Dear
Fellow Children of God,
Last
weekend, June 7 and 8, I attended a reunion for the 53rd anniversary of my high
school graduation in May of 1971. It was
good to see long-time (surely not old) friends again. However, one of the more sobering displays at
the Saturday night banquet was a list of class mates who had passed away. In 2016, at the 45th reunion of our
graduation, that list included 88 members of our class of 964 students. But this year, the number of those who have
died since graduation has increased to over 150. Kathy and I have recently commented numerous
times to one another how blessed we have been to have good health. We have friends and family who have suffered
various illnesses and ailments. Like my
graduating class, a number of family and friends, even those younger than we
are, are no longer with us. Yet, we are
still here and we have been relatively healthy.
Thank you, Lord! This is NOT a
gift to take for granted.
The
other side to this blessing, which Kathy and I also often share with one
another, is the question: “How are we using this blessing of life and
health?” In 2015 Kathy and I served as
adult leaders at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Kathy had traffic duty. Her volunteer work was summer hot in New
Orleans, and required a lot of walking.
Yet, another volunteer working beside Kathy was an 85 year old lady. Kathy talked with the lady about her active
life. This woman’s response to Kathy
was, “I tell my friends, ‘You are still alive.
Get out of your easy chair. God
has still something for you to do!’”
So,
Yes! SINCE God has blessed us with life
and health, how are we using these gifts to serve our Lord? In Matthew 25 Jesus shares God’s truth in “the parable of the talents.” The master in this parable gave 5 talents (a
large sum of money) to one servant, 3 talents to another, and 1 talent to
another. The first two servants doubled
the investment of their master and returned it to him. The master’s response was similar for
both. ”His master said to him, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will
set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” (Matthew 25:21)
However, the third servant was not so diligent with His master’s gift. When asked by the master for an accounting,
the third servant replied, “I went and hid your talent in the
ground. Here, you have what is yours.” (Matthew 25:25)
Jesus tells of God’s response to those who do not use His gifts faithfully, “26 But his master answered him,
'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown
and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have
invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received
what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and
give it to him who has the ten talents.’” (Matthew 25:26-28)
When I looked at retiring, for many understandable and good
reasons, I nevertheless considered this parable. I did not want to “bury my talents in the
ground.” I did not want to have gifts
from the Lord, yet neglect to serve Him.
And, as I look at the list of all those who did not make it to my 53rd
graduation reunion, knowing that I have made it, and knowing that I am healthy,
I am again led to ask that question. “SINCE
God has blessed me with life and health, how am I using these gifts to serve
our Lord?”
My answer to this question is a little different than the
question asked. Rather than responding
to the question “How am I . . . ?”, my response is that, “in my heart I DESIRE
to serve my Lord and Savior. In 2
Corinthians 5:15, God teaches us through St. Paul, “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for
themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15) I WANT to live for Jesus, BECAUSE Jesus died
and rose for me! Jesus did not wait for
me to use my gifts from Him, and then die to save me. In spite of my sin He died and rose for a
sinner like me, one who like the servant can be wicked and slothful (lazy). But, because Jesus loves me in His cross and
the empty tomb, I want to live for Him.
I want to use the gifts of life and health he has given to serve Him as
I am able.
Interestingly, a friend just recently asked me about the
parables of Matthew 25 after a round of golf.
My answer to His questions was, “When we know the undeserved grace and
love of God, we want to serve Him and our lives show our thanks and praise.
I laughed at a recent story I read following the
commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, on June 6. A man named Harold Terens first visited
Normandy as a U.S. Army Air Forces corporal right after the invasion. Many of his friends died in the battle to
establish a beachhead. Last weekend
Terens, who is 100 years old, returned to Normandy and married his 96 year old
fiancee’, Jeanne Swerlin. He said
they’re looking forward to “a long and happy life together.” Terens is not wasting the gift of life. I appreciate his example!!
Not everyone is 71 years old as I am. Many are younger, and many, like Terens, are
also older than I. Nevertheless, in each
life there are blessings from our Lord.
We have the eternal blessings of forgiveness and eternal life as we
believe in Jesus. We have the earthly
blessings of who God has made us to be, and the people and other gifts He puts
in our lives.
So, I ask you, “SINCE God has blessed you in this life, how
are you using His gifts to serve our Lord?”
A
Child of God, Seeking to Use Gifts Given me by My Lord to Serve Him!
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. I have a confession to make. Last week I talked about the 45th
anniversary of my ordination, supposedly on June 2. While the first Sunday of June in 2024 was
the 2nd, in 1979 that first Sunday was on the 3rd! After seeing conflicting information, I went
back and looked at a 1979 calendar. O
well! I am still thankful for the
blessings of 45 years of ministry.
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
IN
WORSHIP ON SUNDAY WE WERE ABLE TO THANK GOD WITH BOB AND DOTTIE MOUNTS. They celebrated their 73rd
wedding anniversary. God is good! Here is a picture of Bob and Dottie in
worship on Sunday, June 9th. https://photos.app.goo.gl/RS7L4KEh11FGcQp58
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. Now we begin the process of asking
God’s guidance as to whom He is calling to be pastor at First Lutheran. The call committee is meeting Wednesday evening,
June 12, to discuss interviews. 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.
ST.
JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH, OCALA, Installed a new pastor on Sunday, June 9, Rev. Timothy
Mehl. Interestingly I saw a number of friends
I had not seen in years. Here is a
picture of the new pastor and of those pastors who attended the installation. https://photos.app.goo.gl/BAnueFZFGYrwnpAP8
MUSIC
DIRECTOR, STEPHANIE SMITH IS STARTING 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. THIS
IS THE LAST CHANCE. Classes are
starting. If you are interested, please
contact Stephanie.
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.
On June 16 we will start chapter 17.
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 are
learning about King Saul.
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
MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS CELEBRATED A 53/71 REUNION on Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8,
this past weekend.
53
because most of our class was born in 1953, AND it is the 53rd
anniversary of our graduation. 71
because we graduated in 1971, and most of my class is now 71 years old. There was a gathering at a local restaurant
on Friday night. On Saturday we took a
tour of our old high school in the morning, and had a banquet in the
evening. Here are a couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQ4gWQpdCo3f9t4n9
KATHY AND I WENT TO CRESCENT BEACH
ON MONDAY EVENING (missing the heavy afternoon heat and sun) Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwM3CrXnXGDLgCPj8
I DID GO FISHING ONCE THIS PAST WEEK
with my brother Stephen at Little
Orange Lake on Friday, June 7. Here are
a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YjuojUTJSNzwRs8L7
*******
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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