January 26, 2023 – “No Maze for You”

“…but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-13

{My brother Jim was hired by a government agency and assigned to a small office cubicle in a large area. At the end of his first day, he realized he had no idea how to get out. He wandered around, lost in the maze of cubicles and corridors. Just as panic began to set in, he came upon another employee in a cubicle. “How do you get out of here?” Jim asked. The fellow smiled and said, “No cheese for you.”} (Christine Probasco)

Paul writes: “…as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;” 

Paul’s hardships were many, we know this to be true. His life as a disciple of Jesus took him to many places, enduring many hardships, and suffering often. My friends, G-d does not ask us to create our own suffering for G-d’s sake — but if we encounter such suffering in the name of Jesus, then we are encouraged to persevere. For Paul will also say that “…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character….”

Our faith lives can often leave us feeling that we are trapped in a maze – looking for a path, trying to find answers, hoping to find a way to “Jesus of Nazareth”? It is hard to remember that finding faith is not trying to climb the ladder to G-d because G-d has descended to us in the person of Jesus. If we want to know what the kingdom of G-d is like, I can tell you that, as Lutherans, we encounter a glimpse of the Kingdom every Sunday – in the feast of bread and wine – in the words of forgiveness – in the gathering of the faithful worshipping G-d. Finding G-d does not require us to get to the end of a complicated maze – there is no need to be wandering around, hoping to find G-d. G-d has come near – Jesus promises to be with us every time we gather in his name – every time we celebrate Holy Communion – every time we offer forgiveness to our brothers and sisters in Christ. All that G-d seeks from us is a contrite heart, and a willingness to be open and remain in his love.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, we hear the invitation “Come to the table for all is now ready”. We do not need to follow a long and complicated maze, we only need to come to the table for bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ. This brings us the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Thank you, Lord, for you are good. Amen.

Pastor Dave

January 25, 2023 – “Fresh Eyes”

“They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” John 9:13-23

In the previous devotion I talked about how should strive to hear the Gospel with “Ears open” – to strive to hear bible stories with fresh ears. Now we are going to talk about how we can view the Christ-like life with new eyes. What does it mean to be a disciple? If we come to worship every Sunday, are we a disciple of Jesus? If we pray every night and at every meal, are we disciples? If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, are we disciples? How do you believe a disciple of Jesus should live? If we look to the examples of biblical characters, or even some modern-day examples, perhaps we can understand what a disciple can look like.

If you have been a member of Zion for many years, you may be able to name someone you thought of as a good disciple. I can think of some people from my previous churches: people like Betty Heycock, Verna Bachman, or our own David Myers.

I encourage you do to think upon the question “What does a disciple look like?” Living the Christ-like life is not easy. But to recognize the disciples, the modern-day examples around us, that should not be too hard. It just takes keeping awake, and alert, to see the disciples among us.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, give me the eyes to see and the ears to hear – for there are so many of your disciples around me. Help me to be a disciple today. Amen.

Pastor Dave