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Many churches use lectionaries, a set series of readings for every Sunday in the Church Year. These get revised from time to time, and some denominations make adjustments to these. But in many cases, congregations that follow a lectionary are hearing the same Bible passages read in their worship services across denominational lines. That means Christians are hearing the same message from God’s Word and contemplating on it together.

For the most part in my ministry I used a three-year lectionary, which meant there were different Bible lessons read every week for three years before they started being repeated.  The Old Testament Lesson for the Fifth Sunday in Lent in the second year of that lectionary, which is also the Old Testament Lesson assigned to Reformation Day, is Jeremiah 31:31-34.  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.

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.”

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. And we dare not assume the we have reached the point where “they will all know me, from the least to the greatest,” as though there were no need for us to tell others about our Savior. 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 with that confidence.

This coming Sunday marks the start of what Christians have traditionally called “Holy Week.” Our focus is on the central teaching of Christianity, that God sent His Son into this world to save people from their sin. This week is when the key events that accomplished our salvation took place. Over one quarter of the Gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – describe the events of this week leading up to and including His crucifixion and resurrection.

It starts with Jesus entering Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosanna” and palm branches being laid on the ground before Him. This was the kind of greeting you would expect a king to receive. He had gone to Jerusalem for a reason. It was time for him to be offered as the sacrifice that would pay for the sins of world. The people welcoming Him to town had no idea what was about to transpire.

During this week, Jesus would chase the moneychangers out of the Temple, teach the people about His kingdom and tell many parables. He would talk about the end of the world, but He also told the people how they should live while they are still in this world.

Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. It commemorates the night when Jesus was celebrating the Passover with His disciples, remembering how God rescued His people from their slavery in Egypt. During this remembering meal, Jesus instituted a new meal of remembrance: The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. He said, “This is my body…this is my blood…do this in remembrance of me.” It reminds us of what He was about to do and allows us to share in His payment for our sin.

A little while later, while praying in a garden called Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by one of His disciples. He was led off to be beaten, ridiculed, tried before Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities, sentenced to death, and led out to be crucified even though He had done nothing wrong and committed no crime. By this time it was Friday. We call it Good Friday. It is Good because Jesus willingly took our place in punishment. It is Good because He let our sins be placed on Him. And He made payment for them all when He offered His perfect life there at Calvary. He declared “It is finished!” and it was. God’s anger over sin was appeased. For Jesus’ sake, we can be forgiven.

But it gets even better. On Sunday morning, He defeated death itself. He rose in triumph and victory, which gives all those who believe in Him the certainty that they, too, will rise. He had made that promise on Thursday:

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19)

This is what our faith in Jesus is all about: forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation are a gift to you, paid for by what Jesus did in your place. And this offer is open to anyone who will believe that Jesus is your Savior.

May the joy of knowing that Jesus is risen be with all of you!

I love the movie “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.” One scene is especially entertaining. Marion had just been kidnapped by the Nazis. Indy was frantically searching for her when he comes face to face with a large man dressed in black from head to toe with a red sash around his waist. This scimitar-wielding villain brandishes his sword and lets out an evil laugh, challenging the hero to a sword fight. Indiana Jones uses the power at his disposal. He fires one shot from his revolver and continues to look for Marion.

A few weeks ago I mentioned David facing Goliath in one of my devotions. I’m guessing most of you know the story of that young whippersnapper of an Israelite going out to face the Giant from Gath. But I would encourage you to spend a few minutes today reading (or re-reading) 1 Samuel 17.

David was not even in Saul’s army. He was just taking provisions to his brothers who were in the army. Goliath was a nine-foot-tall experienced warrior. David was a young shepherd boy taking bread and cheese to the troops.

For forty days Goliath had been taunting and challenging the Israelites to send someone to fight him. The army of Israel was too scared to do anything. David heard the taunting and thought it terrible that no one would stand up to this man making a mockery of the Lord’s chosen people. He said He would do battle with the Philistine. Everyone from his brothers and the other soldiers all the way up to King Saul told him that was ridiculous. But David was undeterred.

“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”” (1 Samuel 17:36–37)

David went down to the stream and found five smooth stones, but all it would take was one. David took his stones and sling to the field of battle. Goliath saw him and scoffed, saying he would make quick work of this “dog.” But David had some trash talk of his own, and he would back it up. One stone toss later the enemy was defeated.

He used the power at his disposal. God’s power. That was what won the battle.

The same was true at Calvary. God’s power won the battle for us all, conquering sin, death and the power of the devil for us all. Jesus paid the price so that we could have forgiveness and victory and life.

