Today's Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 29:1-29; Matthew 18:21-35
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you know what the Lord's will is for your life? Perhaps you've heard that question asked. Usually it means something like, “Where will you go to college? What will you do for a job? Who will you marry? How many kids will you have? Will you travel to Africa to be a missionary?” The Lord's will is not to micromanage your life. You are surrounded by family, friends, teachers, a pastor, and others who love and care for you and will help you answer those questions. They are given to you by the Lord to do exactly that!
But what is the Lord's will? According to Paul it's NOT to get drunk but to be filled with the Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Not drunk on the Spirit! (Isn't it funny how some churches claim they have the Holy Spirit only when they're acting like they're drunk?) No, to be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with the Word and Sacraments—that is to be filled with Jesus.
To be filled with the Spirit is to hear the Spirit preach through your pastor that Christ has died for you and given His life to take away your sins and risen from the dead to bring you to life again on the Last Day.
To be filled with the Spirit is to know that you are baptized, a child of God, forgiven and living with God's name attached to you.
To be filled with the Spirit is to hear that blessed absolution in which your sins are declared forgiven and there is nothing standing against you with God.
To be filled with the Spirit is to eat and drink Jesus' body and blood and have Christ Himself living in you, ready to raise you up on the Last day.
To be filled with the Spirit is nothing else than to receive all of Christ's gifts in word, water, body and blood, and Christ Himself living in you and working through you. THAT is what God wants. That's His will, that you have that Spirit! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Creator, Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come, visit ev'ry humble mind; Come, pour Your joys on humankind; From sin and sorrow set us free; May we Your living temples be. (LSB 500:1)