Dear
Fellow Children of God,
What
do you think, how do you feel, when someone tells you to “Get to work!?” I expect most have a negative reaction at being
told “to work”. “Who are YOU to tell ME
what to do?” “Are you telling me I’m lazy?”
However,
in my daily devotions for August 28, in 1 Chronicles 22, I read King David’s
instructions to his son, Solomon, concerning the construction of a temple for
the Lord. First, David has a
conversation with his son relating God’s instructions to David concerning the
temple, and concerning Solomon. Second,
David encourages Solomon, reminding him of the Lord’s presence and help. “11 Now, my son, the LORD be
with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God,
as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the LORD grant you
discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may
keep the law of the LORD your God. 13
Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules
that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear
not; do not be dismayed.” (1 Chronicles 22:11-13) David’s encouragement to Solomon remind me of
God’s assurance to Joshua he led the people of Israel into The Promised Land. (Joshua
1:9)
But,
after these words of promise and assurance, David gets down to business. He tells Solomon how he has provided many of
the materials and workers Solomon will need to accomplish the building of a
temple for the Lord. Finally, David minces
no words. “ . . .Arise and work! The
LORD be with you!" (1 Chronicles 22:16, see all of vv. 15-16) Don’t just sit there! ARISE!! Don’t just think! WORK!!
So,
what are your feelings about work?
I know that many hate the idea of labor to earn wages in order to be
able to live. They do not like
work. However, for the child of God,
work can be a gift and a blessing from the Lord! Work gives identity. Work fulfills a purpose. Work provides dignity.
David
wanted Solomon to see that the Lord had been gracious to him, and to all of
Israel. The building of the temple was a
response and was worship of the God of Israel.
“18 Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not
given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land
into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. 19
Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build
the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the
LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name
of the LORD." (1 Chronicles
22:18-19) When Solomon built the temple,
with skill and faith and precision, he was living as one blessed by God, and as
one whose life was to serve and to worship the Lord.
We
studied “spiritual worship, or service”, we also discussed vocation in the
Adult Bible Class on Romans 12 at St. John Lutheran on Sunday, August 25. Martin Luther taught that whatever we do with
faith in God and with love for others is a calling, a vocation. Any legal work or job which uses our God-given
talents to serve God and others is “spiritual worship, or service.” (Romans 12:1)
Luther taught that when a mother trusts the Lord and, in love, changes
the dirty diaper of her baby, that is a calling of God. The mother is living her calling and purpose.
She has dignity because of her faithful, loving, service. Of course, the New Testament has much to say
about our work. “23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You
are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24) (See also 1 Corinthians
15:58)
So,
if work gives identity and purpose and dignity, if work is the service of a
child of God for the Lord Himself, what is the best work we can do? Jesus was asked that question after feeding
the 5000 in John 6. The people asked
Jesus, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?"
(John 6:28) He responded, "This is the work of God, that you believe in
him whom he has sent." (John 6:
29) You see, Solomon’s response to God’s
blessings for the nation of Israel was to “Arise and work,” and to build
a temple for the Lord. Today, we look at
history and see all the evil and the failures of human beings. We see all the failures of God’s own children.
Yet the Father sent His Son. In spite of
our failure and sin, Jesus gave His life to forgive us. He rose to save us. That is why Jesus teaches us, "This
is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." Jesus is our Savior! And any work done believing in Jesus, is
WORSHIP!
How
do you feel about work? Maybe
someone has told you, or even ordered you, “Get up and get to work!” Possibly, they did not have in mind the idea
of you using your efforts to serve the Lord and to love others when they said
that. Or . . . maybe they did, and you just
weren’t listening.
I
am thankful that whether I am preaching God’s Word, or mowing the grass at my
house, I can use the blessings and the gifts of God. I can serve Him and love
others. As a child of God, in Jesus, I
really do see work as a blessing! Go
figure!
A Child of God, Viewing WORK as a Privilege and Opportunity to Serve My Lord
and Love Others!
Pastor
Rockey
P.S. I am in Alaska for 6 weeks. But I can still share some news of happenings
at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, where I am still vacancy pastor.
P.P.S. NEWS AND MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT
First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
FIRST
LUTHERAN IS BACK IN THE CALL PROCESS. We are
receiving nominations and names of pastors who would serve the Lord and His
people well at First Lutheran in Gainesville.
PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
WHILE
I AM IN ALASKA
·
Pastor
Stephen Lane has led worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 4 and 11. He
will also be leading worship on September 1 and 8.
·
Pastor
Doug Bock led worship and Bible Class on Sundays, August 18 and 25.
THANKYOU
PASTORS LANE AND BOCK!!
THE
WELCOME BACK BARBEQUE WAS AUGUST 25. I have a report that
45 people signed up, and 105 people attended the barbeque. 😊 WELCOME BACK to
our school year schedule, to classes at the University, and to worship and
service of our Lord at First Lutheran!
WE
CONTINUE TO STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in the
Besalski Fellowship Hall. Pastors Lane
and Bock have been teaching.
WE
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN 2024 and 2025 using the Today’s
Light Devotional Bible. We have finished
reading the book of 2 Kings, and have started the book of 1 Chronicles. Today’s devotion from 1 Chronicles 22 is
based on the reading for Wednesday, August 28.
Feel free to contact Pastor Rockey at 907-841-4066 if
you have any questions about these readings.
Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have recently received questions and
comments. It is always good to consider
our Lord’s love and guidance. I will TRY to answer, but some things only God
knows!
FIRST
LUTHERAN HAS BEGUN A ROOF FUND, and an AIR CONDITIONER FUND. The roofs are
still in relatively 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,
our Air Conditioners are old and need replacing. The combined amount for repairs will total a
significant sum.
Please consider how God may lead you
toward these needs in the future.
P.P.S.
PICTURES – AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
·
This past
week we picked raspberries again from our bushes / vines. Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/sEXTNqJjXrpF6uSKA
·
I went Rock
Fish fishing on Wednesday, August 21, out of Seward AK with friends from St.
John and Palmer. JD Jeffers rented a boat because his wife,
Dena, had not been fishing all their time in AK. (In Georgia yes. In AK, no!)
Dave Witte has experience in Seward.
Eric Wyatt has experience fishing for rock fish. I had equipment and poles at my cabin. So we went fishing. We saw eagles, puffins, whales, and caught a
bunch of fish! Here are a few pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/u6ioE8h6K9Lj8FN28
·
I peached in
Sterling and Homer, AK, Sunday, August 18.
Then . . . DOCTORS! GRRRRRR!! I ended up
with a toothache, starting on Monday, August 19. After fishing on the 21st, I saw
my dentist on the 22nd, and I had a root canal in Anchorage on
August 23. Sigh! Kathy and I have been trying to get in our
doctor visits while home. But, we are
seeing them more than we wanted to. Next
weeks devotion MAY BE about things wearing out . . .
*******
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. (However, I am currently 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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