Dear Fellow Children of God,
As I write this devotion it is election day in the US,
but I am on a train in Germany from Munich to Wittenberg. Nevertheless Kathy and I did vote on October
16 before leaving the country. Personally,
I am not sure that in my 71 years I have ever experienced a US election which
is so bitter and divisive. However, I
believe this election reflects the different directions which people are taking
in our culture and our country.
In fact, I had to laugh, somewhat sadly, at a daily email
which I receive from the Washington Post, which mentioned the election. “Some
voters are taking extreme measures to avoid Election Day Stress. Like what? Fleeing to the woods, locking away
their phones, trying hypnosis and stocking up on cannabis. One woman even strategically timed a
colonoscopy.”
That’s a lot of stress and anxiety
over the election!
In my daily devotions, as I am reading through Scriptures
with a group of other Christians, we recently finished Job. This can be a difficult book to understad,
because it tackles some difficult questions. “Why is there evil in the
world?” “Why do bad things happen to God’s (good) people?” Job is a child of God, active in his faith,
who is attacked by Satan. He struggles with his suffering and wonders why
God is doing this to him. The real answer we can see is that this
is not God’s doing, but the work of God’s enemy and our enemy, the devil.
Yet, Job still questions God.
What makes Job’s struggle more complicated is that three,
then a fourth, of his friends come to comfort him. Eliphaz, Bildad, and
Zophar try to help Job, but they just cause more confusion and trouble.
Their basic reasoning is that God does not punish the good, but only the
evil. Therefore, “You, Job, must have done something wrong. Repent!”
Job responds, but he is also confused. So, through much of the book of Job
we have words which God later counts as being incorrect and untrue. According
to the Lord, the thoughts and words of Job’s friends require repentance.
These words and the reasoning of Job’s friends do not
take 3 truths into account. First, everyone has sinned. Second, we
live in a broken world where Satan is active. And, third, all of us need
the help and the deliverance of God. So, between words of faith (For
example, Job 19:25-27) and doubt, Job continues to suffer. Later Job’s
friend Elihu also comes and speaks.
Finally, however, the Lord Himself appears and gives
answers to Job and his friends, sort of. The Lord’s basic words to Job
and his friends are “Who are YOU to question ME? Were you there when I
created the world? Can you explain how this world works? If so, then you
know the answers to your other questions.” In some ways God’s answer can
seem like a non-answer. But God’s answer is actually a dose of reality concerning
who we are, and what shape our world is in. Perhaps we need this dose of reality as God’s children work through
another election cycle!
The questions of Job and his friends, and the response of
God, help us when we face a world of sin and suffering. Ultimately, in this
life, God is our hope, our deliverer, our Savior! In the middle of our election division and
anxiety, there are some truths which God has shared in His word, truths of our
Lord which might also help to ground us all through the coming days as ballots
are counted.
·
God has established governments to give peace
and order to the world and to His people. (Romans 13:1-7, see also 1 Timothy
2:1-4)
·
Rulers, like all people, are sinful. (Romans 3:10-24) Righteousness comes FROM
God, Through Jesus!
·
We are to trust in God, not rulers. (Psalm
20:6-7)
·
God calls us to pray for our rulers so that they
may provide opportunity for peaceful and quiet lives. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
·
God still calls His people to love Him and to
love others. (Mark 12:28-31)
·
Jesus is the Lord of Lords and King of
Kings. (Revelation 17:14 and 19:16)
·
Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)
·
Jesus still rules over this world for the good
of His church. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
·
Our help and hope are in THE LORD, the maker of
heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2)
Perhaps the current election cycle has you wondering what
Job wondered. “Where is God in all this?” God’s answers may seem confusing. Yet, the
Lord calls His people to know that He is God. The Lord calls us to find peace and comfort in
His wisdom and grace and rule. When we
allow the Lord to rule our hearts, through
faith in Jesus, we can have that peace, even when life is confusing and
troublesome.
A Child of God, Trusting the Wisdom, the Love, the Rule
of God Through Current Elections!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I have copied out the verses I referenced
above at the end of this devotion.
P.P.S. We are in
Wittenberg from October 22-31, to serve with Wittenberg English Ministry. But we traveled to Germany early to enjoy
some new (to us) places. From October 23
to 31 I led worship 7 times and preached on 3 different texts, all pointing to
the Reformation theme of God’s grace in Jesus.
Then with our daughter, Mary, we have visited Salzburg, Austria, and
Munich, Germany. Here are some pictures
of our daily travels so far. J
·
Wednesday, October 30, we climbed the tower of
the Castle church, we conducted worship in the afternoon, and attended an
English Reformation Service in the Castle Church in the evening. We also had an interesting conversation with
a local man at supper . . . about FISHING! https://photos.app.goo.gl/JyrHTAkW9yRC1YxL6
·
On Thursday, October 31, Reformation Day, We had
a large group for worship, including the surprise of a long time acquaintance
and friend. That evening we attended a
concert of Handel’s Messiah in the Town Church.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/pfJeePQ4i5FAyQqC6
·
On Friday, November 1, we traveled to Salzburg. We visited a castle, and took a Sound of
Music Tour on Saturday, and went to a Salt Mine Tour on Sunday. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/GFTDZAYuRUM96PRG7
·
Sunday, November 3, we traveled to Munich. We took a tour of the New Schwanstein Castle
on Monday, November 4, and did some shopping on November 5 as we traveled back
to Wittenberg. We also ate at a couple
of nice restaurants. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wMaMJwNvtz7tvYKk9
·
Wednesday, November 6, we will travel to
Leipzig. We fly back to the US on Thursday,
November 7, and arrive in Gainesville on Friday, November 8.
P.P.P.S. I also continue
serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida,
until First Lutheran receives a permanent full-time pastor.
NEWS AND MINISTRY
OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
o
While I was in Germany, October 20, 27, and November
3, Pastor Stephen Lane will be leading worship and teaching Bible Class. THANK YOU, Pastor Lane!
o
On
Sunday, November 24, after worship, We will have an OKTOBERFEST MEAL, and a
Wills / Estate planning seminar. Diana
Raasch from LCEF will be working with local First Lutheran people to teach
opportunities of faithful Christian Stewardship in our wills and estates. There will be opportunities to talk with
Diana privately, if a person wishes to do so.
PLAN
NOW to attend this festive meal and informative seminar!
o
FIRST LUTHERAN IS BACK IN THE CALL PROCESS. We
have sought nominations and names of pastors who would serve the Lord and His
people well at First Lutheran in Gainesville. The Florida-Georgia
District has sent information on the candidates. We received 21 names and have made contact with 20 of those pastors. The Call Committee met again Tuesday, October
15. Zoom interviews with these pastors wre
conducted beginning on October 28. PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THE
FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
o
SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING until
May. Children begin in worship at 10:00 a.m.. Early in the service, after
the Children’s Message, children leave for a lesson, for a craft, and a
snack. Parents, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Neighbors, PLEASE
bring your children to Sunday School.
THANK YOU
Sunday School Teachers and staff!
o
WE FINISHED STUDYING THE BOOK OF ACTS on
Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.
Our next study will be the Messianic prophecies of
Isaiah.
o
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on
Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m. Come and join us! They
are studying “The Case for Christianity.”
o
WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN
2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible. On Wednesday,
November 5, we read through Psalms 17.
Feel free to
contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
recently received questions and comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
o
FIRST LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A “RAISE THE ROOF
FUND,” for roof replacement and air-conditioning repairs. The roofs are
still in relatively good shape. But we have had leaks, and it has been
about 20 years since the roof was last replaced. First Lutheran leaders
want to act before the roofs fail. In addition, our Air Conditioners are
old and need replacing. So the Congregation has begun a “Raise the Roof”
campaign. Our goal to accomplish these combined repairs is $500,000!
Please
consider how God may lead you toward these needs in the future. (While serving
in Gainesville, I will be donating from each of my checks.)
P.P.P.P.S. Here are
the Scripture lessons I referenced in this devotion.
o
God has established governments to give peace
and order to the world and to His people (Romans 13:1-7, see also 1 Timothy
2:1-4 below)
1 Let every person be subject to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those
that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists
the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur
judgment. 3 For rulers are
not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who
is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your
good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.
For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one
must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of
conscience. 6 For because of
this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to
this very thing. 7 Pay to all
what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is
owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
o Rulers,
like all people are sinful. (Romans 3:10-24)
Righteousness comes FROM God, Through Jesus!
10
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks
for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become
worthless; no one does good, not even one." 13 "Their
throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The
venom of asps is under their lips." 14 "Their mouth is
full of curses and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift
to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have
not known." 18 "There
is no fear of God before their eyes." 19 Now we know that
whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every
mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since
through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness
of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the
Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are
justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
o
We are to trust in God, not rulers. (Psalm
20:6-7)
“Now
I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy
heaven with the saving might of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some
in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
o
God calls us to pray for our rulers so that they
may provide opportunity for peaceful and quiet lives. (1 Timothy 2:1-5,
especially 1-2)
1 First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may
lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4
who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus,
o God
still calls His people to love Him and to love others. (Mark 12:28-31)
28
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and
seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the
most important of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The most
important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is
this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment
greater than these."
o Jesus
is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
(Revelation 17:14 and 19:16)
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and
the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and
those with him are called and chosen and faithful." . . . 16 On his robe and on his
thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
o Jesus’
kingdom is not of this world. (John
18:36)
36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is
not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have
been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom
is not from the world."
o Jesus
is ruling over this world for the good of His church. (Ephesians 1:16-23)
16 I
do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in
the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his
right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only
in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things
under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
o Our
help and hope are in THE LORD, the maker of heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven
and earth.
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of
August 2019 from serving as full-time senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church
in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously entitled,
"Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired many asked me to
continue writing these devotions. So I have continued writing.
However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior pastor
at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who asked to
receive it. (However, I am currently as Vacancy Pastor for First Lutheran
Church in Gainesville, FL.)
So, if you stopped receiving
these devotions and wondered why, now you understand. And, if you are now
receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them, please let me know,
and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution list. My e-mail
address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these
devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Vacancy Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
How great is the love the Father has
lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we
are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
