Dear
Fellow Children of God,
A number of years ago I had a Christian friend in Alaska
who suffered from high blood pressure.
He made the decision to stop taking his medication, and . . . he ended
up in the hospital with a stroke. I
cared about this friend, so I tried to impress upon him how vital and important
it was for him to take his medicine. I
did not want the situation to get worse. I prayed for his health.
As Confirmation Day 2023 approaches for St. John Lutheran
in Palmer, I have similar concerns.
Every year I was pastor, in whichever church I served, I looked at the
young people committing themselves as disciples to Jesus and hoped they
understood just how important Jesus is for their lives in this world, and for
their eternal life. Sometimes this
concern gets even more personal, depending on who is confirmed, like when one
of my children was confirmed, or grandchildren.
This year two of my grandchildren will stand up and confess their faith.
They will share how they want to follow Jesus.
I hope and pray that the words they speak travel from their head to
their heart, and that they do understand how important Jesus is to their lives,
now and eternally.
On Tuesday morning, May 2, I finished reading through
Deuteronomy again in my daily devotions.
Deuteronomy is a book of Moses’ last words to the people whom he has
led, and prayed for, and struggled with, for 40 years on their journey through
the wilderness. In this book Moses
continues to remind the people of Israel of God’s goodness, His grace, and His
law. Moses also reminds the people of
their unfaithfulness and disobedience, and tells them that when they stray from
God, there are serious consequences.
In Moses’ effort to get across to the Israelites just how
important their relationship with the Creator and Lord of all is, he speaks
these words, hoping and praying to touch their hearts. “19 This
day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you
life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his
voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you
many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
Did you hear that? “Choose life!” “The
Lord is your life!” In other
words, amidst all the other choices one makes in life, Moses is sharing his
heart once again that the most important choice is to respond faithfully to the
lordship and the love of God! That is
vital. It is important. It’s personal!
As grandparents, Kathy and I have purchased gifts for our
grandchildren, Jackson and Emma, who are being confirmed on May 7 at St.
John. As with an older grandchild, Jake,
we purchased bible covers. These covers
are not as expensive as Jake’s was, so we bought another gift for each of
them. We bought Jackson a study bible,
which he did not own personally. And, we
chose a single pearl on a gold chain for our granddaughter, Emma. (I can share with you that we are giving
these gifts because Jackson and Emma do not read these devotions, yet.)
I am pleased with both of these
gifts we are giving for specific reasons.
Paul was spiritual father to young Pastor Timothy. As Timothy faced the trials of life, Paul
encouraged him, “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) In other words, it is the Scriptures, it is
the Bible, through which God makes a person “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” That is
vital. It is important. It’s personal! So, Jackson receives a Bible.
As Jesus is
telling “kingdom parables” in Matthew 13, He works to get through the
distractions of this world to the hearts of those listening. "45
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and
bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46) Jesus
lived for us. He suffered and died for us. He rose for us that we might receive
the kingdom of God. Through Jesus we
receive love and peace and joy in the trials of this world. Through Jesus we receive eternal life in
heaven. Through Jesus we receive the
kingdom of God. Our relationship with our Lord Jesus is the pearl of great
price. It’s vital. It is important. It’s personal! So, Emma receives a pearl.
God does not just speak to the people of Israel in the
wilderness through Moses. Jesus doesn’t just speak to the people gathered
around to hear Him teach. Paul does not
just share this heart-felt encouragement with Timothy. God is speaking through these verses TO US
today. “19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have
set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so
that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God,
listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life!”
Have these words of
love and life entered your heart?
A Child of God, Seeking to Share With Those I
Love How Vitally Important Jesus Is!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. We are
preparing to return to Alaska, and are spending time with family and friends.
·
On Thursday, April 27, I had one last fishing
trip with my brother-in-law, Mark Reaves.
Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lw9nGrWVRMdVbWaH8
·
On Saturday, we held our now annual fish
fry. Even though rain threatened, and did
arrive after we prepared to eat, we did have about 35 people attend the fish
fry and we had a great time. I didn’t
take many pictures because I was cooking and serving. However, here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/obGh5zsa6ERCoM1p9
·
On Sunday I preached at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, FL, while Pastor John Glover was out of town. First Lutheran is home, the church where I grew
up in FL, and the place I was confirmed.
·
On Monday and Wednesday I spent time with golf
friends.
·
On Tuesday, we had an afternoon meal with Pastor
Bob and Elaine Besalski. Pastor B. has
been my pastor since my family moved from Massachusetts to Florida in 1965. J He turns 90 in July. https://photos.app.goo.gl/DxRxqr9M5duwBq8bA
P.P.S. As we
prepare to leave Florida, some things are just coming to life.
·
The birds have found our bird feeder BIG
TIME! Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/uHCxEJtwmHxP4LeMA
·
Flowers and tomatoes are blooming and bearing
fruit. https://photos.app.goo.gl/VAKZF8vUobwUJgmW7
P.P.P.S. I also
went fishing one other time at Orange Lake on Friday, April 28, thinking that
maybe I needed just a few more fish for the fish fry. (I was wrong . . .again!) We had 60 bass in the freezer, but we had
also invited over 50 people to our home.
However, the wind blew so badly, I could not fish with my trolling
motor; it would not push the boat against the wind. In fact, when I threw in my anchor, it
dragged on the bottom in the wind the boat still moved. I tried hiding behind trees and bushes, but
that did not work. I caught no fish, and
took no pictures. L
*****
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.
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
“1 John 3:1 How great is the love the
Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that
is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 a)
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