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Kay Wuollet | The Voice of Zion June 2022 -- Do small things in life make a difference? Does anybody notice them? Does anyone care? As I sit down at the piano, I prepare myself for my lesson by signing into the video call. I greet my teacher with God’s peace, and she asks me how I’ve been. My piano lessons begin with a warm-up in my lesson book. Following the warm-up, I play through a classical song, Clementi’s 2nd “Sonatine.” After warming up, my teacher and I go over a new song, “Nocturne.” Leading up to measure 8, I see some large scales ahead, and I begin to lose my confidence. I continue playing the song and when I’ve finished, my teacher encourages me. I don’t always feel that I have done great, but she always seems to lift me up. We then review the measures where I need some improvement, and we work it through together. Those few small measures that seem so difficult need to be acknowledged. We mark them and go over them alone, deliberately. We discuss technique and set a goal for practicing these measures. Once they have been improved, they can be joined again with the rest of the song. It’s those few measures that can impact the whole piece. That encouragement that my piano teacher gives makes me feel like I can accomplish any piece of music I would like. She appears to hold so much confidence when she plays or talks about piano. She gives that surety in just a few words, but it has encouraged me in every part of my life. Considering that I have felt this friendly encouragement from my piano teacher, I have now realized that such generosity can be spread more widely. When we see that one sitting alone, we want to greet them, say hello, or maybe stop to chat for a little while. It’s that small amount of time you take to acknowledge the one, who so often sits alone. A small interaction may change so much. Even if it seems that you haven’t done much, a smile or a mere hello can make the difference. Maybe that smile, hello, or even “How’s it going?” can start a friendship. We can ask these questions again, “Do small things in life make a difference? Does anybody notice them? Does anyone care?” In answering for myself, small things in life do matter. Even the smallest things, like a hug or “How are you?” These interactions are noticed, and they can change a lot in one’s everyday life. Through these actions may come a lifelong friendship, or maybe just a happy smile. You can make yourself happy, and you can make others happy too. A small measure of kindness can be that single ray of light that shines through another’s dark day. We hope we could be a light unto the world. A small act may help someone in everyday life, or it could even help them on their journey to heaven.

Art Harju | The Voice of Zion August 2022 -- Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. – Philippians 3:20 The Bible gives instruction on how we ought to conduct ourselves as citizens of God’s kingdom. It teaches us to honor our father and mother, to serve our neighbor and not bear false witness against him, to respect and obey our governments and those having authority over us, and to live peaceably with all men. The King James Version of the Bible often uses the word conversation to mean our conduct or our way of life. Citizens of Heaven Our theme verse from Philippians states “for our conversation (our citizenship) is in heaven.” Earth is only temporary. Our time of life passes quickly. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:14). While there are times of happiness and joy in our lives there are also times of trials and sorrow. These trials and sorrows cause us to long for our heavenly home. What instruction does God’s Word give about the conduct of a citizen of heaven? Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). In that sermon He teaches what to do if there is anger between us and our brother. He teaches about proper behavior around the matters of adultery and divorce. Jesus instructs to be quick to make amends with our accusers before the matter becomes too big and not to seek revenge against those who offend us but rather turn the other cheek. We should be willing to go the extra mile with those who ask for help and share our goods with those in need. Also, we love our enemies, repay hate and evil with good, and pray for those who take advantage of or persecute us. All Glory to God Jesus warns about doing our good works in order to be seen of men. We want to conduct ourselves and serve others from a humble and sincere heart for their benefit, not our own. Peter writes in his epistle, “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12). Peter’s words here remind us that we don’t know what God may be working in the heart of any person. Maybe He has given them a time of visitation. Surely an awakened conscience and a seeking heart would answer to the love and kindness shown to them by a child of God. We want to conduct ourselves in such a way that the gospel message of God’s kingdom could be spread to our neighbors and those in our community so that they too could find forgiveness and the hope for citizenship in heaven. We often find ourselves lacking and poor in speaking to others about God’s kingdom, but we pray that light also shines through our example. Dear child of God, how has it been? If you are like me, you have found yourself unsuccessful in the matters of conduct. Fortunately, our God is a forgiving God and those failings and all sin can be washed away in the name and blood of Jesus. We can daily renew those promises to endeavor to be a good citizen of heaven.

Samuel Okola | The Voice of Zion August 2022 -- I was born and raised near Lake Victoria. Though my home village is in Siaya County, I am now living in Nairobi, Rarieda sub-county. I work as Kenya’s full-time pastor. I have a family of four children: Laurine is 14 years, Esther is 11 years old, Kaleb is 9 and Julia is 5. I have been a speaker since 2013. Before I became a full-time minister, I worked as a welder in a steel pipe manufacturing plant. Because I was employed there on contract basis, I was able to preach the gospel on weekends, traveling to places near Nairobi and sometimes visiting Siaya. As areas of mission work were growing, I was requested by believers in Kenya to become a full-time speaker. So I have been a full-time speaker since January 2020. My duties are to preach the gospel to all parts of the country, linking believers in Kenya with MW3. I also make sure that all Kenyan believers can receive and access sermons, both the WhatsApp sermons and the sermons delivered personally. I try to balance my visits to outlying areas with foreign ministers coming sent by MW3. Whenever I visit congregations and individuals, I listen to various temporal challenges affecting believers in Kenya and report to the necessary and relevant boards. In this way, we can offer support to those who struggle. Kenyan believers live in six areas. The regions are Nairobi, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Eldoret and Kitale, and Mombasa. Each of these areas includes a number of small congregational groups. Because of the number of congregations and distances between them, we communicate via WhatsApp where I post sermons every week. In addition, we have a page on Facebook, Nairobi Laestadian Lutheran Peace Centre, where we post photos and written sermons every week. All are invited to visit this page. Services arrangements vary from place to place depending on how congregations schedule them. Some gather every Sunday, some gather on Saturdays, some gather every two weeks to listen to WhatsApp services. My visits follow a timetable allowing for distances and seasonal adjustments. For example, if I visit Mombasa in February, then I reserve March for Migori. I also schedule days to visit Siaya, and since I live in the Nairobi area, I am there for two weeks each month. At the Eldoret National Polytechnic facility we hold seminars. In that area believers also listen to the sermons delivered on WhatsApp. Kenya is a diverse country with different ethnic groups speaking different languages. The main languages are English and Swahili, English being the international language and Swahili the national language. Both are taught in schools and as the central means of communication for education and government. Most believers speak these two languages, but some in different parts of the country understand their tribal language best. In a few places where believers do not have their own place of worship, they gather in community church buildings, otherwise most of the small congregations gather in homes. COVID-19 affected human life around the world. This includes Kenyan believers in that we were restricted from gathering. As restrictions loosened, we resumed gathering in homes in small groups. Now we can have services in large groups and soon MW3 will organize mission trips again. Believers are happy because they can again host visiting ministers from Finland, Sweden, USA and Canada. Believers in Kenya are happy with the spiritual support we get from MW3 when speakers come on mission trips, via sermons on WhatsApp every week and in some cases Bibles have been donated. MW3 supports my visits to the congregations, where I hold sermons and encourage believers to endeavor in faith. When it was time for Summer Services, believers in Kenya sent warm greetings to the organizers and all the believers at summer services in different countries: we wish you spiritual nourishment, warmness in your hearts, peace and love to all. We wish you God’s peace.

