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By God’s grace we are entering the
month of October in the year 2013. This is the month in which the Church
observes the Reformation. The Church relives and rejoices over the scene where
Dr. Martin Luther gave his confessional. “Here I stand, unless convinced by the
Holy Scripture, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.” (The words may differ,
but the sense is contained therein).
My mind goes back to my Seminary years
when the 30th fell on a Wednesday, afternoon classes were dropped,
and a special service scheduled for the chapel. Neighbors were invited to join
us, and the student body rose to sing “A Mighty Fortress is our God”. Famed
organist Rechlin was at the organ, and he said later he played from memory because
his eyes were streaming tears because he was so spiritually moved by the event.
Lutherans around the world still are
energized from such an event, because it heartens them to living now, today, “As
unto Him”. To bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by His life, death,
and resurrection, paid for the sins we are born with “In sin did my mother
conceive me.” declared the psalmist.
For the Word still is used by the Holy
Spirit to move hearts to faith in the Savior. Recently the devotion of Dr.
Klaus mentioned an Iranian Pastor who was jailed just because he left the Muslim
faith. In prison, he was the Spirit’s instrument to open the eyes and hearts of
20 of his jailers, just as St. Paul’s imprisonment at Philippi opened heats
there, and just as the Spirit opens hearts today in our midst.
So October, let it be a time for
renewal for us too. Standing on the Word of truth, because God helps us also.
In His name I pray this for us all. “Now
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts
in You”. Isaiah 26,3.
GPD 10/1/13
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