Hebrews 9:12 Christ entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
It's done. There's nothing more you have to do. There's nothing more you can do.
Jesus Christ put himself out as the ultimate sacrifice. God doesn't want any goats or calves. It's all been bought and paid for. All your sins are forgiven. Even the ones you haven't imagined yet.
It's done. There's nothing more you have to do. There's nothing more you can do.
So why are you still trying?
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
Set your clock back Saturday night.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
The writer of this letter is concerned that his hearers would understand that not everything is true. Apparently relativism and blind acceptance of everything that comes along is not just a phenomenon of the 21st Century. Here's an ancient letter with the same concern: how we do know what's true? How do we know what comes from God? "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."
Look at Jesus. Look at Jesus, who left behind the glory of heaven to take on human flesh. If what you're hearing is consistent with that, then it comes from God. So let's try an exercise: "God likes my kind of people more than that kind of people." Does that sound like something Jesus would have bothered to take on flesh to say? To die for? Nope. OK, here's another one: "God wants all people to know love and grace." Does that sound like Jesus? I think it's closer. This might be a fun thing to try today: take any absolute statements you hear... from radio personalities, friends, parents, pastors... and put them up to this test. See what happens.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
Set your clock back Saturday night.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
The writer of this letter is concerned that his hearers would understand that not everything is true. Apparently relativism and blind acceptance of everything that comes along is not just a phenomenon of the 21st Century. Here's an ancient letter with the same concern: how we do know what's true? How do we know what comes from God? "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."
Look at Jesus. Look at Jesus, who left behind the glory of heaven to take on human flesh. If what you're hearing is consistent with that, then it comes from God. So let's try an exercise: "God likes my kind of people more than that kind of people." Does that sound like something Jesus would have bothered to take on flesh to say? To die for? Nope. OK, here's another one: "God wants all people to know love and grace." Does that sound like Jesus? I think it's closer. This might be a fun thing to try today: take any absolute statements you hear... from radio personalities, friends, parents, pastors... and put them up to this test. See what happens.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
Set your clock back Saturday night.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday
2 Kings 6:21-23 When the king of Israel saw them he said to Elisha, “Father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” He answered, “No! Did you capture with your sword and your bow those whom you want to kill? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink; and let them go to their master.” So he prepared for them a great feast; after they ate and drank, he sent them on their way, and they went to their master. And the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel.
This is one of those very bizarre and rarely read Bible stories. The Israelites and the Arameans are at war. Elisha, God's prophet, is giving the Israelites an advantage, so the King of Aram has a plan to get rid of Elisha. And the plan gets foiled and the Arameans are served up on a platter to the king of Israel. Who gets all giddy with excitement: "Can I kill them? Can I kill them?"
Any normal rule of war would say "Yes." But Elisha holds the king of Israel to a higher standard. He tells the king of Israel to feed these prisoners and to send them home. "And the Aramenas no longer came raiding into the land of Israel." Perhaps down the path of radical forgiveness is the only way to peace. Something to think about today.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
This is one of those very bizarre and rarely read Bible stories. The Israelites and the Arameans are at war. Elisha, God's prophet, is giving the Israelites an advantage, so the King of Aram has a plan to get rid of Elisha. And the plan gets foiled and the Arameans are served up on a platter to the king of Israel. Who gets all giddy with excitement: "Can I kill them? Can I kill them?"
Any normal rule of war would say "Yes." But Elisha holds the king of Israel to a higher standard. He tells the king of Israel to feed these prisoners and to send them home. "And the Aramenas no longer came raiding into the land of Israel." Perhaps down the path of radical forgiveness is the only way to peace. Something to think about today.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 26, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’“
So God has appeared to Moses. From a burning bush... don't forget that point. And God asked Moses to go speak to the Israelites who are slaves in Egypt and to lead them out of slavery into the future that God has promised them. And Moses is looking for excuses to avoid the job. First point: if God speaks to you out of a burning bush, probably not the best time to be looking for excuses. Second point: we're a lot like Moses, aren't we?
We're afraid people will think we're crazy. If we go to talk to people about God and what God has done in our lives and why we bother spending time and money at church, we're afraid they'll think we're a bit nutty. There are many times when I have not quite wanted to get into the conversation with people because of what they might think... how am I going to follow up if they don't believe what I tell them about God? So Moses got a staff that did tricks... it turned into a snake. But what have you got? What evidence do you have in your life for God's presence and God's love? Do you have a family? A home? A meal today? I know it's not a snake-turning staff, but it's probably enough for today. Go with it.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
So God has appeared to Moses. From a burning bush... don't forget that point. And God asked Moses to go speak to the Israelites who are slaves in Egypt and to lead them out of slavery into the future that God has promised them. And Moses is looking for excuses to avoid the job. First point: if God speaks to you out of a burning bush, probably not the best time to be looking for excuses. Second point: we're a lot like Moses, aren't we?
We're afraid people will think we're crazy. If we go to talk to people about God and what God has done in our lives and why we bother spending time and money at church, we're afraid they'll think we're a bit nutty. There are many times when I have not quite wanted to get into the conversation with people because of what they might think... how am I going to follow up if they don't believe what I tell them about God? So Moses got a staff that did tricks... it turned into a snake. But what have you got? What evidence do you have in your life for God's presence and God's love? Do you have a family? A home? A meal today? I know it's not a snake-turning staff, but it's probably enough for today. Go with it.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember our special All Saints schedule: Education at 9:00, Worship at 10:00, Meal following.
For conversation, visit http://aslcdevotions.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 23, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
Hebrews 7:18-19
18There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.
There is, on the other hand, this other hope. I don't know about you, but it can be rather tiresome to continually hear stories of bad news and despair. And, while the writer of Hebrews sets out the destruction of this earlier commandment, we also get "the other side" of the story. More powerful than a simple silver lining to a story, this other hand points to Jesus and is indeed a better hope.
However, I'll be taking it as a personal challenge to use this method over the next few days. As I find myself complaining, discouraged or simply frustrated, I'll be looking to the other hand -- the other hand of hope, the other hand of faith, that other hand that points to Jesus. I invite you to join me.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
18There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.
There is, on the other hand, this other hope. I don't know about you, but it can be rather tiresome to continually hear stories of bad news and despair. And, while the writer of Hebrews sets out the destruction of this earlier commandment, we also get "the other side" of the story. More powerful than a simple silver lining to a story, this other hand points to Jesus and is indeed a better hope.
However, I'll be taking it as a personal challenge to use this method over the next few days. As I find myself complaining, discouraged or simply frustrated, I'll be looking to the other hand -- the other hand of hope, the other hand of faith, that other hand that points to Jesus. I invite you to join me.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Thursday
Hebrews 6:19-20 19We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The actual assigned reading for the day is the first ten verses of Hebrews 7, most of which discuss just what it means to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. A priest who was blessed by kings and determined to be a priest forever -- even though he didn't come from the right lineage.
While making this connection to Jesus, the writer of Hebrews was reinforcing the place of Jesus in a way that the readers and hearers would understand. They all knew who Melchizedek was without much explanation. While he's important to us, and the historical placement is important, the hope that Jesus brings to us is even more important. This hope that Jesus brings -- a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul -- is what moves us through dark times and what keeps us connected to God.
Blessings on your day of hope.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
The actual assigned reading for the day is the first ten verses of Hebrews 7, most of which discuss just what it means to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. A priest who was blessed by kings and determined to be a priest forever -- even though he didn't come from the right lineage.
While making this connection to Jesus, the writer of Hebrews was reinforcing the place of Jesus in a way that the readers and hearers would understand. They all knew who Melchizedek was without much explanation. While he's important to us, and the historical placement is important, the hope that Jesus brings to us is even more important. This hope that Jesus brings -- a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul -- is what moves us through dark times and what keeps us connected to God.
Blessings on your day of hope.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 37:30-31
30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak justice.
31The law of their God is in their hearts;
their steps do not slip.
Sometimes it seems like we know things with our heads, but not with our hearts. The words of the psalmist remind us to hold the law of God in our hearts -- to let that be our guide for our steps. This past weekend many communities held CROP Walks, and people's steps helped raise money for world hunger.
It's not everyday that our steps can do that, and maybe you feel like your feet won't carry you very far anymore. But there's still something we can do -- we can let our tongues speak justice, and we can hold the law of God in our hearts. Where will your feet take you today? What will your steps do? What will your tongue speak?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak justice.
31The law of their God is in their hearts;
their steps do not slip.
Sometimes it seems like we know things with our heads, but not with our hearts. The words of the psalmist remind us to hold the law of God in our hearts -- to let that be our guide for our steps. This past weekend many communities held CROP Walks, and people's steps helped raise money for world hunger.
It's not everyday that our steps can do that, and maybe you feel like your feet won't carry you very far anymore. But there's still something we can do -- we can let our tongues speak justice, and we can hold the law of God in our hearts. Where will your feet take you today? What will your steps do? What will your tongue speak?
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
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