DEVOTION FOR MARCH 6, 2010

BEGIN AGAIN

TO BE THE PEOPLE GOD WANTS US TO BE

WHY WASTE YOUR TIME WORRYING?

Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV)

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  St. Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV)

We hear reports of massive earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornados, floods, blizzards, ice storms, drought, and periods of extreme heat or bitter cold.  We eagerly await the video reports so we can see the damage, the despair, and what seems to be extreme helplessness. We worry.

We hear of wars and rumors of wars, of nations building destructive plans and equipment for destroying one another.  We hear of a Terrorist attack that has either been foiled or was carried out and await the videos to see the carnage and loss of innocent lives. We worry.

We hear of factories closing or moving to another country, we hear of high interest rates, foreclosures, bankruptcies and businesses downsizing.  Because of higher prices and lower wages, we either watch our savings decrease or our debts increase. We worry.

Certainly we can add many more categories and say without hesitation, We worry.  

In place of being worried, Jesus would ask each of us as He does in verses 31 and 32, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

It is simple, God knows all these things. We already know that God cares about His Creation. When the ground is covered with inches or feet of snow, God has still provided for the wild birds and animals, though we might not see the food. It is there for the birds and animals all year long.

We then move on to verse 34 where Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Here Jesus is telling us that we should not only not be worried about the problems that we have carried over from all of the yesterdays, but above all, don’t add to them all of the unknown problems that might arise tomorrow.

Read again these important words, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Here is the problem. If we are going to spend all of our time worrying about the burdens that have needlessly piled up in the past and add to that the worries of what might happen on any tomorrow, it will surely seem that there is no hope.

But there is hope. Not, maybe there is hope.  Not, there could be hope. Just a positive, affirmative, There is hope. As we were looking at these verses you probably noted that we skipped verse 33 - “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  It sounds like such a simple thing and it is.  However, people try to make it so hard. They want to put their own limits on what they might be required to do.  It does not work that way.

We hear many complaints about people who migrate from one Nation to another and then want that nation to adapt to their native ways. It does not work that way with God. If we are going to seek the Kingdom of God, then we must acknowledge God as our Lord and King and do things His Way if we want to free ourselves of the burdens of the world of sin in which we live.

How do we seek first the Kingdom of God? We must begin with a fervent daily prayer. We must know the difference between a promise of God and one of the world.   If we have financial problems, we hear the call of the Lottery, the casino, the Bingo game saying come and bring your money and take a chance because you MIGHT win. God says, come and seek and you WILL receive.

To seek first the Kingdom of God is not easy; in fact it is hard, too hard for some people to even consider.  To seek the Kingdom of God we will be required to give up many things that we not only enjoy, but at times what we have made the main focus of our lives.   The Kingdom of God is not hidden in some dark, secret place that is almost impossible to find.  It is right here among us.  The Kingdom of God is not secondary to any earthly government. We may think it is because “we the people” have granted earthly governments permission to establish “socially and politically correct” concepts and rules for us to live by.

No wonder we worry.  We have placed people to be in charge of what God created and said it was “good.”

As an example.  We have seen pictures and heard stories about the massive destruction done by tsunamis and recently of 26-30 foot high waves that crashed into a cruise ship, causing damage and death on a smaller scale. We are in despair as there is nothing we can do about the terrible force of nature.  Why do we say that? People say that because they believe that there is no way we can control the violent forces of nature. They call it an Act of God.

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that is not correct. As we study God’s Word we know that after anything He created, He said that it was Good.  The gift of weather, changing seasons was a good gift.   As we study the Bible, we find an account of some men, disciples of Jesus, out on this lake in their old wooden fishing boat.  It has been a calm evening and all of a sudden the gale-like winds arise.  The boat is being tossed about, waves pouring water into the boat.  The disciples are in a state of panic. Fear reigns supreme.  All of a sudden they remember that Jesus is in the boat with them.  They look around. There He is, sound asleep as the boat tosses even more violently. “Master, Master” they cry out, “don’t you care that we are perishing?”  Jesus awakens, stands up and asked them, “Why are ye afraid? Oh ye of little faith.”  Then Jesus stretches His Hands over the water and says, “Peace, be still.” and the waters became calm. The disciples said among themselves, He has power over even the waters of the sea!”

Why are we afraid?  Why do we worry? We don’t need to be afraid.  We don’t need to worry.  All we need to do is to turn our eyes upon Jesus, read, study and accept His Lordship and follow Him.

