Dear Fellow Children of God,
Kathy and I have pretty much recovered
from jet lag and we are back in our routines.
For me, that means serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in
Gainesville, FL. But, my regular
schedule also includes golfing and fishing.
On Monday morning, November 18, I golfed with one of the groups I am
part of, the “Turkey Creek Mafia.” One
of my partners in my golf game on Monday was a friendly man nicknamed “Pizza
Bill.” (Before retirement, Bill owned a number of Pizza Huts.) Bill knows I am a pastor, and at times he says
things which might, and which do, get a reaction from me. Monday morning, as we approached the tee box on
hole 5, Bill told me he had seen a number of ‘Christian’ and religious groups
the previous Saturday when he attended the Florida Gators football game. Bill shared with me that some who identified
themselves as Christians were protesting against the way some people
voted. He also indicated he saw another
group demonstrating in order to condemn the way many college students dress. (Bill’s words were a little stronger.)
My friend’s words saddened me. I told Bill, “They have a different understanding of Jesus than I do. The religious leaders in Jesus’ day looked
down on those whose lives were not perfect.
But Jesus ate with these people.”
I mentioned Luke 15 to Bill. In
this section of Scripture we read about Jesus, “1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him
[Jesus]. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This
man receives sinners and eats with them.’" (Luke 15:1-2) Jesus is in the business of redemption, NOT condemnation.
If those
people outside the stadium were protesting in the way which my friend said, I
wonder if they have ever read the account of Jesus in John 8. The religious leaders targeted a woman caught
in the act of adultery. They brought this
woman to Jesus and wanted Him to condemn her.
These leaders wanted Jesus to condone their stoning her. Instead, Jesus responded to these religious leaders,
"Let him who is
without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7) The result was, “when they heard it, they went away one by
one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman
standing before him.” Jesus asked
her, "Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?" Then Jesus lovingly
told the woman, "Neither do I
condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." (John 8:9-10) Jesus’ mission
was redemption, not condemnation.
Many people,
even non-Christians, know John 3:16, "For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life.”
But, do you know the Scripture verse which follows? Do know John
3:17? “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” The mission
of Jesus is saving, not condemning.
This coming
week in worship we will hear Jesus encourage us to be ready when He returns. "32
But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake.
For you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:32-33) In a very real way Jesus’ words are a
warning. But, none of us are prepared for
Jesus’ coming because of our own good works.
We have all sinned against God.
We have hurt others. We deserve our
Lord’s condemnation. Therefore, we keep
on guard, we are awake, when we trust Jesus who died to forgive our sins and
who rose to give us eternal life. We
keep on guard, we are awake through the forgiveness of Jesus. We keep on guard, we are awake when we know
that “ . . . God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might
be saved through him.”
I wonder if those people
demonstrating at the football game know what our Lord teaches in the Old
Testament, in Psalm 130, “3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4) Or, I wonder if
those people who called themselves followers of Jesus knew the comfort of God
in Psalm 103 “10 He does not
deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love
toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father
shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who
fear him.” (Psalm 103:10-13) The desire of our heavenly Father is redemption, is forgiving, not
condemnation.
If I had to trust myself to face my
Lord when He comes as Judge, I am lost.
But, I trust Jesus. Jesus came to
offer redemption, to offer forgiveness, not condemnation. I
trust Jesus as my Savior!
A Child of God, Ready for Judgement Day Because, 'Jesus
is in the Business of Redemption, NOT Condemnation!'
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I continue to
serve as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Florida, until
First Lutheran receives a permanent full-time pastor.
NEWS AND MINISTRY
OPPORTUNITIES AT First Lutheran Church – Gainesville!
·
THIS Sunday,
November 24, after worship, We will have an OKTOBERFEST MEAL, and a Wills /
Estate planning seminar. Diana
Raasch from Lutheran Church Extension Fund will be working with local First Lutheran
people to teach opportunities of faithful Christian Stewardship in our wills
and estates. There will also be
opportunities to talk with Diana privately, if a person wishes to do so.
PLAN
NOW to attend this festive meal and informative seminar!
·
FIRST LUTHERAN IS BACK IN THE CALL PROCESS. This
week Pastor Chris Kollman and his wife, Steph, visited First Lutheran and met
with leaders and the call committee. There is a call meeting scheduled for
Sunday, December 1.
PLEASE
CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FIRST LUTHERAN CALL PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.
·
SUNDAY SCHOOL IS IN FULL SWING until
May. Children begin in worship at 10:00 a.m.. Early in the service, after
the Children’s Message, children leave for a lesson, for a craft, and a
snack. Parents, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, Neighbors, PLEASE
bring your children to Sunday School.
THANK YOU
Sunday School Teachers and staff!
·
In Sunday Bible Class we are now studying the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah at
8:45 a.m. in the Besalski Fellowship Hall. On November 24 we will start with Isaiah
11. Come and Join Us!!!!!
·
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS meet on
Tuesday nights in the student house at 7:00 p.m. Come and join us! They
are studying “The Case for Christianity.”
·
WE CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE IN
2024 and 2025 using the Today’s Light Devotional Bible. On Wednesday,
November 20, we read through Psalms 101.
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 “RAISE THE ROOF
FUND,” for roof replacement and air-conditioning repairs. 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. So the Congregation has begun a “Raise the Roof”
campaign. Our goal to accomplish these combined repairs is $500,000!
Please consider
how God may lead you toward these needs in the future. (While serving in
Gainesville, I will be donating from each of my checks.)
P.P.S. I did go fishing once since I have been home. On Sunday, afternoon, November 17, after
worship. I fished in the Suwannee River
for the first time in many months. I did
not have any bites, but . . . it was a beautiful day! https://photos.app.goo.gl/aE9Y8K9zZdvRkrGo7
*******
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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