“…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
I recently saw a photo of the Bethlehem manger standing under the shadow of the cross of Calvary; the journey for our Savior was not easy, He came to serve and be a ransom for our sins. The painful journey of many believers brings a glimpse of people being tempted over and over to choose power over love, full control of things over the cross and needing to be a leader instead of being led. Our society seems to be complacent in being served by programs from a government and the world and fewer and fewer people step humbly forward to serve. The woman in the attached photo lives in Gonaives and she and her two daughters are going about their daily routine preparing to cook some rice and beans and sell their food amongst the vendors along the street. The children have never gone to school and do not go to Church; lives that are lost without direction, without hope. Thank you for helping to prepare children in the Lutheran Schools in Gonaives whose lives will bring the message of the Baby in the manger of Bethlehem and also the cross of Calvary to souls such as these. I close today with words from the hymn ‘Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!’ which was written by Martin Luther.
“Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord! Be all Thy graces now out poured on each believer's mind and heart; Thy fervent love to them impart. Lord, by the brightness of Thy light, Thou in the faith dost men unite of every land and every tongue; this to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thou holy Light, Guide Divine, oh, cause the Word of Life to shine! Teach us to know our God aright and call Him Father with delight. From every error keep us free; let none but Christ our Master be that we in living faith abide, in Him, our Lord, with all our might confide. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thou holy Fire, Comfort true, grant us the will Thy work to do and in Thy service to abide; let trials turn us not aside. Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart and to our weakness strength impart that bravely here we may contend, through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay