5TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In this same Savior, dearly beloved hearers.

The chief difference between a true Christian and a non-Christian or a false Christian is, according to God's Word, not so much the outward works as in the heavenly mind which all true Christians have. This we see in the admonitions we Christians are given in God's Word as well as. in the descriptions and confessions found in God's Word.

Thus Christ himself admonishes his Christians, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you;" Mt 6:33; once when someone wanted to follow Christ but first bury his father, Christ cried to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." Mt 8:22. Similarly Paul admonishes Christians, "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth," Col 3:2; and in another place, "Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Rom 12:2. Likewise Peter says to Christians, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Pet 2:11; and finally St. John admonishes, ."Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love, the world, the love of the Father, is not in him." . 1 Jn 2:15.

As we said, the descriptions and confessions of true Christians which we find in God's Word agrees with this. For example, Christ describes his Christians thus, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Jn 17:16. St. Paul expresses the same thing so, "Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ," Phil 3:20. "The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal 6:14. "Here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb 13:14.

From all this we see: true Christians are those kind of people who are still in the world only according to their body, but their spirit, their heart, soul, and mind is in heaven. They have already died to this world. This life upon earth they regard only as a journey through a strange land to heaven, their true homeland and fatherland. Their thoughts, wishes, and desires are directed to that blessed eternity. Everywhere they see God's finger and his secret guidance, working, and rule. Everything which they experience, and everything which happens in the church and in the realm of civil affairs they judge on the basis of the relation which all this has with their own salvation and with the salvation

of the whole world. It requires no special struggle to withdraw and keep away from the world and its vanities; on the contrary, they have lost their taste for these things; therefore, if they are drawn into the world against their will, they are ill at ease; everytime they are again lost in the world and amused by it, a painful homesickness soon seizes them; they behave, as David, says, like a child weaned of his mother. As Asaph says, their joy is that they cling to God and put their trust in the Lord God so that they declare all his works. Their happy fellowship is their fellowship with God in prayer and with their brethren in the faith in holy conversations and lovely spiritual songs. To hear, read, and study God's Word they do not regard a burden but a joy, as eating and drinking is for the hungry and thirsty. They do not flee from the thoughts of death; rather, they are a pleasant occupation. "As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work," Job 7:2 so their soul yearns for the end of this earthly life.

Well now, my friends, should not true Christians accordingly be most impractical people for this life and for this world? Should not their mind, directed only toward heavenly things, necessarily result in their being negligent and unfaithful in their earthly calling? Many would indeed believe this, and many enemies of Christianity, among others Emperor Julian the Apostate, have also actually raised this objection against Christianity: it cannot be the true religion because it makes people incapable of promoting the welfare of the world in temporal and earthly matters. But that is not true. The difference between and earthly minded man of the world and a heavenly minded Christian simply is not shown in outward works but only in the inner attitude.

Therefore, it simply is not true that heavenly minded Christians are unfaithful in their earthly calling; in fact, they alone show true faithfulness. This we see from our today's Gospel in Peter's example. Therefore, let the study of his example in this story be the subject of our today's devotion.

The text. Luke 5:1-11.

In this glorious Gospel, which is more lovely than others, we are told of a miracle the which, if Christ would have done no others but this one alone, would be sufficient to refute unbelief and incontestably prove that Christ could not possibly be a mere man but truly must have been the almighty Son of God whom he claimed to be; for no one can do such a miracle unless God is with him, and, therefore, everything which he says is the divine irrefutable truth. However, today we want to direct our attention chiefly to Peter with whom Christ is dealing. On the basis of Peter's example permit me now to present to you:

THE HEAVENLY MINDED CHRISTIAN IN HIS EARTHLY CALLING and I will present two points:

