"Today's Devotion" For June 27, 2006
Read: Psalm 86; II Chronicles 7:11-18
IS ANYBODY LISTENING?
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me." (Psalm 86:5-7)
Have you ever had a feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? That's often the case in households with teenagers. Of course, from the parents' perspective it's the teens that aren't listening. If you ask the teens, the shoe's on the other foot and mom and dad aren't listening. Such a scenario plays itself out nearly every moment of the day somewhere in America (Canada and Mexico included).
Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? Husbands and wives can surely relate to this. How often don't wives accuse their husbands of not listening to them? And vice versa? The anxieties that occur in so many marriages are a result of situations where spouses aren't listening to each other. thereby saying to the other they just don't care about them.
Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? In our state, Wisconsin, people are sick and tired of political corruption and excessive tax burdens with no end in sight. Constituents address the issues with their state legislators, get a lot of lip service, and soon thereafter find out that they were only talking to a nodding head, not a real, caring, concerned and interested person.
Have you ever had the feeling that you're talking and no one is listening? If you're a "liberal" you're convinced that the "conservatives" aren't paying any attention to the issues of the day, or, at the very least, are discounting their importance. If you're a "conservative" you're equally convinced that the "liberals" only care about hearing themselves talk and pay lip service to the principle of listening to and considering opposing points of view. Carried on in the political arena, the President is accused of not listening to the people and the Congress, while he, at the same time, accuses the Congress and the people of not paying attention as well.
Should I go on? The point is that it's really hard to get anyone to truly listen to our needs, concerns, dreams, desires, expectations, and hopes, and, if they do, they may not "hear" what we want them to hear. Their understanding of our needs and concerns may be understood by them out of context or, because of their particular frame of reference, take on an entirely different meaning. Ultimately, no one can be certain that any other human being is actually going to listen and understand what we're saying in the same way that we mean it.
We can be confident, though, that there is someone who truly hears us, understands us from our frame of reference, knows our every need, and will answer us, including and especially in our times of need and despair. The evidence of that is shown in the fact that God came down to earth, took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, suffered and died on the Cross bearing the sins of the whole world, of all times and places, so that we might know that God is listening. He hears our needs, He understands our wants, He feels our despair, He knows our thinking. He is an awesome and loving God and Father, who has saved us from our sins with the blood of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, so that we might have a loving and living relationship with Him.
David writes in Psalm 86 that he was certain that God was listening and answering his prayers. He was confident that God was "forgiving and good...abounding in love to all who call" to Him (v.5). David had experienced, firsthand, God's tremendous mercy and grace and had no doubt that God would deliver him in his time of need. David's prayer is a reminder to us that God is also our God and Father. He is also our Savior and Redeemer. He is also the One who brings us into a saving relationship with Him, growing faith in our hearts so that we might receive His full forgiveness and the sure and certain hope of life with Him forever in heaven.
So, is anybody listening? With confidence and hope in our hearts, our answer is a resounding, "Yes!" God is listening! He does understand. He does meet our needs according to His wisdom and purpose. We can be confident of that and have hope.
Prayer: Father, amid the hubbub of the world around me, the dangers that I seem to face at every turn, and the frustrations that fill me with the dread that no one is listening and no one cares, You are there. You listen, You answer, You love, and You shower Your mercy and grace, Your forgiveness and peace into my heart and my life. With David I speak in confident praise of Your deliverance from the curse of Sin, the temptations of the flesh, the allure of the world, and the power of death and Satan. In Jesus You have shown me that You are listening, Your are answering my every prayer, and that Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness abound to me every moment of my life. Help me to live in the full and certain confidence that I "have Your ear" so that I might be a living, loving witness for You and Your love and forgiveness in Christ to a world that's looking for someone who will listen. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
***************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Blessed With A Glad Heart
"Today's Devotion" For June 26, 2006
Read: Psalm 100; Psalm 95
BLESSED WITH A GLAD HEART
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:1, 2)
We live in a very loud world. Automobile and truck engines on our streets and highways, the whine of jet engines at airports, the vroom of lawnmowers cutting grass, the screeching of tires, the booming of bass from car radios, the sound of heavy metal bands, rock concerts - well the list is endless. We shout to be heard over the din - my wife and children complain that my voice is just too loud. Noise is everywhere. Noise permeates life. Peace and solitude is hard to come by. Noise can be one of the more destructive influences on people and their nerves. Headaches and body aches, even illnesses, have been attributed to excessive and continuous noise.
Noise comes in all forms, as we've already noted. At one time noise can be destructive, blowing out eardrums, while at another time it cansave someone from harm, as when a shrill scream scares off an attacker. In one moment noise might scare the daylights out of a military recruit as a drill instructor yells at him at the top of his lungs, while in the next moment it can be a soft, quiet lullaby putting a baby to sleep. Our voices can be used to contribute to the din of our daily living or they can be used to build up and encourage one another. The words that come out of our mouths, bred by our heads and hearts, can be noises with which to harm others or build them up. The nature of Sin in the world and in our lives often sets up such a din that all other sounds are shut out.
The sounds we don't want shut out, however, are those which give praise and thanksgiving to God for all His wonderful goodness and grace. The Psalmist calls us to serve God, to worship Him, with a joyous shout, to not be afraid or bashful about our relationship with Him, His love for us, and His salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. By faith we shout for joy with our lives, making a "joyful noise," as the King James Version translates the first verse of Psalm 100. Our lives of faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ provide another kind of noise to our world. Our lives become loud statements of God's love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus as they become our glad worship of our God and Savior. The words that we use, the love that we share, the compassion that we offer, and the kindness with which we touch the lives of others are our "joyful songs" to our God - sweet music that rises above the din of the world that seeks to quiet God's voice in our hearts and lives. By God's grace we are truly blessed with a glad heart so that each day we "shout for joy" to the Lord and call the world around us to that same worship and praise of our God and Savior.
Prayer: Father, I sometimes forget that You've blessed me with a voice with which to sing Your praises and declare Your wonderful salvation to everyone I meet. The din of Sin in the world around me so often seems to drown out the "joyful noise" of Your children, so that it's all too easy to stop that "joyful noise," believing its not doing any good. Forgive me, gracious Father, for forgetting that You have called me live a life of worship as I praise You with my actions and words - actions and words which reflect Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others. Help me to live a life filled with a glad heart and the confidence that the joyful shout and joyful songs of my voice, my heart, my spirit, and my life will not go unheard, either by You or by those to whom You send me as Your witness and ambassador of Your peace. Help me to remember that through me You are calling people to repent and worship You - it's a precious and marvelous privilege and a great joy to share Your Good News in Jesus with others. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
***********************-
-Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 100; Psalm 95
BLESSED WITH A GLAD HEART
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." (Psalm 100:1, 2)
We live in a very loud world. Automobile and truck engines on our streets and highways, the whine of jet engines at airports, the vroom of lawnmowers cutting grass, the screeching of tires, the booming of bass from car radios, the sound of heavy metal bands, rock concerts - well the list is endless. We shout to be heard over the din - my wife and children complain that my voice is just too loud. Noise is everywhere. Noise permeates life. Peace and solitude is hard to come by. Noise can be one of the more destructive influences on people and their nerves. Headaches and body aches, even illnesses, have been attributed to excessive and continuous noise.
Noise comes in all forms, as we've already noted. At one time noise can be destructive, blowing out eardrums, while at another time it cansave someone from harm, as when a shrill scream scares off an attacker. In one moment noise might scare the daylights out of a military recruit as a drill instructor yells at him at the top of his lungs, while in the next moment it can be a soft, quiet lullaby putting a baby to sleep. Our voices can be used to contribute to the din of our daily living or they can be used to build up and encourage one another. The words that come out of our mouths, bred by our heads and hearts, can be noises with which to harm others or build them up. The nature of Sin in the world and in our lives often sets up such a din that all other sounds are shut out.
The sounds we don't want shut out, however, are those which give praise and thanksgiving to God for all His wonderful goodness and grace. The Psalmist calls us to serve God, to worship Him, with a joyous shout, to not be afraid or bashful about our relationship with Him, His love for us, and His salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. By faith we shout for joy with our lives, making a "joyful noise," as the King James Version translates the first verse of Psalm 100. Our lives of faith and trust in God through Jesus Christ provide another kind of noise to our world. Our lives become loud statements of God's love and forgiveness in Christ Jesus as they become our glad worship of our God and Savior. The words that we use, the love that we share, the compassion that we offer, and the kindness with which we touch the lives of others are our "joyful songs" to our God - sweet music that rises above the din of the world that seeks to quiet God's voice in our hearts and lives. By God's grace we are truly blessed with a glad heart so that each day we "shout for joy" to the Lord and call the world around us to that same worship and praise of our God and Savior.
Prayer: Father, I sometimes forget that You've blessed me with a voice with which to sing Your praises and declare Your wonderful salvation to everyone I meet. The din of Sin in the world around me so often seems to drown out the "joyful noise" of Your children, so that it's all too easy to stop that "joyful noise," believing its not doing any good. Forgive me, gracious Father, for forgetting that You have called me live a life of worship as I praise You with my actions and words - actions and words which reflect Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others. Help me to live a life filled with a glad heart and the confidence that the joyful shout and joyful songs of my voice, my heart, my spirit, and my life will not go unheard, either by You or by those to whom You send me as Your witness and ambassador of Your peace. Help me to remember that through me You are calling people to repent and worship You - it's a precious and marvelous privilege and a great joy to share Your Good News in Jesus with others. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
***********************-
-Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Challenged To Be Faithful
"Today's Devotion" For June 23, 2006
Read: Revelation 2:8-11; Matthew 10:17-23, 32, 33
CHALLENGED TO BE FAITHFUL
"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
I don't think anyone would raise an argument if I proffered the observation that life isn't easy. What do you think? No doubt most of us would respond with a resounding, "Say it again, Preacher!" Okay! Life isn't easy. In fact, sometimes life throws us so many curves that we keep going down swinging (to borrow some baseball terminology) and can't even seem to get to first base with anything. And, while such challenges face people every day in the physical world, the challenges of the spiritual are even more intense.
It's not easy to be a follower of Jesus Christ in today's world. Not that it was ever easy, but it seems that there are more and more frequent attacks on the religious expressions, especially when they are expressions that focus on Jesus. A good example of what I'm talking about occurred recently in Henderson, Nevada when the valedictorian of Foothill High School had her valedictory speech censored by the school administration of the religious content - some Biblical references and one mention of the name, "Christ." Not only did the school officials do a cut job on her speech but then they sent it to the local ACLU chapter to make sure it was truly a "politically correct" speech.
The young lady, Brittany McComb, was told that if she mentioned anything religious from her speech, if she brought any of the censored material back in, she would have her microphone cut off. Just before she uttered the name, Christ, her microphone went dead. She had been silenced by school officials and the ACLU. Brittany's response was the following: "I went through four years of school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech. God's the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior."
That was the kind of situation, only much more deadly, for the Christians in the Church at Smyrna in Asia Minor to whom John is writing in Revelation 2:8-11. Jesus Himself warns the twelve apostles of that same danger when He sent them out into the cities, towns, and countryside of Israel to share the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' words to both the apostles and to the Church at Smyrna are clear - suffering and persecution are and will be part and parcel of being a living, breathing witness for Christ in the world. We can expect to be held to a different standard than others are. We can expect that the freedoms we cherish may be withheld from us because we serve the Lord. We can be certain that the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh will do their level best to turn us away from Jesus and our Heavenly Father's love, and, failing that, make our lives as miserable as possible, filled with all the inequity and unfairness they can muster.
In the midst of all the turmoil we face because we belong to Christ, our Lord Jesus encourages us to remain faithful, just as He is faithful to us. We are reminded that our Father in heaven holds us in the palm of His hand. We are reminded that of our Lord's promise that He is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us. No matter the challenges we may face, no matter the temptations that may challenge our obedience, and no matter the hardships and dangers that come to us because we serve the Lord, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to know that He is faithful to us. He sees what we endure as His dearly beloved, redeemed, and forgiven children. He knows how hard it is to remain faithful.
To be sure, we are certainly challenged by the world to remain faithful to Jesus, but we are also challenged by Jesus Himself to remain faithful. But His challenge to us to remain faithful isn't given without His support, for it is coupled with the gift of His Word and Spirit to keep us in faith. That same challenge to be faithful is also coupled with His assurance that, as Paul writes, "all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). As the Christians at Smyrna suffered hardship and persecution for their faithfulness to Jesus, and as that Foothill High School valedictorian, Brittany McComb, of Henderson, Nevada was silenced in her thanksgiving to God, so also can we expect and should we expect to be challenged to be faithful. We will meet each challenge with the assurance of Jesus' promise, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
Prayer: Father, it's not an easy thing to be faithful to You in this world. Not only do I face numerous temptations to be disobedient to Your Word and Will, but I find myself often put on the spot by society to be "politically correct" and not be a visible and verbal witness for Christ. Forgive me, Father, for the many times I'm silent when I should speak, run and hide when I should stand and meet the challenge, and live in fear of those who have no power over me because I belong to You. Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure to strengthen my faith through Your Word, remind me each day of the power of my Baptism into Christ Jesus, and keep me ever assured that my sins are forgiven and my sure and certain hope is eternal life with You in heaven because of Jesus. Father, lift me up each day in Your almighty hand that I may be a faithful witness of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus to all whom I meet and in every situation in which I find myself. Keep fear of what others might think or do to me because I believe from making me powerless to serve You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
***************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Revelation 2:8-11; Matthew 10:17-23, 32, 33
CHALLENGED TO BE FAITHFUL
"Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
I don't think anyone would raise an argument if I proffered the observation that life isn't easy. What do you think? No doubt most of us would respond with a resounding, "Say it again, Preacher!" Okay! Life isn't easy. In fact, sometimes life throws us so many curves that we keep going down swinging (to borrow some baseball terminology) and can't even seem to get to first base with anything. And, while such challenges face people every day in the physical world, the challenges of the spiritual are even more intense.
It's not easy to be a follower of Jesus Christ in today's world. Not that it was ever easy, but it seems that there are more and more frequent attacks on the religious expressions, especially when they are expressions that focus on Jesus. A good example of what I'm talking about occurred recently in Henderson, Nevada when the valedictorian of Foothill High School had her valedictory speech censored by the school administration of the religious content - some Biblical references and one mention of the name, "Christ." Not only did the school officials do a cut job on her speech but then they sent it to the local ACLU chapter to make sure it was truly a "politically correct" speech.
The young lady, Brittany McComb, was told that if she mentioned anything religious from her speech, if she brought any of the censored material back in, she would have her microphone cut off. Just before she uttered the name, Christ, her microphone went dead. She had been silenced by school officials and the ACLU. Brittany's response was the following: "I went through four years of school at Foothill and they taught me logic and they taught me freedom of speech. God's the biggest part of my life. Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior."
That was the kind of situation, only much more deadly, for the Christians in the Church at Smyrna in Asia Minor to whom John is writing in Revelation 2:8-11. Jesus Himself warns the twelve apostles of that same danger when He sent them out into the cities, towns, and countryside of Israel to share the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus' words to both the apostles and to the Church at Smyrna are clear - suffering and persecution are and will be part and parcel of being a living, breathing witness for Christ in the world. We can expect to be held to a different standard than others are. We can expect that the freedoms we cherish may be withheld from us because we serve the Lord. We can be certain that the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh will do their level best to turn us away from Jesus and our Heavenly Father's love, and, failing that, make our lives as miserable as possible, filled with all the inequity and unfairness they can muster.
In the midst of all the turmoil we face because we belong to Christ, our Lord Jesus encourages us to remain faithful, just as He is faithful to us. We are reminded that our Father in heaven holds us in the palm of His hand. We are reminded that of our Lord's promise that He is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us. No matter the challenges we may face, no matter the temptations that may challenge our obedience, and no matter the hardships and dangers that come to us because we serve the Lord, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to know that He is faithful to us. He sees what we endure as His dearly beloved, redeemed, and forgiven children. He knows how hard it is to remain faithful.
To be sure, we are certainly challenged by the world to remain faithful to Jesus, but we are also challenged by Jesus Himself to remain faithful. But His challenge to us to remain faithful isn't given without His support, for it is coupled with the gift of His Word and Spirit to keep us in faith. That same challenge to be faithful is also coupled with His assurance that, as Paul writes, "all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). As the Christians at Smyrna suffered hardship and persecution for their faithfulness to Jesus, and as that Foothill High School valedictorian, Brittany McComb, of Henderson, Nevada was silenced in her thanksgiving to God, so also can we expect and should we expect to be challenged to be faithful. We will meet each challenge with the assurance of Jesus' promise, "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
Prayer: Father, it's not an easy thing to be faithful to You in this world. Not only do I face numerous temptations to be disobedient to Your Word and Will, but I find myself often put on the spot by society to be "politically correct" and not be a visible and verbal witness for Christ. Forgive me, Father, for the many times I'm silent when I should speak, run and hide when I should stand and meet the challenge, and live in fear of those who have no power over me because I belong to You. Father, I pray that You would send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure to strengthen my faith through Your Word, remind me each day of the power of my Baptism into Christ Jesus, and keep me ever assured that my sins are forgiven and my sure and certain hope is eternal life with You in heaven because of Jesus. Father, lift me up each day in Your almighty hand that I may be a faithful witness of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus to all whom I meet and in every situation in which I find myself. Keep fear of what others might think or do to me because I believe from making me powerless to serve You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
***************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Salvation Unmerited
"Today's Devotion" For June 22, 2006
Read: Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10
SALVATION UNMERITED
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us..." (Titus 3:4, 5)
Perhaps the most important thing God ever tells us about our salvation in Jesus is that it is a gift of His grace, mercy, and love. He both tells and shows us throughout Scripture that it's impossible for us to merit salvation by our works, our good looks, or our stellar personalities - or anything else we can do or be for that matter. This is also something we need to be reminded about on a regular basis. We are simply incapable, according to our human nature, of truly understanding (on our own) that there's nothing we can do, think, or say that can earn our salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God in heaven.
It's not too difficult for us to understand the reality of our confusion concerning receiving God's forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Our daily existence is fraught with the need to succeed, accomplish, gain, and obtain. Our whole mindset is that we human beings can do just about anything we put our minds to and we can and must earn our own way. We hold to the axiom that nothing worthwhile is ever "free." In order to achieve higher position, greater pay, and more responsibility, we understand that we must work for it. No one is just going to hand us these things. We have to work for them. Our competitive nature thrives on the whole idea of merit - people try out for sports teams (ex. soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball) and try not to get "cut." If someone is good enough, they'll play on those teams. If not, they go home and try something else.
The gift of heaven and God's forgiveness is a special gift from God. The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled God's promises of a Savior from Sin and the hope of heaven. It was a once and for all time event that put the perfect, holy, and sinless Son of God on the Cross to pay the price we should pay, but can't. God's gift of His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus brings us His salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternity with God, totally unmerited by any human being. Our salvation is unmerited by us, but fully merited by Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. What a marvelous gift of God - a gift that saves us from the burden and bondage of Sin.
There's nothing I can do to save myself. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Our salvation is God's doing - paid for with the blood of the Lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our salvation is, by God's grace, a salvation that unmerited, yet freely given - so great is our Father's love. We are moved by that same grace and love to reach out with the power of God's Word, to live in our baptismal grace, and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and lives so that we can be absolutely certain by faith that our salvation is "Salvation Unmerited."
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your generous gift of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. I don't deserve any of Your blessings, yet You continue to shower them upon me in abundance. Forgive me for too often taking Your love for granted. Forgive me for too often forgetting the terrible price Jesus paid on the Cross that I might be saved. Strengthen my faith so that I may continue to share Your peace and Your blessings, particularly "salvation unmerited," and touch others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
*************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10
SALVATION UNMERITED
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us..." (Titus 3:4, 5)
Perhaps the most important thing God ever tells us about our salvation in Jesus is that it is a gift of His grace, mercy, and love. He both tells and shows us throughout Scripture that it's impossible for us to merit salvation by our works, our good looks, or our stellar personalities - or anything else we can do or be for that matter. This is also something we need to be reminded about on a regular basis. We are simply incapable, according to our human nature, of truly understanding (on our own) that there's nothing we can do, think, or say that can earn our salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God in heaven.
It's not too difficult for us to understand the reality of our confusion concerning receiving God's forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Our daily existence is fraught with the need to succeed, accomplish, gain, and obtain. Our whole mindset is that we human beings can do just about anything we put our minds to and we can and must earn our own way. We hold to the axiom that nothing worthwhile is ever "free." In order to achieve higher position, greater pay, and more responsibility, we understand that we must work for it. No one is just going to hand us these things. We have to work for them. Our competitive nature thrives on the whole idea of merit - people try out for sports teams (ex. soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball) and try not to get "cut." If someone is good enough, they'll play on those teams. If not, they go home and try something else.
The gift of heaven and God's forgiveness is a special gift from God. The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled God's promises of a Savior from Sin and the hope of heaven. It was a once and for all time event that put the perfect, holy, and sinless Son of God on the Cross to pay the price we should pay, but can't. God's gift of His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus brings us His salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternity with God, totally unmerited by any human being. Our salvation is unmerited by us, but fully merited by Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. What a marvelous gift of God - a gift that saves us from the burden and bondage of Sin.
There's nothing I can do to save myself. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Our salvation is God's doing - paid for with the blood of the Lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our salvation is, by God's grace, a salvation that unmerited, yet freely given - so great is our Father's love. We are moved by that same grace and love to reach out with the power of God's Word, to live in our baptismal grace, and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and lives so that we can be absolutely certain by faith that our salvation is "Salvation Unmerited."
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your generous gift of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. I don't deserve any of Your blessings, yet You continue to shower them upon me in abundance. Forgive me for too often taking Your love for granted. Forgive me for too often forgetting the terrible price Jesus paid on the Cross that I might be saved. Strengthen my faith so that I may continue to share Your peace and Your blessings, particularly "salvation unmerited," and touch others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
*************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Salvation Unmerited
"Today's Devotion" For June 22, 2006
Read: Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10
SALVATION UNMERITED
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us..." (Titus 3:4, 5)
Perhaps the most important thing God ever tells us about our salvation in Jesus is that it is a gift of His grace, mercy, and love. He both tells and shows us throughout Scripture that it's impossible for us to merit salvation by our works, our good looks, or our stellar personalities - or anything else we can do or be for that matter. This is also something we need to be reminded about on a regular basis. We are simply incapable, according to our human nature, of truly understanding (on our own) that there's nothing we can do, think, or say that can earn our salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God in heaven.
It's not too difficult for us to understand the reality of our confusion concerning receiving God's forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Our daily existence is fraught with the need to succeed, accomplish, gain, and obtain. Our whole mindset is that we human beings can do just about anything we put our minds to and we can and must earn our own way. We hold to the axiom that nothing worthwhile is ever "free." In order to achieve higher position, greater pay, and more responsibility, we understand that we must work for it. No one is just going to hand us these things. We have to work for them. Our competitive nature thrives on the whole idea of merit - people try out for sports teams (ex. soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball) and try not to get "cut." If someone is good enough, they'll play on those teams. If not, they go home and try something else.
The gift of heaven and God's forgiveness is a special gift from God. The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled God's promises of a Savior from Sin and the hope of heaven. It was a once and for all time event that put the perfect, holy, and sinless Son of God on the Cross to pay the price we should pay, but can't. God's gift of His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus brings us His salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternity with God, totally unmerited by any human being. Our salvation is unmerited by us, but fully merited by Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. What a marvelous gift of God - a gift that saves us from the burden and bondage of Sin.
There's nothing I can do to save myself. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Our salvation is God's doing - paid for with the blood of the Lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our salvation is, by God's grace, a salvation that unmerited, yet freely given - so great is our Father's love. We are moved by that same grace and love to reach out with the power of God's Word, to live in our baptismal grace, and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and lives so that we can be absolutely certain by faith that our salvation is "Salvation Unmerited."
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your generous gift of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. I don't deserve any of Your blessings, yet You continue to shower them upon me in abundance. Forgive me for too often taking Your love for granted. Forgive me for too often forgetting the terrible price Jesus paid on the Cross that I might be saved. Strengthen my faith so that I may continue to share Your peace and Your blessings, particularly "salvation unmerited," and touch others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
*************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10
SALVATION UNMERITED
"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy He saved us..." (Titus 3:4, 5)
Perhaps the most important thing God ever tells us about our salvation in Jesus is that it is a gift of His grace, mercy, and love. He both tells and shows us throughout Scripture that it's impossible for us to merit salvation by our works, our good looks, or our stellar personalities - or anything else we can do or be for that matter. This is also something we need to be reminded about on a regular basis. We are simply incapable, according to our human nature, of truly understanding (on our own) that there's nothing we can do, think, or say that can earn our salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God in heaven.
It's not too difficult for us to understand the reality of our confusion concerning receiving God's forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. Our daily existence is fraught with the need to succeed, accomplish, gain, and obtain. Our whole mindset is that we human beings can do just about anything we put our minds to and we can and must earn our own way. We hold to the axiom that nothing worthwhile is ever "free." In order to achieve higher position, greater pay, and more responsibility, we understand that we must work for it. No one is just going to hand us these things. We have to work for them. Our competitive nature thrives on the whole idea of merit - people try out for sports teams (ex. soccer, basketball, football, wrestling, baseball) and try not to get "cut." If someone is good enough, they'll play on those teams. If not, they go home and try something else.
The gift of heaven and God's forgiveness is a special gift from God. The suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled God's promises of a Savior from Sin and the hope of heaven. It was a once and for all time event that put the perfect, holy, and sinless Son of God on the Cross to pay the price we should pay, but can't. God's gift of His grace, mercy, and love in Jesus brings us His salvation - the forgiveness of sins and eternity with God, totally unmerited by any human being. Our salvation is unmerited by us, but fully merited by Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. What a marvelous gift of God - a gift that saves us from the burden and bondage of Sin.
