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The Voice of Zion August 2021 -- LLC 2021 SUMMER SERVICE CONGREGATION EVENING, JULY 2, 2021 Introduction In many of the discussions of recent years, we have heard it said that we need to turn to God’s Word. What do we mean by the term God’s Word? What is it? Where do we find it? How do we recognize it? How should we receive it? How should we read it or hear it? I suspect that when most of us hear, read, or use the term God’s Word we usually think of the Holy Bible, the written Word. The Bible itself however refers to God’s Word more broadly. It speaks of God’s Word in 3 ways: 1) as God’s Son, the Incarnate Word, 2) as a written word, and 3) as a spoken word. The Word Made Flesh The gospel of John begins with the words, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1–3). They are at the same time the echo and explanation of the first words of Genesis. But John is not finished. A little later in his prologue he writes, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is one of the great mysteries of God. They are words beyond this presenter’s ability to grasp or explain. The Word, that was with God and that was God, the invisible and eternal, became flesh and revealed himself to us. He became a man to be heard, to be seen, and to be touched (1 John 1:1). The fulfilment of the prophet’s words: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). God, who had in times past and in various ways, spoken to the fathers through the prophets, has now in these last days spoken to us by His son (Heb. 1:1). The Word, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as Paul writes, though he was in the form of God, emptied himself out and took on the form of a servant, was born in the likeness of men, like you and like me. And He humbled himself to death on the cross (Phil. 2:6–8). God, the Word, was with us and died for us. But He is not dead. He appeared to this same John on the Isle of Patmos and said: “Fear not; I am the first and the last: -- I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:17,18). The Word of God is not dead. He still speaks. He has ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father but has a body here on the earth. It is His church, and He is its head (Eph. 1:22,23, 5:23,29–32). When we speak of God’s Word, we speak of Jesus Christ. These are all great mysteries of God. They cannot truly be understood or explained by reason, not even by the best minds. They remain objects of faith. The Bible – The Written Word of God God has also revealed himself in the Holy Bible, a written Word. The Bible itself tells that this written Word of God was written by men. These men did not however express their own will, but as the Apostle Peter states, God moved them by His Spirit to express His own will (2 Pet. 1:20,21). God’s Word thus has both a human and a divine element. Another mystery. It is important to understand and remember this. We see the human component, for example, in the Bible’s descriptions of the natural world. The men who wrote the scripture portrayed the world as they saw and understood it with their knowledge of nature at the time. It is also important to understand and remember what the Bible’s purpose is. Luther noted that the Bible does not profess to give a detailed history of the world, nor even a complete biography of the persons whom it introduces. Its object, he says, is to set before us the history of the kingdom of God. Thus, it only describes such persons and the events that are necessary for that purpose. We understand that the Bible, even though it has a human element, is nonetheless God’s own Word. Thus, regarding its message and purpose, the Bible is unerring. Because the Bible is God’s Word, we are not to treat it like man’s word but are to grant it our highest esteem and reverence. God’s Word is also eternal and unchanging. To claim that God’s Word is bound to time and shackled to the culture of its time does not do justice to God’s revelation. According to Jesus, the content and the message of the Word of God does not change even though the world changes. It is always timely. He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33). The central message of the Bible, the written Word, is Jesus Christ and the salvation that God has prepared in Him. The Apostle John reveals this in explaining the purpose of his gospel. He says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). This can be said of the entire Scripture, for Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). As Paul said of Jesus, “it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” and that in Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 1:19, 2:3). Thus, God’s revelation is complete in Jesus Christ. He is “the way, the truth, and the life” and “no man cometh unto the Father,” but by Him (John 14:6). Jesus commanded John to write: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8). There is no new thing to be added. The way of salvation is complete. All that needs to be done for our redemption has been done in Christ. Because the Bible is God’s Word and His complete revelation, we regard it as the highest authority and guide for Christian faith and life. The LLC’s 2006 position statement expresses our belief in this way: “We believe that God’s Word is Christian faith’s highest authority and thus Christian faith’s guiding principles and doctrine must be examined and evaluated in the light of God’s Word.” This statement is based on the so-called Formal Principle of the Reformation. It is expressed in the Epitome of the Formula of Concord as follows: “We believe, teach, and confess that the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged, as it is written in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And St. Paul says in Galations 1:8, “Even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Tappert, T. G. (Ed.). (1959). The Book of Concord the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. (p. 464). Philadelphia: Mühlenberg Press.) The Spoken Word The third form of God’s Word is the oral or spoken Word. It is the Word that God proclaims in the present, to you and to me. He has not withdrawn from the earth and gone silent. He has not abandoned us. He has not only left an account of what He has said to a past generation. He still speaks to you and me in the present world. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16–18). Through His Holy Spirit He speaks in and from His congregation. It is a gospel that is not “in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance” (1 Thess. 1:5). The author of the Letter to the Hebrews refers especially to this spoken Word, when he writes that the Word of God is living and powerful (Heb. 4:12). This oral Word is inseparably linked to God’s congregation. When Luther said that “God’s word cannot be without God’s people, and conversely, God’s people cannot be without God’s word,” he was speaking of the oral Word. He said, “First, the holy Christian people are recognized by their possession of the holy word of God…This is the principal item, and the holiest of holy possessions, by reason of which the Christian people are called holy; for God’s word is holy and sanctifies everything it touches; it is indeed the very holiness of God…For the Holy Spirit himself administers it and anoints or sanctifies the Christian church with it…But we are speaking of the external word, preached orally by men like you and me, for this is what Christ left behind as an external sign, by which his church, or his Christian people in the world, should be recognized” (On the Councils and the Churches). Paul’s writing about the relationship of husband and wife, uses Christ and His church as an example. He says that “Christ is the head of the church” and “the church is subject unto Christ” and he then concludes with these words: “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:23,24,31,32). The church is not above the Word but subject to it and one with it. As Paul’s says, a great mystery. It too is an article of faith. The Bible reveals the role of the oral Word. Paul writes, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Peter too shows that new birth occurs through the oral gospel when he writes to those who had been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever…And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23,25). Luther says, “Actually, the Gospel is not what one finds in books and what is written in the letters of the alphabet; it is rather an oral sermon and a living Word, a voice that resounds throughout the world and is proclaimed publicly, so that one hears it everywhere” (Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 30: The Catholic Epistles. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 30, p. 3). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House). By the oral Word the message of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ, is proclaimed in the present and personally to the hearer. A penitent sinner does not need to wonder if God, who so many years ago through the mouth of Nathan forgave David, or through the mouth of His Son forgave the paralyzed man, hears his or her prayer for forgiveness and truly forgives him or her. God hears, and He still speaks. He speaks in the present. He through the mouths of His children imparts His forgiveness to the penitent individual. They are His ambassadors, and He has entrusted them with His Word of reconciliation and the keys of His kingdom (2 Cor. 5:18–20; Matt. 16:19; 18:18; John 20:22,23). He That Hath An Ear, Let Him Hear As we noted earlier, the claim that God’s Word is bound to time and shackled to the culture of its time does not do justice to God’s revelation. God’s Word is always timely. At the same time, because of the human element, we recognize that the prophets, apostles, and Jesus spoke to the people of the world in which they lived at that time and in terms that were familiar to them. God’s congregation through the New Testament time has faced many challenges and issues that have not presented themselves in earlier phases of history. The Holy Spirit has always taught and guided His congregation in the face of new issues and challenges. The early New Testament congregation faced new questions when the gospel spread to Gentile nations. They met in Jerusalem to discuss those challenges in the light of God’s Word. They had a long discussion. Only a few speeches have been recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The Holy Spirit led and guided their discussion, and they reached a timely and appropriate course of action. Their conclusions were prefaced with the words, “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.” What comforting words. God’s children in later ages, even ours, have had the same experience. God has not abandoned us. He is not silent. God through His Holy Spirit leads and guides His congregation whether the challenges are those brought by new technologies and developments or spiritual turmoil. God has not abandoned us. He still speaks through His Holy Spirit. Jesus instructed servants of the Word in the churches of Asia Minor, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:29). This instruction can be difficult to accept. When we look at God’s congregation, we easily see many shortcomings and faulty sinners. That God speaks through sin-corrupt people is another one of His mysteries. This too becomes an article of faith. In his preface to Revelations, he addresses this issue. He says, “This article, ‘I believe one holy Christian Church,’ is an article of faith, as well as the rest. The reason, therefore, cannot recognize it, though it puts all its glasses on. The devil can cover it over with offenses and tumults, so that you have to take offense at it. God, too, can hide it with faults and short-comings of all kinds, so that you become a fool and pass such judgment on it. It will not be known by sight, but by faith, and faith concerns the things we do not see (Hebrews xi); and the Church joins with her Lord in the song, “Blessed is he that takes no offense in me.” May God grant us faith and humility to hear what God through His Spirit teaches in His congregation. Before the Word God reveals himself to us in His Word. It is His great gift and blessing to us and to all mankind. It is a treasure that does not stop giving. As Paul writes to Timothy, “the holy scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:15,16). God’s Word can teach us, comfort us, and it can also cause us distress. We want to approach and use God’s Word with humility and reverence and with prayer. We should strive to read out of the Scripture what God would say to us and not read into Scripture what we would like it to say. As we heard, the Scriptures do not express the will and message of the men who wrote them, but that God’s Holy Spirit inspired them to speak the will and message of God. The Holy Spirit is also the key that opens the Bible. The Bible is also a spiritual book. It contains many acts of God that appear impossible to us. It contains many mysteries of God that reason cannot explain. They require faith. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please” God. We should always remember that the Scriptures are to be explained by the Scriptures. God is not the author of confusion. The message of the Scripture does not contradict itself. We should consider each portion, and our understanding of it, in the light of the rest of Scripture and the entirety of its message. This practice helps us to avoid subjectivity. Paul told Timothy, a servant of the Word, that he should strive to “rightly divide” or correctly handle God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15). All of us, when we study God’s Word, should seek to understand what God, through the speaker or author, intended to say to the people to whom He spoke or wrote. Then we can try to rightly apply it to our lives and the issues that we face. A careless, lazy, or misguided approach to the reading and study of God’s Word can lead us to confusion and wrong understanding. Teachers and preachers have a special burden to “rightly divide” God’s Word as those who “watch for your souls, as they that must give account” and who will “receive the greater condemnation” (Heb. 13:17, James 3:1.) “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” ‍ Source: Luther, M. (1999). Luther’s works, vol. 41: Church and Ministry III. (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.) (Vol. 41, p. 148–150). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Carey Simonson | The Voice of Zion August 2021 --‍ As Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing… Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. – John 9:1–7, 39–41 The paradox of the blind seer is familiar to many of us. Yet here in John’s text we encounter the miracle of Jesus healing a man who was blind from birth, followed by conversation regarding that miracle. John devotes an entire chapter to the healing of this blind man and the many conversations it inspired amongst the man’s neighbors, and between the man and his neighbors, the man and the Pharisees, the Pharisees and the man’s parents, the man and Jesus and finally Jesus and the Pharisees. Many of these people did not believe that Jesus was the son of God or able to heal this blind man. ‍ Who Sinned That This Man Was Born Blind? The disciples thought that the man’s blindness was a punishment for sin. We may also wonder if God is punishing us or others when we or they experience difficulties in life or when accidents happen. Jesus clearly tells the disciples that it was God’s will that this man was born blind. It was not a punishment. This answer is enough for us as well. We can trust that “He gives to you whate’er is best” (SHZ 367:4), and “He careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). God gives trials and joy. Certainly, some of the difficulties we face in life are a result of our own decisions, while others are simply from God and it is better to accept them from the hand of God rather than battle against them. “All my joys and all my sorrows He apportions ev’ry day. Even in the trying times, God is near me, by my side” (SHZ 430:2). The Works of God Should Be Made Manifest in Him Through the healing of the blind man, Jesus was able to show the works of God. As Jesus once said: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38,40). In many cases, Jesus healed and forgave sins with His Word (e.g., Mark 2:5–12); but in this case, Jesus put clay on the man’s eyes and had him wash in pool of Siloam. When the man obeyed Jesus’ instructions, he was able to see. Jesus healed this man’s temporal sight but also opened his spiritual eyes to see and his heart to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 9:35–38). In the same way, the living gospel, which is preached from God’s kingdom today, heals wounds of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Blind See and the Seeing Are Blind The Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They even tried to use God’s law to prove that Jesus could not be from God. “Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day” (John 9:16). The Pharisees knew God’s law, but they did not believe. Their knowledge did not help them. In fact, we could say it hindered them. On the other hand, this unlearned blind man simply explained to the Pharisees that Jesus must be of God because He had healed him. This angered the Pharisees and “They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out” (John 9:34). We see a sharp contrast between the simple faith of the blind man and the pious knowledge and unbelief of the Pharisees. Paul saw this also. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:26,27). Or as Jesus said: “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31,32). Thus, the blind man who could see is an image of how only through faith are we saved.

