The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).] "Wheat and Weeds and the Kingdom of God" for Sunday, June 19, 2016
He (Jesus) put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away."[Matthew 13:24-25]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Last week, when I was going home after the service, a car cut in front of me at a fast speed. He continued on, dodging between other vehicles.
Less than 10 minutes later traffic began to slow down. It was stop-and-go driving for a very long time. Eventually, I could see four vehicles who had been involved in rear-end collisions.
And yes, there was the car that had been piloted so very dangerously.
Such a thing happens not only on the highway. In our society, there are a lot of people who damage others. There are people who steal, people who fool others, people who damage others' lives, and those who oppress or exploit others to achieve wealth or power. These people are common.
What prayer comes from your mouth when you see those people doing harm?
Do you say, "God, why are a lot of people suffering because of them? God, why do You leave them in peace? Why do You not judge them?" In today's passage, the servants ask the same thing. They want to know why the bad deeds of some are allowed to stand.
Jesus answers His disciples and lets them know that evildoers will not go unpunished.
Jesus lets His followers know that God is not ignoring evil, nor will he allow illegality and injustice to prevail forever. Despite the evil in the world, God still rules. As long as we are in this world, there will be God's children and, at the same time, there will be the children of evil. In this world both kinds of people live together.
Today's Word asks God's children not to be discouraged or disillusioned because of the incomprehensible injustice and evil in the world. Instead, we are taught to be patient and faithful in living a righteous and good life.
We wait patiently because, by the Holy Spirit's power, some of those who are children of evil will eventually be called by the Gospel and granted forgiveness and eternal life. For those blessed conversions, the Lord is waiting and it is why we wait also. And while we wait, we pray for them; we embrace, help and love them.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I earnestly pray that we can become people who have faith in Your timing. In the time we have, may we preach the Gospel without despair and be of assistance in moving souls from damnation to the Savior's salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Rev. Won Jong-Ho. He is the associate pastor in National Church Council in Korea (NCCK). At present he serves as the Korea Lutheran Hour Broadcasting speaker.
Since reopening in 2003, the Lutheran Hour Ministries center in South Korea has been working to spread the Gospel and create a youthful vibrancy within the church. The Christian resources produced by our ministry in Korea are valuable evangelistic tools that incorporate Korean traditions. Its youth programs, including Project JOEL, retreats, and music festivals, are making positive inroads with younger audiences. Theater events sponsored by our center, as well as seasonal television specials and Advent and Lenten devotions, provide opportunities for non-Christians to connect with Christians and local Lutheran congregations. Our ministry in Korea, by collaborating with the Korea Lutheran Church, is also taking steps to spread the Gospel in North Korea and China.
You can visit LHM-Korea's blog by clicking here.To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Today's Bible in a Year Readings: Proverbs 25-26; Acts 4:23-37
Proverbs 25:1 These also are proverbs of Shlomo; the men of Hizkiyah king of Y’hudah copied them out:
2 God gets glory from concealing things;
kings get glory from investigating things.
3 Like the sky for height or the earth for depth
is the heart of kings — unfathomable.
4 Remove the impurities from the silver,
and the smith has material to make a vessel.
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,
and his throne will rest firmly on righteousness.
6 Don’t put yourself forward in the king’s presence;
don’t take a place among the great.
7 For it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than be degraded in the presence of a nobleman.
What your eyes have seen,
8 don’t rush to present in a dispute.
For what will you do later on,
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Discuss your dispute with your neighbor,
but don’t reveal another person’s secrets.
10 If you do, and he hears of it, he will disgrace you,
and your bad reputation will stick.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
is a word appropriately spoken.
12 Like a gold earring, like a fine gold necklace
is a wise reprover to a receptive ear.
13 Like the coldness of snow in the heat of the harvest
is a faithful messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes his master’s spirit.
14 Like clouds and wind that bring no rain
is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.
15 With patience a ruler may be won over,
and a gentle tongue can break bones.
16 If you find honey, eat only what you need;
for if you eat too much of it, you may throw it up;
17 so don’t visit your neighbor too much,
or he may get his fill of you and come to hate you.
18 Like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow
is a person who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
19 Relying on an untrustworthy person in a time of trouble
is like [relying on] a broken tooth or an unsteady leg.
20 Like removing clothes on a chilly day or like vinegar on soda
is someone who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If someone who hates you is hungry, give him food to eat;
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 For you will heap fiery coals [of shame] on his head,
and Adonai will reward you.
23 The north wind brings rain
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share the house with a nagging wife.
25 Like cold water to a person faint from thirst
is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.
27 It isn’t good to eat too much honey
or to seek honor after honor.
28 Like a city breached, without walls,
is a person who lacks self-control.
26:1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time,
so honor for a fool is out of place.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow,
an undeserved curse will come home to roost.
3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Don’t answer a fool in terms of his folly,
or you will be descending to his level;
5 but answer a fool as his folly deserves,
so that he won’t think he is wise.
6 Telling a message to a fool and sending him out
is like cutting off one’s feet and drinking violence.
7 The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless;
likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like one who ties his stone to the sling
is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 A master can make anything,
but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.
11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit,
a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see someone who thinks himself wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him!
13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the streets!
A lion is roaming loose out there!”
14 The door turns on its hinges,
and the lazy man on his bed.
15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish
but is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16 A lazy man is wiser in his own view
than seven who can answer with sense.
17 Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears
is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.
18 Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands
19 is one who deceives another, then says, “It was just a joke.”
20 If there’s no wood, the fire goes out;
if nobody gossips, contention stops.
21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire
is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.
22 A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;
they slide right down into the belly.
23 Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot
are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.
24 He who hates may hide it with his speech;
but inside, he harbors deceit.
25 He may speak pleasantly, but don’t trust him;
for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 His hatred may be concealed by deceit,
but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Acts 4:23 Upon being released, they went back to their friends and reported what the head cohanim and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they raised their voices to God with singleness of heart. “Master,” they prayed, “You made heaven, earth, the sea and everything in them.[Acts 4:24 Psalm 146:6] 25 By the Ruach HaKodesh, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said,
‘Why did the nations rage
and the peoples devise useless plans?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand;
and the rulers assembled together
against Adonai
and against his Messiah.’[Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1–2]
27 “This has come true in this city, since Herod and Pontius Pilate, with Goyim and the peoples of Isra’el, all assembled against your holy servant Yeshua, whom you made Messiah, 28 to do what your power and plan had already determined beforehand should happen.
29 “So now, Lord, take note of their threats; and enable your slaves to speak your message with boldness! 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and to do signs and miracles through the name of your holy servant Yeshua!”
31 While they were still praying, the place where they were gathered was shaken. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, and they spoke God’s message with boldness.
32 All the many believers were one in heart and soul, and no one claimed any of his possessions for himself, but everyone shared everything he had. 33 With great power the emissaries continued testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and they were all held in high regard. 34 No one among them was poor, since those who owned lands or houses sold them and turned over the proceeds 35 to the emissaries to distribute to each according to his need. 36 Thus Yosef, whom the emissaries called Bar-Nabba (which means “the Exhorter”), a Levi and a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field which belonged to him and brought the money to the emissaries.
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CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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Saint Louis, Missouri 63141, United States
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