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I had intended to share a Lenten Hymn with you each Sunday in Lent this year. We were on the road the last two weeks and I lost some of my notes, so I forgot to put one up this past Sunday. Here is the one I wanted to share with you last Sunday. It is a long one, but worthy of reading/singing and reflecting on what our Lord Jesus did for us all.

O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken
That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?
Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession –
What dark transgression?

They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;
With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;
They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee;
They crucify Thee. 

Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.

What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!
The shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;
The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.

The sinless Son of God must die in sadness;
The sinful child of man may live in gladness;
Man forfeited his life and is acquitted –
God is committed.

There was no spot in me by sin untainted;
Sick with sin’s poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well nigh brought me,
Such woe is wrought me.

O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.

O mighty King, no time can dim Thy glory!
How shall I spread abroad Thy wondrous story?
How shall I find some worthy gifts to proffer?
What dare I offer?

For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder –
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?

Yet, unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate’er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.

But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me.

I’ll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,
That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever.

Whate’er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I’ll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross shall daunt me.
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.

 But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love’s sake Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.

 And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.

(The Lutheran Hymnal #143)

A young boy called the pastor of a church to ask him to come to his house to pray with his mother who was very ill with the flu. The pastor knew the family and was aware they attended another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “You go to Pastor Jones’ church – shouldn’t you be asking him to come pray with your mom?” The young boy replied, “Well, I thought about that, but I didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever it is that Mom has.”

A 4-year-old boy was asked to give the blessing before Thanksgiving dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation. He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip. Then he paused, and everyone waited– and waited. After a long silence, the little guy looked up at his mother and asked, “If I thank God for the broccoli, won’t he know that I’m lying?”

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about what prayer is, how to pray, and even about how or whether God answers the prayers of those who pray in Jesus’ name.  So what does God Himself have to say about the matter?

Prayer is talking with the one who made all things and who is still in control of it all. And He is listening.

Psalm 65:2 “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.”

Psalm 50:15  “… call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

God may not give you the answer you think is best,  but He will answer in the way that is best for you.

Isaiah 65:24 “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”

2 Corinthians 12:8–9 “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

We can approach God confidently not on our own merit, but because we trust in Jesus. The one who accomplished our forgiveness through His life and death and resurrection is the one who gives us access to our heavenly Father.

John 16:23  ^“I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

1 John 5:14  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Those who have faith in Jesus can pray with confidence that God will hear and answer the prayers that we offer that are in keeping with His will.

I have attended a lot of graduations over the years. Some were for family members, but most of them were for members of the congregations I served in my ministry. Although there were a few university graduations, the vast majority were High School graduation ceremonies. And even though I am now retired, this year was no different. Last Friday I was attending the graduation of a young lady to whom I had administered the Sacrament of Holy Baptism and then led through her Confirmation of faith.

She was graduating from a Christian School in our area. The Valedictorian spoke of the influence the staff and teachers had upon them, and quoted this passage.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”  Hebrews 13:7

It was a nice tribute.

While I was there, Cheryl was attending a graduation about 30 miles away. The last four years of her teaching career she taught 5th grade in Anna, Texas. The first class of 5th graders that she taught there graduated this year. Even though she had not seen most of these kids in the past seven years, student after student came up to her and hugged her and thanked her for being “their favorite teacher.”

She was overwhelmed. I was not surprised. She has a gift for teaching and reaching students. And even though she taught in public schools, that did not stop her from being a light for Jesus. The kids and other teachers saw that in her, “the outcome of her way of life.” It made a lasting impact on them, which is why they were so happy to see her.

She will be mortified that I shared this with you today. But I do so because she is a prime example of being a witness for Christ in her everyday living. No, she is not perfect, and she knows that. She also knows she is a forgiven and redeemed child of God. She believes that Jesus died for her sins and rose again to defeat death for her. She knows He is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling this world for the benefit of His children, and that He is coming again to take the faithful to Himself. That shows in the way she lives and acts and speaks.

That Valedictorian’s speech reminded me how important it is for all of us to:

“let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

And I thank God that I have a wife he shows me how to do that.