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 Blessed House" for Thursday, September 1, 2016
Now therefore may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing shall the house of Your servant be blessed forever.[2 Samuel 7:29]In the 1830s, when "Home Sweet Home" was published, it sold 300,000 copies in one year.
You remember the lyrics, don't you? It goes this way:
"Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, which seek thro' the world, is ne'er met elsewhere, Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home. There's no place like home!"
Yes, home should be a special place. It should be our castle, our refuge from the problems and pains, the sorrows and sadnesses of this world. It ought to be that, but sometimes our homes can be placed under siege. Let's see, there are floods and tornadoes; there are termites, carpenter ants, snakes, spiders, squirrels and raccoons.All of these things and many more can disrupt the tranquility of our homes.
If you doubt me, talk to Maureen Noble, a Canadian lady who lives in Tracy, New Brunswick.
Noble's home sits close to a sharp curve on Route 101. It's the curve which is the problem. Apparently, motorists don't take the warning sign seriously and approach that curve like they're driving the NASCAR circuit.
That's why Noble's home has been hit by cars no less than nine different times.
In an interview, Noble made two points:
1. It's frightening living in a home which is so frequently hit by cars. She says, "We're afraid to go out, because we never know what we'll find when we return."
2. She also says, "We'd be glad to move, but who would buy a house which has been clobbered so often?"
Now the odds are your house is not under attack by drivers who take turns too fast, but that doesn't mean your home hasn't been besieged. There are a great many spiritual forces out there that have made the destruction of the Christian household their prime priority. The end result has been this: for the world, the peace of the Christ-filled home is not something they desire or to which they aspire.
The devil and the world have blinded them to the joy that comes in having their sins forgiven and the happiness that comes to those who walk in the love of the Lord.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, "Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall, where Jesus Christ is all in all! Yea, if He were not dwelling there, how dark and poor and void it were! Oh, blest that house where faith ye find, and all within have set their mind, to trust their God and serve Him still, and do in all His holy will! Oh, blest the parents who give heed unto their children's foremost need, and weary not of care or cost! May none to them and heaven be lost! Blest such a house, it prospers well. In peace and joy the parents dwell, and in their children's lot is shown how richly God can bless His own. Then here will I and mine today a solemn covenant make and say: Though all the world forsake Thy Word, I and my house will serve the Lord!" (The Lutheran Hymnal, pg. 625). In Jesus' Name may it be so. 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: 2 Chronicles 17-18; 2 Corinthians 6
2 Chronicles 17:1 Then Y’hoshafat his son became king in his place. He strengthened his position against Isra’el 2 by placing forces in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah, and by garrisoning troops in the territory of Y’hudah and in the cities of Efrayim that Asa his father had captured. 3 Adonai was with Y’hoshafat, because he lived according to the first ways of his ancestor David, not seeking the ba‘alim, 4 but seeking the God of his father and living by his mitzvot, not by what Isra’el did. 5 Therefore Adonai consolidated his rulership; all Y’hudah brought presents to Y’hoshafat, so that he had wealth and honor in abundance. 6 In his heart he highly regarded Adonai’s ways; moreover, he removed the high places and sacred poles from Y’hudah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z’kharyah, N’tan’el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y’hudah; 8 with them were the L’vi’im Sh’ma‘yahu, N’tanyahu, Z’vadyahu, ‘Asah’el, Sh’miramot, Y’honatan, Adoniyahu, Tuviyahu and Tov-Adoniyah, the L’vi’im; and with them Elishama and Y’horam the cohanim. 9 They taught in Y’hudah, having a scroll of the Torah of Adonai with them; they circulated through all the cities of Y’hudah, teaching among the people.
10 A panic from Adonai seized all the kingdoms in the lands surrounding Y’hudah, so that they did not make war against Y’hoshafat. 11 Some of the P’lishtim brought Y’hoshafat gifts and silver as tribute; the Arabs too brought him flocks — 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
12 So Y’hoshafat grew increasingly powerful. In Y’hudah he built fortresses and storage cities. 13 He had many projects in the cities of Y’hudah; and in Yerushalayim he had warriors, strong brave men. 14 Here is a listing of them by clans: from Y’hudah, the captains of thousands: ‘Adnah the leader, and with him 300,000 strong, brave men; 15 next to him Y’hochanan the leader, and with him 280,000; 16 next to him ‘Amasyah the son of Zikhri, who volunteered to serve Adonai, and with him 200,000 strong, brave men. 17 From Binyamin: Elyada, a strong, brave man, and with him 200,000 equipped with bows and shields; 18 next to him Y’hozavad, and with him 180,000 prepared for war. 19 These served the king, in addition to those the king assigned to the fortified cities throughout all Y’hudah.
