Imagine if my wife invited me to a nice steak dinner at a local restaurant. She called me and said she got a sitter for the kids, and has reservations at 6. She gave me the directions to the place, and even ordered a drink for me and an appetizer is sitting on the table. She went out and bought a new dress, and even sent a suit for me to wear. It would be clear that she went through a lot of effort to give me a fun evening. What would you think of me if, instead of putting the suit on and going to spend time with my wife over a steak dinner, instead I went to the local bar and drank beer for an hour. Or, if I went and hung out with some friends. Or, if I went for a run, or went to a workout. Or, if I went home and just spent time with the kids and sent the sitter home. Or, if I went to the movies, went bowling, or just went shopping at the mall. Or, if I show up to the dinner, but then sit on my phone the whole time instead of talking with me wife and spending time with her? Or, if I show up to the dinner and tell her everything I think is wrong about her, and in return, expect her to tell me how awesome I am? What would you think of my love for my wife if I went and did something completely different than what she invited me to do with her? Well, you'd say, and you'd be right, that I am not a good husband and that I don't love my wife. You could say I love all the other things I decided to do instead of going where my wife promised she would be. 

Well, what if God had a similar invitation for us. He does invite us every week to spend time with Him. No, He doesn't invite us to do something, meaning to come and offer up our sacrifices and merits in the hope that He will return the favor and bless our life in abundance. No. God invites us to spend time with Him in the forgiveness of our sins. He invites us to come and be forgiven in Holy Absolution, to be fed His Body and Blood for our forgiveness, to sing hymns confessing who we are in Christ, and to be blessed from the invocation to benediction in the blessings of heaven. God invites us, even gives us something to wear, robed in His righteousness in our Baptism, so that we may eat and drink in the proper attire. What would we think of ourselves if there was something better to do. What if we went to the movies, worshiped the sports schedule, or had to sleep off our party hard attitude from the night before. What if we went and just spent time with family on a lazy Sunday morning capped off with brunch, or took a trip through the Texas countryside? What if we do show up to church, but then sit there and go through the motions, only offering some participation when we want to gossip about our neighbor or blame God for something going on in our life. Well, we'd think we don't love God, but instead love ourselves. We would think that we love the things of this world, more than and in opposition to God. And, we'd be right. 

My friends, being in church is not a law, but it becomes a burden for you when you find something else that is more important to receive. Church is for you in your lowest times, so that you may hear the voice of Jesus that declares you forgiven and righteous. Church is where you get your nourishment from the week before that has drained you and receive your strength for the week that is coming. Church is where you can bring all your problems and leave them there in the wounds of Jesus. Bring your anxiety, your depression, your problems with your boss, your anger issues at school, your envy, your jealousy, your rage, your lust, your fears, your doubt, your skepticism, your laziness, your ingratitude, your grudges, your vengeance, and anything else that is dragging you into despair and other great shame and vice. Church is where you are gifted to leave all your problems behind you, and in their place, you get Jesus' righteousness, holiness, and eternal identity as a child of God. The devil doesn't want you to be forgiven and have your conscience set at ease. No. He wants you to worry and stress out about the things of this life. The world will say that church is a waste of time, clouding our joy in the knowledge that there Jesus creates us anew in the absolute forgiveness of everything we've done wrong. Church is that blessed place, that sacred space, where you are not scolded, but rather comforted in the words and promises of Jesus. 

My friends, I pray that you are gathered with other fellow saints this Sunday for you to be fed the gifts of paradise. I pray that the Holy Spirit brings you to church so that you may be forgiven of all your sins and strengthened to endure anything that the devil, world, and Old Ada, have in store for you in the week ahead. Take heart my friends, and may you continue to abide in the joyous trust in the promise of your Lord Jesus to forgive you and deliver you unto heaven in life everlasting.

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 forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog