Stirs Up Dissension

Proverbs 16:27-29 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

Ferguson, Missouri is at the forefront of the news in our modern world. A young man robbed a store, attacked an officer of the law, and was shot and killed. The drumbeat of many media outlets before the grand jury was in support of charging the officer with murder. The race relations of the area were thrust into the forefront. And those who make a living off of perpetuating dissension were on display. In all this, local clergy sought to speak peace, but their voices were drowned out by the cacophony of hate and dissension spewed by those who know better, but chose to agitate. Even after the evidence was presented, there are those who choose to pursue rioting instead of engaging in a dialogue to heal and progress. Forgotten are the words of Jesus captured in Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

There is a price to be paid for pursuing the path of wickedness and evil. Occasionally our world graphically puts this on display. Haunting are the words of Ezekiel 3:18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. As Christians we all mourn the loss of any human life. That life which is held so precious by God our Father should not be carelessly cast aside in pursuit of anything but love for your fellow man. If you want clarification on this principle, you only need to turn to the word of Christ in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

We do not hear much about the truth today. We do not hear much about remorse or showing contrition for perpetuating a lie from media outlets. We do not hear much about holding the media accountable either. For that, we all need to take heed of the warning in Ezekiel 3:18. We all have a responsibility friends. Proverbs 16:27-29 points to the sin, and Ezekiel 3:18 gives those who chose to sin, and those who chose to stand silent in the face of that sin a clear warning. No one is without guilt and no one is without sin. Hold each other accountable. And when we hold each other accountable, we do so in love and not with malice. We model the behavior described in Ephesians 4:14-15. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

The situation in Ferguson is not isolated to just that city. Our nation and our world is broken and needs the love of God to heal that brokenness. In closing, keep the words of 1 Timothy 2:1-6 close to your heart today and in the future.  I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

PRAYER: Father, we need You now more than ever. Our world is broken by sin. Hate our neighbor is shouted from the roof tops instead of love you neighbor. We need less of us and more of Your Son Jesus. Help us, as only You can help us to bring the message of peace and love to this world. This we ask in the name of the Prince of Peace, Your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Listen To My Voice

Jeremiah 11:2-4 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant that I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,”

I am in the midst of a new spiritual endeavor. I am spending most of today as a day of solitude. Prayer, reading scripture, contemplation, and meditation are on the agenda. The purpose of this is to seek out the will of God in my life. I am involved in an activity call the 210 Project. (www.210project.com) From Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. The purpose of this is to (1) discern my calling in serving the Lord and (2) to determine if becoming a coach to help others find their own calling in ministry is part of own my call. The short version is I am looking for answers to the questions I have. I am seeking His voice.

Discerning the will of God in our lives is important for all of us. Aligning our lives with that will is what comes next. There is a process the study guide for the program that offers suggestions on how to spend the day of solitude. For me, writing is part of that process. In writing this devotional I am validating what I am doing is aligned with what God would have me do. I have been seeking a unity of purpose, and reconciliation to His will in my life. I have that answer, and yet there is more out there for me to embrace in this calling. There is the big question of coaching others. I have some more prayer, study and meditation before that answer comes to me. And there is a another element of this call that has surfaced today which I need to explore further. But more on that another day. 

Today is focused on listening to the voice of God in reading, music, prayer and meditation. All in all that is a pretty awesome way to spend a day.  So now I ask you dear reader, when was the last time you set aside time to do the same? If not for a day, how about half a day, or a few hours. when was the last time you honestly stopped the merry go round of your life, and took the time to seek out that all important voice? I urge you to put aside whatever you are using as an excuse for not doing so and spend some time listening.

PRAYER: Father, as Your children we seek Your voice. The problem is that the world we live in seeks to drown out that voice or to tell us Your voice is not relevant. Your words are old words and no longer have any validity in modern society. Lord, with out You we are surely lost. Help us to discern Your will for us. Let Your voice ring clear in our ears. We ask this in the name of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Boats On The Hard

Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

My boat sits on the trailer in the garage. Repairs are going slow. What looked like a simple project of changing out exhaust system hoses has proven to be more involved and time consuming that I anticipated. While waiting patiently for additional parts to arrive, I have been pondering how a boat "on the hard" is like an incomplete acceptance of grace.

Moving an on life can be anything but easy. For many, the patterns of the old self remain steadfastly in control of all that they are in the future. A person would seem to be firmly tied to the dock, up on the trailer, or on blocks in the drydock. There is no ability to get underway in this condition. The past holds you captive with a seemingly inescapable grasp.

In our lives nothing could be further from the truth. Each and every one of us has the ability to change and move forward. We only empower the past by letting the past rule our future. In the case of sin, Romans 6:12-14 helps us to understand our true condition. We have the choice of letting, or not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies. Sin will try to make you and I obey its passions. Fortunately Jesus Christ changed all that. Grace rules over us, not the law. In Christ you and I have been purchased from the slavery and death that was in sin. When we remember our true condition, we can move forward. No longer are we up on a trailer, unable to navigate on the water. We are free to navigate with Christ at the helm. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 

We can set aside the past. We can live under the grace that is freely offered by God our Father. Or we can chose to remain on the trailer, or on the blocks and never see what life really has to offer. I hope and pray you have chosen to get underway.

PRAYER: Lord, our lives seem complicated. All too often we get wrapped up in our past and let the past control the future. We set aside Your grace and latch onto our sinful and destructive past. We are lost at sea with no sight of land. Help us Father to remember that we are loved unconditionally by You. Help us to see the bright promise of the future You have planned for us when we hold onto Jesus. Guide us in His light O God. We ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Poolside Conversations

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Yesterday was a hot day in Cabo San Lucas. The temperatures ran well up into the 90's and the sun was baking the earth. Pam and I spent part of our vacation day poolside. We encountered many interesting people from many places in the USA and other parts of the world. One gentleman, from the Dallas, TX area, was reading a book named The Harbinger. Jonathan Cahn is the author. And while I do not agree with some of of Mr. Cahn's points in the book, I found the book to be informative and thought provoking. At the end of any book, personally I would like to be entertained, informed, or have my thoughts to be provoked into questioning my own paradigms. If I had chosen to not talk to the gentleman because of my feelings about the book, I would have missed out on a wonderful exchange of Christian ideals. 

