Daily Devotions - Lutheran Church Charities

No Doubt - February 4, 2012

2012-02-04T07:00:00Z

No Doubt

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. – Isaiah 40:21-22

Dr. James Dobson once told the story of the scientist determined to scale the mountain of truth. He struggled, wrestled and exhausted himself to achieve the summit only to find a theologian resting comfortably at the top wondering what had taken him so long! There are many who doubt the veracity of God’s Word. They point to supposed contradictions and wrestle with difficult passages. Certainly a study of scripture is not something to be taken lightly. There are nuances in the Bible that will elude the casual reader. Take for example the passage above.

Isaiah, thousands of years before explorers in the flat earth age of Christopher Columbus, declares the earth is a circle. A simple prophet of God describes the atmosphere of earth as a canopy spread out like a tent under which we live. It wasn’t until 1896 A.D. that Leon Philippe Teisserenc de Bort named the two layers of the atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere) showing that we do, indeed, live under a canopy much like a tent. How do we explain the description of people like grasshoppers from a man who has never been in an airplane or even conceived of such of thing?

Tucked away in the subtle corners of scripture are gems of insight into the Word’s true authorship. Only by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit can we come to know truth. Search the Word, seek the Lord, listen to His Spirit. Be still and stop taking yourself so seriously. You rest in the loving arms of the one who knows everything and in his love for us has revealed so much. No doubt.

Prayer
Lord, I am constantly amazed at your patient love for me and my capacity to miss all that you have revealed to me. Draw me ever deeper into your Word that I might marvel at the mysteries you have to show me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Commitment – Part 5 - February 3, 2012

2012-02-03T07:00:00Z

Commitment – Part 5

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

Nothing stokes the fires of commitment like single mindedness! Look at William Carey, 'the father of modern missions.' Although he had only an elementary education, by the time he was in his teens he could read the Bible in six languages. Because of his talent for languages, when he was in his early 30's he was chosen to be a missionary to India. Six years later, he founded the Serampore Mission. A few years after that he became Professor of Oriental Languages at Fort William College in Calcutta. He also used his talent to become a publisher. His press at Serampore printed Bibles in 40 languages and dialects for more than 300 million people. He impacted a nation for God! So, to what did Carey attribute his success? Noble birth? Unlimited resources? An easy assignment? No, he said it was because he was a plodder. Listen: 'I can plod. That is my only genius. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.'

Thomas A Buckner said, 'To bring one's self to a frame of mind and to add proper energy to accomplish things that require plain hard work continuously, is the one big battle everyone has. But when this battle is won for all time, then everything is easy.' When the Olympic athletes come into the stadium during the opening ceremonies they recite the following: 'I have prepared. I have followed the rules. I will not quit.' When you can say that with integrity, you can feel good about yourself no matter what happens afterward.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me make my commitment to you like Yours is to me. Help me carry that through in other areas of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Commitment – Part 4 - February 2, 2012

2012-02-02T07:00:00Z

Commitment – Part 4

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

People forget how fast you did a job, they just remember how well you did it. A real craftsman wants you to inspect his work. Sloppy people hide their work. If anyone finds fault with it they blame their equipment, their boss, or their environment, etc. 'Excellence' for the child of God, means doing it 'as unto the Lord' (to be presented to Him). Talent is important, but it is not enough. You need a strong work ethic. Longfellow wrote: 'The heights by great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight. But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.' We approach commitment in one of two ways: we either focus on the external or the internal. When we focus on the external, we allow circumstances to determine the outcome. Because circumstances constantly change, our commitment level changes like the wind. But not Jephthah. Listen: 'I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back' (Judges 11:35). That is commitment!

Each choice is a crossroad: one that will either confirm or compromise your commitment. When you come to a crossroad you can recognize it because: a) a personal decision is required b) the decision will cost you something c) others will likely be influenced by it. Your choices are the only thing you can truly control. You cannot control your circumstances, nor can you control others. But by focusing on your choices and making them with integrity, you control your commitment. And that is what separates success from failure!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me make my commitment to you like Yours is to me. Help me carry that through in other areas of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Commitment – Part 3 - February 1, 2012

2012-02-01T07:00:00Z

Commitment – Part 3

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

Before you commit to something count the cost, otherwise you will not stick with it (see Luke 14:28). After the Nazis obtained France's surrender, they were certain that victory was at hand; but they underestimated the commitment of Winston Churchill and the British people. Churchill knew what was at stake, as evidenced by his remarks at the time. 'The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization ...Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free... but if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age... Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say "This was their finest hour."'

Did victory come easily or without a cost? No, Britain suffered terrible bloodshed and bombing by the Nazis. But they stood. And because they stood the Allies won the war. Their resolve was strong not only because they knew what was at stake - but because they had decided in advance the price they were willing to pay. Understand this: it is virtually impossible to stand by a commitment naively or thoughtlessly made. Commitment only works when you count the cost and agree in advance to pay the price. So, how committed are you?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me make my commitment to you like Yours is to me. Help me carry that through in other areas of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Commitment – Part 2 - January 31, 2012

2012-01-31T07:01:00Z

Commitment – Part 2

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

Anytime you make a commitment to something, your commitment will be tested in three ways:

Experiencing failure. The greatest challenge to commitment is failure. Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton says, 'Achieving that goal is a good feeling, but to get there you have to get through the failures. You have to be able to pick yourself up and continue'.
Having to stand alone. When you want to accomplish something people will try to distract you, challenge you or get you to settle for less. It may be unintentional, or it may be because they are worried that if you grow and succeed they will feel left behind. In those moments you must ask: 'Who am I trying to please - God or man? When I stand before God what will I be glad I did now?'
Facing deep disappointment. When things go wrong, when life gets tough, when the enemy begins to attack, will you be able to carry on? That depends. 'On what?' you ask. On your willingness to renew your commitment each day. To keep yourself on track, make a copy of these words by William H Murray and carry them with you wherever you go: 'The moment one definitely commits one’s self, then [divine] providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in ones favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way.'

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me make my commitment to you like Yours is to me. Help me carry that through in other areas of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Commitment – Part 1 - January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T07:00:00Z

Commitment – Part 1

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

To become the person God intends you to be, you will need commitment. Why? Because:

Commitment can change your life! Frederic F. Flach writes: 'Most people can look back and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when because of a readiness within us and a collaboration of events around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live, and to make choices that will affect the rest of our lives'
Your commitment will be tested - daily. Too many of us see commitment as an event, like saying, 'I do' in a wedding ceremony or shaking hands to close a business deal. In January we buy a treadmill to get in shape, by February we quit because it calls for too much discipline. Any time you make a commitment to something, you will be tested – daily.
Commitment helps you overcome life's obstacles. Maltbie Babcock said, 'One of the most common mistakes and one of the costliest is thinking that success is due to some genius, some magic something or other which we do not possess. No, success is generally due to holding on, and unwillingness to let go. You 'decide' to learn a language, study music, take a course in reading, train yourself physically, etc. Will it be a success or failure? That depends upon how much determination and perseverance that word 'decide' contains. It is the decision that nothing will overrule and the grip that nothing can break, that brings success.'

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Help me make my commitment to you like Yours is to me. Help me carry that through in other areas of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Delightful - January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T07:00:00Z

Delightful

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. – Psalm 111:1-2

Flannery O’Connor lived a relatively short life, dying at age 39 of lupus. An author who most often wrote in the Southern Gothic style, she created grotesque characters in stories that had themes of faith, God and religion woven throughout. She never achieved a level of popular acclaim some authors reach, but those who study her works love her. It would not be an overstatement to say that true Flannery O’Connor fans are absolutely zealous in their love for her. And though she only wrote two novels and thirty-two short stories, they study her works incessantly and there are more books about her and her writings than books written by her.

This is what happens when we delight in something. We invest ourselves. We study, discuss, share, review, read and re-read everything we can about the one we love. We become fans, devotees, disciples filled with a desire to emulate the one we hold dear. Every chance we get we engage others in conversations about our beloved and could go on for hours discussing all the finer points of those things we adore.

This is built into us by the one who created us. We are built to delight in the works of the Lord... great art, great music, great writing, stunning landscapes, awesome storms, amazing people. Unfortunately our delight too often rests only on the created and doesn’t make it all the way to the Creator. When next you set aside time to indulge in those things that give you delight, let your praise rise all the way to the Lord, the author of all great works!

Prayer
Father Creator, thank you for blessing me with the capacity for delight and for creating so much through which I can exercise that capacity! With my whole heart I give you thanks and praise. Amen.

For The Sake of Another - January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T07:00:00Z

For The Sake of Another

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. – 1 Corinthians 8:13

Ready to become a vegetarian? That’s not really the point but I bet it got your attention! Paul was explaining to the church in Corinth that while there are certainly things all of us have the freedom to do; within the community of believers it’s important to be aware that there are consequences to exercising that freedom.

For Paul it was the freedom to eat any food even those things identified as a possible stumbling block to new believers who had come out of the local religions into a relationship with Christ. Just before declaring the verse above Paul made a very strong case that, as Christians, what we eat doesn’t matter one way or another before God. However, before people there are behaviors that can cause others in the community of believers to ‘stumble’. Aware of this and concerned for the wellbeing of everyone in the community, Paul was willing to forego those things that might harm the faith of others.

How about you? Can you hold loosely the freedom that comes by God’s grace through Jesus Christ? Do you believe with all your heart what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, "We are allowed to do all things?" Then we must also listen to the rest…but not all things are good for us to do. "We are allowed to do all things," but not all things help others grow stronger. Do not look out only for yourselves. Look out for the good of others also.

Consider today what you would be willing to give up completely for the sake of the community of believers. Perhaps God has already been working on something in your life you are certainly free to do but should stop doing for the sake of another. Sometimes life in community can be hard!

Prayer
Lord, I thank and praise you for the precious freedom won for me by Jesus on the cross. May my exercise of that freedom never cause another in the family of faith to falter. Grant me strength to practice restraint for the sake of others. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Appreciate Your Job - January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T07:00:00Z

Appreciate Your Job!

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Psalms 105:1

Before you complain about your job, look at the regulations employees at Mt. Corry Carriage and Iron Works were asked to follow in 1782: a) employees will daily sweep the floors, dust the furniture, shelves and show cases b) each day fill lamps, clean chimneys and trim wicks, wash windows once a week c) each clerk will bring a bucket of water and a shovel of coal for the day's business d) make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to individual taste e) this office will be open at 7 am and close at 8 pm daily, except on the Sabbath f) men employees will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes, and two evenings if they go regularly to church g) every employee should lay aside from each pay, a sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden upon the charity of his betters h) any employee who smokes Spanish cigars, uses liquor in any form, gets shaved at a barber's shop or frequents public halls will give good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty i) the employee who has performed his labors faithfully and without fault for a period of five years in my service, and who has been thrifty, attentive to his religious duties, and is looked upon by his fellow man as a substantial law-abiding citizen, will be given an increase of five cents per day in his pay, providing that just returns in profits from the business permit.

So, what do you think? Maybe your job is not so bad after all: 'O give thanks unto the Lord.'

Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the job I have and that I have a job. Help me to help others who are not as fortunate as I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Fixing God's Word in Your Heart - January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T07:00:00Z

Fixing God's Word in Your Heart

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18

God wants you to fix His Word in your heart. That happens by:

Turning knowledge into action! Your Bible knowledge may be ten times greater than someone else's, but if you are not ten times more loving, patient and joyful, what good is it? The right doctrine with the wrong spirit will turn people away from Christ every time.
Taking one thought with you through the day! The Psalmist says that the way to prosper, is through meditating on Scripture '...day and night' (Psalm 1:2). But you cannot meditate fast! There are no Evelyn Wood courses in speed meditating: 'I can meditate 700 words-a-minute with a 90 percent comprehension rate.' The Bible likens meditating to a cow chewing cud or roots drawing up moisture from deep well-springs. When God impresses a thought on you, live with it all day. Make it your first thought in the morning and your last thought at night. Try that for 365 days and see what happens. You will love the results!
Allowing it to wash you daily! Listen: 'How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word' (Psalm 119:9). His fellow monks used to ask Martin Luther why he spent so much time in the confessional. After all, he lived in a monastery, what could he have to confess? Chanting off-key? No, Luther was aware of his own cleverness at self-justification. God's Word is the only detergent strong enough to get down into the deepest levels of our thought, imagination and motives and cleanse us.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to fix your Word in my mind and daily activities so that I can grow in service to You and others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen