The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Brandon's Story" for Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Brandon's Story" for Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.[1 Peter 1:8]
Brandon Bakke of Fargo, North Dakota, was adopted at birth.
Now at the age of 11 he wants to know more about his biological parents. It was a need his adoptive parents understood. Together Bakke and his parents did the research and found out that his father, Terrence, had recently died and was buried in Chicago.
They also found out that, due to a lack of money, the grave of Terrence had no marker.
That bothered Bakke. It bothered him big time. Speaking to the media, he said, "I don't think anybody should go unknown in life." Indeed, his father's marker-less grave bothered him so much he decided to do something about it.
That's how it came to pass that Bakke spent his summer cutting lawns. He cut the lawns of neighbors and the lawns of strangers. He cut a lot of lawns and set aside every penny he made. Then, when he had enough, he went to the Dakota Monument Company and bought a headstone.
Bakke not only bought the headstone, he sat with the company's artists and helped design it.
All in all, Bakke showed considerable commitment in his desire to honor a man whom he had never met, but to whom he owed his life.
Bakke's story is truly beautiful, and it also ought to be ours.
Think about it. There are a couple of similarities.
* We, like Bakke, have been adopted. His adoption was through the court system, and ours was through the washing of Holy Baptism.
* We, like Bakke, ought to have a desire to know more about the Individual responsible for having given us life.
* We, like Bakke, ought to think this Person ought to be remembered.
* We, like Bakke, ought to offer our time and talents so others may know the Name of the Person responsible for making us who we are.
Of course, there are many differences between Bakke's story and ours. If I were asked to explain the most important of those differences, it would be this: while the body of Bakke's father lies in a Chicago graveyard, the final resting spot of our Savior can never be found. No marker which reads, "Here lies Jesus of Nazareth - May He Rest in Peace" can ever be set over any earthly location.
That is because our Savior, having fulfilled the Law, having resisted every temptation to sin, carried our transgressions to the cross, and died the death we deserved. Then, three days after His lifeless body had been put in the tomb, a living Lord Jesus emerged from the grave.
It is our living Savior whom we ought to share with the world.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, You have done all that was necessary to give me life eternal. Now may I in gratitude live my days in thanks for w hat You accomplished. Let me tell others of Your great grace. This I ask in Your 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: Jeremiah 25, 45-46; Hebrews 1
Jeremiah 25:1 This is the word that came to Yirmeyahu concerning all the people of Y’hudah in the fourth year of Y’hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y’hudah; this was also the first year of N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel. 2 Yirmeyahu the prophet proclaimed it before all the people of Y’hudah and all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim: 3 “For twenty-three years, since the thirteenth year of Yoshiyahu the son of Amon, king of Y’hudah, until today, the word of Adonai has come to me; and I have proclaimed it to you on numerous occasions; but you haven’t listened. 4 Moreover, Adonai sent you all his servants the prophets — again, on numerous occasions — but you didn’t listen or pay attention. 5 The message was always: ‘Every one of you, turn back from his evil way, from the evil of your actions. Then you will live in the land Adonai gave you and your ancestors forever and ever. 6 Don’t follow other gods by serving and worshipping them. “Don’t provoke my anger with things your own hands have made; then I will do you no harm. 7 But you wouldn’t listen to me,” says Adonai, “so that you could provoke me with the products of your hands, to your own harm.”

8 “Therefore, here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: ‘Because you haven’t paid attention to what I’ve been saying, 9 I’m going to send for all the families of the north,’ says Adonai, ‘and for my servant N’vukhadretzar the king of Bavel, and bring them against this land, against its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them, making them an object of horror and ridicule, a perpetual ruin. 10 Moreover, I will silence among them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bridegroom and bride, the grinding of millstones and the light of lamps. 11 This entire land will become a ruin, a waste; and these nations will serve the king of Bavel for seventy years. 12 But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Bavel and that nation for their sin,’ says Adonai, ‘and I will turn the land of the Kasdim into everlasting ruins. 13 I will inflict on that land all my words that I have decreed against it, everything written in this book, in which Yirmeyahu has prophesied against all the nations. 14 For they too will become slaves to many nations and to powerful kings; I will pay them back according to their deeds and the work of their own hands.’