In striking up our conversation, we discovered the gentleman attended a non-denominational Christian church in the Dallas area. He asked us what our faith was, which is Lutheran. And he made a statement that was so right on target I thought it was worth sharing today. In our Christian conversations we should be looking more closely at what we have in common instead of what we have as differences. An interesting premise, to say the least. And it speaks of how much of our culture today as being like the culture back in Corinth.

The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. In Paul's day, just as in ours, there is division amongst the believers. When we focus on what we have in common, principles like Love God-Love Others-Serve the World, can sub-plant the premise of division that leads to an end to the Christian conversation. And when that all important conversation ends, make no mistake, Satan rejoices. From the seeds of division grow the weeds of destruction of the Christian faith. When we stop sharing the love of Christ with others, no one is served. Christ is not honored by any means in that environment. Jesus did not just love His disciples, He loved all. He died for all. That simple message needs to be the focal point of our conversations. None of us are baptized Lutheran, or Catholic, or Baptist, etc. We are baptized CHRISTIAN!  And when we put that thought first, the differences can be placed aside and we can embrace having a meaningful dialogue. No house can stand divided. Similarly a house united, can withstand anything. Go in peace today and have a Christian conversation. You might be surprised with the results. 

PRAYER: Father, help us to overcome ourselves. Help us with Your Holy Spirit to find the strength to reach out and start the conversations that need to happen. Guide us with Your words, and not our words that are often empty in love and compassion. Show us the opportunities to share Jesus. This we ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Sow In Peace

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

I am watching the goings on of the early morning at a beautiful resort. My office this morning is a lounge chair on the veranda of our condo. The sun is not fully up, but the light that it casts shows a world, at least from my vantage point that is at peace. 

As the light continues to grow with the rising sun, I notice last night was anything but peaceful. The sand on the beach shows evidence of a turbulent sea that cast waves far upon the shore. Anyone that was out on the water last night would have had a rough ride. And there were people out on the water was evidenced by the lights of the bait fishermen's boats I saw before retiring.  When we consider the James 3:17-18 passage we can see a basic element of faith and belief displayed. The root of this display is found in in the words of Jesus to the Sadducees and Pharisees in Matthew 22: 37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” When we love God we place our trust in God. Our peace that surpasses all understanding flows not from a chair near a quiet seashore or any other source of self-induced nirvana. Rather, that peace is found only in a belief that the God who created us and the world we live in has a love for all that is boundless. He loves us when we are not loveable , even if that feeling is just in our own minds. We are also told by that same loving God our Father to love one another. To be at peace with one another is an element of that love. In simple terms, from my setting today, if I am causing turmoil by throwing waves up on the shore of another persons life, I am not showing that love. Friends of the risen Savior, may your days be filled with calm seas as you travel through your lives. Share the calm seas and the source of that calm with those you encounter.

PRAYER: Lord and Giver of Life, we live our lives in the shadow of Your protective peace. We bask in Your grace. We go about our lives with the firm belief that You love us even when we are not worthy of that love. We especially give thanks for not having to earn Your love. We rely upon Your saving grace each and every day of our lives. Simple words cannot express how deeply we need You and Your love. Your Son Jesus paid the price for our sin upon the cross. Without that ultimate act of love we would be lost. For the cross and Your unending love we give thanks to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever, Amen. 

Rejoice!

Romans 5:9-11 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The Easter candy has been put away, or consumed. The Easter Sunday sermon still echoes in our minds. And we recall how the seats at the Sunday service were filled with many who are not regularly in attendance at worship services. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia, Amen!

So, now what? It's a long stretch between today and Christmas. What is a good Christian to do? Would you believe we should embrace the advice of the Apostle Paul and rejoice? That's right, we should rejoice. After all we have much to be rejoicing over. When we fully consider what has been done for us in Christ, we do have cause to celebrate. On Good Friday we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. His death is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Our debt has been paid in full. But. Satan would have you think otherwise. And that would be erroneous thinking. Satan will constantly try to convince you that you’re still a slave and that your sins are too grievous to be paid for by the grace of God. The full truth is you and I are freed from the death that is in sin. There is no additional To-Do- List, or extensive set of laws to fulfill. Done, finished, game over. If we remember verse 9 from Romans 5 we know that "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" Life is good! The price paid for this freedom was the blood of the Son of God. Jesus went to the cross for you and I. And for that we can be thankful. The price He paid is one we could not and still cannot even on our best day.

Romans 5: 10-11 serves as an excellent reminder of our current condition and how we can live the rest of our lives in Christ. For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Rejoice my friends for we have been well and truly saved. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia, Amen!

PRAYER: Lord You alone are the source of our salvation. Our hearts rejoice at the freedom paid for on that cross. We who were lost sheep have been returned to Your flock. For that we are eternally great flu and offer this humble prayer of thanksgiving in the name of Jesus, who with the Father and Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.

Christ Died For Us

Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We are at the cusp of Easter. We start with Palm Sunday, then the Seder Meal on Wednesday, Maundy Thursday followed by the always humbling Good Friday service. For the first time in quite a few years, I will be in worship and not serving in these services. I am yearning for the experience again. There is a distinct difference between serving and worshipping. In serving there is a focus in what you are doing. You are making sure something happens, when it is supposed to happen and in the manner it is supposed to happen. While serving is a form of worship, it is just not the same as being in worship. By being in worship I mean you can let the music flow into and surround you. The words of the Old Testament and New Testament readings can wash over you just like a wave on the seashore. You can can absorb the full message of the scriptures chosen for that day. You can thoughtfully consider the full meaning of the message carefully and lovingly prepared by the Pastor. You can greet others and sincerely ask how they are doing. And most importantly you can fully consider Romans 5:6-8. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That friends, is the biggest point to ponder. Someone had to die because of the sins of you and I. Jesus died. He was the sacrificial lamb offered up for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus, Son of God, lived a sinless life. And for that, He willingly paid the full price of death on the cross so that we could be saved. I find that quite humbling. There is no small sense of guilt in considering the full ramification of that. It is guilt that should not remain as an anchor to keep one depressed. It is the guilt that lends gravity to the situation which makes His sacrifice really count in our hearts. When someone tries to trivialize that sacrifice, we should stand up and correct that misconception. Jesus told His disciples on more than one occasion that he would be killed by the chief priest and teachers of the law. He told the disciples after three days He would return. AND HE DID ALL OF THAT! That is why we put our hearts and souls into each and every worship opportunity. Jesus lived, died, and came back for you and I. That is not some abstract principle or theorem bantered about in a physics lab. That’s a fact Jack! We show honor to God our Father, the Son and Holy Spirit in our worship. Placing ourselves fully into that worship is important. The music has a message. The scripture has a message. The sermon has a message. Messages that are for all of us. They are not mere words. They are heartfelt expressions of praise offered up to a loving God in Heaven. We need to immerse ourselves in that worship to fully grasp what the message is because that message is important. I am so very thankful for the opportunity to be in worship again. I hope you feel the same about your worship opportunities.