There's nothing I can do to save myself. There is nothing you can do to save yourself. Our salvation is God's doing - paid for with the blood of the Lamb, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our salvation is, by God's grace, a salvation that unmerited, yet freely given - so great is our Father's love. We are moved by that same grace and love to reach out with the power of God's Word, to live in our baptismal grace, and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and lives so that we can be absolutely certain by faith that our salvation is "Salvation Unmerited."
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your generous gift of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus. I don't deserve any of Your blessings, yet You continue to shower them upon me in abundance. Forgive me for too often taking Your love for granted. Forgive me for too often forgetting the terrible price Jesus paid on the Cross that I might be saved. Strengthen my faith so that I may continue to share Your peace and Your blessings, particularly "salvation unmerited," and touch others with Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
*************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Living A Worshipful Life
"Today's Devotion" For June 21, 2006
Read: Psalm 95; Hebrews 3:7-14
LIVING A WORSHIPFUL LIFE
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." (Psalm 95:6, 7)
How would you describe your life? What is it that defines you as a person? If someone were to ask you what is most important to you, how would you answer? What would be the most important thing you could do with your life if you had the opportunity?
Everyone of whom we might ask these questions would probably answer in a different way. No two answers would be the same, because no two people are the same. Some people might answer by saying "It's none of your business!" Others might respond with dreams and goals related to gaining great wealth, fame, or prestige. Still others might respond by talking about all the things they've accomplished and how much more they expect to accomplish. And then there would be those who would answer these questions by describing themselves as servants of God, serving other people in Jesus' name, and putting their whole lives and trust in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Psalm 95 gives us a way of answering those questions ourselves. The Psalmist issues a "call to worship" as would be offered during a time of worship in the tabernacle or in a church today. It calls upon us to praise God as we worship and to worship Him with our lives by living obediently and responding to His call to us with servant hearts focused, not on ourselves, but on Him and loving others in His name. It's a call to worship and the obedience of faith in response to the loving and merciful hand of God who provides us with every good thing and has sent His salvation to us that we might live forgiven and restored lives with Him. As the Psalmist writes by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, we "are the flock under His care" (Ps. 95:7c), and receive His total and gracious attention.
In Jesus we have been called to a life of worship, for our worship doesn't just take place in the pew on Sunday, or at the family altar, or in our room where we go to be alone to pray. In fact, worship also takes place in our daily living as we live forgiven lives, filled with the joy of service to God and others in Jesus' name. How we speak to others praises and worships God. How we care for others gives thanks to and worships God. How we carry out our daily tasks in our jobs, professions, and every vocation - "calling" - which God gives us to accomplish His purposes, declares to the world that we are His dearly beloved children and our lives are lives of worship and praise. We live worshipful lives by God's grace and mercy in Jesus and in so doing we fill the world with words of grace and peace from God, our heavenly Father.
Prayer: Father, I can honestly say that I am too frequently guilty of failing to live a life of worship and praise. All too often I find myself caring more about me than about others. Too often I'm guilty of putting my selfish desires ahead of obedience to You, loving You above all things, and loving my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for my disobedience, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake and strengthen my faith that I might see all of my life as an opportunity to praise and worship You. Help me to declare Your praises to all I meet with how I act, how I speak, and how I care for others. Let people see Jesus through me so they, too, might know Your love, receive Your forgiveness, and come to lead worshipful lives in Your presence now and forever. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
**********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 95; Hebrews 3:7-14
LIVING A WORSHIPFUL LIFE
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." (Psalm 95:6, 7)
How would you describe your life? What is it that defines you as a person? If someone were to ask you what is most important to you, how would you answer? What would be the most important thing you could do with your life if you had the opportunity?
Everyone of whom we might ask these questions would probably answer in a different way. No two answers would be the same, because no two people are the same. Some people might answer by saying "It's none of your business!" Others might respond with dreams and goals related to gaining great wealth, fame, or prestige. Still others might respond by talking about all the things they've accomplished and how much more they expect to accomplish. And then there would be those who would answer these questions by describing themselves as servants of God, serving other people in Jesus' name, and putting their whole lives and trust in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Psalm 95 gives us a way of answering those questions ourselves. The Psalmist issues a "call to worship" as would be offered during a time of worship in the tabernacle or in a church today. It calls upon us to praise God as we worship and to worship Him with our lives by living obediently and responding to His call to us with servant hearts focused, not on ourselves, but on Him and loving others in His name. It's a call to worship and the obedience of faith in response to the loving and merciful hand of God who provides us with every good thing and has sent His salvation to us that we might live forgiven and restored lives with Him. As the Psalmist writes by the Holy Spirit's inspiration, we "are the flock under His care" (Ps. 95:7c), and receive His total and gracious attention.
In Jesus we have been called to a life of worship, for our worship doesn't just take place in the pew on Sunday, or at the family altar, or in our room where we go to be alone to pray. In fact, worship also takes place in our daily living as we live forgiven lives, filled with the joy of service to God and others in Jesus' name. How we speak to others praises and worships God. How we care for others gives thanks to and worships God. How we carry out our daily tasks in our jobs, professions, and every vocation - "calling" - which God gives us to accomplish His purposes, declares to the world that we are His dearly beloved children and our lives are lives of worship and praise. We live worshipful lives by God's grace and mercy in Jesus and in so doing we fill the world with words of grace and peace from God, our heavenly Father.
Prayer: Father, I can honestly say that I am too frequently guilty of failing to live a life of worship and praise. All too often I find myself caring more about me than about others. Too often I'm guilty of putting my selfish desires ahead of obedience to You, loving You above all things, and loving my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for my disobedience, gracious Father, for Jesus' sake and strengthen my faith that I might see all of my life as an opportunity to praise and worship You. Help me to declare Your praises to all I meet with how I act, how I speak, and how I care for others. Let people see Jesus through me so they, too, might know Your love, receive Your forgiveness, and come to lead worshipful lives in Your presence now and forever. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
**********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Solace And Hope In Times Of Loneliness
"Today's Devotion" For June 20, 2006
Read: Psalm 71; Ephesians 6:10-18
SOLACE AND HOPE IN TIMES OF LONELINESS
"Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me for You are my rock and my fortress." (Psalm 71:3)
Have you ever felt lonely? No doubt most of us can answer this question in the affirmative. Loneliness isn't something that strikes any one group of people, but it's a feeling that can affect the lives of both young and old, rich and poor, and the powerful and the weak. Suicide is often a result of people feeling lonely and hopeless. This is often the overarching reason for suicide among teens, but it also is the reason for suicides in other age groups as well.
Loneliness is especially pervasive in the lives of people in the twilight of their lives. I can remember visiting with one lady at her home on her 92nd birthday. She was grateful to have reached that milestone, but was also sad because all of her friends were gone, her husband was long dead, and she was no longer able to take care of herself in the manner in which she was accustomed. Her children lived far away, as did her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and one of her daughters was anxious to put her in a nursing home near the daughter's home - far away from anything familiar to this lady. This lady (let's call her Marge) was all alone except for her neighbors who watched over her and the people at church who called her on the telephone or stopped by to see how she was doing and to pray with her. With her health failing, Marge often spoke of just dying and getting her life over with. She struggled with the reason God was still keeping her around.
Yet, a more faithful woman of faith I've never seen. She truly trusted in God for everything and no one could get away from her without a word about Jesus and a promise she would be praying for them. She regularly volunteered for the prayer chain, helped sew blankets for missionaries, and faithfully filled her "mite" box to help support the work of missionaries around the world. For every gripe she might offer when I visited she would count two blessings from God and talk about His faithfulness to her. Marge knew Jesus as her Rock; God was truly her "rock of refuge" in all things.
Psalm 71 is the song of an old man recounting the blessings of God throughout his life. He rejoices in God's protection, His love, His mercy, and His forgiveness. He praises God for his redemption from both his earthly and spiritual enemies. Although he has seen hard times and troubles, he is confident that God will restore him and give his life continued meaning and purpose. God's faithfulness is a source of solace and hope and a sure assurance that He never leaves His children alone. For the old man, and for us, no matter what happens in life, we can be certain that we are held in the very palm of God's hand and that He has redeemed us to be His very own, forgiven and restored children in the salvation He freely gives to all in Jesus. No matter what time of our life, the hope and solace the old man professes is also ours in Jesus. We are never alone - our God chases away loneliness with His love and presence each day of our lives.
Prayer: Father, so often I feel tired and overwhelmed by the troubles I experience in this world. It's easy for me to throw my hands up in despair and feel sorry for myself. Loneliness is something I read and hear about a lot, but I never think it's going to touch me. Yet, because of the power of Sin in my life, I too often turn away from You and Your love for me and end up experiencing the spiritual loneliness which comes from turning away from You. When those times come my way, O Lord, send Your Spirit to pick me up and comfort me so that I might find true hope and solace in You and Your love and forgiveness for me in Jesus. Help me to reach out to others who may be experiencing the loneliness that Sin brings, whether young or old, rich or poor, powerful or weak, so they might come to know Your love and forgiveness in Christ and live a life full of hope and faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
******************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 71; Ephesians 6:10-18
SOLACE AND HOPE IN TIMES OF LONELINESS
"Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me for You are my rock and my fortress." (Psalm 71:3)
Have you ever felt lonely? No doubt most of us can answer this question in the affirmative. Loneliness isn't something that strikes any one group of people, but it's a feeling that can affect the lives of both young and old, rich and poor, and the powerful and the weak. Suicide is often a result of people feeling lonely and hopeless. This is often the overarching reason for suicide among teens, but it also is the reason for suicides in other age groups as well.
Loneliness is especially pervasive in the lives of people in the twilight of their lives. I can remember visiting with one lady at her home on her 92nd birthday. She was grateful to have reached that milestone, but was also sad because all of her friends were gone, her husband was long dead, and she was no longer able to take care of herself in the manner in which she was accustomed. Her children lived far away, as did her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and one of her daughters was anxious to put her in a nursing home near the daughter's home - far away from anything familiar to this lady. This lady (let's call her Marge) was all alone except for her neighbors who watched over her and the people at church who called her on the telephone or stopped by to see how she was doing and to pray with her. With her health failing, Marge often spoke of just dying and getting her life over with. She struggled with the reason God was still keeping her around.
Yet, a more faithful woman of faith I've never seen. She truly trusted in God for everything and no one could get away from her without a word about Jesus and a promise she would be praying for them. She regularly volunteered for the prayer chain, helped sew blankets for missionaries, and faithfully filled her "mite" box to help support the work of missionaries around the world. For every gripe she might offer when I visited she would count two blessings from God and talk about His faithfulness to her. Marge knew Jesus as her Rock; God was truly her "rock of refuge" in all things.
Psalm 71 is the song of an old man recounting the blessings of God throughout his life. He rejoices in God's protection, His love, His mercy, and His forgiveness. He praises God for his redemption from both his earthly and spiritual enemies. Although he has seen hard times and troubles, he is confident that God will restore him and give his life continued meaning and purpose. God's faithfulness is a source of solace and hope and a sure assurance that He never leaves His children alone. For the old man, and for us, no matter what happens in life, we can be certain that we are held in the very palm of God's hand and that He has redeemed us to be His very own, forgiven and restored children in the salvation He freely gives to all in Jesus. No matter what time of our life, the hope and solace the old man professes is also ours in Jesus. We are never alone - our God chases away loneliness with His love and presence each day of our lives.
Prayer: Father, so often I feel tired and overwhelmed by the troubles I experience in this world. It's easy for me to throw my hands up in despair and feel sorry for myself. Loneliness is something I read and hear about a lot, but I never think it's going to touch me. Yet, because of the power of Sin in my life, I too often turn away from You and Your love for me and end up experiencing the spiritual loneliness which comes from turning away from You. When those times come my way, O Lord, send Your Spirit to pick me up and comfort me so that I might find true hope and solace in You and Your love and forgiveness for me in Jesus. Help me to reach out to others who may be experiencing the loneliness that Sin brings, whether young or old, rich or poor, powerful or weak, so they might come to know Your love and forgiveness in Christ and live a life full of hope and faith. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
******************************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
A Fully Assured Faith
"Today's Devotion" For June 19, 2006
Read: Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 116
A FULLY ASSURED FAITH
"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:22a, 23)
Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? No doubt most of us have. I can remember my father telling me that if I made a promise I was obligated to keep it and that I should never make a promise I couldn't or didn't intend to keep. Most likely, my dad wasn't the only father to give such advice to his children. I'm grateful that, to the best of my knowledge and memory, my dad never made a promise to me he didn't keep - at least if it was in his power to do so (sometimes, as we all know, exigent circumstances beyond one's control do keep even the best intentioned promises from being kept).
One of the blessings I received growing up was having a father in whom I could place a lot of trust. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. As a small child I was absolutely convinced he could do no wrong. Yet, as I grew older and learned more about life, I began to realize that this man I so fully trusted was also fallible and could make mistakes. I remember times where he didn't fully listen to a situation and the circumstances surrounding an issue (in my opinion) and disciplined me even though I was innocent (at least in my own mind). Yet, no matter what, I always knew he loved me and only wanted the best for me.
What still strikes me today, a day after Father's Day, is that my dad is and always has been (as long as I've known him) a person of integrity, faithful to his wife and family, faithful to his God and Savior, and faithful in service to others. He would be the first to tell you that, even with all these superlatives I've shared, he is a simple, fallible, sinful man who recognizes each day his sinfulness before God and daily repents of that sin and receives, with joy, his heavenly Father's forgiveness. And, while I no longer consider my dad to be infallible, as I did as a child, nor the complete storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that he seemed to be when I was younger, I still see him as a faithful example to me of my heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness as he lives it in his own life. (And, let me add, as a marvelous example of what it means to be a faithful, Christian father.)
It cannot be doubted that there are many people around the world who can't lay claim to such an experience with their fathers as I have had in my life. Way too many people (and perhaps you are one of them) have had father's who didn't care, didn't love, didn't forgive, and didn't provide any positive example that was and is a reflection of our heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Yet, all of us can turn our faces toward our Father in heaven and trust that He loves us, is faithful in His promises, and continues to bless us with His presence every day. His forgiveness of our sins in Jesus is sure and certain.
We can be sure, without any doubt or fear in our hearts, that God's plan of salvation in Jesus is available to all and is for all who believe. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, all who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord can be certain that theirs is a fully assured faith - God is faithful and He keeps His promises, even in the face of the worst sins committed by His children. His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus is ours today and every day by faith. Our faith in Jesus is a fully assured faith and we can be certain that our Father in heaven will keep us safely in His arms as He leads us home to heaven.
Prayer: Father, in a world where it's so hard to trust people to do what's right and to care about others, Your faithfulness and love for me in Jesus is a breath of fresh air and a confidence builder. While I all too often look for answers to my problems and challenges in all kinds of different places, I know, deep in my heart, that if I bring them to You, You will not only take those burdens off my shoulders but You will show me the way to go that is go and pleasing to You. Forgive me, Father, for ever doubting Your love and faithfulness to me. Your promises are always sure and certain, which You confirm for me each day as I read Your Word and remember my Baptism. Strengthen my faith and trust in You each day as Jesus takes me by the hand and shows me Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Keep me in a fully assured faith that I may be a true and living witness and example of Your love and forgiveness in Christ to others. And, Father, I also pray for both my dad, and all the other fathers in the world, that You would touch their hearts and lives so they might be living examples of what You are as the Father of all. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 116
A FULLY ASSURED FAITH
"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:22a, 23)
Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? No doubt most of us have. I can remember my father telling me that if I made a promise I was obligated to keep it and that I should never make a promise I couldn't or didn't intend to keep. Most likely, my dad wasn't the only father to give such advice to his children. I'm grateful that, to the best of my knowledge and memory, my dad never made a promise to me he didn't keep - at least if it was in his power to do so (sometimes, as we all know, exigent circumstances beyond one's control do keep even the best intentioned promises from being kept).
One of the blessings I received growing up was having a father in whom I could place a lot of trust. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. As a small child I was absolutely convinced he could do no wrong. Yet, as I grew older and learned more about life, I began to realize that this man I so fully trusted was also fallible and could make mistakes. I remember times where he didn't fully listen to a situation and the circumstances surrounding an issue (in my opinion) and disciplined me even though I was innocent (at least in my own mind). Yet, no matter what, I always knew he loved me and only wanted the best for me.
What still strikes me today, a day after Father's Day, is that my dad is and always has been (as long as I've known him) a person of integrity, faithful to his wife and family, faithful to his God and Savior, and faithful in service to others. He would be the first to tell you that, even with all these superlatives I've shared, he is a simple, fallible, sinful man who recognizes each day his sinfulness before God and daily repents of that sin and receives, with joy, his heavenly Father's forgiveness. And, while I no longer consider my dad to be infallible, as I did as a child, nor the complete storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that he seemed to be when I was younger, I still see him as a faithful example to me of my heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness as he lives it in his own life. (And, let me add, as a marvelous example of what it means to be a faithful, Christian father.)
It cannot be doubted that there are many people around the world who can't lay claim to such an experience with their fathers as I have had in my life. Way too many people (and perhaps you are one of them) have had father's who didn't care, didn't love, didn't forgive, and didn't provide any positive example that was and is a reflection of our heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Yet, all of us can turn our faces toward our Father in heaven and trust that He loves us, is faithful in His promises, and continues to bless us with His presence every day. His forgiveness of our sins in Jesus is sure and certain.
We can be sure, without any doubt or fear in our hearts, that God's plan of salvation in Jesus is available to all and is for all who believe. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, all who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord can be certain that theirs is a fully assured faith - God is faithful and He keeps His promises, even in the face of the worst sins committed by His children. His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus is ours today and every day by faith. Our faith in Jesus is a fully assured faith and we can be certain that our Father in heaven will keep us safely in His arms as He leads us home to heaven.
Prayer: Father, in a world where it's so hard to trust people to do what's right and to care about others, Your faithfulness and love for me in Jesus is a breath of fresh air and a confidence builder. While I all too often look for answers to my problems and challenges in all kinds of different places, I know, deep in my heart, that if I bring them to You, You will not only take those burdens off my shoulders but You will show me the way to go that is go and pleasing to You. Forgive me, Father, for ever doubting Your love and faithfulness to me. Your promises are always sure and certain, which You confirm for me each day as I read Your Word and remember my Baptism. Strengthen my faith and trust in You each day as Jesus takes me by the hand and shows me Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Keep me in a fully assured faith that I may be a true and living witness and example of Your love and forgiveness in Christ to others. And, Father, I also pray for both my dad, and all the other fathers in the world, that You would touch their hearts and lives so they might be living examples of what You are as the Father of all. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Forever Certain
"Today's Devotion" For June 16, 2006
Read: I Peter 1:22-25; Isaiah 55:6-13
FOREVER CERTAIN
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever." (I Peter 1:24, 25)
"Nothing lasts forever." Now there's a statement with which almost anyone would agree, don't you think? There's a song titled, "Nothing Lasts Forever" written by Judy Collins and Jesse Valenzuela that makes the points very clearly. Some of the lyrics of the song go like this:
"Nothing lasts forever you should know that by now
Good times, Heartache
You'll get through this trouble though you may not know how
Your heart won't break
If you have a vision of your destiny
Tears can't stop you
Hidden in your heart is everything you can be
You'll be fine
Nothin' lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever."
The main thought of this song, continued in the subsequent verses (of which there are two more), is that you can get through anything because nothing lasts forever. If you're patient enough and can stay focused, the implication is that you can face any hardship and overcome any difficulty by just focusing on the reality that "nothing lasts forever."
In a sense, that's what Peter is reminding us of when he notes that "all men are like grass and their glory is as the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall...(I Peter 1:24). Peter is quoting from the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 40:6-8) and is reminding us that we human beings, because of Sin, are no longer the eternal creatures God intended for us to be. Because of our disobedience to Him we die. No matter what we've accomplished in our lives, it will all fade away. It's of no consequence when it comes to eternity - it can't earn us a place in heaven. Thus, while in the lyrics of the song "Nothing Lasts Forever" the picture is given of a brighter and more hopeful day tomorrow because "nothing lasts forever," the reality is that we human beings don't last forever, either. One could go so far as to say that "nothing lasts forever" because, inevitably we die and all our earthly problems come to an end.
It's not God's purpose, however, for us to hear Peter talking about the mortality of mankind, as much as it is for us to hear that God's Word never, ever changes or fades away. While everything else around us fails and dies, fades away and vanishes, "the Word of the Lord stands forever" (I Peter 1:25). Peter calls that Word of God a "living and enduring Word" (v. 23) which is both written and "made flesh" in our resurrected and ascended Savior Jesus Christ. In the face of the uncertainties of the world, the insecurity of life and health, safety and comfort, peace and hope, there is one thing above all else that is "forever certain" - God's love for us in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. His forgiveness in Christ is certain. By faith in Christ it brings us to eternal life.
No matter how things may fade and decay in this world, and no matter that we face death and the decay of our mortal bodies, God assures us that we can have certainty and "forever" in our lives. We can be certain that there is one thing that will last forever - the only thing necessary and needful for hope and promise in our lives - the permanence for all eternity of God's Word. That Word has come to us in all its living power and grace in the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him we have the hope and promise of eternal life. Our lives aren't stuck in the mode of "Nothing Lasts Forever," but are invigorated by faith to be "forever certain" of God's eternal love and forgiveness, hope and salvation in Jesus our Savior and Lord.
Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have made known to me the certainty that I am forever Yours in Jesus Christ. You have forgiven me of all my sins, even those I don't even realize I've done, because of Jesus' suffering and death in my place on the Cross. You continue to assure me in the power of His resurrection that I am one of Your dearly beloved children and that nothing in this world can separate me from Your love. I can be forever certain that "nothing lasts forever," not because things change in this world, but because my hope and home is in heaven with You. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, lead me to live my life with that eternal certainty of heaven through faith in Jesus so that I might be bold and confident in my living and witnessing for Him to the people around me. Help me to boldly face whatever challenges may come my way, fearlessly face any dangers that may challenge my safety, and courageously proclaim Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone, no matter how hostile they might be. In Jesus' precious name I ask all this. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: I Peter 1:22-25; Isaiah 55:6-13
FOREVER CERTAIN
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever." (I Peter 1:24, 25)
"Nothing lasts forever." Now there's a statement with which almost anyone would agree, don't you think? There's a song titled, "Nothing Lasts Forever" written by Judy Collins and Jesse Valenzuela that makes the points very clearly. Some of the lyrics of the song go like this:
"Nothing lasts forever you should know that by now
Good times, Heartache
You'll get through this trouble though you may not know how
Your heart won't break
If you have a vision of your destiny
Tears can't stop you
Hidden in your heart is everything you can be
You'll be fine
Nothin' lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever, Nothin lasts forever."
The main thought of this song, continued in the subsequent verses (of which there are two more), is that you can get through anything because nothing lasts forever. If you're patient enough and can stay focused, the implication is that you can face any hardship and overcome any difficulty by just focusing on the reality that "nothing lasts forever."
In a sense, that's what Peter is reminding us of when he notes that "all men are like grass and their glory is as the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall...(I Peter 1:24). Peter is quoting from the Prophet Isaiah (Is. 40:6-8) and is reminding us that we human beings, because of Sin, are no longer the eternal creatures God intended for us to be. Because of our disobedience to Him we die. No matter what we've accomplished in our lives, it will all fade away. It's of no consequence when it comes to eternity - it can't earn us a place in heaven. Thus, while in the lyrics of the song "Nothing Lasts Forever" the picture is given of a brighter and more hopeful day tomorrow because "nothing lasts forever," the reality is that we human beings don't last forever, either. One could go so far as to say that "nothing lasts forever" because, inevitably we die and all our earthly problems come to an end.
It's not God's purpose, however, for us to hear Peter talking about the mortality of mankind, as much as it is for us to hear that God's Word never, ever changes or fades away. While everything else around us fails and dies, fades away and vanishes, "the Word of the Lord stands forever" (I Peter 1:25). Peter calls that Word of God a "living and enduring Word" (v. 23) which is both written and "made flesh" in our resurrected and ascended Savior Jesus Christ. In the face of the uncertainties of the world, the insecurity of life and health, safety and comfort, peace and hope, there is one thing above all else that is "forever certain" - God's love for us in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. His forgiveness in Christ is certain. By faith in Christ it brings us to eternal life.
No matter how things may fade and decay in this world, and no matter that we face death and the decay of our mortal bodies, God assures us that we can have certainty and "forever" in our lives. We can be certain that there is one thing that will last forever - the only thing necessary and needful for hope and promise in our lives - the permanence for all eternity of God's Word. That Word has come to us in all its living power and grace in the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him we have the hope and promise of eternal life. Our lives aren't stuck in the mode of "Nothing Lasts Forever," but are invigorated by faith to be "forever certain" of God's eternal love and forgiveness, hope and salvation in Jesus our Savior and Lord.
Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have made known to me the certainty that I am forever Yours in Jesus Christ. You have forgiven me of all my sins, even those I don't even realize I've done, because of Jesus' suffering and death in my place on the Cross. You continue to assure me in the power of His resurrection that I am one of Your dearly beloved children and that nothing in this world can separate me from Your love. I can be forever certain that "nothing lasts forever," not because things change in this world, but because my hope and home is in heaven with You. By the power of Your Word and Spirit, lead me to live my life with that eternal certainty of heaven through faith in Jesus so that I might be bold and confident in my living and witnessing for Him to the people around me. Help me to boldly face whatever challenges may come my way, fearlessly face any dangers that may challenge my safety, and courageously proclaim Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone, no matter how hostile they might be. In Jesus' precious name I ask all this. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Solid As A Rock
"Today's Devotion" For June 15, 2006
Read: Psalm 31:1-5; Matthew 7:24-27
SOLID AS A ROCK
"Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge." (Psalm 31:3, 4)
In order for any building to have a chance of standing for a long period of time, it needs to have a solid foundation under it. Most building construction in the United States has a requirement of at least a minimal concrete foundation, which is usually laid on a prepared bed of ground, which includes a layer of crushed rock. In the northern climes such construction usually includes a basement, also set on a concrete foundation, with the ground beneath it properly prepared so that shifting of the foundation is kept to minimum - such shifting can cause the foundation and the walls of a basement to weaken and collapse. I know of one such building at my children's high school where settling has occurred to the point where there are now cracks in the foundation walls and the floor where the new building is attached to the old. If left unaddressed and uncorrected, over a period of time numerous other problems will begin to crop up and the expense of fixing them will become greater and greater.
