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).] "Sins Carried Away" for Sunday, August 28, 2016
And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.[Leviticus 16:20-22]
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
One of the most important and popular festivals in Thailand is Loi Krathong.
The celebrations take place along the banks of rivers, canals and ponds in the evening of the full moon in November. Prior to the festival, Thai people buy or make circular decorations, called krathongs, which they float on the water. Traditionally formed from a slice of banana plant, the beautifully adorned krathongs are covered with flowers, intricately folded banana leaves, a candle, and incense sticks.
After dark, large crowds of men, women and children gather at the edge of the water -- each carrying their personal krathongs. They pause to give thanks to the goddess of water and to whisper prayers to Buddha. A stunning display of hundreds of flickering lights is created as the incense sticks and candles are lit, the krathongs are placed on the water, and begin floating downstream.
Thai people believe the krathongs carry away their sins, grievances and worries of the past and provide them a chance for a new beginning.
Following their Buddhist beliefs, the Thai people attempt to atone for their sins by earning merit through good works that will give them good karma. The goal is to ensure their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds. It's a never-ending struggle to keep the balance scale tipped to their advantage.
In November, Ratchanok, one of our Lutheran Hour Ministries-Thailand volunteers, was asked to help her friend sell krathongs.
Ratchanok agreed, but told her friend she would not participate in floating a krathong on the river.
When her friend asked why, Ratchanok replied, "I'm a Christian. I don't need a krathong to carry away my sins. Jesus already took away all my sins when He died on the cross."
What joy we Christians have knowing we don't have to pay the price for our sins, and we don't need to have our sins placed on the head of a scapegoat or on a krathong. Jesus took our sins onto Himself, paid the price with His life on the cross, and opened the gates of heaven for us. Jesus washed away all our sins, as far as the east is from the west (see Psalm 103:12).
THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for carrying our sins and taking away our guilt. Open the hearts and minds of the Thai people to know this truth: that forgiveness can be found only in You. In Your Name I pray it. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Dennis Denow, a missionary in Thailand with the LCMS Office of International Mission. Pastor Denow is the husband of LHM-Thailand Director, Monta Ekwanit Denow. He volunteers to teach English classes for the LHM-Thailand staff and to assist with their school outreach program. Lutheran Hour Ministries-Thailand focuses on sharing the Gospel and making contacts with local people through various community radio programs, Equipping the Saints (ETS) evangelism training, Bible Correspondence Courses(BCC), print, Internet, and Gospel text messaging. The staff also conducts special children's activities and does presentations in many government schools.
In this country of 67 million people, LHM-Thailand is known in-country at Journey into Light. It was established in 1991 in Bangkok where it has its ministry center today. It broadcasts three different 25-minute radio programs and follows up with listeners who respond for assistance or more information. Through "listener gatherings" it brings people together and helps build a sense of community. Relationships with school children and educators are established through presentations delivered at public schools. Staff members and volunteers also connect with people through music, camp-style activities, and by teaching about Christianity and culture.
To learn more about LHM-Thailand, you can visit its blog by clicking here.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
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: 2 Chronicles 7-9; 2 Corinthians 2
2 Chronicles 7:1 When Shlomo had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Adonai filled the house, 2 so that the cohanim could not enter the house of Adonai; because the glory of Adonai filled Adonai’s house. 3 All the people of Isra’el saw when the fire came down, and the glory of Adonai was on the house; they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the flooring; prostrating themselves, they gave thanks to Adonai, “for he is good, for his grace continues forever.”
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before Adonai. 5 King Shlomo offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 The cohanim stood at their appointed stations, while the L’vi’im used the instruments that David the king had provided for making music to Adonai in order to “give thanks to Adonai, for his grace continues forever,” by means of the praises David had composed. Opposite them the cohanim sounded trumpets; and all Isra’el stood up. 7 Shlomo also consecrated the center of the courtyard in front of the house of Adonai; because he had to offer the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings there. For the bronze altar which Shlomo had made could not receive the burnt offering, the grain offering and the fat. 8 So Shlomo celebrated the festival at that time for seven days, together with all Isra’el, an enormous gathering; [they had come all the way] from the entrance of Hamat to the Vadi [of Egypt]. 9 On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, having observed the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days. 10 Then, on the twenty-third day of the seventh month, he sent the people away to their tents full of joy and glad of heart for all the goodness Adonai had shown to David, to Shlomo and to Isra’el his people.