I. How He Acts in His Earthly Calling,

II. How One Becomes Such a Christian.

Lord Jesus! You have said, "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much," Lk 16:10. Thus you testify to us that you wish to know from our attitude in our earthly calling whether we have accepted the heavenly calling. Oh help us so that we do not refuse to listen when you hold up to us the mirror of your Word. If your Word condemns us, oh preserve us so that we will not renounce you! It is your will that we judge ourselves so that some day you will not have to judge us. It is your will that here we lament over our misery so that some day we can rejoice in eternity; that here we humble ourselves so

222 5th:Sunday after Trinity

that some.day we will be exalted; that here we weep so that there we can laugh. Oh, therefore, cause your Word to be in us all a savor of life unto life, a medicine for the sick, strength for the weak, and a seal for the strong. Hear us, oh Jesus, for the sake of your holy saving name. Amen.

I.

My friends, the first thing which we see in our Gospel about Peter is that he worked diligently in his earthly calling. At that time he was already converted to Christ for almost a year, but since Christ had not yet called him into the office of the ministry, he not only remained in his calling as a fisherman to which his father Jonas, who also was a fisherman, had dedicated him from a child, but after his conversion he also proved himself to be only the more zealous in his calling. Therefore, according to our Gospel he was not only found by Christ busy at diligently washing his nets, but he could also say to Christ about himself and his companions, "Master, we have toiled all the night," v.5; yes, when Christ commanded him to sail out to deep water in broad daylight and let down his nets, he did not excuse himself by saying that he had already worked the whole night and now deeded the day for rest, but he followed the call for new labors without delay.

See from this: a converted Christian reveals his heavenly mind not by despising and being derelict in his earthly calling, or by only praying and concerning himself with God's Word instead of working, nor by going from house to house and trying to convert others. Much less will he be idle and live on the benevolence of others, or even by usury or all kinds of speculations earn his money and goods in order to be able to live on the labors of others without himself laboring.

No, his heavenly mind shows itself in the very fact that he is so much the more diligent in his earthly calling. At times he indeed allows himself to relax but this he does not because he is lazy or loves pleasure but to become so much the more fit and alert for new labors in this way. Time has now become most precious; every hour in which he is unnecessarily idle he regards as a great loss and he begs God for forgiveness for this. Moreover, if a heavenly minded Christian is working for others, his boss can rely on him. Not only is there no better church-goer than a heavenly minded Christian, but there is also no better servant and no better maid, in short, no more diligent, careful, and faithful worker than such a Christian. The more heavenly minded he is, the less he is ashamed of the humblest earthly work, and if it is the washing of dirty fishing nets.

However, my friends, not only does our Gospel tell us that converted Peter labored diligently but also the reason for his diligent labors. When Christ commanded him to set sail for the high seas in broad daylight and throw out his net, this was something completely contrary to his reason and experience. As an experienced fisherman he knew that if one wanted to be a successful fisherman, he must work in the night and near the shores. But what did he do? He says, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." V. 5. This lets us cast a glance into the kind of heart and mind with which Peter was generally accustomed to do his work. He labored so diligently because he knew that this was God's Word and will; hence only in obedience to and trust in God.

There you see another characteristic which a heavenly minded Christian shows in his earthly calling; it consists in this, that the reason why he works is that God has thus commanded it, and because in doing his work he hopes for God's assistance and blessing. In matters concerning the flesh the non-Christians are

often like the Christians, yes, even surpass them; however, in matters concerning their reason for working, earthly minded people and heavenly minded Christians are as different from each other as heaven is different from, the earth.

If an earthly minded person works diligently, he does this either from a natural pleasure in work, or out of necessity, or to become rich or honored by his work, and in trust in his own diligence and cleverness. But a heavenly minded Christian works because God has said, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread," Gen 3:19, and "Thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands." Ps 128:2. A heavenly minded Christian also finds a natural joy in work and thus he also earns his daily bread, but that is not the real reason why he works. Much less is his reason that he wants to become rich or honored. Rather, he works because it is God's ordinance that everyone should eat. his own bread and do something which is profitable to his neighbor.

