Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour "Faith Communication with the One Who Loves You!" for Monday, August 14, 2017
Matthew 6:9 - (Jesus said) "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.'"As believers in Jesus, we have a special privilege and power. What is it? It's the knowledge that prayer -- the awesome privilege of prayer -- prayer still changes things.
Our Gospel reading yesterday came from the lips of Jesus Himself who taught us to pray "Our Father." Why? Because the Father sent the Son by the power of the Spirit to redeem us, to save us. When God is that personal, that concerned, and that willing to sacrifice so that you and I might be saved, well, prayer to Him changes things, even as it changes you and me.
In Jesus, the Father is near to us, He hears us, and He desires our life and salvation. What an incredible truth for life. It means that no matter what the circumstance, you know and trust in the One who is greater than your circumstances, and you are confident that He has your best in mind, no matter what the moment looks or feels like as well.
That's the confidence to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what. In the midst of the wars and rumors of wars, the recessions, the ineptitude of political leaders, the immorality and injustices of our age, especially confident then, Jesus Himself -- no stranger to problems, pain, and suffering Himself -- invites us to offer our prayers and petitions to the God who loves us with an everlasting love.
Go ahead then: offer up your hopes and dreams about what is good in life and the life you are striving to lead, knowing that God has created and redeemed you for a purpose. Offer up your prayers for those you love, for the prayers of the righteous -- they do change things.
I thought about my grandparents this last week, with all the talk over the last 10 years or so of a "new Great Depression." Do you remember that talk? Well, if you had any experience with the real Great Depression, we wouldn't throw that word around so loosely today. No matter what was happening in their lives though, whether it was the struggles of the Great Depression, (and by the way, my grandmother, even as late as the 1960s still mixed powered milk with real milk to make it go further), or whether it was the successes of their later years and the joy of their family reunions and personal travels, they (my grandparents) were always in church worshiping the God who loved them enough to die for their sins on the cross. Nothing was more important to them than Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and His daily resource of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Nothing else! Nothing less than that would do.
That was the resource for their joy; that was the power for their prayers.
So with that mindset, with that confidence, put your faith to work this week in prayer. Whatever is weighing on your mind, pray, don't be anxious. Pray with thanksgiving whether you get a yes, a no, or a wait, God will answer! God will do what is best for you because He loves us like a father should, and pray for the care and concerns of others because they need prayer, too, and you've got that tool in your faith arsenal to serve.
As Christians, we get embarrassed sometimes. Many of us say rightly, when confronted by someone's struggles, or injustice, or tragedy, we say, "I'll pray for you." And the world says, "Oh yeah, that's it?" And we often get embarrassed as if something else is better. Now listen, I'm not saying you shouldn't help a neighbor, or feed someone in need, or give the very clothes off of your back for someone. But please don't make the mistake of thinking that those things are in place of prayer. Commit all these things to God first, and then work mightily to serve your neighbor as God serves you. Watch what that faith communication at work, watch what it will do.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, give me the faith to pray knowing that You are already answering my prayer with all that is best for my life with You, now and forever. Amen.
In Christ,Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-12; 1 Corinthians 8
1 Chronicles 10:1 Now the P’lishtim pressed their attack on Isra’el; and the men of Isra’el fled before the P’lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The P’lishtim pursued Sha’ul; overtook him and his sons; and the P’lishtim killed Y’honatan, Avinadav and Malkishua, the sons of Sha’ul. 3 The fighting went hard against Sha’ul; then the archers overtook and wounded him, so that he was in agony. 4 Sha’ul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised men will come and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer refused; he was too frightened. So Sha’ul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Sha’ul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died. 6 Thus Sha’ul, his three sons and all his household died together.
7 When all the men of Isra’el who were in the valley saw them fleeing and that Sha’ul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; then the P’lishtim came and lived in them.
8 The following day, when the P’lishtim came to strip the dead, they found Sha’ul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him, then took his head and his armor and sent them all over the territory of the P’lishtim to carry the news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his skull to the temple of Dagon. 11 When everyone in Yavesh-Gil‘ad heard all that the P’lishtim had done to Sha’ul, 12 all their warriors set out, took away the body of Sha’ul and the bodies of his sons, brought them to Yavesh, buried their bones under the pistachio tree in Yavesh and fasted seven days.
13 So Sha’ul died for the transgression he committed against Adonai, because of the word of Adonai that he did not keep and because he sought the counsel of a spirit 14 instead of consulting Adonai. Therefore Adonai put him to death and turned the rulership over to David the son of Yishai.
11:1 Then all Isra’el gathered themselves to David in Hevron and said, “Here, we are your own flesh and bone. 2 In the past, even when Sha’ul was king, it was you who led Isra’el’s military campaigns; and Adonai your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isra’el, and you will be chief over my people Isra’el.’” 3 So all the leaders of Isra’el came to the king in Hevron; and David made a covenant with them in Hevron in the presence of Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Isra’el, as Adonai had said through Sh’mu’el.
