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"Rejoicing in Our Rescue" 3rd Sun. of Advent
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Zephaniah 3:14-20
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Zephaniah 3:14-20
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As the prophet Zephaniah warned Israel of the coming judgment, so he pointed them to the assurance of their rescue and restoration by the One who "is mighty to save." While God's people would have to endure these things, they were assured that He will save them. So we today, as His Christians, know how God has saved us: through His Son, Jesus Christ. Though we may have to endure the judgments that come come upon this nation and the world, we still can rejoice in our ultimate rescue by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
"Released From Captivity" Palm Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Zechariah 9:9-12
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Zechariah 9:9-12
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Irael in its Babylonian Captivity received God's promise of a coming King who would effect their release, assure their peace and bring them to their true home. Jesus fulfilled the prophet's word as He rode humbly into Jerusalem to the cheers and welcome of the crowds. He rode toward the cross to bring about the world's redemption. This world, for God's people, is our Babylonian Captivity; it is not our true home. Yet we have God's promise that, when Christ comes again in His glory, He will release us from our captivity and bring us to our true home. As such, living in the here and now, we are "Prisoners of Hope" - dare I say, captivated by hope, anchored in our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
"A Song For Those Who Wait" Advent 1
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Various
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Israel waited, in the midst of its captivity, for their Redeemer to come. God promised through Micah that this Redeemer would be born in Bethlehem and would shepherd His flock. Christ was born in Bethlehem, born of a woman and born under the Law to redeem all of us who were under the curse. Some today believe in Jesus, others are of a divided mind about Him, yet there is no peace with God, no forgiveness of sins apart from the One of whose birthplace we sing: "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
"A Song For Those Who Fear" Advent 2
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Various
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Suddenly confronted by angels, the shepherds were in terror. That's what sin does: makes us afraid of that which is pure and holy and from God. We are afraid because of the judgment we deserve and are afraid we will get. But the angels weren't bringing a message of judgment, but of comfort and joy because God had sent our Savior into the world, Christ the Lord. Jesus' incarnation, life, death and resurrection frees us from fear of death and judgment. The angel's message to the shepherds is also for us: "Fear Not, for a Savior has been born for you, Christ the Lord.
"A Song For Those Who Walk in Darkness" Advent 3
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Various
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The world naturally, because of sin and unbelief, walks in darkness and dwells in the land of the shadow of death, as Isaiah declares. Yet, into that darkness and death, Christ came, born of the virgin Mary, and has brought us life and we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ. As Jesus humbly was born for us, so He humbled Himself to death on a cross to save us from sin, darkness and death. To you, a Child is born; to you a Son is given: Jesus.
"Three's Company" Trinity Sunday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 3:4-7
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 3:4-7
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To understand God as He has revealed Himself in Holy Scripture is to confess the Trinity. There is only one God, yet in three distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To believe in the true God who sent His Son to save us from our sins is to have eternal life. To deny the Trinity is to deny God and will forfeit salvation. Therefore, though human reason falters in fully comprehending this truth, faith continues to cling to it with thanksgiving that the Father who created us sent His Son to redeem us and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe in Jesus and are now God's children by grace, and heirs of eternal life through Christ.
"Grace in Person" Christmas Eve
Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Pastor Kenneth D. Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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For many, because we've heard the story so often or we've become so jaded with the secular aspects of the Christmas Season, the Mystery of the Incarnation has become the Myth of the Incarnation. One's life is not changed by a myth, but it is changed by the mystery (beyond human comprehension) of The Word Made Flesh - the incarnation of the Son of God to bring about our redemption.
"Merry (Offensive) Christmas"
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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It seems like people are perpetually offended about something this time of year. Nativity displays, Merry Christmas greetings, and so many other sentiments of the season (or lack thereof) offends someone. But as God's Christians, we need to remember what Christmas is about: The birth of the Savior of the world. Rather than being offended at others, we need to recall that, as Christ bore our sins upon the cross, so He bore the sins of all; even those who presently are offended with Christ. Now is the time we continue to reach out with the Gospel, not in haughtiness, but in humility, with the prayer that God would turn the hearts of those antagonized by the Message of Christmas, and they instead are brought to faith in the One who came for all - Jesus Christ.
"Our Blessed Hope" Christmas Eve
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Because Christ came humbly in grace as the "Babe of Bethlehem," who would save us by His life, death and resurrection, we now are being called to renounce this world's ways and passions, living self-controlled and godly lives possessing our blessed hope of Christ's return in glory when all things will be made new. In Christ, we will have an eternal Merry Christmas.
