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Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide.

There are times when life appears very dark. We understand what the hymn writer meant by “the darkness deepens.” Recent headlines bear it out. Racial tensions. Politicians spewing vitriol at each other. Police officers being targeted and killed. Christians being persecuted for their faith around the world. A young man whose mission in life was to share his faith in Jesus was cut down by an assassin.

But it is more than just “out there” in the world. We know darkness on a personal level. Family members and loved ones dies. Watching Alzheimer’s and dementia take someone away from you. People suffering from debilitating diseases. Marriages die because of infidelity or just lack of trying.

All of this darkness would overwhelm us if not for the one who left the glory of heaven to take on flesh and become one of us. Listen to how He described Himself:

John 8:12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The one who first said “Let there be light…” would give us the light of His own presence to overcome the darkness of this sinful world. That light in our lives prevents the darkness from overwhelming us.

John 12:46  I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

The Light of the World gives us peace and comfort, because we know that He has defeated sin and death for us. He did that by paying sin’s penalty for us, offering His perfect life as sufficient payment for the sin of the world. Then He rose in victory over death, a victory that He gives to everyone who believes in Him. He gives us the light of life.

A couple of years after I moved to serve Grace Lutheran in Denison, Texas, a dear woman from my former congregation in Oklahoma died. Her family was especially kind to us while we were there, so we made the trip back to attend her funeral. Our oldest daughter was about eight years old at the time, and Cheryl was talking to our girls about the reason for our trip. Rachel asked, “Did Mildred die and go to be with Jesus?” Cheryl answered, “Yes.” Rachel responded, “Oh! I thought something bad happened to her.”

Lord, give us such a faith as this, and then whate’er may come
We’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss of an eternal home.

Hebrews 13:5–6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

 I have done several devotions this year based on the words of Hebrews 13:5. I included it in today’s reading not for the purpose of commenting on it, but to set the context for the words that I want you to consider today. This is the thought I want you to hold on to this day:

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Make sure those words are hidden in your heart. By that I do not mean to put them somewhere and then forget where you put them or what they mean for you.God led a psalmist to write this thought:

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

The idea is to have the Word inside of you so that it becomes part of you, a guiding force in your life. I used to tell my confirmation students, “It can’t come out of you if it is not in you!” That is why today I want you to internalize these words:

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Another way to think of it is that I have just assigned you some memory work. That’s a good thing. What harm can come from remembering God’s Word? He wants only the best for you. And He made it possible for you to have the best when He csame down here to pay for your sin. No matter what happens to you here, you have the guarantee that you will spend eternity with your Lord because you believe in Him. One more time, here is what I want you to remember today:

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Hebrews 13:1–3 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

These words are always worth sharing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. How different would the world be if Christians everywhere were striving to love each other as brothers and sisters?

Did you notice that it extends beyond the circle of believers. “Entertain strangers … remember those in prison … and those who are mistreated.” Paul gave the churches in Galatia the same advice:

Galatians 6:10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We should love each other. Not just the faithful, but all of our neighbors, And who is my neighbor. Jesus told a parable in response to that question. Take time to read it today  (Luke 10:25-37) and notice that the one who showed compassion was not his own countryman.

The love we show to our fellow man comes from the love God has shown to us. He provided the payment for sin Himself, becoming the sacrifice that would cover all sin and open heaven to everyone. We need to love others and share God’s love with them so they can receive the benefit of what Jesus earned for them.

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Paul expresses his gratitude that the believers in Thessalonica received God’s Word for what is was: God’s Word. The believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Old Testament, the Messiah who came through and to the Jews so that He could be the Savior of all people.

He then mentions that mistreatment of the followers of Jesus by the Jews because they did not believe He was the promised Messiah. They did everything in their power to keep anyone from listening to Him or following Him. They thought they were done with Jesus when they put Him to death, but they had no idea what was about to happen. Jesus conquered death and told His disciples to tell everyone else what He had done for the world. So that is what they did.

Paul issues a stinging indictment for those who would not put their faith in Jesus:

In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Some think this is too harsh. But God wants unbelievers to believe. He does not want anyone to remain in their sins and be under His wrath. But that is the reality for those who do not put their faith and confidence in the Son of God who came into the world to save everyone. Jesus Himself spoke of this:

John 3:16–18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

There is no reason for anyone to remain under God’s wrath. Jesus took care of that. Let us pray that more people will take Him up on His offer of forgiveness and life.

1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

When Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, he reminded them how he had come to them to share the Good News of Jesus as their Savior. He faced a lot of opposition, but he remained steadfast. God had entrusted the message of forgiveness and life and salvation to Paul, and he did not take that lightly.

I love how Paul describes his behavior among the Thessalonians. He recounts that he dealt with them as loving parents deal with their children.

…we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

 Mom and Dad. Loving parents. They offer guidance and correction. They build you up and discipline you as necessary. All in the context of who you are as a child of God. It is because you know what Jesus did for you through his death and resurrection that you want to live a new life. You respond to God’s goodness, His gift of forgiveness, by wanting to obey His commands. You already have salvation for Jesus sake. Your life reflects that when you thank Him with your obedience and good works.

I have been thinking about our “Footsteps of Luther” tour that Cheryl and I were able to be a part of in April of this year. Another couple from our congregation went on that trip with us, and all four of us will be sharing memories of that tour with our congregation on November 1.

