Dear
Fellow Children of God,
Have you ever meditated upon
Psalm 22? That Psalm was part of my
daily devotions on Tuesday, November 7. Perhaps
you know this Psalm prophesies the suffering of Jesus on the cross.
“My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”
(Psalm 22:1) Do you
recognize this prayer of Jesus from the cross. (Matthew 27:46).
“6 But I
am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8
‘He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he
delights in him!’" (Psalm
22:6-8) Perhaps you hear the scorn and ridicule Jesus endured from the
religious leaders of the day in these verses of Psalm 22. (Matthew
27:39-43)
“15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company
of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet-- 17
I can count all my bones-- they stare and gloat over me; 18 they
divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:15-18) First,
I personally hear the prophecy of Jesus’ thirst. (John 19:28) Did you also catch
the prophecy of the piercing of Jesus’ hands and feet in His crucifixion? Or, did you take note of the casting of lots by
the Roman soldiers for Jesus’ clothes? (Matthew 27:35)
The
suffering Jesus’ endured for us was agonizing.
Amazingly, Jesus knew this suffering and the cross were coming. He warned His disciples about His betrayal
and crucifixion 4 separate times. Many
scholars believe that Jesus spoke the entirety of Psalm 22 from memory on the
cross.
But, in focusing on the prophecy
of Jesus’ suffering in Psalm 22, we might miss His prayer and His praise at the
end of the Psalm. :21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell
of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise
you: . . 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord
to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his
righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” (Psalm 22:21-23,
30-31) The Psalm also
prophesies that after our Lord endured His suffering on the cross, His Father
DID save and rescue Him. When God raised
Jesus from the dead, He Lord also saved and rescued us!
When we face the
trials, the suffering, the losses of life today, God is there to rescue us, to
provide salvation, and hope. God’s
people endure the pain, yet we also have reason to to hope, to trust, and to speak
praise.
This week my eyes
brimmed full of tears at the loss and pain suffered by God’s people. In addition to illnesses and hospitalizations,
we suffered the expected, yet sudden death of Pastor Bob Besalski. He was pastor and mentor to many. He has been my pastor since 1965, a beloved
mentor, father figure, and friend.
However, in and through the grief of loss, we can praise the Lord. Through faith in Jesus our Lord saves and
rescues those we love. He saves and rescues us.
The trials of this
world may lead us to question our Heavenly Father with the words of Jesus, “ 1 My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from
the words of my groaning?” But, in the saving love of God, which conquers sin and death in
Jesus, we can also speak these words of praise, from our hearts. “You have
rescued me . . . 22 I will
tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will
praise you.”
A Child of God, Enduring
the Pain of Loss With the Sure Hope of the Rescue of Jesus!
Pastor Jonathan
ESPECIALLY FOR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
P.S. Today, November 7, our Lord called home
long-time First Lutheran Pastor, Pastor Bob Besalski. Thankfully, First Lutheran member, Barbara
Hughes, was with Elaine. When they
checked on him at 12:15, he had passed peacefully in his sleep. The plans are that Pastor Bob’s service will
be held on Saturday, November 18.
Visitation will take place at 1:00 p.m., the service at 2:00, with a
reception to follow.
P.P.S. CONSECRATION SUNDAY is
coming to First Lutheran on Sunday, November 19.
We have had an
opportunity to consider God’s blessings in our lives during worship on November
5. This Sunday, November 12 will hear
about God’s plan for the gifts He gives to us.
Then, in
worship on November 19 we will have an opportunity to respond to the love of
God in our lives by placing a commitment on the altar.
After worship we
have a wonderful meal prepared by Christa Vigil and helpers. The menu sounds DELICIOUS: It includes stuffed pork loin, roasted
smashed potatoes, Fall vegetables, Winter salad greens, and dessert, including
cookies, cake, and apple galette! PLEASE make reservations for the meal. Reservation cards are in the bulletin on
Sunday!
FISHING -
P.P.P.S. I went fishing
twice this past week.
·
On Sunday, November 6, I went fishing after
church in a new place, Lake Hampton, north of Waldo, FL. I was only able to fish for about an hour and
a half before darkness fell. I had no
bites, but the beauty of our Lord’s creation shone in the sunset. As God
inspired David to write in Psalm 19:1, “The
heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Here it is. https://photos.app.goo.gl/TymEoC4wsy2bDqeA7
·
On Monday, November 6, I fished at Orange Lake. I had some equipment struggles, and came in
early. But, I did catch 2 bass. Here is a picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/S81GS4BzdixFFPyL9
*******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired
at the end of August 2019 from serving as full-time 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. (Currently I am serving as Vacancy
Pastor for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.)
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
Vacancy Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
Pastor
Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church, Palmer, AK
“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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