Devotion 12.14.20

 "But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13

Rev. Dr. Michael Ziegler, the Lutheran Hour speaker, delivered a message yesterday everyone should hear (click here for that message). First, the church in China is growing.  That growth is fueled by the Spirit working through brothers and sisters in Christ willing to risk all earthly status and belongings.  They grow in homes instead of churches which may be taken if it's discovered they are worshiping in them. They use prison as a place to teach the word when they've been sentenced to prison for teaching the Gospel. In the face of persecution, they have grown to 100,000,000 in China.  

Ziegler takes that to the POW's in Vietnam, and one in particular mentioned in the book "Good to Great." In the chapter called "The Stockdale Paradox," Jim Collins interviewed and cites Admiral Stockdale, a former POW (and one-time VP candidate to Ross Perot), who talked of survival.  "What was the one characteristic that was a fatal flaw to survival in the POW camp?" Collins asked.  "Those who were optimistic that we would be freed soon." The paradox, it seems, is that survival is facing the brutal reality of the situation.  In China, it's preaching the Word of God knowing the earthly cost if you are apprehended. In Vietnam, it was knowing that the situation was not good, but survival required that sober assessment to communicate in the face of torture, deprival, and substandard conditions.  

Ziegler then takes that to the prophets.  They were not given good assignments from God.  They were told to go tell Israel the truth.  In the New Testament, we read of Elizabeth, old in her years, becoming pregnant with a son who will prepare the way for Christ.  He will get Israel to turn from their ways to ask for repentance to prepare for Christ who will offer that forgiveness.  Luke chapter 1 has Gabriel telling Zechariah of the impending pregnancy and birth of John. Daniel, the prophet, was given a difficult assignment as well.  He's helping the occupied land of Israel survive that occupation with God's hand guiding him every step of the way. 

Like all prophets, their message is dire but there is also hope (the paradox).  We see the last verse in Daniel as Daniel has lived a long life a prisoner of the various kings of Babylon who is occupying Israel.  Daniel has maintained that sober assessment of his life.  Now God gives him the future he will enjoy (as did Isaiah in chapter 61 yesterday in church).  That's the "Prophet's Paradox." Knowing and speaking to Israel and to us about our current condition, but reminding us God has a plan.

In a year like 2020, we need to hear that and know the conditions we face, but also know God has a plan. We pray we listen to God and seek His plan for us.

(Lutheran Hour, Michael Ziegler, December 13, 2020 message)

Devotion 12920

 "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these this take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." Luke 1:19

And he (Gabriel) The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born to you will be called holy, the Son of the God."  Luke 1:35

Gabriel, an angel, sent from God's presence to deliver messages.  Both passages above are responses to people like us, one Zechariah who will be John the Baptist's father (at an advanced age) and the other from Mary (a virgin who is engaged). Both are startled by the sudden presence of an angel, and both are skeptical about the message he is delivering on behalf of God. "How can this be, my wife is old?" or "How can this be, I'm a virgin?"

The only thing missing from this story is a reach, a touch, a grabbing of what he is wearing to see if he is real or if Zechariah or Mary are hallucinating. No question for credentials or something official for them to see.  Other than that, the story is real for us.  "You're saying what now? Me? At my age or condition? Really? Please...."

I find the flurry of activity interesting.  Heaven is making its move.  Angels dispatched to deliver messages.  Angels speaking with calm but authority.  People in disbelief but now in the middle of God's plan.  Can you imagine being at an advanced age and telling your family you need furniture and clothing for a baby? Can you imagine having to tell people how it is possible to be pregnant but not from your fiance (or really, any other man at this moment) and that all plans for the future are on hold.

This is but the beginning.  For generations, God's chosen people have been waiting for this moment.  The unbelief of the moment will continue throughout his life, to the point that the unbelief will result in his suffering, death and resurrection to forgive us from our own sin.  God's plan is unfolding, and at Advent, we acknowledge it will unfold again, as Christ returns to us.  

We pray that God hear our petition that we "do believe, help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) We pray that God continue to strengthen us when we, like Zechariah and Mary, are skeptical.  Lord, help our unbelief!

Devotion 12620

 Matthew chapter one opens with the genealogy of Jesus and concludes with an angel appearing to Joseph to tell him of the birth of Jesus to Mary, the virgin, as fulfillment of the event foretold in Isaiah, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Immanuel (God with us)." (v 23)

Pastor Dan noted yesterday of the family that Jesus came from, and how families are depicted in our society and in scripture. Dan shared Christmas stories from his own family with us, traditions born intentionally, to pass down to new generations.  That's the image we want for Christmas, but I also thought of Robert Earl Keen's song about Christmas, "Merry Christmas from the Family," that paints an accurate picture of Christmas for many as well.  Drinking, smoking, running to the store for stuff, inane banter about life... it's all there.

Now, at this point, you may draw a line and say, "That's not really appropriate for Christmas time in a devotion." Oh really? Dan pointed out the complete dysfunction in our society in families that is reflected in scripture from the fall of man forward. 

That Jesus, our savior and "God with us," came from the family tree that He did is amazing, as noted by a recent devotion from the Lutheran Hour's Kari Vo.  We see murderers, liars, adulterers, and a host of other sinners blotting the lineage for Christ. Abraham and his intent on taking on God's vision himself through his maidservant.  David...  You know his story.  Solomon, born from an illicit affair.  

Yet God saw fit to unfold His plan in time for Mary to bear His Son to come and save us from sinners like ourselves. We know our sins, our fall from grace, and yet we see God using people just like us to deliver us a savior, Christ the Lord.  At Christmas, perhaps we should focus on the blessings from God through His Son's life on earth.  Maybe really explore the Christmas story with our families.  Our prayer is that Christmas is more than just gifts and presents, and that we take on traditions that lift the Christmas story to the point that we know of God's amazing grace given to us.

Devotion 120320

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

What is the opposite of fear? Believers are taught not to fear as far back as God established a relationship with His creation, even after it fell.  God commands Joshua in Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

So, is the opposite of fear courage and strength? Christ echoes these words in Matthew 28:19 - 20 (the Great Commission) when in v 20, He says, ".... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." So then, are we to assume we can exercise a certain amount of courage because God/Christ is with us?

Ken Blanchard, a leadership author and speaker, has a book titled, "Servant Leadership in Action." The book is compromised of essays from various authors in the field of leadership including names like John Maxwell, Stephen MR Covey, Patrick Lencioni, and others.  In one essay, Raj Sisodia says this radical notion as he examines the acronym for servant leadership he uses:  "SELFLESS." The first "L" in SELFLESS stands for "love," and he notes, "The opposite of love is fear."

For example, should we fear death?  It is natural we will, but John 3:16 puts us at ease when John writes, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son to die for us that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."  It doesn't stop there.  There are many bible verses that put love at the top of the list of attributes from God and that we are to have love toward one another.

So, why do we fear, as in a year like 2020 - fear of the unknown and what we believe we know or may actually know? Peter gives us a clear example as he begins to sink after walking on water toward Christ:  He takes his eyes off Christ and looks down (Matthew 14).  When we take our eyes away from our LORD, Christ, we immediately forget the command to love God with our whole heart, mind, body and spirit.  We remove the trust we have in God and place it in ourselves or something else.

Will we fail?  Absolutely, but when we do, we turn our eyes back to Christ because forgiveness and eternal life are at hand for us to be strong and courageous.  Our prayer is that we do not take our eyes of Christ, for forgiveness when we do, and that the Spirit strengthen us daily so that we keep our eyes on Christ.

Hope Men's Ministry

Devotion 11.30.20

 "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.... Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:6 - 8

Paul, the author of this letter to the church in Philippi, wrote from prison when he said this. From prison!

We refer to this as an optimistic mindset in the leadership arena. Mindset refers to attitude.  What's your attitude? Sometimes I can be the cynic and most often the realist. I call it as I see it with data to back it up (or sources). Yet, in spite of those two ways of looking at life, I'm also optimistic and hopeful because of my background in history. I don't see any generation as worse than any other because history shows us every generation feels the younger ones are far more spoiled than their own generation. Yet each generation has its issues.  History also shows peaks and valleys.  We got attacked at Pearl Harbor, and we signed a peace treaty after unconditional surrender with Japan in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri several years later. 

So here we are in 2020 declaring it the worst. year. ever. It's been a challenge no doubt. We have a pandemic in an election year and leaders in science, medicine and governments scrambling to find answers or solutions that have direct or indirect impacts on all arenas in life.