Jeremy Honga | The Voice of Zion August 2021 --‍ Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. – Matthew 11:20–24 After Jesus overcame Satan’s temptation in the wilderness, He began his public ministry: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). During His ministry He traveled through many cities throughout Galilee. The cities mentioned in our text – Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum – were among the cities where Jesus preached. He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom. He healed those with affliction and disease. He made the blind to see and the dead to live. His fame spread far and wide and many came unto Him to be healed (Matt. 4:23–25; 11:5). Here we can perceive His “mighty works” which were done in those cities. Self-Righteousness Clouded Their Sight Although great crowds witnessed these miracles, there were many who did not repent and believe. Their life was not one of open sin and ungodliness, such as was the case in the cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom of the Old Testament. In fact it seems quite the contrary; self-righteousness, good works, wisdom and understanding were the demise of many. Others surely knew and even believed that Jesus was the Son of God but in their own heart did not repent. Jesus’ warning in our text is strong. Not only one who lives a worldly life of sin and ungodliness will face judgement’s wrath, but also those who hear the gospel Word and then reject it. God is a gracious God and His Word tells us of His profound love towards sinful humans. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). However, His Word also teaches, even as our text relates, that many reject the grace of God and walk the broad way which leads to everlasting destruction (Matt. 7:13). At Any Time or Place At His will, God grants times of visitation to individuals who are without His grace. During a time of visitation, God causes one to pause and consider his or her soul’s condition, death and eternity. It is a time when one’s conscience becomes awakened. The person experiences worry and fear for his or her soul and begins to seek peace. This visit or call from God can come in different ways and at any time and place. Sometimes deep sorrow and distress, caused by difficult trials, is allowed to overcome in order that one would realize the need for God’s grace and forgiveness. God can and does also call through blessings He allows into one’s life. One such blessing could be when one in unbelief finds believing friends. We can understand that each way of visitation is a special gift from God, because He is calling a person unto repentance and to everlasting salvation. When humble hearts receive the call, God can then lead them to the doors of the kingdom where sins are preached forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. The power of this gospel brings peace of conscience. God does not grant moments of visitation all the days of one’s life. His Word teaches of this and the importance to heed and to not reject His call: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isa. 55:6). “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15). It is a matter of eternal life and death. A Time of Visitation Is Yet at Hand The time of visitation is yet in our land. We pray that God through His living Word would awaken the hearts of fellow citizens that they with us could be partakers of His grace. We want to be faithful messengers of Christ and carry His gospel with us, to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins as He has commanded. We can do so with joy and remember that “if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3,4). We should also pray that sin and evil, prevalent and accepted in our society, would not influence us nor any believer to shipwreck. Instead, may each of us always remember the teaching to endeavor in faith and to preserve this faith in a good conscience, washing sins away through the power of the gospel. When we remain in the fellowship and care of the congregation of God and in unity with the Holy Spirit, we remain in God’s grace and will be protected unto the end.

