Devotion for May 30

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind… Matthew 13:47

My colleague, Pr. Dick Hutton, had set up the luncheon meeting with the pastor and president of the congregation of this city church. I had heard of their work and vision. They have reached out to two immigrant populations in their east side area. They have maintained a Lutheran witness through those who travel to come to their church for worship and ministry. I listened as they shared stories – hopes and dreams in the flesh.

But like many protestant congregations, they are declining in membership and attendance. Their focus is on the next chapter. I had hoped to engage them in how we at St. Mark might partner with them for that next chapter. A few ideas surfaced, and we’ll have more conversation, I hope.

It was a fishing expedition, admittedly. I was casting the net of the kingdom in uncharted waters in the hopes of “catching fish of every kind.” What will the catch be? I don’t know. But I have become convinced that in our time we must explore new waters and new depths. We are past the time for watching and waiting for the weather to change and the young and old who no longer worship the Living God to return to our churches. Fully 25% of young people, ages 18-24 now classify themselves as non-religious – and scholars now say it is unlikely that they will change. So, I’m prayerfully casting the net.

I recognize it is risky. I’m sure those two church leaders wondered about my motivations for asking for the conversation. I wonder what they think of me and our ministry at St. Mark? On the other hand, the riskiest thing for us to do in the Christian Church is to play it safe. So, I’m praying and probing and, I hope, partnering for the kingdom of heaven.

How’s your fishing going? Has our God invited you to cast the net of your faith in uncharted waters lately? How have you responded to this invitation?

God bless our fishing… Amen.

Devotion for May 9

Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

My earliest memories of faith include my three brothers and me being lined up in front of my mother before we got in the car to go to church. She would tuck our shirts in, slick our hair back and, as a last touch, adjust our clip-on bow ties so that they were straight. Then it was off to church to sit with our parents in one of the middle rows for worship. Faith is more caught than taught, isn’t it?

Paul understands that. He knows that instruction without modeling is rarely effective. So he writes to the Christians in Philippi that they should not only keep on doing what he had taught them, but more than that, what they had experienced of his faith.

I have come to believe that, for the next generations to believe in Jesus Christ, they need to see and hear our faith. I know this is difficult for many of us. The reasons, I suspect, are many. One of them surely is that we have seen the distortion of faith that has been loudly declared and flaunted in the media. For many of us this is a caricature of our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. So, we keep our faith to ourselves. Another reason is that, in our desire to be respectful of others and their beliefs, we have waited for the invitation to share what we believe… and, of course, the invitation doesn’t come.

Given all that, I am wondering if my faith is visible to my family and friends. I don’t need to shout on the street corner. Nor am I prone to arguments with others about where they are wrong and I am right. Instead, I am praying that the Holy Spirit will help me model and tell my faith to those who mean the most to me. I think it would lead to a quiet but confident revolution of belief if we would simply be intentional about demonstrating our faith to those with whom we have a relationship of trust and care, don’t you?

Lord Jesus, give me an eagerness to live my faith in you as best I can. Amen

Devotion for May 2

…for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples… Luke 2:30

I was working in my office concentrating on the task at hand. Turning to look outside I suddenly discovered that I had a large smudge on my left lens. “How did I miss that?” I wondered. Taking my lens wipes out from the drawer, I diligently cleaned both lenses, looked through my glasses and saw clearly for the first time this morning.

It’s funny how a person can go through a day and not know that he has a large smudge on one of his lenses. I’d like to think it was because I was concentrating so hard that I just looked past it. I suspect its closer to the truth to say that I had just gotten used to it.

I wonder how often I look at things through smudges of bias or distortions just because I’ve become used to it. In the day-to-day living of life, I think I can easily assume the distorted vision of one who is certain of what really matters, what just has to be done – and I’m not seeing clearly at all. Not long ago, for example, I thought I had seen a situation at church with absolute clarity only to learn that I had misread an interaction. Misreading that conversation, I didn’t get the whole picture. My vision was blurred, and I didn’t even know it.

