Pastor Quinn • March 23, 2025
No Detours Allowed
The door to God and the glory he has prepared for us stands wide open. However, he has mapped out a very specific pathway to that door. It is not an easy one. As it did with Jesus, this route takes us through opposition, suffering, and even death. While our human nature may cause us to want to take a detour around these things, Jesus own life shows us that no detour is allowed. His cross came before his crown. The same path lies ahead of us. However, at the end of it, through the open door, we are offered a reward far superior to anything the world can offer.
When you know that your death is approaching, you try to put your affairs in order for the sake of others. When you know that the second coming of Christ is approaching, what is the appropriate response? We are not to be sedentary. Jesus has not yet returned because there is still work to be done. And Jesus carries out his good work through us. So until he comes again and says, “Stop!” we will be busy with faithful service. It’s the beginning of the end, and we use our gifts and talents in an orderly way for God’s glory.
When we gather for public worship we call it a service – even Divine Service. Do you know why? Many think of what we do on Sunday mornings as coming together mainly to worship and praise God. We gather in service of the divine. It’s about our service to him. However, while that is certainly one aspect of what we do in worship, it’s not the primary purpose of our gatherings. The main service that happens every Sunday morning actually goes in the other direction – from God to us. This remarkable truth completely changes the way we view “going to church” on Sunday. God himself invites sinners like us to come into his house to enjoy nothing less than divine hospitality. Every single Sunday our Savior stoops down and rolls up his sleeves to serve us. In word and sacrament he washes us in his forgiveness and feeds us with a spiritual feast for our souls. He reminds us of his great love for us, renews our hope, and provides us with the peace that goes beyond understanding. Worship is where Christ serves us.
Jesus told his followers, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22). So, the time between Christ’s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A good example: Martin Luther. All that priest wanted was to share the pure gospel with the world. For trying to do just that, both political and religious leaders wanted to end his life. The Festival of the Reformationemphasizes our unfailing reliance on the Word of God. We give unflinching testimony to that Word even in the face of persecution. Today we pray that the Lord would keep us steadfast in the faith.
