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Devotions to help you Think about God’s Word and Apply it to your Lives.

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Power Supply

Being back in Watonga, Oklahoma this weekend brought back a lot of memories for me. A stroll down memory lane is good every now and again. I enjoyed visiting with folks that were there when I began my ministry and meeting new folks as well.

As I sat in that sanctuary, I remembered that August Sunday in 1984 when I was installed. The installation service was in the afternoon, which meant the vacancy pastor was leading worship and preaching that morning. I sat in the pews with many family members who had gathered for the occasion.

There were thunderstorms in the area that morning. While the pastor was preaching, we heard a loud clap of thunder and the sanctuary went dark. The power was out. The pastor was in mid-sentence when the power failure occurred, and he stopped. Dead silence. No one said a word. The power was out for about twenty seconds, which seemed like an eternity. And then the lights came back on. As soon as the power was restored, the pastor picked up right where he left off, in the middle of his sentence, and continued as if nothing had happened.

I will admit that I had to stifle my laughter when that happened. It appeared as though he was plugged into the wall and when the power went off, so did he. When the power came back on, he started again.

I have thought of that many times over the years. It reminds me that the followers of Jesus need to be sure we stay connected to our power source.

Luke 6:19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

When I take my laptop computer with me on trips, it will last a while without being connected to a power source, but the battery will die if I don’t recharge it. If I don’t take my charger with me, the computer will soon be useless.

You and I need to stay connected to our power source, God’s Word. It is there that we are reminded of our failings and our need for God’s help. It is there that we also hear how God provided the rescue we needed. Scripture tells us that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners by offering Himself as the payment for the sins of the world. That is the power we need for every day of our lives.

Power Supply2023-09-11T08:37:19-05:00

Blessings

How often do you and I fail to recognize God’s blessings to us, even when they are right before our eyes? Yesterday I spoke of the people in the Old Testament not recognizing the Manna as a gift from God, and the people in the New Testament not recognizing Jesus as the Bread of Life. But surely God’s people today would not do that, would we?

When you have been told to “count your blessings,” do you? How often have you done it? There is no time like the present. Right now, recognize the blessings God has given you in your life. What are the blessings all around you from God that you don’t recognize or take for granted? Think about it … Home, family, job, cars, televisions, phones, electricity, internet, air conditioning and heating, clean water, abundant food, indoor plumbing … the list is endless.

I wonder how many of you thought about the more subtle blessings, the things that may appear negative but are actually good? Have you counted as blessings …

  • the hardships you have endured that have helped you grow as a believer…
  • the struggles that have matured you in your faith…
  • the conflicts that have brought you closer to Christ
  • those enemies and critics who have forced you to examine your motives and actions to make sure that you were right and truly following God’s design for your life

You need to recognize things like these for the blessings they are from the God who has promised you that He will make all things work for the good of those who love Him.

Paul Harvey told the story of the bomber that took off from Guam for Kokura, Japan during World War II for a bombing run. The sleek B-29 turned and circled above the cloud that covered the target for half an hour, three-quarters of an hour, 55 minutes, until the fuel supply reached the danger point. It seemed a shame to be right over the primary target and then have to pass it up, but there was no real choice. With one more look back, they headed for their secondary target. Upon arrival, they found the sky clear. “Bombs away” and the B-29 headed for home. Weeks later, an officer received information from military intelligence that chilled his heart. Thousands of allied prisoners of war, the largest concentration of Americans in enemy hands, had been moved to Kokura a week before the aborted bombing run. The officer mumbled, “Thank God for that cloud.” The city that was hidden from the bomber was a prison camp and thousands of Americans now alive would not have been but for that cloud. The secondary target that day was Nagasaki, and the bomb intended for Kokura was the world’s second atomic bomb. God used what appeared to be something bad – a cloud – and made it a blessing.

