Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Living As God's Obedient Servants

"Today's Devotion" For May 31, 2005

Read: I Peter 2:13-17; Acts 4:1-22

LIVING AS GOD'S OBEDIENT SERVANTS

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as servants of God."(I Pet.2:16)

As the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington found himself writing often to the Continental Congress. Throughout his many missives to that august group, he shared many thoughts, frustrations, and hopes. Sometimes he even let them feel his anger. Yet, as was the custom of his day, especially in "polite society" among people of good manners when addressing such an important group of people, General Washington ended each of his missives with the words, "Your obedient servant."

That closing is a reminder of what we have been called to be in Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us that we are called to live our lives as truly obedient servants of God in Jesus Christ. We have a responsibility to be obedient to those whom God has placed in authority over us, whether the civil authorities, our parents, or the people for whom we work. Thus, it's our responsibility as God's redeemed children to be obedient to the law of the land, show respect and honor our parents, and be conscientious and faithful workers in our places of work or business. Such obedience is pleasing to God, except where the "rules" by which we're asked to live require us to behave in a manner clearly contrary to God's Will.

It's our primary purpose as the redeemed children of God, while living on the earth, to share His love in Jesus Christ with the world around us. We seek to live lives that reflect the goodness, mercy, and grace of God. As we live a life filled with the good works motivated by our faith and trust in Jesus, and done for the good of others, we will become effective ambassadors for Jesus Christ. Our works of faith and love will speak for themselves and silence all those who foolishly claim that Christian values are a detriment to our culture and society. By so living in obedience to God, whether we're at work or play, the hearts of others whom we touch can be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to bring Christ into empty hearts and lives. Our acts of love and compassion in obedience to God are used by the Holy Spirit to win people over to at least hearing about Christ's redemptive sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.

It's been my experience that people are always going to "bash" the message of the Gospel. The most likely source of ignorant and foolish "bashing" of Jesus and His Church isn't from the poor, the needy, the downtrodden, the hurting, or the homeless; Jesus and His Church are more likely to have their greatest detractors among the "intellectual elite," or what is often called the "intelligentsia." In the face of such "bashing," Peter encourages us to live lives of faith that are completely open and above board to others. Rather than following the world's path and involving ourselves in corruption and intrigue, we acknowledge our sins and seek our Lord's forgiveness. We are a people in Christ that strive to speak the truth at all times, seeking to establish that our word is our bond. This is our faithful service to God, as we live as His "obedient servants." Such living also touches the lives of others so that God's children are blessings to society and give strength to the state, deflecting any claims that we are, in any way, a hindrance to the lawful work of the state. True patriotism starts with our full obedience to God, as we live as His "obedient servants."

Prayer: Father, so often it seems that being a Christian is seen as a detriment to public service. As I look around me, I see subtle, and even blatant messages in society that say that religion and politics don't mix and that it's "politically incorrect" to mix religion and public service. You have called me into a relationship with You, gracious Father, through Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord, so that I might be a truly obedient servant in my life, and a true and open example of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for the whole world. Give me the strength of faith and purpose that I might fearlessly and boldly serve You and others in Jesus' name. Let my actions reflect Your love for the world and bring glory to Your name. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Not Ashamed Of Jesus

"Today's Devotion" for May 28, 2005

Read: Matthew 11:1-15; Psalm 139

NOT ASHAMED OF JESUS

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." (Mt.11:6)

American culture is becoming increasingly pluralistic concerning religion. As a result there's pressure put on Christians to accept other religions as being as viable as Christianity. Even Christian theologians and scholars, including some heads of denominations, are suggesting that there are many ways to heaven; faith in Jesus Christ alone is no longer a viable position. For many Christians, witnessing to God's love in Jesus Christ as the only way of forgiveness and salvation has become unseemly. Sadly, being a witness for Christ has become a risky proposition in a nation whose Constitution and laws, its very foundation, are based on Biblical principles and values believed and practiced by Christians. The current political and moral upheaval of the nation, the great disagreements between political parties, the fight over the appointment of judges, the debate over social engineering by the courts, and the continuing erosion of American institutions of the family, education, and the churches are a reflection of a deep erosion of the spiritual foundation of the nation. The argument is proffered, especially among the nation's lawmakers, that politics and religion need to be kept separate.

It's the highest level of hypocrisy to declare that one's religious beliefs should not color one's political judgment. Such a position is a contradiction in terms if you have any meaningful religious beliefs, no matter whether you're a Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Mormon, or the practitioner of any other religion. The very essence of a religious belief or faith is that it provides people with a center from which they live their lives. From a purely philosophical perspective, holding a religious belief or faith necessarily colors how one sees the world and morality - what's right and wrong. Those who claim adherence to a religious belief or faith, but claim that those religious tenets have no place in the arenas of politics and lawmaking are either misguided fools or the world's biggest hypocrites. Jesus' words, "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me," brings this issue into the limelight of the life and faith of Christians in all walks of life.

John the Baptist was in dire straits. He was in prison and about to be executed. He wanted to be certain his followers would know who to follow upon his demise. Even though Jesus was his cousin, John was, himself, not certain that the Messiah wasn't going to also overthrow the Romans and reestablish David's throne on earth. What he heard about Jesus and what His ministry was about, didn't fit with John's picture of Him. He needed reassurance and confirmation of Jesus' mission and ministry. Moreover, it also seems that John needed reassurance that his declaration of God's Will to Herod was right and his resulting imprisonment was a result of his faithfulness. Those same doubts and fears, the same need for reassurance for fully practicing our faith in Christ in all aspects of personal and community living, face us today as well.

Jesus comes to us with a message that lifts us from earth to heaven. He focuses not on what we can do but what He has done for us. He leaves no doubt, in John the Baptist's case, about how much He loves us. He declares the faithfulness of John in preparing the way, and leaves no doubt about His love for him. In the same way, Jesus leaves no doubt about His love for us and all the people of this world in the ministry He performed, the crucifixion He endured, and the victory of His resurrection. Jesus message to us is the same as it was to John. He calls us to cast aside our doubts about Who He is and boldly live our lives by faith in His love. He calls us to full integration our faith and life, not for their compartmentalization. His own ministry, and His acknowledgment of John's ministry, encourages us to be truly "Christian" in all we do, not pluralistic hypocrites and fools who deny Him for the sake of so-called peace and harmony with the world. We answer His call because we know that He is our Savior from Sin and the Lord of the Universe. We boldly live for Him because He has redeemed us from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to overcome the doubts about You that plague me as a sinner. All around me I hear the claims of religious truth from a myriad of sources. None of them know You, but claim to be a way to heaven. Some of them look inviting. In the culture that surrounds me, religious truth based on Your Word is held up to disdain and lumped in with "religious truths" from all over. Among our leaders are those who claim to be Your children but who deny any involvement of Your Will and Word in the political and lawmaking decisions they make everyday. There seems to be a great deal of "shame" associated with standing up for Your truth and love in this culture. Help me to overcome the doubts that come my way concerning You and living in and for You. Send Your Word and Spirit into my heart each day to keep me strong in faith and diligent in sharing You with the lost. Give me confidence for living in Your words, "Blessed is the man who does not fall away because of Me." Hear my prayer, Gracious Lord, for Your name's sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Friday, May 27, 2005

Christ's Love Is Tested In Us

"Today's Devotion" For May 27, 2005

Read: I John 5:1-12; Galatians 5:16-6:10

CHRIST'S LOVE IS TESTED IN US

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well." (I Jn. 5:1)

We live in a world that constantly tests the beliefs, principles and resolve of those who live in it. The ramification of such testing become clear as nations are at one moment friends and, at the next moment, the bitterest of enemies. If we have any doubts, just look at the centuries' old relationship between the United States and France. The same could hold true of the United States and Great Britain, Canada, Japan, Germany, and, well...the list is quite long. Parliaments, legislatures, and other governing groups and persons agree on one thing and the next moment are accusing the other of false pretenses. The League of Nations in President Woodrow Wilson's day tried to deal with these issues and failed. The United Nations of today, while having been somewhat more successful over time, still struggles to accomplish peace and harmony among the nations of the world. It seems that the world tests everything, agrees to nothing, and gives no passing grades.

At the same time as the world judges nations and peoples, with standards which often seem to differ depending on each nation's point of view or position on an issue, it's also judging those who are redeemed by Jesus Christ. As God's children through faith in Christ, the world challenges us to prove that God is Who He says He is. We are challenged in our testimony to the truth of Scripture that only in Christ can sins be forgiven and only in Him is eternal life with the Father. Our behavior is scrutinized and we are held to a standard much higher than anyone else. Yet, none of this should be strange or unexpected by those who know Jesus by faith, because Jesus Himself warns us that, because of Him the world will revile those who are faithful to Him (Mt. 5:11, 12). Because of these challenges to our faith and witness by the world, we are led, as the redeemed children of God, to examine ourselves and check our faith.

John reminds us that faith in Jesus means we have a new life with God. We have been born anew, spiritually, by the hand of God. John provides guidance for us our relationship with God in this new, spiritual life, reminding us that, "We love Him because He first loved us"(I Jn.4:19). Reborn by the washing of water and the Word in Holy Baptism, we have been made new creations of God. We have been restored to Him in the household of faith, and, as members of His family we live in love with and toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. Before the world this is a major test, because, as so often happens among siblings, God's children frequently argue and fight among themselves. All too frequently, God's children in Christ tend to treat each other in ways that would lead those outside the family to believe we hate each other. The claims to a loving relationship within the Body of Christ is seen by the world, in too many instances, as "blowing smoke" and having no substance in truth and reality. The world too often sees God's children treating each other with a disdain we wouldn't presume to show to the world. Sadly, for the witness and testimony of the Gospel, the world sees this behavior and wonders.

As the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, John's words to us in his First Epistle are so very important for us to hear and heed. He reminds us that we exhibit our love for God by living in obedience to His commands and loving Him and one another as He loves us. We are reminded about and encouraged in such a life of love through faith in Jesus Christ, knowing that in Him such a life of love is not impossible but a very daily reality. Christ has overcome Sin and the world for us. By faith in Him we are empowered to overcome Sin and the world as well. We are blessed in Jesus to live in love toward God and one another, and reflect that love toward the world around us. Thus our witness and lives stand out for the world as being truly different because God's love is at the core of our lives, our speech, and our relationships with others. Through us people come to see Jesus and, in Him, the Father wonderful love. We are truly blessed by God to be His children in Jesus Christ. It's a blessing we seek to share with others, not keep to ourselves. Today, and every day, by the power of God's Word and Spirit, we pray that God would lead us to take every opportunity to love others in Jesus name, as He love us. It's the only hope for a lost and fallen world.

Prayer: Father, I need Your forgiveness every day because I too often fail the test of faith and love. All too often I am unlovingly critical of my brothers and sisters in Christ and end up presenting a faithless picture to the world. Help me to show my love for You by loving others, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let my speech, my life, and my daily activities witness powerfully to Your love for all the world in Christ. Help me at all times to remember that how I act, how I live, how I speak, and how I treat others reflects my relationship with You, or lack thereof. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, give my life the credibility of faithfulness to You, that through me people might see Jesus, believe, and have life eternal with You. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

The Earth Is The Lord's

"Today's Devotion" For May 26, 2005

Read: Isaiah 45:5-13, 18-22; Romans 1:16-32

THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." (Ps. 24:1, 2)

I was struck by a rather ludicrous, one-page article in yesterday's local newspaper. Hidden under the national news briefs section was an article that noted that workers in Cobb County, Georgia are in the process of removing "evolution disclaimer stickers" from science textbooks (34,452 stickers). A federal judge ordered the removal of the stickers that held this disclaimer: "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."

I stated earlier that I found this article ludicrous. Here's why. The very idea that we've gotten to the point where federal judges are determining what's scientifically true or not is a huge indictment against our society and culture. The dictionary definition of a "theory" is that it is "a set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena." If we apply this definition to the idea of evolution, for instance, it comes up short because, while it has wide acceptance, it's been impossible to test repeatedly and has yet to be used to effectively make predictions about natural phenomena. From a "pure" scientific standpoint, evolution falls short of a theory, and, at best falls into the category of a hypothesis: 1) "a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation"; 2) "Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption." Incidentally, at best, creation also falls into the scientific category of hypothesis, although, understanding that the whole of creation has been corrupted by Sin, it can be used to "effectively make predictions about natural phenomena" more readily than can evolution.

It's not my intention to go into a grand discussion of the pros and cons of creationist and evolutionary thinking today. It's a subject much debated, dissected, argued, and discussed. In some ways it seems as if many, such as the federal judge who made the ruling about the Georgia stickers, scientists, politicians, and teachers don't really want to come to grips with the truth that God is in control; that there's order in the universe; that there are things right and wrong, black and white, and that not everything is a "shade of gray." Because of the separation between God and His creation caused by Sin, humanity's worldview is very much focused on the "creature, rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:25). The Cobb County, Georgia "sticker fiasco" is only one of many similar "idiocies" that occur on a daily basis all over the nation. Rather than believing God, human beings want to believe only what they can see for themselves. While the Word of God is often considered foolish and "preposterous" by the human beings, the really "preposterous" and foolish things are humanity's own inventions from minds corrupted by Sin and Satan. Hope, under such circumstances, is in awfully short supply.

The German astronomer and scientist, Johannes Kepler (circa 1600) made this observation about science: "Science is thinking the thoughts of God after Him." For God's children, redeemed in Christ from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan, having a Christian worldview that truly believes that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it," is critical to living a life filled with hope and peace. Rather than the universe being a place of vagaries and inconsistencies, the universe is ordered and kept by the God Who "created the heavens and the earth." We have the hope and sure comfort that our sins are truly and completely forgiven by Him "through (Whom) all things were made" (Jn. 1:3). Life has its very beginnings in Him and through Him is sustained each and every day, even unto eternity by faith in the One who died and rose again for our sins, even Jesus Christ our Lord. No matter how much the world around us runs around looking for solutions and answers from within, God is still working from without to provide our daily needs, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, keeping us in Him through faith in Jesus until the day He calls us home to heaven to live with Him forever. That's a certainty - neither hypothesis nor theory. That's faith!

Prayer: Father, thank You for watching over me in every need and providing for my daily life and living. While the world ignores the reality of Your constant activity in Your Creation, I'm blessed by the gift of faith in Jesus to know Your love and see Your hand at work in my life and lives of others throughout the world every single day. Help me to stay focused on Your truth each day so that I might not be led astray by the temptation to focus on myself and push You aside. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, help me to live my life as a living testimony to Your truth so that others might learn of You from me and be led to Jesus and believe. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Challenged To Be "Living Waters" Of God's Love

"Today's Devotion" For May 25, 2005

Read: John 7:37-39; Psalm 40

CHALLENGED TO BE "LIVING STREAMS" OF GOD'S LOVE

"Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them." (Jn. 7:38)

Have you ever thought about the challenges that come to us as a result of our relationship with God as His redeemed children? The challenges that face us as God's children by faith in Christ Jesus are unique to us because, having been redeemed from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan by Christ, we have been restored to a loving and living relationship with our Father in heaven. That relationship challenges us to remain faithful to Him in the face of the temptations of sin in the world around us. In order to live in a relationship with God, we're challenged to put God first in everything, even before ourselves. Our relationship with God further challenges us to be a reflection of that relationship to others. How we live, speak, work, and interact with the world around us becomes the means to show the world God's love. As God's redeemed children, the challenge to get the Good News of the forgiveness of sins and the hope and promise of eternal life in and through Christ faces us each day as we live in a world that's hostile to God and those who follow Him.

It's realistic, therefore, for God's children to feel overwhelmed, over-challenged, and reluctant to live a life that witnesses for Christ. Jesus knew the challenges Himself. He understands how difficult it can be for us to be bold in our lives and witnessing for Him. He knows we need to be fed and nourished in the Word so that we're equipped and blessed to carry out the mission. He understands the spiritual challenges to our lives and knows the spiritual hunger and thirst that we feel as we face the challenges of living for Him in the world. That's why our Lord Jesus encourages us to come to Him and receive spiritual drink to quench our spiritual thirst and strengthen us for our lives of service to others in His name. By the power of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are opened so that the "living water" of the Word and the Sacraments can strengthen our faith and life in Jesus.

Through the Means of Grace, the Word and the Sacraments (Baptism, Lord's Supper) the big river of God's love flows into our hearts. As a result of God's work in us, from out of our hearts, encouraged by the Gospel, come multiple streams of "living water" flowing in all directions to reach out to others with God's love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. God uses us as channels, pipelines, and rivers for His love to reach others. Therefore it's important that we don't ever make the mistake of turning our backs on the world and spending all our time facing God. Certainly, as it has for many people over the centuries, it may be thrilling, spiritually, to focus all one's attention on God and ignore the world. Yet, as history has shown, to do so is to deny Him and His love for us, for that love must be shared, not kept to ourselves. Without sharing His love with others, what was so "sweet tasting" at first, becomes bitter because the sweetness of the Gospel isn't meant to be kept to ourselves.

It's vital for our relationship with God that we face Him and the challenges of the world every day. It gives us spiritual balance. Beginning our day with God and His Word gets us ready to face the day's challenges and opportunities for service. Through the Word, the Holy Spirit feeds our spiritual hunger and quenches our spiritual thirst. He prepares us each day to share the Gospel with others as the opportunities arise. Having this nourishment and refreshment to begin our day sends us out well-nourished and well-equipped to carry out our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ. By the Spirit's power we become streams of "living water" flowing out to touch the lives of others so they, too, might know God's love and forgiveness in Christ. Such work calls for us to deny ourselves and refrain, with the Spirit's help, from making ourselves the centers of the universe. By the Spirit's power, the floodgates of faith will open in us and from them will flow living rivers of love, prayer, and service to others in Jesus' name. What an exciting gift from God to see the Spirit's work through us for the benefit of others! God has called us to be something remarkable - tingling pipelines and living streams of His love and Spirit.

