Missionary at Large Update … January 2022

By Paul Arndt missionary at large, The Receptive Life

For nearly two full years we’ve been living in an unpredictable, uncertain world. The COVID years have brought suffering and illness, plagued our thoughts, crippled our plans, weakened relationships, decimated trust. They have infected our way of life and created a state of chronic chaos.  

Scroll through your social media feeds, watch the news, or talk to your friends and you’ll soon sense the following emotions seething underneath the words …

fear, anger, weariness, grief, distrust,

uncertainty, suspicion, apathy, anxiety, depression

Many are wondering … WHAT IF 2022 IS EXACTLY THE SAME?

Or some might think … COULD 2022 BE A WHOLE LOT WORSE?

The good news is that we have a Triune God who knows more, cares more and, in Jesus, is doing immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21).

As Martin Luther writes in his Large Catechism, the Triune God holds nothing back.

Here we see that God gives Himself to us completely. He gives all that He has and is able to do in order to aid and direct us in keeping the Commandments. The Father gives all creatures. The Son gives His entire work. And the Holy Spirit bestows all His gifts.

(Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions: 2nd Edition)

The Triune God gives and gives … and gives!

By grace, through faith, we receive.

The Scriptures do reveal three enemies that come only to steal and kill and destroy. They are the “unholy trinity” of the devil, the corrupt world and our own sinful flesh. Their endgame, as the Small Catechism says, is “misbelief, despair and other great acts of shame and vice”. Like a cancer, they attack the very core of our faith, hope and love.

But the Scriptures also reveal a Stronger One, Jesus, our Brother. He is Savior, our Great High Priest and King. He has defeated sin, death and the power of the devil and brings life. Not just life eternal but life to the full for this day.  

Though it might not be well with our world, in Jesus, it can be well with our souls. Because, when we have the forgiveness of sins, we have … everything!

The mission emphasis for 2022 is …

… a Scriptural and Christ centered spiritual framework called The Receptive Life.

My prayer is that The Receptive Life resources will help those harassed, bullied and attacked by the “unholy trinity” learn how to …

  • fight against the attacks of the “unholy trinity”
  • defend themselves with the promises of the person and work of Jesus
  • and receive all of the gifts that only can come from the Triune God

The Receptive Life is built on the core foundations and spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith. The daily and weekly practices that I will be teaching will help you get to all of the places where the Triune God has promised to give His gifts.

Here’s a sample of the content …

  • attending the Divine Service
  • making the sign of the cross
  • saying the Trinitarian invocation
  • evening and morning prayer
  • a life of confession and repentance
  • the daily reading of the Scriptures
  • praying the Psalms
  • examining our lives through the Ten Commandments
  • declaring the truth of the Creed
  • praying the Lord’s Prayer
  • remembering and making use of your Baptism
  • receiving the Lord’s Supper
  • living out a Christian vocation
  • and receiving the blessing of the Triune God.

In January, I started posting videos for the Six Stations of the Daily Practice. In the coming weeks (on Mondays – Fridays), I’ll walk you through each of the six “stations” of the daily practice.

  • Station 1: The Sign of the Cross and the Trinitarian Invocation
  • Station 2: The Evening and Morning Prayer
  • Station 3: Examining Life Through the 10 Commandments, Confession and a Life of Repentance
  • Station 4: Reading, studying and meditation on the Scriptures
  • Station 5: The Commendation of This Life Into the Lord’s Hands (evening and morning)
  • Station 6: Proclaiming a Doxology and Receiving the Blessing of the Triune God

We’ll slowly make our way through each station, learn the basics, practice and repeat.

Think Mr. Miyagi … “wax on, wax off”.

If you want to reference all of the videos you can access them here …

This is a video email course, and so …

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

The Receptive Life Email Vlog