Easter People Proclaiming God’s Glory in Cyber Space

Devotion by: Gil Miller

John 20:19-22

¹⁹When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’

Matthew 18:20

'For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

Here are some final last thoughts as we close the 2007 edition of the Christ the King Lutheran Lenten Devotions.

Nature proclaims the glory of God in so many ways. As Easter and dogwood blooms many times arrive together during April in Northern Virginia, the dogwood has become my favorite reminder of the Christ’s gift of grace to all of us. The legend of the dogwood was first told to me as a boy by my mother and then was enhanced for me last year by Pastor Gysan.

The poetic version of this legend goes like this:

In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.
'Twas strong & firm it's branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so
Slender & twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony."

Just as Christ overcame death on the cross, so does the dogwood overcome the winter to proclaim the wonder and glory of the Lord. And, just as the dogwood tree proclaims His wonder and glory, so have the Lenten devotions published since Ash Wednesday. And 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.

As you read this page, recognize that you are part of a community of fellow believers:

>1,010 unique individuals who have visited the Lenten devotions blog site from 50 US cities and 24 international cities on 4 continents
>57 subscribers who receive devotions via an email message each morning
>the many members of the extended Christ the King Lutheran family who read in printed form

And since Christ told us – “where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there” – we know that he is among this truly unique community separated not only by space, but also time. Just as the Advent devotions were read not only in December, but also in February, our Lenten devotions will be read for months to come. And as Christ is working among and through this community, his message of grace, love, and healing is making a difference in people’s lives. Consider these comments posted at the Lenten devotions blog site:

>"Thank you! These wonderful devotions are just what I needed. The every changing earthly body wreaks havoc with my contemplative prayer routine. Appreciate you thinking about me and for sending this blessing as well."
>Boy, today's posting surely hit home with me!! I have enjoyed reading them each day, but somehow this one spoke eloquently to me. Thanks."
>"This has been an especially difficult time for us with our congregation going through turmoil so your messages have meant so very much and I have forwarded them on to other members of our congregation. "

PRAYER: Father, as we close the 2007 Lenten Devotion, we again give thanks for the gift of your Son. As you sent your Son, help us in this community of believers to remember that He sends us, like the dogwood blooms, to proclaim your glory in the world. Amen.

Epilogue

Devotion by: Greg Maxwell

Psalm 116:1-2

I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

In this psalm, the anonymous author sings praises for being saved from certain death. It reminds us that worship is a thankful response to the blessings granted to us by God and not a repayment for what God has done in our lives. The footnote for this verse in my Life Application Study Bible provides us the following guidance: “God is so responsive that you can always reach him. He bends down and listens to your voice.” The psalmist expresses love for our Lord that has grown because he experienced answers to his prayers. Why is it that most of us turn to God in prayer only when we are discouraged? Do we take God for granted when times are good? Do we seem to think that when times are good, we don’t need God as much in our life? We need to remember that God is near, always listening carefully to our every prayer and answering each prayer in ways that we may not immediately understand or realize. But if we do not ask, how can we expect God to hear us?

Sometimes we find it difficult to ask each other for forgiveness. Our sinful pride gets in the way and we are reluctant to ask for forgiveness, fearing that the person from whom we have begged forgiveness will refuse to grant us that forgiveness. We perceive that asking for forgiveness would be interpreted as a sign of weakness, or perhaps we fear the other person will attach conditions upon that forgiveness. Perhaps if we first ask God for forgiveness and ask for his support, we might find that with God’s help, the other person will look upon us with mercy and grace and grant us that forgiveness that God so freely gives to us without asking anything in return.

Later in this psalm, the author asks how he can repay the Lord for all the goodness granted to him. He then responds by promising to fulfill his vows to the Lord, by recognizing that he is a servant to the Lord, and by making a sacrificial thank offering to the Lord. Surely God is responding to the psalmist’s request by providing those answers to him in prayer. Our congregation here at Christ the King has the opportunity to offer a thankful response to God for all the blessings he has granted to us over these past 25 years by making a sacrificial thank offering as part of our Silver to Gold capital campaign. I hope you will join me in asking God for guidance and courage to make that sacrificial offering at this time.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we offer our thankful response to the blessings you have granted us, the greatest blessing being the sacrifice of your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of his sacrifice, our prayers have been answered and we are saved from eternal death. We ask that you continue to encourage us to seek you in thoughtful prayer and we ask for you to guide us in serving you. Amen.

Commitment: Easter

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

Acts 20:28-36

Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.

Easter is the greatest festival day of the church year! Christ is risen, He is risen indeed !!!!!!! Let the seven exclamation points after that last statement represent the feast of weeks – seven weeks of celebration. During this celebration we are having our own “Silver” anniversary, with a high point being next Sunday when we gather at 10:00 am for a special 25^th anniversary worship celebration. Wouldn’t be wonderful to fill the sanctuary, narthex, and other areas of the building with worshippers excited about the news of Jesus’ resurrection? We will celebrate our vision of “Connecting the World with God’s Grace” and we will claim our place as Easter people who enable this to happen.

Thanks to our crucified and risen Lord Jesus, nothing need ever be the same again. Nothing! We see that in the life of St. Paul. Before departing for Jerusalem by boat he invited the elders of Ephesus, a few miles from the port of Miletus, to come to him. Upon their arrival he spoke to them from the heart, and showed he cared nothing about his own life, only about the mission on which God sent him. Paul through his travels was “connecting the world with God’s grace.”

Paul in verse 33 says, “I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing.” Beginning in vs. 35 we read, “In all of this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Following this he knelt down and prayed with them, they brought him to the ship, and he set sail for Jerusalem. This scene is captured in a stained-glass window in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Ohio in memory of Rector Frederick Brooks. Underneath the window are the words, “Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more.”

Our risen Lord Jesus conquered death! Someday we shall be reunited with our loved ones, along with St. Paul and the whole company of saints. Thankfully we remember words of our loved ones, but most all let us remember the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

St. Paul lived those words, and he challenged the elders from Ephesus and each of us to do the same as we “shepherd the church of God.” In verse 32 Paul wrote “and now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.” With lives filled with Easter grace and thanksgiving, I challenge you to commit yourself to capture the vision of Christ, and claim its mission. See you next Sunday at 10 am. It’s a great Easter day in the life of Christ the King Lutheran Church.

PRAYER: Spirit of the Risen Lord, descend upon us we pray! Bless this day as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, and bless this week as this celebration and joy continues via many opportunities to gather. Bring us back next Sunday as we worship you and celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of our congregation. Prayerfully lead each one of us to ask the question, “what can I sacrificially do to further the ministry of Christ the King Lutheran Church through my gift to this campaign.” In the name of our risen Lord. Amen.

Commitment: Day 7

Devotion by: Joni White

1 Peter 4:14-19

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief-maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. For the time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?’
Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Today is Maundy Thursday, when Jesus so elegantly demonstrated servant leadership by washing his disciples’ feet. Today is also Beth Tozer’s 44^th birthday. Beth loved all things elegant, whether it was Michael’s generous and considerate nature, the hillside view outside her windows, the furnishings she chose for their home, the sound of David’s British accent, or whenever technologies actually harmonized to make her work easier.

She enjoyed elegant writing, so I think she would appreciate today’s verses by Peter. The NIV translation for verse 16 reads, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” This reading concludes with verse 19, “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Committing ourselves to God, to loved ones, to life goals, to core values—focusing our concentration and effort on such commitments creates elegant facets in our personal characters. At Beth’s funeral, her family and friends shared examples of her commitments to do good. The stories were lovingly recounted. They were inspiring demonstrations of Beth’s elegant character. Many made us laugh through our tears!

The strength of our commitments can carry us though hard times. It wasn’t until after Christ died that the apostles began to really understand what he had been preparing them for. Their commitment to Christ enabled them to build a worldwide religion, which blesses our lives today, some 2,000 years later. Our commitment to our faithful Creator continues to inspire us to do good, even as we work through the process of grief.

PRAYER: Jesus, may we do your will today and be a blessing. If we rely on your strong and powerful grace, we will easily fulfill our commitments. Happy birthday to your new angel, Beth! In praise to your holy name, Amen.

Commitment: Good Friday

Devotion by: Pat White

John 13:36-38

Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterwards.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Have you ever struggled with living up to a commitment? It is easy to commit to things we are comfortable with. It’s when we step outside our comfort zone that we start to encounter unforeseen obstacles that cause us to question our commitment. Maybe that is why some folks struggle with making any commitment? It’s too risky. There are just too many unknowns. However, by making commitments, we learn the ever-important concept of follow through. Follow though is critical when honoring commitments. Yes, follow through is the process of actually doing all the work and managing the details that allow you achieve your goal of commitment. The initial idea is easy. It is the follow through that presents the pitfalls and obstacles we must overcome. That’s when the real commitment starts.

Recently, a medical diagnosis led me to drastically change my diet. I had to seriously reduce my sugar and carbohydrate intake. It seemed like an easy thing to commit to. After all, it’s only food and snacks, right? Try as I might, I encountered so many obstacles to eating a healthy diet that I felt overwhelmed at times. Although the struggle continues, I realized I was creature of habit and needed help changing my eating habits. My dietician at Reston Hospital helped me identify certain obstacles in my old diet. We put a plan in place to overcome those obstacles. Then, I realized that all the planning in the world would not make a difference, if I did not commit to sticking with the plan. I tried but failed. I would take two steps forward and feel good about myself and then slip back one step by eating something I should not have. You know what I’m talking about. It’s willpower. It seemed I did not have the willpower to live up to my commitment. I needed to get serious about taking care of myself. Then, one day at church a fellow member of the congregation advised me that she had heard of my illness and was praying for me, daily. Wow! The compassion of that statement filled me with a renewed since of hope. Now, with the support of my GOD, my church, and my family, I know I have the support I need to live up to this commitment. It’s always easier to achieve, when you are part of a team. Remember, there is no I in TEAM.

So, do you hear a voice calling you in the night? Are you being lead to commit to something that is bigger than you ever imagined? Regardless of what you choose to commit to, ask JESUS to be on your team and he will walk beside you helping you overcome whatever obstacles you encounter.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me the courage of commitment, the strength to follow through, and the wisdom to know that no victory is complete without acknowledging your good works. In your name we pray. Amen.

Commitment: Maundy Thursday

Devotion by: Lori & Rene Fredette

John 13:1-17

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Sometimes, a seemingly simple act can have a major significance and lasting consequences. Such an act by Jesus during the last supper, washing the feet of his disciples, would set forth a lasting example of humility to be learned and practiced by His disciples. After the death of Jesus, these disciples and their successors, against impossible odds, successfully convinced (and converted) people from all nationalities to the fact that a Messiah had come to fulfill the Jewish prophecies, died for all of us, and would return at the end of the world to judge everyone, Jew and Gentile. What made this message of love so meaningful, allowing it to take root? Could it be Jesus expanded the meaning of both humility and love?

During the early stages of the spread of Christianity, what compelled these disciples to die for their beliefs? Even more strikingly, what compelled their converts, who had neither seen nor heard Jesus speak (nor experienced the awe of His miracles), to allow themselves to be torn apart by lions in the Roman arena? Surely giving testimony to their faith was an emulation of the commitment of love and humility by their savior, the son of God. Surely, a message of love has greater depth when accompanied by humility for then it is all-inclusive.

There are various interpretations as to why Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. During that time, most of the people wore sandals and traveled along dusty roads. Thus, a need existed for having their feet washed upon entering a dwelling. The rich tasked this act of washing guests’ feet to only the lowest of their servants. Others, not so wealthy, washed the feet of their guests themselves – perhaps in the spirit of hospitality. And so the disciples were shocked that Jesus stooped to wash their feet. When Simon initially refused to accept this washing, Jesus told him “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me”. Of course Simon acquiesced and immediately requested to have his hands and head washed as well, which was not granted since he “was clean”.

A common interpretation of the washing of feet is that Jesus urges His disciples (and their successors) to practice a commitment to humility and not to succumb to self-importance. For Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet, for I have given you an example, that ye should do what I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent is greater than he that sent him”.

Among the interpretations of the washing of feet (taken from web sites) is that it was one of the symbols of reaching out to everyone - stepping beyond the boundaries of traditional Jewish laws and expectations. The Messiah did not come to liberate the Jews from the Romans: instead, up would be down, poor would be rich, etc. There would not be a rejection of government, but a foundation of an understanding of power that rejects the notion of violence and control. In Jesus’ words: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).

In summary, the important lesson to be learned here is that the Son of God, master of the universe, knelt down in an act of true commitment, washed the feet of those who were to be sent to proclaim God’s glory and to teach others/us. This same loving, humble commitment is portrayed in the powerful Michaelangelo painting of the creation of man: God reaches out “to touch us” and we are invited to touch Him.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, guide us in thoughts and deeds, so that we may continue to strive to be worthy of your commitment and the sacrifice of your beloved son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Commitment: Day 4

Devotion by: Greta Rymal

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.

When I think of commitment, one of the examples that quickly come to mind is of Beth Tozer and her role in preparing this Lenten devotion book each year. Although I did not know her well, I smiled each year as I noticed the “rabbit…” e-mail address to which we would send our materials. What commitment I knew Beth must have had as she turned around the material, often submitted at the last minute, so that the booklet would be completed on time. I knew she was often ill, but Beth fulfilled her service in bringing the Lenten Devotions to the congregation. She was generous beyond expectations, and I pray that she was refreshed through her efforts, while she was refreshing us.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the generosity and commitment of your servants in this congregation. Let each of us be generous as we refresh others, and help us be committed in our service to You. Amen