Dear
Fellow Children of God,
A number of the Scripture readings in my devotions this
past week have struck me and spoken to me about our loving Lord. But, perhaps the truth of God which most hit
me between the eyes is the promise I read in Deuteronomy 20. There God promises, 1 "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and
chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for
the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 2
And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak
to the people 3 and shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel, today you
are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do
not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the LORD your God is
he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the
victory.'” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
These four verses set the context.
However, it is verse 4 which really caught my attention. “ . . . the LORD your God is he who goes
with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.'”
There are situations in our world, and in my life, which
I know are bigger than I am, and beyond my ability to control. I watch our world turn away from our Lord and
turn to sinful behaviors. I pray about
these issues, but . . . People whom I love and care about face cancer and other
illnesses. Others face marriage and
family issues, with which I sometimes try to help, but at the same time the
issues seem bigger than I am. There are
people on my prayer list who struggle with substance issues. Some of them have been on my list FOR
DECADES!
Perhaps my words are somewhat of a confession. I know many Scripture verses which
tell me that our Lord is my “refuge”, my “strength”, my “rock”, my “deliverer.” Yet prayer is not like turning on a light
switch. I do not see instant
results. And, though I do trust that God
hears and that He always answers in wisdom and love, sometimes I wonder. The evil and the sin and the trouble of this
world are so strong. Perhaps I even doubt
that God is fighting for me.
As I personally pondered these promises in Deuteronomy,
wondering if and how this promise is true, I remembered. I remembered the cross and the empty
tomb. Our Lord inspired Peter to teach
us of our enemy, “8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1
Peter 5:8) It was God HIMSELF who did
fight for me against my enemy. Jesus,
the only-begotten Son of God, Jesus who is God Himself, faced all the
temptations which Satan could bring against Him. God tells us in Hebrews that Jesus is “one
who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews
4:15) Jesus was fighting for me!
Jesus faced betrayal, denial, injustice, mocking, torture,
and death in order to pay the debt which my sin owes. Jesus did this willingly. (John 10:18) Hebrews 2:14 and 15 reveal that,
“by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the
devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their
fear of death.” On the cross Jesus paid for my sin and destroyed the
devil. Jesus Himself was fighting . . . for
me!
Jesus rose from the dead and defeated our greatest enemy. Scripture calls death “the shroud that
enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;” (Isaiah 25:7). I may wonder at times about the promise of
God, and about how and when He keeps His promise, but in Jesus, the beloved Son
of my Heavenly Father, it really is true. “ . . . the LORD your God is he
who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the
victory.”
So, I do not personally have to understand how God
fulfills this promise for my life, nor when He will answer my prayers. After all, who am I that I should tell the
Lord and Ruler of all what to do.
Nevertheless, for my biggest enemies of sin and death and hell, Jesus
the Son of God fought for me and defeated these enemies. Today I know that “God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) So, I pray so that I will keep trusting, and
keep seeking to love my Lord and love my neighbors, knowing that, even though I
do not understand how and when He does it, the “Lord my God fights against
my enemies to give me the victory!”
What enemies are you facing today? What a joy and strength to see that in Jesus,
The Lord fights for us!! Let us live in
that love, and assurance, and victory!
A
Child of God, Finding Strength to Face Life Because . . . the Lord Fights For
Us!
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. Here are the rest of the words of 1 Peter
5:8-11 – “8 Be sober-minded; be
watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour. 9 Resist
him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being
experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after
you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to
his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and
establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
NEWS
AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
VOLUNTEER
SUNDAY AND FISH FRY AND COOKOUT –
THIS Sunday!
This Sunday, April 21 we will have an
opportunity to volunteer for helping with God’s work at First Lutheran. After worship we will have tables for
the various areas of service staffed by people who serve in those areas. You can get information about these
opportunities for service and ministry and sign up to help if you want to do
so.
As encouragement to stay, WE WILL
HAVE A FISH FRY AND COOKOUT!!!!
Pastor Rockey is donating fish from his trips this year. Steve Rockey and Mark Reaves will be frying
bass. Jeff Lee (Leeann’s husband) will
be grilling burgers and hot dogs. We
ask those attending bring a side dish or dessert to share in this time of
fellowship and ministry.
CALL
COMMITTEE NEWS – First
Lutheran was informed during Holy Week that we would not be assigned Timothy
Handrick as Deferred Vicar. He has been
assigned to another congregation.
However, we have completed our self-study, and will begin collecting
names of possible candidates for the call of pastor at First Lutheran. Nomination Forms for possible candidates for
a new pastor are included in bulletins from Sunday, April 7 - 20. IF YOU HAVE NAMES FOR CONSIDERATION,
PLEASE TURN THEM IN THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 21.
A
STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS continues on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. On March 24 we started book 2 of the Acts
study, chapter 13, the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys. Come and join us in studying about the
history of the early Christian Church!
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. As of March 30
we finished Numbers, and start we started reading in Deuteronomy on April
1. Deuteronomy comes from the Latin word
“deuteron” which means “second.” This
book is the second telling God God’s law to His people as they enter the
Promised Land. On April 16 we read
Deuteronomy 18 and 19. Chapter 18 tells
of “the prophet” whom God would send.
Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey if you
have any questions at 907-841-4066, or at jonrock53@mtaonline.net
SUNDAY
SCHOOL IS HELD EACH SUNDAY DURING WORSHIP. PLEASE bring your children
and grandchildren!
BASIC
TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE / NEW MEMBER CLASS –This class began on February
11th, after worship in the Besalski Fellowship
Hall. But, we have only just begun. There is still time to join the
class. This is also a good way to refresh you knowledge of God’s
Word. PLEASE NOTE, JUST BECAUSE A PERSON ATTENDS THE
CLASS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE COMMITTED TO JOINING FIRST LUTHERAN.
If you are interested in learning and growing, we would love to have you join
us.
We will complete the whole class in a one
day lesson THIS Sunday, April 21, after the fish fry and Volunteer time.
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST – I went fishing 3 times since my last devotion.
· On Thursday, April 11, I took Thomas Dudeck fishing on
Orange Lake. The forecast was for WIND
and rain. We did not fish long. Thomas called one fish. Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/WtbBkmgXVycHbxP57
· On Friday, April 12, I took Thomas fishing on Rodman
Reservoir. We kept 2 of the fish we caught.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/W8YcwHBufFVs1anH9
· On Sunday, April 14,
after worship I went fishing on a favorite lake. The weather was beautiful, and the
fish were biting. In about 3 hours I caught
4 nice bass, and lot quite a few more.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tvfn1GjUrj7SWmbn9
*******
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.
(Currently I am serving 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)
