Dear Fellow Children of God,
Do you watch television?
If so, what do you spend your time watching? There are often better ways to use the gift
of time which God gives us than watching the televison. But, there are also times when TV is a way to
keep up with the world, or to enjoy some entertainment in sports or a
television show. When my wife and I find
time to relax together, when we sit down and want to watch something short
on TV, our “go to show” has become . . . The Andy Griffith Show. Yes, this show is OLD – from the
1960’s. But watching the antics of Andy
and Barney, of Aunt Bea and Opie, of Gomer and Goober, we often laugh out loud. And, when watching the show, we find values
which reflect the values which we hold as Christians. This show exhibits no foul language, no overt
sexuality, no crudeness, no depravity. The
people in the show care for each other.
They worship together and work for the good of the community together. In some ways this show reflected the heart and
the values of America in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
TV shows are different today. Some do reflect the ultimate battle between
good and evil. There are a few modern
shows we enjoy watching. But we are
never sure what we will find on today’s media.
Foul language, overt sexual content, depravity, crudeness are often the
norm rather than the exception when watching modern TV. My kids tell me, “It’s a different world, Dad.” But, I don’t have to like the world which can
seem to reject God and His values. I
don’t have to like a show which seeks to pull God’s church into the thinking of
the world and into a life of the flesh.
People wonder why there seems to be so many troubles in our
world today. The truth is, there have
always been problems. Each age has it’s
own temptations and challenges. The poet
is right when God inspired him to write in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing
new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
But, Jesus teaches us in The Sermon on the Mount, “17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad
fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot
bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will
recognize them.” (Matthew 7:17-20) You understand what Jesus says, “ . . . every
good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” In other words, if a person’s
heart is sick – focused on sinful desires, they will show that illness in their
lives. If the heart of a nation is ill, focused
on depravity and crudeness, no wonder that illness shows in outward actions. All we have to do is to look around us to see
the danger and the result of following the ways of our world instead of following
the righteous guidance of God.
In Promise Keepers Bible Study on Tuesday evening, January
10, the men who were gathered read from Genesis 6, the beginning of the flood
account. The Lord’s reason for the flood
is stated in verse 5. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was
great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only
evil continually.” Wow! “. . . every intent of the thoughts
of his [mankind’s] heart was only evil continually.” Does
that description ring a bell? Does it
sound like much of what we see in our world today? In Genesis, in response to sin in the time of
Noah, God sent His judgement on the world for the evil it craved and did.
The truth is that evil has always been “crouching at the
door” (Genesis 4:7), seeking to snare people created in the image of God. We are people born in sin in a sinful
world. Even believers in Jesus have a constant
battle with the devil, the world, and our flesh. But, we don’t have to accept sick hearts that
give bad fruit. God changes hearts in
Jesus. Listen to what God inspired Paul
to write in Ephesians 4, which I read in my personal devotion on January 19. “17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you
must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19
They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to
practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you
learned Christ!-- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were
taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old
self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through
deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God
in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put
away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we
are members one of another 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let
the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the
devil. . . 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.
The love of Jesus changes hearts. We have all failed God and lived in rebellion
and in selfishness. But in love God sent
Jesus, His Son, our Savior. Through the
sacrifice of Jesus, God really does love us and forgive us. When we know that we deserve punishment, but instead
we receive forgiveness and love, when we learn the surprising mercy of God in
Jesus, then God touches hearts which are hardened in selfishness, and moves us
to want to serve Him, to follow Him. He
makes our hearts new and good, and we can bear good fruit.
There may be depravity and crudeness in our world, but
the love of God can shine through as well.
During the Christmas season my wife and I were surprised to find a
number of Christmas movies which really focused on how God’s love in Jesus
changes the lives of people today for good.
And, at St. John on Friday, January 15, we watched the movie,
“Overcomer” from the Kenrick brothers and Affirm Films. What a great film of Christian faith working
good from evil! The world around us may
follow the ways of “the prince of this world.”
But I will continue to strive, even with my frail human ability, to 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and
is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the
spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after
the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. It may not seem that our troubled world changes. But, through a life of faith and love, God makes
a difference, even if only in the life of one other person. After all, Jesus
has made me a new person and I want to live as that new child of God!
A Child of God, Sad at the Depravity in our World, Hoping
to Bring God’s Love and Righteousness,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I have included Ephesians 4:17-32 below.
P.S. I went
fishing on Thursday, January 14, and Friday, January 15. Neither trip produced a “limit” of fish. But getting out into God’s Creation is always
a blessing. And we did catch a few fish.
·
On Thursday we caught a couple of land-locked
silver salmon in a local lake. Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/kGKs13Edcs7AFhDk7
·
On Friday we had a number of bites and caught 3
rainbow trout about 12” long each. Of
course, “the big one got away.” Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/RZ3EtpDoPsHhAXvL7
*****
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
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
Ephesians 4:17-32
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you
must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their
understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is
in them, due to their hardness of heart.
19 They have become callous and
have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of
impurity.
20 But that is not the way you
learned Christ!--
21 assuming that you have heard
about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to put off your old self, which
belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit
of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self,
created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away
falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are
members one of another.
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not
let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the
devil.
28 Let the thief no longer steal,
but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may
have something to share with anyone in need.
29 Let no corrupting talk come out
of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
(Eph. 4:17-5:1 ESV)
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