15 “For here is what Adonai the God of Isra’el says to me: ‘Take this cup of the wine of fury from my hand, and make all the nations where I am sending you drink it. 16 They will drink, stagger to and fro and behave like crazy people because of the sword that I will send among them.’”

17 Then I took the cup from Adonai’s hand and made all the nations drink, where Adonai had sent me — 18 Yerushalayim and the cities of Y’hudah, along with their kings and leaders, to make them a ruin and an object of horror, ridicule and cursing, as it is today; 19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants and leaders and all his people, both native 20 and foreign; all the kings of the land of ‘Utz; all the kings of the land of the P’lishtim, Ashkelon, ‘Azah, ‘Ekron and those remaining in Ashdod; 21 Edom, Mo’av, and the people of ‘Amon; 22 all the kings of Tzor, of Tzidon and of the coastlands across the sea; 23 D’dan, Teima, Buz and all who cut the corners of their beards; 24 all the kings of Arabia and of the mixed peoples living in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, of ‘Eilam and of the Medes; 26 and all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another — indeed, all the kingdoms of the world that there are on the surface of the earth. And the king of Sheshakh will drink last of all.

27 “You are to say to them, ‘Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: Drink until you’re so drunk that you throw up, fall down, and never get up again, because of the sword I am sending among you!’ 28 If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, then say to them, ‘Here is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: You must drink! 29 For, look! — if I am bringing disaster on the city that bears my own name, do you expect to go unpunished? Yes, I will summon a sword for all the inhabitants of the earth,’ says Adonai.

30 “As for you, [Yirmeyahu,] prophesy all these words against them; say to them,

‘Adonai is roaring from on high,

raising his voice from his holy dwelling,

roaring with might against his own habitation,

shouting out loud, like those who tread grapes,

against everyone living on earth.

31 The sound resounds to the ends of the earth,

for Adonai is indicting the nations,

about to pass judgment on all humankind;

the wicked he has handed over to the sword,’

says Adonai.” 32 Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:

“Disaster is spreading from nation to nation,

a mighty tempest is being unleashed

from the farthest ends of the earth.”

33 On that day, those killed by Adonai will be strewn

from one end of the earth to the other;

they will not be mourned or gathered or buried,

but will lie on the ground like dung.

34 “Wail, shepherds! Cry!

Wallow in the dust, you lords of the flock!

For the days for your slaughter have come.

I will break you in pieces,

and like a prized vase you will fall.”

35 The shepherds have no way to flee,

the lords of the flock no way to escape.

36 Hear the cry of the shepherds,

the wails of the lords of the flock!

For Adonai is destroying their pasture,

37 the peaceful grazing grounds are silenced,

because of Adonai’s fierce anger.

38 Like a lion, he has abandoned his lair;

for their land has become desolate

because of the oppressor’s fierce sword

and because of Adonai’s fierce anger.

45:1 Here is what Yirmeyahu said to Barukh the son of Neriyah when he wrote these words in a book at Yirmeyahu’s dictation, in the fourth year of Y’hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y’hudah: 2 “This is what Adonai the God of Isra’el says concerning you, Barukh. You said,

3 ‘Woe to me now!

Adonai has compounded my pain with sorrow,

I am weary from groaning,

and I can find no relief!’

4 “Tell him that Adonai says:

‘I will tear down what I built up,

I will uproot what I planted,

and this throughout the land.

5 Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t! For I am bringing disaster on everything living,’ says Adonai. ‘But wherever you go, you will escape with your life.’”

46:1 This is the word of Adonai that came to Yirmeyahu the prophet concerning the nations. 2 Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh N’kho, king of Egypt, stationed by the Euphrates River in Kark’mish, which N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel attacked in the fourth year of Y’hoyakim son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y’hudah:

3 “Prepare breastplate and shield! Advance to battle!

4 Harness the horses! Riders, mount!

[Troops,] fall in! Helmets in place!

Polish the spears! Coats of mail on!

5 “Why do I see them retreating in panic,

their heroes routed, fleeing headlong,

not looking back, terror all around?”

asks Adonai.

6 “The swift cannot flee, nor the heroes escape.

In the north, by the Euphrates River,

they have stumbled and fallen.”

7 Who is this, rising up like the Nile,

like rivers whose waters surge out in flood?

8 It is Egypt, rising up like the Nile,

like rivers whose waters surge out in flood,

saying, “I will surge out and cover the earth,

destroying the city along with its people.”

9 Charge, horses! Full speed ahead, chariots!

Let the warriors attack! —

Kush and Put, bearing their shields,

and the Ludim, strung bows in hand.

10 For on that day Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot

will have a day of vengeance

for avenging himself on his enemies.

The sword will destroy, have its fill,

be made drunk on their blood.

Yes, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot

decrees slaughter in the land to the north

by the Euphrates River.

11 Go up to Gil‘ad for its healing resin,

virgin daughter of Egypt.

You try many medicines, all in vain;

for you there is no cure.

12 The nations have heard about your disgrace;

your shrieks fill the earth

as warrior trips over warrior,

both falling down together.

13 This word Adonai spoke to Yirmeyahu the prophet concerning how N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel would come and attack the land of Egypt:

14 “Proclaim in Egypt, announce in Migdol,

announce in Nof and Tachpanches;

say: ‘Take your stand! Get ready!

For all around you the sword is destroying.

15 Why has your strong one been overthrown?

He failed to stand because Adonai pushed him down.

16 He caused many to trip;

yes, they fell all over each other.’”

Then they said, “Let’s get up,

let’s return to our own people,

back to the land where we were born,

away from the sword that destroys.”

17 They cried there, “Pharaoh king of Egypt makes noise,

but he lets the right time [for action] slip by.”

18 “As I live,” says the king,

whose name is Adonai-Tzva’ot,

“when he comes, he will be [as mighty]

as Tavor among the mountains,

as Karmel next to the sea.

19 “Daughter living in Egypt,

prepare what you need for exile;

for Nof will become a ruin,

laid waste, without inhabitant.

20 Egypt is a beautiful female calf;

but a horsefly from the north has come to attack her.

21 Her mercenaries too, that she had with her,

were like well-fed calves in a stable;

but they too have withdrawn in retreat,

they all ran away without standing their ground.

For their day of disaster has come over them,

the time for them to be punished.

22 Egypt hisses like a snake,

as the enemy’s army marches ahead,

attacking her with their axes

like lumbermen chopping trees.

23 They cut down her forest,” says Adonai,

“for they cannot be numbered;

yes, there are more of them than locusts,

far too many to count.

24 The daughter of Egypt is put to shame,

handed over to the people from the north.”

25 Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Isra’el, says: “I will punish Amon from No, Pharaoh, and Egypt with her gods and kings — that is, Pharaoh and those who trust in him; 26 I will hand them over to those who seek their lives, to N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel and to his servants. But afterwards, Egypt will be inhabited, as in the past,” says Adonai.

27 “Yet don’t be afraid, Ya‘akov my servant;

don’t be distressed, Isra’el.

For I will save you from faraway places,

and your offspring from the lands where they are held captive.

Ya‘akov will return and be at peace,

quiet, with no one to make him afraid.

28 Don’t be afraid, Ya‘akov my servant,”

says Adonai, “for I am with you.

I will finish off all the nations

where I have scattered you.

However, you I will not finish off,

I will discipline you as you deserve,

but not completely destroy you.”

Hebrews 1:1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamim, he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownership of everything and through whom he created the universe. 3 This Son is the radiance of the Sh’khinah, the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had, through himself, made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim.[Hebrews 1:3 Psalm 110:1]

4 So he has become much better than angels, and the name God has given him is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father”?[Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7]

Also, God never said of any angel,

“I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son.”[Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13]

6 And again, when God brings his Firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[Hebrews 1:6 Psalm 97:7]

7 Indeed, when speaking of angels, he says,

“. . . who makes his angels winds

and his servants fiery flames”;[Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4]

8 but to the Son, he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;

you rule your Kingdom with a scepter of equity;

9 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you

with the oil of joy in preference to your companions”;[Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:7–8(6–7)]

10 and,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth;

heaven is the work of your hands.

11 They will vanish, but you will remain;

like clothing, they will all grow old;

12 and you will fold them up like a coat.

Yes, they will be changed like clothing,

but you remain the same,

your years will never end.”[Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:26–28(25–27)]

13 Moreover, to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?[Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1]

14 Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom God will deliver?

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