One of the great stories that's told in the Seltz-Kilponen household is ...
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
"In His Steps"
September 4, 2017
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it."
One of the great stories that's told in the Seltz-Kilponen household is the story of Grandma Kilponen and Grandma Beth dealing with those northern Michigan winters and all the things that she had to do, just to make sure that the kids made it to school. If you've ever been in northern Michigan during the winter, way up there in Ironwood, Michigan, it can get pretty brutal sometimes. I remember seeing walls of snow when we visited for Christmas holidays. It was beautiful, but it sure made getting around more difficult. Anyway, the funniest of the stories that were told were the ones where grandma had to test the snow after a big snowfall, to see if there was an "ice crust" on top, one that she could walk on. On school days, if grandma stepped out the door, placed one foot in front of the other, and fell through -- no school that day! If she didn't fall through, then my mom and my aunt and uncle, would follow in her footprints, in her footsteps, to make it safely to the bus stop. Every time I think of my grandmother waist deep or higher in the snow, it makes me smile. She was willing to risk the hassle; she was willing to find the path so that everyone could make it safely to school. When Jesus talks about taking up our cross, I don't think it's about punishment or living a grin-and-bear-it life. I think it's about following in His footsteps and being willing to test the ice, test the waters, sacrifice for others so that love and life can be received and shared. When Jesus died on the cross, He did more than test whether we could walk our path safely in this life. He did way more than that. He became that path; He became for us "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." In a world today that yearns for a sure path to follow, that needs loving parents who make sacrifices for their children, that desperately needs sacrificial love to overcome hatred and despair. Thank God for grandparents, moms, dads, and friends who are willing to love and sacrifice for others so that they can have what they need. But, even more, thank God for sending us His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord -- One who made a way where there was no way, One who died on the cross and rose again so that we might not only follow Him, but that we also might walk in His footsteps in how we love one another. Now Grandma Beth couldn't walk on water, but she could walk on ice-crusted snow in His Name for those she loved, doing the sacrificial, cross-carrying things one has to do so that her children and grandchildren knew their Savior Jesus -- who did walk on water, who endured the cross and defeated death itself so that we might have life, love, family, and joy in abundance. THE PRAYER:Dear Lord, thank You for Your willingness to walk the path we couldn't walk, to endure the gates of hell that we might live, that we might also follow in Your footsteps for life and salvation, that we might also bear any crosses so that others might know Your love, too. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
La vanidad es una cualidad muy común entre los seres humanos. Ya era hora de salir para ir a la iglesia. El esposo miraba el reloj una y otra vez, mientras esperaba que su esposa terminara de aprontarse. Entró y salió del dormitorio varias veces para comprobar que se estaba apurando, hasta que finalmente decidió ir a encender el coche para que se fuera calentando. Cuando volvió adentro, su esposa estaba terminando de maquillarse. "Se te ve muy bien", le dijo, sin el menor reproche. "Pero se te vería mucho mejor en el coche". La única razón por la cual cuento esta historia es para hacer la siguiente pregunta: "¿Cómo nos veríamos mejor?" No es una pregunta difícil. Es más, hay muchas personas que siempre están prontas a ofrecer sugerencias. ¿Acaso no le han dicho alguna vez: "Te verías mejor si...", o "Serías más feliz si...", o "Te iría mejor en la vida si..."? Aquí es donde el Señor entra en juego de gran manera, porque gracias a la vida, sufrimiento, muerte, y resurrección de Jesucristo, quienes creemos en él ya no necesitamos "vernos mejor". Nuestros pecados han sido perdonados y lavados, y nuestra vida temporal y eterna están aseguradas. Por eso es que, junto a Pablo, podemos decir: "he aprendido a estar satisfecho en cualquier situación en que me encuentre". ORACIÓN:Querido Señor, mi espíritu se alegra porque tú has provisto todo lo que necesito para esta vida y para la eternidad. Gracias a ti soy perdonado y salvo. Ayúdame a vivir cada día honrándote y alabándote. En el nombre de tu hijo Jesucristo. Amén.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
~ Phillipians 1:2
Sunday Morning Prayer
God, as you gave us the sun to lighten our days, so you have given us your Word to lighten our minds and our souls. I pray that you will pour out on me your Spirit as I pray today, that my heart and mind may be opened to your Word, and that I may learn and accept your will for my life. Shine within my heart, loving God, the pure light of your divine knowledge; open the eyes of my mind and the ears of my heart to receive your Word, this day and always, Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
God is light; in him there in no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him, yet walk in the darkness, we lie and son not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
~ John 1:5b-8
Most holy and merciful Father, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; And free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Psalm 26:1-8 1 Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I have lived with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind. 3 For your love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. 4 I have not sat with the worthless, nor do I consort with the deceitful. 5 I have hated the company of evildoers; I will not sit down with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, that I may go in procession round your altar, 7 Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving and recounting all your wonderful deeds. 8 LORD, I love the house in which you dwell and the place where your glory abides.
