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Our time in Germany has been wonderful and the people have been extremely welcoming and helpful. We have used the public transportation system around Frankfurt as well as the trains to take us to other cities. People have gone out of their way to assist us and make sure we get to where we need to be. This has been greatly appreciated, since my knowledge of German has proven to be insufficient to be of any real use.

Having said that, we did have one encounter around rush hour that was different. We were at a mall and trying to get the U1 train back to the parsonage where we are staying. The train is supposed to run every 10 minutes, but three of the scheduled trains did not show up. When the correct train/subway did arrive, there was a large crowd waiting to get on. We had been walking quite a while and stood waiting on the platform for over thirty minutes, so my old knees were tired and I was ready to sit down.

Cheryl took the first seat she could find, but there was not one next to her. I noticed not too far away that a woman was sitting in the aisle and had her backpack on the window seat next to her. I asked her (in what I’m sure was terrible German), “Excuse me, can I sit here?” She ignored me. I said it again, and without even looking up, she huffed to make her displeasure known, begrudgingly picked up her backpack, and turned so that her back was facing the seat where I finally was able to sit down. Cheryl said the man across from that woman got wide-eyed when I asked her if I could sit there, and Cheryl got the impression that he had tried to sit there as well but she would not let him.

I wondered why she was being so unpleasant, but knew better that to try to have a conversation with her. Instead, I had a conversation with God. I thanked Him for all that we have been able to experience during our time here, and the kindness we had been shown. And I prayed for the lady sitting next to me. I told the Lord that while I didn’t know what she was going through, I knew He did, and asked Him to put someone in her path that would show and share His love and mercy and kindness and grace with her.

Matthew 5:43–45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Yesterday I shared some thoughts on “The Image of God.” While he made man in His image, that changed all too soon. On the day Adam and Eve sinned, this image of God was lost. It was gone. No longer did they fear and love God as they should, and that sin was passed on to us. No longer do we have a natural knowledge of God as our loving Father. No longer do we have confidence in him, but we take matters into our own hands. Sin broke creation. Sin broke us. We are different from what God made and what He intended, and we look at others differently.

Not wanting to be seen “naked” (Adam, Gen 3:10), or as we are without the image of God, we try to create substitute images for ourselves. We use masks to hide behind, so that others will think a certain way about us. Perhaps you’ve created a religious image or mask, so that people will think you’re holier than you really are. Perhaps you have an image or mask of bravery to hide your fear. But when all is said and done, we’re still broken. We’re still sinners. We may be able to hide who we are from each other, but you can’t hide who you are from God. Whatever mask you wear, whatever images you create, are poor images indeed. We lost the image of God.

But the God who created man in his image does not leave us fallen and broken. The God who created is restoring His image in a fallen and broken world. We create images for ourselves, but only God can create something out of nothing. He did it in the beginning and is still able to do it today. After sin entered the world, after the image of God in us was lost, God acted. The Father sent his Son into the world, the true and exact image of God the Father. And the Son of God incarnate shows us true man, without sin. In Jesus, the image that we lost lives. Jesus knows his Father. Jesus trusts and has confidence in his Father. Jesus is the righteous one.

Jesus came to restore the image of God in the world, not just by being that image, but by giving it back to us. That is why He took upon Himself your sin, your punishment and death, your broken image, and in return gives you His Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, the image of God is again given to you – not perfect nor complete, but the image is partly restored. Through the Holy Spirit, you are re-created, made new, and being conformed into the image of Christ, who is the image of the Father. It is an ongoing process.

That attack in the Garden of Eden caused devastation to our world. It has affected every one of us. The task of recovering what was lost that day fell to one man, and He determined that each life was worth His own. So He gave His life for your life. He suffered the shame and nakedness of the cross and then rose from death, that all who believe in him might be raised from death with him and live not only forever, but already now, in His image. After Jesus completed His task, He said it need never be done again. It is finished. You are whole. You are healed.  You are forgiven. You are re-created. You have the image of God.

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I know a lot of people who spend a lot of time and energy worrying. Maybe you are one of them. Jesus warned

Luke 21:34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life…”

Stress and anxiety are part of life in this sinful world. But the reality is that worriers spend most of their time worrying about things in the past that they can’t change or things that will never happen in the future.

