100106 LWML Sunday

Some introductory words:

Since its founding the LWML has gathered and given to world-wide mission efforts more than $82,000,000. That’s not to mention the hundreds of regional and local projects they have supported as well.

The motto, “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2), describes the LWML’s principle activity and the spirit in which the organization and its members act. They are their motto. Further, the name, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, captures the organization’s

essence. It is: LUTHERAN in theology and practice, tightly tied to the LCMS – Composed exclusively of WOMEN, from day one – Single-mindedly supportive of MISSIONS–A LEAGUE, a sisterhood, intent on training leaders.

Introduction

Genesis 1 tells us that when God created the heavens and earth they were formless and void deprived of everything but deepest darkness. The first thing God did was to call light into being and then separate it from the darkness. He gave names to the light and the dark. The light He called Day, and the darkness He called night. That was the first day of Creation. In the five days that followed, God completed His Creative work and rested on the seventh. I suspect that it was likely only the eighth day when Adam and Eve fell into sin. That is when darkness touched the soul of man, and that darkness has been transmitted in the human being right to this very day. That means that every human being is born in the darkness of sin and separated from the Father of Light. Something had to be done if God’s good creation would ever be restored.

That something is reflected in Christ’s words in John when Jesus says: “I am the Light of the world.” John, in the first chapter of his gospel account, made this revealing statement: "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him." (John 1:9-10, ESV) Those who are led by the Spirit of the Living God to live under His redemptive brightness receive Him, follow Him and reflect His brightness by the way they live out their own life. Sadly, not everyone receives the Light of Christ—just as John said.

Spiritual Darkness is a Reality Today

That only serves to indicate that those who live in the light of Christ have come out of the darkness of sin and death—they are separate from the darkness. Death has lost its power. Not so for those who deny the true light. They are still controlled and enslaved to the darkness so that they cannot live in the light. How very sad that must make God who sent the true light into the world to be the light of all.

Even we who live in the true light can still be tempted by the darkness of sin and death.

Consider how widespread divorce is among believers.

Consider how so many have bought into the human notion that mankind evolved from some sort of primordial slime.

Consider how the human culture has accepted acts of sexual immorality and debauchery as acceptable practice that we try to disguise by giving it another name, “They’re living together.”

Consider how murder is given the nod of approval through the acts of abortion and assisted suicide.

Consider the drug culture and the murders that infest not only the world, but our own neighborhood. Yes, the darkness of sin is very real and even those separated from it are still tempted by it. It is enough indeed for the righteous to cry out: “Let there be Light!” Let the light of Christ shine on us and our darkened, sin-ridden world. But there is still hope—divinely given …

Christ is the Light for our World

God who gave the first light (Genesis 1) gave a later light as well. Isaiah prophesies of this light saying: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2, ESV) and Matthew gives greater meaning to this prophetic word of light saying: "“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”" (Matthew 4:15-16, ESV) Christ Jesus is the true light who reveals the sin that darkness conceals (John 3:19, 20) "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.” " (John 3:19-21, ESV) … but there is more, so much more! His light actually gives light in such a way that it turns the darkness of sin into light and life. It is the same as Him saying in Creation, “let there be light.” You see, He is the redeemer of the world, the whole world, and by His Spirit, He brings into His marvelous light all who languish lifeless in the dark. Listen to this: "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." (John 1:9, ESV) … and, " to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV) and in Ephesians 2:4-10 this is exactly what Paul is saying: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10, ESV) So, “Let there be light!” … and there was light!

God’s Redeemed People Live to Reflect His Light

Enlightened and redeemed people are not the true light. But they are authentic light none-the-less. They are reflectors of the True Light because they have been called out of darkness into His True Light, Jesus Christ. What is real neat about this is that Authentic Lights cannot be concealed as Scripture makes clear in Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus says to the redeemed: "“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. " (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV)

It is God’s intent that all those with a “little gospel light of mine” together should shine into every corner of the world and on every person. Shining is not just the right thing to do, it’s the light-thing. Let there be light! Don’t you just love it when God’s plan comes together? I do!

Conclusion: And that is why I am pleased today to mention the LWML. It exemplifies what it means to be Authentic Light reflecting the light of Christ. The Lutheran Women Missionary League serves in so many ways as Light reflectors because they are a group of redeemed women who have heard and heeded the call, “Let there be light!” No wonder there motto “Serve the Lord with Gladness” means so much to them. There work is truly reflective of this: "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. " (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV) And to all of you I say: Let your light shine. Amen.