The hardness of metal makes it difficult to bend into any shape we want. Once forged into the proper shape with fire, however, that same hardness is what makes metal so useful and reliable. In the same way, God uses fire to forge our faith into the specific shape he desires. This week we see how God forges our faith in the fire of trials. Jesus promises that our lives as his followers will not always be easy. We will face hardship and opposition. He also promises, however, to use these trials as opportunities for us to confess our faith. The devil’s best attempts to silence the gospel only serve to spread it further that more might come to know Christ’s saving name.

The hardness of metal makes it difficult to bend into any shape we want. Once forged into the proper shape with fire, however, that same hardness is what makes metal so useful and reliable. In the same way, God uses fire to forge our faith into the specific shape he desires. This week we see how God forges our faith in the fire of his Son’s incarnation. In Christ Jesus, we have a God who dwells among us. Just as he walked the earth in flesh and blood during his time on earth, so he promises to remain among us through his Word and Sacraments. He stands at the door, ready and eager to bring us the best of his gifts. Our desire to gather around his Word and Sacraments is shaped by his desire to be near to us.

The hardness of metal makes it difficult to bend into any shape we want. Once forged into the proper shape with fire, however, that same hardness is what makes metal so useful and reliable. In the same way, God uses fire to forge our faith into the specific shape he desires. This week we see how God forges our faith in the fire of holiness. It’s natural for us to want to put our trust in our own efforts and our own performance. When confronted with the absolute holiness of God’s expectations for us, however, such confidence is shown to be unreliable. Once our confidence in our own efforts has melted away, however, God’s Word points us to the Savior who came to be holy in our place. God shapes our faith to be directed only at him.

The hardness of metal makes it difficult to bend into any shape we want. Once forged into the proper shape with fire, however, that same hardness is what makes metal so useful and reliable. In the same way, God uses fire to forge our faith into the specific shape he desires. This week we see how God forges our faith in the fire of revelation. When it comes to our individual lives, the relationships we form, and the families we build, we are not free to forge a path of our own making. Rather our lives are shaped by what God reveals in his Word. His written plan for our earthly lives and relationships is good and wise. Faith that trusts and obeys what he has revealed will not be put to shame.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for security. Although our eyes often focus on the evil that surrounds us, Jesus’ words help us see that those who are for us far outnumber those who are against us. Through his angels, God protects us from the attacks of our spiritual enemies. Those enemies may be powerful, but they have already been conquered by Christ. Surrounded by his heavenly hosts, we stand secure.

This week we celebrated our annual fall festival. Special musical guests The Lutheran Ceili Orchestra shared with us music and history from the Celtic lands of Christianity. As summer turns to fall, darkness in the northern hemisphere becomes greater than light. It's a good chance to remember that even though the darkness is undeniable in our world, the light we have in Jesus is invincible.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for harmony. Harmony with one another (or the lack thereof) is directly related to our individual desire for and pursuit of greatness. If we define greatness in worldly terms—equating it with things like power, wealth, influence—it will naturally lead to competition and strife with others. When we search for greatness where Christ offers it—equating it with humble and selfless service—it will naturally lead to harmony with others.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for wholeness. While it is sometimes helpful to divide our selves and our well-being into various categories—mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.— it is also vital to remember that we are whole persons. We were created as whole persons, sin has put our whole persons under its curse, and Jesus came to be a Savior of whole persons. In Jesus, our well-being is restored in all its fullness.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for righteousness. Whether it’s a right status before God or just wanting to be seen as a “good person” in the eyes of others, we all want righteousness. Our natural tendency is to search God’s law for the steps we must follow to attain it. Jesus, however, helps us see that searching the law for righteousness will always be futile. The righteousness we seek cannot come from anything we do but must come through faith in Christ’s perfect work for us.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus doesn’t so much have all the answers as he is the Answer. His words are not simply a collection of wise things he said or bits of information. His words are the way he makes himself available to us. If we make his words our constant companion as we navigate life, we make him our constant companion.