"Salvation's Appearance" Christmas Eve
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Titus 2:11-14
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Christmas is the proclamation that salvation has appeared in this world for all people. This salvation is embodied in that Baby, born of the virgin Mary would would grow up to go to the cross for the sins of the world. As a baby, Jesus came to us humbly wrapped in swaddling cloths. Now, as our "great God and Savior," Jesus still comes to us humbly wrapped in water, word, bread and wine for our forgivness and life. Out of all the gifts you are given at Christmas, the one you are meant to be given and received is Jesus.
"A Wounded Savior for a Wounded People" Ash Wed.
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Ash wednesday speaks to our sins and the death we deserve because of them. It is a reminder that "Dust you are, and to dust you shall return." Yet we were not created to return to the dust in death, but we were created for life. In order for us to have life, God's Son Jesus Christ was "wounded for our transgressions - and by His wounds we are healed." In His atoning work, we are forgiven and we have life - life now and eternal life through Him. Though Lent is a time of repentance and reflection, it is also a time where God calls sinners to return to Him for forgiveness, life and salvation in Christ. Indeed, "Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful." He proved that in Jesus.
"I Almost Got Away With It." Ash Wednesday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Like a criminal who thinks he got away with his crime, only to eventually be caught by the police, so we often think that we get away with our sin - that God doesn't see - only to be caught in the end. No one gets away with it. Ash Wednesday is a time to intentionally consider our sin and repent, but it's also the time to consider Jesus, our Savior from sin. He who knows every sin died for every sin. Now our repentance isn't for one day a year, but each day of our lives, knowing that in Jesus we have forgiveness and now can live joyfully with, and for HIm.
"The Tree of Knowledge" Advent 1
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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At the Advent of the world - at it's creation, God gave Adam every tree in the Garden from which to eat except one: The "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." If they ate from it, they would die. The tree itself was not poisonous or evil, for God did not create anything evil. But this tree, together with the "Tree of Life" would be focal points for mankind's worship of God. They would worship Him and show their love for Him by hearing and believing His Word, and being obedient to it. God was not witholding anything from them out of malice, but that's how the devil's temptation of Eve put it. If she, and Adam would disregard God's Word, and trusted in their own autonomy, they would know good and evil and become like God. That is really the root of all temptation and sin: to replace God for our own wills. Thus, death did come into the world through their disobedience. Yet God still promised a Redeemer for them, and for the world. One would come who would "crush the serpent's head, and who's heel would be bruised." Jesus came and did just that. Eating from the Tree of Knowledge in defiance of God's Word brought sin and death to us all, but Jesus' faithful keeping of the Law for us, and His sacrificial death on the cross has crushed Satan's head and brought to us forgiveness, life and salvation.
"Seeing God From Behind" Lent 1
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Moses was uncertain because of Israel's sin and rebellion. He was uncertain that God would still go with them, in spite of God's assurances to Moses that He would. So Moses wanted to see God's glory as proof. Yet, God didn't give Moses what he wanted. Instead, He let Moses see Him from behind - His back, so to speak. We, too, are often uncertain that God is with us, so we want proof by seeing His majesty in miracles or in some other concrete fashion. Yet, instead of doing that, God shows us His "backside" - the side of Jesus hanging on the cross for us. It is in the humility of Christ dying for our sins that we can truly know that God is with us. Miracles may impress, but soon fade. What He did for us in Christ is permanent. Miracles only create in us a constant sense of needed more reassurance. The cross assures us completely and demonstrates God's true glory in His love for us in Christ.
25th Anniversary Sermon
Pastor Joseph Liss
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Pastor Joseph Liss
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Sermon preached by Pastor Liss at Our Savior Lutheran Church Bad Axe, Michigan upon the occasion of Pastor Lueke's 25th Anniversary as pastor of Our Savior.
"The Tree of the Cross" Advent 2
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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In Adam and Eve's rebellion by disregarding God's Word an eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, sin and death came into the world, and by extension, to all people of all time. The tree that God created as good was used by the devil to bring death. Millennia later, another tree that was meant to produce suffering and death became the source of forgiveness, life and salvation. That tree was the Tree of the Cross upon which Christ hung as the perfect sacrifice for sinners. In Christ's death upon the cross, sin was atoned for and God became reconciled to sinners. Now all who trust in Him have the life, death and resurrection of Jesus at work in us, leading us toward our true home where we will be partakers of another tree, which we will hear about next week.
"I Almost Got Away With It" Ash Wed.
