Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace be with you!
Please continue to pray for our travels as we travel the USA on Foreign Mission duties. Our time has surely been blessed so far. This week again our article is written by a guest pastor.
May God Bless your week! John R.
BANKRUPT DEBTORS IN NEED OF FORGIVENESS
How amazing and wonderful is our precious and gracious Lord! Try to put yourself into his sandals. John the Baptist, having been imprisoned by Herod, had just sent servants to Jesus to ask him if he was the one to come or were they to look for another (Lk. 7:19). Jesus continued healing those who came to him (Lk. 7:21) giving evidence that in and through him the kingdom of God had truly come among them.
Then Jesus commended John to the people (Lk. 7:24-28). This commendation triggered a joyous response in the hearts of the publicans (tax gatherers) and others who had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected and reacted against Christ’s commendation of John (Lk. 7:30). In fact, Luke records “…the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (that is by John) (Lk. 7:30).
Then an amazing turn of events occurs. One of these Pharisees invites Jesus to his house for dinner. Can you believe it! This critic of Jesus and resister to the grace of God extends an offer of fellowship to Jesus! And Jesus goes! Why? Because there is no one whom God does not love. This critical, hard-hearted, stiff-necked, self-righteous Pharisees needed this love of God more than he realized. Jesus does not avoid extending God’s grace and love even to those who hypocritically feign love for him. For him to go to Simon’s house was not condoning Simon’s philosophy of life, but an opportunity to reveal to Simon a more accurate portrait of the nature of God.
Then God, orchestrating circumstances so beautifully, draws “a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he [Jesus] was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh, and standing at his feet behind him weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the myrrh” (Lk. 7:37, 38).
The critical, judgmental Pharisee immediately concludes that Jesus is no prophet, much less the Messiah, for he has no knowledge about this woman. And this opens the door for our Savior to tell the parable that followed (Lk. 7:41-50). Both debtors are bankrupt; unable to pay their debt. So, in that sense, both are the same. Be our sins many or few; great or small as far as Man’s idea, no one is righteous before God.
James writes that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (Ja. 2:10). Undoubtedly the Pharisee thought he was morally superior to this woman. But in God’s eyes he was no more righteous than she.
Whether Simon, the Pharisee, ever understood it or not, we don’t know. The point of the parable is not to make a judgment between the two debtors, but to point out the greatness of God’s mercy and grace. Whether like Simon, the Pharisee, or this woman, we all need forgiveness for our sins.
Though this Pharisee was convinced that Jesus was deceived by this woman’s signs of remorse coupled with loving affection for her Savior, we know that Jesus knew this woman more fully than Simon. And once again the truth is revealed—"...God demonstrates His own love for us in this: “…While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro. 5:8). The Lord... is longsuffering..., not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pe. 3:9) God loves the contrite heart and the broken spirit, for the contrite heart and broken spirit he will not despise (Ps. 51:17).
This woman knew her sinfulness but, also, the greatness of God’s love and mercy! Her worship of the Lord, flowing forth from a heart set free from carnal bondage, demonstrated her joyous and grateful heart. A heart set free through the assurance of forgiveness.
Jesus has suffered and died because of and for our sins. And his blood is the only blood by and through which we can truly be forgiven. Dear reader, don’t run away from God or try to bury your sins! Come to the Savior who lives in humility in your believing brother or sister, receive the forgiveness for your sins in the Name and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the righteousness of God, peace, and joy will fill your soul.
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Weekly Diner
Dear Weekly Readers! This week our article is written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala. Please enjoy!
Training, Teaching and Transition
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
We recall in our school days of relay races and of the baton that was carried by the runners which was handed off by the one who was finishing to the one who would be continuing the next portion of the race. In order to make the transition, it was important that they synchronize their efforts so that the baton would not be dropped in the exchange ensuring that the race would continue on smoothly.