Rick Nevala | The Voice of Zion August 2022 -- As children of grace, we endeavor to believe sins and faults forgiven. Righteousness of faith fosters righteousness of life. As our sins are forgiven through no merit of our own, we want to extend this unfathomable measure of love to all. The apostle Paul says, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). This requires patience and humility, praying to be able to approach others with the mind of Christ. The Bible says that gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Prov. 16:24). We are to be “kindly affectionate” to one another, to speak kindly to each other. We remember with affection those who speak to us in that way, especially those we have wronged who repaid us with kindness. May these memories inform our own conduct. That said, it is more likely that we remember those who have spoken to us with unkind words. Many have heard the untrue rhyme “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Traditional thinking such as this supports a culture where bullying and cruel language is acceptable. But God’s Word reveals bullying and cruelty as sin. It is far from the mind of Christ. When a friend or loved one has left faith, showing love for them may be difficult because we feel personally hurt by their actions, perhaps even angry due to feelings of abandonment or disappointment. Above all, however, we are concerned about their soul’s salvation. Therefore, we suppress personal pain and strive to show love, to extend God’s love toward them with welcoming words and actions. God can yet call them. The relationship between Joseph and his brothers especially presents a lesson in showing love. Joseph was patient and kind to his family when they came to Egypt looking for grain during the seven years of drought. They had reason to fear him, having sold him into slavery. They thought, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil we did to him” (Gen. 50:15). Joseph nevertheless spoke kindly to them and, moreover, he helped them. Joseph surely felt pain when his brothers mistreated him, yet Joseph treated his brothers with love. He regarded them with the mind of Christ. Joseph’s love presents an image of Jesus’ love. Jesus reverses the “eye for an eye” Old Testament instruction when He teaches us to show love by “turning the other cheek.” When we are hurt, Jesus teaches us to turn away from retaliation; this would apply to both physical wounds and language. Indeed, words may hurt much more than physical pain and even cause life-long trauma. It is important to end the cycle of pain by withholding payback. Kind and loving treatment also includes how we regard and treat others in our community, including those with the least stature. What do we say when our children point out a homeless person on the street for instance? Do we say that the homeless one should find a job? We have all been created by God and but for the grace of God we are not in the homeless one’s position. We certainly have no idea what led to that person’s plight, and it is not our place to condemn. Instead, we can remember that God loves all sinners, even me. It would be good if we not only fostered a discussion about God’s guidance in our lives but also encouraged each other to assist our fellow human beings as God gives resources. Scripture guides us in this. James wrote about a man who said he had faith and was approached by someone naked and destitute of daily food. The man gave nice words to the poor person: “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled.” Nevertheless, he did not provide clothing or food. James writes, “What doth it profit?” (2:15,16). We may say loving and true things to others, but if we are believing, we should also act according to our beliefs, even by sharing resources. When we love others in both actions and words, we love them in truth and not as hypocrites. “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Our gift of faith is then offered, through love, to both those in the house of God and to those who are yet being called.

Roger Plough | The Voice of Zion September 2022 -- Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive: and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer: and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. – Psalms 86:1,3–7 This psalm of King David is a prayer of living faith. David begs God to hear his prayer and acknowledges that he needs God’s care. He begs for mercy and trusts that God will hear and answer him. We join with this prayer of David, trusting in God’s good care in all phases of our lives. We Need Care Our text begins, “Bow down thine ear…I am poor and needy.” Jesus gave us the example of a child as the greatest in the kingdom of God. Why is a child the greatest? In a temporal sense, a child is in need of parents’ care. The child cannot care for himself or herself. As we grow past childhood and become independent, we often find it more difficult to ask for help from others. We think we should be able to figure out life’s difficulties on our own. As children of God, however, we are in continuous need of our heavenly Father’s care. We do not want to become wise in faith and chart our own path based on knowledge and understanding. We desire to always remain in the place of God’s good care, asking God to continue to teach us the ABCs of faith. Apostle Paul exhorts to “[Cast] all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). We can freely and without worry for future days place all our trust in God. We Need Mercy Our text continues, “Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I cry unto thee daily.” Luther teaches that we sin in thought, word or deed every day. Therefore, we are in need of God’s mercy every day. God does not tire of our cries but loves us. His mercy is so abundant for His children. John writes, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God knows our frame and prepared salvation for sin-fallen humankind through His Son, our Lord Jesus. Further in our text, David says, “For thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive.” How fortunate we are that God is always ready to forgive us our sins. The gospel is available whenever we are in need. How has your experience been? Is it now so that when we are able to humble ourselves unto repentance, the gospel is readily preached and we can believe all sins forgiven. Forgiven sins are drowned in the sea of grace. God no longer remembers them. Our soul rejoices that God’s mercy is so abundant and we can believe unto peace, freedom and joy. We Can Trust Our text concludes, “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: For thou wilt answer me.” Here David voices his confidence in God’s care. We too can trust in God’s care. In our difficulties, when we do not know where to turn, let us remember that we are not alone. God knows our troubles and helps us. He will not give us greater burdens than we can bear. In a time of difficulty, we may wonder whether God is yet caring for us because the matter in question is not going the way we wanted or expected. We may doubt whether God even knows what we are experiencing. Nonetheless, dear child of God, remember to trust as David did, “for thou wilt answer me.” The writer of song of Zion 357 writes, “The will of God is always best and shall be done forever; and they who trust in Him are blest, He will forsake them never.” Let us trust in God’s good care! Jesus promises, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20).

The Voice of Zion September 2022 -- When Jesus was confronted by the High Priest, He was asked, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus answered, “I am.” His response affirmed His identity as the Son of God, the Savior of the world. For this, He was put to death. We also, as brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God, are His children. We share the priceless identity. While around us we observe difficulty around discussions about identity, we find that owning – acknowledging and affirming as Christ did His – our identities as children of God brings both liberation and humility. Religion scholar Amanda Porterfield in 2001 explained that religion in America was still important, but that the trend has been, since the 1960s, to personalize faith rather than to belong to an established congregation. This movement, which she carefully traces in her book The Transformation of American Religion (Oxford University Press, 2001), is one where the dominant forms of Protestantism in North America has taken on the 1960s cultural trend of individualism or “do your own thing.” Personal spirituality replaces trust in the Biblical teaching of one faith, one kingdom. Today, believers’ identity contrasts sharply with this kind of self-determined Christianity that depends on the individual conscience as a moral compass. We wish instead to remain with a conscience connected to God’s Word whose interpretation is heard in God’s kingdom through His Spirit. While we know that faith is personal, we also know that we cannot of ourselves attain salvation. We wish along with all listeners at Jesus’ feet to “Seek first the kingdom of God.” As we identify as believers first and foremost, we also acknowledge our earthly existence and its many facets – blessings for us as family members, professionals in the workplace, personalities of vibrancy and substance, an ethnic and racial identity and our gender and its role in serving our lives, the lives of others and God’s kingdom. In these as in all things, the magnificence of God’s creation work is hidden from our view. Our lack of understanding does not require judgement; we can trust that most perfect Judge who never makes a mistake. We can simply accept God’s creations as given from His loving hand where variation abides according to His plan – we trust that we each were created as we are for a purpose. We needn’t demand that each person conform to a narrow description. God has made all things beautiful in His inscrutable ways. In encountering those whose identity differs from ours, it is good to remember we are called to be a light, to invite and share our grace gift. The Bible instructs that is not our place to categorize, judge and shun (e.g. Luke 6:37). May we see in all humans the touch of their Creator, an undying soul. May we remember that within any person can exist sorrow over sin, a longing for God, a need for grace. We want to lovingly call all people into God’s kingdom. What words might God allow us to utter to spark in another the hope of eternal life? For our own part, we acknowledge that there is nothing intrinsically redeeming in any part of our earthly identity. Only faith, a grace gift from God, saves us and brings us to our next life. The 2022 class of confirmands have studied God’s Word and the doctrine of God’s kingdom. In this world of vast knowledge and information, they find that simple childlike faith will suffice and carry them. Together with them, we can marvel and wonder over God’s goodness and grace. As we together view the pluralistic world around us, we can ponder what God is preparing us for. In unity with our young ones, we need the blessing of the gospel as we endeavor. Indeed, our desire is to retain the most precious identity: that of a child of God. What a gift it is to have this heavenly identity!

Johannes Leppänen, Translation: M. Keranen | The Voice of Zion September 2022 -- God created the world and all that is in it by His Word. God also created human beings in His own image, but in the fall into sin, God’s image in humans was corrupted. God Himself gave the first human couple a promise of the Savior (Gen. 3:15). Believing in this promise, God’s children of Old Testament times owned righteousness of faith. By faith, they were acceptable to God. Righteous by Faith The author of the letter to Hebrews describes in many examples how the former saints were victorious by faith (Heb. 11). The phases of Abraham’s life show in a very concrete way what righteousness of faith meant to him. His life included many major changes and uncertainties. God tried Abraham’s faith, but Abraham was still obedient to him. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness,” Paul summarized (Rom. 4:3). Abraham is called the forefather of faith, an example to learn from. Abraham obeyed God by faith. This is the only possible order. It is important to remember that one cannot become a believer through obedience. Paul describes extensively in the letter to the Romans the essence of righteousness of faith. A person becomes righteous – acceptable to God – only through faith bestowed by God (Rom. 3:21–31). True faith that is in accordance with God’s Word brings joy and freedom to the believer’s heart. Faith gives birth to love that joins believers to Christ and each other. This is the love we continue to experience today in the kingdom of God. Mutual love is the hallmark of believers. After all, the Savior said to His disciples, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Love is especially evident when we encounter the inhabitants of God’s kingdom from other countries. When the Holy Spirit unites hearts, cultural differences, skin color or any other outward differences have no meaning. So strong is the love of God which comes from heaven, the love that unites believers. Reason Does Not Comprehend the Righteousness of Faith Righteousness of faith that is acceptable before God is not comprehensible to human reason. Human beings have always wanted to acquire righteousness or even some part of it for themselves. However, no human work is acceptable to God no matter how valuable it may be by human standards. Everything a person does to be acceptable to God is mere self-righteousness. Before the face of God it is like a stained rag or an unclean garment (Isa. 64:5,6). Although God has given humankind a lot of wisdom and astonishingly advanced scientific developments, it nonetheless cannot research or understand the righteousness of faith. Righteousness that is acceptable to God has been and always will be the same. That is what we are content with, and that is what we endeavor to display, so that seeking ones may find the kingdom of God and receive the gift of faith. We have been given the task of carrying this message to the ends of the earth. In miraculous ways, God has opened the way for the gospel in people’s hearts. Righteousness of Life Does Not Just Mean a Good Life Righteousness of faith results in righteousness of life. Faith effects in a person’s heart the desire to live so that he or she does not transgress God’s will. We have experienced how a person who has received the grace of repentance rejects lifestyles that do not belong to a believer. When Jesus in His time preached repentance and people believed, He instructed them, “Sin no more” (John 8:11). Most people want to live a good life as a good person. I have often had to lower my head when I have met a friend whose life is exemplary, even if she or he is not a believer. The enemy of the soul has tormented me: here you see that he or she is a better person than you and lives better than you. In such a situation it is easy to doubt whether I am correctly believing. To a good person who lives an outwardly flawless life, it is difficult to talk about God’s mercy toward a sinful person. A good friend of mine once said when we were discussing the gift of faith that he has no sin, he does not feel that he has transgressed against God. However, a good life does not make anyone acceptable to God. Personal faith, or lack thereof, is what counts. God awakens people to feel their sinfulness. It is God’s work alone. God’s work is also this when he leads one to the gospel fountain. As such, it is more accurate to say that a person received the grace of repentance, rather than saying that he or she repented. Faith Effects Righteousness of Life Those outside the kingdom of God often think that believers live according to prohibitions and commandments. They appear to be looking for lists of what can and cannot be done. Certainly believers talk to each other about the dangers of our time and also warn each other about these dangers. After all, this is what God’s Word clearly urges us to do (Rom. 12:2; 1 Thess. 