The world offers what they call The Good Life. However there is a cost. God offers an even Better Life.  WHY WASTE YOUR TIME WORRYING when you can be in prayer and Bible Study seeking first the Kingdom of God and the all of the things you worry about will no longer be a worry. Remember that Jesus did something even greater than calm the waters.  On Good Friday, with His own Life He overcame the power of sin, death and the devil.  Once you begin to discover the glories of the Kingdom of God, you will wonder why it took you so long to get started. Seek ye first.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus beginning right now.

WE PRAY:  Heavenly Father, All too often we want to do things our way. We forget that You carried out the creation of everything in this world we need.  As I encounter others in this world who also worry about this and that, please grant to me the right words and a heart filling with compassion as I seek to lead them to you. AMEN

LIVING THE DEVOTION

 Begin by reading the Book of Genesis.  As you read, make notes of the Power of God in the Creation.  See what God does when His people are faithful to Him such as Abraham and Sarah, Noah and Joseph, and people who did not hold fast to their belief in Him. The people at the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorra.  Make a decision as to which group you want to follow.   Then study your Bible, make notes of the great hope God offers in His Kingdom.  Don’t stop there. Continue to Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ and enjoy the benefits of living in His Kingdom. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?  Email me and I will be happy to respond.

GOD’S PEACE.               SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

DEVOTION FOR JANUARY 25, 2010

TO LET ME BE WHO GOD WANTS ME TO BE

WHO WILL STAND UP FOR JESUS?  

 Matthew 5:11 (NKJV)

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you”.  St. Matthew 5:11 (NKJV)

For many people, The Beatitudes rank among their favorite passages. The problem is that so few take time to grasp the words of comfort, strength, and love that Jesus imparts in this outstanding Sermon.  The words of these two verses are well known, but seldom do we see any relationship to our lives today.  We do need to take these Words seriously and spend time in prayer and meditation on the question, “In the face of persecution would I Stand Firm in my Faith and put my entire trust in God?”

During my Senior Year at Wartburg Theological Seminary, each student would be invited to the President’s office for an appointment.  When the invitations were received, we knew that a Congregation had voted to send a Letter of Call to be their Pastor.  Of course, we were excited about knowing which Congregation we would serve and in which State it was located.

The President of the Seminary at that time was the late Reverend Doctor Alfred Ewald. Before accepting the Call to be the Seminary President, he had served as the President of one of the Districts of the American Lutheran Church.  At that time, the District President was the Pastor to Pastors, unlike today where the Presidents, Bishops, Moderators, or whatever title they carry, seems to be in the role of a CEO, with the Pastoral role being a very small part, and sometimes forgotten part, of the call.

Dr. Ewald was the Pastor to the Pastors-to-be at that time. He counseled me about little things that were important, but seldom talked about, in the role of a Pastor. As the time of the appointment drew to a close, he said to me. “Just one more thing. I believe that in your lifetime you will be persecuted because of your faith if you remain true to the teachings of God’s Holy Word.”  He told me that I may not see it right away, but he was convinced that the persecution of Christians was already being practiced, even in the United States.  It is important to note that the persecution would not be because of being a Pastor, but because of being a Christian.

Each Senior Seminarian who received these words from Dr. Ewald had his own individual reaction. For the majority, the reaction was it could happen, but I don't think so, and therefore I am not going to worry about it. Is it any wonder then that when people read these verses from the Beatitudes, they pass right over them without giving them any thought?

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”  How do you understand this verse?  One example could be the recent comments of Britt Hulme suggesting that Tiger Woods needs the forgiveness that comes from Jesus Christ which his faith, Buddhism, cannot offer.  Mr. Hulme has been publicly attacked by so many because he chose to offer to Tiger the Only Way that he might once again return to a life free from the obsession of this particular sin is through Jesus.

A little bit closer to home.  Have you ever been in a group or a conversation where you did not speak up because you were afraid of the reaction of others? Maybe you feared you would lose a friend. Maybe you thought people would laugh at you.  Noah let them laugh while he built the ark.  Maybe it is in regard to some of the major social issues of the day and the difference between what the world thinks and what the Bible says. Maybe it is being around those who take God’s name in vain. Maybe it is when you are with those who like to spread gossip no matter how it might hurt someone. Maybe it is neglecting to act when the need for action is so strong. 

It is important that we remember that we have been called to a life in Christ to free people from their sins as Christ has freed us, not to encourage them to continue in their sinful ways by being silent so that we don't lose a friend, a promotion, or some status that we covet so much.

“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  As hard as it is to grasp the idea of persecution in this age in which we live, it is equally as hard to see how you could rejoice and be exceedingly glad if you were persecuted as were the prophets of old.  It is only when we understand this that we can stand up for Jesus and join with Joshua when he said, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (NKJV). 

The truth is that we have to go to God and ask Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit in order that we might even have a glimpse of His Greatness and Power.  This is not something we just ask for; it is something on which we must act.  We must take time for prayer.  We must take time for Bible study. We must take time to meet for prayer and study with others.  We must invite Jesus to be a part of everything that we do and every decision we make. We must understand that Jesus is our confidant and our friend.  When we begin to allow the great Love of God to enter in and flow though our lives, it is then and only then that we can be willing to stand up for Him and confess His Name and His Love before others.  If we reject God before others by our silence, then God will also reject us.  If we confess Him before others, we may well face persecution, but we know that beyond awaits of the Peace of God that passes all human understanding.

WE PRAY:   Heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your witnesses in all places, even to the ends of the Earth.  We need your help. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and open our eyes and our hearts that we might see and respond to every opportunity that is placed before us.  Help us not to worry abut how your Word might be received; help us only to have the power and courage to proclaim it. Amen.

LIVING THE DEVOTION

We can all identify every day activities that we do without giving them much thought.  Some of these are not pleasing to God.  Make a set of 3 X 5 cards with one such thing on each card. Then review the cards every day and note where you have continued to do that which you know you should not do.  If you have made some progress, make a note of what you might have done to make that change. As you are in Bible Study and Prayer, if you see a passage, hear a hymn, or read something that relates to that issue, add the information to the card.  There are two reasons for this. One is to daily remind you of what needs to be changed or needed to be changed and what a struggle it can be. The other reason is for when you are given the opportunity to help someone else through the same issue, you will understand the need for your patience as you try to help them through the small steps that you have taken.

GOD’S PEACE.  SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE

DEVOTION FOR NOVEMBER 30, 2009

BEGIN AGAIN

TO LET GOD’S WORD BE GOD’S WORD

TO READ IT SO THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE IT

 John 20:30-31 (NKJV) 

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.  St. John 20:30-31 (NKJV) 

This has long been one of my favorite Bible passages.  At first reading, it is easy to skip over it without realizing how very important it is.  I did not realize the importance of it until serving my first parish, Nazareth Lutheran in Chatfield, Ohio.  The choir was going to present the moving cantata, NO GREATER LOVE, by John Peterson.  I was asked to do the Narration.  The choir, organist and director were all members of the Congregation and they were fantastic.  As the cantata progressed, toward the end in the narration were the words of our verses for today.  The singing had an effect on me and as I read these words, all of a sudden they came to life and had an effect on the rest of my years in the ministry.

We went from Chatfield to Denver, Colorado and then on December 30, 1975 arrived in Defiance, Ohio to begin our ministry at Bethlehem and St. Mark’s Lutheran Congregations.  Toward evening on the day of our arrival, Fred and Marlin, who were the chairmen of the two congregations, stopped in to say hello. One of them said to me, “We have a New Years Eve Service tomorrow night and since we knew you would be here, we did not get a Pastor to preach.  Is that okay?” I could only say, yes.  The moving van would not arrive for another few days.  All we had were the clothes in our suitcases. No books, nothing to use to quickly prepare a Sermon.  It did not take long for the words of these verses to enter my mind and they became my Sermon text not only for that night but for every New Year’s Eve Service that I had from that time on.

In the turmoil of these days, these words become even more important.  

We claim to be a Christian Nation, yet only a small percentage of Americans belong to a church and less than 30 percent of those who claim to be Christians REMEMBER TO KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY by at least attending Church.

We have many laws in our communities, states, and nation that are in direct opposition to what the Word of God teaches.   

People get upset because they are taxed in order to provide for basic needs and care that some just cannot afford, while years ago the church and the people of the church met all of these needs without the red tape and taxes of today.

The list could go on and on, and, while it does, I fear that the line of people awaiting entrance through the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven is getting shorter and shorter.

