Some will see the title of this post and move on, assuming they know the subject matter by the mere title. After all, who wants to hear more pontificating, pronouncing, posturing, and ruminating about the events of yesterday (Election Day 2024), which will likely drag on today and into the days (weeks?!) to come? Who needs more whining or gloating, depending on your point of view…
That is not the subject of this brief devotion. And, frankly, not my style. Although I’m not above using teaser titles to grab your attention.
I had a great Election Day. This was the stunner for me. What helped was not spending much time watching or taking in the news about the election, although the weather limited outside activity. What did “help” was full plate of church (and school) duties to keep me occupied.
Here’s the bottom line: I trust that, regardless of who wins, God will continue to make everything work for the good of his people. It’s as simple – and profound – as that. Praise God! And, find some encouragement from a Christian who lived at a different time and place 400 years ago.
The composer Johann Sebastian Bach considered his life's calling was writing music to the glory of God. Bach believed, along with the Reformers, that the performance of any God-pleasing vocation was glorifying to God. Fueled by his Lutheran faith, Bach devoted his life to creating music for refreshment, proclamation, and praise—primarily for the church. Born 150 years after Luther, Bach was a true son of the Reformation, devoted to Christ, and a firm believer in giving glory to God.
Bach was a hard worker, not your stereotypical artsy lazy romanticized dreamer. He served as teacher and worship leader for several churches (at one time serving four churches at once), and he was the father of 20 children! He wrote over 10,000 pages of music in his career as a church musician. At the beginning of most are the initials “J.J.” for Jesu Juva (“Jesus, help me”), and at the bottom of every one of them (see the picture accompanying this article) appear the letters S.D.G.— Sola Deo Gloria—"To God Alone Be The Glory!"
May you, dear Christian, by the grace of God, write Jesu Juva and Soli Deo Gloria at the beginning and end of each day. May you, dear Christian, by the grace of God, write Jesu Juva and Soli Deo Gloria at the beginning and end of everything you do. Jesus, help me. To God alone be the glory.
This Bach reference sought to illustrate these words from the apostle Paul:
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments
and how untraceable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his adviser?”
“Or who has first given to God
that he will be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
No matter what we woke up to this morning politically and nationally and locally, these words are true. No matter what happens in the days and weeks and months to come, these words are true. Always. Without fail. Read them. Speak them. Read them again and again. Believe them. God reigns!
Jesu Juva. Soli Deo Gloria.
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
That is not the subject of this brief devotion. And, frankly, not my style. Although I’m not above using teaser titles to grab your attention.
I had a great Election Day. This was the stunner for me. What helped was not spending much time watching or taking in the news about the election, although the weather limited outside activity. What did “help” was full plate of church (and school) duties to keep me occupied.
Here’s the bottom line: I trust that, regardless of who wins, God will continue to make everything work for the good of his people. It’s as simple – and profound – as that. Praise God! And, find some encouragement from a Christian who lived at a different time and place 400 years ago.
The composer Johann Sebastian Bach considered his life's calling was writing music to the glory of God. Bach believed, along with the Reformers, that the performance of any God-pleasing vocation was glorifying to God. Fueled by his Lutheran faith, Bach devoted his life to creating music for refreshment, proclamation, and praise—primarily for the church. Born 150 years after Luther, Bach was a true son of the Reformation, devoted to Christ, and a firm believer in giving glory to God.
Bach was a hard worker, not your stereotypical artsy lazy romanticized dreamer. He served as teacher and worship leader for several churches (at one time serving four churches at once), and he was the father of 20 children! He wrote over 10,000 pages of music in his career as a church musician. At the beginning of most are the initials “J.J.” for Jesu Juva (“Jesus, help me”), and at the bottom of every one of them (see the picture accompanying this article) appear the letters S.D.G.— Sola Deo Gloria—"To God Alone Be The Glory!"
May you, dear Christian, by the grace of God, write Jesu Juva and Soli Deo Gloria at the beginning and end of each day. May you, dear Christian, by the grace of God, write Jesu Juva and Soli Deo Gloria at the beginning and end of everything you do. Jesus, help me. To God alone be the glory.
This Bach reference sought to illustrate these words from the apostle Paul:
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments
and how untraceable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his adviser?”
“Or who has first given to God
that he will be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
No matter what we woke up to this morning politically and nationally and locally, these words are true. No matter what happens in the days and weeks and months to come, these words are true. Always. Without fail. Read them. Speak them. Read them again and again. Believe them. God reigns!
Jesu Juva. Soli Deo Gloria.
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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