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Like some criminals who think they've gotten away with their crimes only to eventually be found out and arrested, so we might think we've gotten away with our sin, yet God sees all. We don't get away with it. Yet, the One who knows every sin, died for every sin. Our sin clung to Jesus as He hung on the cross, and now Jesus clings to us to keep us as His own. That's why we have a day like Ash Wednesday - to intentionally consider our true state before God, but also the love of God for us, in spite of ourselves, that gave His Son to rescue us. We do repent, nopt just once a year, but every day, joyfully thrusting in our Savior and desiring to get let go of the sin that so easily entangles us and cling to Christ.
"The Deadly Sin of Wrath" Lent 3
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Wrath is a powerfully destructive human emotion. Though we try to justify our wrath, or rage toward others, we don't realize that it can destroy us even as we wish for the destruction of others. Sinful wrath towards others leaves us open for the holy wrath of God upon us for our sin. Yet, unlike us, God doesn't first deal with us in His wrath, but in His mercy. Christ bore the wrath of God for our sins upon Himself and gives us forgiveness and life in its place. He makes us new creations called to show love and mercy toward others, even our enemies. That is difficult for us to do in this life, hampered as we are by our fallen natures, but being receivers of mercy through the Gospel, God changes our hearts from being wrathful to being merciful instead.
"The Tree of Life" Advent 3
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
Selected Verses
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Through man's disobedience to God's Word by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he and all his decendants were barred from the Tree of Life. Yet when Christ hung upon the Tree of the Cross to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, the Tree of Life became open to us again. Though in this present, fallen world we still struggle against sin, death and devil, Christ has brought about our forgiveness, overcome the devil that we might be His own, and defeated death so we will rise at the Last Day. As we enter into the very presence of God, all the bounties of the Tree of Life, and the waters of the River of Life will be ours. We will be as we were meant to be before sin, and all that is needed to preserve us into eternity will be provided by our God and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
"The Deadly Sin of Lust" Lent 1
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Where God is, creates and enables love, the devil can only counterfeit it as lust. Lust is a deadly sin because it strikes at the very core of our humanity, creating in us desires for sexual sin that, all too often is acted out in our lives. Lust is the very antithesis of what God has created us to be as male and female. Because we are surrounded by that which can generate lust in us, it is critical that we fight against these desires through God's Word and in repentant faith in Christ. Trusting in His forgiveness, we pray continually that God would create in us a clean heart and a right spirit within. And because we are God's own dear children for the sake of Christ, we know that in spite of our failures and sins, He will not cast us away.
"Hope: For Today - And Tomorrow" Lent 3
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Real hope is anchored, not in optimism or when we have a pretty good idea of the outcome, but especially in those times where everyone else says it's foolish to hope. It struggles against the odds by clinging to the Word and Promise of God. When the Babylonians were about to conquer Jerusalem, God instucted Jeremiah to buy a pice of ground in the hope that there would be a return one day. It looked foolish at the time, but God is true. It seemed foolish for the criminal on the cross to put his hope in a dying man, yet he impored Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom. And Jesus did. Hope understands that, with Christ, God's victory is hidden in what appears to be its opposite, and there can be grace even in hardship. And this is all proven out for us by Christ's death for our sins and His bodily resurrection. Our hope in Him may seem foolish to the world (and to ourselves on occasion), but we understand that, even in the crosses He places on us, God is carrying out His mighty acts of deliverance.
"The Deadly Sin of Pride" Ash Wednesday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Not all pride is sinful. We can be proud of a job well done, of the accomplishments of others, etc. But sinful pride, that seeks to exalt ourselves to the detriment of others, is deadly. It destroys our relationships with God and our neighbor. From sinful pride comes all other sins and vices. Pride caused Lucifer's downfall, along with Adam and Eve - the desire to be "like God." Yet the One who is true God took pity on His prideful creatures and humbled Himself to become one of us and die for our sins. As God's Law humbles us by smashing away at our pride, we then can see Jesus clearly, and His Gospel then forgives and renews us so that, rather than bragging in ourselves, we can boast about the love and mercy of God for all.
"The God Who Regards" Lent 2
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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God didn't choose Israel to be His people because they were the biggest, but because they were the least. God chose Mary to be the mother of the Son of God not because she was high and exalted, but lowly. God didn't regard them because they were blessed, but because God regarded them, they were blessed. In truth, it's not about us climbing up to Christ, but about Him coming down to us to bear our sin and give us everlasting life in Him. He has regarded us and we are blessed.
