Do you ever lose
sleep? I confess that sometimes I have
trouble sleeping. Sometimes I lose sleep
because I drank too much coffee. But,
sometimes I am concerned, or I’m worried.
I have worried about the churches where I have served, and have been concerned
for the members. I have lost sleep at
times over the direction of our country and our world. But, most often I have had trouble sleeping
over concerns for family; for my parents, my siblings, my children, my
grandchildren. When I have trouble
sleeping at night, I lay in bed and pray.
But, sometimes even after prayer I still can’t sleep, so I get up and find
something to do.
Last week, in my
devotion, I wrote encouraging others to be a godly influence for children. I suggested that one way you might act as a godly
influence is to take a child fishing. However,
my wife might suggest you could also spend time cooking with a child, or take them
to a movie, or sew with a child, or read to a child. These are Kathy’s choices. Spending time with someone shows love. And, actions are more important than
words. But, it is also important to
share important truths, with actions and with words. Therefore, below I am sharing what is
important to me, truths which I want my loved ones to know.
First, “Jesus is Lord.” These are the God-inspired words of St. Paul
in Philippians 2. Paul says that, at the
end, every tongue will “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father”. (Philippians 2:11)
Jesus, with the Father and with the Spirit is God. Jesus is the Creator of all, the Ruler of
all. I want my loved ones to know that “Jesus is Lord.”
Second,
even being Lord, Jesus is our Savior from sin.
“For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
Jesus is not only
the ruler of the universe. Jesus’ ultimate
identity is grace and love. The Son of
God, God Himself, The Lord of all, in love gave His life on the cross to pay
for our sin. We can trust the Lord of
all as our Savior from sin. I believe,
and I want my loved ones to believe that Jesus is our Savior.
Third,
because Jesus is Lord, and because He is our Savior, His words are true, and
worth believing and following. We find
these words of Jesus in Scripture. Paul
was spiritual father to Timothy. Here is
what Paul wrote to His spiritual son. “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become
convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from
infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(2 Timothy 3:14-17) God’s word is
worth not just knowing, but believing. God’s word is worth following and doing. Jesus said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey
it." (Luke 11:28)
Fourth, my
relationship with Jesus is my most important relationship of all. When I conduct pre-marital preparation with a
couple who is preparing for their wedding, we look at Genesis 2 and I discuss how
the relationship of husband and wife is the most important human relationship. But, our
relationship with God, through Jesus, is most important. Our faith, and the following of the Lord and
Savior of all is most important. Faith
in Jesus is what makes my life most healthy, and fulfilling.
Finally, knowing
who Jesus is, we nevertheless all fail in our faith and our life. Jesus is the holy Lord of all. We are His sheep and lambs. We are weak and
sinful. I am not a perfect child of God,
but I am loved and forgiven. The same is
true for those I love. Because of our
weakness, we need one another as fellow children of God. Therefore, God gives His church. The church is God’s family to grow and to support
our faith and our relationship with Jesus.
Therefore, regular Sunday worship and participation in a church is
important for my life. Remember, Christian
congregations are made up of sinners who need and who follow their Savior. So, being part of a Christian congregation is
frustrating. But, being an active part of a Christian congregation is part of
God’s plan for us. We need Jesus’ church to be the people Jesus
made us to be.
I have two
similar fishing pictures. One picture
shows my daughter, Mary, holding a red salmon at age 6 on Kalgin Island in Cook
Inlet. With a big toothless grin Mary is
holding up the bloody fish. The other
picture shows my granddaughter, Annie, holding a trout at age 8 on Finger
Lake. She too has a smile from one side
of her face to the other. I love my family,
my children and my grandchildren, and I want what is best for them. I hope they remember our time together. I will. I love my family, and I want Jesus
for them.
A Child of God, Praying
That My Loved Ones Know Jesus,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here
are pictures of Mary and of Annie. https://photos.app.goo.gl/4V1v5otdq6zJNM4a7
P.P.S. I
was on the Kenai Peninsula this week to conduct worship at Funny River
Community Lutheran Church, and to help with a one day Vacation Bible
School. My only fishing this past week
was dip-netting on the Kasilof River. But,
thanks to friend Wayne Mize, the trip was very successful. We brought home 23 red salmon in 2 – 2 ½ hours
of dipping. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/e5SbAwskU7ysfyxP6
P.P.P.S. – The
flowers in our front yard are especially beautiful right now. Here are a few of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/D3pXxegSX75BW9SM7
*****
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
cell phone -
907-841-4066
Home phone - 907-746-5131
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