“These things are written that you might believe.”  The first thing that you must ask yourself is, What things?  Without going back to look, can you recall what is written in the Gospel of St. John?  If you can’t and thus don’t know them, how can you believe in that which you don’t know.  Many of the things that are written can only be accepted by belief as there is not the kind of proof that many people want.  It is only in the knowing and the believing “that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God” that you can understand how important they are to not only your life today but also if you desire to be admitted to the line at the Gates of Heaven.  There will not be any gate crashers.  It is only “believing that you will have life in His Name.”   Begin again to READ IT SO THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE IT.

WE PRAY:  “Divine Instructor, Gracious Lord, be Thou forever near.  Teach us to love Thy Sacred Word and view our Savior there.  AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

I have been suggesting for some time that people select one of the Gospels and read it over and over until they know the truths it contains.  You might want to do this as a part of Family Devotions, each time discussing what you have read.       OR

You and a friend or friends could decide to read the same Gospel and spend some time each week, or more often if possible, talking about what you read.       OR

If you are involved in FaceBook, invite your friends to join you in reading and then posting what you read and what you think so that they could respond and add their comments.

Don’t forget to write down your questions as you read.  Keep asking those questions even if people who should know the answers give the idea that they are too busy. Nothing is more important than to give one another assistance in seeking the Truth of God’s Word so that we might believe and in believing have Life in His Name.

GOD’S PEACE.               SEE YOU AT THE HOUSE.

DEVOTION FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

DO WE MEAN THE WORDS WE PRAY?

ST. LUKE 11:2 (NKJV)

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. St. Luke 11:2 (NKJV)

Have you ever seriously asked yourself the question, “Do I really mean what I pray?” Certainly you would answer, “Yes,” when you would be praying in time of pain, illness or sorrow, as death draws near or has already taken a loved one.

But what about other times? I have many times asked people the question, When you pray the common table prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest,” do you visualize or even think about the possibility that you have invited Jesus to sit at the table with you AND that He is there as your unseen guest?

When you pray The Lord’s Prayer and pray “Hallowed be The Name?” do you really mean that or do you soon take His Name in vain? This could be anything from cursing or swearing to using the phrase, “O my God” in disgust or gladness without any thought of God having anything to do with what is happening?

For the purpose of this devotion, we look at the petition, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

If all Christians are very sincere about praying these words, then why:

• Are there so many people homeless and hungry? That is certainly not God’s will.

• Is there so much crime that people are often afraid to go out at night or to work in a business that is open during the dark hours of a night? That is certainly not God’s Will.

• Is it that there are so many deaths caused by drugs, alcohol, misuse of cell phones, speed and other preventable causes? This is certainly not God’s Will.

• Is there so much domestic violence? That certainly is not God’s Will.

• Is there so much division and dissension in so many Christian Congregations and Denominations? This certainly is not God’s Will.

It would be good if you would pause here and on a sheet of paper continue this list with other things that you see wrong in the world that are not God’s Will.

To switch from the negative to the positive side of this Devotion I want to share with you a quotation concerning the prayer, “Thy Will be done” from one of the great Reformers of the Christian Church, John Calvin. He said, “The substance of the prayer is that God would enlighten the world by the light of His Word, would form the hearts of men by the influence of His Spirit, and would restore to order, by the gracious exercise of His Power, all the disorder that exists in the world.”

The question then becomes one of not can God do it, but one of Do we really want His Will to be done? Are we willing to make the sacrifices and changes that would be needed in our lives in order that we can seek to do His Will?

An immediate response might be, “What good will it do; what can one person do?” The problem here is that we are not thinking the right way. It is not “what can we do.” It should be “what can God do” with each of us and our actions of faith if we seek to do His Will. We can’t even begin to imagine what changes can come to our homes, our churches, our schools, our business and industry, our government and yes, even to our world if you and then another and still another pray seriously and fervently that “Thy Will be done.”

In the coming days, months or years, whatever time I have left on this earth, I want to share with you RAMBLING THOUGHTS and DEVOTIONS to help you BEGIN AGAIN as you daily pray and live that God’s Will be done.

Do you really mean the words you pray when you pray, “Thy Will be done?”

