Blog Archives - St. Michael's Lutheran Church, School, & Childcare Richville, MI

Not Enough

10/29/2021

18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’[”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:18-23 NLT)

This Rich Man had two big problems. He tried to be good, but he was not good enough. He was rich, but he did not love enough. His attempts to justify himself before Jesus failed.

Our attempts to justify ourselves are guaranteed to fail, too. We can never be good enough to earn our way into heaven. We can never have enough money to buy our way in either. We need faith in Jesus' love and forgiveness. Nothing else will work.

Childlike

10/28/2021

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.
16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17 NLT)

There is a difference between being childlike and childish. Childlike is trusting. Childish is throwing tantrums. Jesus welcomes all of His Children who trust Him and place their lives in His hands. Lord, give us Childlike Faith in You.

Righteous or Self Righteous

10/27/2021

9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 NLT)

What a contrast between the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble and repentant tax collector. The Pharisee thought he was doing enough to earn God's favor and bragged about it. The Tax Collector knew he needed God's love and forgiveness and asked for it.

Humility is a virtue in the Christian faith. Pride is not.

October 26th, 2021

10/26/2021

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:1-8 NLT)

There is a big difference between Justice and Social Justice. Justice is doing what is right. Social Justice is trying to make up for a "wrong" in the past by making someone else now pay for the "injustice."

God is a God of Justice. He will put everything right. He is also a God of Mercy. Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins and put us right with God. God's Justice is Redemptive, Eternal. That is why we can put our trust in the Lord.

When You Least Expect It, Expect It!

10/25/2021

26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building-- 29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home. 32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”
37 “Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked.
Jesus replied, “Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.” (Luke 17:26-37 NLT)

When will Jesus return. The answer is we don't know exactly when. We do know Jesus' return will be when people least expect it. He tells us to always be reading by living in faith and being faithful to Him. Don't worry about being left behind. God promises that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Jesus Christ.

Some of the warnings Jesus gave were to prepare His followers for the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD by Titus and the Romans. Christians paid attention to the warnings and fled Jerusalem before it happened. People who do not understand this have created what I believe to be incorrect understanding of Jesus' return. Jesus never said that people left behind after His return will be given a second chance. He tells us to watch and pray for His return.

Different Things

10/22/2021

20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”
Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t sit. 23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. 25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation. (Luke 17:20-25 NLT)

Jesus makes it clear that the Kingdom of God and His return are two different things. God's kingdom is already among us. We are citizens in God's Kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ. Because we are sinful people living in a world darkened by sin, we may not always see or recognize God's kingdom among us.

Jesus will return. Here he warns about the things that will happen first and tells us not to fall for any false Messiahs. Jesus had to die and rise before He would return.

I think verse 22 is a warning about what would happen when the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. Jesus told people in other places to be prepared for that day.

10% or 100%

10/21/2021

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” (Luke 17:11-19 NLT)

Only one out of ten men cured of leprosy returned to thank Jesus. The other nine walked away and never returned to give thanks. How often do we return to give thanks to the Lord. Only 10% of the time. Remember that every good gift comes from God.

We need to join the Samaritan and give thanks to God because He is good. His love lasts forever.

Faith and Faithfulness

10/20/2021

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”
6 The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!
7 “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? 8 No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” (Luke 17:5-10 NLT)

Jesus tells us that faith has the ability to grow and to do unexpected things. Faith is a gift, not a reward. Jesus followers are called to lives of faith and faithfulness. We are called to serve without expecting a reward because God has already given us the greatest gift possible, the gift of eternal life.

Forgiveness Is Not An Option

10/19/2021

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!
“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:1-4 NLT)

Jesus tells us two important things in these few verses. First, don't be the source of temptation. Don't cause anyone to stumble and fall into sin.

Second, forgiveness is not an option. God forgives us. We forgive others. Forgiveness is letting go, not holding a grudge, not letting the person or the hurt that they cause control us. Forgiveness changes us. It does not necessarily change the other person.

The Rich Man and Poor Lazarus

10/18/2021

19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31 NLT)

This is the only Parable (Story) Jesus told with a person identified by name, Lazarus. Jesus warned that even if Lazarus came back to life, the Rich Man's family would not believe him.
Jesus enemies did not believe after Jesus raised Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, back to life after he had been dead for four days. Instead they plotted to kill Him.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus promises to return and raise us from the dead. Do you believe Jesus or those who plot against Him?

Author

My name is Larry. Right now I am serving as the Intentional Interim or Transitional Pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Richville, MI. This blog is part of my daily personal time reading the Bible and talking with God. It is more of my personal thoughts than a deep theological discussion. Thanks for taking the time to join me in reading and thinking about what God has to say to us today.

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