Flipping Spiritual Ladders

By Paul Arndt missionary at large, The Receptive Life

The peace of Jesus to you and your home. Come what may, we do belong to Him and He abundantly gives all gifts needed for this life and the one to come.

On Monday, January 24th, I’ll be starting a new video series called The Receptive Life. It’s a spiritual framework and a daily practice that l have been using for over 30 years of pastoral ministry.

It has helped me …

  • defend against the attacks of the “unholy trinity” (the devil, the corrupt world, and our own sinful flesh)
  • fight using the Scriptures and all of the promises of the person and work of Jesus
  • and rest and receive all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give.

Here’s a video describing the core concepts behind The Receptive Life. In it I talk about …

  • two spiritual ladders: “performance” and “reception”
  • flipping ladders so that we can …
  • receive and make use of the person and work of Jesus

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Here’s the quote from the Lutheran Confessions that I mentioned in the video.

Thus the worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive from God gifts; on the contrary, the worship of the Law is to offer and present our gifts to God. We can, however, offer nothing to God unless we have first been reconciled and born again … the chief worship of the Gospel is to wish to receive remission of sins, grace, and righteousness.​…

the Gospel compels us to avail ourselves (make use) of Christ in justification … it (the Gospel) teaches that through Him we have access to God by faith; it teaches that we ought to set Him as Mediator and Propitiator against God’s wrath; it teaches that by faith in Christ the remission of sins and reconciliation are received, and the terrors of sin and of death overcome.​

Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article III (of love and the fulfilling of the Law), paragraph 170-171, Concordia Triglotta

The Receptive Life Digital Series Starts …

on Monday, January 24th

If you want these videos sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up for The Receptive Life email vlog in the button below.

Daily Email Vlog Sign Up Here

Here are some links to some recent posts …

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There are 6 Stations in The Receptive Life “Daily Practice”. You can start today. Just follow the steps below.

Daily Formation Practice

Here are the daily practices in PDF format:

Station 1: Make the Sign of the Cross and Say the Trinitarian Invocation

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Station 2: Pray the Morning and/or Evening Prayer

Luther’s Morning Prayer

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day, and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

(Luther’s Evening and Morning Prayers are taken from The Book of Concord, Triglotta, Small Catechism)

Station 3: Confession

As you prepare to examine your life, say …

Ps. 119:1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s law. (WEB-BE)

Ps. 119:133 Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me. (WEB-BE)

Ps. 119:176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments. (WEB-BE)

Examine your life according to the 10 Commandments.

You shall have no other gods.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

And then say one or all of the following …

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”

AND/OR

1 John 1:8-10: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (WEB-BE)

AND/OR

“O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto Thee all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended Thee and justly deserved Thy temporal and eternal punishment.

But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray Thee of Thy boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.” (The General Confession from The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941)

After making confession, comfort yourselves with the forgiveness of sins that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

• remember your Baptism,

• make use of the Office of the Keys

• attend the Lord’s Supper in the Divine Service on the Lord’s Day

Station 4: The Reading and Study of Scripture

As you prepare to read the Scriptures say …

Ps. 119:8: Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. (WEB-BE)

Ps. 119:97 How I love your law! It is my meditation all day. (WEB-BE)

Ps. 119:25 My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word! (WEB-BE)

And then read or study the Scriptures …

(a method or plan of your choosing)

  • Read through the Bible in a year
  • Read through the Psalms in a month
  • Read a book of the Bible
  • ​Treasury of Daily Prayer​

Station 5: Proclaiming the Lord’s Love in the Morning and His Faithfulness at Night (the Practice of “Commending”)

Psalm 92:1-2: It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, Most High, to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night (WEB-BE)

Station 6: Say (Sing) the Doxology and the Aaronic Blessing

the “Doxology”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

(Thomas Ken, 1674)

the Aaronic Blessing

“The Lord bless you, and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up his face towards you, and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 (WEB-BE)

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You can sign up for the Receptive Life email vlog in the button below.

Daily Email Vlog Sign Up Here

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All of the gifts that only the Triune God can give to you and your family,

Paul