St. Matthews Lutheran Church – Danube

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

It was a gift so wonderful that the very angels of God announced its coming.  The glory of the Lord lit up the night sky and angel of the Lord appeared and proclaimed the good news to a handful of shepherds outside of Bethlehem.  A Savior had been born to them, he is Christ the Lord.  The one chosen by God to reconcile sinners and a holy God, had come.  The angel proclaimed this good news of great joy, and then suddenly an angel host praised God that he had sent this gift of peace to earth.  But how would this message go out to the rest of the world?  Angels would not appear to every person in every nation to announce this message, but rather it was God’s will that this message would be shared by normal everyday people.  This lasting treasure, this precious gift would be carried from person to person.

The shepherds would hear the good news. They would hasten to the manger to see this thing that had happened.  They saw the glory of God in the face of Christ.  The promised light had come to rescue us from the dark curse of sin and death.  A Savior had been born for them and for all people and so they hurried off to tell others about what they had seen.  Mary would take in the events of this special night and she would ponder it all in her heart, and then this young woman would tell others about this child.  Wise men from the east would later seek out this child.  They would come and worship this child who was the King of heaven and earth, and then they would take the long way home and on their way and when they finally returned they would no doubt  tell others about this special child. Much later, a man who lived in the desert and dressed in camel’s hair, would point to the one who had been born in Bethlehem, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Then Jesus himself, as a grown man, would select a group of ordinary men and teach them about God’s extraordinary plan of salvation.  And having accomplished this plan he would then send these men out to share the message to the world.

Jesus is the Christ.  He is the Son of God.  He took on flesh to live and die in our place.  He was born to take away our sin and replace it with his righteousness.  He was born to take away the curse of sin and death and replace it with the peace of God and the sure hope of eternal life. By God’s grace this message has lit up our hearts with peace and joy and God has placed this saving message in our hands so that we may share it.  He has given this good news to normal, ordinary people, and he has given us this extraordinary task of sharing this message with the world.

In essence that is what Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians are all about.  As sinners saved by Christ we not only get to treasure the good news of the gospel, but we get to carry this saving message to others.  This Christmas let us remember this wonderful purpose and opportunity that God has given to us.  We have been given the light of the gospel and like the shepherds and the rest of these ordinary people this extraordinary message is ours to treasure and to share.  We have seen the glory of God in the face of the newborn Christ, so let us spread the word concerning this child.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:1-4.

My daughter decided that she wanted to dress up as a “beautiful bride’ for Halloween this year.  She was dressed in a white gown and held a bouquet of plastic flowers in one hand and a plastic bucket in the other (in order to collect her candy),  I won’t soon forget the joy on her face as she twirled around to show me her costume and then how she hurried out the door to visit the neighbors.

It seems that it is just about every little girl’s dream to wear such a gown for real, to walk down the aisle, and experience the joy of a wedding. Within the last six months two young women from our congregation have already experienced the joy of dressing in a beautiful gown and walking down the aisle on their wedding day; and one more is waiting with eager anticipation for her chance which is just a few days away.  There is nothing quite like that special day.

It is no surprise then that our Lord uses the same picture of the joy of heaven. What might come as a surprise is that he uses such imagery in conjunction with the Day of Judgment.  Often when we think of that day the picture in our mind is primarily of the destruction and the devastation that will come.  Our God, however, is quick to show us that for the believer this will be a day of unparalleled joy.  The joy that this day brings will push out of our minds anything that would cause us sorrow, for God will dwell with his bride, the church, forever.  All believers will dwell with God in perfection for all time, and this is all possible through Jesus Christ.  He is the one that makes us properly prepared for this glorious day.  The Holy Spirit has given us faith in Christ Jesus, and this prepares for this special day.  Christ’s death cleanses us from sin.  His righteousness covers us, it  is that white robe, that dazzling white gown that covers us. We are ready to meet our God.

Jesus could come at any time to judge the living and the dead.  As believers, this reality does not frighten us, but it fills us with unparalleled joy.  There will be nothing quite like that special day.  Therefore as God’s people made pure and blameless by the blood of the Lamb Christ Jesus we are led by God’s grace to say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”   The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. – Revelation 22:20b-21

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.  Psalm 17:8

It’s a strange expression, but we somehow we understand what it means.  Keep me as the apple of your eye.  This is the believer’s prayer in which he asks God to watch over him and protect him. Today we use the expression to talk about something or someone who is precious and valuable to us.  A grandfather might hold up a picture of his new granddaughter and say that she is the apple of his eye.  It is a term of love and endearment.

