LESSON: PSALM 143

If thou, O Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Psalm 130:3-4

When you feel your sins and become like Peter with a desire to run away from God, you must turn around and get closer and closer to Him. For if God were disposed to flee from you and were not willing to take away your sins, He would never have come to you or pursued you. Therefore, the more you feel that you are a sinner, and the more you want to run away from God, the more importunately you should seek Him.

Mark this well! For as St. Peter reacted here, so all consciences react in fear because of their sins, trying to escape from God and seeking some false god. Do not end your struggle like this. You cannot possibly end it like this. Present a bold front and cling to God. Otherwise, when you run off in search of works to seek help with another god, and then later want to come back to the true God, you may well have the same experience that the foolish virgins had after going off to buy oil for their lamps, returning only to find the doors locked (Matthew 25:10).

But what did Jesus do after Peter had humbled himself to such an extent that, in great fear and terror, he requested the Lord to depart from him? Did He allow Peter to remain in his despondency? By no means! He proceeded to comfort Peter with the words, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10).

SL 11:1311 (18-20)

PRAYER: It is Your assurance, heavenly Father, that the more we feel our sins, the nearer we always are to the forgiveness of sins. Keep us ever steadfast in our faith and hope that You will help and save us, in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 4:131-140.

LESSON: ROMANS 5:18-21

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken. Luke 5:8-9

We may take Peter here as an example of those who are to believe in the eternal blessings and actually see them. A sinful conscience is by nature so constituted that it does what Peter does here, it flees from its Savior and thinks, “I am not worthy of being saved and sitting among the saints and angels. The experience of all this good is too much for me.” The straitened conscience cannot comprehend the greatest of blessings but thinks as follows, “If I were like St. Peter or St. Paul, I might be able to believe it all.”

This is all very foolish, for if you wanted to take your stand on your own holiness, you would be building on sand. Do not do this but follow St. Peter. In regarding himself quite unworthy of such grace, he is really proving his worthiness.

It is just because you are a sinner, and realize this fact, that you must trust yourself entirely to God’s grace. You must open up your conscience to its widest extent and let your heart swell so that grace may enter in.

SL 11:131 (16)

PRAYER: We thank and praise You, heavenly Father, for Your friendly approach to us sinners and for the wonderful riches of Your goodness toward us. May this ever be an incentive and an invitation to us to draw even closer to You and readily accept Your grace whenever it is offered to us. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 4:131-140.

LESSON: ROMANS 8:31-39

Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Romans 5:5

God’s children must learn to combine their works with hope. God can delay results and sometimes deems it fitting to do so. If God keeps you in suspense for a time and lets you work in the sweat of your brow without immediate result, do not straightway conclude that your work has been in vain. You must be wise, learn to recognize your God, and know how to put your trust in Him. In the end, He will make His presence felt for you and give you more than you need.

If God keeps you in suspense for a time, say to yourself: “St. Peter was also kept in suspense for a time and later endowed with rich gifts.” So, entrust the matter to His good and gracious will and do not lose hope, and your works will become golden and acceptable to Him.

Hope waits patiently and perseveres when God delays His help and does not intervene as soon as we would prefer it. He has to make additional contribution here and hang some costly stones on your works to make them important. The most precious stone is faith, but the works of unbelievers are of straw. They are not built on faith.

SL 11:1309 (14)

PRAYER: Your promises and assurances to us, heavenly Father, are always sure and certain. May we always work in the certain hope that, when it is best for us, You will help us and bestow rich blessings on us, in and through Christ our Savior. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 4:131-140.