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus Christ, it's very easy for me to get sidetracked from what's important in life. Spiritual challenges aren't at the top of my "hit parade" of things to do or face each day. Focusing my life on service and concern for the needs of others isn't the direction in which I'm naturally led. My sinful, human nature is usually more concerned about what I can gain, I can accomplish, and I can have than serving You and loving others in Your name. Each day my soul hungers and thirsts for Your love and forgiveness, without which my life would be a spiritual wasteland, devoid of the life-giving waters of Your Word. Help me to be always ready to let the living water of Your Word flow out of me to others so that they, too, might experience the marvelous wonders of Your grace. Hear me, O Lord Jesus Christ, for Your name's sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Jesus Isn't "Politically Correct"

"Today's Devotion" For May 24, 2005

Read: Matthew 15:12-14; Romans 2:17-24

JESUS ISN'T "POLITICALLY CORRECT"

"Then the disciples came to Him and asked, 'Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?'" (Mt. 15:12)

One of the more interesting dichotomies in American society revolves around the whole issue of causing offense and its related issue, "Political Correctness." Over a number of years, for instance, there's been a debate at Marquette University about the name of the team mascot. About ten or twelve years ago, the former president of the University declared the name "Warriors" to be offensive to Native Americans and would have to go. The new name, Golden Eagles, while not offensive to Native Americans, offended Marquette supporters and alumni. The argument went that "Warriors" didn't have to be related to a Native American caricature and thus would not be offensive. It's still an issue that is causing offense, dissension, and anger as a new attempt to find an "acceptable" name is launched.

The whole issue of causing offense raging around the name "Warriors," versus some other team name at Marquette, isn't a singular issue. For over a decade, the nation has been embroiled in an attitude of "political correctness," as people are being told that they should never do or say anything that might offend someone. It even has gotten to the point that telling the truth has to be modified in order to avoid offending those who are in the wrong, unless, it seems they're not a favored grouping of people. It's a strange, dichotomous mess. The same people, who purportedly find such names as "Warriors" offensive against Native Americans, are the same people who will defend the vulgarities of someone like radio "shock jock" Howard Stern or the inflammatory and frequently inaccurate ravings of a Michael Moore or a Dan Rather. Often it seems that the media, the "Hollywood elite," the "political brain-trust, and the intelligentsia of the nation are, on the other hand, only too willing to suspend "political correctness" when it comes to offending those who claim a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do Christians cause offense? Certainly we do. Just like every other human being we're often insensitive to the feelings of others. We get angry and say things better left unsaid. We're not immune, by any stretch of the imagination, to making fun of the misfortunes, appearances, or behavior of others. We Christians can be intolerant of others' sins, taking offense before looking to forgive. At the same time we seek the tolerance of others for our sins and misbehavior. It's not too difficult to see that we're just as caught up in the dichotomies of causing offense and political correctness as the rest of the world around us. Yet we are called out of the world by Jesus to be His witnesses in the world. Accordingly, our lives are a walking contradiction according to the world's view. As redeemed sinnser, Jesus commands us to teach the world everything He has commanded us. To do so obediently and faithfully we find that it's impossible to not cause offense to others. Sharing the Gospel doesn't win points for "political correctness" in a world that decries God's will and purpose for His Creation. While causing offense isn't something Christians seek to do in their lives, it's nevertheless inevitable if we live a life of faith and witness to Jesus Christ. Yet, we're in good company.

Jesus understood this reality. Some have called Him the world's most famous "radical." He wasn't "politically correct," nor did He teach His disciples to be so. His life reflects love and compassion for sinners while at the same time declaring His anger and hatred of Sin. He understood that He would suffer for teaching God's truth and living for people. He knew that He would inevitably die on the Cross, an innocent Man, the Son of God, yet guilty for all humanity as He bore the sins of the world on His own head. According to Matthew's Gospel (our reading for today), when the disciples came to Jesus about their fear that He had offended the Pharisees, Jesus' response wasn't one of empathy or repentance. He had only spoken the truth about their behavior and lack of faith. The fact that they felt Jesus had offended them should have been a clue that they needed to work on their behavior. What's more, if what Jesus said offended them, perhaps it was more important to get past the offense and deal with their need for repentance and faith. I know it may sound odd, but it seems to me that being offended by Jesus ought to be a wakeup call to anyone so offended that they are in desperate need of His love and forgiveness. It's most certain we're in need of that love and forgiveness everyday; so is everyone else. Jesus just isn't "politically correct," and, as He Himself encourages us, "blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."(Mt.11:6)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there's no doubt that the issue of causing offense to others, couched in terms of "political correctness," is often a barrier to my sharing Your love, grace, and mercy with others. I'm as susceptible to the angst caused by the accusation that I've offended someone by telling the truth and that I'm not "politically correct" in my beliefs, as were the Twelve who walked with You. To take offense at You or to try to make You "politically correct" is to run away from Your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. While I'd like to say that I'm not offended by You, too often I find myself trying to be "politically correct" in my living for You and my sharing of You with others. Forgive me for such cowardice on my part and give me a bold and fearless faith to share You with others no matter what the world might think about it. Let me live a life that clearly states that I am Your redeemed child. Let my words and actions declare Your glory and sing Your praises. I praise You, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck


Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Monday, May 23, 2005

Built Up In Faith For Life

"Today's Devotion" For May 23, 2005

Read: Jude 17-23; Colossians 2:1-19

BUILT UP IN FAITH FOR LIFE

"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." (Jude 20-21)

Have you ever thought about how marvelous a creation the body is? One of the marvels of the human body, for instance, is its ability to fight disease. God gives the body the ability to manufacture antibodies to invading bacteria so that the body can stave off infection. The body builds up these antibodies, not only to fight a current assault on the body, but to also develop future immunity to diseases related to the bacteria in question. Medical science is a tool which assists the body to build up immunities through the development of vaccines, antibiotics, surgical procedures, and various other types of therapies and treatments. In addition, medical research has shown us that the proper diet and exercise can greatly increase the body's ability to fight off disease and illness, remain strong, and live longer.

But illness and disease don't just occur on a physical level. Spiritually, we are also subjected to the onslaughts of "disease." Jude alerts us that there are spiritual maladies and diseases that seek to destroy the Body of Christ. He notes, as St. Paul has frequently done before him (cf. Col.. 2), that there are spiritual forces seeking to bring ill health to our relationship with God, not only to each one of us personally, but also to the Body of Christ itself. We are alerted to the reality that within the Body of Christ there are those who would seek to infect the Body with false teaching, distortions of God's Word, and alternative ideas about salvation and truth. Among the people of God are those who serve the devil and evil. They sow dissension among the members of the Body of Christ, in much the same way as bacteria and other things foreign to the human body seek to disrupt how our bodies function. While facing such attacks to its spiritual health and well-being from within, from the outside the Body of Christ also faces the onslaughts of a fallen world, which seeks to place the ideas and philosophies of the human mind above the Will of God and the truth of His Word.

In the face of such challenges to the spiritual health of the Body of Christ, and to the spiritual health of each member of the Body of Christ, Jude encourages us to be prepared to meet those challenges. Engaging in a proper spiritual diet of Bible Study (both corporate and personal) and gathering together with others in the Body of Christ provides each of us individually, and the Body of Christ collectively, the necessary nourishment for prolonged spiritual health and the ability to overcome the temptations Sin places before us. Through the daily exercise of our faith in godly living, prayer, acts of love and kindness, and witnessing to others of God's love for the world in Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ grows stronger and each of us, individually, also grows stronger in our relationship with God and each other. Nourished on a spiritual diet of God's Word, we are built up in faith and enabled to persevere and overcome every temptation that would lead us away from Jesus. It's all part of a healthy, spiritual life nourished and fed by God's promises to us in Christ Jesus to lead us to eternal life.

Prayer: Father, help me to be in Your Word daily and lead me to greater faith and trust in You. Keep me from being led astray by those ideas and philosophies of the world that would claim Your Word to be false and meaningless for life and living. Equip me by the power of Your Word and Spirit to overcome the temptations to live contrary to Your Will. Give to the Body of Christ the strength of faith and purpose that is centered and focused in You love, grace, mercy and forgiveness, so that I and all Your people might remain faithful to You and effectively and fearlessly share Your Good News in Christ Jesus with everyone. In the precious and most holy name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Don't Be Afraid To Speak God's Truth


"Today's Devotion" For May 21, 2005

Read: Acts 17:1-9; Psalm 29

DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK GOD'S TRUTH

"As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures." (Acts 17:2)

Mark Twain once said, "If familiarity breeds contempt, we should never have contempt for the truth, since we have so little opportunity to become familiar with it." Ouch! Is it possible that we human beings have such a disregard for the truth? There is much evidence each day to support Twain’s contention. Victor Davis Hanson of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University speaks to this in a column published in the local newspaper today. He notes that President Bush is often accused of being a bumbler and a liar. Yet, if he had predicted the events of the last four years in a speech the day following "9-11," people would have thought him even more "nuts" than they currently consider him to be. Thomas L. Friedman, columnist for the New York Times, speaks to the issue of "telling the truth" in his column in today's paper as well. He points out that the events of the past few weeks surrounding the Newsweek story about flushing a Qur'an (Koran) down the toilet at Guantanamo Bay have shown us to be a nation that avoids facing the truth, and speaking it boldly. Instead of confronting the terrorists and those who support them with the truth of their unseemly behavior, Friedman notes that we're more likely as not to go "navel gazing" to see what we can do to better explain ourselves. It seems truth is missing in a lot of places in our society and our world.

