Steadfast in the Word

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;

Curb those who by deceit or sword

Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son

And bring to naught all He has done (LSB 655.1).

Thus we sing, and thus we pray – that our Lord would keep us steadfast in His Word. Not in my word or your word, or the word of the false prophets of this or any age. Steadfast in His Word, which stands forever, true and certain and unchanging.

The Word of the Lord stands forever. Despite the changes and chances of life, it remains. Despite the whims and wishes of men, it remains. Despite the ignorance and foolishness of the world, it remains. The Word of the Lord remains forever, because the Word Incarnate remains forever. God does not change, and so neither does His Word. He is not false, and neither is it.

Fire of the Word

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

We do not like division. We spend a lot of time trying to prevent or repair divisions that occur in our lives. We tell our children to get along with one another, to play nicely. Corporations have seminars to teach employees conflict-resolution techniques. People go to college and study business relations or international relations, so they learn how to prevent and resolve conflicts. If you walk through a bookstore, even a Christian bookstore, there is a whole section devoted to the topic of conflict resolution and interpersonal harmony.