Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour
Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of the Lutheran Hour - "An
Apology and Retraction" - Thursday, 28 November 2013
If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.(1
John 1:9-10)
One-hundred and fifty years ago, the fall
of 1863, was a busy time for President Lincoln. In October he became the first
president to decree a day be set aside for National Thanksgiving. The following
month, on November 19, Abraham Lincoln stood up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,
and delivered a speech which lasted a bit more than two minutes.
On this American Thanksgiving Day, I pray
you will forgive me if this devotion concentrates on the second of those two
events.
Weighing the president's words by the
pound, they were a poor and undeveloped thing, especially when they are
compared to the oration of that day's featured presenter, Senator Edward
Everett of Massachusetts. He droned on for more than two hours.
According to the Chicago Times, Lincoln's
words were less than outstanding. It reported, "The cheek of every
American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat, and dishwatery
utterances of the man who has to be pointed out to intelligent foreigners as
the president of the United States."
Another newspaper, the Patriot News,
(back then called the Patriot & Union,) out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
wasn't much more complimentary. Suggesting the speech was motivated purely by
party politics, it described Lincoln's message as having been nothing more than
"silly remarks" and "shortsighted."
Now you and I know that history has been
far kinder to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address than those papers. Indeed, those 272
words are considered to be among the most beautiful, profound and insightful
presentations ever written in the English language. Today I am pleased to tell
you the Patriot News agrees. Two weeks ago they published an apology and
retraction for their critical editorial, which had been penned a century and a
half ago.
Now it occurs to me that if a hard-boiled
East Coast newspaper believes it's never too late to repent of an error,
Christians ought to feel the same.
Unfortunately, repentance over past
transgressions is something which is often left undone, and if it is done, it
shows up pretty low on our list of priorities ... sort of like ...
thanksgiving.
I imagine that is because we Christians
rejoice in the fact that Jesus has done all which was necessary to save us.
Washed of our sins by His precious blood we are able to stand before the
judgment seat of God without blemish. In other words, if we're forgiven already,
why do we have to repent?
A few good reasons can be given. First,
because the Lord said we should. If there were no other motive given, that
would be enough. Second, because the Lord likes to know we are conscious of the
wrong we have done and the right the Savior has accomplished. Third, because
all of us need to acknowledge our sins lest we become overly comfortable with
who we are.
So, if you haven't done so in a while,
why not take some time to repent of those old sins and, as long as you're at it,
include the new ones as well.
An apology and a retraction, and a whole
lot of thanksgiving to our God of grace -- that's a fine recipe for
Thanksgiving.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, my sins are many,
which is why I give thanks for Your grace which is boundless. For all You and
my Savior have done, I give thanks. Amen.
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880
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