Festival of David Henkel, Pastor and Confessor
Posted on June 15, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 10:26-33 (NKJV)
10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
Devotion
When Jesus sent His disciples to preach, He commanded them not to fear those who would persecute them and His Word. Instead, they were instructed to confess Christ before such men.
When Rev. David Henkel founded the Tennessee Synod, he did so because many Lutheran Synods of his day had begun to compromise the confession of the Church. This is the same confession that Christians always are to cling to by faith. Jesus told His disciples, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” Rev. Henkel, by God’s grace, knew that this was not just a mere suggestion on the part of our Lord. It may have been easier to compromise, but David Henkel chose the hard way: the faithful way.
Let us continue to pray that we make a good confession and, even more so, that pastors feel the same convictions that Pastor Henkel felt: to never compromise the confession of Christ before men.
Prayer: O Lord, hear our prayers to Thee on this day of David Henkel, Thy Confessor and Pastor, that as Thou didst lead him to render faithful service to Thee, Thou wouldst lead us to faithfully confess our hope in Thy salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
