Lutheran Hour Ministries - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries "Avoiding Temptation" with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker emeritus for Monday, 17 August 2015
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.[Proverbs 4:14-15]
Roger Miller once sang a song with the opening lyrics: "Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. But you can be happy if you've a mind to."
Well, I think it's time for us to change those lyrics to "Ya can't take a selfie in a buffalo herd."
The change in wording is motivated by a lady who, last month, was gored by a big bison as she tried to take a selfie with the beast in Yellowstone Park. Yup, the 43-year-old lady from Mississippi, along with her daughter, were standing with their backs to the bison, taking a selfie, when the beast charged them. Those who were there said it tossed the woman into the air and inflicted minor injuries.
The woman was lucky. Oh, along with being lucky, the lady was not alone.
She was the fifth visitor this year who was gored by a bison. Here's another way of saying that: this lady was the fifth visitor who totally ignored the posted signs that warn Yellowstone visitors that wildlife is, well, it's wild. You would think such information is obvious, wouldn't you? You certainly wouldn't think people have to be reminded again and again and again and again.
No, you wouldn't think it, but it's true. People need to be told about danger. They need to be repeatedly warned: "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on."
And they need to be told to avoid temptation again and again and again.
Such warnings against temptation are made by the Lord because He cares for His wayward children. Goodness, He does more than care. So evil's hold on us might be broken our Triune God devised a plan in which Jesus would come to earth. Here Jesus would resist all the temptations which have managed to seduce us and undermine our once-perfect relationship with our Maker.
To do that Jesus had to perfectly keep all of the Lord's laws and say, "No!" to all of Satan's sly suggestions. Then, having done all this for an entire lifetime, Jesus had to shoulder our sins and carry them to the cross, where He offered Himself as our Substitute. It was a prodigious job, but Jesus did it.
His third-day resurrection from the dead says that His offering has been accepted. And now all who believe on Him are forgiven of each and every sin, which has touched their soul.
And now, in thanks, their lives are lived trying to avoid getting too close to evil.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that Your Son resisted the temptation, which has proven so destructive to me. May my thanksgiving show to all the world the wonderful things Jesus can do for those who are given faith in Him. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings:
Roger Miller once sang a song with the opening lyrics: "Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. Ya can't roller skate in a buffalo herd. But you can be happy if you've a mind to."
Well, I think it's time for us to change those lyrics to "Ya can't take a selfie in a buffalo herd."
The change in wording is motivated by a lady who, last month, was gored by a big bison as she tried to take a selfie with the beast in Yellowstone Park. Yup, the 43-year-old lady from Mississippi, along with her daughter, were standing with their backs to the bison, taking a selfie, when the beast charged them. Those who were there said it tossed the woman into the air and inflicted minor injuries.
The woman was lucky. Oh, along with being lucky, the lady was not alone.
She was the fifth visitor this year who was gored by a bison. Here's another way of saying that: this lady was the fifth visitor who totally ignored the posted signs that warn Yellowstone visitors that wildlife is, well, it's wild. You would think such information is obvious, wouldn't you? You certainly wouldn't think people have to be reminded again and again and again and again.
No, you wouldn't think it, but it's true. People need to be told about danger. They need to be repeatedly warned: "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on."
And they need to be told to avoid temptation again and again and again.
Such warnings against temptation are made by the Lord because He cares for His wayward children. Goodness, He does more than care. So evil's hold on us might be broken our Triune God devised a plan in which Jesus would come to earth. Here Jesus would resist all the temptations which have managed to seduce us and undermine our once-perfect relationship with our Maker.
To do that Jesus had to perfectly keep all of the Lord's laws and say, "No!" to all of Satan's sly suggestions. Then, having done all this for an entire lifetime, Jesus had to shoulder our sins and carry them to the cross, where He offered Himself as our Substitute. It was a prodigious job, but Jesus did it.
His third-day resurrection from the dead says that His offering has been accepted. And now all who believe on Him are forgiven of each and every sin, which has touched their soul.
And now, in thanks, their lives are lived trying to avoid getting too close to evil.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that Your Son resisted the temptation, which has proven so destructive to me. May my thanksgiving show to all the world the wonderful things Jesus can do for those who are given faith in Him. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings:
Psalms 45:(0) For the leader. Set to “Lilies.” By the descendants of Korach. A maskil. A lovesong:
2 (1) My heart is stirred by a noble theme;
I address my verses to the king;
My tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.
3 (2) You are the most handsome of men;
gracious speech flows from your lips.
For God has blessed you forever.
4 (3) Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh;
[gird on] your splendor and majesty.
5 (4) In your majesty, succeed, ride on
in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness.
May your right hand teach you awesome things.
6 (5) Your arrows are sharp. The people fall under you,
as they penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies.
7 (6) Your throne, God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity.
8 (7) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions.
9 (8) Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia;
from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy.
10 (9) Daughters of kings are among your favorites;
at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir.
11 (10) Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention!
Forget your own people and your father’s house,
12 (11) and the king will desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, so honor him.
13 (12) Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples,
will court your favor with gifts.
14 (13) Inside [the palace], the king’s daughter looks splendid,
attired in checker-work embroidered with gold.
15 (14) In brocade, she will be led to the king,
to you, with the virgins in her retinue.
16 (15) They will be led in with gladness and joy,
they will enter the king’s palace.
17 (16) You will have sons to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the land.
18 (17) I will make your name known through all generations;
thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
46:(0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid,
even if the earth gives way,
even if the mountains tumble
into the depths of the sea,
4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam,
and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams
gladden the city of God,
the holy habitation of ‘Elyon —
6 (5) God is in the city.
It will not be moved —
when daybreak comes, God will help it.
7 (6) Nations were in turmoil,
kingdoms were moved;
his voice thundered forth,
and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai,
the astounding deeds he has done on the earth.
10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
12 (11) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
47:(0) For the leader. A psalm of the descendants of Korach:
2 (1) Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with cries of joy!
3 (2) For Adonai ‘Elyon is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
4 (3) He makes peoples subject to us,
puts nations under our feet.
5 (4) He chooses our heritage for us,
the pride of Ya‘akov, whom he loves. (Selah)
6 (5) God goes up to shouts of acclaim,
Adonai to a blast on the shofar.
7 (6) Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our king, sing praises!
8 (7) For God is king of all the earth;
sing praises in a maskil.
9 (8) God rules the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
10 (9) The leaders of the people gather together,
the people of the God of Avraham;
for the rulers of the earth belong to God,
who is exalted on high.
1 Corinthians 10:19 So, what am I saying? That food sacrificed to idols has any significance in itself? or that an idol has significance in itself? 20 No, what I am saying is that the things which pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice not to God but to demons; and I don’t want you to become sharers of the demons! 21 You can’t drink both a cup of the Lord and a cup of demons, you can’t partake in both a meal of the Lord and a meal of demons. 22 Or are we trying to make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?
23 “Everything is permitted,” you say? Maybe, but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permitted?” Maybe, but not everything is edifying. 24 No one should be looking out for his own interests, but for those of his fellow. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.[1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1, 50:12, 89:12(11)] 27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is put in front of you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This meat was offered as a sacrifice,” then don’t eat it, out of consideration for the person who pointed it out and also for conscience’s sake — 29 however, I don’t mean your conscience but that of the other person. You say, “Why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I participate with thankfulness, why am I criticized over something for which I myself bless God?” 31 Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all so as to bring glory to God. 32 Do not be an obstacle to anyone — not to Jews, not to Gentiles, and not to God’s Messianic Community. 33 Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not looking out for my own interests but for those of the many, so that they may be saved;
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