Friday Devotion - February 28

Today's offering is from Elizabeth Nichols

 “Let me describe what I see, as I view you through the eyes of grace. You look regal, for I have clothed you in My royal righteousness. You also look radiant, especially when you are gazing at Me. You are lovely as you reflect My Glory back to Me. In fact, you delight me so much that I rejoice over you with shouts of Joy! This is how you appear through My vision of grace.” –Sarah Young, Dear Jesus

 

I look regal, I look radiant, I look lovely, and I delight him. Me?

 

I sometimes think that it is near impossible to comprehend how much God loves each and every one of us. Does he cringe when we sin? Does he sigh with relief when we make a good decision? Does he chuckle with love when we try and try but continue to fall? Does he cry when we cry? These are questions that I’ve always wondered about. I sometimes feel like my life is a movie that God gets to watch and I wonder what he really thinks of me deep deep down.

 

The truth is, though, we don’t have to wonder. Whether it’s with subtle nudges or blatant signs, God sends his love to us every second of every day. God gave us life so that we could live it. He knows that we’re going to make mistakes and he knows we will struggle daily. I know that I am nowhere near perfect, but the best part is…he loves me anyway. And not only does he love me, he delights in me. He thinks I am regal, radiant and lovely.

 

So, the next time you wonder what God thinks of you, just smile and feel his love pouring into your life, because he loves you greater than you could ever imagine.

 

Devotion - Thursday, February 27

My references yesterday to a faith which is active in the political realm brought a couple of opportunities for discussion.  In one conversation (much too rushed as we were starting our dinner) I liked the critique of the student that some "vote for a particular candidate and then do nothing else to stay involvement."  (I am quoting from memory - likely to have paraphrased)  Staying involved - making our Christian commitment the foundation for which we make all decisions - is what I hope to encourage.

Today's Gospel reading from John 12:8 is a case in point.  This is the story of the expensive oil being poured over Jesus' feet.  Judas criticizes this action, saying that the oil could have been sold and them money given to the poor.  Jesus responds by saying, "You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me."

Mistakenly, this quote leads some to throw up their hands; to "do nothing else."  But Pastor Kris Littman-Koon challenged our LCM students to consider whether (as was his practice) Jesus may have been quoting scripture.  Perhaps,specifically Deuteronomy 15:11 which says “The land will never lack for needy persons…” Deuteronomy goes on to say, “…that is why I command you: ‘Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.’”

Those who are not persuaded to see the value of a Christian life are justified in their critique of our care for those around us.  All too often we do one thing (it might be vote, it might be to put $5 in the offering plate) and then walk away from the issue or concern.

The deep love shown by Mary as she anoints Jesus' feet, and the divine love which leads Jesus to the cross would never ignore nor neglect those around us.

How we care for them?  That is the discussion and debate.  And, there is NEVER one, and only one, acceptable answer.  We must learn to discuss these things, in the place were we go in order to give voice to those things which are at the center of our life and beliefs.

Devotion - Wednesday, February 26

John 11 contains the pronouncement by Caiaphas that is would be better for "one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."  This was a very sound political decision (emphasis mine).  Caiaphas knew that unless Jesus was stopped it was likely that the Roman authorities would take note and would come down hard on all of Jerusalem.

He is correct in his thinking.  Rome does come down hard. Jesus dies at the hands of the Roman authorities.

He is handed over to the civil authorities by the religious leaders.  In an attempt to retain what diminishing power they have, these religious leaders decide that Jesus must be sacrificed.

It was a good, practical decision.  If you are looking to retain your own (perhaps diminishing) place.

It is a very difficult thing to look at the world through the eyes of One who cares more for others than for oneself.  It is a miracle, when the concerns of neighbor are placed on a higher shelf than our own concerns.  This is what Jesus did; this is what Caiaphas and the leaders of the Council would not tolerate.  

What is your stance - with regard to such things?  Does your political positioning seek what is the most advantageous for yourself, or do you consider the options which are more likely to benefit the poor and helpless?