4 David and all Isra’el went to Yerushalayim, also known as Y’vus; and the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Y’vus taunted David by saying, “You won’t get in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Tziyon, also known now as the City of David. 6 David said, “Whoever attacks the Y’vusi first will be commander-in-chief.” Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah attacked first and was made commander.
7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. 8 David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and going on around; while Yo’av repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, because Adonai-Tzva’ot was with him.
10 These are David’s chief warriors, who, under his rulership, joined forces with him and with all Isra’el to make him king, as Adonai had said concerning Isra’el; 11 here is the list of David’s warrior-heroes:
Yashov‘am son of a Hakhmoni, the chief officer; he is the one who raised his spear against 300 men and killed them in a single encounter.
12 After him was El‘azar the son of Dodo the Achochi, one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-Damim, where the P’lishtim had assembled for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley; and when the people fled from the P’lishtim, 14 they stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P’lishtim; and Adonai saved them with a great victory.
15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock and came to David during harvest season at the cave of ‘Adulam when the army of the P’lishtim had set up camp in the Refa’im Valley. 16 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P’lishtim was in Beit-Lechem. 17 David had a craving and said, “I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!” 18 The three broke through the army of the P’lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; instead, he poured it out to Adonai 19 and said, “My God forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of these men who went and put their lives in jeopardy? They risked their lives to bring it!” — and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.
20 Avishai the brother of Yo’av was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three. 21 Of the three in the second rank he had the most honor and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.
22 B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el, was a man of many exploits. He struck down two lion-hearted men of Mo’av. One day when it was snowing, he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 23 Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man who was very tall, seven-and-a-half feet: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand the size of a weaver’s beam; he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These are things that B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada did that earned him a name among the three warrior-heroes. 25 He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.
26 There were also these warrior-heroes:
‘Asah’el the brother of Yo’av,
Elchanan the son of Dodo, from Beit-Lechem,
27 Shammah the Harori,
Heletz the P’loni,
28 ‘Ira son of ‘Ikesh from T’koa,
Avi‘ezer from ‘Anatot,
29 Sibkhai the Hushati,
‘Ilai the Achochi,
30 Mahrai the N’tofati,
Heled the son of Ba‘anah the N’tofati,
31 Ittai the son of Rivai from Giv‘ah, from the descendants of Binyamin,
B’nayahu from Pir‘aton,
32 Hurai from the vadis of Ga‘ash,
Avi’el the ‘Arvati,
33 ‘Azmavet the Bacharumi
Elyachba the Sha‘alvoni,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizoni,
Y’honatan the son of Shageh the Harari,
35 Achi’am the son of Sakhar the Harari,
Elifal the son of Ur,
36 Hefer the M’kherati,
Achiyah the P’loni,
37 Hetzro the Karmeli,
Na‘arai the son of Ezbai
38 Yo’el the brother of Natan,
Mivchar the son of Hagri,
39 Tzelek the ‘Amoni,
Nachrai the Be’eroti, armor-bearer of Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah,
40 ‘Ira the Yitri,
Garev the Yitri,
41 Uriyah the Hitti,
Zavad the son of Achlai,
42 ‘Adina the son of Shiza the Re’uveni, a leader among the Re’uveni,
and thirty with him,
43 Hanan the son of Ma‘akhah,
Yoshafat the Mitni,
44 ‘Uziyah the ‘Asht’rati
Shama and Ye‘i’el the sons of Hotam the ‘Aro‘eri,
45 Y’dia‘el the son of Shimri,
Yocha his brother, the Titzi,
46 Eli’el from Machavim,
Yerivai and Yoshavyah the sons of Elna‘am,
Yitmah the Mo’avi,
47 Eli’el,
‘Oved,
and Ya‘asi’el from M’tzovayah.
12:1 Following are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was still being kept away from Sha’ul the son of Kish; they were among the warriors who helped him fight his battles. 2 They were archers who could use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow; they were Sha’ul’s kinsmen from Binyamin. 3 Their leader was Achi‘ezer, then Yo’ash, the sons of Sh’ma‘ah the Giv‘ati, Y’zi’el, Pelet, the sons of ‘Azmavet, B’rakhah, Yehu from ‘Anatot, 4 Yishma‘yah the Giv‘oni, one of the strongest of the thirty and commander of the thirty, 5 (4b) Yirmeyah, Yachzi’el, Yochanan, Yozavad from G’derah, 6 (5) El‘uzai, Yerimot, B‘alyah, Sh’maryah, Sh’fatyah the Harufi, 7 (6) Elkanah, Yishiyahu, ‘Azar’el, Yo‘ezer, Yashov‘am the Korchi, 8 (7) and Yo‘elah and Z’vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G’dor.
