On Monday, March
16, I saw some men on a lift washing windows for a multi-story apartment. I’m glad that was not me up there. In Alaska, when the winter days grow short,
and the sun is low on the horizon, light shines directly on our south facing
windows. The dirt on our windows seems
to really stick out. Yet, Alaskan winter
is not a time to tackle this project.
When there is snow on the ground the cold air would freeze water to wash
the outside window, and cause the streaking of dirt and ice across the
windows. That mess would be worse than
the dirt already present. Nevertheless,
it bothers me to see those dirty windows, sort of. When I can see the dirt, I would like to do
something about it. Yet, somehow, I
forget that dirt in the summer.
Is there ‘dirt’
in your life which you would like to wash away?
I’m not just talking about greasy or dirty hands, or muddy feet. How about the harsh words spoken to a family
member? How about unkept promises to
family or friends? What about words
spoken behind someone’s back? Have you,
or I. hurt others with violence, with sexual misdeeds, or actions of greed? If
so, do you regret those actions? Would you like to wash away the lack of love,
and the damage you caused?
In addition to
how we treat others, how about our relationship with our Lord? If you believe that God created and rules
over all things, do you regret, or even feel inner pain, over actions of
disobedience and rebellion? We are called to have no other gods before the true
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Exodus 20, first commandment.) Nevertheless, are there times when you put
your desires over God’s commands? Do you
wonder about God’s Word? “He can’t mean
that, can He?” Have you indeed put other things before God’s desires for your
life?
We are called not
to “take the name of the Lord in vain.”
(Second Commandment - Exodus 20:7) Our words are supposed to praise and
worship the Triune God. Yet, have you
made a mistake and uttered coarse words in anger? Have you cursed another person using the name
of the Lord? Have you simply spoken
God’s name carelessly, like He doesn’t really matter? Do others know you as “a child of God,” yet
your actions dishonor Him and give a bad witness? Consider, the One whose name we use
carelessly has created us in love and wonder.
He cares for us daily. He sent
His Son. Yet WE often act with our words
like He is unimportant?
And God teaches
us about Himself, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD
blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Third Commandment Exodus 20:11)
That is why God commands, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
(Exodus 20:8) Nevertheless, how often have you chosen not to attend worship? How often have you ignored God’s call? Does worshiping the Lord of the universe seem
like an option I can take or I can leave?
If so, then WHO really is acting like God?
When I see the
dirty windows, I know they need cleaning.
When I look at my life, and realize my many failings, I realize I need
cleansing. However, seeing the dirt
first does help. Sinning is unhealthy
and hurts my relationship with God and others.
Yet knowing my sin, and confessing that sin, seeking God’s grace and
help, is healthy.
February 18 is
Ash Wednesday for 2026. On this day
Christians of many traditions will attend worship and receive a cross of ashes
on their forehead as a symbol of the dirt in our lives. We are not proud of our sin. We are ashamed
and sorry for our misdeeds. But
acknowledging the evil in our lives is necessary before cleansing. There is dirt in our lives, even if it is
hard to admit. We need the cleansing which
only God can do.
And, our Lord
does act in grace and mercy to forgive us, for the sake of Jesus. Consider Psalm 103:12. “As far as the east is from the west, so
far does he remove our transgressions from us.” The forgiveness of God removes our sin! Listen also to our Lord’s promise to Isaiah,
who considered himself as “a man of unclean lips.” "Come now, let us
reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall
be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like
wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) There IS a cleansing for the dirt of our sin. Meditate on God’s promise to John in the book
of Revelation. “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They
have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation
7:14) Jesus cleanses us from the dirt of our sin by the blood, by the suffering
and death, of Jesus, THE Lamb of God!
Our sin is
real. The evil of rebellion against our
Creator shames us. Our lack of love for
one another betrays God’s purpose for our lives as His children. But God offers cleansing by His forgiveness,
through His love and compassion, in the blood of Jesus. His cleansing gives us a new start. Because God forgives, we do not need to deny
our sin. Because God forgives, we can
put on the ash of confession and seek God’s forgiveness, and seek to live for
the one who saves us. During the season
of Lent we willingly admit our failures, and we grow in God’s grace in Jesus.
Is there
something in your life of which you are ashamed? Do you know the truth of failure and
rebellion and sin against our Lord from your own experience? Perhaps you will have an opportunity to
confess your sinfulness with the imposition of ashes on your forehead this
Wednesday. Perhaps Lent can help you
again to confess your sin and turn to God’s grace. Because we have a Savior, we do not have to
hide our sin. We can confess the dirt in
our lives and let Jesus cleanse us.
A Child of God, Knowing
the Dirt My Sin – Needing the Cleansing of Jesus!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am
now in Gainesville, FL, serving as assistant to Pastor Chris Kollmann at First
Lutheran Church.
