Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.”
Prayer: Wintergreen and ever-living God, you are the bright and shining source of reliable hope in a time of bickering and brokenness. You seemed like you failed amidst betrayal and heartbreak, but just like every other time you delivered us and liberated us—you were victorious. Turn our mistrust in faithful love. Transform our want to gossip and whisper towards the topic of your mystery and Messianic secret. In you we hope and in your name we pray. Amen Reading: Luke 22 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: I used to have a window cling with the saying of the Star Wars character Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.” I looked at it frequently as an encouragement during a difficult ministry time. Those who are familiar with Star Wars will recall that the wise little figure said this line to Luke Skywalker when he was unsure of his capability and said that he would try to do what seemed like an impossible task. This saying in Yoda’s funny way of talking is like the predecessor to the Nike catch phrase, “Just do it.” Such sayings are an encouraging way to consider putting all your energy into making it happen, to stop thinking about it or making partial attempts loaded with uncertainty. The text for today is from the Passion story. As much uncertainty as Jesus might have felt facing death, he pushed ahead with divinely perfect focus. Even through this process, which looked at first like a total failure (death of the Messiah), Jesus taught and modeled the Way which continues to be the preeminent and perfect path for life and love in all times. Yet as G.K. Chesterton said in What's Wrong with the World, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Let the Prince of Peace and Love be our guide to doing discipleship, just doing it—no more attempts. --Andrew Fitch
0 Comments
Prayer: Dear God, we go everywhere, wait in trust and do everything as your children. Amen
Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: A week or so ago, a devotion by the same title as above was posted. The Bible story was about Moses on the mountain with God. The LORD told Moses to go up on the mountain, wait there for 40 days and nights for the tablets of stone with the law and the commandment and take them back to the people so they may do what what was written for their instruction. Go! Wait! Do! The reflection was about where we go to find God, how do we wait and then what do we do. Today's lesson is similar but different. Jesus was led, not to a mountaintop experience, but into the wilderness. His wait was also 40 days and nights but it also included fasting at the end of which he was famished. Then it was not the LORD who came to give him instructions but rather the tempter who came and challenged Jesus to do things drawing on his identity and trust in God. Go! Wait! Do! Jesus went, waited and did what was right as a child of God. Sometimes we go into challenging situations. Sometimes the wait is uncomfortable. Sometimes the instruction given is not really the right thing to do. Think about how Jesus responded to temptations and remember you too are a child of God. Go, wait and do with God. -- Ruth Gates Prayer: Great God, thank you for your great grace, and may we always recognize it as a gift above all others in our lives. Amen.
Reading: Romans 5:12-19 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Verse 15 says, “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” This passage speaks to the vastness of what God has done for us through his son, Jesus Christ. The gift of grace, to live eternally in God’s Kingdom despite all of our sins, is so great. This gift from God is Greater Than anything that may weigh us down in this world. I felt like I kept getting distracted while I was trying to write this reflection. I kept flipping through my old journals, and what a joyful distraction this was! Do you ever look back on past years, the trials and triumphs that they held, and see God’s hand in it all? In college a dear friend inspired me to start a prayer journal as a way to take every thought captive to Christ. I think this means to keep that Greater Than perspective, that our life is a part of God’s story, and not vice versa. The distraction ended up as the devotion, looking back on our journey thus far show us that God’s love for us will always be Greater Than _______. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for listening to our prayers. When keeping silent seems to tear us up inside, may we talk it out with you. Your love surrounds all who trust in you. Amen
Reading: Psalm 32 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “While I kept silence, my body wasted away." (v. 3a) Hmmm. That’s a pretty grim thought. Have you ever been in a discussion where you wanted to express your opinion but kept silent for fear of offending someone? Inside you may feel like you are “groaning all day long" (v. 3b) and your body tenses. What to do? If you have a grievance should you express it? Try to clear the air? If nothing else, talk it out to the Lord. His infinite wisdom and mysterious ways will calm and help you. -- Alice Yeakel We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 28, 2017.
Prayer: Lord, help us to know good and evil and to always choose good. Amen Reading: Genesis 3:1-7 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” I must be honest. I’ve never really been able to figure that one out. The best I can figure is that God knows good and evil when we don’t. I’m not sure. But I do know that generally we can tell the tell the difference between good and evil. Generally, that is. Sometimes we get into situations when it is difficult to determine the difference. And sometimes the snake in us convinces us that the evil is good. And we choose evil thinking it will be o.k. This time anyhow. And in the end God forgives us when we make the wrong choice. But that doesn’t justify or give us permission to choose evil. We really do need to try to know and choose good. Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday. Not a bad time to remind ourselves to make a good effort to always take the time and effort to figure out what the good is. And then to choose good. --Jim Bricker Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.”
Prayer: Help us to feel your promises, God. Amen. Reading: Hebrews 6:10-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The author of Hebrews is citing a promise that God made to Abraham in verse 14 – ‘saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”’ And this was no small promise, in Genesis 22:17 it says: “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore…” I thought about just the grains of sand in the volleyball pit at camp, not every grain of sand on every shoreline, and the number still is overwhelming to grasp. If we can rely on God to fulfill this promise, then we surely can rely on Him for our daily storms. The author of Hebrews uses this reference to speak to the certainty of God’s promise. When we know something or someone is certain and unwavering, we feel that we can put our trust in it/them. God’s promises to us are certain, so we can hold tight to Him when times are tough, and the seas are rough. He is our anchor, firm and secure. --Anne Harshbarger We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on February 24, 2014.
Prayer: May we see you, Jesus, in new ways. Amen. Reading: Matthew 17: 1-9 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: My favorite Biblical mountaintop experience story is the Transfiguration. Can you picture it? Several “campers” (Peter, James, and John) hiked up a mountain with their leader (Jesus) to get away. They needed to go to a place set apart to be transformed and rejuvenated in their work as disciples. When they got to the mountain camp, they prayed, and while they were there they saw God. Faith came alive to these campers, just like it does to campers at Mount Luther through skits, stories, songs, and study. Peter wanted to truly set up camp that day by putting up tents and having an overnight camping experience. He and the other campers were sleepy. But then, their priorities changed as God bellowed from the heavens and they heard His voice saying, “This is My beloved Son. Fear Him!” God transfigured Jesus there. His disciples undoubtedly were changed, too. Peter, James, and John, as many know from their own experiences, felt close to Christ in an outdoor setting. They truly knew that day that God was in their midst. They had a mountaintop experience. As I hope you can see, there are some correlations between the experience of the transfiguration and the experiences our campers at Mount Luther. When campers and staff come to camp, they live for a week in an intentional Christian community with fellow followers of Jesus. They feel God’s presence in worship, at the pool, while doing crafts, and while eating meals. Their lives are changed as they encounter Jesus Christ in this place. What are the mountaintop experiences in your life? Where have you seen God today? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, thank you for providing us with light when we are scared of the dark. May we also be a light to others by sharing your great love. Amen.
Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Light guides us through the dark. The dark is often frightening, and not just for little ones. I think the dark is frightening because you can’t see to anticipate what’s ahead of you (or behind you…). This is especially true for young campers who are not very familiar with camp yet, so they find comfort in their friends and flashlights. In this passage, Peter is talking about Jesus’ transfiguration, and he says that we can trust in the message of the Holy Spirit as a light shining in a dark place. We find comfort in lights that guide us through the dark. God provides these guiding lights for us in many different forms – like a compassionate friend who stays by our side during the scary times, a trusty flashlight to guide us from our cabin to the bathhouse in the middle of the night, and the Bible which is filled with His word to guide us and fill our hearts when we need a light. --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Lord, as you sit in the heavens and laugh, may we remember to laugh too. Amen
Reading: Psalm 2 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This past January we invited twenty-five Community Chorus members for a Post-Christmas Party. Would I have enough cookies? Do I have enough chairs? Suppose everyone brought their spouse? Then there would be twice as many people? On another occasion, we planned a Valentine’s Day Party. There was a blizzard! "He who sits in the heavens laughs." (v. 4a) Or, as one saying goes, "Man makes plans. God laughs”. By the way, the Post-Christmas Chorus Party was a success despite not quite enough chairs for everyone. Some of the men stood. In the kitchen. Near the cookie trays. And there was plenty of laughter. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, you call us to places to meet you, hear your word and go back to share with others. May we see your glory around us as we wait. Help us to live in relationship with you and with others as you would want us to. Amen
Reading: Exodus 24: 12-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The LORD told Moses to come to Him on the mountain and wait there. He wanted to give Moses the tablets of stone so Moses would have the law and commandments to use for the instruction of God's people. So, Moses went. And waited. Waited on a cloud covered mountain for 6 days until God called out of the cloud. The glory of the LORD was like a fire on top of the mountain and for forty days and nights Moses was on the mountain with God. As much as we know God is everywhere and always with us, sometimes we are called to go somewhere to really hear, really see, really experience God. We may have to wait but God's glory will appear one way or another. Then we come back with His word written more clearly in our hearts which surely makes it easier to share with others. Where do you go to really hear, really see, really experience God? Go! Have you ever felt the glory of the LORD simply cover you completely? Wait! When you come back, are you more likely to share that love with others? Do! -- Ruth Gates Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.”
Prayer: Show us your love, O Lord, in ways that we don’t expect and through people we meet. Amen. Reading: Hebrews 6:10-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This summer, as we look at Biblical characters “From Generation to Generation,” we will see God’s story of love. We will see how God showed love to these characters. On Tuesdays, we will look at Joseph. It’s interesting that one of the other scripture passages designated for our Day 2 study is this one that mentions Abraham, who our campers will have studied the first day. It reminds me that God’s story is one about love. I thought this morning about an old Sunday School song we used to sing. Maybe you know it? Love, love, love That’s what it’s all about For God loved us, we love each other Mother, father, sister, brother Everybody sing and shout ‘Cause that’s what it’s all about It’s about love, love, love. May you feel that love and share that love today on this Valentine’s Day. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, you ask us to mean what we say in our relationship with others and with you. Yes means yes. No means no. As simple as that. As simple as yes, Jesus loves me. Thank you. Amen
Reading: Matthew 5: 21-37 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: One of the first songs learned in Sunday School is Jesus Loves Me with its repeating, "Yes, Jesus loves me. (3x) The Bible tells me so." At Camp Mount Luther, Jesus Loves Me is sung to other tunes, too. It's really cool to take a familiar song and sing it a bit differently; add a new twist like a "We will, we will rock you." thigh tap and hand clap beat. Still end with "Yes, Jesus loves me. (3x) The Bible tells me so." (tap, tap, clap) After singing it that way, you are sure to your core that yes, you are loved by Jesus. Yes, because the Bible tells us so and therefore we can count on that yes. That simple. The Bible also tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no in our relationship with others and with God. Keep it simple. No matter how you say it (or sing it). -- Ruth Gates We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on November 29, 2017.
Prayer: As we look for good in this world, God, be our eyes to see you and your love in others. Amen. Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “I give thanks to my God always for you…” is how our passage today starts out. Paul is saying to the Corinthians that he is always thankful for these people. He is showing his gratitude. We just had a holiday which caused us to pause and reflect on what we were thankful for and to count our blessings. Hopefully you used this Thanksgiving season to do just that. I’m sure you saw how many positive things were in your life. Recently, I was reading some evaluations from an event we held at camp. Many of the forms were so positive about the speaker, the event, the facilities, the food, and the staff. But a few had negative comments. I thought some of them were very nit-picky. I remarked that I wish people would look for the positives in things and not focus on the negatives. Sure, I want us to improve upon what we do but I think all too often we look for the negative in things and not the positive. “I give thanks to my God always…” Let’s also give thanks and gratitude and positive thoughts to all those we meet along life’s road. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear God, we find our joy in you as we delight in your word. Help us in our conviction to walk in your ways. Amen
Reading: Psalm 119: 1-8 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: “Happiness is to love the Savior" are the opening words to a Gospel hymn we sang at Camp. "Happy are those who..." are the opening words of Psalm 119. However, there is a challenge in verse 3: “...who (also) do no wrong but walk in His ways". It is so easy to wander off His path. Remember, we do have the ability to get back where we need to be. We can turn to God and ask for His help. There are other sources of help like family, friends, church and camp. Keep that in mind and may we all be ready to offer a helping hand, too. -- Alice Yeakel Prayer: Dear God, your directions are clear. Obey and live. Stir us to follow your word. Amen
Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: In this passage, we are being told, quite matter of factly, if your heart turns away and you stray from God’s directions, your life will be miserable. I like to look at life as an orchestra. If we all play the right notes in time together, we will have harmony. Or let’s move into the kitchen. If we follow the recipe and use the right ingredients, we will have a scrumptuous meal. Here’s my favorite: I buy a new gadget and can’t make it work. My son asks, ‘‘Mom, did you read the directions?” -- Alice Yeakel Today, we look at a Day 2 text from this year’s summer curriculum, “From Generation to Generation.”
