Daily Devotionals for Lent February 17, 2000 – April 4, 2000 Ninth Issue Written by members of Reformation Lutheran Church a member church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America   Reformation Lutheran Church 7601 East 13th Street North Wichita, KS 67206-1278 316-634-0586   Ash Wednesday March 8, 2000 Palm Sunday April 16, 2000 Holy Week April 16-23, 2000 Easter Sunday April 23, 2000 Worship services held every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Lenten services held every Wednesday at noon and 7:30 p.m.   These devotionals may be found on the Internet at http://www.reformation-lutheran.org/lent

Editors: Lynda Carrier-Metz and Dr. Mark Yeskie Cover photo by Wil Johnson

 

Worship Services at Reformation Lutheran Church 7601 East 13th Street North Wichita, KS 67206-1278 316-634-0586   Ash Wednesday Mar. 8, 2000 7:30 pm Wednesdays during Lent Mar. 15 – Apr. 12, Noon Wednesdays during Lent Mar. 15 – Apr. 12, 7:30 pm Holy Week Apr. 16 – Apr. 23, 2000 Palm Sunday Apr. 16, 2000, 8:30 & 11:00 am Maundy Thursday Service Apr. 20. 2000, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Service Apr. 21, 2000, 7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil Service Apr. 22, 2000, 6:00 p.m. Easter Sunday Apr. 23, 2000, 8:30 & 11:00 am Regular Sunday Worship 8:30 am and 11:00 am

 

Dear Friends,

This Lent our theme is Christ the servant as king. We focus on Christ fulfilling the prophecies in the Old Testament. Also how Jesus, the servant of God, in Mark’s gospel, shows what he accomplished during his brief time on this earth and how his coming changed the world. Mark 10:45 Matthew opens with the birth of a king and closes with the offering of a sacrifice. It is the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, linking Christ with the two great covenants God made with David and Abraham. Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38 Read the parables, called the secrets of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:11). This describes what the result the gospel of Christ will be during this present age until the time of his return when he will gather his harvest. (Matthew 13:40-43) So enjoy this devotional. Let us be imitators of Christ. Allow his love to flow through us to others. I hope these readings inspire, encourage, assure, and strengthen you in your relationship with Christ. Follow the steps modeled by him: choose to love, humble yourself, suffer willingly, invite reconciliation, and offer forgiveness. May God bless you richly.

 

God bless each of those writers who chose to dedicate their time and talents to contribute to the Reformation Lutheran Church Lenten Devotional
Mar 08 Mar 09 Mar 10 Mar 11 Mar 12 Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Mar 17 Mar 18 Mar 19 Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 22 Mar 23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31	Dr. Steen Mortensen Susayn Brandes Mary Nielsen Marsha Meili Amy Pletcher Sean Taylor Lynda Carrier-Metz Jim Dumler Richard McDiffett Dallas Cronk Wil Johnson Amy (Ryding) Bird Laura Ulicky-Weerts Sheryl Johnson Ted Vlamis Patty Taylor Dottie Caplan Judy Flack Ken Hobart Ruth Koepsel Mark Hansen Bob Weaver Johnie Nulan Amy Keith	Apr 01 Apr 02 Apr 03 Apr 04 Apr 05 Apr 06 Apr 07 Apr 08 Apr 09 Apr 10 Apr 11 Apr 12 Apr 13 Apr 14 Apr 15 Apr 16 Apr 17 Apr 18 Apr 19 Apr 20 Apr 21 Apr 22 Apr 23	Rich McDiffett Marcia Werts Judy McDiffett Bruce Brittain Keith Martin David Dibble Russell Muse Laurel Davis Christy Hansen Ken Woodard Quinn Gorges Annika Mortensen Vernette Chance Sara Muse Rachel Fraizer Ashley Woodard Nicole Wegner Suzanne Koch Tim Meyer Doreen Scheuerman Dawn Gorges Pastor Kloth Dr. Pastor Gerald Mansholt
Special thanks! Carolyn Pitts for writer assignments, Nancy Taylor and Lynda Carrier-Metz for the forward, and Ruth Koepsel for printing. Your time is greatly appreciated. Thanks to Lotus Gerards and those who distributed these teachings to our members and others throughout the community.

 

March 8, 2000	Matthew 6: 20-21
Where Are My Interests?
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Success can be measured in many ways, dependent upon whom you are and the culture you live in. Having material wealth often is viewed as a sign of accomplishment and is supposed to offer us security and freedom. It shows that we are achievers in this world, and the ancient philosophers thought this was a sign of good grace from God or gods. Jesus however teaches otherwise. We are given the responsibility for our environment, and the next person and we are stewards, not owners, of the goods entrusted to us, material or spiritual. This morning we heard an excellent presentation by Dr. Ramzieh Asmeh about her faith. A pillar in her Islam belief is charity towards others; taking a part of your own surplus and sharing it with the needy, not through an organized church, but as an expression of your faith for God alone to see. These Bible passages teach us the same, to trust in God for daily needs and to use his gifts to us as good stewards of his world. If we listen to his word and follow his instruction, we shall accomplish his purpose and have treasure in heaven. This however requires us to truly submit to his will and put our own wishes and thoughts after his.... May this Lenten season teach and inspire us about his will and plan for Reformation Lutheran Church.
Prayer: Father in heaven! Please help me to clearly see your will in my life. Guide my thoughts and deeds to fulfill your purpose and plan. Let me always listen and hear you when you speak to me. Amen.

 

March 9, 2000	Matthew 6: 24
Who Is Our Master?
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." This passage brought to mind an incident at my former church. We were a dying church desperately trying to stay alive. In order to try to reach others and increase the numbers of the church, a day care and school were being operated. It was the desire of the congregation to reach out to those who might not have a church or be looking for a different church as well as providing a much needed service to the community. One day tragedy befell one of the families who used our day care service. They were involved in a car accident. The four-year old child who was standing in the back was thrown between the two front seats and through the windshield. The child was taken to the hospital where it became apparent that the child would not live. The news caused great heartache for those of us with small children. Here was a poor single mother facing the worst trial any of us could imagine. We quickly organized ourselves to try to help this mother with expenses. We were shocked when our plans were halted by the ministry team. They did not want us to get involved. For you see, the family was not Lutheran and refused to let the child be baptized before it died. It still breaks my heart that we let our religious beliefs prevent us from giving true Christian compassion. It seemed to me that we truly had an opportunity to serve God as our master, and we did not, because it was uncomfortable for some that let religion be the master.
Prayer: Dear Lord, you came down to live among us to show true love, compassion, and forgiveness. Help us to be sensitive to the needs of others and to serve as you do, to all those in need. Amen.

 

March 10, 2000	Deuteronomy. 10: 12-13
For Your Own Well-Being
"And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" Almost the whole of the book of Deuteronomy is the farewell address of Moses to the people of Israel. The Israelites are near the end of their long journey from Egypt, just before crossing the Jordan into their promised land. In the verses just preceding today’s passage, Moses recalled how the Lord had written the Ten Commandments on stone tablets for them a second time. For while Moses was on the mountain to receive the first set of Ten Commandments, Moses himself had smashed the tablets in anger because the people had forsaken God and built an idol, the golden calf. But the Lord forgave and rewrote his commandments, for them and for us. And what the Lord requires, Moses’ words remind us, is that we act in his ways. As I read and reread this passage, the closing words, "for your own good" resound. There are other Bible passages, many in Deuteronomy, that counsel us to love God, serve him, and obey his commandments. With that closing phrase, this one verse affirms the great love that underlies the law. Why should we serve the Lord with all our heart and all our soul? Because he first loved us, and like a good parent, he set clear rules and expectations for our behavior. We fail, because we are human, and God forgives, then outlines his expectations again, just as he rewrote the Ten Commandments. In this season of Lent, we prepare our hearts to receive God’s ultimate love in the person, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your Ten Commandments, which you gave for our own well-being. Help us to understand and follow them as Jesus did. Amen.

 

March 11, 2000	Matthew 20: 26b-28
Success
"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." This Bible reading sure doesn’t fit with all the messages that we hear everyday in the world. Books, TV, speakers, … all tell us how and what we need to do to become "successful." "Success" seems to include money, fame (or least some recognition), a nice house, cars, vacations to faraway places, etc. This is what the world says it takes to be "great." Isn’t it interesting to hear about the rich famous people who are sometimes very unhappy? Some people appear to "have it all," and yet they aren’t happy or fulfilled. Maybe it’s because they have missed the most important thing. Maybe God isn’t a part of their lives. Maybe his message never reached them or they have forgotten about it temporarily. All of us sometimes forget how God wants us to live and serve others. If we stop and think, most of us will realize just what is important and what gives us joy. As a child, I know I really looked forward to getting new things at Christmas or on my birthday. Now that I am an adult, I really enjoy making gifts or shopping for others. Their joy in receiving the gifts is more fulfilling than opening my own gifts. In the same way, we can do little acts of kindness for others. These acts are important to our friend or family member, but they are also important to us in our roles as children of God. Jesus not only served people, but he gave his life for all mankind. When we think about that, surely we will want to emulate him as much as we possibly can.
Prayer: Jesus, servant and savior, please guide us and help us as we try to be more like you. It’s hard for us, but with your help, we know we can serve others - for their benefit and ours. Amen.

 

March 12, 2000	Mark 1: 11-13
Angels
"And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him." I have found in reading the Lenten devotionals that the ones that are the most effective are the ones related to the author’s life. Unfortunately, that meant trying to find a specific example within my own life of this verse. And then it hit me, Mark 1:11-13 accurately describes the transition from graduation last May through the first semester of college! Now, I am no Son of God (or daughter as the case may be), but his experiences parallel mine in some fashion. The time period between my graduation last May and my starting college on August 18th was special. Family and friends congratulated me on my achievement of graduating high school. They would tell me how proud they each were. However, just as I was getting comfortable in the role of high school graduate, it was time to uproot and move three states away to Des Moines, Iowa. And let me tell you, Iowa does not look that unlike a desert. And the wild animals and temptation descended quickly with 19 fire alarms (all between the hours of 1 and 4 am) the first semester and frat parties beginning on Wednesday nights and lasting through Sunday every weekend. Luckily though, I also found my angels. Within the first few weeks of school, I found four other girls (Annie, Alisa, Sarah, and Christine) who were my comfort through the first few weeks of adaptation. Together we figured out how to have fun while sticking to our values (lots of movie nights with pizza in addition to going out at least once a weekend). So the five of us got through those first few months of figuring ourselves and everything else out, all the while sticking together and sticking to our beliefs. Angels don’t always have to have wings, sometimes they just come in the form of four girls looking to have fun.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us all to find our angels in whatever form they may come in, and may we all continue to try to make you proud. Amen.

 

March 13, 2000	1 Samuel 12:24
Remember Your Blessings and Where They Came From
"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."   There have been many times in my life when I wondered why things went the way they did. I have been through several hard times, but have also enjoyed many wonderful things and events in my life. Some lessons learned in my life have not been easy. It seems that the most important lessons were the difficult ones. Everything that is good always leads down the same path. I guess what I am trying to say is that even when times seemed easy, and I took things for granted, they always came to a quick end. But then there were the times that I never forgot, where all the good in my life came about because of the prayers and hard work that I put into them. This brings me back to the full circle. Everything that I could ever remember in my life that happened to me which was good, came from the Lord. Had I not spent time serving him and in prayer, it might not have ever happed.
Prayer: Dear lord, thank you for all the wonderful things you have done for us. Please help me to never forget that you help to guide my life. Please help me in life each day to share all the wonderful things you have done for me. Amen.

 

March 14, 2000	Psalm 31: 14-16
Boundaries
"But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love." I am reading a book for Bible study called "Boundaries, How to Say No." I enjoy being involved, committed and "busy." I began this reading thinking I was in control, that I was saying yes only to those tasks I wanted to do. But I was wrong. As I evaluated where my time is spent, I realized that I haven’t allowed time to deepen my relationship with God. I am now reviewing my obligations and have begun a "weeding out" process. I am setting dates of when I will complete tasks and free up time to better serve my Lord. I must plan time to study the Bible, use the gifts he has blessed me with, and most importantly, to have quiet time to listen.
Prayer: Loving Father, draw me near to you. Create in me a longing for you like the deer that thirst for water. Provide me the quiet time I desire to learn and grow in your word. Let me model your grace to a world that doesn’t know you, except for what they see in me. Guide me and protect me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

March 15, 2000	Malachi 3:18
God’s Will
"And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." As we consider the message from Malachi 3:18, I recommend reading the passages beginning at verse 3:6, as the prior passages provide context for verse 3:18. It is a basis of faith that we live our lives according to the Lord’s will rather than the will of the world. The challenge and frustration is that righteousness and justice are not always common in society, and many appear to be prospering by living in ways contrary to God’s will. This is not new, but is the state of humanity in a fallen world. The challenge and blessing to us is that by living our faith, we are pursuing a righteousness and justice that is beyond anything this world can provide. Through the actions of our faith, we often find a glimpse of what the Lord’s distinction will be like, as those who live his word are blessed, as opposed to those who live the words of the world. From Christ, through his 12 disciples, and enduring for 2000 years, the foundations of the global church have been established and continue to grow. Through this faith in action the world has become a better place, and each of us are provided the opportunities to build and practice our faith, and to reach for a greater goal than this world alone can provide.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings of faith. May we have the courage each day to seek opportunities and take risks to put our faith in action according to your will, and not by the will of the world. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

 

March 16, 2000	Matthew 25:40
A Second Family
"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’" Jesus is explaining in a parable that caring for the poor, sick, and disenfranchised shows the special love he feels personally. In this world driven by a quest for money and success it’s somewhat hard to find stories of someone who does something because it’s the right thing to do, not what’s in it for them. This reminds me of a young mother many years ago. This young mother of two children was going to college to better herself. Yet she still had to worry about the matters of life and needed a job. She obtained a part time job as an Assistant House Mother at a home for mentally disadvantaged males. These males ranged in age from the mid-twenties to the mid-fifties. Her job was to be a mother to these men. The program was designed to help these individuals learn to be self sufficient and live by themselves. Her responsibilities consisted of supervising them while they performed routine housekeeping chores and prepared the evening meal. Oh, and when the full time Resident Directors were away, she was to put them to bed and sleep in the resident house. The first night that she had to stay over night, she was frightened. She did not know what to expect. But she was a mother and so she did her best. She eventually learned that these individuals each had a separate personality, just like you and I. They also had an enormous capacity to love. Before long they became her second family. While working, she took them everywhere with her. She loaded the seven men into the company station wagon and took them to Wichita to go shopping. It was an amazing sight. Hand by hand, they bound themselves together and wound their way through the busy department stores. She even took them to see her own children’s school programs. It was not something her job required. It was something she did to enrich their lives. What did she get out of it? Nothing, but her wages. Well, that may not be quite accurate. She blossomed as a Christian Care Giver and developed a loving relationship with her Lord like other Saints who unselfishly love their brothers.
Prayer: Lord, thank you as we discover the gift of serving others! Amen.

 

March 17, 2000	Mark 10:45
Serving Others
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." My four-year-old granddaughter is a beautiful little girl. She has big blue eyes and curly brownish hair. She loves her baby dolls, and her Barbie dolls, and her doll houses, and her doll furniture. All gifts for her need to be – and be wrapped in – something pink. She wears only dresses or jumpers, pink preferred, purple tolerated. She’s not a motor-mouth, but when she talks, she wants you to listen. One thing Megan has plenty of, wrapped in pink, is a sense of self. Megan is absolutely certain she’s at the center of the universe ... and deserves to be there. Parents and grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins encourage Meg along the way to find herself (although she seems to know where she is without much coaching). "Good job," we say. "Beautiful," we say. "I love you," we say. But we also try to teach her that the meaning of life is outside herself: "Share with your brother." "Play nice." "Help mamma." "Use your indoor voice." What are we really trying to teach this little girl? Life will be more pleasant for all of us if you will begin to think less about yourself and your happiness and more about other people and their happiness. Put your "Self" aside for a while, and think about other people. Jesus taught us adults, much as we try to teach our children: Love your neighbor as yourself. Serve God by serving others. You are an important part of the world, but the world is not about you. Use your special gifts to make life special for others. How difficult these ideas are for a four-year-old who thinks she is Queen of Everything. How difficult these ideas are for me, Princess of Quite a Lot.
Prayer: Gracious God, you have called each of us to think outside ourselves and care for others, and you have equipped each of us with gifts to serve. Help us to keep the example of Jesus in front of us as we go. He came to serve. With your help, and in his name, empower us to serve as he did. Amen.

 

March 18, 2000	Galatians 5:13
Self-Centeredness
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." A paraphrase of Galatians 5:13 in The Message reads like this: "My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit." There truly is a root of "sinful self-interest" in all that I do. Yes! There is a desire to write a Lenten Devotional that will honor Christ, and inspire anyone who reads it. But parallel with that desire is the sneaky thought that someone might read it and think how clever or pious I am. Yes! There is a desire to serve Christ through serving "my neighbor." But parallel with that desire there is the prideful thought that someone might see me serving, and think how "Christ-like" I am. Yes! There is a desire to serve Christ through giving offerings to the church and other worthy causes. But parallel with that desire there is the self-serving thought that I’m being "very generous" and surely deserve praise for my generosity. And no matter how earnestly I pray, this sinful motivation cannot be completely eradicated, I’m thankful that God’s love comes to me by his grace in spite of my self-centeredness.
Prayer: Lord. I thank you that your Holy Spirit intercedes for me that I might not sin against you in the very acts of serving you. Amen.

 

March 19, 2000	Mark 8: 33
A Wake-Up Call
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Before I started to write this, before I had even opened my Bible, my mind began recounting experiences I might be able to draw upon to illuminate the verse given to me. Then I opened my Bible and read Mark 8:33. Suddenly, thoughts of inspiring moments of faith were replaced by the ugly things, the times when my thoughts and actions have been petty, the times when I’ve been consumed by outward appearances, my personal success, my inadequacies, my pride. Jesus wasn’t just speaking to Peter. He was addressing me! As wrong as it is, I must admit that at times I have allowed myself to be comfortable in the fact that I haven’t committed "major" sins. Becoming privately boastful, I have even patted myself on the back for the good things I’ve done. I dare think this way, as if God will just dismiss my imperfections, since, after all, I’m not one of them. Yet, neither was Peter. Peter was a man of God, a disciple, a friend and supporter of Jesus. Jesus wasn’t rebuking Peter for murderous, immoral inclinations and acts. He rebuked him for worrying about what the world thinks, for rebuking Christ himself for predicting that men would turn against him.* It could probably be argued that Peter was sticking up for Christ, not wanting Christ to cut himself short or down in the public eye. And still, Jesus likened Peter to the very enemy of God. Peter probably thought he was acting honorably, defending Christ. Yet, Jesus’ reprimand leaves little room for misinterpretation. His message is a humbling, graphic wake-up call to all of us, to focus on God and place our trust in him. *He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priest and teacher of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. – Mark 8 31-32
Prayer: Most gracious God, everyday we work with people, talk with people, laugh with people, and live with people who don’t know you. Help us to care for your plan and purpose above all the other influences in our lives. And give us the strength to humbly stand for our convictions and witness your truth and love to a world that desperately needs it. Amen.

 

March 20, 2000	Matthew 4:10-11
Human Frailty
"Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." As a chaplain at Wesley Medical Center, I have observed my share of tragedies. Few of them, however, outweigh the pain experienced by seeing many young men come through our Trauma Center, ending up in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The situation usually involves a motor vehicle accident resulting from the influence of alcohol, speed limit abuses, or motorcycle incidents where riders fail to wear their helmets. Sadly, these men didn't take seriously the reality of their human frailty. As a result, I often hear the sighs of the nursing staff as they withdraw into their own grief, seeing yet another young person lost or maimed. One of the greatest means of deception by the Evil One is to make us believe that we are invincible; that somehow we have ultimate control over our lives. The world tells us to "believe in yourself" when in reality God is the only one we can truly rely on. God's wisdom reminds us that we are powerless - that our lives are unmanageable without him. Only after our confession of this truth can we be empowered with understanding and wisdom. The life of Christ is evidence of this paradox. The fact that Jesus humbled himself, taking the form of a servant, does not reflect what the world thought a Messiah ought to be. And, the notion that the Son of God would be put to death – crucified - to atone for the sins of humanity was unfathomable to the people of that day. Remember the words of the chief priests as they exclaimed, "He saved others but he cannot save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him!" Jesus didn't live up to the expectations of those around him and his death was the result. The world is blind to God's truth. It can only be revealed through faith. It is my hope that your faith will abound this Lenten season as you search out God's wisdom and reflect on Christ's sacrifice made on your behalf. May you claim the power of the Resurrection as you live out God's truth in your daily lives!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us during this Lenten season to put "Satan behind us," to recognize that we are not invincible, and to understand our own human frailty. Amen.

 

March 21, 2000	Luke 10: 41-42
Priorities
"‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’" When I read this passage, I see how my own actions sometimes mirror those of Martha. The unimportant aspects of my life take on too much importance and I lose sight of what is really a priority in my life, our Lord and Savior. I think in this day and age we all get caught up in our busy schedules, and we forget to thank God for all he has given us. I hope that today and everyday each of us will remember all the Lord has given us, and thank him daily for these blessings. Let’s follow Mary’s lead and keep the Lord first in our lives before everything else.
Prayer: Lord, please guide us to know where to place our priorities. Help us to realize and remember that you are number one in our lives. Amen.

 

March 22, 2000	Luke 22: 26
Managing Your Talents
"But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." It is the Last Supper. Jesus has offered the New Covenant, which will be carried out by his sacrifice of himself for their, and our, sins. The disciples, rather than understanding this supreme sacrifice, become embroiled in an argument as to which of them is the greatest. Confronted by followers who cannot pull themselves away from an inward focus, even when he is in the process of giving himself to die in order to save others, Jesus tells them "The Kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." Jesus’ actions are the embodiment of the Servant-King. He shows us in both words and actions that we are to better ourselves and to lead by serving others. This message also instructs us as to how we should manage our talents and gifts. It follows from this instruction that if we are blessed with wealth, we should use it to enrich and help others, not merely to advance ourselves at the expense of others and to demonstrate an alleged superiority. Similarly, if we have knowledge, we should share it and help others to acquire similar knowledge. It’s all too tempting for us to use it as a means of putting others down. All blessings and talents can be used to help others, or instead can be used as weapons to harm and/or belittle others. The root of Jesus’ simple instruction in the passage derives from his earlier command that we are to "Love your neighbor as yourself." If we look to see how our actions can help others, rather than analyzing if they can be used to our advantage at the expense of others, we will be heeding his command.
Prayer: Lord, help us to put away our pride, and to instead reflect upon how we may serve others. Help us to use our talents and gifts in the service of others, rather than in pressing our advantage at their expense. Amen.

 

March 23, 2000	Romans 5:19
Forgiveness
"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the disobedience of the one man the many will be righteous." When you were a small child, did you ever go along with the crowd even though you knew that what they were doing was wrong? As an adult, when your friends are gossiping about another, do you give input to the conversation even though you know that the rumor being told is hurtful to that friend? You will be pleased to know that the Bible states that even though we may sin, one man, Jesus, died for us so that we may be forgiven of our sins. If you want to always make the best decision, put your trust in the Lord completely and he will guide you. If you put God first in all things, he will direct you in all your decisions. By following this rule faithfully, your life will be filled with happiness, renewed faith, and a heart full of love.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are all sinners and thank you for giving your only son for our forgiveness. We will remember to keep you first in our hearts so that we may always receive your blessings. Amen.

 

March 24, 2000	Philippians 2: 5-8
Baby Brianna
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" As I sit here to write this devotion I get a call from my sister with terrible news – my brother and his wife lost their baby – just four weeks before her due date – their first – Brianna is her name. Many of the details are not yet known, but there are many tears of sorrow. I find things to be a bit ironic as I ponder the words of Paul in Philippians. I struggle to find the joy Paul writes about in his letter – the Christian joy that exists even in hardship. As the elder, I know that I must maintain my composure and strength for my sister. I share with her the scripture that I’m studying and remind her that the Christian joy Paul writes about does not come from what we have or experience, but rather it comes from Christ within us. In our sorrow we are being somewhat selfish because we did not get to spend time with Baby Brianna. As I speak these words I realize that I’m trying to convince myself as much as my sister. I hang up the phone. My husband checks in on me – still composure. But now I’m alone and the tears come. Even with all the will and strength I have to find the joy, I am deeply sad. The new baby gown my mother made for the shower tomorrow will be the only one Brianna will wear. More tears. Where’s the joy?! I read on with Philippians …. Is it true that we can have contentment, serenity and peace, no matter what happens, by depending on God’s strength and not our own? I pause and pray….. I close my eyes and see Brianna now, as an angel in heaven with her beautiful baby smile looking into the eyes of our heavenly Father – isn’t that the moment we are all waiting for? Brianna, – I can’t wait to hear you tell your story. A glimpse of joy at last!
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, As you sent Christ Jesus in appearance as a man with the very nature of a servant, and as Paul wrote his joyful letter to the Philippians from prison, let us all strive to be examples of humility and obedience. Guide us and remind us often that Christian joy does not come from our own strength, but rather it comes from Christ within us. Amen.

 

March 25, 2000	2 Timothy 2: 24-25a
In a Hurry?
"And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct ‘And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach; patient.’" Shortly after Christmas I found myself still exchanging gifts. The Christmas rush was still in the air and people were bustling around. I was standing in a department store exchange line, when a hurried woman stepped up and stood next to the counter in order to be noticed. I too, had a schedule to keep that day, but I found myself "stepping back" to let her proceed. While waiting, it occurred to me that so often we hurry through life, never "stepping back" to let others proceed. Second Timothy tells us to be gentle unto all men, to be patient. Patience is a virtue, I frequently forget. The simple story of teaching my daughter to bake cookies comes to mind. It seems much "quicker" if I just mix all the ingredients together and let her watch, to "save time." This is where the patience comes in, children will never learn without patient parents willing to teach them.
Prayer: Dear Lord, today and in days to come, help me to become more patient with others, "stepping back," to let them proceed. Amen.

 

March 26, 2000	I Corinthians 1:25
Guess How Much He Loves Us
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength." When our eight-year-old son was a little younger and not quite beyond such things, my wife and I would read to him a wonderfully simple book called "Guess How Much I Love You." In it, a young jackrabbit would say to an older one (I always thought a father rabbit) that he loved the father more than "this," and would hold open his arms wide. "Well," said the father, "I love you more than this," and he’d open his arms wider. This loving one-upmanship would go on and on until the little rabbit sleepily would say, "I love you from here to the moon." As the little one slept, the father would say he loved him that much too -- and back. Our son would smile or snuggle, but I’d think, "If only he knew that that doesn’t even begin to describe our love for him." If that’s the case, then perhaps God looks at us and ponders the same thought. As today’s reading says, God’s most foolish moments (who could imagine such a thing!) are far wiser than the thoughts of the most knowledgeable people. And the strongest willed and moral of people aren’t even in the same ballpark as God. We might be a bit baffled or in awe to try and contemplate God’s love and strength for us, but don’t worry. He loves us enough to have sent his only son to die on the cross for us. How much does God love us? That much.
Prayer: Dear Lord -- your strength and wisdom is great beyond any measure. We are thankful to be in the hands of such a loving creator, and we know that you are always there for us in times of happiness and times of trial. Amen.

 

March 27, 2000	Exodus 20: 2-3
Serving Only One
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me." When God spoke these words to Moses and followed them with his Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, he surely knew how soon they would forget. They would forget that it was he who had delivered them out of Egypt and of the generations of misery spent in slavery. Their troubles seemed to be far behind them, and when Moses left them to go up into the mountain, how easy it was to forget him, too, and give in to human temptations. How easy it is for all of us to forget ... at times, who we are, where we are, and who we should be serving. We are surrounded by the temptations of many "false gods" - money, ambition, material goods, ego. There are many more temptations and they all entice us to serve them. Even our Lord Jesus, when he wandered in the wilderness, was enticed and tempted by the greatest false god of all. He, of course, never lost faith in his Father, the one true God, and served and followed him even to the cross. If only our faith could be as strong. Although we have never suffered the burden of slavery, it is still the Lord our God and his Son, Jesus Christ, who have delivered each one of us into our lives of grace and never-ending love. Let us never forget who it is that we should serve - in every way that we can.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to be ever mindful of who we are and who you are. You have delivered us into lives of such blessings. Help us to be strong in faith and resist the temptation to serve "other gods." May we use the gifts you have given us in service to you alone, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

March 28, 2000	John 17: 4
Glorifying God
"I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." These are the words from Jesus in a prayer to God. Jesus knows his time on earth is short and he is about to end his journey. This verse is a summation of his life on earth. First, he has glorified God. Second, he has finished his work and has done all that has been expected of him. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us could make these two statements when our time on earth is done? After all, if we glorify God and do his will, our life will be an example for all, just as Jesus’ life was an example for us to follow. The key point is that none of us know when our time on earth is over. Therefore, we must be ready at any time to make these statements about our life. If our life ends tomorrow, we have only through today to glorify God and do his work. This fits in very well with the Vision Statement of our church. We are "servants of God, guided by the Holy Spirit, to make Christ known." As servants of God, we should finish God’s work he has given us. Also, the Spirit will guide us to glorify God and make Christ known. Jesus led a life that we can still look to today for an example of what God wants from us.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, you came to serve, not to be served. Let us learn from your example, and begin TODAY. Make your Holy Spirit known through our words, our thoughts, and our actions. Amen.

 

March 29, 2000	Romans 14: 17-19
Growing in God’s Love
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." This reading is a small snapshot of Christianity. If I might paraphrase: "For the kingdom of God is not a party, but people helping each other to live in peace, joy and God. Those on earth who live by this, will be loved by God and man. So let’s try." Sounds simple doesn’t it? So why is it so hard for us to live this simple lifestyle? Because we are human and humans are flawed. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Like with most endeavors, we need to start small. Let’s start with our families. Bring righteousness, peace, joy and most of all God into our family life. How can we do this? By doing. Being an example is the best way to teach. We can do this by listening and learning. My daughter points out that Steve, of Blues Clues, says that when you’re mad you need to stop, breath, and think. What good advice! How often is our family’s peace and joy disrupted by something said without thinking? Isn’t it amazing how we can learn from even the smallest and weakest? When our families are cared for, let’s expand to our church family, then our community, and so on. Remember, each step will add more people, so you won’t be alone. As love for God grows, love for each other grows.
Prayer: God, help us to live in peace and joy. Help us start small and grow until the whole world is at peace. Help us to help others by treating them with respect and caring. Let us look beyond ourselves. Bring us the wisdom and patience we will need to live our lives in your name. Amen.

 

March 30, 2000	1 Peter 5:6
Humble Yourself
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Humble yourself, not bold and proud, try being meek and simple. Don’t be hung up on power, pride and freedom. What does freedom mean? Is it only for you and your well being? Or can you reach out and feel in your heart, others who want and need the feeling of freedom. God loves a cheerful giver. H is for harmony, heart, and Hallelujah U is for unashamed, upright, and united M is for mankind and mercy B is for Bible, and to believe L is for LORD and Love E is for everyone and evangelism Put them all together and they spell HUMBLE and that is what we should forever be.
Prayer: Through faith alone we believe. Through your grace we are forgiven. Through your love we are blessed and raised up. Amen.

 

March 31, 2000	Revelation 19:5
Confusion
"Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!’" Sometimes we all go through times of confusion in our faith. After all, the definition of faith is "unquestioning belief." How easy is that for most of us? When things happen to the people in our lives that seem senseless - the death of a child, a devastating illness, marital difficulties - it is not easy to hold on to faith. Yet when these things happen, sometimes the only thing you have to hold on to is your faith in God. In Jesus. Sometimes he is the only thing that does make sense. Bad things DO happen to GOOD people. Why? I guess we can ask our Lord when we see him. Until then, we’ll just have to have faith.
Prayer: Lord, give us the strength to praise you even in the difficult times of our lives. Help us to see the sense in the senseless, the sane in the insanity, and your will in every situation. And if we just cannot see it, help us to accept it. Amen.

 

April 1, 2000	Matthew 25: 21
Talents
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’" On the evening of the third day of passion week, our Lord Jesus Christ was teaching his disciples on the Mount of Olives. One of the parables he shared with them included this passage regarding a Master’s pleasure in the success of his servant. In his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Alfred Edersheim feels that Jesus is preparing the disciples for what is expected. Jesus is telling a story about a wealthy Master who is leaving all of his possessions in the hands of his servants. He has distributed to each according to their capability to manage the task. This Master could be viewed as Jesus himself. After all, he knew what would soon be happening. For the Great Miracle to happen he would have to make the ultimate sacrifice. He would have to give his life for ours. Was Jesus not leaving his flock in the hands of the disciples? Indeed in our hands yet today! What is Jesus’ lesson to the disciples? Was it not to only keep the flock together but to multiply its size? Jesus doesn’t want us to be comfortable in our nice church. He wants us to be stewards of his flock. He is challenging each of us to use our talents as they are given to us to the best of our ability. Last spring our church offered members an opportunity to discover what their talents were. Groups met several different times and each of us prayed and searched our souls for our talents to best serve God. He has given each of us special talents to serve his flock. Some of the talents identified were those who could lead, teach, administrate, and serve, just to mention a few. It is up to us to determine how we can best serve God. It is our trusted responsibility to act on those talents so the Master will be proud of us when he returns. If you don’t know what your talents are do not distress. A Reformation Saint, named after a town, uses her talents to help you search for yours. If you don’t know who that is, ask me. I’ll introduce you.
Prayer: Father, you have blessed each of us with so many talents. We ask that you make those abilities and special qualities known so that we may each serve you more faithfully. Amen.

 

April 2, 2000	John 3: 21
Rays of Light
"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." You know how it is, in the middle of winter, when you’re sick of gray, drab days? Then the sun breaks through, and it’s wonderful. You bask in the light. You can’t get enough of it. Its glow warms you and cheers you and sticks with you, even after the clouds return. So it is with God’s light. Its powerful, encouraging rays bolster us in our faith, enabling us to do God’s will, despite all the clouds in our path. And his light has a staying power that nothing - not even the darkest clouds - can snuff out.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for sending your Son, your light, to guide us. Please help us to live in that light, to live as you want us to live. Amen.

 

April 3, 2000	Romans 3:23
Grace, a Gift From Our Lord
"… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Martin Luther writes in his Commentary on Romans, (translated by J. Theodore Mueller): "This Epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul." Luther says of Romans 3:23, men are altogether without any virtue in which they may glory before God. They have no righteousness at all of which to boast before God, as we read in I Corinthians 1:29 "so that no one may boast before him." Luther notes in the commentary, the real glory before God is righteousness, wisdom, and spiritual strength, and all these come from God and are given to us freely by his grace. Romans 3: 24 tells us that we "… are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Jesus died for our sins. There is no greater truth. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. God has given us the greatest gift of all. He has forgiven our sins and he has given us eternal life. The only requirement to receive this gift is to believe. God sent his son into the world to save us from our sins. Christ came as a servant. Therefore, if it is our desire to be more Christ-like, we to will choose to be servants. We, as Christians do not serve others to save ourselves, we serve others because we ourselves are saved. I am thankful for the people I go to church with here at Reformation Lutheran Church. I feel I am surrounded by people whose greatest desire is to serve the Lord. I feel I am privileged to be a member of a church where so many people are focused on their spiritual growth. I see all around me people who are dedicated to our Lord, people who serve in many ways and according to their gifts. I feel I am very blessed to be a part of this church.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending your Son to die for us. Thank you for the grace you have shown to us, your sinful children. Help us to grow in that grace and help us to serve you. Help us to grow in our faith. Amen

 

April 4, 2000	Luke 1: 37-38
Eyes and Ears Wide Open
"For nothing is impossible with God. ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her." I don’t know that many of us think we could have summoned the courage of Mary to carry the Son of God. What I do know is this: if any of us were asked to be a part of a miracle of God’s choosing, we can rest in faith that God will prepare us for the task or he knows that we are already prepared. I can recall no instance where I immediately thought I was visiting with an angel. I have many times, however, wondered after an experience if the person who came to me in help, mercy or guidance was indeed an angel sent by God to show me a better path, to aid in my quest or to provide an answer to a dilemma. Important thoughts to consider: can we or should we know when an angel is calling? Will it be enough to keep our eyes and ears wide open to God’s wonders? Isn’t God, who is faithful and just, going to provide us with the answers soon enough? Certainly, if and when any of us is called to do God’s work, we will know at the appropriate time. Couldn’t an angel visit in human form, even as someone we know? What if God knows that it might be the only way we would hear his message? Will we ever be called to do angelic work?
Prayer: Dear Father, please let our hearts and minds be open to your work and the work of your angels. Please help us to carry our faith with us in the works you choose for us. Thank you for the work of angels and may we be grateful for angelic work you ask of us. Amen.

 

April 5, 2000	Luke 10: 33-34a
Humanitarian Aid – Right Here At Home
"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine." Late one afternoon, driving home from downtown, I got caught in a traffic jam caused by a stalled car; it was kind of cross-wise so both lanes were blocked. It looked like the kind of car that probably stalled regularly. In my mirror I noticed the guy behind me abruptly turned into the Quick Trip. I was a little resentful of his good luck -- he was going to cut through the parking lot around the traffic jam and be on his way again in seconds. I was surprised to see him park, get out of his expensive foreign car, and push the stalled car around the corner onto a side street. Thinning hair, thickening middle, and soft-looking hands put him in the age group that you might expect to have a heart attack from the unaccustomed exertion of shoveling snow - or pushing a car all by him self. From his car and his clothing, it was very evident that he was not of the same socio-economic group as the stalled motorist nor of the numerous Quick Trip patrons milling about. This is the part of town of another complexion; the area "we" hurry through, seldom investing a glance to either side - definitely not an area to stop for milk on the way home. He probably got back to his car and out of there just fine. I didn’t wait around to be sure.
Prayer: Gracious Father, inspire us to leave our "comfort zone" and truly give to a Neighbor not of our neighborhood, instead of merely donating what we have extra and don’t need anyway. Amen.

 

April 6, 2000	I Samuel 3:16
Here I Am
"but Eli called him and said, ‘Samuel, my son.’ Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’" I remember lying in bed about three years ago. I was frustrated and at my wits end. My life just seemed so empty even though it seemed like I had so much. My heart seemed like it had a hole in it that ate at my soul. What was wrong? I had a great job! I had great friends, and I was blessed with great family, but still something was missing. I wasn’t happy, I felt empty, and alone. So there I was, laying in bed one night, and I remember saying "I give up God ... I surrender, may your will be done." See I am a stubborn kind of guy. A ‘control freak’ if you will. Sure I was a Christian, but only on my own terms. I was constantly trying to make God’s plan ‘fit’ into my plans. It just doesn’t work that way, and I had to walk a bumpy path to find that out. Well actually I had to fall off a few cliffs on my path before I figured things out. Life isn’t about money, or power, or prestige. Yeah, I needed some cliffs and "thanks be to God" for those cliffs! Had they not been there I would still be living life my own way. Why is it so hard for some of us to say, "speak, your servant is listening," when God calls to us? I thank God daily that he loves me so much that he never gave up on me. So many great blessings have come my way since that night. I could write books on the many blessing God has granted me since then! Perhaps you are like I was too. Perhaps your heart has a hole in it big enough to drive a bus through. Perhaps something eats at your soul ... and you wonder "why?" God calls us to serve. "Here I am, Lord." What a powerful phrase! Samuel, who was just a young boy, answered God’s calling with "here I am," and he was blessed.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, "here I am." Guide us Lord and may our actions always bring glory to your name. "Here I am" Lord, make me your servant and teach me to walk in your steps till the day we meet in heaven. Amen

 

April 7, 2000	Ephesians 6:7
The Slave Serving the Master
"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men," I have always had a problem with the issue of Faith and Works. This has bothered me until I realized that others, like James and Luther had similar problems. Even Paul, the practical theologian of the early church, seems to have had a problem with works/faith. How can we be saved by faith and yet be required to do good works? Paul in Ephesians 6 tries to explain this in terms that I can understand. He talks about the relationship of parents and children, of slaves and masters. He talks of status and of deeds, of willing obedience and willing actions. The slave’s status is not dependent on his actions. He can be the best, most willing, smartest slave in the household. He can be the worst, slowest, dullest slave. In both cases he is a slave. I have read (don’t ask me where) that slavery in the South was doomed even without the Civil War as slavery by its very nature is uneconomical. Lacking any positive incentive to work, slaves did not work as hard as they could. A few willing workers replaced many more slaves on southern plantations after the Civil War. As I see it, I am a slave. I have willingly sold myself into slavery. I now have a master. My slavery will not end if I do not work my best. I work willingly, I hope, because I have the best master in the world and he asks for my help. This is a master that even died for me, his slave. I work, not because I have to, but because I want to.
Prayer: Master, let us be slaves to all of your other slaves. May we learn to glory in the your status as the leader of all and let us await your Second Coming as we remember your First. May I always remember that my life is yours. Do with it as you will. Amen.

 

April 8, 2000	Romans 12: 9-13
Brotherly Love
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." As I read today’s scripture, I get the image of St. Paul as a stern parent talking to his bickering kids. How easy it is for siblings to forget that they are going to be best friends for life, and get caught up in competitive engagements over the smallest issue. Much like kids who need time out to step back and resolve the situation fairly, Paul reminds the church in Rome to cooperate with one another and with the world in general. The Lenten season is a time of penitence, prayer and preparation for the miracle of Easter. Like the kids, we should also take this time out to step back and review our conduct. Have we loved our neighbors as ourselves? Have we been aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord? It’s easy to overlook these basic principles as we focus on the mechanics of daily life, but a healthy relationship with the community, church and God requires these simple acts of kindness and respect.
Prayer: Dear Lord, let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. Amen.

 

April 9, 2000	John 13: 4-5
Serving Family and Friends
"… he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." During high school, I spent a couple weeks of my summer at Camp Metigoshe in North Dakota. One night we talked about humbling ourselves and being servants. Then, as a sign of humbleness, our counselors washed our feet. As I stood in the lake, looking at my counselor kneeling in front of me, I was struck by the wonder of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Feet washing was a common occurrence during Jesus’ time. Sandals were the most common footwear and walking was the most common means of transportation. Walking the dirt roads and paths caused a person’s feet to get dirty quickly. Washing someone’s feet was a gesture of kindness and a way to welcome someone into your home. By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrated what it means to be a Christian. Too often we picture Jesus as being the majestic and exalted figure we see in paintings. We forget his humanness. Jesus walked this earth as a man and performed human tasks. By washing the feet of his followers he reminds us that we are to look at our neighbors with a humble heart and serve them. It’s often easier to serve those occasional obvious needs that arise than to look at the people we see everyday and figure out how to serve them. Listening to a friend’s concerns, giving a hug, being excited for someone who just received good news are all ways of serving the people around us. We should take the example of our Lord and serve each other. I think again about my counselor, bent over my feet. All week, she was someone I looked up to and tried to emulate and now here she was touching my ugly feet. How revealing for both of us. In the same way, Jesus demonstrated his love and compassion for his friends. I challenge you to look at those around you today and tell them how much they mean to you. Remember the servant and humble attitude the Son of God demonstrated and wash the feet of your loved ones.
Prayer: Heavenly servant Lord, today we remember how you humbled yourself in order to serve your disciples. Help us toremember your example and serve the people around us everyday. In your son’s humble name. Amen.

 

April 10, 2000	John 12: 25-26
Sharing
"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." When a man or woman puts his life above those of others, his or her life is meaningless. We are placed upon this world to share our lives and care for all we come in contact with. I was fortunate to have a neighbor who shared her gifts with us. She was a caring and sharing person. When we moved into the neighborhood some 18 years ago, this woman opened her heart and her home to our family. Not only did she share her material gifts, she shared with us her family and her spirit. She was a devoted follower of God and showed it in her actions and deeds. The Lord called her home several weeks ago, and although she lived a long and lovely life, we miss her dearly. Her charm and strength is what we miss the most. She gave us many warm and wonderful feelings. Although she is gone, she has left us with examples on how to care and share.
Prayer: Lord, may you continue to help us understand how we can make this world a better place for all who live. Guide us to help those in need of help. May we learn to care and share our worldly possessions, both materially and spiritually. We ask for these in your name. Amen!

 

April 11, 2000	Romans 7: 6
The New Way
"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Have you ever been released from a responsibility that was weighing on you heavily? It can be a great feeling of relief. Recently, I was working temporarily for Sprint. They needed help for a special Valentine’s seasonal project, and I needed money. Although balancing college and work is something that many students do, when the job was finished, it felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. In Romans 7:6, Paul tells the Christians of Rome that the message of Christ is that they are released from the burden of the written, codified law of the Old Testament. The people of Christ are no longer bound by the old law, and they are blessed with a new spiritual contract with Christ. In this regard a huge weight was lifted from their shoulders. Peace be with you.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, release us from our old ways and teach us to walk in your way, the new and righteous way. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

April 12, 2000	Joshua 24: 14-15
The Right Path
"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." As we have entered the new millenium, we have more than five billion people inhabiting this earth. Each and every one of us is an individual, with individual thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It’s hard to say nowadays what exactly goes through each and every persons mind when it comes to their religious position, but many believe in the Christian God. Being a teenager growing up in opinionated times is difficult. There are so many people shining their lights on me, telling me about what I should believe. I often find myself questioning things, but I know that this is natural. God has come into my life to show me the way and lead me down a good path. The best thing I can do to repay him for that guidance is to prove myself as his child, and to show that I only believe in him. Joshua spoke to the people at Shechem, telling them that they needed to be sure of who they wanted to follow. It was their decision if they’d go in the path of God. It is up to people as individuals to decide whom they will follow and each day we are granted that choice. Being brought up in a Christian home and attending church since I was a baby, I have chosen to follow God because I know he is right for me and will always be there to guide me in the right path.
Prayer: God, no matter what we do, you always watch over us. You’re always there when another person makes the decision not to follow in your way, but you still love them as much as anyone else. Please continue to be with us in all the decisions we face in life, and be our guide when we make the choice to follow your trail. Amen.

 

April 13, 2000	Job 21: 15
When Good Things Happen to Bad People
"Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?" One might call this chapter of Job "When Good Things Happen to Bad People." All the men visiting Job seem intent on proving to him that there is no justice in life. They tell him that the evil are always punished, but Job says this is no comfort because experience suggests that the evil are often so successful that they arrogantly wonder why they need God. Job says that the evil are often not punished immediately. In fact, it often seems that they totally escape responsibility. Witnessing this, a good man who has suffered misfortune can take no comfort that there is retribution for living badly. In our culture, which equates the accumulation of money and power with success and happiness, justice and goodness oftentimes seems as non-existent as it did to Job. The unethical, self-centered, and materialistic have all the "stuff," and have become heroes to many. They arrogantly believe that everything they have is deserved because they "played the game" right. Anyone with less stuff is a victim of his own ineptitude and deserves to fail. None of this twisted thinking should affect our faith unless we are lured into adopting these values. When we doubt the worth of living righteously, in spite of suffering or rewards, we become embittered by what seems to be the lack of justice in life. It is at this point that the evil in the world wins.
Prayer: Dearest God, I am so easily enticed by worldly things. Help me to come to you with all my desires, to pray to you with all my concerns and fears. And most importantly, to listen to open my inner ear to heed your answers. Amen.

 

April 14, 2000	John 12:30
This Is for You
"Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine.’" At first glance this verse troubled me quite a lot, but after reading it and the accompanying verses, I began to get a better grasp on what Jesus was saying. After Jesus said in John 12:28, "Father glorify your name," the "voice" came from heaven and responded, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." This is all spoken by Jesus as a prediction of his death on the cross. The death Jesus dies was not to save himself; it was to save each and every sinner on this earth. Jesus was perfect and knew where he was headed. Jesus died so you and I could have the opportunity to go to heaven. Whether or not we take this opportunity is up to us, but at least we know we have it. He did what he did solely for us. Sometimes I wonder what Jesus thought of as he was dying on the cross that dark and sad Friday afternoon. At these times I think that Jesus was thinking of me while he was dying. Maybe he thought to himself, I am doing this so that this lost person will have renewed life? Whenever I think that it was me that Jesus thought of and not himself, it makes me want to do more for him and gives me a renewed inspiration.
Prayer: Thank you heavenly Father for sending your son to die for me and for my sins. I know that without you I would be a lost soul. It is because of you and your constant mercy (mercy I don’t deserve) that I can be forgiven for my sins. Thank you for making me, and after all my mistakes, still forgiving me. Amen.

 

April 15, 2000	I Peter 4:10
Grams’ Kindness
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." I believe God gave a wonderful gift of kindness to my late grandmother. She would always keep a happy face, and a kind way about her. She understood me and everyone; she always knew what to say to make you feel special. God gave her the gift of kindness to act out upon others with this kindness. God wants us to use our gifts towards others, and she did just that. Her love and care for everyone brightened their moods. You cannot think or speak of Grams without thinking she is an amazing person. God’s gift to her spread to others which affected us to spread it on. I am glad I had the opportunity to spend all the time and love with my late Grams. I miss her and love her forever, and thank God for giving me the gift of knowing her.
Prayer: Holy Father, let us see our gifts you give to us, and appreciate them and use them for everything they are, for a gift from you is a gift that should always be shared. Amen.

 

April 16, 2000	Isaiah 50: 5-6
An Unexpected Friend
"The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting." When reading the verse from Isaiah I found it hard to relate to Jesus’ teaching. I could not imagine helping someone who harmed me. As I focused more on the verse I was able to recall a memory from my first few weeks of kindergarten. In my class there was a girl who picked on and bullied me. At first I did not know how to approach her because she had so much power over me. I was afraid of her, but I did not dislike her. I decided to tell her that I would like it if we could be friends. To my surprise she said "yes" and we have been friends ever since. After reading Jesus’ message I thought about many situations where I could be considerate to someone who was prejudiced to me. I could receive a positive outcome by using Jesus’ teaching at work with rude customers, at school with unfair teachers, or even at home with my brother.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please teach us to understand your lessons and use them in our lives. Teach us not be too hasty in our judgment of others. Allow our reflections on our lives to help us improve the future. In your name we pray. Amen.

 

April 17, 2000	Deuteronomy. 28: 47-48
The Little Things
"Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you." My little sister, Allison, just participated in her first spelling bee this week at her elementary school. She had forgotten to study her words and she was stressing out trying to correctly spell the words, as the spelling bee was the following day. When I realized what was going on with Allison, I dropped everything I was doing to help her study her words. I ended up spending the entire evening helping her by quizzing her and giving her tips. I knew she was an excellent speller, but she was just nervous. The following morning I gave her a quick quiz over a couple of words before I left for school. I even let her wear my lucky necklace for good luck. During the day, I caught myself looking at the clock and thinking of her. After school, I had planned on riding home with my best friend, Amanda, but we had to stop at my house first before we went on to her house. On the way home I asked Amanda if we could stop by the school to check on Allison and she said "sure." We got there just as the classes were being dismissed from the spelling bee. When I saw Allison, I held out my arms and she ran and jumped into them. She was completely surprised by my visit. She told me that she hadn’t won. I told her that I didn’t care and that I thought she was brave for getting up in front of the school and that I was very proud of her. Today’s reading says that if you don’t serve God, he will spite you down. You can serve God in many ways, but I think I serve him best through my little sister.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for all the precious things you give us. Give us the strength, knowledge, and love to serve you in all the many ways we can. Amen.

 

April 18, 2000	Luke 22: 27
Master of the House
"For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves." The long journey is nearing an end for Jesus and his disciples. As they are gathering for a meal, known today as "The Last Supper" or "The Lord’s Supper," the disciples still don’t get it. Once again they are quarreling among themselves, jockeying for a position in the coming Kingdom, vying for the opportunity to say, "I am the Greatest." Once again, Jesus explains that his kingdom is vastly different from the normal kingdom. His leadership requires servitude. I thought back to the nine principals I have worked with over the years. Some sought glory for themselves, and some worked to improve the image of the school, but the most able concentrated on ways to help us be more able. They were interested in our professional growth so that the students could in turn benefit from our expertise. That is always the type of leadership Jesus practiced; he was both master and servant.
Prayer: Help us to be more selfless, reaching out to help others, seeking to serve them, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

April 19, 2000	John 12: 24
Change
"… unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Change can be a pain, and really hard to deal with. Our family has moved twice since the kids came along. Sure, it’s exciting in some ways, but each time we change, there are some painful moments as well. Friends, family, and other familiar faces are no longer around. It’s like a piece of you dies. Each of us has at least a little part inside that wants things to be constant. We like routines. There’s a TV show that we just have to see each week. A lot of us have morning routines we use to get ready for the day, and our routines seldom change. If something goes wrong and we can’t follow our "normal" patterns, we tend to get really grumpy. But things have to change. God wants them to change. In the verse, Jesus was warning his disciples about some really big changes just around the corner. He knew the changes were coming. He knew that they wouldn’t be particularly pleasant. He even asked his Father if there was another way. He didn’t stay on his couch watching TV or playing computer games. Nor was he frozen by fear. We’re surrounded by the world and by sin, and it’s easy to either get comfortable and complacent, or to get really scared and hide. The pastor in Arizona says that his job is to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Like the grain of wheat, we have to change, or we’ll be sitting alone, stagnant. Jesus was kind of like a seed. His resurrection fulfilled God’s promise for salvation, and gave new life to God’s plan for his people. If he hadn’t died and gone through those changes, what then? But since he did, salvation has blossomed. We are his new seeds. We continue his work. As little Christs, we’re bound to go through some changes as well. It can’t be any other way. As we follow him and do his work in the world, we’re going to run into some interesting people or situations. Some won’t be pleasant. Some will be downright scary. Some will hurt a lot. Those changes can remind us that we are his, and that he’s the only constant. Those changes change us and bring us closer to him.
Prayer – Lord, keep us just a little off-balance in this world. Help us to look forward to change, and to see how to get more of your love in our lives. When the changes start to get scary, open our eyes, so we can see your