Be sure you now the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.-Proverbs 27:23-27

My lawn sure liked the month of May. The cool nights with the warm sunny days really helped it to grow. I felt like I was constantly mowing the grass. Of course, some of that feeling about mowing may have to do with how much I like to mow the grass, which is, not very much at all! If I put off the mowing, the grass can easily get too long, and then it become a more miserable job. I could mow it now, or mow it later, but the difficulty in mowing it later is not worth putting it off.

You may well see spiritual parallels to this situation. For example, there is a parallel in admitting our sinfulness and our sins. You can admit you are a sinner now, or you can wait until Christ returns to judge the world. I might suggest that it will be easier to do now. If you wait, then the punishment for your sins will be fixed. When Christ returns he will judge you guilty and sentence you to eternal punishment.

Admitting your sins now does not seem all that pleasant. In fact, it is not something we come to do on our own. Only by the Holy Spirit working on us will we confess our sins and repent or turn away from them. Only God's efforts can bring us to the point of admitting our sins.

Admitting our sins requires us to also admit our guilt. We must admit that we deserve punishment. We also see the situation in which we are stuck. We are unable to save ourselves from the punishment our sins deserve. There is a gap; a missing piece; an unfound solution.

By God's work in us, we also know who fills that gap; who provides the missing piece and unfound solution. Yes, it is Jesus Christ. By admitting our sins, we see the need for Jesus in our lives. The Gospel fills the space. So, the Holy Spirit leads us to confess our sins, and then realize that Jesus satisfied the punishment we were due for our sins.

This Gospel is at work in us, causing us to grow. Just as the grass grows better under the proper conditions, we can also make conditions better for the Gospel to grow in us. Several opportunities exist for you this summer to make it a better Gospel growing season. Immediately this coming week is the Lutheran Women's Missionary League Convention for the Minnesota North District. It is close by in Alexandria and so is a fine opportunity for women to attend and provide "good growing weather." Child care is available. This event is June 4-6, with Friday evening being free.

Lutheran Island Camp runs several youth camps throughout the Summer, plus three family weeks. These family weeks are a great opportunity to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to work in the family.

A third opportunity that is nearby is the Lutheran Laymen's League International Convention, which will be held in Rochester this summer. This is a fine opportunity for men, their wives, and even their children to attend for a few days and provide "fertilizer" for the growth in their faith. There are many other opportunities and possibilities that are available. Ask Pastor Buchs if you need some ideas. May the Holy Spirit be at work in you this month.

May you be blessed by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 

Pastor Buchs