Dear Fellow Children of God,
In the Fall of 1972 I was walking with a friend on the
campus of Concordia Lutheran College, Austin, TX. My friend and I were both students of this Lutheran
school whose primary mission was to prepare young people for careers in church
work. My friend was studying to be a
Lutheran teacher. I was studying to be a
Lutheran pastor. Why this occasion
stands out is that, as we were walking, we met another student and began
talking. During the conversation this
third student shared that he was not a believer in Jesus. That was somewhat unusual at this specific college. But, the behavior that makes this occasion
stick out in my mind is that the friend with whom I was originally walking
began to cry. They were deeply saddened
that this other student could or would miss out on all the love, the grace, and
the salvation which God offers in Jesus.
It was a moment full of questions and uncertainty.
I share this experience with you because of my devotional
readings on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The
assigned chapters for reading for this day were Romans 9-11. In this series of chapters Paul discusses his
great sorrow and concern for his people, many of whom had chosen not to believe
that Jesus was the promised Savior of the World. Paul was so upset by this situation that he
wrote, “3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut
off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
(Romans 9:3) Paul writes that he would
rather that he himself miss the blessings of Jesus, than that his people would
do so. That is true compassion, and true
heart-felt concern.
Actually, Paul wrote 3 chapters in the book of Romans on
this one topic. As I again read what he
wrote, he seems one answer in one place, and another in the next set of words
he wrote. This was a mystery greater
than Paul could understand. That is why
he wrote at the end of chapter 11, “33 Oh, the depth of the
riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and
how inscrutable his ways! 34 ‘For who has known the mind of the
Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ 35 ‘Or who has given a gift to
him that he might be repaid?’ 36 For from him and through him and to
him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
What do we do when faced with the mysteries of God? Do we throw up our hands because we do not
and cannot understand? Do we stop
believing in the Creator, the Savior, the Lord of the universe because something
troubles us? Do we stop serving Jesus because
we don’t understand Him? If you are watching “The Chosen” series about the life
of Jesus, as Kathy and I are doing, you will see that Jesus’ disciples had many
un-answered questions. What DO we do?
First, we should not be surprised when we don’t
understand God, or His Word. After all,
He is the Lord and Creator, and we are His creaTION. The Lord shares with us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares
the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” I have actually come to a place where I
am glad I do not expect to understand everything. The Lord is a mystery, above my
understanding. I do not want the
workings of this world limited by my own small, and faulty, mind.
Nevertheless, God does not leave us without truth and
comfort. I find in His word basic truths
which I can know, even if my feeble mind does not understand everything. In Chapters 9-11, Paul shares two of these
truths. In Romans 10:10-11, the Lord
inspired Paul to restate the truth he writes in many other places. Please read these verses with me. “10 For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11
For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’" Because we are all sinful, our Heavenly
Father sent His Son, Jesus. Because no
human can keep the holy law of God, in grace our Father gives us His forgives and
grace everlasting as we believe in Jesus, in spite of our sin. Basically said, we are saved through faith
in Jesus. That is a basic truth I
can understand and believe.
Another important truth revealed in these chapters comes
from Romans 10:17. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the
word of Christ.” God works through His Word to create saving faith. He works through His word, the Bible. He words through His Word, Jesus. Even when I cannot have answers to all my
questions about God, He nevertheless does share what I need to know. He shares in His Word.
So, what do we do when faced with the mysteries of
God? I have learned to accept my
short-comings, but to also trust the basic truths which God states again and
again in His Word. I hear God saying,
and so I believe, that He saves us from our sin for eternal life in heaven by
His grace. Sinners cannot earn
salvation, but we still receive our Lord’s eternal love through faith in
Jesus. I have also come to believe that
God creates this faith through His Word.
So, knowing my feeble mind, I immerse myself in the Word of God, in the
Bible, in Jesus. I trust the grace of
God to work in my life. I pray to share His grace with others.
A Child of God, Trusting My Lord’s Grace and His Word
When Faced with the Mysteries of God!
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now
serving Our Redeemer Lutheran in Chugiak, AK, as part-time Vacancy Pastor.
·
We held a class for acolytes after
worship on Sunday, August 24. Six young
people attended and will start lighting candles and helping with worship
beginning Sunday, August 31.
·
The Our Redeemer Call Committee has been
formed. It includes Elder and chairman,
Jerry Simpson, also Heidi Enlow, Ruth Keller, Theo Lee, Jacob Lewis, Scott
Roelfs, and Martha Wilkins. They met on
June 4, July 1, July 22, and just recently on August 19.
The first step
in the call process is to complete a congregational self-study. The Northwest District has the study and
tools to help in this study.
In order to
complete this study the committee has asked for input from ORLC leaders. The Call Committee also passed out this survey
for members in worship on Sunday, August 24.
Nomination forms for names for a new pastor were also distributed. Both documents are available on the Connection
Corner table in the back of the church.
The goal is to
turn in the self-study, and nominations for pastor, to the Northwest District
by October 1, 2025.
Regular Bible Studies and Sunday School
·
Adult Bible Study continues on Sunday
mornings at 9:00 a.m. The class is
studying “Basic Christian Teachings.” On August 24 we began to study the 10 commandments. We will continue to study this topic in the
coming weeks. Come and join us!
·
Summer Sunday School - There is no Summer
Sunday School on August 31. THANK YOU to
Leah Rawlins for heading up this ministry to our children during the summer.
· Sunday
School begins on Sunday, September 7! This
will be a blessing for ALL children and adults.
WE COULD STILL USE SOMEONE TO HELP LAUREN WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS! Please see Lauren or Pastor Rockey if you
have questions about helping.
·
Confirmation classes will begin on Sunday,
October 12, after worship services. Watch
for more information.
Other Activities of Faith:
· MANY
CONTINUE TO READ THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE WITH ME IN 2024 and 2025 using the
“Today’s Light Devotional Bible.” We are now in the New Testament! On Wednesdsay, August 27, we read Romans
9-11. We will finish Romans on
Saturday, August 30.
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!
P.P.P.S. Family
and Fishing! -
Alaska State Fair Entries (I am proud of my wife
and daughter for their talents, which they displayed at the Alaska State Fair.)
·
Kathy entered 3 sewing entries and 1 quilt at
the Alaska State Fair, and won a number of ribbons. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/5EsA5QWrnKyzfpFo9
·
Both Kathy and Mary entered baked goods in the
Alaska State Fair. They had 4 entries and
won 3 ribbons. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/vSi4D1auxixbyfcb6
Garden
·
Our Garden is slowing down, but we are still
picking raspberries. Here are a few
pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ua1syuMm7Sddsp869
Fishing
·
On Monday, August 18, I took Dave Nufer,
daughter Kaycee and her husband, Gavin Hanson, fishing on the Little Susitna
River. Unfortunately, the river was closed to fishing on Tuesday, August 19.
·
On Friday, August 22, I took Mike and Peggy
Nystrom fishing. We tried the Little
Willow, because the Little Susitna was closed.
Unfortunately, the river was low, the sun was out, the water was clear,
and the fish weren’t biting. But, a day
on the water is still a good day! Here
are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/8fbnmRxsBdbjzPhp9
*******
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 Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Chugiak, AK.)
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, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Chugiak, AK
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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