I don’t know if
you were like the people in our home. We
were surprised and astounded by the coronavirus pandemic in the past year. However, this spring and early summer we thought
that our world was finally leaving this plague behind us. But, the past week has been a time of “COVID
consciousness” in our home.
Our oldest son is
a principal in the Mat-Su School District, and during the week of August 30-September
3, his school was first in the Mat-Su School District to be closed this year
because of multiple cases of the coronavirus. We watched our son and our
schools deal with new challenges.
Then from Thursday
through Monday we learned that many friends, and even family were newly affected
by the virus. On, Thursday, September 2,
close friend and retired pastor, Rev. George Rakos, and his wife. Carolyn, both
received positive results for the virus.
Fearfully, my friend George fights Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD). On Friday, Pastor friend, Mike
Von Behren, from Spokane, WA, tested positive.
We also heard that same day that Kathy’s first cousin, Al Gulseth,
entered the hospital in Ft. Smith, AR. Then,
on Saturday, Pastor Greg Heidorn, from Faith Lutheran in Homer, let me know that
he and his wife, Wylene, had contracted this disease. The scourge was hitting home.
The headline in
Sunday’s Anchorage Daily News read, “Why 8.4M Americans are out of work when
there are more than 10M job openings.”
And other news reports that hospitals and ICU’s in AK are at capacity,
as a new variant of this virus asserts itself.
What does a child of God do in the face of continued concern and
disruption of our lives?
Then my reading
for my devotion on Tuesday, September 7, came from MARK 13 “31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 "No
one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time
will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his
servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door
to keep watch. 35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the
owner of the house will come back-- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or
when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him
find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Mark
13:31-37) We don’t know when the end is
coming. That is why, Jesus calls His
people to keep watch, to always to be ready in faith for His return. But Jesus also encourages His children to keep
doing the work of His kingdom.
What does a child of God do in the face of
continued concern and disruption of our lives?
How do we react when the world around us seems to be falling apart? As I read these verses from Mark, the
apocryphal quote from Martin Luther came to mind. I was taught a version of this quote in
seminary, though now finding authentication is difficult. “Even if I knew that
tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” In the face of coming chaos, Luther is
supposed to have said he would nevertheless persevere in living as a servant of
Jesus.
Christians should
not be surprised at trouble and chaos in our world and in our lives. This world has rebelled against its Creator
and is under the curse of sin. Jesus
assures us this end will come. The world
will end in judgement. We just do not
know when this will happen.
But, even knowing
that we live with the result of our sinfulness, and even knowing that the end
will surely come, Jesus still calls His people to continue doing the work he
has given us. Even as schools close, as
hospitals fill, as our work force is in turmoil, and loved ones are ill, we
still have the presence and the love of Jesus.
Jesus died and rose to save us from death and judgment. He sends His Holy Spirit to guide us in faith
through this life. Others around us also
need the saving love and the guidance of Jesus.
So, knowing Jesus’ loving presence we share the love of God in words and
actions. So, knowing our ultimate
destination, we continue to do the kingdom work of loving God and of loving
others.
On Monday,
September 7, our son’s school re-opened.
Thankfully, we have good reports thus far from fellow pastors about
their condition. But, unfortunately,
Kathy’s cousin passed away from COVID this past Monday, August 6, in Arkansas. We are praying for our community and for our
country. We would like to be in control
of our world, but we are not.
Nevertheless, we do know that the one who loves us and saves us is Lord
of all, and rules the world in His love and power. Therefore, we persevere in the work of our
Lord and our Savior.
What does a child of God do in the face of
continued concern and disruption of our lives?
How do we react when the world around us seems to be falling apart? Trusting Jesus, I will seek to push on and to
serve my Lord.
A Child of God, Continuing
to Serve My Lord in a Time of Chaos,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. St.
John News:
·
SUNDAY
SCHOOL STARTS THIS SUNDAY
o Classes
begin on Sunday at 9:45 for children of all ages, from birth through adulthood.
o ADULT
CLASSES –
§ “We
want to see Jesus” – Taught by Pastor Schultz in the Fellowship Hall.
§ “Basic
Teachings of Scripture - Adult Membership Class” – Taught by Pastor
Jonathan Rockey in the library.
·
“Choose
To Be Different” – This is the title our congregation chose for our effort
to intentionally grow as disciples of Jesus and to openly deal with our congregational
mortgage debt. There are many
opportunities coming for growth and for acting together as God’s family at St.
John. These opportunities include:
o Special Guest Preachers
§ On
Sunday, September 12. Pastor Tony
Schultz of Anchorage Lutheran Church will share God’s Word in worship.
§ On
Sunday, October 3, District President,
Rev. Dr. Paul Linnemann will preach for our worship services.
o Special Bible Classes
§ On
Sunday afternoon, September 12, at 4:00 p.m., Pastor Tony Schultz will lead an
all-congregation Bible Study. Bring your
Bibles. Door prizes will be given, and
snacks and child care are available.
§ On
Sunday afternoon, October 3, at 4:00 p.m., President Paul Linnemann will lead
an all-congregation Bible Study. Bring
your Bibles. Door prizes will be given,
and snacks and child care are available.
P.P.S.
Here are some personal pictures from the past week.
· My
sister, Martha Reaves, and her husband, Mark, have been in town for 2
weeks. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/qVN7ZWuVB5rramQs5
· In spite of much rain and higher
rivers, I did go fishing with my brother-in-law, Mark, on Friday, September 3. https://photos.app.goo.gl/mAwQT9TiSvr1CwwY8
*****
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.)
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
No comments:
Post a Comment