LHM Daily Devotion - November 9, 2017 "Involved"

Years ago, Jim Croce sang the song, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim."...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Involved"

November 9, 2017

(Jesus said) "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

~ Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

Years ago, Jim Croce sang the song, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim."

The chorus to that song includes a list of four things you shouldn't do. It reads: "And you don't tug on Superman's cape; You don't spit into the wind; You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger; and you don't mess around with Jim."

To that list we can add one more item: you don't vandalize Seattle's statue of Ken Griffey, Jr.

For those of you who don't follow baseball, Ken Griffey was a pretty good player. He hit tons of home runs; he was a great fielder, and he was respected and loved by many. When he became eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame, the percentage of those who voted for him set a record.

Since the Mariner's team is incredibly proud of Ken Griffey, Jr., earlier this year, in front of Safeco Field, they put up a statue in his likeness. The bronze shows Griffey throwing down his bat after having clobbered a pitch out of the park.

It is a beautiful piece of art and was appreciated by many.

Of course, recently there was a fellow who either hated the statue -- or he loved it intensely. No matter how he felt inside, outward he started wiggling the statue's bat. When no one was noticing, he moved it this way, and then that way. Eventually, the bat broke off, and the fellow started to make his getaway -- would have made it, too, if it were not for two things.

1. What he had been doing had been noticed by Kelsey Klevenberg who was working in an office building across the street. When security didn't show, Klevenberg got involved. He left his meeting, took the elevator downstairs, and began to pursue the man. And since the fellow was armed with a bronze baseball bat, as he ran, Klevenberg called the police. 
   
2. And the second reason the man was caught? Apparently, he was drunk. When Klevenberg caught up to him, the fellow had fallen asleep on the sidewalk, and he had thrown the statue's bat into a garbage can. Klevenberg kept watch until the police arrived and arrested the man.

There you have it. The statue will be repaired, and it will all happen because Kelsey Klevenberg decided to get involved and do the right thing.

Now at this point I could say Jesus also got involved and did the right thing and because He did, our sinful selves have been repaired. Yes, I could say it, but it would be wrong. Jesus' life, suffering, death, and resurrection were not the right thing to do. The right thing to do would have been to let us die. What Jesus did was not the right thing; it was the gracious, undeserved thing. Without any merit or worthiness in us, He came and offered Himself as the sacrifice for our salvation.

Now, in thanks for all He has done, He encourages us to get involved and do that which is right. When God's people let their light shine, the world sees our good works and honors our Father who is in heaven. God is glorified.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, it is an easy thing for people to sit back and remain unconcerned and uninvolved. We give thanks that Your grace had You get involved and accomplish that which saves. Grant that my involvement may glorify and point the lost to You. In Your Name I pray Amen.

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