2 Samuel 7:18 and 28
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ... 28And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant;
In the preceding verses, God has promised to David (through a vision to Nathan) that his throne and his household will be established forever. These verses contain David's response, or prayer, to God. They are a bit similar to Mary's response to the angel when she learns that she'll be the mother to Jesus.
We could (and maybe do) spend a lot of time wondering "Who am I?" And whether we posit the question to the Lord or not, it can be a wandering lament or a sort of awe-struck statement, our focus is clearly on ourselves. For today, at least, my focus will be on the statement that David makes toward the end of his prayer: Lord God, you are God. Your words are true. You have promised this good thing to your servant. You are God. Your words are true.
God's words and promises are true. God is God, and I'm not.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Want to respond on the blog? Visit: www.aslcdevotions.blogspot.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
John 1:38-39
A couple of things about these verses strike me nearly every time I read this first chapter of John. One, the two who are following Jesus never answer the question that Jesus asks. These are two of John's disciples, and upon hearing John's proclamation "Look, here is the lamb of God!" begin to follow (at least walk behind) Jesus. Two, the writer of this Gospel finds it important that we know what time all of this takes place.
Sometimes these little details can cloud how we see the broader message of the gospel. And, other times they can provide an enlightening nugget of information. Not unlike the rest of our lives, we need to strike a balance between attending to details without missing the beautiful picture of what is before us. The danger for me in paying too much attention to these two little details? I miss Jesus' invitation to "Come and see." Let us raise our heads, stay alert, and "come and see" what Jesus wants us to see.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
John 1:38-39
A couple of things about these verses strike me nearly every time I read this first chapter of John. One, the two who are following Jesus never answer the question that Jesus asks. These are two of John's disciples, and upon hearing John's proclamation "Look, here is the lamb of God!" begin to follow (at least walk behind) Jesus. Two, the writer of this Gospel finds it important that we know what time all of this takes place.
Sometimes these little details can cloud how we see the broader message of the gospel. And, other times they can provide an enlightening nugget of information. Not unlike the rest of our lives, we need to strike a balance between attending to details without missing the beautiful picture of what is before us. The danger for me in paying too much attention to these two little details? I miss Jesus' invitation to "Come and see." Let us raise our heads, stay alert, and "come and see" what Jesus wants us to see.
Peace,
Pastor Jenn
Friday, November 27, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Friday
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.
When I was younger and had to memorize Bible verses, I asked my pastor what was the shortest Bible verse. He told me about John 11:35 (Jesus wept). He didn't tell me about this one from 1 Thessalonians. I like it though.
I know we've all got a busy day today. Some are working. Some are shopping. Some are watching football. Some are recovering from a tryptophan-induced coma. Some are traveling. We're all busy, so we don't have time to memorize a big long Bible verse. But we can all remember "rejoice always." I like that because it reflects reality. It doesn't say "be happy always." There's a difference between happiness and joy. Joy is deeper and can sometimes coexist with sadness. Happiness is momentary, fleeting, and situation-driven. Joy comes from deep within. In fact, joy comes from deep without... joy is a gift of God. Joy is that which says "God loves me" in the midst of sadness and pain. Joy is that which says "God will lift us up" when all evidence says otherwise. Joy gives thanks even when it's not a nationally recognized holiday. Rejoice today. And rejoice always.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us as we begin the preparations for Christmas with the First Sunday of Advent this Sunday... worship at 8:30 and 11.
When I was younger and had to memorize Bible verses, I asked my pastor what was the shortest Bible verse. He told me about John 11:35 (Jesus wept). He didn't tell me about this one from 1 Thessalonians. I like it though.