In the same way, as we look honestly at ourselves and the world, when we consider the things of God we realize that truth, His truth, is at a premium as well. The separation that Sin causes between God and humanity has the effect of separating us from God's truth, which is the basis for all "truth" in the world. Because of the separation between God and human beings, the truth of the Gospel, God's plan to save people from the power of Sin, Death, and Hell, is considered foolishness by the world. Paul could probably relate to the struggles the President has trying to convince people of realities they don't want to see. It seems that Paul ran into the same kind of problem, but on a spiritual level, when he ran into the Jews in Thessalonica and the people of Corinth. The Theology of the Cross which Paul proclaimed was seen as foolishness, including, sadly, by many "Christians" in Corinth. They couldn't see God's wisdom in redeeming people through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son.

Today, people not only dismiss the Cross as foolishness, but the entire Word of God as nonsense. If anyone dares to suggest that God is the Creator of all things, and stands in opposition to Darwinian Evolution, which itself has taken on the mantra of religious fervor, they are considered foolish, anti-intellectual, and ignorant. The responses of the media, many scientists, the public educational community, and the world in general reflect a huge disconnect between the truth of God's Word and "truth" as humanity defines it.

We can learn a lesson on living for the truth of God's Word from St. Paul. Even with all the hatred and demonstrations against his proclamation of the Gospel going against him, St. Paul still went into the synagogues and "reasoned with them from the Scriptures." He continued to point them to Jesus as their Messiah and their Savior from Sin. Boldly, in faith and absolute trust in God's care and love, Paul faced the unwillingness of the people to believe the truth of God and continued to share the "foolishness of the Cross" with them. Called into the marvelous light of God's grace, mercy, and love in Jesus Christ, we are also given the mission of declaring the truth of God's love for the world in Jesus Christ. We are sent by Jesus to make disciples by "teaching them to observe all things, even as I have commanded you" (Mt. 28:20). That means speaking the truth of God's love in Christ with conviction and without doubt. To do so means to live the truth of God's love in Christ in all that we do each day, as living examples of God's Will and purpose at work in the world. We have received God's truth which is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16). In His truth, we are forgiven and filled with hope. We belong to Him through Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. His truth lives in us and, after all, it's the only truth that matters in a lost and fallen world.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me the boldness and courage of faith, as St. Paul had, to share the truth of the Gospel with others. Shower me with Your grace that I might not be deterred from the mission of sharing the wisdom of the Cross with those in need of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Help me to follow St. Paul's example of determined faith so that I might reach out to others with Your truth, despite their anger or hatred toward me. Give me strength for the journey, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Friday, May 20, 2005

The Dart Test

"Today's Devotion" For May 20, 2005

Read: Matthew 5:30-48; Psalm 130

THE DART TEST

"The King replied, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'" (Mt. 25:40)

A young college student named Sally, attending a Christian college in the Midwest, tells of a most profound object lesson given in a religion class. Her professor, Dr. Smith, both a theologian and a psychologist, was known for his elaborate object lessons. Coming into class one day, Sally noticed that Dr. Smith had posted a large target on the wall. A table full of darts stood not far from the target. It looked like it was going to be a fun day in class.

As always, Dr. Smith began the class with a prayer. After the resounding "Amen" from the class, Dr. Smith asked that each of the class members draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone that caused them to grow angry. He said he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture. With those instructions, the class set eagerly to work. Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another classmate drew a picture of his younger brother. As for Sally, she drew a picture of a former friend, someone who had hurt her deeply with a lie. She put a great deal of effort and detail into her drawing, even to the point of blemishes on the person's face.

All in all, Sally and her classmates were quite pleased with the overall effects of the portraits they had drawn. The class lined up and began throwing darts. The anger and frustration of the students became obvious. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Toward the end of the line, Sally eagerly awaited her turn. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, Dr. Smith asked the students to return to their seats. The anger of those who didn't get an opportunity to throw their darts, including Sally, was powerful. They pleaded with Dr. Smith for just a little more time to vent their frustrations. Dr. Smith said nothing. Instead he began removing the target behind the pictures from the wall. Beneath that target was a picture of Jesus.

A sudden hush fell over the room. As each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus they experienced a rush of emotion. Holes and jagged marks from the darts covered His face. His eyes were pierced and torn. The students were in shock and anguish. Piercing the silence, just before the bell, came these words spoken by Dr. Smith, "In as much as you have done it unto the least of these My brothers, You have done it unto Me" (Mt. 25:40 - NKJV). Just then the bell rang. No one moved. No one spoke. All eyes - tear-filled - focused only on the picture of Christ.

"While we were yet sinners," St. Paul writes, "Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Jesus didn't die for those who were perfect; who never did anything wrong or evil. He died for sinners. His love is so great that He carried our sins upon Himself, accused and condemned for us, although He Himself was perfect and holy and without sin. By faith in Him we daily receive His forgiveness, even though each day we are guilty of disobedience to God and acting unlovingly toward others. As we remember His gracious and merciful love toward us, we are encouraged to treat others in the same way. Living for Jesus also means loving others, even when we believe them to be unlovable. Perhaps, in our dealings with others, we might remember "The Dart Test."

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, I'm so often forgetful that before my Father in heaven, standing alone, I'm not very "pretty." I'm a creature of the Creator that too often chooses to live my way, not His way. I find myself chagrined at the realization that I'm no "better looking" than those with whom I get angry and seek to harm because of something they've done to me. If You, O Lord, were to see only my sins and my "ugliness" I would be lost to You forever. Yet, in Your great love for me and all humanity, You came to earth and took on my form. You subjected Yourself to the Father's Will, hate, ridicule, the onslaughts of Satan, and death on a cross. Through Your perfect life and sacrifice I, and all who believe in You, might be forgiven of our sins and saved to eternal life. Lord, forgive me for not forgiving others. Help me to love as You have loved me. Lead me to treat everyone as if they were You. Bring me safely to my home in heaven. In Your precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Storing Ice Cubes

"Today's Devotion" For May 18, 2005

Read: II Peter 3:10-13; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

STORING ICE CUBES

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun." (Eccl. 2:11)

There's a story about a Boston terrier who used to make his owner laugh uproariously. It seems this little critter had a penchant for burying things, and then going back later to uncover them. Having dug up the doggy-treasure, this terrier then brought it to the master to show off. One of its more hilarious activities was burying ice cubes. The dog's owner found it knee-slapping hilarious to watch his beloved canine go back to the spot of an "ice cube" bury and frantically search for the now melted cube. Of course it had disappeared, but the poor dog just never got it and would continue to dig frantically, looking vainly for its lost treasure.

Sadly, although human beings lay claim to being smarter than terriers, we're not always so smart in our choice of "treasures." People have their own "ice cubes" that they "bury" for the future, planning to use them at a later date, but finding out how worthless such things are when "push comes to shove." The writer of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher (Eccl. 1:1), laments that he stored up his own "ice cubes." His anguish is that, after spending a lifetime building his fortune and fame, growing his holdings and increasing the number of people who served him, and indulging his every whim and desire, at the end of his days, as he looked at all he had amassed and done, he realized that it all was useless and without meaning. All these things didn't get him anywhere meaningful. He realized at the end of His life that all his amassing of "ice cubes" meant nothing as they melted away in the face of the spiritual reality that he had failed in his relationship with God.

Could it be that we, too, need to heed the lesson of the Preacher? In my own life I've observed that I all too often have put value on things that are useless and worthless over the long haul. There was a time in my life that I really believed I needed to do a lot of things, accomplish great successes, and have a bunch of money in order to validate myself and the talents God has given me. What I found out, as have many others before and since, is that I was striving to store "ice cubes," while my relationships with God, my wife, and my children were suffering. That's the nature of Sin in our lives. We forget what’s really important. We look for more money, more possessions, more prestige, more security, more...more... more...of everything, except, all too often, a deep and lasting relationship with God and the loved ones He give us. We want those things that will make us feel good now, not things that don't bring the final "reward" until after we're buried ourselves.

On the Last Day, no amount of amassed earthly goods and possessions will assuage God's wrath toward Sin or gain eternal life with Him in heaven. But, by the grace and mercy of God, real treasure has come into our lives in Jesus Christ. Baptized into Christ, we have suffered death with Him to Sin. Baptized into Christ, we’ve been raised to new life with Him before our Father in heaven. Baptized into Christ, we are living witnesses to God's love and forgiveness. In Christ we’ve been given the hope and promise of lasting treasure in heaven. Our greatest treasure isn't the "ice cubes" of earthly fame, fortune, and possessions which "melt away" in the face of eternity, but Christ’s redemption of us from Sin, death, and Satan. While we have neither earned nor deserve such a treasure, we can be certain it's not a "storing of ice cubes." It will never melt away. It's something to be lived and used everyday.