Michael Ylioja | The Voice of Zion September 2021 -- It came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. — Mark 2:23–28 ‍ During Jesus’ public ministry he traveled and taught. In our text we read of an encounter with the Pharisees that occurred on the sabbath. The disciples picked ears of corn as they were going through the corn fields. The Pharisees, who devoted much of their time to studying the scriptures and following the law, saw this occur and saw a chance to show their biblical knowledge. They knew this behavior of the disciples was not according to the Old Testament law. The Pharisees believed that salvation was merited by observing the law. Jesus saw into their hearts and knew their self-righteous ways, so here He wishes to teach them about salvation, that He is Lord of the sabbath. In responding to the Pharisees’ rebuke, Jesus used an Old Testament happening which He knew the Pharisees would be familiar with. He reminded them of when David hid from King Saul and was hungry. The priests gave David the shewbread, which was only to be used in sacrificing and eaten by the priests. Jesus used this example to show the Pharisees that there is not salvation by following the law, but by believing in Jesus as the Son of God. When we have this faith in our heart, we desire to follow the will of God. Jesus was the ultimate messenger of God’s will. Jesus Himself said, “think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matt. 5:17). Through His teaching and the teaching of the Holy Spirit, we are also messengers of God. We preach and share the joyful message of God’s kingdom to all who would wish to hear it. The end of our text shows us the wisdom of God. God made the sabbath day for us. We humans were not made for the sabbath. Only the triune God is holy. We are holy only through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and within the congregation of God. We cannot attain salvation or heaven on our own as the Pharisees thought. We so often focus on matters of day-to-day life and forget the most important aspect, preserving faith and keeping a clean conscience. We are blessed with the sabbath day on which to gather and hear and discuss God’s Word and be refreshed by the gospel. ‍

Rick Nevala | The Voice of Zion September 2021 --‍ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. — Matthew 6:19–24 ‍ God promises to care for His own. We humans, however, are often so tied up in this life that we forget God and His promises. We try to make a living in our temporal calling. We feel we should have control over our own destiny and should follow our own path. We make plans for the future and seek what’s best for our families. Believers too fall prey to the inclinations of our flesh and own reason. We can begin to lay up treasures, mammon. The drive to want more and more is not far from us. We compare ourselves to our neighbors when we ought not to. We may wish to have what they have and then push to make more money so that we can attain these items. Our thoughts can even become consumed with making money and buying things. Do Not Covet Things of This Earth Mammon is an Aramaic word that means “gain.” Whatever we think of as gain for us in this world is mammon. To some it is sports and temporal glory, to another physical appearance and reputation, to another a full belly, to yet another riches and possessions. Paul instructs the Philippians about those that seek earthly gain, saying that the end of those who mind earthly things is destruction (Phil. 3:18,19). Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 19). Scripture clearly teaches us not to covet things of this earth. At the end of our journey, they will be left behind and ultimately these things will perish. God has promised to care for us in our everyday needs. Just as the plants and the animals in nature are provided for with sun and rain and nourishment and shelter, so too will our needs be provided for (Luke 12:22–31). In this passage from the gospel according to Luke, Jesus reminds us to trust that God knows our needs. Rather than seeking these things, we should seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness (v. 31). Lay Up Treasures in Heaven The Word of God teaches us to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven, to seek God’s kingdom and those things that follow it. Heavenly treasures are eternal. The apostle speaks of what these treasures are, reminding us that the greatest of these is charity, the bond of perfection (Col. 3:12–17). The most important matter in life is to have faith and to know our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our greatest treasure is the forgiveness of sins. It connects us to the blood of Christ. Christ’s blood drops mark the way to heaven. We follow Him and gather His blood drops, as we hear in sermons. When we follow Christ in obedience of faith to the end of the journey, eternal treasure awaits. While we yet tarry here on earth, we must guard our hearts so that it doesn’t attach to treasures of this earth. Where our treasure lies, there is also our heart. When faith is the most important matter in our lives, we wish to follow the Lord Jesus in life, suffering and doctrine. Each day we make promises to walk in newness of life, trusting in God’s guidance and caretaking. Walk in the Light We thus endeavor to keep faith and a good conscience. We wish to care for the treasure God has given us for this time. We walk in the light as He is in the light, not grudgingly but with our whole heart. Not in hypocrisy, but in truth. As our text reminds us, we cannot serve both God and mammon; therefore we must choose which we cling to. The apostle reminds us that if we love the things of this world, then the Father is not in us (1 John 2:15–17). Our text warns us of walking in darkness, out of reach of God’s care. This means walking in open sin, and it also means walking in self-righteousness. If the light in us is darkness, our text admonishes, then how great is that darkness! If we believe that we are believing correctly and are not, that is a scary place. We pray that we may remain in the light of God and walk therein. God’s care is found in the gospel, and this gospel is not found in the darkness. In darkness, one loses sight of the blood drops of Christ, and the gospel loses its appeal. Rather the person’s own reason lights his or her way. God promises to care for His own. He reminds us to not be dismayed, for He is our God and He will strengthen us and help us (Isa. 41:10). He will battle with us against the threefold enemy. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Paul Waaraniemi | The Voice of Zion September 2021 -- “She was nine days short of her forty-third birthday,” Dad used to say when asked how old his wife, my mother, was when she passed away. Everyone said, “She was so young!” though at eleven years of age, forty-three didn’t seem so young to me. Now I have a son older than she was at her passing, and I too say she was so young. My mother’s life was certainly shorter than an American woman’s life expectancy in 1965, and it was also short by our human measurement. Naturally many of her friends – my friends’ parents – lived much longer lives. I must admit that I don’t fully know what I missed in not having a mother for all of those formative years. Surely, I missed not having her at events big and small, and missed her daily presence while growing up. Nevertheless, if not understanding, God granted acceptance of our situation. Life at 425 Penn Avenue took on “our normal.” Recently I’ve pondered more whether mother was shortchanged. But I’ve found solace in the conclusion that despite her relatively brief life, she was not shortchanged. She got the good fortune to be born to a believing mother and father, into a home with many sisters and brothers – love and closeness abounded. Rather than thinking about what she didn’t get to be – mother of the bride, grandmother, a retiree – I consider all the things she was: a daughter, sister, wife, mother, godmother, aunt, student, worker, homemaker, neighbor, confidant, friend. Most importantly as a prodigal daughter who lost the gift of faith in her youth, she received the grace of repentance and again became a child of God. Mom’s life was that of a wife, mother, homemaker. In our time there’s much emphasis on education and career and achievement. I’ve recalled a poem of a Finnish mother and poet, who during her terminal battle with cancer asked her husband, “Is it sufficient as a life’s calling to be someone’s wife and mother to some children?” Her husband answers, “Yes, it’s sufficient.” For our mother, too, it was sufficient, for so God ordained it. It’s true that Mom didn’t see us graduate or get married or become parents. She never held her grandchildren, but we hold her in our hearts and conversations. We’ve passed on to our youngest siblings and now to her grandchildren a sense of her, for she is part of us. The testimony and legacy of a believing loved one are enduring. We recall what they shared with us and speak of their victory and reward of eternal life as the foremost matter. Sometimes that victory is won in the eleventh hour through our loving God’s gracious call. We rejoice over that as the greatest matter connected to the departed one’s memory. Time is fleeting. Reaching senior years has only deepened the feeling that life reels past quickly. But what a marvelous thing it is that heaven is eternal, joyous, bright and glorious – worth far more than the longest, fullest earthly life. God’s children cling with hope and joy to the promise of reunification with loved ones in glory one day. I cling to that too: I will see Mother and other departed dear ones at home in heaven. We are not shortchanged. “I receive a double portion: Grace of grace and hope of heaven. Wondrous is Your love to me!” (SHZ 91:6). ‍

Paul Honkala | The Voice of Zion October 2021 -- The heavenly Father has blessed us with amazing technology. Especially during this unprecedented time of COVID-19, believers marvel how the living Word is preached perhaps more widely than ever before. The Good Shepherd has not forgotten His sheep, but rather He has led them to green pastures where He feeds and nourishes them – even in remote corners of the earth. It’s almost unfathomable how services have been held locally, nationally, internationally, and even inter-culturally. Gathering remotely on such platforms as GoToMeeting and Zoom, our eyes have been opened to see new possibilities in communications technology, all put to use and propelled by pandemic-related challenges. Yet, along with these new opportunities come some key questions: Do these online services replace in-person services? How did online services come about? Why do we listen to online services? It seems important to consider the primary reason for online services. The use of online services increased for the benefit of those who cannot attend in-person services. These service occasions have been of special help to those who are sick, those who are in localities where there are few believers, those in remote locations in service to our country and to those in other faraway places where attending in-person is not possible. It is always important to hear God’s Word. The Lord Jesus taught that “Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28). However, in terms of hearing the Word of God, it is important to consider the place of online technology in one’s own life and in our relationships with other believers. Regarding actual fellowship, the writer to the Hebrews provided relevant instruction in his time about gathering with others. The Jewish congregation’s members had become tired on the journey. They began to drift. They needed encouragement, support and teaching through in-person fellowship with other believers. He wrote, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). This instruction, addressing the conditions of the times, was relevant then and is relevant yet today. In our time, believers still carry the old portion, that is, our human weakness. Our old portion can get in the way, such that choosing online services could become our primary way of hearing even though we could gather in-person. The flesh is weak in terms of faith. Do we choose those kinds of speeches that our ears like to hear? Do we choose speeches only from certain speakers? Do we choose them from other countries, such as Finland, thinking that it’s a better sermon? These are important considerations related to listening online. Online services are not intended to supersede the value of in-person services, especially when we are so richly blessed with the opportunity to attend in-person. In our human frailty, we can easily decide to stay home and make a habit of listening to Sunday morning services online. If one begins to feel that online services from different localities, for example, fit his or her lifestyle better than attending in-person services, one may no longer value traveling in-person, hand-in-hand with our fellow escorts on the narrow way. Furthermore, if we no longer attend services, we cannot be escorts to others who live and believe nearby. It is implicit in the word “congregation,” that we physically gather together in spiritual