Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 14, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 6 October 1944 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

by REV. GEO. GOTSCH

Pastor of the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Union Township

The text for Sunday is to be found in Luke 15:7, 10, and 32. This chapter contains three wellknown parables of Jesus. At the end of the two first the Parable of the Lost Sheep and of the Lost Piece of Silver, Jesus speaks of the joy in heaven over a sinner that repents; and at the end of the third, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father enjoins his elder son to rejoice with him that his lost brother had been found again. If we study these parables, we are impressed with the fact that there can be no greater calamity than the loss of a human soul; likewise, there can be no greater triumph than the winning and saving of an immortal soul. This is true today just much as when Jesus asked, “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matth. 16:26). Yet, how litttle is the soul of man valued ? If some great invention is announced, or a great political change promised, men will sit up and listen. Or if some foolhardy persons will perform some hazardous feat, people will travel for miles to see it. But how about the interest in saving souls? Yes, and we Christians are in danger of being infected by such materialism and folly. Let us listen to Dur Savor and be imbued with His spirit! In our sermon we shall hear more about the joy in heaven and among true Christians on earth over a sinner that repents. For then a soul is saved from eterr.al damination; then the image of God is again renewed in him. Sunday School at 10:00, service at 10:45. On Monday at 8:00 p.m. Quarterly Meeting with election of officers for 1945.