Prayer: Father, I admit that it's all too easy to be tempted by a "shiny bauble" or a chance at the "big time" in this world. I often find myself "storing ice cubes," thinking that what has seeming value today will have that same value tomorrow. As Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, it's more important for me to "store up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Mt. 6:20). Father, forgive me for too often looking for treasure on earth when my real and lasting treasure is with You in heaven. You sent Jesus to suffer the curse of Sin and Death for me so that my eyes could be fixed on heaven. Give me a heart filled with the hope of faith and forgiveness, Your gifts to me in Christ, so that I, having my priorities straight, my values focused, and my "ice cube" radar operating, might be a living witness to what's most important in life for everyone - knowing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In His precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

What It Really Means To "Know"

"Today's Devotion" For May 18, 2005

Read: I John 5:18-21; John 8:1-32

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO "KNOW"

"And we are in Him who is true--even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (I Jn. 5:20b)

What we know and who we know are very important issues for human beings. When it comes to accomplishing things in this world there are many who would say "It's not what you know, but who you know" that will get you where you want to go. Still others hold that "knowledge is power." and the more you know, the better off you will be in your quest for success. Still others would note that while it might appear that "knowledge is power," unless you put that knowledge to use nothing good will ever come of it. Regardless of one's position on how to achieve and accomplish in life, the one word that's common to all these positions on how to achieve is "know." Everywhere we go the word "know" crops up in some manner or another. Teachers, driver's license examiners, professional licensing agencies, and other professional and trade organizations and associations are always testing people to find out what they "know" in order to obtain a grade, gain a license, obtain a job, or gain admission. No matter how you slice it, what someone "knows" is an essential part of life and living.

The Apostle John ends his first letter by reminding God's people of what they "know" when it comes to being the children of God. He reminds us that God's children know that being God's children means living, working, and acting in a way that's different from the world around us; in ways that stand out as being different from the "crowd." John reminds us that a child of God seeks to live a God-pleasing life by the power of His Word and Spirit in the face of a world that views life through a different lens and with a different "knowledge." God's children know, John notes, that we live in a world that's under the control of the evil one, who though defeated by Christ, will continue to seek the destruction of God's creation and His children until the Day of Judgment. John provides encouragement in the face of this knowledge by reminding the people of God that Christ has overcome the world and defeated the evil one, Satan himself. This frees us from the power of Sin and Satan to live lives that show we are the people of God, exhibiting our love for our Lord and Savior and for one another, because Christ has first loved us. It's such a life and such actions that stand out as stark evidence that we are the children of God.

We know, John reminds us, that Jesus, the Son of God, has come to earth to reveal the Father to us. He has come not only to bring us salvation by His suffering, death and resurrection, but to help us to know and love our Heavenly Father, just as He has always loved us. Through Christ we come to see and know our Father in Heaven for the Father He truly is and not as an angry Judge, waiting to pounce on our every mistake and sin. Christ leads us to know God's forgiveness of all of our sins, and gives us the hope of eternal life. He who has come into the world to give us life is true. Truth comes from knowing Him and loving Him. For God's children it's what you know, Who you know, and how you live with and use that knowledge that makes all the difference for ourselves and the world around us.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for sending Jesus into my life and heart so that I might know You and Your love for me. Help me to be an effective witness to Your love for the whole world in Jesus. Keep me from focusing on the wrong kind of knowledge and keep me ever faithful to Your Word that I may never be led astray. Lead me to use the knowledge You have given me in Your Word to reach the lost with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, so that, having heard the Gospel, they might repent and believe, and come to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Held In God's "Big Arms"

"Today's Devotion" For May 17, 2005

Read: John 14:1-14; Psalm 31

HELD IN GOD'S "BIG ARMS"

"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." (Ps. 31:14-15)

When my children were small, one of the things I used to do with them was toss them up in the air and catch them on the way down. Out of seven children, I seem to remember that only one showed any fear. I do remember them laughing and giggling at the experience; fear wasn't a part of the experience. What was important to them was that their dad wasn't going to let them fall, but there were some close calls. Perhaps I set a bad example for my children; just a month or so ago, my youngest daughter, barely five feet two inches, was doing the same thing with her second cousin, who's two years old, and is way too big for her to toss around. As I read today's Scripture readings I was reminded of a story that I'd read some time ago.

It seems that four-year old Sara liked to play a game where she would jump into her daddy's arms. He daddy would let her place him in a position where she was comfortable that he was neither too close, nor too far, from her position. Then she would crouch on a chair or a bed and spring toward him, expecting that his big arms would catch her. It never dawned on her that he wouldn't be strong enough to do so, nor did she ever dream for a moment that he would back away and let her fall. After all he was "Daddy" and could do anything; most of all he could be trusted to catch her. At the advanced age of four she was confident in her daddy's ability to take care of her. Once, while in the middle of this game her daddy asked her if she would like to play the game with her big sister. Sara's emphatic response was a resounding "No!" "Why not?" her father asked, trying to coax her into expanding her horizons. "Because," she responded, "I only jump into big arms."

David had been anointed king of Israel. This put him at odds with King Saul who sought his life. In Psalm 31, David brings his distress at these circumstances before God, trusting that in God's good time and wisdom He will deliver, protect, and lift David up to do that which was God's Will and purpose for his life. Because of his distress and tenuous circumstances, David was experiencing friends distancing themselves from him. At the same time, David fully trusted and expected that God would save him and be with him in every circumstance and situation. David was certain that God's big arms would hold him in every situation of life and lift him up to do His Will. He was equally certain that there was no one else who could provide such safety and protection.

In the same way as He did for David, God also holds us up and carries us in His big arms. It's important that we remember this each day so that we can live confident lives of faith, as true witnesses of God's love for the world in Jesus Christ. Living in that confidence and trust is a challenge for us, just as it was for the twelve Apostles. All the way to the Cross, the Twelve just couldn't seem to that Jesus had to suffer and die for the Sin of the world. Even after instructing and reminding them once again of His purpose and mission in John 13 by washing their feet and predicting Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial on Maundy Thursday, the Twelve still don't understand. Their fear, doubt, and uncertainty concerning Jesus are in full bloom. And so Jesus comforts them with His Word, exhorting them, "Don't let hour hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me" (Jn.14:1).

Jesus' invitation in these words to His disciples, and David's confession of his faith and trust in God's deliverance, encourage us to trust God's big arms to hold us up and save us from the power of Sin, Death, and Satan. Our Father's arms are big enough to hold up the whole world and redeem the universe as well. Yet, the most important thing our heavenly Father does for us is to remind us that He holds each one of us up and keep us safe in Christ each and every day of our lives. He has called us by name in Holy Baptism, putting His mark upon us and declaring us to be His very own, redeemed children in Christ Jesus. We are firmly entrenched in the safety of His big arms. We can live today and every day fearing nothing and boldly living as witnesses to His power and His love. We put ourselves in God's hands; no one and nothing else can save us as He has.

Prayer: Father, You lift me in Your loving arms and keep me from everything that would harm my relationship with You. Help me to trust You, totally, for everything. Forgive me when I doubt and strengthen my faith in Jesus. Lead me to live each day in the confident assurance that nothing can keep me from Your love and that I have nothing to fear in this world. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, help me to be an effective and winning witness of Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ as I fearlessly and boldly live for You and share Your Gospel with all that I meet today and every day. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved

Monday, May 16, 2005

It's All God's Doing

"Today's Devotion" For May 16, 2005

Read: Matthew 5:17-20; Galatians 3:1-25

IT'S ALL GOD'S DOING

"Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." (Mt. 3:15)

Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River was an incredible event, which reverberates through two millennia to this day. John was preaching repentance and administering a baptism that signified the repentance of those who received it. Then, at the age of 30, Jesus comes to John to begin His own ministry, seeking to be baptized by John. To John this was the height of "lunacy." As far as John could tell, Jesus was sinless. It was, therefore, unnecessary for Jesus to be baptized by John. In John's mind it was ridiculous for Jesus to come to him to receive the baptism of repentance. Led by his own sense of humility and unworthiness before God, John seeks to dissuade Jesus. Jesus' words to John make clear, however, the real meaning of His request and the event: "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness" (Mt. 3:15). With these words, Jesus sets the stage for His ministry and His journey to the Cross. John is led to see that the end of his preaching and baptizing is to prepare the way for Jesus and to "fulfill all righteousness." This is the Father's will, which Jesus' obeyed perfectly for us. What's of great importance also, is that Jesus words include John as well, for He says that "it is proper for 'us' to fulfill all righteousness.

In this act of Jesus to "fulfill all righteousness," our Lord includes "us," His redeemed, baptized children, born of Water and the Word, marked by His Cross, and reborn by the Spirit's power. When John baptized Jesus, he was baptizing Him in our place, for Jesus was also taking our place "to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus was identifying with fallen humanity when He was baptized by John. He serves us by becoming one of us, humbling Himself, taking on the form of a servant, and putting aside His "equality" with God for the sake of the whole world. Passively, described by Isaiah as a "sheep before his shearers is dumb," Jesus begins the process of full identification with sinful human beings, you and me, and puts Himself under the same furious judgment of the Father toward Sin that should be our fate, so that being fully obedient for us and letting God's will be done, together we can "fulfill all righteousness." This is all God's doing.

