Brothers and sisters, God does some of His work through us. In our daily vocations whether parent or child, employer or employee, as brother or sister, in whatever job you may do to earn a living, in whatever roles and tasks you may serve, God will use you as His instrument to help and provide for your neighbor. Christians recognize we serve those vocations by God’s grace through faith in Jesus our Savior, who served us by dying for us to redeem us from sin. We assemble in church where He offers forgiveness and comfort for troubled souls. God wants you to receive. I encourage you to attend.
On Sunday, September 20, we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 in the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #538 Praise Be to Christ; #555 Salvation Unto Us Has Come; and #618 I Come, O Savior to Thy Table. I have chosen only three hymns since we will also sing a couple of verses of #555 as the closing hymn.
Scripture lessons assigned to the day in the three-year lectionary (Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 20) are Psalm 27:1-9, 14; Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:12-30; and Matthew 20:1-6.
In our various vocations, serving our neighbor for God, we disciples are “laborers for his vineyard” (Matt. 20:1). Whatever our particular roles or stations in life may be, we are called to live and serve by faith in His promises fulfilled in Jesus. But we should know that our labors do not merit or earn anything before Him, for He is already generous to one and all without partiality. In mercy, God continues to call sinners to repentance and faith. That is to say, we are equal when it comes to salvation and the reward of heaven. Our “pay” is the same. “The last will be first, and the first will be last”. We receive heaven and its benefits only because God is merciful and Jesus has paid our entry fee. He died in order to pay your debt of sin, and broke down the sin barrier that separated you from God. (Matt. 20:12–15). This way of the Lord is foolishness to the world and foreign to our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9). God is not calling you work harder or longer. He is urging all people in all vocations to turn to His Son, Jesus, that He may “have compassion” and “abundantly pardon” each of them (Is. 55:7). We disciples ought to bravely share the good news of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ, “whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20), by “fruitful labor” (Phil. 1:22) or if called to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29) as St. Paul did. It is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus’ forgiveness that your manner of life is “worthy of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).
COLLECT: Lord God, Heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us at all times to trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 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. The Lord be with you. Pastor Boster
