Intr \u2013 <\/strong>Two friends were chatting at the cafeteria, and one friend told the other how sometimes people would make her feel completely discouraged, devalued, with no desire to carry on.| When we think we can take care of things by ourselves, when we rely on self-help or superficial motivational speeches to find strength to carry on, we are on the wrong path. We may be about to lose our strength. And if someone says that we are not going to make it, we cannot deny that they might be right.<\/p>\n This topic is important because anxiety, melancholy, and lack of motivation have been around for a while, and it seems that lately the number of cases is soaring. Or perhaps people are becoming more open to talking about it. It may be hitting home with you, or with someone dear to your heart.<\/p>\n When we look at the Apostle Paul\u2019s life after his conversion, anxiety and depression seem to have been at moments not too far away from his daily life. Or at least sometimes he was not having the best of his days. In 2 Corinthians he writes: \u201cWe are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n Afflicted, perplexed, persecuted; struck down. Those are things that may really have a person undergoing grey or dark days. The type of situation that may get you really sad, downtrodden, depressed even. We can add to all the problems they had back then the fact that the main cause of persecutions and afflictions was not money, family problems, personal struggles or government bills. It was spiritual<\/em><\/strong>. Persecution was coming down unhinged upon him, and many Christians, due to their strong stand on their Faith. He was suffering primarily not for doing something wrong<\/em>, but for proclaiming a good, life-giving message<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Have you been there too? I would think so. This problem has not disappeared. We could mention many places in the world where Christianity is persecuted to this day. However, it may also be just at hand, here at home, as we see political correctness reigning in almost every corner of society, and Christianity being swept aside to the fringe of culture on for not being inclusive and tolerant enough. In different topics and agendas, we are constantly invited to be \u201con the right side of things\u201d.<\/p>\n What do we do at this point? Is motivation and a positive attitude all the help we need? Let\u2019s make a test. (Pastor asks the congregation to encourage him with words like \u201cDo it, pastor,\u201d \u201cWe believe in you,\u201d and others. Then he tries to play Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with a Canadian spoon.) <\/em>No, it doesn\u2019t work…<\/p>\n Motivation is not everything. We need more; we need content. Paul says that \u201cwe do not lose heart.\u201d This is achieved through the content from the Word of God. How do we not lose heart?<\/p>\n 1 \u2013 Because we proclaim not ourselves, but Christ as the Lord<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe do not proclaim ourselves.\u201d They weren\u2019t relying on themselves, but in Christ only. Likewise, we don\u2019t point to ourselves, but to Christ. We don\u2019t lose heart, because our hearts would be steadfastly protected under His wings of love. We agree with Christ, and Him alone.<\/p>\n Christ The Promised (Genesis 3) There is the story about two boys who decided to have a contest to see who could draw the straightest line in the snow over a distance of fifty yards. They both set out eagerly and when they\u00a0 reached the end of their paths and looked back, one boy’s line was noticeably irregular, while the other’s was as close to straight as humanly possible. Curious about his friend’s success, the boy with the wavy line asked, “How did you manage to draw such a straight line?” The victorious boy replied, “I noticed that as you were walking and drawing your line, you kept your eyes on the ground, trying to do your best. I did something different. Do you see that Church over there? I fixed my eyes on the cross on top of its tower. By keeping my focus on that point, I was able to draw the straight line you see.”<\/p>\n We will never have a perfect straight line while we live on Earth. But keeping our eyes in Christ is what keeps us going straight forward, without losing heart.\u00a0 We look to Christ, we point to Christ. For our hearts are His.<\/p>\n 2 \u2013 Because his light shone on us<\/strong><\/p>\n Melancholy and depression are often associated with grey and dark colors. Grey and greyer, dark and darker is what you observe in the absence of light. The more you have light, the brighter you see the colors.<\/p>\n Christ is our light amid darkness. Psalm 130 shows an anxious and even semi-depressed writer. He is down. He is not in his best days. Still, he doesn\u2019t look inside to find answers. He cries out to the Lord, he looks above. The Lord shines His light even in the deepest, darker pit.<\/p>\n Think about this: you are standing in a vast plain, field on sunny summer day. No trees, no vegetation, just the field and the low-cut grass. You look ahead and try to see any spot of shadow and find a small tree and its shade. How close it must be to it so you can see the shade? And how many people in the radiance would be able to see it as well? Now think of yourself in the very same spot, on a clear dark night. From what distance can you spot a point of light, even if it is dim or feeble? We know it can many hundred yards aways and you\u2019ll still see it. And so can many people in the radiance. Even the biggest dark spot is nothing in face of the daylight. Even the feeblest light stands out and overcomes darkness.<\/p>\n The light of Christ overcomes the darkness of sin and devil, and shines in us and through us. No matter what hour of the day, what month of the year, what season of life. It is always there<\/em> shining in our hearts. For our hearts are His.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3 \u2013 Because we have His treasure (in jars of clay)<\/strong><\/p>\n What we have doesn\u2019t depend on ourselves, on our capacity, on our goodwill. What we have won\u2019t detach from us in the darkest hour, in the scariest moment, in the lowest time. It is a treasure. We have God\u2019s treasure in us, jars of clay that we are. By faith He will always maintain the treasure of His salvation, presence and love in our hearts of clay.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 4 \u2013 Because we want to avoid the Sin against the Holy Spirit.<\/strong><\/p>\n We want our hearts to be kept in Jesus by the action of the Holy Spirit. We desire constant forgiveness. But there is one sin that can\u2019t be forgiven. The Sin against the Holy Spirit. What is that sin?<\/p>\n From the Lutheran Witness Magazine: <\/em>Sin Against the Holy Spirit? Since the first three Gospels all record Jesus\u2019express warning about the unforgivable \u201csin against the Holy Spirit,\u201d Christians cannot easily overlook or ignore the topic. Matthew (12:31\u201332) and Mark (3:28\u201329) tell us that Jesus uttered this warning in response to the Pharisees\u2019 accusation that Jesus was casting out demons \u201cby Beelzebul, the prince of demons\u201d (Satan). According to Luke, Jesus also mentions this sin in adiscussion of publicly acknowledging or confessing Him (Luke 12:10). Jesus said, \u201cTherefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come\u201d (Matt. 12:31\u201332).<\/em><\/p>\n Focusing on Jesus\u2019 words (some also see reference to the sin in passages like 1 John 5:16; Heb.6:4\u20136; 10:26\u201327), we learn this about the sin: Jesus specifically singles out the sin as \u201cblasphemy against the Holy Spirit\u201d and speaks of it in distinction from blasphemy against the Son of Man (Himself). It belongs in a category to be distinguished from all other sins (though these remain gravely serious as well).<\/em><\/p>\n Those who commit such blasphemy are guilty of taking aim directly at the Holy Spirit, reviling and denigrating not only Him but what He does. In the words of Luther\u2019s Small Catechism, the Holy Spirit has \u201ccalled me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.\u201d Without the Holy Spirit’s working through God\u2019s Word, repentance and faith are not possible (John 15:26; Acts 5:31\u201332; Titus 3:5, etc.).<\/em><\/p>\n Placing a target on the Holy Spirit and deliberately slandering Him implies that the person who commits this offense knows exactly what he is doing. The sin, therefore, manifests a heart hardened in impenitent opposition to the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Every effort on the part of the Holy Spirit to bring or restore such a person to faith in Christ is rejected, repulsed and repudiated. \u201cWhoever speaks against the Holy Spirit,\u201d Jesus solemnly warns, \u201cwill not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come\u201d (Matt. 12:32).<\/em><\/p>\n In some ways, the sin is a tautology. Since the Holy Spirit brings us to faith, to reject or blaspheme Him is to reject Christ\u2019s forgiveness. If that rejection continues and is not repented of, it is unforgiveable.<\/em><\/p>\n Christians are always to take seriously Christ\u2019s admonition. But those who <\/em>worry <\/em>that they are guilty of this sin should be comforted in distress and assured that they have not committed the sin. As our Confessions remind us, God wants to strengthen all those who \u201cfeel and perceive a tiny glimmer and longing for God\u2019s grace and eternal salvation in their hearts\u201d and want His help in their weakness.<\/em><\/p>\n And finally, we make no judgments as to who may have committed this sin. We leave such judgment to Him who alone knows the heart (Matt. 9:4) and, for our part, remain faithful in our efforts to restore those who are overtaken by a trespass (Gal. 6:1ff.).\u201d<\/em>[1]<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>5 \u2013 Because sufferings are momentary; Glory is eternal<\/strong><\/p>\n Think of these examples:<\/p>\n _What do you endure going to the dentist? I guess it\u2019s because you know the suffering that may come out of it is momentary, but your healthy teeth will last for a long time<\/p>\n _Why do parents discipline their children even when it drives them angry \u2013 and make them, the parents, suffer inside? I would bet it is because they know that while they are suffering inside for the moment, they are teaching them lessons that may last their whole life.<\/p>\n _Why do we accept undergoing the anxiety and fear of a surgery? Because you know that when the outcome is good your health will be improved.<\/p>\n Momentary. As opposed to long lasting. Now think of undergoing momentary suffering because the outcome would be…forever… \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s what Jesus endured for us. He suffered unto death to save us from sin, to grant us forgiveness, and to graft us into a life of joy that will never end. This is our life under the cross. The sufferings of the present time pale before the blessings of eternal life.<\/strong><\/p>\n The message today is not intended to ignore or downplay the reality that we should have proper treatment when mental health issues ensue. It\u2019s the other way around – as we turn to physicians when our body is not right, why wouldn\u2019t we also resort to mind doctors when our mind needs healing? But as Christians we know that the most important medicine is already provided by the doctor of our souls \u2013 Jesus Christ: forgiveness of sins and salvation<\/em><\/strong>. He keeps us grounded in Him, secure that his light reaches us in the greyest places and in the darkest hours even if we are experiencing mental health issues – like maybe Paul, or some of his close friends, might have experienced. This is Christ\u2019s gifts for all his family, which are, as He says in Mark, all those who do the Will of the Father. [2]<\/a> In all of this, we know one thing: our hearts are His.<\/p>\n Now, let me pick up this paper that has been beside the pulpit since the beginning of the service and put it away in the garbage. (Pastor looks inside, finds a $100 bill.<\/em>) Oh, there\u2019s a $100 bill here. But since it is wrapped in garbage, it\u2019s not good anymore… right? Of course not. That\u2019s the same with our life. We may sometimes feel like garbage, but inside us, we have God\u2019s treasure, Jesus, which never loses its value. Our hearts are His, and this is the treasure that causes us not to lose heart and live on in Him.<\/p>\n Cc \u2013<\/strong> Our hearts are his. At all time. Even when we fell like We do not lose heart. In Jesus we find forgiveness, life and motivation to continue in life. For He is the only and one to agree 100% with all the time, for He will be there with us all the time. There is no other like Him. When faith is in our hearts, there is no way it will be removed from there. in the Love and presence of Jesus Christ we do not lose heart. For our hearts are His.<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n ________________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> https:\/\/witness.lcms.org\/2011\/sin-against-the-holy-spirit-3-2011\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen I hear comments that tell me that I can’t, that it won’t work, that I can’t get it right, I feel really bad; they make me think of giving up.\u201d
\nThe other friend then gave her this advice:
\n“Look, when you hear something like that again … agree with it<\/em>.”
\nHer friend looked at her, astonished: \u201cI should agree with it? What do you mean?”
\n\u201cI mean that, in your heart, you should agree with the essence of the comment. You should admit that you, in fact, have no strength in yourself<\/em>, that you are imperfect and liable to fail, and that you will never be able to do everything right. Then, you may remember that you know in Whom you have all of strength, capacity, and motivation to continue on. The one to whom your heart belongs: Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nChrist Our Brother (Mark 3)
\nChrist, the Lord and Saviour.<\/p>\n