[Marks of the True Christian] Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
[Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection] From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." [The Cross and Self-Denial] Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message
Continuous Reading Track
Exodus 3:1-15 [Moses at the Burning Bush] Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." [The Divine Name Revealed] But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain." But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations. Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c 1 Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvelous works. 3 Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Search for the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face. 5 Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth, 6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen. Psalm 105:23-26Et intravit Israel 23 Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham. 24 The LORD made his people exceedingly fruitful; he made them stronger than their enemies; 25 Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, and dealt unjustly with his servants. 26 He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Prayer of the Day
I pray to you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. Amen.
~ from a prayer by Clement of Rome (96 A.D.)
A Collect for Sundays
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
Our Virtual Sunday Church this week takes us to the Hastings College Chapel.
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name Lyrics
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, Ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe, On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all!
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall! We’ll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of all!
Music: “Diadem” by James Ellor, 1838 Lyrics by Edward Perronet, 1870
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia! Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
Closing Prayer
God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and Spirit of God amidst us, direct our way unto you. Make us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end we may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before you, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen Jesus talks about an attitude towards life – a state of heart - you will find with each one who has received the message of His Salvation. He speaks about those who will follow Him – and that can only be those who has received Him in truth – because the specific will can only be affected by the Gospel. He does not have such a message to the others. For those it says very simple: “Believe in the Son!” We are not reading about the salvation itself here, for what it is concerned, the speech about deeds are totally out of the question. The Word is as clear as anyone could wish for when it comes to that! - But God's Word also speaks about the difference in the reward for the believer. And it speaks about that the believer will continue building on the foundation of Christ, with different kinds of material - someone with noble, others with nothing noble, but even those who build with the kind of material that got burned up in the test, will be saved – though trough fire (1 Cor. 3:11-14). We human beings became in reality our own gods through the fall! We became self worshippers. It was then we fell for the temptation: “You will become like God,” and therefore naturally live by it. We want to be the biggest, the greatest, most praised and honored etc. If we have to admit to our littleness, it will brake our self-image, our self-esteem etc. This is where it has its reason. We want to according to our nature, live by ourselves, we want to protect and defend ourselves and our own, make sure that we get all of our needs met and other people will only be tools to achieve this. How can they benefit me? – is the refrain. Jesus points to a whole different way. We mentioned that this in itself was not about our salvation, but this thing about living for you, can have that consequence though, that we actually let go of the salvation. Our own will swallow up everything at the end. We see an example in the Word by Demas for example, he who was one of Paul’s close companions - Paul brings a sad report about him: “- for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” (2Tim. 4:10). Paul points at the same as what Jesus points to – that love for this world – which has its reason in our inborn nature and cannot live side by side with the life in God, with any good results. No, you must deny yourself, Jesus says, - something that is almost gone in the preaching these days, and we have therefore more and more a Christian people who wants to have everything of what this world has to offer, with heaven in sight. But what the Word speaks about is that the heavenly life starts here and now. You can take part in it now! This is exactly what Jesus sacrifice has given us access to. But not as all of those who preach in the so called glory theology. That only opens up for the natural humans desires – to achieve a paradise here on earth. No, it speaks of owning a life in God, here and now and to grow in it.
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,” (Heb. 10:19), and “(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” (Heb. 7:19). This is to follow Jesus! Believing in Him, and by that drawing near to God! That is to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), and this hardly brings you to a paradise existence, concerning the earthly things, in this world, but rather to adversity and suffering of different kinds. But this growth in - and approach to - God, cannot happen unless you at the same time deny your own. That is why we have Jesus’ word – must. “He must deny himself” (v.24). But you cannot live a life like that and live to achieve your own “dreams” at the same time. You have to choose here. When it is about being placed before the call, we have those invited it speaks of for example in the parable about the kings sons wedding (Mat. 22:1-14), who all chose God's salvation away, for the benefit of what they had in this world. And nothing they preferred before God's things were sinful things, let us make note of that! It was people who never had been on the inside and never came there, of this reason. With Demas it was another situation. He is a warning for you and me who has received God's call: “Continue the fight!” The closer a human being gets to God, the more will God's purpose for his life be fulfilled. You shall not as many preach about, seek about God's purpose for your life, as seeking to come closer to Him, by Jesus Christ work of reconciliation. This preaching about “God has a plan with your life” will much more wear people out, than to give them desire for Kingdom of God, and leads to a more or less longing after the “riches in Egypt”, which means the things in this world. To stay close to Jesus and to learn more and more about Him, will make the sacrifice you take easier to carry. We read in v.24 to “lose your life”, that can be a totally definite way of letting your life go for the sake of the name of Jesus. The history has shown us that, and it happens still today, and will happen even more to the end of this age, it sure looks like it. But this shall first and foremost be understood in the context with this message, to deny oneself, his own, in other words let go of your own. When we hear this, we start to count on it, - can I stand the costs? Jesus will help us and puts this “calculation” up for us: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (v.26a). What kind of answer will you choose? And then He adds: “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (v.26b). If you won, and owned the whole world, you still would not have ransom for your own soul, it would get lost! What then would be won? In contrast to this, God's Word says that the ransom for your soul is: Jesus blood! Here is your choice, also today, my friend! If you choose your soul – then you choose Jesus! Not as a “Sunday Christian”, for whom Jesus almost is a pillar of a picture in church, that you visit once a week, but as a living Savior you breathe and live in. Your Friend, your Savior, your God, your Ransom, your Reconciler, your Brother, your Father, your Life, yes, your everything! “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels,” (v.27a), and “judgment must begin,” not with the rebellious world, but “the household of God” (1 Pet. 4:17). And listen you who will get your wage according to your doing - because according to the Word of Jesus you shall - it is not spoken of how much or how big, but about this: Did you stay close to Him? In what way did He and His deeds mean to you? So much that you were willing to let go of something of your own? Let that be the question today, every day!
Amen
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I pray to you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. Amen.
Isaiah 48:17(NIV)This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Read all of Isaiah 48 Listen to Isaiah 48
Luke 15:11-31 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
THINK ABOUT IT
For a son to ask for his inheritance before the death of his father was a severe cultural offense, equivalent to wishing for the father’s death. The lost son ended up in the worst of circumstances from a Jewish point of view: a place where even unclean pigs were faring better than he was. The father’s extravagant mercy turned out to be as far-reaching as the son’s offenses. The story turns near the end, when the older brother refused to join the party, revealing that he was as lost as his younger brother. This parable probably was meant to illustrate the self-righteous attitudes of observant religious people who felt entitled to the kingdom because they “never disobeyed” (Luke 15:29). Jesus left the parable unresolved, forcing his listeners to see themselves in the story.
TALK ABOUT IT
What did this parable teach you about mercy?
In Jesus, Cap'n Kenny
Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
Muchas
cosas en la vida son vanidad y nos hacen perder la orientación. Por
ejemplo, el anhelo desmedido por las riquezas. La Biblia nos enseña que
el amor al dinero también es vanidad. Por eso, el verdadero
convertido es el que deja a un lado el interés por las cosas materiales y
se concentra en Dios que es el Dador de todo en este mundo. Una cosa es
ser próspero y otra cosa es que tu vida la pongas a valer por lo que
tienes… Cuanto tienes, cuanto vales. El Manual de Instrucciones
nos recuerda que no podemos creer que siempre seremos jóvenes, pues la
juventud pasa de igual manera. Como salimos desnudos del vientre de
nuestra madre, así volveremos sin nada. Pidámosle a Dios que
seamos capaces de mantener un equilibrio en la vida, que disfrutemos de
sus bendiciones y que, de lo mucho o lo poco que tengamos, podamos
darles a los demás.
Our
Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight
from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the persecuted church.” It’s
so easy to get fed up with church. For years I got very little out of
church. The sermons were boring. The music was embarrassing. The
fellowship was non-existent. The whole experience of worshipping with
other people felt stale and pointless…Going to church in my country was
an endurance test. Until I visited a persecuted church! There were
fifty of us squeezed into an upstairs room. The singing was hushed. The
neighbors were hostile to the fellowship. Then a preacher stood up. An
old man, with a wiry frame and wisps of hair springing from a mole on
his chin. No sooner had he spoken a sentence than he broke down in
tears. He kept saying, “I never thought I would have the privilege of
preaching again.” Then he would laugh, and then cry again, great wails
and sobs. Soon everyone was weeping with him. Except me. This went on
for about half an hour, and I began to get very fed up with it all. He
kept speaking a line, and my translator kept saying, “It’s the same
verse, it’s the same verse.” All this man did was repeat the same
scripture phrase, burst into tears, laugh, and then speak the very same
phrase again. I thought, “What kind of hopeless service is this.” But
afterwards I met the old man, and when I heard his story I repented of
my attitude. He was a preacher, ordained in the late 1950’s in China. He
pastored a church for only six months before it was closed down. He was
jailed, spending twenty years in prison. After he got out, he was very
ill for a long time, but finally, at age 77, had the strength to speak
again. I had witnessed his first sermon in 31 years! No wonder he broke
down. I tried to imagine what it must have been like, holding the Word
of God inside for 31 years, not knowing whether you would ever again
preach. Then suddenly being allowed to do so. How do you preach a sermon
after a silence of 31 years? No wonder he was overcome. He said,
“I never thought I would get the privilege of speaking the Word to a
gathered group of Christians with their Bibles open ever again. Through
the long years of prison I thought that experience would never return.
And when it came, as you saw, all I could do was choke out the verse
that kept me going: Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful (Ps149:1b). I
returned home with a transformed attitude. I began to walk to church
with my Bible, praising Him for the opportunity. I went to the church
early, walking the aisles and praying, thanking God for the building and
the freedom to hold our service. When the preacher spoke, I thanked God
that he had no fear. When the Bible was read, I thanked God for the men
who took grave risks in the past to print and distribute this word in
my language. When we sang a hymn, I sang out loudly, thanking God that I
did not have to whisper in hushed tones. Truly, what a privilege
is corporate worship. The persecuted church rescued me from bitterness,
and taught me to count my blessings I had taken for granted. RESPONSE: Today I will thank God for the privilege and freedom of corporate worship in my church. PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the freedom and blessing of praising You in my faith community.
