Words of Encouragement for May 25, 2011

Meditations in Genesis

And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. Genesis 47:9-10 (read v. 1-12)

Jacob, now an old man, told Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”

And, sad to say, the Biblical record reveals the truthfulness of Jacob’s words. Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright, deceived his father and spent years away from home where he was ill-treated by his uncle Laban. He lost his favored wife in childbirth, and his own sons sold his much-loved son into slavery and deceived him. There were incidents with Dinah at Shechem and with Judah and his sons in regard to Tamar. And, of course, Jacob’s life was not as long as those of his forefathers Abraham and Isaac.

Anyone who has lived long in this world also recognizes the truthfulness of Jacob’s words: “few and evil have been the days of the years of my life.” Though life brings many joys and blessings, it is also full of trouble and heartache. We suffer the consequences of sin in this world and in our own lives. We experience evil around us and in our own lives and those of our children. Our years here are short and pass quickly and evil abounds because of the fallen world in which we live and because of our own sins and shortcomings.

Considering the evil we experience here, what a blessing it is to us that our gracious God sent His own Son to redeem us and deliver us from this present evil world (Gal. 1:4-5)! Because Christ Jesus died for our sins and rose again, we have the assurance of forgiveness for the evil which permeates our own lives and we have the blessed hope of life everlasting in a new heavens and a new earth in which no evil dwells. When we are with Christ, there will be no more evil and sin, no more pain and sadness and no more illness and death! (Cf. Rev. 7 & 21).

O gracious and merciful Father in heaven, our lives in this word are full of evil and suffering because of Adam’s sin and our own sins and failings. Thank you for the gift of Your Son, His holy life and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead that we might have pardon, forgiveness and a place in Your everlasting kingdom, where no evil dwells. Amen.

Martin Luthers’ Large Catechism

The Lord’s Prayer

The Second Petition

Thy kingdom come.

49] As we prayed in the First Petition concerning the honor and name of God that He would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickedness with it, but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both in doctrine and life, so that He may be praised and magnified in us, so here we pray that His kingdom also may come. 50] But just as the name of God is in itself holy, and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us, so also His kingdom comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray nevertheless that it may come to us, that is, prevail among us and with us, so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed and His kingdom prospers.

51] But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing else than what we learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience, for which end He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home to us by His holy Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith by His power.

52] Therefore we pray here in the first place that this may become effective with us, and that His name be so praised through the holy Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may abide and daily grow therein, and that it may gain approbation and adherence among other people and proceed with power throughout the world, that many may find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace, be made partakers of redemption, being led thereto by the Holy Ghost, in order that thus we may all together remain forever in the one kingdom now begun.

53] For the coming of God’s Kingdom to us occurs in two ways; first, here in time through the Word and faith; and secondly, in eternity forever through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. 54] All this is nothing else than saying: Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world; and secondly, that it be received in faith, and work and live in us, so that through the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among us, and the kingdom of the devil be put down, that he may have no right or power over us, until at last it shall be utterly destroyed, and sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness.

55] From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or a temporal, perishable good, but for an eternal inestimable treasure and everything that God Himself possesses; which is far too great for any human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to pray for the same. 56] But because He is God, He also claims the honor of giving much more and more abundantly than any one can comprehend,-like an eternal, unfailing fountain, which, the more it pours forth and overflows, the more it continues to give,-and He desires nothing more earnestly of us than that we ask much and great things of Him, and again is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently.

57] For just as when the richest and most mighty emperor would bid a poor beggar ask whatever he might desire, and were ready to give great imperial presents, and the fool would beg only for a dish of gruel, he would be rightly considered a rogue and a scoundrel, who treated the command of his imperial majesty as a jest and sport, and was not worthy of coming into his presence: so also it is a great reproach and dishonor to God if we, to whom He offers and pledges so many unspeakable treasures, despise the same, or have not the confidence to receive them, but scarcely venture to pray for a piece of bread.

58] All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief which does not look to God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach, much less expects without doubt such eternal treasures of God. Therefore we must strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer; then, indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches [ Matt. 6:33 ]: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us to suffer want and to be straitened in temporal things when He promises that which is eternal and imperishable?

Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday

Scripture Readings appointed for Sunday are: Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:8-22; and John 14:15-31. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.

The Adult Bible Class will continue in the Gospel of John at chapter 20, verse 1.

Remember to Pray

Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation, as well as for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – for Sam Rusch, who has had repeated stays in the hospital; for Ron and Lois Wellander and for their daughter Lisa Pugh, whose husband Wade was called to his eternal home; for Pastor Moll who had surgery to remove a small spot of melanoma; for those who lost loved ones and homes to recent storms, especially Pastor John Rumsey and his wife Karen who lost their home to a tornado in Guthrie, Okla. – for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations in the Philippines and Japan, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Remember to pray for the children who were baptized Sunday – Sofia Franky and Gabriel Moll – that the Holy Spirit graciously regenerate, renew and strengthen them in the faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ unto life everlasting. Pray also for the parents and families of these children that they will nurture and bring up their children to know the Lord God who both created and redeemed them.

Events and Announcements

Food Pantry – We have space available in the kitchen for a food pantry. Anyone wishing to donate to the pantry is appreciated. Canned meats, vegetables and fruits generally have a longer shelf life and may be a good place to start until we get a feel for the needs of those we serve. The pantry is open to any member as they have a need or to give to others as they see a need. For more information, contact Kathy Hawes.

On-line video of worship services can be found at: http://goodshepherdrogers.org/blog/worship-service-video.

Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.

The Voters’ meeting scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to the first Sunday in June because of scheduled baptisms. A pot-luck dinner will follow our worship service next Sunday.

May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11

In this time of storms and turbulence, consider the safety of abiding in the presence of God from Psalm 91:

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.”

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]