Wednesday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 8/30/00

Isaiah 40: 1, 2 "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" says your God. "Speak to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins." --NKJV

In the name of the One Who wants His people to be comforted, amen.

Ever notice how a child can be acting up, can be the snottiest thing to its parents, but once the parents give it a quick whack on the backside the child will cry and focus all its attention on the parents? It wants to be comforted. It wants to be reassured that mom and dad love it. If mom and dad are good parents they will take a moment to show the child that it is forgiven and loved.

That is the way it is between us and our heavenly Father. We may rebel, we may act as if we are God, but when we are rebuked and repent, we need the reassurance that God loves us. And He does love us. In the absolution on Sunday morning we hear, "God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy on us, and has given His only begotten Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins." Yes, God loves the repentant sinner. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord, do not be angry with us when we sin. Forgive us and show us Your love for us. Help us to live a life that is pleasing to You, amen.

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