WE PRAY:  Heavenly Father, so often I do not understand what I am praying for when I pray “Thy Will be done.” Open my heart when I read your Holy Word and then open my eyes so that I can see where often I am part of the reason that Your Will is not being done. Teach me Thy Ways, O Lord, and lead me in Your Path that I may follow you that Your Will might be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Each of us should have no trouble examining our lives and seeing ways in which we are not doing as God would have us do. Just take one of those areas and pray about it on a regular basis. Mornings, evenings and any time you have an extra minute or two. Do this every day and you might be surprised what will happen. If you want, talk about it with a friend. You can even send me a note and i will give you whatever support I can. Just remember that this is for a change in you and not a try to change someone else.

DEVOTION FOR APRIL 25, 2009
 

HOW DID  YOU CELEBRATE EASTER?
ST. LUKE 13:22-24

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.  St. Luke 13:22-24  (NKJV)

This may seem like a very strange text that I have chosen to talk about the Easter Celebration.  It is my hope that as I share these thoughts that you will see that the relationship between the theme for this devotion and the text really do go together.

We must begin by remembering  that both the Seasons of Christmas and Easter begin with the Holy Days of Christmas and Easter.  The Christmas Season continues to the Festival of the Epiphany, January 6.  The Easter Season goes much longer, this year until the Vigil of Pentecost on May 30.  The length of the Easter Season depends on the date of Easter.  That date changes yearly but the Season always ends on the Vigil of Pentecost.

The first question then becomes, “Do you celebrate Easter only by observing it during the hour of Worship on Easter Morning?”  Or, “Do you observe it the harder way by intentionally celebrating it each day of the Season?”

The second question is “How do you prepare for the Easter Sunday Worship Service?”  Is it in the selection of clothing to be worn that day?  Years ago many women had to have a new hat and purse or they did not feel properly dressed for the service. Today is it still a high priority to have a new outfit? This applies to both male and female. Or is the greatest preparation found in planning and cooking the Family meal or in coloring eggs or buying Easter presents. All of this takes time and work, but it is still the easy way to celebrate. Here is the harder way to prepare for Easter Worship.  Many Good Friday Worship Services now conclude in Silence.  The worshipper is encouraged to leave in silence and to contemplate on  the death and suffering of Jesus on the Cross until they return on Easter Morning. The vast majority of worshippers will keep silent walking out of the church but may well stop and tell a joke to a fellow worshipper, or as soon as they are in the car turn on the radio for their favorite music or sporting event. And so it continues throughout the weekend to the point that some might not make it to Easter Worship because they were too tired from the events in their lives on Saturday.  Because so few people do it, the hardest way must be to spend those few hours concentrating on the fact that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for me.  This could take place in planned family discussions and in many other ways.

The third question is, “What was the most meaningful thing for me from the Easter Worship Hour?  If you took the easy way and did nothing to prepare then the things you would remember would be the beautiful music, the wonderful display of Easter flowers, how wonderful someone looked in their choice of clothes for the day and the joy in seeing some folks at worship who had not been there for several months.  If you prepare the hard way, then at Worship when you sang, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” you offered your thanks to God that His Son arose from the tomb for you.  Or if you sang, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” there is no doubt in your mind that He Lives for you that you might have Life after you enter the grave.

This returns us to our text.  It is important to ask why it is so hard to enter by the narrow gate.  Not too far from where Jesus was speaking, there was one of the many fortresses that were situated throughout the country.  To get to these fortresses from the traveled paths, there was a long, winding, narrow path that led to a narrow gate.  The path was probably steep in places as most fortresses were located in the hilly areas.  In my mind, the gate was open and the path was not guarded.  Nothing would hinder someone going through the gate except for the hard work of getting from the traveled path to the gate.  It is difficult to paint a picture with words that would describe this difficult task, yet the people understood.  This is not unlike the gate to the Kingdom of Heaven.  The gate is open but the path to get there is hard.  The path is Jesus (“I am the Way,............... no one comes to the Father but by Me”) The path is hard as Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

The only way that we can do things the hard way is when we ask God to send His Holy Spirit upon us that we can shut out the temptations, the noise of the world.  The only way we can experience the TRUE joy of Easter is to ask God to send His Holy Spirit to lead us to prepare the hard way. The only way to enter by the narrow gate, or as it says in another verse, for a camel to go thought the eye of a needle is to ask God to send His Holy Spirit to help us through the hard task of striving to enter through the narrow gate for it is then and only then that we will live in the unimaginable Joy of the Resurrection.

