TODAY’S THEME:
IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY WORD
What is it “to keep the
commandments or the Word of the Lord Jesus”? “Keeping” is a word that describes
the nature of faith. Faith clings to Christ. Faith trusts His Word. Faith
relies upon everything He says. Faith draws its life and strength from Jesus’
Words. “His commandments” are not burdensome, like the Law is burdensome,
because the “commandments” of the Lord Jesus invite us to trust in Him and to
live from what He commands. Here are some of His commands: “It is finished!
Your salvation is complete! Your sins are forgiven! Peace be with you! Take,
eat, this is My body. Take and drink, this is My blood which is shed for you
for the forgiveness of sins.” “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.” We
love Christ and cling to His Words and commandments, because they give us life
and salvation. Even His command to “love one another as I have loved you” is
not burdensome, because it is the invitation to live by faith in His love and
sacrifice for us in our love and forgiveness toward one another. Jesus’ words
and commands always give freedom to the conscience and heart of a Christian who
trusts in Him.
Daily Lectionary
May 13 Numbers 3:1-16,
39-48; Luke 14:25-15:10
May 14 Numbers 8:5-26;
Luke 15:11-32
May 15 Numbers
9:1-23; Luke 16:1-18
May 16 Numbers
10:11-36; Luke 16:19-31
Ascension Day Numbers
11:1-23, 31-35; Luke 17:1-19
May 18 Numbers
11:24-29; 12:1-16; Luke 17:20-37
May 19 Looking
Ahead to Sunday
2 Kings 2:5–15;
Acts 1:1–11; Mark 16:14–20
Next Weeks Lessons: The
Ascension of Our Lord
2
Kings 2:5–15; Acts 1:1–11; Mark 16:14–20
Jesus Is Ascended, but
Not Absent
On
the fortieth day after His resurrection, our Lord ascended to the right hand of
the Father. But although Jesus is hidden from your eyes, He is not absent from
you. For He now fills all things in
heaven and on earth. He continues “to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1),
preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins through those sent in His name
(Mark 16:14–20; Luke 24:44–53), giving you His true body and blood in the
Supper. Jesus is your great Elijah
who pours out on you a double portion of His Spirit in the Word and the
Sacraments (2 Kings 2:5–15). He is Lord over all things for the sake of the
Church. He whom heaven cannot contain
has raised your human nature to share fully in the glory of God. You who believe and are baptized into
Christ’s body are already sitting in the heavenly places; for you are in Him
who is at the Father’s right hand. When
He comes again in the clouds on the Last Day, you also will appear with Him in
glory.
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