Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Bearing Good Fruit" Friday, 15 May 2015

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Bearing Good Fruit" Friday, 15 May 2015

Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.[Isaiah 5:1-2]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
We know the Bible contains many passages and parables about vineyards, the farmers who tend them and the fruits they are supposed to produce.
There is little doubt our Lord Jesus Christ knew this passage from Isaiah and made reference to it in some of His parables. The passage from Isaiah 5:1-2 is short, simple and easy to remember.Isaiah 5:1 I want to sing a song for someone I love,

a song about my loved one and his vineyard.

My loved one had a vineyard

on a very fertile hill.

2 He dug up its stones and cleared them away,

planted it with the choicest vines,

built a watchtower in the middle of it,

and carved out in its rock a winepress.

He expected it to produce good grapes,

but it produced only sour, wild grapes.

Along with that, it can hold deep meaning for our present and eternal lives.
When you read the entire passage, you can sense the frustration of the vineyard owner who has done everything necessary to produce a good harvest. Indeed, he has done more than enough to assure a positive result. Sadly, when the crop is brought in, the grapes are bitter and sour.
In spite of his work, the product produced is worthless.
That is a feeling we, too, can understand. Many of us feel bad for the poor returns we have sometimes received from our jobs, our families, our lives, and in the work God has given us through the Great Commission.
I sometimes wonder how much greater is our Father's sadness at not seeing wonderful fruits produced as we respond to Jesus' sacrifice for us?
In contrast, how much happiness and joy do we feel when we see the wonderful results brought about by the Holy Spirit when He touches the lives of those who have not known their Savior? At such times we join with the heavenly host in our gladness. How did Jesus say it? He told us, "There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10b).
As well there ought to be. For the forgiveness and salvation of humankind Jesus entered this world. Here He gave His life, His all, to paying the ransom price necessary to rescue us. His work, placed into our hearts by the Holy Spirit's power, changes our eternal destiny from damnation to salvation.
Truly, there ought to be rejoicing.
And there ought to be something else. We who have been saved are the Lord's vines who are set aside to do His will. It is right we produce works that are suitable for presentation to the Lord.
In John 21:15, the Savior placed a question before Peter. He asked, "Simon, do you love Me more than these?" Peter replied in the affirmative. That's when Jesus told him to feed His sheep and lambs. My friends, I encourage you to substitute your name for that of Peter in that passage. If you do, you will hear how the Lord speaks also to you.
The Lord has done everything for us and even more. He has given us a fertile hillside, fenced it, protected us, and removed the stones. Now He hopes the results of His work will produce delicious, and not sour, grapes.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may the Holy Spirit use us to point people to Your Son and the salvation He has won. Grant that we might be encouraged in our daily work for You and Your mission. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Edilberto Méndez Mora. Mr. Mora has been a contributor and volunteer at our office, Christ for All Nations - Panama, since 1992. He has been a member of our staff since 1997 and our director since 2004. Lutheran Hour Ministries has been working in Panama since 1985. It was recognized by the Panamanian State in 1996 as a religious, non-profit entity, which serves society and has as its primary purpose the proclamation of the Word of God to unbelievers.
With its ministry center in Panama City, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Panama makes Gospel connections through printed materials, "live" events, mass media and the Internet, holistic outreach, and other means in this Central American country of more than 3.5 million people. Using Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC), individuals are instructed in the basic tenets of the Christian faith and how to put them into operation in their lives. Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops train laypeople to share their faith with others, in order to build bridges via the Gospel. Helping young people make healthy lifestyle choices is the role of Project JOEL, a program teaching faith-based values that has been successfully integrated into the curricula of public schools, giving teachers a valuable resource to help them foster and promote constructive values.
You can read how this ministry center participated in recent Easter celebrations in Panama and watch a video by clicking here and visiting its blog.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
2 Samuel 15:1 Some time later, Avshalom prepared himself a chariot and horses, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 He would get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate; and if someone had a case that was to come before the king for judgment, Avshalom would call to him and ask, “What city are you from?” and he would answer, “Your servant is from the such-and-such tribe in Isra’el.” 3 Avshalom would say to him, “Look, your cause is good and just; but the king hasn’t deputized anyone to hear your case.” 4 Then Avshalom would continue, “Now if I were made judge in the land, anyone with a suit or other cause could come to me, and I would see that he gets justice!” 5 Moreover, whenever any man came close to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 This is how Avshalom behaved toward anyone in Isra’el who came to the king for judgment, and in this way Avshalom stole the hearts of the people of Isra’el.

7 At the end of forty years, Avshalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hevron and fulfill the vow I made to Adonai. 8 Your servant made a vow while I was staying at G’shur in Aram to the effect that if Adonai would bring me back to Yerushalayim, then I would serve Adonai.” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he set out and went to Hevron.

10 But Avshalom sent spies through all the tribes of Isra’el to say, “The moment you hear the sound of the shofar, then start proclaiming, ‘Avshalom is king in Hevron.’” 11 With Avshalom went 200 men from Yerushalayim who had been invited; they went innocently, knowing nothing about the scheme. 12 Avshalom sent for Achitofel the Giloni, David’s counselor, to come from his town Giloh and be with him while offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy grew strong, because the number of people favoring Avshalom kept increasing.

13 A messenger came to David saying, “The men of Isra’el have aligned themselves with Avshalom.” 14 David said to all his servants with him in Yerushalayim, “Get up! We must flee! Otherwise none of us will escape from Avshalom. Hurry, and leave; or he will soon overtake us, attack us and put the city to the sword.” 15 The king’s servants said to the king, “Here, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king set out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women who were concubines to care for the palace. 17 The king set out with all the people after him, but they waited at the last house 18 for all his servants to pass by him in review; all the K’reti and P’leti and all the Gittim (600 men who had accompanied him from Gat) passed in review before the king.

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gitti, “You too? Why are you going with us? Go back, and stay with your king, since you are both a foreigner and in exile from your own place. 20 You arrived only yesterday; should I ask you to wander around with us? There’s no telling where I may go. Return, and take your kinsmen back with you. Grace and truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As Adonai lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there too.” 22 “Go, move along,” said David to Ittai; and Ittai the Gitti moved on, accompanied by all his men and the little ones with him.

23 The whole country wept and wailed as all the people left. When the king crossed Vadi Kidron, all the people crossed, too, heading toward the desert road. 24 Tzadok also came, accompanied by all the L’vi’im bearing the ark for the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, but Evyatar went up until all the people had finished leaving the city. 25 The king said to Tzadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in Adonai’s sight, he will bring me back and show me both it and the place where it is kept. 26 But if he says, ‘I am displeased with you,’ then — here I am; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” 27 The king then said to Tzadok the cohen, “Do you see? Return to the city in peace, your two sons with you — Achima‘atz your own son and Y’honatan the son of Evyatar. 28 I will wait on the desert plains until a message with new information comes from you.” 29 So Tzadok and Evyatar carried the ark of God back to Yerushalayim and stayed there.

30 David continued up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up, head covered and barefoot; and all the people with him had their heads covered and wept as they went up. 31 One of them told David, “Achitofel is among the conspirators with Avshalom.” David said, “Adonai, please! Turn Achitofel’s advice into foolishness!”

32 When David reached the top of the ascent, where it was customary to worship God, Hushai the Arki came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will become a burden to me. 34 But if you go back to the city and tell Avshalom, ‘King, I will be your servant; just as I was your father’s servant in the past, so I will now be your servant’ — then you will be able to frustrate Achitofel’s advice for me. 35 You have Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim there with you. So whatever you hear from the king’s house, you tell to Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim. 36 Their two sons, Achima‘atz the son of Tzadok and Y’honatan the son of Evyatar, are there with them; through them send me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai David’s friend came into the city when Avshalom was about to enter Yerushalayim.

Psalm 3: (0) A psalm of David, when he fled from Avshalom his son:

2 (1) Adonai, how many enemies I have!

How countless are those attacking me;

3 (2) how countless those who say of me,

“There is no salvation for him in God.” (Selah)

4 (3) But you, Adonai, are a shield for me;

you are my glory, you lift my head high.

5 (4) With my voice I call out to Adonai,

and he answers me from his holy hill. (Selah)

6 (5) I lie down and sleep, then wake up again,

because Adonai sustains me.

7 (6) I am not afraid of the tens of thousands

set against me on every side.

8 (7) Rise up, Adonai!

Save me, my God!

For you slap all my enemies in the face,

you smash the teeth of the wicked.

9 (8) Victory comes from Adonai;

may your blessing rest on your people. (Selah)

Psalm 69: (0) For the leader. Set to “Lilies.” By David:

2 (1) Save me, God!

For the water threatens my life.

3 (2) I am sinking down in the mud,

and there is no foothold;

I have come into deep water;

the flood is sweeping over me.

4 (3) I am exhausted from crying,

my throat is dry and sore,

my eyes are worn out

with looking for my God.

5 (4) Those who hate me for no reason

outnumber the hairs on my head.

My persecutors are powerful,

my enemies accuse me falsely.

Am I expected to return

things I didn’t steal?

6 (5) God, you know how foolish I am;

my guilt is not hidden from you.

7 (6) Let those who put their hope in you,

Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot,

not be put to shame through me;

let those who are seeking you,

God of Isra’el,

not be disgraced through me.

