Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Normal Times" for Wednesday,
July 26, 2017
(See John 16:2-4) - Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. ... But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
There are a few things you should know about Jack Phillips.
First, you should know that Phillips owns the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado. The second thing you need to know is that he is a practicing Christian. Now normally those two facts wouldn't cause a conflict, but these are not normal times. That's why, when Phillips was asked to come up with a cake for a same-sex wedding, he declined. Although making such a cake might not bother every Christian, it bothered him. That's why he said, "No, I don't think I can do that."
Well, as I said, these aren't normal times, and the offended couple ended up taking Phillips to court.
It didn't take too long for the Colorado Human Rights Commission to say, "Jack, you're wrong." Then the Colorado Supreme Court chimed in and agreed Jack was wrong.
I said there are a few things you should know about Jack Phillips. Here's one more: he doesn't like it much when someone tells him he is wrong when he believes he is right. It was that kind of feeling which will, this fall, take Phillips to the United States Supreme Court where he will plead his case.
Many of the people who have heard about Jack Phillips have been saying, "Will you look at that! Jack Phillips is just another one of those narrow-minded, politically incorrect, Bible-spouting Christians who wants everyone to believe exactly the same thing that he believes."
I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
My opinion is a bit different. My opinion says our crucified and risen Savior knew exactly what He was talking about when He said the day would be coming when people would think they are doing the community a public service by getting rid of non-conforming believers.
Jack Phillips would agree.
You see, he and his family have been receiving death threats for their beliefs. Some threats are quite specific. For example, there was the one where the caller said he knew the address of the bakery and that Phillips' daughter worked there. Then, to be sure he had made his point, he shared step-by-step driving directions. The caller then finished with a promise to murder them all.
Now the point I would like to make is this: Jack Phillips is not the narrow-minded, politically incorrect individual who wants everyone to believe exactly the same thing he believes. No, that title belongs to the open-minded people who are only open-minded when it comes to others. No, Phillips is just a Christian fellow who isn't living in normal times -- and neither are we.
This is why we who have been redeemed by the Savior need to listen to His words of warning, be prepared for the world's hatred, and hold fast to the Redeemer, whose sacrifice has won the ultimate and final victory for all who are blessed to know Him as their Savior from a sad and sinful world.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, this devotion has said we don't live in normal times. Looking back on history, it is quite possible that these days are more normal than we might wish. Since before You walked this earth, the world has always hated and opposed You and those who follow You. Give us the strength to be faithful to You who gave Your all for us. In Your Name. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written Veronica Neffinger for Christian Headlines on June 30, 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 96-98; Acts 17:1-15
Psalms 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
4 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
6 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his sanctuary, strength and splendor.
7 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
8 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and enter his courtyards.
9 Worship Adonai in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
The world is firmly established, immovable.
He will judge the peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and everything in it;
12 let the fields exult and all that is in them.
Then all the trees in the forest will sing
13 before Adonai, because he has come,
he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly
and the peoples with his faithfulness.
97:1 Adonai is king, let the earth rejoice,
let the many coasts and islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him,
setting ablaze his foes on every side.
4 His flashes of lightning light up the world;
the earth sees it and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Adonai,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All who worship images will be put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols.
Bow down to him, all you gods!
8 Tziyon hears and is glad, Adonai;
the daughters of Y’hudah rejoice at your rulings.
9 For you, Adonai, most high over all the earth,
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 You who love Adonai, hate evil!
He keeps his faithful servants safe.
He rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in Adonai, you righteous;
and give thanks on recalling his holiness.
98:1 (0) A psalm:
(1) Sing a new song to Adonai,
because he has done wonders.
His right hand, his holy arm
have won him victory.
2 Adonai has made known his victory;
revealed his vindication in full view of the nations,
3 remembered his grace and faithfulness
to the house of Isra’el.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
Break forth, sing for joy, sing praises!
5 Sing praises to Adonai with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious music!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the shofar,
shout for joy before the king, Adonai!
7 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
the world, and those living in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the mountains sing together for joy
9 before Adonai, for he has come to judge the earth;
he will judge the world rightly and the peoples fairly.
Acts 17:1 After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Sha’ul and Sila came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. 2 According to his usual practice, Sha’ul went in; and on three Shabbats he gave them drashes from the Tanakh, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Yeshua whom I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and threw in their lot with Sha’ul and Sila, as did a great many of the Greek men who were “God-fearers,” and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the unbelieving Jews grew jealous; so they got together some vicious men from the riffraff hanging around in the market square, collected a crowd and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s house, hoping to bring Sha’ul and Sila out to the mob. 6 But when they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city authorities and shouted, “These men who have turned the whole world upside down have come here too! 7 And Jason has let them stay in his home! All of them are defying the decrees of the Emperor; because they assert that there is another king, Yeshua!” 8 Their words threw the crowd and the authorities into a turmoil, 9 so that only after Jason and the others had posted bond did they let them go. 10 But as soon as night fell, the brothers sent Sha’ul and Sila off to Berea.
As soon as they arrived, they went to the synagogue. 11 Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh every day to see if the things Sha’ul was saying were true. 12 Many of them came to trust, as did a number of prominent Greek women and not a few Greek men.
13 But when the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Sha’ul in Berea as well, they went there too to make trouble and agitate the crowds. 14 The brothers sent Sha’ul away at once to go down to the seacoast, while Sila and Timothy stayed behind. 15 Sha’ul’s escort went with him as far as Athens, then left with instructions for Sila and Timothy to come as quickly as they could.
-------The Lutheran Hour Ministries in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Daily Devotion - Tuesday, July 25, 2017 "Only Jesus"
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Only Jesus" for Tuesday, July 25, 2017
(see Acts 7:54-60) - Now when they heard these things they were enraged ... But he, (Stephen) full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and ... he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they ... cast him out of the city and stoned him. ... And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Saint Samuel is a beloved man, an individual who is highly respected by members of the Egyptian Coptic Church. An ascetic monk who lived in the 600s, Samuel was known for doing without food and drink for a week at a time. More importantly, he was tortured for his faith but refused to deny his beliefs. According to tradition, Samuel built the monastery which bears his name in Qalamun, Egypt.
Now all that information might be incredibly boring to you. I hope it becomes less so when I share.
In May of this year a busload of Christian Copts were headed to that monastery when a group of jihadists attacked their bus. About ten masked terrorists opened fire on the vehicle with machine guns. The unarmed riders had no choice but to get off the bus and meet their attackers face to face.
For the Christian men the visit was a short one as they were mercilessly gunned down and martyred.
With 26 dead, and 25 wounded, the remaining women were forced to stand alone before the murderers who had just killed their sons, fathers, husbands, and friends. According to Mariam Adel, a survivor of that day, the terrorists had only one message for the ladies. The women were told they could either "renounce Christ and convert to Islam or they could be killed."
Now I would like to stop the narrative and ask you, what would you have said in reply?
• Would you have done what was demanded and then repent, saying, "I really didn't mean it."
• Would you have said, "It doesn't make any difference; one god is as good as another god?
Knowing your life hung in the balance, what would you have said?
Adel shares the reply of the ladies. Looking down the barrel of a gun, surrounded by their dead friends and family, the women echoed the confession of St. Samuel from many centuries earlier. Boldly they confessed: "Renounce our faith? Of course not! We only want Jesus and we are confident He will not leave us."
Surprisingly, this confession seemed to shock the terrorists who refrained from causing more death. Instead, they decided to steal everything of value from the courageous Christian women.
My friends, by God's grace, we may never have to endure such physical threats. Far more likely are pressures that will come as we follow our risen Redeemer and live a lifestyle different than that of the world. No matter what type of persecution we encounter, may we remain faithful to the Lord whose grace sent His Son into the world to offer His life as the ransom which saves us.
May each of us boldly say, "I want Jesus and I am confident He will not leave me."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that those who encounter the representatives of this sinful world and Satan might be strong in their resistance. Keep us all in the fellowship so we might be faithful unto death and., in the end, receive the crown of life. In Jesus' Name. Amen
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Veronica Neffinger for Christian Headlines on July 12, 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 93-95; Philippians 4
Psalms 93:1 Adonai is king, robed in majesty;
Adonai is robed, girded with strength;
The world is well established;
it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you have existed forever.
