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.’

Easter: He is Risen!

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb…” It will be dark this year also, as I go to Great Falls National Park for a 6:30 am service. Easter between 1875 and 2124 hasn’t been celebrated any earlier. In 1913 Easter was on March 23, but I doubt they had daylight savings time back then. So I would say that this will be the darkest Easter sunrise service I will have ever attended, and sometime after 2124 it may be celebrated again this early.

This year we won’t have butterflies, flowering plants, and trees -- part of the normal cycle of life and death. Popular piety hopes for a white Christmas and a flowering Easter. I love to point to the wonder of new sprouts and new blooms, springing to life as an emblem of the resurrection. That won’t be the case this Easter.

Easter day starts with the voice of Mary asking herself, “What time is it? Got to go and see my dead Lord one more time.” Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she can’t believe the tomb is empty. She runs to Peter and John and says, “they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Going back to the tomb with Mary, we are told that Peter sees the empty linen wrappings and that John sees and believes. Snow at Easter? Flowering plants at Christmas? Easter is not the celebration of the expected. Easter celebrates the unexpected, the risen Lord Jesus saying to Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She supposes him to be the gardener. But in hearing Jesus speak her name, Mary comes to believe! The stranger turns out to be not the gardener, but the very one whom the world has crucified.

Mary had more than a memory of a dead rabbi’s wisdom. She felt his empowering presence in her life! Mary the mother of Jesus carried the Savior of the world into birth. Then another Mary carried forth the word of new life for all. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

Jesus rose from the dead, and Mary felt his empowering presence. We can also feel this empowering presence, celebrating it in the winter, spring, summer, and fall of our lives -- thanks to the miraculous resurrection of Christ!

In the words of one of my favorite hymns, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives. He lives. Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”

PRAYER: Risen Lord, live within my heart. I pray that the blessings of Easter may always be felt in my heart, whether it is in the winter or spring, summer or fall of my life. Risen Lord, live within our church. I pray that the blessings of Easter may touch my brothers and sisters. Help us not to “hold on to our Lord’ but share the Good News! In the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord and Savior. Alleluia! Amen!

Easter Vigil: True Strength

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-23

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say,
‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’
the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.’
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.

The pilgrimage of people to Easter worship throughout the world is paralleled in Psalm 118. This Psalm was sung as pilgrims went up to Jerusalem for the festival of Tabernacles. Along the way, they remembered God’s steadfast love, love that delivered them from bondage to the Egyptians. They were reminded of this victory and sang songs about it along the way (vs. 15). They recounted what God had done for them, as we recount what Jesus did on the cross for you and me (vs. 17). Coming into Jerusalem, as they went up to the temple, they gave thanks to God (vs. 18). God had defeated Pharaoh. They shouted “Hosanna,” which means “save us, we beseech you, O Lord” (vs. 25). And the words that follow, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (vs. 26), are words shouted on Palm Sunday.

As they entered the temple, branches of myrtle, willow, and palm were put on the altar to remind them of their days of wandering in the wilderness. The wandering days were over, and looking back, they knew that their “true strength” was not in themselves, but in God whose mighty arm had won for them the victory!

Read this entire Psalm, which is the center of the Bible (chapter-wise). The centering verse of the Bible is vs. 8: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” Martin Luther wrote this about Psalm 118:

This is my own psalm, which I specially love. Though the entire Psalter and the Holy Scriptures are indeed very dear to me as my sole comfort and my very life, yet I have come to grips with this psalm in a special sense, so that I feel free to call it my very own. For it has done me great service on many an occasion and stood by me in many a difficulty when the emperor, kings, wise men and clever, and even the saints were of no avail . . . .” (Martin Luther, commentary on PS. 118, Luther’s Works Vol. 14, page 45 (Concordia, 1957)).

Luther knew that our “true strength” comes not from ourselves, but from God.

How does the festival of Easter help us to sustain a correct relationship with God? Easter is all about remembering and honoring God’s redemptive love for us. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” The world rejected Jesus, but nails could not hold him to a cross. His stilled body was placed in a tomb, but no stone could contain the Savior of the world. Jesus, our “true strength,” rose from the dead. Jesus has won for us the victory over sin and death! The early Christians moved the “Sabbath” to “Sunday,” the first day of the week, for each Sunday was a time to remember with thanksgiving God’s strength and our weakness. Our risen Lord daily stands with us so that we might walk in the strength of the Lord.

This is my favorite festival of the year, for Jesus is risen indeed! His daily presence in my life is my source of strength, my Savior in whom I rejoice! Daily I seek to live as an Easter person!

PRAYER: Oh God, I give thanks to you for the gift of your Son, who came to this earth to deliver me from bondage to sin and death. Through Jesus I was connected with your grace, your steadfast love, and in the body of Christ, I praise your name this day. Help me to always be an Easter person, daily finding my true strength in you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my risen Lord and Savior. Amen.