The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Ministries "Pretty Bad" for Saturday, October 15, 2016

The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Ministries "Pretty Bad" for Saturday, October 15, 2016

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.[Genesis 6:5]
That text, coming to us from before the flood, shares the Lord's most unflattering opinion concerning humankind. There are those who would say that over the last few thousand years we have come a long way. That may be true for some, but it certainly isn't true for all. There still are a fair number of people who have a long way to go.
If you doubt me, go to Monroe, Michigan.
There you will meet a fourth-grader by the name of Maya Leachman. She has a grandfather who has Alzheimer's. Because she wishes to do something to help her beloved grandfather, for the last three years she has sold lemonade. All her profits go to find a cure for that dread disease.
Knowing Leachman's cause was good, the neighbors and friends of Monroe sent some serious money her way. On a Sunday afternoon in September, she managed to bank $1,511.88.
It should have been more.
It should have been $50 more. And if you're wondering why the discrepancy, that's easy to explain: she was ripped off. No, nobody held her up at gunpoint and nobody took some cash from the till while her back was turned. She lost $50 because a man on a bike came tooling up and asked her to break a $50 bill.
Maya didn't think a thing of it until later when she discovered the man's money wasn't real.
The fellow had bilked a fourth-grader out of money she had raised to help cure her ailing grandpa. How low can a person go? Now you could make a case and say, "I wouldn't do something like that, and my friends and family wouldn't do that either."
Well, I should hope so.
But just because we wouldn't steal money from a fourth-grader, doesn't make us pure as the driven snow, does it?
The Lord knows, no matter how hard we work at being good, we are still sinners. It's part of the human fabric. Every day, in thought, word and action, we do that which is unacceptable to the Lord. We break His Commandments, and there's no way for us to correct our inborn sinful natures.
This is why we need a Savior.
Because God still loves His wayward children He sent His Son into this world to be our Substitute. Jesus took our place and resisted temptation. He took our place and fulfilled the Law. He took our place by carrying our sins and dying our death.
Now those who are brought to faith enjoy the forgiveness that was won for them at such a high cost. True, they may not need forgiveness for giving counterfeit money to a fourth-grader, but there are plenty of other sins that call for the Lord's gracious attention.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, someone else's sin might not be mine, but don't let me feel too superior. I have plenty of transgressions that can only be removed by the Redeemer. I give thanks for His work and offer up this prayer in His 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: 2 Chronicles 33-34; Acts 23:16-35
2 Chronicles 33:1 M’nasheh was twelve years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for fifty-five years in Yerushalayim. 2 He did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, following the disgusting practices of the nations whom Adonai had expelled ahead of the people of Isra’el. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hizkiyahu his father had smashed; he erected altars for the ba‘alim, made sacred poles and worshipped all the army of heaven and served them. 4 He erected altars in the house of Adonai, concerning which Adonai had said, “My name will be in Yerushalayim forever.” 5 He erected altars for all the army of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Adonai. 6 He made his children pass through the fire [as a sacrifice] in the Ben-Hinnom Valley. He practiced soothsaying, divination and sorcery; and he appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from Adonai’s perspective, thus provoking him to anger. 7 He set the carved image of the idol he had made in the house of God, concerning which God had told David and Shlomo his son, “In this house and in Yerushalayim, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Isra’el, I will put my name forever. 8 Also I will not remove the feet of Isra’el from the land I assigned your ancestors, if only they will take heed to obey every order I have given them, that is, all the Torah, laws and rulings that came through Moshe.” 9 M’nasheh caused Y’hudah and the people of Yerushalayim to go astray, so that they did even worse things than the nations whom Adonai destroyed ahead of the people of Isra’el.

10 Adonai spoke to M’nasheh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore Adonai brought against them the commanders of the king of Ashur’s army. They took M’nasheh captive with hooks, bound him in chains and carried him off to Bavel. 12 Then, when he was in distress, he began to appease the anger of Adonai, abjectly humbling himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to him; and God was moved by his plea, paid attention to his entreaty and brought him back to Yerushalayim, to his kingly office. Then M’nasheh understood that Adonai really is God.

