Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the birthday of the nation in which we live, we should celebrate the freedoms God has given us. Not just life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but also freedom to assemble and to exercise our religious beliefs. I encourage you to thank God for those freedoms, not only with words, but by making use of them in your life. Attend worship services to receive the gifts of Jesus who set you free from the tyranny of sin.
During worship on Sunday, July 5, we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Three beginning on page 184. The hymns chosen for the day are #904 Blessed Jesus, At Your Word; #768 To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray; #623 Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray; and #687 Thine Forever, God of Love.
The Scripture lessons for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9) are Psalm 145:3-14, Zechariah 9:9-12, Romans 7:14-25a, and Matthew 11:25-30.
In the epistle lesson from Romans 7, St. Paul reminds us we Christians have died with Christ in Holy Baptism, and have been raised to new life in Him. Even so, as try to live as disciples of Jesus, we find “another law waging war” in our body and life, that is, between what we could call our old Adam and our new man (Rom. 7:23). Guided and motivated by the Spirit of Christ, we “desire to do what is right,”. But we are not able to do so because “nothing good” dwells in our sinful flesh (Rom. 7:18).Like Paul, we have reason to thank God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord because He delivers us from “this body of death” (Rom. 7:24–25).
The Old Testament lesson, spoken through the prophet Zechariah 500 years before Jesus’ birth. foretells Jesus as a gentle King who comes “righteous and having salvation” (Zech. 9:9). He speaks promises of peace to our conflicted hearts. By His blood shed in the New Testament, Jesus sets us “free from the waterless pit of grief and destruction.” He is the stronghold of eternal life. We are encouraged to return to Him.
Though we “labor and are heavy laden” by our sin and the troubles of this world, Jesus calls us to Himself and gives rest to our souls through His free and full forgiveness (Matt. 11:28). This is given us not because we are “wise and understanding,” but by the “gracious will” of God the Father. Jesus’ commitment, life, and sacrifice reveal the love God the Father has for you. (Matt. 11:25–27).
Collect: Gracious God, our heavenly Father, Your mercy attends us all our days, Be our strength and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at this life’s end grant us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation; through Jesus Christ Jesus, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about Sunday’s Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
