Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour "Put God's Forgiveness to Work in Your Life!" for Monday, September 18, 2017
Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to Him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." When I was a pastor at Church for All Nations in New York City, I led a Bible study on Wall Street. There gathered every Tuesday Morning were some of the best traders and investors in the world. They would share with me their secrets of investing, and I would share with them the powerful message of the Word of God in Jesus Christ. Let's just say we both learned a lot from each other. But the secrets were not that secret at all. Oftentimes in both areas, it was incredibly straightforward talking about what is true in life, what works in life: it was simple, yet powerful, truths that really made a difference in living life for all its worth.
Their investment secret, you ready? Here it is: start early and invest regularly, and look for gains in the long term. I remember when I was young I was told to "buy term insurance" (because it's cheaper) and "invest the difference" in the costs of the premiums, in mutual funds. Why? Forty years later, at 65, you wouldn't need the insurance because you would have the money in the bank. Put your money to work so that later you can reap its blessing, its temporal freedom. Sounds simple enough, right? Then why do so few do it. With the resources we have, so many of us could manage it better for an abundance later on. That message was at the heart of many, many successful investors and fund managers in their personal lives. Words to live by, honestly.
In the lesson for the sermon yesterday, Jesus is talking about an investment strategy that is even more important than that in our lives. It goes to the heart of our spiritual -- not just our temporal -- lives. It's one that has an eternal payoff, that has an eternal perspective and scope. He's talking about receiving and sharing the forgiveness of God in a regular fashion with those God brings into our lives. Living life with that focus means we are eager to make the deposit of forgiveness in the lives of those we love. We are looking to put His love and grace to work in our lives, in our relationships, in our families. What would life be like for you this week, this month, this year, if you focused on putting that to work: receiving and sharing God's gracious forgiveness in Christ, with others? What would happen if all of us focused on that rather than hold grudges, spread vicious rumors, or look out for ourselves alone?
If you've ever had any money to invest, you know the joy of what it feels like when it grows. Some of you, just because you put your money to work in your house, in a mutual fund, or in stocks and bonds, have learned that such disciplines can make a difference in having abundance to share when the time comes. Well, Jesus is telling you that you haven't seen anything yet when it comes to what really matters. If you enjoy temporal abundance and growth, get ready for the joy of watching His eternal forgiveness and mercy do its work in your life and in the lives of those you love. If you are stingy and foolish in either area -- that way of living is empty in the end -- but even if your temporal investment strategies don't yield the abundance you had hoped for, putting God's forgiveness to work always has abundance in store in the end. Get on board with Christ's spiritual investment strategy; I know that you will be blessed as you do.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your forgiveness and grace is such an incredible blessing for our lives. Give us wisdom and courage to put that to work in our lives and through our lives for others in Your Name. Amen.
In Christ,Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz
Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Readings: Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 5:1-16
Isaiah 20:1 In the year that Sargon the king of Ashur sent his commander-in-chief to attack Ashdod, he captured it. 2 It was at that time that Adonai, speaking through Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz, said, “Go and unwind the sackcloth from around your waist, and take your sandals off your feet.” So he did it, going about unclothed and barefoot. 3 In time, Adonai said,
“Just as my servant Yesha‘yahu
has gone about unclothed and barefoot
for three years as a sign and portent
against Egypt and Ethiopia,
4 so will the king of Ashur lead away
the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia,
young and old, unclothed and barefoot,
with their buttocks exposed, to the shame of Egypt.
5 They will be dismayed and ashamed
because of Ethiopia their hope and Egypt their pride.
6 On that day, the people living
along this coast will say,
‘Look what happened to the people
to whom we fled for help,
hoping they would rescue us
from the king of Ashur!
How will we escape now?’”
21:1 A prophecy about the coastal desert:
Like whirlwinds sweeping over the Negev,
it comes from the desert, from a fearsome land.
2 A dire vision has been shown to me:
the betrayer betrays, and the spoiler spoils.
‘Eilam, advance! Madai, lay siege!
I will end all groaning.
3 This is why my insides are racked with pain;
I am seized by pangs, like a woman in labor;
wrenched by what I hear,
aghast at what I see.
4 My mind reels, shuddering assails me.
The twilight I longed for terrifies me.
5 They set the table, light the lamps,
eat and drink —
“Get going, princes! Oil the shields!”
6 For this is what Adonai said to me:
“Go, post a watchman to report what he sees!
7 If he sees the cavalry, horsemen in pairs,
riders on donkeys, riders on camels,
he must be on alert, on full alert!”
8 He calls out like a lion: “My lord,
I stand on the watchtower all day long,
I stay at my post all night.”
