“Then he said, I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again…” Genesis 46:3-4

Though he would leave Canaan [the land to which the Lord had promised in Gen12], Jacob departs for Egypt with the Word. Not just any word but the word of God. In the same way, we too proceed in the Word as Jesus says, “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age” [Mt28:20]. However, though God gives us His promises, we still face the spiritual struggles of the world, the flesh and the devil that attempt to bury us in fear. “Do not be afraid”, the Lord said to Jacob because God is with him. Of course, we can all agree how comforting this promise is yet when we encounter suffering [physically and spiritually], we soon find ourselves frightfully fleeing our frail flesh rather than the Word.

Luther writes, “But we are taught by this example that nothing should be undertaken and attempted contrary to or without the Word of God. Therefore we should arrange our life in such a way that we are sure of walking according to the rule of the Word, whether we are awake or asleep. Finally, we should know that everything we do is of God, who commands, calls, and blesses. For human life is most wretched and is subject to the devil, death, and countless trials, full of the most burdensome troubles and hardships. Therefore it is necessary for the godly to be fortified by the Word of God against Satan, sins, and dangers” Luther’s Works Vol 8:82

At a recent pastor installation that I attended, I heard the preached word based on Acts 20:28, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood”. Though this biblical text refers to pastors and overseers, in a broader scope, all the faithful ought to be spiritual aware of the battles that are before them. And therefore, we must ask ourselves, “Am I arranged by the Word?”

Being arranged by the Word is the most important arrangement in your life. Though we see eating, drinking, working, sleeping as essential arrangements, the Word is vastly more important than these. Do you believe this? Of course, the world, the flesh and the evil foe will offer you arrangements that are not of the Word, that even seem palatable for you. But then again, we must ask ourselves, “Am I arranged by the Word?” or, “Am I arranged by the flesh, the world and the sinful flesh?”.

This is the spiritual battle that we face. At times, we are so caught in ourselves that we fail to see the idols that are arranging us. And soon enough the busyness, the priorities, the schedules, the covetous flesh [the list goes on and on] become the arrangement rather than God and His Word.

Friends, I encourage you to always be in the Word. For this Word, from the Law to the Gospel, is not dead but living. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the Word convicts [2 nd use of the law] but also comforts you in the righteousness of Christ: the forgiveness of all you sins. So continue to be in the Word, attend the Divine Service every Sunday, join us for bible study, read the scriptures daily and pray, pray and pray even more. For by His Word you are arranged.

Have a blessed November

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-11-Newsletter.pdf

“Learn, yea, learn, I say, what a treasure you have in the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ: that there is no other help and aid against the devil, sin, and eternal death than to cling to the Word of Christ, that is, to believe His promise and to take Him at His word” – Martin Luther

For the past seven years, it has been a great honor and joy to be your pastor. Of course, a pleasure it has been to get to know each and every one of you. Our chats in passing after Sunday service, our discussions at church bible studies, or even after surgery or sickness in the hospital or home. These are wonderful moments in ministry. Yet even more so, it has been a great blessing to preach and teach the Word to you.

As we began the Didache Sunday bible study several months back, I have seen the attendance grow. And yes, increased numbers are always a blessing to see, yet the greater blessing is how the Word is working as we study the scriptures and relish in what it means to be truly Lutheran. For just as Luther says, “what a treasure you have in the Word of our Lord Christ”. Indeed, this is the beauty of Lutheran doctrine for it is truly only about Christ and what He has done for you. This is not a catchphrase or pious platitude but rather, in Christ, this is the totality of who we are as we live move and have our being. And thus, for those who have been attending, it has been a blessing to converse and discuss the Holy Scriptures and the catechism with you. This has always been a prayer of mine that we are united in doctrine, rooted in the faith together, that we are attending the Divine Service consistently, and studying the Word together [Sundays and midweeks]. For, at the end of the day, whether it is the preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments, you will hear and receive Christ for you. Therefore, I encourage you to make it a priority to attend church and one [or even two :)] of our bible studies. I know we are all busy but in these gray and latter days, we need to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word of Christ. “There is no other help and aid against the devil, sin, and eternal death than to cling to the Word of Christ”.

So come one, come all.

This is my encouragement and prayer to you.

Have a blessed October

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-10-Newsletter.pdf