The day is at hand!

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome to the New and Improved Lutheran Answers Newsletter.

Starting today, I've got weekly devotions to send your way! I hope you enjoy them.

Behind the scenes, I've been busy with school and work. I've also spent a lot of my free time building up the Lutheran Answers platform. I'm working on creating courses (that should launch January or February of next year), I'm adding more articles to the Answers section, and I'm making the site easier to navigate.

Anyway, let's get into it!

Scripture of the week

¹¹ Furthermore, knowing the time, now is the moment to awake from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us take off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave properly, as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in immorality and wickedness, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
- Romans 13:11-14

Devotional Thought:

The Day is At Hand.

What frightening words! The Lord is coming back sooner than we think. The night itself is far spent, and the day of salvation is much nearer now than when we first believed!

How often we find ourselves caught in the mire of sin. We think to ourselves, "The Lord is coming back, but surely He isn't coming back today."

The opposite of date setters, we're often date rejectors. We don't know when He is coming back, but we seem confident in when He isn't coming back.

Paul here warns us against this exact type of believing. He tells us that the date is close at hand!

We must be on guard, fighting against our sins and the passions of our flesh, lest we be caught indulging them when the Lord returns.

We must, instead, make no provision for the flesh. That is, let us not take along the temptations of the flesh with us in our daily lives and pretend that it is not food and refreshment for our sinful desires.

Let us carry provisions for our Spirit! Let us go out with prayer, thanksgiving, and a hymn on our lips. The darkness cannot dwell in the light, and if we bring the light with us then we keep the darkness away.

Faith in Action

• Life Challenge: The time is so very short! How will you tell someone in your life about Jesus this week?
• Prayer Challenge: When you are tempted by the devil to sin, what are the ways you can pray to overcome the temptation? Can you use the Small Catechism as a prayer book for that purpose?

Liturgical Insights

🕯️ The Sign of the Cross: "The sign of the cross is not a superstition or empty ritual, but it is a powerful reminder of one’s identity in Christ." (Jordan Cooper, Liturgical Worship, 39). When we make the sign of the cross, we are reminding ourselves of our unity with Christ. We are remembering (or should be remembering) our baptism into Christ. When we make the sign of the cross we are professing the death of our sin, our hope of resurrection, and our unity with Christ!

Recommended Resource

📖 Liturgical Worship: A Lutheran Introduction​

In this book, Rev. Cooper explains the Biblical and theological foundations of liturgical worship. This is then followed by chapters on various aspects of the worship service. The meaning of each element is illuminated alongside of the rich Scriptural teaching within these aspects of Christian worship. At the end of the work, a glossary is included which serves as a guide for those who are unfamiliar with liturgical terminology.

Community Connection

Please remember Frank and his wife Valerie in your prayers. Valerie is currently suffering from a very aggressive brain tumor.

Collect

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

I hope you have a blessed Advent and Happy New Year!

In Christ,
Remy Sheppard
Host of Lutheran Answers

Does this resonate with you? Let me know if you'd like additions, subtractions, or changes! Just leave a comment and let me know!