Father Abraham -- Part 1
Genesis 15:1
06/03/2024
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to
Abram in a vision: ``Fear not, Abram, I am your
shield; your reward shall be very great.'' (ESV)
God called Abram out of idolatry in which he deserved
nothing but condemnation and eternal death. Yet, God was
gracious to Abram and said, ``And I will make of you a great
nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that
you will be a blessing.''[1] Abram, who was seventy-five,
accepted God's call and moved from near the Euphrates River in
the land of Haren and journeyed towards the land of Canaan.
For ten years or longer, Abram, his wife, his nephew Lot,
and their servants wandered in the land between Canaan and Egypt.
``After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a
vision: `Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be
very great.'''
This comforting word of God given to Abram reinforced that
God's plan of salvation for all people would come from Abram's
descendants. Jesus Christ traced His ancestors to David and back
to Abram, showing that indeed God's promise did come true.
Yet, when the LORD spoke these words to Abram, the
fulfillment of the promise was still far off. God protected
Abram and his possessions, but Abram and his wife Sarai remained
childless.
This week we will see God's promise both to Abram and to us,
encouraging us to trust in Him. May our Lord richly bless you
this coming week. Amen.
____________________
1. Genesis 12:2 (ESV)Category: Moments of Meditation
Daily devotions as heard on KJOE 106.1 FM
The Throne of God — Part 4: May 31, 2024
The Throne of God -- Part 4
Isaiah 6:6-7
05/31/2024
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his
hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs
from the altar.
7 And he touched my mouth and said: ``Behold, this
has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away,
and your sin atoned for.'' (ESV)
Isaiah, seeing God upon His throne in heaven, was aware of
his guilt and sin. All he could say was, ``Woe is me! For I am
lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of
a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the
LORD of hosts!'' Yet, as Saint John later wrote, ``If we say we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.''
Isaiah told of God's rich love, grace, and mercy. He spoke
of the forgiveness of sins, the Word of God mediated through a
messenger of the Most High, the LORD of Hosts.
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand
a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the
altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ``Behold,
this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away,
and your sin atoned for.''
This is the message of the Church. The Father who created
us sent His only-begotten Son to bear the price of our guilt by
dying on the cross and rising again. The Holy Spirit, who
proceeds from the Father and the Son makes us holy in God's sight
by giving us the benefit of Jesus' death and resurrection as He
creates and sustains the faith which holds to God's grace and
mercy. Like Isaiah, we hear that our sins are forgiven, that is
is atoned for by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Come join
us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday to hear more
of this marvelous news, May our Lord grant you the wisdom and
faith to join with His people of all time and places in receiving
His rich love and mercy. Amen.The Throne of God — Part 3: May 30, 2024
The Throne of God -- Part 3
Isaiah 6:5
05/30/2024
5 And I said: ``Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the
King, the LORD of hosts!'' (ESV)
Isaiah is one of the very few people who has seen a vision
of the throne room of heaven. Along with Saint John, who
recorded a similar vision in the last book of the Bible, the
prophet and evangelist both heard the song of heaven. ``Holy,
Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His
glory!''
Sinful mankind can not see God and live. Adam and Eve hid
from the LORD as He walked in the garden the evening after they
had succumbed to temptation. Moses was told he could not see the
face of God. Now Isaiah is confronted this the truth, a sinner
who sees God is doomed.
And I said: ``Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man
of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people
of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the
LORD of hosts!''
Isaiah speaks for each one of us. You and I are also of
unclean lips, which reflects our unclean heart and soul. You and
I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips, of sinners, of
ones who rightly are condemned by our sin. Yet, God is gracious
and merciful to Isaiah, even as He is gracious and merciful to
all repentant sinners.
May our Lord grant that in seeing Him we see not His wrath
upon sinners, but His love, grace, and mercy as revealed in Jesus
Christ. Amen.The Throne of God — Part 2: May 29, 2024
The Throne of God -- Part 2
Isaiah 6:3-4
05/29/2024
3 And one called to another and said: ``Holy, holy,
holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full
of his glory!''
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the
voice of him who called, and the house was filled
with smoke. (ESV)
During the last year of the reign of King Uzziah over Judah,
758 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah saw a vision of the
throne room of heaven. The mighty seraphim, the highest of the
angelic order, hovered around the Lord singing His praises.
And one called to another and said: ``Holy, holy, holy
is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his
glory!''
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the
voice of him who called, and the house was filled with
smoke.
