Dear
Fellow Children of God,
My daily devotions have recently
been in the book of Job. One of the
things I appreciate about this book is that it shines a clear light on the ugly
truth about human nature. Job is
assaulted by the attacks of the evil one and does not understand why he, a man
who has served the Lord throughout his life, is suffering. Three of Job’s friends come to comfort him,
but end up accusing him. Their main
point was, “If you are suffering, you must have sinned and God is punishing
you.” What kind of comfort is that?? Also interestingly, while God’s word is true,
the words of these men are false. God
himself later scolds them for how they describe the Lord of the Universe as
lacking mercy.
But, I have finished reading the
counsel of these 3 friends. As I read
now, another younger friend, Elihu, upbraids Job and his friends for their lack
of faith and trust in God. Elihu, like
the other men, is human and does not totally understand the Sovereign Lord. But, in Elihu’s words I hear truth about the
depravity we all fight. In Job 35 Elihu
points out Job’s lack of faith as he questions why he suffers. Listen to Elihu, “13 Surely God does not hear an empty
cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. 14 How much less when you say
that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for
him! 15 And now, because his
anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression, 16
Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge."
(Job 35:13-16) Do you understand? God could have indeed punished Job for all
his failure. But the Lord has been slow
to anger in Job’s case. Yet, because God
was merciful, Job interprets God’s mercy as a lack of response to Job’s
prayer. So Job then accuses his Creator of
not coming to care for him. When we
accuse God, we display the arrogance of sin.
In the next chapter, Elihu gives another look into the evil of men’s
hearts. “13 "The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not
cry for help when he binds them. (Job 36:13) “Cherishing anger” is foolish, and a way to
revel in our self-centeredness. Again,
when people become angry with their Creator, Judge, and merciful Lord, we see
the arrogance of sin!
What catches my attention as I read this section of God’s Word, is that
Elihu is telling the truth even about people of faith, people who seek the Lord. In the book of Job, even as these men attempts
to understand and to describe God, they fail!
Isaiah shares this truth of our sin and depravity in a shorter verse. “We
have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a
polluted garment.” (Isaiah 64:6 a)
This verse draws a picture of us as dirty, sinful, and without hope. Even our attempts at righteousness are
tainted. Unfortunately, this sad truth is not only true of those who do not
know God. Even followers of our Lord
fail miserably.
Our natural response is that our Lord should therefore judge us and be done
with us. HOWEVER, listen to these
verses.
“For God did not send his Son into
the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved
through him.” (John 3:17)
“God shows his love for us in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For our
sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God”. (2 Corinthians
5:21)
“8 If we say we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
Job helps us understand
the truth that even those seeking God fail.
Therefore, how much must God love us that He knows our sin, yet sends
His own Son for sinner like us!?
This coming Sunday I
will preach on the Epistle lesson. “See what kind of love the Father has
given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John.
3:1) What amazes me
is that, even knowing our depravity, God still loves us. He still counts us as His children!
The love of Jesus melts
the hardness of my heart and changes my life!
A Child of God, God
Loves Me Dearly . . . Loves EVEN Me!
Pastor Jonathan
ESPECIALLY FOR MEMBERS AND
FRIENDS OF FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
P.S. Some upcoming dates and
Events to note:
·
This THURSDAY, November 2, Dr. Jim
Marriott will lead an “All Saints”
themed hymn-sing at First Lutheran Church at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Marriott once served in Jacksonville, but
is now at Concordia University, Texas. All are invited!
·
This Saturday night / Sunday morning, we
experience Daylight Savings Rollback
– Set you clocks back one hour.
·
We have an opportunity to serve by donating blood at First Lutheran Church, on
Sunday, November 5. Perhaps you
remember the plea to donate from First Lutheran member, Tom Wendling, whose
grandson needs regular transfusions for his leukemia. Please
share Jesus’ love, help others, and DONATE!
P.P.S. Kathy and I attended our first “Trunk or
Treat” at First Lutheran, sponsored by the Open Arms Child Development Center. I was impressed by the great work of the CDC
and First Lutheran Members. I even saw
some children in worship on Sunday AFTER they had been at the Trunk or Treat on
Thursday. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gAYEE5pPmWiT1MDL7
P.P.P.S. CONSECRATION SUNDAY is coming to First
Lutheran on Sunday, November 19. In
worship we will have an opportunity to respond to the love of God in our
lives. 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!!!!
(https://handletheheat.com/apple-galette/)
Mmmmmm! PLEASE make reservations
for the meal. Reservation cards are in
the bulletin on Sunday!
FISHING - J
P.P.P.P.S. I went fishing
twice this past week.
·
On Friday, October 27, Kathy and I went to
Crescent Beach. I fished a little. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/WTPDMp1vE4NiUvfy7
·
On Monday, October 30, I fished the whole day at
Orange Lake, coming home with a limit of bass, though none were especially
big. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XHYUoC4hjss1fmfP9
*******
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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