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James 4:13–17 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Those are some hard words to hear and take to heart. Not only do they remind you that you won’t be here forever, but they confront you with the reality that you spend a lot of time and effort doing things that are not God’s Will for your life. And they even tell you that you sin by NOT doing things.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Are you convinced of the truth of those words? You should be. You all have things you know you should do. You should spend more time with your spouse and family. You should help your widowed neighbor with things he or she has trouble doing on their own. You should befriend those less fortunate with the wealth God has entrusted to your care. You should be a better steward of everything God has given to you. We all fall short in so many ways.

If these words make you feel uneasy, then the Law has done its work. The purpose of the Law is to show us our sin and our need for a Savior. And God has just what you need. The Gospel message is that He has provided the Savior you need in sending Jesus to be one of us, take our sin on Himself, and rescue us from what our sins deserve. Read these comforting words from St. Paul.

Romans 8:35–39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have the victory over sin, including the sin of not doing the good things we know we should do, because of what Jesus did for us. That certainty gives me the motivation to try to do the good God wants me to do.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

This is the Old Testament Lesson assigned to Reformation Day. It speaks of God’s New Covenant, fulfilled in the coming of Jesus to live without sin and offer His perfection as payment for our sins. That is why God will, for those who put their faith in Jesus, “forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” That teaching was restored to the Church through the Reformation, so this was and is an appropriate reading for that celebration.

But this reading is also a good fit for the season of Lent. Our focus during this penitential season is to remember that it was our sin and disobedience that demanded the awful payment that Jesus willingly made for us and the whole world.

When God speaks of His people here, He says His law will be in our hearts and minds. That only happens when we spend time in His Word. We can’t meditate on it if we don’t read it and know it. The world does not know the Lord and His goodness and mercy. That is why panic and evil are so widespread all around us. You and I know better. We have seen the love of God in the face of Jesus. We are confident of forgiveness, life and everlasting salvation, not because we have tried hard or done well, but all for Jesus’ sake. It is God’s covenant with us, based on what He has done for us. Live this week with that confidence.

Isaiah 50:4-10 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

When I read this passage from Isaiah, the first phrase jumped out at me: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught.” And I asked myself that catechetical question “What does this mean?” The passage itself explains that one who has been taught should use his tongue to sustain those who are weary. But taught what? “Behold, the Lord God helps me.”

Do you know what it means to be weary? In my mind, it is more than being tired. It is an ongoing state of being tired, spent, and worn out with no relief. People can become weary in different ways: jobs, the strain of raising kids, or caring for an aging parent. Others are weary of the way things are going in our world today: divisions, racial tensions, political shenanigans and the like.

I am weary of sin as a whole. I recognize it as the cause of all the problems we have in this world. Then I remember that I have been taught what I need to know. And what have I been taught? That Jesus paid the price for my sins so that I could be forgiven. Jesus took my place in punishment so that I would not have to pay for my sins myself. Jesus has conquered death and the grave so that I am assured of eternal life. Jesus gives me what I need for my weariness.

Isaiah wrote for us “He who vindicates me is near … Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?”  Those words of promise were fulfilled and embodied in the Word made flesh, our Lord Jesus, who said plainly and clearly:

Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  

As one who has been taught this, I am to use my tongue to share this message with others who are weary to give them the rest only God can provide.

“Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

This week Cheryl and watched our youngest daughter’s children, Iris and Simon, so that she and her husband could get away for a few days. They went to Key West. I know we had a good time, and I hope they did, too. Our middle daughter brought her two kids to join us part of the time, so Grandma and Papa got to spoil all of them a bit.

Because they were in Key West, I remembered the first trip Cheryl and I took to the Florida Keys about twelve years ago. Cheryl was still teaching school at the time, but they had a four day weekend during February and we took advantage of it. During that trip a winter story named “Nemo” hit much of the country, but we were enjoying a tropical climate.

While we were there, we went to Bahia Honda State Park to enjoy the beach. After paying the entry fee, we drove in, parked our rental car, and went to change in the bath house. As we walked back to our vehicle, a man called out to me and asked me if I was from Texas. That startled me a bit, but I said that I was. He said, “I think I have your wallet.” At that point I felt my pants pocket and realized that it was indeed missing. When I paid the attendant at the gate, I must have laid it in my lap, and then it fell out when I got out of the vehicle. Not only had this stranger found my wallet, but he and his wife went on a mission to find me. He was walking through the parking lot searching for me while his wife was going up and down the beach trying to find someone who looked like the photo on my driver’s license.

I thanked them profusely. In our brief encounter, I found out they were from Southern Illinois, near where I lived while attending Seminary. From the time I spent there, I know there are a lot of good, God-fearing, honest folks in that part of the country, and these folks fit that category nicely. Unfortunately, I was so mortified by my boneheaded stunt that I didn’t even get their names! However, I offered several prayers of thanks to God for them.

What could have been a terrible incident was averted thanks to these fine people going out of their way to be kind and decent and find me. We would have gone to the beach for several hours, blissfully unaware that anything was wrong, enjoying the sun and sand and water and trade winds. Only later when we were at a restaurant or hotel would we have realized how bad our situation was.

I was reflecting on this while sitting in the airport waiting for our flight home. As thousands of people walked past me, all busily going somewhere, I wondered how many of them were blissfully unaware that they are lost?

