Text: Psalm 16
In the beginning of Psalm 16, King David addresses the Lord, “I have no good apart from you.” The king recognized that everything he had was given to him by God. Like King David, all good things we have in this life come from our Lord. He blesses us with food, water, spouses, children, and friends. He endows us with talents that allow us to work, earn money, and serve Him.
However, as we age and become elderly, many of these blessings seem to disappear. Spouses and loved ones pass away. Our bodies and health fail us. Our savings dry up. We may no longer be able to take care of ourselves. In these dire moments of old age, it seems almost as if the Lord has abandoned us.
When King David faced difficult circumstances in his lifetime, he took refuge in the Lord who gave him counsel. When it appears that all is lost for us in our old age, we too can find refuge and counsel in our Lord. He not only gives us all blessings in this lifetime; more importantly, He gives us a beautiful inheritance through the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Through Christ our Lord, sin, Sheol, and the corruption of body shall not prevail against us. Instead, Jesus Christ has shown us the path of life by His death and resurrection. It is the path that leads to His eternal presence and the fullness of joy.
Let us pray: Gracious heavenly Father, through the frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes lonely days of old age, let us rejoice as we seek refuge in the cross and Word of Your Son, Jesus Christ, as we await the presence and fullness of joy in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.
(Carl Hingst, Sem IV)
Life Devotion
Text: Psalm 10:12-18
Focus Verses: “O God, life your hand; forget not the afflicted…to you the helpless commits himself” (v. 12, 14).
All of us can identify a time when we have felt helpless and alone—powerless to act and at the mercy of someone who has the capacity to decide our fate, whether it has been in a work setting, a situation with a friend, or circumstances in school. What a pitiful feeling to recognize that no matter what we do, someone else controls how things will turn out for us. The results can be anything from a feeling of discomfort to a life-changing action affecting our future for a very long time.
Consider being truly helpless and alone and unable to even vocalize opposition to someone who would exercise control over your very existence. This is indeed the case of the unborn. Yet the Psalmist recognizes that these humble little ones who have no voice cry out within the confines of God’s Word and He does hear them. Moreover, He not only hears them but also promises to give them justice and to remove oppression from them.
As those who have been given voice, we join the hue and cry to Him from whom this justice comes, that He may come swiftly and soon so that our unborn brothers and sisters who lay in bondage to this dark oppression may be soon released from its dark bands.
Let us pray: Gracious and loving Lord, we pray daily for Your protective hand to fall swiftly to preserve those who look to You for life. Though we may not be able physically to hear their voices, make our ears ache with their cries for aid which resound in Your Word. Be quick to answer their prayers and ours so that Your power and glory may be made apparent to all. In the name of Your Son, who died and rose again that all who believe in Him may live. Amen.
(Richard “Neely” Owen, Sem II)
Life Devotion
The Circumcision and Naming of our Lord
Text: Psalm 29
Focus Verses: “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness…O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might” (v. 1-2; Psalm 54:1).
Today the Church commemorates the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus; today we ascribe to the Lord the glory due the name of Jesus, which means “salvation.” At just eight days old, our Lord shed His holy blood in circumcision so that He might be placed fully under the Law of Moses, fulfilling it for you. At just eight days old, He was prophetically named “salvation” for you. Jesus, by His birth, sanctifies all life. From the tiny infant in the womb to the old man at death’s door, Jesus has lived through all stages of human life and sanctified it. And you, as a little baby, are brought into that name of Jesus by Holy Baptism. By your baptism, He sanctifies your life in His holy name. Salvation is placed upon you and all who are in Christ. As baptized children of God whose name has been given to us, we pray that in all places and at all times the sanctity of life would be upheld by all, that all would ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name.
Let us pray: Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law, and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit, that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(Kyle Brown, Sem IV)
Life Devotion
Text: Psalm 10:1-11
The devil, prowling around like a roaring lion, watches us, looking for weak spots that he may attack most effectively. Attacking when we are alone and separated from our flock, feeling like we have been forgotten, he whispers in our ear, “God has forgotten, he does not see you,” and, “There is no God, trust in yourself—you know what is best for you.” And so it begins for the lonely person, sick in the hospital, having been given a death sentence to live out until he dies. He hears the whispers, “It’s okay, you could still die with dignity—it’s your life, take control!”
