“Seeing things from god’s “mission-victory” point of view!”

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

When it comes to the things that really matter in life and for life, God has accomplished all of it for us in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that? Well, from the Bible’s point of view, that is the issue. Solving the seminal problems of humanity, our brokenness and sin, is an issue in need of a “God-sized” solution. With the person and work of Jesus— His life, His death, and His resurrection—those issues are overcome for “salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” This victory is offered to all those who put their faith in God. Only God himself can redeem us and restore us to Himself, as well as to one another, and he has done so through Jesus, the Lamb of God. Politics can’t save us, technology can’t save us, and economics can’t save us. Only God can do that and He has done so! Revelation helps us see clearly how things are and how things will be when Christ is the center of our lives.

That’s why it continues to amaze me that there are people who think that places like Washington, D.C., can make that “God-sized” solution happen. After five years in our nation’s Capital, I’m even more astonished by the posturing and bodacious promises of certain leaders here. They “guarantee” community and personal fulfillment, even while violating God’s clear commands via their public policies. I even heard one politician calling her party the “Matthew 25 Caucus,” as if government can accomplish what God’s people and God’s church are called to do. Politics becomes the “siren” call to put our trust in them. Unfortunately, we all tend to put our faith in people or things that can’t or won’t come through when it really counts. Today we tend to put our “faith” in government institutions, policies, business, wealth, personal status, and even our own best efforts. The Bible warns us that such things are always a recipe for disappointment and disaster.

As human beings, when all is said and done, people want to love and be loved. We want a life that matters, especially to those who are dear to us. We want to be “bonded” together by someone or something that really holds through thick and thin, for now and forever.

Our lesson for today shouts with a loud voice where that “salvation” is to be found. It is offered to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and His message of forgiveness, life, and salvation accomplished through His cross and resurrection. This common truth is a reality that not only binds us to God, but also to each other. The offer in Revelation is more than a hopeful thought or wishful thinking. The Apostle John actually reports that He is “seeing” the way things will be in heaven because of the person and work of Jesus. People from every tribe and every nation are seen bonded together in community and love, because “salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,” Jesus. That’s a message of hope for all, and one that we will one day see for ourselves. Amidst all of the broken promises of today, God’s “mission- victory” offers a real community that lasts. Put your faith in Jesus. He won’t disappoint; that’s a promise.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to see with “eyes of faith” the reality of community and love that only You can make available to a world that is eternally broken by its selfishness and sin. Help us to see that gift for our lives, and for the lives of those we love and cherish. AMEN.

See Also
August Bulletin Insert
August Bulletin Insert

The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

August 2025 Bulletin Blurbs
August 2025 Bulletin Blurbs

The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

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Today’s reading is Luke 10:30-37, where Jesus responds to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”    

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denariic and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Today’s reading is Galatians 6:9-10, where the Bible says,   

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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Prayer Partner Thursday provides a month-long prayer emphasis in one of the four Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty areas of emphasis: Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Educational Freedom, and Marriage as an Institution (family).

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26 So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

July Bulletin Insert
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The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

July 2025 Bulletin Blurbs
July 2025 Bulletin Blurbs

The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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However, the warning must not stop there. Because it is a form of public and intentional sin, cohabitation is particularly destructive to the conscience, and not just to the couple’s conscience but also to the conscience of the Christian community. Many couples view their choices as going no further than themselves. I would like to challenge this by considering some of the ways that cohabitation harms the broader Christian community.

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Today’s verses are 2nd Corinthians 5:19-20, where St. Paul says, 

19 That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting man’s sins against them. And He has committed to us this ministry of reconciliation, 20 for we are God’s ambassadors, as though were making His appeal through us, be reconciled to God!

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June Prayer Partner Thursday
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Prayer Partner Thursday provides a month-long prayer emphasis in one of the four Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty areas of emphasis: Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Educational Freedom, and Marriage as an Institution (family).

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9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

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June Bulletin Insert
June Bulletin Insert

The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

June 2025 Bulletin Blurbs
June 2025 Bulletin Blurbs

The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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Today’s reading is these portions of John 21:15–19, beginning with Jesus asking Simon Peter,    

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me? ”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. ”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep….. 19… Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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