Did you only enjoy Easter?  I hope not.  We are still in the Easter Season.  There is still time if  you are willing to approach the celebration of Easter the hard way.  Join with me in claiming the promise   “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (St. John  3:16 )

WE PRAY:  LORD JESUS, Why is it so easy to sing the Words of Praise on Easter Sunday but so hard to live those same words in the days that follow?  Lord, lead me to read and study Your Holy Word on a daily basis; then fill me with the Holy Spirit to lead me through the Word so that I can walk the hard and difficult path to the glories of Your Eternal Kingdom. AMEN.
 

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

 Select a time and place each day where you can spend at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time reading of the Bible.  Each person needs to develop a Study Plan that meets their needs.  I prefer to read each of the Testaments from the beginning.  I think it is important to begin each session with prayer and to leave a few minutes at the end of the time period to ask yourself what you have read and what meaning did it have for your life?

DEVOTION FOR APRIL 11, 2009

WOULD YOU BELIEVE A MAN LIKE JOHN?
ST. MARK 1:1-8

 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.” 3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” 
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  St. Mark 1:1-8 (NKJV)

Each of the Gospels begin in their own unique way. At first glance it would seem that St. Mark begins his in the most uninteresting way.  St. John begins with the message that Jesus exists Eternally; that is, He IS from before the beginning of the God-Created world that we know today. St. Matthew and St. Luke quickly take us to the message of the Birth of Christ as God sent His Son to earth.  St. Mark does not mention the birth of Christ; he simply begins by talking about a man who comes walking and preaching in the Wilderness.

So, who is this man?  St. Mark describes him as the fulfillment of the prophecies in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.   He says that John is the messenger to come to them so that the way of the Lord might be prepared. 

The people from different places come to the Wilderness and there they see a man dressed in materials from the wilderness and eating the locusts and wild honey that was found there.  If you came upon a man like this, would you believe anything that he said?  Probably not.  We hear of people like this preaching in parks and on street corners of our major cities and either ignore them or seek to have them removed because they are different and just don’t fit in.

Then why did huge crowds come to hear him, to follow him, and to be baptized by him?  They had a great advantage that many who call themselves Christians do not have today.  They knew the Scriptures even though they did not have Bibles.  There were only the scrolls that were kept in the temples and most of the people probably could not read.  From their earliest childhood years they were told of the Mighty Acts of God, they knew the history of the Jewish people and the Laws that God put forth for them to follow, and they knew of the Prophets and the prophecies.  Knowing these prophecies, they eagerly looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  Because of this knowledge, they eagerly heard and believed a man like John because he came with the words that their hope for the Messiah, who would free them from their oppression, would soon be fulfilled.

We must ask ourselves:

How often do we pray before reading the Bible, listening to a sermon, or attending a Bible Study?

How often do we read the Bible?  By that I mean to intentionally find a quiet place, no radio, no TV, no Internet, so that the Holy Spirit can work within us so we can grasp, understand, and be excited about God’s Word.

How often do you read something that bothers you or you don’t understand and then just ignore it instead of seeking help to find the answers that will make a positive difference in your life?

How often do you reject a “John” because he is different or because he says things you don't agree with, or because of his personality?

We MUST like John so that we listen to Him, so that we can find hope and rejoice in his words that one is to come who is mightier than him? 

We might not like John as a friend, but if we don't listen to him and seek the One who is mightier than he is, then there is little hope.  What we need NOW is to believe and to rejoice that the Mighty One has come because He loves you and me.

WE PRAY:  HEAVENLY FATHER, You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord.  Some believed, some did not.

You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross and open the Gates of Heaven to those who love You and keep Your Commandments.  Some believed, some did not.

You sent the Holy Spirit to call, gather, and enlighten us.  Some said, Yes, I will follow, some did not.

“Oh, may these hallowed pages be Our joy by day and night,
And still new beauties may we see, And still increasing light.” 
(From, “Father of Mercies in Thy Word,” NetHymnal)

Lord, as I read and study your Word may I grow in my desire and commitment  to follow as You lead me to the joys of Life Eternal with You. AMEN.

SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

As important as it is to set aside time to eat and to sleep for our physical life, it  is  even more important to set aside time for our Spiritual life.  Begin today to set aside and daily observe a time of Prayer, Bible Reading, and meditation. Begin with prayer as you ask God to send the Holy Spirit upon you and lead you in this time of Devotion. Start by reading one of the Gospels.  Read slowly so that you can ask as you read:   What does this verse say to me?  Spend time in thinking about how you relate to the section that you read.  Do you understand it?  Are there changes you need to make in your life? Find a friend with whom you can share your reactions from your time of Devotion so that you and your friend can grow together in faith.

