Hear And Study The Word Of God

(Col 1:9-10 KJV)

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 

                                                                   (Luke 2:40-46 KJV)

Twelve years old and Jesus stayed behind when his parents left Jerusalem to go home. He stayed behind to hear the word of God. He stayed behind to learn.

This past year I began working with St. Paul Lutheran Seminary as a student coordinator. I still have a tremendous amount to learn about the position and all that we offer. Education is important to me and it should be to everyone. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to aim for the highest degree in everything. It means, to me, that you keep on learning so that you can actually use the gifts that God has given you to the utmost so that he might be glorified. St. Paul has courses for everyone. There are courses for the lay members of congregations to help enhance evangelism and outreach. This fall we once again held a course to teach lay people to preach when they could not find pulpit supply when needed or even to share the word of God at nursing homes or other such places as part of their congregation's ministry. We have programs for those who are interested in obtaining a Parish Service Certificate designed to train lay people to serve in congregations in various way including congregations who do not have ordained pastors for whatever reason. We also have programs for the Masters of Divinity as well as the Doctor of Ministry. There is something for everyone who wants to learn no matter what your plans are for future service of the Lord.

I am not sure exactly how or when I managed to agree to it; but, I am also a student. God manages to get his will done whether I am in agreement or not at times. I am working toward a Doctor of Ministry. To be truthful, the degree is not all that important to me; but, the opportunity to learn is. Albert Einstein once said: "Once you stop learning, you start dying" And...  I want to truly live life for as long as I have breath in my body. My first class this last semester was taught by Dr. James Nestingen. What an opportunity that was and is!

Jesus' parents found him in the temple learning from the doctors of theology. His disciples did not receive diplomas as I've been reminded by many people. However, we cannot disregard the fact that they did receive about three years of training from the master himself. They gave up everything to learn from him. They gave up everything for the most intensive internship ever. They had to because they needed this knowledge in order to be able to do the ministry that they had been called to do.

May God grant that we will all be fruitful witnesses and glorify our Father in heaven in all that we say and think and do in this upcoming new year!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Two Are Better Than One

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (Eccl 4:9-10 KJV)

We do not live in a vacuum. It may sound cliche'; but, people need people. God reaches out to us through those who care about us. 

We are exhorted to: 

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.." (Rom 12:9-10)

But, it is a very sad thing then the people around us are not filled with the Spirit of Christ; but, with spirits of evil devise. It is a sad thing when a mother would scheme to protect herself and bring harm to her child. It is a sad thing when a spouse puts their own pleasures before the commitment they made with the one they claim to love. It is a hurtful thing when anyone would bring false accusations against a friend.

King Saul became jealous of David which led to his fear of David. Saul persecuted the man who he once trusted and cared for. There was no reason for the persecution except that Saul wrongly perceived that he had to protect himself and his reign from David.

Job lost everything and when he did everyone turned away from him or against him. He said:

My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.  (Job 19:15-19)

There are multitudes of people around us who find themselves alone. It is a shame that those who claimed to love them may have turned their backs on them. But, God has not. He loves you and will be with you always.

St. Paul wrote: 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Love the Lord your God for He is with you always. There will always be two when you are in relationship with the Lord. He will never leave you. 

May God help each of us to love others even as He loves us; to be kind to one another; and to deal justly with the people around us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.