But have you ever considered where the phrase comes from?   People in ancient days use to refer to the center of the eye, that is, the pupil, as the apple of the eye. Now, what happens when something comes towards our eyes?  If a fly comes buzzing towards our face we are quick to cover our eyes.  Our eyelids blink to protect the center of the eye from dirt and we don’t even have to think about it.  Our hand comes up instinctively to protect our eye if a ball is coming our way even if we are behind a fence while watching a ball game.  We protect our eyes.  We are quick to do so.  It is instinctive because our eyes are so precious to us.

This is what we are asking in this prayer.  “Oh, Lord, protect me.”  “Be quick to defend me from all that would seek to harm me.”  At times we are tempted to think that God has forgotten about us; that God does not care if I get hurt or if I get sick again.  God does not care if I fall into another temptation or if I give into this bad habit again. But God tells us differently.  God does care. In his word he tells us that we are precious to him.  He tells us that he is there to be our refuge our strength.  He tells us here is there to guard and protect us from all that would harm our bodies and our souls.  And so we ask him, “Keep me as the apple of your eye.”  Be quick to guard and protect me from harm.  Be quick to guard and protect me from temptation.

Included in this prayer from King David is another expression that brings us similar comfort.  Hide me in the shadow of your wings.  We ask the Lord to bring us close to himself.  We ask the Lord to give us security and refuge under his loving arms.  And like a mother bird who lovingly tends to her children, who gathers her hatchlings close to herself at the first sign of danger, God answers our prayers.  He brings us close to himself through Word and Sacrament.  Nestled closely to our Lord he gives us much needed security and peace.  He, who created us, saves us.  He, who sent his Son to die for us, will give us rest and comfort when we are surrounded by this world of trouble.  He, who has brought us into his family through faith, will one day gather us to himself in our eternal home in heaven.

God tells us that we are precious to him.  God tells us that he is our refuge and strength.  And in this prayer we simply hold God to his promises.  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. 

Prayer: Reassure us of your love, O Lord, with the precious pictures of your word.  When, the problems of this world trouble us, when sin and guilt seek to harass us, when health issues seek to rob us of our joy and lead us to doubt your love, be quick to defend us.  Help us to find peace and comfort in the fact that I am the apple of your eye, and that I may find protection and shelter in the shadow of your wings.    

John 16:23- ‘I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.’

We must pray in Jesus’ name. Praying in the name of Jesus, relying upon the meritorial work that He accomplished for us, we can be certain that God will hear us. ‘This is the confidence we have in Him, that we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.’ Christ Himself tells us to pray confidently when He said, ‘If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.’ (Matthew 21:22). We should pray in true faith with childlike trust in God, our heavenly Father, and harboring no doubt whatsoever in our hearts as to whether our prayers are heard. That is how we should pray.

And when shall we pray? Scripture says, ‘Pray always!’ ‘Pray without ceasing!’ ‘Be constant in prayer!’ Prayer is the vital breath of our spiritual life. We cannot live without breathing. Ceasing to breathe means death. So it is with the spiritual life of a Christian. If the Christian no longer prays, spiritual death has set in. We must live a life of prayer. To pray always is to live as in God’s presence, to be in constant communion with Him. Though Christians never cease to have communion with God, there should be stated times in prayer, times when we direct special prayers and supplications to God or render praise and thanksgiving to Him. David says in one of his psalms: ‘Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress.’ (Psalm 55:17). Daniel was accustomed to praying three times a day. The early Christians prayed fervently. Arising from our beds in the morning, should we not thank God? Should we not find a few moments to lift up our thoughts on high during the day? Should we not say a prayer before we eat to express thanks to God for all His blessings and benefits?

As to our last question, Where shall we pray? The answer is found in the fact that God is everywhere. His ears are always open to the cries of His people. 1 Timothy 2:8, ‘I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.’ But we should especially pray in public worship, as the psalmist says, ‘In the congregations will I bless the Lord.’

Cease not to pray;
On Jesus as you all rely.
Would you live happy, happy die?
Take time to pray!