Dear
Fellow Children of God,
On Sunday, May 19, two young men will be confirmed at First
Lutheran Church where I am serving as vacancy pastor. Kennon and Ryland Brown have studied with me
by Zoom throughout the school year. We
worked through 40 different chapters to learn about Jesus, to learn about their
Christian faith, to prepare for Christian life.
I met with these young men on Tuesday, May 14, to go over the ceremony,
and to talk about what will happen. But,
in our assigned Gospel lesson for last Sunday, from John 17, Jesus prayed for
His disciples because, “the world has hated
them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14) So, in this world which hates Jesus’ disciples, what will
happen to the faith of these two young men after Confirmation Day?
Lutherans do not see faith in Jesus primarily as OUR
decision for God. We believe, as we
heard Jesus say in John 15:16 two weeks ago in worship, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go
and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide . . .” Our faith in Jesus begins when God calls us. He calls us in baptism. He calls us by His Word, through His
Spirit. Our faith begins with our Lord
reaching out in grace toward us.
Nevertheless,
on Confirmation Day, after being called to faith by God in baptism, after
opportunities to learn at home, at church, and even in confirmation classes,
these young followers of Jesus publicly declare their faith. Jesus taught His disciples, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before
my Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 10:32) As we practiced on
Tuesday, as these young men again affirmed during practice, they will share
publicly that they believe Jesus is God’s Son, their Savior.
It
is perhaps the ultimate understatement to declare that living a s a Christian
is not easy. Living as a faithful disciple
of our Lord has NEVER been easy! On
Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, we will learn of God’s help for our faith by His
Spirit. However, there is another kind
of help I would like you to consider. On
the one hand, it is parents who are called to teach their children about God’s
love. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is
old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) (See
also Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Deuteronomy 11: 18-19, Ephesians 6:4, and others) But,
please also consider, parents need help too!
The help I ask you to think about is to please assist these parents by
personally encouraging these two young men in their Christian faith.
I
don’t know about your kids, but sometimes my own children were not sure Mom and
Dad were all that smart. However, if
someone else, another adult they respected, told my children the same thing
which I had said, it was amazing how my kids listened. Moses mentored Joshua. Paul mentored Timothy. Peter mentored Mark. Have you ever thought
about speaking a word of encouragement to a little child or to a young person?
I was 3 years old when my pastor’s wife first suggested I might become a
pastor. Children do listen to other
adults. Have you encouraged faith, or
mentored a young person?
I
encourage you to speak to the young people of your congregation about their
faith in Jesus, about their Christian life.
Thank them for attending worship.
(That’s not a normal practice in today’s world.) Tell the children and
young people in your congregation that you appreciate their faith, their
participation. Thank them for their
service. Ask them if they have any
questions. Teach them in Sunday School
or VBS. Suggest they might become a a pastor, or a DCE, or professional church worker. Welcome them into your home. Include them in home devotions. Ahem . . . take them fishing. 😊
While
we celebrate Pentecost and Confirmation Day this coming Sunday, last Sunday was
Mother’s Day. A number of years ago, on
Mother’s Day, my wife received a message from a young man who is a friend of one of my sons. The message read,
“It took a lot of Moms to raise me. Thank
you for being one of them.”
This
Sunday the confession of faith by Kennon and Ryland will bless the members of First
Lutheran Church. What a joy to hear and
see young people who truly believe in Jesus in today’s world. Please make a point, on Sunday or in the coming
weeks, to thank them for their faith and encourage them to continue. Their parents will appreciate your help. Someday these young men may thank you
themselves, perhaps like that message my wife received.
A
Child of God, Praying for Our Lord’s Strength and Blessings on Today’s Young
Christians!
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. Here a few of many words of encouragement
from Scripture
· Mark 10:14b – 15 "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs
the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
·
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of
this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ.
· 2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as
for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing
from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been
acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is
breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work.
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
CONFIRMATION
DAY IS THIS SUNDAY, PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 19 for Kennon and Ryland Brown. Come and rejoice with them in worship at
10:00 a.m.!
CALL
COMMITTEE NEWS – Members
turned in names of potential people to consider as the new pastor for First
Lutheran. On Monday, April 22,
President, Mark Hoyer, sent 8 names to the FL-GA District Office. District will check the availability of these
men to receive a call, and return a list of potential pastors to us to consider
as the next pastor at First Lutheran. We
are expecting to hear back from District NEXT WEEK. Please keep this process in prayer.
A
STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS continues on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. We are still studying Acts chapter 15. Chapter 15 is a very important chapter about
the direction of the early church. Come
and join us in studying about the history of the early Christian Church!
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. We will finish
the book of Joshua on Thursday, May 16.
In Joshua 24:15 Joshua makes a declaration many of us have chosen for
our own “. . . as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.".
Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey if you
have any questions at 907-841-4066, or at jonrock53@mtaonline.net
SUNDAY
SCHOOL HAS BEEN HELD EACH SUNDAY DURING WORSHIP DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. However,
Sunday School is soon coming to an end as the school year ends.
Keep the dates of JULY 22-26 OPEN
FOR VBS!
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST –
· MY GARDEN CONTINUES TO GROW.
Here are some recent pictures. (I’m
sorry for the incorrect link last week.) https://photos.app.goo.gl/MKdnCSHZY5CFHk3A9
· THANK YOU
to all who sent cards and wishes on my birthday! It was overwhelming!!
· On my birthday, May 10, I was busy.
o I went golfing early, until the rain stopped our game. However, on hole #4 at Turkey Creek, a par 3
150 yard hole, this was my tee shot. I
made the putt for a birdie. That good
score followed some not so good. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6iKibd4MHuWcXsGg7
o Kathy and I went out to eat with my sister and brother in
law, Martha and Mark Reaves, at a place we found in Lake City, FL. The Marion Street Bistro is a renovated
pharmacy in the old downtown. Here is a
picture. https://photos.app.goo.gl/w6EWtJidKM3CgocH6
· On Sunday, May 12, Mother’s Day, Kathy and I attended the
last FL Gators home baseball game of the year.
They have a great player that we wanted to see again. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQddRfkFq55Qf3ox8
· I went fishing twice since my last devotion.
o On Saturday, May 11, I went fishing on the Ocklawaha River
out of Gore’s Landing in the Ocala National Forest. The current was strong, but I caught a number
of smaller bass, keeping 3. Here are
some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/XRMGgTHyworrWuZr7
o On Mother’s Day, Sunday,
May 12, after Bible Study, worship, and a baseball game with Kathy, I went
fishing in Little Orange Lake. I
probably left too late. I caught one
bream, and saw a number of gators, in addition to this guy. I missed a big fish. Here are two pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/z5x14bk8owT6iubf7
*******
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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