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I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
 — Romans 12:1

Last week during Sunday School, Pastor Thacker reminded us that our worship still follows the patterns of sacrifice in Leviticus. But it is no longer a bloody sacrifice of animals, but a living sacrifice of ourselves. In the Old Covenant, the only way to draw near to God, being unclean as we are, was to do so with a substitute that pointed to the future once for all substitute, the true Lamb of God. Many now believe that sacrifices are over. Done away with. No more. But in reality, the Christian life is one that is lived as sacrifice. The difference of course is that we have been made clean by the ultimate sacrifice. But made clean unto what? Made clean that we may draw near to God.

God desires us, he desires the sacrifice of our lives. Because we were unclean and sinful, we could not offer ourselves to Him. You may recall in the old covenant that a blemished sacrifice was unacceptable (Deut. 17:1). God only accepts clean and unblemished sacrifices. Just so with us. And the good news is, we are made clean by Christ’s sacrifice. And Paul calls us to imitate Christ. Today (and every day, of course) offer up your praise, and your whole being, as an acceptable sacrifice to God, made possible by the sacrifice of the one whom we imitate!

A new podcast has been making the rounds: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling. The podcast is ongoing, releasing weekly, so it is not yet known where it will land, but the first four episodes have been interesting. There will be plenty you can disagree with from the producer’s point of view, and there’s much about J.K. Rowling and her worldview to disagree with, even if you’re a fan of her books. But what is fascinating is how a beloved author and feminist icon became anathema to the liberal cancel machine. What is the cause of this consternation? Rowling has dared to say publicly that there is such a thing as biological sex and voiced concerns about women’s rights and safety being eroded in light of today’s gender confusion. How quickly the left turn on one of “their own.”

When the truth is inconvenient and offensive, then those bearing witness to the truth are put out from society. This is why, though we may try to live peaceably with our fellow man, that we sometimes find that very difficult to do. On the issue of gender, we find ourselves in alignment with Rowling and so we too may face negative push back from the world. Romans 12:2 reminds us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” As we wash away the filth of the world today before the throne of God, let us remember these things, that we indeed be not conformed to the world, but instead are about the truth God.

This past week was a study in contrasts. On Tuesday, we feasted on the riches God has granted us, consuming pancakes and rich maple syrup that generally adorns such food. We also celebrated the talent of our brothers and sisters and children. On Wednesday we entered into the Lenten season, marked by the Ash Wednesday service. This service is solemn and includes an extended time of repentance. We are also told during this service, “remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” It is a sober reminder that our time in this life is limited. Ecclesiastes 3:20 says, “All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.”

It is good and right to remember these contrasts. We hold both that God is good and lavishes His gifts of abundance on us as He sees fit, and that the curse of sin and death is still upon humankind. Sin brings death as God told Adam in Genesis 2:17.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” But it doesn’t stop there, verse 28 goes on, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” That is why Lent must culminate with Easter. Christ died to bear our sins and give us the hope of life to come. So throughout this season, direct your faith forward to Easter and the Resurrection of our Lord, who has secured for you life eternal.

Doug Wilson recently posted about Ukraine winter needs (remember, winter lasts a while over there) in more detail than we can go into here. His post, Ukraine Winter is recommended.

We have the joy and privilege today of bearing witness to the baptism of one of our convent children, Cohen James Bryant. Baptism is a sign and seal of the promises of Christ to his people. In the sacrament of baptism, Christ claims the one being baptized as His own. As Cohen’s parents bring him to be baptized into Christ, we’ll look at this cute little baby, and we’ll smile, and we’ll laugh, and we’ll overflow with joy. Rightly so for this is the gift God has given to little ones: bringing joy into our lives. And seeing God’s proclamation of peace and His promise upon Cohen’s life is a joy and blessing.

Our privilege now is to watch Cohen grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as his parents train him up in the faith. And it is both our duty and our privilege to stand alongside the Bryants to encourage them, aid them, offer counsel when needed, and be involved in their lives. Give thanks and rejoice in this gift — for it is a gift, not a burden.

God grows his Church in many ways, and this is one: aithful parents raising (with the aid of the Holy Spirit) faithful children. As Solomon says in Psalm 127, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” So today, we rejoice with the Bryants. Thanks be to God!

In the midst of our struggles with the powers of darkness, God will offer us victories and sign-posts on the way. When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June of 2022, we were filled with joy at what God had done for us. The push back from the enemies of life at this victory seemed to come in the form of multiple arrests under the guise of enforcing the FACE act.

This past week, God offered us another victory, and, hopefully, good legal precedent in the jury’s acquittal of Mark Houck. Like Paul Vaughn, Mark was arrested by the FBI, in front of his family, guns drawn and pointed at his head. The accusation was that, by shoving someone near an abortion facility, he was in violation of the FACE act by interfering with a volunteer abortion patient escort. He and his family were about 100 feet from the abortion facility and across the street. And Mr. Houck was attempting to stem harassment of his son.

These are, of course, all intimidation tactics to try to silence and stop pro-life protesters. But with Mr. Houck’s acquittal, perhaps we pro-life believers can take heart and all the more courage as we continue to wage this battle. And it’s all certainly good news for Paul who awaits a court date of January 16, 2024.

Of course, our battle isn’t really with flesh and blood, and that is why your prayers continue to be important. Let us continue to wage the war for life, and be encouraged at what the Lord is doing.

Wednesday at the prayer meeting, Pastor Thacker read Psalm 109, which was challenging in an unexpected way. The language used in this Psalm may shock us. But the Psalms should inform our worldview and prayer life. In an era of soft Christianity, the Psalms can do much for our backbone. Here’s David praying against his (and God’s) enemies in Psalm 109:

When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
And let his prayer become sin.
Let his days be few,
And let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless,
And his wife a widow.
Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg;
Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.
Let the creditor seize all that he has,
And let strangers plunder his labor.

What is your reaction to these words? Do you recoil against such language? Are similar words readily on your lips regarding God’s enemies; your enemies? As I prayed Wednesday for a situation where Christ’s enemies seek harm, I was searching for words that did not readily come, even after reading Psalm 109. So the challenge before us is this: spend time in the Psalms and be bold to pray the words God has given us. And when we pray as God has demonstrated to us and shape our lives after this pattern, we will find abundant blessing and strength of faith!

As you will recall, my friend, Paul Vaughn had been scheduled for a hearing on January 10 following his arrest for his pro-life activities at an abortion clinic. As was perhaps expected, the date for the hearing was pushed. Less expected (by me, anyway) is that the hearing was pushed out by a year. The new date is January 16, 2024! So on the legal front, Paul and his family will wait in some sort of limbo for the next 12 months before it is known what reprisal there may be.

We may rightly lament the injustice and Paul’s right to a speedy trial that is not being particularly well observed, but in the providence of God, this may allow for some action in some other places. Paul was contacted by the House Judiciary Committee, asking about his availability for a phone call as they investigate the DOJ’s enforcement of the FACE act.

While Paul was actively looking to stay out of legal trouble, now that it is upon him, Paul has said, “not my will, but yours, Lord.” He asks that we pray for God’s leading and direction regarding this call and further proceedings with the House Committee.

And so, as we rightly celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade, let us continue to pray for the ongoing pro-life battle, and those who are on the front-lines. God has clearly provided the opportunity for Paul to testify for life, and he will surely provide for Paul and his family as they walk through this situation. And may glory be to God whatever the outcome!

Here at St. Mark, we are celebrating the miracle of new life that God brings to our midst with the safe arrival of Cohen James Bryant, and Thea June Carman.

God is so good to our congregation and our mothers and fathers for the gift of these precious little ones. We love little children, and that is why I often say we are pro-life in more ways than one. For while we oppose the taking of unborn life, we also support our mothers, pray for them, encourage them, and love them. To be fully pro-life is to love these precious little lives, to bring them to the waters of baptism, to bring them to the Lord’s table to be nourished with Christ’s body and blood, to instruct them in the ways of the faith, and to pray for them as they grow, that they may one day also be warriors for life.

As we now begin to see the lives of these little ones, and as they grow in the faith, look to them to be instructed in your own faith (even as we already do with all the little ones around us now). Remember Matthew 18: “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.’”

The holidays have come to an end, the decorations are coming down, the diets are… well, maybe not back on track, but many of us feel the urgent need to get back to some, let’s say, simpler foods. Perhaps new resolutions have been made for the year, and it may be that you’re feeling a little down, what with all the fun and excitement in the rear-view mirror.

But be encouraged! Christmastide culminated in Epiphany on January 6^th, which we celebrate today. But what is Epiphany? It is the celebration of Christ revealed to the Gentiles in the visit of the Magi. Isaiah makes reference to this in chapter 60:2–3:

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

This is the glory of the coming of Christ. For, from the Jews comes the salvation of all people, Jew and Gentile alike. And, as Paul later expounds in Romans 11 where he uses a tree to illustrate His people, we Gentiles were then grafted into that tree so that there is now neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), for we are now one in Christ, and Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3). This is what we celebrate today. Praise be to the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ!

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. — John 3:16–17

Verse 16 is speaking first, and most fundamentally, to the love of God, and note that He loved the world in such a way that He gave. A supreme act of the giving love of God was demonstrated in the Incarnation and Crucifixion of His Son. Even as Paul declares in Romans, but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for (5:8).

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set they people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.