14 After this he built an outer wall for the City of David on the west side of Gichon, in the valley, extending as far as the entrance at the Fish Gate; it encompassed the ‘Ofel, and he built it very high. He stationed army commanders in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah. 15 He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of Adonai and all the altars he had built on the hill of the house of Adonai and in Yerushalayim, and threw them out of the city. 16 He repaired the altar of Adonai and offered on it sacrifices as peace offerings and for thanksgiving; and he ordered Y’hudah to serve Adonai the God of Isra’el. 17 However, the people continued sacrificing on the high places, although only to Adonai their God.

18 Other activities of M’nasheh, his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Adonai the God of Isra’el are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra’el. 19 Also his prayer and how God was moved by his plea, all his sin and disloyalty, and the locations where he built high places and set up the sacred poles and carved images before he humbled himself are written in the History of the Seers.

20 Then M’nasheh slept with his ancestors and was buried at his own house, and Amon his son took his place as king.

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for two years in Yerushalayim. 22 He did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, as had M’nasheh his father. Amon sacrificed to all the carved images that M’nasheh his father had made, and served them. 23 He did not humble himself before Adonai, as M’nasheh his father had done; rather, this Amon kept adding to his guilt.

24 His servants conspired against him and put the king to death in his own palace. 25 But the people of the land put to death all those who had been part of the conspiracy against King Amon. Then the people of the land made Yoshiyahu his son king in place of him.

34:1 Yoshiyahu was eight years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for thirty-one years in Yerushalayim. 2 He did what was right from Adonai’s perspective, living entirely in the manner of David his ancestor and turning away neither to the right nor to the left.

3 For in the eighth year of his reign, when he was still young, he began seeking after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year, he began cleansing Y’hudah and Yerushalayim from the high places, the sacred poles, and the carved and cast metal images. 4 In his presence they broke down the altars of the ba‘alim, and he chopped down the pillars for sun-worship mounted above them. He smashed the sacred poles and the carved and cast metal images, grinding them to dust, which he threw on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, thus cleansing Y’hudah and Yerushalayim. 6 He did likewise in the cities of M’nasheh, Efrayim, Shim‘on and even as far as Naftali, in their surrounding ruins. 7 He broke down the altars, beat the sacred poles and carved images to powder and chopped down the pillars for sun-worship throughout all the land of Isra’el. Then he returned to Yerushalayim.

8 In the eighteenth year of his reign, after he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shafan the son of Atzalyahu, Ma‘aseiyah the governor of the city and Yo’ach the son of Yo’achaz the recorder to repair the house of Adonai his God. 9 They went to Hilkiyahu the cohen hagadol and handed over to him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the L’vi’im who guarded the doors had collected from M’nasheh, Efrayim, the rest of Isra’el and all Y’hudah and Binyamin. Then they returned to Yerushalayim. 10 They gave it to the supervisors of the work being done in the house of Adonai; and those doing the work in the house of Adonai used it to repair and restore the house — 11 that is, they gave it to the carpenters and construction-workers to purchase worked stone, timber for the crossbeams and roof beams for the houses which the kings of Y’hudah had destroyed. 12 The men did the work faithfully. Their supervisors were Yachat and ‘Ovadyahu, L’vi’im from the descendants of M’rari, also Z’kharyah and Meshulam from the descendants of the K’hatim to give direction; and other L’vi’im, all of whom could accompany singing with musical instruments. 13 They supervised those carrying the loads and everyone doing any kind of work; and there were also L’vi’im who were secretaries, officials and gatekeepers.

14 While bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of Adonai, Hilkiyahu the cohen found the scroll of the Torah of Adonai given by Moshe. 15 Hilkiyahu said to Shafan the secretary, “I have found the scroll of the Torah in the house of Adonai.” Hilkiyahu gave the scroll to Shafan. 16 Shafan the secretary brought the scroll to the king.

Turning to the king, he gave him this report: “Your servants are doing everything you ordered them to do. 17 They have poured out the money found in the house of Adonai and handed it over to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shafan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiyahu the cohen hagadol gave me a scroll.” Shafan read it aloud before the king. 19 After the king had heard what was written in the Torah, he tore his clothes. 20 Then the king issued this order to Hilkiyahu, Achikam the son of Shafan, ‘Avdon the son of Mikhah, Shafan the secretary and ‘Asayah the king’s servant: 21 “Go, and consult Adonai for me and for the people left in Isra’el and Y’hudah in regard to what is written in this scroll which has been found. For Adonai must be furious at us, since our ancestors did not observe the word of Adonai and do everything written in this scroll.” 22 So Hilkiyahu and those the king had ordered went to Huldah the prophet, the wife of Shalum the son of Tok’hat, the son of Hasrat, keeper of the wardrobe — she lived in the Second Quarter of Yerushalayim — and spoke with her about this. 23 She told them, “Adonai the God of Isra’el says to tell the man who sent you to me 24 that Adonai says this: ‘I am going to bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses written in the scroll they read to the king of Y’hudah; 25 because they have abandoned me and offered to other gods, in order to provoke me with everything they do. Therefore my anger is poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

26 “But you are to tell the king of Y’hudah, who sent you to consult Adonai, that Adonai the God of Isra’el also says this: ‘In regard to the words you have heard, 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants — you humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and cried before me — I have also heard you,’ says Adonai. 28 ‘Here, I will gather you to your ancestors; you will go to your grave in peace; and your eyes will not see all the calamity I am going to bring on this place and its inhabitants.’” So they brought back word to the king.

29 Then the king summoned and assembled all the leaders of Y’hudah and Yerushalayim. 30 The king went up to the house of Adonai with all the men of Y’hudah, those living in Yerushalayim, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and all the people, both great and small; and he read in their hearing everything written in the scroll of the covenant that had been found in the house of Adonai. 31 The king stood in his place and made a covenant in the presence of Adonai to live following Adonai, observing his mitzvot, instructions and laws wholeheartedly and with all his being, so as to perform the words of the covenant written in this scroll. 32 Then, after he had all the people in Yerushalayim and Binyamin stand in affirmation of it, the inhabitants of Yerushalayim acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

33 Yoshiyahu removed all the abominable idols from all the territories belonging to the people of Isra’el, and he made everyone in Isra’el serve Adonai their God. Throughout his lifetime, they did not stop following Adonai, the God of their ancestors.

Acts 23:16 But the son of Sha’ul’s sister got wind of the planned ambush, and he went into the barracks and told Sha’ul. 17 Sha’ul called one of the officers and said, “Take this man up to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Sha’ul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, led him aside privately and asked, “What is it you have to tell me?” 20 He said, “The Judeans have agreed to ask you tomorrow to bring Sha’ul down to the Sanhedrin on the pretext that they want to investigate his case more thoroughly. 21 But don’t let yourself be talked into it, because more than forty men are lying in wait for him. They have taken an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they kill him; and they are ready now, only waiting for you to give your consent to their request.”

22 The commander let the young man go, cautioning him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” 23 Then he summoned two of the captains and said, “Get two hundred infantry soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight, and seventy mounted cavalry and two hundred spearmen; 24 also provide replacements for Sha’ul’s horse when it gets tired; and bring him through safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And the commander wrote the following letter:

26 From: Claudius Lysias

To: His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings!

27 This man was seized by the Judeans and was about to be killed by them, when I came on the scene with my troops and rescued him. After learning that he was a Roman citizen, 28 I wanted to understand exactly what they were charging him with; so I brought him down to their “Sanhedrin.”

29 I found that he was charged in connection with questions of their “Torah” but that there was no charge deserving death or prison.

30 But when I was informed of a plot against the man, I immediately sent him to you and also ordered his accusers to state their case against him before you.

31 So the soldiers, following their orders, took Sha’ul during the night and brought him to Antipatris, 32 then returned to the barracks after leaving the cavalry to go on with him. 33 The cavalry took him to Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and handed Sha’ul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. On learning he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a full hearing after your accusers have also arrived,” and ordered him to be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.

