Sermons, reflections, and conversations from Lord of Grace Lutheran Church.
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When we face exhaustion and tragedy we hit the end out our ability to know what to do or pray for. In those moments when all you can do is sigh, the Spirit steps in for us.
Romans 8:26-27
26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Our faith is not built on wishful thinking, but on the promise of God to redeem us and the world. That's why we hope.
Romans 8:12-25
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Social media and TV have lately been filled with people indignant and raging into the screen. Different than an anger at injustice, this kind of public outrage and venting expresses deeper emotions - hurt and powerlessness. St. Paul tells us to not let our minds be ruled by the “passions” - the visceral emotions that cause us to act in hurtful ways to protect our pride and honor from feelings of hurt and powerlessness. Instead, he says, turn to the Spirit and obedience to Christ, to not be ruled by these passions.
