“Though while he lives he congratulates himself – and though men praise you when you do well for yourself – He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.  Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish.”  (Psalm 49:18-20)

Man in his pomp, like the beasts will amount to nothing.  How vain are the attempts of mortals to gain immortality.  Do not pursue those things which are here today and gone tomorrow.  Seek instead the things of the Lord which are forever.  Seek character, a good reputation and the knowledge of the Lord.  Walk in His ways and know what is good and righteous.  Seek the Lord while He may be found.

It is hard Lord with all of the temptations of this world.  My immediate needs are tugged by this world’s incessant pleas to go in many different directions.  Clear my mind to be still and know that You are God.  Help me walk purposefully in the way I should go and then equip me to walk in that way.  Through all things, lead me to be with You now and always.

Lord Jesus, you came into the world with nothing, but in Your resurrection gained all those who would follow You through the cross.  By Your example.  Help me see the fruits of good living and walk in the path You have established.  Lead me into a life that seeks Your way first and walks in the righteousness You teach through Your Word.  Lead me Lord Jesus where I should go.  Amen.

“As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form shall be for Sheol to consume so that they have no habitation.  But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me.”  (Psalm 49:14-15)

Sheol is death.  It awaits us all.  No one has left the life alive.  God did not exempt Himself from this, for Christ dies, even on the cross.  But what is promised is that we shall be redeemed from Sheol through grace by faith.  Those who are united with Christ are untied with a death like His in order to have a resurrection like His.  You are not ruled by death, but by the author of life.

Lord, I want what I see as the good things of this world.  I desire what I see those around me have.  I am not content with where I am, but want to go where I am not.  Loose me from this bondage to seek You in and through all things that I may live life in preparation for what You have intended from the beginning.  Guide me O Lord according to Your ways that I would walk in them.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead us away from the futility of this world in order to live according to the eternal purpose the Father established from the beginning.  Guide me O Lord in Your will that I may walk with You all the days of my life.  Help me see that only in You will I be established forever that death would have no hold on me.  Though I die, yet shall I live in You.  Amen.

“[Jesus said] to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’”  (Matthew 22:21)

What a horrifying statement.  Is our Lord Jesus Christ actually suggesting that some things don’t belong to God?  Is He giving Christians permission to participate in the sinful institutions of man?  Doesn’t He know that God wants us to be perfect, as He is perfect? (Matthew 5:48)

First, no; second and third, yes.  Of course our Lord knows that all things belong to God.  Engaging debate as a good rabbi, He simply makes a thought-provoking distinction with few words and a strong image.  But yes, He is giving His followers the freedom to participate in government, economy, and other institutions of this world, and He does so precisely because He knows that our Father wants us to be perfect as He is perfect.

For the Father’s perfection is known in this: His beloved Son assumed the flesh of this world, and dwelt and worked among sinners, for the sake of redeeming them—He even assumed the sin of the world on the cross.  Thus gifting us with His enduring friendship, God frees us—He frees you—to take on the burdens of your neighbors, too, even in something as sinful as government or (gasp!) capitalism, for the sake of love, kindness, and mercy.

LET US PRAY:  Father, Your perfection makes all things perfect!  Grant me such faith in Your Son’s mercy towards me that I take up the yoke of loving as He has first loved me; in His name I pray.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

WHY DO WE GIVE?

Devotional for October 22, 2017 based upon Matthew 22: 15-22

A young boy wanted a hundred dollars, so he prayed to God for an entire week, but nothing happened.  Finally he decided to write God a letter, requesting the hundred dollars.  When the Post Office got the letter addressed to God, they forwarded it to the White House.  The President was very impressed and touched, so he instructed an aide to send the boy five dollars.  He figured that five dollars would mean a lot to the boy.  Which it did.  So the young boy sat down and wrote a note, which read, “Dear God, Thank you very much for sending me the money.  However, I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington.  As always, they kept most of it.”  

In our Gospel reading for this morning Jesus said, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (verse 21)  Most of us accept the fact that we do have to give to Caesar.  What Caesar wants, Caesar gets.  And most of us just kind of accept that.

Giving to Caesar is not a problem for most of us.  But for many, giving to God is a huge problem.   So I would like to ask the question, WHY DO WE GIVE?  Many churches hold their annual stewardship campaign during this time of the year.  Why would we want to tell God in writing what we plan to do in providing financial support for and being involved in the ministry of the Church this next year?

First, we give to God the things that belong to God in RESPONSE to all that He has done for us.  Times are tough.  Money is short.  Maybe financially times are tougher for you than they were a few years ago.  But do you still have your health?  Do you have people who love you?  Do you have food to eat and a warm place to sleep?  Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins?  Do you have a home in heaven?  The truth is that we all have much to be thankful for.  And so we give to God the things that belong to God, first of all, in RESPONSE to all that God has done for us.

Second, we give to God the things that belong to God as a REMEDY to the enslaving power of wealth.  There comes a time for all of us when we have to decide what role money is going to play in our lives.  Will we have money, or will money have us?  It’s really interesting – and tellingly significant – that as people’s income grows, the percentage of their income that they give to charities declines.  The more people earn, the less proportionately they give.  You would think it would work the other way around.  The more I earn, the more discretionary income I have, so the more I should be able to give.  But that’s not the way it works.  

