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).] "Declared Righteous" for Wednesday, August 3, 2016
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD: "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."[Isaiah 1:18]
All of my grandchildren have gone through a Lego stage.
While not officially recognized as part of the maturing process, the overwhelming desire to snap small, multi-colored blocks together seems to be almost a universal feeling.
One thing I didn't know until recently is there are folks who never outgrow their Lego obsession. What that means is when we discover the opposite sex and fast cars, they are still snapping those blocks.
If they get good enough, in adulthood these people, now called "artists," can set aside the plans which come in the Lego boxes and get creative. They can substitute their own ideas and concepts, which they bring to life using those little blocks.
From what I've seen on the web and at Lego museums, there is nothing beyond the eye and hands of these Lego artists. Case in point: recently a Chinese artist named Zhao spent three days putting together a Lego sculpture of Nick Wilde, a character in the Disney movie called "Zootopia."
Those folks who follow Lego art say the large sculpture was worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000. Please note that I am most selective when I say the sculpture was worth that almost unbelievable figure.
I say that because about an hour after the sculpture was set up at the Lego Expo in China a child came by and knocked it over. Knocked it over and sent Legos flying all over the place. The news media says the Lego art was "irreparable."
Understandably, the artist was greatly upset. Even so, he turned down the boy's apologetic parents when they offered to make restitution for the damage that had been done. His comment on the occasion was a simple "The child did not intend to break it."
I don't know if most people would be so forgiving about such a disaster.
On the other hand, I do know that the Lord has shown His willingness to forgive the sinners of the world. Because His Son carried our sins to the cross and paid the ransom price necessary to win our forgiveness, the Lord erases our sins.
That includes the big sins, the little ones, the known sins, and those which are never recalled or recognized. Because of the Savior, the Lord forgets our guilt and declares us righteous and free of all condemnation.
That, when you think about it, is better than saying, "They didn't mean it."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I always give thanks that You have forgiven my sins through Your Son's sacrifice. Then, as Your forgiven child, may I lead a life that shows my gratitude and appreciation. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 120-122; 2 Thessalonians 2
Psalms 120:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) I called to Adonai in my distress,
and he answered me.
2 Rescue me, Adonai, from lips that tell lies,
from a tongue full of deceit.
3 What has he in store for you, deceitful tongue?
What more will he do to you?
4 A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with red-hot coals from a broom tree.
5 How wretched I am, that I’m an alien in Meshekh,
that I must live among the tents of Keidar!
6 I have had to live far too long
with those who hate peace.
7 I am all for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
121:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills,
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from Adonai,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip —
your guardian is not asleep.
4 No, the guardian of Isra’el
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand
Adonai provides you with shade —
6 the sun can’t strike you during the day
or even the moon at night.
7 Adonai will guard you against all harm;
he will guard your life.
8 Adonai will guard your coming and going
from now on and forever.
122:(0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) I was glad when they said to me,
“The house of Adonai! Let’s go!”
2 Our feet were already standing
at your gates, Yerushalayim.
3 Yerushalayim, built as a city
fostering friendship and unity.
4 The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of Adonai,
as a witness to Isra’el,
to give thanks to the name of Adonai.
5 For there the thrones of justice were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim;
may those who love you prosper.
7 May shalom be within your ramparts,
prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I say,
“Shalom be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of Adonai our God,
I will seek your well-being.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 But in connection with the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to meet him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily shaken in your thinking or anxious because of a spirit or a spoken message or a letter supposedly from us claiming that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.
For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. 4 He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God.[2 Thessalonians 2:4 Ezekiel 28:2]5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, so that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For already this separating from Torah is at work secretly, but it will be secretly only until he who is restraining is out of the way. 8 Then the one who embodies separation from Torah will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Yeshua will slay with the breath of his mouth[2 Thessalonians 2:8 Isaiah 11:4; Job 4:9] and destroy by the glory of his coming.
9 When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned.
13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. 16 And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
-------CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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