The Call Of God Ordained You

This text was written for the 25th ordination anniversary and retirement of Pastor Richard A. Bolland.  It is set to the tune VON GOTT WILL ICH NICHT LASSEN  (LSB 713)

1.   The call of God ordained you
     A watchman for the Lord!
     Each day God has sustained you,
     To be His people’s ward,
     His counsel to proclaim:
     The Law—its condemnation;
     The Gospel—its salvation
     For all in Jesus’ name.
   
2.  The Lord does not desire
     That any die in sin;
     Instead He would inspire
     True change of heart within,
     And so He sends His Word—
     That all might be repenting,
     Their judgment thus preventing
     For wickedness incurred.

3.  How unforeseen that power
     Christ resurrected showed,
     When in that evening hour
     His Spirit He bestowed:
    “The sins that you forgive,
     They truly are forgiven,
     On earth and high in heaven.”
     Each penitent shall live!

4. “The sins you are retaining
     Before the Father’s face,
     Are debts by those disdaining
     My Father’s heart of grace.”
     Yet these Christ would receive:
    “How often, yes, how often,
     I prayed your heart would soften
     And you your sin would leave.”

5.  The watchman’s voice is crying,
    “Turn from your evil way!”
     Still some, his call defying,
     Resist and disobey.
     You died for these, Lord, too!
     Your mercy is most shocking;
      It seeks to save the mocking
     Who know not what they do.

6.  The watchman’s sacred duty
     Proclaims good news from God;
     His feet are rare with beauty
     And with the Gospel shod.
     God’s spokesman lifts his voice:
    “Those marred by sin’s defiling,
     God’s grace is reconciling.
     Return! Believe! Rejoice!”

7.  You, son of man, unswerving,
     Have spoken for the Lord.
     We, whom you have been serving,
     Thank God with one accord!
     We say so gratefully:
    “Dear watchman, you have led us;
     Dear pastor, you have fed us—
     To God all glory be!”

Present Yourself a Worker

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."  (2 Timothy 2:15)  Written for the July 1st, 2007 ordination and installation of my brother-in-law (who is now a dear brother in the ministry), Pastor Larry Wright of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Midland, the recommended tune for this text is AURELIA. The pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus have much to say to pastors today.  God be praised for all the faithful pastors serving as undershepherds of the Good Shepherd!

1.  Present yourself a worker

         Who need not cow'r in shame,

              As one approved by Jesus;

         With zeal His truth proclaim.  

     Come build on that foundation

         Already laid secure,

              For in the Lord your labor

         Most surely will endure.

2.  Present yourself a steward,

         All pride of self efface,

              As faithfully you manage

         God's precious means of grace--

     The light of Holy Scripture,

         The sacraments divine,

              Where Word is joined to water

         And to the bread and wine.

3.  Present yourself a watchman

         To those within this nave;

              Come, steer this ship in safety

         Through storm and wind-tossed wave.

     The world's deceit and cunning

         Seek not the things above;

              Confront all sin and error,

         But speak the truth in love.

4.  Present yourself a shepherd

         And lead this blood-bought fold

              To pastures green and fragrant,

         To waters pure and cold;

     Be one who seeks the straying

         With love that has no bound,

               As Christ, who sought the lost ones,

         Rejoiced when they were found.

5.  Present yourself a servant,

         For Jesus came as slave,

              His life, a priceless ransom,

         Upon the cross He gave;

     Yet He, before His dying,

         With humble love replete,

              Knelt down with tow'l and water

         To wash disciples' feet.

6.  Know Christ the Lord is present

         To hear your solemn vow

              And with the Holy Spirit

         Your service will endow;

     With joy embrace your calling

         And always be assured:

              God's blessing rests upon you,

         A preacher of His Word.

        

Preach You the Word

Martin H. Franzmann, scholar, seminary professor, and gifted hymnwriter, has many fine texts that bless our church body and the Church at large.  One that ties in beautifully with tomorrow's Gospel lesson from Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23, "The Parable of the Sower," is the hymn "Preach You the Word."

I love this hymn for many reasons.  First of all, as a pastor and preacher, I find great comfort in this hymn text.  Far and above all that seems important and enduring in this world is the Word of God.  That Word has been entrusted to pastors to preach faithfully...an awesome task!  And so, week after week, the preacher "scatters abroad the goodly seed" of God's Word intent that all may feast on the Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ, the bread from heaven that all need. And as the pastor labors to preach the Word of God, he may see few results from his efforts. He may see the faithful slipping away as the Word of snatched or scorched or choked or matted flat.  All he can do is keep sowing..."Oh, what of that, Lord, what of that?"  But when the good seed of God's Word takes root in the human heart, the heart cleansed and made new by that good seed, and when a rich harvest is raised to the glory of God..."Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!"  Yes, the preacher never faints because the faithful Harvest Lord watches and tends His planted Word. 

1.  Preach you the Word and plant it home

        To men who like or like it not,

     The Word that shall endure and stand

        When flow'rs and men shall be forgot.

2.  We know how hard, O Lord, the task

        Your servant bade us undertake:

     To preach Your Word and never ask

        What prideful profit it may make.

3.  The sower sows his reckless love

         Scatters abroad the goodly seed,

     Intent alone that all may have

        The wholesome loaves that all men need.

4.  Though some be snatched and some be scorched

         And some be choked and matted flat,

     The sower sows; his heart cries out,

        "Oh, what of that, and what of that?"

5.  Of all his scattered plenteousness

        One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat,

     And bears a harvest hundredfold:

        "Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!"

6.  Preach you the Word and plant it home

        And never faint; the Harvest Lord

     Who gave the sower seed to sow

        Will watch and tend His planted Word.

Continue in the Things That You Have Learned

This afternoon I participated in the ordination and installation service of a son of our congregation.  It was a joy to be a part of his special day and know that God will now use him as a called and ordained servant of the Word, an undershepherd of the Good Shepherd.   St. Paul's words of encouragement to Timothy are good to recall:  "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (2 Tim. 1:14)

The following text was inspired by Richard Hillert's tune, RIVER FOREST, and the refrain is based on the passage just quoted.   The hymn text is written in free verse.

1.  Continue in the things that you have learned,

        Convinced by those who taught the sacred text;

           The Holy Scriptures you have known since youth

              Have brought you saving faith in Jesus Christ:

 Refrain:  Guard well that treasure

                    Given to you--

                       The Word of God's truth!

2.  Fan into flame the Spirit's gift from God

        Bestowed on you through laying on of hands.

           Be bold, not timid--God will make you strong,

              Self-disciplined, empow'red by holy love.   Refrain

3.  Be not ashamed, proclaim the living Lord,

        And join with those who suffer for His sake;

           For God's great mercy saved you by His grace:

              His love in Christ before the world began.   Refrain

4.  Christ Jesus has destroyed the reign of death,

        Brought life and immortality to light;

           Now trust that He in whom you have believed

              Will keep your faith secure until that Day.   Refrain

5.  Now in the presence of the Triune God--

        Our holy Father, who in boundless love

           Once sent His Son to die upon the cross

              And through the Spirit brings this solemn charge:   Refrain