A wealthy TV evangelist was dying in his mansion.  He gathered his followers all around him to hear his one last wish.  “Before I die,” he said, “I would like to take one last ride.”  They asked him what he would need for that one last ride before entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.  He replied, “I would like a very small camel and a very large needle.”

It’s happening to people all around us.  No one of us is immune.  People who used to worship God now worship money. And so we give to God the things that belong to God as a REMEDY to the enslaving power of wealth.

And then third, we give to God the things that belong to God as a REMINDER of who is number one in our lives.  According to Deuteronomy 14, the whole purpose of the tithe is to teach us to always put God first.  It’s simply a matter of priorities.  It is simply a matter of doing what Jesus said – “Give back to God the things that belong to God.”  Seek first His Kingdom, and then trust Him to provide and to take care of you.  

This coming week ask yourself, “Am I truly giving back to God the things that belong to God?”

May the Holy Spirit so live in your life that you will find giving back to God easier, more important, and certainly more enjoyable than giving back to Caesar.

Dennis D. Nelson

President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE  

Scripture Lessons

2 Kings 2:1-12 (Elisha sees Elijah being taken up into heaven in fiery chariot)

Psalm 50:1-6 (Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth)

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (God has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of

his glory, shown in the face of Christ)

Mark 9:2-9 (The transfiguration of Christ)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #89, How Good, Lord, To Be Here! (ELW #315)

(LSB #414, ‘Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here)

Hymn of Praise: LBW #535, Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (LSB #940, ELW #414)

Hymn of the Day: LSB #416, Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory

OR LBW #552, In Thee is Gladness (LSB #818, ELW #867)

OR ELW #317, Jesus On the Mountain Peak

OR WOV #649, I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (LSB #411, ELW #815)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #526, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (LSB #802)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #518, Beautiful Savior (LSB #537, ELW #838)

Closing Hymn: WOV #654, Alleluia, Song of Gladness (LSB #417 ELW #318)

OR LBW #158, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (LSB #821, ELW #392)

OR LBW #80, O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair

(LSB #413) (ELW #316, O Wondrous Image, Vision Fair)

5th Sunday after Epiphany, Proper 4, Cycle B (February 4, 2018)

Scripture Lessons

Isaiah 40:21-31 (Those who trust the Lord will renew strength, rise like eagles)

Psalm 147:1-11,20c (The Lord cares for creation, lifts up downtrodden)

1 Corinthians 9:16-23 (Paul became all things to all people so some may be saved)

Mark 1:29-39 (Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, then many people)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LBW #543, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation

(LSB #790, ELW #858. Don’t use #859 unless you want it politically correct!)

OR ELW #860, I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me

OR LSB #795, Voices Raised to You We Offer (ELW #845)

(Nice Herman Stuempfle hymn.)

Hymn of the Day: LBW #87, Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (LSB #398, ELW #311)

(Yes, I know I selected this during Advent. See if anyone remembers! 😉 )

OR ELW #844, Praise to the Lord, All of You, God’s Servants

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #557, Let All Things Now Living (ELW #881)

Communion Hymn #2: WOV #765, Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love

(LSB #980, ELW #708)

Closing Hymn: LSB #551, When To Our World the Savior Came (tune is

“Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak”)

OR LBW #551, Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (LSB #803, ELW #836)

Scripture Lessons

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (I will raise up a prophet, put my words in his mouth;

listen to him alone)

Psalm 111 (God is faithful and just; praise him for his righteous deeds)

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (Caring for brethren with weak consciences;

eating food offered to idols)

Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus drives out a demon in Capernaum on Sabbath)

Opening hymn: LBW #393, Rise, Shine, You People! (LSB #825, ELW #665)

Hymns

Hymn of the Day: LSB #541, “Away From Us!” The Demon Cried (Don’t

panic; it’s same tune as “In Christ There Is No East or West)

OR LBW #493, Hope of the World, Thou Christ of Great Compassion

(Do NOT panic if you think the congregation will struggle. You can sing this to hymn #84, “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning,” a perfectly fine Epiphany hymn tune to boot!)

OR ELW #581, You are Mine (It’s easier than it looks, honest!)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #364, Son of God, Eternal Savior

(LSB #842, ELW #655)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #514, O Savior, Precious Savior (LSB #527, ELW #820)

Closing Hymn: LBW #537, O Jesus, King Most Wonderful (LSB #554)

OR ELW #862, Praise, Praise! You Are My Rock

(a sprightly Herb Brokering hymn)

Scripture Lessons

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (Jonah preaches, Nineveh repents, God has mercy)

Psalm 62:5-12 (God judges all justly; trust in him)

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (the time as short; live accordingly)

Mark 1:14-20 (time fulfilled, Kingdom near, repent; I will make you fishers of men)

Hymns

Opening hymn: LSB #861, Christ Be My Leader (tune is Lord of All Hopefulness)

OR LBW #380, O Christ Our Light, Our Radiance True (ELW #675)

(LSB #839, O Christ, Our True and Only Light)

OR ELW #715, Christ, Be Our Light (Where else do I know this from?!)

