Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Desiring a Heart After that of Jesus!

 

Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Having been born in western Massachusetts in 1953, and being raised there in my early years, I have followed sports teams from my birth state my whole life. I am especially a fan of the Red Sox and the Celtics.  Perhaps you noticed (ahem) that the Celtics won the NBA title this past week.  The after the game interviews pleasantly surprised me. When the two main stars of the Celtics were questioned about their win, each one first praised God, and then they each gave credit to others on their team.  I like it when someone does not act in pride and say, “Look at me.” I appreciate when people work as a team, and everyone is important.  You see, I was taught that pride is a sin, and that humility is a virtue.

 

If you have been reading with us in the Today’s Light Devotional Bible, the recent readings have been exciting.  On Monday, June 17, we learned in 1 Samuel 16 about the prophet Samuel secretly anointing David to follow Saul as king.  Samuel, however, was ready to choose David’s older, stronger, and more handsome brothers as king.  Yet listen to what the Lord revealed to Samuel about whom He had chosen. "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) God had chosen David, the youngest of the family. The process of choosing David teaches us about our Lord, and about His desires for our life.  Our Lord looks at the heart! Do you wonder what God saw in David’s heart?

 

Then, on Tuesday, June 18, the assigned reading was from 1 Samuel 17, the account of David and Goliath.  In these readings we get a view of the heart which the Lord chose.  The Bible describes Goliath as 9 feet tall, and as a fierce warrior.  The Israelite army was terrified.  Yet, even though Goliath towered over David, and was the more experienced warrior, David trusted the Lord for the coming battle.  Listen. 45 “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘’You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand,’”  (1 Samuel 17:45-46 a)  David did not trust his own strength, or blow his own horn.  David did not act in pride or arrogance.  In humility, in faith, David engaged the giant by diminishing himself, and trusting the Lord for the battle.  I think you know the results.

 

Humility is actually honesty.  The truth is that we all have our weaknesses.  Our lives are full of failures, and full of our sin.  To boast is to ignore those weaknesses. When we admit our weaknesses, we humbly speak the truth.  God saves us from our sin for eternal life in heaven by His grace, through faith or trust in our Savior.  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesian 2:8-9) Saving faith is the opposite of pride.  Faith trusts someone else.  Faith trusts God’s love in Jesus, not ourselves, not our own good works. This humility of heart receives God’s grace through His Son.

 

We see the best example of humility in Jesus, and the life of Jesus calls us to also live humble lives.  “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8) The truth of this word of God still amazes me.  Jesus is God Himself!  Yet He laid down His divinity to take on humanity.  The Lord of all took on the call to obedience.  The Lord of life suffered and died to love and save us.  Jesus gave up the trappings of glory, to live godly glory through sacrifice and service.  And we are told, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

 

Admitting our failures and weaknesses, and giving glory to God, is simply honesty. However, being humble is not the norm in our world.  Therefore, when we see humility that can be refreshing.  For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." That is why I was thankful for the example on Monday night from the athletes.  They gave praise to God, and did not take glory for themselves.  I pray the Spirit works such honest humility and faith in my heart.

 

A Child of God, Desiring a Heart After that of Jesus!

Pastor Jonathan 

 

 

 

P.S.  NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!


CALL COMMITTEE NEWS – First Lutheran received a list of names from the FL-GA District Office on Friday, May 17.  We have phoned all those on the list to see who is actually available for a call. The call committee met Wednesday evening, June 12, and decided on 5 pastors to potentially interview. We continue the process of asking God’s guidance as to whom He is calling to be pastor at First Lutheran.  Please keep the process in prayer.

 

FIRST LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A ROOF FUND. In an announcement at the May 19 Voters’ Meeting we learned that to put a new roof on the sanctuary, the office building, the fellowship hall, the preschool, and the student housing will cost about $200,000.00  The roof is still in good shape.  But we have had leaks, and it has been about 20 years since the roof was last replaced.  First Lutheran leaders want to act before the roofs fail.  Please consider how God may lead you toward this need in the future.

 

WE CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall.  We have been studying Acts chapter 16, and consider mission work in pagan Philippi.  We are now studying chapter 17, about Paul in Athens.  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.  This week we have begun reading about King David in 1 Samuel 16 and 18.

Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey if you have any questions at 907-841-4066, or at jonrock53@mtaonline.net

 

VBS TAKES PLACE AT FIRST LUTHERAN JULY 22-26!  Please remember these dates and invite children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends!

 

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

 

I DID GO FISHING TWICE THIS PAST WEEK.

·       On Thursday evening, June 13, after work I went fishing at Rodman Reservoir and caught two nice fish.  Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/8PLQbyNWbTn3qaXT6

 

·       On Friday, June 14, I took First Lutheran member, Saher Kalaf fishing.  Unfortunately I had troubles with my trolling motor.  Nevertheless, we did enjoy the outdoors and catch one fish.  But . . . the big one got away.    Here are a couple of pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/rjaXWz73y5eq8NRd6

 

 

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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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