Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Outreach Opportunities" Tuesday, 26 May 2015
And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found."[Luke 15:31-32]
I remember going to my first call in western South Dakota.
My congregation, which was so small it had been a permanent vacancy for 20 years, was in a state of disrepair. When I first entered the church, I found a wonderful, retired pastor, Carl Krueger, agonizing over the church membership files.
His first words to me were a pained, "They're not all here."
By that Pastor Krueger meant not all the members of the congregation who were on the books of the church deserved to be there. When I asked for an explanation, he listed four names, "Pastor Klaus, if I were you," he said, "I wouldn't expect to see these four in worship on a regular basis."
"And why not?" I queried.
"Because these four are in the cemetery," he told me.
He was right. I never did see those four in church.
And I never saw the five members who had, more than 15 years before, joined the military and made the service their lifelong work. I never saw the folks who had married and joined other congregations, but who had never transferred out. I never saw the five who were living in different states, but kept their membership at our church because they wanted to be buried in our cemetery.
On the other hand, the Holy Spirit did get back many who had been delinquent for years. Yes, He reactivated many, but not all.
Most pastors and parishes will understand. My congregation was a microcosm of what most of us have experienced.
Now I share this with you because, two weeks ago, a national survey was published which said the percentage of folks who identified themselves as Christians had dropped from 78 percent to 70 percent, and the number of unconnected souls increased from 15 percent to 23 percent.
The news was met with glee and rejoicing by those who are opposed to the Savior and His work of reclaiming lost and sinful souls. From past experience, I have to say their victory is both premature and hollow. As near as I can see, the only thing which has changed is that many delinquents are being more honest than they used to be.
In other words, delinquents no longer are pretending they are affiliated with a Christian church, which is good news for us. No longer will these folks be ignored because they are listed somewhere on our books. Their honesty makes them beloved mission targets for a caring congregation of Christians who will do their absolute best to reclaim a wandering brother or floundering sister.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let the world gloat, but grant us the grace and wisdom to try and reclaim those who have wandered or are backsliding. This we ask in the Name of the risen Redeemer. Amen.
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:
Psalms 17:(0) A prayer of David:
(1) Hear a just cause, Adonai, heed my cry;
listen to my prayer from honest lips.
2 Let my vindication come from you,
let your eyes see what is right.
3 You probed my heart,
you visited me at night,
and you assayed me without finding evil thoughts
that should not pass my lips.
4 As for what others do, by words from your lips
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent;
5 my steps hold steadily to your paths,
my feet do not slip.
6 Now I call on you, God, for you will answer me.
Turn your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Show how wonderful is your grace,
savior of those who seek at your right hand
refuge from their foes.
8 Protect me like the pupil of your eye,
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the wicked, who are assailing me,
from my deadly enemies, who are all around me.
10 They close their hearts to compassion;
they speak arrogantly with their mouths;
11 they track me down, they surround me;
they watch for a chance to bring me to the ground.
12 They are like lions eager to tear the prey,
like young lions crouching in ambush.
13 Arise, Adonai, confront them! Bring them down!
With your sword deliver me from the wicked,
14 with your hand, Adonai, from human beings,
from people whose portion in life is this world.
You fill their stomachs with your treasure,
their children will be satisfied too
and will leave their wealth to their little ones.
15 But my prayer, in righteousness, is to see your face;
on waking, may I be satisfied with a vision of you.
19:(0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) The heavens declare the glory of God,
the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands.
3 (2) Every day it utters speech,
every night it reveals knowledge.
4 (3) Without speech, without a word,
without their voices being heard,
5 (4) their line goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he places a tent for the sun,
6 (5) which comes out like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber,
with delight like an athlete to run his race.
7 (6) It rises at one side of the sky,
circles around to the other side,
and nothing escapes its heat.
8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;
in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.
15 (14) May the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart
be acceptable in your presence,
Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.
John 9:24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind; and they said to him, “Swear to God that you will tell the truth! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he’s a sinner or not I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 “I already told you,” he answered, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Maybe you too want to become his talmidim?” 28 Then they railed at him. “You may be his talmid,” they said, “but we are talmidim of Moshe! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moshe, but as for this fellow — we don’t know where he’s from!” 30 “What a strange thing,” the man answered, “that you don’t know where he’s from — considering that he opened my eyes! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners; but if anyone fears God and does his will, God does listen to him. 32 In all history no one has ever heard of someone’s opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing!” 34 “Why, you mamzer!” they retorted, “Are you lecturing us?” And they threw him out.
35 Yeshua heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and said, “Do you trust in the Son of Man?” 36 “Sir,” he answered, “tell me who he is, so that I can trust in him.” 37 Yeshua said to him, “You have seen him. In fact, he’s the one speaking with you now.” 38 “Lord, I trust!” he said, and he kneeled down in front of him.
39 Yeshua said, “It is to judge that I came into this world, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” 40 Some of the P’rushim nearby heard this and said to him, “So we’re blind too, are we?” 41 Yeshua answered them, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you still say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
The Lutheran Hour
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
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