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Acts 18:1–4 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Just over a year ago Cheryl and I were in Corinth on a “Footsteps of Paul” tour. The unearthed ruins of ancient Corinth were surrounded by modern day homes. We were able to spend some time wandering through the ruins and wonder what life must have been like 2000 years ago in that city. Several places were suggested as possible locations for Paul to have set up his shop as a tentmaker because of the tools found in the area. While we know he was there, we cannot know the exact spot he worked.

When the apostle Paul visited Corinth, that city was about as secular a place as you could find. It was a port town with a lot of sailors and a lot of prostitutes. There were many temples to many different gods. It was a corrupt town in which a good number of the people felt no need for any god of any kind. It was to such a city and such a people that Paul came with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and only through Him. Jesus was proclaimed as the solution for the Corinthians in their search for meaning, peace of mind, forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life. Paul did not mince words. He was specific when sharing the message. He did not speak in vague or uncertain terms. He did not preach an ambiguous message of Jesus. He proclaimed the power of Christ, the Son of God, the only Savior of the world. He spoke of Jesus living a perfect life, being crucified for the sins of the world, and rising again to proclaim victory over death. The Holy Spirit worked through his message. People came to faith. They became convinced that Jesus was the answer to the problem of their sin and its consequences – death, separation from God, eternal condemnation. That is still true today for people all over this planet.

That is what we need to be busy sharing Jesus. Paul did it on a personal level. So must we. I know that the Spirit of God can and will work through a variety of means. I’m sure that people have been led to faith in Christ because of the Internet, e-mail, television, and radio. Those are all tools that can be used. They are good things. But the most powerful and effective means of making disciples since the church began is to let the Holy Spirit use you as an individual. The best method is what Jesus said: Go, tell, teach. Be a Christian, a disciple, who lives his or her faith wherever you find yourself. The first place that needs to happen is in your home as a father, mother, husband, wife, son or daughter. Being a forgiven child of God will influence the kind of father, mother, husband, wife, son or daughter that you are. You will try to be an imitator of Christ so that the members of your family will see Him through you. That should be true first and foremost in your home. If you share Christ in word and action in your home, then it will be true wherever else you go.

• Teaching in a public school
• Waiting on tables
• In the board room and the break room
• At your receptionist desk
• At the coffee shop
• On a sales call
• Where you volunteer

Matthew 28:18–20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The calling to “make disciples” is something that every one of us must answer. The best way to go about the task of making disciples is to live your faith and talk about it. This happens on a personal level. People will come to know and believe in Jesus Christ because they see Him in you and the way you live. Of course, the only way that will happen is if He is in you. That is why it is crucial for believers to continually be strengthened and built up in their own relationship with Christ.

• This happens when you take time to let Him speak to you through His Word, whether in private devotions or in Bible Study with others.
• You are built up in your own relationship with Christ when you remember your Baptism and that through water and the Word God has claimed you as His dearly loved child.
• Your are made stronger in your faith when you receive the Sacrament of the Altar, assuring you that the death of Jesus has paid for your sins and that you have forgiveness and eternal life.

There should be no uncertainty about your status before God. With faith in Jesus, you have the guarantee that you are forgiven, you are His redeemed child now and will be His forever.

All around you are people seeking the answers for life. They want a new life, they want something better, something more, but don’t know how to get it. People are spiritual beings, and they are searching for spiritual answers. You and I have the answer: Jesus! But there are plenty of voices out there today proclaiming other “answers.” Do whatever feels good. Look inside yourself. You have to work for whatever you get. There are all kinds of philosophies out there. Some answers point to God, some suggest you take care of our own problems, others look to the stars, still others consult mediums and tarot cards. In the midst of all these solutions and the confusion that goes with them the Church proclaims Jesus Christ, crucified and risen again, as the only answer.

Do you remember that show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Did you know that the show is still being made? It started over 25 years ago. By answering a series of trivia questions, you can earn the top prize of one million dollars. The first host of the show in the U.S. was Regis Philbin. When a contestant would give his or her answer to the multiple choice question, he would always ask, “Is that your final answer?” The contestant had to affirm that it was, and would then be told whether or not he had given the correct answer.

You and I know that God has given us the answer we need, and it is Jesus. God’s Final Answer to the problem of sin is Jesus. This answer is for everyone. Your mission is to make sure others know who He is and what He has done for us all. Don’t assume that the people you meet are believers in Christ as their Savior. In fact, it is better to assume they are NOT! Then you will make a conscious effort to show them the difference in your life because you know Jesus is God’s Final answer!

Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Yesterday I posed the question “What is Your Mission?” As we continue to consider this today, I direct you to these words:

Ephesians 4:11-16 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 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. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Note how it ends: each part does its work. Different parts of the body need to do their part. That is what it means to mature as a disciple. Each part needs to do its work.

Jesus gave His followers as Mission Statement at the end of Matthew:

 Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

 What is your part in this mission? In any group of believers, there are those who step up and take leadership roles. There are others who serve faithfully as teachers and helpers. All of you have a part in this mission.