Incredibly, our Lord Jesus Christ accomplishes the Father's Will by doing nothing. John baptized Him as Jesus complies with the Father's Will in true obedience. He's passive. He's baptized. By doing nothing, He's doing everything for our salvation. He fulfills all righteousness in our place, not by doing great deeds, performing marvelous miracles, or taking over the world, but simply by being obedient to the Father's Will for us. When we stand beside Jesus at the Jordan we stand on holy ground. Jesus' ministry begins at the Jordan with John's baptism, fully obedient to the Father. His ministry will end on Calvary, also fully obedient to the Father. Because we are unable to be perfectly obedient to the Father because of our sinful nature, the stain of mortality and the stench of death should be ours. Yet, in Jesus' obedience we are made right before God. Life is ours instead of death; eterntal life instead of eternal decay. This is all God's doing.

Jesus' obedience is ours by faith in Him. We have done, and can do, nothing by which we might save ourselves. On our own we would be eternally lost to God, living and dying as His enemies rather than as His friends and dear children. But our salvation is God's doing, and He's done it for us in Jesus. His grace, mercy, and love reclaim us and we are given the salvation that we don't deserve. We have God's mark on us in Holy Baptism. We are His. It's all God's doing.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be my perfect Substitute, obeying Your Will perfectly and fully bearing the curse of my sins upon Himself on the Cross. Without His perfect obedience to Your Will, I could not call you Father, and could not know Your love and forgiveness which gives my life purpose and meaning. Father, I don't deserve what I have received by Your grace through the merits of Christ. I am most grateful for it, however, and give You thanks and praise for Your willingness to sacrifice for Your own Son for me. Lead me this day and everyday to raise my voice and give my life in praise to You and to my Lord Jesus Christ, that I may be a living witness of Your love and salvation in Him to everyone I meet. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Friday, May 13, 2005

God's Loving Touch

"Today's Devotion" For May 14, 2005

Read: Mark 1:29-34; Luke 7:18-23

GOD'S LOVING TOUCH

"This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.'" (Mt. 8:17)

In the grand scheme of the universe, we human beings don't really amount to much. The total value of the minerals and other substances that make up our bodies is probably a bit more than the ninety-eight cents it was when I was a boy, but as small as my bank account is I'm reasonably certain I could still manage to afford "me." We stand helpless in the face of thunder and lightening, earthquakes and famine, tsunamis and hurricanes, and all other types of natural disasters that strike our world. When we leave our atmosphere we're incapable of surviving without artificial assistance. All told, we're pretty helpless, and often hapless, creatures. Which raises a question: Why should God care about any of us at all?

You see, we're not only quite helpless in the face of natural disasters, controlling the weather, the seasons, time, or any other part of God's created order, but we're also a pretty awful group of creatures as well. We do all sorts of dastardly things to one another. People die on our city streets by the use of guns, drugs, and alcohol. Crime, careless driving, and robberies all serve to sow seeds of discontent and fear. The world is full of hunger, carnage, disease, despair, illness, war, and pestilence. All over the world people are living in fear that someone will blow them up, shoot them up, or throw them in jail with no regard for them or their families. In the name of religion, hostility and hatred thrive. The world isn't a very pretty or safe place, is it? It seems that we do a great deal of things to make this so. Why, in the midst of all this turmoil, should God care even one little bit about us?

From a human perspective, there is no logical answer. In the minds of many people throughout the world, God's care is nonexistent. Yet the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke not only share the truth that God loves this world, His Creation, but they also put a face on God's care and love for the world and all its people. They put a face on God's care and love for the world, as Matthew does when he tells us about "Immanuel...God with us" (Mt. 1:23), Jesus Christ. The Evangelists introduce us to God made flesh in the promised Messiah Who heals every disease and drives out demons. We're told about Jesus' healing of Peter's mother-in-law and her response to that healing as she served Jesus. We watch and listen as people bring others to Jesus to be healed both physically and spiritually. God made flesh, Jesus the Christ, doesn't hide His face from our sinful depravity and ugliness. He doesn't flee our world for someplace better, but reaches out His hand to meet and touch the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. The caring and loving face of God becomes visible in Christ.

God daily extends His loving touch to us as we live in the power of Holy Baptism. In the Lord's Supper our Lord Jesus Christ physically touches us with His very Body and Blood. By the power of His Word, God touches us with His Holy Spirit and lifts us up to Himself so that we might know that His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness is very real and vital in our lives. Through these marvelous gifts of God's grace we are assured each day that our sins are forgiven and we are God's very own redeemed children. Our faith in Christ is strengthened each day so that we are not only able to live at peace in a troubled world, but share that peace with others as well. Each day God's puts his loving touch on us through Christ Jesus. His loving touch moves us to lives of service and love toward others in Jesus' name.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Jesus into our flesh and our world to make Your presence in my life real and true. In Jesus You bring the spiritual healing that is so essential to my life with You. Help me to respond to such love with service in Your name, as I not only praise You with my words and life, but share You with others so they might come to know Your salvation in Christ my Lord and Savior, in Whose precious name I pray and ask You to hear me. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Forewarned And Forearmed

"Today’s Devotion” for May 13, 2005

Read: II Peter 2:1-22; II Corinthians 11:1-15

FOREWARNED AND FOREARMED

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you."(II Pet. 2:1a)

Most highly successful salespeople will tell you that buying is an emotional issue. Most buying decisions take place when the salesperson evokes a strong, emotional response in the prospect. While it's true that knowledge about a product, the pricing of the product, and a specific, logical need are all significant players in the buying decision, none of them can hold a candle to a skilled evoking of emotion to get the sale. The emotion that may lead to a "buying" decision may come in the form of pain avoidance or the gaining of pleasure. No matter how the salesperson makes the sale, there's always something that can lead a buyer into "buyer's remorse."

False teachers, prophets, and messiah's are all adept at eliciting emotional responses from us. These people press all the right buttons when we face them and they seek to tear us away from God's love and forgiveness in Jesus. They press all the right buttons - guilt, fear, desperation, despair, etc.- which lead people to start looking to themselves, rather than to God, for answers in the world. False teachers and false prophets have their own taped version of what they purport to be God's Will and Word. Reading Peter's words, it's not too difficult to draw up images and names of such persons that have operated in such a false manner, in the name of God, in our own culture. He describes them as being smooth talkers, people who prey on our emotions, and tend to present a picture of God and His desires for us, that sounds marvelous and tugs at the heart strings. Healing services that place an importance upon the "healer." Calls for extra special offerings for building grand buildings, religious theme parks, etc.; all reflect the false prophets and teachers about whom Peter is warning us.

We need to keep our heads and hearts in the Word of God in order to avoid being lured into the traps set by false prophets. Regular worship attendance with other Christians, being in the daily study of God's Word, receiving the body and blood of Jesus in the Lord's Supper, and being in constant prayer for those around us and for God's continual presence among us (Acts 2:42). No matter the hype, Jesus is the very presence of God among us and by faith in Him we are certain that our sins are forgiven. Firmly grounded in His Word we stand firmly in the face of Sin, death, and Satan. By God's grace we are blessed by the power of God's Word and Spirit in our lives, so that we are "forewarned and forearmed" to live in Him and through Him and to avoid all those things which seek to tear us away from His love..

Prayer: Father, it's pretty difficult to avoid the emotional things that false teachers bring up to turn me to their version of Your Word. Keep me diligent in my study of Your Word and send Your Spirit to help me grow in my knowledge of You. Lead me to focus on Your grace, mercy and love in Jesus. Let me be a defender of the faith and help me to help others avoid the traps set by the false prophets of our day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved

Thursday, May 12, 2005

God's Love Is Absolute

"Today's Devotion" For May 12, 2005

Read: Matthew 22:34-40; Deuteronomy 6:4-9;11:13-21

GOD'S LOVE IS ABSOLUTE

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Mt. 22:37)

There was a time where people believed in absolutes. Absolute truth was considered a reality. When I was growing up I was taught that there are some things that are just plain true and others that are just plain false. Yet the world of today doesn't accept that there are absolutes. Everything is relative. One lifestyle is as good as another. One way of looking at truth is good as another. Contemporary thought would have us believe that there's no such thing as "one central truth." Rather, the prevalent concept is that there are a variety of truths, each dependent on each person's individual perspective. Applying this principle to the realm of religion we find that the prevailing thought process is that all religions lead to the same place and all have a contribution they can offer to full disclosure of what constitutes "eternal truth" - that is if such truths are possible. Thus, as is the prevalent thought, no one religion has truth locked up. At the same time, contemporary thought holds that the only place truth may be found is in science. Ultimately, whether we deal with religion or science, or a plethora of other areas of living, we find ourselves faced with a great cornucopia of truths. And, while we're trying to sort them out, the world is rapidly deteriorating and people are dying all over from malnutrition, violence, wars, famine, and the like, because "the truth" of humanity's situation of life isn't clear to too many people.