Prayer: Dear God, we acknowledge that your promises are ones we can rely on. Help us live in the good of those promises. Amen. Reading: Genesis 45:1-15; 50:19-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Genesis 45–50 tells the end of the epic story of Joseph: best known for his crazy dreams, colorful coat, and rise to power in Egypt after being sold as a slave and presumed dead by his brothers. Despite sibling rivalry, jealousy, and harmful shenanigans, God made everything good. Often when we face adversity, that’s when we see God the God. God never leaves us or forsakes us. As we look at this story with campers this summer, we will explore how God’s promises are promises forever. Even when people hurt or confuse us, or we are afraid, sad, or lonely, God’s promises are the real deal, and we can rely on God. How do you rely on God? --Chad Hershberger Prayer: May you help us to the salt of the earth, dear Lord. Amen.
Reading: Matthew 5: 13-20 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: When I was a camper at Mount Luther, my counselors one day made us some French fries. We ate them as a snack. But when we put them into our mouths, they didn’t taste very good. You see, they did not add any salt to the fries. We then added the salt and tasted then again. Much better! Our counselors then read us this passage and talked about we can be the salt of the world. How are your salt to others? How do you make their life “taste” better? In our times of divisiveness, may we be salt to others to help them see a better perspective. --Chad Hershberger Prayer: God, our creator, as we interact with and study your creation, may your Holy Spirit continue to reveal your word to us. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Verse 9 of today’s passage says, “However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”- the things God has prepared for those who love him- Reflect on all of the processes that happen in your body on a daily basis without you having to think about them – like your heart beating, and your lungs breathing (especially while you sleep). All of these processes were so intricately designed and set in motion by God, our Creator! The immeasurable wisdom that God has is mind-blowing… One of my favorite things about studying biology at Grove City College was the constant reminder that science and Christianity IS compatible. My sophomore year, one of my professors said, “studying science is like thinking God’s thoughts after him.” I think that is an awesome mindset to have, that as we continue to make more scientific discoveries as humans, we are not revealing our power and wisdom, but God’s. Louis Pasteur (who invented pasteurization) said: “The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings men nearer to God.” --Anne Harshbarger Prayer: Dear God, as we obey your commandments may we remember it is not just for our benefit but to be a blessing to others. Amen
Reading: Psalm 112: 1-10 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Such a positive Psalm! “Happy are those who fear the Lord’’ if you remember fear is not necessarily bad. Often it is a caution flag. Whoa! Slow down. Heed His commandments and you will not be moved. Respect the Lord. But the Psalm goes on further. Respect each other. Be generous and share your blessings. Conduct your affairs with justice. Keeping God's commandments benefits us, but the real point of keeping the law is to benefit our neighbor. When has someone else keeping God's law been a blessing to you? -- Alice Yeakel We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on January 31, 2017.
Prayer: God, may we live in the good of the grace you give us each and every day. Amen. Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: To review, this week our scripture readings all deal with three words—salt, light, and grace. This passage, I think, speaks to us most about God’s grace and light. In verses 3-7, the writer of Isaiah is reminding us that we can try to do all we can to be good to people, to serve God, and to follow Christian practices. But we all fall short, because we are all sinners. What saves us? God’s abundant grace. Thanks be to God! We even seen “light” images in verses 8 and following. To me, this reminds us that because of the grace that showers down from God, we need to go out and let our light shine. I’ve been reading a book by Kelly Fryer called “Reclaiming the ‘L’ Word.” Her thesis is that Lutherans need to not be ashamed of the word Lutheran because we have some pretty solid theology. But she does contend that one thing we need to do is to live in the good of God’s grace and go out and do God’s work. It’s not just the work of the pastor, but of the people. As we ponder these images of salt, light, and grace this week, what are ways that you will let your light shine brighter as you live in the good of the grace God gives you? --Chad Hershberger |
Authors
Anyone is welcome to contribute! If you'd like to write for us, please e-mail [email protected] Email
Get our daily devotions delivered to your e-mail box each day by signing up below:
Archives
May 2022
Subscribe |