Earthly minded people always choose that calling in which they have the least trouble and the greatest pay; in our times and especially in this country most would rather be merchants because they think that in this way they can the most easily earn great treasures and quickly become "big shots." A heavenly minded Christian chooses that calling in which he believes he can become useful to the world according to his gifts and inclinations. If .he is a merchant, he regards himself in this calling as in any other only as a servant of his neighbor and thus turns his earthly calling into a holy worship. Therefore, he will not stock mostly those wares which bring him the most returns but which his neighbor needs. However, whilst he wants to serve only God and neighbor in his work, he expects blessings on it only from God. He carries on his calling in faith. If he earns much by his work, he does not ascribe this to himself but only to God's goodness and, therefore, does not become proud; on the other hand, if with Peter he must labor even the whole night in vain, he does not despair, does not immediately change his calling but regards this as a divine test of his faith, his love, and his hope and patience, and continues in faith.

There is one more thing which we must admire in Peter in our today's Gospel. He had worked the whole night and had caught nothing, had only wearied himself and ruined his nets, hence had suffered only harm; then Jesus comes along and demands that he loan him his ship for a chancel and for this purpose row a bit from the land. Now Peter did not think: I have already lost so much time and cannot possibly let myself be uselessly disturbed in my work; I have to make up what I lost; no, he immediately laid aside his nets, did what Christ commanded him, and devoutly listens to his sermon. Yes, after.he at Christ's word had taken a miraculous catch of fish and Christ told him, "From henceforth thou shalt catch men," that is, now called him into the office of the ministry, Peter did not think for a moment, immediately left everything, and from now on followed Christ and remained his servant until his bloody martyr's death.

There you see the third sign of a heavenly minded Christian in his earthly calling! It consists in this, that no matter how faithful a Christian is in his earthly calling, he not only does not neglect his heavenly calling in preference to his earthly calling, but he always prefers the heavenly to the earthly. Whilst earthly minded people ignore their heavenly in preference to their earthly calling and, if they are admonished to be zealous in prayer, in public services and family devotions, and in matters of God's kingdom, they often use their earthly calling to excuse themselves and thus abuse the proverb: Serving people precedes divine services, heavenly minded Christians rather reverse this and follow the principle: Church services come before serving men.

First of all, therefore, such Christians do not unnecessarily accept such

earthly callings which hinder them in their divine services and is dangerous to their souls; if they thoughtlessly become involved in such a situation, they again try to free themselves from it even at loss to themselves. They wish to enter no field of business, and if thus they could earn all the treasures of the world, concerning which they could not pray every morning to God for his blessing and say: Lord, "at thy word 1 will let down the net." And then they think: as necessary as my earthly calling may be, the work and concern for my soul is still infinitely more important. They think that there must be time for hearing and pondering God's Word and for prayer. They think: if God would let me become sick, I would have to let my work and my earnings go; why shouldn't I do this joyfully and willingly for the sake of God and my soul? If they must suffer harm in earthly things in order to hear and ponder upon God's Word, they do not regard this as a loss at all but as gain. They figure this way: first I am a Christian and a member of the church, then I am a father of a family and a citizen of this world; first comes the soul, then the body, first the life to come and eternity, then this temporal life; first salvation in the world to come, then my progress in this world. Therefore, if a heavenly minded Christian can convince himself that God calls him into the preaching or teaching ministry, he joins Peter in forsaking his most profitable earthly calling and his most brilliant position without consulting with flesh and blood and joyfully becomes a poor, despised worker in Christ's vineyard.

II.

Nevertheless, my friends, where does one find such heavenly minded Christians? Alas, sad to say, they are only all too few! Countless call themselves Christians and in the first place are not once diligent and faithful in their earthly calling, or they are so but not for the proper reasons, or they trifle away their heavenly calling in favor on their earthly. And yet only heavenly minded Christians are true Christians and only they are on the way to heaven! Therefore, permit me in the second place to show you how one can become such a heavenly minded Christian.

Of course, Peter's conversion is not described in our Gospel but none the less it is clearly enough indicated how he became the heavenly minded Christian he was. We are told: when contrary to all expectation and contrary to the course of nature he made a miraculously rich catch of fish, a shivering and shaking fell upon him; he "fell down at Jesus' knees, saving, Depart from me: for I am a sinful man, O Lord." V. 8. Thus we are given the key to the mystery of the heavenly mind which Peter clearly had. It is plain that this mind had its basis in this, that Peter had arrived at a living, deep knowledge of his natural sinfulness and unworthiness and the great grace and friendliness of Christ. Ever since Peter had arrived at this knowledge, ever since he cared no more for this world but only for his soul; ever since he had come to regard all earthly things as matters of secondary importance and the heavenly as the main thing; ever since he was afraid of every sin as of hell and there dwelt in his heart the inner yearning to live completely to his God who has forgiven him so much; ever since then he had no greater wish than this of not losing God's grace, in short, ever since then he was a heavenly minded Christian.

And my friends, that and no other is the way upon which also every other person alone can become a heavenly minded Christian.

If by God's grace a person notices that he still has an earthly mind and that, therefore, in this condition he could never please God and be saved, if he has the longing to become a heavenly minded Christian, it does not; help him at all if he ever so firmly resolves to lay aside all earthly attitudes from now on

and become heavenly minded. Such good intentions help as little as a dead person can make himself alive by good intentions, a blind person can make himself see, a deaf-mute can make himself hear and talk, a lame walk. Nor is it enough for a person to beseech God for a heavenly mind. If this fruit should grow upon the tree of a human heart, the entire tree must be refashioned and improved, receive a different sap, another nature, another essence. However, this miraculous change does not take place in a person until he learns to fall at Jesus' feet with Peter and cry out from the depths of his heart, "I am a sinful man."

Therefore, my dear hearer, if you wish to become a heavenly minded Christian as Peter was, you must not only read and hear God's Word diligently but also and above all seek to know from it what a great sinner you are and how gracious and friendly Christ is toward you. If you wish to know this, you must not read God's Word only superficially but with the inner desire for enlightened eyes of understanding and with the constant prayer: Oh, Lord Jesus, open my eyes that I may know myself and you aright. And you must be in earnest. In your heart you must say as did Jacob, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Gen 32:26.

If a person is sincere, God will grant him his prayer, giving him a heart, which keenly knows its sinfulness, a heart sorrowful and broken because of it, and the blessed certainty that Jesus the Savior of sinners is also his Savior. And blessed is that person who really and truly experiences this! For if this has taken place, the person is then also free from the dominion of his natural earthly attitude and a truly heavenly mind enters into his soul.

Such a person no longer wishes to seek that which is on earth, for delight in vanities has disappeared in him; his soul thirsts for heavenly things, for in the grace of Jesus God has given him a foretaste of eternal life; he who enjoys this foretaste, for him all the sweet vanities of the world is as bitter as gall and he flees from them, whilst wretched worldly hearts flit like butterflies from one flower of joy to the next until bitter death ends their fleeting brief joys forever.

Ah, my friends, do not deceive yourselves! Remember: those who once were Christians are the very ones who can the most easily deceive themselves, because they still know how Christians behave, speak, act, and walk outwardly; remember however: the kingdom of God does not come, as Christ says, with outward observations and does not consist, as Paul writes, of words but in power, that is, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Therefore, a person can do and omit everything which true Christians do and omit, he can be zealous in God's Word and prayer, and live in greater retirement from the world - and yet not be a true Christian. For as was said, not outward behavior, not Christian speech, no work, no walk, in short, nothing outward makes one a Christian but only his new heavenly mind with which he not only goes to church but which he applies even to his earthly calling. His treasure, Christ, is in heaven, therefore, his heart is also there.

May God then grant us all here such a heavenly mind and some day through the grace of Jesus the glory of heaven itself. Amen.