The fifteenth chapter of Luke is about folks like that, folks that are lost and need to be found, folks that may not even know they are lost. They may never know how bad the situation is until the end of their lives and they are called to give an account before their Lord. At that point, it will be too late, like it would have been for me showing up at the airport to go home with no ID and no means to pay for anything!

Thankfully, we have one who is relentless in his pursuit of the lost. Our Lord came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He lived and died to pay for sin. But He doesn’t stop there.  He is like the shepherd that realizes one sheep is missing, and leaves those who are already safe to get that lost one (Luke 15:4).

Jesus is still seeking out people who don’t even know they are lost. He does that through those who follow Him. If you are one who has been found, you should be seeking those who are still lost. We want to ensure that they be given the opportunity to join us in eternal life with Jesus. That will be cause for even more rejoicing and celebration. (Luke 15:7,24).

Acts 1:12-26 ¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. ¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶ and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus- ¹⁷ he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” ¹⁸ (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰ “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms, “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’ ²¹ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” ²³ So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Have you ever wondered what happened to Joseph called Barsabbas, aka Justus? I have. Since he is not mentioned again in Scripture, we don’t know how he reacted to not being chosen to fill the spot left vacant by Judas. I like to think he remained a follower of Jesus and served Him in other ways. But he may have gotten upset and decided not to be a disciple at all. We don’t know.

Over the course of my ministry, I was “interviewed” by more congregations that I can remember. Only a few of them actually issued me a call. Those times I was not chosen by congregations I was in the same position as Justus. Those times when the congregation did issue me a call, I had to decide between the call I already had and the new position.

Several times I was up for election to various offices in the church at large. A few times I was elected and felt both humbled and privileged that I was able to serve Jesus through those positions – especially as Pastoral Counselor for the LWML in the Texas District and then nationally. But there were plenty of times I was not elected after being nominated. Again, I was the “Justus,” the also ran.

I remember one convention I attended where two brothers were nominated for an office. When the results were announced, the one who was not elected immediately got up and left. He did not return for the rest of the convention.

What did I do on those occasions I was not elected? Did I pout and throw a tantrum and say, “That’s it. I’m never putting myself out there again. I’m done serving Jesus!” Not hardly. At times there was disappointment, but “me and Jesus” talked about it. He let me know He had other plans for me. And I served Him in other ways.

I think that is the attitude followers of Jesus will take when they realize it is not about them. It is about Jesus. I know I am nothing but an unworthy servant. Yet God loved me enough to let Jesus take my punishment that I deserved because of my sin. He gives me forgiveness and life everlasting. I need to remember that. Always. And serve Him. Wherever and whenever the opportunity presents itself.

I’m still trying to do that.

Over the years I received many phone calls that went something like this: “Pastor, I’m having trouble finding a passage in the Bible. I know it is in there, but I just can’t find it. Can you tell me where in the Bible it says, ‘God helps those who help themselves’?”

Do any of you know the answer? People are usually shocked when I tell them it is not in there. A nationwide poll by Barna Research Institute found that 82% of Americans believed that phrase is a direct quote from the Bible. (George Barna, 1996) It is not. It has been attributed to many sources, one of which is Aesop’s Fables. The story goes something like this:

“A man is driving a wagon with a heavy load along a very muddy road. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheels sank. So the man threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules: ‘O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress.” But Hercules appeared to him, and said: ‘Man, don’t just sit there praying. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.'”

Now, there is an element of truth in that. You can’t just sit around and expect God to miraculously do everything for you. That is kind of what the Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of people with a lay-back-and-let-God-do-it-all attitude.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

In other words, “Put your shoulder to the wheel. God isn’t pleased with laziness.” In that sense, Paul is saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” But that’s different from what most of us mean by that phrase. What most people mean when they say “God helps those who help themselves” is that God expects us to be self-reliant: do your best, be your own person, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, only call upon God when you absolutely need him.

Is that how you live your life? Lots of people do. More importantly, is that what you believe God really wants you to do? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you need to know something. God says again and again in the Bible that He’s not interested in helping those who are self-reliant. God wants to help those who rely on Him instead of themselves.

Isaiah 40:29-31   He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 

The ones who wait on the Lord, the ones who trust in His power, the ones who hope in Him – they are the ones who receive God’s help. A very important lesson that God wants all of you to learn is to rely on His power instead of our own. That’s a hard lesson to learn. I struggle with it everyday. It’s so easy to convince myself that “It’s all up to me – family, church, personal life. Everything depends on my ability to get it done.” When I fall into that trap, when I get into that mode, do you know what God does? He says, “Go ahead. Try it on your own. See how far you get.”

Let me make something clear: As far as your forgiveness is concerned, you have nothing to offer, nothing to contribute. You cannot help God; you do not assist Him in even the smallest way. Jesus took care of all that for you. God is the one who accomplished your forgiveness and salvation all by Himself. After you come to faith, as you strive to live the new life, you do have a responsibility to live a certain way. Yet even that is not your own doing. It is dependent on God’s power. God doesn’t help those who help themselves. He helps those who are helpless. He helps those who come to Him for mercy. He helps those who depend on Him. He helps those who cannot do it on their own, which is all of us.