Good, practical decisions are not always solid, faithful ones.

Tuesday Devotion - February 25

Today's offering is from Drew Tucker, Student at Southern Seminary, former campus minister with LCM-Duke University.

First off, read Revelation 21:22-26. Take the obligatory amount of time to be confused, because it’s Revelation, and it confuses us all a little bit. Now, let’s continue.

 

I find these words cryptically encouraging.

 

All too often, I feel like the future is bleak. No matter how much gets done, there seem to be more tests and papers. Reading just never gets done. And let’s be real, sometimes group projects feel like root canals. And this is just the reality of school, where we’ve all chosen to place ourselves. 

 

The world is at once a much bleaker place. War and disease, poverty and bigotry all seem too powerful to overcome. We continue to risk the integrity of the environment for the sake of profit. What can our future hold?

 

John’s world wasn’t all that different. He hadn’t been a student for a long time, though he had many pupils who followed his teaching. But war and disease, poverty and bigotry were all too familiar to John and his contemporary Christians. Further, in the eyes of the Roman Empire, they were dangerous atheists because rather than believing in the entire pantheon, they believed in just one God. So Rome began to hunt, and eventually martyr, all of John’s fellow apostles, leaving John alone in exile on the island of Patmos. 

And there, alone, John had a vision, not for a great last meal or the return of his friends, but the redemption of all creation. Rather than just returning things to the status quo, John saw God taking control, saw Christ the Lamb coming to live at the center of all things. In the midst of a desperate situation, John saw a renewed city, the Kingdom of God, lit by the light of God, never shrouded in darkness. And who is welcome here? All nations, apparently event the Romans who exiled him, may enter with glory and honor.

 

I want eyes like that. Eyes that take hold of God’s hope even in the midst of tragedy. Eyes that envision deliverance rather than vengeance. Eyes that yearn for illumination rather than subjugation. Of course, the first thing we can do is try to see the good in all things. Let’s look for God in the world today, and everyday. And let’s hope for Christ to be the center of all things. 

 

 Drew

Devotion - Monday, February 24

I John 3:18 reminds us, "Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth."

While the instructions of Jesus are important, and we need to live the kind of life that would made Jesus proud of us, we should never forget that the first act in Jesus call is to come and belong.

The disciples, long before they hear Jesus' sermons, we invited to "come and see."  They were given the opportunity to observe a love that showed itself in deed and in truth.

When we hear Jesus' word and live by his commands, we will surely love in this way.  When the call to follow takes hold in our lives, we will do these things.  But doing these things, or being expected to do these things, or learning what things we are to do should not so completely occupy our life that we fail to give attention to that first act.  Christ beacons us to that place where we can be loved and cared for; to those places were we can offer the same.

Devotion - Thursday, February 20

There are some stories in the Bible to which I cannot relate.  One collection of such stories is in Genesis 32.  Because of what he has done to his brother, Jacob is fearful of his impending reunion with his brother, Esau.  

(Maybe the solution to my conflicted reading of this verse is in the previous sentence, "Because of what he had done...")

The worse of injuries occur between those who are the most connected.  We are able to wound our brother/sister/mother/father with greater efficiency than we might inflict insult on a lab partner or fellow member of a group project.  In the process of allowing us to become close, they have also allowed us to recognize their sensitive spots and the things that cause them the greatest fear.  

We jab at those spots, when our emotions shift toward anger or frustration.

Jacob has taken advantage of his brother's sensitive spots.  It was Esau's hunger that Jacob used to steal his birthright.  Esau's neglect of their mother resulted in her siding with Jacob in obtaining their father's blessing.

Now, after fifteen years away, Jacob is returning to encounter his brother.  And Jacob is fearful.

Jacob sends lavish gifts ahead of himself, to his brother.  He hopes to appease his brother's anger.  He recognizes the brokenness between them, and he tries to find a way to avoid the retaliation he fears.