------- The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries with Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Ministries "A Teeny, Tiny Mistake" for Friday, October 14, 2016 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.[Genesis 3:6] "I don't think something as small as this should be a problem." That easily could have been in the minds of two southwestern Idaho crows when they settled down on a substation capacitor bank (that's a device which controls voltage), owned by Rocky Mountain Power. If that is what the crows were thinking, they were wrong. Let me tell you what happened. The crows landed and, in less time than it takes me to type this, a fire began. A separate piece of equipment designed to reroute the electricity to another location didn't do what it was designed to do. As a result, the entire substation went offline. More than that, 100,000 customers in eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southern Montana lost power for close to three hours. And the crows? Do you want to know what happened to the crows for having thought a small thing can't be a big deal? Rocky Mountain Power has told its customers the crows were "obliterated." A few thousand years ago, the devil suggested to Eve that a small thing like eating a piece of supposedly forbidden fruit shouldn't be a problem. Then Eve, who had agreed the fruit did indeed look tasty, took some of it to her husband. She said to him, "I don't think something as small as this should be a problem, do you?" Adam agreed with Eve, and they both ate of the fruit. Now if they had been thinking eating the fruit wasn't a big deal, they were wrong. Let me tell you what happened. Instantaneously, sin and death entered into the world. At the same time, the Lord's punishment about "dying if you eat of the tree" kicked into gear (see Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve realized they were underdressed for the occasion, and God came looking for them ... and He wasn't pleased. It took a bit for the Lord to get any kind of confession from His children, but eventually they owned up to what they had done wrong. Do you want to know what happened to the humans for having thought a small thing couldn't be a big problem? I can tell you: the Bible says they were condemned. Oh, and it says one other thing. Unlike the crows who were obliterated, God gave Adam and Eve a second chance. He said He would send His Son, and that Son would carry their sins and fix it so all who believe on Him as Savior would be saved. It's a promise still in effect today. This would be the end of this devotion if it were not for me wanting to take this time to remind you that when it comes to sinning, you dare never think a little sin is no big deal. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may I be ashamed for the enormity of my sins and rejoice that Your grace and forgiveness are greater than all I have done wrong. Let my life be spent praising You for salvation, which has been given because of the Savior, in whose Name I pray. Amen. In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour® Lutheran Hour Ministries Today's Bible Readings: Nahum 1-3 Acts 23:1-15 Nahum 1:1 This is a prophecy about Ninveh, the book of the vision of Nachum the Elkoshi: 2 Adonai is a jealous and vengeful God. Adonai avenges; he knows how to be angry. Adonai takes vengeance on his foes and stores up wrath for his enemies. 3 Adonai is slow to anger, but great in power; and he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Adonai’s path is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4 He rebukes the sea and leaves it dry, he dries up all the rivers. Bashan and the Karmel languish; the flower of the L’vanon withers. 5 The mountains quake before him, and the hills dissolve; the earth collapses in his presence, the world and everyone living in it. 6 Who can withstand his fury? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, the rocks broken to pieces before him. 7 Adonai is good, a stronghold in time of trouble; he takes care of those who take refuge in him. 8 But with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of [Ninveh’s] place, and darkness will pursue his enemies. 9 What are you planning against Adonai? He is making an end [of it]; trouble will not arise a second time. 10 For like men drunk with liquor, they will be burned up like tangled thorns, like straw completely dry. 11 Out of you, [Ninveh,] he came, one who plots evil against Adonai, who counsels wickedness. 12 Here is what Adonai says: “Though they be many and strong, they will be cut down, they will pass; and though I have made you suffer, I will make you suffer no more. 13 Now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap the chains that bind you. 14 Adonai gave this order concerning you: you will have no descendants to bear your name; from the house of your god I will cut off carved image and cast metal image; I will prepare your grave, because you are worthless.” 2:1 (1:15) Look! On the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, proclaiming shalom. Keep your festivals, Y’hudah, fulfill your vows; for B’liya‘al will never pass through you again; he has been completely destroyed. 2 (1) A destroyer has risen in front of your face; guard the ramparts, keep watch on the road, brace yourselves, marshall all your strength. 3 (2) For Adonai is restoring the pride of Ya‘akov, along with the pride of Isra’el; because plunderers have plundered them and ravaged their vines. 4 (3) The shields of [Ninveh’s] warriors are [dyed] red; the soldiers are wearing scarlet. The steel of the chariots flashes like fire as they prepare for battle. The cypress [spears] are poisoned. 5 (4) The chariots rush madly about in the streets, jostling each other in the open places; their appearance is like torches, they run here and there like lightning. 6 (5) [The king of Ninveh] assigns his officers; they stumble as they march; they hurry to its wall and set up shields to protect the battering ram. 7 (6) The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace melts away. 8 (7) Its mistress is stripped and carried away; her handmaids moan, they sound like doves, as they beat their breasts. 