Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"Excuses"
March 25, 2014
(Jesus said) "And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. ...." Luke 12:47-48a
Guy Lanchester is a 46-year-old man who lives in Florida.
Recently, Lanchester was interviewed by a reporter from television station KTVJ. Before going any further, I should tell you Lanchester had recently been arrested for possession of cocaine. The police first became suspicious of him when they saw him go behind a flower pot and try to hide a small plastic bag filled with white powder. When it was obvious the police were coming directly at him, Lanchester tried to hide the bag amidst the plants.
The ruse didn't work. The police retrieved the bag and then they put Lanchester under arrest.
So far there is nothing in this drug bust which calls for a TV interview. Those kinds of arrests happen all the time. But Lanchester did do one thing which was newsworthy: he said, "I didn't know it was against the law to possess cocaine in Florida." Well, it is against the law in Florida, just as it's against the law in any of the other states Lanchester might have gone to.
So, you see, Lanchester's excuse about being ignorant of the law didn't hold any water.
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse ... not in Florida and not with God.
As the passage above tells us, if we are ignorant of a sin we have committed, we will be lightly punished; on the other hand, if we knew the wrongness of our action, then our punishment will be harder and more harsh.
There is nothing in this text or anywhere else in Scripture which says those who break God's commands in ignorance are going to get off scot-free.
Assuming I believe he acted in ignorance, Lanchester is still facing the possibility of some serious jail time, and assuming we are sinners who intentionally and unintentionally have transgressed God's Law, we can be sure a punishment awaits us, which is far more harsh than the worst of earthly jails.
Truly, there is no excuse or explanation that can get us off. The only thing which can procure our rescue from punishment is if someone were to take our place. The Someone who took our sins and paid the price for our salvation is Jesus Christ, God's only Son.
Throughout His entire life, without a slip or stumble, Jesus lived for us. He fulfilled the laws we had broken; He resisted the temptations which had done us in, and He carried our sins to the cross where He died our death.
Now, because of the work which Jesus alone could do, those who have Spirit-given faith are set free.
We are free not because of any excuse; we are free because all who believe on Jesus will not perish, but be given everlasting life. As Scripture says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks Jesus has won my release and brought about my rescue from eternal damnation. May my life reflect my gratitude so others might know the wonders of Your love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was Samuel's dad's name? Elkanah
________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Samuel's mom's name?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am; Jr Hi kids leave at 4pm for Camp Windermere
Sat- NO BIBLE CLASS at 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible Class 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- I need some 6th graders to volunteer to acolyte this week as all 7-8 graders will be gone!!
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Bett Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11am- Lynn Figura
Sat. Pianist- ????
8:30 Ushers- Figura family
Projectors- NO PROJECTORS THIS WEEK!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
WEDNESDAY'S MENU AND WORSHIP TEXT:
Come Wednesday, March 26 at 5:30 to enjoy TACO BAR AND DESSERT!!!!
Come for worship at 6:30 to hear David's Psalm 95:1-9 "O Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord"
___________________________________________________________________________________________
VENDOR FAIR AND TAILGATE SALE AND LADIES AID LUNCHEON AND BAKE SALE IS COMING SOON!! SATURDAY, MAY 3, 7am-2pm
Reserve an inside vendor table for $20 or a tailgate space for $10 by filling out a registration form in the church office. Inside tables will not be reserved until forms are filled out and paid for. First come first served!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR OFFERING DEDUCTED AUTOMATICALLY FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT???
The church council is researching an automatic electronic funds transfer option for members who wish to have their regular offerings deducted directly from their bank account. We would like to get a "feel" of whether or not enough members would be interested and willing to participate in this option. Please contact the church office or Alan Hofeldt directly if you think you would be a candidate for this service.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TWO GROUP TRAVEL EVENTS COMING UP THIS YEAR!!
October 4--A DAY IN ST. LOUIS-- We will tour places that are hidden gems in St. Louis
December 6-- CATHOLIC RECTORY IN HERMANN AND POSSIBLY A CHRISTMAS SHOW IN OSAGE BEACH
Let Marilyn know if you are interested in either of these trip so she can make definite plans.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT IS OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES!!!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee. Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1. Enrollment for the community will begin April 1. For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PASTOR NEEDS SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE ACROSS KANSAS!!
I will be biking across part of Kansas, about 250 miles in all, on June 7-9 to raise money for Leadachild.org. Lead a Child is a LCMS recognized service organization that provides funding for kids to attend schools, many of them Christian schools, in third world countries. It has provided A LOT for ministries and missions to help kids who would otherwise have NO EDUCATION in places like Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico, and many other places. Please consider supporting me so that we can continue to support children throughout the world! As of January 1, I am also on the board of directors for this organization.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK: TAKING A BREAK FROM THE STORY FOR A WEEK!!!
Pastor Terry Grund will be here to preach and lead Bible study! He will be having a Bible study on the GOSPEL reading- John 9:1-41.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ROY SCOTT who passed from death to eternal life last evening.
For SCOTT CLARK who has an infection in his finger that has gone all the way to the bone after a severe cut from a saw
FOR ERNA VAN HORN who was put on hospice care due to severe inoperable intestinal issues.
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
"Excuses"
March 25, 2014
(Jesus said) "And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. ...." Luke 12:47-48aGuy Lanchester is a 46-year-old man who lives in Florida.
