Strains, Pains, & Gains

Speaker: Pastor Raleigh Sims


Scripture Focus: Mark 6:45–56


Description: The hymn insists, “God Himself is
present” and “God is in His temple” (LSB 907). This hymn reminds
us of the prophet Isaiah’s amazing vision of God in the temple
when he heard the eternal song of the angels, “Holy, holy, holy,”
causing the prophet to cringe, bow, and kneel at the awesome and
fearful presence of God. Today, we bring ourselves with our own
fears and hear how Jesus’ disciples witnessed their Lord’s real
presence amid their strains and pains in a boat struggling
against the wind. So today for you God is present with healing,
forgiveness, and life not in the imagination but in the objective
truth of His inspired Word, by your Baptism, and in the taste and
touch of His body and blood given and shed for you. You cannot
get any more real than that. “Let us now adore Him And with awe
appear before Him.”