Familiarity – August 19, 2021

LynnDaily Devotion

Dear Trinity Families,

Here is your WeLS Daily Devotion

They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
John 6:42

Familiarity

Some early church history suggests that, while Jesus was growing up with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth, he worked with Joseph in his trade as a carpenter. That same early church history also suggests that some of the items they manufactured together were things like yokes and plows.

If that’s the case, put yourself in the place of someone listening to Jesus in John chapter 6. You know that Jesus grew up in nearby Nazareth. You know his family. Perhaps you even have fresh memories of Jesus repairing your plow or selling you a new yoke. But now, as you’re listening to him preach, he’s telling you that he, Jesus, has come down from heaven.

“Heaven?” you might say. “I don’t think so, Jesus. You can’t pull that on us. You’re from Nazareth. You’re Joseph and Mary’s boy. You’re the man who fixed my plow. You’re not from heaven. I know you too well.”

Familiarity with the Christian faith is a blessed, beautiful, powerful, comforting thing. But the evil genius of your old sinful self and mine can also use such familiarity as Jesus’ listeners did here. The evil genius of your old sinful self and mine can also use such familiarity as an excuse for not taking seriously the only Savior you and I are ever going to have. For not taking seriously the reality that the arrival of God the Son in the person of Jesus Christ is THE WAY by which God himself has entered our world to rescue us from the damning curse of our sin.

Thank God that he returns to us again and again in his Word. Thank God that, again and again, he calls us to repentance. Thank God that, when we come to him in repentant hearts, all is washed away, cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, all is made new. And thank God that, in this forgiveness, the Holy Spirit refreshes our eyes to see Jesus for who he truly is.

Prayer:
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for all the times I have allowed my sense of familiarity to dismiss my desperate need for you. By your Spirit, keep me close. Amen.

 

God bless,

Lynn


Let’s express our love for Jesus and for each other and Worship together!

Sunday at 9:00am & Monday at 6:00pm

Dear Trinity Family,

It’s great to be back from vacation. It turns out that Barb and I aren’t big fans of Miami, at least not in August!

We are huge fans of Jesus and we look forward to worshipping him with you today!

Here’s the link for worship online: https://www.youtube.com/user/PastorTesch

Weekly Bulletin:2021-08-15 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

God bless you,

Pastor Tesch


Board of Education Vacancy

Men or women…do you have an interest in providing guidance and oversight for Trinity Lutheran School?  Due to the organizational structure changes enacted by the congregation in April, men and women are able to serve on the Board of Education. If interested, please contact Pastor Tesch or Board of Education Chairman Tim Baneck. Candidates will be appointed by Pastor Tesch and the Church Council. We currently have 1 vacancy and would prefer that a member of Trinity be appointed to serve in that capacity. If we do not have a member to fill the vacancy by September 1, we will then broaden our invitation to non-members.