Devotion
Why did They Come?
As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led by Thee!
[TLH 127:1]
Why did they come…those wise men from the East? Why did they travel so many miles and apparently so many
months just to see a baby? They claimed to be seeking the baby who had been born “King of the Jews.” But why
such interest in a King of the Jews when Rome and other more powerful nations were in control of the world? The wise men
expended all that time and energy, because they were moved by FAITH! They knew of the Old Testament prophecies
proclaiming the coming of a Savior who would rule over all people in an everlasting kingdom. They believed the Gospel
message that someone—perhaps Daniel—had shared with their fathers so many years before. This Gospel message
had apparently been passed down among the wise men of the East and believed for generations!
Why did they come? They came because of HOPE! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). These wise men were truly wise! They understood that the great problems of
mankind—hatred, greed, selfishness, violence, and all forms of sin—proceeded from hearts darkened by
spiritual rebellion and separated from God. They realized that any and all hope lay outside the will and might of man
and would be found only in the grace and power of God revealed through the promised Savior. When the star appeared
announcing the birth of that Savior, they came with their hearts filled with hope that finally God’s solution had
come!
Why did they come? They came in view of their JOY! Their hearts were filled with joy when the star
appeared once again as they left Jerusalem to go to Bethlehem. They bowed with joy before the young Child when they
finally found Him. They worshiped their Savior in joy and presented their gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then
with joy in their hearts they returned to their country confident that the Lord who had fulfilled His promise would
indeed accomplish the redemption which the world so desperately needed and upon which they so desperately depended!
Why did they come? They came moved by FAITH, filled with HOPE, and overflowing with JOY! May
we too come and join all “wise men” in seeking out and worshipping our Savior and Lord, Jesus!
— Pastor Paul D. Nolting
Family Life in Christ
Encouraging Fathers
Part II
Editor’s Note: The following is part two of an essay presented at the
September 2005 Minnesota Delegate Conference. Part one appeared in the October
issue of the Immanuel Home Messenger. The author is Mr. Philip Strike, a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in
Okabena, MN. The article appears with Mr. Strike’s permission.
A third major role a father has is that of disciplinarian (the first two were leader and lover).
King Solomon revealed that it is the father who disciplines his son: “The Lord disciplines those He loves,
as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12).
There are many methods of discipline, as well as many attitudes about how discipline should be carried out. The
primary goal of Christian discipline is the salvation of souls, the directing of God’s children to Him. The best
way to accomplish this is through the proper use of the Law and the Gospel. “Train up [dedicate or start]
a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Discipline will
be most effective when it is consistent and when you really know your child (see next section).
Paul also tells us that it is ultimately the father’s role to be in charge of discipline. “Fathers,
provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the
LORD” (Ephesians 6:4). The first phrase is likely directed at the father because he is more apt to react to
problems out of anger. We need to remember to discipline with love, not with anger. Good discipline should begin with
self-discipline. Since the father is the one responsible and accountable, he is even to know what the mother does in his
absence.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, fellow representatives of God on earth, to take control of the discipline in your home.
In a practical sense, this means that a father, as the authority figure, should handle any situations that arise when he
is there. If mom handles any problems during the time while he is away, Dad should support the decisions made while he
was absent, and he should discuss in depth what has happened throughout the day, offering Spirit-directed advice and
help.
A fourth role a father should have is to be a companion with his children. This does not mean chumming
around with your children, being like them, or getting them to like you. What it does mean is to get to know your
children in a deep sense of the word friend. Probably the best way to do this is through spending time with
each of your children and learning as much as you can about them. Close interaction between parent and child will
nurture and grow the love between them, and children who know they are loved are much easier to discipline. In the book
The Five Love Languages of Children, authors Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D., suggest that there are
five different ways that children (and all people) give and receive love. When their “love tank” is full,
aspects of the child’s relationships with other people improve: communication, discipline, performance in school,
and other areas.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, fellow children of God, to be encouraging to your children. Learn to recognize and
encourage the fruit of the Spirit in them, “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Encourage your children to think of how to serve
the Lord in their lives: young men may have the abilities needed to become a pastor. Young ladies or men may show that
they could make a good teacher in our Christian Day Schools. Perhaps all they need is for someone (parents first of all)
to recognize their gifts and encourage them in that direction. We also need strong lay members in any congregation, and
helping children become independent Christians will add to their ability to contribute to a congregation using the gifts
with which the Lord has blessed them.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, fellow heirs of heaven, to get to know your children as much as possible. This means that
the father needs to discipline himself into a schedule of spending time with each of his children, boys and girls alike.
Whether it is time together at a special meal, being involved in a sport together, or some other activity, it will be
time well invested in your relationships with your children. A boy needs to see that Dad is the man he will become, the
husband he will be, the father he will be, the provider he will be for his family, the leader he will be in his church,
and the witness he will be in the world. Give your son a good standard to follow. Likewise daughters need to know their
dads. She will learn from her father what men are like. She will see in him the husband she will one day give herself
to, the father of her children, the authority figure she will submit to. It seems that often a girl will seek a husband
like her father. Become the kind of husband you would like your daughter to marry. More importantly, open up to them the
wonderful relationship one can have with our Heavenly Father. How much easier it will be for them to develop that bond
when they have a loving earthly father. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).
