St. Timothy pastor and confessor
"When Jesus made His way into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday He told the carping religious leaders that the very stones would cry out in testimony to His messianic ministry to save the world through His life, death, and resurrection. Every voice was raised to praise the God who had determined to save His people through the work of Christ, now arriving for His enthronement on the cross. The human voice will praise God one way or another. He will be revealed to the world as the saving God either through the voice of faith or by the stones cast by those who hate this salvation. God calls us to repent of our silence. Our stony hearts must be broken unto speech. He feeds His Word to us that we might re-say what He has said to us in His Son. Speaking for God is speaking with God. This is an act of fellowship; that God has so graciously given His Word over into our mouths to be spoken with Him and for Him.
We will raise our voices to confess the divine truth, because there is no option. Either we will speak or God will find another way to proclaim His salvation to the world. He does not call us to ensure the result of our speaking. This should not concern us, for it is His Word. He will bring the fruit. We should trust His promise that the fields are white unto harvest. We should not believe our senses or our reason. They will tell us that the truth is not in vogue, that people are leaving the church, that we are aging into oblivion, and that we will die out in a generation. What arrogance there is in this calculus! We are telling our gracious heavenly Father, that what He sees, we can see better, what He promises, we can deny. We should be praying the Lord of the harvest that He would send laborers into those fields white unto harvest (Mt 9:37-38), instead of being so doubtful.
You may say, "No one is listening right now." Yes, it seems that everyone is concerned about their own affairs that they have no time to listen to the Lord and His messengers. Everyone is capable of pleading that they are too busy with work, children, home, vacation plans, etc. Then who will speak for the Lord? If we turn our hearts to stone because we are careless about the business of the Lord, is there not the threat that He will crush us into speaking for Him? Did not the very rubble of Jerusalem speak eloquently of the Lord's freedom and His burning wrath against complacency? The stones spoke. We are called to proclaim the truth of the Lord even when we think that none are listening. The Apostle commanded: "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Ti. 4:2). There are many times when preaching the Word of God is supremely inconvenient to you. However, such inconvenience to you is the cross-shaped character of speaking for God. Such speaking, even if no one appears to be listening, will still be praise of God. And you will let God use His Word how He sees fit to use it. We must not remain silent, for God will speak."
Ps. 62
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse.
Selah
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.
(ESV)
Gregory Nazianus:
"Those who are angry with us on the ground that we are bringing in a strange or interposed God, namely the Holy Spirit, and who fight so very hard for the letter, should know that they are afraid where there is nothing to fear (Ps. 53:5). I would have them clearly understand that their love for the letter is but a cloak for their unbelief, as shall be shown later on, when we refute their objections to the utmost of our ability. But we have so much confidence in the deity of the Spirit whom we adore, that we will begin our teaching concerning His godhead by fitting to Him the names that belong to the Trinity, even though some persons may think us too bold. The Father was the true light which enlightens every man coming into the world. The Son was the true light which lightens every man coming into the world. The other Comforter was the true light which enlightens every man coming into the world (Jn 1:9). Was and was and was, but was one thing. Light thrice repeated; but one light and one God. This was what David meant when he said, 'In your light do we see light' (Ps. 36:9). And now we have both seen and proclaim concisely and simply the confession of God the Trinity, comprehending out of Light (the Father), Light (the Son), in Light (the Holy Spirit). Whoever rejects it, let him reject it. Whoever does iniquity, let him do iniquity. We proclaim that which we have understood. We will get us up onto a high mountain (Is 11:9), and will shout. If we are not heard below,we will exalt the Spirit. We will not be afraid; or if we are afraid, it will be because we keep silent, not because we are proclaiming."
Prayer:
"Almighty and gracious God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have commanded us to pray that You would send forth laborers into Your harvest fields. Of Your infinite mercy give us true teachers and ministers of Your Word who truly fulfill Your command and preach Your holy Word. Grant that we, being warned, instructed, nurtured, comforted, and strengthened by Your holy Word, may do those things which are well pleasing to You and profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen."
Memorial Moment
Rev. Dr Scott Murray
24 january
http://www.lutheracademy.com/about-us/officers2/rev-dr-scott-murray.html
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