Did Jesus die for those who say, "I'm good." what I mean is this. When you miss  Divine Service, the devil comes and says, "You're good. Don't worry about it. You'll be there next week. Ain't nothing but a thing." But, it is a thing. When we miss the Divine Service, whenever it is offered at Church, be it on Sunday morning, Wednesday night, Saturday evening, or during Holy Week, we are convinced by the devil that we will be alright. Well, yeah, when we miss the blessing of receiving the forgiveness of our sins in the means of grace, God does not come down and strike us with the plague or make us sick. No, we are not punished immediately for our breaking of the 3rd Commandment which says, "Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold It sacred and gladly hear and learn It." Did Jesus die on the cross for we who reject the preaching of the Gospel and the distribution of the Sacrament, be it one time, or for a lifetime? Does Jesus even have to forgive us for skipping Church?

is skipping Church a sin? When we are sick we still want to go to church, or if we are in a situation where it is impossible to get to church, we still have the desire to be where the gifts of the cross are given. So, I am not talking about not being able to get to church, but instead seeing something as more important and vital than being forgiven of our sins in the means of grace. Yes, we have erected many idols that we worship throughout the week, and sometimes those idols win against the Divine Service. Yes, our time is precious, our sleep necessary, and we have those commitments we have made to activities that we have to honor.  Basically, is there something that comforts us more than being forgiven of our sins? We all, including I, have to answer yes. We all have those idols that mean more to us that the Divine Service. We all have those false gods that comfort us greater than holy absolution does. Yes, skipping church is a big deal and a sin that needs to be atoned for by Jesus. If you miss one Sunday, a whole lifetime, or even are physically in Church but daydream the entire time or think that you are there to offer God your good works, you are in need of the forgiveness that Jesus purchased and won on the cross for you. 

We do not hold God's Word sacred and gladly hear and learn it, but Jesus does. Yes, Jesus held His Father's Word sacred, that He desired not the death of the sinner, but that all should live and come to repentance and be saved. Yes, Jesus gladly digested His Father's Word that He should do the work of crushing the head of the serpent so that all mankind who fell in Adam's fall may be rescued by His death on the cross. Yes, Jesus kept eh 1st and 3rd Commandments perfectly because you and I do not. Yes, on the cross, Jesus spilled His blood so that we may now drink it in His Supper and be forgiven our rejection of His Word. Yes, Jesus sacrificed His Body on the cursed tree, so that we may now eat it and be forgiven our sin of denying how sinful we are. Yes, Jesus gave His entire Self on the cross, so that He could save us entirely from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Jesus died on the cross for us. Jesus died for all the times we miss church for no good reason. 

What does this mean for us? Do we have to now show that we really mean it when we come back to Church? Do we have to show some outward changes in order for Jesus to forgive us? Do we have to go through an interrogation from the Pastors and elders before we can sit in the pew? Do we have to stand up before the assembly of all believers and tell them why we missed last Sunday before we can sing the opening hymn? 

No. Rather, remember the Parable of the Prodigal. St. Luke records the story saying, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³ And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20-24). Yes, God does not wait for you to be holy enough for Him. No, He ran to you in His Son, died on the cross for you, and now comes to you in the means of grace to forgive you all your sins. It doesn't matter how much church you have missed. From one Sunday, to 2,600 Sundays, when you are brought by the Holy Spirit back to Church, you are there to be forgiven and loved by God. All of us are gathered every Sunday, and every time the Word is preached and the sacraments distributed, by the Holy Spirit to be enlightened, sanctified, and kept in the one true faith. Yes, missing church is a big deal, but Jesus died on the cross for big deals.

My friends, if you are in church every Sunday, great, I pray that the Holy Spirit would keep you int he faith that you may gladly hear and receive the Lord's Word in the forgiveness of your sins. Have you missed a Sunday or two, may the Holy Spirit bring you back so that you may abide, not in despair, but in the freedom from fear in the forgiveness of your sins. Have you not been coming to church for a long time? May the Holy Spirit removed any obstacle that is in the way of you hearing how much Jesus loves you and desires you to live without fear under His grace and mercy. That's what Church is all about. It is about you being forgiven and freed to joyfully anticipate the life you will have in heaven and in the World that is to come. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you may 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