Hymn of the Day: LSB #614, “As Surely As I Live,” God Said

OR LBW #237, O God of Light (Your Word, a Lamp Unfailing) (LSB #836)

OR LBW #379, Spread, O Spread, Almighty Word (ELW #663)

(LSB #830, Spread the Reign of God the Lord)

Communion Hymn #1: LBW #390, I Love to Tell the Story (ELW #661)

Communion Hymn #2: LBW #383, Rise Up, O Saints of God! (ELW #669)

Closing Hymn: LBW #405, Lord of Light (ELW #688)

THE PRAYERS,

1^st Sunday after Christmas, Cycle B (December 31, 2017)

O come, let us adore Christ our Lord, and kneel before him with our prayers and supplications.

A brief silence

Father, we praise you for your Word made flesh, your beloved Son Jesus Christ, who dwells in your Church richly. For his sake, provide the Church with pastors, bishops, and theologians who teach and admonish your people in all wisdom. ^*17By the gift of your Spirit, let all that the Church does, in word or deed, be in the name of the Lord Jesus, to your glory and for the good of all whom he came to save.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are persecuted for the sake of Jesus even in this holy season. They are your chosen ones, holy and beloved. Adorn them with compassion, meekness, and patience. Grant that the peace of Christ may so rule their hearts that their tormentors repent, and flee to the Savior for forgiveness.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Make this congregation into a company of the upright, who delight in, study, and proclaim your mighty works of salvation. ²Clothe us with love, binding us together in perfect harmony. Let our lives display your redeeming power. Help us to draw our neighbors, friends, and families to faith in your dear Son.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We stand on the threshold between the years. We entrust this old year into your merciful care. We pray for your blessing and guidance as the new year begins. Grant to each of us, and to all of us, that peace which the world cannot give.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be gracious and merciful to all whose lives are shadowed by suffering in this season of light, especially: {List}. Grant that they may behold your salvation,³¹ dwell in the light of your love, revealed in Christ, and glorify you in the company of all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience – the enduring gifts of Christmas that shall last forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Receive our prayers, dear Father, for the sake of your dear Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

WHAT KIND OF TENANT ARE YOU?

Devotional for October 8, 2017 based upon Matthew 21: 33-46

We’ve all heard of Murphy’s Laws. Here are some of Murphy’s Laws for Landlords.

That sweet young girl with the baby you rented to will start dating the motorcyclist from hell the very next week.

Tenants always have at least one relative get sick or die each month – so they will always be late with the rent.

If a tenant attempts to replace the washer in the faucet, plan on having to replace the whole faucet, if not all the plumbing in the entire building.

Tenants will only lock themselves out in the middle of the night – or on Christmas.

At least one tenant’s check will be “lost in the mail” every month.

Every pet that gets lost will find its way to your rental.

The hardware store always closes five minutes before you get there.

A tenant’s ability to see dirt and damage is much greater when they move in than when they move out.

Everything in your rental will break 100 times faster than in your own home.

And whenever a tenant calls and says, “Hello, how are you?” something is drastically wrong.

There are three things that I find Jesus telling us in the parable of the landowner who planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and then went to another country. The first one is this – GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO HIS WORK. God created the world and He created the church. And now He has called us to take care of that world and to be a part of the work of that church. It is a task we must take most seriously.

Second, GOD HAS EQUIPPED US TO DO HIS WORK. The vineyard in Jesus’ parable has everything necessary to do the work of a vineyard. The landowner did not just leave his tenants a patch of dirt and tell them, “Turn this patch of dirt into a prosperous vineyard.” Rather he gave them everything they would need to succeed. Just like God gave your church everything your church would need to do the work God wants your church to do.

The landowner sent servant after servant to give them one chance after another to pay the rent. But fists, sticks, and rocks kept raining down on the servants. Finally, Jesus tells us, the owner of the vineyard sent his son, thinking, certainly they will respect my son.

Now how the farmers got to the point of thinking they could be owners is beyond me. They were not just late in making payments. They were refusing to make payments. They were debtors, trespassers, and squatters, who wanted to be owners. They did not just want to not pay the rent. They wanted to keep the whole estate – land, fence, fruit, and tower. They wanted to keep the whole nine yards, and did not want to have to pay anything for it.

Eventually the landowner no longer put up with them. He came and put them to a miserable death and leased the vineyard to other tenants who would recognize the owner and pay the rent. And so the third thing that Jesus is telling us is this – GOD HOLDS US RESPONSIBLE TO DO HIS WORK.

Now Jesus originally told this parable to illustrate how Israel would reject Him. But this parable also has a message for us today. God is looking for people who will work His vineyard. Don’t try to usurp the place of God as the rightful owner of this world and of your life. Many churches around this time of the year hold their annual stewardship emphasis. As you consider what you want to do next year to support financially the work of His church and be involved in ministry, don’t forget whose vineyard this really is. Don’t forget whose work we are called to do. Don’t forget who owns it all.

Dennis D. Nelson

President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE