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I remember when my girls were young, less than ten years old, they thought I was their hero, their champion, the one who could fix things and make things right. They would get excited when I came home and want to spend time with me, show me things they had learned and just spend time with me. e

Eventually they all reached the age that they came to the conclusion that I was probably the stupidest man on earth. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t understand how the world worked. So they would shut me out and roll their eyes at me.

At some point, somehow, eventually, I got smarter. They would ask my advice and input on things again. I wasn’t just the old guy who didn’t understand.

Through it all, I have loved my children. Immensely. I have always been fiercely protective of them and tried to shield them from harm. But my love also allowed them the freedom to make their own decisions, which sometimes I did not agree with. But there was never a point that I was willing to let them be harmed. And I would never have willingly let them be put in a position that they might be seriously injured or killed, even if it meant helping someone else.

I know how much I love my girls. I cannot fully comprehend how much God the Father loves us.

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

I think we spend too much of our lives like teenagers who think God just doesn’t understand the real world in which we live, that He has no concept of what we need or is best for us. Yet the love of our heavenly Father values us, His adopted children, so much that He was willing to sacrifice His Son to give us life. Mind blowing love. Love that I rejoice in even though I am not able to grasp the magnitude of it.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

God’s love not only rescues and restores and redeems us, it blesses us constantly and abundantly on this side of heaven.

These days, I have regained hero status among my grandchildren. They have not yet concluded that I don’t know anything. I’m taking advantage of that and enjoying it for as long as it lasts. And one of the things I whisper in their ears when they hug me is, “Papa loves you. But Jesus loves you more.” I want Him to always be their true hero.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things– and the things that are not– to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God– that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Yesterday there was a big football game. I didn’t watch very much of it. I found out this morning who won and who lost. The Philadelphia Eagles have bragging rights until the next season begins. They take pride in the fact that they were able to overcome all of their opponents by their own strength and desire and inner resolve. They are the champions.

Victory and Defeat. Those words are used to describe the same thing from different perspectives. Either you gain the victory or you are defeated. And the same is true when we consider what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.

The cross reminds us that Christ has obtained victory through what the world considers to be foolish, weak and lowly things. This victory was obtained through the entire life of Christ, beginning with the fact that He became one of us. And that, of course, is something that the world continues to dismiss as foolishness. To the religious leaders of His day and many of God’s chosen people, Jesus did not appear to be anything special, certainly not the one they had been waiting for, the Messiah.

This passage above was written to the Corinthians because they were a people who prided themselves in their religious knowledge and boasted about it to the world. Paul was trying to remind them that apart from what God had done for them, they were nothing. They were not wise, not influential, not of noble birth. They were not worth choosing. And the same can be said of all of us. God’s Law reminds us that on our own merit, we are nothing in His sight, nothing but defeated and damned without Christ.

When you reach that point, you are prepared to accept the righteousness, holiness and redemption that God has for you. While coming to faith in Christ is something that is in your past, you should not forget about it. Paul encouraged his readers to REMEMBER what they were. You should remember, too. You should daily confess your sins, remember your Baptism, and receive God’s forgiveness. You should rejoice in the foolishness of preaching and the Lord’s Supper, because you know that they are the source of wisdom and forgiveness and life. The very things the world considers foolish, weak and lowly are what God used and uses to bring His salvation to the world.

If you remember, as Paul encourages here, it will change your living, like he wanted the Corinthians to change their living. Afflictions, weaknesses, illness, even death will become reminders of the victory you have through faith in Jesus. God uses things like this to remind us of our own weakness, and that of the world. At the same time, these things remind us of the victory over all things that comes through Christ. Knowing what Jesus has done for you through His death and resurrection, the bad things in life take on a different meaning. Remembering the victory you have in Christ, these things should cause you to look away from yourself and to Christ. You take part in His weakness. You boast in foolish and weak and lowly things because you know the victory Jesus gives.

Someone once asked why do they call it the Super Bowl and proclaim a team World Champions if they know they are going to do it all again next year? While the Super Bowl is played year after year, the Victory that Christ won for us is for all time. It is a done deal. By His death He has destroyed death, and by His rising has brought life and immortality to light. Sin, death and the devil have been defeated. Through faith, His Victory is ours.

I’m about to go in to my Dentist’s office for a routine cleaning and check up. I remember a few years back going in and the lady doing the cleaning was someone I had not met before. When she found out I was a retired pastor, she had several comments and questions about her Bible readings. Of course, she was asking those questions while she had her instruments in my mouth and I was unable to answer!

One of the things she mentioned was that she read a passage that spoke of some of the apostles being married and she said, “I guess I never really thought about them having wives and taking them along with them!” I think the passage she was referring to was 1 Corinthians 9:5  “Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?” While Paul was not married, he tells us that other apostles were, including Cephas (Simon Peter), which we know from the Gospel accounts as well.

While I am not comparing myself to the apostles, after a career as a full-time church worker, I could not imagine what that would have been like if I had not been married. Being single might have made scheduling easier, but I would have missed out on so much joy and happiness. God led me to a fantastic, wonderful, God-fearing wife and has blessed our union with children and grandchildren.

Just so you know, Cheryl knew what she was getting into. She was a preacher’s kid, too, and part of my proposal to her included the fact that I was planning to go to the seminary. And she still said yes!

