Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour
Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of the Lutheran Hour – “Going
to Bethlehem” - Tuesday, 10 December 2013
When the angels went away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to
us."(Luke 2:15)
The toy known as the Marvel Super Hero
Squad Soft Shield contains 29 times the legal limit of lead. Even so, that toy
may well show up under some Christmas trees this year. Understand, no parent or
grandparent would ever deliberately buy a dangerous, lead-laced toy.
No, we wouldn't do such a thing
deliberately ... but we might buy such a toy out of ignorance.
To help people make informed, intelligent
decisions is the reason the U.S Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) exists.
It is the reason they put out their annual "Trouble in Toyland"
report.
Because of PIRG's warnings I now know
that some stores have stocked a Lamaze-brand infant play mat, which contains
high levels of antimony, a toxic metal which causes cancer. I am aware of, and
will refrain from buying, a Ninja Turtles pencil case, which has high levels of
cadmium, a metal that causes learning disabilities and kidney problems.
Along with chemical warnings, PIRG has
identified toys which pose a choking hazard, which are too loud for children's
ears, and toys and which can produce nasty results if they are swallowed.
PIRG has shown me that there are many
physical dangers to children around Christmas time.
On the other hand, Christians can
probably identify a few Christmas dangers that PIRG has never considered.
For example, I doubt if PIRG has ever
spent any time evaluating how dangerous it can be when
* a child is given an abundance of
earthly presents, but is never given the great gift of God's Son who was born
in Bethlehem to be his heaven-sent Substitute and Savior;
* a child comes to believe that he, not
Jesus, is the reason for the season;
* a child comes to think of Jesus as
someone whom a person needs to visit only at Christmas and possibly Easter.
Truly, I give thanks that PIRG has
provided some warnings to keep our children and grandchildren physically safe
this Christmas season. It's really important that somebody does that.
But it is equally important we do our
best to keep our children's souls protected and safe. To that end, might I
suggest we be faithful in encouraging them to listen to the angel's message,
which tells us that Jesus is Good News of great joy.
And it's just as important we teach them
to "see this thing which has happened which the Lord has made known to
us."
Not just once a year, but regularly --
faithfully -- and dare I say it ... religiously.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that those
who come after us may see the love which sent Jesus into this world. At the
same time may they appreciate the sacrifice He made, so they might be forgiven
of their sins and promised eternity in heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880
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Lutheran Hour Ministries Advent Devotions
2013 Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us by Reverend Wayne Palmer - Tuesday,
10 December 2013 "Mankind's Descent"
Read Genesis 6: The Wickedness of
Humankind
1 When people began to multiply on the
face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that
they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose. 3
Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide[a] in mortals forever, for they
are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were
on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to
the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that
were of old, warriors of renown.
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of
humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of
their hearts was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had
made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord
said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people
together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry
that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.
Footnotes:
Genesis 6:3 Meaning of Heb uncertain.
TEXT: The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth ... but Noah found
favor in the eyes of the Lord (see Genesis 6:6, 8).
Adam and Eve passed their sinful nature
on to their children. It wasn't long before this nature bore its poisonous
fruit. When God rejected the sacrifice offered by their firstborn son Cain and
accepted his brother's, Cain murdered Abel. Though God protected him from
retaliation, Cain turned his back on God (see Genesis 4:16) and taught his
descendants, the Cainites, to do the same.
Eve gave birth to another son named Seth
through whose descendants God promised to send His Son. Sadly, most of Seth's
descendants turned away from God too, choosing to marry the ungodly Cainite
women, who led them away from God. By chapter six we read, "The LORD saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry
that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart"
(Genesis 6:5-6).
God decided to blot out man from the face
of the land, along with all the birds and land animals. But God remembered His
promise to Adam and Eve, and looked in mercy on one of Seth's descendants. By
the power of the Holy Spirit, Noah still trusted God's promise. Noah found
favor with God because of this Spirit-given faith, and was instructed to build
an ark to save his household and enough animals to repopulate the world after
the flood.
God would keep His promise to save
mankind through a distant descendant of Noah-the Child of Christmas.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, our sinful nature is evil
beyond our recognition. Forgive us our sin and restore us through Your Son
Jesus. Amen.
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660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880
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