I’m trying this Tuesday morning to stir up struggle in my soul.
Everything is going routinely. The national news is focused on the nuke deadline with Iran and on the uproar over Indiana’s religious freedom law. Reporters say we’ll know by the end of the week. That’s what makes me pause and think that routine is wrong, at least this week. By the end of the week we’ll be in church remembering with silence that Jesus died for our sins, especially mine.
I got home last evening from California and watched O’Reilly talking about “Killing Jesus.” (By the way, we watch “Morning Joe” on MSNBC in the morning; we follow left and right to try to get our own fix on the news). But talking about the death of Jesus is not me, not you seized in our souls by the somber realization that you’re damned, I’m damned without His death.
“Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the sacrifice appointed, See who bears the awful load; ‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.” (Lutheran Service Book 451, 3)
When I did my performance review for the Board of Regents, I listed my main priority for the new year: to grow in the fear of God. Fear of the just judgment of God against my sin and shut-me-up awe that He rescues me from what I truly deserve. And that’s why I’m struggling this morning to shift from the routine to awe. God intends this week to be holy.
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