Living Words

Isaiah 58:9-14

Linda McMillen

Reading through this passage, I see the correlation that Isaiah is making to living your life well and being rewarded. He starts by saying that God is there for us in our time of need. He then goes on to enumerate ways that we can remove evil from our lives: do not speak evil, help others in need, treat others as we would like to be treated, etc. He mentions several of the 10 commandments as a framework for how one can achieve true happiness through God's love by following his commandments. It is so easy in this day and age to get caught up in our own wants and needs and forget about those around us and what they may need.

I started thinking of what I have done recently for someone else that, as Isaiah put it, let my "light… rise in the darkness and (my) gloom be like the noonday". I participated in the Grate Patrol, where CTK members got together and made bag meals for the homeless in downtown DC. Several of us then boarded a Salvation Army van and handed out those meals to homeless men and women at various stops downtown. Many of those homeless had little but the clothes on their backs, and all were universally grateful for the food. Comparing what I have and what little they have, really made me appreciate my life. It certainly put things in proper perspective. Perhaps we all need a reality check every once in a while.

PRAYER: Lord, grant me the ability to make time every day to appreciate the beauty around us. Help me to remember to be kind to everyone and try to make someone smile every day. Amen.

Give It Up

Isaiah 58:1-9

Verna and Jim Johnson

In our modern society, we are driven to be successful and to be proud of our achievements. Success is often measured by one’s position in life, the amount of money made, and the power one has over others. However, in the end, none of these things really matter, as these measures of success are not recognized by God. The proper measures of success are what we do to help our fellow man in both his physical and spiritual needs. If we are successful by these measures, God will reward us with peace on earth, and He will accept us into heaven. We need to change our priorities and do more to help others. This is particularly true in this time when so many have lost their jobs and are having a hard time meeting even their most basic needs.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us to seek those in need and help them to get food, clothing, and spiritual uplifting. Amen.

Deny Yourself

Luke 9:22-25

Jerry Teitman

This is a most important text, in that it appears essentially intact in three of the Gospels. Before this study I would have interpreted the meaning as one of some small sacrifice on my part for Lent, whether that is fasting or foregoing ice cream or chocolate or some other pleasure for the 40 days of Lent. Denial of the flesh opens the spirit to hear the word of God. Reading the text now, I see multiple interpretations.

Jesus states, “whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day and follow in my steps. Whoever will save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it”. These are words I had never contemplated in the context of the Lenten season, but now I do.

I probably will not be asked to sacrifice my life for the name of Christ, such as was the case with the early Christian church or, in a more modern sense, like Dietrich Bonhoffer did in a Nazi concentration camp. However, we are all asked to mimic Jesus and serve our neighbor. In doing so, we could be asked to put our very lives in jeopardy. There are many examples of this service, such as providing aid for victims of an ongoing disaster, responding to a call for help, or assisting those who are dying of a contagious disease.

But the figurative interpretation, that is, where we sacrifice our life to serve the lives of others, need not be life threatening. And it need not be for a lifetime, but for an hour or a day of service -- all in the name of Jesus Christ. I know that I have had and will have many opportunities to serve those in need. Will I do it?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, give me the sight to see those in need, the selflessness to respond and the wisdom to know what is required. All this I ask in your Holy Name.

Ash Wednesday

Psalm 51

Pastor Paul Gysan

Do you recall as a child getting caught with your “hand in the cookie jar?” I still have my childhood cookie jar in the shape of a clown, whose head when lifted off grants access to the cookies. Because it’s ceramic, the challenge was to try to get it back on quietly so my parents couldn’t hear. “Paul you can have one cookie” they would say. But having tasted that one delicious cookie I was tempted to take another. I would often get caught by my parents with my “hand in the cookie jar.”

I would try to cover this up through denial and false statements. King David got caught with his “hand in the cookie jar.” Take time to read 2 Samuel 11:1-27. We read about his arrogance, adultery, deception, and murder. He tried to cover it up, but Nathan confronted David (2 Samuel 12:1-14) and David grieved (2 Samuel 12:15-25). Psalm 51 is a prayer of David asking for God’s mercy, and God’s forgiveness.

In vs. 7 we read, “Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than show.” David prayed in vs. 10, “create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” In the midst of this prayer, David felt God’s forgiving grace!

This was certainly a time of introspection for David, as it was for me when I got caught with my “hand in the cookie jar.” At moments like these it’s time for introspection. When do we find ourselves most vulnerable to temptation? Is it when you are by yourself, someplace you shouldn’t be, look at something you shouldn’t, letting your mind consider doing something wrong? And what have you found to be a helpful strategy for resisting temptation? Do you avoid certain people, places, or situations? Do you find a positive diversion? Do you remember God’s standards? Do you pray as soon as it comes?

During this forty day Lenten Season, we will have time to reflect on our own lives. Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily and remember those words, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It’s easy to see sin in another, but we need to see sin in ourselves.

Initially I would deny that I had my hand in the cookie jar, but then finally I would admit it to my parents. Like God, they had gracious hearts, and through my confession, granted me forgiveness. I first came to see the love of God in them!

That’s the God whose love we ponder this Lenten Season, who journeyed to the cross and died there to free us from all sin. Own up to your sin, and find in God amazing grace!

PRAYER: Say the Lord’s Prayer. The first time, pray it with the corporate words like we normally pray it. Then change the wording, “My father…give me this day…forgive me my trespasses…lead me not into…deliver me”. Let the Spirit of God speak to you!

Lenten 2009: Give Up 5 Minutes of Stress, Receive 5 Minutes of Community

Many of the daily devotions that you will read this Lenten Season reflect the troubled economic times in which we live. Troubled times in which many people seek community. While many seek community via face-to-face contact, others seek community via means that they practice daily. And, to many that means realizing community with others around the world using Internet technologies.

Internet technologies present an interesting set of challenges and opportunities to the Christian Church. At Christ the King, we see cyber technologies as a means to further evangelize the Gospel of Christ. Responding to Christ’s direction – “as the Father has sent me, so I send you” – we go forth into cyber space proclaiming the His glory. During the 2008 Lenten season, 1,212 unique individuals sought community and Christ via the Christ the King Lenten devotions site from over 50 US cities and 20 international cities on 5 continents. We provide devotions at this site as witness to the Word. We hope you find the devotions spiritually interesting and rewarding.

When Ash Wednesday arrives in two days, we invite you, in the tradition of Lent, to give up 5 minutes of stress each day and give yourself 5 minutes of Christian peace, reflection, and community. In those 5 minutes, join us - the members of Christ the King Lutheran Church and others from around the world - as a community, dare we say a family, of Christian believers come together for spiritual renewal and growth through commitment to Christ and each other.

Here is how you can receive the cyber edition of the 2008 CTK Lenten Devotions:
>Go to the devotions page and bookmark the site now - come back often!
>Or, you can go to the devotions page and subscribe by clicking on "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)" at the bottom of a daily post
>If you received the devotions via email last year, you will continue to receive the devotions via email
>Remember, you are always welcomed to join us for worship (Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM) or visit us at www.Christ-the-King-Lutheran.org

The Fine Print: All scripture in our devotions is linked to the oremus Bible Browser. We thank Simon Kershaw for his permission to link to this site. We thank the National Council of Churches USA for allowing us to provide scripture text. This blog carefully follows the copyright permission as specified by the NCC USA.

'New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.’

‘New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.’