Robert Frost once said “the reason worry kills more people than work is because more people worry than work.” An honest examination of your lives will probably show this to be true.

It is easy to put so much effort into your worries, whether or not they are legitimate concerns, that you don’t try to do anything to overcome them. Just think how much more productive you could be in your life if you would put the same amount of time and effort into working out solutions to your problems that you presently spend in worry. If you think about it, worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do, but you won’t get you anywhere.

Here’s a strong dose of the law for you to consider: Worrying is an insult to the God who has told you “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Do you believe that God is in control?

You have heard and believed the message of salvation! You know that no matter what you have done wrong in your life, it was covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. You know the way to eternal life. Instead of worrying, trust in Jesus, who has provided these things, and so much more, as a free gift!

Philippians 4:6–7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

One of my favorite verses, one that my dad shared with me constantly, is a little later in that same chapter:

Philippians 4:19 “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” 

In other words, don’t worry. Turn over your cares, worries and anxieties to the one who cares for you.

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

This is one of those passages in Scripture that often upsets women. They read it and resent the implication that they are somehow “less than” the man. But let’s take a closer look at what is actually said here.

The Hebrew word used in Genesis 2:18 is EZER (ay’-zer), the noun “helper.” It comes from a root word that is a combination of two words: one means “to rescue” or “to save” and the other means “to be strong.” Variations of this root word occur more than a hundred times in the Old Testament. The same word that is in the passage above occurs about twenty times, and fifteen of them are in reference to God. As in “God is my helper” or “the LORD is my helper.”  The name Eliezer appears repeatedly in Scripture and means “My God is my helper.”

At no time in Scripture is God portrayed as inferior or subservient to man. Quite the contrary. The Lord is the strong, powerful and almighty Savior. He is over us, not the other way around. From a position of strength and power He chooses to help His fallen creation. That is why He came down here to rescue us from sin and death. He reconciled us to Himself by taking our sin, carrying it to the cross, and paying its price for all people. Our strong, mighty deliverer.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Mankind – men and women – were made in the image of God. And God spoke of woman using the same word He used to describe Himself – EZER. That puts an entirely different spin on the relationship that is to exist between men and women. Consider also these words of our Lord Jesus.

Mark 10:42–45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Take all of this into account when you look at that other passage that is troubling for some, the one that speaks of wives submitting to their husbands as to the Lord (Ephesians 5:22-33). I would suggest you include the verse just prior to that passage in your meditation.

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Not too long after we moved into our log home outside of Bells, Texas, my wife decided she wanted to host a Women’s Retreat there on a Friday and Saturday. The ladies were invited to stay overnight. Our dear friends and neighbors, who have a log home right next to us, agreed to let some of the women take over their house as well for sleeping accommodations. That meant the husbands had to make themselves scarce and find somewhere else to sleep, which we did. The ladies had a good time enjoying each other’s company and studying God’s Word. I went back home on Saturday evening after they had all left.

The next morning, I was standing in the narthex of our church building welcoming people to worship. One of the ladies who attended the retreat walked up to me and gave me a hug like she always did. While she was hugging me she said, “I really enjoyed sleeping in your bed!” Several of the Elders were standing there when she said it. Everyone, including me, could not believe what we just heard. She then realized what she had said and turned bright red. Everyone had a good laugh, but you can imagine how some people who heard that remark might have jumped to conclusions that were not correct.

This is part of our fallen, sinful nature. God even gave us a commandment against bearing false witness. Luther suggested that meant we should “put the best construction on everything” or “explain things in the kindest way possible.” But we tend to do just the opposite.

This is nothing new. Scripture includes accounts of people jumping to conclusions, like they did after Paul was shipwrecked and arrived on the island of Malta.

 Acts 28:1–6 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Neither conclusion they arrived at was correct! This made me think of the people on both sides of the recent election jumping to wrong conclusions about the people who voted for the candidate they were not supporting. Many hateful and harmful words have been spoken and shared on social media. We need to be careful about our conclusions. We are not the ones called to judge our neighbors. God will take care of that.