11 Thus Shlomo finished the house of Adonai and the royal palace. Everything that Shlomo had set his heart on making in the house of Adonai and in his own palace he accomplished successfully.
12 Adonai appeared to Shlomo by night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people; 14 then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears will pay attention to the prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house, so that my name can be there forever; my eyes and heart will always be there. 17 As for you, if you will live in my presence, as did David your father, doing everything I have ordered you to do, and keeping my laws and rulings; 18 then I will establish the throne of your rulership, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You will never lack a man to be ruler in Isra’el.’ 19 But if you turn away and abandon my regulations and mitzvot which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, worshipping them; 20 then I will pull them up by the roots out of the land I have given them. This house, which I consecrated for my name, I will eject from my sight; and I will make it an example to avoid and an object of scorn among all peoples. 21 This house, now so exalted — everyone passing by will be shocked at the sight of it and will ask, ‘Why has Adonai done this to this land and to this house?’ 22 But the answer will be, ‘It’s because they abandoned Adonai the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and took hold of other gods, worshipping and serving them; this is why [Adonai] brought all these calamities on them.’”
8:1 At the end of twenty years, during which time Shlomo had built the house of Adonai and his own palace, 2 Shlomo built up the cities which Huram had given to Shlomo and had the people of Isra’el live there.
3 Then Shlomo attacked Hamat-Tzovah and defeated it. 4 He built Tadmor in the desert and all the cities for storing supplies that he built in Hamat. 5 He also built Upper Beit-Horon and Lower Beit-Horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars; 6 Ba‘alat; and all the cities that Shlomo had for storing supplies, all the cities for his chariots, the cities for his horsemen, and all the other buildings Shlomo wanted to build in Yerushalayim, in the L’vanon and throughout the land he ruled.
7 As for all the people still left from the Hitti, Emori, P’rizi, Hivi, and Y’vusi, who were not part of Isra’el, 8 from their descendants remaining after them in the land, whom the people of Isra’el did not exterminate — from them Shlomo levied [his forced laborers], as it is to this day. 9 But Shlomo did not raise any of his slaves from the people of Isra’el; rather, these were the soldiers, his chief commanders, and the officials in charge of his chariots and horsemen. 10 King Shlomo had 250 chief officers in charge of the people.
11 Shlomo brought up Pharaoh’s daughter from the City of David to the house he had built for her; because he said, “No wife of mine is going to live in the house of David king of Isra’el, since the [buildings] where the ark of Adonai has been are holy.”
12 Then Shlomo offered burnt offerings to Adonai on the altar of Adonai that he had built in front of the vestibule, 13 as each day required, offering according to the mitzvah of Moshe on Shabbats, at Rosh-Hodesh and at the designated times three times a year — the festivals of Matzah, Shavu‘ot and Sukkot. 14 As David his father had ordered, he appointed the divisions of the cohanim for their service and the L’vi’im to their tasks — to praise and to perform their service in the presence of the cohanim according to each day’s requirements. He also appointed the gatekeepers by their divisions to be at every gate, for David the man of God had so ordered. 15 They did not deviate from the king’s order to the cohanim and L’vi’im in any matter or in regard to the supplies. 16 All the work of Shlomo was organized in this way from the day ground was broken for the house of Adonai until everything had been accomplished, and the house of Adonai had been completed.
17 Shlomo went to ‘Etzyon-Gever and Elot on the shore of the sea in the land of Edom. 18 Huram sent some of his servants with ships, and others that were experienced sailors who understood the sea; they went with Shlomo’s servants to Ofir and took from there fifteen tons of gold, which they brought back to King Shlomo.
9:1 When the queen of Sh’va heard what was being said about Shlomo, she came to test him with difficult questions in Yerushalayim, accompanied by a very great retinue, including camels bearing spices and gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she appeared before Shlomo, she spoke with him about everything on her heart; 2 and Shlomo answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 3 After the queen of Sh’va had seen Shlomo’s wisdom, the palace he had built, 4 the food at his table, the manner of seating his officials, the manner in which his staff served him and how they were dressed, his personal servants and how they were dressed, and his manner of going up to the house of Adonai, it left her breathless. 5 She said to the king, “What I heard in my own country about your deeds and your wisdom is true, 6 but I couldn’t believe the report until I came and saw for myself. Actually, they didn’t tell me even half of how great your wisdom is. In reality, you surpass the reports I heard. 7 How happy your people must be, how happy these servants of yours who are always here attending you and get to hear your wisdom! 8 Blessed be Adonai your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on his throne, so that you could be king for Adonai your God. Because of your God’s love for Isra’el, to establish them forever, he has made you king over them, to administer law and judgment.” 9 Then she gave the king four tons of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones; there had never been spices like those the queen of Sh’va gave to King Shlomo.