Recently, Lanchester was interviewed by a reporter from television station KTVJ. Before going any further, I should tell you Lanchester had recently been arrested for possession of cocaine. The police first became suspicious of him when they saw him go behind a flower pot and try to hide a small plastic bag filled with white powder. When it was obvious the police were coming directly at him, Lanchester tried to hide the bag amidst the plants.
The ruse didn't work. The police retrieved the bag and then they put Lanchester under arrest.
So far there is nothing in this drug bust which calls for a TV interview. Those kinds of arrests happen all the time. But Lanchester did do one thing which was newsworthy: he said, "I didn't know it was against the law to possess cocaine in Florida." Well, it is against the law in Florida, just as it's against the law in any of the other states Lanchester might have gone to.
So, you see, Lanchester's excuse about being ignorant of the law didn't hold any water.
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse ... not in Florida and not with God.
As the passage above tells us, if we are ignorant of a sin we have committed, we will be lightly punished; on the other hand, if we knew the wrongness of our action, then our punishment will be harder and more harsh.
There is nothing in this text or anywhere else in Scripture which says those who break God's commands in ignorance are going to get off scot-free.
Assuming I believe he acted in ignorance, Lanchester is still facing the possibility of some serious jail time, and assuming we are sinners who intentionally and unintentionally have transgressed God's Law, we can be sure a punishment awaits us, which is far more harsh than the worst of earthly jails.
Truly, there is no excuse or explanation that can get us off. The only thing which can procure our rescue from punishment is if someone were to take our place. The Someone who took our sins and paid the price for our salvation is Jesus Christ, God's only Son.
Throughout His entire life, without a slip or stumble, Jesus lived for us. He fulfilled the laws we had broken; He resisted the temptations which had done us in, and He carried our sins to the cross where He died our death.
Now, because of the work which Jesus alone could do, those who have Spirit-given faith are set free.
We are free not because of any excuse; we are free because all who believe on Jesus will not perish, but be given everlasting life. As Scripture says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks Jesus has won my release and brought about my rescue from eternal damnation. May my life reflect my gratitude so others might know the wonders of Your love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was Samuel's dad's name? Elkanah
________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Samuel's mom's name?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am; Jr Hi kids leave at 4pm for Camp Windermere
Sat- NO BIBLE CLASS at 4pm; worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible Class 9:45
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND
Acolytes- I need some 6th graders to volunteer to acolyte this week as all 7-8 graders will be gone!!
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean up- Bett Schirr and Cheryl Bettlach
Greeters- 8:30- Rich and Peggy Talbert; 11- Pam Linke
Communion Assistants- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Jim Rahn
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11am- Lynn Figura
Sat. Pianist- ????
8:30 Ushers- Figura family
Projectors- NO PROJECTORS THIS WEEK!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
WEDNESDAY'S MENU AND WORSHIP TEXT:
Come Wednesday, March 26 at 5:30 to enjoy TACO BAR AND DESSERT!!!!
Come for worship at 6:30 to hear David's Psalm 95:1-9 "O Come, Let Us Sing Unto the Lord"
___________________________________________________________________________________________
VENDOR FAIR AND TAILGATE SALE AND LADIES AID LUNCHEON AND BAKE SALE IS COMING SOON!! SATURDAY, MAY 3, 7am-2pm
Reserve an inside vendor table for $20 or a tailgate space for $10 by filling out a registration form in the church office. Inside tables will not be reserved until forms are filled out and paid for. First come first served!!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR OFFERING DEDUCTED AUTOMATICALLY FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT???
The church council is researching an automatic electronic funds transfer option for members who wish to have their regular offerings deducted directly from their bank account. We would like to get a "feel" of whether or not enough members would be interested and willing to participate in this option. Please contact the church office or Alan Hofeldt directly if you think you would be a candidate for this service.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TWO GROUP TRAVEL EVENTS COMING UP THIS YEAR!!
October 4--A DAY IN ST. LOUIS-- We will tour places that are hidden gems in St. Louis
December 6-- CATHOLIC RECTORY IN HERMANN AND POSSIBLY A CHRISTMAS SHOW IN OSAGE BEACH
Let Marilyn know if you are interested in either of these trip so she can make definite plans.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT IS OPEN FOR ST. JOHN'S MEMBERS AND FAMILIES!!!
There is a $30 nonrefundable registration fee. Students must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1. Enrollment for the community will begin April 1. For more info call Lisa Rausch or Karin Klaustermeier.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PASTOR NEEDS SPONSORS FOR HIS BIKE ACROSS KANSAS!!
I will be biking across part of Kansas, about 250 miles in all, on June 7-9 to raise money for Leadachild.org. Lead a Child is a LCMS recognized service organization that provides funding for kids to attend schools, many of them Christian schools, in third world countries. It has provided A LOT for ministries and missions to help kids who would otherwise have NO EDUCATION in places like Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico, and many other places. Please consider supporting me so that we can continue to support children throughout the world! As of January 1, I am also on the board of directors for this organization.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK: TAKING A BREAK FROM THE STORY FOR A WEEK!!!
Pastor Terry Grund will be here to preach and lead Bible study! He will be having a Bible study on the GOSPEL reading- John 9:1-41.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ROY SCOTT who passed from death to eternal life last evening.
For SCOTT CLARK who has an infection in his finger that has gone all the way to the bone after a severe cut from a saw
FOR ERNA VAN HORN who was put on hospice care due to severe inoperable intestinal issues.
THOSE WITH CANCER, the many among our family and friends who are struggling with cancer.
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