11 May 2008
Everything Depends on God
13/05/08 20:24
When Jesus ascended to heaven, he instructed the
disciples to wait for the gift the Father promised,
saying, "But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses."
God has important work for them to do, but everything
they must do depends on what God does for them. This
is a hallmark of Lutheran - that is, Biblical -
theology. Everything God requires us to do, God does
for us.
God’s law says, "You must be perfect, as I your God am perfect." What we do is not perfect, but God makes us perfect by Jesus’ perfect life in our place. God gives us his righteousness by grace through faith, so we are called to "Repent and believe the gospel." But this also is not something we can do by our own choice or decision. The Holy Spirit uses God’s word and sacraments to turn us in repentance and to bring us to faith in the gospel. Now we are to witness and do good works. This too, is not our own doing but is the work of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Does this mean we just sit and wait and do nothing? Not at all. If God is doing all these things in us, to do nothing is to stubbornly resist God’s work. Since everything depends on God, we must be found, like the disciples after the ascension, fervently praying and looking to God to act. Since God does his work in us through his word, we must be constantly in the word, studying it, and sharing it.
From the beginning, Good Shepherd Lutheran School has been a work of God. Many times it has been seen that God provides just what is needed with just the right timing. This has led us to work all the harder, confident that we are doing what God wants us to do.
Now the time has come for us to say "God be with you" to five seventh grade students who will not return to Good Shepherd Lutheran School next year. We are not yet able to add eighth grade. Our teachers have worked hard with the students who are not returning. When we have done our best, we trust God to cause it to bear fruit and to continue to bless them in other ways with what they need to grow.
God’s continued blessings are needed also by the staff and students who continue. Financial support is not keeping up with expenses. Based on the current pattern, it is anticipated that one third of costs will be covered by tuition and another third by fund-raisers and special gifts. What about the other third? If the school is to continue, options mentioned have been reducing teacher salaries by a third, eliminating one of three classrooms, doubling the number of tuition paying students, or more major gifts.
As always, everything depends on God. That does not mean there is nothing we can do, but much that we can do. First, we can and must be fervent in prayer for God’s guiding and providing. We can talk to others at every opportunity about enrolling students and giving support. We can depend in everything on God, who said, "You will receive power…you will be my witnesses."
God’s law says, "You must be perfect, as I your God am perfect." What we do is not perfect, but God makes us perfect by Jesus’ perfect life in our place. God gives us his righteousness by grace through faith, so we are called to "Repent and believe the gospel." But this also is not something we can do by our own choice or decision. The Holy Spirit uses God’s word and sacraments to turn us in repentance and to bring us to faith in the gospel. Now we are to witness and do good works. This too, is not our own doing but is the work of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Does this mean we just sit and wait and do nothing? Not at all. If God is doing all these things in us, to do nothing is to stubbornly resist God’s work. Since everything depends on God, we must be found, like the disciples after the ascension, fervently praying and looking to God to act. Since God does his work in us through his word, we must be constantly in the word, studying it, and sharing it.
From the beginning, Good Shepherd Lutheran School has been a work of God. Many times it has been seen that God provides just what is needed with just the right timing. This has led us to work all the harder, confident that we are doing what God wants us to do.
Now the time has come for us to say "God be with you" to five seventh grade students who will not return to Good Shepherd Lutheran School next year. We are not yet able to add eighth grade. Our teachers have worked hard with the students who are not returning. When we have done our best, we trust God to cause it to bear fruit and to continue to bless them in other ways with what they need to grow.
God’s continued blessings are needed also by the staff and students who continue. Financial support is not keeping up with expenses. Based on the current pattern, it is anticipated that one third of costs will be covered by tuition and another third by fund-raisers and special gifts. What about the other third? If the school is to continue, options mentioned have been reducing teacher salaries by a third, eliminating one of three classrooms, doubling the number of tuition paying students, or more major gifts.
As always, everything depends on God. That does not mean there is nothing we can do, but much that we can do. First, we can and must be fervent in prayer for God’s guiding and providing. We can talk to others at every opportunity about enrolling students and giving support. We can depend in everything on God, who said, "You will receive power…you will be my witnesses."