The Lutheran Hour Ministries in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Daily Devotion - Thursday, August 3, 2017 "A Beautiful Picture"
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "A Beautiful Picture" for Thursday, August 3, 2017
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
One of the most famous photographs coming out of World War II was taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. The picture shows six U.S. Marines placing our flag on the top of Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi. The photograph won the Pulitzer Prize for photography, was used in the 7th War Loan Drive, graced the covers of countless newspapers and magazines, and served as inspiration in the creation of the Marine Corp Memorial at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. That's a lot of mileage for a single photograph.
Recently, I saw another photograph. In many ways it differs from Rosenthal's picture. This photo was taken in a time of peace and not of war. The photo will not raise a ton of money, nor will it ever appear on any magazine covers. The greatest difference is this: while Rosenthal's photo shows men putting up the flag, this picture shows men taking it down.
Still, there is a moving similarity between the pictures. Let me describe the photo for you.
The picture, taken by Josh Edelson, shows some California firefighters who had been assigned the job of protecting 50 homes from a wildfire. In the background you can see the flames coming over the top of a hill. What you can't see are the propane tanks that were blowing up and the power lines which were falling. Amazingly, the firefighters are not looking at the fire; their eyes are fixed upon an American flag, which had been left flying from a home's second-floor balcony.
The photographer said the firefighters spotted "Old Glory," spoke together for a second, and then climbed up to remove the flag to a place of safety.
So there you have it: two immensely moving photos of men with flags. With many differences, these pictures move us because of something they have in common: they both recognize that some things are important; some things are worth our time, and some things are worth dying for.
Similarly, when the Lord looks at us, I think He feels the same way. Read through Scripture and you will see that He thinks we are important, worthy of His time and, yes, even worth dying for.
Now it's true there were no photographs taken at the Bethlehem stable or the site of Jesus' crucifixion at Jerusalem. Even so, the Gospel paints a beautiful picture showing God's commitment to rescuing His lost and condemned children.
And although no cameramen were posted outside the Savior's borrowed grave, the events of Resurrection Sunday have changed this sinful world. More importantly, the resurrection of the Redeemer says His work has been completed and for those who are brought to faith, there is forgiveness and life eternal.
All of which makes for a most beautiful picture, indeed.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, those who stood at the foot of Your cross were horrified by the injustice of the occasion. There is no doubt it was a terrible event. Still, we who have seen You in the word-pictures of the Gospels, rejoice in Your sacrifice which forgives and saves. May others join us in seeing Your love. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including two written by RARE on July 12 and 21 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: click here AND 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 120-122; 2 Thessalonians 2
Psalms 120:1 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) I called to Adonai in my distress,
and he answered me.
2 Rescue me, Adonai, from lips that tell lies,
from a tongue full of deceit.
3 What has he in store for you, deceitful tongue?
What more will he do to you?
4 A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with red-hot coals from a broom tree.
5 How wretched I am, that I’m an alien in Meshekh,
that I must live among the tents of Keidar!
6 I have had to live far too long
with those who hate peace.
7 I am all for peace;
but when I speak, they are for war.
121:1 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills,
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from Adonai,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip —
your guardian is not asleep.
4 No, the guardian of Isra’el
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand
Adonai provides you with shade —
6 the sun can’t strike you during the day
or even the moon at night.
7 Adonai will guard you against all harm;
he will guard your life.
8 Adonai will guard your coming and going
from now on and forever.
122:1 (0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) I was glad when they said to me,
“The house of Adonai! Let’s go!”
2 Our feet were already standing
at your gates, Yerushalayim.
3 Yerushalayim, built as a city
fostering friendship and unity.
4 The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of Adonai,
as a witness to Isra’el,
to give thanks to the name of Adonai.
5 For there the thrones of justice were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for shalom in Yerushalayim;
may those who love you prosper.
7 May shalom be within your ramparts,
prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I say,
“Shalom be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of Adonai our God,
I will seek your well-being.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 But in connection with the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah and our gathering together to meet him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily shaken in your thinking or anxious because of a spirit or a spoken message or a letter supposedly from us claiming that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.
For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. 4 He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God.[2 Thessalonians 2:4 Ezekiel 28:2]
5 Don’t you remember that when I was still with you, I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, so that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For already this separating from Torah is at work secretly, but it will be secretly only until he who is restraining is out of the way. 8 Then the one who embodies separation from Torah will be revealed, the one whom the Lord Yeshua will slay with the breath of his mouth[2 Thessalonians 2:8 Isaiah 11:4; Job 4:9] and destroy by the glory of his coming.
9 When this man who avoids Torah comes, the Adversary will give him the power to work all kinds of false miracles, signs and wonders. 10 He will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction because they would not receive the love of the truth that could have saved them. 11 This is why God is causing them to go astray, so that they will believe the Lie. 12 The result will be that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken their pleasure in wickedness, will be condemned.
13 But we have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers whom the Lord loves, because God chose you as firstfruits for deliverance by giving you the holiness that has its origin in the Spirit and the faithfulness that has its origin in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our Good News, so that you could have the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm; and hold to the traditions you were taught by us, whether we spoke them or wrote them in a letter. 16 And may our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself and God our Father, who has loved us and by his grace given us eternal comfort and a good hope, 17 comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
-------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.
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