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"Running in Faith" is an electronic devotional guide written by members of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church. Each week, writers use their personal interpretation of scripture to write an inspirational message they hope will help readers take their Sunday faith into weekday lives. Your comments are appreciated and, when related to a particular devotion, passed to the writer. We hope you will share these devotions with friends and coworkers. We are always happy to add new names to our e-mail list. Please contact us if you wish your name to be added. |
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Devotion for the week of November 6, 2000
The little white card distributed at a meeting by Lutheran Brotherhood reads:
This seems to be a wonderful way to begin and end each day, and keeps you mindful of your basic identity -- a child of God. Holy baptism is administered with water in the name of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism into the name of the triune God involves teaching the doctrine and meaning of the Trinity. The baptized are welcomed into the Body of Christ, the community which lives from "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit". Today, there are slightly more than 5 million baptized members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Lutherans are usually baptized when very young and don't retain memories of the event. We do, however, remember the baptisms of our own children and children of the congregation. Therefore, we need to take seriously the promises made for the infant by the sponsors, or by those witnessing a baptism. "To bring the child to worship in God's house, and teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments." As they get older, we are instructed to see that they have a copy of the Bible and read (or to be read to) from it regularly, provide for the instruction in the Christian faith, "so that they may lead godly lives." This is quite a commitment, and probably not followed through in most cases. How many children even know who their Godparents are, and how many Godparents follow up on the promises they made? Congregations are encouraged to appoint a member of the congregation as sponsor. This person serve as a mentor to the growing child and encourage participation in Sunday School, church activities, and eventually, Confirmation, which is now commonly called "Affirmation of Baptism". Older children and adults who have never been baptized are to be given instruction in the faith prior to the ceremony. This instruction does not end at baptism, but requires life-long learning, to continue to emphasize the ministry and mission of the community. Baptisms are traditionally performed at the beginning of a regular worship service, at a font in the midst of the congregation, by having water poured generously on the head of the candidate. Some congregations who are renovating or building choose to incorporate a font with flowing water or even a pool large enough to allow for immersion. The location of the font within the church building should express the idea of entrance into the community of faith, and should allow ample space for people to gather around. Such occasions as the Vigil of Easter, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day, and the Baptism of Our Lord are sometimes chosen for the celebra! tion of Holy Baptism. Giving lighted candles to the parents and marking the sign of the cross on the child's head with oil have become part of many ceremonies, but it is the water and the word that make this event one of the two Sacraments in the Lutheran church. In Luther's small catechism, he reminds us: "Baptism is not water only, but it is water used together with God's Word and by his command", (Matthew 28:19). It is not water that does these things, but God's Word with the water and our trust in his Word. Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God, it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth though the Holy Spirit; by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which God poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by God's grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. This is most certainly true." Further, Luther writes: "Baptism means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever." Baptism is not just an occasion to dress up the baby and have a party, nor is it simply a "naming ceremony". Baptism is a solemn sacrament. It is the presentation of this new life to God, and the acceptance by God of this new soul into the priesthood of all believers.
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Devotion for the week of November 13, 2000 "Greater love hath no man than this, Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of their elder children, Albrecht and Albert, had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earning, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. They tossed the coin on a Sunday morning after church, Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you." All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated over and over, "No...no...no...no." Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No brother, I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look...look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No brother....for me it is too late." More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with the only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply, "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love, "The Praying Hands." The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be a reminder, if you still need one, that no one -- no one -- ever makes it alone.
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Devotion for the week of November 13, 2000
November 8 was the anniversary of our son's baptism and tomorrow, November 12, will mark the first time I have ever administered the sacrament of holy baptism. So baptism has, not surprisingly, been much on my mind this week. As Lutherans, we claim that Martin Luther's writings are the principal tool for us to use in interpreting God's word. The surprising thing about that claim is how often it really is true. Take, for instance, his assertion that baptism is a heavenly medicine. Indeed it is. Baptism is a lifelong medicine that does two things for us. It heals and provides new life. Baptism heals by cleansing and washing away the guilt and penalty of sin. Baptism also gives new life by giving us the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit we receive the means and the ability to start living the new life we have been given. The result of this lifelong medicine is that we are daily reminded of the grace that forgives sin and daily strengthened in the walk set before us. Healing and new life: baptism is one pill that should not be hard to swallow.
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Devotion for the week of November 20, 2000
In 1789 through the recommendation of both Houses of Congress, George Washington proclaimed to the people of the United States Thursday, November 26th 1789, ". . . . a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God,. . . . ."Long before George Washington made this proclamation to the people of the United States of America, Paul made a stronger proclamation to the people of God in Thessalonika. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul proclaims that every day, in fact every minute of every day should be for the purpose of prayer and thanksgiving. Paul implores us to "pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;. . .", and he emphasized that this proclamation is the will of Almighty God. This Thursday, just as generations of Americans have done before us, we will gather around the table and gives thanks to God for our many blessings. We will bow our heads together as families, friends, and neighbors and with grateful hearts we will thank our Creator for the many good and amazing things that have touched our lives since we last gathered together. Births, healings, job security, new relationships, marriages, freedom, safety, happiness, and many other wonderful things that we will raise up to God before we share the thanksgiving feast. As Christians, however, we must reach beyond this one day, and we must carry forth into each new day, and in each unique circumstance that spirit of thanksgiving. Just as Paul urges the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances, we are also called to pray and give thanks even when we are confronted by pain, death, illness, divorce, and evil. Even when we are angry with God because of our circumstances we are implored not to quench the Spirit. We must at all times give thanks to God for Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for each of us so that we might live in the grace of God forever and ever.
Dear Lord, "Help us to remember at all times and |
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Devotion for the week of November 27, 2000 "He is the image of the invisible God..." In preparation for the coming season of Advent, here is a simple poem, to help us focus on Christ's simplicity and his love for us. The prayer is included in the poem.
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