You say you don’t have time?  Just remember that in Eternity, away from God, you will have all kinds of time to wish you had taken time today.

DEVOTION FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2009

ONLY BY FAITH CAN WE OBEY

GENESIS 12:1-4A

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram, “Get out of your country, From your family, And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him. Genesis 12:1-4a (NKJV)

I don’t watch a lot of television -- the news, some sporting events, and a couple of programs on the regular network channels. I do watch some of the Christian Channels for the Gaithers and similar music presentations. I will go to the Christian Channels to check to see what is on. While I don't agree with most of the preaching and studies, I often find a program that gives me a boost in my walk with God.

Recently I watched Gary McSpadden. I knew of him from his past with the Gaithers and also a music show that he has. This program was part of his “FAITH WORKS NOW” ministry. In this program he spent the half hour talking about the Bible Verses that I have chosen for this Devotion. You might be able to find this presentation at faithworksnow.com. As often happens when a teaching is full of Truth, it led my thinking to some additional and important thoughts about this text. That is why I encourage you to take time for Christian Radio and TV. No matter if you agree or disagree with the presentation, God can lead your thoughts where He wants them to go.

The verses of our text do not just apply to Abram, they apply to each of us.

To each of us there is a command to GO.

To each of us there is an unimaginable promise if we go in FAITH.

To each of us we must respond to the command. The response is clearly our DECISION. 

The GO.

For Abram, the GO was “Get out of your country, From your family, And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.” Notice that God does not give Abram a choice. He does not ask him if he wants to GO. He just says “Get out of your country, away from your family and your father’s house. Before Abram has time to ask where he is to go, God says, "To a land that I will show you.”

For you and for me, we also each have our GO from God. You may say that you don’t. If you do say that, then I begin to wonder how often you read the Bible, how often you offer prayers that come from within you, how often you struggle with your faith, or how often you thank God for even the smallest blessing of each day, regardless of the aches, pains, trials and temptations of daily living that you go through. God has a GO for each of us.

FAITH is the next step. To Abram, after God said GO, God made these promises: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

To the men that Jesus said GO by saying, “Come follow me,” Jesus said “I will make you fishers of men.”

To Zacchaeus, Jesus said, “Come down (GO) from that tree for I am going to your house today.

For you and me and others it could be God saying:

Go into the Mission Fields here at home or in another country.

Go and give up your Sunday Morning pleasure activities and serve at your church wherever God wants you to serve.

Go and leave your group of friends who are living lives that are not pleasing to God.

GO and live your life as God would have you live it.

So often our response is: I would not know what to do, I am not educated enough, I can’t speak well. Do loving parents ever force their children to do that which they are not able or qualified to do? No, they encourage them to do that which they have the ability to do. So it is with God. If we have the FAITH to believe this, then we are ready to make our DECISION.

For Abram it was - ”So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him.” For those fishing for fish from the boat, they became fishers of men. For Zacchaeus, this sinful man has Jesus as a guest for a meal in his home.

For you and for me and for others, only God knows what Blessings await us. For those who believe and trust in God, I have liked this phrase - “Whenever God calls us away from something that we think is good, He always replaces it with something better.”

Are you willing to listen for God’s GO in your life. If you are, I would encourage you to be faithful in your daily times of prayer, Bible reading, and meditation that you might grow in the faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For without FAITH you will not be able to make the DECISION to GO as you will not be able to envision the Glorious Blessings that God has waiting for you when you arrive wherever He leads you.

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, open my heart, my ears and my eyes so that when you invite me to go where you want me to go, I will be ready. Send your Holy Spirit upon me so that your Truths might be revealed to me when I listen to and read your Holy Word. Lord Jesus, when I seek to follow you and somehow tend to stray away, look upon me with your Love and Compassion and gently call me back to walking in your path to Life Eternal. AMEN.

SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

While anytime is a good time to increase the time spent in prayer and meditation, the Season of Lent is an excellent time to make such a decision. Instead of giving up something for Lent, give yourself something that will be with you as you enter Eternity. Give yourself an hour or more each day to read your Bible and pray. If you say that you do not have time, you might have plenty of time after the Lord returns.