Jesus Himself truly understands humanity's struggle with the ultimate "truth" of life and living. He knows and understands how difficult it is for people to recognize that there are absolutes which are determinative for how people live and the world works. The question, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?" goes right to the heart of the matter. Responding to this question, Jesus goes right to the most striking and essential absolute there is. The ultimate purpose and absolute of life and living is for every human being to love God above all things. All our emotional investment, all our being (who and what we are), and all our thoughts should be focused on God. He should be first and foremost in everyone's life. Subsequently, if God is in fact to be first and foremost in everyone's life, then loving others as we love ourselves follows right on its heels. God's love for us in Jesus Christ is absolute; it's certain and unwavering. His truth endures forever. His forgiveness of all our sins is sure and certain for all times and places.

Jesus came to redeem the world. Through Him the Father seeks to redeem the world and bring it back into a loving and perfect relationship with Him. God's love, grace, and mercy in Christ is absolute. Without the reality of that "absolute" no one and nothing in this sinful world will ever be changed and brought back to God's love. God must be first in our lives. It's essential that God's love in Jesus Christ be central in the lives of all people, for without His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness no human being can ever know true hope and joy. . As we experience our Father's love through faith in Christ, we are empowered to love our neighbors as ourselves. Believing the Good News that God has redeemed us in Jesus Christ, we are led to share God's love and forgiveness to the world. It's the power of that Good News which is absolute and unchanging which will change the world. When people experience God's love and forgiveness, hating and hurting others, or ignoring their needs is no longer possible. You and I, as redeemed children of God, live in that reality and absolute certainty each and every day. Our Baptisms remind us daily that we have been made God's very own people and that eternal life in Christ is our sure and certain hope. Each day, therefore, we live in the light of the sure and certain absolute that the essence of all life is "love" - our love for God, and our love for our neighbor in the same way as we love ourselves. All because God has first loved us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as You have brought me back into Your loving arms through the redemption that is mine in Christ Jesus, so also let me return that love to You. Remind me each day that Your love for me in Christ Jesus is absolute and certain. Living in that love and the confidence of faith You give me, help me to show my love for You as I reach out in love to others. Let my faithful example of loving You above all things and loving my neighbor as myself lead others to experience Your love for them in Christ Jesus as well. Help me to invest all my emotions, being, and thinking into loving You, so that I might also have the privilege of loving others in Your name. In Jesus' name I humbly pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Living In God's Peace Brings Peace

"Today's Devotion" For May 11, 2005

Read: I Thessalonians.4:1-12; Romans 12:9-21

LIVING IN GOD'S PEACE BRINGS PEACE

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Rom. 12:18)

I suppose that if each of us had a say in the matter, we'd prefer to live in a world that doesn't have conflicts; a world without wars; a world without violence; a world without disagreements. To say that the world seems to thrive on conflict is, perhaps, an understatement. While we talk of peace and prosperity, the reality of life is that somewhere, in someplace, people are fighting and dying, or they're starving and in want; sometimes both at the same time. We have wars between nations, civil wars, the war on terrorism, political and moral battles, arguments between neighbors, lawsuits that are clogging our courts, not to speak of the bickering and fighting that goes on within marriages and families. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Yet all the fighting, conflicts, battles, and economic hardships the world faces are of no consequence when compared to the conflict between God's Will and Sin in our lives. With the efforts of Sin and Satan to move us away from God's Will, the whole idea and understanding of "peace" takes on decidedly spiritual dimensions.

Many "religious" people over the centuries have understood this, even if they didn't know the true God. Buddhism, for instance, as a prime example of Eastern mysticism, teaches a way of peace with the universe and other human beings. A more recently founded religion, Bahai, teaches much the same thing. In Christianity during the Middle Ages, there was a movement toward establishing monasteries, convents, and religious orders in order to separate from the world and improve one's spiritual walk and find peace with God. Later on came the Quakers, the Shakers, and the Amish who, in their own way, followed the ways of monasticism. What connects these groups and ideas together is that they all, in some way, push for separation from the world in order to keep themselves unsullied by the world and live in a peaceful community. Their frequent hope was to establish a calm and peace in their lives which could bring them closer to their understanding of God. Perhaps because of their separation from the world, it's also noted that very few ever paid much attention to their ideas of peace.

God's Word, the Bible, also speaks of peace. Yet God speaks of peace as the result of our redemption from Sin and Satan. In the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has declared His peace with us, making us no longer His enemies but His friends. In that peace, received by faith in Christ and lived out in the fullness of God's forgiveness of our sins, we seek to bring peace to the world. We are urged by St. Paul to live quiet lives, at peace with our neighbors, fully reflective of God's peace with us in Jesus. Instead of advocating for separation from the world, Paul encourages to live in the world as ambassadors and disciples of Jesus Christ. To be the people of God and witnesses for Christ can only happen if we live and work with people, not apart from them. With all the disagreeable people who are running around (of course that doesn't apply to us, does it?), this seems to be a tall order.

Yet, because we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are empowered to share that peace with others. In our Lord's commission of us to tell all the world of His love and redemption for everyone, we have the great honor to be instruments of His peace in a troubled world. Being at peace with Him translates into sharing lives of peace and quiet with our neighbors. In that way our lives are examples to others so that they might see Jesus in us. We rest assured and at peace in our hearts, that no matter the troubles we see in this world, no one and nothing can take God's peace in Christ from us.

Prayer: Father, the world around me is often so frantic I don't have the time to think before I react. Being at peace with You and others isn't always the highest consideration on my list of daily blessings. Often I'm so troubled and torn by thing in my life and the world around me that I don't even feel that I can take the time to count my blessings. Nevertheless, when You finally get through to my heart and mind by Your Word and Spirit, I find my life to be more at peace with You and others. When You remind me, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, of the peace You give me through faith in Jesus Christ, I find that my days and nights are calmer, I am more collected in my thoughts, and my actions and feelings toward others are more considerate and loving. Help me to focus on Your peace with me so that I can live at peace with others in this world. In Jesus' most precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Innocent Though Proven Guilty

"Today's Devotion" For May 10, 2005

Read: Matthew 26:57-68; Psalm 27

INNOCENT THOUGH PROVEN GUILTY

"Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out evidence." (Ps. 27:12)

"Methinks thou protesteth too much" is an old phrase that is often used when someone proclaims his or her "innocence" too vigorously. There is an old saw that holds that the louder the protests the greater the guilt. Currently, in a neighboring county courtroom, a man who was convicted ten years ago, along with his father, for a robbery spree and the murder of a police captain, is seeking to have his conviction overturned. His grounds? He contends he's not guilty by reason of insanity, because he was under the intense influence of his father and not responsible for his own actions. To rational people his claim seems off-the-wall and, dare I say it, "insane." Perhaps he ought to undergo an old practice of some Native Americans. They had a practice of testing the truthfulness and innocence of an individual by means of a hot poker to the tongue. The practice was based on the observation that the innocent had no reason to be afraid and thus would have ample saliva to cool the poker.

Talk about a conundrum. Here's a man, convicted because of eyewitness testimony, caught in the act by television cameras, who's now claiming he's innocent by "reason of insanity" - meaning, of course, that he wasn't responsible for his actions because he was controlled by another. How about you and me? Do you think that argument would hold up to God's scrutiny? An old television program of my youth, starring a man named Flip Wilson, used to poke fun at this idea. Flip Wilson's take on guilt was, "The devil made me do it!" and it got huge laughs and, 30-years later, is still remembered, quoted, and, all too often, lived by. On the other hand, there are many who are falsely accused, whether in a courtroom or in daily living, who are convicted and left without recourse. They're guilty regardless of their innocence. If such a thing happened to you and me, how would we handle it? Could we keep silent in the face of false accusations for the sake of others?

In the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that's exactly the behavior we see. He was the sinless Son of the Father, the second Adam, the faithful Son of God that Israel had failed to be. He obeyed God's Law perfectly in our place so that our sins could be forgiven. He was innocent of every charge the Sanhedrin could muster against Him. Although falsely accused, falsely convicted, and falsely sentenced He didn't defend Himself. Just as Isaiah had prophesied, "as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Is. 53:7b). Jesus knew that man's justice was stacked against Him. Yet He willingly accepted the lies and subjected Himself to such injustice for us. He was innocent though proven guilty.

