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The Blessing Of Fellowship

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Just exactly what is “Scriptural fellowship”?

Fellowship may be companionship or an exercise of friendliness toward one another. It expresses what the dictionary defines as a “community of interest.” The exercise of such fellowship serves society. But fellowship as society defines it is quite shallow—certainly a far cry from the scriptural concept.

“Fellowship” in the scriptural sense does not revolve around coffee but around the Word of God. A God-pleasing exercise of fellowship is based upon a common understanding of God’s Word and a Spirit-wrought acceptance and agreement in all that Scripture teaches.The Blessing Of Fellowship

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic to the Glory of God

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There is a change that takes place somewhere between 4th grade and High School. When we were young, going back to school was an exciting time—new folders, new pencils, and we got to spend the day with our friends!

But as we grew older, we realized how fun the summers could be and how much hard work came with going back to school. What once was exciting soon became the dreaded return to school after a summer of fun.Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic to the Glory of God

A Deliverance for the Ages

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Moses was in a showdown with Egypt’s powerful king. Though the king despised Moses, the people of Egypt had come to live in fear and awe of him: “The man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people” (Exodus 11:3).

As plague followed plague, Moses’ reputation among the people grew quickly, and soon Egyptian magicians could no longer mimic those plagues.

Moses became “very great” in Egypt when the plagues stopped affecting Goshen at all and after their intensity increased. While the people could not ignore that Moses was the agent of a God much different than any of their own, with a hard heart Pharaoh remained unmoved.A Deliverance for the Ages

Lord, Save My Son!

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Who among us would deny that Hezekiah was a man of prayer?

We recall two incidents in Hezekiah’s life that were made memorable by answered prayer. In both cases the answer was clear and immediate.

When Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem with destruction, reviled the Lord God of Judah, and boasted that He would not be able to save them, Hezekiah prayed. That very night an angel from heaven strode through the Assyrian campsite and left 185,000 corpses in his wake.

In shame Sennacherib hightailed it home, only to be murdered by his own offspring.Lord, Save My Son!

The Beatitudes

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“1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you….” Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes

Christian Service to One Another

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(first written for the pastor’s column of a local newspaper)

When someone speaks of menial labor, he’s probably talking about the kind of work that hardly anybody wants to do.

The word menial originally meant household, which brings to mind all the chores that get done because, well, somebody has to do them. Who, after all, really wants to wash the dishes after a meal? Isn’t it better to have someone else do that while you turn on your favorite TV program? Who really wants to mow the lawn and rake the leaves?

I once met a man who really did want to. The lawn on the property of the church I served as pastor was a lot bigger than it looked and involved some pretty steep hills. One hot summer Sunday as he was leaving church, this volunteer told me how he couldn’t wait to get started on the lawn that afternoon. “You’re joking, right?” I asked him.Christian Service to One Another

Guard the Precious Deposit

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“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

When our young people are confirmed, they vow to hold to what they have been taught from the Bible. They promise to “suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it.” Recognizing this as a promise that can be kept only with divine help, they humbly answer, “I do so intend, with the help of God.”Guard the Precious Deposit

In the Beginning

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On vacation in Washington D.C. last summer our family visited a number of the famed Smithsonian museums in that city. The one that struck me most was the National Museum of Natural History which was featuring an exhibit on human origins.

The director of the Museum, Cristián Samper, said this about the purpose of the 20.7 million dollar exhibit: “The hall offers the opportunity to explore the scientific finds that shed light on one of the really significant sparks to human curiosity—our own origins.”In the Beginning

Expect a lot but don’t claim too much

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Where were you on Saturday, May 21, 2011, the day the world did NOT end?

Another scholar got it wrong, deceived by his own intellect. We expect more from a Bible student, but things haven’t changed much since the days of Moses (read Deuteronomy 18:22). While Mr. Camping claimed too much for himself (we claim only what the Bible allows us to claim), we lived May 21, 2011 as Commencement Day at Immanuel Lutheran College, Eau Claire, Wisconsin—another day of His grace.Expect a lot but don’t claim too much

Opening Devotion – CLC Coordinating Council

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“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19

Whenever I read this Word of God, I can’t help but shake my head at the striking example of hypocrisy.

Throughout this dying world, millions of people believe that Jesus Christ is dead. They may think that He was a real, historical figure or they may think that He never existed. In either case, the hope that people attach to Him is viewed as empty and meaningless. It is seen only as a crutch to get weak people through life. As Karl Marx put it: “Religion…is the opium of the people.”Opening Devotion – CLC Coordinating Council