Before we knew how to mix cement and concrete, however, people who built wisely, built their buildings on soil they knew was reasonably solid, often looking for areas where there was bedrock underneath the structure. On the prairies, the settlers had to be certain that where they built their house they wouldn't be in danger of having it washed away because of heavy rains. The key to the stability of any of those early structures, even going back to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, was the foundation on which they were built, and rock was about the most solid foundation they could have.
Just as a physical house or building needs to have a solid and firm foundation, so also do our spiritual houses require such a foundation. Everywhere we look there's someone, somewhere, coming up with new ways of living and being that are supposed to be the "end all" answers to the spiritual challenges and dilemmas people face in their lives. Instinctively, because of humanity's natural knowledge of God based on the evidence of the world and universe around us, people know when their spiritual foundation is insecure and unstable. People will search high and low to find the answers to the spiritual dilemmas they face, even when they don't "believe" in spiritual things.
Various cults and religions have arisen over the course of human existence to try to come to grips with the spiritual needs of human beings apart from acknowledging the one true God - the God who created the world, the universe, and all that exists; the God who has redeemed His creation, especially we human beings, from the destructive nature of Sin which would destroy His creation and keep it from Him; the God who works every day to touch people's lives with His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness and who seeks to bring them into a saving and loving relationship with Him. Invariably, the results of such cults and religions that seek to give answers apart from knowing the true God lead people to greater doubt, greater uncertainty, and loss of hope for anything beyond what can be seen.
In the face of such uncertainty in the world around us, how wonderful and sustaining are the words of the Psalmist, "Since Your are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge" (Ps. 31:3, 4). Because of God's assurance to us that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be certain that we can withstand every spiritual challenge and stress to the spiritual foundation we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can say with the same certainty and faith as the Psalmist that our God is always present with us to uplift us, protect us, and guide us to live in and for Him each day. He fills us with His peace and joy and removes all doubts about who we are in relationship with Him.
It's true that the power of Sin and the challenges of the world conspire on a daily basis to set spiritual traps for us to lead us away from a relationship with God. Yet, in Christ, we are assured that we have a refuge from the power of Sin and the vagaries of the world. By the power of His Word and Spirit, through the washing of and continual blessings of Holy Baptism, and in the reception of the true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper our God continually sets us free from the traps Sin, Death, Satan, and world set for us. He is truly our refuge and provides us, in Christ, with a spiritual foundation that is truly "solid as a rock."
Prayer: Father, no matter how often I may be led astray by the temptations to sin and the challenges of the world, You still come to my aid and by the power of Your Word and Spirit, bring me back to You. Continue to shower Your power and love abroad in my heart and life that I may live a life of true repentance, full of joy in Your forgiveness in Christ, and confident that You are my rock and fortress, my refuge in whom I can trust and stand up against sin and every evil. Guide me by the power of Your Word and Spirit to greater faith and obedience to You and Your Word. As You strengthen my faith in Jesus I pray that You would also strengthen my witness to Your love and forgiveness in Him so that others, too, might come to know Your truth and receive Jesus as the rock of their spiritual foundations so that they might stand in faith with You, "solid as a rock" in witness to Your salvation. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
******************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 31:1-5; Matthew 7:24-27
SOLID AS A ROCK
"Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge." (Psalm 31:3, 4)
In order for any building to have a chance of standing for a long period of time, it needs to have a solid foundation under it. Most building construction in the United States has a requirement of at least a minimal concrete foundation, which is usually laid on a prepared bed of ground, which includes a layer of crushed rock. In the northern climes such construction usually includes a basement, also set on a concrete foundation, with the ground beneath it properly prepared so that shifting of the foundation is kept to minimum - such shifting can cause the foundation and the walls of a basement to weaken and collapse. I know of one such building at my children's high school where settling has occurred to the point where there are now cracks in the foundation walls and the floor where the new building is attached to the old. If left unaddressed and uncorrected, over a period of time numerous other problems will begin to crop up and the expense of fixing them will become greater and greater.
Before we knew how to mix cement and concrete, however, people who built wisely, built their buildings on soil they knew was reasonably solid, often looking for areas where there was bedrock underneath the structure. On the prairies, the settlers had to be certain that where they built their house they wouldn't be in danger of having it washed away because of heavy rains. The key to the stability of any of those early structures, even going back to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, was the foundation on which they were built, and rock was about the most solid foundation they could have.
Just as a physical house or building needs to have a solid and firm foundation, so also do our spiritual houses require such a foundation. Everywhere we look there's someone, somewhere, coming up with new ways of living and being that are supposed to be the "end all" answers to the spiritual challenges and dilemmas people face in their lives. Instinctively, because of humanity's natural knowledge of God based on the evidence of the world and universe around us, people know when their spiritual foundation is insecure and unstable. People will search high and low to find the answers to the spiritual dilemmas they face, even when they don't "believe" in spiritual things.
Various cults and religions have arisen over the course of human existence to try to come to grips with the spiritual needs of human beings apart from acknowledging the one true God - the God who created the world, the universe, and all that exists; the God who has redeemed His creation, especially we human beings, from the destructive nature of Sin which would destroy His creation and keep it from Him; the God who works every day to touch people's lives with His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness and who seeks to bring them into a saving and loving relationship with Him. Invariably, the results of such cults and religions that seek to give answers apart from knowing the true God lead people to greater doubt, greater uncertainty, and loss of hope for anything beyond what can be seen.
In the face of such uncertainty in the world around us, how wonderful and sustaining are the words of the Psalmist, "Since Your are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge" (Ps. 31:3, 4). Because of God's assurance to us that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be certain that we can withstand every spiritual challenge and stress to the spiritual foundation we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can say with the same certainty and faith as the Psalmist that our God is always present with us to uplift us, protect us, and guide us to live in and for Him each day. He fills us with His peace and joy and removes all doubts about who we are in relationship with Him.
It's true that the power of Sin and the challenges of the world conspire on a daily basis to set spiritual traps for us to lead us away from a relationship with God. Yet, in Christ, we are assured that we have a refuge from the power of Sin and the vagaries of the world. By the power of His Word and Spirit, through the washing of and continual blessings of Holy Baptism, and in the reception of the true Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper our God continually sets us free from the traps Sin, Death, Satan, and world set for us. He is truly our refuge and provides us, in Christ, with a spiritual foundation that is truly "solid as a rock."
Prayer: Father, no matter how often I may be led astray by the temptations to sin and the challenges of the world, You still come to my aid and by the power of Your Word and Spirit, bring me back to You. Continue to shower Your power and love abroad in my heart and life that I may live a life of true repentance, full of joy in Your forgiveness in Christ, and confident that You are my rock and fortress, my refuge in whom I can trust and stand up against sin and every evil. Guide me by the power of Your Word and Spirit to greater faith and obedience to You and Your Word. As You strengthen my faith in Jesus I pray that You would also strengthen my witness to Your love and forgiveness in Him so that others, too, might come to know Your truth and receive Jesus as the rock of their spiritual foundations so that they might stand in faith with You, "solid as a rock" in witness to Your salvation. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
******************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Perfect Truth
"Today's Devotion" For June 12, 2006
Read: Proverbs 30:5-9; II Timothy 3:14-4:5
PERFECT TRUTH
"Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." (Proverbs 30:5)
"That's not what you said!"
"Yes it is!"
"No, I distinctly heard you tell me that...!"
"I did not! What I said was...!"
Ever had a conversation like the above? It happens at my house all the time. Usually I'm the one who doesn't remember what I said, according to my children (and sometimes my wife). My son and I just got into one of those "you said - I did not" debates yesterday. Who was right? Well, I still think I was, but he's convinced he is. What was resolved? Nothing. We ended up just letting it go - it kept the peace.
Our real life world is filled with such situations. On one hand a claim is made, a statement of fact offered, or an opinion is proffered. The speaker means to say one thing, but words it in such a way that a different message is conveyed, so the hearer hears something not necessarily intended by the speaker. In a sense the speaker has given a false statement, not necessarily by intent but definitely in fact. While the speaker has intended to speak the truth, in reality, how he or she stated that truth ended up conveying a falsehood. Often, no matter how hard we try, especially in very difficult situations in which we take great care in choosing our words, a false impression, a mixed message, or a half-truth can be conveyed. It's the nature of Sin in our lives that makes communication such a difficult thing.
Happily, God's Word isn't so open to being "iffy." When He says something He says what He means and He means what He says. He doesn't "beat around the bush," "hem and haw," or use the wrong words or phrases to convey His truth. When we don't understand what He's said or misapply or misunderstand His Word, it's not because He wasn't clear - it's because our hearts and minds are darkened by Sin and are focused on ourselves and our desires and thoughts, rather than on listening to Him.
Our Father in heaven understands this challenge we face. That's why He reminds us frequently in Scripture (as He does in our lessons for today), that His Word is truthful and sure. It clearly conveys His meaning and intent. We don't need to doubt it, nor do we need to dissect it to find any "hidden meanings." Instead, our Father in heaven assures us that His Word is perfect truth - it's never just an attempt at telling the truth. The gift of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has redeemed us from the curse of Sin, the fear of Death, and the power of Satan, is proof positive of His love and His truth for all time.
God's assurance to us, which is ours by faith in Jesus Christ, is that His Word will uplift us, sustain us, and protect us from the evil that would drive us away from His love and forgiveness. His Word is "flawless" as Solomon writes, and He provides us a safe haven from the dangers posed to us by Sin and Satan. He always tells us the "perfect truth" that convicts us of our sins, leads us to repentance, brings His forgiveness to bear in our lives through faith in Jesus, and comforts us and encourages us with the hope and promise of eternity with Him in heaven. Isn't it really good to know that if we have any doubts about what God says, it's not Him, but us? To know this is to be able to focus on where the misunderstanding really lies - there's no debate.
Prayer: Father, thank You for clearly declaring Your Will and Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me and all the world. In order for me and all humanity to really get the message of Your anger toward Sin and Your desire to redeem all of creation from it's destructive influence and power, You took on human flesh in the person of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him, You confirmed the truth - the perfect truth - of Your Word and promises and clearly showed Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness for sinners. Having worked faith in my heart, gracious Father, I pray that You would help me to live in that faith each and every day as a faithful witness to Your truth and love to others, that through such witness others might come to the assurance of Your Word and promises and be saved. In Jesus' precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Proverbs 30:5-9; II Timothy 3:14-4:5
PERFECT TRUTH
"Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him." (Proverbs 30:5)
"That's not what you said!"
"Yes it is!"
"No, I distinctly heard you tell me that...!"
"I did not! What I said was...!"
Ever had a conversation like the above? It happens at my house all the time. Usually I'm the one who doesn't remember what I said, according to my children (and sometimes my wife). My son and I just got into one of those "you said - I did not" debates yesterday. Who was right? Well, I still think I was, but he's convinced he is. What was resolved? Nothing. We ended up just letting it go - it kept the peace.
Our real life world is filled with such situations. On one hand a claim is made, a statement of fact offered, or an opinion is proffered. The speaker means to say one thing, but words it in such a way that a different message is conveyed, so the hearer hears something not necessarily intended by the speaker. In a sense the speaker has given a false statement, not necessarily by intent but definitely in fact. While the speaker has intended to speak the truth, in reality, how he or she stated that truth ended up conveying a falsehood. Often, no matter how hard we try, especially in very difficult situations in which we take great care in choosing our words, a false impression, a mixed message, or a half-truth can be conveyed. It's the nature of Sin in our lives that makes communication such a difficult thing.
Happily, God's Word isn't so open to being "iffy." When He says something He says what He means and He means what He says. He doesn't "beat around the bush," "hem and haw," or use the wrong words or phrases to convey His truth. When we don't understand what He's said or misapply or misunderstand His Word, it's not because He wasn't clear - it's because our hearts and minds are darkened by Sin and are focused on ourselves and our desires and thoughts, rather than on listening to Him.
Our Father in heaven understands this challenge we face. That's why He reminds us frequently in Scripture (as He does in our lessons for today), that His Word is truthful and sure. It clearly conveys His meaning and intent. We don't need to doubt it, nor do we need to dissect it to find any "hidden meanings." Instead, our Father in heaven assures us that His Word is perfect truth - it's never just an attempt at telling the truth. The gift of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who has redeemed us from the curse of Sin, the fear of Death, and the power of Satan, is proof positive of His love and His truth for all time.
God's assurance to us, which is ours by faith in Jesus Christ, is that His Word will uplift us, sustain us, and protect us from the evil that would drive us away from His love and forgiveness. His Word is "flawless" as Solomon writes, and He provides us a safe haven from the dangers posed to us by Sin and Satan. He always tells us the "perfect truth" that convicts us of our sins, leads us to repentance, brings His forgiveness to bear in our lives through faith in Jesus, and comforts us and encourages us with the hope and promise of eternity with Him in heaven. Isn't it really good to know that if we have any doubts about what God says, it's not Him, but us? To know this is to be able to focus on where the misunderstanding really lies - there's no debate.