8 (7) For your sake I suffer insults,

shame covers my face.

9 (8) I am estranged from my brothers,

an alien to my mother’s children,

10 (9) because zeal for your house is eating me up,

and on me are falling the insults

of those insulting you.

11 (10) I weep bitterly, and I fast,

but that too occasions insults.

12 (11) I clothe myself with sackcloth

and become an object of scorn,

13 (12) the gossip of those sitting by the town gate,

the theme of drunkards’ songs.

14 (13) As for me, Adonai, let my prayer to you

come at an acceptable time;

In your great grace, God, answer me

with the truth of your salvation.

15 (14) Rescue me from the mud!

Don’t let me sink!

Let me be rescued from those who hate me

and from the deep water.

16 (15) Don’t let the floodwaters overwhelm me,

don’t let the deep swallow me up,

don’t let the pit close its mouth over me.

17 (16) Answer me, Adonai, for your grace is good;

in your great mercy, turn to me.

18 (17) Don’t hide your face from your servant,

for I am in trouble; answer me quickly.

19 (18) Come near to me, and redeem me;

ransom me because of my enemies.

20 (19) You know how I am insulted,

shamed and disgraced;

before you stand all my foes.

21 (20) Insults have broken my heart

to the point that I could die.

I hoped that someone would show compassion,

but nobody did;

and that there would be comforters,

but I found none.

22 (21) They put poison in my food;

in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

23 (22) Let their dining table

before them become a snare;

when they are at peace,

let it become a trap;

24 (23) let their eyes be darkened,

so that they can’t see,

and let their bodies

always be stumbling.

25 (24) Pour out your fury on them,

let your fierce anger overtake them.

26 (25) Let the place where they live be desolate,

with no one to live in their tents,

27 (26) for persecuting someone you had already stricken,

for adding to the pain of those you wounded.

28 (27) Add guilt to their guilt,

don’t let them enter your righteousness.

29 (28) Erase them from the book of life,

let them not be written with the righteous.

30 (29) Meanwhile, I am afflicted and hurting;

God, let your saving power raise me up.

31 (30) I will praise God’s name with a song

and extol him with thanksgiving.

32 (31) This will please Adonai more than a bull,

with its horns and hoofs.

33 (32) The afflicted will see it and rejoice;

you seeking after God, let your heart revive.

34 (33) For Adonai pays attention to the needy

and doesn’t scorn his captive people.

35 (34) Let heaven and earth praise him,

the seas and whatever moves in them.

36 (35) For God will save Tziyon,

he will build the cities of Y’hudah.

[His people] will settle there and possess it.

37 (36) The descendants of his servants will inherit it,

and those who love his name will live there.

John 4:27 Just then, his talmidim arrived. They were amazed that he was talking with a woman; but none of them said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water-jar, went back to the town and said to the people there, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could it be that this is the Messiah?” 30 They left the town and began coming toward him.

31 Meanwhile, the talmidim were urging Yeshua, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he answered, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33 At this, the talmidim asked one another, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 Yeshua said to them, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants and to bring his work to completion. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest’? Well, what I say to you is: open your eyes and look at the fields! They’re already ripe for harvest! 36 The one who reaps receives his wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the reaper and the sower may be glad together — 37 for in this matter, the proverb, ‘One sows and another reaps,’ holds true. 38 I sent you to reap what you haven’t worked for. Others have done the hard labor, and you have benefited from their work.”

39 Many people from that town in Shomron put their trust in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all the things I did.” 40 So when these people from Shomron came to him, they asked him to stay with them. He stayed two days, 41 and many more came to trust because of what he said. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer trust because of what you said, because we have heard for ourselves. We know indeed that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

43 After the two days, he went on from there toward the Galil. 44 Now Yeshua himself said, “A prophet is not respected in his own country.” 45 But when he arrived in the Galil, the people there welcomed him, because they had seen all he had done at the festival in Yerushalayim; since they had been there too.

46 He went again to Kanah in the Galil, where he had turned the water into wine. An officer in the royal service was there; his son was ill in K’far-Nachum. 47 This man, on hearing that Yeshua had come from Y’hudah to the Galil, went and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Yeshua answered, “Unless you people see signs and miracles, you simply will not trust!” 49 The officer said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Yeshua replied, “You may go, your son is alive.” The man believed what Yeshua said and left. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him with the news that his son was alive 52 So he asked them at what time he had gotten better; and they said, “The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon.” 53 The father knew that that was the very hour when Yeshua had told him, “Your son is alive”; and he and all his household trusted. 54 This was a second sign that Yeshua did; he did it after he had come from Y’hudah into the Galil.

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