Psalmist testifies: "All mankind are liars" (Ps 116:11). The "all," in that statement includes you. Our penchant for finding good in ourselves is evidenced by all the "self-words" that we use. The law tells a different story. Where then shall we look, if in us there is no good thing? We may only look outside of us (extra nos) to Christ. In God's Son there is only good and all good. God's solution to our depravity is not to make us good, but to send us the good Shepherd. God's solution to our sin is not merely to get us to do fewer sins, but to put all of them upon the shoulders of his eternal Son, who takes them away as the Lamb of God. He takes away the sin of the world and your sin. The solution isn't in us, but in Christ. It is to Him that we should turn, when we are struggling with our own sinful flesh and its depravity. Outside of us is our only hope. The Father's beloved Son is the One "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:14).

 

The law can say what it will about you and it is all true. But that is not the end of the story. The end of the story is in Christ. He takes the law's accusations into His holy and precious person and puts a full stop on them. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rm 10:4). So while the law can trouble us, cause us to squirm over our status with God, and plague our conscience, it does not provide the last word, not the most important word. The Word of the cross is the last word. Whatever else is said is not important. We are turned out of ourselves by this Word. The self-talk never stops, it is just overcome by the Christ, who is outside of us. 

 

Martin Luther

  

"With the words 'If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law' (Gal 5:18), you can effectively console yourself and others who are experiencing severe trials. It often happens that a man is so strongly attacked by anger, hatred, impatience, sexual desire, spiritual depression, or some other desire of the flesh that he is absolutely unable to shake it off, no matter how much he desires to. What is he to do? Should he despair on this account? No, but he should say: 'My flesh is fighting and raging against the spirit. Let it rage however long it will! But you do not yield to it, but walk and be led by the Spirit, so that you do not accomplish its desires. When this happens, you are free from the law. Of course, it will accuse and frighten you; but it will do so in vain, etc.' When the flesh is wrestling against the Spirit, therefore, there is nothing better to have in sight than the Word and to obtain from it the consolation of the Spirit." 

 

Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians, 5.18  

 

Prayer        

Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have raised from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

 

For baby Brinley and mother Bethany Meyer who is scheduled to have a c-section Monday, that both mother and child would be kept safe

 

For the Council of Presidents of the LCMS, that they would be kept safe as they travel to St. Louis for meetings

 

For all vicars and seminary candidates, as they wait to hear where the church is sending them to serve Christ, that they would be patient and confident of the Lord's good and gracious will

 

Art: DUBOIS, Thomas  Lamb of God

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