One memory in particular was our tour of Wartburg Castle outside of Eisenach. This was the place where Luther was in hiding after the Diet of Worms, where he made his famous “Here I Stand” declaration, refusing to recant (take back) any of his writings because they were based on God’s Word. On his way home to Wittenberg, he was “kidnapped” by men working for Frederick the Wise, Luther’s protector in Saxony. Wartburg Castle was an isolated hunting lodge that belonged to the ruling family of Saxony, so it was a perfect place to keep Luther safe from those who would do him harm.

The thing that made our tour of Wartburg Castle so memorable for me was our guide. He was a young man in his twenties. When he found out we were a Lutheran group, he was very excited and focused the tour especially on the connection the place had to Martin Luther. He spoke of the importance of Luther sharing so plainly and clearly the Word of God that tells us salvation is a gift from God earned for us by Jesus. He spoke about sin and grace, Law and Gospel, and you could tell by his voice and his expressions that he was not speaking theoretically. He was sharing his faith in Jesus as he spoke.

I had a chance to speak with him privately for a minute after the tour. I told him how much I appreciated him sharing his faith so openly with us. He said that he usually could not do so because many of the people he normally encountered on the tours would not respond positively to him doing so.

We need to be ready and willing to share our faith in Jesus at all times. I was reminded of Paul’s charge to a young pastor:

2 Timothy 4:1–5 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

While spoken to a young pastor, these words are good advice to all the followers of Jesus.

The worship service we attended last Sunday ended with the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” Yesterday, as Cheryl and I sat on the beach for several hours, there was a delightful breeze blowing under our canopy and keeping us cool and comfortable. I was feeling blessed and thought of the second stanza from that hymn:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze     

That gentle breeze was a reminder of God’s goodness and greatness. And I thanked Him for it. But that doesn’t begin to tell the story of God’s greatness. The next stanza gets to the best part.

And when I think that God His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die,  I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to  take away my sin    

I was thinking about this and how blessed I am while sitting on that white sand on a gorgeous, sunny day. I was reading through the Gospel of Matthew and given a vivid, timely reminder of what it means to be blessed by God.

Matthew 5:3–12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

 Cheryl and I are traveling again this week. At the worship service we attended yesterday, the pastor used the passage above as his sermon text. It was a good and timely message, and it provoked a few thoughts in the mind of this old preacher.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The world desperately still needs to hear this message today. The reason this is true is that this world is still filled with sinners. Some of them are saved sinners because they have put their faith in Jesus. Some of them are still lost because they have not put their faith in Jesus. But God wants EVERY sinner to be saved. Jesus made that clear when He cried out from the cross, “Father, forgive them…”

An old Gospel song contains these lyrics:  “The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”  These words are a beautiful description of what Jesus made a reality when He paid for our sins with His life offered in sacrifice.

When Paul wrote these words affirming that Jesus came to save sinners he added: —of whom I am the worst. Paul saw himself as the “vilest offender” because he had persecuted and killed followers of Jesus before coming to faith in Him. His attitude was, “If God can save me, He can save anyone and everyone!”

Think of the forgiveness Jesus earned this way.

• That forgiveness was available for Paul, who had killed followers of Jesus, and he took it.
• That forgiveness was available for Judas, who betraryed Jesus. He didn’t take it.
• That forgiveness is available to the young man who killed Charlie Kirk. From everything I observed about Charlie, he would have wanted that young man to take advantage of that offer from God. Will he? I pray that he will.

The world needs us to tell them that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Think about that as your read the lyrics to that Gospel Song I mentioned earlier

To God be the glory great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Chorus:
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father thro Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Chorus

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. Chorus

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV) “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

On Friday, I witnessed one of the most powerful testimonies for Jesus I have ever seen. A young woman whose husband was assassinated two days earlier spoke of him being with his Lord and Savior face to face. Her confidence and conviction in the face of overwhelming grief captured the attention of many, including those who have no idea who Jesus really is or what He did for all the world. And this may indeed mark a turning point in the lives of many of those people who listened to Erika Kirk speak not only of her husband, but also of her (and his) Savior.

I mentioned a few days ago that Charlie Kirk was a mighty witness for Jesus through his personal testimony to the youth of America. Those who disagreed with him were vicious in their attacks. It seems as though his detractors feel that freedom of speech and religion only applies to those who are not Christian. But that did not deter Charlie from continuing his speaking engagements, even in the face of death threats. A lot of his enemies thought that by silencing Charlie, they would put an end to this kind of witnessing. One of them took matters into his own hands.

There is nothing new under the sun. When Jesus was first sharing the Good News that He came to save the world from sin and death, his detractors thought that by silencing Him they would end the problem He presented to their power and position. They thought the people would forget about Him. How did that work out for them?

Charlie faced the same kind of opposition Jesus did because He was bearing witness to Jesus. And I believe Charlie’s death will be a watershed moment in American history. Those who listened to Charlie talk about Jesus are poised to carry the torch, sharing the message of hope and forgiveness and life that come only from Jesus.

May all of us who follow Jesus boldly share our testimony of who He is and what He has done for all people. Death will not conquer us, because Jesus conquered death for us.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.