I know we've all got a busy day today. Some are working. Some are shopping. Some are watching football. Some are recovering from a tryptophan-induced coma. Some are traveling. We're all busy, so we don't have time to memorize a big long Bible verse. But we can all remember "rejoice always." I like that because it reflects reality. It doesn't say "be happy always." There's a difference between happiness and joy. Joy is deeper and can sometimes coexist with sadness. Happiness is momentary, fleeting, and situation-driven. Joy comes from deep within. In fact, joy comes from deep without... joy is a gift of God. Joy is that which says "God loves me" in the midst of sadness and pain. Joy is that which says "God will lift us up" when all evidence says otherwise. Joy gives thanks even when it's not a nationally recognized holiday. Rejoice today. And rejoice always.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us as we begin the preparations for Christmas with the First Sunday of Advent this Sunday... worship at 8:30 and 11.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Thanksgiving
The Prayer of the Day for today:
Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Wednesday
Psalm 76:4 Glorious are you, more majestic
than the everlasting mountains.*
I looked up "majestic" in the dictionary. I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, but it's sometimes useful to read a dictionary definition and some synonyms. "Having or showing lofty dignity or nobility." So God has more dignity and more nobility than the everlasting mountains. In our scientific age, we have learned that even mountains are not everlasting. Mountains come and go. The Rockies are young and jagged. The Appalachians are older and more rounded. But to the psalmist those differences were not related to change: what he saw in the mountains around his house had always been that way and would always be the same. And that everlasting sameness was dignified. It was seen as noble.
The nobility and dignity of God is just as everlasting as the psalmist imagined the mountains to be. God is as powerful today in your life as God was in the life of Noah. God loves you with the same everlasting love with which God loved Abraham and Sarah. The more that we learn about the change of things we thought was everlasting, the more amazing, the more noble, the more majestic that God appears.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us in giving thanks to the majestic God in worship tonight (Wednesday) at 7 pm. Bring a bag of groceries for the Palatine Township Food Pantry.
than the everlasting mountains.*
I looked up "majestic" in the dictionary. I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, but it's sometimes useful to read a dictionary definition and some synonyms. "Having or showing lofty dignity or nobility." So God has more dignity and more nobility than the everlasting mountains. In our scientific age, we have learned that even mountains are not everlasting. Mountains come and go. The Rockies are young and jagged. The Appalachians are older and more rounded. But to the psalmist those differences were not related to change: what he saw in the mountains around his house had always been that way and would always be the same. And that everlasting sameness was dignified. It was seen as noble.
The nobility and dignity of God is just as everlasting as the psalmist imagined the mountains to be. God is as powerful today in your life as God was in the life of Noah. God loves you with the same everlasting love with which God loved Abraham and Sarah. The more that we learn about the change of things we thought was everlasting, the more amazing, the more noble, the more majestic that God appears.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Join us in giving thanks to the majestic God in worship tonight (Wednesday) at 7 pm. Bring a bag of groceries for the Palatine Township Food Pantry.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
ASLC Devotions - Tuesday
Ezekiel 29:6-7 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know
that I am the Lord
because you* were a staff of reed
to the house of Israel;
when they grasped you with the hand, you broke,
and tore all their shoulders;
and when they leaned on you, you broke,
and made all their legs unsteady.
Ezekiel is given a message from God against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. So why exactly is God angry at Pharaoh? Most of us think of Pharaoh and the Bible in terms of Moses and the slavery of the Israelites for generations in Egypt. And we know how the Pharaoh that Moses knew refused to let the people go. But this is a different time period entirely. This Pharaoh had not enslaved the Israelites. He had not refused to let them go to freedom. In essence, he tricked them. He was a bad ally. The nation of Israel had allied itself to Egypt in order to try to protect itself against the Babylonians who were attacking. And the Egyptians didn't come to help. "When they leaned on you, you broke."
This makes me think of Martin Luther's explanations of the commandments. The commandment "You shall not murder" isn't fulfilled when you do not actually kill someone. We also have to help and support the lives of everyone around us in every way we can. We break the commandment when we turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. The requirements of the law are so much bigger than just "don't kill or don't enslave." Pharaoh was charged with failing to help sufficiently. And so are we. And that's why the law can never be fulfilled. I've never murdered anyone and assume that I never will. But I neglect the sufferings of others every day. The law is impossible to fulfill. Thanks be to God for the good news that Jesus' death and resurrection mean I am free from the punishment of the law.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember to gather and give thanks to God for our special Thanksgiving Eve worship tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 7 pm. Bring a bag of groceries for the Palatine Township Food Pantry.
that I am the Lord
because you* were a staff of reed
to the house of Israel;
when they grasped you with the hand, you broke,
and tore all their shoulders;
and when they leaned on you, you broke,
and made all their legs unsteady.
Ezekiel is given a message from God against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. So why exactly is God angry at Pharaoh? Most of us think of Pharaoh and the Bible in terms of Moses and the slavery of the Israelites for generations in Egypt. And we know how the Pharaoh that Moses knew refused to let the people go. But this is a different time period entirely. This Pharaoh had not enslaved the Israelites. He had not refused to let them go to freedom. In essence, he tricked them. He was a bad ally. The nation of Israel had allied itself to Egypt in order to try to protect itself against the Babylonians who were attacking. And the Egyptians didn't come to help. "When they leaned on you, you broke."
This makes me think of Martin Luther's explanations of the commandments. The commandment "You shall not murder" isn't fulfilled when you do not actually kill someone. We also have to help and support the lives of everyone around us in every way we can. We break the commandment when we turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. The requirements of the law are so much bigger than just "don't kill or don't enslave." Pharaoh was charged with failing to help sufficiently. And so are we. And that's why the law can never be fulfilled. I've never murdered anyone and assume that I never will. But I neglect the sufferings of others every day. The law is impossible to fulfill. Thanks be to God for the good news that Jesus' death and resurrection mean I am free from the punishment of the law.
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Remember to gather and give thanks to God for our special Thanksgiving Eve worship tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at 7 pm. Bring a bag of groceries for the Palatine Township Food Pantry.
Monday, November 23, 2009
ASLC Devotions -- Monday
Daniel 7:27 The kingship and dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
As Pastor Jenn said in her sermon yesterday, Christ the King Sunday was introduced at a time when the leadership of Hitler and Stalin and Mussolini were on the rise. Christians in Germany and Italy and Russia (and elsewhere) were caught up in very pressing and real considerations about whether to serve their earthly ruler OR to serve Christ as king. The demands and expectations of the earthly kingdom were quite starkly opposed to the demands and expectations of followers of Christ the king.
That's really not my issue... I don't know if it's yours. While I agree with certain politicians and disagree with others, it's hard for me to say that one is doing things of the Lord and others are doing things anti-Lord. Maybe that's why Christ the King Sunday has always felt a little bit strange to me. It's just not my issue.
And yet, when I'm going to wake up on Monday morning and read my newspaper... and that newspaper will surely have stories of wars and rumors of wars, of debates about what is the right thing for government to be doing about healthcare, of children killed in some way or another... when I'm going to read that newspaper, it's a good thing to be reminded that one day, the Most High will reign over an everlasting kingdom.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Pastor Seth
For conversation and talk-back, visit http://allsaintsdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us in giving thanks in worship at 7 pm on Wednesday.
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
As Pastor Jenn said in her sermon yesterday, Christ the King Sunday was introduced at a time when the leadership of Hitler and Stalin and Mussolini were on the rise. Christians in Germany and Italy and Russia (and elsewhere) were caught up in very pressing and real considerations about whether to serve their earthly ruler OR to serve Christ as king. The demands and expectations of the earthly kingdom were quite starkly opposed to the demands and expectations of followers of Christ the king.
That's really not my issue... I don't know if it's yours. While I agree with certain politicians and disagree with others, it's hard for me to say that one is doing things of the Lord and others are doing things anti-Lord. Maybe that's why Christ the King Sunday has always felt a little bit strange to me. It's just not my issue.
And yet, when I'm going to wake up on Monday morning and read my newspaper... and that newspaper will surely have stories of wars and rumors of wars, of debates about what is the right thing for government to be doing about healthcare, of children killed in some way or another... when I'm going to read that newspaper, it's a good thing to be reminded that one day, the Most High will reign over an everlasting kingdom.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Pastor Seth
For conversation and talk-back, visit http://allsaintsdevotions.blogspot.com. Remember to join us in giving thanks in worship at 7 pm on Wednesday.
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