Epiphany

Psalm 72

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions.  Not because there is no value in them, but because by January 6th they are usually broken and I don’t need a reason to add more guilt to my life.  And, someone has to finish the Christmas cookies and Chex Mix, so…

But maybe you do make resolutions.  And maybe you make them for good reasons.  And maybe one of the reasons is because you want to strive harder against a specific temptation or your fruit of repentance involves a resolve to change a certain habit.

Do you really think you will be perfect in your resolve?  Be honest, it won’t happen.  Do you really think you are worthless when your resolve is broken?  Cheer up, I have good news for you.

“He will certainly deliver the poor person who cries out,

as well as the afflicted, and the one who has no helper.

He will take pity on the weak and poor.

He will save the lives of the poor.

From oppression and violence he will redeem their lives,

because their blood is precious in his sight” (Psalm 72:12-14).

Who is “He” mentioned above?  Your Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.  On Epiphany he is revealed to you as your Savior.  He has come to rescue you from all of your broken resolve and loads of guilt.  When you  feel worthless because of what you’ve done he tells you that your blood, you yourself, are precious to him.  Because he considers you precious he entered our humanity to deliver, save, and redeem you.

Maybe your resolution involved getting to know your Savior more and to spend more time in his Word.  For that I have a resource for you to assist you.  It is a site called Bread for Beggars. Breadforbeggars.com  It is a site filled with multimedia Christ centered resources that can assist you in your devotional life.  For example, there is a Bible 100 resource that can give you a plan to read Scripture everyday for 100 days to give you a solid overview of our salvation history.  There is also a devotional resource by Pastor Luke Italiano, most recently his You are not… series, that may appeal to you in your own life’s situations.  Check out Bread for Beggars.  You may find something useful.

Because beggars we are.  Spiritually poor, afflicted, helpless on our own, weak, spiritually oppressed.  But we are not without hope.  God’s Word reveals to us our deliverer, our helper, our Savior, our Redeemer.  He considers us precious. 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Philip Janke

Winnebago Lutheran AcademyCoordinator of Recruitment and Communication