Tuesday, March 26, 2024

"Don't Worry! It REALLY Will Be Alright!"

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

When you were young, did you ever hurt yourself and go to your mom or your dad crying?  If so, did they take you in their arms as your tears flowed and assure you, “Don’t worry.  It will be alright.”?  Maybe you even believed them.  Perhaps they were right.  Childhood hurts often heal with time and love.

 

But, as an adult did you ever experience trouble which caused you worry, despair, possibly even tears? It could be an important relationship was irreparably broken.  Possibly, a dearly loved one died, and you know you’ll never have their companionship again in this life.  Financial problems, or legal troubles can and do steal our sleep.  A doctor’s diagnosis can take our breath away. In these, or other times of trial, if someone tried to assure you, “Don’t worry.  It will be alright,” would you believe them?  Or would you just think they are trying to calm you down, yet their words carry no truth?  Do you feel words of hope and comfort are just empty wishes, the “opiate of the masses?”

 

If there is any biblical truth which can be proven, it is the truth of sin and evil.  All we have to do is look around us to see the evidence.  On the one hand we see people who are willing to do anything to get what they want; we see hearts and actions of evil.  Unfortunately, on the other hand, even when people try to do good, in politics, in relationships, in their own families, or elsewhere in this life, sometimes even the best intentions lead to failure and disappointment. No wonder our lives are full of pain and disappointment and death.  The truth of sin and of evil lead us to cynicism which causes us to doubt that words of assurance, such as “Don’t worry.  It will be alright,” can never be true.

 

That is why the holy days of this week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, are so important in this world and in our lives. 

 

Good Friday, when Jesus was unjustly executed for crimes others committed, proves that evil is strong.  After all, didn’t even the Son of God, Himself, die?  But, the events of Easter morning, turn our cynicism and our defeat upside down.  Jesus died.  Jesus took on the sin of the world.  But death did not have the final say.  Neither sin, nor evil, nor Satan are more powerful than the loving arms of God.  Jesus did die, but THEN, when Jesus rose, He blew the sin and the evil of this world out of the water.  He not only defeated the devil, the world, and our flesh for Himself.  Jesus defeated our enemies and offers love, forgiveness, hope, joy, and eternal life to us, simply through faith in His sacrificial death and His saving life.

 

This Sunday, Easter, I am preaching on Mark 16:1-8, the assigned Gospel lesson.  I believe these words of God are exactly what our doubting world needs to hear.  But, the assigned Epistle lesson is taken from 1 Corinthians 15.  The last verses of this chapter might seem even more powerful.

“51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’

55 ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’

 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)

 

The sin and evil of this world are unfortunately ugly truth, the fruit of which we experience daily.  But, on His cross Jesus faced sin, death, and evil head on. He took all they could give.  In His resurrection Jesus overcame the sin and evil which are the source of life’s pain. In His resurrection Jesus won God’s love and forgiveness and life for all who believe in Him.

 

Many pictures of Jesus’ crucifixion show Him on the cross with His arms extended.  As you face the broken relationships, the pain, defeat, the evil and death of this world and of your life, I encourage you to see Jesus’ outstretched arms waiting to hug you and assure, “Don’t worry.  It will be alright.”  Because of Jesus’ death, and especially because of the empty tomb, Jesus’ assurance and love and promises are not empty hope, but the REAL truth of God. 

 

I encourage you celebrate this victory over sin and evil and to worship our Lord this Easter.  Let our Savior speak words of love and assurance to you.  “Don’t worry.  I died for your sins.  I rose to win you forgiveness and life.  As you believe in me, it really will be alright.”

 

A Child of God, Living in the Assurance, the Peace, and the Victory of Jesus’ Resurrection!

Pastor Jonathan

 

 

P.S.  NEWS CONCERNING FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH - Gainesville.

 

 

Palm Sunday– We celebrated Palm Sunday on March 24.  Included in worship was singing from our Open Arms pre-school children, and a baptism of Lucy Sykes!  Here is a baptism picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ch9yzR65h5wGxPJDA

  

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE – Here is the Holy Week Schedule for First Lutheran in 2024.

 

·       Maundy Thursday

o   Maundy Thursday Noon worship  with Communion gives us a chance to “Do this in Remembrance of Jesus”, who instituted the Lord’s Supper on this day

 

o   PASSOVER MEALWe will celebrate a PASSOVER MEAL of lamb, green salad, charoseth (apple and raisin relish), unleavened bread, and wine or grape juice at 6:00 p.m. (This time gives people a chance to arrive from work.) There is a ceremony with this meal which helps us understand Jesus’ Passion and Easter victory.  The Recommended Donation is $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

 

o   7:30 Maundy Thursday Evening Worship – This service, following the Passover Meal, should carry extra meaning.  In addition, 2 confirmation student, Ryland and Kennon Brown will receive their first communion.

 

·       Good Friday Worship

o   Good Friday Noon  - We remember Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice with a noon service.

 

o   Good Friday Evening - We also remember the events of Good Friday with a worship service at 7:00 p.m.

 

·       Easter Sunday Celebration!

 

o   8:30 a.m. Easter Worship - First Lutheran celebrates Easter on Sunday, March 31, first of all at 8:30 on Easter morning.

 

o   EASTER BREAKFAST – will take place after early worship, probably around 9:30 or 9:45 a.m.

 

o   An EASTER EGG HUNT will be offered for children on Easter morning at 10:00 a.m.

 

o   11:00 Easter Worship gives a second chance to celebrate Jesus’ Easter victory for us.

 

A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS continues on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.  Last week we started book 2 of the Acts study, chapter 13, the beginning of Paul’s missionary journeys

 

WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible.  As of March 30 we will finish Numbers, and start Deuteronomy.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL IS HELD EACH SUNDAY DURING WORSHIP.  PLEASE bring your children and grandchildren!

 

BASIC TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE / NEW MEMBER CLASSS –This class began on February 11thafter worship in the Besalski Fellowship Hall. But, we have only just begun. There is still time to join the class.  This is also a good way to refresh you knowledge of God’s Word.  PLEASE NOTE,   JUST BECAUSE A PERSON ATTENDS THE CLASS DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE COMMITTED TO JOINING FIRST LUTHERAN.  If you are interested in learning and growing, we would love to have you join us. THIS CLASS WILL RESUME ON APRIL 7!

 

P.P.S.  PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

·       I WENT FISHING three times this past week

o   On Friday, March 22, after a busy morning, I went fishing at a local lake.  I caught 4 nice bass, but lost a BIG ONE.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/PYkGb3N4q8J9pEqc9

 

o   On Saturday, March 23, I fished on the Wacassassa River.  I only had 3 bites – mudfish.  But, I saw a REALLY BIG gator!  Here is a picture taken from a distance. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NqJUbJx7eSZhjFY4A

 

o   Monday, March 25, was the only day of Holy Week I might have a whole day off.  So, I golfed at 8:00 a.m., and then fished in the afternoon and evening.  I caught 6 fish, but kept 4.  Here are some pictures from fishing. https://photos.app.goo.gl/nUU6ghFsn58U6Utz7

 

 

*******

 

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

 

 

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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