9 Then, as they appeared — the cavalry,
horsemen in pairs — he spoke these words:
“She has fallen! She has fallen — Bavel!
All the carved images of her gods
lie shattered on the ground.”
10 My people, who have been threshed,
grain trodden down on my threshing-floor:
I am telling you what I have heard
from Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el.
11 A prophecy about Dumah:
Someone is calling to me from Se‘ir:
“Watchman, how much longer is it night?
Watchman, how much longer is it night?”
12 The watchman answers:
“Morning is coming, but also the night.
If you want to ask, ask! Come back again!”
13 A prophecy about Arabia:
You caravans of D’danim will camp
in the desert growth of Arabia.
14 Bring water to the thirsty, you who live in Teima,
greet the fugitives with food;
15 because they are fleeing the sword, the drawn sword,
the bent bow and the press of battle.
16 For this is what Adonai has told me: “Within a year [and not a day more], as if a hired worker were keeping track of the time, the glory of Kedar will come to an end. 17 Few of Kedar’s valiant archers will be left. ” Adonai the God of Isra’el has spoken.
22:1 A prophecy about the Valley of Vision:
Tell me what is wrong with you,
that you have all gone up on the roofs.
2 You city full of noise, confusion
and boisterous excitement,
your slain did not fall to the sword,
nor did they die in battle.
3 All your leaders fled together
and were captured without the use of a bow;
all from you who were found were captured,
even though they had fled far away.
4 This is why I said, “Don’t look at me,
leave me alone to weep bitterly,
don’t try to comfort me
over the destruction of my people.”
5 For it is a day of panic,
trampling and confusion
from Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot
in the Valley of Vision.
With walls crashing down,
they cry for help to the mountains.
6 ‘Eilam picks up the quivers,
with cavalry and horsemen,
and Kir uncovers the shields.
7 In time, your choicest valleys
are overrun by chariots,
and the cavalry take their posts by the gate;
8 thus is Y’hudah’s protection removed.
That day you looked for the armor
in the House of the Forest.
9 You saw how many breaches there were
in the City of David,
you collected water from the lower pool,
10 you surveyed the houses in Yerushalayim,
tearing some down to fortify the wall.
11 You also built a reservoir between the two walls
for the water from the Old Pool;
but you didn’t look to Him who made these things;
you had no respect for Him who fashioned them long ago.
12 That day Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot
called on you to weep and mourn,
to shave your heads and wear sackcloth;
13 but instead, one sees joy and celebrating,
killing of oxen, slaughtering of sheep,
eating of meat, drinking of wine —
“Let’s eat and drink now,
because tomorrow we’ll be dead!”
14 Then Adonai-Tzva’ot revealed himself in my ears: “You will not atone for this iniquity until you die.” This is what Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot says.
15 Thus says Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot: “Go and find that steward, Shevna, administrator of the palace, and ask him:
16 ‘What do you own here,
and who gave you the right
to cut yourself a tomb here?
Why do you get such an eminent tomb?
Why are you carving a resting-place
for yourself in the rock?’”
17 Look, strong man! Adonai is about
to throw you out! He will grab you,
18 roll you up, and toss you around
like a ball in the open country.
There you will die, with your fancy chariots,
you disgrace to your master’s palace!
19 “I will remove you from your office,
I will snatch you from your post.
20 When that day comes, I will summon
my servant Elyakim the son of Hilkiyahu.
21 I will dress him in your robe,
gird him with your sash of office,
and invest him with your authority.
He will be a father to the people
living in Yerushalayim
and to the house of Y’hudah.
22 I will place the key of David’s house
on his shoulder;
no one will shut what he opens;
no one will open what he shuts.
23 “I will fasten him firmly in place like a peg, so that he will become a seat of honor for his clan. 24 They will hang on him all the weight of his clan, descendants and offspring, as well as all the vessels of small capacity, from pitchers to cups. 25 When that day comes, the peg fastened firmly in place will give way; it will be cut down and fall, and the weight that was on it will be cut off.” For Adonai has said it.
Ephesians 5:1 So imitate God, as his dear children; 2 and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance. 3 Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or greed; these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people. 4 Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks. 5 For of this you can be sure: every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person — that is, every idol-worshipper — has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty talk; for it is because of these things that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey him. 7 So don’t become partners with them!
8 For you used to be darkness; but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light is in every kind of goodness, rightness and truth — 10 try to determine what will please the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them, 12 for it is shameful even to speak of the things these people do in secret. 13 But everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is, 14 since anything revealed is a light. This is why it says,
“Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you!”
15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely. 16 Use your time well, for these are evil days.
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