Matthew 7:1–5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Whenever we encounter the Law in God’s Word, it reminds us that we are all sinful and in need of forgiveness. It reminds us of the log in our eye. That is why it is so wonderful to hear the Gospel message as well, that assures us that Jesus has paid our penalty and bought us back from sin and death. That was the message Paul was sharing, and I am sure he tried to share it with those who jumped to wrong conclusions about him.

It is a message we all need to be reminded of everyday.

(P.S. The lady in this story knows I am sharing this in my devotion. I am sure her face will be just as red today as it was on that Sunday morning. I also know – as she does – that she is a dearly loved child of God and is covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.)

Yesterday I posted something written by my friend in June of 2017. Later that month I officiated at the wedding of his youngest daughter. Four months later he went to be with His Lord and Savior.  What follows is the tribute I wrote on the day of his funeral.

Thursday morning I got a phone call that no one wants to get. My friend had died very unexpectedly. Through the numbness I tried to comprehend what I was being told. I would never again in this life be able to pick up the phone and hear the voice that had been my confidant and brother for over 40 years.

Truth be told, we were still trying to adjust to his wife’s death from cancer 17 months earlier, and we saw that one coming. Now this.

Death is an enemy. We don’t like it. It hurts. But we temper that with the assurance that Jesus has conquered death for us.

Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry as fails each sense:
Jesus is my confidence!

 I met Greg when I transferred to Concordia Lutheran College in Austin in the middle of my freshman year. We quickly became friends. We were both preacher’s kids, and our shared faith in Jesus was part of what made our bond so strong. We sang in the college choir together, along with the girls who would become our wives. We were always at ease with each other. We could and did talk about absolutely everything in our lives.

While I have always loved music, Greg had an enormous gift and talent in that area. I would sit and listen to him play his guitar and sing for hours on end, sometimes singing along. He continued to hone and use that gift throughout his life and used it to share his faith in Jesus. It was a way he expressed himself. And he was always telling me about and teaching me new songs. He introduced me to Big Daddy Weave. And he was excited that he had tickets to go see Crowder on Friday. But just imagine the concert he got to see instead!

Greg was a tremendously gifted wordsmith. Over the years he would share things with me that he had written, and I was always in awe. Like the conversation he had with God that he posted online and was reprinted in his memorial folder. (And I now shared it on my timeline!) He published a book on being a disciple of Jesus, which tied in to his passion for helping college-aged people stay connected to Christ. Writing was cathartic for him, the way he poured out his soul and shared his deepest thoughts and emotions.

We talked about once a month. We would also email each other when a thought struck us that we wanted to share. Our phone calls were rarely less than 30 minutes. We would talk about life, theology, our kids and grandkids, and most of the time we would make each other laugh. Somewhere along the way, at the close of one of our conversations, I said, “Give Deb a hug and tell her it’s from me.” He replied, “You do the same with Cheryl.” That became a regular closing for a while, until one day I said, “You know what to do.” And his response was “And also with you.” And for over 20 years, almost every conversation ended that way. For the last year and a half, I had to catch myself so I didn’t say that to him.

I am about to go to his memorial service. I chose not to speak there today because I know I would not be able to get through it. I doubt I’ll be able to sing any of the songs or hymns. But through my tears I will be rejoicing that another redeemed sinner has received through faith the reward that Jesus earned for him with His life and death and resurrection. And I wanted to share this tribute to my friend. Greg was a blessing from God to me. And I thank God for that. Because of our shared faith in Jesus, I look forward to seeing him again. Auf wiedersehen, Roomie. You know what to do.

The following was written by my friend, Greg Koenig, almost a year after his wife died and just before their youngest daughter was getting married. It is longer than my usual posts, but well worth the read.

Yeah, so here’s the transcript from a conversation God and I had recently. As with the earlier one, God gets a little chatty, but that was okay with me. Weird how these things seem to happen around milestones or upcoming big events, isn’t it?

Me: God? Me again.

God: So it is. What’s up?

Me: I don’t know; just a little thing, I suppose.

God: Hm. So I’m listening.

Me: It really starts with me talking to my best friend back in February. He’s really about the only person who can ask me how I’m doing and get the unabridged story.

