Archive: 2023

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 9 “Explore God” – Relationships that Matter! (WATCH HERE)

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Relationships that Matter: People like Matthew

 

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 

With this brief paragraph, Matthew recounts his call to follow Jesus.  He doesn’t embellish or make it about him, but rather keeps the focus on Jesus, as his whole Gospel does.  But the “matter-of-fact” account of his calling to be a disciple and the following meal he hosted does not lack in the truths he wants to teach about Jesus.

Jesus was willing to get to know him and his friends.

As with Zacchaeus of yesterday, Matthew was a Roman government agent who was tasked with bringing in revenue from the citizens of Israel.  He was a “necessary evil” in the land and grouped together with ones who were viewed as liars and cheaters.  Perhaps like government jobs today, Matthew found a bit of security in his profession, even though he was socially outcast from his Jewish community.

We don’t know if Matthew had heard about Jesus or this was their first encounter, but one can only imagine the shock that a Jewish rabbi would call him, a tax collector, to follow him.  Perhaps the only words he had heard from other rabbis and Pharisees were, “Sinner! Sinner! Cheater! Cheater!”

From Jesus he says, “Follow me.”

And Matthew does.

So impressed and struck by Jesus’ willingness to not only spend time with him, but to mentor him as a disciple, Matthew couldn’t help but introduce Jesus to the rest of his tax collector friends.  There WAS someone in Israel who had a love and concern for those outside the religious elite and cultural norm.  Matthew wanted them to meet Jesus.

And Jesus was willing to bring his disciples and hang out with them.

Why?

Was Jesus concerned about being “polluted” by the “uncleanness” of the meal participants?  Nope. 

Was Jesus concerned about his reputation with other religious leaders in the community? Nope.

Jesus was concerned about changing hearts and lives with the power of his saving love and glorious Gospel.  The crowd around the table knew they were not right.  The Savior around the table was there to bring forgiveness to sinners.

Hanging out with people who need Jesus is risky and can be uncomfortable.  Others may question or raise objections.

However, remember the viewpoint of Jesus.  He came for all people, but was more than ready to hang out with individuals that realized their righteousness was lacking and were ones that were receptive to hearing of his love and grace.

To be clear, Jesus was there for the Pharisees too.  The setting caused a question from them as to why Jesus would hang out with them…Jesus used it to prick their consciences to realize that their self-righteous hearts were just as bad as the heart of a cheater.  Jesus was for them if they would only realize they too were sinful in need of his forgiveness.

Every encounter is an opportunity to capture a relationship for Christ.  Sometimes they are out of our comfort zone.  Sometimes they are in our confronting zone.  But either way, they are people that matter to Jesus…and therefore, matter to us.

 

Apply: What risk do you perceive hanging out with the “unrighteous”? How about the “righteous?” What common need do they both share?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your heart of love that is for all people whether they realize it or not.  Continue to form in us your heart of love for “sinners” to bring them to repentance and to enjoy a life of following you.  Use us to reach souls for you.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 9 “Explore God” – Relationships that Matter! (WATCH HERE)

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This week for our devotions, we want to learn from five encounters Jesus had with individuals during his public ministry.  Each of the encounters gives us insights into the heart of Jesus and his love for people.  Let us marvel at his heart.  They also give us reflections to consider as we show up in this world as individuals entrusted with sharing the Gospel.  Let us follow his example.

Today, Jesus interacts with Zacchaeus.  Luke 19:1-10

19      Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ” 

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” 

 

Jesus understood his mission from his heavenly Father: Seek and save what was lost.  What an amazing part of Jesus’ mission to this earth.  He intentionally came to not just do all that was necessary for our eternal salvation, but he also came to bring that truth to the hearts of people.  Zacchaeus was the blessed one this day.  

Here’s what I learn from Zacchaeus.  He was short.  

Ok that’s not the point.  He was looking.  He was curious and wanted to see Jesus.  We know by the cultural standards that Zacchaeus was an outsider.  He was a wealthy, chief tax-collector.  These individuals were shunned by the Jewish culture because they were representatives of Rome, the occupiers of Israel.  However Zacchaeus was curious.  He just wanted to see Jesus…but Jesus had different plans.

God honored Zacchaeus’ curiosity with an encounter with Jesus.

The day was life changing.  Salvation came to Zacchaeus through the words and interaction with Jesus.

So what can we take away from this?

People all around us need Jesus, but some have a curiosity to meet Jesus.  Not everyone in the world around us is hostile toward the Lord.  Some are genuinely trying to discover who Jesus is.  They may have heard something about him or have questions about him, but just are hesitant to directly engage someone to hear about him.  Zacchaeus would have been content to just see Jesus.  But Jesus was not content to just pass by.  Jesus was looking for those that were lost and on this day he found Zacchaeus.  

Who is God putting around you that his curious, has questions, or just wants to get a glimpse of Jesus?  I don’t know, but when I am more aware of and embrace Jesus’ mission as my mission, they will be made evident.  Jesus is THE one who came to seek and save the lost, but now we get to be his representatives in our culture, in our communities to see the Zacchaeus’ around us who are not in the tree, but in the classroom, in the breakroom, in the community group, in the places we shop and in the places we walk by.  Ask God to give you the heart and eyes of Jesus to seek those that are spiritually lost to give them the message of grace and forgiveness found in Jesus.

 

Apply: Simply notice people around you this week…perhaps God will lead you to a Zacchaeus.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for taking care to seek and find me and bring salvation to me.  Empower and encourage me to carry the same mission!  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 8 “Explore God” – What is a Lutheran? (WATCH HERE)

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The down arrow.

What makes Lutheran unique is the down arrow…always.

This statement isn’t to say that the down arrow isn’t taught in other churches, but a confessional Lutheran, a biblical Christian can’t exist without the down arrow being primary in all aspects of faith and life.

What is the down arrow?

God for us.  

God’s activity for us and on behalf of us is always primary and the prime mover.

We recognize that any activity of a person toward God is always predicated by God’s activity on behalf of that person.  To think or act otherwise overturns, disrupts and leaves out the comfort of God for us…the down arrow.

All other world religions and even Christian denominations can mix up the emphasis of these arrows.  World religions promote the activity and performance of people to somehow be right with or reach out to God.  The up arrow comes before the down arrow.

Biblical Christianity emphasizes the down arrow, God for us, is what initiates all activity of the Christian.

1. Down arrow: God created us.  We can’t take credit for our existence.  God initiated the creation of the world and knit us together in our mother’s womb.  Down arrow.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 2:7 … the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his  nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 

Psalm 139: 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

1. Down arrow: God saves us. The certainty of our right relationship with God 100% rests on the gracious goodness of God shown to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  To take credit through our effort or personal decision reverses the arrow and makes my effort cause God’s response.  God’s activity alone makes us spiritually alive and able to express trust in Jesus as our Savior.

Ephesians 2:3-5 Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

1. Down arrow: Baptism saves and forgives.  Baptism for many Christians is their activity to show the sincerity of their commitment to Jesus.  The up arrow becomes the focal point and one loses the very clear promises of forgiveness and salvation God gives to us in baptism when HE puts his name on us and calls us his child.

Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

 

1. Down arrow: The Lord’s Supper forgives our sins.  Participating in the Lord’s Supper is not to earn a salvation credit (up arrow), but rather to receive the forgiveness Jesus promised through his body and blood.  It is not just a remembrance (up arrow), but a giving of forgiveness earned by Jesus on the cross.  The comfort is knowing what Jesus is giving to us in his holy Supper.

Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 

27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

1. Down arrow: Even our life of Christian living is orchestrated and enabled by God and must be 100% God’s credit.  Our Christian life isn’t to earn more forgiveness or to offer proof that we are really Christian.  Our Christian life is simply living out our God given purpose and engaging in the good works he himself orchestrated for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

2  Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 

Enjoy the reality and certainty of the down arrow.  God’s love FOR you.  God’s work FOR you.  God’s promises FOR you.  They are God’s gift.  They are our assurance.  The down arrow is the central message of the Scripture.  Let everything in your life flow to God FROM what he has done FOR you!

 

Apply: What changes when the “down arrow” becomes the primary focus and certainty in your life?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking the initiative in all things for our life by acting on our behalf to secure us in your grace, promise us eternal life, and guide us in living for you each day.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 8 “Explore God” – What is a Lutheran? (WATCH HERE)

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We are coming into a season where grace is ruined.  Because grace is a gift.

What do I mean?

The whole premise of the Santa Claus story is that if a child is “naughty” they receive a lump of coal and if they are “nice” they receive gifts.  I have heard parents during this time try to discipline their children with phrases like, “If you don’t behave, Santa won’t bring you any presents at Christmas.”  I cringe not primarily for the story of Santa, but for the attachment of effort to gifts.

A “Gift” by definition is given regardless of the person’s performance.  A gift is merely the expression of love one wants to give to another simply because of their love for them and in no way connected to what they have done to seemingly earn it.

I will grant, even giving a gift can be skewed because inside we have a silent evaluation at times of if a person deserves a gift.

With God there is no question that his gift of Jesus was given without any deference to the performance of people.  People didn’t deserve the gift of Jesus.  I don’t.  You don’t.  But God gave.

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.

God loved…so he gave.

This is grace.  Grace is God’s undeserved love for sinners that drove him to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.  As we looked at yesterday, our performance would never meet the perfect standard God demands.  But Jesus’ perfection did.  And it’s this perfection we are given.

But it’s even hard to receive a gift.

A common response to receiving a gift from an individual is, “Oh, you shouldn’t have.”  Perhaps I am misreading this statement, but what I hear (because I hear it in myself) is this, “I didn’t do anything to earn  your gift so you shouldn’t have given it.”  Again, skewing the definition of a gift.  If receiving gifts was based on our performance and we “should” be given a gift…then it’s no longer a gift.  It’s a wage.

The Apostle Paul clarifies this for us

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

When our salvation rests in God’s grace alone, my heart is not settled by “I did enough” but it is settled by the fact that God gave it to me.  The objective reality of God’s gift of Christ’s life, death and resurrection far surpasses and subjective evaluation of my performance before God.  Grace alone is a key focus of a confessional Lutheran church.  We teach and focus on it because it is the Bible’s focus.  Why? Because God in his love wants us to find certainty in our eternity with him because of his gift of grace, not our effort or performance.  In God’s grace there is always certainty.

 

Apply: What makes it hard to truly give a gift or receive a gift?  How does that challenge affect your perception of God’s gift of grace he gives to you?

Prayer: Lord, we praise you for your heart of love that was willing to give the greatest gift to us so we might have eternal life with you.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on the Week 8 “Explore God” – What is a Lutheran? (WATCH HERE)

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Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Years ago I was asked to do a word study on the Hebrew word that is translated, “righteous” and the word that is translated “justice.”  The discovery of this study led me to appreciate both terms more and their impact on our relationship with God.  “Righteous” or “Righteousness” is the “right adherence to the law” and “justice” is the “right application of the law.”  Why is that significant?

God demands perfect righteousness to earn eternal life.  This means that every law the Lord has given must always be adhered to.  There are no exceptions or excuses.  The essence of God’s justice is that he has every obligation to rightly apply the law and its consequences if the law is broken.  Thus the conclusion of every individual is a) “I’m not righteous” and as a result b) I fall under God’s judgment.  This is not just a logical or linguistic conclusion, it is biblical truth.  The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…”

Most, if not all flavors of religion, try to bridge this gap.  The imperfect individual spends time energy and effort to achieve the glory of God.  The Muslim performs the Five Pillars.  The Buddhist engages in right meditation and material escape.  The Hindu lives to align with the many gods they profess.  But it is not just world religions.  Martin Luther spent the early part of his life under the umbrella of the Catholic Church trying to do enough to achieve the glory of God.   He performed penance.  He entered the monastery.  He went on pilgrimages.  All to no avail as his conscience found no rest.

He and we must conclude: I cannot achieve righteousness on my own.

So then who can be saved?

The disciples themselves asked Jesus this and Jesus answered, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

As Luther was able to have access to the Bible, he discovered how one was able to have the righteousness that God demanded, “The righteous will live by his faith.”

The Apostle Paul expands around the verse shared earlier in Romans 3:21-26

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

The amazing truth of the Bible’s teaching is that righteousness is not earned, it is given through faith in Jesus Christ, the one who was righteous for us…as well as the one that God carried out his justice on by punishing Jesus for our sins.

The result for us?  We are righteous before God because we have been given the righteousness of Christ.

How? By faith alone…not personal effort or performance…simply as a gift of faith (which is also a gift!).

 

Apply: What happens spiritually for you when you give up trying to earn perfection and simply receive Christ’s perfection by faith?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for doing what we never could and giving us the perfection, the righteousness you demanded through the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus FOR us! AMEN.