Redeemer Lutheran Church

Devotional Meditations: Life in the Body of Christ July 12, 2026
Rev. M.L. Smith

Dear Friends in Christ Jesus,

Today we continue our meditations on “Life in the Body of Christ” written by Rev. Mark Smith, Lutheran Church Canada’s Director of International Missions. Our first meditation is titled:

Confession and Absolution: A Word of Mercy
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

There is no burden heavier than guilt. The conscience that knows its sin, the heart that aches with regret, the soul weighed down with shame – these are cries for mercy. And thanks be to God, He answers. He does not leave you in your guilt or force you to carry your sin alone, nor does He turn away in silence. He speaks forgiveness, out loud, for you. This is the gift of Confession and Absolution.

To confess is not to inform God of something He does not already know. It is to come before Him in honesty, to lay your sin bare, to admit what you have done and what you have failed to do. It is to say, with the tax collector, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). And in return comes not condemnation, but the voice of the Lord: “Your sins are forgiven.”

God’s Word Declares You Clean
Absolution is not a vague feeling or a personal hope. It is a concrete Word. When the pastor, called by Christ’s Church, says “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” this is no vain hope: it is God Himself speaking through human lips with divine authority and certainty.

As Luther writes in the Small Catechism, “Confession has two parts: first, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.”

This is grace made personal. Your sins are real, but even more real is the voice of Christ who says, “Your sins are forgiven”. (Mark 2:5)

Freedom Through Forgiveness
To live in daily repentance is to live in daily freedom. You are not condemned. You are not defined by your failures. You are not chained to your past. Christ has carried your sin to the cross. He has died your death. He has been raised for your justification. And now, in confession and absolution, He delivers His victory over sin and death directly to you.

This is why the Divine Service begins with confession. Before we sing, before we listen, before we receive, we begin by acknowledging our sin: our need for mercy, our need for Christ. And in return, He speaks His word of pardon in our ears: “I forgive you.” Not someday. Not maybe. Now, fully, freely, forever!

Private Confession, Pastoral Care
Though not required, individual confession before the Pastor is a great comfort and help. Here, in a quiet room or kneeling at the altar, without shame or fear, you may name your sin and hear God’s absolution spoken directly and personally. This is not an act of despair, but of faith. It is not a burden, but a release. The Church offers this not to shame sinners, but to heal them.

Whether in the liturgy or in private, absolution is God’s chosen means to forgive, comfort, and restore. Here the sinner finds peace, the weary find rest, and the broken are made whole.

Christ Bore Your Sin – You Bear It No More
You are not left to carry your sin alone. Christ has carried it all. What the devil would use to accuse you of, Christ has already erased. What your conscience holds against you, Christ has covered with His blood. You are forgiven. You are free. Go in peace.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. (Romans 8:1)

Let Us Pray:
Merciful Lord, I confess that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed. I have not loved You with my whole heart, and I have not loved my neighbour as myself. I thank You that in Christ You do not count my sins against me. Speak Your word of forgiveness into my heart again. Let me live in the freedom of Your grace and teach me to forgive as I have been forgiven. Amen.

HYMN # 606 “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”

Our next meditation is:
The Pastoral Office: A Servant of Christ
“This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

In every generation, God provides shepherds for His flock. He calls and sends pastors – not to entertain, impress, or manage—but to preach the Word, administer the Sacraments, and care for souls. The Office of the Holy Ministry is not a human invention. It is Christ’s gift to His Church; a continuation of His own shepherding work among His people.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did not leave His Church empty-handed. He gave “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). He sent them to feed, guide, correct, and comfort. He put His Word on their lips and placed His authority in their hands; not for their glory, but for your good.

Stewards of the Mysteries
Pastors are stewards, not owners. They do not preach their own opinions, but Christ’s doctrine. They do not forgive sins by their own power, but in the name of Jesus. They are not free to shape the Church according to their desires but are bound to. Scripture.

And yet, what a gift this office is! In every faithful sermon, it is Christ Himself who speaks. In every baptism, Christ is the One washing. In every absolution, Christ declares forgiveness. In every celebration of the Lord’s Supper, it is Christ who feeds His sheep. The pastor is but the instrument; the Lord remains the true Shepherd.

The Pastor and the Flock
Your pastor is not perfect. He struggles with sin, weakness, and temptation, just like you. And yet, he is placed among you by Christ to preach law and gospel, to comfort the afflicted, to rebuke the proud, to intercede in prayer, and to bring assurance to the dying. He has been entrusted with a task that no one takes up lightly: the care of souls purchased by the blood of Jesus.

Honour your pastor; not because he is better than others, but because he bears the yoke of Christ’s call. Pray for him. Support him. Receive his ministry with humility and gratitude. And if he is faithful to the Word, know that Christ is near and at work.

A Ministry for You
The pastoral office exists not for status, but for service. It exists so that you may be baptized, taught, absolved, communed, and comforted in Christ. The pastor’s task is to lead you to the cross and back again every week. His work is hidden and humble, but it delivers the treasures of heaven.

And when you hear him speak Christ’s Word, take heart. Whether in the pulpit or at the deathbed, whether in catechesis or counsel, it is Christ who stands behind the office: serving you, forgiving you, and calling you His own.

“And I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15)

Let us pray:
O Lord of the harvest, You send workers into Your vineyard to preach the Gospel and care for Your people. I thank You for the gift of my pastor and for the faithful ministry of Word and Sacrament. Grant him strength, wisdom, and joy in his calling. Keep him steadfast in Your truth and let me receive his ministry with humility and thanksgiving. Let Your Church be built up through the shepherds You send, until we all reach the fullness of life in Christ. Amen.

HYMN # 681 “Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit”