On Tuesday, October 25, I was visiting in the home of one
of the members of St. John. I have known
the person I visited for over 30 years.
This member has been in ill health, but is greatly improving, and I was
checking on them, praying with them, and bringing the Lord’s Supper. As we visited, I asked this child of God
about their children. As pastor, I have
known this person’s children and watched them grow. The answer I was given shared some
wisdom. After they shared a few details
I was told, “I’m not in charge! When
they were younger I was in charge. Now I
love them and pray for them.”
This response was wise for a number of
reasons. In regard to parenting, we
share our faith and our values with our children primarily when they are
young. Hopefully, parents can plant the
seed of faith in the hearts of their children when children are growing
up. We pray that the seeds of God’s love
and His Word grow and bear fruit in the lives of our children as they mature as
children of God when they leave home, and as they live their lives as
adults. However, while parents can still
share their opinions with grown children, if parents seek to force their
children to certain choices when the children are adults, the children can
resent their parents. The parents can
lose the opportunity to influence and speak to their children. The wisdom in this member’s words are that a
parent seeks to influence when they have responsibility for their children, but
when the children become adults the parents pray that God would be the one
guiding their loved ones. Personally, I need
to keep learning this lesson of wisdom.
The wisdom of this member’s response is not only
true for parenting. There are situations
in life that concern us, but where we can only do so much. For example, our country currently faces
political unrest. In addition, a
pandemic is greatly changing our lives in many ways. Also, traditional churches are
struggling. What can we do? We can
vote and respectfully express our opinions about what is good for our
community. We can make responsible choices in regard to the illness ravaging our
world. We can serve and give of ourselves faithfully to expand the mission
and ministry of God’s church in our home congregations. But, our best efforts do not always yield the
results we desire, nor the results we think are best. In fact, if you think the world is in bad
shape now, I can tell you it would be in worse condition if I was in charge!
However, there is someone who is in charge, who is
Ruler and Lord of all. In the assigned
Gospel Lesson for October 17, Jesus taught His disciples, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are
possible with God." (Mark
10:27) So, as children of God we seek to
live faithfully, but we also understand there are areas of life where “We are
not in charge.” Therefore, we pray, and
let God be God. We pray for God to act
in His power, and love and wisdom.
Human beings do not like to admit that there are
areas where we are powerless. But, we
are sinful, and Jesus is the Lord of all.
Because of our sin we are powerless even and especially when it comes to
our eternal destiny. But, we can and do
trust in God’s grace in Jesus. That is
why Paul writes in Ephesians 2, “1 As
for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to
live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom
of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All
of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful
nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in
mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--
it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians
2:1-5). We were dead in our sins, and we are powerless to gain eternal life. But, where we are powerless, where we are not
in charge, God who is all powerful, who is loving, and who is merciful, God is Ruler
and Lord! God acted in power and in love
to save us in Jesus!
What does a child of God do when we face problems and
challenges in life where, if we are honest, we know we have limited ability to
change the situation? We admit that we
are not in charge, but we know the one who is.
We live faithfully, and we pray.
We trust the one who saved us in Jesus to see us through life’s
trials. We trust the Lord of all to work
His good even when we cannot see good in the situation. Yes, “I am not in charge” . . . but I know the
One who is!
A Child of God, Thankful
that I am not in Charge, God is Ruler and Lord!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. “Choose
to Be Different” Banquet
·
THANK YOU
– The “Choose to Be Different” Banquet on
Sunday evening, October 24 was a joyful event of fellowship and an opportunity
to consider serving God with our whole lives.
About 75 people enjoyed times of
sharing and entertainment. Thanks
to all on those who served on the committee, and who organized and provided the
banquet. The banquet was served by St.
John member, Rebecca Kopperud and her event planning business. The meal was paid for anonomously by a St.
John member. Again, THANKS to all.
·
A
Prayer Vigil is planned for S.t John this Friday evening, October 29,
from 3:00-9:00 p.m. There are
people signed up for all slots. However,
if you have not signed up to participate, but would like to do so, please call
the church office at 745-3338 and let them know you plan to participate. Actually, when we spend time in prayer God
always blesses our faith.
P.P.S.
This past week, in addition to serving at St. John, I traveled to Funny River
Community Lutheran to lead worship on Sunday, October 24. I have led worship and preached at Funny
River about once a month during 2021, along with preaching and serving at St.
John. I did not do any fishing, but I
did see some more beautiful Fall scenery and wildlife. Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/e2H3kfWZC3LN5wXBA
*****
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
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