That same God is the one who took about the worst thing we could ever imagine – death – and made it work for our good. He allowed the death of His Son, His perfect, sinless Son, to be the payment for your sins and for my sins, so that we could be forgiven. All who believe this promise have life everlasting. Our sins were put on Him and His perfection was put on us. Not a very fair trade, but that is the way God blesses us. It comes from love.

God’s blessings are all around you. You just may not always identify them for what they really are. It would be good for you to consider each day the ways in which God has blessed you. The reason manna was given daily in the wilderness was to remind the people that God was blessing them each day. If it only came once a week or once a month, they would only have reminder of God’s blessing once a week or once a month. That is the same reason our Lord taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread.” Each day should be enough for us, an ample reminder of God’s loving presence and blessing upon us.

 

Blessings2023-09-07T18:22:14-05:00

What is It?

A movie called “Jungle to Jungle” came out about 25 years ago. I saw part of it again recently. This movie begins with a New York stockbroker going to Venezuela to find and divorce his wife who left him 13 years earlier. While he is there, he discovers he has a 13-year-old son who has been raised in the jungles of South America. Father and Son spend some time getting to know each other. In one scene, the boy is making dinner for his father from the day’s hunt. He takes his father’s hand and smears this dark green pasty substance on it. The father looks at it and says, “Ugh! What is this?” Naturally, the son tells him that it is a delicacy made out of lizard guts.

Did you know that is how the Children of Israel reacted to the way God provided food when they were in the wilderness?

Exodus 16:15 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.”

I always wonder what the tone was in their voices as they asked “what is it?” Was it

  • disgust, like that father in the movie?
  • excitement, like a child on seeing her wrapped up presents on the day before her birthday?
  • somewhere in between those two, bewilderment and confusion?

I usually conclude it was the last of these options. They were not totally put off by the stuff at first, nor were they very excited about it. They didn’t know what to think of it. Picture if you can walking outside of your tent, being hungry, and seeing this white, flaky stuff everywhere. “What is it?” By the way, the name for this stuff, manna, literally means “what is it.” Moses had to point out to them that It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.

A blessing from God right before their eyes and they don’t see it as such. Rather than seeing it as the answer to their hunger, God’s providence in their need and the answer to prayer, they say “What is it?” How could they be so blind?

Things were not much different in the New Testament. After Jesus fed the 5000, the people were chasing after Him because He had fed them, and they thought that was a great blessing from God. But Jesus referred back to the manna that had been given to the Israelites in the desert. He said that was a blessing from God, a bread from heaven, but He was and is the TRUE bread from heaven, the bread that gives life to the world. He was telling them to be more concerned about being fed spiritually than physically, but they just didn’t get it. They wouldn’t or couldn’t understand that Jesus had come to bring forgiveness and life to all. He would accomplish that by offering His perfect life as payment for the sins of the world. The best gift ever. But they didn’t understand what was right in front of them. Can’t you hear them asking “What is this? Who does this guy think He is?” A blessing from God right before their eyes and they don’t see it. How could they be so blind?

All of us were spiritually blind, and would have stayed that way, if the Holy Spirit had not shown us who Jesus is, what He has done, and led us to faith. We no longer have to ask, “What is this?”  We know that He is the Bread of Life that came down from heaven to give us life.

 

 

 

What is It?2023-09-07T18:07:37-05:00

A Lasting Legacy

Sermon for the 90th Anniversary Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church  Watonga Oklahoma  September 19, 2023

The small son of a Baptist Minister was in church one morning when he saw, for the first time, the rite of baptism by immersion. He was greatly impressed. The next morning, he decided to imitate his father. The only subjects he could find were the three family cats. He filled up the bathtub, then got the cats. He had a kitten, the kitten’s mother, and the old family cat all lined up, ready to go.