5:21,22). It is a living reality that the enemy of souls walks around like a roaring lion and seeks to deceive people into sin (1 Pet. 5:8). No one can escape the temptations of sin, and all will fall. Fortunately, our faith is based on God’s grace, not our own successes. God’s grace also teaches us to forsake sin, wickedness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly (Titus 2:11,12). When one has been able to believe that all one’s sins are forgiven because of Christ’s merit, the desire to live as a believer and walk in light as Christ is in the light is kindled in the heart (1 John 1:7). Personal faith thus influences a person’s life. A believer has a different teacher in his or her heart than an unbeliever. When considering righteousness of life, it is important to remember that what matters is personal faith, which begets the desire to live in a way that suits a believer and not the appropriate lifestyle per se. The latter alone will not make a person saved if faith is extinguished. It is dangerous if the focus is solely on outward things, on living as a believer. The counsel of the kingdom of God on life-related issues is a safe signpost on the endeavor. The life of a believer involves many different phases, but at all times we have a battle against sin and its effects. The endeavor is personal to everyone. We are in a state of war against the threefold enemy: the world, the enemy of the souls, and our own corrupt flesh tempt us away from our portion as a child of God. Jesus encouraged His disciples to fight evil. He promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). My uncle Toivo Leppänen, who has gained the rest of the righteous, often said in his sermon, “We have salvation in faith and we have strength in the gospel.” Those few words sum up the “constitution” of a person’s life as a believer. We Need Obedience of Faith There are many dangers in our time that are necessary to discuss. We ask for a humble and obedient mind in order to maintain a common understanding and mutual love. Believers should not have a wide range of opinions about phenomena of our time that are sinful. We cannot turn a blind eye to statements that reflect a different state of the heart. They destroy and tear apart God’s congregation. Living faith guides one to examine what God’s Word says about a matter. However, we do not find a direct answer in the Bible to all modern questions. We can discuss such things together, discuss different opinions, and use God’s Word to try to examine what would be pleasing to God. After all, this is what the Apostles did in their time (Acts 15). Then when, through the Spirit of God, we come to a common understanding, we can be content and accept it. In the Bible we find many examples of obedience, above all others of which is our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible describes how He wanted to fulfill the heavenly Father’s will even when it seemed insurmountably difficult to Him (Luke 22:42). If Jesus had not been obedient to His Father’s will, we would not have redemption through His blood. Then we would be left without gift righteousness. Through faith, we partake in the same obedience that Jesus also had (Rom. 1:4,5). However, our obedience is broken by our weakness, by our own human nature. Therefore, we must over and over again learn obedience of faith and strengthen it with the gospel. Disobedience is a sin (1 Sam. 15:23), and that is why the Bible warns against it. God has promised to bless His obedient children, and His promise is true. Our only refuge is the love and patience with which our Savior nurtures, refreshes, and comforts us in His kingdom. Even now the gospel holds the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes it. Believing in the gospel, we wish to endeavor toward the goal of faith, the heaven of glory. Originally published in Finnish in the SRK’s yearbook Vanhurskas elää uskosta, Ajankohtaista 2017 (SRK, 2017). Translated and published with permission.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion October 2022 -- Over many centuries, philosophers have debated humankind’s true nature – are humans inherently good or evil? To begin to ponder such a question, one needs to determine the standard by which good and bad is measured. In a secular society this moral standard remains elusive and vague, and it changes with the times. Sometimes attempts are made to justify the good in an earthly human as a good that leads to salvation. However, we know and we believe we can do nothing to merit salvation. We keenly feel the effects of sin in our lives. The child of God must lament with the apostle and rejoice in the justification prepared in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus (Rom. 7:18–25). Through faith the child of God understands that the only way we can become acceptable to God is through God’s righteousness, a gift owned by faith. Righteousness is being right – a state of absolute moral correctness and completely justifiable. Righteousness and justice are two words that go hand in hand. God is righteous. He is so right that there is no darkness or wrong in Him at all (1 John 1:5). Being void of any unrighteousness, our Creator sets the standard or the justice of right and wrong for His creation. God presented His standard to His people through Moses because a righteous God leaves no space for sin nor a place to accept it (Hab. 1:13; James 1:15). To become saved humans needed to fulfill the whole law down to the last letter. The fulfillment of the law required and still requires us to govern our thoughts and actions. Anyone who violates the law in one point is a transgressor of the whole law. Who among us can fulfill the law? No matter how hard we try to do right in daily life, we cannot succeed because we have inherited sin from Adam and Eve. It is a part of us. It causes human beings to intrinsically do wrong or be unrighteous (Rom. 7:17–21). In sending His Son to redeem us, God prepared righteousness for every human being, a righteousness that is owned by faith. Paul writes about this to those believers in Galatia straying into following the law: “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4,5). The righteousness prepared in God’s Son is called gift righteousness. This gift can be owned by faith. The supremacy and exclusivity of this gift – God’s righteousness – is only comprehended through faith. Faith is also gifted by God. Paul writes about this to the Ephesians: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9). This describes how what is in question is the perfect work of God. Nothing is required of us. When God's holy law awakens a person’s conscience, as a gift he or she can own prepared righteousness in the gospel by faith gifted by God. Paul writes of this to the Romans: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Rom. 3:22). We can own forgiveness when we believe Jesus paid for our sins, namely that we have permission to believe our sins and wrongdoings forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood.

Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion October 2022 -- Sometimes, especially if we are part of the planning group, we go to a lot of effort to arrange services gatherings. We are often shown that even with our efforts, services are truly arranged by God. I remember the effort one lady made to arrange services at her location in Togo. She told me after services she had invited everyone she knew and the only people who came were a couple of random people she didn’t know. The sermon had spoken to her and reminded her that it is God who arranges the services and calls His own unto Him. She was very comforted by this and was able to rejoice that those who came to services were granted grace to believe. Perhaps you, with me, have experienced how it can be uncomfortable to be in a new or unfamiliar congregation. Maybe you have gone there by yourself or with a small group of friends, without any connections there or anyone knowing you’d be coming. It has taken a certain amount of courage to do this but it has also taken trust. Trusting an unfamiliar situation is not easy. But if we have experienced something similar we already have an expectation of how it should go. We trust that the atmosphere at services in an unfamiliar congregation will be similar to what we have experienced in our home congregation. This familiarity is partly what gives us enough courage to go, but mostly we desire to go because we expect to receive the same message of hope and forgiveness that brings us comfort and encouragement to stay in faith. We wouldn’t want to go to services where we weren’t sure that we would hear that message. Sometimes we have visitors we do not recognize at our services. Sometimes it becomes quickly obvious that this is their first time at the services of the believers. What is our reaction to this? I know what I want my reaction to be, but I must admit that it isn’t always that. I am not immediately trusting of new people that I encounter. I find the services of God’s children to be a refuge from the world so sometimes I feel more guarded when I encounter someone new at our services. It has been important for me to consider my reaction and make purposeful changes so that I wouldn’t be unwelcoming. God’s kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, whose members are joined heart to heart. We rejoice when our family can remain in faith, yet we especially notice the nature of God’s kingdom when faith and unbelief divide our family. It hurts that spiritual fellowship cannot be shared with our closest biological relatives. This helps us to consider that we do not own God’s kingdom, rather we are a spiritual citizen of this kingdom. We also do not own the gatherings of God’s kingdom and wish to remember that God can send whom He will to where His living gospel is preached. The living gospel’s core message is the preaching of the forgiveness of sins. When we consider what this has done for us, we want to invite everyone to come and hear the proclamation of forgiveness for their own sins. It has given into our heart righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The answer of a clean conscience before God is the most pleasant state of being that a human can experience in life. Consider that an unbelieving guest to the services is being invited by God to experience this peace also. We would do well to consider that the visitor had to trust deeply that everything would be okay when they entered the building or event where the services are happening. They had to get the courage to come and remain courageous all the way through to the arrival. It’s useful to consider all the obstacles that they have overcome to be standing in front of you in the foyer. It’s almost as though someone from a long and difficult journey has finally arrived at what they hoped is their intended destination. I’m sure for many it hasn’t been easy to sit and listen to the services. God has needed to undress them of their own righteousness and leave them feeling sinful before His Word, just the same as we experience. We hope that the gospel found a place in their heart also. It would be important to find a chance to visit with them after services and ask them, “What message did you hear today?” or “Do you have any thoughts or questions about the message?” We hope that they would want to come again, but it’s perhaps better to make sure that they know they are welcome to come again. God’s Word reminds us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The listener has done well to come to the hearing of the Word of God, also the same service guest has done well to consider how they can create a welcoming atmosphere for all who would come to hear. The words of Jesus remind us “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). Allen Pirness, along with his wife Jessica and four children, recently moved to Minnesota. A former commodities trader in Lethbridge, Alberta, he is now full-time pastor for the Rockford congregation and also serves the LLC Communications and Mission departments.