PRAYER: Almighty God, thank you for the opportunity to worship You. Thank you for the country that allows us to worship the one true God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Son that is our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen

Let Nothing Move You

1 Corinthians 15: 54-58 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Infomercial TV is a phenomena I just have not been able to get on board with. There is entertainment value watching someone sell a product that will revolutionize your life and give you more leisure time. It all seems to cost $19.95. Just what we need, more stuff to help us do something we already are doing. I will long remember the best spoof on these types of products in a Saturday Night Live Dan Akroyd skit for the Bassomatic 76. I still chuckle thinking about that one. 

In addition to slick salesman selling products to enhance our lives, our world will try to sell you a new and better life. This new and BIGGER LIFE STYLE the world offers will include setting aside the morals, principles, belief, and yes faith by which you live your life today. In the bargain you will eliminate the guilt over living for only yourself. You earned yours, why should you help those less fortunate? You can do whatever you want, and definitely do it in excess. Because that is just the cool thing to do. It’s all good! You will not have to worry about the principles of right or wrong, morality, or sexuality. Again, it’s all good! Best of all with the new lifestyle the world seeks you to follow, you will have Sundays all to yourself and no more pesky Wednesday evening Advent and Lent services. They will be a thing of the past. You are free! It’s all good. 

There is even a more subtle sales pitch you may encounter. It is the sales pitch that suggests your concept of grace is wrong. Surely God did not mean for you to be saved only by the sacrifice of Christ is the mantra of that group. All you really need to do, in that school of thought, is to complete a list of things and you will earn your way. Just a few simple things, and then a few more simple things, and so on.

Friends of the Risen Savior, we need to hold on firm to the words of 1 Corinthians 15 passage above. The slick sales pitches seek to lead you to ruin, nothing more. The Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Corinth hold true today, just as they did when he first sent that letter. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

PRAYER: Lord keep us on track. Help us to shut out the sales pitches of this world. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. This we ask in the name of the Son who loves all - Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Him Who Had No Sin

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

What do you believe? Can you put the basis for your belief into words?  For me, the Nicene Creed does just that. It expands on the Apostles’ Creed and fills in some very important points on why Jesus came down from heaven. 

NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds,  God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Lent is an awesome time of the year to reground ourselves in our faith. There are so many steps we take in the journey to remembering the crucifixion of Good Friday. Ash Wednesday, Lenten services, Seder Meal celebrations, Maundy Thursday are the strong traditions we hold dear. All draw our attention and focus to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are saved solely by the sacrifice of the Son of God. We are utterly dependent on that sacrifice. If we chose to think otherwise we have to ask ourselves how are we doing in living a perfect sinless life? As for me, I will take Jesus every day and twice on Sunday. I hope that is your choice too. Remember what you believe and why you believe. Not just during Lent, but every day for the rest of you life. It really matters.

PRAYER: Almighty God You alone are source of our salvation. We can accomplish nothing without your love. We who do not deserve Your love desperately cling to hope of salvation that rests solely in Jesus.You remember Your promises to all mankind. Help us to remember those promises when life would seek to weaken our resolve.  We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

But The People There Did Not Welcome Him

Luke 9:51-56 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them ?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

Our world is broken. This is not a bold statement amongst Christians. We know that all too well. And in our world, there are many who do not welcome Jesus. The condition in our modern world is much like the Samaritan village that did not welcome Jesus. Different times with similar results. Sadly for those in our world and time, who deliberately chose to disavow the existence of Jesus, or chose to ignore the significance of His sacrifice, or chose to accept His resurrection, there is no happy ending waiting ahead. There is no peaceful resting place at the end of life’s trials. We know this fact from scriptures.  If we turn to Matthew 13:36-43 we see the path of destruction those who turn away are walking. Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. This is a very sobering message to read. And between the Luke 9: 51-56 and Matthew 13:36-43 passages we learn two key points regarding those who do not welcome Jesus and his message. First, the Luke 9 passage reminds us that it is not our place to wish ill will upon those who refuse to accept Christ. Their judgement will come from God. Our place, our job if you will, is to pitch the love of Jesus to the lost. As much as we may want to call fire down from heaven to destroy those who belittle Christ or thumb their nose at God, we are not to judge. Second, the Matthew 13 passage reminds us that weeds sown by satan will be pulled up and burned in the fire. That does not sound like a happy ending. If we love our fellow man as Jesus tells us to, we need to speak the truth of Christ in love and not anger. We can make a difference in this world. Let’s pray for the opportunities.

PRAYER: Lord, we live in a world that turns its’ back on you. We live in a world that vigorously disregards Your commandments and follows its’ own misguided sense of morality. Help us, O God, to share Your love and message. Let Your Holy Spirit fill our words with wisdom and love. Open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf that they might find You. This we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN

Daniel 5:22-30 “But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. “This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN  “This is what these words mean: 

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty–two.

