By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Pierced To The Heart

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“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?'”
Acts 2:37 New International Version

Have you ever had someone say something to you that pierced you to your very heart?  Such was the experience of those who heard Peter’s sermon on that Pentecost Day when the Holy Spirit had come upon the apostles.  Peter’s words about Jesus, the Promised One from God, whom the Jews had rejected and crucified, whom God had made both Lord and Christ, pierced every hearer to his very heart.  They were convicted of their sin and stubbornness against God and cried out, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

In the same way the tax collector in the temple is convicted of his sin and cries out, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!”  And David, convicted of his sin cries out in Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!”  The Word of God, the word of Law that tells me that I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, pierces to my very soul.  It cuts through all the lame excuses and justification of my stubborn, hypocritical heart and brings me to repentance and causes me to cry out to God, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”

And in God’s great mercy, His Word brings me Good News, a word that brings comfort and forgiveness and healing and hope.  Peter said to the convicted people, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

For all those who repent, there is the washing away of our sins, the forgiveness of our transgressions, the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This promise of God’s mercy and grace is for all, even those far away from God.

And so God’s Word pierces me and cuts me to my very soul.  And His Word comforts me and heals me and brings me life and forgiveness and joy in Him. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado