Prayer: Mold me and make me, Lord, after your will. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 18: 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: When a Potter works clay on the wheel, from the very start he is forming the final product. Every move affects how the piece turns out. Sometimes along the way something goes wrong. The clay gets squashed back down to start over. But there is still hope it will turn out right the next time. The Lord told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house. Jeremiah watched the potter working at his wheel. The vessel he was making was spoiled. He kept the wheel going and reworked the clay into another vessel, as seemed good to him. We sing a hymn that speaks of the Lord as a potter and we ask to be molded after His will. There may be times when we feel we are spinning on a wheel but God's hand is always on us. There may be times when we feel squashed back down but there is always hope in His will. --Ruth Gates
0 Comments
Occasionally, we will reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on November 17, 2013.
Prayer: Give us the strength to tell those we love them that we do. Amen. Reading: Philemon 1-21 (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: In this letter, Paul is writing a letter to Philemon. From the words of the letter, we can tell that Paul and Philemon are close friends. It is the most personal of all of Paul's letters. So often, we do not take the time to tell those close to us how much they mean to us. Today, take time out to tell those you love how much you love them. Call them on the phone, write a letter, or tell them in person. Life is too short not to! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: As your follower, may I look to you, Lord, to see what I need to do to follow you in better way. Amen.
Reading: Luke 14:25-33 (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’m reading a book that is based on the premise that Jesus did not come two thousand years ago but instead came to earth in modern times. It is pretty interesting reading about how Jesus was born in a Motel 6. I just read the part where he resurrects a modern day Lazarus and they have to call in the vault company to open the sealed vault and casket. There is also a modern retelling of today’s scripture passage. The character of Christ, Eli Shepherd, tells his followers that they must give up everything to follow him. The main characters hesitate, and ask if he really means it. Which makes me ponder—do I really give up my life to be a follower of Jesus? Today, I’m going to think a little bit about the stuff that gets in my way to truly follow Jesus 100 percent. I hope you will take some time to think about that, too, and make some changes in your life. –Chad Hershberger Prayer: Thanks, God, for your love. Amen.
Reading: Romans 8:37-39 (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: It’s a great funeral passage. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from God’s love. So true. So comforting. But what about those times in this life when God seems so far away that one might wonder if maybe God did die? Those moments of despair, loss, hopelessness, misery, depression, darkness when we think that the only possible solution is death. They don’t happen often, but when they do….. No, we are not separated from God’s love in Jesus. Never. “Nothing,” says Paul. “I say nothing can separate us from God’s love”. Not now. Now later. Not ever. --Jim Bricker Prayer: When our hearts are stubborn, help us to listen to you, Lord. Then we will be satisfied. Amen
Reading: Psalm 81: 1, 10-16 (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: I admit it. I am stubborn. So today's Psalm which in my Bible is titled, "God's Appeal to Stubborn Israel" may as well be God's appeal to me, too. Israel would not submit to God; I would like think I do but perhaps I am stubbornly refusing to admit that I don't. Submitting to God would mean I would listen and walk in His ways. However, I think I usually do the talking and often head off in my own direction. Today happens to be my birthday. I hope to eat some cake. The gift from the Lord everyday is to be fed and satisfied with his Word. --Ruth Gates Prayer: God of our faith, may the leaders who spoke your Word to us in the past inspire us to be faithful followers to do good and to share with others. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15-16 (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: Though we are members of the same Church, there are many churches that have influenced our ever-growing faith…and within those churches, perhaps an uncountable number of Leaders as written in today’s verses. In your life who helped form your faith and continues to do so today? Are your faith leaders those teachers of your childhood who first read the popular and heroic Bible stories and sang those old hymn standards on Sundays and at Vacation Bible Schools? Are they the church camp counselors of your early teen years who mixed their faith stories with summer fun, campfires and late nights? Or perhaps the campus pastor who first challenged your child-like faith with new ways of considering the law and gospel? And as an adult, who are your faith role models whose lives’ outcome you can consider and imitate…to ensure you are connected to the Body of Christ, nurturing your faith and helping you to find ways to share the good news with those known and unknown to you? Share a prayer of thanksgiving for the impact they had on the person you have become. Turn this thought around now. Through your words and deeds, think of the many people who probably look to you to be their leader in faith, who view your commitments and sacrifices…and are encouraged to do good deeds and to share with others. May you be inspired and supported by the Holy Spirit to quietly model your faith for all to see. --Andy Gates Prayer: Living Water, may we come to you rather than try to dig cisterns for ourselves. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 2: 4-13 (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 prophet Jeremiah points out that the people of Israel had committed two evils: they had forsaken (the LORD ), the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that could hold no water. (v. 13). We have a cistern in our basement and I am glad to say we only use it for storage. I cannot imagine rainwater running off the roof into gutters and through pipes that would take it into that dusty, musty, leaky stone walled section of our cellar for us to then use for cooking, cleaning and drinking. Gulp? Not to mention, given the drought we have had this summer, I am certain that cistern would be empty even if we had rationed and conserved water. And here is another thing about that cistern in the cellar. I have not figured out how they got the water out to use it. If the LORD is our source of Living Water, we don't have to try to collect it ourselves, worry about leaks, wonder if it is pure or ration it just in case. Living water flows to us plentiful and pure and more than enough for ourselves and to share. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear Lord, today I humble myself before you and my neighbors. Today I remember your words and take the lowest place at the table. Today I will remember that even when my actions go unrewarded, you will raise me up higher and higher with your great love. Amen.
Reading: Luke 14: 1, 7-14 (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: Luke 14: 11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” We sing a song at camp about humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord, for he will raise us up when we do so. It is a beautiful song, not too loud. Not too soft. Humbling. As the song progresses, the words “humble thyself” seem to transform, shifting from a proposition from the Lord into a promise from those who sing it. When I sing and hear this song, I am moved not only to humble myself before the Lord but before all of his people. Similarly, in this passage, the Lord reminds us that we are to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to our tables, thus humbling ourselves not only before the Lord but before all of God’s people. This is not an easy task, though, as we all know. We face a particularly difficult challenge because we are surrounded by a society that promotes independence and success. It is difficult to remain humbled when attempting to rise to the top, whether this be at the office, in the classroom, or while participating in sports and hobbies. For this reason, this passage poses a particular challenge, a challenge that becomes even more difficult because it is one that is not immediately rewarded. We are told that although the poor, crippled, lame, and blind cannot repay us, we will be rewarded by God. We must remind ourselves of this when we are tempted to place ourselves at the head of the table. It is only when we humble ourselves that the Lord will raise us up. --Courtney Dunn Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your Spirit who prays for us.
Reading: Romans 8:26-27 (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: “Who will lead us in prayer?” Camp Mount Luther’s summer staff often asks that question after a GROW time with the campers. Seldom does any camper volunteer. Perhaps they are too embarrassed or they don’t know what to say. Well, we adults don’t do too well either, even those of us who some folks think are professional pray-ers. Sometimes, even I stumble. I am so often grateful for liturgies with printed prayers. Praying often leaves me speechless. I imagine that I’m speaking for you, too? St. Paul’s words are perfect. What a lovely, comforting thought. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Sighs too deep for words. Imagine that. I know, it is so intuitive it is hard to comprehend. But then, maybe we don’t really need to understand, just experience it. We don’t have to have the perfect words, we just need to have the sense of need or praise or thanksgiving. The Spirit takes it from there. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. (Psalm 71:3) Amen.
Reading: Psalm 71: 1-6 (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: What is it about rocks? If they are small and pretty, we pick them up, put them in our pockets and carry them all the way home. If they are big and piled up, we have to climb them; especially if the view from the top is fantastic. Rocks just seem to call to us. We ask God to be a rock of refuge. What else would you build a refuge out of? While shelters can be made of many things, one built of rock is going to be the strongest. (Think of the story of the Three Little Pigs here and keep in mind bricks are basically rocks.) From the rock in our pocket to the one on top of a mountain, we remember God is our rock; a refuge we carry with us and stand on. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you, God, for your Kingdom which cannot be shaken. Stir us to worship you in awe and serve our neighbor. Amen
Reading: Hebrews 12: 18-29 (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 the Old Testament, encounters with God often left people shaking in their shoes...or sandals....or bare feet as in the case of Moses standing on holy ground. Jesus was a different story. Except for shaking things up in the Temple overturning the tables of the moneychangers, Jesus stirred up people to love God and love others by his example and teachings. In our world where things seem so shaken up, we are grateful for God's Kingdom which cannot be shaken. We are stirred to worship our awesome God and serve our neighbors. --Ruth Gates Prayer: When I am tempted to say, "I am only..." remind me I am yours. Amen
Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-10 (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: So often when God tells someone to do something, the response is, "I am only..." Think of Moses, Jonah and even Jeremiah in our text today. When God tells Jeremiah he is appointed to be a prophet to the nations, Jeremiah's response is basically, "Who me? I am only a boy!" But God age and experience did not matter; God's presence did. In Jeremiah 1:8, the LORD says, "Do not be afraid...for I am with you..." God's presence can make the impossible possible. What we think is improbable in our minds is more than probably going to happen. When we hear God's call and are tempted to respond with a doubtful excuse, "I am only... ", turn it into a faithful statement with, "...in the presence of God." Then do not be afraid. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Dear Lord, I am thankful for your everlasting presence in my life. Your love and healing have no limits. Amen.