In our text today, we could compare this example with the "passing of the Gospel" between the Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned as he wrote this, and his young co-worker, Timothy. As Paul saw the end of his ministry in the not too distant future, he wrote a letter to his beloved son in the Lord in order to leave him with some important teachings concerning the Gospel. For he knew of the importance of making sure that the teamwork of preaching the gospel was kept intact so that the power of the Gospel would not be diminished in the transition from himself to his young co-worker.
After recounting that the authority for his call into the ministry was by the will of God according ot the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, he extended the grace, mercy and peace to him from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. He was thankful for Timothy, he remembered and prayed for Timothy, and wanted greatly to see him again, for it would bring him joy. Then Paul listed four influences that were instrumental in the life of Timothy which had brought him to the place where he was, a servant of the Lord.
1. He was nurtured in a Christian home. (5)
2. He had been befriended by the Apostle (2-6)
3. He had gifted by God with according to the measure of grace. (6)
4. He acted upon that which God had gifted him with discipline (6-7)
The Apostle sets before us the desired method of the Lord in that we would raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord so that from generation to generation the Gospel would be "handed off" to the next servants and would not be dropped. May the example of the Apostle Paul instruct us today as we consider this teaching from our place of participation in the work of the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Are we in the beginning of the race, in the middle, or are we nearing the end? May we be mindful of the privilege that is ours to be in the race as well as of the responsibility of our commitment to the continuance of the race into the future.
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Running with you in the Gospel,
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Training, Teaching and Transition
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
We recall in our school days of relay races and of the baton that was carried by the runners which was handed off by the one who was finishing to the one who would be continuing the next portion of the race. In order to make the transition, it was important that they synchronize their efforts so that the baton would not be dropped in the exchange ensuring that the race would continue on smoothly.
In our text today, we could compare this example with the "passing of the Gospel" between the Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned as he wrote this, and his young co-worker, Timothy. As Paul saw the end of his ministry in the not too distant future, he wrote a letter to his beloved son in the Lord in order to leave him with some important teachings concerning the Gospel. For he knew of the importance of making sure that the teamwork of preaching the gospel was kept intact so that the power of the Gospel would not be diminished in the transition from himself to his young co-worker.
After recounting that the authority for his call into the ministry was by the will of God according ot the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, he extended the grace, mercy and peace to him from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. He was thankful for Timothy, he remembered and prayed for Timothy, and wanted greatly to see him again, for it would bring him joy. Then Paul listed four influences that were instrumental in the life of Timothy which had brought him to the place where he was, a servant of the Lord.
1. He was nurtured in a Christian home. (5)
2. He had been befriended by the Apostle (2-6)
3. He had gifted by God with according to the measure of grace. (6)
4. He acted upon that which God had gifted him with discipline (6-7)
The Apostle sets before us the desired method of the Lord in that we would raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord so that from generation to generation the Gospel would be "handed off" to the next servants and would not be dropped. May the example of the Apostle Paul instruct us today as we consider this teaching from our place of participation in the work of the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Are we in the beginning of the race, in the middle, or are we nearing the end? May we be mindful of the privilege that is ours to be in the race as well as of the responsibility of our commitment to the continuance of the race into the future.
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Running with you in the Gospel,
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Weekly Diner
Dear Weekly Readers! God’s Peace! This week our articles is written by a guest Pastor. Please enjoy and may God Bless your week!
John R.
GOD CALLING YET SHALL I NOT HEAR!
This parable is in response to the comment made by one of the guests during the meal put on by a prominent Pharisee to which Jesus had been invited. Jesus was saying to him that bade him, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Lk. 14:12-14).
Having said that, “one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” vs. 15). Jesus uses that opening to alert the crowd to an event that would have eternal consequences. (Read Luke 14:16-24!)
Reading vs. 16,17 within the context of this parable it is clear the “ certain man" represents God, the father. - Jesus deliberately makes the man anonymous so as not to “cut off” the ears of the Pharisees who were already suspicious of Jesus’ divinity and, also, to emphasize the point of the parable—the graciousness of the host.