Prayer: Father, thank You for clearly declaring Your Will and Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me and all the world. In order for me and all humanity to really get the message of Your anger toward Sin and Your desire to redeem all of creation from it's destructive influence and power, You took on human flesh in the person of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him, You confirmed the truth - the perfect truth - of Your Word and promises and clearly showed Your grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness for sinners. Having worked faith in my heart, gracious Father, I pray that You would help me to live in that faith each and every day as a faithful witness to Your truth and love to others, that through such witness others might come to the assurance of Your Word and promises and be saved. In Jesus' precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Our "Place Of Refuge"
"Today's Devotion" For June 10, 2006
Read: Psalm 46; John 17:6-15
OUR "PLACE OF REFUGE"
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Ps. 46:1, 2a)
Where do you go when things aren't going well in your life? Who's your "lifeline." the person or persons to whom you turn for solace, help, and advice? All of us need someone like that in our lives, for none of us is an "island" - we can't survive without others, no matter what some may say. God made us to be social creatures and to have relationships with others. He gave us other people to share love and compassion, hope and peace, and the myriad blessings He gives to the world every day. Yet, no matter how marvelous a relationship we may have with others, there are limitations as to what they can do for us and we for them as we face the challenges to faith and service Sin and the world throw at us every day.
Perhaps there's no better example we have than the challenges faced by our men and women in uniform serving in "harm's way" in danger of their lives halfway around the world. While they depend on one another to watch their "six," the reality is that they can never be sure from where the next terrorist attack is going to come. In a recent satellite phone conversation with our son, Matthew, serving with the Marine Corps in Iraq, he mentioned, with some enthusiasm, that his company now had a "lay reader," and that Sunday services were being held even in the absence of a chaplain (a "lay reader" is a Marine who has volunteered to be a company religious leader (Protestant or Catholic) and provide for times of worship when a chaplain isn't available. Reading between the lines, this information also told me that Matthew's and his buddies' need for spiritual refreshment is great. Looking to God for deliverance and security in the face of an enemy that cares nothing about the lives of others - or even his or her own - is daunting.
What comfort and peace comes to all of us, especially those in Matthew's situation, when the Psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in trouble." No matter what may happen, no matter how much we may be threatened, physically, mentally, or spiritually, our confidence is in God's providential care and His almighty and merciful power. He has shown that power and strength in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who took on our human flesh and bore our sins upon the Cross for our salvation. By the power of His Word and Spirit we receive hope and strength for living each day, and the courage to face whatever comes our way, confident in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all who believe in Jesus. Filled with His peace, encouraged by His love, and strengthened by His Spirit, we also say with the Psalmist - "therefore we will not fear." In our God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - we have a sure and certrain "place of refuge" for now and for eternity.
Prayer: Father, thank You for always being there for me, no matter what happens in my life. Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness sustain me each and every day. In the face of every kind of trouble and danger, Your power and love uplift me and give me a place of refuge. Help me to turn to You in every circumstance of life, whether things are going well or not so well. Help me to trust in You and Your redemption of me in Jesus, Keep me ever mindful that I am Your dearly beloved child, saved by Your grace in Christ and called by You to live that message of salvation in my life and share it with my tongue so that others also might know You as a true "place of refuge." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 46; John 17:6-15
OUR "PLACE OF REFUGE"
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Ps. 46:1, 2a)
Where do you go when things aren't going well in your life? Who's your "lifeline." the person or persons to whom you turn for solace, help, and advice? All of us need someone like that in our lives, for none of us is an "island" - we can't survive without others, no matter what some may say. God made us to be social creatures and to have relationships with others. He gave us other people to share love and compassion, hope and peace, and the myriad blessings He gives to the world every day. Yet, no matter how marvelous a relationship we may have with others, there are limitations as to what they can do for us and we for them as we face the challenges to faith and service Sin and the world throw at us every day.
Perhaps there's no better example we have than the challenges faced by our men and women in uniform serving in "harm's way" in danger of their lives halfway around the world. While they depend on one another to watch their "six," the reality is that they can never be sure from where the next terrorist attack is going to come. In a recent satellite phone conversation with our son, Matthew, serving with the Marine Corps in Iraq, he mentioned, with some enthusiasm, that his company now had a "lay reader," and that Sunday services were being held even in the absence of a chaplain (a "lay reader" is a Marine who has volunteered to be a company religious leader (Protestant or Catholic) and provide for times of worship when a chaplain isn't available. Reading between the lines, this information also told me that Matthew's and his buddies' need for spiritual refreshment is great. Looking to God for deliverance and security in the face of an enemy that cares nothing about the lives of others - or even his or her own - is daunting.
What comfort and peace comes to all of us, especially those in Matthew's situation, when the Psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in trouble." No matter what may happen, no matter how much we may be threatened, physically, mentally, or spiritually, our confidence is in God's providential care and His almighty and merciful power. He has shown that power and strength in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who took on our human flesh and bore our sins upon the Cross for our salvation. By the power of His Word and Spirit we receive hope and strength for living each day, and the courage to face whatever comes our way, confident in His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all who believe in Jesus. Filled with His peace, encouraged by His love, and strengthened by His Spirit, we also say with the Psalmist - "therefore we will not fear." In our God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - we have a sure and certrain "place of refuge" for now and for eternity.
Prayer: Father, thank You for always being there for me, no matter what happens in my life. Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness sustain me each and every day. In the face of every kind of trouble and danger, Your power and love uplift me and give me a place of refuge. Help me to turn to You in every circumstance of life, whether things are going well or not so well. Help me to trust in You and Your redemption of me in Jesus, Keep me ever mindful that I am Your dearly beloved child, saved by Your grace in Christ and called by You to live that message of salvation in my life and share it with my tongue so that others also might know You as a true "place of refuge." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
*****************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Blessed By God's Great Love And Faithfulness
"Today's Devotion" For June 9, 2006
Read: Psalm 57; Proverbs 16:1-9
BLESSED BY GOD'S GREAT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
"For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 57:10)
Well, as most of us know by now, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a bombing raid on one of his safe houses. The most important part of this story for us isn't so much that this man (who was responsible for so much death and destruction while turning people to suicide in the name of religion) was finally stopped, but that there is evil in the world and we're faced with a never ending struggle against it. Recent events in Somalia and the Sudan are reflective of a growing march of evil in the name of religion around the world. Love for one's neighbor, concern and compassion for those in need, and mercy for those who are weaker are not high priorities in much of the world. Rather, controlling others, demeaning others, and stripping them of their dignity has become more and more commonplace.
As we strive against evil in the world, we realize that we're not alone. David, in Psalm 57 and numerous others of his Psalms, cries out to God for deliverance and sustenance in the face of his enemies. David understood what it was to face evil, especially the evil that came from within his own people (Psalm 57 was written after David ran into the cave to escape Saul). David cries out to God for deliverance and gives Him thanks for saving him from his enemies. David exhorts himself to remain faithful, declaring his faith and trust in God's care and praising Him for His steadfast love and faithfulness to David, even in the midst of all of David's troubles. God's great love and faithfulness what sustained David, and also sustain us no matter how much evil we might face in the world.
As we face evil in our day we also draw strength and comfort from knowing that God is faithful and in His love for us He provides for atonement of our sins - fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We are also encouraged in our struggle with evil that the fear of the Lord helps us to keep from engaging in the evil that surrounds us (Pr.16:6). By God's grace we have received His strength so that we, through the Word and Spirit, might overcome evil by living lives of faith built on the righteousness of Christ. Truly blessed by God's great love and faithfulness we put ourselves in His hand, trust in His mercy, and let Him guide our lives of faith in service to Him - proclamation of and living in the Gospel of Christ as living witnesses of God's love and faithfulness to all. No one, not even people like the terrorists and the suicide bombers, can take away the hope we have because of God's love and faithfulness. He is our only sure and certain hope in the face of the evil that touches our world every day.
Prayer: Father, in Your great love and faithfulness, which extends beyond any bounds of the human imagination, You provide me with hope in the face of a "world gone mad" with Sin and the evil that causes it. In Your great love and faithfulness, I receive Your forgiveness of all my sins and the certainty that You are walking with me and guiding my footsteps to do Your will and serve Your purposes in this world. Keep me faithful, gracious Father, to You and Your love for me in Jesus. Keep me faithful as a living witness and testimony to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all mankind in Jesus. Let my life reflect the confidence and fearlessness of a disciple of Jesus Christ to face any situation, meet any challenge, and endure every evil so that I might lead others to Jesus so they, too, might be saved. In His most precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
*******************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Psalm 57; Proverbs 16:1-9
BLESSED BY GOD'S GREAT LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
"For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." (Psalm 57:10)
Well, as most of us know by now, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a bombing raid on one of his safe houses. The most important part of this story for us isn't so much that this man (who was responsible for so much death and destruction while turning people to suicide in the name of religion) was finally stopped, but that there is evil in the world and we're faced with a never ending struggle against it. Recent events in Somalia and the Sudan are reflective of a growing march of evil in the name of religion around the world. Love for one's neighbor, concern and compassion for those in need, and mercy for those who are weaker are not high priorities in much of the world. Rather, controlling others, demeaning others, and stripping them of their dignity has become more and more commonplace.
As we strive against evil in the world, we realize that we're not alone. David, in Psalm 57 and numerous others of his Psalms, cries out to God for deliverance and sustenance in the face of his enemies. David understood what it was to face evil, especially the evil that came from within his own people (Psalm 57 was written after David ran into the cave to escape Saul). David cries out to God for deliverance and gives Him thanks for saving him from his enemies. David exhorts himself to remain faithful, declaring his faith and trust in God's care and praising Him for His steadfast love and faithfulness to David, even in the midst of all of David's troubles. God's great love and faithfulness what sustained David, and also sustain us no matter how much evil we might face in the world.
As we face evil in our day we also draw strength and comfort from knowing that God is faithful and in His love for us He provides for atonement of our sins - fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We are also encouraged in our struggle with evil that the fear of the Lord helps us to keep from engaging in the evil that surrounds us (Pr.16:6). By God's grace we have received His strength so that we, through the Word and Spirit, might overcome evil by living lives of faith built on the righteousness of Christ. Truly blessed by God's great love and faithfulness we put ourselves in His hand, trust in His mercy, and let Him guide our lives of faith in service to Him - proclamation of and living in the Gospel of Christ as living witnesses of God's love and faithfulness to all. No one, not even people like the terrorists and the suicide bombers, can take away the hope we have because of God's love and faithfulness. He is our only sure and certain hope in the face of the evil that touches our world every day.
Prayer: Father, in Your great love and faithfulness, which extends beyond any bounds of the human imagination, You provide me with hope in the face of a "world gone mad" with Sin and the evil that causes it. In Your great love and faithfulness, I receive Your forgiveness of all my sins and the certainty that You are walking with me and guiding my footsteps to do Your will and serve Your purposes in this world. Keep me faithful, gracious Father, to You and Your love for me in Jesus. Keep me faithful as a living witness and testimony to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for all mankind in Jesus. Let my life reflect the confidence and fearlessness of a disciple of Jesus Christ to face any situation, meet any challenge, and endure every evil so that I might lead others to Jesus so they, too, might be saved. In His most precious and holy name I pray. Amen.
*******************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Taking A Stand For Jesus
"Today's Devotion" For June 8, 2006
Read: Luke 21:5-19; Hebrews 10:32-39
TAKING A STAND FOR JESUS
"All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." (Luke 21:17-19)
It's becoming increasingly obvious that being a Christian isn't easy. If we go back about 20 years or so, one of the first indications of the coming struggle between the followers of Jesus and the world was seen in the "P...ing Christ" "artwork" that put a crucifix into a bottle of urine and called it art. In the Netherlands, cartoons making fun of Islam were published and the people who published them were threatened with death for insulting Islam. Newspapers in the United States refused to publish the cartoons, yet have frequently published anything which "bashes" Christians. To disagree with Islam or other non-Christian religious belief systems is considered closed minded and petty, yet attacking the Christian faith and misapplying laws to wipe out any instance of faith and the things of God in the public arena is okay and acceptable.
How do we respond, as the people of God, to such things? Our sinful nature wants to believe that following Jesus should be easy and comfortable. We have a certain theological perspective running around the Christian Church saying that prosperity and material gain is what God wants for His children. There is a "social gospel" which turns its back on the truth of God's Word in order for "Christianity" and the church to become "relevant" to the world. For decades a theological teaching of "liberation theology" has been the mantra of myriad "social gospel" evangelists, seeking to turn Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection into an act of freedom - not from the curse of the Law and the power of Sin and Death - but from poverty, pain, suffering, loss of personal freedom, and a host of other "social improvements" in society based on the importance we human beings assign them.
Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, was never supposed to be easy. Jesus noted in the Beatitudes that just as He was persecuted, and the prophets were persecuted, so also would all who confess His name and follow Him (Matthew 5:11, 12). Each day of our lives we're faced with the challenges to our faith and trust in Jesus as the world seeks to denigrate the truth of God's Word and His plan of salvation for the world in Christ. The values and principles for living that God gives us in His Word are ridiculed and ignored by the world because they don't fit with humanity's desire to do things its own way. As a result, the world is a mess. Violence, crime, hatred, and a host of other social and personal maladies affect our culture, our society, and our world. People are dying lost and forlorn, without any hope or peace in their hearts.
Jesus calls us to a different perspective on the world than what's generally held by society and culture. He calls us to expect to be hated because of Him. He warns that such hatred may even lead to death - and we have an idea of the huge numbers of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone and still are going to their deaths because of their confession of Christ. At the same time, our Lord encourages us with the promise that when we take a stand for Him in the midst of a lost, fallen, and hate filled world, we are living our faith and trust in Him. we're standing on His promises and looking to the hope of heaven. Taking a stand for Jesus in every moment of our lives, in every circumstance in which we're placed, and in every challenge to our service in His name has its greatest reward in the promise of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven. Standing firm in Jesus means "life to the full" (John 10:10) as His disciples here on earth, fully confident we are held in the very palm of His hand, and, finally, eternal life - redeemed and restored to the Father forever.
Prayer: Father, it's so very easy to get frustrated by the inequities I experience because the world hates You, throws aside Your Will, ignores Your love, and denigrates Your forgiveness in Christ. Whether it's putting a crucifix - a symbol of Your redemptive work in Jesus - into a bowl of urine, or declaring any mention of You in the public arena to be illegal and unconstitutional, the world daily reflects its animosity toward You and those who love and serve You. Too often, Father, I'd like to put my "head in the sand" and find a way to ignore the reality that being a follower of Jesus means being scorned, ridiculed, and even persecuted. Yet, as Jesus reminds me, if He's treated badly, how else should I expect to be treated. Father, please strengthen me in the great gift of faith You've worked in my heart through the power of Your Word and Spirit, so that I might not be overcome by the challenges to faith the world lays before me. Rather, Father, give me the courage of faith in Christ to live my life "to the full," taking a stand for Jesus in all things and being a true reflection of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Him to everyone I meet. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Luke 21:5-19; Hebrews 10:32-39
TAKING A STAND FOR JESUS
"All men will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." (Luke 21:17-19)
It's becoming increasingly obvious that being a Christian isn't easy. If we go back about 20 years or so, one of the first indications of the coming struggle between the followers of Jesus and the world was seen in the "P...ing Christ" "artwork" that put a crucifix into a bottle of urine and called it art. In the Netherlands, cartoons making fun of Islam were published and the people who published them were threatened with death for insulting Islam. Newspapers in the United States refused to publish the cartoons, yet have frequently published anything which "bashes" Christians. To disagree with Islam or other non-Christian religious belief systems is considered closed minded and petty, yet attacking the Christian faith and misapplying laws to wipe out any instance of faith and the things of God in the public arena is okay and acceptable.
How do we respond, as the people of God, to such things? Our sinful nature wants to believe that following Jesus should be easy and comfortable. We have a certain theological perspective running around the Christian Church saying that prosperity and material gain is what God wants for His children. There is a "social gospel" which turns its back on the truth of God's Word in order for "Christianity" and the church to become "relevant" to the world. For decades a theological teaching of "liberation theology" has been the mantra of myriad "social gospel" evangelists, seeking to turn Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection into an act of freedom - not from the curse of the Law and the power of Sin and Death - but from poverty, pain, suffering, loss of personal freedom, and a host of other "social improvements" in society based on the importance we human beings assign them.
Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, was never supposed to be easy. Jesus noted in the Beatitudes that just as He was persecuted, and the prophets were persecuted, so also would all who confess His name and follow Him (Matthew 5:11, 12). Each day of our lives we're faced with the challenges to our faith and trust in Jesus as the world seeks to denigrate the truth of God's Word and His plan of salvation for the world in Christ. The values and principles for living that God gives us in His Word are ridiculed and ignored by the world because they don't fit with humanity's desire to do things its own way. As a result, the world is a mess. Violence, crime, hatred, and a host of other social and personal maladies affect our culture, our society, and our world. People are dying lost and forlorn, without any hope or peace in their hearts.
Jesus calls us to a different perspective on the world than what's generally held by society and culture. He calls us to expect to be hated because of Him. He warns that such hatred may even lead to death - and we have an idea of the huge numbers of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone and still are going to their deaths because of their confession of Christ. At the same time, our Lord encourages us with the promise that when we take a stand for Him in the midst of a lost, fallen, and hate filled world, we are living our faith and trust in Him. we're standing on His promises and looking to the hope of heaven. Taking a stand for Jesus in every moment of our lives, in every circumstance in which we're placed, and in every challenge to our service in His name has its greatest reward in the promise of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven. Standing firm in Jesus means "life to the full" (John 10:10) as His disciples here on earth, fully confident we are held in the very palm of His hand, and, finally, eternal life - redeemed and restored to the Father forever.
Prayer: Father, it's so very easy to get frustrated by the inequities I experience because the world hates You, throws aside Your Will, ignores Your love, and denigrates Your forgiveness in Christ. Whether it's putting a crucifix - a symbol of Your redemptive work in Jesus - into a bowl of urine, or declaring any mention of You in the public arena to be illegal and unconstitutional, the world daily reflects its animosity toward You and those who love and serve You. Too often, Father, I'd like to put my "head in the sand" and find a way to ignore the reality that being a follower of Jesus means being scorned, ridiculed, and even persecuted. Yet, as Jesus reminds me, if He's treated badly, how else should I expect to be treated. Father, please strengthen me in the great gift of faith You've worked in my heart through the power of Your Word and Spirit, so that I might not be overcome by the challenges to faith the world lays before me. Rather, Father, give me the courage of faith in Christ to live my life "to the full," taking a stand for Jesus in all things and being a true reflection of Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Him to everyone I meet. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
The Secret Of Being Truly Content
"Today's Devotion" For June 7, 2006
Read: Philippians 4:10-13; II Corinthians 12:1-10
THE SECRET OF BEING TRULY CONTENT
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12, 13)
Are you content with your life? I know this might seem like an odd question, but there's good reason to ask it. We spend a good deal of our lives striving to have a comfortable life and frequently we hear the complaints that life isn't fair. In a recent news story, a young woman who just turned 18 years of age and has just graduated from high school was told by her parents that she would have to pay for one-third of her college costs. She's planning to go to a "high-priced" private college and one-third of the cost of her education for a year would be around $12,000. She's upset. Money is no object to her parents. They can afford the full cost of her education. Yet they were after her to get a job while she was still in high school and she never did. She was content with her circumstances. Now she's required to work to help pay for her education and she's no longer content.
There's more to this story, but we need not relate anything further to make the point. No one likes to be uncomfortable in their lives. Contentment is a prize to be coveted according to much prevailing thinking. Yet, the reality of life is that things don't always go according to our plans. We don't always have a lot of things. Some people aren't certain from where their next meal is going to com. Others spend their days searching for a safe place to sleep on the streets because they're homeless. Many families don't have a lot and struggle with the cost of raising children - putting food on the table, keeping a roof overhead, and making sure there are adequate clothing and shoes. The result of Sin in this world, as God noted for Adam (Gen. 3:17-19), is that work is a requirement and it won't be easy to make a living. Yet, despite all these challenges and uncertainties, many people in these situations are among the most contented people you'll ever meet. Why? Good question.
We learn from the Apostle Paul that he, too, had his times of struggle and of ease. He had times of plenty and of want. He endured persecution and relished the love and compassionate support he received from his fellow believers in Christ. In any and all circumstances he was certain that he would strive and survive because God would give him the strength necessary to do what he was called to do. For Paul, an empty stomach was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, having a feast was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping out in the cold was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping in a warm bed with a roof over his head was an opportunity to praise God. Whether imprisoned for his preaching and faith in Jesus or walking freely among people in the market place talking about Jesus with them, Paul was content - he found all circumstances of his life to be opportunities to praise God.
The "secret" to being truly content, according to Paul's own example, is to completely and fully trust in the Lord without reservation. When we are faced with the vagaries and uncertainties of life, our Lord gives us the strength to overcome our doubts and fears and, trusting His promises, to step forward in faith to live for Jesus boldly and faithfully. St. Paul's words, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" is the true "secret" to contentment in our lives. Trusting in God's promises in Christ - the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven - we are confident that He will provide us what we need, when we need, for as long as we need it. Ultimately, true contentment is found only in trusting God's promises to us in Jesus Christ. That trust gives us the strength to live for Jesus and touch others with His love and forgiveness.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for all Your blessings to me. You provide every necessity of life - all my needs are met by Your loving hand. Forgive me for the times I forget that You are always with me and You never fail to do what You've promised. When I get anxious about things that I know You have promised, guide me by Your Word and Spirit to trust Your Word and promises. Help me to follow in St. Paul's footsteps and be content in every circumstance I face in life, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Your love sustains me and Your strength uplifts me. Father, help me to be a faithful witness to Your love and forgiveness in Christ for the world and help me to share the true "secret" of contentment with my lips and my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
*************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Philippians 4:10-13; II Corinthians 12:1-10
THE SECRET OF BEING TRULY CONTENT
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12, 13)
Are you content with your life? I know this might seem like an odd question, but there's good reason to ask it. We spend a good deal of our lives striving to have a comfortable life and frequently we hear the complaints that life isn't fair. In a recent news story, a young woman who just turned 18 years of age and has just graduated from high school was told by her parents that she would have to pay for one-third of her college costs. She's planning to go to a "high-priced" private college and one-third of the cost of her education for a year would be around $12,000. She's upset. Money is no object to her parents. They can afford the full cost of her education. Yet they were after her to get a job while she was still in high school and she never did. She was content with her circumstances. Now she's required to work to help pay for her education and she's no longer content.
There's more to this story, but we need not relate anything further to make the point. No one likes to be uncomfortable in their lives. Contentment is a prize to be coveted according to much prevailing thinking. Yet, the reality of life is that things don't always go according to our plans. We don't always have a lot of things. Some people aren't certain from where their next meal is going to com. Others spend their days searching for a safe place to sleep on the streets because they're homeless. Many families don't have a lot and struggle with the cost of raising children - putting food on the table, keeping a roof overhead, and making sure there are adequate clothing and shoes. The result of Sin in this world, as God noted for Adam (Gen. 3:17-19), is that work is a requirement and it won't be easy to make a living. Yet, despite all these challenges and uncertainties, many people in these situations are among the most contented people you'll ever meet. Why? Good question.
We learn from the Apostle Paul that he, too, had his times of struggle and of ease. He had times of plenty and of want. He endured persecution and relished the love and compassionate support he received from his fellow believers in Christ. In any and all circumstances he was certain that he would strive and survive because God would give him the strength necessary to do what he was called to do. For Paul, an empty stomach was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, having a feast was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping out in the cold was an opportunity to praise God. For Paul, sleeping in a warm bed with a roof over his head was an opportunity to praise God. Whether imprisoned for his preaching and faith in Jesus or walking freely among people in the market place talking about Jesus with them, Paul was content - he found all circumstances of his life to be opportunities to praise God.
The "secret" to being truly content, according to Paul's own example, is to completely and fully trust in the Lord without reservation. When we are faced with the vagaries and uncertainties of life, our Lord gives us the strength to overcome our doubts and fears and, trusting His promises, to step forward in faith to live for Jesus boldly and faithfully. St. Paul's words, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" is the true "secret" to contentment in our lives. Trusting in God's promises in Christ - the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven - we are confident that He will provide us what we need, when we need, for as long as we need it. Ultimately, true contentment is found only in trusting God's promises to us in Jesus Christ. That trust gives us the strength to live for Jesus and touch others with His love and forgiveness.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for all Your blessings to me. You provide every necessity of life - all my needs are met by Your loving hand. Forgive me for the times I forget that You are always with me and You never fail to do what You've promised. When I get anxious about things that I know You have promised, guide me by Your Word and Spirit to trust Your Word and promises. Help me to follow in St. Paul's footsteps and be content in every circumstance I face in life, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that Your love sustains me and Your strength uplifts me. Father, help me to be a faithful witness to Your love and forgiveness in Christ for the world and help me to share the true "secret" of contentment with my lips and my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
*************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Keot Firmly In God's Hands
"Today's Devotion" For June 3, 2006
Read: Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 1:15-23
KEPT FIRMLY IN GOD'S HANDS
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38, 39)
Over the past few weeks, I've been writing "Today's Devotion" with an eye on the confirmation verses chosen by the members of my daughter, Marion's confirmation class for their confirmations on May 7, 2006. While I've written a number of devotions in the past based on verses 38 and 39 of Romans chapter 8, today I want to focus on what the choosing of these verses tells us about the spiritual insight and maturity of the young man who chose them for his confirmation verses at the ripe old age of 14.
Adults have a generally good understanding of how difficult life can be. Adult Christians generally understand that standing up for Jesus and living a God-pleasing life is both difficult and, at times, dangerous. The power of Sin in the world is manifest everyday in media reports of crime, war, pornography, economic troubles and inequities, disregard for human life, and a general "me first" attitude that seems to be increasingly prevalent in our culture and our world. That Christian adults may fear standing up for Jesus in their lives in word and deed, and find it difficult to meet the challenge of God-pleasing living, it doesn't seem reasonable for a 14 year old to have the same appreciation or concerns about such things as we adults do.
Yet, just as we have need to hear St. Paul's encouragement and statement of faith - "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39) - so also does every young person. They, too, are aware of the challenges to their faith which they face in school, in their neighborhoods, on the internet, and on the streets. They see the future as a hopeful thing, and yet, because of the proliferation of information in our day and age, they recognize that the world is also a dangerous place. Some are willing to come to grips with that reality; others are not.
Spiritual growth and maturity takes on myriad meanings in our culture, but for God's children it means acknowledging our sins, recognizing our need for a Savior, and, growing in faith, trusting that we are in the palm of God's hand. There isn't one of us, young or old, that doesn't have fears of the present and future. Not one of us can say for certain that we don't have doubts about how we might hold up to temptation and the challenges of the world. The comfort and strength we receive from God's assurance that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Jesus is what we need to know. Whether we're a 14 year-old boy or girl, or a wizened older man or woman - or anything in between - we need God's assurance and we stand on His promise that we are kept firmly in His hands each and every day. We belong to Him. Nothing can take us from Him. Our lives, therefore, are filled with hope and the ability to overcome our fears for we are His.
Prayer: Father, I thank and praise You for Your constant and certain love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me. Not only these things but also Your certain presence in my life through faith in Jesus encourage and strengthen me every day. I know, by faith, that nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus. I know, by faith, that nothing can prevent Your blessings to me. Help me to be a faithful witness in my life of Your boundless love, infinite mercy, marvelous grace, and undeserved forgiveness by how I live and how I speak and how I touch the lives of others for Jesus. Help me to live a life devoid of fearfulness and filled with peace because You are my God and Father - my Savior and Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 1:15-23
KEPT FIRMLY IN GOD'S HANDS
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38, 39)
Over the past few weeks, I've been writing "Today's Devotion" with an eye on the confirmation verses chosen by the members of my daughter, Marion's confirmation class for their confirmations on May 7, 2006. While I've written a number of devotions in the past based on verses 38 and 39 of Romans chapter 8, today I want to focus on what the choosing of these verses tells us about the spiritual insight and maturity of the young man who chose them for his confirmation verses at the ripe old age of 14.
Adults have a generally good understanding of how difficult life can be. Adult Christians generally understand that standing up for Jesus and living a God-pleasing life is both difficult and, at times, dangerous. The power of Sin in the world is manifest everyday in media reports of crime, war, pornography, economic troubles and inequities, disregard for human life, and a general "me first" attitude that seems to be increasingly prevalent in our culture and our world. That Christian adults may fear standing up for Jesus in their lives in word and deed, and find it difficult to meet the challenge of God-pleasing living, it doesn't seem reasonable for a 14 year old to have the same appreciation or concerns about such things as we adults do.
Yet, just as we have need to hear St. Paul's encouragement and statement of faith - "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39) - so also does every young person. They, too, are aware of the challenges to their faith which they face in school, in their neighborhoods, on the internet, and on the streets. They see the future as a hopeful thing, and yet, because of the proliferation of information in our day and age, they recognize that the world is also a dangerous place. Some are willing to come to grips with that reality; others are not.
Spiritual growth and maturity takes on myriad meanings in our culture, but for God's children it means acknowledging our sins, recognizing our need for a Savior, and, growing in faith, trusting that we are in the palm of God's hand. There isn't one of us, young or old, that doesn't have fears of the present and future. Not one of us can say for certain that we don't have doubts about how we might hold up to temptation and the challenges of the world. The comfort and strength we receive from God's assurance that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Jesus is what we need to know. Whether we're a 14 year-old boy or girl, or a wizened older man or woman - or anything in between - we need God's assurance and we stand on His promise that we are kept firmly in His hands each and every day. We belong to Him. Nothing can take us from Him. Our lives, therefore, are filled with hope and the ability to overcome our fears for we are His.
Prayer: Father, I thank and praise You for Your constant and certain love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to me. Not only these things but also Your certain presence in my life through faith in Jesus encourage and strengthen me every day. I know, by faith, that nothing can separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus. I know, by faith, that nothing can prevent Your blessings to me. Help me to be a faithful witness in my life of Your boundless love, infinite mercy, marvelous grace, and undeserved forgiveness by how I live and how I speak and how I touch the lives of others for Jesus. Help me to live a life devoid of fearfulness and filled with peace because You are my God and Father - my Savior and Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
********************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Living Uniquely
"Today's Devotion" For June 1, 2006
Read: Colossians 2:6-12; Ephesians 4:17-24
LIVING UNIQUELY
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:6, 7)
What is there about you that makes you unique? Do you have particular facial features - a prominent nose, different colored eyes, a large/small mouth, a special kind of smile? Or how about your body type (I can't begin to accurately describe mine - not sure I'd want to)? Is it large, petite, small, medium, plumb, or ...? How about your voice? Does your voice cause you to stand out from others? Perhaps its pitch, timbre,volume, or other quality makes it unique and different from the voices of others? Perhaps you can sing like a lark, or do you croak like a frog? Maybe you have hobbies or other special activities that give you uniquenessas a person, a neighbor, a friend, a colleague, or family member. No matter what it is, there is always something that differentiates each of us from one another - that makes each of us unique and different so that we have our own identities, dreams, goals, and aspirations.
One of the dangers we face in our lives, however, is the desire not to stand out in the crowd - not to be different or unique. Often, instead of reveling in those characteristics and abilities that make one unique and different from everyone else, the tendency is to hide that uniqueness -to be ashamed or afraid to be different. And for good reason. Too often, in a sinful world, those who are unique and different are also often at odds with the world's values. Instead of "going along to get along," they buck the trends, challenge the norms, and assault conformity. Sometimes those who do so seek to be at odds with society and culture - often ending up in prison after having broken laws, harming people and property in the process. On the other hand, there are those who "walk to the beat of a different drummer" because they believe very strongly in something that stands at odds with the norms of the community.
One example of such "nonconformity" would be the challenges faced by God's people. As the redeemed in Christ, we are called out of the world to be His dearly beloved and redeemed children. Living in His love and forgiveness, we are called to be examples of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the world. Such living can put us at odds with the world around us, as is becoming more and more evident in the news of the day. As a result of the tension of living the unique life of a disciple of Jesus Christ the temptation is great to conform the Christian life to societal values. Some seek, therefore, to be acceptable to the culture and community by adopting the values of the culture, regardless of their distastefulness to God's will. Others, afraid of standing out, hide themselves from the realities of life, often hiding behind the doors of a church, unwilling to venture into the world and be different - a witness for Jesus.
St. Paul knew well the challenges facing God's redeemed children in Christ. He understood how difficult it was to live according to God's Will and purpose when it flew in the face of the ways of the world. He knew what it was like to be scorned for his faith in Jesus and to be beaten, scourged, and imprisoned for the sake of Christ. That Paul was unique there was, and is, no doubt. His preaching and teaching, his challenging of authority when it was wrong, and his debates with the philosophers of his day made him unique and different - bringing him both reviling and praise. Having experienced such things in his life as an apostle of Jesus, Paul calls upon us to continue to live in Jesus no matter what. He encourages us by faith to live as the unique people we are in Christ.
We are, by faith, a mirror of Christ Jesus to the world. How we live and act, speak and think reflects the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God for us in Christ. There are those who would seek to turn us away from God's purposes, to follow ideas, hold to principles, and live in a manner that goes against everything God calls us to be in Jesus. No matter how much we are attacked by the world, we know and believe that our Lord Jesus understands what we are facing, has experienced it for Himself, and stands with us and upholds us as we live for Him each day. Having been buried to Sin with Him in baptism, we have been raised with Him through faith and restored to our Father in heaven. We are empowered to live uniquely as His children and witnesses to a lost and dying world. We don't stand alone - Jesus stands with us all the way. Being unique and living uniquely are wonderful blessings of God to cherish, relish, and for which to give thanks. In Jesus, by faith, we are different. We are unique. And that, my dear friends, is really okay.
Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me to be Your dearly beloved and redeemed child in Jesus. Your forgiveness to me is the same as You offer to the whole world, yet it makes me unique because You have put it in my heart and led me to faith in Jesus so that I might fully and completely receive it and live in it each day. Father, don't let me be ashamed of being Your unique child in Christ. Rather, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, give me the strength of purpose and faith to seek to stand out from the crowd as a living witness to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. No matter how much ridicule, hatred, or maltreatment I might face in life, help me to take them in stride and continue be uniquely Your child as I repay evil with good, hatred with love, and anger with peace. Hear my prayer, gracious God and Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen. ***************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
Read: Colossians 2:6-12; Ephesians 4:17-24
LIVING UNIQUELY
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
(Colossians 2:6, 7)
What is there about you that makes you unique? Do you have particular facial features - a prominent nose, different colored eyes, a large/small mouth, a special kind of smile? Or how about your body type (I can't begin to accurately describe mine - not sure I'd want to)? Is it large, petite, small, medium, plumb, or ...? How about your voice? Does your voice cause you to stand out from others? Perhaps its pitch, timbre,volume, or other quality makes it unique and different from the voices of others? Perhaps you can sing like a lark, or do you croak like a frog? Maybe you have hobbies or other special activities that give you uniquenessas a person, a neighbor, a friend, a colleague, or family member. No matter what it is, there is always something that differentiates each of us from one another - that makes each of us unique and different so that we have our own identities, dreams, goals, and aspirations.
One of the dangers we face in our lives, however, is the desire not to stand out in the crowd - not to be different or unique. Often, instead of reveling in those characteristics and abilities that make one unique and different from everyone else, the tendency is to hide that uniqueness -to be ashamed or afraid to be different. And for good reason. Too often, in a sinful world, those who are unique and different are also often at odds with the world's values. Instead of "going along to get along," they buck the trends, challenge the norms, and assault conformity. Sometimes those who do so seek to be at odds with society and culture - often ending up in prison after having broken laws, harming people and property in the process. On the other hand, there are those who "walk to the beat of a different drummer" because they believe very strongly in something that stands at odds with the norms of the community.
One example of such "nonconformity" would be the challenges faced by God's people. As the redeemed in Christ, we are called out of the world to be His dearly beloved and redeemed children. Living in His love and forgiveness, we are called to be examples of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the world. Such living can put us at odds with the world around us, as is becoming more and more evident in the news of the day. As a result of the tension of living the unique life of a disciple of Jesus Christ the temptation is great to conform the Christian life to societal values. Some seek, therefore, to be acceptable to the culture and community by adopting the values of the culture, regardless of their distastefulness to God's will. Others, afraid of standing out, hide themselves from the realities of life, often hiding behind the doors of a church, unwilling to venture into the world and be different - a witness for Jesus.
St. Paul knew well the challenges facing God's redeemed children in Christ. He understood how difficult it was to live according to God's Will and purpose when it flew in the face of the ways of the world. He knew what it was like to be scorned for his faith in Jesus and to be beaten, scourged, and imprisoned for the sake of Christ. That Paul was unique there was, and is, no doubt. His preaching and teaching, his challenging of authority when it was wrong, and his debates with the philosophers of his day made him unique and different - bringing him both reviling and praise. Having experienced such things in his life as an apostle of Jesus, Paul calls upon us to continue to live in Jesus no matter what. He encourages us by faith to live as the unique people we are in Christ.
We are, by faith, a mirror of Christ Jesus to the world. How we live and act, speak and think reflects the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God for us in Christ. There are those who would seek to turn us away from God's purposes, to follow ideas, hold to principles, and live in a manner that goes against everything God calls us to be in Jesus. No matter how much we are attacked by the world, we know and believe that our Lord Jesus understands what we are facing, has experienced it for Himself, and stands with us and upholds us as we live for Him each day. Having been buried to Sin with Him in baptism, we have been raised with Him through faith and restored to our Father in heaven. We are empowered to live uniquely as His children and witnesses to a lost and dying world. We don't stand alone - Jesus stands with us all the way. Being unique and living uniquely are wonderful blessings of God to cherish, relish, and for which to give thanks. In Jesus, by faith, we are different. We are unique. And that, my dear friends, is really okay.
Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me to be Your dearly beloved and redeemed child in Jesus. Your forgiveness to me is the same as You offer to the whole world, yet it makes me unique because You have put it in my heart and led me to faith in Jesus so that I might fully and completely receive it and live in it each day. Father, don't let me be ashamed of being Your unique child in Christ. Rather, by the power of Your Word and Spirit, give me the strength of purpose and faith to seek to stand out from the crowd as a living witness to Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. No matter how much ridicule, hatred, or maltreatment I might face in life, help me to take them in stride and continue be uniquely Your child as I repay evil with good, hatred with love, and anger with peace. Hear my prayer, gracious God and Father, for Jesus' sake. Amen. ***************
--Pastor Boeck
Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.
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