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Dear Sinners and Saints,

Have you ever bought yourself a gift? I remember several Christmas seasons ago. I went to the electronics store, bought the thing I wanted, wrapped it, and put it under the tree. When I opened it, I said, “Wow! Just what I always wanted!!!”  But, was that really a gift? No. It wasn’t. I bought it with money I set aside. It wasn’t given to me – it was given by me. I bring that up because, one of Paul’s most recognized passages hits on this idea.

Many have heard and recognize Paul’s passage in Romans describing the difference between purchase and gift. He writes, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)” A wage is something we earn. I worked to earn the money I set aside for that Christmas “gift”. I earned it. Paul also writes, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)” So, we’ve all earned the wages of sin – death. But, God, in His infinite mercy, despite what we’ve earned, gives each of us a true gift – the opposite of death! He gives us eternal life. Free of cost to us. It’s there for the taking. All we need to do is pick it up, open it, take it, and use it. Forgiveness.

Actually, this gift might be free to us; but there’s, “No such thing as a free lunch.” Somebody paid for our gift. Jesus Christ, paid the price for the gift of our forgiveness and eternal life by dying on the Cross. Free to us – yes. But, not free. God, in His love, gives this gift to all who believe in Jesus. 

And He desires for us to pick this gift up and use it. He desires that we forgive as we’ve been forgiven. Showing the love of God for us to others, so they might also accept the gift purchased for us by Jesus’ precious blood and join us in eternal life.

                                                                                        Your Fellow Sinner and Saint,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A devotion I read had this little anecdote about a church sign in “farm country.” It said, “Pray for a good harvest, but keep on hoeing.” There’s a lot of truth in those words. It shows faith that God hears prayer. But it also reflects the truth that God gives us all gifts to be used to fulfill His will in the world.

Jesus began His ministry without any disciples. However, He quickly sat them down and gave them the gift of His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Then He gave them the gift of witnessing His miracle-working power through healings and mastery over nature and evil demons (Matthew 8-9). But these gifts simply set the stage for what Jesus truly intended for His disciples. Yes, He wanted them to believe in Him and His work. Yes, He wanted them to follow His example and live according to His teachings. But, more importantly, He wanted them to use these gifts to lead other people to Himself.

Jesus selected twelve of His disciples to be Apostles, from the Greek word ἀποστέλλω (apostello) which means sent out. They were to go into the world using the gifts He’d given them to say, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:7)” While they were to pray that God would save the lost sheep of Israel, they weren’t to sit around letting God do all the work. They were to be the means, the workers, God used to bring His kingdom to fruition.

Two-thousand years later, we’re the disciples. God has blessed each of us with many gifts, including the gift of faith in Him. We know God hears our prayers and answers them. However, we need to also realize, that we are also often the answer to prayers … our own and others. As we pray for family, friends, and neighbors to come to Christ, remember to “keep on hoeing.” God has gifted us to faithfully work the fields, so He can bring in the rich harvest.

                                                                                        In Christian Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

When I was a kid, I had to do chores. Though I didn’t like chores, I was commanded to do them as part of living in the house. They weren’t fun, but it was necessary work that needed to be done. So, commanded by my parents, I did them.

Life for Jesus’ disciples during Jesus’ ministry may not always have been fun, but I’m guessing it was often interesting. Think about it for a second – they got to watch Jesus up close and personal! They heard Him teach, saw Him perform incredible miracles, watched Him make peace with others through forgiveness of sins. Finally, they witnessed the most amazing thing of all … His torturous death followed by His resurrection.

Then, after 40 days, as Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).” This was a command – not a request. I can imagine these 1st century disciples still spent time fishing and having some fun, but their focus, even in the face of persecution, was heeding Jesus’ command … “Go.” By the power of the Holy Spirit, they endured. And today, whether we’re thrilled about it or not, Jesus commands us, His 21st century disciples, to continue making disciples of all nations.

I read of a missionary who was asked if he enjoyed his work. His shocking response, “Do I like this work? No. My wife and I do not like dirt … We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse. But is a man to avoid what he does not like if Christ tells him to do it? … Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to ‘Go,’ and we go. Love constrains us.” In response to God’s love for us, whether we like it or not, we love our neighbors – and go – showing them God’s love through our faith filled words and deeds.

                                                                                        In Christian Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I don’t travel much anymore. Work used to take me on many long trips. My method to survive – crash in the seat and hope I awoke as we started descending. But I usually woke up before then wondering, “Are we in the middle somewhere or near the end?”

Today is Pentecost. Jesus has ascended to heaven. He promised to come back … a day we call the “last day.” As we wait, it’s natural to think, “I wonder when that day will come.” Peter gives us a clue. As he speaks to the crowds on Pentecost, he says, “But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be … I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh …’ (Acts 2:16-17)” 

According to Peter we’re in the last days … he said they began when the Spirit was poured out on the disciples. But Peter also mentions the final last day, “the day of the Lord, the great and magnificent day (Acts 2:20).” Jesus will return on the final last day. So … today we’re somewhere in the middle. But, something like waking up in the middle of a long journey, we don’t know where. 

