Monthly Archives: April 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 28, 2015
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G*d – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 28, 2015 – “G” is for G*d

“I believe in G*d the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth.” Apostle’s Creed

“In the beginning, when G*d created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from G*d swept over the face of the waters. Then G*d said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And G*d saw that the light was good; and G*d separated the light from the darkness. G*d called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5

What we know of G*d is very limited. We have the G*d of revelation and the G*d of mystery. The G*d of revelation is those parts of G*d that have been revealed to us in creation, revealed to us in the works of G*d, and revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Everything else we want to know about G*d remains a mystery. Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying “I want to know the mind of G*d. Everything else is just detail.” Believe me, it isn’t only Einstein who would like to know more about G*d, it is all of the martyrs and the believers down the many generations of time. But, would it do us any good to know more about G*d? Who wants to know G*d to his or her complete and fullest sense? If we knew G*d completely, I believe it would allow contempt to creep into our relationships with G*d. It is beneficial to all of us that G*d remain the mystery that G*d remains to be.

In March, I wrote a devotion about Big Foot. I said in that devotion that it is easier “Not” to believe in Big Foot than to believe in Big Foot – because we have so little to base our beliefs, except for sightings by many people over the years. And yet, there are so many people who believe in Big Foot. Big Foot has done nothing – did not create anything, did not work out redemption for anyone – Big Foot is only known through lore. Now translate that understanding to believing in G*d. It is easier not to believe in G*d because G*d has made so little known to humanity. So, it takes faith – (see my devotion from yesterday) – and it takes the work of the Holy Spirit – my devotion for tomorrow.

Just a final note, many ask and wonder why I spell out the name of G*d with an asterisk. Here is my explanation “why”: I decided a few months ago that whenever I spell out the name of G*d I would abbreviate the name either as Gd or G*d out of respect for the name of G*d – like the ancient writers of the Hebrew bible named G*d as YHWH. It is my own devotional exercise for the name of G*d since it is so easy to misuse this name.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 27, 2015
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Faith – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 27 – “F” is for Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5

Justification by faith through Grace is the central teaching of the Lutheran Church. It is the 4th Article of the Augsburg Confession. Article IV:

Of Justification: 1] Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.

We are justified – made right – with G*d through faith, not through works. It is not what we do that makes us right with G*d, it is our faith in what G*d has done for us. We believe that we receive the Holy Spirit initially in our baptisms, and then the Spirit blows into and throughout our lives whenever and wherever the Spirit decides to blow. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit that builds faith, as we hear in Martin Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed: “I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel…”

My friends, what is most certainly true is that faith is something that is a gift from G*d – a gift we cannot forsake, but a gift we need to cherish and focus on each and every day.

Pastor Dave