Joshua 6:1-14
Romans 13:1-7
Matthew 26:26-35
Morning and Evening Psalms
64-65 66-68
Romans 13. If only the Holy Spirit had left that out of the bible then we could rebel against the government with nary a qualm! But it is there, and it demands obediance to the governing authorities. Still, it does not say we ought to be the governing authorities. Worse, it does not at all define what a legitimate authority is! I still wonder, at what point did the United States government go from an illegitimate rebellion violating Romans 13 to a legitimate government to be obeyed by Christians? The same question can be asked of any overthrow of government throughout history. As far as I can tell legitimacy is little more than having enough guns to enforce your authority and nothing much else is needed. Because of this I don't have a problem with obeying authority, ie. anyone with a bunch of guns pointed at me, but I do have a problem with joining those gangs, God appointed for the sake of order though they be.
Matthew 26 is the institution of the Lord's Supper. "Take, eat; this is my body." Unless you want to get Clintonesque, is means is.
Higher Things Reflection:
Who are your enemies? Your true enemies? Are you thinking of infamous villains like Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein? Or are you contemplating that vicious geometry teacher or Latin professor? Perhaps you even slip into thinking about the dean of students or your dad who grounded you for breaking curfew last week.
In tomorrow morning’s introit, we hear Jesus pray: “For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.” As our dear Savior stood, bound and beaten before the high priest and (later that morning) Pontius Pilate, these would not have been easy words to recall. When you face danger and potential suffering at the hands of others, these words escape you.
But there is a word of sweet Gospel for you! Our Redeemer has endured the wrath of His enemies for you! He has undergone the whip, the nails, and the cross for you! He has submitted Himself to the fury of His greatest enemies: sin, death, and the devil – for you!
And in enduring these enemies, the Heavenly Father delivered Jesus from His enemies. He permitted Him to look death in the face and breathe His last. However, even more monumental is the fact that He raised Christ Jesus from the dead – that Jesus could “look in triumph on His enemies!” Because He endured our enemies we might walk in newness of life!
So what about bin Laden, Hussein, your teachers, and others in authority? Instead of such trivial “enemies,” consider the most dangerous enemies to your eternal life. We join Christ’s prayer in Psalm 54, contemplating our victory, in Him, over the most dangerous enemies of faith.
Rejoice, dear delivered brothers and sisters! In Holy Baptism, our dear Father in heaven has delivered you from that unholy trinity of sin, death, and the devil. In this precious, Sacred Bath, you, too, are bound to Jesus’ delivery from and victory over these enemies. Now, Jesus leads you to look in Easter triumph over these enemies! ¶ 8/12/2006 09:19:00 AM 0 Comments
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." The pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We re all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Fathers table. In Gods great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
¶ 8/12/2006 02:07:00 AM 0 Comments