The kitten took it very well, calmly taking the immersion with trust, scampering off after a good shake. And, so did the middle-aged cat, who had always been more than patient with children. But the old family cat was a different story. It never did like to be held, and it was even worse if water was involved. It struggled with the boy, clawed and tore at him, and, struggling, finally broke away. With considerable effort, the boy caught the old cat again and tried to have another go at the ceremony. But the old cat was really upset now and acted worse than ever. It was clawing, spitting, hissing, and scratching his hands and face. Finally, after barely getting her splattered with a little bit of water, he dropped her on the floor and gave up. In disgust and said, “Fine, be a Lutheran.”

I once had someone remark to me that everyone in this part of the country is Baptist unless someone’s been messing with them. Evidently about 90 years ago there was some messing going on in this neck of the woods. That brings us to this day with Thanksgiving and Praise and maybe a little laughter as well.

While I do recognize some familiar faces from my time here with you almost 40 years ago now, some of you would not know me from Adam. But it was my honor and privilege to serve as the pastor of this congregation from August 1984 until January 1988, which means I got here right after you celebrated your 50th anniversary as a congregation. I was one of the many pastors who came to you right out of the seminary. I consider it a pleasure and an honor to be speaking to you as you now celebrate 90 years as a congregation.

The theme I chosen for this message is A Lasting Legacy. Most people want to make their mark, to leave something by which they will be remembered. Some want to be remembered for their contributions, others for things they have made, still others for acts of heroism. Just about everyone wants to be a part of something lasting, something that will be remembered. What is the legacy of this place, Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church here in Watonga, Oklahoma?  I know that when I first heard those words at the seminary placement service, I had never heard of this place and had to look it up on a map. But this congregation was established by people 51 years before I arrived to provide a ministry of Word and Sacraments in this place. There was already a legacy in place.

As you think about that, consider a line from the prayer of Solomon when He dedicated the first Temple in Jerusalem

1 Kings 8:57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

An anniversary is a time to reflect on the past with praise and thanksgiving. If you can think of nothing for which to be thankful, you have a poor memory. An anniversary is a time when you reflect on memories for which you can praise and thank God.

You all have your memories of this place and this group of believers. They are not all the same. Those of you who have been here your entire lives have more memories than the newcomers, but they are all important. This is a good time to reflect on what you have been through together. Some of you may not have been here very long, so your memories have to do with more recent history. You have different memories, but a common link. This congregation has been a part of all of our lives. An anniversary is a time for remembering, a time for celebrating. But lets keep our focus in the right place. Memories are good and part of who we are, but the real thing we celebrate today is a common heritage, a lasting legacy! That legacy is that God has been with this congregation.

Something that happened before I was here and while I was here and that has continued since I have been away from this place is that the message of God’s love in Jesus Christ has been proclaimed here. God’s grace and mercy, His love and forgiveness for Jesus’ sake were made real for people in this place. You have heard the message of God’s Law, which shows just how sinful you are and deserving of His wrath and punishment. But you have also heard the message of God’s love in Christ, which took care of the problem of your sin by offering His perfect life as payment for them all. That is the message that has been shared in this place, in this congregation. That is the message that has flourished in your midst, that has provided new birth through the proclamation of God’s Word and the administration of His Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Sharing that life-giving message of God’s Word is the reason this congregation exists. God has been here with you in this place through His means of grace, His Word and Sacraments. Truly God was with those who came before us, and He is with us still.  The hymn we just sang drives that home.

LSB733  O God, Our Help in Ages Past
O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal Home!

The hymn writer speaks of God being our “shelter from the stormy blast” and “our Guard while troubles last.”  Those are realities in our lives. But our God is also with us through the good times and celebrations, like today.

Listen again to the text I chose for today

1 Kings 8:57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

Solomon remembers the past, but he also has an eye on the future. It is good to celebrate what God has done here through faithful members and pastors, but you are not done. There is more to do here. With Praise and Thanksgiving you anticipate God being with you in the future as well!

God wants you to face the future with the confidence that He will be with you every step of the way. What Solomon expresses as a prayer is stated as a certainty elsewhere in Scripture: God says “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” We just need to remember that He is with us and keep Him in first place. He needs top billing in every aspect of your life. If God us, who can be against us? You have the opportunity to draw upon God’s strength as you continue this ministry of His Word and Sacraments, because He is with you.

One of the challenges you face is that old evil foe, Satan. He will work feverishly to give the impression that a little faith goes a long way, that is all you need. He will tell you that is is not necessary to have faith nourished and fed regularly. He would like nothing better than for you to become complacent and lax in your efforts for Jesus. Friends, don’t listen to him. If the present day deterioration in ethics and morality are any indication of what the future holds, you are going to need God’s presence with you more than ever in the days to come. And the way to be certain God is with you is to go where He promises to come to you. His Spirit works in your heart when you are in His Word. When the Law and Gospel are proclaimed in this place, God is at work. You witness His power when you see people baptized at that font – my youngest daughter was one of them! Each time you see this font, each time you witness a baptism here, remember your own Baptism, God’s Word working through water to produce a real cleansing from sin. And you get refreshed in that forgiveness each time you approach this altar to receive the body and blood Jesus used to earn your forgiveness. Those are the things that make a lasting legacy. God has worked through those means in your past and will continue to do so in your future.

For 90 years now, that is what Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church has been all about. 90 years of striving to live as God’s people, 90 years of living under the assurance of His love and mercy and grace and forgiveness, 90 years of sharing that message through Word and Sacraments. That is why you are here. And God is here with you.

Your lasting legacy is that God will continue to work through this place as long as you continue to proclaim His Word. A favorite hymn of mine is just one stanza long –  may unfamiliar to many of you, but I love the words. Speaks about God’s Word being part of your lasting legacy. (TLH283)

God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations.

Proclaiming God’s Word is part of your legacy, along with sharing his love and mercy and forgiveness through the Sacraments. As you move ahead in this ministry here, may your prayer be the same as the one offered by Solomon.

1 Kings 8:57 May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

He will not.

It seems like congregations always ask an old guy to preach at an anniversary service, someone who has been around for a while, and I fall into that category. That is all well and good. But as you celebrate your past, you need to be looking to the future. How will you reach out to the people of Blaine County with the Good News of Jesus in the days and weeks and months and years to come. Taking care of each other is all well and good, but our calling is and always has been to make disciples of all nations – including the folks around here who don’t yet know Jesus. As you look to the future, what lasting legacy will you have?  How can you share God’s care and concern and love and mercy and grace with your neighbors?

One stanza of that hymn we sang says:

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the opening day.

Unless our Lord returns first, we will all die and be forgotten. But we can leave a lasting legacy by pointing people to Jesus. If you keep your eyes fixed on Him, trusting in Him as Your Savior, following Him in your daily life, others will see that. And you can tell them about our wonderful Savior, allowing the Spirit to lead them to faith as well. That is the lasting legacy we strive for as the disciples of Jesus.

 

A Lasting Legacy2023-09-07T18:27:14-05:00

Good For Nothing

My two sisters are in the habit of calling me the “Golden Child,” saying that mom doesn’t think I ever do anything wrong. I guess I was always pretty well-behaved. I remember mom used to have to bribe my brother and sisters with rewards to be good, like cookies or chocolates or some other treat. But she didn’t have to bribe me that way. And recently I overheard her bragging about me to someone. She said, “That Mike was always good for nothing!”

That corny joke leads me to what I want you to consider today, the phrase, “good for nothing.” You may have used it before without really thinking about what it means or says. But I think it goes a long way toward explaining who we are and who we have become as disciples of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

You and I are truly good for nothing, in several senses of the term. First of all our sins make us worthless in God’s sight. That is the message that has come to us down through the ages. It is the message God has for the world: “You are good for nothing!” using it in the traditional sense of the term, worthless. God sent the message through His prophets that our life and conduct make us “good for nothing” in His sight.

Isaiah 40:17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

Another meaning of this phrase is that we could not make ourselves good for nothing, or to use better grammar, there is nothing we can do to make ourselves good. There is no way for us to make up for what we have done. There is nothing we can offer God to appease His righteous anger over sin. We all fall into that trap of thinking that we can, believing we can do something to make God like us. We fool ourselves into thinking that we are not like everyone else, that we are somehow deserving of God’s kindness and favor. We must all be regularly reminded that what the hymn writer wrote in “Rock of Ages” speaks for us all:

Not the labors of my hands, Can fulfill the Law’s demands. . .
Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.
(The Lutheran Hymnal #376)

That brings me to the third sense of this phrase: We have been made good for nothing. That is what Jesus came to do.

He died that we might be forgiven, He died to make us good.
That we might go at last to heaven Saved by his precious blood.
(Children’s Hymnal #43)

Jesus died to make us good, and it costs us nothing. It is a free gift of God’s grace. His death paid for sin. His resurrection is the guarantee of life everlasting for all who trust in Him.

Dr. Cesar Malan was visiting in the home of a talented woman who had pursued a career in music, but she had become disabled and was now bitter about life. She asked Dr. Malan, “How do you become a Christian?” He replied, “You pray this prayer: O God, I come to you just as I am.” Dr. Malan’s words had a profound impact not only on Charlotte Elliott, but upon untold other searching sinners. It was years later when Miss Elliott, now a Christian, was trying to help raise money for a school in England, that she wrote a hymn that would become known around the world, the hymn that recalled those words Dr. Malan spoke to her:

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, good for nothing. Christ died, the good for the good for nothing, to make you good…for nothing.

Good For Nothing2023-09-08T17:53:47-05:00

What’s Your Cross

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

How’s that for an invitation? Jesus seems to be saying there will be pain and suffering in the lives of His followers. Things are not going to be easy. That being the case, why would anyone want to follow Him?

If that was all Jesus said, I don’t think He would have too many followers today. But He said and did much more than that. The one who told us to take up our crosses also the one who said I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die  (John 11:25-26). It is this promise of eternal life that makes people follow Jesus. He has something to offer us, something that we need. Our faith grabs hold of this gift. However, Jesus clearly tells us that our faith in Him will not eliminate all the ills of this world. In fact, we will encounter new problems because of our faith!

A man once found a cocoon of an emperor moth, and took it home to watch it emerge. One day a small opening appeared, and for several hours the moth struggled, but couldn’t seem to force its body past a certain point. Deciding something was wrong, the man took a pair of scissors and carefully snipped away the cocoon. The moth then came out easily, its body large and swollen, the wings small and shriveled. He expected that in a few hours the wings would spread out with their natural beauty, but they did not. Instead of developing into a creature to fly free, the moth would now spend its life dragging around a swollen body and shriveled wings. That cocoon and the struggle necessary to pass through the tiny opening are God’s way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings. Without the struggle of going through that small opening, the moth would never properly develop. The snip of the scissors, instead of being an act of mercy, was actually cruel.

In the same way, we often need struggle and obstacles in our lives to help us grow. God uses all things to accomplish good in the lives of His children. When you face hardships, look to Christ as your example. He went through all kinds of abuse and suffering during His ministry, culminating in an unjust execution. That death was not a victory. It was the punishment for sin: your sin and mine. And had Christ remained in the grave, there would have been no victory over death for you. But the death of Jesus Christ at the hands of sinful mankind opened the way for the victory of the Resurrection on that first Easter. It was because of His impending resurrection that Jesus could go to Hell, that place of eternal torment for those who do not believe, and proclaim His victory. It was because of the Resurrection that Jesus could proclaim to the Devil that Hell posed no threat to those who believed in Him. It was because of His Resurrection that Jesus could say “whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”

You each have your cross to bear. It is the cost of discipleship, the cost of following Jesus. But remember what Jesus has already given you: forgiveness for all sin and the promise of eternal life.

 

What’s Your Cross2023-08-29T09:54:02-05:00

Incurable?

Many people I have known have heard the diagnosis, “You have an incurable disease.” Some have chosen not to receive treatments that might prolong their lives a bit because of the horrible side effects. They knew what they had was incurable and were ready to face it and their Maker.

Doctors often speak of incurable diseases. Charles Kettering was a famous research scientist and inventor from the last century. He founded Delco and was the head of research for General Motors for almost 30 years. He had 186 patents. He once quipped: “Did you ever stop to think what an incurable disease is? It is the one the doctor doesn’t know how to cure.”

We have those in this world of sin. And that is what our sinful condition would be without Jesus – something we would not be able to cure. While there will be illnesses and diseases here on earth for which man will not find a cure, that is not true of sin. We have been given the cure. It is available to everyone. It came through what Jesus did for us. Christ Jesus came to this world to save sinners. He did that by living a life without sin and offering that in your place as the payment for your sin. His death was the satisfaction God’s justice demanded for the sins of the world. And then Jesus rose from the dead, not only announce his victory over death, but to tell you that His victory, His cure for sin, can be yours if you want it.

1 John 2:2 [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

You find out about this when you go to the source: God’s Word. It is good to spend time in that Word. Try doing that this week. You will find the cure for what ails you.

 

Incurable?2023-08-30T09:32:08-05:00

Jesus Loves Me

From the time he was 3 until he was 5, our oldest grandson, Malachi, was a full-time RVer. Our  daughter’s husband had a work from home job, so as long as he had internet and phone service, he could work from anywhere. They were able to see quite of bit of the country in those years.

At one stop in Idaho, they took Malachi to the playground of the place they were staying. He introduced himself to another child there by saying. “Hi. My name is Malachi. My Papa and Grandma love me.” My daughter told us he said it as a matter of fact, as though it was not unusual to share that information. I can tell you that hearing that melted the hearts of my wife and me. We were elated that he knows how much we love him, so much so that he had no trouble sharing that information with people he met.

As Cheryl and I were discussing this, she mentioned that maybe that is how she should start introducing herself. “Hi, my name is Cheryl, and Jesus loves me.”  I could say, “Hi, my name is Mike and Jesus loves me.” I wonder what kind of reactions that would elicit? I’m sure they would be mixed. But it would simply be a statement of fact, would it not? We should have that confidence and assurance in our daily living. We have God’s Word on it.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him.  (1 John 3:1–2 The Message)

I know those outside the fellowship of faith have all kinds of misunderstandings about what it means to be a child of God. Many times followers of Jesus have acted superior or judgmental towards non-believers, and this has left a bad taste in their mouths. “If that is what Christians are like, I want no part of it.” Others simply have the opinion that they are doing just fine without Jesus, so they see no need to follow a bunch of rules and regulations from what they consider to be make-believe.

Those misconceptions keep people from understanding that our faith is all about relationship. We have a relationship with the Creator, who reached out to us in love. He came down among us, took on human flesh, lived a perfect life in our place and was then our substitute in punishment as well. His death has bought us forgiveness of all sin and guarantees us eternal life. No matter who we are. No matter what we have done. God loves us all, and wants us to take up His offer of forgiveness by having that faith relationship with Him.

Perhaps the best way you and I can help others get to know Jesus is by letting them know we have that relationship with Him, sharing His love with our words and actions. “Hi, my name is Mike, and Jesus loves me.”

Jesus Loves Me2023-09-03T07:35:41-05:00

Following Advice

A friend once me that she was going to a special homecoming weekend at Valparaiso University in Indiana. The campus is about an hour southwest of Chicago, so she and her husband flew there. There was a bus available for attendees, but they decided that they wanted their own transportation.  The invitation advised them to take the bus or, if driving from the airport, to take a route other than the normal one because of construction and heavy traffic.  As she told it, they ignored the advice, rented the car and decided to take the shortest route.  Approaching their selected route, there were several signs advising drivers of construction delays, but they drove on.  After all, it was the shortest route and they had gone that way to Valparaiso before.  How bad could it be?

Well, it was bad. It took them three times as long as usual to make that drive from the airport to Valparaiso and they were almost late for a party in their honor because of their unwillingness to listen to advice from the experts. They thought they knew better.

Maybe you’ve had a similar experience. Someone who has more knowledge than you do advises you to change your plans based on their knowledge. However, you refuse to take their advice, thinking you know better. The end result is usually things not going as you planned.

Does is pay to follow the advice of experts? I guess it depends on the expert.

Think of the children of Israel. They certainly didn’t plan to spend 40 years in the desert being led by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day so that God could teach His people to trust in Him. They had to trust Him for food and water and for clothes and shoes that didn’t wear out.  The result of that journey, of following the expert, was their entry into the Promised Land.

Think about Jesus in the New Testament. He started His ministry with the words, “Follow me.”  Just that – follow me.  Those who followed had to trust Jesus as they followed, but in the process they were transformed and became new people. When He ascended, Jesus shared with those followers His work and His way:  “Go and make disciples. I will send my Spirit to empower you to do that.”

I attended a conference with the theme ‘His Work, His Way, Our Walk’ declaring that we  trust God in our walk to do His work His way. He’s the expert and we need to listen to His advice and follow Him on this incredible journey rather than rely on our own plans.  It means that we should give up our own preferences and listen to Him.  It may mean that we have to take a path other than the one we would have chosen, that we need to expand our comfort zones.

As disciples of Jesus, we are being called to act in faith and trust Him so that our walk reflects His work and His way.  We know that He will guide us and provide for all our needs, just as He has provided for our greatest need by taking our place in punishment, providing forgiveness and life and salvation for everyone.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

 

Following Advice2023-08-29T09:22:44-05:00

Forgiveness

“I’ll never forgive him for what he did.” 

Ever heard those words? Maybe you’ve said them, or something very close to that?

God could have taken that attitude toward us. He had every right to do so. Not just for the first sin in the Garden of Eden, but for all our subsequent disobedience that continues down to this very day.

But God had a different plan. He let someone take our place and our punishment so that we could be forgiven, even though we do not deserve it. That is what the life and death and resurrection of Jesus are all about. He endured all the temptations we have, but never once sinned. Then he allowed himself to be crucified even though he had done nothing wrong. He went through all that to accomplish your forgiveness.

 

As those who have been forgiven by God for Jesus’ sake, we have been called to be forgiving people. In the prayer our Lord taught us, he said, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” And the Lord led Paul to write these passages:

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

We are called to be forgiving people. Yet we often have the thought and attitude expressed in the first sentence above. We act as though not forgiving someone will hurt that person, when in fact the one you end up hurting is yourself. Lack of forgiveness is harboring a grudge, which is a sin on your part! And the longer you let it eat at you, the longer you remain in your sin.

Think of it this way: if you refuse to forgive someone who has already confessed his sin to God and been forgiven by the Almighty, how much do you think your refusal to forgive will hurt him in the grand scheme of things? All it will do is keep you angry and keep you from living the joy-filled life that God desires for his redeemed children.

However, when you forgive someone, the weight of anger and resentment is lifted from you. You no longer have to carry it around and allow it to drag you down.

And let’s be clear about something. Your forgiveness is not the same as God’s forgiveness. We forgive because we have been forgiven by God, but your forgiveness does not equate to God’s remission of sin. When you forgive someone, it is to keep you from sinning. It is still up to that other person to confess his or her sin to God and ask to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake. That is the forgiveness that matters in the long run.

If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9

Forgiveness2023-08-28T10:22:16-05:00

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