3 Adonai, the deep is raising up,
the deep is raising up its voice,
the deep is raising its crashing waves.
4 More than the sound of rushing waters
or the mighty breakers of the sea,
Adonai on high is mighty.
5 Your instructions are very sure;
holiness befits your house,
Adonai, for all time to come.
94:1 God of vengeance, Adonai!
God of vengeance, appear!
2 Assert yourself as judge of the earth!
Pay back the proud as they deserve!
3 How long are the wicked, Adonai,
how long are the wicked to triumph?
4 They pour out insolent words,
they go on bragging, all these evildoers.
5 They crush your people, Adonai,
they oppress your heritage.
6 They kill widows and strangers
and murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “Yah isn’t looking;
the God of Ya‘akov won’t notice.”
8 Take notice, yourselves, you boors among the people!
You fools, when will you understand?
9 Will the one who planted the ear not hear?
Will the one who formed the eye not see?
10 Will the one who disciplines nations not correct them?
Will the teacher of humanity not know?
11 Adonai understands that people’s thoughts
are merely a puff of wind.
12 How happy the man whom you correct, Yah,
whom you teach from your Torah,
13 giving him respite from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked!
14 For Adonai will not desert his people,
he will not abandon his heritage.
15 Justice will once again become righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will champion my cause against the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
17 If Adonai hadn’t helped me,
I would soon have dwelt in the land of silence.
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping!”
your grace, Adonai, supported me.
19 When my cares within me are many,
your comforts cheer me up.
20 Can unjust judges be allied with you,
those producing wrong in the name of law?
21 They band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But Adonai has become my stronghold,
my God is my rock of refuge.
23 But he repays them as their guilt deserves;
he will cut them off with their own evil;
Adonai our God will cut them off.
95:1 Come, let’s sing to Adonai!
Let’s shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!
2 Let’s come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let’s shout for joy to him with songs of praise.
3 For Adonai is a great God,
a great king greater than all gods.
4 He holds the depths of the earth in his hands;
the mountain peaks too belong to him.
5 The sea is his — he made it —
and his hands shaped the dry land.
6 Come, let’s bow down and worship;
let’s kneel before Adonai who made us.
7 For he is our God, and we are the people
in his pasture, the sheep in his care.
If only today you would listen to his voice:
8 “Don’t harden your hearts, as you did at M’rivah,
as you did on that day at Massah in the desert,
9 when your fathers put me to the test;
they challenged me, even though they saw my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation;
I said, ‘This is a people whose hearts go astray,
they don’t understand how I do things.’
11 Therefore I swore in my anger
that they would not enter my rest.”
Philippians 4:1 So, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, my dear friends, keep standing firm in union with the Lord.
2 I beg Evodia and I beg Syntyche to agree with each other in union with the Lord. 3 I also request you, loyal Syzygus, to help these women; for they have worked hard proclaiming the Good News with me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
10 In union with the Lord I greatly rejoice that now, after this long time, you have let your concern for me express itself again. Of course, you were concerned for me all along, but you had no opportunity to express it. 11 Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.
14 Nevertheless, it was good of you to share in my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the early days of my work spreading the Good News, when I left Macedonia, not a single congregation shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving — only you. 16 Indeed, in Thessalonica when I needed it, you sent me aid twice. 17 I am not seeking the gift; rather, I am looking for what will increase the credit balance of your account. 18 I have been more than paid in full: I have been filled, since I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent — they are a fragrant aroma,[Philippians 4:18 Genesis 8:21; Exodus 29:18] an acceptable sacrifice, one that pleases God well. 19 Moreover, my God will fill every need of yours according to his glorious wealth, in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 20 And to God our Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet each of God’s people in the Messiah Yeshua. The brothers with me send their greetings to you. 22 All God’s people send greetings, but especially those in the Emperor’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with your spirit.
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Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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