As you try to determine your part in this mission, consider how God has blessed you. Some of you are able to give more financially than others. God does not ask you to give what you don’t have. He does want you to use what He has given you for His Kingdom. Some of you have special skills that you could offer. Some are able to give more of your time.

A a recent Lutheran Women in Mission event where my wife was speaking, one of the ladies stood up and said, “There are things we can do that men cannot do. And there are things the men can do that we can’t.”  She understood that EACH PART needs to do its work. You need to do your part when it is your time to do your part.

Be a person who takes to heart the message of forgiveness and life you have for Jesus’ sake. Be a person who responds to that message in your living. What it boils down to is giving of yourself because Christ has given to you. With the whole body working together, you will grow and build each other up in love, as each part does its work.

A pastor was walking down a beach and found a bottle half buried in the sand. He reached down, picked it up, and started rubbing away the sand and silt, when suddenly the bottle began to shake, the top flew off and a huge plume of smoke filled the air. The pastor saw a genie standing before him who thanked him profusely for freeing him from thousands of years of captivity inside that bottle. The grateful genie offered to grant the pastor any wish he wanted for having set him free. The pastor thought for a moment and then said, “You know, I have always wanted to visit the Holy Land. I want to see all those places Jesus walked. But I’m afraid to fly, and I won’t go by sea because I watched that movie “Titanic” and I’m afraid of the water. My wish is that you would build a bridge across the ocean so that I could drive to the Holy Land.” The genie had a look of exasperation on his face and replied, “There are many things possible within my power, but I don’t think you understand the complexity of your request. Do you have any idea how difficult it would be to construct a bridge across the ocean? Can’t you come up with another wish?” The pastor thought for a few more minutes and then said, “I have a congregation of about 300 members. My wish is that you would make them all active members of the church, those who support our mission and ministry with their prayers, their time, their abilities and their offerings.” Now the genie was silent. Sheepishly, he replied, “How many lanes do you think the bridge should have?”

Why is it so difficult for followers of Jesus to be active in His mission? For the next few days I am going to ask you to ask yourself, “What is my mission as a follower of Jesus Christ, my Savior?” Our Lord told those who would follow Him to count the cost of discipleship.

Luke 14:27–30 (ESV) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

God, who has given you forgiveness and life and salvation through Jesus, asks you to live for Him. What is the cost for you to be a disciple? It cost Jesus dearly to make you His own. What will the cost be for you to be His disciple? That question is directly related to the question, “What is your mission as  follower of Jesus?”  Ponder that today.

Every day I encounter people with a variety of attitudes. Some are cheerful, some are fearful, some are pretty anxious, some are very much at peace. In our world today we don’t have to look very hard to find conflict and turmoil. How do you react to these circumstances? .

Psalm 31:9–16 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends— those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

The Psalmist speaks of things that are a reality in our lives: distress, sorrow, grief, anguish, affliction and terror. Just because you have faith in Jesus, you are not exempt from these things. In spite of all this, the Psalmist speaks words of trust and confidence. “My times are in your hands.” God is in control and God is with you. In all things, good and bad, God is in control and He is with you.

You have this assurance because He speaks it over and over in His Word. And in His Word made flesh. Jesus came to be one of us to take our place in punishment, earn our forgiveness, and open heaven for us. He did that by dying on a cross and rising again in victory on the the Third Day.

How will you face times of uncertainty, isolation, depression and trouble? I hope you will do so with the mindset that no matter what is going on in your life, God has got you in His hands.

Father, thank you for the assurance that you are still in control. We thank you that we know you have got our situation and us firmly in Your grasp. Give us this conviction, this certainty, that we face the days ahead with the confidence that belongs to those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. It is in His name that we pray. Amen.

My last devotion was about Jesus’ claim to be the Bread of Life and how His listeners did not want to believe what He was saying. One of the objections they raised was this:

John 6:52–53 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

The Jews thought they had Jesus here: How can we eat His flesh? This is ridiculous. Impossible. There is no way. Or so they thought. But with God, nothing is impossible. He not only said we would eat His flesh and drink His blood, but gave us the means to do it. And rather than it being some kind of grotesque ritual, as it is often portrayed by those outside the church, it is one of the high points of being a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus gathered with his disciples the evening before He was to be crucified. They were celebrating Passover, the meal that remembered how God brought His people out of their slavery in Egypt to take them back to the promised land. Part of that meal was unleavened bread, which Jesus took, gave to His disciples and said, “This is my body given for you.” Then He gave thanks for the wine that was used as part of that meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:19-20) He started a new remembering meal. But it was more than that. It is a communion, a sharing, a participation in the death He died that paid for your sin.  When you come to the altar, you are given the things Jesus used to pay for your sin in a special and personal way because God’s Word promises to give them to you.

The one who is the bread of life gives Himself for you and to you so that you can live forever. He gave it for the life of the world, and that includes you.

The following story titled “Changed Lives” was told about Lewis Lawes and his wife Catherine.

In 1921, Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, here’s what he said, “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine, who is buried outside the prison walls.”

Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine! When the first prison basketball game was held, she went . . . walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates. Her attitude was: “My husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry!”

She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand in hers she said, “Do you read Braille?” “What’s Braille?” he asked. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he would weep in love for her.