"Strange Glory" Lent 5
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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We've come to understand that God often hides Himself, rather than acting in the fullness of His glory all the time. He operates in ways that are often strange and puzzling to us. Fallen man wants a god who does what we want; and that's a god we can't love, only use. But God hides Himself under the strange glory of the cross. What initally appears to be defeat and death ultimately results in life and glory. Sure, we wouldn't have designed a plan for the world's salvation that would include suffering and death, but that's exactly what Jesus did to pay for the world's sins. The cross doesn't leave us with a god we can use, but it does leave us with a God we can love, because He first loved us. What a strange glory that is!
"The Deadly Sin of Greed" Maundy Thursday
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Greed is a deadly sin because it takes ordinary desire for things to an excessive level making possessions, and the aquisition of more of them into our god. Paul says that those desiring to become rich become subjuct to many temptations and snares and pierce themselves with many griefs. Judas is a prime example of that truth. Though he was one of the twelve disciples, he was a greedy man and a thief. So when he had enough of "not getting his," he sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. Even though he later regretted what he had done, he felt it was too late for him and he hanged himself, never understanding that Jesus would die that he, and all people could be forgiven whatever sins they have committed, even the seven deadly sins. It is this Gospel that reorients our hearts, minds and priorities so that the things of this world will not be more important to us than the things of Christ.
"The Deadly Sin of Gluttony" Lent 2
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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While gluttony usually deals with voracious excess in food or drink, it can really apply also to any forms of ongoing excess. It is a deadly sin because, in essence, that which we overindulge in becomes a "god" to us. Too often we indulge our excesses of food, play, entertainment and technology to the starvation of our souls. And lack of control of our appetites, so to speak, means a lack of control in other areas of our lives. Maybe it's time to return to fasting on occasion. Putting aside our phones, games, meals or whatever other thing we overindulge in, and spending the time in prayer and God's Word will empower us to better manage our desire to overindulge and also keep us connected to Jesus, who is the Bread of Life that has won forgiveness and life for us.
"Reformation Day Sermon"
Pastor Justin Herman
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Pastor Justin Herman
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How did the Reformation start? Why is it still important today? What is the timeless message of Scripture that Martin Luther and the Reformation brought back clearly to the forefront that has altered history and changed lives? Did you know that the Reformation is not about Martin Luther? It's really about Jesus!
"The Deadly Sin of Sloth" Lent 4
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Slothfulness can take many forms: abject laziness, certainly, but also the busy person who cuts corners, does only what he needs to do to get by, and is more interested doing what he wants to do and avoiding what he doesn't feel like doing. That is deadly enough. But when we are spiritual sloths - finding every excuse for not going to church, reading our Bibles or even praying, we are putting ourselves in eternal danger. We avoid the things of God because they are inconvenient or pointless to us, and the Lord will judge us for that. Yet, the answer is not in what we are going to do to change things and overcome our slothfulness. The answer is in what Jesus has done for us alreadly. By reconnecting with the Gospel of forgivness and life in Jesus, those things that seemed at one time pointless become filled with meaning and joy. Now, instead of simply serving ourselves, service to others because of Christ gives us purpose and energy. While we must alway be on guard and fight against our slothful tendencies, it won't be us that makes the change, it will be Christ and His life being lived out in us that does.
"The Deadly Sin of Envy" Lent 5
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Envy is a strong resentment towards what others have that we don't. It destroys relationships and even causes wars. It can also destroy faith, as we look at the seeming prosperity of the unbelievers and the wicked while God's own people often experience the cross of suffering. The only way for faith to be maintained and envy overcome is by remaining connected to God's Word, which bathes us in the forgiveness and life of Christ. As we see Jesus suffer loss, pain and even death for us that we might have the riches of eternal life, faith is enlivened and envy overcome. Then, with St. Paul we can say, in plenty or in want, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
"The Darkness Where God Is" Lent 4
Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Pastor Kenneth Lueke
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Whenn it's light out, we feel empowered and able to work because we can see clearly. But in darkness, our sight is diminished, minimizes our control and puts our senses on alert. It is precisely in the dark times we face in life that God is at work on our behalf. We may not always see that, or appreciate it, but He is at work nonetheless, to change us from relying so much on ourselves and more upon Him. God was at work in the darkness of that first Good Friday as Jesus hung on the cross. There, while outwardly it looked like defeat and death, Jesus was actually conquering our enemies of sin, death and devil. In the darkness of the cross, Jesus was actively at work for our salvation. In the darkness of the crosses He places on us, He is still actively at work - for us and through us - taking our upended lives and making them right-side up again. Now we can trust our Lord's promise that His grace is sufficient in our weakness, and that His power is at work in us turning our weaknesses into true strenght - His strength at work in us through Christ.
