Serve one master

Posted on May 4, 2018 by David Nuottila

Luke 16:1-13

Our society encourages people to continually look for ways to get ahead. Beating the system means living an easier way of life. Of course, this means the Master’s wealth is often misused. Satan often tempts us to put faith in our ability to manipulate others in the hope of gathering, by any means possible, enough to ensure our personal comfort. Yet Jesus calls us to act differently.

We cannot serve two masters; we cannot serve God and wealth. As sure as we try, we end up turning away from the things of God and looking after our own self interests. We hold on tightly to what we have, sharing it only with those who we feel deserving of our generosity. Doing this, we forget the nature of God’s mercy and grace.

Thankfully, God doesn’t judge us on our ability to earn his grace. We cannot even begin to work off the debt of our sin but, through Christ Jesus, God’s grace is freely given. The forgiveness of our sin is undeserved and in no way appropriate for us to receive, but God gives it any way. Ours is to be equally gracious, living for the sake of our neighbor.

Prayer:  Look upon me with mercy, O Lord. Give me the will to follow you, and a heart to love others. Amen.

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For the sake of sinners

Posted on May 3, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 9:9-17

Once, I met a man named Greg. Greg was homeless. He was one whom society overlooked or avoided. Still, Greg was a member of our community, a person created by God, a sinner in need of redemption. Who would have thought that such a man would soon become my best friend?

People like Greg are not new to society; the world has been busy ignoring them for thousands of years. When we read the gospels we meet Greg many times over. We meet Greg the leper, Greg the blind beggar, Greg the lost and forgotten. The world shuns such people, yet Jesus meets Greg and invites him to follow.

Jesus came to heal the sick and forgive the sins of many. His mission often led him to associate with the dregs of society. The Pharisees were always quick to point out Jesus’ “misdeeds.” Eat with tax collectors? Heal on the Sabbath? Associate with prostitutes and sinners? The Pharisees weren’t willing to do such things, the stakes were too high. They had reputations to protect and laws to follow.

Jesus overcomes all this. He came for the sake of sinners, that they may be reconciled to God. Jesus loves those whom society deems unlovable. He brings hope to the hopeless and welcomes those whom society shuns. Jesus even loves Greg, and provides the same mercy and grace to him as he does to all. Thanks be to God.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ; your love is immeasurable and your grace sufficient. Keep us close forever. Amen.

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Lord, have mercy

Posted on May 2, 2018 by David Nuottila

Ezekiel 33:1–11; 1 John 1:1–10; Matthew 9:27–34

Today it seems fashionable to redefine most anything. It has become socially acceptable to order daily life according to personal thoughts and experiences. Yet, the truth remains that we humans do not have the power or authority to redefine that which God defines. We cannot deem acceptable that which God declares sinful.

Ezekiel warns the people of God to be on guard against sin. Those who fail to recognize evil will certainly fall victim. John says that those who deny their sin continue to walk in darkness, severing their fellowship with God and his people.

In its attempt to redefine what God has ordained, the world lives in darkness and denies its sin. In this, humanity remains blind to worldly disobedience, breaking fellowship with God and walking under the veil of darkness. Yet God does have mercy upon those who confess their sin.

Jesus asked the two blind men seeking restoration, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” In faith they responded, “Yes Lord.” Just as Christ lifted the veil of darkness from these men, so too does Christ forgive sins and restore fellowship to those who confess and believe he is Lord and Savior. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Merciful God, hear our confession and remove the stain of our sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Invited

Posted on May 1, 2018 by David Nuottila

Joel 1:1-13, Revelation 18:15-24, Luke 14:12-24

The table is set, the banquet prepared. Everything is ready. It is time for the feast. There is only one problem; the guests have decided not to attend. It seems there are more pressing things on the agenda; other things, personal things, worldly things. Each declined, one by one. Yet, even as the guests spurned the invitation, the master vowed that banquet will proceed, the meal will be served.

How often do we sinners decline God’s invitation? How many times do we opt out of worship, excuse ourselves from Bible study, or fail to perform acts of service, just so we can engage in our personal pleasures? The dilemma is before us; shall we come to God’s banquet, or do we cancel? After all, we have been invited. Our Baptism into Christ serves as the initial invitation. Even in our disobedience, God set his seal upon us. Through Christ, we have a place at the table.

Like the plague of locusts in our reading from Joel, sin continues to lay the world to waste. Lovers of money search for fulfilment through material means. The self-righteous turn their backs to the needy. Even so, God has reconciled that which was lost. In Christ there is redemption. For those who seek God’s grace there is forgiveness. The Lord says “Come, the banquet is ready.”

Prayer: Feed us at your table Lord, and fill us with your love. Amen.

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Do you love God?

Posted on April 30, 2018 by David Nuottila

John 14:15-31

“Do you love God?” To good Christian folk this question seems to have an obvious answer, of course we love God. Before we answer too quickly, perhaps we should consider another question; “Do we keep his commandments?” The short answer is simply “No.” Ever since Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, humanity has found it impossible to remain faithful and obedient.

Scripture teaches us that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Yet, all too often we tend to live for ourselves. Today’s norm is to earn as much as we can and keep most of it for ourselves in order that we might life a full life. Remembering the Sabbath and tithing tend to fall lower on the list of priorities.

Scripture also teaches us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Again, we sinners find it much easier to love and care for ourselves than to care for a stranger in need. To give freely from our wallets to a perfect stranger is counter to everything our instincts tell us. We work hard for what we have. Giving it away doesn’t always make sense. Thankfully, Jesus gave all for us.

As Jesus prepared his disciples for the time he would leave them, he knew his purpose was to save us from ourselves. Loving God means giving him thanks for the gift of his grace. Through repentance, we turn our hearts to the one who gives life. Our thankful response is to love God and strive to keep his commandments.