unity, helping each other on the journey. In fact, the original Hebrew word for congregation means company assembled together. God’s Word teaches that the children of God should gather and that in doing so we serve one another. Yet, we understand that if one is unable to attend services in-person it is always good to listen online. The same Spirit that preaches the gospel in-person can also be heard online. When listeners hear the gospel and believe sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood, they understand that possessing peace with God is reason for joy. In turn, this joy fosters a desire in the hearts of believers to gather with God’s children in-person. We may also ponder whether a person is able to believe all alone or with his or her family in some remote locality? Yes, they can! God protects and guides. But again, these believers desire in-person services and gatherings whenever opportunities arise. We’ve noticed how when believers move to a new locality they often request that services might be held in their place of watching. The same ardent request has come from lone foreigners who, after receiving the grace of repentance away from home, beg for services upon returning to their homeland. In this way God has accomplished His mission work in our time. The evening devotions that we enjoy hearing at the end of a busy day have been one of the blessings of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the close of the day, the comforting Word warms hearts and relates God’s promises to listeners. I personally feel that if it were possible we would all desire to gather together each evening to sing the songs of Zion and hear the preached gospel. It will come, when time has ceased, that the children of God truly will all be gathered together to sing the praises of our Lord and Savior!

Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion October 2021 -- Can we respect and even love our ancestors while still recognizing that they were flawed human beings – just as we are? When we look into the past, sometimes we question what people were thinking in making the decisions that they made. For instance, we can wonder why a significant portion of the population defended slavery for a long time. Or why Hitler was allowed to progress so far before the rest of the world stopped his atrocities. These questions can only be answered with a full view of the complexity of the time. Lacking a full view, we may begin to assume too much – we might even think we would not have done such a thing. The Bible warns against thinking we are better, specifically in Galatians 6. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (v. 1–3). Indeed, it’s likely that if we were alive in that time period, we would share something of the common view of the day. In recent years there has been discussion about colonialism and the lasting effects of nationhood being established by a displacement and exploitation of the first peoples of the land. We recognize that God has created all people in His image and that it is sin to treat someone else poorly. The evidence of this happening as European settlers were establishing new nations on the North American continent is undeniable. In this, we can recognize the motivations in the corrupt nature of humankind. We only have to look at ourselves to see lust for power, wealth and influence. None of us lived in the past and we are not responsible for any actions of others in the past, but it is useful for us to consider what those actions of the past have normalized for actions and privilege today. It’s not a light or comfortable matter to consider that mistreatment of people in the past has helped to shape continued disadvantages even today. To outright deny mistakes of the past is not productive in the discussion either. It prevents us from accepting that the goal ought to be a future full of the same potential for all people. As citizens, we need to live today remembering what Jesus taught in the Golden Rule: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matt. 7:12). God’s kingdom has been preserved in our lands through the ages by the power and effect of God’s forgiveness, through the merit work of Jesus. The people of God have reached the eternal rest of the righteous because God saw them through the atonement work of His dear Son. They were sinners in their lifetime, but God’s forgiveness preserved them in faith. God’s forgiveness is found in the preaching of the gospel of the forgiveness of sins in His kingdom here on earth. In light of this, it is a dangerous path to remain critical and unforgiving of the sins of others in the past. It shackles us to our own understanding and steals away the freedom from sin that God’s children can own. It is also foolish to pretend that offenses did not happen. It denies reality and puts the wrong light on former saints. We need to remember that they lived of the gospel in their lives, just as we need to today. Perhaps someone brings to our attention that we have offended them. It may or may not be a surprise to hear. Either way, we need to have open ears to hear the sorrow that we have caused through our actions. If we can own our offenses and ask for forgiveness, then Jesus is able to own them for us and we can leave them there. If we are only interested in defending ourselves, then the offense remains an unhealed wound. We can struggle with how to approach an individual about offenses. Perhaps a direct, yet careful approach is best. We can say, for example, “I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to visit with you about this sooner, but we have offenses between us.” Maybe if we have treated someone poorly, we could say, “I recognize that I have treated you poorly and wish to talk about it if you are able to.” When the offenses can be discussed and when the gospel is preached, it’s important to be able to forgive from our heart. If there is something preventing us from being able to forgive the offense, then perhaps it’s okay to involve someone else, mutually agreed upon, to help us converse about it. There are also times when it’s productive to get help from a professional counsellor in order to work through past situations in a healthy way. It’s no mystery why Jesus needed to stress that we love one another. He knew how difficult it is for us to do that. When we consider the pain that humans have caused one another, we can collectively hang our heads in shame. May we always remember Jesus’ example as we approach realities from the past, whether personal or from the collective human experience: He was treated unjustly yet remained forgiving.

Niilo Rauhala‍, Translation: Editors | The Voice of Zion October 2021 -- So little we speak of heaven. Our eyes press shut, darkness fills the room. Children of prayers lie yet awake, not playing together – night’s blanket enfolds unbearably warm. So little we speak of heaven, though the glow of evening is like the arm of daylight yet extended toward us. ‍ Niin vähän me puhumme taivaasta. Silmämme painuvat kiinni, pimeä täyttää huoneen. Huokauksen lapset valvovat, eivät leiki keskenään – yön peitto kääriytyy tuskanlämmin. Niin vähän me puhumme taivaasta, vaikka illan kajo on kuin päivän käsivarsi yhä ojentunut meitä kohti.

Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion November 2021 -- Prayer is a significant part of many religions – with its use, people strive to speak to their gods. Yet prayer is often removed from its biblical foundation and misused. In God’s kingdom, we want prayer to remain in its secure, age-old spot, for we teach that “prayer is the heart’s humble and sincere conversation with God” (Christian Doctrine, item 78). In Luther’s teaching about prayer, he makes it a duty which cannot be ignored because it is commanded by God. The apostle exhorts to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Jesus also commanded in His teaching that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Luther teaches in his explanation of the second commandment, “Not to take God’s name in vain but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise and thanksgiving.” Luther taught that by calling on God in prayer, we honor His name and use it purposefully. Secondly, Luther says we should be impelled to pray because God has also added the promise that our prayers will be answered. The Psalmist writes, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify me” (Ps. 51:15), and as Christ says in the gospel of Matthew, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:7,8). In prayer we speak with God, and He promises to hear our prayers. How and what do we pray? When the disciples realized that they did not know how to pray, Jesus taught them the Lord’s Prayer, a perfect prayer. All Christians join in this prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen” (Luke 11:1–13). Jesus also taught not to pray as the hypocrites do, standing on the street corner to be seen by others, but rather quietly, discreetly, and humbly, for God who sees in secret promises to reward openly (Matt. 6). Jesus himself would often go away to a quiet place to pray (Matt. 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12). Sometimes it may be heard that God only hears the prayers of the righteous, and not the ungodly. One may even use scripture to make this point (e.g., Isa. 1:15, Prov. 1:28). God, in His Word has also warned that He may turn a deaf ear to one who has rejected Him. But how do we know God’s ways? There is danger when we try to insert our will into God’s will. We see in scriptures how God hears and answers prayers in His time and ways. God heard Saul’s prayer when he for three days prayed to God, and Ananias was sent to him (Acts 9). Or when the Ethiopian eunuch, returning from days of prayer and worship in Jerusalem, met Phillip whom God had sent to explain scriptures (Acts 8). Also, to Cornelius who prayed to God always, was Peter sent. In all cases, prayer did not justify them, yet God heard their prayers and sent a messenger, a partaker of the remission of sins, to preach forgiveness. Faith is often born under extreme duress, and often prayer is the only thing which we are left to do. How God hears and answers prayer doesn’t need to be our worry. May we learn to accept whatever God allows. A believer prays from a place of humility: “Thy will be done.” It is a statement of submission to God’s ways and His plans. Jesus prayed this way in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before His death, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). When our prayer is weak, we have the comfort that the Spirit prays in our behalf. Paul was given to write, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:17,18). Prayer is powerful, a gift to us from God. Let us freely carry in prayer to our Father those quiet questions and matters in our hearts. God in His time will answer and grant acceptance and peace.