God knew it would not be good for this man to be alone. To me, this is further evidence of His grace in my life. The same God who loved me enough to provide His Son to be my Savior cares enough to be involved in the details of my individual circumstances. His love and care and mercy continues to astound me.

A study In a South American orphanage a number of years ago determined the importance of human touch and the lack thereof. Because of staff shortages, children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact showed signs of abnormality:  a loss of appetite, being unable to sleep well, a vacant expression in their eyes. It got worse as time went on. Most of them suffered serious psychological damage (Charles Sell, Unfinished Business, Multnomah, 1989).

Many of us have experienced this firsthand. Just a few years ago we had pandemic restrictions, sheltering at home, isolation from the ones we love, not being able to freely shake hands and hug other people. That gave us an accurate picture of what it is like to live without the touch of others. I heard some horror stories of family members and friends in nursing homes who lived like prisoners, totally cut off from human contact. Some had loved ones die and were not allowed to be with them to even say goodbye before they passed. That is not how God intended us to live our lives. He knows we need interaction with others. He also knows we need interaction with Him.

Luke 24:36–49 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

After Jesus had died to pay for sin and had risen from the dead, our Lord appeared to His disciples and encouraged them to “Touch me and see” that He is real and alive. He wanted them to interact with Him on a personal and tangible level. He wants the same for those of us living today. He wants us to experience His presence in our lives, to have life and have it to the full. We know that He died and rose again for us, and that changes who we are. It changes the way we live. It changes the way we die. It changes the way we worship. It changes the way we work. The Resurrection changes everything.

Jesus says to you: “Touch me and see. I’ll show you. My resurrection is for real.” And we all need that reassuring touch. His peace and presence and power are available freely today through the Word and Sacraments and through the fellowship of faith. Even though we are not able to see and interact with Jesus visibly as those first disciples did, He still wants you to “touch and see” Him. Keep in touch.

Recently I have been drawn to the Psalms, and the Lord continues to speak to me His encouraging word. I am reminded of His love for me, which was displayed most clearly in the face of Christ. Knowing that He lived, died and rose again for me, so that I could be forgiven and have the certainty of life everlasting…it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Today, I want you to read Psalm 62. Rather than offering any comments on it, I just want you to read it for yourself and let God speak His words of comfort and assurance and certainty to you.

Psalm 62

1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
9 Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,
12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Today is Groundhog Day. The movie “Groundhog Day” came out over thirty years ago. It was about a weatherman sent to cover whether or not Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow. This was his fourth year to cover the story, and he does not want to be there. When he awakes the ‘following’ day, he discovers that it’s Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. He is caught in an endless loop. First he uses this to his advantage, but then realizes that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing every day. Eventually he learns that he can help and protect others from making the same mistakes. He uses the time to learn new things, better himself, and treat others kindly.

In a way, we all live this. We do the same things over and over again in our lives, often repeating the same mistakes. Those who are wise will learn from their mistakes and try to avoid them in the future. And the followers of Jesus should make every effort to help and protect others from making mistakes, too. We hopefully learn that being kind to others is a much better way to live.

Thinking about this reminded me of what God had Paul write to the church in Galatia:

Galatians 6:7–10 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

One day we will awaken to the day that we enter our Lord’s presence. We have that certainty because we have placed our faith and confidence in the one who lived and died and rose again to secure our forgiveness and salvation. Until that day arrives, let’s make the most of every opportunity to share Jesus and His love with our neighbors.

Psalm 139:1-10 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

The first ten verses of Psalm 139 speaks of God’s intimate knowledge of us. He knows exactly who we are. And these verses affirm God’s ongoing presence in our lives. There is nowhere we can go that God will not be with us.

When II read the rest of the Psalm, the thoughts there struck me as especially timely. In verse 17 David wrote “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” We need that to be our attitude. We are so quick to share our thoughts and wants and desires with God and the world, but do we take the time to consider His thoughts and desires? There is nothing wrong with making our requests known to the Lord. He wants us to come to Him with any and everything. We just need to be sure it is not a one-sided conversation. We need to be listening to Him as well.

We should adopt the attitude of Samuel:

1 Samuel 3:9 “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

He did such a good job of listening to and then sharing God’s Word that he was seen as trustworthy and reliable. That was affirmed a few verses later.

1 Samuel 3:19 “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.”

At the end of Psalm 139 David makes his requests known to the Lord:

Psalm 139:19–24 “If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

I have had similar thoughts and prayers as I look at the world around me, those who are powerful and influential through televised media and online.  So many of their values and intentions are diametrically opposed to God’s Will. What should be the response of those who follow Jesus?

Listen to what He says. Follow His example. Be a light in the darkness. Overcome evil with good. Remember He is always with you, no matter what you are experiencing. Mordecai encouraged Esther with these words:

Esther 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

You and I are also in a position to do great things for God. Live out your calling as His disciple. Here is one of the things Jesus told us to do that is always worth remembering:

Matthew 5:44 “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Lord, help us to live as your people and in keeping with your will. Remind us always of the treasure we have in knowing you have redeemed us from sin and death and the power of the devil through your life and death and resurrection. Keep us faithful. Strengthen us to respond to your goodness with lives that show your love to others. Amen.