Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.[Galatians 6:7-8]
The translation of the Chinese expression "Gan bei!" is "Cheers!" or "Bottoms up!" It is also a suitable title for today's devotion.
The story begins with a very expensive bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac.
Now I am not much of a drinker, but there are those who hold Rémy Martin XO Excellence is one of the great pleasures of life. At more than $200 a bottle the distillers of Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac must think they're producing liquid gold.
Apparently, a Chinese lady named Zhao would agree. Recently, Zhao tried to board a passenger plane at the Beijing Capital International Airport carrying a bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence in her hand luggage. She was told her bottle was over the legal limit of what she could carry with her.
Disappointed, Zhao did what any reasonable person might do: she chugged the entire bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence. It was an action which had certain, foreseeable consequences:
1. Zhao immediately became totally blitzed;
2. the pilot said he wouldn't take her on the plane in her intoxicated state;
3. the police were called and took care of Zhao, until her relatives arrived to help her.
Oh, there's one other result of Zhao's Gan Bei: she shows us that our actions, especially our sinful actions, have consequences.
Read through Scripture and you will have to look pretty hard to find someone, anyone, who didn't learn that lesson. Adam and Eve learned it, as did their son, Cain. David learned it, as did Peter who ended up in tears after he denied Jesus.
Yes, everyone will eventually learn the lesson that their sinful actions have consequences. Some will learn it and be brought to the Lord with a repentant heart. Others, like the good thief on the cross, will learn it shortly before they die. These folks will be overjoyed to find their sins are forgiven because of the Savior's sacrifice and His blessed resurrection.
But there are those who will put off learning any lesson until the time they stand before the just Judge. Then, at that late hour, they will find eternal death is the last and final consequence for sins, which remain unforgiven.
It's a hard lesson, and one we should help them avoid. This is why Lutheran Hour Ministries brings Christ to the nations. It is why you share the Savior with your friends and your congregation with your neighborhood.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, our actions have consequences. May we always give thanks for the Savior who forgives our sins and stops those negative consequences. By the Holy Spirit's power may others learn this lesson before it is too late for them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
The translation of the Chinese expression "Gan bei!" is "Cheers!" or "Bottoms up!" It is also a suitable title for today's devotion.
The story begins with a very expensive bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac.
Now I am not much of a drinker, but there are those who hold Rémy Martin XO Excellence is one of the great pleasures of life. At more than $200 a bottle the distillers of Rémy Martin XO Excellence Cognac must think they're producing liquid gold.
Apparently, a Chinese lady named Zhao would agree. Recently, Zhao tried to board a passenger plane at the Beijing Capital International Airport carrying a bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence in her hand luggage. She was told her bottle was over the legal limit of what she could carry with her.
Disappointed, Zhao did what any reasonable person might do: she chugged the entire bottle of Rémy Martin XO Excellence. It was an action which had certain, foreseeable consequences:
1. Zhao immediately became totally blitzed;
2. the pilot said he wouldn't take her on the plane in her intoxicated state;
3. the police were called and took care of Zhao, until her relatives arrived to help her.
Oh, there's one other result of Zhao's Gan Bei: she shows us that our actions, especially our sinful actions, have consequences.
Read through Scripture and you will have to look pretty hard to find someone, anyone, who didn't learn that lesson. Adam and Eve learned it, as did their son, Cain. David learned it, as did Peter who ended up in tears after he denied Jesus.
Yes, everyone will eventually learn the lesson that their sinful actions have consequences. Some will learn it and be brought to the Lord with a repentant heart. Others, like the good thief on the cross, will learn it shortly before they die. These folks will be overjoyed to find their sins are forgiven because of the Savior's sacrifice and His blessed resurrection.
But there are those who will put off learning any lesson until the time they stand before the just Judge. Then, at that late hour, they will find eternal death is the last and final consequence for sins, which remain unforgiven.
It's a hard lesson, and one we should help them avoid. This is why Lutheran Hour Ministries brings Christ to the nations. It is why you share the Savior with your friends and your congregation with your neighborhood.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, our actions have consequences. May we always give thanks for the Savior who forgives our sins and stops those negative consequences. By the Holy Spirit's power may others learn this lesson before it is too late for them. This I ask in Jesus' Name. 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:
Isaiah 3:1 For see! The Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,
The Lutheran Hour
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
____________________________
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Isaiah 3:1 For see! The Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,
will remove from Yerushalayim and Y’hudah
every kind of support —
all reserves of food and water;
2 heroes and warriors, judges and prophets,
diviners and leaders, 3 captains of fifty,
men of rank and advisers,
skillful magicians and expert enchanters.
4 I will put children in authority;
capriciousness will govern them.
5 People will oppress each other —
everyone his friend, everyone his neighbor.