But Paul, writing in prison, a Roman citizen knowing what Rome is capable of (having known about Christ crucified and others executed), writes a letter to the church in Philippi (Greece) giving an excellent note of encouragement, a list of Christian virtues - truth, honor, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise... "think on these things."

The message to us is clear.  What's your mindset? Paul tells us to practice what we have seen in him.  "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things...." (v 9).  Do not just as I say, but do as I also do.  As Christians, men of faith specifically, as we see the world around us, have the opportunity to live and speak as Paul did.  Place our mindset on the virtues Paul gives us. Place our minds on the salvation and grace from Christ.

Devotion 11.24.20

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 118:1

So begins David psalm of praise, as he highlights all that God has done for him and for Israel, from before David's time, through his time and personal life and for future acts yet known.  David had much to be thankful for.  He was, after all, a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). David moved up quickly as the youngest of sons from Jesse to fight Goliath and demonstrated great faith in that capacity and other aspects of his life. David became a young king and demonstrated great skill.

David also stumbled.  In fact, he fell greatly, but not from grace.  David, after being confronted, redeemed himself (Psalm 51).  Through it all, David turned to God.  "Out of my distress, I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free." (v 5) "I was pushed hard so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and salvation." (v 13-14). "The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death." (v 18) "You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" (v 28 - 29)

Where has God been for you? You are chosen by God as well as a redeemed child of Christ.  When have you stumbled and turned to God? When have you been distressed and turned to God? When have you been disciplined and yet remained thankful to God?

On thanksgiving, we give thanks to God, for he is good.  We give thanks that his steadfast love (the love of His Son Jesus Christ) endures forever.  We give thanks for all moments, mountains and valleys, and we give thanks for he is our God.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and count your blessings, even in 2020, and lift a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

Hope Men's Ministry

Devotion 11.23.20

 The world is made up of flawed men and women.  Our flaws are encapsulated in one word: sin.  Every Sunday we confess our sins before God to hear the words of forgiveness.  The old confession from the Lutheran Hymnal I grew up with said, "I confess my sins and inequities and justly deserve thy temporal and eternal punishment." I said it as a child without knowing what I was saying, "temporal." It's another way of saying "earthly," a reminder to us that our time here on earth is "temporary."

I use this as a reminder that everything earthly is temporary, and it is from the corrupt body of men and women that we choose people to lead us.  They, along with us, are equally corrupt and along with us deserve and merit that same "temporal and eternal punishment."

The Reverend Dr. Michael Ziegler of the Lutheran Hour noted in his sermon today that politics are temporary, yet we need to be reminded of that periodically.  Politics can divide us, and we hold people in general and the people who lead us in contempt when they don't hold the same opinion and viewpoint we do. Ziegler points us to the book of Daniel to remind us of our duty to God as citizens of two kingdoms, one temporary and one eternal. Ziegler notes that in Daniel, our author (Daniel) records events of a takeover of Israel by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel and his two fellow Israelites are taken by the king, as was customary at that time, to be shaped in the ways of Babylon as young men, but Daniel remains true to his God, our God, while in service to the king. Daniel even speaks to the king about his dedication to God and requests to be able to continue in the ways of his faith.

In his sermon today (11/22), Ziegler notes Daniel's awareness of the temporal situation Israel found itself in and that his true calling in life was to God.  Despite the desperate nature that Israel found itself in, we see God is in control throughout the book.  For us today, as we wring our hands in frustration with life and the leaders we have in our midst, it is a good reminder that our true calling is to Christ and the kingdom of heaven.  Our life here is temporary, so our service to God/Christ is that of passionately sharing the good news of the cross to the lost and praying for all, not just some, to hear and be receptive to that word. It is a focus on the eternal nature of the kingdom we ultimately serve. In Daniel 7:13 - 14 Daniel's vision includes seeing a "Son of Man" given dominion.  That is a reference that Christ will use in reference to Himself as He speaks about the "Son of Man" having authority to forgiven sins (Matthew 9:6 and Mark 2:10-11).

Our prayer is that we remember our lives are temporary and that we have a commission from Christ about our lives while on this earth to go to all ends of the earth to all nations to bring Christ to them.  Our prayer is to remember God is in control at all times and that our politics and governments, equally temporary to our own existence, need our prayer as citizens in this world as well.  We lift a prayer of thanks to God for continuing to watch over us and guide us daily as his people.

Hope Men's Ministry