Thumbing your nose at the almighty, is not a wise thing to do. Belshazzar, in the book of Daniel is the poster child for that one. Unfortunately, there are many in our world that have yet to learn this lesson. Their hubris can be the result of a lifetime of self absorption coupled with the happy circumstance of never having really been in an all consuming crisis. By all consuming I mean something that is totally beyond your own ability to cope or survive. This hubris may be the result of a lifetime in academia surrounded by fellow nonbelievers. Granted, many in academia are believers but I suspect they are the minority rather than the majority. The chilling words, to me, in the Daniel 5 passage above are “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” As Christians, we know all too well that is our condition. We are lost. Sinners and unable to save ourselves. That is why we are so desperately in need of a Savior. 1 Corinthians 15:57 gives us the hope we need. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, the scales would be irrevocably tilted to the wanting side. And what of the lost, and those filled with hubris or ignorance? What is to be our interaction when we are blessed with that chance to share the love of Christ? We share the real Jesus. We share the truth in love. We stand our ground, firm in our conviction as sinners lost but for the love of God. We share the Jesus who healed the sick, drove out demons, fed the masses and spoke of the real God in heaven. The message he delivered was unpopular at the time. His message we deliver will be equally as unpopular today. But if we do not deliver the message, who will? Pray friends. Pray for the right words. Pray for the opportunities. Pray for the patience in reaching out to those who need to hear the truth. And pray for our words to be filled with love and not sprinkled with harsh tones. Please, let the Holy Spirit speak through you. 

PRAYER: Father, our world is filled with brokenness. Sometimes our words just add to the fractured nature of our land. Help us, O God, to share Your love, the love of Jesus with our world. Fill us with the wisdom to know when to share, the faith to share, and Your words to share. For Your love we are forever thankful and offer this humble prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Broken Justice

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Our theme for Lent 2014 devotionals at Grace Lutheran Pocatello is “Broken”.  This week we will examine “Broken Justice.” How often have you uttered the words, “This is not fair?” All too often in the world we live it is the mantra of those who feel oppressed. Whether someone feels they were mistreated in a business deal, or they were offended by the words of another, or possibly they were dealt with harshly for a perceived (or real) offense it does not matter. We establish in our own minds what is fair. Fair is subjective depending on emotions or an opportunity to tip the scales in our favor perhaps. 

As we enter the home stretch of Lent in 2014 I offer a suggestion. Take some time and read the Book of Daniel. Sure, it is a book in the Old Testament and Lent is definitely a new testament topic. Given that many parts of Lent are steeped in elements found in the Old Testament, we can learn much of the blessing of Lent. Even in “any enlightened nation” men who are wise in the knowledge of the world will fail to look at the past for lessons learned in how God dispenses justice for those who reject Him and His Son. God, our Father in Heaven is a loving God. His boundless love is right there for all to grasp, even those who reject Him out of pride or ignorance. He loves us so much He sent His only Son to die for the sins of all, that all mankind might be reconciled to Him. We will look at “justice” in the devotionals. There have been many promises made, and broken by man. There have been opportunities to serve the Lord that have turned horribly wrong. Some in the past have chosen to figuratively spit in the face of God and suffered harsh consequences. If we were to receive the justice we deserve based on our own doings, we would be in a sorry state. Fortunately, that is not the case. 

For many Lent can be a season of self-examination and reflection of our lives. In many cases the life we want to live, possibly should live, is not the same as the life we are living. In that moment of realization despair can find way into the heart. Satan is relentless in trying to drive a wedge in our faith and place distance between God our Father and ourselves. Self-examination is a good and proper exercise. But doing so must be done with all the facts on the table. We know that we have been rescued from sins of the present evil age by the willing sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. We enter Lent knowing that Christ died on the cross for our sins, was placed in a tomb and on Easter that tomb was found to be empty. That is the hope we grasp onto every single second, minute, hour, day and year of our lives. We are forgiven and have the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus. That is the message of Lent this year. We who are broken have been repaired.

My prayer is that your time in study of God’s Word and these devotionals will truly be blessed. To God be all the glory in all that we do today and everyday of our lives.

Your Accent Gives You Away

Matthew 26:73-75 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

I want to take a little different look at Peter and the scene in the courtyard than what you might expect to take during Lent. Sure, Peter was all about denying Christ. Peter feared for his life. But let’s examine another aspect of that scene. Matthew 26:75 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

To have an accent means there is a characteristic mode of pronunciation of a person or group that betrays social or geographical origin. If you travel around the United States you will encounter many accents. In the Matthew 26 passage above, Peter’s accent gives away his place of origin - Galilee. When we think of where people come from, how they speak can give away where they were born and raised. For example, sometimes my Michigan accent resurfaces and it gives away I am not an Idaho native. Similarly, what people say can be a clue to how they live and what they believe. If their language is filled with off-color remarks, bawdy humor and cursing, you would be hard pressed to say they were a Christian based on how they talk. If their language speaks of love and is flowered with scriptures from the New Testament you can make the connection to their faith in Christ. How we speak, and what we say can have a huge influence on how people receive us. Simply put, can others see Christ in us by how we show our faith in what we say? Do you have a Christian accent? Can people see Christ in your manner of speaking, and in what you say? Each and every believer has the opportunity every day of their lives to make a positive or negative statement to the world about who they are and what they believe. You and I can be the most devoted followers of Jesus Christ, but if our language does not carry that same commitment, we have failed. The words of Jesus from Luke 6:46-48 serve as a strong reminder to all believers. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ”

Friends of the risen Savior, when we look back at Peter in the courtyard, we cannot see Christ in his words. Each of us needs take a lesson from that example. Words are important. Others hear your words and, need to find Jesus in those words. That is the case not just on Sunday, but every day of the year.

PRAYER: Father, we have many opportunities to stand as a witness to our faith. Sometimes we make a good witness for Jesus, and other times we fail miserably. We rely on Your love and Your forgiveness in our lives. Help us to learn from our mistakes. Help us to find the right words at all times and in all places to reflect You in all that we say. Let them see you when we speak. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

The Promise To The Centurion

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

The above passage from Matthew 8 is titled “The Faith of the Centurion.” Truly, this is a beautiful example of faith in Christ being displayed from an unlikely source. The Roman Centurion should have, by his very job, not accepted Jesus as the Messiah. As a Roman Centurion he should have been placing his faith in the false gods of Rome. With a little research I found the centurion should have been paying homage and making sacrifices to the Roman goddess Angita who was the goddess of healing and witchcraft. Seems like an odd combination - healing and witchcraft, but then again this was an invented goddess. Flawed systems yield flawed results. But the Centurion shows his faith in Christ. And the faith shown is greater than any other Jesus has found in Israel. The promise made to the Centurion to heal his servant is fulfilled in that very hour. Some may say it was faith rewarded. But surely this illustrates the faithfulness of Jesus, and His reaching out beyond the Jews to share the love of His Father. How wonderful of an example for you and I. When we make a promise to a nonbeliever it should carry the same weight as a promise made to a fellow believer. We love all, not just those that agree with us in our faith. That is the take away lesson from of the Promise to the Centurion. We love all because Christ loves all.

PRAYER: Lord the promise made and honored to the Centurion stands as a wonderful example of how we are to share Your love. Help us to have the faith to live that kind of love. Help us to share that kind of love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. This we ask in the name of the Son who loves all - Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 

What My Father Has Promised

 Luke 24:44-49 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

This devotional will be a bit different than others I have posted. I will link two sets of scripture passages together to illustrate how Jesus made and kept his promise and how we are reminded of that fact. There’s nothing better than using scripture to illustrate a point. 

Upon His resurrection, Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to that they could understand the scriptures. See Luke 24:44-49. He tells the disciples He will send what His Father has promised & stay in the city until they are clothed with power from on high. On the day of Pentecost, the promise is fulfilled as told in Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

We can take comfort in how Christ keeps His promise. The example above is just one of many that illustrate how Jesus can be trusted.  Perhaps His most comforting promise is found in the last sentence of Matthew 28:20  “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” It is this promise that we can all rest our faith upon. We are not alone, He is with us always. I find that to be very comforting and hope you find peace in that same promise.

PRAYER: Lord, We rely solely on Your promises of forgiveness and salvation. Father, You are our rock and our salvation. None other can compare to You. For this we give thanks in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hopes Placed In Mortals Die

Proverbs 11:7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

Monday, 3-31-14 is the opening day for major league baseball. One of the signs of spring is the first pitch at the ballpark of your favorite team. My Detroit Tigers began their season with a win in the opening game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Every year begins with high hopes and for many years it seemed as if the Tigers were in a race for the cellar (the bottom of the standings in the league.) And some years, the Tigers were the World Series Champions. Such are the fortunes when you depend upon mortals.

If the Lord had his own baseball team, they would win every time. That would be boring for the opposing teams. We are reminded of the supremacy of the Lord in 1 Chronicles 16:14 & 15. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations. The Lord remembers, the Lord is faithful. Two strong characteristics of the Father we call God. He is there for us always. He promised to send a Savior, and He did. No doubt about the Lord living up to His side of a bargain. But how about you and I? I know all too well, I am imperfect. I have great intentions, and not-so-great results. Are your intentions good? Are your results as good as your intentions? Is there room for improvement. If so, you are amongst friends. We all fail. But instead of feeling depressed, we should feel a deep sense of relief. When we sin, we are forgiven, period, end of statement. We do not have to carry that burden of guilt around. Psalm 103:12 tells us As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. That is the promise the Lord makes. Mortal man can make that same promise, but cannot deliver on that promise.  

PRAYER: Almighty God You alone are completely trustworthy. You remember Your promises. Help us to remember, and fulfill our promises.  We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

He Will Crush Your Head

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

There is an image from the movie “The Passion of the Christ” that vividly reminds me of the relationship between Jesus and Satan. The scene takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is visibly struggling with the enormity of what is to happen to him in Jerusalem. Jesus has been praying, the disciples have been sleeping. Satan, depicted by a serpent, is seen to be slithering towards Christ. Just as the serpent is poised to strike at Jesus, the serpent is loudly crushed. Boom! Take that satan.

Satan has been stopped. His power to levy death over you and I has been crushed. That is one key thing for us to remember. The score is at the end of the game is God 1, satan 0. The prisoner, you and I, have been set free. The problem is, we keep forgetting the finality of that victory. We keep trying to refight that epic battle by minimizing the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we try to re-earn our salvation by foolishly pursuing salvation by works or routine or worse, we re-invigorate satan. When we fail to embrace that salvation, we re-empower satan. All too often we seek to refight the battle already won in Christ. The promises of God were fulfilled in Christ. Satan was crushed. So very many forget that key bit of information. And many more reject that promise made and fulfilled. My heart aches for those who reject the simple truth. Their eyes are closed, their ears are sealed and their hearts are hardened.

If you want something to pray for during Lent, pray for the lost. Pray for those who seek salvation through means that will surely lead to their separation from God. Pray for those who chose to viscously kill innocents in a desperate bid to find paradise. Pray for those who seek to place Jesus and those who are Christians in an unfavorable light. Pray for our world filled with broken promises. Pray that all would turn to the One True God.  

PRAYER: Father, our world is filled with broken promises. In stark contrast stands Your faithfulness. Truly, great is Your faithfulness. For Your love we are forever thankful and offer this humble prayer in Jesus’ name, Amen.

I Am The Bread Of Life

John 6:48-51 &57-58 “I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

57 “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” 

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. We have heard these verses many times over the years. They point us directly towards Jesus. In Him was life and in Him is life. The Disciple John eloquently explains the divinity of Jesus. Jesus was there at the beginning. Jesus, the Word was with God and is God. As Jesus shares with His Disciples in John 6:48-51 & 57-58 above, not all can fully grasp the meaning of Jesus being the bread that comes down from heaven. We know from John 60-64 that many of his Disciples left. John 6:60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” Today, just as back the days of Jesus’ time on this earth many cannot accept what He has to say. Often our world does not want to accept His truth because it goes counter to the sinful desires of this world. Often our world wants to determine it’s own destiny and reject what God has told all is the path to salvation. In the words of the departing disciples, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it.” Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 7:1 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Sadly many in our world today just will not accept they must fully rely on Jesus for their salvation. Many will try a path of works, or salvation through committing unspeakable violence. Some will even try to buy their way into heaven. Many will follow a false gospel and faulty doctrine that leads to their death. Still others will not even consider the need to pursue a life in Christ and will even shun God altogether. If only they would hear the words you and I hold dear. We can pray for a change of heart for those who are lost. We can reach out in love to the lost. And we can share the importance of holding onto the bread that comes down from heaven. Jesus is that bread of life. He was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow.

