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When Paul wrote to his co-worker Timothy that he was “bound with chains as a criminal” (2 Timothy 2:9), he knew well the situation he was in. The final chapter of Acts finds Paul as a captive in Rome, accepting this imprisonment as a prelude to his death. He writes to Timothy “the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6). In the centuries since Paul gave his prison witness, countless Christian men and women have been imprisoned for their Gospel witness. We are encouraged to be faithful witnesses in our time by Paul, who writes to his young associate Timothy: “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11–12a). Paul’s words from prison are good instruction for every situation!

When Paul wrote to his co-worker Timothy that he was “bound with chains as a criminal” (2 Timothy 2:9), he knew well the situation he was in. The final chapter of Acts finds Paul as a captive in Rome, accepting this imprisonment as a prelude to his death. He writes to Timothy “the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6). In the centuries since Paul gave his prison witness, countless Christian men and women have been imprisoned for their Gospel witness. We are encouraged to be faithful witnesses in our time by Paul, who writes to his young associate Timothy: “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11–12a). Paul’s words from prison are good instruction for every situation!

When Paul wrote to his co-worker Timothy that he was “bound with chains as a criminal” (2 Timothy 2:9), he knew well the situation he was in. The final chapter of Acts finds Paul as a captive in Rome, accepting this imprisonment as a prelude to his death. He writes to Timothy “the time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6). In the centuries since Paul gave his prison witness, countless Christian men and women have been imprisoned for their Gospel witness. We are encouraged to be faithful witnesses in our time by Paul, who writes to his young associate Timothy: “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:11–12a). Paul’s words from prison are good instruction for every situation!

This weekend on the Church calendar (September 16), the bishop Cyprian of Carthage is remembered. As a Church leader in the third century, a time of Roman persecution, Cyprian had to deal with the problem of Christians who denied the faith under persecution but later wanted to be restored to the fellowship of the Lord. Cyprian helped craft a response to the situation that was based on forgiveness, allowing a lapsed Christian to be reinstated after a time in which they lived out their restored faithful confession. His own faithfulness unto death was fully demonstrated as he was executed by Roman authorities for his Christian beliefs in AD 258. Speaking words of forgiveness and living them out can come with a price—but is Christlike in every way!

This weekend on the Church calendar (September 16), the bishop Cyprian of Carthage is remembered. As a Church leader in the third century, a time of Roman persecution, Cyprian had to deal with the problem of Christians who denied the faith under persecution but later wanted to be restored to the fellowship of the Lord. Cyprian helped craft a response to the situation that was based on forgiveness, allowing a lapsed Christian to be reinstated after a time in which they lived out their restored faithful confession. His own faithfulness unto death was fully demonstrated as he was executed by Roman authorities for his Christian beliefs in AD 258. Speaking words of forgiveness and living them out can come with a price—but is Christlike in every way!

This weekend on the Church calendar (September 16), the bishop Cyprian of Carthage is remembered. As a Church leader in the third century, a time of Roman persecution, Cyprian had to deal with the problem of Christians who denied the faith under persecution but later wanted to be restored to the fellowship of the Lord. Cyprian helped craft a response to the situation that was based on forgiveness, allowing a lapsed Christian to be reinstated after a time in which they lived out their restored faithful confession. His own faithfulness unto death was fully demonstrated as he was executed by Roman authorities for his Christian beliefs in AD 258. Speaking words of forgiveness and living them out can come with a price—but is Christlike in every way!

The word mentor can be both a noun describing a trusted counselor or a verb meaning to guide someone in new learning. The word originally was the name of a person from classical literature: Mentor was a friend of the Greek hero Odysseus who was entrusted with the education of his son Telemachus. You may have had special mentors throughout your life. We are reminded that Jesus our Lord is our best and most devoted mentor. A well-loved hymn by German writer Sigismund von Birken begins with these words: “Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure” (LSB 685:1). Jesus is our merciful mentor who gently leads us day by day along the path that leads to eternal life. We follow gladly in His footsteps!

The word mentor can be both a noun describing a trusted counselor or a verb meaning to guide someone in new learning. The word originally was the name of a person from classical literature: Mentor was a friend of the Greek hero Odysseus who was entrusted with the education of his son Telemachus. You may have had special mentors throughout your life. We are reminded that Jesus our Lord is our best and most devoted mentor. A well-loved hymn by German writer Sigismund von Birken begins with these words: “Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure” (LSB 685:1). Jesus is our merciful mentor who gently leads us day by day along the path that leads to eternal life. We follow gladly in His footsteps!

The word mentor can be both a noun describing a trusted counselor or a verb meaning to guide someone in new learning. The word originally was the name of a person from classical literature: Mentor was a friend of the Greek hero Odysseus who was entrusted with the education of his son Telemachus. You may have had special mentors throughout your life. We are reminded that Jesus our Lord is our best and most devoted mentor. A well-loved hymn by German writer Sigismund von Birken begins with these words: “Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure” (LSB 685:1). Jesus is our merciful mentor who gently leads us day by day along the path that leads to eternal life. We follow gladly in His footsteps!

When the Bible speaks of “enemies,” the language typically is not very pleasant. Positive thoughts and joyful emotions are not the natural responses to these discussions. At first glance, Romans 12:20 is one such passage. Paul points out that when we show love and kindness toward those who have done us wrong, we “heap burning coals” on their heads. Quite the mental picture! But wait! Look more closely! This kind of “head coaled” is actually a good thing! Along with every rebel who engages in warfare with God, we,too, deserve the heat of His wrath. Oursin merits His anger. Yet in Christ Jesus, the “coal” that has touched our lips and atoned for our rebellion is nothing less than the precious blood of Christ, by whose cross God converts His enemies to friends and gives them new life in His presence. If God loves us like this in Jesus, when we take up our cross to follow Him, we will love others, even our enemies. Why? It is because of the “head coaled” we have—the one by which enemies are loved and evil is overcome because our God is so very good

When the Bible speaks of “enemies,” the language typically is not very pleasant. Positive thoughts and joyful emotions are not the natural responses to these discussions. At first glance, Romans 12:20 is one such passage. Paul points out that when we show love and kindness toward those who have done us wrong, we “heap burning coals” on their heads. Quite the mental picture! But wait! Look more closely! This kind of “head coaled” is actually a good thing! Along with every rebel who engages in warfare with God, we,too, deserve the heat of His wrath. Oursin merits His anger. Yet in Christ Jesus, the “coal” that has touched our lips and atoned for our rebellion is nothing less than the precious blood of Christ, by whose cross God converts His enemies to friends and gives them new life in His presence. If God loves us like this in Jesus, when we take up our cross to follow Him, we will love others, even our enemies. Why? It is because of the “head coaled” we have—the one by which enemies are loved and evil is overcome because our God is so very good

When the Bible speaks of “enemies,” the language typically is not very pleasant. Positive thoughts and joyful emotions are not the natural responses to these discussions. At first glance, Romans 12:20 is one such passage. Paul points out that when we show love and kindness toward those who have done us wrong, we “heap burning coals” on their heads. Quite the mental picture! But wait! Look more closely! This kind of “head coaled” is actually a good thing! Along with every rebel who engages in warfare with God, we,too, deserve the heat of His wrath. Oursin merits His anger. Yet in Christ Jesus, the “coal” that has touched our lips and atoned for our rebellion is nothing less than the precious blood of Christ, by whose cross God converts His enemies to friends and gives them new life in His presence. If God loves us like this in Jesus, when we take up our cross to follow Him, we will love others, even our enemies. Why? It is because of the “head coaled” we have—the one by which enemies are loved and evil is overcome because our God is so very good

Throughout the Bible, we find God sculpting rocks, constructing with rocks, and protecting others by means of rocks. Ever the master architect, the Lord uses rocks to accomplish His purposes. More than that, the Lord Himself is our rock, the One in whom we have lasting and eternal security. “Built on the Rock the Church shall stand,” we sing (LSB 645:1). How do we stand? The prophet Isaiah tells us: “Look to the rock from which you were hewn” (Isaiah 51:1). When we see our God as the rock from whom we come and by whomourlives are built, we find that He alone is ourlasting foundation, our mighty fortress, and the reason why we gather to worship today.

Throughout the Bible, we find God sculpting rocks, constructing with rocks, and protecting others by means of rocks. Ever the master architect, the Lord uses rocks to accomplish His purposes. More than that, the Lord Himself is our rock, the One in whom we have lasting and eternal security. “Built on the Rock the Church shall stand,” we sing (LSB 645:1). How do we stand? The prophet Isaiah tells us: “Look to the rock from which you were hewn” (Isaiah 51:1). When we see our God as the rock from whom we come and by whomourlives are built, we find that He alone is ourlasting foundation, our mighty fortress, and the reason why we gather to worship today.

Throughout the Bible, we find God sculpting rocks, constructing with rocks, and protecting others by means of rocks. Ever the master architect, the Lord uses rocks to accomplish His purposes. More than that, the Lord Himself is our rock, the One in whom we have lasting and eternal security. “Built on the Rock the Church shall stand,” we sing (LSB 645:1). How do we stand? The prophet Isaiah tells us: “Look to the rock from which you were hewn” (Isaiah 51:1). When we see our God as the rock from whom we come and by whomourlives are built, we find that He alone is ourlasting foundation, our mighty fortress, and the reason why we gather to worship today.