Faith: Day 7

Devotion by: LaVonne Gysan

Acts 11:19-24

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.

Today’s reading prepares the way to include “all people” for the Lord. Before now the disciples of Christ “spoke the word to no one except Jews.” When Stephen was martyred, many of the followers of Christ were scattered and went to: Cyprus (a Mediterranean Island), Cyrene (in North Africa), Antioch (now Turkey). They shared the good news of Jesus with Hellenists (Greeks or non-Jews)!

The church in Jerusalem was concerned about non-Jews joining their group. They sent a faithful follower Barnabas to Antioch. He was thrilled to find in Antioch (the third largest Roman city after Rome and Alexandria) faithful believers who were not Jewish. This was the beginning of spreading the word of our Savior throughout the world until it has now reached you and me.

As we celebrate our 25^th Anniversary of Christ the King Lutheran Church, we need to remember that we also are to be an “Antioch.” One of our mission statements is to “evangelize the Gospel.” In our reading for today Antioch was the place where the followers of Christ were first called Christians. This is the first time the followers of Jesus were clearly distinguished from Jews. From Antioch the news of Jesus’ death and resurrection spread throughout the world, so that we are privileged to experience the reverberations of their evangelizing in our own time.

On a personal note, my husband and I along with others from Christ the King were privileged some years ago to visit Antioch in Turkey. While there I personally remembered that one of our members Peter Saba was baptized there. Although he was born in Damascus, his parents felt strongly that he should be baptized in the place where the believers were first called Christians. What joy to see some of his children being baptized here!

PRAYER: Thank you, dear Jesus, for our Christian brothers and sisters who made it possible for us to know you –those of centuries ago and those in our lives today. Bless our congregation so that we may be an “Antioch” from which your Gospel continues to travel. In your name we pray, Amen.

Faith: Day 6

Devotion by: Carolyn Saba

Mark 6:1-6

He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

This story reminds me of a news story that I saw written in the press and on television in the last year. A high school basketball team was up for championships. There was a young autistic player among the team. I don’t remember much of the story except that the team had fought very hard the entire game and the autistic player needed to replace a teammate that had fouled out. The crowd was skeptical and worried about the final score since they were behind by several points. No one expected to win now that the star player was benched. To everyone’s amazement, the new player scored again, and again, and again!!!!!!! The crowd was thrilled. Every basket was more and more exciting. And yes, the team came from behind and won the game. OFF TO HISTORY.

In many ways, I believe the situation was similar for Christ. Here is a man, the people think they’ve known all their life, performing deeds of great power and interpreting the Word of God in Scripture, better than the rabbis! How can this be? He has no education, no formal training. So his teaching, preaching and deeds are not recognized for what they are; the work of God in their midst.

What they failed to understand is that God is much bigger than our preconceived notions. God chose to live among us as Christ. So the person they thought was just a local carpenter was really the author of the Scriptures he read. And as Scripture shows again and again, faith and belief are the things that open our eyes to God’s work and power. Jesus was always the Son of God. The people’s disbelief prevented them from recognizing what was happening in their midst. Perhaps we need to stop and take another look. For God may be using one among us to do a great thing, and we may not even see it.

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, your work goes on around us all the time. Open our eyes that we may recognize your handiwork. This we ask in the name of the carpenter, who astounded many, Christ our Lord. Amen.

Faith: Day 5

Devotion by: Juli Benson

Nehemiah 4:14-22

After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.’

When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and body-armour; and the leaders posted themselves behind the whole house of Judah, who were building the wall. The burden-bearers carried their loads in such a way that each laboured on the work with one hand and with the other held a weapon. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread out, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us.’

So we laboured at the work, and half of them held the spears from break of dawn until the stars came out. I also said to the people at that time, ‘Let every man and his servant pass the night inside Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and may labour by day.’

FAITH!!!! Nehemiah sure had it when he said “Don't be afraid . . . remember the Lord who is GREAT and AWESOME . . .” Yes, our Lord IS Great and Awesome and as we move closer to Easter, the day our Lord was risen, it is vital to remember to thank Him for all our blessings and to show our love everyday. That includes the way we treat others, spending time with God and giving back to Him what He first gave us. I once heard a very godly man say “you can never out-give God”. He was and is right. I have now experienced that myself personally. Easter people: May God continue to bless you and your family and may you experience the true joy of giving.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, touch each of our hearts this Easter season and place in them the strong desire to give to others as you have so generously given to us. In your sweet name we pray. Amen.

Faith: Day 4

Devotion by: Lynne Roots

Hebrews 11:1-6

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’ For it was attested before he was taken away that ‘he had pleased God.’ And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

“Faith is the foundation . . . .”

“My faith looks up to thee…..”

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed….”

Faith as defined by Mr. Webster is “unquestioning belief.” Not just belief, but unquestioning belief. Substitute “unquestioning belief” for “faith” in the above quotes. Go ahead, see how it reads.

Unquestioning belief is so hard. It takes tremendous courage. It takes acceptance. It takes trust. Have you ever been to one of those touchy-feely workshops where, at some point, you close your eyes and fall backwards? How hard was that for you to do? You were probably o.k. if you knew the person standing behind you. But if that person was a stranger? A bit harder, right? You’re probably thinking, “We’re talking two different things here -- trusting a stranger in a workshop and trusting God.” Maybe. How much courage do you have to trust, accept, unquestioningly believe that God will catch you when you fall? Don’t intellectualize your answer. Just do it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, May we have the courage to put our whole self into your hands without question. Amen.

Faith: Day 3

Devotion by: Jeanne McKinley

Genesis 22:2-12

He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt-offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’ Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’

This is the story of how God severely tested Abraham, by requiring him to kill his son, and make him a burnt sacrifice. After hearing God’s demand, Abraham had to travel for three days, loaded down with provisions and firewood, to a place named Moriah. He knew all the while that to please his God, he would lose the one thing he loved most in the world. His heart must have been as utterly barren as the landscape. What could he have been thinking? “How can God ask this of me?” “Why do I worship this God?” “What kind of God would demand such obedience?”

I’m sure that I would not have been obedient, as Abraham was. I would have tried to run away from God, like Jonah did when God directed him to go to Nineveh. That didn’t work so well. How can we escape the life God sends us?

Anyway - on with the story. When they approached Moriah, Abraham lied to his servants, and commanded them to watch the donkeys while he and Isaac went off in the distance “to worship.” Abraham even gave Isaac the firewood to carry (just like Jesus, who had to carry his wooden cross to his own crucifixion). I think Isaac was very young, because when Abraham tied him up, and laid him on the altar, there is no mention in the Bible of any kind of struggle. Isaac trusted his father, as Jesus trusted his Heavenly Father in the hours before his death.

How will I face my own death, or the death of dear, loved ones? Will I do it with trust and faith? When I consider it, I see that Abraham’s faith was amazing! No wonder God considered him “good,” way before Jesus came to cover for our sins, and make us good in God’s eyes.

The story ended when God stopped Abraham from killing his son at the very last moment, and provided a ram that just “happened” to be stuck in the thorny shrubs nearby. It reminds me of how God commanded his judges to step into deep water, and just as they stepped out in faith (not before) the safe way appeared. When God knew for sure that Abraham was truly his, he gave him this promise, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. They will be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore…”

Is God waiting to see how we trust Him so that He can bless us? What are we holding back from God? What do we still want to control without God’s hand? Where will obedience in our lives produce results that only God can give? How far are we willing to go in faith?

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, you have given us all the provisions we need. Please give us a stronger faith, so we will see that giving you whatever it is you ask will bring us greater blessings than holding on. Amen.

Faith: Day 2

Devotion by: Anonymous

Psalm 66:16-19

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

Today is the 28^th anniversary of my father’s death. I will never forget the 2 a.m. phone call from my mother and the shock of losing him, a beloved father and grandfather, to a massive heart attack. Within 12 hours after that call, my husband, four-year-old daughter and I had packed, picked up my sister in Pennsylvania and were on our way to gather with my brothers and sisters to mourn, to support my mother, and to start the process of commemorating my father to eternal life. Though he no longer met us at the door with his warm embrace, his faith and my mother’s did. We all rejoiced that God had blessed him with a good death -- dying in his own bed, with my mother beside him and their youngest son John there to support her, attempt CPR and to rejoice in my father’s faith in God’s will and HIS promise. My father had refused to be taken to the emergency room, had flown one of his handmade kites the afternoon before he died, and despite the pain in his chest, embraced his life and then his eternal life. One of the most touching memories I have of that week was my mother showing me a small miniature Bible. She found it inside my father’s wallet and said it had been there for decades, as she had given it to him before they were married. As I took it from her hands into mine, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” fell open. It was obviously a favorite page to read. One of my father’s favorite hymns was Faith of Our Fathers, and he always said his favorite Psalm was the Twenty-Third. I learned faith in my mother and father’s arms.

The Bible reading today reminds me of my father: a righteous, God-fearing man, to whose prayers God listened.

PRAYER: Dear God, strengthen me today to walk in your Son’s righteousness. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift, your Son Jesus, who died for all our sins. Give everyone faith to believe in Him. Heavenly Father, bring peace to our world and strengthen parents to walk in the path of righteousness for their children’s sake. Be with all who would do evil and turn them to what Christ taught us to do -- love one another as you love us Lord. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Faith: Day 1

Devotion by: Kathy Zimmerman

Jeremiah 33:3

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

What we don’t know is a lot. Somehow, a four-dollar cup of coffee has become a daily necessity and we “need” cars that get only twelve miles to the gallon. We gamble our money away in Vegas and revere the Gucci-wearing Hollywood movie stars. So many people around the world view Americans as excessive and selfish with our wealth and they wish us harm. They have attacked us and we have tasted fear. I suspect Jeremiah felt much the same way as he watched the destruction of Judah from within and without, destroyed by the sinfulness of its people and invasion by its enemies. How could he know what tomorrow might bring?

But God spoke to him and said, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God asked Jeremiah to have faith, that though there is suffering, there will be redemption. Are we able to hold that faith? Do we listen for God’s word to touch us and show us His way? Too often, I suppose, our search for things we do not know starts with Google. Our money is in our pocket and we spend now for we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Can we find faith to share what we have rather than spend what we have?

When I was sixteen years old, my Aunt Gert was diagnosed with cancer. Treatment in those days was much harsher than it is today. She suffered a great deal. While in the hospital due to complications of her treatment, Aunt Gert had a conversation with my mother in which she said that if God was ready for her, she was ready for Him. It wasn’t a statement of resignation but rather it was a statement of acceptance. She explained that she had asked God to let her live to see her children grown and He had granted her that. She had powerful faith in God’s plan for her. His plan was to have her enrich our lives for another twenty-seven years. Her statement of faith at that very trying time inspired me to become an oncology nurse. Now, I am blessed with the opportunity to witness other amazing faith stories from the people I treat. Thankfully, there are many.

Constant and unwavering faith is an amazing and powerful thing.

PRAYER: God, grant us, your servants, the strength to follow your word faithfully, to share what you have given to us and to know that your will is above all else. Amen.