PRAYER: Almighty and Everlasting God, You gave the bread of life to all mankind. Your Son, that very bread, gives hope and life to all mankind who partake of that bread. And yet many in our world reject that premise. Many will chose to follow the path that leads to death and destruction. Help us Father to boldly share Your love. Soften the hearts of the lost. Open the eyes of those blind to the truth we find in Your Word. Give us the words to share that reach deep into the hearts of the lost. All this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

He Who Shared My Bread

John 13:18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

Continuing on with the theme of digging deep into the Word of God. I the John 13:18 verse, there is a reference to an earlier scripture verse ‘He who shares my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ That earlier verse comes from Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. This link is found in a study Bible. This is another tool believers can use to explore the full meaning of God’s Word. One of the blessings the Disciples enjoyed was the opportunity to learn from Jesus as a group. The group learning has many  benefits. When we look back at our own group learning experiences we too have been exposed to question and answer sessions where we benefited from inquiries of others. Often new information is revealed we may never have thought to ask. When we look at the study of God’s Word in a group setting, this very same premise holds true. It is in these group settings we can more fully experience fellowship, exchange of ideas and concepts and explore the truth as found in the Word of God. The Word is the spiritual bread we all need and desire. The early church found that gathering together was a fundamental need to continue to exist and to grow.  Acts 2:41-44 gives insight into this fundamental worship concept. Acts 2:41-44 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.  

We develop deep bonds with those whom we break bread and study the Word. A fellowship that goes far beyond what one can experience in other group fellowship activities. There is a trust that permeates this environment because at the center of this kind of fellowship is found the Word of God. When we study in a solo environment we only know what we know. When we study as a group we know what the group as a whole knows. When this happens awe inspiring things can happen. Been there, seen that, have the t-shirt. Friends, join a Bible study group and experience the joy and wonder that the Lord has in store for you. And don’t forget to bring the bread.

PRAYER: Lord the blessings that flow from studying Your Word are endless. We find nuggets of wisdom more valuable than nuggets of gold. The truth our world desperately needs rests within Your Word. Help us to explore Your Word in a world that tells us to shun Your truth. Let Your words of love fill us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our bread of life, Amen. 

On Every Word

Matthew 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Daylight savings time change over signals a change in season for many. It also tends to coincide with the beginning of Lent. And the season of Lent is one of several times of the year when my hunger to dive deep into the word of God peaks. Granted, I like many believers have a regular bible reading program. For me it arrives before I wake up in the form of an e-mail. The daily reading e-mail systematically walks me through the old and New Testament over the course of a couple of years. This is a system that works for the nerd in me. 

But there is another aspect of studying the word that takes a believer much, much deeper. Spending time in the Word in an in-depth study is so very enriching to your faith walk and spiritual growth. Using a concordance to review instances where a specific word (bread for example) is used can open up you to some wonder learning experiences. Using a Topical Bible to research various topics or people. The Nave's Topical Bible is a great resource to use in digging deep into scripture in a systematic manner to further your knowledge. Thematic Bibles have a similar use in helping you to research the scripture behind a specific theme, like faith, resurrection, redemption, etc. and then there are applications for your PC's, Mac's, smart phones & tablets. And audible Bibles are a great resource for times when reading is impractical but listening is not. All of these are tools that can be used to open up our hearts and minds to what God our Father wants us to know. Scripture is the word that comes from the mouth of God. This is the gift that keeps on giving to guide us and fill our hearts with His love. His word is available in so many different forms that there are fewer and fewer reasons to not have that Word with you at all times. When we spend time in the Word we are closer to God because we can hear His voice speaking to us. This is the voice of the Good Shepherd calling His sheep. Friends, please take time to open up your hearts to the Word of God on a regular basis. Let His love fill your hearts through study of the scriptures.

PRAYER: Father, Thank You for Your Written Word, Amen

Some Of The People Went Out On The Seventh Day

Exodus 16:4-5 & 26-27 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

“Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.

Why do you suppose some people find it so difficult to obey God? Simple instructions from God go unheeded. Warnings of dire consequences have been ignored for generation upon generation upon generation. And yet the disobedience goes on. It simply boggles the mind. Something so simple as love the Lord Your God with all your heart mind and strength is disregarded as if it was a suggestion from an ill-advised source. Really, seriously they are the ten commandments not the ten suggestions. Surely you and I are more enlightened than the rest of humanity. Well, probably not. And in the words of Leslie Nielsen, “Stop calling me surely.”

We are created by a loving God our Father in Heaven to love Him and to love others. Seems simple, yet we are no more enlightened than those who have gone before us. All too often our love of self gets in the way of our love for others. We are tempted to take on the perspective of “I  earned what I have, let others pull themselves up by their boot straps and earn theirs too.”  Are you as guilty of that as I am? It is a growth area for most of us. How about the love God first thing? I once heard church on Sunday described as having to compete against every other thing in the world to do on a Sunday morning. Have you placed worshipping God second in your life?

Okay enough with the guilt trip. Face it, we are all flawed in how we honor God and His commandments. We try, but we are by nature sinful and prone to placing God and others second. The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:1-4 reminds us of our condition and our cure. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. We are saved from ourselves by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Jesus bore our sins on the cross, overcame death and left behind an empty tomb for all to see and know that through Him we have everlasting life. We all can do better in living our lives as God intended us to live. And through His Holy Spirit we can have the faith to do just that.

PRAYER: Almighty God and Father, we poor sinners fail in loving You as we should. We place ourselves first in front of You, and in front of others. Help us Dear Lord to be better than we are. Send down Your Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with the faith we need to become better than we are. Give us the daily bread to fill our hearts with Your love. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Bread The Lord Has Given You

Exodus 16:11-16 The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

Of late, I have been working through a bible study on 1 Corinthians. Much of the latter part of that book in the Bible is devoted to spiritual gifts. These are the specific abilities we are blessed with by God to serve Him and His kingdom. From 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 

We who are richly blessed have been given much by a loving God. We are given so much that we often take what we are given for granted, because of its abundance. In some cases we may even forget that what we have is given to us by God. We may foolishly think we are the source of all that we have. Similarly we may misuse what we have been blessed with. That temptation is all too easy to fall into and many are trapped in that lifestyle. 