18:1 Y’hoshafat had wealth and honor in abundance, and by marriage he allied himself with Ach’av. 2 After some years he went down to Ach’av in Shomron. Ach’av slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 3 Ach’av king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat king of Y’hudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot-Gil‘ad?” He answered him, “I’m with you all the way; think of my troops as yours; we will join you in this war.” 4 But Y’hoshafat said to the king of Isra’el, “First, we should seek the word of Adonai.”
5 So the king of Isra’el assembled the prophets, 400 men. “Should we attack Ramot-Gil‘ad?” he asked them, “Or should I hold off?” They said, “Attack. God will hand it over to the king.” 6 But Y’hoshafat said, “Besides these, isn’t there a prophet of Adonai here that we can consult?” 7 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult Adonai; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad! It’s Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” Y’hoshafat replied, “The king shouldn’t say such a thing.”
8 Then the king called an officer and said, “Quickly! Bring Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” 9 Now the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes; they were sitting in a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence. 10 Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, “This is what Adonai says: ‘With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.’” 11 All the prophets prophesied the same thing: “Go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad. You will succeed, because Adonai will hand it over to the king.”
12 The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay’hu said to him, “Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like one of theirs — say something good.” 13 But Mikhay’hu answered, “As Adonai lives, whatever my God says is what I will say.”
14 When he reached the king, the king asked him, “Mikhay’hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad, or should we hold off?” He answered, “Go up, you will succeed, they will be handed over to you.” 15 The king said to him, “How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Adonai?” 16 Then he said, “I saw all Isra’el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and Adonai said, ‘These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.’” 17 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy good things about me, but bad?”
18 Mikhay’hu continued: “Therefore, hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing on his right and on his left. 19 Adonai asked, ‘Who will entice Ach’av king of Isra’el to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil‘ad?’ One of them said, ‘Do it this way,’ and another, ‘Do it that way.’ 20 Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of Adonai and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Adonai asked, ‘How?’ 21 He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Adonai said, ‘You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.’ 22 So now Adonai has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, Adonai has ordained disaster for you.”
23 Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah came up, slapped Mikhay’hu in the face and said, “And how did the Spirit of Adonai leave me to speak to you?” 24 Mikhay’hu said, “You’ll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide.”
25 The king of Isra’el said, “Seize Mikhay’hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo’ash the king’s son. 26 Say, ‘The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I come back in peace.’” 27 Mikhay’hu said, “If you return in peace at all, Adonai has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?”
28 So the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah went up to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 29 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes.” So the king of Isra’el disguised himself and went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Don’t attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra’el.” 31 So when the chariot commanders saw Y’hoshafat they said, “This is the king of Isra’el,” and turned to attack him. But Y’hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone, 32 so that when the chariot commanders saw that he wasn’t the king of Isra’el, they stopped pursuing him. 33 However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra’el between his lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to his chariot-driver, “Turn the reins and take me out of the fighting; I’m collapsing from my wounds.” 34 But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and although the king of Isra’el propped himself upright in his chariot facing Aram until evening, around sunset he died.
2 Corinthians
6:1 As God’s fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you;
in the day of salvation I helped you.”[
2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
]
3 We try not to put obstacles in anyone’s path, so that no one can find fault with the work we do. 4 On the contrary, we try to commend ourselves in every way as workers for God by continually enduring troubles, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, overwork, lack of sleep and food. 6 We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love 7 and truthfulness of speech; and by God’s power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it; 8 through being honored and dishonored, praised and blamed, considered deceptive and sincere, 9 unknown and famous. And we commend ourselves as God’s workers headed for death, yet look! we’re alive! as punished, yet not killed; 10 as having reason to be sad, yet always filled with joy; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet having everything!
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you, we have opened our hearts wide. 12 Any constraint you feel has not been imposed by us, but by your own inner selves. 13 So, just to be “fair” (I am using the language of children), open wide your hearts too.
14 Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between the Messiah and B’liya‘al? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God — as God said,
“I will house myself in them, . . .
and I will walk among you.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[2 Corinthians 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 31:32(33), 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27]
17 Therefore Adonai says,
“‘Go out from their midst;
separate yourselves;
don’t even touch what is unclean.[2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11]
Then I myself will receive you.[2 Corinthians 6:17 Ezekiel 20:34, 41]
18 In fact, I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters.’
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”[2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14, Isaiah 43:6]
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THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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