Dear Fellow Children of God,
Our world is a mess!
Whether we talk about lifestyles, or politics, or conflict, or faith.
Our world is in trouble and . . . our world needs Jesus!
Jesus brings TRUTH to a world of various and conflicting ideas
and stories. Jesus IS The Truth. (John 14:6).
That truth gives meaning and direction to the lives of His people on
earth.
Jesus brings love, grace, forgiveness, and salvation
through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Our world needs the grace of God found in
Jesus.
With such love from God, people are empowered and sent to
LOVE OTHERS.
Imagine if our world knew the truth of our Creator and
Savior, knew His love and salvation, and then acted on that grace and truth by
loving others. Our world would be such a
better place. OUR WORLD NEEDS JESUS!
So, if our world needs Jesus, how do we share our Lord
and Savior with those around us so that they have His blessings? I am convinced that ultimately actions
speak louder than words, and the best way to share Jesus is through lives
of faith and love.
In my devotions this week I have been reading in 2 Kings
how God acted through the prophets, specifically through EliSha. One account in 2 Kings 4 shows God’s grace
and power for a wife in the town of Shunem.
When Elisha would come through town, she provided room and board for
him. So Elisha provided for her in a
time of need. He prayed and the Lord blessed
the woman with the birth of a son. Later,
that son was struck with pains in his head, and he died. But miraculously, through Elisha, God raised
the woman’s son back to life. Our Lord is
amazing!
However, it is the account about the life of this woman
in 2 Kings 8 which struck me. After a
great deliverance from the armies of Syria, King Joram asked Elisha’s servant,
Gehazi, to share the many ways God had worked through Elisha. As he was about to do so, the Shunamite woman
appeared, with her son. She had heeded
advice from Elisha about a famine and left Israel for 7 years, and then
returned after 7 years. As she returned,
she wanted her property back. Listen to
God’s Word from 2 Kings 8:4-6. “4
Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying,
"Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done." 5 And
while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold,
the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house
and her land. And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is
her son whom Elisha restored to life.’ 6 And when the king asked the
woman, she told him.”
That sounds so simple, doesn’t it? “ . . . when the king asked the woman, she
told him.” However, it was not just her
words which communicated. This lady had
served the Lord, and received His blessings.
She spoke, but she spoke of her experience, and she spoke with the
example of a life of faith and obedience.
Her life and her actions made her words carry weight.
Our world needs Jesus so badly. And we have just what our world needs. We have the treasure of our Lord’s love to
share. We can lead others to just what
they need, God’s blessings in this life and in eternity through Jesus. Consider 1 Peter 3:15. “But in your hearts
set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who
asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect.”
When God’s people know that our sin deserves judgment and
punishment, but that God gives love, forgiveness, and salvation in Jesus, these
children of God have peace and joy and love in their lives. When others see
these blessings in the lives of God’s people, even in the midst of the trials
of life, they will ask the reason for our peace and joy and hope. Our lives and actions give a witness.
There are a lot of ways in which we can make our world a
better place. The best thing you can do
is to know God’s undeserved grace and love in Jesus, and to live in that love.
Others will see Jesus in you. You can
share with them exactly what this world needs, our Lord and Savior.
A Child of God, Knowing our World Needs Jesus – Wanting
to Share Him Effectively,
Pastor Rockey
P.S. I am now
serving as Vacancy pastor at Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage.
·
Visit from the Northwest District Board of
Directors – The Northwest District Board of Directors is in town August
13-16 to meet and to visit some of the congregations in Alaska. On Sunday, August 16, Regional Vice-President,
Pastor Brian Bowes from WA will preach at Anchorage Lutheran. He will be speaking on the assigned Gospel
Lesson from Matthew 15:21-28. His sermon
title is “Lord! Save!” (And He Does!)”
·
Bible class –
o On
Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. we are studying the book of Ephesians downstairs
in the fellowship hall, using the CPH “Lifelight” Bible Study. There are still
some lesson books available. Class
begins at 9:00 a.m. downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. On August 16 we will continue Ephesians 2,
and plan to begin chapter 3.
o Lay
Ministry Classes – I am teaching a class on the Sacraments AFTER worship
on Sundays. However, in addition to our Lay Worship
Leaders, others may attend if they wish.
This week we will begin our study about The Lord’s Supper.
Other Activities of Faith:
I am again taking a two-year
journey with my Lord, by reading through the Scriptures using the “Today’s
Light Devotional Bible.” On Wednesday, August 5, I read 2 Kings 9 and 10,
about Jehu, who brought judgement from the Lord on Ahab’s family. The Old Testament can be bloody!!
You are welcome to join in
this journey of reading God’s Word. You
may also contact me at 907-841-4066 if you have any questions about these
readings. Or send an e-mail question to jonrock53@mtaonline.net I have
received questions and comments about the readings. 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.S. Friends, Family Fun, and Fishing!
·
A tragedy –
o
(From Lauren Griese Heck) Hello All. My sis
and her family are safe, but lost their house and everything in it to a
wildfire Saturday night. Here is their GoFundMe if you wanted and are able to
help. She is also working to put together an Amazon wishlist for some of their
more immediate needs. Thank you all. https://gofund.me/f172c490f
o
(From Kathy) These are dear family friends
who lost their home in the fire in Spokane. Our daughter Mary and Lauren have
been friends since they were in preschool. We are grateful they are safe and
have a temporary place to stay. Prayers as they work to rebuild their life are
appreciated.
·
Friends–
o We
are proud of Grace Miller, who grew up in Palmer, and at St. John. She graduated with her degree as a
Physician's Assistant on July 20. We
hear she may have a job in Seattle! https://photos.app.goo.gl/uJ7vXZbiSycD2VC78
o I
helped organize the 31st Palmer Kiwanis Golf Tournament again this year at the
Palmer Golf Course. Here are our
teams. 51 players! The most in a long time. https://photos.app.goo.gl/LpGeY9izmwguJ5fW9
o Mary
and Brandon were in Kenny Lake to finish preparing his home to sell. Mary’s dogs, Mac and Willow were
"visiting grandma." https://photos.app.goo.gl/EJw3SJkCsfKXjbey9
o My
neighbor, Terry Whiteman, decided to mow my grass. I asked him and he asked me, "Do you
mind if I finish?" https://photos.app.goo.gl/VtpC5ztBbDxQH3Ra8
·
Fishing - I went fishing on Monday,
August 10 with neighbor Terry Whiteman.
Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/VtpC5ztBbDxQH3Ra8
*******
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. (I finished for now serving as Assistant to the Pastor for First
Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL. I am now serving Anchorage Lutheran Church
as Vacancy Pastor.)
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, Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, 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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