Devotions
Fjeldberg – Devotion for December 17, 2024
READ (Luke 24:9-11)
They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.
But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.
REFLECT
I remember where I was and what I was doing when 9-11 happened. I was working on a sermon on our sun porch in Southern Alabama. I could see the living room TV from where I sat, but I was unwilling to think about anything except the sermon. I chose to think a small private plane had hit the tower. I remember being aware of the significance of the actions of the men who captured the airplanes and crashed them into the twin towers. But what I remember the most was watching the first plane slam into the first tower, and not believing that it was part of a bigger plan.
I chose not to believe what I heard on the news, the disciples and others chose not to believe the women. What we were told was too difficult to be easily believed.
When the truth sunk in I wondered what to do. I was a pastor, what were the needs of the congregation, and the community? Letting what had happened become real was only part of the solution. When I thought about it briefly, I realized that a pastor needed to understand the situation and respond in ways that helped others to know what happened, why it happened, and what do we do now. People were going to be confused, afraid, and tend to make knee jerk decisions.
Who were the people who did this, why did they crash airliners into an office building?
Why did Jesus have to die and be raised? The teachings were clear about God sending a Messiah, but very few people can believe that message of the cross, that losing can be a win. Jesus allowed himself to be killed in a gruesome way because it was the Fathers will. He died, but because he was willing to suffer and die all of the Father’s creation were forgiven.
How do we believe this stuff in the Bible when all our experience tells us that the strong will win? We can identify the winners because they are strong.
But, truth is, it is those who are willing to live for others, who live in Christ, and are strong, are winners! It is by faith through the Holy Spirit that we believe these things even when the world may say differently.
PRAY:
Father, help us to keep in mind that our relationship with you is at the heart of our lives. Continue to bless us, guide us and help us to be aware of your loving presence. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Devotions by Craig B