What a wonderful gift of God to humanity! Despite Jesus' innocence and His ability to call on a legion of angels to defend Him, as He noted to His disciples when He was arrested, He went the way of the Cross, falsely accused and convicted, so that we would be spared the eternally painful death of Hell and eternal separation from our Father in heaven. Through faith in Jesus' blood and righteousness believers have the sure and certain hope that their sins are forgiven, they have been restored to a loving relationship with their Father in heaven, and their future hope is in God's presence in heaven for eternity. No matter what happens in our day, our lives, and our world, we are confident by faith in Christ that nothing can separate us from His love. Each day we live confidently in Him, knowing that His love living in us gives all we need to live joyful, peace-filled, and confident lives of faith and witness in the world. In Jesus, even though we are guilty, we stand innocent before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You so much for Your willingness to be falsely accused and convicted on lies. You went the way of the Cross unfairly and under the gross injustice of men "like a sheep led to the slaughter," silently, without protest. Help me to have the same kind of trust and courage in my Heavenly Father when I am falsely accused or my faith and service in Your name is grossly misrepresented. Lead me to let my actions speak louder than my words, and let my service to others in Your name lead them to know Your love and the salvation Your innocent blood brings to them. Praise be to You, O Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Monday, May 09, 2005

True Meaning And Substance For Living

"Today's Devotion" For May 9, 2005

Read: Matthew 16:1-16; Acts 17:17-34

TRUE MEANING AND SUBSTANCE FOR LIVING

"'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.'"(Mt.16:16)

What is the content of your life? On what do you base your existence? What is the meaning and substance of living for you? Such are the questions that prick at the corners of our hearts and minds as we seek to know and understand ourselves. The world is a very complex place and its complexities seem to continually "muddy the waters" of our day-to- day living. Not only are we challenged by the shifting sands of societal and cultural changes, but spiritual changes and uncertainties as well. What used to seem so obvious when it came to the clarity and purpose of God's Word and Will, is now thrown into question daily by a culture that is increasingly spiritually hostile and illiterate where it concerns God's Word, His Will, and His plan of salvation for the world in Jesus Christ. It's significant that Matthew reveals a situation in Jesus' day not so very different from our day, for as Jesus is beginning his journey to Jerusalem and the Cross, there is some doubt as to Who He is and what His purpose is all about.

Jesus has had to face the continuing spiritual ignorance of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They've continued to challenge His ministry and mission. They've seen His miracles and heard His preaching and teaching, and still they want a sign from Him as to the veracity of His Word and ministry. Jesus disciples needed to face the reality of the Pharisees' and Sadducees' doubt and unbelief, as well as these leaders' animosity toward Jesus. Jesus warns His disciples that they should be alert to the very real threat to their faith and hope in Him that the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees pose for them. He notes that these two groups of "spiritual leaders" are living lives that are empty and devoid of truth and faith in God, a condition that affects all false spiritual leaders throughout history, including our own day. Their living is false and empty, and it's a lifestyle and worldview from which God's people need to separate themselves.

In the face of this very real situation of the spiritual leadership of the people "going south" when it came to the Word and Will of God, Jesus raises the question: "Who do men say that I , the Son of Man, am?" It was an important question then, and it still is today. The disciples responded that the people saw Jesus in many ways. For some He was John the Baptist; for others He was Elijah; still others thought Him to be Jeremiah or one of the prophets. To this day, that same confusion reigns among the people of the world. For many Jesus was a great rabbi, a holy man, a radical, a revolutionary, or an itinerant preacher, making it quite obvious that Jesus' question is just as applicable today as it was when He asked it of the disciples. It's a question that leads to a very real and necessary discovery as to Who Jesus really is. It's a question that seeks to draw attention to the need for people to fill the spiritual void in their lives with faith in Him.

In order to focus His disciples' attention, Jesus turns the question on them. He asks, "But who do you say that I am?" It's not so important that others know who Jesus is, if His own disciples don't have a clue (goes for you and me, too). In response to this question, we hear Peter's magnificent answer, declaring "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter's answer resonates with us as God's people. It's the answer we believe and confess each day of our lives as we live in Christ and He in us. The substance of our faith isn't some human philosophy or convoluted way of thinking, nor is it tied up in what people (including you and me) think or feel. The substance of faith is found in its perfect form in Jesus Christ, in His suffering, death, and resurrection for the sins of the whole world. Such faith in Jesus Christ gives our lives meaning and purpose. We're not dependent on the world's standards, but instead set standards for the world. Our lives aren't governed by how people think we should live or think, nor by how much power, wealth, or prestige we've obtained. Great accomplishments mean nothing when it comes to faithful living. Our lives find their context in God's Word and His call to us to serve Him as disciples of Jesus Christ. A life of true substance is the one that sees, with Peter, the Savior and Lord of all. "For in Him we live and move and have our being." (St. Paul-Acts 17:28)

Prayer: Father, Peter's great confession of faith in Jesus is followed, throughout the history of Your Church, by the same conviction and confession among Your people. Great men and women of faith have walked this earth, holding the greatest treasure of their lives to be their faith in Christ Jesus. It's only in Him that my life has any substance or meaning. Father, the world is a lost wasteland, desperately in need of spiritual direction and guidance from You. Yet Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ is often ignored. Your Word is frequently considered more fiction than fact. For those lost in Sin and unbelief Your plan of salvation in the Gospel of Christ is considered so much "stuff and nonsense." Father, in the face of such challenges to share the Gospel give me the strength of faith to boldly meet those challenges and be a faithful ambassador and witness of Your love and forgiveness in Christ to all whom I meet each day. May my life find its true meaning and substance in my service to others in Jesus' name, as I share Your love in Him boldly and confidently at all times. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

Saturday, May 07, 2005

On Being "Mature Icebergs" Of Faith

"Today's Devotion" For May 7, 2005

Read: Ephesians 4:1-16; Romans 11:33-36

ON BEING "MATURE ICEBERGS" OF FAITH

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and His paths beyond finding out!" (Rom. 11:33)

In the frigid waters surrounding Greenland float countless icebergs of every size, shape, and description. If you were to visit the area you would see some icebergs as small as a Volkswagen, others as tall as a skyscraper, and still others so huge that they look like floating mountain ranges. Yet, no matter the size, all of these icebergs are floating in the water. Finding a passage through the maze of icebergs can be quite dangerous because they're not all moving in the same direction. The smaller icebergs, floating higher in the water, are moved about by the vagaries of the winds that are blowing. The larger icebergs, with their greater girth and depth in the water are moved about by the deep currents of the ocean, which consistently flow in the same direction. The "maturity" of the larger icebergs reflects a steadiness of purpose and flow that the "younger" and smaller icebergs do not.

Our spiritual lives are very much a reflection of these icebergs. Our sinful human nature is subject to every whim and wind of change and thought that occur in the world. "The winds of change" that so frequently affect our culture and world seem to always be purported by those deemed to be the most knowledgeable to be for the better. Unfortunately, being "knowledgeable" doesn't always equal being wise. Bereft of wisdom, knowledge will often discount the realty of the spiritual on all aspects of life. It seems that society often seeks change for the sake of change without regard for the spiritual ramifications of change.. Social change, educational change, economic change, and political change, among others, often take place with no regard for the spiritual realities of life and that human beings are spiritual creatures created in the image and likeness of God. The "iceberg" nature of society becomes very apparent, as we observe the "winds of change" move the "smaller icebergs" of contemporary ideas in directions quite at odds with the "larger icebergs" of wisdom and experience deeply rooted in history, knowledge, and an understanding of the spiritual nature of humanity.

Rather than allowing ourselves to be blown around by every wind of change, much like immature icebergs, St. Paul encourages us to focus on continually growing into a mature relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It's God's purpose for us to be in His Word daily, growing in wisdom and knowledge, by the power of His Spirit, so that we might be kept firmly rooted on "the deep currents" of God's Will. He wants to keep us headed in the right direction, not blown around by the winds of human wisdom, and the cunning and craftiness of men (Eph.4:14). He wants us to be so solidly grounded in His Word and maturing in faith in Jesus, that when the world uses its standards for in determining our lifestyles, ordering our business and personal relationships, measuring our success, and establishing our behavior we aren't blown away and led astray from His direction for our lives as we move toward heaven. There's no doubt that a shallow relationship with Christ leads to confusion as to who we are and what He has made us to be. If Sin has its way, we end up like the "small, shallow icebergs" blown every which way by the winds, following the path of least resistance.

As God's people, we seek direction for living from our Lord Jesus Christ. Our direction in life needs to be determined by the depth of Christ's power and direction in our lives. Rather than being spiritually "small, shallow icebergs" blown around by every new idea or humanistic premise that ignores the spiritual reality of human existence, we seek to be fully grounded in God's Word and led by His Spirit. In our daily walk with Him, as we read and study His Word, approach Him in prayer, and observe His hand at work in our lives and the life of the whole world we will find ourselves growing more spiritually mature and becoming spiritually "mountainous icebergs" of faith guided only by God's Word and wisdom. Through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior from Sin, we daily seek God's forgiveness and direction for living, becoming “Mature Icebergs of Faith” that point steadily and inexorably to Jesus.

Prayer: Gracious Father, the world is a pretty dangerous place. Despite the wonder of Your Creation, the nature of Sin is such that it has corrupted our thinking and living. Spiritual ignorance and immaturity is the order of the day. I find myself subject to "going along to get along" with things that are clearly at odds with Your Word, Your Will, and the purpose of life and Creation. The only way I'm able to overcome the "winds of change" that would move me in every direction except toward You is to be firmly grounded in Your Word. Father, continue to send Your Holy Spirit into my heart and mind that I might continually seek to know Your Will and share it with others. Help me to continue to grow into a "Mature Iceberg of Faith" so that I might be a solid reflection of Your will and wisdom to others. Guide me to live a life that reflects Your love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ so that I might be both a faithful example and a faithful witness to others so they too might receive Your mercy and grace. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.