God: And he asked you how you were doing. I was there. So…

Me: Well, I remember telling him the winter was getting long.

God: And cold?

Me: Argh! You already know where I’m going with this. Anyway, no, the winter wasn’t literally cold, so I didn’t see any need to throw that in.

God: Lonely, though.

Me: Yeah, okay, just stay a step ahead of me.

God: It’s how I roll. Sure, you were lonely. Most of the time, there was nobody in the house but you, and that was a constant reminder that a big part of you was missing–and it often felt as if there would be no end to that.

Me: Yeah.

God: There’s something more, which you may or may not have thought much about. You know the wife of your youth is here with me–safe, restored, the best she’s ever been. Huh, since Easter, all she does is dance. Anyway, you and I talked about that before, when you were wrestling with why she died–when you were just beginning to heal.

Me: Right; I know she’s with you. And somehow the dancing doesn’t surprise me.

God: Still, when a relationship between humans ends, that’s a death, too. And even if the end of the relationship is for the better, you humans will mourn that death. It’s no less real than the physical death of a loved one, plus you’re still there to lug it around with you, day after day after day. You’re your own reminder of the death of that relationship! You didn’t connect the dots at the time, but you were feeling it back then; you called it a wound.

Me: Whoa, yeah….

God: So anyway…. Long, lonely winter?

Me: Ha, yeah, well, you know my daughter Kate is getting married in a few weeks?

God: Oh?

Me: Stop. You know.

God: They’re a cute couple. I’m gonna bless ’em big.

Me: I know you are. Anyway, this cool, eerie little coincidence happened. Kate came to me one day and wondered out loud if it’d be okay to use the same song for her father-daughter dance that her sister Lexi used at her wedding.

God: Which is … ?

Me: Well, my kids know it’s kind of a signature song for me–and it’s the first song I ever learned to perform really well.

God: Huh, yeah, when you were like 13. George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.” Catchy; it’s one of the better songs that’s not about me.

Me: Wow. You know.

God: You play it all. the. time. (You weren’t very good at first, but you got better.) Anyway–six hundred ninety-two times over the last 45 years! And counting!

Me: Hey, it’s how I roll. Well, when I first heard it back in 1971, on George’s Concert for Bangladesh album, I just knew I had to learn it. The simple but evocative lyrics, the ascending and descending acoustic riffs–so sweet … so sweet.

God: And so what’s the big deal about that?

Me: Heh. Well, when Kate asked that, all the lyrics rushed back to me at once, and it was like seeing that first robin of spring and thinking at last that maybe things could get better. “It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter … the smile’s returning to the faces … I feel that ice is slowly melting … it seems like years since it’s been clear … Here comes the sun … and–”

God: “–It’s all right.” Mm, yeah. And so …?

Me: It begins to feel like maybe it could actually be all right.

God: So what are you going to do–season some old, close friendships, maybe make a couple new close friendships, finish that novel, learn some fancy new stuff on the guitar…?

Me: Ha, well, you never know.

God: No. I always know.

Me: Oh, yeah. Well–AND polish up my two-step. Can’t wait; can’t wait!

God: Mmhm; cool. But let me check something with you–you really think that that question from your daughter about that song, at that time, in that context, was just a coincidence.

Me: Whaaaaaaa? Well, er, … of … course … not …?

God: Ha–gotcha! Remember Who it is Who’s got your back. Stay humble.

Me: So, but, well … it’s all right? Really?

God: It will be. Just stick with me and hold on tight.

Me: Yeah.

Sun, sun, sun. Here it comes.

William Arthur Ward was a long-time columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. A book entitled “Think it Over” was published in 1985, containing a collection of his wisdom, insights and writings. Here is one of those:

Real Religion is a way of life, not a white cloak to be wrapped around us on the Sabbath and then cast aside into the six-day closet of unconcern.

Many followers of Jesus seem to think they can be God-fearing an hour or two on Sunday and that will make up for their actions the rest of the week. Do you think that is what God desires of His children? While it is true we do have a covering of righteousness that makes us white and clean in God’s sight, it is not a covering of our own actions. Our covering is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Scripture points us to the cover repeatedly.

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Revelation 7:13–14 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then … with the breastplate of righteousness in place

Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…

Thank God we have a covering that makes us clean in God’s sight, a covering we obtain through faith in our Lord Jesus. Having such a covering, make full use of it. Don’t treat it like your “Sunday best,” reserved only for a short period each week. Wear it proudly every day, bearing the name of Christian, one who is confident in Christ, letting your light shine for others to come to know Him as well.

Psalm 98:4-6 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn– shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room And heav’n and nature sing…

Yes, I know it is not yet Christmas time. It is not even Advent yet, although I have seen Christmas decorations on homes and in stores since September. But this hymn was not originally written as a Christmas hymn. It fits that season well, but did you ever stop to think about the things this hymn does not mention: shepherds, angels, wise men, the stable, Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem, the manger. None of those things are in what most people think is a Christmas hymn.

The emphasis is on the joy that Christ brings to this world, and that certainly started with His birth. God’s people, at least those who faithfully believed His promise, had been waiting for centuries for God to reveal Himself. It finally happened when “the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.”  The Lord is Come! But the Joy that is ours is more than just His birth. We have Joy because of what He did while He was here on earth.

Psalm 98 is a song of rejoicing that God has protected His chosen people. It also anticipates the time when He will be accepted as God by the whole earth. The hymn author, Isaac Watts, was known for writing what he called “New Testament hymns.” He would take an Old Testament text, something written before Christ was born, and reflect on what it means for those of us living in the New Testament age. “Joy to the World” turns Psalm 98 into a New Testament song of praise. It exalts the salvation that started with the birth of our Savior and King. Listen to how this Psalm begins:

Psalm 98:1-3 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

The key here is the recognition of God’s activity. He is the one who has done marvelous things, having rescued and worked salvation. Just as that was true throughout the Old Testament, it is true for us. We have not saved ourselves or accomplished what was necessary to pay for sins. God has. He did everything, marvelous things. It started with the birth of Christ, and was played out through His life of perfect obedience, His suffering and dying in your place, and His resurrection as the Conqueror! God did this for you and now He has made this salvation known to you, showing it to all people in fact, so that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have eternal life. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. There should truly be “Joy to the World” for this reason.

Recently I came across something I had clipped out of a church newsletter forty years ago. The title was “A Prayer for More Rattlesnakes” by T.A. Raedeke, D.D.

Once upon a time there was a family of wayward members of a church. At one time they were active members but they had lost all interest and had fallen away. The deacons had talked to the father and three sons – Jim, John and Sam – about their condition. The preacher had visited them and many of the members had tried to get them to come back to church, but all had failed.

One day when the boys were out in the pasture, a large rattlesnake bit John and he became very ill. A physician was called, and after an examination he pronounced John to be in critical condition. The doctor said, “About all you can do now is pray,” and then went on his way. The father called the preacher and told him of John’s condition and asked him to pray for John. This the was preacher’s prayer.

“Oh wise and righteous Father, we thank Thee that in Thy wisdom Thou hast sent this rattlesnake to bite John in order to bring him to his senses. He has not been inside the church house for years, and it is doubtful that in all that time he has felt the need of prayer. Now we trust that this will be a valuable lesson to him and that it will lead him to genuine repentance.”

“And now, O Father, wilt Thou send another snake to bite Sam, and another to bite Jim, and a BIG ONE to bite the old man. We have been doing everything we know for years to restore them but to no avail. It seems that all of our combined efforts could not do what this snake has done. We thus conclude that the only thing left that will do this family any good is more rattlesnakes. So Lord, send us bigger and better rattlesnakes. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

I’m sure you all know people who need a rattlesnake, a wake-up call, something that will cause them to turn back to God. Don’t give up on them. It will not be too late until they die.

God has sent His messengers, like John the Baptizer, to call people to repent and turn back to God.

Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He continues to send those who have turned to Him to be His witnesses to those who still need to turn to the Lord. Let Him use you as a “rattlesnake” and an wake up call, pointing people to Jesus and His love, ensuring they will be with us in the throng around the Lamb in His kingdom singing His praises.

1 Kings 8:58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.