Later, Catherine found a deaf-mute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to 1937.

Then, she was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work, so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong. The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three-quarters of a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk, he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and faced the men, “All right, men you can go. Just be sure and check in tonight!” Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked, without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in. Every one!”

(Story By Tim Kimmel from A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Copyright © 1997 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Hanoch McCarty & Meladee McCarty)

When you hear about people who transform lives, it is usually someone whose own life has been transformed by Jesus. They have believed in Him and received the forgiveness of sin that only He can give, which changes them. That was certainly true of Catherine Lawes.

Jesus transforms the lives of those He loves. He transforms the lives of those who are loved by those He has already transformed. He has transformed your life and mine so that we can feed His message of love to others.

This all happens through the Lord Jesus Christ, “who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:21

Long ago there was a tribe in a dark, cold cavern. The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the cold. Loud and long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. They didn’t know just how mournful it sounded in that cave, since they had never known joy. The spirit in the cave was death, but they didn’t know it, for they had never known life.

One day, they heard a different voice. “I have heard your cries,” it said. “I have felt your chill and seen your darkness. I have come to help.” The cave people grew quiet. They had never heard this voice. Hope sounded strange to them. “How can we know you have come to help?” He replied, “Trust me. I have what you need.”

The cave people strained to see the stranger through the darkness. He was stacking something, stooping, stacking some more. “What are you doing” someone asked nervously. The stranger didn’t answer, just kept stacking. “What are you making?” someone asked loudly. Still no response. “Tell us” another demanded angrily. The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices. “I have what you need.” With that he turned to the pile at his feet and lit it. Wood ignited, flames erupted, and the light filled the cavern.

Put it out!” they cried, turning away in fear, “It hurts to see it!” He answered, “Light always hurts before it helps. Step closer. The pain will soon pass.”  “Not I” said one voice after another. “Only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to that bright light.” The stranger stayed by the fire, “Would you prefer the darkness? Do you prefer the cold? Don’t let fear control you — take a step of faith!”

For a long time no one spoke. The people hovered in groups, covering their eyes. The fire builder stood by the fire. “It’s warm here,” he invited.

“He’s right” one from behind him said. “It is warmer.” The stranger turned to see someone approaching. She said, “I can open my eyes now! I can see!”

“Come closer” the fire builder invited. She did. She stepped into the ring of light. “It’s so warm!” She extended her hands toward the fire and sighed as the chill began to pass. “Come, everyone,” she invited, “feel the warmth!”

“Silence, woman!” one of the cave dwellers responded. “Dare you lead us into your folly? Take your light and leave us.” She turned to the stranger and asked, “Why won’t they come?” He said, “They choose the chill, for even though it is cold, it is what they know. They would rather be cold than change.” “And live in the dark?” “And live in the dark.” The now warm woman stood there looking at the stranger, then peered into the darkness. He asked her, “Will you leave the fire?” She paused before she said, “I can’t. I can’t stand the cold.” Then she spoke again, “But I can’t stand the thought of my people living in darkness.”  “You don’t have to,” he responded, reaching down into the fire and removing a stick. “Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here and the light is warm. It is here for all who desire it.” And she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 You are the light of the world. The Light of Christ that has shined on us should now shine through us, radiating to others. As you speak to others about your Savior and His love for them, the Holy Spirit shines in their hearts, to shatter the darkness of sin in their lives and let the Light of Christ shine.

There are people you know, cold and afraid, stubbornly clinging to the darkness because it is all they know. Take the light of Christ to them. Let it shine through you. Turn on the Light for them.

I shared some thoughts recently based on Jeremiah 29 about the plans that we make in our lives. Will our plans work out like we want them to? What about God’s plans? I decided to dig into God’s Word to find more of what He has to say about plans.

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

God has things planned for us – good things. More than we will ever know. But if we were to talk about the ones we know about, it would be a very long conversation.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Psalm 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Proverbs 16:1-3 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Did you notice how plans and the heart are tied together in these verses? Man plans for things that are close to his heart. God makes plans for us according to His heart, from His awesome love for us. Which plans are going to be better: the ones from your heart or the ones from God’s?

Proverbs 14:22 Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Plan what is good – what is in keeping with God’s will. We need to come around to God’s way of thinking.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 20:18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Whom do you consult when making plans? Where does your advice come from? Where should it come from?

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A plan that has sought God’s guidance and blessing will accomplish His purposes.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Planning is good, but you need to put your plans into action now. Time will run out for us to accomplish the plans God has for us here on earth. We need to be about our Father’s business.

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world… It may seem like our enemies are winning, but we’ve got God on our side.

Hebrews 11:40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11 is know as the “Faith chapter” of the Bible. At the  conclusion of listing the heroes/examples of faith, we are told none of them received what had been promised. The “something better” God had planned was the righteousness accomplished by Jesus for all people. We are made perfect in His sight in the same way those “heroes’ were: through faith!

God’s plan is for you to believe in Jesus and receive what He earned for you. God’s primary plan for you and everyone is to be forgiven. This happens only by His grace when you put your faith in Jesus as your Savior. Then you will receive all the good things that God has planned for you.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.