Dear Pastor Jackson,
Please add your comments, corrections, and valuable insights to this article!
God's Word burned brightly within the hearts of two disciples on the road to Emmaus as Jesus opened the Scriptures for them. Our hearts burn brightly as God the Holy Ghost opens our understanding as we read, ponder, study, and memorize God's INCORRUPTIBLE Word in the King James Bible. Luther noted that the Word is never without the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is never without the Word.
Why are true Lutheran Christians in such distress and isolation? Why? What is the most important course of action for them to take? Shall they play the victim or take the bull by the horns, open their King James Bible and nestle down in the INCORRUPTIBLE, EFFICACIOUS, COMFORTING Word of God. YES, reading, studying, memorizing and believing God's Word in the King James Bible must be our first love!!!!
It's easy to play the victim and gleefully bludgeon pastors and laymen in LCMS, WELS, and ELCA for all the false doctrine and evil they are most certainly guilty of. This is a marvelous way for lazy Lutheran laymen to escape any responsibility for the complete destruction of true Christian teaching, doctrine, and faith. Faithful Lutheran Pastors cannot do EVERYTHING for you and your family! The strength of the Christian Lutheran Church is how tenaciously each Christian Lutheran layman and Pastor holds the INCORRUPTIBLE, EFFICACIOUS, COMFORTING Word of God in their hearts. I wonder how many Bible passages Lutheran laymen and Pastors have loved enough to permanently commit them to memory? How many Lutheran laymen and Pastors are able to recite John 3:16, Isaiah 53:6, 1 John 1:9, Titus 3:5, Isaiah 7:14, I Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:16, Colossians 2:9, Galatians 3:26-27, Psalm 2:7, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 40:7-8, Psalm 110:1, Psalm 103:10-12, Psalm 136, John 3:5-6, John 5:24, John 6:47, John 10:27-30, John 14:1-2, Luke 24:39-39, Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-5, Ezekiel 37:12-13, Matthew 4:4, Mark 16:15-16, John 6:38-40, Romans 3:21-26. Test yourself to see which passages you need to read, ponder, and memorize. I tested myself and found I need to work on Psalm 136, Psalm 103, Ezekiel 37, Luke 24, and Mark 16.
I memorized many of these King James Bible passages during highschool, over 50 years ago. They still burn brightly within my heart and I hope in yours too!!
God has most certainly opened heaven for all of us in our Baptism, clothing us in the righteousness of Christ, giving us the gift of the Holy Ghost, and making us heirs of eternal life according to His grace and mercy without our works, decisions, or devotions.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
I thank God for giving me wonderful parents and grandparents who encouraged and urged me to read ponder and memorize God's Word in the King James Bible.
God's Word burned in my young heart every Christmas as my brothers, cousins and I listened to my grandmother read Luke 2 from her King James Bible. God's INCORRUPTIBLE EFFICACIOUS Word burned brightly in my heart with the correct understanding of Luke 2: that Jesus is true God and true man in one person. True God begotten of His Father from all eternity and true man born of the virgin Mary.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. Luke 2:1-17
The never ending frantic cares and pleasures of this life CHOKE God's Word to the point we no longer have any time or love for reading, pondering, and memorizing God's Word. Reading, studying, and memorizing God's INCORRUPTIBLE, EFFICACIOUS, COMFORTING Word should interrupt the cares, pleasures, and frantic work of this life OFTEN!! Mary listened to Jesus but Martha should have done the same!!! The frantic overwhelming work Martha couldn't get done soon enough was drowning her troubled heart in the cares of this life. She was angry at her sister for INTERRUPTING her frantic work to listen to Jesus.
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42
Only one thing is needful: reading, pondering, and memorizing God's INCORRUPTIBLE, EFFICACIOUS, COMFORTING Word in your King James Bible.
I just realized how little time I have left. Shall I leave the Word of God for the 'more important' things of this life? Leaving the reading, pondering, and memorizing of God's Word is leaving Christ. Why would we leave Christ? He has the Words of eternal life for us to read, ponder, and memorize. We are certain and believe He is the Christ the Son of the living God.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
