Faith
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PASTOR’S CORNER, Aaron Koehn, Trinity Faith Church, Liberal
“My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you… Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” — Proverbs 7:1–3 (AMP)
In the world we live in, many things compete for our heart and spirit. Turn on the news or scroll social media and you are met with conflict, fear, and negativity. It is easy to lose sight of what matters most. It is easy to lose joy. It is easy to lose heart.
God knew this would happen. That is why He calls us to examine what we allow to shape our hearts—before we drift off course.
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PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
In Matthew 20, we see the graciousness of God on display, but we hear of man’s begrudging of God’s generosity. We see examples of this throughout the Old and New Testaments as God’s people continued to grumble against Him as they begrudged God’s generosity, yet God still worked out their salvation.
There are many despicable things that man has done that are on full display for all the world to see, should the eyes of some be open. We see that even great saints of the past are real sinners. This reminds me of something that is often proclaimed at Installation Services: “Pastor, remember that when your people confess that they are sinners, believe them. Similarly, oh saints of the Lord, when your pastor confesses with you that he is a sinner, believe him.” This is why the Divine Service begins with a confession of sins as we pause to reflect on God’s Word and think about our sins as we confess that we are poor, miserable sinners or that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
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PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
Let’s begin today’s devotion by asking an everyday question to those who have been behind the steering wheel. Where do you look when driving? Specifically, where do you look when you are driving at night, and the oncoming GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate has its brights on, shining bright as the sun? Where do you look when you are driving at dusk or dawn while the sun is shining brightly over the horizon, below the sun visor, and the sunglasses are out of reach?
You want relief, but relief does not come in the way that you expect. Hopefully, that truck has automatic high beam assist because the driver is probably talking on the phone, if not texting, and paying no attention to the others on the road. Hopefully, you’re turning soon, or able to reach those sunglasses, and the sun won’t be blinding you anymore. But what happens when it is Jesus shining like the sun? Do you dare look away?
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PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
What do you do when something you want runs out? I had the joy of putting together a Walmart+ pick-up order before Thanksgiving, and they were out of the Original Baked Lay’s my wife enjoys. They offered a replacement item, Lay’s Kettle Cooked Original. No thanks, I’ll pass. They are nothing alike, though I would have accepted the Cheddar and Sour Cream version, should they have offered it.
Sometimes a replacement can be made, but other times, the replacement isn’t going to be nearly as good as what you originally wanted. It’s like receiving a regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup when the Trees are what you wanted to grab, but the kids have eaten them all.
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PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
On Jan. 6, the Church of the West celebrates the Wise Men coming to view the newborn King of the Jews. We have the union of Jew and Gentile, as these sages from afar, following yonder star, were not Jews but Gentiles. They read the prophecy which Daniel left behind in Babylon, as the faithful people of God spread the proclamation of His redeeming work on their behalf as He comes to save Jew and Gentile.
They wanted to gaze upon the beautiful face of this One long prophesied, especially as Isaiah writes, “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Jesus comes as a light for all people, shining brightly in this sin-darkened world in which we find ourselves, especially as He fulfills all righteousness.