Friends,

  Just a quick little quote from Luther to get your work week started, not in the stress of your merit, but in the comfort of Jesus' grace and mercy. Concerning the 5th petition, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," Luther says, "Thus this petition is really an appeal to God not to regard our sins and punish us as we daily deserve, but to deal graciously with us, forgive as He has promised, and thus grant us a happy and cheerful conscience to stand before Him in prayer. Where the heart is not right with God and cannot achieve such confidence, it will never dare to pray. But such a confident and joyful heart can only come from the knowledge that our sins are forgiven." (Large Catechism III.92).

 My friends, the only way you have a cheerful conscience and a joyous life is in the knowledge that you do not suffer under the wrath of the Father, but because Jesus received all of the Father's wrath on the cross by bearing your sins, you now stand under the mercy of the Father and receive His forgiveness constantly in the proclamation of the Gospel and reception of the Sacraments.  The only way you know that God loves you is hearing that He holds nothing against you, that He deals with you graciously in the forgiveness of your sins. The Father loves you in the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus which purchased and won for your forgiveness, life, and salvation.

If you were to write down one goal this week, one this to make sure to do everyday this week, it should be this, "Be forgiven." Only in the knowledge that you are forgiven can you forgive others and live joyously no matter the circumstances, situations, and people in your life. "Be forgiven," in the Divine Service, in prayer offices at church, in your daily private devotional, in family devotional, in absolution with each other. May your forgiveness carry you through this week as you anticipate receiving the gifts of the cross anew in the Divine Service on Sunday. If you doubt your forgiveness, call me, call pastor Daniels, ask your spouse, ask your family, ask anyone to proclaim to you the words of holy absolution and bring your conscience peace and set your mind at ease in the knowledge that Jesus loves you. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull