Lord, Remember Me Because of Your Goodness!
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on February 27, 2021 in Genesis 28:10-17
The Second Sunday in Lent – Reminiscere February 28, 2021
Text: Genesis 28:10-17 CW – Series B 21:2243
Theme: Lord, Remember Me Because of Your Goodness!
If everything you ever said, did, or thought were written in a book and portrayed in a movie, how would you feel? I mean everything – every dumb decision, every bungled blunder, every tiny tidbit! Were it all recorded for everyone to see, I would blush, shudder, and beg that the book never be printed…the movie never produced. Oh, I would probably like the nice, complementary things about me portrayed, but who would want others to see and hear the sad, the bad, and the sordid of what I have said, thought, or done – especially when I was young and often foolish?
At times the past haunts me. The attitudes, the actions most surely would have led to disaster if You, Lord, had not stepped in to preserve me from the consequences of my folly. Lord, I beg You like King David did: “Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. According to Your mercy, Lord, remember me, because of Your goodness” (Ps.25:7). Without You, can anyone stand unashamed before the world? Surely, Jacob couldn’t.
I. Cheer my saddened heart with Your presence.
For three days he had been walking briskly, perhaps even running at times, fleeing because of that which he had done in the recent past. And he still had a long way to go ahead of him.
Alone without companion or servant to talk to, no camel, not even a donkey – Jacob was on his own. To an extent he was used to this, being alone with his sheep in the field. After all, he was a shepherd, or had been. But he never felt so alone as he did now.
This was an undying loneliness brought on by foolish words and deeds. Because of them he could not go back home, for his brother Esau was waiting to kill him.
At times people, even Christians may have enemies who simply hate their guts and want to do them in. I think that I do not have any Esaus in my life, but I have done things that upset others; I suppose even greatly. In a careless moment, perhaps it could be said an ungodly one, I did or said something that I regretted. Oh, how I wished that I could undo it, take it back, say things more in line with Your will, Lord. But it was too late. We can’t undo the past. The result for Jacob? He felt sad, sick in heart, alone in the world.
Behind him lay all the pleasant scenes of home, the happy memories of his carefree youth. Behind him lay his mother, whom he dearly loved. Behind him, the bitterest thought of all, was his father whom he had treated badly. Isaac was old, feeble, and blind. It appeared that he might not live much longer. It was not very likely that Jacob would see him again, not likely that Jacob would get a chance to throw himself at his father’s feet and cry, “Forgive me, Father. I sinned against you.” It saddened Jacob’s heart.
Ahead of him? – he didn’t know what lay. He hardly knew where he was going – never been there, never met the people, although they were some of his closest relatives. It was a foreign country to which he was running. He had no gifts to present the people when he got there – totally against the customs of that part of the world. He had no sheep, no cattle with which to start a new life on his own. And the way to the place he was headed was long, weary, and dangerous, especially for a young man, a foolish young man, traveling alone. All alone with a sad heart.
The sun set as he climbed the steep, rocky path to the top of another of the seemingly endless hills. There was no town there, no inn where he could spend the night, not even a shepherd’s tent. He ate a little of the bread he carried in his bag and then lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone. At last he fell asleep, lying there alone on the mountain, worn out as much by his sad heart as by the journey itself.
As Jacob slept, he began to dream. Behold! A ladder appeared, extending from heaven to the ground right by his head. Wow! Look! Angels going up and down on it. What were the angels doing there in that lonely spot? And behold! The Lord Himself at the top, right above him! The LORD who had often appeared to his grandfather Abraham and to his father Isaac, but who Jacob had perhaps never dared to hope to see for himself! Jacob was not alone after all – no way! The naked eye could not see it, but angels stood all around and the LORD Himself watching over from above.
Lord, what a marvelous way because of Your Goodness to cheer the sad heart of Your child with the assurance of Your presence. You had not forgotten Jacob. You remembered him in his time of need. But this sight wasn’t intended just for Jacob; You meant it for us too – as a reminder.
There come those moments in my life and the life of every Christian when the world seems to pass us by. Sometimes, because of the foolish things we have done, at other times because of the hatred of the world around us towards those who deny themselves, take up Jesus’ cross and follow Him. In either case Satan wants me to feel alone and abandoned so that he can claim You have left me.
But those lonely hours need not be filled with gloom and sadness, for You will hallow all our hours with the comfort of Your presence: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hb.13:5); “I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Mt.28:20); “No harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For I will command my angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Ps.91:10f).
How more graphically could You make those promises real to us than when You let us see through Jacob’s eyes the angels ascending and descending over him, and You above it all. Truly, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (91:1).
Such a wonderful account to remember when my heart is sad and I feel alone! In Christ You assure me that my sin is forgiven and that we are justified before You by faith. So we have peace with You through the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand (Ro.5:1-2). By faith I know where I stand with You – or rather that You stand by me. Never alone! Angels watching over me, my Lord, and so are You. So help me, “be strong and courageous, not afraid or terrified …for You, the Lord God, goes with us wherever we go” (Dt.31:6).
II. And I will feel secure wherever I go as I respond to Your love.
When Jacob awoke, everything around him must have seemed different from the way it had looked when he lay down to sleep. This was not a lonely, desolate mountaintop. He gasped, “Certainly, the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it. How awe-inspiring is this place! This is nothing other than the house of God, the gate of heaven.” He lifted up the stone he had placed under his head and poured oil on it as an offering to God. He called the place “Bethel” – “house of God.” Feeling safe, secure, and warm in Your forgiving love, it was his loving response to the goodness You had shown in remembering him, just like You had promised and shown to those who went before him in faith.
I have never dreamed a dream like this. But I have now seen one through Jacob’s eyes. From it, Lord, I learn what Jacob learned that night and what Your Word promises.
You remember us not for what we have done, but You remember us out of Your goodness as we come to You in Christ Jesus, who took away our sin. In Him Your mercy and fatherly care in forgiving all our sins is real. That gives strength to the sinner to move forward in life, knowing that the memories of our past foolishness, our present faults, and even future failures are eliminated from Your sight “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps.103:13). You promise, “I will forgive their guilt, and I will remember their sins no more” (Jer.31:34). Your remembrance of us is not based on our past, our present, or even our future. It is based upon Your Son, who gave His life for us. Remember me because of Your Goodness in Him.
In faith, wherever I go I will feel secure because You are with me to protect and bless with Your love. May I respond to Your love by offering my complete self to You, as Jacob did, not with empty promises, but with heartfelt vows of service to You until that day when You bring me to the warmth of Your eternal home above, to dwell in Your abiding presence forever. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield
(A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)
Church phone: 417.887.0886 Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244
www.zionluthchurch.com email: revelehmann@gmail.com
The Second Sunday in Lent Reminiscere (“Remember, O LORD….”) February 28, 2021
“…Justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
F o r O u r V i s i t o r s
The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
U p o n E n t e r i n g G o d’ s H o u s e
“Remember, O LORD, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not let me be put to shame. Redeem us, O God, from all our distress! To You I will lift up my soul; in You I have trusted, O my God” (Psalm 125).
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
God Remembers His Mercy towards Us. Long ago when Latin names were attached to Sundays, this Sunday in Lent was called Reminiscere (English “reminisce; remember”). It came from Psalm 25:6: “Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” It is a cry for the Lord to forgive sin, to guard from shame, and to deliver from all enemies and evil, based on His mercy for us.
In mercy the Lord “remembers” His people and will act in their behalf. In Christ He can’t forget us. Through our faith in the Savior He promises to shield us until He brings us home to glory. Even in the trials of life, He does not forget you. Lord, preserve us from forgetting You!
To that end we pray: Almighty God, You see that we have no power to defend ourselves. Guard and keep us both outwardly and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from every evil thought that may assault and hurt the soul; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
– T h e W o r d o f G o d f o r T o d a y –
The Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17
Can God forget His people? Because of his deceit, we might think that God would easily “write Jacob off” as a true child of God. Because of his deceitful ways Jacob was forced to flee for his life. God gave him a dream to assure him that he was not forgotten. Even when His people fall, the Lord remembers His mercy and blesses them with His presence.
The Epistle Lesson: Romans 5:1-11
Can God forget you? How can He if He sacrificed so much to bring you back to Him! When we were His enemies, He reconciled us by His Son. In faith we gain access to Him and live in peace. He even uses sufferings to build godly character so that we grow in endurance, hope, and love.
The Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:31-38
Can God forget you? How can He when His beloved Son showed such determination to suffer, die, and rise again for us. Nothing would deter Jesus, not even Peter’s temptation from Satan for Jesus to avoid the cross. His loving determination spurs us on to deny ourselves and follow Him.
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The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Trio: Lois Wiese, Jane Rips, Pastor Lehmann
Points to Ponder: Is it possible to rub off a tattoo? In Isaiah 49:16 God tells us, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” It is as impossible for God to rub you out of His hands as it would be for you to rub a tattoo off your arm. In another place He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:15). Friends and relatives sometimes let us down. They may go away and leave us. But God never will. His promise is sure. We can depend on it. In His mercy God cannot forget you.
“If the promise (of God) were to depend upon our works, it would not be sure….When would we know that we had received it?” (i.e., that we had done enough to merit it) — Apology to the Augsburg Confession XX 87
Outline of Our Worship
Lord, Hear Us
Opening Thoughts on the Service
Today’s Order of Worship: Morning Praise: Hymnal pg.45
Opening Hymn: #108
Lord, Feed Us
Psalm of the Day: #25 Hymnal pg.74
Genesis 28:10-17
Romans 5:1-11
Trio: Day by Day
Mark 8:31-38
Sermon Hymn: #355
Sermon Text: Genesis 28:10-17 Lord, Remember Me Because of Your Goodness
Lord, Accept Our Response
“We Praise You, O God” Hymnal pg.48
“Lord, Have Mercy”
Prayers, Lord’s Prayer & Prayer for Grace Hymnal pg. 50
Lord, Bless Us
The Benediction Hymnal pg. 51
Closing Hymn: #198
Silent Prayer
C a l e n d a r & A n n o u n c e m e n t s f o r Z i o n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h
| Today
Feb.28 |
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Divine Worship Service on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study Lent 2: Reminiscere |
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11 am
Midweek Bible Class 4:30 pm Confirmation 5:45 pm Lenten Supper 6:30 pm Lenten Service 3: What Wondrous Love |
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9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion on line – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Brief Bible Study Lent 3: Occuli |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
Jesus Foretells His Passion, Calling Us to Follow Him – To follow Jesus we must carry our cross. This means our faith will bring us severe burdens and shame. But through Jesus’ cross we have such good news: Heaven is open! We can rejoice in our sufferings! By losing our lives for Jesus, we will find them!
The Epislte Lesson: Romans 5:1-11 (answers are found on the back side)
- What amazing gifts do we receive by trusting that Jesus died for our sins? (vv 1-2)
- Why do we rejoice in our sufferings? Isn’t that a bizarre way to act? (v. 3)
- In Christ, what three things are no longer true about us? (vv 6, 8, 10)
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Dea Windsor; Clyde Johnson; Dave Ballou; Greg Miller; Lou Schulz; Bill Buchanan; Norine Richardson; Barbara Long; Jodi Milam; Laurie Moon’s husband. William; Pastor Jim Witt, St. Louis; Lois Wiese; Felicia Nichols & family; the Domeier & Parten families from NE; Sharon Johnson recuperating from a broken hip at Glendale Gardens Rehab/Nursing facility off Hwy 65, south of Sunshine St.
Midweek Lenten Suppers and Services The theme for our Lenten observance this year is What Shall I Do with Jesus? Follow Him in His Wondrous Love…. this week….Before the Sanhedrin Our midweek services at Zion are held on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm with a supper beforehand. The suppers and services at Peace in Marshfield are held Wednesday evenings at 6 and 7 pm respectively. We hope you can join us.
Meditations’ next series of devotions beginning today will be found in the narthex. Copies of the daily devotions written by pastor this past week will be found there. Forward in Christ’s latest issue for March has also arrived.
Health Ordinance With Springfield and the Greene County Health Dept. extending the mask requirements until April, we will continue wearing masks in the worship service. You will find masks, disposable gloves, and sanitizer in the narthex and the fellowship hall for your use. Please, continue to watch your physical distancing, side to side and front to back. We are not passing the offering plate during the service at this time, but it will be found at the door upon leaving the sanctuary.
Upcoming Events
3rd Midweek Lenten Supper & Service at Zion – Thursday, March4 – 5:45 & 6:30 pm
The Week in Review
Last Sunday’s Worship Attendance: 18; Sunday Bible Class: 12; Midweek Bible Class: 5; Offering: $990. Midweek Lenten Service 2: Worship 13; Offering: $180.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
Third Sunday in Lent: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-22 (Series B)
Answers to Today’s Epistle Lesson Brief Study:
- We stand innocent before God in His court. We have peace with God. We have entrance into God’s grace. We rejoice because we are sure that we will share glory with God forever.
- It might surprise the world, but rejoicing in sufferings fits with faith in God’s promises. We know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces proven character, and proven character produces confident hope of eternal life.
- We were powerless; we were sinners; we were God’s enemies. Relying on Jesus’ blood, we’re none of those things anymore in God’s sight. We have God’s strength. We are holy in God’s sight. We are God’s friends.
This week I am praying for……
The Second Sunday in Lent – Series B
Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17 – Jacob Has to Flee His Home
10Jacob set out from Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and decided to spend the night there, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down to sleep in that place. 12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven. There were angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13There at the top stood the Lord, who said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I give to you and to your descendants. 14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15Now, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back again into this land. Indeed, I will not leave you, until I have done what I have promised to you.”
16Jacob woke up from his sleep, and he said, “Certainly the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17He was afraid and he said, “How awe-inspiring is this place! This is nothing other than the house of God, and this is the gate to heaven.”
Epistle Lesson: Romans 5:1-11 – Peace with God Through Faith
1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.
3Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, 4and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope. 5And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.
6For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us9Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation
Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:31-38 – Jesus Foretells His Death & Resurrection
31Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things; be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the experts in the law; be killed; and after three days rise again. 32He was speaking plainly to them. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But after turning around and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have your mind set on the things of God, but the things of men.”
34He called the crowd and his disciples together and said to them, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36After all, what good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38In fact, whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project.
