Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Praying for Preachers" for Monday, November 2, 2015

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Praying for Preachers" for Monday, November 2, 2015

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.[Hebrews 13:17]
Well, folks, it's November and I'm just dying to hear what you got your pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month.
Don't be modest. I know you're the kind of parishioners who appreciate your pastor every month, but it still is great for you to have done something special for him in October which was, as I say, Pastor Appreciation Month.
On the other hand, if Pastor Appreciation Month got away from you this year or if you're already wracking your brain thinking what to get him next year, then I have a few, humble suggestions of what you might not want to bestow upon your congregation's undershepherd.
First, don't buy him a Bible. Odds are he already has a Bible, which has a print size to his liking. If your pastor doesn't have a Bible, then maybe you need to start shopping for another church or spiritual leader.
Second, don't give him another plaque, picture or carving of Durer's "Praying Hands." Yes, it is a beautiful piece of work, and there is a wonderful story behind the praying hands, but a parsonage has only so many walls on which to hang things ... and he has to hang it because he doesn't want to appear unappreciative and offend you.
Third, don't give him something to eat that are leftovers you don't want. Yes, I know that sounds silly, but I remember the year goose hunting was spectacular and my entire freezer was taken up by 18 Canadian geese, which were given to us. Understand, I like goose, but when Pam puts goose-burgers on the table, well, that's enough of a good thing.
Now at this point you may be wondering: is he joking?
The answer to that question is yes, I am. No, I'm not joking about October being Pastor Appreciation Month, and I'm not joking about the freezer filled with Canadian geese. But when it comes to giving your pastor a present, you do what you think is right and best.
Of course, if you ask me what might qualify as being right and best, I have an answer.
The best thing my congregations gave me was their prayers. It was a joy knowing that every time I stepped into the pulpit a pretty big percentage of the congregation was praying for me. It took a lot of the pressure off me, and it put all of us on the same team headed in the same general direction.
And what should you do if you don't especially like your pastor?
Easy. Pray twice as hard. First, you should pray the Holy Spirit will allow the Lord's Word to penetrate your "upset" and let you zero in on the precious salvation story of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, which is being proclaimed. Second, you should pray that the pastor be guided to point with crystal clarity to the Redeemer.
I promise, if all our people gave prayer as their gift, it would have miraculous results.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have appointed undershepherds to share Your Word and proclaim the Redeemer. May I pray my pastor receive wisdom and discretion as He points God's people to their Savior. In Jesus' Name I ask it. 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:
Jeremiah 31:1 (2) Here is what Adonai says:

“The people escaping the sword

found favor in the desert —

I have brought Isra’el to its rest.”

2 (3) From a distance Adonai appeared to me, [saying,]

“I love you with an everlasting love;

this is why in my grace I draw you to me.

3 (4) Once again, I will build you; you will be rebuilt,

virgin of Isra’el.

Once again, equipped with your tambourines,

you will go out and dance with the merrymakers.

4 (5) Once again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Shomron,

and those doing the planting will have the use of its fruit.

5 (6) For a day will come when the watchmen

on Mount Efrayim will call,

‘Come, let’s go up to Tziyon,

to Adonai our God.’”

6 (7) For here is what Adonai says:

“Sing with joy for Ya‘akov!

shout for the chief of the nations!

Proclaim your praise, and say:

‘Adonai! You have saved your people,

the remnant of Isra’el!’

7 (8) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north,

gathering them from the far ends of the earth;

among them are the blind and lame,

women with children, women in labor,

all together, a vast throng

returning here.

8 (9) They will come weeping and praying

as I bring them back.

I will lead them by streams of water

on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble.

For I am a father to Isra’el,

and Efrayim is my firstborn son.”

9 (10) Nations, hear the word of Adonai!

Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say:

“He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him,

guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”

10 (11) For Adonai has ransomed Ya‘akov,

redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

11 (12) They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon,

streaming to the goodness of Adonai,

to the grain, the wine, the olive oil,

and the young of the flock and the herd.

They themselves will be like a well-watered garden,

never to languish again.

12 (13) “Then the virgin will dance for joy,

young men and old men together;

for I will turn their mourning into joy,

comfort and gladden them after their sorrow.

13 (14) I will give the cohanim their fill of rich food,

and my people will be satisfied with my bounty,” says Adonai.

14 (15) This is what Adonai says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

lamenting and bitter weeping.

It is Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted for her children,

because they are no longer alive.”

15 (16) This is what Adonai says:

“Stop your weeping, and dry your eyes,

for your work will be rewarded,” says Adonai.

“They will return from the enemy’s land;

16 (17) so there is hope for your future,” says Adonai.

“Your children will return

to their own territory.

17 (18) “I hear Efrayim bemoaning himself:

‘You disciplined me, and I took your discipline

like a young ox not used to a yoke.

Let me return, and I will return,

for you are Adonai, my God.

18 (19) Yes, I turned away;

but later I repented.