This uncertainty can be problematic. First, distress might set in because we hear about fire, smoke, and the sun turning to darkness … scary things indeed. Or, complacency might set in as we think we’ve got plenty of time to sort things out before the day of the Lord. 

But there’s a third option – “It shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:20-21).” As we live in these last days, we trust Jesus’ promise that His return will be a great and magnificent day. So, let’s not be distressed … let’s trust His promise. And let’s not get complacent … let’s serve Him by proclaiming the good news to all we meet in words and deeds that they too might be saved along with us.

                                                                                                In Christian Love,

                                                                                                Pastor Jim

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

The Voters’ Assembly … it’s an institution in many congregations used to make important decisions in the life of God’s people. In fact, our congregation has had several of them lately to approve important decisions in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the expenditure of funds to upgrade technology and buildings. There’s one on June 7th to approve our next budget and update people on progress toward reopening the sanctuary for in-person worship. Another item on the agenda is selecting new leaders to replace outgoing servants who’ve completed their faithful work.

The minutes of one of the first “voters’ assemblies” is recorded in Acts 2:12-26. The disciples were down an apostle. Accordingly, they needed to select another. They laid out the qualifications for the office and took nominations from the congregation. Justus and Matthias were put forward. Then the congregation prayed for God’s leading. The vote was left to God as they followed their prayers by casting lots. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the lot fell on Matthias. He became the newest apostle.

The method of selection for this new leader in God’s church is instructive. There was no campaigning. There was no laying out of platforms and policy positions. To be qualified, the person needed to be one who was a disciple throughout Jesus’ ministry. Then they prayed. They asked God to select the next leader in His church. God led them to select Matthias. 

As we make important decisions in the life of God’s church, as well as in our own lives, the model used by these first disciples is instructive. They began with prayer – asking God to lead them. While we may not “cast lots,” God does, in fact, desire to lead us. He desires that we come to Him in prayer. He desires to inspire us by His Word. Led by Him, we’re able to make God-pleasing decisions in all aspects of our lives. Trust God. Go to Him in prayer. Let Him lead you. Then, follow Him in faith.

                                                                                                He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

                                                                                                Pastor Jim

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Dear Easter People,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

I have spent a lot of time lately in Zoom meetings with other pastors. I’ve been blessed by these conversations, but not as you might expect. To explain, I go to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul writes, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers (Ephesians 1:16).” In speaking to my fellow pastors, I am abundantly thankful for you all! I say that because, I hear what many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are going through right now, as are we. Yet what I hear from others are indications that, despite the difficulties we’re all going through, many are struggling to remain strong in faith in this difficult time. I am thankful for your continued strength of faith … a faith I feel each day through your prayers for me and for God’s people. Quite honestly, Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus could truly be words from my own pen to the church in Calvert County.

Paul wrote many letters to many churches across the Mediterranean. Usually he was addressing a breakdown of faith at some point. However, there was no apparent breakdown of faith in Ephesus. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to continue their faithful worship of the one true God in the face of great pressure to capitulate to the economic and religious forces of the day. Yet, they didn’t! They remained faithful to Christ … “the one body, the one Lord, the one faith, the one baptism, the one God and Father of all (Ephesians 4:4-5).”

As we all face pressures to give up on our faith … even placing it in the “ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2)” … it can be very hard to remain faithful to God and His Word. However, I see each day, your strength of faith in God … that His will shall be done. I thank God for you and your singular, faith filled focus on Him.

                                                                                        He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

                                                                                        Pastor Jim

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

Dear Easter People,

Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

If you want to get to First Lutheran Church in Huntingtown MD, the route you take depends on where you start. Whether you use GPS, directions from the website, or the old-fashioned map; you plot a route getting you to your destination. Ultimately, regardless of your route, in the end, you need to get to Maryland Route 4 Southbound and the doors of First Lutheran Church. No matter where you start, no matter how lost you might get along the way … the only way to get to First Lutheran Church is to end up on MD-4 southbound.

Jesus says to His disciples, including you and me, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going (John 14:3-4).” Despite all they’ve seen Jesus do, the disciples are lost. Thomas asks Jesus for directions to which He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” With these words Jesus tells the world about the only way to enter eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. The only way is Jesus. He isn’t one of many ways. He’s THE way … to the Father and eternal life. However, just like you can ignore GPS or throw away the map and trust yourself, many try to find their own way to heaven ...

The good news for all mankind, regardless of where you might find yourself right now … no matter what route you’re on right now … no matter how lost you are right now … the truth of God’s Word is “recalculating your route” to get you onto the only road leading to the kingdom of heaven. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are led to Jesus. Then, following Him in faith, He leads us directly to our final destination, eternal life.

                                                                                        He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

                                                                                        Pastor Jim