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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, August 9, 2003 "The Source" |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, August 9, 2003 By Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
My wife and I stumbled across a great festival on our honeymoon. We were staying in Clearwater Beach, Florida and decided to visit a place called Tarpon Springs, where the dominant religious group is the Greek Orthodox. It was January 6th and as we came into the town, we saw that the local church had some kind of service going on. In fact, the service was so packed that people were standing outside.
I quickly recognized that it was Epiphany - the festival that recalls the Three Magi who visited the toddler Jesus (see Matthew 2). I thought of the story and then kept on driving into the commercial part of town.
We found a parking spot, but were surprised how many cars were there. After all, we arrived on a weekday when a lot of people would be working. We started walking around the shops. I was drawn to the countless icons which portrayed Jesus and a whole host of Saints. As we looked around, I got puzzled. Where were all the people? Every store we walked in - it was just the two of us and the storeowners. Finally we asked, “where is everyone. You have all these cars, but where is everybody?” The shop owner said, “they’re at the lake. It’s a big festival.”
What we learned was that every year on Epiphany this community has a big festival. The community had been blessed with fresh springs that helped to produce countless sponges. It has been a source of livelihood for them and a constant source of revenue. At this festival, the community gathers around the lake and has a religious ceremony in which the Greek Orthodox Bishop blesses the spring. The spring is a sign of God’s constant provision in Tarpon Springs. The festival is a time to pause and remember who the source really is. It’s not the Spring- it’s God, the giver of all good gifts.
As I read the diverse passages in today’s text, there are a whole host of things to talk about. But, in those diverse lessons, I hear a common thread- namely, always remember the source of your provisions. God is the source of all you have. Fasting, even though most never enter into that discipline is an opportunity to rely on God for strength and learn that you need more than food to live. Prayer is an ongoing opportunity to return to the source. Giving is an opportunity to celebrate that God has provided for us.
God is your source. All you have comes from his goodness.
Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all we have. Teach us to return to you on an ongoing basis. Help us to stay connected to you at all times and all places. Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.