 While I cannot relate to this part of the story, I do understand that Jacob had to return to his brother, even at great risk.  He could not simply stay away.  He has to return to the one with whom he shares an unbreakable relationship - even if that relationship may now cause more pain than comfort.  And it is his brother, who will both force him and allow him to have the long, honest look at himself which will allow him to be re-named "Israel," a name which means "one who has striven with God and with man."

Who are the persons in your life that offer you that opportunity?  What is the status of your current interactions with them?  And how might you find a way to return to them, as an invitation to the long, honest look into your own life?

Devotion - Wednesday, February 19

Today's reading from John 10 includes one of the "I am" statements of Jesus.  Here, he says, "I am the door."

The reference is to himself as the one who opens the way for the sheep to enter the fold.

Other places he will say "I am the way,"  "I am the good shepherd."

These statements are very powerful; very instructive; and take us back to an earlier use of those words, "I am."

It is when Moses is standing before the burning bush that he asks "By what name shall I say I have been sent?"  The reply is "I am."

Please do not mis-hear this as a condemnation for the moments in our lives when we wonder if there really is a God, or if there is then what is that God doing?  But I want to witness to you this morning the power which comes from living ones life with the assurance that God Is.

When I feel as if I am losing my way; God is the way.

When I need to lose myself in the flock and let another do the planning; God is that shepherd.

When all that I work for seems to be coming to naught; God is.

From this I gain a confidence which prevents my doubts and my mis-givings from winning the day.

Tillich is a theologian I studied in seminary.  There is in one of his writings the acknowledgement that faith is like putting all of our eggs in one basket, knowing that it might be the wrong basket.  Having them in that basket allows me to keep them together, and protected, and ready for use.

Jesus says "I am."  And He is.  In my life and in the world which comes into view through the lens of his presence in my life.

Tuesday Devotion - February 18

Jack Saarela is an Interim Pastor in Pennsylvania.  He served as Campus Pastor at Univ of FL and as Campus Ministry Director for Regions 7, 8 & 9.  He is a subscriber to these offerings and was kind enough to share a devotion of his with me during last week's snow storm.  I asked for permission to use it for our Tuesday Devotion.

It was at about 5:00 am, as I recall, last Wednesday morning when I was awakened by a “Crack”. Then “Pop”. And then the digital time face on the clock alarm radio started flashing the familiar, portentous “12:00 . . .  12:00 . . . 12:00”.

 

            The temperature in our house remained in the low 60’s all that day, surprisingly enough, affirming our expensive decision to begin replacing our century-old windows with higher-efficiency double-paned ones last year. By the fifth day of the power outage, Saturday, however, the thermometer in the dining room barely made it into the 40’s.

 

            Thankfully, most in the Pennridge area didn’t have to endure much of a power outage at all after last week’s wet snow-then rain-and then ice storms. It was nice to come to the office on Thursday and get warm!

 

            In the evenings, we three Saarelas were huddled in a self-imposed imprisonment in our kitchen where we had a couple of oil lanterns burning for light and pots of water boiling on the gas stove to provide some heat. But your eyeglasses would fog up as you entered the kitchen from the cold dining room adjacent, so like a tropical greenhouse did it feel.

 

            We learned a lot in the dark and cold, though. For one thing, how much we depend on electric power. Food quickly spoils; systems start to fail; the pipes could burst; human nerves get frayed. The usual digital entertainments go dead. The elegant pleasure of reading a book by candlelight is nostalgic, but gets old fast.

 

            For another thing, we learned how covetous we are of the comforts and the conveniences of our modern “live better electrically” lives. Take them away for five days, and you get some pretty grumpy souls.

 

            The interim pastor at St. John’s in Melrose Park where we are members, also a good colleague and friend, was kind to invite me over to do a load of laundry and watch some coverage of the first day of the Olympics while the washing machine was swishing and swooshing.  Diane was pleased to accept the invitation of a colleague at her work to spend two nights in the warm and lit house. We learned how much we depend on one another’s help and support. To answer Cain’s age-old question, “Yes Cain, we are our brother’s/sister’s keeper. And he/she is ours.” (Genesis 4:9)

 

            Other Scriptural themes came to mind during the power outage as well. Like, when Jesus tells his disciples as they are about to enter Jerusalem for the final and fatal time, “We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day, for the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4)  

 

Or, as Jesus said to them before his departure, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).  We get discouraged often in our discipleship.  We know we are supposed to forgive, but sometimes we can’t muster the strength. We want to obey Jesus and love our neighbor, our enemy even, but the capacity to do so just isn’t there. We know we ought to read Scripture, pray, and worship with our brothers and sisters, but the desire flags and we’re too indifferent to bother.

 

I wonder if those are instances of a spiritual power outage.           Are times like those periods of our lives when we are disconnected from our spiritual power source? Are we trying to lead a life of faithful discipleship on our own strength and effort and intentions, however good, alone? Are we trying to bear fruit while not abiding in the Vine?

 

It’s not a matter of the source of power going down, as it was in southeastern PA last week. Jesus’ offer of the power and strength of his Holy Spirit is always available. But it’s up to us to plug into it with the resources at hand, like worship, Scripture, and most of all, prayer.

 

May your power not go out!    -- Pastor Jack

Devotion - Monday, February 17

In John 9 there is a different kind of healing story.  The writer informs us that this is different, from the very first verse.  He tells us that Jesus "saw a man blind from his birth."

Sight will be given this man.  That is the miracle.  What is important to note is that sight is given; not merely restored.

This story goes on for many verses.  The story is so long that it will occupy my lectionary for two days.  Be prepared, I may have more to say about it tomorrow.  The significance of this story is reflected in its length.

If this man had had sight, at some point in the past, then Jesus would have merely fixed something that was broken.  This is what healers did.  (And remember there were many such "healers" in Jesus' day.)  But Jesus makes it possible for one who has never had sight to see.  This is less of an act of repair and more of an act of creation.

Another sub-plot is that all of this occurs on the Sabbath.  Sometimes that is the part of the plot that occupies our discussion.  Is the significance of this story Jesus' words about appropriate use of the Sabbath?  Or is it occurrence on the Sabbath a way of connecting Jesus' creative act with THE creation event - and thus with the Creator?

Jesus is more than an adjustment along the way.  Jesus does more than remind us of who God is and what God says.  Jesus is the very presence of God in our midst and in our lives.  Jesus is God's self-expression, on a level where we can build a solid relationship with him.

Sermon - Epiphany 6, Year A

Matthew 5:(20), 21-37

 

Righteousness which Exceeds

 

     "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 

     I could have stuck with the assigned verses for today and not read this verse.  To my defense, it used to be included in the appointed verses for Epiphany 6, which means that several of the study resources I use speak of this verse as the one that gives meaning to those which follow.  Jesus is speaking of “righteousness” when he addresses murder and insults and adultery.  Still, this is a difficult verse.  And if you were in worship last week, you have now been subjected to it twice.  This verse, the first I read for you this morning, was the last to be read to you last week. 

     "Unless your righ­teousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 

     The verse is tough. It is difficult to hear.  And maybe worst of all, it sets up salvation as competition.  It calls upon us to set our mind upon comparing ourselves to those around us.  A control group is identified and instructions given that unless our righteousness exceeds theirs, we are left without any hope of entering that illustrious king­dom. 

     I recall, as a young boy, sitting in the church trying to decide who was actually going to make it into heaven.  I had remembered the bible verse which states that few are chosen.  My teachers had read to me Jesus' warnings that the path is narrow and easily abandoned.  There was even that strange reference in Revelation which I understood to give an exact number of those who would be saved.  The number was finite.  It was therefore necessary for me to consider my chances given what I knew about those who sat around me. 

     "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." 

     Don't forget who those "scribes and Pharisees" were.  Their distinction arose out of their adherence to the letter of the law.  The scribes were the scholars, the learned individuals who read through the ancient texts and identified every single instruc­tion that Yahweh had ever given.  Even after eliminating the repeti­tion, there remain over 800 laws and ordinances which had been identified by these scribes. 

     The scribes were those who kept the list.  They were the scholars who studied and wrote and taught what was contained in the scrip­tures. 

     The Pharisees were those lived according to the laws which the scribes found.  They were committed individuals, zealous in their attempts to obey each of the laws.  They became model citizens and active church members.  They were continually examining themselves and striving to make sure they never broke a single one of the stated laws.  They lived lives which approached flawlessness.  They were about as close to perfect as you could ever be. 

     This is the control group.  These are the individuals against whom Jesus says we must compare our righteousness.  Our righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven.  No wonder our chins drop upon hearing these words. 

     How are we ever going to manage?  We have a difficult time even remembering the Ten Commandments.  It is a real challenge to obey those we do remember.  What about the 790 or so additional laws which the scribe studied and the Pharisee obeyed?  If this doesn't present us with enough of a challenge, we only need look at the rest of today's gospel reading were Jesus seems to be adding additional laws and requirements.  What are we to do?  If our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, it looks like we won't be seeing each other in the sweet-by-and-by. 

     The key to understanding what Jesus is saying lies in his use of the word "righteous­ness" and in the style of his direc­tives on murder, adultery, divorce and bearing false witness.  Putting these together and remembering that this whole passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we begin to understand that his talk of a righteous­ness which EXCEEDS has to do with a righteousness born of God and not from our own ability to obey. 

     On the feast day of the Baptism of our Lord, we read from John.  You didn’t get to hear John’s accounting of Jesus’ baptism.  In Matthew 3, when Jesus comes to be baptized by John, John tries to prevent him.  John points out that Jesus is the spiritually pure one, the one who is the Child of God, so he should be baptizing John, not John baptizing him.  Many of us do struggle to understand why Jesus would receive John's baptism, a baptism of repentance, when Jesus had never committed a sin. 

     But John finally gives in and baptizes Jesus.  He does so when Jesus says to him, "let it be so now;  for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteous­ness."    

     “Righteousness.”   

     In the scriptures, there are differing uses of the word "righteousness."  In the New Testa­ment there are at least three.

     First, righteousness is sometimes spoken of as those actions which bring about an increase of justice.  These would be good deeds, done to the benefit of God and neighbor.  Obeying the Ten Com­mandments and all those other laws discovered by the scribes would fall into this type of righteousness.  It is the righteous­ness which represents our adherence to the word and law of God.  This is most likely the understanding of righteousness which, when it comes to mind, fills us with thoughts of inadequacy. 

     A second use of the word righteousness falls into the category of legal language.  It is the prerogative of the judge to declare one "righteous."  No evidence or testimony is neces­sary, the judge simply has the right to declare one as righteous and this becomes their status before the law.  St. Paul insists that this "decree of righteous" is handed out by God to all those who call upon the name of Jesus. 

     But there remains this third use of the concept of "righteousness."  Unlike the other two, this righteousness has nothing to do with us or our actions.  This righteousness only involves God.  God alone IS righteous.  God possesses righteousness.  It is that characteris­tic or trait which makes God - God.  Righteousness in this sense is categorically differ­ent from any righteousness which we could ever achieve or be granted.

     It is this "righteousness of God" which concerns St. Mat­thew.  In writing his gospel story, Matthew hinges the whole event upon God's righteousness.  He repeatedly illustrates the inadequacy of our own attempts at righteousness.  In our gospel lesson for today, Jesus tells us that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Phari­sees we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  He then goes on to illustrate why the "righteousness" of the scribes and Phari­sees is worthless.   

     Perhaps one could be successful in abiding by the ancient law, "You shall not murder."   But who is capable of living according to the intent of that law?  Jesus reminds us that the law is more than a prohibition upon the taking of another's life.  It also places constrains upon our anger and insults.  Maybe we can avoid adultery - if by that we only mean certain limited actions.  But who is capable of preventing their eye from wonder­ing? 

     Jesus illustrates that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is worthless because you can never legislate away all transgressions of God's law.  The level of righteousness which God desires can never be achieved through our acts of justice.  The righ­teousness which exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is the righteousness of God.  It is the righteous­ness given to us in Jesus.

     The gospel story, the good news of God's anointed Messiah, begins and ends with this outpouring of God's righteousness.  It is freely offered to us so that we might possess it and live in its comfort.  As Christians, we gather to sing praises to the God who has done this marvelous and wonderful thing.  Far be it from us to cheapen God's action by allowing our obedience to take center stage.

     I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, unless it is the righteousness granted to you by God, you will never even recognize the kingdom over which Jesus reigns. 

     That kingdom, the one over which Jesus reigns, is marked by a grace filled understanding of the goodness and the invitation of God’s righteousness. 

Amen.

 

 

Devotion - Thursday February 13

The stories in the Bible which are challenging to understand are often stories with great potential to teach us those aspects of God which we are inclined to overlook.

Genesis 27 is one of those stories - for me.  Issac knows he is about to die.  He wants to pass on his blessing to his first-born son, Esau.  He tells Esau to go and hunt game and prepare a meal.  While Esau is out hunting, Jacob and his mother prepare a meal and take advantage of Issac's blindness to convince him that Jacob is Esau.  Issac gives Jacob the blessing.  When Esau returns, Issac realizes the deception, but  tells Esau there is nothing he can do.  He has given the blessing to Jacob.

I want to cry out "But Jacob got the blessing under false pretenses!"  Surely the words spoken by Issac can be revoked.

I want to say "Those were only words!  What meaning can they have if they were gotten by deceit?

But Genesis 27 is very clear:  The blessing of the father, once given, can never be retracted. The father's words have power.

In the Small Catechism, Luther reminds us that it is not the water alone which saves us through baptism.  It is the water and the word.

From the hymn we sing in worship there is an acknowledgement that thy word "dost cleave the darkness."

Genesis 27 teaches me that when the father speaks, the words have power and effect.

At our baptism, the Word of God is spoken.  "You are marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit."  Powerful words.  God's words.  Words which bring change.

In a world were signed documents must be notarized before they have any possible standing, we need to be instructed on the weight of spoken words.  In such a world, it is far too easy for us to dismiss and fail to experience the significance of the words of God spoken to us and over us.

Wednesday Devotion

Jennifer Manis is the Lutheran Campus Minister at NCSU. She prepared today's offering:

 

Read Luke 4:16-30

 

God and I have been wrestling of late. Perhaps, you know what’s that like. Those moments in life when you are in fairly frequent dialogue with the Holy One, seeking an answer to a particular question - What do I do after college? Where should I intern? Why does my mom have cancer? - and God’s response seems missing or empty or just nonexistent.

 

Jesus knows that the people of Nazareth expect him to heal someone, to perform a miracle (v 23). Who doesn’t want a miracle? And who doesn’t know exactly what miracle they’d like God to perform? Sometimes we are so busy looking for and expecting God to respond in a certain way, a way we’ve pre-determined, that we miss God’s presence, that we miss God’s miracles that occur right before our eyes.

 

The people have drive n Jesus out of town. Can you see them? Grumbling, pushy, a herd of group think gone bad, these people are determined to hurl Jesus off a cliff (v 29). Yet, somehow, he passes through the midst of them and is gone, on his way (v 30). Did they notice? Could they see it? Might the miracle they hoped to see, have blinded them from the miracle that just occurred?

 

Holy One, open our eyes to see you in the world, the miracle of God with us. Amen.

Devotion - Tuesday, February 11

The story in John 8 is sometimes called "The woman caught in adultery."  I think another title could be "who has the right to condemn?"

The hyper-religious types bring this woman to Jesus, "to test him."  Already the story tells us that they are not interested in learning anything; they are only looking "that they might have some charge to bring against (Jesus)."

When asked what the Law of Moses calls for in such a situation, Jesus asks "the one without sin" to cast the first stone.  One by one, everyone turns and walks away.

This story is about Jesus' teaching.  He had gone to the temple, sat down and begun to teach.  But I think it also has something to say to us about our tendency to "test."  Maybe it is living in an academic community where "tests" are a part of every waking moment.  But all too often we look to put others to "the test."  And all too often they come up lacking.

Little of this (it seems to me) has to do with a desire to condemn.  Most of it (it seems to me) is our attempt to work out an understanding of how others view our actions; whether they would (given the chance) condemn us.

I doubt that in any single 24 hour period you have lived that there hasn't been someone who attempted to use you as their confessor.  It happens all the time, when someone begins telling us about an encounter or an action and we start to sense that something more profound is going on here.  Most often (way too often) we step away from the moment.  Not often enough do we recognize the moment and offer that person what it is that they need to hear.

None of us are without sin. This positions us perfectly to be the one to say to others that sin won't stand in the way of a good and grace-filled relationship with God.  See yourself as the agent of pronouncing forgiveness.

In John 8, when the crowd has dropped their stones and gone back to their own affairs Jesus asks the woman, "Where are those who would have condemned you?"  When she reports that they have all gone, Jesus tells her, "Neither do I condemn you."  His words of forgiveness become her motivation for sinning no more.

A word of forgiveness is a powerful thing.  Use it wisely; but use it.

Devotion - Thursday, February 6

The "Confession of Peter" comes at a different time, but Peter's words in John 6:60-71 speak more directly to my life and to my faith.

Jesus continues to speak of his body and blood as the food and drink of a disciple.  There is the admission that these are difficult words to hear; a difficult concept to grasp.  As a result, some of the disciples begin to fall away. Jesus asks if the few who remain would also leave.

Peter responds, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Tone of voice means so much here.  I do not hear these words spoken as a bold proclamation of faith.  I hear them as an exhausted acknowledgement of having searched and found nothing which can compare.  Peter isn't making the confession which will result in his being named "the Rock," Peter is admitting that his attempts to find another source of meaning and purpose has come up empty.  Jesus is where it is at. 

Being a disciple of Jesus brings many more joys than the effort ought to merit; but it is a demanding path to follow.  Constantly and continually thinking of how to serve and to love and to reflect the instructions to "do unto the least" wears me out.  If there were another source of lasting joy and contentment and peace - it might be worth a look.  But, to whom can I go?  No where else

Devotion - Wednesday, February 5

Of all the gospels, John is the most "theological."  John's approach is less attentive to the information and to the details; he spends more of his time telling us what things mean.

For that reason, John has been preferred by many.  I remember hearing that Martin Luther preferred John's Gospel.

I am reading from the 6th chapter of John.  In these verses Jesus sets forth what we come to speak of as sacramental theology.  He has previously made reference to "eat my flesh."  In 52-59 he says quite clearly "he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life."

I remember being confused about this when I was in college.  I made a really bad reference to the texture of a particular communion loaf as have come from one of the more calloused parts of Jesus' body.  My campus pastor was patient and graceful but clear that this is a theological statement.

Jesus invites us to find the source of our nourishment in him.  Jesus uses an image which confirms for us that we do become what we take into ourselves.

Ours is a sacramental ministry.  We believe and teach that God comes to us in the broken bread, the poured wine, and the waters of baptism.  This assurance also instructs us to consider the things which we put into ourselves.  What do we eat?  What do we listen to?  What do we watch?  What goes in matters.

Devotion - Tuesday, February 4

Hebrews 11 speaks of all the things which are accomplished "by faith."  The ability to know God's goodness and to trust in God's compassion makes it possible to do that which we would otherwise find impossible.

Hebrews 11 speaks of Abraham offering up his son, Isaac.  Of Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau.  Of Joseph's setting the stage for the Exodus.

Daily, I see a whole other collection of examples of what faith enables people to do.  I see the care being offered to sick and dying loved ones.  I see the gentle patience offered to those in desperate need of attention.  I see the dedication of volunteers in caring for the needs of neighbors.

Faith makes possible that which would otherwise be unthinkable.

I am sure that you will face many challenges today.  Some of them will seem too large for you to handle.  Without dismissing the significance of the challenge, I do wish to encourage you to face them with the full faith and confidence afforded to Jesus' followers.  Faith makes possible that which is otherwise beyond our abilities.

Devotion - Monday, February 3

I read this morning from Genesis 19.  This is the story of the visit of the two angels to Sodom.  Earlier, Abraham has asked the angels to deal kindly with his nephew, Lot, who is living in the region of Sodom.

When they arrive, Lot is sitting at the gate.  He meets them, he invites them into his house.

I remember other biblical references to sitting at the gate of the city.  This was the custom and practice of the Elders of the city.  No doubt it had something to do with monitoring commerce.  It is at the gate that judgments were made and punishments pronounced.

We should not assume that Lot was there, just sort of lounging around.  It is likely that he was living out the customs and practices. 

What he does is show hospitality to the visitors.  They report that they are prepared to spend the night on the streets; Lot invites them into his home. 

What follows is the subject for many a frightening sermon.  The men of the city come to assault these visiting angels.  Lot protects them as best he can; but these visitors have powers far beyond Lot's caring nature.

The New Testament references to Sodom speak of a city in which the orphans and widows were ignored.  The latter references to this city destroyed by holy fire speak of the loss of hospitality.

There may be few things as significant at the way we respond to strangers, to those different from us, to those who will never be able to advance our social status.  There may be few things as damning as turning a blind eye toward those in need of a place to stay and something to eat.  

How many angels will pass through the gates of our city this day?  How few will be greeted and welcomed into our homes?

Friday Devotion - January 31

Today's offering is from Rosey Davis

There are really only two things in this world that will frighten or unsettle me: 1. fire and 2. cockroaches. These may seem like petty fears, but they are fears nonetheless. Beginning last semester, my residence hall began having several fire alarms to go off in the "wee" hours of the night, at least once a month. We all knew that these were probably occurring due to the boredom of some resident who wanted to pull a childish prank; however, several nights left me wide awake with incessant thoughts of the building burning down and me not being able to escape. I would even "see" smoke sometimes in my dorm room! During these nights, I would feel very small, helpless, and afraid. I wanted comfort. When it's 3:40 am, there are not many options as to who will answer your texts or calls. There was someone, though, that I knew would listen to me at all hours of the day. Whenever I feel alone and frightened, I find comfort in these two verses:

For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." -Hebrews 13:5

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  -Joshua 1:9


I prayed to God to watch over the other residents and myself during the night until sleep overtook me. Nights like these have helped me to realize that even when we feel the most alone or the most frightened, God is with us. He gives us the strength and courage to journey through dark places. We are never alone!

I hope everyone has a splendid weekend, free of fire alarms. As for the cockroaches…let's all pray about those. 


Rosey

Devotion - Thursday, January 30

My being stranded away from home with a group of folks I didn't know that well provided opportunity to talk about topics we might have otherwise not approached.  Even among this group of Lutheran Campus Pastors, there are quite a few who did not grow up as cradle Lutherans.  Maybe it was their switching of denominations which makes them such good candidates for reaching out to persons who are in the midst of their own significant life decisions.

 

When asked what it was that brought them to the Lutheran Church it always comes back to "grace."  They had heard about it in other traditions, but they were overwhelmed with the expression of it which they found in a Lutheran community.

 

Grace is very important to us.  It is that attitude that God had toward us in which we are assured of His love and acceptance and his good intentions toward us. It is the confidence that even when we fail to live the lives he would prefer, his love is not diminished or withheld. 

Grace is important.  Grace is what saves a wretch like me.  Twas grace that teaches our hearts to fear, and grace our fears relieves.

 

Maybe we all need an occasional snow day, to have the time to talk about those things which are at the center of our existence but too seldom named and celebrated.