Have you ever asked yourself, "Who am I?" What I mean to say is, have you ever looked at yourself as a baptized child of God and wondered why you keep doing the same dumb things. Why do I keep loosing my cool with people, even though I have the gift of the Holy Spirit who is patient? Why do I...
St. Paul says in Romans, "But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead." (Romans 7:8). Is St. Paul saying that God, through the proclamation of His Law, causes us to sin? Does the Law cause us to...
In Philippians 3, The Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to write of his accomplishments saying, "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for...
The Psalmist, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). The Word of God also says, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine...
Ecclesiastes says, "9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). There is great joy in having...
St. Paul preached to the churches in Galatia saying, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you...
In his book, A Little Book on Joy, President Harrison makes a lovely and comforting assertion in a story about how sinners should live with one another saying, "I didn't come to kill you. I came to forgive you. He wasn't on a mission of retribution. He was on a mission of...
"How does this sanctifying take place?" Luther asks in the Large Catechism. Luther answers, "Just as the Son obtains dominion by purchasing us through His birth, death, and resurrection, etc., so that Holy Spirit effects our sanctification through the following: the communion of saints or...