When we look at the situation of the Israelites in Exodus 16 above we see a nation that is totally dependent upon The Lord. The quail are provided in the evening and the manna in the morning. There was no extravagant life style. They were at a subsistence level of existence. We can, most certainly should take a lesson from Exodus 16. We are given what we need by The Lord. When we seek to have more we must ask ourselves why and to what end will the "more" be used. A good introspective look within ourselves asking how much is enough is needed. And along with how much is enough, ask what are we doing with what we have? Lent is a great time to remember the lesson of the Israelites with the quail and the manna and apply it to our lives. The words of Exodus 16:15 should be seriously considered. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

PRAYER: Father, You provide us with all that we need. Our families, our homes, our jobs our food are all from You. We are truly blessed. As we go about our day, help us to see how You would have us use what we are given. Guide is how's we share what we are blessed with. And lead us in using our spiritual gifts is serving You. We as this in the name do Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I Will Never Disown You

Matthew 26: 32-35 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you,” And all the other disciples said the same.

When I think of the title for the series of devotionals for this week “Broken Trust” and try to put a name to that situation, the Disciple Peter comes to mind. In contemporary language, Peter went from hero to zero in a matter of hours. However, to stop there would only tell half of the story. The rest of the story, as they say, is the greatest story of restoration. Hold onto that thought for a bit.

When we set out to honor someone we ofttimes try to emulate their behavior or ideals. For example, a foundation may be established in the name of a departed famous person with the goal of continuing the charitable works of the one being honored. The noble goal of continuing to serve as the honoree would serve stands at the forefront of all they set out do. In some, but not all cases the new leaders stray from the path they first out to follow. Greed, ambition are often the causes of scandals that tear apart these organizations and bring dishonor upon the namesake of the organization. A trust is broken. And trust once broken is seldom restored in human terms.

Fortunately we have a loving God our Father. The commandments given in the covenant by God to Moses on the mountain that are so frequently broken by each of us would in the absence of His profound love mean death and eternal suffering for everyone. We each and every one of us dishonors our Father because we incapable of not sinning. If not for the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ we all would be toast. But Thank God For Jesus Christ! Each of us is restored just as Peter was restored by Jesus. The rest of that story is found in John 21:15-18. Take some time this week to read that marvelous story of restoration and love. You can find the encouragement to accept the love of Christ when you make the mistake you fear could permanently separate you from the love of God. The hope we grasp onto that comes from the empty cross and empty tomb stands strong today, tomorrow, the next day and on until Christ returns to fulfill His promise. We who are the recipient of the Grace of God must remember that in spite of ourselves we are loved and cherished. Please accept that unconditional love in your lives. And share that good news with those who do not yet have that hope.

PRAYER: Lord, You love us, in spite of who we are and what we do. Your unconditional love can be difficult to accept at times. Help us to have the faith we need to remember Your love and to remove the doubt that such love is given freely to all who love Your Son. Amen

The Sheep Of The Flock Will Be Scattered

Matthew 26: 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

Being part of a group is a comforting experience. The old adage of “There is safety in numbers” holds true for many aspects of our lives. Being part of a ‘small group’ and holding regular Bible studies has been a transformative experience for me personally and a number of my close friends. Are part of a small group?

Each of us can suffer adversity, at any time in our lives. Illness or disease, loss of a job, loss of a loved one are just a few of the many adversities we may encounter.  Any adversity can attempt to challenge our faith or even seek to destroy our faith. Many have asked the question in times of adversity “How can this happen to me?” They will also say “Surely if God loves me, He wouldn’t let this happen to me.” The simple truth is adversity can, and will happen. How we handle adversity is important. If we try to handle adversity on our own, we stand an excellent chance of failing. If we chose to handle adversity with much prayer, we will find the strength to endure. We know this because of the assurance we have in 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. When we suit up to take on adversity with the full armor of God (See Ephesians 6 for a full description) we are literally ready to take on the world. Trying to take on adversity naked and alone, without the armor of God is foolhardy. You can look around you at the many examples in our broken world of those who have failed in trying to withstand adversity. Our prisons are filled with examples of failed attempts. Our streets are littered with those who struggle without the same hope you and I hold onto. The sheep are scattered, satan can pick off each one at his leisure. No one survives alone. 

That small group I mentioned earlier, we have survived some amazing adversities. The list of adversities is really quite long. With Christ at the center of our group, the sheep did not scatter. The Good Shepherd stood by our side then, and will continue to do so in the future. He also gives us each other to offer support and encouragement. We have the lesson of the experience of the Disciples when Jesus was taken from them to reinforce our faith. We know the He is always there. The Disciples learned that lesson, and grew from the experience. Friends, my hope and prayer is that you will stay connected and not scatter in times of adversity. If you are not part of a small group, I hope you will prayerfully consider forming a small group or joining a small group soon. There truly is safety in numbers.

PRAYER: Lord, for those that reach out to You in prayer seeking peace in times of adversity we ask that you fill their hearts with Your love and comfort. Help them O’God to stand firm in their faith. Help them to share Your love with others when they have stood the test of fire. Let their faith be a beacon on the hill for all to see the love of Christ. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Surely, Not I Lord

Matthew 26: 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

There is a wise saying that goes something like this. “Never say never and do not ever say always. Life has a way of altering all conditions in ways you can scarce imagine.” Have you ever encountered anyone who was filled with pride, a person who could be called prideful? This type of person is very self confident, maybe even self reliant. Reliance on oneself can leave a person in a precarious position. That person is constantly on the precipice of being overwhelmed, but never thinking it could happen. Reality can be a harsh mistress.

Humility is an admirable quality. For the humble person, things come easy. Self reliance, self pride do not hinder the ability of the Holy Spirit to fill their hearts with faith. Reliance on God to provide all things needed is readily accepted. And knowing God has a plan for all is how a humble life is lived. But for those who set aside humility, there is a nasty wake up call on the horizon. Think about the Disciples from Matthew 26:22. They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”  To say they were self confident would be something of an understatement. Betraying Christ would fall squarely first on the shoulders of one of their number. Judas was the first. But each, in their own way would betray Christ and all that he had called upon them to do and be. The once mighty would all fall.

Interestingly enough, one of the most bold, Peter would later share some very sage advice in 1 Peter 5:5-8 for each of us to follow. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all you anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking someone to devour. That roaring lion looking for someone to devour is very real, and ever present. Do not make the mistake of thinking otherwise. Put aside foolish pride, cloak your life with humility and the love of God. Put on the armor of Christ. For if you think surely “Not I” will work then surely you will be in for a rude awakening. No one can stand alone. No one can survive this life. All will say good bye to their mortal life. And those who find safety and comfort in the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ will be brought home as a sheep of His flock. The same loving God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will do just that for all who follow His Son. Stay close to that Good Shepherd and stay humble.