Prayer: Gracious God, give me the strength to love and honor you, that I may keep your commandments. Amen.

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The Lord is good

Posted on April 29, 2018 by David Nuottila

Psalm 34, 1 Peter 2:1-5

In his first epistle, Peter cites the psalmist and begs the church to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3). Like a newborn baby develops a taste for its mother’s milk which feeds and nourishes the body, so too the people of God must develop a taste for God’s Word which feeds and nourishes the spirit and faith.

When Peter says “the word that was announced to you” he means the prophecies and promises concerning the Christ which are fulfilled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through the living Word that is Christ Jesus, God saves his people. No longer does evil have power over God’s children; no longer can the grave imprison the bodies of the faithful. Christ has triumphed! And so the sweet refrain is sung by those redeemed by God’s grace, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ shall come again!”

As the psalmist reminds us, the Lord is so good. God comes to our rescue, delivers us from our fears and brings us into his everlasting kingdom. The sweetness of God’s love and assurance of his promises are made certain through Christ our Lord. God’s Word is the healing balm for all doubt and fear. Even in the face of evil, the Lord blesses those who call upon his name and sing his praise. The Lord listens and hears as the poor cry out and the hungry beg to be fed and provides for their every need. It is true; God prepares his table and gathers the faithful for the banquet of heaven. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing grace, which comes through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Teachers of faith

Posted on April 26, 2018 by David Nuottila

James 3:1-13

From the earliest of ages, even the most prolific pastors, theologians and Christian authors were first taught the faith by others. Parents, grandparents taught the faith in their homes. In churches, it is volunteer Sunday school teachers who engage in the faith formation of our youngest Christians. In my formative years, it was a teacher nurtured my faith and convinced me I should explore a career in ministry. Certainly, there is power and influence in the words of teachers.

James warns teachers concerning the power of words. Like the small rudder of a ship, the tongue has the power to steer the course of peoples’ lives. Especially in Church, the tongue can do insurmountable damage. A word misspoken from the pulpit can lead a congregation down the wrong path. Words spoken in confidence can wreak havoc if shared with others. Even words meant for encouragement can be misunderstood if spoken carelessly.

It goes without saying, even teachers of faith have their shortcomings; we are all sinners in need of God’s grace. All Christians, especially pastors and people in lay ministry are called to speak the truth concerning our lives as God’s children. Again, we all sin and fall short of God’s glory. Therefore, we must pray that our words remain true and that we speak this truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Prayer: God of mercy and grace; bless the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, that they may be fruitful in your sight. Amen.

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Following Christ

Posted on April 25, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 16:21-28

I am sure most people have played “Follow the Leader.” It is a simple game, but it can become quite complicated if the leader heads in a direction the rest of the players do not want to go. Would you follow the leader if he walked along the edge of a steep cliff? Seeing such a path filled with extreme challenges is a stumbling block, especially if following the leader means giving up all you have and heading to Jerusalem to be killed for the sake of others. But that is exactly what Jesus did and he calls people to follow him along this same path.

Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Our Lord calls his people to be living sacrifices, unselfishly denying ourselves, placing the needs of others ahead of our own. Only when we do this can we truly say we are following our leader.

There are many false leaders in this world. They sway would-be followers making empty promises not ever intended to be kept. These imposters cannot forgive sins, heal our infirmities, or grant us everlasting life. Following Jesus brings forgiveness and grace. Trusting in him only opens the gates of heaven to all who believe.

Prayer: Holy God, help us to follow your Son as he leads us along the path of righteousness. Amen.

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No one knows

Posted on April 24, 2018 by David Nuottila

Mark 13:1-37

Certainly, with all the conflict, violence and natural disasters, the end must be near. How could things get much worse? Just when we think the news could not get any worse, the headlines bring yet another round of stories concerning war, oppression and hate. Our world has also seen its share of false Messiahs come and go. Leaders of cults and outlandish religious movements have misled millions. They have swayed many to false belief throughout the years. Considering all of this, the end surely must be near.

The notion of living in the end times is not something that is new. Many of the early Christians believed Jesus would soon return, bringing his judgment to those who deny his sovereignty and grace to believers. Yet, Jesus tells us that many of the instances we point to are just the beginnings of the birth pangs. Jesus says these things will take place, and as we look back through history, these things have occurred and promise to continue.

There is another promise God’s people can count on, the promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Just as we become witnesses to all that is evil in our fallen world, we also know and believe the Son of Man will return with great power and glory. Jesus promises to come again and reveal the kingdom of God in its fullness to those who believe. Until that day, our Lord commands his people to follow his example, love God above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus, give us the will to follow you as we await the day of your coming again. Amen.

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The end is near

Posted on April 23, 2018 by David Nuottila

Luke 21:5-19, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Alongside the road there is an old VW van with a sign propped up against it; “Repent, the end is near!” The car in front of you in traffic has a bumper sticker warning that “In case of RAPTURE this vehicle will be unmanned!” Finally, in bold letters the theater marquis assures you that you do not want to be “LEFT BEHIND!” It seems someone at every turn is attempting to decipher the signs and sift through the hidden clues in Holy Scripture in order to determine just when the end will come. Even Jesus’ disciples wondered openly about the end times. “When will all these things take place?” “What will be the sign?”

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus foretells the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. In Matthew’s gospel he speaks of the reality of earthly life. In both of these, our Lord instructs God’s people to pay little attention to such events. They must happen, but they are not the indicators, merely moments in history. Only the Father knows when he will make all things new. Until then, we have assurance that even as such events occur, Christ is present among us, even to the end of the age.

Prayer: Christ our Lord; give us faith to persevere and to patiently await your coming in glory. Amen.

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