We know where to find peace, or rather how to find peace. Peace is found wherever the Prince of Peace is graciously present. Peace is found in His holy Word. Peace is found in His holy Sacraments. Through these means, God the Holy Spirit plants and pours peace into your heart. He brings you this peace through Jesus wherever you may be—in church, in your home, at work, on the road—wherever His Words of Peace are spoken, heard, or remembered.

Our greatest treasure is the grace we have received from God through the work of Jesus Christ. We might lose our home someday and our possessions and everything in our investment accounts. But even if we are left penniless and homeless, that will not change what we have in Christ, the riches that are ours by faith in Him. That is a “higher good,” than all the unrighteous wealth of the world.

Jesus does not say that the knowledge you gained in the past will automatically carry you to the finish line. He says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Joh. 8:31-32). He wants us to remain in His Word, live in it, soak it up like a sponge, meditate on it, talk about it with others, hear it, learn it, pray it. This is the best inoculation and protection against the devil’s attacks that we can have.

All of the trials and triumphs He sends you, all of the burdens and blessings, are meant to prepare you for something more than this life. The One who saves your body by providing for you each day has also saved your soul. God the Father addressed your greatest hunger, your greatest need, by sending His Son to redeem you.

By faith in Him, we are connected to the righteousness and holiness we need to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ life far exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. It was not just a superficial righteousness. It was a complete righteousness in all of His actions, words, and thoughts. He perfectly fulfilled the holy commands of God for us, and He credits that righteous life to us.

God the Father sent His only Son to suffer and die for you and the whole world. We were all spiraling down the whirlpool of sin toward our death. We had no anchor of righteousness to secure us, no effort of our own that could save us. The harder we tried and trusted ourselves, the more we failed. But then Jesus joined us in the boat. He made the tempest of death be still by His death on the cross. And He supplied everything we needed to reach the shore of heaven by perfectly keeping the Commandments of God in our place.

We are often surprised at the ones Jesus calls into His kingdom. Perhaps there are people around you, or perhaps it is you yourself, who have a checkered past. Maybe people who knew you in your younger years would raise their eyebrows if they saw you sitting here in church. They might think you don’t belong here. They are under the delusion that church is only for the “good” people. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Christian Church is for sinners. These are the ones that Jesus receives and saves.

But what are those treasures in heaven? We find out from Lazarus. Before, he was left alone to die surrounded by dogs; now, he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. Before, he was poor and hungry; now, he was perfectly content and satisfied. Before, he was covered with sores; now, he was covered in righteousness. Before, no one showed him mercy; now, he was comforted in heaven.

The word “creed” comes from the Latin word “credo,” which means “I believe.” That’s how the first two ecumenical creeds begin, with the words “I believe.” The creeds state what the Christian believes about God based on the teaching of the Bible.

The more we learn about God’s love for us, the more we love Him. And the more we love Him, the more we will want to please Him and honor Him by loving the people around us. In our Catechism workbook, the students and I always have a good discussion about this True/False statement: “More important than being in church on Sunday is living a moral life.” Is that True or False? It is False for two main reasons. First of all, living a moral life does not save anyone, unless we have lived a perfect life (which we haven’t). Second, church is where we are connected to our Lord’s means of grace, which are the fuel source for the Christian life.

The mission of His Church is to speak His Word. We are simply messengers of the King. We don’t come up with our own message, something new to excite the people in our community. We faithfully speak what we have been taught. We give what we have been given. We comfort as we have been comforted.