Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Meditating" for Friday, July 21, 2017
Acts 26:23 - that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.
-------
Have you ever heard of Ashutosh Maharaj ? Good, I hadn't either.
The truth is Ashutosh Maharaj is a pretty famous guy, at least in some circles. You see in 1983 Mr. Maharaj became the founder of a sect called Divine Light Awakening. Today, that sect which is dedicated to "self-awakening and global peace" has millions of followers and owns property worth more than $120 million.
There is only one very small, little problem.
In 2014 Mr. Maharaj died of a heart attack. At least his son and the medical people consulted said he died of a heart attack. On the other hand, many of Maharaj's followers say he is in a deep, meditative state, and they are waiting for him to wake up. They believe the day is coming when Maharaj will revive, come back to them, and walk out of the commercial freezer where his body is currently being stored.
Did I say there was only one very small problem? Let's make that two very small problems.
The second problem is legal. You see, if Mr. Maharaj is dead, his son is free to cremate his body according to Hindi tradition, and a fair percentage of his father's assets will go to him. On the other hand, if Mr. Maharaj is alive, the $120 million will continue to be controlled by church leaders.
For right now, at least, India's courts have said Mr. Maharaj can continue to meditate in the freezer.
No doubt you have formed your own opinion about the state of Mr. Maharaj. And, although I haven't taken any kind of poll, I would guess that most of you hold the opinion that Mr. Maharaj is not going to be joining his followers anytime soon.
If that's your belief, I agree with you.
As far as I know, in human history there have been only a few folks who have been brought back from the dead, and only One who came back without any assistance. In the first group would be numbered people like the son of the widow from Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and the brother of Mary and Martha.
In the second group is Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior.
If you look at the Gospels, you will quickly realize there was no debate about whether Jesus was alive or dead. Nobody said the Savior was meditating or had fallen into a deep coma. The Roman execution squad was an efficient group of men, experts at their trade. When they nailed someone to a cross and put a spear through his heart, that person was dead.
Yes, Jesus was dead when they put His corpse into a borrowed tomb.
And three days later He was alive, having defeated the last and the worst of humanity's enemies. Because of that victory, and because He had taken our place under the Law, all who believe on Him are given forgiveness and eternal life.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may my heart be moved to unending thanks for the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of my Savior. May doubters and unbelievers also be given faith in the one and only Savior. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Linda Hervieux for Newser on July 6, 2017. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written. Please click here
The truth is Ashutosh Maharaj is a pretty famous guy, at least in some circles. You see in 1983 Mr. Maharaj became the founder of a sect called Divine Light Awakening. Today, that sect which is dedicated to "self-awakening and global peace" has millions of followers and owns property worth more than $120 million.
There is only one very small, little problem.
In 2014 Mr. Maharaj died of a heart attack. At least his son and the medical people consulted said he died of a heart attack. On the other hand, many of Maharaj's followers say he is in a deep, meditative state, and they are waiting for him to wake up. They believe the day is coming when Maharaj will revive, come back to them, and walk out of the commercial freezer where his body is currently being stored.
Did I say there was only one very small problem? Let's make that two very small problems.
The second problem is legal. You see, if Mr. Maharaj is dead, his son is free to cremate his body according to Hindi tradition, and a fair percentage of his father's assets will go to him. On the other hand, if Mr. Maharaj is alive, the $120 million will continue to be controlled by church leaders.
For right now, at least, India's courts have said Mr. Maharaj can continue to meditate in the freezer.
No doubt you have formed your own opinion about the state of Mr. Maharaj. And, although I haven't taken any kind of poll, I would guess that most of you hold the opinion that Mr. Maharaj is not going to be joining his followers anytime soon.
If that's your belief, I agree with you.
As far as I know, in human history there have been only a few folks who have been brought back from the dead, and only One who came back without any assistance. In the first group would be numbered people like the son of the widow from Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and the brother of Mary and Martha.
In the second group is Jesus Christ, God's Son, our Savior.
If you look at the Gospels, you will quickly realize there was no debate about whether Jesus was alive or dead. Nobody said the Savior was meditating or had fallen into a deep coma. The Roman execution squad was an efficient group of men, experts at their trade. When they nailed someone to a cross and put a spear through his heart, that person was dead.
Yes, Jesus was dead when they put His corpse into a borrowed tomb.
And three days later He was alive, having defeated the last and the worst of humanity's enemies. Because of that victory, and because He had taken our place under the Law, all who believe on Him are given forgiveness and eternal life.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may my heart be moved to unending thanks for the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of my Savior. May doubters and unbelievers also be given faith in the one and only Savior. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Linda Hervieux for Newser on July 6, 2017. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written. Please click here
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: Psalms 1-2, 10; Acts 16:22-40
Psalms 1:11 How blessed are those
who reject the advice of the wicked,
don’t stand on the way of sinners
or sit where scoffers sit!
2 Their delight
is in Adonai’s Torah;
on his Torah they meditate
day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams —
they bear their fruit in season,
their leaves never wither,
everything they do succeeds.
4 Not so the wicked,
who are like chaff driven by the wind.
5 For this reason the wicked
won’t stand up to the judgment,
nor will sinners
at the gathering of the righteous.
6 For Adonai watches over
the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked
is doomed.
2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar,
the peoples grumbling in vain?
2 The earth’s kings are taking positions,
leaders conspiring together,
against Adonai
and his anointed.
3 They cry, “Let’s break their fetters!
Let’s throw off their chains!”
4 He who sits in heaven laughs;
Adonai looks at them in derision.
5 Then in his anger he rebukes them,
terrifies them in his fury.
6 “I myself have installed my king
on Tziyon, my holy mountain.”
7 “I will proclaim the decree:
Adonai said to me,
‘You are my son;
today I became your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make
the nations your inheritance;
the whole wide world
will be your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod,
shatter them like a clay pot.’”
10 Therefore, kings, be wise;
be warned, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve Adonai with fear;
rejoice, but with trembling.
12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry,
and you perish along the way,
when suddenly his anger blazes.
How blessed are all who take refuge in him.
10:1 Why, Adonai, do you stand at a distance?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in their arrogance hunt down the poor,
who get caught in the schemes they think up.
3 For the wicked boasts about his lusts;
he blesses greed and despises Adonai.
4 Every scheme of the wicked in his arrogance [says],
“There is no God, [so] it won’t be held against me.”
5 His ways prosper at all times.
Your judgments are way up there,
so he takes no notice.
His adversaries? He scoffs at them all.
6 In his heart he thinks, “I will never be shaken;
I won’t meet trouble, not now or ever.”
7 His mouth is full of curses, deceit, oppression;
under his tongue, mischief and injustice.
8 He waits near settlements in ambush
and kills an innocent man in secret;
his eyes are on the hunt for the helpless.
9 Lurking unseen like a lion in his lair,
he lies in wait to pounce on the poor,
then seizes the poor and drags him off in his net.
10 Yes, he stoops, crouches down low;
and the helpless wretch falls into his clutches.
11 He says in his heart, “God forgets,
he hides his face, he will never see.”
12 Arise, Adonai! God, raise your hand!
Don’t forget the humble!
13 Why does the wicked despise God
and say in his heart, “It won’t be held against me”?
14 You have seen; for you look at mischief and grief,
so that you can take the matter in hand.
The helpless commits himself to you;
you help the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked!
As for the evil man,
search out his wickedness
until there is none left.
16 Adonai is king forever and ever!
The nations have vanished from his land.
17 Adonai, you have heard what the humble want;
you encourage them and listen to them,
18 to give justice to the fatherless and oppressed,
so that no one on earth will strike terror again.
Acts 16:22 The mob joined in the attack against them, and the judges tore their clothes off them and ordered that they be flogged. 23 After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in prison, charging the jailer to guard them securely. 24 Upon receiving such an order, he threw them into the inner cell and clamped their feet securely between heavy blocks of wood.
25 Around midnight, Sha’ul and Sila were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners listened attentively. 26 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer awoke, and when he saw the doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, for he assumed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Sha’ul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”
29 Calling for lights, the jailer ran in, began to tremble and fell down in front of Sha’ul and Sila. 30 Then, leading them outside, he said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Trust in the Lord Yeshua, and you will be saved — you and your household!” 32 Whereupon they told him and everyone in his household the message about the Lord.
33 Then, even at that late hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed off their wounds; and without delay, he and all his people were immersed. 34 After that, he brought them up to his house and set food in front of them; and he and his entire household celebrated their having come to trust in God.
35 The next morning, the judges sent police officers with the order, “Release those men.” 36 The jailer told Sha’ul, “The judges have sent word to release both of you. So come out, and go on your way in peace.” 37 But Sha’ul said to the officers, “After flogging us in public when we hadn’t been convicted of any crime and are Roman citizens, they threw us in prison. Now they want to get rid of us secretly? Oh, no! Let them come and escort us out themselves!”
38 The officers reported these words to the judges, who became frightened when they heard that Sha’ul and Sila were Roman citizens. 39 They came and apologized to them; then, after escorting them out, requested them to leave the city. 40 From the prison they went to Lydia’s house, and after seeing and encouraging the brothers they departed.
-------
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Share this email:
No comments:
Post a Comment