Devotions

We have 2 people in our congregation that have been on emotional and physical roller coasters for the past several years. One is a 30 year old nurse who contracted a rare virus several years ago that destroyed her kidneys. The other is a 22 year old student with Crohn’s disease who also developed kidney failure several years ago from some complications. Both were very blessed to receive very selfless gifts. The young mom received a kidney about 3 years ago from the mom of one of her son’s classmates. God’s hand was in it as the donor mom (who really only casually knew the other mom) was tested and deemed a match! The young student had several relatives tested as possible donors and one of his uncles was deemed to be the best match. 2 years ago he received his uncle’s kidney. Life was good. Everyone felt overjoyed by the blessings from God as these 2 were restored to good health because of these selfless donations from fellow Christians. But then our young mom got sick again. Complications began that started to destroy this gift of life, her donated kidney. Over the past year we saw her health and energy begin to diminish until last month she was forced to return to the life of dialysis and of waiting on a new kidney donor. Last week, our young student went to the doctor for tests. His numbers were alarming. He was immediately placed in the hospital and put through a battery of tests. What they had hoped was just a blockage, turned out to be rejection. He began dialysis last night with a slim chance that an overnight treatment might kick start his kidney but knowing that the probability of needing a new kidney was very real. As a church family, we are heartbroken and questioning. God gave us these great blessings just a few years ago and now he appears to be taking them back! We find ourselves with the age old question, “Why, Lord?” It just doesn’t make sense! And I am reminded of the words in Romans 11.24: For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”Definitely not me!
The mother of the young man sent me a message yesterday that simply said “Philippians 4.4-7. The Lord is at hand.” My first thought was, “Wait. That’s the rejoice passage—pray about everything with thanksgiving. Peace of God stuff. We all have memorized those verses at some time in our lives. The Lord is at hand? Wow. That section is packed with so many jewels and she picked out "The Lord is at hand." I had to look at it again. Let me read those wonderful verses.
Philippians 4.4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Well, of course. That makes sense. We can let everyone know our reasonableness, our patience with whatever situation because the Lord is at hand. I have to quote the footnote from the Lutheran Study Bible. “The Lord is at hand. The Lord is near to give you patience, wisdom, and help. The Lord is near in coming for you. This is life from a resurrection and eternal perspective.” Wow. You bet. He’s here. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Wait a minute. Kidney failure--small stuff? Compare it to forgiveness of sins, life and salvation! Yep. Small stuff. We’ve already trusted Him on the big stuff (forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ who lived, died and rose again for us and for our salvation), now trust Him to know what’s best for all the details of this earthly life. And to quote the LSB one more time on verse 7: “When life makes no sense, God’s peace sustains and directs us.”

Heavenly Father,
We thank you and praise you that are our God—the God Who sustains us through all of life’s trials--especially those that make no sense. Lord, many of your children are hurting. They face many physical difficulties in their life. They are confused and questioning. Please lead them to Your Word which gives forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that they might be able to feel Your Peace in all circumstances. The Lord is at hand! Amen

Waiting--July 6 devotion

Waiting. We seem to always be involved in waiting. I will admit that I am not very patient with waiting. Traffic, doctor’s office, restaurant, airport, and so many other places where we seem to be stuck waiting. Then there are the bigger waits, for vacation, the family visits, weddings, 1st day of school, spring, driver’s license, graduation, the inevitable death of a sick loved one and, of course, the birth of a baby. Most of those waits have an end in sight. We know it won’t last forever even though it may seem like it at times. Simeon in Luke chapter 2, was waiting also. Like many Jews, he was waiting for the coming Messiah. Unlike the others, Simeon had a promise from God that the Messiah would come in his lifetime. As Christians, we have a big wait as we wait for the second coming of Christ. We also know that it won’t last forever. There will be an end. But, unlike Simeon, we do not have the promise that it will be in our lifetime. The Bible tells us in Matthew 24 that no one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return.
While we wait for that second coming, we still have the opportunity to regularly come face-to-face with our Savior in Holy Communion. It is following this time of Communion that we can join in the words of Simeon from Luke 2.29-32.
29"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and or glory to your people Israel."
Then we can return to our families, neighborhoods, and jobs with renewed encouragement to face the wait and to share Christ with others so that they may join us in the fellowship.

Heavenly Father, We praise You for Your perfect timing. Please teach us to wait patiently and to use those times of waiting as a service to You. Come, quickly, Lord! Amen