The young will be insolent toward their elders,
the insignificant arrogant toward the respected.
6 A man will take hold of his brother
in his father’s house and say,
“You have a coat, so rule us!
Take charge of this ruin!”
7 But on that day, he will protest,
“I don’t have a remedy,
I lack food and clothing for my own house;
don’t put me in charge of people!”
8 For Yerushalayim is ruined,
and Y’hudah has fallen;
because their words and deeds defy Adonai,
in open provocation of his glory.
9 Their very look witnesses against them!
They parade their sin, like S’dom;
they don’t even try to hide it —
all the worse for them! —
they bring evil on themselves.
10 Say that it will go well with the righteous,
that they will enjoy the fruit of their actions;
11 but woe to the wicked, it will go badly with him;
for what he has done will be done to him.
12 My people — children oppress them,
and women are ruling over them.
My people! Your guides lead you astray
and obliterate the paths you should follow.
13 Adonai rises to accuse,
he stands to judge the peoples.
14 Adonai presents the indictment
against the leaders and officers of his people:
“It is you who devour the vineyard;
in your houses is plunder taken from the poor.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding down the faces of the poor?”
says Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot.
16 Moreover Adonai says:
“Because Tziyon’s women are so proud,
walking with their heads in the air
and throwing seductive glances,
moving with mincing steps
and jingling their anklets —
17 Adonai will strike the crown of the heads
of Tziyon’s women with sores,
and Adonai will expose their private parts.”
18 On that day Adonai will take away their finery — their anklets, medallions and crescents, 19 their pendants, bracelets and veils; 20 their headbands, armlets, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets, 21 rings and nose-jewels; 22 their fine dresses, wraps, shawls, handbags, 23 gauze scarves, linen underclothes, turbans and capes. 24 Then, there will be
instead of perfume, a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of well-set hair, a shaved scalp;
instead of a rich robe, a sackcloth skirt;
and a slave-brand instead of beauty.
25 Your men will fall by the sword
and your warriors in battle.
26 Her gates will lament and mourn;
ravaged, she will sit on the ground.
4:1 On that day, seven women will grab hold of one man and say,
“We will supply our own food
and wear our own clothes.
Just let us bear your name;
take away our disgrace.”
2 On that day, Adonai’s plant will be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the land will be the pride and splendor of Isra’el’s survivors. 3 Those left in Tziyon and remaining in Yerushalayim will be called holy, and everyone in Yerushalayim written down for life.
4 When Adonai washes away the filth of the women of Tziyon and cleanses Yerushalayim from the blood shed in it with a blast of searing judgment, 5 Adonai will create over the whole site of Mount Tziyon and over those who assemble there a smoking cloud by day and a shining, flaming fire by night; for the Glory will be over everything like a hupah. 6 A sukkah will give shade by day from the heat; it will also provide refuge and cover from storm and rain.
2 Corinthians 12:1 I have to boast. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in union with the Messiah who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the third heaven; whether he was in the body or outside the body I don’t know, God knows. 3 And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don’t know, God knows — 4 was snatched into Gan-‘Eden and heard things that cannot be put into words, things unlawful for a human being to utter. 5 About such a man I will boast; but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 If I did want to boast, I would not be foolish; because I would be speaking the truth. But, because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than what my words or deeds may warrant. 7 Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn’t grow conceited. 8 Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; 9 but he told me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.” Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me. 10 Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong.
11 I have behaved like a fool, but you forced me to do it — you who should have been commending me. For I am in no way inferior to the “super-emissaries,” even if I am nothing. 12 The things that prove I am an emissary — signs, wonders and miracles — were done in your presence, despite what I had to endure. 13 Is there any way in which you have been behind any of the other congregations, other than in my not having been a burden to you? For this unfairness, please forgive me!
14 Look, I am ready this third time to come and visit you; and I will not be a burden to you; for it is not what you own that I want, but you! Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 And as for me, I will most gladly spend everything I have and be spent myself too for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
16 Let it be granted, then, that I was not a burden to you; but, crafty fellow that I am, I took you with trickery! 17 Was it perhaps through someone I sent you 18 that I took advantage of you? I urged Titus to go and sent the brother with him; Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we live by the same Spirit and show you the same path?
19 Perhaps you think that all this time we have been defending ourselves before you. No, we have been speaking in the sight of God, as those united with the Messiah should; and, my dear friends, it is all for your upbuilding. 20 For I am afraid of coming and finding you not the way I want you to be, and also of not being found the way you want me to be. I am afraid of finding quarreling and jealousy, anger and rivalry, slander and gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me in your presence, and that I will be grieved over many of those who sinned in the past and have not repented of the impurity, fornication and debauchery that they have engaged in.
____________________________The Lutheran Hour
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
1-800-876-9880
www.lhm.org
____________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment