The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

God's stewards have been entrusted by God with life and life's resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him. When God first created Adam and Eve, He put them in the Garden of Eden to work it. He did not set them there saying, "This is yours to do with as you like." He said, "I have given this to you to work and keep it for me." That is our job as stewards in this world. We are to be managers of what God has given us and not think of ourselves as the owners of this world. It is this mentality that led to Adam and Eve's downfall--a desire to be owners instead of just managers. Let us all strive to see ourselves as the managers God has called us to be so that we may truly enjoy the fruits of our labors in His world. Amen.  

"Farther along we'll know all about it,

Farther along we'll understand why;

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,

We'll understand it all by and by."

Office Hymn: "As Surely As I Live, God Said"

Small Catechism: Confession & Absolution

Large Catechism: Exhortation, 15-19, 32-35

Scripture: John 20:19-23

Commentary: Ambrose, Concerning Repentance 1.2.6-7

Wrestling Profile: Ric Flair

Wrestling LInk: WrestleMania 24 - Career Threatening Match - Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpLoiDNAOYY 

Confessional Corner: Nicene & Athanasian Creeds

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

God's stewards are stewards by virtue of creation and their re-creation in Holy Baptism; therefore, they belong to the Lord.  

Everything we have--including the breath we breathe--we owe to God our heartfelt thanks. If He wanted, He could take them away from us, but He gives them to us freely out of His own fatherly, divine goodness and mercy.

As St. Paul says, every Christian is "a new creation." That means that God has even more of a claim on us since He has washed away our sins in Baptism through the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore we should accept our role as His stewards of our earthly possessions with a focus to spread God's kingdom throughout our world. Amen.  

"Farther along we'll know all about it,

Farther along we'll understand why;

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,

We'll understand it all by and by."

Office Hymn: "The Advent of Our King"

Small Catechism: Baptism, Part IV

Large Catechism: IV 74-86

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-27

Commentary: Jerome, Ephesians 2.4.21

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Persecution isn't the greatest thing to consider for anyone. Who likes to be harassed? Even worse, there are still those around the world who deal with just that--harassment for their faith.

What many American Christians consider persecution would probably be considered almost acceptance in many other places in the world. We have to deal with at most being laughed at for our beliefs. That's much better than those who are losing their lives over their Christian faith.

What are they persecuted for? The righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ alone. We can't make ourselves righteous and that makes some people afraid. The sinful nature desires those religious systems who seek to wrest Heaven from God instead of having it handed to us freely.

But it is a free gift. Righteousness and Heaven are yours--for free. Amen.  

"Farther along we'll know all about it,

Farther along we'll understand why;

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,

We'll understand it all by and by."

Office Hymn: "Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from Heaven"

Small Catechism: Baptism, Part III

Large Catechism: IV 32-37

Scripture: John 3:1-8

Commentary: Justin Martyr, First Apology 61

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

This phrase by Jesus is a great comfort to all of us. It tells us that Christians--the sons of God--should be people who make and love peace. That is one of the great virtues of Christianity--peace. St. Paul opened each of his epistles with the words: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; etc.).

St. Paul blessed each congregation as well as every preacher should before he gets up to preach. After all, those who preach should be seen as peacemakers--not trying to quell every problem that happens in their congregations, but providing spiritual counsel for those congregations. Peacemakers are not problem-solvers. They are ones who trust in the true spiritual counsel that comes from the Word of God. That's the source of true peace. Amen.  

"Farther along we'll know all about it,

Farther along we'll understand why;

Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,

We'll understand it all by and by."

Office Hymn: "I Bind unto Myself Today"

Small Catechism: Baptism, Part II

Large Catechism: IV 23-27

Scripture: Romans 6:1-11

Commentary: Origen, Commentary on Romans

Wrestling Profile: WWA Bruiser Bedlam Wrestling (3/1/86)

Apostolic Fathers: Didache 8 & Excursus on Fasting