The "R" Word

No, It is not rebellious. But, rebellious describes sinners.

No, it is not rest, but it will result in rest to your mind, body, and spirit.

No, it is not river, but it will result in the river of living water flowing into, through and from your life.

No, it is not run or race, but it will increase your endurance by leaps and bounds as you run the race of life to the completion line.

No, it is not accomplishing righteousness, but is a key to receiv-ing righteousness. The perfect righteousness of Christ.

No, it is not resume, but it is central to resuming your Christian walk whenever you spiritually stumble.

Yes, it is required for a genuine conversation.

Yes, it is the right thing to do.

Yes, it remains available daily through the blood of Jesus.

Yes, it results in a clear conscience and freedom in Christ Jesus.

Yes, it is repeated many, many, many times in the sermons of John the Baptist, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and throughout the Scriptures.

Yes, it could be redemption, regeneration, religion or receiving.

Yes, as this is the October newsletter of a Lutheran church the "R" word certainly could be Reformation.


BUT, the “R” Word that is a good, gracious, granted gift of God is REPENTANCE

Repentance and Reformation do go together. 493 years ago on October 31st, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. The very first thesis reads, When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.

All of the Christian life is repentance. By God’s Holy Spirit at work in the means of grace we are to daily turn (be turned) away from sin and turned toward trusting in the good news that Jesus saves sinners. Repentance isn’t a one time inaugural experience but is to be a daily occurrence. Martin Luther also wrote ex-plaining the ongoing meaning of Holy Baptism, Baptism indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

The "R" word is to be such a part of our daily lives that really every day is to be ―Reformation Day.  Someone once suggested that a fitting bumper sticker would be a rewording of the familiar, Have you hugged your child today? To, Have you repented today?