Saturday, January 22, 2005
Matthew 4:4 "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
HUNGRY FOR THE WORD!
A certain prominent newspaper published the following provocative letter some years ago:
Dear Sir: It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend a great deal of time preparing them. I have been attending a church quite regularly for thirty years, and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation, I discovered I cannot remember a single sermon. I wonder if a minister's time might be more profitably spend on something else.
Many responses flooded the paper in the weeks to come, but finally came this one:
Dear Sir: I have been married for thirty years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals -- mostly my wife's cooking. Suddenly I have discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet ... I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago.
I need to know that in spite of my sins God still accepts me because of His Son. In a world where death could strike me down at any moment, I need to know that Christ has swallowed up death FOR ME, and trampled hell under his feet FOR ME. I need to know that when everything in life seems upside down that Jesus is walking by my side and can never leave or forsake me. Only the Gospel in Word and Sacrament can make me certain of these things! And because I am a man full of sin, weaknesses and doubts, I need its sweet assurance applied to my heart again and again and again. Without it my faith would starve. That's one reason we go to church and open up our Bibles everyday. That's why you're reading this devotion right now! AMEN! 