Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Giving from the Heart" for Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Galatians 4:4-7 - But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.Bruno Rafael Paiva is a teacher substituting for another instructor who is on maternity leave.
Now in most counties that might not be a problem. Apparently, in Brazil, it can be a major difficulty. You see, in Brazil there is layer upon layer of bureaucracy. That bureaucracy makes it difficult to get anything done. In Paiva's case it means
1. he has to get a license and then register that license;
2. he has to submit his own documents and those of the person for whom he is substituting;
3. the system has to generate a contract which he has to sign;
4. the contract has to be attached to his file and then his name is submitted for the payroll.
What all that means is this: Paiva hasn't received a paycheck in two months and, because he has no money, he has been sleeping at school.
When his students discovered his situation, they pooled their resources and surprised their teacher with a gift of 400 Brazilian reals, or about $107. When he opened his gift, an overwhelmed Paiva replied, "This cannot be. How can you do this?"
And then he cried.
Afterward, on Facebook, Paiva wrote, "I have many rooms that I have loved in my heart to be a teacher, but no room has ever shown such love, help, and affection for my teacher's work as building number one did today."
Having seen a video of the class as they gave their gift, I would have to agree.
Lives do get changed when the right gift is given at the right time with the right motivation.
That is exactly what Paul wrote to the church in Galatia.
* The right gift is God's Son born of a woman, born under the Law.
* The right time is when the fullness of time had come, when God's preparations were complete for the spreading of the Gospel message.
* The right motivation is to redeem those who were under the Law, so we might be forgiven and adopted as the Lord's children.
Now, because of what the Lord has done through His perfect gift, by the Holy Spirit's power lives are being changed. Souls once encumbered by sin are forgiven and restored; people once destined for hell are now headed for heaven. Those who once were alone now have a permanent Friend, and those who once were in darkness have been moved into the light.
All this takes place because of Jesus who is the Father's right gift, given at the right time, and with the right motivation.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we could not ask for -- nor did we deserve -- Your Son, our Redeemer, the perfect Gift. Still, we ask that You will accept our thanks and praise for Him who came at the right time to save our souls. In Jesus, we ask it. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Suny Skyz on June 4, 2018. 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:https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2836/Students-Surprise-Teacher-With-A-Gift-After-Learning-He-Had-Been-Sleeping-At-The-School
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Proverbs 27-29; Acts 5:1-21Proverbs 27:1 Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what the day may bring.
2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth,
a stranger and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and sand a dead weight,
but a fool’s provocation outweighs them both.
4 Fury is cruel and anger overwhelming,
but who can stand up to jealousy?
5 Better open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend are received as well-meant,
but an enemy’s kisses are insincere.
7 A person who is full loathes a honeycomb;
but to the hungry, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that strays from its nest
is a man who strays from his home.
9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
[also] friendship sweet with advice from the heart.
10 Don’t abandon a friend
who is also a friend of your father.
Don’t enter your brother’s house on the day of your calamity —
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 My son, become wise, and gladden my heart,
so that I can answer my critics.
12 The clever see trouble coming and hide;
the thoughtless go on and pay the penalty.
13 Seize his clothes because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;
take them as security for that unknown woman.
14 Whoever greets his neighbor in a loud voice at dawn
might just as well have cursed him.
15 A leak that keeps dripping on a rainy day
and the nagging of a wife are the same —
16 whoever can restrain her can restrain the wind
or keep perfume on his hand from making itself known.
17 Just as iron sharpens iron,
a person sharpens the character of his friend.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who is attentive to his master will be honored.
19 Just as water reflects the face,
so one human heart reflects another.
20 Sh’ol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and human eyes are never satisfied.
21 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold,
but a person [is tested] by [his reaction to] praise.
22 You can crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle,
along with the grain being crushed;
yet his foolishness will not leave him.
23 Take care to know the condition of your flocks,
and pay attention to your herds.
24 For wealth doesn’t last forever,
neither does a crown through all generations.
25 When the hay has been mown, and the new grass appears,
and the mountain greens have been gathered;
26 the lambs will provide your clothing,
the goats will sell for enough to buy a field,
27 and there will be enough goat’s milk
to [buy] food for you and your household
and maintenance for your servant-girls.
28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues them;
but the righteous, like lions, feel sure of themselves.
2 A land which transgresses [is punished by] having many rulers;
but with a man of understanding and knowledge, stability is prolonged.
3 A poor man who oppresses the weak
is like a downpour that sweeps away all the food.
4 Those who abandon Torah praise the wicked,
but those who keep Torah fight them.
5 Evil people don’t understand justice,
but those who seek Adonai understand everything.
6 Better to be poor and live an honest life
than be crooked in one’s ways, though rich.
7 A wise son observes Torah,
but a friend of those lacking restraint shames his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by charging exorbitant interest
amasses it for someone who will bestow it on the poor.
9 If a person will not listen to Torah,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever causes the honest to pursue evil ways
will himself fall into his own pit,
but the pure-hearted will inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own view,
but the poor who has discernment sees through him.
12 When the just are triumphant, there is great rejoicing,
but when the wicked rise up, people hide.
13 He who conceals his sins will not succeed;
he who confesses and abandons them will gain mercy.
14 Happy the person who is never without fear,
but he who hardens his heart will fall into misfortune.
15 Like a roaring lion or a bear prowling for food
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A prince without discernment is a cruel oppressor,
but one who hates greed will prolong his life.
17 Let a man weighed down with anyone’s blood
flee to a pit; give him no support.
18 Whoever lives blamelessly will be saved,
but he whose ways are crooked will fall in one [of those ways].
19 He who farms his land will have plenty of food,
but he who follows futilities will have plenty of poverty.
20 A trustworthy person will receive many blessings,
but one rushing to get rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
though a person may do wrong for a crust of bread.
22 He who is greedy rushes after riches,
not knowing that want will overtake him.
23 He who rebukes another person
in the end gets more thanks than the flatterer.
24 Whoever robs mother or father and says, “That’s not a crime!”
is comrade to the destroyer.
25 A grasping disposition stirs up strife,
but he who trusts in Adonai will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who lives by wisdom will escape.
27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,
but he who hides his eyes will get curses in plenty.
28 When the wicked rise up, people hide;
but when they perish, the righteous flourish.
29:1 He who remains stiffnecked after much rebuke
will be suddenly and incurably broken.
2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked are in power, the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 A king gives stability to a country by justice,
but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his own steps.
6 In an evil person’s crime is a trap,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor,
but the wicked is unconcerned.
8 Scoffers can inflame a city,
but the wise can calm the fury.
9 When a wise man argues with a foolish one,
he meets anger and ridicule without relief.
10 Men of blood hate those who are pure
and seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives vent to all his feelings,
but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
Adonai gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king steadfastly gives justice to the poor,
his throne will be secure forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame on his mother.
16 When the wicked flourish, wrongdoing flourishes;
but the righteous will witness their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
yes, he will be your delight.
18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint;
but he who keeps Torah is happy.
19 A slave can’t be disciplined with words;
he may understand, but he won’t respond.
20 Do you see someone too anxious to speak?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 A slave who is pampered from youth
will in the end be ungrateful.
22 Angry people stir up strife;
hot-tempered people commit many crimes.
23 The proud will be humbled,
but the humble will be honored.
24 The accomplice of a thief hates himself;
he hears himself put under oath but discloses nothing.
25 Fearing human beings is a snare;
but he who trusts in Adonai will be raised high [above danger].
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but it is from Adonai that each gets justice.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
but he who lives uprightly is an abomination to the wicked.
Acts 5:1 But there was a man named Hananyah who, with his wife Shappirah, sold some property 2 and, with his wife’s knowledge, withheld some of the proceeds for himself; although he did bring the rest to the emissaries. 3 Then Kefa said, “Why has the Adversary so filled your heart that you lie to the Ruach HaKodeshand keep back some of the money you received for the land? 4 Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to use as you pleased. So what made you decide to do such a thing? You have lied not to human beings but to God!”
5 On hearing these words, Hananyah fell down dead; and everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body in a shroud, carried him out and buried him.
7 Some three hours later, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. 8 Kefa challenged her: “Tell me, is it true that you sold the land for such-and-such a price?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is what we were paid for it.” 9 But Kefa came back at her, “Then why did you people plot to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too!” 10 Instantly she collapsed at his feet and died. The young men entered, found her there dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 As a result of this, great fear came over the whole Messianic community, and indeed over everyone who heard about it.
12 Meanwhile, through the emissaries many signs and miracles continued to be done among the people. United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo’s Colonnade; 13 and no one else dared to join them. Nevertheless, the people continued to regard them highly; 14 and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women. 15 They went so far as to bring the sick into the streets and lay them on mattresses and stretchers, so that at least Kefa’s shadow might fall on them as he passed by. 16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Yerushalayim, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits; and every one of them was healed.
17 But the cohen hagadol and his associates, who were members of the party of the Tz’dukim, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, an angel of Adonai opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, 20 “Go, stand in the Temple court and keep telling the people all about this new life!” 21 After hearing that, they entered the Temple area about dawn and began to teach.
Now the cohen hagadol and his associates came and called a meeting of the Sanhedrin (that is, of Isra’el’s whole assembly of elders) and sent to the jail to have them brought. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
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