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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Tuesday, August 12, 2003 "Carried Away" |
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Frontline Devotion for Tuesday, August 12, 2003 by Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
I sometimes turn to good old Webster’s dictionary for a little insight. I turned there this morning and looked up the meaning of infirmed.
Infirmed can mean a number of things. It is defined as the state of being feeble. It can mean disease or malady. It can also mean a personal failing. It’s the last one that jumped out at me- personal failings.
I’m not sure how honest we are about our personal failings or the things that keep us from fully serving God in daily life. But, I have no doubt that each one of us has personal failings that keep us from fully experiencing the life God promises. Perhaps when we look deep in our soul we will discover that we are too angry or too self-centered. Perhaps we are too fearful or too resentful or too judgmental. Perhaps we are too skeptical of other people or we give in to temptations. The list could go on and on. What would you add?
The passage that leaped out at me today was the passage which said that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy - “He took our infirmities and carried our diseases.” I think that is an image that we should keep in our head for it says that Jesus is able and wants to remove those personal failures from our life.
Tonight, I will take out the recycling and the trash cans. It will remove things we don’t need or want around our house any more. I leave them out on the edge of the road and I know that some faithful people will remove them- putting my trash in their truck and hauling it away.
My prayer is that we can do the same thing with the struggles in our own life. Leave them out in the open for God to see and let him haul it away.
The trash cans at home are a reminder that there will always be garbage that we need to get rid of. There will always be things we need to remove in our personal and spiritual lives as well. I think the thing to remember is that Jesus is always on the move. To be a faithful servant in this world, we must be willing to struggle and be honest and always turn to God to remove our “infirmities”. He can and will remove them. Let us be honest and willing to share with him.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank you that your son came into this world and continues to help carry away infirmities and diseases. As we think especially of our personal struggles, help carry those things away so that we are freed to serve you with more energy and enthusiasm. 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.