LHM Devotion - May 31, 2018 - Getting out of Our Way

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Getting out of Our Way"

May 31, 2018

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

~ 2 Timothy 1:12b (ESV)

Shortly after the communists came to power in Russia, a writer from England visited that country.

The writer asked a very old man, "Tell me, how does living in the communist system differ from life under the tsar?"

The old man replied, "Before communism came, we used to invite our priest out to the farm to offer a springtime blessing upon the land. But we no longer have to call for the priest or his blessing. We have tractors now."

That old man is not alone in his feelings. In many places, our age has seen fertilizer replace faith, potent drugs push aside prayer, leaders leverage out the Lord, and the Savior is swapped for sociologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists.

Which leads us to ask, whom do you trust? In what do you believe?

Be careful how you answer.

I wonder if unbelievers can still believe in technology when their car sits in the driveway and grinds away without turning over, or when the lights flicker and go out, or when the sump pump stops pumping in the middle of a downpour?

Will they continue to trust the drugs when the doctor says, "What you have has become immune to our medicines"?

In what will they believe? Of what are they absolutely sure?

Can they be positive their job is going to be there a year from now? Are they confident their savings account will maintain its value and the investments they've made will be profitable? In whom can they trust? Their answer -- every person's answer -- is important because the eternal consequences are too overwhelming if a person puts his confidence in the wrong person or thing.

In answer to all these questions, a voice -- St. Paul's voice -- responds: "But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."

You know, in our day and age, many people take great pride in their disbelief, distrust, and doubt. They work hard at not believing in anybody or anything. That's because just about every time they put their trust out there, they have been let down.

In contrast to such pessimism, we have the positive attitude of St. Paul who is confident in his confession: "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed."

* Paul believed in the risen Redeemer, who promised to listen to those who come to Him.

* He trusted in the Christ, who had disposed of our sins with His death and resurrection.

* Paul is confident in the Christ, who had promised to be with Him always.

Paul was proud to boast about Jesus because he had seen how Jesus was with him during storm and shipwreck, through pain and persecution. He trusted Jesus, and Jesus never let him down.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, this world is searching for someone or something in whom it can believe. Send Your Holy Spirit and grant the world may look to the Redeemer for direction, forgiveness, and salvation. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

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Shortly after the communists came to power in Russia, a writer from England visited that country.