Bethel Lutheran Church

07/18/2023

Isaiah 55:11 promises that God's Word will always have an effect. That's an important promise, considering the condition of human hearts, as illustrated in Jesus' parable of the four soils (Mat. 13:1-23).
An important point to consider: All 4 types "heard" the Word, and 3 of the 4 'sprouted' faith! This parable is NOT about creating faith; it's about how well you listen to the Word! (1) Path: do you hear it, but don't really listen to what it says? (2) Rocks: Do you listen, but don't really let it 'sink in' and "take root?" (3) Thorns: Do you let it 'sink in', but then "Ya-but" God with all sorts of other 'pressing' matters? (4) Do you actually 'produce a crop?'
While we do NOT listen to God's Word well enough to keep the Second and Third commandments; Jesus did! He removes the guilt of our failure and gives us credit for 100% 'fruitful'! Sundays and daily devotions are all about confirming that for sinners like us -- and Isaiah 55 promises that your time in the Word won't be a waste of time.
Years ago, somone would rent billboards and fill them with "God signs." One "God sign" that might be appropriate for today's thought; God said:
Have you read my #1 best seller? There will be a test.

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07/10/2023

Zechariah promised (9:9-12) that our humble King would bring peace to Israel and to "all nations." Jesus promised (Mt. 11:28) "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Yet Paul makes it very clear in Romans 7:14-25 that because of sin, we are NOT at peace with ourselves and our life-long struggle seems to deprive us of 'rest.'
But Jesus (and Zechariah -- well, God and all of the Scriptures) know that eternal peace with God is much more important than physical peace of the body. Jesus' death & resurrection takes away our sin, and He lovingly sends us 'crosses' to keep focused on His kingdom and His righteousness!
I guess it's all a matter of perspective. After all, to a worm, digging in hard dirt is better than going fishing!

02/21/2023

The Transfiguration was a glimpse of glory before the cross. The disciples needed this glimpse of glory so that they would not be offended when Jesus went to the cross. After Pentecost, this glimpse of glory confirmed that Jesus is truly who he said he was!
As we begin the season of Lent, we focus on the cross -- both Jesus' and our own crosses. But it is important to remember that Jesus was our substitute! That "glimpse of glory before the cross" is important for us too. We will never possess the glory of "God from God, Light from Light" (the Creed), but we will (and by faith, now do) reflect that glory. Since Jesus is our substitute, we will reflect his glory -- after the crosses of this life.
Remember: Jesus paid the full price. You can keep the "change."

02/06/2023

Someone once observed that light travels faster than sound, and then asked: "Is that why some people appear 'bright' until you hear them speak?"
Isaiah (58:3) quoted people that were not very 'bright.' They went through the outward actions of religion, but God was not pleased because they lacked the faith / love to make it God-pleasing (see how God answers them in vv. 3b-9a)!
Jesus tells us that we ARE the salt of the earth and we ARE the light of the world. But notice that the reason we "are" these things is so that people see our "beautiful works" and "give glory to your Father in heaven." In other words, if you are doing good works in order to get praise from other people, then you're doing it wrong!

01/23/2023

Though the congregation in Corinth had some problems, its pastorate was not one of them. (1) founded by Paul, who wrote about 1/2 the N.T. (I find it interesting that in the year and a half there, Paul only had two baptisms: Crispus and Gaius. Stephanas had been baptized in Athens, then moved to Corinth; cf. 1Co 16:15.) (2) Apollos. Acts 19:1 records Paul leaving him in Corinth. Before that, Acts 18 paints an impressive picture of the man. If he, as Luther deemed likely, wrote the book of "Hebrews" then he certainly had a way with words and was powerful in the Scripture as Acts 18:24 describes.
The problem with having such a great 'seed planter' (Paul) and 'waterer' (Apollos) (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6), was the people tended to focus more on the pastor than on the message. Today we have many styles of worship and personalities that occupy pulpits. But none of that really matters. The only thing that matters is The Light of God's Word. People cannot change the truth, but the truth can change people!

01/16/2023

In this age of action movies, there are many superheroes -- some impressive, and some just silly. But one that is neither "impressive" nor silly is when John the Baptist pointed out "The Lamb."
You never see a "superhero" take that title. What would he do? Grow a wool sweater for chilly people? Die? That wouldn't make a very fun action movie.
But our real enemies are sin, death, and the devil. No amount of strength, skill, luck, speed, or courage will help us against such enemies. The only way to be free of them is to die.
"Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Yea, that was Jesus' plan -- to die. He did it out of love for you. But only He could rise again from the dead! He's my superhero!

01/09/2023

Isaiah 42:3 is well known for its comfort. The ESV reads: "a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;"
What is not so well known is that those same words describe the Messiah in the next verse! The ESV has "He will not grow faint or be discouraged" with a footnote that "discouraged" could also be translated "bruised."
That word "bruised" -- in Isaiah 36:6 is translated as a "splintered" reed. So to keep the words as Isaiah used them, we could say that a splintered reed he will not break, and a flickering wick he will not quench ... but he himself will neither splinter nor flicker!
When we splinter and flicker -- and we sinners do frequently -- it's nice to know that our Savior was this dedicated to his mission. Yes, he certainly was loving. But he did not let such love deter him from his mission: even when his cousin John rightly pointed out that Jesus was sinless and didn't need to be baptized. But to "fulfill all righteousness," Jesus was not deterred!
Which reminds me of something once told me: "There is a name for people who are not excited about their work -- unemployed!"

12/26/2022

Jesus came to Earth so that we could go to heaven. Merry Christmas.

12/19/2022

Matthew's account of the first Christmas (Mat. 1:18-25) might seem 'unbelievable.' (1) "Parthenogenesis?" "A virgin conceiving" has been observed in sharks, Komodo dragons, pit vipers, and boa constrictors -- but not in humans! (Actually, the "Virgin birth" was not technically "parthenogenesis" -- rather Matthew makes clear twice --as does Luke 2 -- that the Holy Spirit 'fathered' the child.) (2) "Immanuel" ("God with us")? How can the 'finite' baby Jesus "contain" the 'infinite God'? (Yet in Jesus, "all the fullness of Deity dwells") (3) "Jesus" because "he will save his people from their sins." While this miracle might seem common to us (we ponder it every Sunday), this is also the most important and also the most UNHEARD OF miracle. The world cannot comprehend the true "gift" of Christmas unless the Holy Spirit does the enlightening. So let's join Joseph in "naming him Jesus" (Mat 1:21). Let's spread the "name" (reputation) of Jesus as our Savior from sin.
Oh, and in v 20 the angel tells Joseph not to divorce Mary, but rather to adopt Jesus as his own (legal) son. If he would have been troubled by that, he would do well to remember today's adage: "Marriage is grand. Divorce is 120 grand!"

12/12/2022

How many days until Christmas? Most school children could tell you. How many days until Jesus comes the second time and redeems us and gives us a new heavens and a new earth? "I don't know, but I can't wait!"
James chapter 5 assures us that we can wait. Like a farmer waiting for God's crops (vs 7-8), like all the prophets who were persecuted for preaching the truth (v 10) and like Job who endured mind-boggling losses (v 11), our certainty of salvation gives us hope -- and patience. Jesus and the salvation he came to give us is what gives light to those sitting in darkness. We have that light -- even if the news tells us that because of supply chain issues, 'the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!'

12/05/2022

In Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah predicts: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit" (ESV). In verse 10 he continues: "In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples -- of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious."
I wonder if Isaiah knew that the "signal" (or "banner", or "flag") he predicted would be a cross? But note how the cross brings together people all all types into one family.
Indeed, "The first Christmas tree was the cross."

09/26/2022

Luke 16:19-31 is the account of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Sometimes the Rich Man is called Dives. That's not his name, it's just Latin for "rich guy." But as the story unfolds, who was really the "rich" man? Though Lazarus was physically poor, he did have the forgiveness of sins, the love of God ("Lazarus" is a Greek form of Hebrew "Eleazar" which means "God helps"), and an eternity of heaven. From God's point of view, Lazarus was richer than "Dives."
Guess what -- we have those blessings too. We are 'richer' than Lazarus and "Dives" combined!
So how do we "bridge the economic gap?" Abraham's answer (v. 29 & 31): "Moses and the Prophets." Let's share the treasure of the Good News with the spiritually poor.

Seen on a church sign:
ATM inside: Atonement – Truth - Mercy