PRAYER: Lord, our world falsely preaches self pride and self confidence as qualities to admire. When in reality Father, Your Word reminds us to be humble and reliant on You. Your Word speaks truth. Our world speaks lies. Help us to ignore what our world tells us, and to follow the path of Your Son. We ask this in the name of the Good Shepherd Jesus who with the Father and Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.

One Of You Will Betray Me

Matthew 26: 20-21 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

When you think of opposites what comes to mind? Positive would be the opposite of negative. Light the opposite of dark, expensive the opposite of cheap and so on. When you think of characteristics of Jesus, what would be the opposite of His attributes?

Let us continue on with the self examination. We who are broken look at ourselves and plumb the depths of our character during Lent. When we look inward, what do we see? When God looks into our hearts, what does He see? Psalm 139 1-4 remind us that God knows us thoroughly. O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. We have no secrets from God. Jesus, in speaking to the disciples in Matthew 26 is very upfront in His assessment of the future. And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” One would step away from being a disciple, a follower and part of Jesus’ legacy to be the one to betray Jesus. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:8&9 that we, the living legacy are we are called to a holy life. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. How are we to live our lives? We need look no further that 1 Peter 2:1 for that information. Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. And 1 Peter 2: 9-12 sets out a course for us to follow. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. How are you measuring up? Remember no one is perfect, all fall short. 

We do these things out of love for Christ and love for others because we are saved by Christ. God sent His perfect and precious Son to die for each and everyone. Not just the good ones, every one. The proof is found in the empty cross and empty cross. Remember our brokenness and embrace the grace that abounds in the love of Christ. That love is what we need to share in our lives.

PRAYER: Father, we who are broken look to You for strength in our worship and ministry to this broken world we live in. Give us the faith to be courageous in reaching out to this world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

What Are You Willing To Give Me?

Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Judas Iscariot is an interesting character in the Life and Passion of the Christ. Have you stopped to think about the role Judas played in the Passion? I am not going to be a Judas apologist in this devotional. Rather, I am going to walk you and I through how each of us, in our own way acts similar to how Judas acted. Bear with me please. The journey will be interesting and instructive.

Judas sold out Jesus for 30 silver coins. The full gravity of his betrayal would come later, along with his inability to deal with the magnitude of the betrayal. I am not suggesting you and I are the same as Judas. What I am suggesting is that each of us, in our own way can sell out Jesus in our hearts, our families, in our work place and other parts of our lives. We each in our own way, have an opportunity to place Jesus at the forefront. How we share, or chose not to share Christ in our families, or workplace, or wherever we encounter others is an opportunity to sellout. In exchange for not placing Christ first, we may chose to place something else first in our lives. We have asked the big question, “What are you willing to give me?” We may, or may not have 30 silver coins to show for the sell out. But the bargain has been made nonetheless. When people you know see you or hear you, do they see Christ? Maybe they see a pale version of Christ, or is Christ unrecognizable in how we act? Tough questions for sure. I know I do not like to confront myself with this. It makes me uncomfortable. This is part and parcel of that introspection we as believers take on at Lent. If it were an easy question to ask, it probably would not be worth asking. Please, take time and examine yourself. Ask yourself the question “What are you willing to give me?” Is there an element of your life that needs a bit of prayer for faith and help to improve? Think about it. 

Each of us is imperfect. And God our Father knows this. And yes, He loves us in spite of ourselves. He wants each of us to understand our brokenness and to grow from that knowledge. He also wants us to remember His grace is enough to fill that void. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 after pleading three times with the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. God sent His perfect and precious Son to die for each and everyone. Not just the good ones, every one. The proof is found in the empty cross and empty cross. Remember our brokenness and embrace the grace that abounds in the love of Christ. That love is what we need to share in our lives.

PRAYER: Father, we who are broken look to You for healing of our hearts and our lives. Give us the faith to be courageous in sharing the love of Your Son. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Profession Of Faith

1Corinthians 16:13&14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

When we are given a chance to speak in public, things can either go well, or they can go badly. I watched the 2014 NFC championship game and the interviews conducted at the end of the game. Some interviews were great and filled with insight into how the game unfolded for a player or a team. One interview that is still being talked about days after it aired was an example of what not to do when someone puts a microphone in your face. It was a rant from player with a college degree in communications. It's sad that what is remember will be the bad, and how quickly the good is forgotten.

The title of this devotional is a play on words. Yes, the title does in fact have a double meaning. Profession of faith describes how we share with others what we believe and what our faith is grounded in. From John 3:16 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. And from Ephesians 2:8&9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. These are the pillars of our belief and faith. These simple truths explain the love we are shown by God our Father and the reason His Son suffered for all on the cross. This grace of God is a gift, not something we earned. That is what we profess.

Now, for the rest of the play on words. A profession is a job, or vocation. A professional is a person who studies, grows , and progresses in knowledge, skills and abilities in their chosen field of endeavor. They stay in the game to keep sharp. Their knowledge, skills and abilities may be called upon to solve a problem, respond to an emergency or to represent their chosen profession in a public forum. They are ready to share. 

Conventional wisdom tells us that the only professionals of faith are trained and ordained clergy. The real truth is all believers have a profession of faith and a responsibility to profess their faith. We are all commissioned to speak the truth. 1Corinthians 16:13&14 Reminds us that we are to Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. We are called upon to be ready to profess our faith just as anyone with a profession of faith would. The question to ask yourself is are you ready when called upon? Are you on your guard so that when the time comes you will share your faith in loved and with conviction? These opportunities present themselves with little or no warning, hence the need to be on your guard. Friends, pray for the opportunities and the words to share. Rest assured, God will provide for your needs through His Holy Spirit. Speak with confidence,and love friends.

Prayer: Father, we are oftener asked on what do we base our faith in You? We live in a world that chooses to ignore You and set its own standards. These standards are built on shifting sands and not grounded on the rock that is Jesus Christ. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit in our profession of faith to profess our faith. May our words be Your words of Hope and love. This we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.