We need to use the power at our disposal. Faith in Jesus has already given us the certainty of salvation. Let’s concentrate on living like those who have been redeemed. We should not be cowering in fear. Live with the confidence David had, knowing that God is always in control.

Do you know why you have the name you do? Often times names are chosen for their meaning. Other times parents use a name that has been in the family for a long time. Still others choose names for their children that are unique so that they will stand out and be different.

Do you like your name? Many people I have known do not. Sometimes they will choose to go by their middle name, a “nickname,” or just their initials.

Whatever name you go by, God knows it. He knows each of us. And that is a certainty we can have as believers, followers of Jesus.

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1, ESV)

In baptism, you are called by name, and then God puts His name on you, making you part of the family. “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  The One who created you gives you rebirth, assuring you that what Jesus did through His death and resurrection was done for you.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:3–5)

Joined to Jesus to give you the certainty of forgiveness. God’s name put on you. And He has called you by your name. That’s all good stuff.

I am Jesus’ little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am;
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my needs, and well provides me,
Loves me every day the same,
even calls me by my name.

Recently I was singing the Offertory to myself. I grew up singing that every Sunday, although there were different melodies, depending on the liturgy we were using that week. It is based on the words of Psalm 51 in the King James Version.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

As I was singing, I remembered my high school days when I was on one of the usher crews in the church where my dad served as pastor in Dallas. There were usually five or six of us on each crew.  It was a large church. The ushers sat in the narthex, a large lobby area that was the entry way to the sanctuary worship space. Because there were doors separating us from the sanctuary, we had speakers bringing us the audio of the service. It also meant we could hear each other singing, but not the congregation. The head usher on that crew loved to sing loudly. And each time we sang the Offertory, he would sing, “Restore to me the joy of MY salvation…”

I knew those were not the right words, but I was not about to correct him. I was just a kid. But every time I think about his “error” I think that maybe he had it right. I understand that the only reason we have salvation is because God gave it to us. It indeed was His to give. But he did give it to us. That is why Jesus was born and lived and died and rose again. He did that to give us His salvation. And because we have latched onto that promise in faith, it is now ours. So I can say it is MY salvation. The salvation Jesus earned for me. And that gives me joy.

Maybe you can think about the at the next time you sing the Offertory.

I’ve used this object lesson with both children and adults. I’ll pick five individuals and say “Let’s pretend you are all firefighters.” Then I will go to them one by one and say something along these lines.

• Here’s a spatula. Between fires, you need to cook meals for everyone else
• Here’s a bag of dog food. Between fires you need to feed our station mascot.
• Here’s a wrench. When we are at the firehose, you need to make sure the vehicles are in good working order
• Here’s a bucket and rag. Keep all the vehicles shiny and clean.
• Here’s a mop. Between fires, keep the station clean.

Then I would go back down the line and ask each person “What’s your job?” They dutifully respond “Cook” or “clean” or whatever task I had just assigned them. I would then tell them that they were all wrong. Their job is to fight fires. Those other tasks were simply things they should do between fires.

I think that gives us a good reminder of who we are to be as followers of Jesus. Our job is to follow Him and make more disciples. We all have other “tasks” that we need to do as we follow Jesus, which we usually refer to as our “jobs.” Luther spoke in terms of our vocation. You have a “job” here on earth, but our real job, our calling, is to follow Jesus and make disciples.

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18–20)

It is a matter of keeping our priorities straight. Your vocation allows you earn a living and provide for your family and hopefully to help those around you. But what you do in your calling as a follower of Jesus and fisher of men will impact people for eternity. You can share the wonderful message of God’s love in Christ that paid for the sins of the world and allows all who believe to receive the forgiveness and life and salvation that you already have in your possession.

At the midweek Lenten service Cheryl and I went to this week, the preacher spoke about faithfulness. It was a great message that encouraged me in my life as a follower of Jesus.

One thing the pastor mentioned in his message was the expert in the Law who asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37–39)

I really like what that preacher said next: “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind is faith. To love your neighbor as yourself is faithfulness.”

Faith is obviously of supreme importance.

“…without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is what grabs hold of what Jesus accomplished for you and the rest of the world when He lived a perfect life that He used to pay for sin. Faith receives that gift. That is what saves you.

Once you have that faith, you need to put it into action. Love your neighbor. Help her. Be kind to him. Show the love of Jesus by what you do. It is the proper response to having received God’s abundant grace in your life, knowing you have forgiveness and the absolute certainty of life eternal. Faith in action

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” (James 2:17-18)

Let others see your saving faith in Jesus today by the way you live, what you do, your faithfulness.