Last Sunday we talked about what we agreed to, the things that we said that we would do and be. I brought up two instances where you may have agreed to things: your confirmation and your participation in a new member celebration here at University Lutheran.

If you have been confirmed in a Lutheran church, you renounced the devil and all his works and all his ways. You also agreed to certain theological perspectives – such as that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, that the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed is what you believe, and that the Small Catechism is “faithful and true”. Additionally, you agreed to some actions and activities – you said that you would hear the word of God and receive the sacraments when they are offered. You said that you would live according to the Word of God and “in faith, word, and deed” remain faithful to God. And you said you would stay faithful in all of these promises even unto death.

As if that wasn’t enough, if you were ever installed as a new member here at University Lutheran, you answered “With the help of God, I will” to the following questions: New brothers and sisters, will you promise today to walk with us as brothers and sisters? Will you confess the same faith with us? Will you center your life around Jesus?  Will you live in community with us?  Will you study the Scriptures?  Will you engage the faith God has given you, trusting in Him? Will you recognize that all that you have, especially the forgiveness of sins which makes you a part of God’s kingdom, is a gift of grace that you receive gratefully?

And if you’ve ever been present at a new member celebration, you answered you would do all of the above with the new brothers and sisters, PLUS that you would “support, defend, and befriend them.” 

So how’s that going? I don’t have to look very far in that list to find that I have some work to do, so I’ll assume the same for you. You agreed to this stuff. You asked for God’s help, sure, but you also agreed to do them. It’s not like the reason that this stuff isn’t getting done is that God just is withholding His help. 

In fact, God is helping you quite a bit, even in your inactivity around what you agreed to. He is forgiving you – not just for the things you’ve done, but for the things “left undone,” like much of the list above. Christ’s forgiveness covers your inactivity as much (if not more than) your activity. And thank goodness, because we have agreed to much that needs forgiving. God is there to help in all sorts of ways, but especially in His forgiveness.