These whispers saying that we are in control are often loud, coming at us from all directions. The soft word that it is, in fact, God who holds all things in His hand can get drowned out in all the noise. But when our ears fail, our eyes may see even more clearly the cross. We see that God Himself became man and came down from heaven to take control of all things, even death itself. He is Lord of all. He has made all of our life dignified until the end He brings—even through sickness and pain. We are His children. He never forgets His children. Satan’s words are just that: words, lies. Meant to cause us little ones to stumble. But our Father’s Word is truth, giving us strength to bear through—especially when our lives are out of control.
Let us pray: Lord of all, we confess that we are often deceived and believe that we are the authority in our lives, with control over all things. Please forgive us for falling into this trap of sin. We thank You, that You are the God who came down to us to fight for us and defeat Satan and eternal death, that we may die in the dignity of Your death and be raised up into the dignity of Your Life! In Jesus name. Amen.
(Brittni Brown, Deaconess Intern)
Life Devotion
Text: Psalm 8
God is mindful of man because He is the God with the human face. He cares for man because He is the God-man. In the incarnation He crowned humanity with glory and honor and anointed our humanity with His divinity, thereby making us one with Him. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many were made righteous. Sure, the law came and man sinned, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. As sin once reigned in death, grace now reigns through the righteous man, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord’s name is majestic in all the earth. He has built himself a majestic name in the God with a human face. The Son of Man is mindful of men. They are redeemed and they are called to grow up into sanctity. With His human hands, He placed the moon and the stars and pulled Eve from the side of Adam. And with those same hands, God Himself climbed upon the tree of life and gave Himself as the eternal sacrifice. He is mindful of His people. He knows the name of every miscarried, stillborn, and aborted child—those martyred by death and the devil. Man is not meant for death. He is meant for life. We mourn for those unborn martyrs who knew not life, and all the more for those who, because of faithless parents, had no chance to know the Man who is the Life.
Let us pray: Blessed Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have made humanity in Your image, which you received from the blessed Virgin Mary, and every breath we have is of Your grace. Grant that as You have created us in Your image and redeemed us in Your death, that we would grow into a sanctity that is worthy of the glory and honor with which You have crowned us. Through you, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
(Ian Kinney, Sem II)
Life Devotion
Text: Psalm 6:6-10
“A man with no enemies is a man with no character.”
~Attributed to American entertainer and salad dressing persona, Paul Newman.
To be yourself you’ve got to ruffle feathers and blaze your own trail. Imagine a lifetime of “It’s my way or the highway!” That’s exhausting. If this is the case, everyone is a hothead! It might seem like “hotheads,” those who scream the loudest, are the ones getting attention and succeeding in getting a message across.
Christians could spend a lifetime confronting and creating “enemies” of those who believe differently. Yet such a strategy would do no good for advancing the Gospel. Instead, God desires you to live and love everyone with gentleness. Still, you feel weary, worn down, and defeated—like you’re getting nowhere and not changing anyone’s mind.
But God hasn’t asked you to make enemies or shout louder than the opposition. Rather, He desires you to love with confident humility everyone who He has ordered into your life. Our true enemies are not those with whom we disagree, though we certainly grieve over those who oppose God’s will. What a relief! God has defeated our true enemies for us by Jesus’ death on the cross. The joy you know in Jesus’ saving work is of far greater value to your character and identity than being a hothead. With boldness, confidence, and a gentle spirit, you steadfastly share God’s loving will for human life to everyone—though they may shout and rage. God will handle the rest.
Let us pray: Almighty God, You sent Your Son to befriend us sinners who were once your enemies. By His humble death and steadfast love, even among His enemies, we are at peace with you. Grant to us humble and steadfast hearts of service, though they seem as weak and powerless. Help us to continually witness Your saving love to those who see You as their enemy. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Joseph McCalley, Sem IV)
Life Devotion
Text: Psalm 6:1-6
Trials and torments of despair crush those who search for answers. Why did this have to happen? What consequences are going to afflict me, O Lord? When anxiety and depression remain, a quick, “It’s going to be okay,” won’t suffice. Lives outside of us and life inside of us seem marked by evil works. And yes, this is the very weakness the enemy uses to craft opposites of love, mercy, hope, and healing.
The world tells you that your life and inward decisions are a matter of rights and freedom, yet such words end up driving our heart towards misery. In this cry, the psalmist’s prayer of realization displays our lives on the line, crying out for help. And in this cry the hands of our Creator Lord reach out for His troubled children. When our hands can no longer grip our own resolve, there is a Master Crafter who is the splint for our broken bones. Our high Deliverer, Christ Jesus, broke the bonds of death, unraveling the ropes of hell, to save those greatly troubled by sin, darkness, and death.
In your weakness His great mercy draws near, and it is here where He chose to redeem your soul from all shame and affliction. Faith that is greatly troubled, aware of our soul’s unmerited condition, clings to the merit of Christ alone who suffered God’s anger on the cross for our desperation.
Here, the greatly troubled receive the Great I AM’s rescue. Call upon Him and He will restore you. He reaches you from uncertainty and reveals mercy from the cross. For how long? Until He returns with sure life everlasting, uniting the grave-stricken with His steadfast promise: you are forgiven. Replacing your cries with blessed reunion.
Let us pray: Merciful Father, who comforts all the raging seas of life, bestow Your calming hand over all my regrets and strife, that I may hold fast to Your anchor which buries my sin, safe in the knowledge of the salvation and life everlasting which on the cross You dost win. Through Jesus Christ, my Healer, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
(Dan Schuetz, Sem II)
Life Devotion
Day of the Holy Innocents
Text: Psalm 54
Focus Verse: “O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by Your might” (v. 1).
Afraid that he might lose his throne, King Herod sought to kill the King of kings. The tyrant missed his mark, but the baby boys of Bethlehem were caught in the crossfire. Still today unborn baby boys and girls continue to pay the price for our sin. We have come to see our own children as obstacles, intrusions, and inconveniences. The children might sing, “O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by Your might,” but children have no voice, and they have no choice. We must be their advocates, even as Christ is ours.
Remember what we’re up against. In every ultrasound, Satan sees a picture of the baby Jesus; in every birth, a little Christmas. But don’t lose hope. Christ, the Son of David, comes as our true King. He has the power to help us, to uphold our lives. He who delivers us from sin and death has triumphed over Satan. Therefore, repent, and pray for the children’s deliverance.
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to be our King. Have mercy upon the little ones. Forgive us for what we have done and left undone. Embolden us to speak for the little ones, even as Your Son has spoken for us. Amen.
(Dr. Peter Scaer, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology)
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: CTSFW Devotions for Life
The CTSFW Life Team has created a devotional series written by second- and fourth-year seminarian and deaconess students, covering life from beginning to end. They hope to help people think about and pray for all people who live with and deal with life—all of us. We believe in the sanctity of life because of what Christ has done for our lives: coming to be born as a baby and eventually giving His life for us so that our lives would be made new by Him through our baptism. Our Lord has made our lives holy by giving us His life through His birth, death, and resurrection.
The series will begin tomorrow, December 28th, the day we remember the Holy Innocents; the day many young children were martyred in Herod’s search to destroy our Lord. Many young children are still being martyred today in a parent’s hope to rid themselves of an inconvenient problem. But we also struggle with destruction of life at the other end too. The elderly and sick are increasingly being told that what is best for them is to end their lives because they are an inconvenience and so we mourn for these lives lost as well.
The series will end on January 26th, the day the Fort Wayne March for Life will occur. Many in Fort Wayne, including many from the Concordia Theological Seminary, will participate in walking the streets of downtown Fort Wayne in order to call attention to the importance of protecting life at all ages and stages.
Thank you for joining us in prayer for our society and these many lost lives! The peace of our Lord be with you!
Convocation: IVF
It was a full house for today’s convocation on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), hosted by the CTSFW Life Team and taught by Dr. Donna Harrison, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist currently serving as Executive Director of the American Association of Prolife Obstetricians and Gynecologist (AAPLOG). Soft-spoken and eminently knowledgeable, Dr. Harrison has testified before the FDA, for multiple congressional hearings, and to the UN on the status of women. We are blessed to be able to claim her as a fellow Lutheran.
Dr. Harrison began her lecture with two warnings: 1.) That her job is not to answer theological questions but to provide scientific information (“I am likely to raise more questions than I answer,” she explained), and 2.) That the topic is a difficult one, bound up in the grief of infertility and the very real possibility that the facts she is presenting will hurt those who have already gone through the process of IVF. She urged anyone with questions or concerns to speak with her further.
