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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 22, 2007 Come Back when You Grow Up |
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Frontline Devotion for Monday, January 22, 2007 by Fritz Foltz
Luke 4: 22-24 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town.
Controversy has divided my small town. Pennsylvania recently approved slot machine casinos in hopes of solving a short fall of revenues. Gettysburg entered into the competition for one of the licenses.
Two hostile camps immediately emerged. The NO CASINO people felt our town was sacred ground and not an appropriate place for gambling. The CASINO YES people claimed the casino would bring jobs so that our youth would not have to move elsewhere to make a living. Because the economy has become the trump card in most modern issues, many of us could hardly believe it when the commission denied us the license.
However, many of us felt it naïve to think jobs associated with gambling would entice our children home. No kind of job is able to do that. Our kids leave to find themselves and their futures, because the adults in their hometown have a hard time accepting them as grown-ups. They can not help treating them as youngsters long after they have matured.
Jesus faced the same difficulty as he began to minister in his hometown. People remembered him as the kid down the block, not the Messiah who would redeem their nation and God’s creation. The rejection was harsh enough to force his moving out, in spite of the fact that his society was not as mobile as ours. He first goes to other Galilean towns and then to the big city in Judea where he continued to meet rejection, even death.
Gettysburg has begun the healing process that follows partisan division. The two sides will soon come together to confront the future without casino revenues. So too, Jesus’ love at the resurrection began a healing process that will unite the world.
In the meantime, let us be people who accept people for whom they are now. Mark Twain used to say his tailor was one of the wisest men he knew, because he took his measurements each time they met. Let us be people who do the same.
Let us pray: Stamp out our prejudices’, Father, that we might come to each moment ready to accept the truth. Especially make us ready to accept other people as they stand before us. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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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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