Luke 11:24-26 says, "²⁴ “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” This is a beautiful text that shows out baptismal life. We sin on a daily basis, and by the calling of the Holy Spirit, we return to Christ in repentance and receive holy absolution. In absolution, our demons are kicked out and our house put in good order. However, when we go from there, the demons do not leave us forever, but return with even more temptations and allurements to sin. When we fall time and time again, our state is worse than the first. Why is this? Because we did not sin in a place of ignorance, but in a state of grace. We sin, knowing that God hates sin and that He desires us to live a virtuous life. We sin, knowing that God has had mercy on us and desires nothing more than to forgive us and love us. It's like this. When we know our mom or dad tell us not to do something, but we do it anyway, this hurts them more than if we committed the transgression in ignorance. Both of these acts upset our parents, but one of them is worse than the other because one child knows better, and the other one needs to be instructed. This is the same with the baptized. The baptized know better than to return like a dog or pig to their vomit (2nd Peter 2:22), meaning to sin in spite of the fact that they know it is wrong. We must pray on a daily basis that our Lord forgive us, and in addition to this, give us the strength and grace to lives lives in a struggle with the temptations that are hurled against us.

Now, we Christians are not saved by our ability to resist sin, or by our willpower to overcome certain temptations. St. Johann Gerhard, whose feast day it is today, says this concerning good works. He says, "Whatever is good in me comes from You, the font of all good things, because in me, by nature, there is nothing but sin. I have to acknowledge that all the good works I do-which are nevertheless impure because of the corruption and imperfection of my flesh-are gifts of Your grace. I will give You thanks forever because of Your immeasurable gift to me. Amen." (Meditations on Divine Mercy, 80).  All that we do, our good works, our struggle with sin, is all done by our Lord God. All our resistance against sin is the working of the Holy Spirit in our life. We do not progress on our own, nor do we co-operate with the Holy Spirit by our own willpower. All that is good in us comes from God. This means everything from our church attendance to changing a baby's diaper. WE pray that God keep us from mistakes we have made, failures we've suffered, and transgressions we've done, not because this justifies us, but in order that we may not stumble from He who does justify us, Jesus the Christ. We pray that nothing would hinder us from hearing the voice of Jesus and receiving His good gifts. We pray that nothing would burden our conscience to the point where we don't think Jesus loves us and forgives us. For there is no sin that Jesus did not die for on the cross. This means that there is no sin that Jesus won't forgive that you've committed. NO matter how many times you fail, stumble, and slip up, Jesus forgives you and welcomes you back as a beloved child. We pray that we do not return to a sin, but when we do, our Lord Jesus forgives us and strengthens us to face the world and it's temptations anew. 

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 voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull