Dear Fellow Children of God,
Political
turmoil is nothing new. As I have
recently read through 1 Samuel in my daily devotions, I am learning again about
one of the leaders of Israel, King Saul.
As king, Saul strayed from following God’s path. Saul also sought the destruction of his
rival, King David. This sounds to me somewhat
similar to much of today’s political rancor, except that David, at least, fervently
sought to follow His Lord. In fact, David
actually DID follow God’s guidance many times, rather than following his own natural
desires.
I
have shared in past devotions that, among those for whom I pray, I pray daily
for our country and for our leaders by name.
Some of my prayers have remained the same for decades. But in the last few months I have added a new
prayer. Every day, as I pray for our
country, my prayer is that “the remnant of believers will remain faithful and will
grow.”
In
Scriptures the term ‘remnant’ refers to a minority of believers who remain
faithful when much of the rest of the world around them is turning away from the
Lord. When the Assyrians were laying
siege to Jerusalem, King Hezekiah begged Isaiah, “Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives." (2
Kings 19:4). As the nation of Israel,
including the tribe of Judah, turned away from faith, Isaiah prophesied more
about the remnant, and even pointed to the coming Messiah. “30 Once more a remnant of the
house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 31 For out of Jerusalem
will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal
of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (2 Kings 19:30-31.)
God
refers to His remnant over 60 times in the Old Testament, especially through the
writings of His prophets. In the book of
Isaiah we read, “20 In that day the remnant
of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who
struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 21 A remnant
will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.” (Isaiah 10:20-21) You see, this remnant are those who remain
faithful to the Lord when everyone else is turning away.
I
don’t want to talk primarily about political policies, but I do want to talk
faith. As our country turns more and
more away from believing in God, turns away from the 10 commandments, turns
away from honor, from the Lord, there are still those who remain faithful. It is a blessing for a country to have
righteous laws and leaders and citizens.
Proverbs 14:34 teaches, “Righteousness exalts
a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
I am praying for faithfulness in the children of God.
In addition, when praying for our country I do not just
speak to our Lord concerning political leaders or decisions. I also pray that Christian congregations
remain a faithful witness to our nation.
More
important than any political policies, when God’s children remain faithful they
bear witness to the wisdom, to the power, and to the love of God. As God’s children remain faithful they point
others to Jesus, to the promised Messiah who gave His life so that the remnant
may live in God’s grace, and may live forever, even as the nations of this
world turn from God.
I
am thankful that, like in the Old Testament, God has a remnant today who “truly
rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.”
When we cannot trust human leaders, nor the decisions of nations, we can
trust the One who gave His life for us. So
I pray daily that “the remnant of believers will remain faithful and will grow.”
A
Child of God, Praying that the Remnant of Believers in Jesus Remains Faithful,
and Grows!
Pastor
Jonathan
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
CALL
COMMITTEE NEWS – The
First Lutheran call committee, interviewed two candidates for pastor at
First Lutheran on Sunday night, June 23, and another candidate on Monday, June
24. We will also conduct a Zoom
Interview with the final candidate on Sunday evening, June 30. Please keep the call process in
prayer that our Lord sends the pastor to First Lutheran whom He has chosen!
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.
In addition, we learned at the June
Mission and Ministry Council meeting that our Air Conditioners will need
replacing. Please consider how God may lead you toward these
needs in the future.
MUSIC
DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE SMITH IS TEACHING GUITAR CLASSES. We found a number of guitars when the church
was cleaned for the fire inspection. We
will use these guitars for the class.
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 firmly into chapter 17.
This week, June 30, we will start our lesson with Acts 17:22, and
discuss Paul’s mission strategy 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 will
finish the book of 1 Samuel on Saturday, June 29, with the account of the death
of King Saul and his son, Jonathan.
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!
PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE
FOR VBS!!!!!
Here is a link to
the registration form. https://flcgainesville.org/2024-vacation-bible-school/
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
I DID GO FISHING ONCE THIS PAST WEEK
with First Lutheran member, Widler Casy. We caught 4 bass and kept 3. Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6isQJC1EWfaKtUE87
*******
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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