June 25, 2008

SMLC Midweek Devotions

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Our Mission

Invite others to hear the gospel and together grow as faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

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In this issue:

June 29^th Lessons

Weekly Devotions

Quote of the Week

Chuckle of the Week

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Sunday, June 29^th Bruce Fivecoat teaching: “The Power and The Glory”

Lesson: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

"Praise be to you, O LORD,

God of our father Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power

and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,

for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;

you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;

you are the ruler of all things.

In your hands are strength and power

to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name.

Gospel: John 1:10-18

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

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Weekly Devotion

By Ken Ewing 

The Power and the Glory

This is an election year, and it’s a big one.  The two dominant political parties are squaring off like gladiators in a Roman coliseum.  The resources expended in this contest boggle the mind.  Giant political machines parry with one another like the generals on D-Day, all vying for the prize of the most powerful office in the world. 

In 2003 the United States invaded Iraq.  The military unleashed one of the grandest displays of military hardware.  They wanted to demonstrate their vast and overwhelming power.  They called it “Shock and Awe.” 

Here at home, how many spam messages do you get promising to “Make money fast!”  Our society has an obsession for the acquisition of wealth, power, and status.  Big homes, big cars, and big incomes are held out almost as if they are our due.  If we don’t have them, we’re behind.  And in our striving to acquire them, we can wind up drowning in credit card debt while we’re watching “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” on television. 

Would it be fair to say that our culture is fascinated with grandiosity?  Does our culture perhaps take the adage “more is better” to an extreme? 

Sometimes when I think about these things, I remember a different cultural example.  In 1992 I traveled to Thailand.  One of the fascinating elements of Thai culture is the Buddhist monk.  In Thailand, a Buddhist monk cannot possess money.  The monk owns only two things:  his saffron-colored robe and a dinner plate (sort of like a pie plate).  The monks live in simple, small rooms.  Early in the morning you can see them walking the streets carrying their plates.  Citizens put gifts of food into the plates.  When a monk’s plate is full, he takes it back home, and this is his food for that day.  After 12:00 noon the monks are not allowed eat again until the next morning. 

Do you remember the movie “The King and I”?  In this film, Yul Brynner played the pompous King of Siam (Thailand).  You might not know it from the movie, but, in terms of social status in Thailand, the king ranks number 2.  In Thailand, the highest ranking place in society is given to the Buddhist monk.  You see evidence of this everywhere—people bowing their faces to the ground in the presence of the monks.  And, at least in my observation, the monks did not act arrogant or pompous.  Every monk that I saw was quiet, humble, and respectful. 

In church, we hear the stories about Jesus so often that I wonder how much we take them in.  Jesus was born in a barn surrounded by farm animals.  He grew up in an obscure village in a remote area.  He hung around with the blue collar crowd.  He regularly consorted with the outcasts of society.  He had no formal academic credentials (like, say, the Apostle Paul did).  He had barely more possessions than do the Buddhist monks in Thailand. 

Yet we call him King of Kings. 

It’s strange to me that the one on whom God the Father grants the greatest power and glory was one who seemed to least seek it.  Jesus once said, “The gentiles lord it over one another, but it shall not be so among you.  Whoever would be great among you must be a servant.”  Perhaps that is a lesson for today:  that true power and glory come not because we grasp for it, but rather when we seek to perform humble service as Jesus did. 

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Quote of the Week

“Friendly suggestions are as pleasant as perfume.” Pro 27:9

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Chuckle of the Week

If only people took the nation’s problems as seriously as they do its sports!

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Invitation for a Friend ~ Please clip & deliver!

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                      St. Matthew Lutheran Church

                      10390 SW Canyon Road

                      Beaverton, Oregon 97005

                      (503) 644-9148                                                                                              

                      Sunday Services at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m.

                      Childcare available during all three services.

                      Visit us at: http://www.stmatthewlutheran.org/

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