Romans 8:18-30 Praying In and With Creation

Romans 8:18-30 NIV


Wolf Point, Keweenaw Peninsula, MI

Years ago, I took a three month sabbatical on Lake Superior. I paddled about 1/3 of the southern shoreline, sleeping in a tent on sometimes some pretty rocky and isolated shorelines. It was very cold and rainy that summer. The ice did not leave the lake until a week or so before I left. There were times when I did not leave the tent much due to the weather. The theme for this sabbatical was "Praying with Creation" from these verses in Romans 8. During the evenings (and when it was storming), I read and studied the life of Bishop Frederic Baraga, an early Roman Catholic missionary to the region. While out on the water, alone, I spent a whole lot of time praying within the context of God's beautiful creation. I prayed the Small Catechism - many times! I prayed for the people who lived in the homes I paddled by. I prayed for the members of my congregations; as well as my family and other friends. I prayed for God's creation; that as stewards of the God's creation, we might begin to do a better job of caring for it. The Spirit groaned within me when I knew not what or how to pray. And, it was indeed in those moments that I was reminded that God is still in charge and He has a plan - a plan that is for the good of all who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

A very strange dream woke me the other morning. The sky was dark. It was filled with falling satellites. Satellites used to provide us with television, telephones, internet, radar, gps, etc., etc., literally blackened the sky and they were falling; crashing to the earth, endangering everything on the planet, including humankind. It is not only the earth and all that is in and on it that humankind is using up for our own pleasure and convenience; but, even the skies...

I am well aware that many theologians would have us know that the creation in Romans 8 refers to fallen man, ourselves. There are those who refuse to see that the living things around us actually live. However, that said, I cannot read Romans without also being reminded that the whole creation that surrounds us is indeed groaning under the stress we have put it. It grieves me to know that we so unjudiciously use fossil fuels to the detriment of the land, sea, and skies. I wonder how wise it is to be filling our skies with satellites for our convenience? Our waste pollutes the whole creation.

I do not find it so unbelievable that the whole of creation is groaning for our redemption. Why would it not, in light of the fact that until fallen man is redeemed we can not fully comprehend what we have done and continue to do to God's whole creation? We will most probably continue to abuse and destroy it.

May God help us to be better stewards of His whole creation; not just for the sake of the creation around us, but for the sake of humankind.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 24 Truth

Acts 24
Have you ever been in the position where no matter what you say to defend yourself; what you believe or what you have done, you continued to be attacked? It seems that there will always be those who just always have to be right and refuse to hear the truth. They refuse to accept the truth and they will go to all lengths to persecute those who desire to speak the truth. Jesus was not found guilty; but, he was crucified. Paul is tried over and over again. He has not been found guilty; but, his accusers are always ready to accuse him in their attempts to be rid of him. Paul, an innocent man, spends an inordinate amount of time under guard as the Jews continue to attempt to discredit him.

Paul is locked up and one would suppose that this would keep him from speaking the truth about the resurrection through Jesus. At least, that's what the Jews want; for the truth to be silenced. But, no, it does not have that effect. In fact, the bondage enables him to testify over and over again to the truth. There are still jailers and judges as well as the Jews, themselves, who accuse him who must listen over and over again to the truth of Jesus the Messiah.

I know I'm repeating this; but, let me say it again.... God knows what He's doing. He has a plan. Speak the truth. Testify to His goodness through Jesus Christ. Do not be afraid. He is with you now and always and works all things for the good of those who love Him according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

May God grant us the strength and the courage to speak the truth in love, always, for His glory.

God's Peace - Pr.

Acts 9:1-19 Saul's Eyes Opened

Acts 9:1-19 NIV
God can heal anyone he chooses of blindness. God can call whomever He chooses to serve Him. Here is the story of Saul's spiritual healing; his conversion. On the way to Damascus, this murderous enemy of God and God's people has an encounter with the ascended Jesus. He has, in short, a conversion experience. Saul loses his physical sight even as he gains spiritual insight. Through yet another vision to him; as well as a vision to a disciple named Ananias; he regains his physical vision even he is filled with the Holy Spirit. This man, who just days earlier, is on his way to destroy Christians, desires and is baptized into the Body of Christ. He receives the Holy Spirit, is baptized and sets forth on the mission God has called him to; to proclaim the Word to the gentiles and kings and all of Israel. In just one encounter with the Lord he is converted from persecutor to persecuted.

And, so we pray for our enemies, even as Stephen prayed for his in the moments he was being stoned to death. We pray and hope that the Lord would call, even our worst enemies, to serve him. It can happen. Just read the story of Saul (whom we know as St. Paul) and you will have hope even for those who would destroy the church on earth. One can never know whose eyes God will open or whom He will call.

Again, it is said that we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matt 5:4)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Luke 8:22-25 Squalls

Luke 8:22-25 NIV
Ever wonder if maybe God has deserted you. In tough times we might sometimes wonder if that is indeed the case or maybe it's that we've left His side. Whenever I am tempted to start doubting His presence with me, I think about the story of Jesus calming the storm according to St. Luke. Read it. You will see that the squall did not come upon them until after Jesus got into the boat with them and set out on their journey.

Expect some squalls and a variety of other storms. God is with you. He will calm the storms. He will also ride them out with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 8:22-38 Get Behind Me Satan!

"Get behind me, Satan!"

I love reading the stories about some of the events in Jesus' life. He can be so sweet! When I read some of these stories, I cannot help but wonder what people would do if I acted like that.

For example: a blind man is brought to him for healing and what does do? He spits on the man's eyes. Yep, I can already see what would happen if I spit on some one's eyes.

Then, there is the story about how after predicting his persecution and death and Peter rebukes him for talking like that. What is Jesus' reply?  "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mark 8:33 NIV) Can the reaction if you talked to someone like that? I confess, I have. It does not make for warm and fuzzy relationships. But, still I would probably do it again if the occasion called for it.

Jesus' words and actions are not always what we expect. We expect him to be the most generous, indulgent person ever - never offending anyone. The fact is that he offended a lot of people. He offended them so much he ended up on the cross.

But, I find, that often, the most offensive of all of Jesus' words, to many, are the words he used when "... he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

Tough words, indeed, to swallow for those who choose to gain the world; who are ashamed to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Amos 8 - Famine

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
    “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
People will stagger from sea to sea
    and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
    but they will not find it." (Amos 8:11-12 NIV)

Always searching, never finding... So many seekers out there... hungry... thirsty... but, never being satisfied. The word of the LORD is available. But, it is not available in every church, from every pulpit. It is there. But, sometimes it is difficult to find.

Just as in the days of Amaziah the temple is used for worldly proclamations. In chapter 7, we heard Amos declare that the temple was his and that Amos was not to be proclaiming God's word in it. The same applies today. The church, it seems, belong to the people, a worldly people, who want their "ears itched" and pastors who are reluctant to say anything that will not scratch those ears. This causes a lot of thirsty and hungry people to wander, searching for the water that will quench their thirst. Jesus is that living water. The proclamation of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can satisfy the thirsty or hungry soul.

I rarely get a chance to attend worship services other than at Zion or Aura Lutheran. However, when I am away from the pulpit, I attend worship services wherever I am. Some of the messages leave me excited and fully fed with the word and the Word. Others do not. They leave me empty and actually wanting to run out and find some real nourishment. Not long ago, I attended a funeral service for a Christian man. There was no proclamation of life in Jesus Christ! It was a very long eulogy (not a sermon). Only one time was Jesus' name mentioned during the sermon and that was in reference to Jesus approving of the man; not because of Christ's work on the cross but because of the man's life, itself.

The days of famine have come. Not a famine of food or water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Jesus' instruction to those who claim they love him was to feed His sheep. Feed them... Feed your neighbors, your friends, your family, with the Word of God... Share the love of God, who in Christ Jesus, was willing to die that we might live abundant lives in His Kingdom, reconciled to God and one another, beginning even now!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hosea 8 - Sin and Consequence

"They set up kings without my consent;
    they choose princes without my approval.
With their silver and gold
    they make idols for themselves
    to their own destruction." (Hosea 8:4 NIV)

In just about every verse in today's reading, God reminds the people of their sin and warns them what the consequence will be. Somehow, for the last couple of weeks during our Wednesday Bible Study at Zion, we have managed to wander to a discussion on how to deal with church discipline within a congregation and specifically the direction of Jesus found in Matthew 18:15-17. 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

That can sound pretty harsh and hard to follow through with, but there is a purpose for it. It is so that those who are following and promoting their own false gods can be returned to the LORD. It doesn't matter whether the false god is money, power, prestige, or a calf made of gold, when someone in the church is promoting their own agenda above the LORD's will, there will be problems and it needs to be dealt with so that the focus can be turned back to the God who created us and sustains us.

Zion actually has these steps built into our constitution just in case it will be needed one day. The council knows how hard it is to confront anyone who is causing problems that may be dividing the church and turning our focus away from the LORD and His goodness to following other ways. They are our neighbors and family members, after all. But, in order to restore the mission of the church, that is the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, sometimes what the LORD did through Hosea by declaring a sin a sin and warning that if they did not return to Him there would be consequences. Sometimes, sadly, that is the only way to get someone's attention and restore peace - that is reconciliation  between God and His people and within the community of saints.

God's Peace - Pr. J.
 

Ezekiel 8 - Danger! Danger!

He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” (Ezekiel 8:12 NIV)

Ezekiel is given a vision of God's people, even His elders, bowing down and serving false idols. God is not happy!

It sure gets wearisome warning people about false idols. It's as though, the ears are closed. They cannot hear the dangers that are involved in getting goofy and all excited (idolizing) their favorite, singer, or television star, or sports figure. And, sometimes it's not a person, but, a "thing" that is worshipped. I feel like that robot on "Lost In Space," constantly having to shout "Danger! Danger!" There is great danger in putting anything or anyone before God!

I read another one of those articles about Miley Cyrus this morning. Remember, when not too long ago, parents did not have a problem with their children idolizing Miley Cyrus? Do you think they are thinking the same thing now?

Like the elders of Israel bowing at the shrines of their own idols, sooner or later what is done in darkness will come to light. Take a bit of time each day to examine and re-examine where you are putting your time and talents. Are they being used to glorify and worship the One True God or to exalt humans who, themselves, have gone astray. How in the world can they lead you, when they, themselves, have lost the way?

There is only One God! Worship only Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 22 - Look To the One Who Loves You

"...but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago." (Isa 22:11b NIV)

A woe, a prophecy against even Jerusalem. Jerusalem's enemies have heard of their demise, now it is Jerusalem's turn. They, who have been blessed by God are revelling on the rooftops. They are rejoicing and partying. But, they are not rejoicing in the LORD. They've become complacent. They do not look to the LORD, but to themselves and to their own (individual) pleasures.

And... they will suffer. The LORD Almighty cannot be mocked - not unless you are willing to accept the consequences of putting Him on a back burner in your life.

Hmmm.... Now how do I put a good construction to this prophecy against Jerusalem after all "...we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." (Rom 8:28) I guess that's the key. The people of Jerusalem forgot their first love. 

May God help us to always remember our first love - the one who first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

God's Peace - Pr. J   

Song of Songs 8 - Seek My Beloved

We have come to the conclusion of Solomon's Song of Songs. It is a very good morning! It is finished! I am very relieved to not to have to try to figure out what this love poem has to do with Christ and the Church for another day. It is indeed a beautiful love poem. But, even reading Matthew Henry's Commentary and The Lutheran Study Bible (Concordia Publishing House) notes and study guides on it each morning, it has been very difficult for me to read it as anything but a love poem between a man and a woman or love-struck teens. I hope that you have done better at that than I have.

I would remind you as we prepare to move on to Isaiah tomorrow, that the LORD is our love, our spouse. We have been united with Him in union unlike any union other that can transpire on earth. He wants to hear your voice and all who love Him desire to hear His and to be with Him, always. When one is in love, it simply will not do to stay anywhere but beside our beloved. Our hearts will constantly yearn to walk beside our beloved in that most beautiful garden.

Today, will be a beautiful day! I will seek my beloved in all whom I encounter. I will be visiting shut-ins...

God's Peace - Pr. J