When I had been made to understand,

I struck my thigh in shame and remorse,

bearing the weight of the disgrace

acquired when I was young.’

19 (20) “Isn’t Efrayim my very dear son,

a child who delights me so?

I speak about him all the time,

I can’t help but recall him to mind.

In sum, I deeply yearn for him;

I will surely show him favor,” says Adonai.

20 (21) Set up road signs, erect guideposts,

pay attention to the highway,

the path on which you traveled.

Come back, virgin Isra’el,

come back to these cities of yours!

21 (22) How long will you hesitate,

you unruly daughter?

For Adonai has created something new on earth:

a woman with the strengths of a man.

22 (23) Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot,

the God of Isra’el, says:

“This expression will be used again

in the land of Y’hudah and its cities

after I have returned their exiles:

‘May Adonai bless you,

home of justice, holy mountain!’

23 (24) In it will live together

Y’hudah and all its cities,

the farmer and those who lead the flocks.

24 (25) For I have satisfied the weary

and filled the needs of all in distress.”

25 (26) At this point I woke up and looked around, but I had enjoyed my sleep.

26 (27) “Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, when I will sow the house of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 27 (28) At that time, just as I used to watch over them with the intent to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm; so then I will watch over them to build and plant,” says Adonai. 28 (29) “When those days come they will no longer say,

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,

and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

29 (30) Rather, each will die for his own sin;

every one who eats sour grapes,

his own teeth will be set on edge.

30 (31) “Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah. 31 (32) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them,” says Adonai. 32 (33) “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days,” says Adonai: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 33 (34) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know Adonai’; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.”

34 (35) This is what Adonai says,

who gives the sun as light for the day,

who ordained the laws for the moon and stars

to provide light for the night,

who stirs up the sea until its waves roar —

Adonai-Tzva’ot is his name:

35 (36) “If these laws leave my presence,” says Adonai,

“then the offspring of Isra’el will stop being

a nation in my presence forever.”

36 (37) This is what Adonai says:

“If the sky above can be measured

and the foundations of the earth be fathomed,

then I will reject all the offspring of Isra’el

for all that they have done,” says Adonai.

37 (38) “Look, the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when the city will be rebuilt for Adonai from the Tower of Hanan’el to the Corner Gate. 38 (39) The measuring line will be stretched straight to Garev Hill, then turn to Go‘ah. 39 (40) The whole valley of corpses and ashes, including all the fields as far as Vadi Kidron, and on to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be separated out for Adonai; it will never be uprooted or destroyed again.”

32:1 This is the word that came to Yirmeyahu from Adonai in the tenth year of Tzidkiyahu king of Y’hudah, which was the eighteenth year of N’vukhadretzar. 2 At that time the army of the king of Bavel was besieging Yerushalayim; and Yirmeyahu the prophet was imprisoned in the guards’ quarters attached to the king of Y’hudah’s palace, 3 where Tzidkiyahu king of Y’hudah had imprisoned him after demanding, “How dare you prophesy that Adonai says, ‘I will hand this city over to the king of Bavel, and he will capture it; 4 Tzidkiyahu king of Y’hudah will not escape from the Kasdim but will certainly be handed over to the king of Bavel, who will address him face to face, with their eyes meeting; 5 and he will lead Tzidkiyahu to Bavel, where he will stay until I remember him,’ says Adonai, ‘and even if you fight the Kasdim, you will fail’?”

6 Yirmeyahu said, “This word of Adonai came to me: 7 ‘Hanam’el, the son of your uncle Shalum, will approach you and say, “Buy my field at ‘Anatot; you have next-of-kin’s right to redeem it; so buy it.”’” 8 As Adonai had said, my cousin Hanam’el came to me in the guards’ quarters and said, “Please buy my field at ‘Anatot, in the territory of Binyamin; because you will inherit it, and you have next-of-kin’s right to redeem it, so buy it for yourself.” Then I was certain that this was Adonai’s word.

9 So I bought the field at ‘Anatot which belonged to my cousin Hanam’el and weighed out the money for him, seven ounces of silver shekels. 10 I signed on the purchase contract, sealed it, called witnesses and weighed out the money for him on a balance scale. 11 I took the purchase contract, both the sealed copy with the terms and conditions, and the unsealed copy, 12 and gave the purchase contract to Barukh the son of Neriyah, the son of Machseyah, in the presence of my cousin Hanam’el, the witnesses who had signed the purchase contract and the people from Y’hudah sitting by the guards’ quarters. 13 In their presence I instructed Barukh as follows: 14 “Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: ‘Take these contracts, both the sealed and unsealed copies, and place them in a clay jar, so that they can be preserved for a long time.’ 15 For Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says that one day homes, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”

16 After giving the purchase contract to Barukh son of Neriyah, I prayed to Adonai: 17 “Adonai, God! You made heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you. 18 You display your grace to thousands but also repay the guilt of the fathers into the lap of their children who follow them. Great, powerful God, whose name is Adonai-Tzva’ot, 19 great in counsel, mighty in deed! Your eyes are open to all the ways of human beings in order to repay each one according to his ways, according to the consequences of what he does. 20 You gave signs and performed miracles in the land of Egypt which continue to this day, also in Isra’el and among other people; thus you made yourself the reputation you have today. 21 You brought your people of Isra’el out of the land of Egypt with signs and miracles, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 Then you gave them this land, which you had sworn to their ancestors that you would give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They entered and took possession of it; but they did not pay attention to your voice, did not live according to your Torah, and did nothing of all you ordered them to do. Therefore you made this complete disaster befall them — 24 the siege-works are already there; they have come to the city to capture it; and the city, by means of sword, famine and plague, is being handed over to the Kasdim fighting against it. What you foretold is being fulfilled; here, you see it, yourself. 25 Yet you, Adonai, God, have said to me, ‘Buy the field for money, and call witnesses; even as the city is being turned over to the Kasdim!’”

26 Then this word of Adonai came to Yirmeyahu: 27 “Look, I am Adonai, the God of every living creature; is there anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, here is what Adonai says: ‘I will hand this city over to the Kasdim and to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel; and he will capture it. 29 The Kasdim who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire; they will burn it down, including its houses, on whose roofs they offered to Ba‘al and poured out drink offerings to other gods, in order to make me angry. 30 For from their youth, the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done only what is evil from my perspective; the people of Isra’el have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands make,’ says Adonai. 31 ‘This city has so provoked my anger and fury from the day they built it to this day that I ought to remove it from my presence, 32 because of all the evil that the people of Isra’el and the people of Y’hudah have done in order to make me angry — they, their kings, their leaders, their cohanim, their prophets, the men of Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. 33 They have turned their backs on me, not their faces; and although I taught them, taught them frequently, they have not listened so as to receive instruction. 34 Instead they put their detestable idols in the house that bears my name, to defile it; 35 and they built the high places for Ba‘al which are in the Ben-Hinnom Valley, to burn alive their sons and daughters to Molekh — something I did not order them to do, it never even entered my mind that they would do such an abominable thing — and thus they caused Y’hudah to sin.’

36 “Therefore, thus says Adonai the God of Isra’el concerning this city, of which you say that it is handed over to the king of Bavel by sword, famine and plague: 37 ‘I will gather them out of all the countries where I drove them in my anger, fury and great wrath; and I will bring them back to this place and have them live here in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and singleness of purpose, so that they will fear me forever — this will be for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40 I will make with them an everlasting covenant not to turn away from them, but to do them good; I will put fear of me in their hearts, so that they will not leave me. 41 I will take joy in them, so as to do them good. I will plant them in this land truly, with my whole heart and being.’ 42 For here is what Adonai says: ‘Just as I have brought this complete disaster on this people, so likewise I will bring on them all the good I have promised them. 43 Fields will be bought in this land, even though you say about it that it is desolate, devoid of human beings or animals, and given over to the Kasdim. 44 Yes, people will buy fields for money, sign the purchase contracts, seal them and call witnesses, in the territory of Binyamin, in the areas around Yerushalayim, in the cities of Y’hudah, in the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Sh’felah and in the cities of the Negev. For I will cause their exiles to return,’ says Adonai.”

Hebrews 8:1 Here is the whole point of what we have been saying: we do have just such a cohen gadol as has been described. And he does sit at the right hand of HaG’dulah in heaven.[Hebrews 8:1 Psalm 110:1] 2 There he serves in the Holy Place, that is, in the true Tent of Meeting, the one erected not by human beings but by Adonai.

3 For every cohen gadol is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so this cohen gadol too has to have something he can offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a cohen at all, since there already are cohanim offering the gifts required by the Torah. 5 But what they are serving is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly original; for when Moshe was about to erect the Tent, God warned him, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.”[Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40]

6 But now the work Yeshua has been given to do is far superior to theirs, just as the covenant he mediates is better. For this covenant has been given as Torah on the basis of better promises. 7 Indeed, if the first covenant had not given ground for faultfinding, there would have been no need for a second one. 8 For God does find fault with the people when he says,

“‘See! The days are coming,’ says Adonai,

‘when I will establish

over the house of Isra’el and over the house of Y’hudah

a new covenant.

9 “‘It will not be like the covenant

which I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by their hand

and led them forth out of the land of Egypt;

because they, for their part,

did not remain faithful to my covenant;

so I, for my part,

stopped concerning myself with them,’

says Adonai.

10 “‘For this is the covenant which I will make

with the house of Isra’el after those days,’

says Adonai:

‘I will put my Torah in their minds

and write it on their hearts;

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11 “‘None of them will teach his fellow-citizen

or his brother, saying, “Know Adonai!”

For all will know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,

12 because I will be merciful toward their wickednesses

and remember their sins no more.’”[Hebrews 8:12 Jeremiah 31:30–33(31–34)]

13 By using the term, “new,” he has made the first covenant “old”; and something being made old, something in the process of aging, is on its way to vanishing altogether.

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