Blessed To See And Hear Jesus

"Today's Devotion" For August 29, 2005

Read: Matthew 13:1-17; John 10:1-20

BLESSED TO SEE AND HEAR JESUS

"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."
(Mt. 13:16)

The practice of open and honest debate on all issues is critical to the continued strength and vitality of the world's only democratic republic, the United States of America. It is a right fostered and encouraged by the First Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees the right of every citizen to engage in free speech. It's one of the most critical hallmarks of our system of government, because it holds that people of differing political, religious, business, or other beliefs, aims, or goals can challenge the "status quo" or the current "wisdom." With such freedom comes the right to work to establish new programs, change people's minds, persuade people to new beliefs, or demonstrate against the government. The current "anti-war" movement is a good example of this "freedom of speech." Fueled by the frustration of a mother over the death of her son in Iraq, demonstrations against the war have occurred openly near the President's Crawford, Texas ranch and in Washington, D. C. It's an activity guaranteed by law. It's a good thing.

However, with all such good things in human existence, "freedom of speech" has its drawbacks. Such openness, guaranteed by law, has a downside - our culture has, in the past 50 years or so specifically, gradually become a culture that doesn't affirm any absolutes and that questions everything. We've become a culture of contradictions for, at the same time as we encourage debate, as individuals we also don't want debate. Each of us, after all, believes that the only correct position to have on any particular issue is the one each of us might have at the moment. Our preconceived notions brook no challenges. And even though we claim to be progressive as a culture and a nation, closed-mindedness is ramped in our society. "Liberals" claim to be open to different ideas than theirs, but shout down anyone that challenges their position. "Conservatives" claim to seek the truth, while at the same time refusing to hear other options or opinions. Among us, as a nation (not to speak of the world), there exists an "arrogance of thought" that holds that "everyone else, but me, is wrong."

Closed-mindedness and arrogant assumptions are not just inimical to our culture. Jesus also ran into such things during His ministry on earth. There were a whole lot of closed- minded people with their own arrogant assumptions about how God would save His people. Matthew shows us how Jesus was rejected by the very people to whom God had promised a Messiah (chapters 11-13). God's intention was that the Messiah would be His people's deliverance from Sin, Death, and Satan - spiritual foes and deadly for eternity. His people on the other hand, guided by their religious and political leaders' points of view, were looking instead for a political savior who would restore the throne of King David and Israel's power among the nations of the world. As a result of such misunderstanding and misconceptions, Jesus uses parables to reveal what the Kingdom of Heaven truly is, and what it truly means for God's people. Our Lord's promise is that those who truly receive the Kingdom on God's terms will understand the meaning of the parables because the "mysteries of the kingdom" are known to them by faith. At the same time, our Lord's promise is also as strong for those who reject Him. They will not understand the parables because they don't believe in Him. At the same time they will know in their hearts that the parables are, because of their lack of faith, a spoken indictment and judgment against them.

Redeemed by Jesus Christ and knowing Him by faith, we trust His Word to be true. As His redeemed children we delight in the knowledge of Christ and His kingdom. It's our greatest treasure. As Jesus' notes, by faith in Him our "eyes have seen, and (our) ears have heard" the truth of the Gospel and we truly know and believe that only Jesus holds the power over and has defeated Sin, Death, and Satan. It's true that we may face opposition from the world around us when we share what we believe as Christians. Yet our faith, lived out in our lives, declared by our words, shown in our service to God and others in Jesus' name, is still the best testimony to the real truth of God's promises in Christ. We should be neither discouraged by this, nor concerned about it, for the arrogance of sin and unbelief will continue to be a fixture in the world. Rather, we take heart that in Christ Jesus God has revealed His kingdom to us and assures us in our Baptisms that we are His and are equipped to bear fruit in Jesus' name. We have been truly blessed to see and hear Jesus in His Word, and live as His forgiven and loving witnesses to the world.

Prayer: Father, I know that it's impossible for me to convince anyone to believe in Jesus or to believe what's really true about Your Creation. Only Your Word and Spirit can do that, for knowing Jesus and believing Your Word is only possible by faith in Jesus, and no human being is capable of that faith on his own. You have blessed me with the faith and knowledge of Jesus as my Lord and Savior, so that I might know Your forgiveness and have the hope of heaven. Thank You for having revealed Your truth to me through Your Word and Spirit. With joy I receive this great gift because by Your grace You have opened my eyes to see and my ears to hear and have made Me Your very own redeemed and forgiven child. Help me to continually share what I have seen and heard by Your Spirit's power as I touch the lives of others for You. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
*******************************

--Pastor Boeck

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