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).] "The One Thing" for Tuesday, August 23, 2016
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."[Luke 10:41-42]
On August 3rd an Emirate Airline jet crash landed at Dubai's International Airport.
Experts report the pilots did well in avoiding a total disaster. Film footage from the plane shows the other airline employees did their job too. In a desire to get the 300 people off the plane as quickly as possible, they opened the emergency doors and deployed the evacuation slides.
From there the escape should have been a simple process.
It should have been, but it wasn't.
Here's the problem: the plane was on fire, the cabin was filling with smoke. The passengers, who should have been making an orderly exit, didn't. No, they didn't panic and they didn't push. On the contrary, they acted as if everything was almost normal.
By that I mean they took their time. They stopped to get their carry-on luggage and all the stuff they had stored under their seats and in the overhead bins. They slowed things down; they blocked the aisles; they put everyone's life at risk.
To make a long story short, all the passengers managed to get off the plane. The last of them hit the tarmac just before the jet exploded. All were safe, but they were saved more by accident than by plan. If the plane had blown up a minute or two earlier, the death toll would have been much higher. Yes, this time the story turned out all right.
But that is not the way it will be for many who need to escape sin, death and devil.
Centuries ago, the Savior told well-intentioned Martha that her sister had it right -- that Mary had found the one thing that was necessary. She had been brought to her Redeemer, and He had given her salvation. In contrast, Martha had busied herself with things that were less important and secondary.
Over the years I have seen many others walk in Martha's footsteps. They need the Savior and His blood-bought gift of eternal life. He remains the one thing which is necessary, but they busy themselves with
* getting and keeping a job;
* searching for someone whom they can love and who will love them;
* the vacation cabin;
* the golf outing, the fishing trip, the grand getaway.
Now none of these things are bad. Indeed, most of them are good and worthwhile as long as they don't interfere with a person being given the one thing which remains necessary: the Savior and the forgiveness He freely offers.
So, whether you are on a crashed jet or just walking through life, I pray you will remember there is still only one thing which is necessary: Jesus, God's Son, our Savor.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that my priorities may be proper and pleasing to You. This I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
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: 1 Chronicles 23-25; 1 Corinthians 14:21-40
1 Chronicles 23:1 David had now grown old; he had lived many years; so he made Shlomo his son king over Isra’el.
2 Then he assembled all the leaders of Isra’el, with the cohanim and L’vi’im. 3 A census of L’vi’im thirty years old and over was taken, and their number came to 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were to oversee the work on the house of Adonai, while 6,000 were officials and judges, 5 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 sang praise to Adonai “with the instruments I made for the purpose of singing praise.”
6 David organized them into divisions named after the sons of Levi — Gershon, K’hat and M’rari.
7 For the Gershuni: La‘dan and Shim‘i. 8 The sons of La‘dan: Yechi’el the chief, Zetam and Yo’el — three. 9 The sons of Shim‘i: Shlomit, Hazi’el and Haran — three. These were the heads of the clans of La‘dan. 10 The sons of Shim‘i: Yachat, Zina Ye‘ush and B’ri‘ah. These four were the sons of Shim‘i. 11 Yachat was the chief and Zizah the second, then Ye‘ush and B’ri‘ah, who did not have many descendants and were therefore counted as one clan.
12 The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el — four. 13 The sons of ‘Amram: Aharon and Moshe. Aharon was set apart to be consecrated as especially holy, he and his sons forever; so that they might bring offerings before Adonai, perform the service for him and bless in his name forever. 14 But as for Moshe the man of God, his sons are included with the tribe of Levi. 15 The sons of Moshe: Gershom and Eli‘ezer. 16 The sons of Gershom: Sh’vu’el the chief. 17 The sons of Eli‘ezer were: Rechavyah the chief. Eli‘ezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rechavyah were very numerous.
18 The sons of Yitz’har: Shlomit the chief. 19 The sons of Hevron: Yeriyahu the chief, Amaryah the second, Yachzi’el the third and Y’kam‘am the fourth. 20 The sons of ‘Uzi’el: Mikhah the chief and Yishiyah the second.
21 The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi. The sons of Machli: El‘azar and Kish. 22 El‘azar died without having sons, but daughters only; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23 Mushi had three sons — Machli, ‘Eder and Yeremot.
24 These were the descendants of Levi, according to their clans, the heads of clans according to their listing in the register, who did the work for the service of the house of Adonai, those twenty years old and over. 25 For David said, “Adonai the God of Isra’el has given rest to his people, and he lives in Yerushalayim forever. 26 The L’vi’im will no longer have to carry the tabernacle and all the equipment that goes with it for its service.” 27 For, according to David’s last instructions, the descendants of Levi twenty years old and over were to be counted. 28 Their role was to assist the descendants of Aharon with the service of the house of Adonai in the courtyards and rooms, and with purification of all the holy articles — in other words, with the work needed to minister in the house of God. 29 They were to assist with the showbread and the finely ground flour needed for grain offerings, no matter whether of matzah, pan-baked bread or mixed with oil, and no matter what shape or size. 30 They were to stand every morning to sing thanks and praises to Adonai, and likewise every evening. 31 They were to be present regularly before Adonai whenever burnt offerings were offered to Adonai on Shabbat, at Rosh-Hodesh, and at the other designated times, in the numbers required by the rules for sacrifices. 32 Finally, for the service in the house of Adonai they were to perform their duties in relation to the tent of meeting, the Holy Place and their kinsmen the descendants of Aharon.
24:1 The divisions of the descendants of Aharon were as follows:
The sons of Aharon: Nadav, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. 2 But Nadav and Avihu died before their father and had no children; therefore El‘azar and Itamar functioned as the cohanim. 3 David, together with Tzadok from the descendants of El‘azar, and Achimelekh from the descendants of Itamar, arranged them in divisions for service. 4 There were more men who were chiefs found among the descendants of El‘azar than among the descendants of Itamar; therefore there were sixteen divisions of the descendants of El‘azar, headed by clan leaders, and eight divisions of the descendants of Itamar, according to their clans. 5 They were assigned [periods of service] by lot, the one group equally with the other, since both the descendants of El‘azar and the descendants of Itamar had officers of the sanctuary and officers of God. 6 Sh’ma‘yah the son of N’tan’el the secretary, one of the L’vi’im, recorded them in the presence of the king, the officers, Tzadok the cohen, Achimelekh the son of Evyatar, and the clan leaders of the cohanim and of the L’vi’im — with two clan divisions taken from El‘azar for each one from Itamar.
7 The first lot drawn was for Y’hoyariv,
the second for Y’da‘yah,
8 the third for Harim,
the fourth for S‘orim,
9 the fifth for Malkiyah,
the sixth for Miyamin,
10 the seventh for Hakotz,
the eighth for Aviyah,
11 the ninth for Yeshua,
the tenth for Sh’khanyahu,
12 the eleventh for Elyashiv,
the twelfth for Yakim,
13 the thirteenth for Hupah,
the fourteenth for Yeshev’av,
14 the fifteenth for Bilgah,
the sixteenth for Immer,
15 the seventeenth for Hezir,
the eighteenth for HaPitzetz
16 the nineteenth for P’tachyah,
the twentieth for Yechezk’el,
17 the twenty-first for Yakhin,
the twenty-second for Gamul,
18 the twenty-third for D’layahu, and
the twenty-fourth for Ma‘azyahu.
19 These are the divisions and the sequence in which they served in the house of Adonai, in accordance with the rule they were given through Aharon their ancestor, as Adonai the God of Isra’el had ordered him.
20 The rest of the descendants of Levi: of the descendants of ‘Amram, Shuva’el; of the descendants of Shuva’el, Yechd’yah. 21 Of Rechavyahu: of the descendants of Rechavyahu, Yishiyah the chief. 22 Of the Yitz’hari, Shlomot; of the descendants of Shlomot, Yachat. 23 Of the sons [of Hevron]: Yeriyahu, Amaryahu second, Yachzi’el third and Y’kam‘am fourth. 24 The descendants of ‘Uzi’el: Mikhah; of the descendants of Mikhah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Mikhah: Yishiyah; of the descendants of Yishiyah, Z’kharyahu.
26 The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi. The descendants of his son Ya‘aziyahu, 27 that is, the descendants of M’rari through his descendant Ya‘aziyahu: Shoham, Zakur and ‘Ivri. 28 Of Machli: El‘azar, who had no sons. 29 Of Kish: the descendants of Kish, Yerachme’el. 30 And the sons of Mushi: Machli, ‘Eder and Yerimot.
These were the descendants of the L’vi’im according to their clans. 31 These likewise cast lots, as had their kinsmen the descendants of Aharon, in the presence of David the king, Tzadok, Achimelekh, and the clan leaders of the cohanim and of the L’vi’im; with the senior and junior clans casting lots equally.
25:1 For the service, David and the army commanders selected some of the descendants of Asaf, of Heman and of Y’dutun to prophesy with lyres, lutes and cymbals. The list of those doing this work, according to the type of work performed was:
2 Of the descendants of Asaf: Zakur, Yosef, N’tanyah and Asar’elah; the sons of Asaf were with Asaf, who prophesied according to the direction of the king. 3 Of Y’dutun, the descendants of Y’dutun: G’dalyahu, Tzeri, Yesha‘yahu, Hashavyahu, Mattityahu — six, with their father Y’dutun, who, accompanied by the lyre, prophesied thanks and praise to Adonai. 4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukiyahu, Mattanyahu, ‘Uzi’el, Sh’vu’el, Yerimot, Hananyah, Hanani, Eli’atah, Gidalti, Romamti-‘ezer, Yoshb’kashah, Maloti, Hotir and Machzi’ot; 5 all these sons of Heman, the king’s seer in matters pertaining to God, were there to exalt [God]. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 They were all with their fathers Asaf, Y’dutun and Heman to sing with cymbals, lutes and lyres in the house of Adonai, serving in the house of God under the direction of the king. 7 Their number, together with their kinsmen who had been instructed in singing to Adonai, was 288, all well trained. 8 Whether great or small, teacher or talmid, they cast lots for their term of duty.
9 The first lot for Asaf fell to Yosef,
the second to G’dalyah; he, his brothers and his sons numbered twelve;
10 the third to Zakur, his sons and brothers, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and brothers, twelve;
12 the fifth to N’tanyahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukiyahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
14 the seventh to Y’sar’elah, his sons and brothers, twelve;
15 the eighth to Yesha‘yahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattanyahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shim‘i, his sons and brothers, twelve;
18 the eleventh to ‘Azar’el, his sons and brothers, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashavyah, his sons and brothers, twelve;
20 the thirteenth to Shuva’el, his sons and brothers, twelve;
21 the fourteenth to Mattityahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
22 the fifteenth to Yeremot, his sons and brothers, twelve;
23 the sixteenth to Hananyahu, his sons and brothers, twelve;
24 the seventeenth to Yoshb’kashah, his sons and brothers, twelve;
25 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and brothers, twelve;
26 the nineteenth to Maloti, his sons and brothers, twelve;
27 the twentieth to Eli’atah, his sons and brothers, twelve;
28 the twenty-first to Hotir, his sons and brothers, twelve;
29 the twenty-second to Gidalti, his sons and brothers, twelve;
30 the twenty-third to Machzi’ot, his sons and brothers, twelve; and
31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-‘ezer, his sons and brothers, twelve.
1 Corinthians 14:21 In the Torah it is written,
“By other tongues,
by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people.
But even then they will not listen to me,”
says Adonai.[1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11–12]
22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole congregation comes together with everybody speaking in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers come in, won’t they say you’re crazy? 24 But if you all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed person enters, he is convicted of sin by all, he is brought under judgment by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart are laid bare; so he falls on his face and worships God, saying, “God is really here among you!”
26 What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification. 27 If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret. 28 And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets — they can speak to themselves and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, while the others weigh what is said. 30 And if something is revealed to a prophet who is sitting down, let the first one be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, with the result that all will learn something and all will be encouraged. 32 Also, the prophets’ spirits are under the prophets’ control; 33 for God is not a God of unruliness but of shalom.
As in all the congregations of God’s people, 34 let the wives remain silent when the congregation meets; they are certainly not permitted to speak out. Rather, let them remain subordinate, as also the Torah says; 35 and if there is something they want to know, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak out in a congregational meeting.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or is endowed with the Spirit, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is a command of the Lord. 38 But if someone doesn’t recognize this, then let him remain unrecognized.
39 So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40 but let all things be done in a proper and orderly way.
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