WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.323 --> 00:00:01.823
Grace, mercy and peace

2
00:00:01.823 --> 00:00:05.023
be to you from God, our Father and our Lord, and Savior

3
00:00:05.023 --> 00:00:06.923
Jesus Christ. Amen.

4
00:00:08.523 --> 00:00:12.123
The text for our meditation comes from our reading for this morning from

5
00:00:12.123 --> 00:00:14.423
2nd Corinthians chapter 6, verse 8.

6
00:00:15.623 --> 00:00:20.223
Through honor and dishonor through slander and praise.

7
00:00:20.223 --> 00:00:26.523
We are treated as Impostors and yet are true.

8
00:00:28.423 --> 00:00:36.223
Think about that one person in your life whose opinion matters most to

9
00:00:36.223 --> 00:00:36.423
you.

10
00:00:38.023 --> 00:00:42.423
There's a lot of people in life whose opinions matter to us.

11
00:00:43.623 --> 00:00:47.923
And today I want to go over some of these people that their opinions

12
00:00:47.923 --> 00:00:48.823
matter to us.

13
00:00:50.123 --> 00:00:55.623
And to be reminded that only one person's opinion matters.

14
00:00:57.323 --> 00:01:00.223
Now first on our list, maybe our in-laws.

15
00:01:00.223 --> 00:01:05.423
We want to have a high opinion coming from our in-l.aws

16
00:01:06.523 --> 00:01:10.823
We want to be held in respect and esteem and regard, praise and

17
00:01:10.823 --> 00:01:13.923
honored by her mother or father in law.

18
00:01:14.923 --> 00:01:18.023
We want to show them that we are taking care of, that

19
00:01:18.023 --> 00:01:23.323
we are providing for that we are nurturing were caring for their son

20
00:01:23.323 --> 00:01:29.023
or daughter. That we can provide for the family and to garner their

21
00:01:29.023 --> 00:01:30.623
attention and respect.

22
00:01:32.523 --> 00:01:37.123
And now having a great relationship with your in-laws is a great

23
00:01:37.123 --> 00:01:38.123
blessing, isn't it?

24
00:01:39.223 --> 00:01:43.423
You get to go along with your mother-in-law to a trip, to the store

25
00:01:43.423 --> 00:01:47.123
and get that right gift for your bride.

26
00:01:48.323 --> 00:01:54.123
Or you may be able to talk with your father-in-law about what's going

27
00:01:54.123 --> 00:01:59.823
on with your husband and get some sage advice and wisdom.

28
00:02:01.723 --> 00:02:05.723
But if your relationship is bad things, get a little bit more

29
00:02:05.723 --> 00:02:06.823
difficult, isn't it?

30
00:02:07.723 --> 00:02:08.923
It's a little bit different, then.

31
00:02:10.023 --> 00:02:14.123
Family gatherings that become opportunities for antagonism.

32
00:02:15.323 --> 00:02:19.723
And then your placed under the giant cosmic microscope.

33
00:02:20.623 --> 00:02:24.023
That every move you do is scrutinized to the nth degree.

34
00:02:26.323 --> 00:02:27.023
But in the end,

35
00:02:28.223 --> 00:02:31.923
does the opinion of your in-laws really matter?

36
00:02:33.223 --> 00:02:38.323
Only one person's opinion of you matters.

37
00:02:40.023 --> 00:02:43.623
Or take your mother, father, sisters, and brothers.

38
00:02:44.623 --> 00:02:46.423
Does their opinion matter?

39
00:02:47.723 --> 00:02:52.023
You can be getting along great with your family, everything going, well

40
00:02:52.023 --> 00:02:56.623
love, and so many good things going on with family life.

41
00:02:57.923 --> 00:03:02.123
But one thing can change and if it all fall apart,

42
00:03:03.523 --> 00:03:06.723
and then you become the one on the outside looking in.

43
00:03:08.223 --> 00:03:12.323
And it may be because that you have chosen to come to Seminary.

44
00:03:13.623 --> 00:03:17.023
That in this post-Christian world, because of our faith, he made me

45
00:03:17.023 --> 00:03:17.323
experiencing

46
00:03:18.423 --> 00:03:21.223
conflicts in our family.

47
00:03:21.223 --> 00:03:25.423
And our Lord himself are foretold this in the gospel of Matthew, when he

48
00:03:25.423 --> 00:03:30.323
says, brother will deliver brother over to death and father, his child

49
00:03:30.323 --> 00:03:34.323
and children will rise against parents and have them put to death and

50
00:03:34.323 --> 00:03:36.223
you'll be hated by all for my namesake.

51
00:03:36.223 --> 00:03:39.123
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

52
00:03:40.723 --> 00:03:46.923
But whether loved or despised does their opinion matter?

53
00:03:46.923 --> 00:03:50.723
Only one person's opinion matters.

54
00:03:51.923 --> 00:03:53.823
Or take your spouse and children.

55
00:03:55.123 --> 00:03:58.123
Some days family, life is great.

56
00:03:59.423 --> 00:04:00.223
You sit down

57
00:04:00.223 --> 00:04:01.523
you have dinner together.

58
00:04:01.523 --> 00:04:03.623
Great dinner.

59
00:04:03.623 --> 00:04:05.223
Play with your kids.

60
00:04:05.223 --> 00:04:10.123
Cuddle up with your spouse, on the couch, watch a movie together with

61
00:04:10.123 --> 00:04:10.623
your children.

62
00:04:11.723 --> 00:04:13.023
Things are going well.

63
00:04:14.523 --> 00:04:18.423
And yet, there are times when our family life isn't ideal,

64
00:04:19.723 --> 00:04:23.123
you fight with your spouse, over money and bills.

65
00:04:24.523 --> 00:04:31.123
Or your child, comes home with a bad grade from school and it even

66
00:04:31.123 --> 00:04:33.123
worse attitude toward you.

67
00:04:34.223 --> 00:04:39.823
But again, whether loved or despised does their opinion matter.

68
00:04:40.923 --> 00:04:43.823
Only one person's opinion matters.

69
00:04:46.023 --> 00:04:48.923
Today, I have good news for you today.

70
00:04:48.923 --> 00:04:56.523
The only person, whose opinion matters to you, is the opinion of our

71
00:04:56.523 --> 00:04:58.023
Lord, Jesus Christ.

72
00:04:58.023 --> 00:05:02.923
His is the only opinion that matters and I have good news.

73
00:05:02.923 --> 00:05:04.123
Behold

74
00:05:04.123 --> 00:05:05.823
now is a favorable time.

75
00:05:05.823 --> 00:05:08.823
Behold now is the day of salvation.

76
00:05:08.823 --> 00:05:13.723
Jesus has come to you today to proclaim to you that you have been

77
00:05:13.723 --> 00:05:14.823
saved.

78
00:05:14.823 --> 00:05:19.223
You have been delivered from this present evil age. That you've been

79
00:05:19.223 --> 00:05:22.723
redeemed you have been washed in the blood of the way you have been

80
00:05:22.723 --> 00:05:23.023
made

81
00:05:23.023 --> 00:05:28.523
pure by Jesus's blood. And through that very blood you have been given

82
00:05:28.523 --> 00:05:37.123
the gift of genuine love. Love not how the world defines love but the love of the most deepest most

83
00:05:37.123 --> 00:05:42.623
long-suffering love given to us at the gift by the eternal Son of God

84
00:05:42.623 --> 00:05:45.823
Jesus Christ a gift that we indeed 

85
00:05:46.223 --> 00:05:47.423
to share with others.

86
00:05:50.123 --> 00:05:55.123
Brothers and sisters will be times in Ministry, in which you will be

87
00:05:55.123 --> 00:05:55.823
praised.

88
00:05:56.923 --> 00:06:00.223
And there will be times in which you are slandered.

89
00:06:01.123 --> 00:06:05.323
One moment you'll be with a family that you have been through with a

90
00:06:05.323 --> 00:06:06.323
very difficult thing.

91
00:06:06.323 --> 00:06:11.723
Very, very hard thing and you have walked with that family through

92
00:06:11.723 --> 00:06:16.123
that and to that family you walk on water.

93
00:06:17.623 --> 00:06:21.123
And then the next hour after you get done visiting with that family,

94
00:06:21.123 --> 00:06:26.823
you visit with the woman who no matter what you do you didn't do

95
00:06:26.823 --> 00:06:27.523
nothing

96
00:06:27.523 --> 00:06:36.523
right. Yet whether honor or dishonor, slander or praise only one person's

97
00:06:36.523 --> 00:06:37.523
opinion matters.

98
00:06:37.523 --> 00:06:39.423
Jesus Christ.

99
00:06:40.423 --> 00:06:43.523
And so cling to the gifts that Jesus gives to us today.

100
00:06:43.523 --> 00:06:52.023
Purity, knowledge, patience, kindness the Holy Spirit, genuine love,

101
00:06:52.023 --> 00:06:58.223
truthful speech, power of God,and the weapons of righteousness, one

102
00:06:58.223 --> 00:07:01.023
for the left-hand, and one for the right.

103
00:07:02.223 --> 00:07:06.923
In the trials of this world, be cling to that purity that Jesus has

104
00:07:06.923 --> 00:07:11.323
given us through his baptism, as he has washed us through his grace,

105
00:07:11.323 --> 00:07:12.523
that he has given to us.

106
00:07:12.523 --> 00:07:20.223
Washed us clean of all of our sins has given us to this pure and clean water that has

107
00:07:20.223 --> 00:07:21.323
given us in baptism.

108
00:07:23.123 --> 00:07:24.523
It is a gift from him.

109
00:07:26.023 --> 00:07:30.423
And the gift too brings knowledge, knowledge of the revelation of Jesus

110
00:07:30.423 --> 00:07:34.723
Christ, the knowledge of Salvation that he is indeed saved us from

111
00:07:34.723 --> 00:07:40.423
this present, evil age and that this day is now. That he has indeed died and

112
00:07:40.423 --> 00:07:45.823
rose again so that we too will also rise again with him.

113
00:07:47.023 --> 00:07:52.123
Jesus has also given us the gift of patience to endure long suffering

114
00:07:52.123 --> 00:07:55.623
and the hardships of slander in this world.

115
00:07:56.623 --> 00:08:03.223
He's also giving you kindness one that bears both the honors of this world

116
00:08:03.223 --> 00:08:05.823
and the dishonors of this world.

117
00:08:06.923 --> 00:08:10.723
He's also giving you the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our

118
00:08:10.723 --> 00:08:16.323
inheritance, the one in whom we are sealed in for eternity.

119
00:08:18.023 --> 00:08:21.523
Jesus has given us his genuine love. Love

120
00:08:21.523 --> 00:08:26.223
that is not fickle or changes as the world love does, but one that

121
00:08:26.223 --> 00:08:27.423
is an eternal love.

122
00:08:28.823 --> 00:08:34.123
He has given us truthful speech to be able to proclaim his truth to

123
00:08:34.123 --> 00:08:34.423
others.

124
00:08:35.723 --> 00:08:39.423
And of course, he is also given us the power of God.

125
00:08:40.523 --> 00:08:45.923
For the king of the whole universe has is on and it's on your side

126
00:08:45.923 --> 00:08:46.723
through Jesus Christ.

127
00:08:48.023 --> 00:08:53.223
He has forgiven you washed you clean his opinion of you, is that you are

128
00:08:53.223 --> 00:08:55.723
his beloved child.

129
00:08:55.723 --> 00:09:02.623
The whole creator of the whole universe is for you and he is giving

130
00:09:02.623 --> 00:09:07.723
you the weapons of righteousness, one and the right, one in the left.

131
00:09:09.223 --> 00:09:11.423
Gifts from Jesus Christ.

132
00:09:14.023 --> 00:09:15.323
We want to be loved.

133
00:09:16.423 --> 00:09:18.223
We want to be belonged.

134
00:09:19.923 --> 00:09:23.523
We want to be hard, we want to be highly regarded by others.

135
00:09:25.423 --> 00:09:30.123
But in the end students at Concordia Seminary and families

136
00:09:31.223 --> 00:09:36.223
it's not the opinion of your Seminary, professors, not the opinion of your

137
00:09:36.223 --> 00:09:37.123
Board of Elders.

138
00:09:37.123 --> 00:09:42.223
Work, Church Council, not the opinion of your in-laws or your

139
00:09:42.223 --> 00:09:47.223
family, your wife, your children, or your friends, that matters.

140
00:09:48.423 --> 00:09:52.923
The only opinion that matters in the end is the opinion of Jesus

141
00:09:52.923 --> 00:09:54.723
Christ for you.

142
00:09:54.723 --> 00:10:00.123
For he has loved, and he has washed you and his grace and he has lavished you and

143
00:10:00.123 --> 00:10:00.923
genuine love.

144
00:10:00.923 --> 00:10:08.923
And so, in this world do not, let praise go to your head or criticism

145
00:10:08.923 --> 00:10:15.823
go to your heart, rather let the Lord Jesus words, direct and guide you

146
00:10:15.823 --> 00:10:20.223
in your life in your relationships with one another. He has given you

147
00:10:20.223 --> 00:10:26.123
so many gifts to be able to endure the trials of this world. Both honor

148
00:10:26.123 --> 00:10:30.123
and dishonor and both praise and slander.

149
00:10:31.023 --> 00:10:36.823
The only praise the only opinion which we ought to wish to hear for is

150
00:10:36.823 --> 00:10:37.723
on the last day

151
00:10:37.723 --> 00:10:38.923
when our Lord tells us.

152
00:10:38.923 --> 00:10:42.023
Well done, good, and faithful servant.

153
00:10:42.023 --> 00:10:47.823
You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much, enter

154
00:10:47.823 --> 00:10:49.723
into the joy of your master.

155
00:10:49.723 --> 00:10:56.223
May, we attain this blessed goal of everlasting life, and to hear of 

156
00:10:56.223 --> 00:11:01.123
the opinion of the person, whose opinion only matters to us.

157
00:11:01.123 --> 00:11:03.123
Jesus Christ

158
00:11:03.123 --> 00:11:09.123
our God, and our Lord forgiven and loved in him.

159
00:11:09.723 --> 00:11:10.523
Amen.

160
00:11:10.523 --> 00:11:14.723
Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, keep

161
00:11:14.723 --> 00:11:18.223
our hearts and minds in the one true faith to the life Everlasting.

162
00:11:18.223 --> 00:11:18.523
Amen.