9 (8) From the Gadi a number of strong, brave, trained fighting men defected to David at the fortress in the desert. They could handle shield and spear, they were as fierce as lions, and they were as fast as deer on the hills: 10 (9) ‘Ezer was the leader, ‘Ovadyah was second, Eli’av third, 11 (10) Mishmanah fourth, Yirmeyah fifth, 12 (11) ‘Atai sixth, Eli’el seventh, 13 (12) Yochanan eighth, Elzavad ninth, 14 (13) Yirmeyah tenth, and Makhbanai eleventh. 15 (14) These descendants of Gad were army commanders; the least of them was worth a hundred, and the greatest worth a thousand. 16 (15) These are the men who crossed the Yarden during the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and drove out all those who lived in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
17 (16) From the descendants of Binyamin and Y’hudah a number came to David at the fortress. 18 (17) When David went out to meet them, he said, “If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge.” 19 (18) Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said:
“We are yours, David;
on your side, son of Yishai!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers;
for your God helps you.”
David welcomed them and made them senior officers.
20 (19) From M’nasheh some defected to David when he was about to go with the P’lishtim to fight against Sha’ul; but they ended up not helping them; because the rulers of the P’lishtim, after consultation, sent David away, saying, “He will defect to his master Sha’ul at the cost of our heads.” 21 (20) As he was on his way to Ziklag, those who defected to him from M’nasheh included ‘Adnach, Yozavad, Y’dia‘el, Mikha’el, Yozavad, Elihu and Tziltai, commanders of thousands from M’nasheh. 22 (21) They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.
23 (22) Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God. 24 (23) Following are the numbers of those who came armed for war to David in Hevron, in order to transfer to him the kingdom of Sha’ul, according to what Adonai had said.
25 (24) The descendants of Y’hudah bearing shields and spears numbered 6,800, armed for war.
26 (25) Of the descendants of Shim‘on, strong, brave men for war, there were 7,100.
27 (26) Of the descendants of Levi, there were 4,600. 28 (27) Y’hoyada was the leader of the house of Aharon, and with him were 3,700; 29 (28) also Tzadok, a young man, strong and brave, with twenty-two commanders from his father’s family.
30 (29) Of the descendants of Binyamin the kinsmen of Sha’ul, there were 3,000; for up until then, the majority of them had remained loyal to the house of Sha’ul.
31 (30) Of the descendants of Efrayim, there were 20,800 strong, brave men, well known in their fathers’ families.
32 (31) Of the half-tribe of M’nasheh, 18,000 were designated by name to come and make David king.
33 (32) Of the descendants of Yissakhar, men who understood the times and knew what Isra’el ought to do, there were 200 leaders, and all their kinsmen were under their command.
34 (33) Of Z’vulun, 50,000 men were fit for military service, experienced in war and able to use all kinds of weapons; they were brave, and none was doubleminded.
35 (34) Of Naftali, there were 1,000 officers, and with them 37,000 troops having shields and spears.
36 (35) Of Dan, 28,600 were experienced in war.
37 (36) Of Asher, 40,000 men were fit for military service and experienced in war.
38 (37) On the other side of the Yarden, from the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for battle.
39 (38) All these soldiers who were experienced in war came to Hevron wholeheartedly to make David king over all Isra’el, and all the rest from Isra’el were single-hearted in wanting to make David king. 40 (39) They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 41 (40) Moreover, those who were near them — and even those as far as Yissakhar, Z’vulun and Naftali — brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: baked goods, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Isra’el.
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that, as you say, “We all have knowledge.” Yes, that is so, but “knowledge” puffs a person up with pride; whereas love builds up. 2 The person who thinks he “knows” something doesn’t yet know in the way he ought to know. 3 However, if someone loves God, God knows him.
4 So, as for eating food sacrificed to idols, we “know” that, as you say, “An idol has no real existence in the world, and there is only one God.” 5 For even if there are so-called “gods,” either in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are “gods” and “lords” galore — 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, through whom were created all things and through whom we have our being.
7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Moreover, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat food which has been sacrificed to them, they think of it as really affected by the idol; and their consciences, being weak, are thus defiled. 8 Now food will not improve our relationship with God — we will be neither poorer if we abstain nor richer if we eat. 9 However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 You have this “knowledge”; but suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you sitting, eating a meal in the temple of an idol. Won’t he be built up wrongly to eat this food which has been sacrificed to idols? 11 Thus by your “knowledge” this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died; 12 and so, when you sin against the brothers by wounding their conscience when it is weak, you are sinning against the Messiah!
13 To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to sin.
-------Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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