9 (8) Ninveh is like a pool whose water ebbs away. “Stop! Stop!” But none of it goes back. 10 (9) Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! There is no end to the treasure, weighed down with precious things. 11 (10) She is void, vacant; she is made bare. Hearts are melting, knees are knocking; every stomach is churning, every face is drained of color. 12 (11) What has become of the lion’s den, the cave where the young lions fed, where lion and lioness walked with their cubs, and no one made them afraid? 13 (12) The lion would tear up food for his cubs and strangle prey for his lionesses; he used to fill his caves with prey, his lairs with torn flesh. 14 (13) “I am against you,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Her chariots I will send up in smoke, the sword will consume your lion cubs, I will destroy your prey from the earth, and your envoys’ voices will be heard no more.” 3:1 Woe to the city of blood, steeped in lies, full of prey, with no end to the plunder! 2 The crack of the whip! The rattle of wheels! Galloping horses, jolting chariots, 3 cavalry charging, swords flashing, spears glittering — and hosts of slain, heaps of bodies; there is no end to the corpses; they stumble over their corpses. 4 “Because of the continual whoring of this whore, this alluring mistress of sorcery, who sells nations with her whoring and families with her sorcery; 5 I am against you,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “I will uncover your skirts on your face; I will show the nations your private parts and the kingdoms your shame. 6 I will pelt you with disgusting filth, disgrace you and make a spectacle of you. 7 Then all who see you will recoil from you; they will say, ‘Ninveh is destroyed!’ Who will mourn for her? Where can I find people to comfort you?” 8 Are you any better than No-Amon, located among the streams of the Nile, with water all around her, the flood her wall of defense? 9 Ethiopia and Egypt gave her boundless strength, Put and Luvim were there to help you. 10 Still she went captive into exile, her infants torn to pieces at every streetcorner. Lots were drawn for her nobles, and all her great men were bound in chains. 11 You too, [Ninveh,] will be drunk; your senses completely overcome. You too will seek a refuge from the enemy. 12 All your fortifications will be like fig trees with early ripening figs; the moment they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater. 13 Look at your troops! They behave like women! Your country’s gates are wide open to your foes; fire has consumed their bars. 14 Draw water for the siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Go down in the clay, tread the mortar, Take hold of the mold for bricks! 15 There the fire will burn you up; and the sword will cut you down; it will devour you like grasshoppers. Make yourselves as many as grasshoppers, Make yourselves as many as locusts! 16 You had more merchants than stars in the sky. The locust sheds its skin and flies away. 17 Your guards are like grasshoppers, your marshals like swarms of locusts, which settle on the walls on a cold day, but when the sun rises they fly away; they vanish to no one knows where. 18 Your shepherds are slumbering, king of Ashur. Your leaders are asleep. Your people are scattered all over the mountains, with no one to round them up. 19 Your wound cannot be healed. Your injury is fatal. Everyone hearing the news about you claps his hands in joy over you. For who has not been overwhelmed by your relentless cruelty? Acts 23:1 Sha’ul looked straight at them and said, “Brothers, I have been discharging my obligations to God with a perfectly clear conscience, right up until today.” 2 But the cohen hagadol, Hananyah, ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Sha’ul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Will you sit there judging me according to the Torah, yet in violation of the Torah order me to be struck?” 4 The men nearby said, “This is the cohen hagadol of God that you’re insulting!” 5 Sha’ul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was the cohen hagadol; for it says in the Torah, ‘You are not to speak disparagingly of a ruler of your people.’”[Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:27(28)] 6 But knowing that one part of the Sanhedrin consisted of Tz’dukim and the other of P’rushim, Sha’ul shouted, “Brothers, I myself am a Parush and the son of P’rushim; and it is concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being tried!” 7 When he said this, an argument arose between the P’rushim and the Tz’dukim, and the crowd was divided. 8 For the Tz’dukim deny the resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits; whereas the P’rushim acknowledge both. 9 So there was a great uproar, with some of the Torah-teachers who were on the side of the P’rushim standing up and joining in — “We don’t find anything wrong with this man; and if a spirit or an angel spoke to him, what of it?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander, fearing that Sha’ul would be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force and bring him back into the barracks. 11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage! For just as you have borne a faithful witness to me in Yerushalayim, so now you must bear witness in Rome.” 12 The next day, some of the Judeans formed a conspiracy. They took an oath, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Sha’ul; 13 more than forty were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the head cohanim and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Sha’ul. 15 What you are to do is make it appear to the commander that you and the Sanhedrin want to get more accurate information about Sha’ul’s case, so that he will bring him down to you; while we, for our part, are prepared to kill him before he ever gets here.” -------

CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS. THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
BE AN AMBASSADOR OR DONATE
The Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141, United States
-------