Friday, August 12, 2016

Signs + Tests + Coincidence?

Walking in the Truth . . . Signs & Tests

NOTE:  There is a new feature about "Missionary News" at the end!

Today's Devotional Thoughts

Ever notice how the scripture readings in weekend worship or pastor's sermon or daily devotions "coincidentally" seem to speak directly to a spiritual issue immediately at hand? Well, I don't think it's a coincidence. I think it's a good thing . . . & it happened to me at church on SUN 8/7. I can't prove it, so it's a devotional thought & not a truth.

Today's Truths from Scripture

"After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: 'Fear not, Abram. I am your shield; your reward shall be very great . . . ' And He brought Him outside and said, 'Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then He said to him, 'So may your offspring be.' And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness."  Genesis 15:1, 5-6

 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."  Hebrews 11:1-3

 "(Jesus) said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing . . . Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom . . . '"  Luke 12:22-23, 32

More Devotional Thoughts

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call, informing me that as of Aug. 1, my health insurance would lapse. It's a procedural matter that I hope will be cleared up by the time you read this devotion, but I confess my weak faith has left me troubled. My mood disorders tend to send me "off the deep end" rather easily anyway . . . which I also attribute--to a weak faith & original sin [but I digress].

 Have you ever prayed for signs? Well, I have . . . even though Scripture warns us not to test God. [SEE Luke 4:12.] That would include asking God for signs. Yet the Lord provided signs in the form of dreams & visions to both His Old & New Testament people. Examples?
  • Abram--before he was renamed Abraham--was given a vision to reassure him that he would indeed be blessed with a son . . . in fact with more sons than he could imagine.
  • Later that same "Abraham" tested God by praying Him down to five righteous people before the Lord would devastate Sodom & Gomorrah. HE was testing GOD!
  • Moses resisted God's call to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. His excuses exasperated God to the point where Moses was provided with some pretty scary signs. [Ever had God speaking to you from a burning bush that was not devoured by the flames . . . Yeah, me neither.]
  • Gideon asked for signs when the Lord told him that he had been chosen to lead God's people to defeat the Midianites. [Remember the fleece & the dew?] Gideon lived to tell about it.
  • Skipping ahead to the New Testament, there was Peter & the vision of unclean animals lowered from heaven on a sheet . . . a precursor to God's call for him to visit the "unclean" house of a Gentile centurion.
Does God still speak to us in signs & visions? Are we still allowed to test the Lord?

It's a tricky subject, especially when we're reminded by the writer of Hebrews that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In today's culture, faith in the almighty Creator's literal creation of the universe during six literal days of creation by His Word alone is surely an example of a "conviction of things not seen."

Trusting that the Lord will "give us this day our daily bread" . . . that's the definition of faith that is the "assurance of things hoped for." [And I'm pretty sure that Luther would have included health insurance in his explanation of the 4th petition of the Lord's Prayer in the Small Catechism, had CPS been around in the 1500s.]

How do we build up our faith to handle the many challenges that world, the Evil One, & our own sinful flesh constantly throw at us? As we face those challenges, it seems to me that we have two choices.
  • We can choose to be anxious & stressed & worried.
  • We can spend time in Word & Sacrament & prayer.
If that second option seems way too easy, well, it is--unless & even if we follow God's "advice." My own life has been a testament to the peaks & valleys that most Christians experience in their faith walk.

 Back to my opening paragraph. I'm still not willing to equate my devotional "thoughts" with the Truths from Scripture. I am willing to say that I don't think that last Sunday morning's Scripture readings were a coincidence. I would rather believe that they were an answer to prayer.

Today's Prayer Thought is from "Have No Fear, Little Flock" *

St. 1  Have no fear little flock; Have no fear, little flock,
For the Father has chosen To give you the Kingdom; Have no fear, little flock!

St. 2  Have good cheer, little flock; Have good cheer, little flock,
For the Father will keep you In His love forever; Have good cheer, little flock!

St. 3  Praise the Lord high above; Praise the Lord high above,
For He stoops down to heal you, Uplift and restore you; Praise the Lord high above!

St. 4  Thankful hearts raise to God; Thankful hearts raise to God,
For He stays close beside you, In all things works with you; Thankful hearts raise to God!

* Source:  LSB, Hymn #735, 

Missionary News

Lois & I have "adopted" two missionaries:  Pastor Stuart & Debra Freese, who are preparing to serve in Ghana & West Africa, probably beginning soon after the 1st of the year. They are spending their time now getting ready for this assignment, which includes raising support with the help of Gary Thies. Some of you know Gary from his work via Mission Central. [http://missioncentral.us/missioncentral/welcome] I have Stu & Deb's permission to share the following information with you.
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