She shaped her talk around several major claims made by supporters of IVF. That:
1. IVF is as natural as conception.
2. It’s safe for mothers.
3. It’s safe for babies.
Unfortunately, none of these are true. In natural procreation one egg is produced, sperm is naturally sorted, the womb prepares naturally for implantation, and God decides who lives. In IVF, 10-30 eggs are produced using a hormone to stimulate the ovaries, the doctor selects sperm based on which looks most viable, the womb has to be prepared artificially, and the Doctor decides which embryos live (which can include performing selective embryo reduction, in which a child growing in the womb is poisoned and killed with potassium chloride to keep things safer for the mother and other child or children who also successfully implanted).
Risks to the mother include Overian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (affecting 1 of 3 women), complicated deliveries, increased risk for ovarian cancer, and possibly increased risk for breast cancer. As to the babies, there are increased instances of preterm delivery and birth defects, including a 70% increased risk of perinatal death and a 4x increased likelihood of stillbirth. Furthermore, from a 20 year review of IVF in the UK, studies found that of the 3.5 million embryos created, only 1.3 million were transferred into the womb (meaning 61% were either discarded or frozen and stored). Of those transferred into the womb, 200,000 result in live births—meaning only 5% of the babies created through IVF were born.
Dr. Harrison urged the correct use of the word “baby” and “children” to stand in for embryo (“Every embryo is a child”) and the unscientific “fertilized egg” in these contexts. Take, for example, this quote:
“In the current practice of IVF, some patients may create more fertilized eggs than they need…”
Apply the correct language, and this is how it reads:
“In the current practice of IVF, some patients may create more [children] than they need…Human [children] that are discarded every day as medical waste from IVF clinics could be an important source of stem cells for research,” according to a team of researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston.
The financial cost is also high: $20-30,000 for each fresh cycle. Take into consideration that the live birth rate typically takes 3-5 cycles, you’re looking at a $120,000 bill. Doctors can cut down on costs by fertilizing multiple eggs at once (only $6,000-$11,000 per frozen, though only 3 of 10 embryos survive the thaw 100% intact), which is why IVF is done the way that it is. It is not economically feasible to do just one egg at a time; no doctors out there are doing so. And because IVF is a manufacturing process, a child isn’t so much a gift as a product. Dr. Harrison called it the “hubris of eugenics.” “When you look at your children as a product, you expect perfection,” she said. “There is an expectation of a perfect child, but every time a sinner is born.”
She added: “Never forget: IVF is an industry. It runs on business practices.” And while she firmly believes that the majority of her colleagues are compassionate individuals who truly want to help infertile couples have children, the financial incentives bring huge pressure and bias into the business. There are major financial incentives for sending women to IVF instead of the painstakingly slow and less lucrative option of NaProTechnologies, which seeks to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of infertility, so as to assist a couple in achieving pregnancy through the natural acts of procreation.
More and more pastors are routinely facing questions involving reproductive technologies. By understanding the science, our pastors (and deaconesses) are better prepared to apply God’s word to the realities of the IVF industry. For example, embryo adoption is touted as a moral solution (in fact, it was originally suggested by a doctor who is a member in AAPLOG alongside Dr. Harrison). And while it is unquestionably a good thing to rescue these babies from certain death, there is the possibility that it may increase the likelihood that a couple will choose IVF because they can justify their decision by feeling that they are also acting compassionately for others who struggle with infertility. So can we support embryo adoption without supporting the industry? “I don’t know,” Dr. Harrison admitted, looking out at the seminarians in the audience. “Those are the questions you’ll need to answer.”
Science itself cannot answer them. “Scientists only stop themselves after proving harm,” Dr. Harrison pointed out, adding that proving harm in the scientific community usually takes decades of research. “Science is unable to answer the question of ‘should we do this?’ It can only answer ‘Can we do this?’ We are desperately in need of theologians who can understand these issues so they can answer these questions.”
To learn more, visit www.aaplog.org. There are resources for finding pro-life physicians in your area (“Easier in the Midwest,” Dr. Harrison said. “Doctors on the east and west coasts are terrified of being outed and losing their jobs.”), and more information about the association itself and their position and research into abortion and life issues.