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2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
It was always my custom to stand at the front door of the church and welcome folks to worship.
As you can imagine, such a vantage point allowed me to see many strange and interesting things. For me, none was more interesting than watching women cleaning up their children, especially their boys who have the ability to make the cleanest of outfits instantaneously dirty.
That's why moms who knew their children were spic-and-span at the beginning of the trip to church still went through the checklist one last time. One last time they wanted to make sure their little ones were presentable.
I can still see those mothers going through their mental checklist:
The thing you should know is this: there is no age cutoff. I have seen 76-year-old great-grandmothers clean up their 78-year-old husbands as well as their 45-year-old sons. This they do because there are special occasions when the ladies like their guys to look good.
And no occasion is more special than a wedding: your wedding.
A few weeks ago, Brittany Ross Cook of Ontario, Canada, married Clayton Cook. Everything went great at the wedding, but afterwards, as they were taking pictures in Victoria Park, they ran into problems. In the midst of the formal pictures, the groom excused himself, walked over to the river, watched for a few seconds and, still attired in his formal clothes, jumped in.
It could have been the end of a beautiful relationship. But it wasn't. Brittany forgave Clay after he explained. You see, Clay had seen one child push another into that river. When he walked to the riverbank he was told the lad couldn't swim. A quick glance at the boys struggles showed, without help, the boy wasn't going to make it.
Jumping in to save that child may not have been the logical thing to do. It may not have been the logical thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.
Two-thousand years ago, your Savior took a look at sinful humanity. He could plainly see we couldn't save ourselves. Indeed, if anybody was going to be rescued in this world it would be because He got involved, which is why Jesus began His earthly ministry. He put His own life, His own place in heaven to the side, to save us. To save us, He became obedient unto death, even death on the cross.
Understand, it was not the logical thing to do. How could the innocent dying for the guilty be logical? How could trading the life of God's Son to rescue a rebellious world be logical? No, it wasn't logical, but it was -- from the Lord's perspective -- the right thing, the godly thing to do.
As Paul wrote, "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today we rejoice that You didn't do the logical thing in saving us. May we do our best to live worthy of the Name Christian. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Will Gardner for LIFE on October 16, 2017. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: click here.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
It was always my custom to stand at the front door of the church and welcome folks to worship.
As you can imagine, such a vantage point allowed me to see many strange and interesting things. For me, none was more interesting than watching women cleaning up their children, especially their boys who have the ability to make the cleanest of outfits instantaneously dirty.
That's why moms who knew their children were spic-and-span at the beginning of the trip to church still went through the checklist one last time. One last time they wanted to make sure their little ones were presentable.
I can still see those mothers going through their mental checklist:
- Hands clean and devoid of all blotches and smears? Check!
- Hair in place, no bubble-gum or peanut butter? Check!
- No lint or loose hairs on shoulders or shirt? Check!
- Is the tuck-in Sunday shirt still tucked in? Check!
- Any major stains? None. Check!
The thing you should know is this: there is no age cutoff. I have seen 76-year-old great-grandmothers clean up their 78-year-old husbands as well as their 45-year-old sons. This they do because there are special occasions when the ladies like their guys to look good.
And no occasion is more special than a wedding: your wedding.
A few weeks ago, Brittany Ross Cook of Ontario, Canada, married Clayton Cook. Everything went great at the wedding, but afterwards, as they were taking pictures in Victoria Park, they ran into problems. In the midst of the formal pictures, the groom excused himself, walked over to the river, watched for a few seconds and, still attired in his formal clothes, jumped in.
It could have been the end of a beautiful relationship. But it wasn't. Brittany forgave Clay after he explained. You see, Clay had seen one child push another into that river. When he walked to the riverbank he was told the lad couldn't swim. A quick glance at the boys struggles showed, without help, the boy wasn't going to make it.
Jumping in to save that child may not have been the logical thing to do. It may not have been the logical thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.
Two-thousand years ago, your Savior took a look at sinful humanity. He could plainly see we couldn't save ourselves. Indeed, if anybody was going to be rescued in this world it would be because He got involved, which is why Jesus began His earthly ministry. He put His own life, His own place in heaven to the side, to save us. To save us, He became obedient unto death, even death on the cross.
Understand, it was not the logical thing to do. How could the innocent dying for the guilty be logical? How could trading the life of God's Son to rescue a rebellious world be logical? No, it wasn't logical, but it was -- from the Lord's perspective -- the right thing, the godly thing to do.
As Paul wrote, "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today we rejoice that You didn't do the logical thing in saving us. May we do our best to live worthy of the Name Christian. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Will Gardner for LIFE on October 16, 2017. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: click here.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Ezekiel 3-4; 1 Timothy 3
Ezekiel 3:1 He said to me, “Human being, eat what you see in front of you; eat this scroll. Then go and speak to the house of Isra’el.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat, 3 as he said, “Human being, eat this scroll I am giving you; fill your insides with it.” When I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey.
4 “Human being,” he said to me, “go to the house of Isra’el, and speak my words to them. 5 For you are not being sent to a people with a difficult language and unintelligible speech, but to the house of Isra’el — 6 not to many peoples with difficult languages and unintelligible speech, whose words you can’t understand when you hear them. Without doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Isra’el will not be willing to listen to you, because they aren’t willing to listen to me; since all the house of Isra’el are obstinate and hardhearted. 8 However, I am making you as defiant and obstinate as they are. 9 Yes, I am making your resoluteness harder than flint, as hard as a diamond. So don’t be afraid of them or depressed by how they look at you, because they are a rebellious house.”
10 Then he said to me, “Human being, receive in your heart and hear with your ears all my words that I speak to you. 11 Then go to the exiles, to your countrymen; and speak to them. Tell them, ‘Here is what Adonai Elohim, says,’ whether they listen or not.”
12 A spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a very loud sound — blessed be the glory of Adonai from his place! 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they beat against each other, and the sound of the wheels next to them, a very loud sound. 14 So a spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and the heat of my spirit, with the hand of Adonai strong on me.
15 I went to the exiles who were living in Tel-Aviv, by the K’var River and stayed with them there in a stupefied state for seven days. 16 After seven days the word of Adonai came to me: 17 “Human being, I have appointed you to be a watchman for the house of Isra’el. When you hear a word from my mouth, you are to warn them for me. 18 If I say to a wicked person, ‘You will certainly die’; and you fail to warn him, to speak and warn the wicked person to leave his wicked way and save his life; then that wicked person will die guilty; and I will hold you responsible for his death. 19 On the other hand, if you warn the wicked person, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, then he will still die guilty; but you will have saved your own life. 20 Similarly, when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, I will place a stumblingblock before him — he will die; because you failed to warn him, he will die in his sin; his righteous acts which he did will not be remembered; and I will hold you responsible for his death. 21 But if you warn the righteous person that a righteous person should not sin, and he doesn’t sin; then he will certainly live, because he took the warning; and you too will have saved your life.”
22 The hand of Adonai came on me there, and he said to me, “Get up, go out to the valley, and I will speak with you there.” 23 So I got up and went out to the valley. The glory of Adonai was there, like the glory I had seen by the K’var River; and I fell on my face. 24 A spirit entered me and put me on my feet. Then he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 Human being, you are going to be bound with ropes, unable to go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be mute, unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth; and you will say to them, ‘This is what Adonai Elohim says.’ Whoever is inclined to listen will listen, and whoever is inclined to refuse will refuse, because they are a rebellious house.
4:1 “As for you, human being, take a clay slab, lay it down in front of you, and draw on it the city of Yerushalayim. 2 Show it under siege — build towers against it, raise earthworks against it, set up camps against it, and surround it with battering rams. 3 Then take an iron griddle and put it in place as a wall of iron between yourself and the city, and fix your gaze on it — the city is under siege, and you are the one besieging it. This will be a sign for the house of Isra’el.
4 “Next, you are to lie on your left side, and have it bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el — for as many days as you lie on your side, you will bear their guilt. 5 For I am assigning you one day for each year of their guilt; thus you are to bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el for 390 days. 6 Then, when you have finished that, you are to lie on your right side and bear the guilt of the house of Y’hudah for forty days, each day corresponding to a year; this is what I am assigning you. 7 You are to fix your gaze on the siege of Yerushalayim, and, with your arm bared, prophesy against it. 8 I am tying you down with ropes, and you are not to turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.
9 “Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and buckwheat; put them together in one bowl; and make bread from it. For as long as you lie on your side, 390 days, this is what you are to eat. 10 Each day the food you eat must weigh only three-quarters of a pound; you may eat it from time to time [during the day]. 11 You are also to drink a limited amount of water, two-thirds of a quart; you may drink it from time to time [during the day]. 12 [The bread] you eat is to be baked like barley cakes; you are to bake it before their eyes, using human dung as fuel.” 13 Adonai said, “This is how the people of Isra’el will eat their food — unclean — in the nations where I am driving them.” 14 I objected: “No, Adonai Elohim! I have never defiled myself — from my youth until now I have never eaten anything that died by itself or was killed by wild animals; no such disgusting food has ever entered my mouth.” 15 He answered, “All right, I will give you cow dung to use instead of human dung, and you can prepare your bread on it.”
16 He then said to me, “Human being, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Yerushalayim, so that they will anxiously weigh out bread to eat, and, horrified, ration water to drink. 17 Finally, due to lack of bread and water, they will stare at each other in shock, wasting away because of their guilt.”
1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a statement you can trust: anyone aspiring to be a congregation leader is seeking worthwhile work. 2 A congregation leader must be above reproach, he must be faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, orderly, hospitable and able to teach. 3 He must not drink excessively or get into fights; rather, he must be kind and gentle. He must not be a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, having children who obey him with all proper respect; 5 for if a man can’t manage his own household, how will he be able to care for God’s Messianic Community? 6 He must not be a new believer, because he might become puffed up with pride and thus fall under the same judgment as did the Adversary. 7 Furthermore, he must be well regarded by outsiders, so that he won’t fall into disgrace and into the Adversary’s trap.
8 Likewise, the shammashim must be of good character, people whose word can be trusted. They must not give themselves to excessive drinking or be greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must possess the formerly hidden truth of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 And first, let them be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them be appointed shammashim. 11 Similarly, the wives must be of good character, not gossips, but temperate, faithful in everything. 12 Let the shammashim each be faithful to his wife, managing his children and household well. 13 For those who serve well as shammashim gain good standing for themselves and much boldness in the trust that comes through Yeshua the Messiah.
14 I hope to visit you soon; but I am writing these things 15 so that if I am delayed, you may know how one should behave in the household of God, which is the Messianic Community of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 Great beyond all question is the formerly hidden truth underlying our faith:
He was manifested physically
and proved righteous spiritually,
seen by angels
and proclaimed among the nations,
trusted throughout the world
and raised up in glory to heaven.
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10 Then he said to me, “Human being, receive in your heart and hear with your ears all my words that I speak to you. 11 Then go to the exiles, to your countrymen; and speak to them. Tell them, ‘Here is what Adonai Elohim, says,’ whether they listen or not.”
12 A spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a very loud sound — blessed be the glory of Adonai from his place! 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they beat against each other, and the sound of the wheels next to them, a very loud sound. 14 So a spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and the heat of my spirit, with the hand of Adonai strong on me.
15 I went to the exiles who were living in Tel-Aviv, by the K’var River and stayed with them there in a stupefied state for seven days. 16 After seven days the word of Adonai came to me: 17 “Human being, I have appointed you to be a watchman for the house of Isra’el. When you hear a word from my mouth, you are to warn them for me. 18 If I say to a wicked person, ‘You will certainly die’; and you fail to warn him, to speak and warn the wicked person to leave his wicked way and save his life; then that wicked person will die guilty; and I will hold you responsible for his death. 19 On the other hand, if you warn the wicked person, and he doesn’t turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, then he will still die guilty; but you will have saved your own life. 20 Similarly, when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits wickedness, I will place a stumblingblock before him — he will die; because you failed to warn him, he will die in his sin; his righteous acts which he did will not be remembered; and I will hold you responsible for his death. 21 But if you warn the righteous person that a righteous person should not sin, and he doesn’t sin; then he will certainly live, because he took the warning; and you too will have saved your life.”
