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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 15, 2006 PROMISES |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, March 15, 2006 by Penny Risen
Moses, Jesus and another guy are out playing golf.
Moses steps up to the tee and drives a long one. It lands on the fairway but rolls directly toward a water trap. Quickly Moses raises his club, the water parts and the ball rolls up out of the mud and safely onto the green.
Next, Jesus tees up and hits a nice high one right toward the same water trap. His ball lands in the center of the pond and hovers over the water. Jesus casually walks onto the water and chips his ball up onto the green, close to Moses’ shot.
The confident third golfer whacks at the ball. It heads over a fence and into the street where it hits a car, then bounces back onto the course and ricochets off a tree. The ball lands atop the roof of a shelter, slides down into its gutter, out the spout and gently rolls onto the fairway heading toward the same pond.
Before reaching the water, the ball hits a pebble and chips onto a lily pad. A bullfrog pounces on it and prepares to swallow the ball, when a huge eagle swoops down and grabs the frog. As the bird soars over the green the frog releases his grip on the ball and it drops smack into the cup for a hole in one.
Moses turns to Jesus, and says, “It always gets interesting when we play with your dad.”
Yes, it’s been a long interesting trip for Moses, but in 40 years he never loses sight of his faith in God. In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds his flock of the Father’s uncompromising ability to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land. When things got weird or took a seemingly wrong turn, Moses always was able to say to himself and his people: “We have a covenant --- God will provide.”
The Ten Commandments, cited in Exodus and again in Moses’ Chapter 5 sermon, are the promise crystallized. The Word of their steadfast God is clear and His children are assured that His plans for them are written in wisdom and forgiveness. Despite his followers’ often-rebellious attitude, Moses justly reminds the Israelites that while once they were slaves in Egypt, now they are free and permitted to worship their own God, who loves them unconditionally. In the midst of their struggles, they are committed to abide by His laws the best way they know how and to trust Him as He guides them each day, Moses says.
As a leader as well as a man of faith, Moses has the will and inspiration to lead his people home, surmounting trial after trial in their wanderings faced with the fact that he cannot join them there. Moses believes in God’s plans and His promises --- and His intent to drop His people right into Promised Land, the proverbial “hole in one.”
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, I know I don’t always get the answers I pray for, or hear Your voice clearly each day. But I believe in Your plan for my life and Your unfailing love for me as Your child. Thank you for humor and caring mentors who help me truly see the fulfilled promises You send. Amen.
Note --- This devotion is in memory of my uncle: A great golf mentor who loved his family and his church, and believed that God’s caring hand guided his life. He returned to God on February 18, 2006.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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