We all know that actions speak louder than words. A fifth role that a father should follow is to be an
example. This carries over into every aspect of one’s life.
I ENCOURAGE YOU, Christian friends, to continually show by your thoughts, words, and deeds that God is
number one in your life, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves
son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew
10:37-39).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to read the Bible, encourage others to do so, and apply it to daily life. “Listen,
my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding…Get wisdom, get
understanding…Hold on to instruction, do not let it go…” (Proverbs 4:1, 5, 13).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to forgive others as God in Christ has forgiven us. “For if you forgive men
their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to nourish and exercise your faith. “But as for you, continue in the things
which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have
known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”
(2 Timothy 3:14-15).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to be a witness for Christ to those around you. “So then, just as you
received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you
were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive
philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”
(Colossians 2:6-8).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to look for God’s hand in everything that happens, both good and bad. “Do
not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). “And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose” (Romans 8:28).
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined
by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you
have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1
Peter 1:6-9).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to have patience while waiting for the answers God provides. “And Moses said
to the people [at the Red Sea], ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He
will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will
fight for you, and you shall hold your peace’” (Exodus 14:13-14).
Remember how Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem when being threatened by the presence
of the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. He prayed to the Lord and reminded Him of His promises to give
the land over to the descendants of Abraham, finishing his prayer with “our eyes are upon You” (2
Chronicles 20:12). Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he addressed the people with comforting
words: “Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude,
for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle…stand still and see
the salvation of the LORD, Who is with you’” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17).
“Rest in the Lord , and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:7). “Be still,
and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).
“No temptation had overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may
be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to review what you learned during Confirmation classes from the Catechism, for it contains
the chief doctrines of Scripture. Luther writes, “Let each his lesson learn with care, and all the household well
shall fare.”
I ENCOURAGE YOU to admit when you are at fault and to show daily heartfelt repentance. “If we
say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to encourage family giving. “So let each one give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to choose with caution the books and magazines you read, the movies and television shows
you watch, and the music you listen to. “Whatever things are
true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is
anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
I ENCOURAGE YOU to care for your body. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and
that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). “Or do you not know that your body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a
price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Finally, I ENCOURAGE YOU to be encouraging to your family and to those around you, showing in all things
that you are a Christian. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do. But above all these things put on
love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in
one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians
3:12-17).
Now to Him who is able
to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power
that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Christian Education
The Education of My Child
Editor’s Note: The following is the second part of an essay by Pastor G.W.
Fischer. The first part of the essay was titled, “It is MY
Child” (Immanuel Home Messenger, October 2005).
God has placed my child into my care as a helpless, crying creature, entirely dependant on me for food, clothing,
protection, and guidance. All that it later is to be and do my child must first learn. To train this weak and helpless
child to become a strong and free man or woman is my divinely appointed duty as parent. It is my biggest job.
My child has inherited my sinful nature. If left to himself he will grow up to love sin, hate God, and become a
servant of Satan. The world that surrounds him will make every effort to lure him to the shrine of its lusts where body
and soul are sacrificed for life and eternity to the service of Hell.
In holy Baptism my heavenly Father has given my child a new life, redeemed him from the slavery and curse of sin,
separated him from the unbelieving and perishing world, and restored him to the eternal heritage of the children of God.
The duty to keep him in this baptismal grace God has placed upon me, the parent. I am to give him the “sincere
milk of the word that [he] may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2) and provide him with the Bread of Life. It is my
responsibility to use God’s Word in order to strengthen him against sin and error and all his foes which will
through his entire life seek to bring him under the dictatorship of Satan and draw him to Hell.
O Lord, grant me a full measure of Your Holy Spirit that I may measure up to so great a responsibility which You
have placed upon me: that my child which is now in the world be not of the world, but remain forever Yours. Amen.
…to be continued
—Pastor G. W. Fischer
From the archives
News & Notes
Expansion and Relocation Committee Request
The Expansion and Relocation Committee* has met and is in the process of discussing options that include
expanding/maintaining our current facility or relocating our facilities.
As a part of this discussion the committee would like to solicit information about available land in our area. If
you have land or know of land that might be available and which our congregation could acquire, please contact committee
members Mark Redlin (385-xxxx) or Karen Purrington (625-xxxx). You may also contact one of the pastors with information
or comments (Pastor Nolting — 387-7035, Pastor Eichstadt — 344-0898).
The committee values your input and would appreciate any information you are able provide. The committee is
praying for the Lord’s direction in its work so that as a congregation we will be able to plan well for the
future, be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, and continue His Kingdom work in and around Mankato.
Please keep these matters in your prayers as well!
*The Expansion and Relocation Committee was appointed by the congregation’s chairman at the
direction of the voters. The purpose of the committee is to evaluate last year’s feasibility study results and a
wide range of options for the congregation’s future facility plans. This committee will report to the voters and
make recommendations to the congregation.
The committee members are: Mark Redlin (chairman), Scott Kruse (Board of Deacons), Matthew Busch (Board of
Education), Jake Busse (Board of Property), Jim Buckley (Board of Finance), David Busse (Long Range Planning Committee),
Michael Wheaton (ILS Faculty), Karen Purrington, and Diane Lentz.