Simeon saw with clarity who Jesus the child was. That’s why he could celebrate that his life had not been in vain. He had seen the promised Christ. And all of this happened in worship. And I’ve had my life lenses cleansed in worship too. I’m reminded of what and who really matter and who I can ultimately trust. And I just see myself, the world and others a bit more clearly… just like Simeon.

I’m looking forward to worship. I think my soul’s lenses need cleaning.

Devotion for April 18

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field… Matthew 13:44

I found a treasure in the bookcase. Clothed in a plastic cover to protect the dust jacket, the old library markings inked out in black, the book doesn’t look like much. Seeing it, I remembered immediately where we got it.

Across from the Guthrie County Court House is the city library. I don’t recall why we were at the courthouse, but we saw the sign for the library sale and went in. I picked up this old novel by Chaim Potok, The Book of Lights. I put it in the bookcase at the lake. That was over two years ago. Last week I opened that book. What a treasure! As I recall, the book cost me fifty cents… for a treasure I’d stumbled on and hid in a bookcase, not really knowing its value.

I’ve been thinking about treasures ever since, especially the ones we so often find in the worn out binders or bookcases we take for granted.

This past weekend, I read a prayer card that said “Thank God for the treasure of our marriage.” Yes… that’s what I’m talking about. Somehow a couple had reconnected, opened the dust jacket of their relationship and discovered the treasure of love.

Watching my wife laboring over papers for the end of term, my heart swelled and I claimed another treasure. Seeing my grandchildren come across the church to hug me, smiling, donut in hand – another treasure.

Today I pray that you’ll discover a real treasure. If you do, take it to your heart and hold it close. I think you’ll find that the kingdom of heaven, the love of God, has just come near.

Devotion for March 21

Today’s devotion was written by Ministry Support Specialist Jared Nicol.

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Our Life Group is reading Philip Yancey’s book The Jesus I Never Knew.  In chapter six, Yancey writes about the Beatitudes and the rewards that are promised.  One of those Beatitudes is found in Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

To me, righteousness is seeking God and striving to follow the path that He describes for us in His Word.  After our group discussion, I felt challenged and asked myself what I could do to lead a more righteous life.  Yancey mainly directed me to service in the model of examples such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mother Teresa.  I’ve experienced the rewards that service to others can bring.  When I spend time with my little brother through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, my heart is truly filled as I focus on giving myself to him.  It’s the same way at home with my family.  If I block out distractions and truly give myself up to get on the floor and play with my children, I feel God’s rewards.  Yet, if you’re like me, you often forget to think about these feelings as God’s rewards.

Philippians 4:8 gives me the direction to think critically and deeply about the world around me and seek to mirror those things that are true and noble and lasting.  In doing so, I am naturally led to consider what is false, sinful and not worthy of my contemplation and emulation.  I naturally move away from unworthy thoughts and move myself forward.

It is not always easy to do so, but I’ve found that I experience a positive ripple effect in my life as I make the conscious choice to focus on the praiseworthy and admirable.  One of my favorite pastimes is hiking in timber or kayaking on a secluded lake or river.  It seems to help me recognize God’s beautiful and wise design of this world and connect with Him.  The selfish thoughts and worries tend to crumble as I consider God’s workmanship and reconnect with a call to live out a higher pursuit and go after God’s rewards.

What ways might work for you to bring more righteous contemplation into your life?  Whatever you discover, make it a habit to pass these things through your mind frequently – and especially during those times when you feel you are heading away from God.  Be ready to for the fill-up of rewards that you experience.

Devotion for December 21

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us… Isaiah 9:6

My granddaughter, Beatrix, called me the other day. We are going to visit them after Christmas and stay over New Year’s Day. She called to tell me that we were going to have a challenge, a contest, of building marshmallow bridges. Now, I am not a huge fan of marshmallows – let alone building bridges constructed with them and toothpicks. And I am not sure what it means when a nearly four-year-old granddaughter feels confident in challenging her grandfather.

On the other hand, if that’s what I need to do to spend time with her – I’m certainly up for it. In fact, I’m willing to travel half-way across the United States, suffer the indignity of current airport security measures, and face humiliation when I demonstrate my marshmallow bridge building inadequacies, if it means I can spend time with Beatrix. (I can’t help but remember the joyous laughter of my other three grandchildren when I attempted to compete with them on their Wii.) But, after all, love will go to any lengths to touch and be near the loved one.

I think that’s what Christmas is all about. God was willing to do all that it took to be with humankind – with you and me. The King of Heaven was willing to suffer the humiliation of birth in a stable and, eventually, the road to the Cross, just to love us.

I fully recognize that in the grandeur of Christian Theology and the doctrine of the Incarnation, this is a bit simplistic. But isn’t the birth of a baby boy, wrapped in bands of swaddling cloth and lying in straw unsophisticated? Maybe cattle and sheep and a donkey or two isn’t too much a stretch of the imagination from marshmallow bridges and Wii gyrations. I don’t think so.

Merry Christmas!

Devotion for August 18

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them… Matthew 7:24

Relationships change us. We know this about our children, so we are rightly concerned when they enter into relationships with others whose behaviors and attitudes disturb us as parents. We know this, too, for ourselves – relationships have the power to encourage or discourage us, heal us or wound us, develop character or tempt us. Being in a relationship presents us with choices we otherwise would not face: to reflect that other’s attitudes and behaviors or to distance ourselves from them.

Jesus assumes that if we are in relationship with him we will have just such a choice. We can act on his words – that is, reflect who he is in how we live – or to distance ourselves and live as if his words, his person, have no impact on our lives.

The relationship is first. The deeds come from that relationship. In fact, the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ will give birth to acts of compassion and character. Martin Luther taught that a living faith will necessarily give birth to good works. Good works, however, do not necessarily give birth to faith. That’s what Jesus is asserting in the text above.

When I married Chris, my life changed. At first the change may have seemed subtle, but over time it was clear. There were activities I could no longer freely participate in, relationships that now required a new set of boundaries and attitudes that needed to be reshaped. The relationship necessarily reshaped my life.

Disciples of Jesus know this about our relationship with the Savior. His love now compels actions that previously were optional. His justice requires a self-examination that once may have been easily over-looked. His grace now frees us from guilt and shame that once could have imprisoned us. None of this is perfect, of course. Because the great gift of our God in Jesus Christ is the wonderful affirmation that God wants a real relationship with real people – and that changes everything!

Devotion for February 24

While Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!”        Luke 11:27

            Some compliments can’t be taken seriously. Jesus responded to the woman in Luke’s Gospel in a manner that redirected her compliment. He didn’t exactly deny it… but neither did he accept it. Scholars suggest that Jesus understood the compliment as an emotional outburst that would soon pass.

            There are compliments that come to us – or that we give – that have the power to bless. These are usually specific in nature and speak to the person of the one being complimented. Recently I received such a compliment. The person said that my sermon was particularly helpful because it shed light on how their faith could be used in relationship to a difficult personality. I thanked the person. The compliment was specific and, given the context, made it clear that she had been listening to the biblical truths lifted up.

            But there are other compliments that are not to be trusted. Not long ago a person told me that I was “the best pastor they had ever had.” The problem with that compliment is that is compares me to unnamed others – and may not be flattering. I remember the story of a pastor who gave his farewell sermon and, while greeting people at the end of the service, met a woman who was crying. She exclaimed, “Oh pastor, how can we replace you?” To which the pastor responded, “Oh, there will someone coming after me and they’ll be just as good – maybe even better.” And the woman stopped and replied, “That’s what they have all said – but they just keep getting worse!”

            The wisdom of Jesus is not just in teaching us what compliments not to take, but what compliments to give. I am going to look for opportunities to give authentic compliments. My suspicion is that they are too rarely given. Care to join me?

            Lord, help me learn the art of the authentic compliment. Amen