Thursday, May 26, 2005
John 6:63, 66 The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life . . . Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
CONFIRMATION ON PENTECOST SUNDAY
My dear confirmands, Jesus loves you so much. He's written your names in the Book of Life. He bled and died for you. He has forgiven you of all your sins. He promises to raise your bodies from the dust and give you new glorified bodies. He has reserved special places for you in heaven. While you're still on earth His promise is to never leave you or forsake you! He even gave you the very faith to believe in Him as your Savior.
He did all this for you, and now He also gives you all needed power to be faithful to Him. He expects you to be faithful, and He has every right to expect that. But - listen! - He doesn't expect you to be faithful without Him. Jesus makes plain the secret to a faithful Christian life. He says, "The words I speak are spirit and they are life!" Today is Pentecost Sunday! That's the day the LORD poured out the Holy Spirit on His Church. Jesus' words -- the Scriptures -- are packed with the power of the Holy Spirit! Baptism, water used by God's command and connected to God's Word, is filled with the Spirit's power. The Lord's Supper, which also draws its power from the Word, overflows with the power of the Holy Spirit. The secret to a faithful Christian life is to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit as He works in your heart through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament!
A little boy was playing one day by the seashore. Time got away from him and he didn't notice that the tide had risen. As he was putting the finishing touches on the sand castle he was building, he suddenly felt the lapping of the waves at his feet. It was then he noticed that he was trapped against a six foot high embankment. He wasn't strong enough to swim out of trouble, and he wasn't tall enough to climb out of trouble. He was in a panic, when suddenly he heard a voice from on top of the embankment. "Don't you think its time to go home," the voice said. The little boy looked up to see his older brother, shaking his head and reaching down to him with two strong arms. He pulled little brother to safety, and in the gathering darkness the two walked together toward a distant light. It was the light of home, a light that held the promise of safety, love, and warmth.
Your big brother, Jesus, has rescued you, my dear young people. With outstretched and nail pierced hands he has called you to Himself, leading you by Spirit and Word to a secure and eternal home of endless love and warmth. Today you are truly walking with Him. Keep your hand in His all the way home! And may the confession of Peter be on your lips, and rest securely in your hearts unto life everlasting! "LORD TO WHOM SHALL WE GO? YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE!"
