How will you face
the challenges and troubles of this new year?
Think of the troubles the last 2 years brought into our lives. We have been confronted with COVID and all
the problems and changes it presents. We
have faced unparalleled social and political unrest. We have made it through
the first couple of weeks of 2022 so far, and have already seen some
challenges. But we still have the rest
of this year in front of us. How will
you face the troubles of this calendar year?
Let me share that
I have personally been amazed the last two Sundays at the surprise of God’s grace
found in the assigned Gospel readings. I
have read these sections of Scripture hundreds of times before. But, this year I saw some new grace, some new
love of God which I had not previously seen.
Perhaps that happens to you as well when you read God’s word.
The Gospel lesson
on January 2 was the Epiphany reading about the magi found in Matthew
2:1-12. These men from the east arrived
in Jerusalem asking, "Where
is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and
have come to worship him." This question troubled Herod.
(v. 3). He ultimately ended up taking
the lives of all the infant boys in Bethlehem. Obviously Herod feared a
competing king. But, when Herod heard
the answer to the magi’s question of where Jesus would be born, he had also heard
what kind of king Jesus would be. The religious leaders answered the question with
the prophecy from Micah 5. "’In
Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a
ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”'” (Matthew 2:5-6) Herod may have been a tyrant who acted in
violence, but Jesus came to “shepherd” God’s people. Jesus did not come in terror. He came to guide, and feed, to protect and to
save. Herod did not have to fear
Jesus. We can welcome Jesus as our king who
shepherds us, and then receive His unexpected, undeserved love.
By the way, while I have personally focused on
other parts of this story in the past, I have not primarily considered the
prophecy that Jesus would be such a “shepherd” king. What wonderful grace and love to have Jesus,
our good shepherd, as king and ruler of our lives!
Then, on January 9 the assigned Gospel lesson for worship
shared the account of the Jesus’ baptism from Luke 3. Jesus was at the very beginning of his
ministry. Before him lay the task of
living a perfect and sinless life, while being tempted by Satan, rejected by
the religious leaders, and misunderstood by his disciples. Jesus would teach and perform miracles, and in
turn receive arrest, torture, and death for his shepherding love of God’s
people. But, as Jesus faced the
overwhelming responsibilities before Him, as He was coming up from His baptism,
the Father spoke to Him and assured Him, "You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22) As Jesus faced this seemingly impossible
task, His heavenly Father assured Jesus he was indeed the Son of God himself. The Father assured Jesus of His love, that He
found delight in Jesus.
As we face the trials of life, the trials of a new year, our
Heavenly Father says to us, "You
are my Son [my child], whom I love; with you I am well pleased." As
children of God, our Father loves us and delights in us. What assurance for facing the trials of our
lives in the new year.
St. Paul prays for the Christians of Ephesus, for all
Christians, in Ephesians 3. “16 I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the
saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness of God.”
As you face 2022,
whatever storms have already happened, and whatever may come, I pray the same
prayer for God’s people, for my friends and family, and for myself. I pray that we know the width and length and
height and depth of God’s love, that He lives in us.
Knowing the love
and grace of God gives me assurance and faith to face whatever this year, or
the rest of my life, may bring.
A Child of God, Facing
the Challenges of a New Year Standing on the Grace of God!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I have had a busy week. But, I did not go fishing in the wind which
only ended on Tuesday. Perhaps I’ll have
some pictures next week.
*****
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
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