Terrible people to the devil
Hi, friends. It’s been a while. I could make all sorts of excuses for not writing much in the last several months, but none of that matters. Our lives ebb and flow, and it seems some of the hustle and bustle of the last several months is subsiding. And so, I pray that I will be able to write and publish some of the LCEF NID Podcasts regularly once again.
A few weeks ago, I was blessed to join many of you at the district convention of the Northern Illinois District of our beloved synod. President Buss graciously allowed me to address the delegates, and I’ve attached my short address in the video above.
In my preparations, I knew I wanted to implore the delegates to keep doing the good work that Christ has for all of us. As I workshopped the words in many different ways, I finally remembered this little quote from St. John Chrysostom:
“The Eucharist is a fire that inflames us, that, like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the devil.”
St. John Chrysostom
To put it another way, Jesus is a fire that inflames us, making us fire-breathing lions who are terrible to the devil. As I’ve pondered this quote for a few weeks after the convention, I keep wondering if being made terrible to the devil is another way to say being made a disciple. That is, a person who follows Jesus is a person who Jesus has made terrible to Satan and his ways. So, in your going, you might as well be terrible to the devil, a disciple, a fire-breathing lion who is inflamed with the love Christ has for us all.
From President Buss
I’m really curious what life will be like when you read this. As I write these words, we are a just few days away from Election Day. Right now, it is easy to be cynical, not just about the election results, but about how our nation will deal with the results. Our nation is deeply divided.
As Christians, we are people of prayer, humility, and discernment. It’s so comforting that the Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world (John 18:36). His reign is eternal, and in the midst of division, He is our peace! Friend, He is your peace and strength. “Thy Kingdom Come, Lord Jesus.”