The Mission of Trinity Lutheran Church is: “Led by God, equipped as disciples through Word and Sacrament, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all.” The Vision of Trinity is: “Growing in God’s Word to Share Christ’s Love.” As we continue to strive toward living our Mission and Vision as a Christian Community, I would like for us to consider what Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:6-7),

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

What does Paul mean by “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord”? We have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by His grace and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we have believed it. For many of us our parents brought us to the waters of Holy Baptism and there we were washed clean, Satan was exorcised from us, Jesus became our Lord, we were made God’s children, and faith in the One True God was established. Since then we have been taught God’s Word by our parents, grandparents, pastors, Sunday School teachers, Bible Study leaders, and others. We were rooted and built up in Christ.

Paul was concerned about the spiritual depth of the Colossian Christians. They were rooted in Christ, but how deep were those roots? Paul, here, was encouraging them to “walk in the Lord”. By that he wanted them to “continuously live” in Christ. The Greek word there can mean, “walk in” but a better translation for our understanding is “to continue to live in”. Jesus lived in them; they had intimate fellowship with Him; now, they needed to continue to live in Jesus. They needed to continue to read and hear His Word, as well as receive His Body and Blood in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, so that they would continue to be aware of His presence in them and maintain the connection the He made with them.

For us it is so very important that we “continuously live” in Jesus Christ by regularly attending Divine Services, attending at least one of our Bible Studies and Cottage Group meetings, setting apart time in our lives to read the Bible every day so that our faith would grow deeper, our roots would continue to be firmly established, and we would grow in our trust in t e promises of God. We need to continue to draw strength and nourishment from Christ for every moment of every day of our lives. Martin Luther continues to teach us in his explanation to the Third Commandment,

“We should fear and love God so that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.”

Martin Luther has so many great and important words for us in the Large Catechism regarding the Third Commandment and the importance of God’s Word in our daily lives. Here are a few quotes:

“…we should daily be engaged with God’s Word and carry it in our hearts and upon our lips [Psalm 119:11–13]. But as said above, since we do not always have free time, we must devote several hours a week for the sake of the young, or at least a day for the sake of the entire multitude, to being concerned about this alone. We must especially teach the use of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer, and so direct our whole life and being according to God’s Word. 90 At whatever time, then, this is being observed and practiced, there a true holy day is being kept.”

“92 Whenever God’s Word is taught, preached, heard, read, or meditated upon, then the person, day, and work are sanctified. This is not because of the outward work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. Therefore, I constantly say that all our life and work must be guided by God’s Word, if it is to be Godpleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.”

“96 It is not only the people who greatly misuse and desecrate the holy day who sin against this commandment (those who neglect to hear God’s Word because of their greed or frivolity or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine). But even that other crowd sins. They listen to God’s Word like it was any other trifle and only come to preaching because of custom. They go away again, and at the end of the year they know as l ttle of God’s Word as at the beginning. 97 Up to this point the opinion prevailed that you had properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a Mass or the Gospel read. But no one cared for God’s Word, and no one taught it…100 Let me tell you this, even though you know God’s Word perfectly and are already a master in all things: you are daily in the devil’s kingdom [Colossians 1:13–14]. He ceases neither day nor night to sneak up on you and to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against these three commandments and all the commandments. Therefore, you must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle and the Word does not make a sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware [Matthew 13:24–30]. 101 On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, it is bound never to be without fruit [Isaiah 55:11; Mark 4:20]. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts [Philippians 4:8]. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living words [Hebrews 4:12]. 102 And even though no other interest or necessity moves us, this truth ought to urge everyone to the Word, because thereby the devil is put to flight and driven away [James 4:7]. Besides, this commandment is fulfilled and this exercise in the Word is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.”

As we “continuously live” in Christ our faith is strengthened and our relationship with Him grows even more intimate. Those roots that grow deeper keep us firmly in Christ so that the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh will not be able to weaken our faith or tear us away from Christ and His Church. We will also be enabled to “share Christ’s love” with each other and everyone else more abundantly. I look forward to each of us growing in God’s Word together and individually, and as we do so, experiencing what God will do in our lives, our congregation, and His ministry here through the power of His Word.

~ Pastor Webb

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

As we continue to move forward with fulfilling our Vision Statement, “Growing in God’s Word to Share Christian Love” we would like to offer you some Bible Study and Devotional Resources that are available on the internet. One resource is mentioned in another article on EDiBS. Some of the other resources can be found at: LCMS Website - https://www.lcms.org/worship/bible-studies

Lutheran Hour Ministries - https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions (There is also an app and podcasts on this site.)
You can also listen to the Lutheran Hour message at- https://media.lhm.org/lutheranhour/mp3s/8703.mp3
Issues Etc. (LCMS Pastors) - https://issuesetc.org/
Lutheran Public Radio - http://lutheranpublicradio.org/
Lutheran Church Charities (Comfort Dog) - https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/devotions.html