The thrice holy, once for each person of the Trinity, is the
song of heaven. This is the hymn the Church sings as we are
invited to the Lord's altar to receive from Him the very body and
blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine of the
Lord's Supper. Our celebration is a mere echo and foreshadowing
of the full glory of God, yet we are truly in His presence at His
invitation.
Do we approach the very throne of God, His holy altar, with
complacency and a lack of reverence? Absolutely not! If the
angels hide their faces from God as they sing His praises, we
also come into His presence with awe and reverence.
As Isaiah is about to learn, the God worshiped by the angel
hosts is the God who forgives our sins because of His great love.
Is there any greater reason to kneel before Him in humility,
reverence, and awe?
May our Lord grant that we also join with the angels in
praising Him for His rich love, the glory of the God who redeems
us from sin and death. Amen.The Throne of God — Part 1: May 28, 2024
The Throne of God -- Part 1
Isaiah 6:1-2
05/28/2024
1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the
train of his robe filled the temple.
2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings:
with two he covered his face, and with two he
covered his feet, and with two he flew. (ESV)
This past Sunday marked the beginning of the Church half of
the Church Year. During the first few weeks of the Trinity
Season, we review that which defines the Church, the teachings
that make the Church more than merely a social club. On Trinity
Sunday we confess the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Father created us. The Son redeemed us. The Holy Spirit
calls us to faith in the Son by giving us the very means by which
we know of His love, acknowledge that love, and trust that love.
In the Old Testament reading from Isaiah we see a vision of
the throne of heaven. With Isaiah, we behold the majesty of God.
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the
train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood
the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered
his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with
two he flew.
Isaiah saw the full majesty of the Triune God. In so doing,
Isaiah also came to know the gracious God who forgives the sins
of those who repent. This week we will join Isaiah as he relates
his call to be a prophet, even as each week we join in the hymn
of praise raised by all of the heavenly hosts to the Triune God.
May our Lord grant that we know of Him, acknowledge Him, and
trust in Him above all things. Amen.Memorial Day — May 27, 2024
Memorial Day 2024
Proverbs 14:34
05/27/2024
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people. (ESV)
Today this nation takes time to remember those paid the
ultimate price while defending our freedoms. Thomas Jefferson,
the third president of the United States wrote: ``The tree of
liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants.'' Ever since the first patriots took up
arms to secure our liberties, we have honored the memories of
those who refreshed the tree of liberty with their blood.
King Solomon wrote: ``Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin
is a reproach to any people.'' We pray, therefore, for righteous
leaders and faithful citizens who place the good of their
neighbors over personal gain. When our leaders are moral and
just, the entire nation is blessed. When our leaders seek their
own good over others, we all suffer. Therefore we pray for this
nation, remembering those who sacrificed themselves that others
may live in freedom.
Lord of our Land and Life, Over two centuries ago,
shortly before the British hanged him, the American
hero Nathan Hale said he regretted he had only one life
to lose for his country. Today we can see things Hale
could not: we see America's flag, her history, and the
democratic truths upon which she has been built. We
give thanks that our country remains: ``One nation
under God.'' Knowing that, we proudly echo his words in
saying, ``I have only one life to invest in my
country.'' The Bible says doing right exalts a nation
and sin disgraces her. For that reason, we pray for
America, right or wrong. When America is right, dear
Lord, keep her right. Allow the good people, the God-
fearing people of America to loyally continue their
vigilance and struggle for those things which are
pleasing to You. And, if our nation ever wanders or
goes wrong, dear Lord, turn her and gently bring her
back onto the path You would have her walk. In Jesus'
name, we pray. Amen.The Tower of Babel — Part 5: May 24, 2024
The Tower of Babel - Part 5
Genesis 11:9
05/24/2024
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there
the LORD confused the language of all the earth.
And from there the LORD dispersed them over the
face of all the earth. (ESV)
Last Sunday the Church celebrated God's gift of the Holy
Spirit as we remembered the sound of the rushing wind, the
tongues of fire, and the disciples speaking in languages which
they had never had the opportunity to learn. The message of
salvation from sin, death, and the power of the devil because of
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is for all people.
At the tower of Babel the Lord caused work to cease as
communication became impossible. ``Therefore its name was called
Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the
earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of
all the earth.'' By confusing the languages, the descendants of
Noah were forced to do that which God commanded, namely subdue
and fill the earth, properly using the resources He had created
for the good of all people.
On Pentecost, the many nations and language groups are
joined together with the common message of God's rich grace and
mercy. Although the pilgrims in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks
came from all over the world, the Gospel was the same for all
people.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
might be saved through him.[3]
Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. on
Sunday to hear more of this good news of God's grace and mercy.
May our Lord continue to bless you. Amen.
____________________
3. John 3:16-17 (ESV)Tower of Babel — Part 4: May 23, 2024
The Tower of Babel - Part 4
Genesis 11:8
05/23/2024
8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the
face of all the earth, and they left off building
the city. (ESV)
After the great flood, God blessed Noah and his sons.
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them,
``Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. ... And
you, be fruitful and multiply, teem on the earth and
multiply in it.''[2]
In defiance of God, the descendants of Noah congregated
together and built a large city with a tall tower reaching high
into the heavens. God, in His mercy, confused the language of
the people so they could not continue this great project. ``So
the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the
earth, and they left off building the city.''
The sin of the people was defying God by seeking to gain
glory and lasting recognition. Pride in their accomplishments
replaced trust in the Creator of heaven and earth. With the
wealth of the whole world waiting, with the opportunity to tend
and properly use all of creation, they selfishly looked for
others to admire their work.
The sin of Babel still effects the world. Because we cannot
easily communicate with others, we fear them. Different
cultures, people of different languages, are unfamiliar and
terrifying. Therefore, we daily sin against those we do not
understand, forgetting that each person is created by God and
loved by Him. Jesus died for all people of all nations and of
all languages. Our task is to fill the world with the good news
of salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ Jesus
alone.
May our Lord grant us the will to do His will, to tell
others of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins upon the cross, giving
to us redemption from sin and death. Amen.
____________________
2. Genesis 9:1,7 (ESV)The Tower of Babel — Part 3: May 22, 2024
The Tower of Babel - Part 3
Genesis 11:5-7
05/22/2024
5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the
tower, which the children of man had built.
6 And the LORD said, ``Behold, they are one people,
and they have all one language, and this is only
the beginning of what they will do. And nothing
that they propose to do will now be impossible for
them.
7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their
language, so that they may not understand one
another's speech.'' (ESV)
The descendants of Noah were instructed by God to leave the
site where the ark had landed, to travel, and to fill the earth.
Instead, they traveled eastward until reaching the plains in
modern day Iraq between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. There
they decided to build a large city with a tower in defiance of
God's desire that they go and care for all the earth. The ruins
of this city, later called Babylon, are still evident in the
desert.
God had other plans.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower,
which the children of man had built. And the LORD
said, ``Behold, they are one people, and they have all
one language, and this is only the beginning of what
they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will
now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and
there confuse their language, so that they may not
understand one another's speech.''
Just a century earlier, in response to rampant sin, God had
destroyed all but eight people by causing a world-wide flood.
Later He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone
for their great sins. Yet, in love and mercy, God determined not
to destroy those who rejected Him, but to cause circumstances so
that His will would be done.
Our Lord showed the same compassion three millenia later
when He sent His Son to bear the sins of the world rather than
destroying all who opposed Him. He does not desire the death of
the wicked, but that they repent of their sinful ways and return
to Him.
May our Lord grant us the grace to see His love, to receive
His mercy, and to set aside our selfish desires so to do His
will. Amen.The Tower of Babel — Part 2: May 21, 2024
The Tower of Babel - Part 2
Genesis 11:3-4
05/21/2024
3 And they said to one another, ``Come, let us make
bricks, and burn them thoroughly.'' And they had
brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
4 Then they said, ``Come, let us build ourselves a
city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and
let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be
dispersed over the face of the whole earth.''
(ESV)
In the third chapter of Genesis we learn that original sin
is the desire to be like God, to replace Him. Over the course of
the years, people rejected the truth of God's Word. Sin became
so rampant that God destroyed all but eight people. Yet, 100
years after the Flood, Noah's descendants once again determined
to ignore God's Word and His command to fill the earth.
And they said to one another, ``Come, let us make
bricks, and burn them thoroughly.'' And they had brick
for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said,
``Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with
its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for
ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the
whole earth.''
More important than God's command to properly care for
creation was the desire for fame and legacy. To build a city and
tower was to defy God and His desire that mankind cares for all
of creation. This same arrogance is evident today as people
reject God's Word and determine to do things their own way.
Defying God brings consequences. Ignoring the truth of His
Word brings fear, loneliness, and the uncertainty of the future.
We may not build large cities or towering temples, but we seek
our own way to heaven, a way of works which is doomed to fail.
By rejecting God's offer of love, grace, and mercy as found in
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we find no comfort
when our world collapses.
May our Lord grant us the wisdom to learn the lessons from
ancient history, lessons which are important today. Amen.