First
Lutheran Activities
·
MID-WEEK LENTEN WORSHIP – In the time
before Jesus’ Easter victory, we focus on our need for His resurrection. Lent is a season of repentance for our
sin. Lent is a season when we watch
Jesus suffer and die for us.
During
our 2026 Mid-Week Lenten Worship at First Lutheran we will focus on
The
Sins of the Disciples. Here is our
schedule for the sermons.
February
18 - Judas Betrayal
February
25 - James and John Who
is the Greatest
March
4 Andrew Pride
March
11 Peter, James, and
John Laziness/Falling Asleep
March
18 Peter Denial
March
25 Thomas Doubt
·
SUNDAY SERMON SERIES – During the Sunday
Worship Services we will consider Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, looking
at different parts of the parable for 6 weeks.
Not only the words of Luke 15 help us understand, but also Timothy Keller’s
book, “The Prodigal God.” Here are our
topics for the year’s Sunday Lenten Sermons.
o
Week 1 - Feb 15 - I
want your life - Luke 15:11-16, Ephesians 4:17-24
o
Week 2 - Feb 22nd -
The Younger Brother's Plan - Luke 15:11-24
o
Week 3 - March 1 -
Redefining Sin and Lostness - Luke 15: 11-16, 25-32,
o
Week 4 - March 8th -
He Ran to Me - Luke 15:11-24, Philippians 2:1-11
o
Week 5 - March 15th -
The True Elder Brother - Luke 15:25-32, Matthew 28-34-40
o
Week 6 - March 22nd -
How does it End? - Luke 15:25-32, Mark 8:31-33
·
STEPHEN MINISTRY - We started Stephen
Ministry classes at First Lutheran on Thursday, February 12. Stephen
Ministers are trained Christian care-givers. A Stephen Minister is not
a pastor, and not a counselor. But they Christians who are
trained to bring Jesus and His love to another Christian person facing a
difficult time.
Open Arms Director, Angie Burr, is a trained
Stephen Leader. We are looking for one or two more people to go through
training to help Angie lead in this ministry.
We do have 8 people who have committed to train
and serve as Stephen Ministers, as Christian care-givers. Training
happens on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and will end on April 23.
THEREFORE, if you are interested in
serving as a Stephen Ministry Leader, or interested in serving as a Stephen
Minister, please contact Angie Burr or contact me (Pastor Rockey).
·
Pastor Kollman and I are teaching separate
Sunday Bible classes on Sundays at 8:45 a.m.
o
Pastor Kollmann is teaching a Lutheran Hour
Ministry Class on “How we Got the Bible” in the Besalski Fellowship
Hall.
o
I am teaching a study of the book of Ephesians
in the Schwiebert Library and Conference room.
·
Young People Activities at FLC
o
YOUTH ACTIVITIES - Our first youth
activity will be a bonfire at the Kollmann residence on Sunday afternoon,
February 22. (In April we plan to attend
the Orange and Blue Game. 😊 ) If
your children are going into 3rd grade, or older, please consider
attending this meeting and participating in these fun activities of
growth.
o
ACOLYTE TRAINING - We will also be
offering acolyte training again tentatively on Saturday, February 21, at 11:00
a.m. Now that we have families and children, we want to give these youth
an opportunity to grow and serve our Lord. After the training we will
take a trip to the nearby McDonalds! 😊
Other
Activities of Faith:
·
I have again started my two year journey with my
Lord. On Wednesday, February 18, I read Exodus 16-17, about the
beginning of the plagues.
Feel free to join me again if you
wish. You may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any
questions about these readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net
I have received questions and comments about the readings. It is always
good to consider our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some
things only God knows!
P.P.S. Family
Fun and Fishing! Temperatures are warming up, so I did more
fishing than golfing the past week.
Also, I got to fish with Alaska friend, Fred Vasilie. He and wife Kelly visited our FL home and we
spent Valentine’s Day at the ballpark.
·
On Saturday, February 14, Fred and Kelly
Vasilie, and Kathy and I watched the Florida Gators baseball team play the UAB
Blazers. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/dQbUSJMxTBpuW9ii6
·
I did golf.
On Monday, February 16 I played with friends at Hawkstone Country Club.
·
Fishing – The weather is improving, and we
caught some fish.
o
On Wednesday, February 11, I was privileged to
fish out of Englewood, FL, with Glenn and Chad Kolberg, along with Fred
Vasilie. The Kolbergs were members of
St. John in Palmer, AK. Pam and Kathy
worked together at Mat-Su Regional. Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pf9vSoDc2GcmwBDR6
o
On Friday, February 14, Fred and I fished on the
Suwannee River. We saw quite a few
gators. Last time I fished the Suwannee
I got NO bites. This time both Fred and
I had bites, and both of us caught fish.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/AoBskCPMUfKPaFnU9
o
On Saturday, February 14, before the baseball
game, Fred and I fished on George’s Lake near Florahome, FL. We kept 6 of the fish we caught. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/HeDuro1m1Zu2pRrq8
*******
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 Assistant to the 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
Assistant to the
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)