10 Huram’s servants and Shlomo’s servants, who had brought the gold from Ofir, now brought sandalwood and precious stones. 11 The king used the sandalwood to make walkways for the house of Adonai and for the royal palace, also lyres and lutes for the singers. None like these had been seen before in the land of Y’hudah.
12 King Shlomo gave the queen of Sh’va everything she wanted, whatever she asked, more than what she had brought to the king. After this, she returned and went back to her own country, she and her servants.
13 The weight of the gold Shlomo received annually came to twenty-two tons, 14 besides that which came from customs duties and sales taxes; also all the Arab kings and regional governors brought gold and silver to Shlomo. 15 King Shlomo made 200 large shields of hammered gold; fifteen pounds of hammered gold went into one shield. 16 He made 300 more shields of hammered gold, with seven-and-a-half pounds going into one shield; the king put these in the House of the L’vanon Forest.
17 The king also made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. 18 The throne had six steps and a gold footstool; these were fastened to the throne. There were arms on either side of the seat, two lions standing beside the arms, 19 and twelve more lions standing on each side of the six steps. Nothing like it had ever been made in any kingdom.
20 All King Shlomo’s drinking vessels were of gold; and all the utensils in the House of the L’vanon Forest were of pure gold; for in Shlomo’s time, silver was regarded as having little value. 21 The king had ships that could go to Tarshish with Huram’s servants; once every three years the “Tarshish” ships came in, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.
22 So King Shlomo surpassed all the kings on earth in both wealth and wisdom. 23 All the kings on earth sought to have an audience with Shlomo, in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 24 Each one brought his present — articles of silver, articles of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses and mules; and this continued year after year.
25 Shlomo also had 4,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and his 12,000 horsemen; he assigned them to the chariot cities and to the king in Yerushalayim. 26 He ruled over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River through the land of the P’lishtim to the border of Egypt. 27 The king made silver in Yerushalayim as common as stones, and he made cedars as abundant as sycamore-fig trees are in the Sh’felah. 28 They brought horses for Shlomo from Egypt and from all countries.
29 Other activities of Shlomo, from beginning to end, are written in the records of Natan the prophet, in the prophecy of Achiyah of Shiloh and in the visions of Ye‘do the seer concerning Yarov‘am the son of N’vat. 30 Shlomo reigned in Yerushalayim over all Isra’el for forty years. 31 Then Shlomo slept with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David his father, and Rechav‘am his son became king in his place.
2 Corinthians 2:1 So I made up my mind that I would not pay you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is left to make me happy except the people I have pained? 3 Indeed, this is why I wrote as I did — so that when I came, I would not have to be pained by those who ought to be making me happy; for I had enough confidence in all of you to believe that unless I could be happy, none of you could be happy either. 4 I wrote to you with a greatly distressed and anguished heart, and with many tears, not in order to cause you pain, but to get you to realize how very much I love you.
5 Now if someone has been a cause of pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but, in some measure — I don’t want to overstate it — all of you. 6 For such a person the punishment already imposed on him by the majority is sufficient, 7 so that now you should do the opposite — forgive him, encourage him, comfort him. Otherwise such a person might be swallowed up in overwhelming depression. 8 So I urge you to show that you really do love him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey me. 10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. For indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if there has been anything to forgive, has been for your sake in the presence of the Messiah 11 so that we will not be taken advantage of by the Adversary — for we are quite aware of his schemes!
12 Now when I went to Troas to proclaim the Good News of the Messiah, since a door had been opened for me by the Lord, 13 I could not rest, because I failed to find my brother Titus. So I left the people there and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost; 16 to the latter, we are the smell of death leading only to more death; but to the former, we are the sweet smell of life leading to more life. Who is equal to such a task? 17 For we are not like a lot of folks who go about huckstering God’s message for a fee; on the contrary, we speak out of a sincere heart, as people sent by God, standing in God’s presence, living in union with the Messiah.
-------
The Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Ctr Drive
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment