Everyday Lutherans

What is the most valuable, precious aspect of your life?  What is it? Is it a person? An object? Have you had that in your life for a long time so you treasure it because of the message and people it connects you to?  Whatever you have in high regard in this world, can be taken away from you. The only thing that is certain is the Word of God. Today within our Scriptures, we are pointed to this understanding not just in one moment but over and over again.  Within the Old Testament reading, Amos is speaking with God. God declares to go and prophesy to the people in Israel.  At this time, Judah in the south and Israel in the north are two separate kingdoms. Amos leaves his home in Judah and travels to let the people know, that God is not pleased with what they are doing.  The wealthy have been not caring for the poor, the people are using sacrifices but not changing their behavior, they are taking the gift that God gave them of being His People for granted. They are expecting God’s blessi...

What do you think is the worst sin? How do you think sins are measured? For many of us, we put a value upon the sins of others. We value and place sins into a list or hierarchy in which one is worse than another.  However, when God looks upon our sins, he does not see them that way.  What God sees is that we are not producing the goodness and love for which we are intended.   Let’s look at the parable that Jesus shares in the scripture for today to understand this more fully.  In the parable there are two main characters, the Master and the Gardner.  The Master is God the Father and the Gardener is Jesus Christ.  Now there is one other character that we should make note of, YOU.  You are the tree.  We need to truly identify everyone in the parable to fully understand it.  As we look at this parable, we hear that God saw that we (the tree) were not bearing any fruit. We were not producing the love and goodness that we had been created to do. ...

What do you think is the worst sin? How do you think sins are measured? For many of us, we put a value upon the sins of others. We value and place sins into a list or hierarchy in which one is worse than another.  However, when God looks upon our sins, he does not see them that way.  What God sees is that we are not producing the goodness and love for which we are intended.   Let’s look at the parable that Jesus shares in the scripture for today to understand this more fully.  In the parable there are two main characters, the Master and the Gardner.  The Master is God the Father and the Gardener is Jesus Christ.  Now there is one other character that we should make note of, YOU.  You are the tree.  We need to truly identify everyone in the parable to fully understand it.  As we look at this parable, we hear that God saw that we (the tree) were not bearing any fruit. We were not producing the love and goodness that we had been created to do. ...