Can you drink the cup

Posted on February 15, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 20:17-28, Romans 5:1-11

Along the way to Jerusalem, the mother of James and John requested that her sons be given places of honor next to Jesus’ throne. Jesus looked at the two disciples and put forth his own question; “Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” Jesus knew the cup he was given by his Father meant he would suffer and die for the sake of God’s people. The cup he was to drink is the cup of God’s salvation, a cup that comes at the cost of pouring out his life.

Jesus asks, “Can you drink the cup?” In faith we answer, “Yes, but how?” Jesus gives clear instructions; deny yourself and take up your cross. Drinking the cup of Christ means suffering with him, serving others, enduring hardship, and having faith that God will equip us to do these things. It means putting away our selfish ambitions and extending our hands to meet the needs of the poor, hungry, and lost. Drinking the cup means loving God and neighbor first, offering our lives to Christ in order to gain life in God’s kingdom.

Can you drink the cup? With God’s help, yes you can.

Prayer: O Lord, make us able to drink your cup, that we may follow your example of love. Amen.

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Content to serve

Posted on February 13, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 13:36-43, 1 Timothy 6:6-21

Songwriter Harry Chapin spun a tale of a man named Mr. Tanner, a dry cleaner who loved his work. He was content with his work and loved his customers. Tanner was also a baritone who loved singing. Chapin said of Tanner, “He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole.” Tanner’s friends convinced him he should give up dry cleaning and pursue fame and glory. Yet, it was not to be; his debut showed his talent was not up to snuff. Dejected, Tanner gave up singing and his life was not the same.

God blesses his people with many gifts and talents. Using these, we glorify God by serving our neighbor. Used for God’s purposes, our gifts and talents meet the needs of those around us and create community. Of course, there is always the temptation to seek glory, fame, and fortune for ourselves, especially when swayed by others.

Just as Jesus teaches there are people of the world who would lead us astray, so too Paul teaches us that we are to be content with all God provides. Worldly influences may tempt us to seek glory for ourselves, but loving God and using our gifts brings joy and makes us whole.

Prayer: Holy God, make us content with all you have provided, that it may be our joy to serve others. Amen.

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Share the good news

Posted on February 12, 2018 by David Nuottila

Acts 4:18-33

It is no secret; Jesus came into this world to save people from their sins. He lived a life without sin and endured the pain of crucifixion, dying for the sake of God’s people. He then was raised on the third day defeating the power of the grave forever. Like I said, it is no secret. So why are people so timid about sharing such good news? Perhaps it is because they are unsure of themselves, lacking confidence that their words are trustworthy and true. Or, maybe, some are afraid fearful they will be scrutinized for their beliefs.

When Peter and John were ordered by the authorities to cease proclaiming Jesus as the resurrected Lord, those in opposition to the gospel thought they had silenced them. Yet, Peter and John, along with the other apostles, prayed for courage and boldness. They prayed the Holy Spirit would give them power to proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. As they did so, the church grew rapidly.

Today, the world continues to have little tolerance for the gospel. Yet, emboldened by the same Holy Spirit, Christians are called to share their faith. Pray for boldness and courage. Share your faith with others that they too may hear the redeeming Word of God and believe it.

Prayer: Embolden us, O God, that we would share your Word with the world around us. Amen.

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Hear God’s Word

Posted on February 11, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 13:1-9, Leviticus 26:1-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-6

I am amazed by people who solve math problems with relative ease. Math is not my forte; I do not have a head for numbers. In the classroom, I needed to concentrate on every word from my teacher’s lips yet, solving equations still came with difficulty. I simply did not understand the concepts. Those who perform well in math do so because they not only understand, they can visualize the steps in determining the solution. But solving the problem is not always enough. At some point, one must put what is learned into practice.

Our lessons today have to do with hearing and understanding. In Leviticus, God calls the Israelites to hear his commands and understand them to be the parameters of godly living. Paul teaches the church in 1 Timothy that loving, caring, and praying for one another leads to a peaceful and blessed life. In Matthew, Jesus says those who receive God’s Word and understand it are those who hold fast to all Christ commanded. Hearing God’s word is not enough. We must strive to understand the gospel and put it into action. Doing this we live into the fullness of our calling as disciples of our Lord Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, let my heart be good soil open to the seed of your Word. Amen.

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To glorify God

Posted on February 10, 2018 by David Nuottila

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Imagine holding in your hand a fresh, bright, red apple. There is not a single blemish on it; the apple is perfect and you cannot wait to take a bite. Sinking your teeth into the fruit, you suddenly realize there is something dreadfully wrong. The inside of the apple is not nearly as appetizing as you first thought. It is actually rotten at the core. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not discuss apples, but he did address things that on the outside seemed pleasing, but were much less so at the center.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus points out the difference between putting one’s self-righteousness on display in order to be seen by others, and practicing spiritual discipline in order to be seen by God. God calls people to worship, pray, give alms, and practice other forms of spiritual discipline. Jesus teaches that we should do these things in such a way that we might glorify and draw close to our Father in heaven. Our Savior gives clear instructions about how to live as a child of God, so that unlike the rotten apple, our outward appearance matches our core of love and commitment to God.

Prayer: Holy God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.  Amen.

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The truth in us

Posted on February 9, 2018 by David Nuottila

1 John 2:7-17

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not is us” (1 John 1:8). Early in his first epistle, the apostle John states clearly that, although our sins are forgiven through Christ, no Christian lives without sin. Salvation is not found through moral perfection, but it is realized when children of God discern the Father’s call to walk in the light of Christ. We do not, however, always live such a gracious life.

Forgiveness is not easy. Sometimes we bear grudges. We remember the sins committed against us and are wary of the sinner, lest they repeat the offense. Other times we fail to realize how our actions hurt someone else. John teaches us that people who practice such behavior really do not understand the concept of grace. If we claim forgiveness through Jesus, but cannot forgive others or confess our sin, we are not walking in the light of Christ. The best we can do is stumble in the darkness.

John reminds us who we are; people who have known the Father. Knowing the Father means knowing the Son, through whom we are forgiven. So too are we to forgive as we have been forgiven. Only then can we truly recognize the truth that is in us.

Prayer: Merciful God, help me forgive others as you forgive me. Amen.

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Through faith

Posted on February 8, 2018 by David Nuottila

Exodus 13:17-14:4, 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10, Mark 12:18-27

“Walk by faith and not by sight.” From a human standpoint, trusting the promises of God is difficult. Burdened by sin, people live in the present moment surrounded by fear, doubt, and worry. It is difficult to trust things we cannot see, simply because things we can see have a strong impact on our lives. Broken relationships, loss of employment, and medical conditions are but a few issues that challenge our ability to walk by faith. We need certainty; we need tangible evidence that everything will be alright. We need to understand God will come to help his people.

Walking by faith means following the unseen Lord into an unknown reality. Faith sees God’s presence. With a strong hand God delivered Israel from bondage, his presence made visible in a pillar of cloud and fire. With a compassionate touch, Jesus healed the sick. God’s presence is seen in restoration of health. When fear, doubt, and worry touch our lives, God’s presence is manifest through the eyes of faith.

Through faith, the God we cannot see is made visible. Through faith, God’s people understand the trials of earthly life will fade away. Through faith, we are saved by God’s grace forever.

Prayer: Through faith, O God, may I always feel your peace and presence. Amen.

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Hope in God’s promise

Posted on February 7, 2018 by David Nuottila

Mark 11:12-25; 2 Corinthians 1:1-7; Lamentations 1:1-12

Our landscape is dotted with metropolitan centers which once boasted of extraordinary things. In their glory days, citizens could look toward a promising future while enjoying the good life. Such communities trusted the empty promises of a world whose mantra shouts out “Eat, drink, and be happy!” Sadly, many lives have fallen into ruin pinning their hopes on this empty promise.

The king of Assyria made such promises to Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah. “Make your peace with me… Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree.” (2 Kings 18:31). The Assyrian king promised so much on the surface, but his empty words were offered so that he might snatch the people away from God.

Chasing after worldly things brings decay and death. Even as the fig tree bears the promise to provide food, there are limits to its ability. There can be no doubt; the world’s promises are empty and shallow. Yet in Christ there is hope. Jesus has won the victory over death. By God’s grace through faith, we are saved. In these words, God’s people find hope. Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Only Christ can make such a promise, for only through him are people saved.

Prayer: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, and his mercy endures forever. Amen.

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First in the kingdom

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David Nuottila

Mark 9:30-41

What do you want to be when you grow up? That’s a question that we all faced at one time or another. Some probably wanted to be doctors or nurses. Some perhaps wanted to be a professional athlete. Still someone might have wanted to be an actor or singer. Have you ever noticed few children, if any, say they want to be a garbage collector? Fewer still might say they want to be the school custodian, or the person who makes up the beds in a hotel. Although each of these may not be a glamorous position, they do fulfill a needed purpose. When we are young, we want to stand out. We often dream of making it big, creating a vision for our future. But to our Lord Jesus, what matters is not our occupation so much as our Christian vocation.

Jesus never asks his disciples about their vision of what their lives might be like once he is departed. Instead, he leads the twelve on a journey of humility and service. Jesus leads and they follow. Our Lord teaches the twelve and us that in order to be counted first in God’s kingdom, we must become last of all and servant of all. Certainly, we dream about the future. Yet, blessed is the one who puts the needs of others above his own. Truly this one is counted first in heaven.

Prayer: Holy God, give us a servant’s heart, that we may follow Christ and tend to the needs of others. Amen.

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Gifted

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David Nuottila

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Within an orchestra, no room exists for division or distinctions. No one instrument or ensemble is superior to another. In order for the composition to be complete, each musician must perform according to high standards, playing instruments to the fullest expectations. When this occurs, members of the orchestra realize their intended purpose and audiences are treated to wonderful music.

In the same way, there is no room for division or distinctions among God’s Church. Such conditions cause conflict within congregations, whose intended purpose is to love God and serve neighbor. In order for families of faith to fully engage the mission of the gospel, members must strive to follow the model of Christ, each according to their gifts or abilities.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains how God equips the Church. God uniquely blesses his children and calls them to serve according to their giftedness. God’s gifts are many, just as his children are many. Yet, there is only one Spirit through whom we are gifted, and one Lord whom we serve. As we use our gifts according to God’s expectations, we realize our intended purpose and the world becomes witness to the power of God’s love.

Prayer: Equip your people, O Lord, to joyfully do the work you have set before us. Amen.

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