Reading: Luke 13: 10-17 (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: Luke 13: 12-13 “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” This passage is very special to me because I grew up with severe scoliosis. Although I was not physically bent over like the woman described in this passage, I experienced a lot of pain – both physically and mentally—due to the curvature of my spine. There were many times when I felt excluded because of this. I faced physical limitations in gym classes. I found myself unable to participate in track meets. Soon I became very self-conscious – thus excluding myself from many other social activities — as the small hunch on my shoulder became more prominent. We are reminded of two things in this passage; the first is the power of tradition. In this passage, the synagogue ruler accuses Jesus of breaking the rules of the Sabbath – a sacred tradition – by healing the woman on this day. Jesus tells the man, though, that this woman deserves to be saved from Satan and her physical infliction even on the Sabbath day. Because of this, we are also reminded to check our traditions so that they do not harm or exclude any of his followers. Fortunately for me, I underwent a surgery when I was sixteen that corrected the scoliosis that had plagued me throughout my younger years. Although I faced new limitations as I healed, I knew that my life had suddenly changed for the better, and for this I praised God, just as the woman in this story praised him when Jesus relieved her of her affliction. By doing this, he reminds us that no tradition should become so powerful that it becomes greater than the will of God. --Courtney Dunn Prayer: Lord, help me to pay attention to your Spirit living in me.
Reading: Romans 8:9-11 (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: When I don’t feel good, I get grouchy. Something inside of me tells me that I’d feel better if I decided not to be grouchy. It’s not easy to not be grouchy when I’m feeling bad. But, it does help. At least for as long as I don’t give in to being grouchy. That’s one way, I think, for us to understand this flesh and Spirit battle that is a part of our lives every day. I’m sick so I’m grouchy. Or I’m human so I’ll do the things humans do. Or maybe there is another idea. I could do what God wants. I could do something else that makes me and everybody around me feel better. That is God’s Spirit in us helping us do the better things. We don’t have to give in to those “fleshy” parts of us, because we are also Spirit, God’s Spirit dwelling in us. --Jim Bricker Prayer: Listening God, you hear all we pray to you. In the end, restore us and save us. Amen
Reading: Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-19 (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: "Give ear." We ask God to listen and He does. He listens to everything we pray. Good and bad. If you read all the verses of Psalm 80, you will actually hear a bit of questioning and complaining. The Psalmist began with a polite and proper, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,..." but as he goes along, it sounds like he really wanted to say, "Listen up, Lord!" This is what we see happening, Lord, and let's get this straight. We talk; God listens. But what is the last request in this Psalm? Restore us and save us. Regardless of what is going on and whether or not it gets straightened out, we are restored and saved. It is our turn to give ear or listen up to that. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful as many before me show me how.
Reading: Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (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: The beach is a great summer destination. Any beach. Assateague is my favorite. Imagine, then, standing ankle deep in the salt water of your favorite beach. And you hear this voice telling you to walk on in and keep walking until you get to the other side. I guess ankle deep is enough, huh? You can’t walk in, through or on the ocean. You just can’t. But the writer of Hebrews inspires us by the example of those who stood by the Red Sea and faithfully proceeded to the other side. Then he tells us about the walls of Jericho falling down, and a prostitute who was faithful, and more until he concludes “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” We can proceed in faith even when we can’t see the conclusion but only hope. We proceed even if we don’t personally have faith, because so many before us have proceeded in faith to find Jesus perfecting their and our faith. Who are those witnesses in your life? Mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, aunt, teacher, pastor, colleague, friend, husband, wife … ?? --Jim Bricker Prayer: Heavenly Father, Today I am reminded that you continue to watch over your gardens, even when they become withered and frail. I ask that you continue to give strength to the weak and comfort to those who are distressed. Guide us so that we may learn to show peace amongst our neighbors and respect towards our environment. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7 (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: Last year, my dad and I had decided to plant a garden in a small plot that my grandparents once used. I had planted a few sunflowers and my dad had planted a few pumpkins. The process of planting seeds is a delicate one. We carefully dropped each seed into its small hole – a hole that we dug with our own hands. Then we covered these seeds again, patting the soil on top softly with a feeling of optimism. We checked and tended our carefully planted garden daily, hoping for it to grow full and strong, and with each passing day, we became a little more hopeful than the day before. At the end of the season, we ended up with two dead sunflowers and a few pumpkins. This was after making multiple changes to the garden such as elevating the pumpkins onto small planting dishes and supporting the feeble stems of the sunflowers with two steady rods. We were disappointed. Our hopes of a fruitful garden had been destroyed, and we began to question where we went wrong. In this passage, we read what appears to be a love song that is in fact a parable of heartbreak. Similar to the garden that my dad and I had planted a year ago, God looked over his carefully tended Earth and was disappointed by what he saw. Where he had hoped to see justice, he saw bloodshed. Where he had hoped to find righteousness, he found distress (5:7). We can see this distress all over the world. We see it in the faces of starving children. We see it in acts of war and terrorism. We see it in forests that have been cleared and ecosystems that have been devastated. This passage reminds us that God, too, sees all of this. Looking back on that first garden, I feel certain that God, too, must surely mourn for the seeds that he so carefully planted. My dad and I will continue to tend to our garden. We will plant new seeds and grow hopeful once more. Thinking about the future of our small plot, I also feel that God continues to watch over his people, and from this, we too, can, be hopeful for a brighter future. --Courtney Dunn Prayer: Lord, I hear your words and ask that you give me the strength to abide by them. As you have so willingly opened your arms to me, I pray that I remember to open my eyes to your daily presence so that I may lessen the divide between my Earthly responsibilities and spiritual ones. Amen.
Reading: Luke 12: 49-56 (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: Luke 51: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” These words, spoken by Christ to his disciples, are unsettling for obvious reasons. We are eager to associate Christ with peace (thus he is often referred to as the Prince of Peace), but it is within these lines that Jesus reminds us that with any change comes great opposition within society, even within families. We see this divide in politics and human rights movements. There are times when we see it within the Church itself. We live in ignorance if we do not recognize this divide. We also live in ignorance if we do not recognize the moments in which we, the Lord’s followers, straddle this great divide in our daily lives. Jesus, now addressing the crowd, points out that, although they are able to decipher the weather from a distant cloud, they fail to “interpret this present time”. In other words, he is asking these people how they can be so knowledgeable and consistently aware of daily concerns such as weather and yet fail to acknowledge the spirituality of their daily lives. I live in an urban area outside of Philadelphia. I may not be checking the direction of the wind when I step outside, but I am checking my watch. I check my watch because I know what time the bus will arrive at my bus stop. I check my watch because I know when traffic gets heavy. These are things that I am knowledgeable of and very much aware of on a daily basis. It’s the person on the street corner, though – the one holding out a small cup and asking for a quarter – that I remain unaware of. I hurry on towards my destination, casting a quick glance from him back to the persistent weight that is my wrist watch. The Christ within this passage is a distressed Christ. He is looking ahead, acknowledging the death that awaits him with the eagerness that afflicts any man that foresees a difficult task ahead of him. For this reason, the passage reads as a message of urgency; Christ is warning his disciples of the division that awaits because it is not only the familial and political division between those who choose to follow Christ and those who do not. It is the division that occurs between one’s daily responsibilities and spiritual responsibilities. If we choose to be followers of God, we must open our eyes to Christ’s presence and lessen this daily divide that separates our spiritual and Earthly lives. --Courtney Dunn Prayer: We give you thanks, God, for setting us free from the law of sin and death.
Reading: Romans 8:1-4 (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: We do try. At least we try. We try to live in the Spirit, to think and do the things that God wants. But over and over again, the law—the things God asks of us—condemns us. We just don’t quite measure up. And no matter how much we may try to make excuses or absolve ourselves, the bottom line is still the bottom line—we don’t measure up. What to do? The only thing left for us to do is to rely on Jesus. God, says Paul, has us covered. In Jesus He has done what the law could not do. In the end it is not about us trying. It is about God doing! --Jim Bricker Prayer: Trustworthy Lord, our hearts are glad in you alone. Amen
Reading: Psalm 33: 12-22 (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: Given the antagonistic political culture of our country and violently terrorizing condition of our world according to so much of the news these days, it is a wonder any of our hearts can be glad. Psalm 33:12-22 starts out with, "Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord" and further notes, "He sees all humankind." The Psalmist puts down our vain hope for victory and points out, "(The Lord) is our hope and shield." Well, that would gladden the heart...until the bad news pours back in again. However, our hearts can be glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. That's the way it has to be. But it's not all up to us. The Psalmist ends with, "Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you." Trust in God's steadfast love which he gives us first. Then our hearts can be glad. --Ruth Gates Prayer: Faithful God, by our faith may we be assured of things hoped for. Amen
Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16 (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: I have been hoping for a lot of things lately. The list is long; maybe too long as a whole lot of my time could be spent hoping, hoping and hoping for this, that and the other thing. How about you? It is written in Hebrews that by our faith we are assured of things hoped for. Notice faith comes first which then gives us assurance. Keeping that in mind, perhaps the hopes won't get in the way of living in faith. In other words, instead of being hopefully hopeful we are to live faithfully hopeful. I am feeling more assured already. How about you? --Ruth Gates Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being our parent from above.
Reading: Isaiah 1:1-20 (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 became a parent, my life changed. Almost overnight, I began to look at things differently. When my children do things or act in certain ways, I think, “Oh no… they got that from me!” I also think of their needs before my own. I thought about what it is like to be a parent when I read this passage. God is our heavenly parent. I can’t imagine the thoughts God has when God looks down on me and what I’m doing. Sometimes, I’m sure God is proud. Other times, God knows I can do better. But, God loves us so much that God allows us to go through life, making decisions and figuring things out on our own. The Spirit blows through at times and changes our paths, but we learn on our own. Just as I often let my children learn on their own; but at times, I feel a need to direct their paths more directly. May God show us that same love each and every day! --Chad Hershberger Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to remember that my self-worth is determined by your love alone rather than material possessions on Earth. You have promised me the wealth of the Kingdom, and for this, I promise to prepare myself for your great company by showing generosity to my neighbors. Amen.
Reading: Luke 12: 32-40 (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: Luke 33: “Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe—no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Today, I have to go to the bank. I had told myself that I was going to do this three days ago—a Friday. Then once I failed to do this, I had told myself that I would go to the bank on Saturday. And once I failed to do this, it was Sunday and the banks were closed. So, I have to go to the bank today. There might be people that actually enjoy going to the bank. Those people probably aren’t taking out half of their savings for the month’s groceries and rent. When I go to the bank, it’s to do just that. I walk to the counter. I ask for just enough cash to make myself cringe. Then I ask for a balance and cross my fingers that my paychecks went through and that some very kind stranger decided to transfer their life savings to my bank account. The latter has yet to happen, and so my visits to the bank are not so enjoyable. I know that I’m not the only person who worries about money and trips to the bank. I also know this: I’m not the only person that forgets how truly wealthy I am. In this passage from Luke, we are reminded that material possessions, such as money, amount to nothing in comparison to God’s great love. We are told to give, give, and give some more because when we share God’s love, we take share in the wealth of the Kingdom. By holding this love above our Earthly possessions and by showing our neighbors generosity, we prepare ourselves for the Lord. As this passage reminds us, we must prepare ourselves for the Lord’s company at all times. Because of this, we must also remember to show love and kindness towards others at all times. By readying ourselves for the Lord in this way, we can walk through those pearly Kingdom doors, march straight up to the counter, and, without even checking our balance, accept God’s eternal love, the greatest wealth of all. --Courtney Dunn |
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 |