22 The hand of Adonai came on me there, and he said to me, “Get up, go out to the valley, and I will speak with you there.” 23 So I got up and went out to the valley. The glory of Adonai was there, like the glory I had seen by the K’var River; and I fell on my face. 24 A spirit entered me and put me on my feet. Then he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 Human being, you are going to be bound with ropes, unable to go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be mute, unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth; and you will say to them, ‘This is what Adonai Elohim says.’ Whoever is inclined to listen will listen, and whoever is inclined to refuse will refuse, because they are a rebellious house.
4:1 “As for you, human being, take a clay slab, lay it down in front of you, and draw on it the city of Yerushalayim. 2 Show it under siege — build towers against it, raise earthworks against it, set up camps against it, and surround it with battering rams. 3 Then take an iron griddle and put it in place as a wall of iron between yourself and the city, and fix your gaze on it — the city is under siege, and you are the one besieging it. This will be a sign for the house of Isra’el.
4 “Next, you are to lie on your left side, and have it bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el — for as many days as you lie on your side, you will bear their guilt. 5 For I am assigning you one day for each year of their guilt; thus you are to bear the guilt of the house of Isra’el for 390 days. 6 Then, when you have finished that, you are to lie on your right side and bear the guilt of the house of Y’hudah for forty days, each day corresponding to a year; this is what I am assigning you. 7 You are to fix your gaze on the siege of Yerushalayim, and, with your arm bared, prophesy against it. 8 I am tying you down with ropes, and you are not to turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.
9 “Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and buckwheat; put them together in one bowl; and make bread from it. For as long as you lie on your side, 390 days, this is what you are to eat. 10 Each day the food you eat must weigh only three-quarters of a pound; you may eat it from time to time [during the day]. 11 You are also to drink a limited amount of water, two-thirds of a quart; you may drink it from time to time [during the day]. 12 [The bread] you eat is to be baked like barley cakes; you are to bake it before their eyes, using human dung as fuel.” 13 Adonai said, “This is how the people of Isra’el will eat their food — unclean — in the nations where I am driving them.” 14 I objected: “No, Adonai Elohim! I have never defiled myself — from my youth until now I have never eaten anything that died by itself or was killed by wild animals; no such disgusting food has ever entered my mouth.” 15 He answered, “All right, I will give you cow dung to use instead of human dung, and you can prepare your bread on it.”
16 He then said to me, “Human being, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Yerushalayim, so that they will anxiously weigh out bread to eat, and, horrified, ration water to drink. 17 Finally, due to lack of bread and water, they will stare at each other in shock, wasting away because of their guilt.”
1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a statement you can trust: anyone aspiring to be a congregation leader is seeking worthwhile work. 2 A congregation leader must be above reproach, he must be faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, orderly, hospitable and able to teach. 3 He must not drink excessively or get into fights; rather, he must be kind and gentle. He must not be a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, having children who obey him with all proper respect; 5 for if a man can’t manage his own household, how will he be able to care for God’s Messianic Community? 6 He must not be a new believer, because he might become puffed up with pride and thus fall under the same judgment as did the Adversary. 7 Furthermore, he must be well regarded by outsiders, so that he won’t fall into disgrace and into the Adversary’s trap.
8 Likewise, the shammashim must be of good character, people whose word can be trusted. They must not give themselves to excessive drinking or be greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must possess the formerly hidden truth of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 And first, let them be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them be appointed shammashim. 11 Similarly, the wives must be of good character, not gossips, but temperate, faithful in everything. 12 Let the shammashim each be faithful to his wife, managing his children and household well. 13 For those who serve well as shammashim gain good standing for themselves and much boldness in the trust that comes through Yeshua the Messiah.
14 I hope to visit you soon; but I am writing these things 15 so that if I am delayed, you may know how one should behave in the household of God, which is the Messianic Community of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 Great beyond all question is the formerly hidden truth underlying our faith:
He was manifested physically
and proved righteous spiritually,
seen by angels
and proclaimed among the nations,
trusted throughout the world
and raised up in glory to heaven.
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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.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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