Lars Anderson |The Voice of Zion October 2022 -- Being then made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness. – Romans 6:18 These words from the book of Romans are Paul’s instruction to newly converted believers. Not only is this loving instruction about their newfound faith, but Paul says there is an obligation regarding how they should live. Now that they have received the grace of God, and being free from sin, their hearts should turn to serving in righteousness. When we look at this text, we can see there are two concepts to consider. First is being free from sin. The second is being servants of righteousness. Whether we are born and raised in living faith or we’ve received the grace of repentance, we understand the concept of being made free from sin. We understand the simple message that Jesus died for our sins and through His grace we are made free from sin. As we look at the second concept of this verse there are two words that strike us: servants and righteousness. A servant is someone who serves another person and may be viewed as belonging to a lower class of society. In the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible the word “slave” is used. While interchangeable in some respects, the word “slave” is stronger; we get an image of someone who does the bidding of the master all day and night without end. What is righteousness? Simply put, the word means just and right, or in other words, God. God has reserved true righteousness for Himself and His Son Jesus Christ only. Isaiah wrote in this way: “But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6). Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we cannot attain righteousness on our own. God promised the first human pair to send His Son to save them from sin. Through that perfect sacrifice we were able to be made righteous. Even when Jesus was among us the Pharisees didn’t believe on Him and continued to try to obtain righteousness through their strict interpretation and execution of the law. Jesus often rebuked these Pharisees and pointed out their hypocrisies. They were not able to believe. In this, we can see how faith is a grace gift of God. Through the work of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can believe sins forgiven. Therefore, we are sinful yet righteous. This is one of the mysteries of faith. We are partakers of Christ’s righteousness, yet we are sinful. Our human nature would want us to take the easy path and do what we please. I think Paul recognizes this, so he addresses this matter in this same chapter. He addresses this thought when he said, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid” (Rom. 6:15). Paul expounds on this thought in the verse that follows. “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one whom you obey either of sin which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness? (Rom. 6:16 ESV). Paul knew that we cannot continue doing what is pleasing for our flesh and living in sin if we are servants of righteousness. Paul was human just like all of us and he knew the battle that we fight daily. He lamented this in the seventh chapter to the Romans, when he said, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not that I do” (Rom. 7:18,19). As children of God, we feel this same struggle that Paul felt. When we have the Holy Spirit our conscience convicts our wrongdoing. We want to put away the sins and offenses that come on our daily journey. If we ignore those convictions our conscience becomes hardened and we become servants to sin. We lose sight of that grace that God has given us, and we begin to only see the law. Thankfully we have the grace gift of the proclamation of absolution. By the work of the Holy Spirit this grace flows freely from heart to heart of each believer in that core message of the gospel. Sins can be believed forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious blood. Through this gospel we can make those new promises to God to remain servants of righteousness so that we can one day join Paul and all other saints in heaven.