The supper in this parable is the call to salvation requiring nothing on the part of the guests except a willingness to come. The responses to this invitation indicates a universal stubbornness. "they all.with one consent.." not just a few! It reveals the self-centeredness of people generally: the importance of one's own agenda.
The first said, "I've bought a piece of ground and I must needs go see it" (vs. 18). Real estate and riches in this world is more important than a place in heaven.
The second said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them" (vs. 19) . This man was must have been rich and had a huge farm. He was too busy: farm work becomes more important than the salvation of our soul.
The third said "I have married a wife therefore I cannot come" (vs. 20). A temporal relationship takes importance over an eternal relationship. Jesus challenges this, too in this chapter, (vs. 26) saying: - If any man come unto me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
None of these excuses was acceptable. A day of reckoning was coming!
(vs. 21-24) “The servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.’ The privileged ones--those first invited are the losers.
Those who have no claim or right are the winners—the poor, the crippled, the blind (vs. 21b) – those whom society tends to reject for from a natural point of view they are a burden; they contribute nothing. This brings to a head the point of this parable. The invitation is not based on a person’s worth, or status, but on the grace of “the certain man.” Are not we like these poor, crippled, and blind? (Read the story of Mephibosheth – (2 Sam. 4:4; ch. 9)
The door of grace has not been closed! There is still room at the cross today! God's grace is universal. How beautiful are those words the songwriter has penned in the song, “There’s Room At The Cross For You!) How many times have you been invited and have turned down the invitation? Come now! Make no delay! Jesus is calling. The "day of grace" will one day end. The call to salvation must be joined to a warning of rejection: "today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3:15). The close of heaven's doors to mankind will not be because heaven is full, but because no one else will respond.
John R.
GOD CALLING YET SHALL I NOT HEAR!
This parable is in response to the comment made by one of the guests during the meal put on by a prominent Pharisee to which Jesus had been invited. Jesus was saying to him that bade him, “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” (Lk. 14:12-14).
Having said that, “one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” vs. 15). Jesus uses that opening to alert the crowd to an event that would have eternal consequences. (Read Luke 14:16-24!)
Reading vs. 16,17 within the context of this parable it is clear the “ certain man" represents God, the father. - Jesus deliberately makes the man anonymous so as not to “cut off” the ears of the Pharisees who were already suspicious of Jesus’ divinity and, also, to emphasize the point of the parable—the graciousness of the host.
The supper in this parable is the call to salvation requiring nothing on the part of the guests except a willingness to come. The responses to this invitation indicates a universal stubbornness. "they all.with one consent.." not just a few! It reveals the self-centeredness of people generally: the importance of one's own agenda.
The first said, "I've bought a piece of ground and I must needs go see it" (vs. 18). Real estate and riches in this world is more important than a place in heaven.
The second said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to prove them" (vs. 19) . This man was must have been rich and had a huge farm. He was too busy: farm work becomes more important than the salvation of our soul.
The third said "I have married a wife therefore I cannot come" (vs. 20). A temporal relationship takes importance over an eternal relationship. Jesus challenges this, too in this chapter, (vs. 26) saying: - If any man come unto me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
None of these excuses was acceptable. A day of reckoning was coming!
(vs. 21-24) “The servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.’ The privileged ones--those first invited are the losers.
Those who have no claim or right are the winners—the poor, the crippled, the blind (vs. 21b) – those whom society tends to reject for from a natural point of view they are a burden; they contribute nothing. This brings to a head the point of this parable. The invitation is not based on a person’s worth, or status, but on the grace of “the certain man.” Are not we like these poor, crippled, and blind? (Read the story of Mephibosheth – (2 Sam. 4:4; ch. 9)
The door of grace has not been closed! There is still room at the cross today! God's grace is universal. How beautiful are those words the songwriter has penned in the song, “There’s Room At The Cross For You!) How many times have you been invited and have turned down the invitation? Come now! Make no delay! Jesus is calling. The "day of grace" will one day end. The call to salvation must be joined to a warning of rejection: "today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts" (Heb. 3:15). The close of heaven's doors to mankind will not be because heaven is full, but because no one else will respond.
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