I started looking
at the devotion book that St. John Lutheran will be using during Lent with many
others around the country – The Red Letter Challenge. “Red letters” point to the words and
teachings of Jesus, which in certain editions of the Bible are printed in red
ink, in contrast to the black ink used for the rest of the Bible. In the introduction to this devotion, author
Zach Zehnder asks the question, “Why is there no significant difference
between the lives of those who call themselves Christians and the rest of the
world?” I’ve heard that assertion
before. Sometimes that statement seems
true. Sometimes Christians don’t look
any different than others. So the
question can be asked, “Does God, does Jesus make a difference?’
I would suggest
that God’s children often do look different, and that can be both bad and
good. Some see Christians as judgmental
and arrogant. When Christians focus on God’s
law rather than His forgiveness, and when Christians blindly forget their own
sin but point to the failings of others, that is contrary to the attitude of
repentance and faith God desires in His people.
But, sometimes Christians can and do come across that way.
However, sometimes
others ask God’s children, “How can you have peace when the world around us
is going crazy?” Sometimes God’s
people know their sin, but also trust the Almighty Good and Gracious Creator of
the Universe, in spite of the chaos in our world. The attitudes of repentance and faith created
by God’s love don’t seem to make sense to someone who does not know God’s
forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. But,
when a Christian can be honest about their own failings, yet when they also know
that in love God forgives us in this life, and He saves us for eternal life in
heaven, then all the noise of this world can be muted by thanks and praise to God
in our hearts. That is a good kind of difference!
In a devotion
from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer I read on Tuesday, January 26, he talked about
community and COVID, and pointed to Ephesians 3, a wonderful statement of how
God makes a difference in the life of His people.
‘What have we learned through the
pandemic? The importance of community! Yes, but what kind of
community? For example, if a person believes the Q Anon conspiracy,
there’s a community for you. Or if someone believes gender is
something you select, there’s a community for you. If you haven’t bought
into some cause, casually associating with whatever community can draw you
in. Even with social distancing, we’re not lacking for
communities, but some communities can be harmful to you and to society.
Remember Jonestown in Guyana or the Branch Davidians in Waco?
Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus. If
you think about it, your congregation is a community set amid other
communities, but your congregation offers what other communities
can’t. Read what Paul said about the congregations in Ephesus and
let it be your prayer for your congregation.
“For this reason, I bow my knees
before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named…” We
don’t see much humility today, Your congregation models humility
before the great Creator. “… that according to the riches of his glory
he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner
being…” Who doesn’t need inner strength to face our troubled
times? “…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” Unlike
the tribalism and division we see all about us,
us against them, your congregation points you to Jesus Christ,
who is greater than the vanities of this world. “…so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and
length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” What
community online or in person offers the insights into life, the
calmness of faith, the welcome of love and the fullness of God that
your congregation offers?
“Now to him who is able to do far more
abundantly than all we ask or think…” “Have good cheer, little
flock!” “…according to the power at work with us…” Good things happen
when you’re active in your congregation. “…to him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”’
(Ephesians 3:14-21). It’s a great time to be the Church! (The Meyer Minute for January 26, 2021)
The writer of the
Red Letter Challenge devotional book asks the question, “Why is there no
significant difference between the lives of those who call themselves
Christians and the rest of the world?” Our goal as the church of God is
that, when Christ’s love lives in us, we are different than we were before we
knew His grace and salvation. Paul
prayed that all the church would know “. . . the breadth and length and
height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that
you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
My prayer for God’s
church is that, as we are together in God’s Word, we may know “the breadth
and length and height and depth” of God’s love for us in Jesus. My prayer for the church of God, for each of
you and for myself, is that knowledge of God’s love changes our lives so we
live with attitudes of humility because of our own failings, but we live in
peace and joy because of the love of God.
My prayer for myself and for each of us is that when people look at us,
they see something different. My prayer
is that they see Jesus in us.
A Child of God, Praying
that The Lives of God’s Children May Look Different Because People See Jesus in
Us!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I urge all of you who receive this e-mail to make sure you get a Red
Letter Challenge devotional book from St. John to use during the Lenten season
with other Christians throughout this penitential season (time of repentance). You can pick up a book when you attend worship. Or, you can stop by St. John to get a
book. Or you can even ask to have a book
delivered. The books cost St. John
$10.00 each, but the church is trying to get everyone to participate, so only
asking $5.00 for each book. You can donate,
or not donate, for your book as you decide is right. The idea is that everyone is in God’s Word
together.
P.P.S. On Sunday, January 24, the Alaska Rockeys got
together to celebrate the January birthdays of Andy, Erin, and Joshua. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/WbqoVwHZNLmwX1D7A
P.P.P.S. I went fishing this week.
·
On Friday, January, January 22, I took grand
daughters Emma and Annie fishing on a local wild lake. Annie caught a big rainbow trout. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bpYShXfbdpF3aZeu7
·
On Monday, January 25, I went fishing with Gerry
Zellar out in Willow. We didn’t get any
bites – a first this year. But, it was
bluebird clear, and Denali was out. It
was great to get outside in God’s creation.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bbdWEzySCLPjg8je8
*****
ABOUT
THIS DEVOTION - I retired at the end of August 2019 from serving as 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. (Though I am now serving again
part-time at St. John as assistant to the pastor.) Perhaps you also know that I “killed” my
computer on November 7, 2020. In so
doing I lost, for a time at least, all my e-mail contacts. So, I was really goofed up. Many who were receiving this devotion each
week were no longer receiving it. I
tried to rebuild my distribution list, but I am not sure how accurate I have
been.
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
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
