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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 26, 2008 CRAFTSMAN |
A daily |
Frontline Devotion for
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 by Penny Risen
Adapted from September 28, 2005
1 Peter 1: 3-5
“What
a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have Him, this Father of our Master
Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life
and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven — and the future
starts now!
God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when
you'll have it all — life healed and whole.” The Message Bible
When we trust a certain product or brand name, we turn to it time and again: Marketers call this customer loyalty. Opening a box of corn flakes packed with the Kellogg name, we know we’ll have the same satisfying breakfast today as yesterday and again tomorrow. If our trusty Volkswagen Beetle chugged along for more than 150,000 miles, through college and the start of our working life, we likely would shop for a new VW when our budget allows.
When we identify with a certain craftsman or artist, we admire him or her for consistency of quality and beauty, and we identify with his message. Sliding a work of Mozart into the CD player, we know we’ll hear the pinnacle of musical craftsmanship. A side trip while on vacation to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright house will be worth the trouble, because we’re confident Wright’s attention to detail and innovation will not fail to awe us.
Of course, this principal of loyalty applies to the sports teams we love to cheer for. For many young and old, few things surpass the joy of witnessing an end-zone catch, a sunken putt or a homerun by a favorite athlete --- and we still love them even when they break our hearts and lose the game.
God is the ultimate craftsman and deserves every ounce of love and trust we can give.
Peter stressed this in his letter to new believers, reminding them of God’s love and plan for them included His gift of new birth in Jesus Christ.
Our Lord is for us. He loves us. His hands crafted us and He has plans for us. He cares for us and cheers us on in our brightest and our darkest moments. So how can we not love Him back with our whole heart and soul? How can we not trust Him in all things and put our faith in Him unceasingly? Why do we doubt His model for our life, instead of rely on His wisdom with all our mind and strength?
During His time on Earth with Peter and His disciples, Jesus cited again and again that love of our Lord and of one another is the greatest Commandment. It’s almost embarrassing that we’d need reminding to love and to trust Our Creator.
“God Doesn’t Make Junk” --- The message of a bumper sticker I spotted while stuck in traffic years back. Somehow this always comes to mind when I get discouraged or feel that I’ve been making a mess of my life. God is my Maker and He did a good job, I tell myself. I should love and thank Him every day for this, even when those days seem unimportant or frustrating or filled with failure.
God our trusted craftsman is still at work on us. And as Peter reminds us, He protects and keeps careful watch over His best work in us. We can love Him as He labors, be grateful for His Grace, and rejoice He’s right here with us even when we fall short.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, I love how You look after my family, my friends and me --- even when I forget to acknowledge how wonderful You are. Thank you for Your endless mercy, and for the care You put into crafting my daily walk with You. 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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