June 20, 2018 - CLOSED EARS RESULT IN...

Day 171 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 1:32-54; Psalm 140; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18)

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13 ESV)

This proverb calls God’s people to help those less fortunate than themselves. The warning that “what goes around comes around” reminds us of a well-known fulfillment of these words from the last century.

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist. 

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist. 

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- 
Because I was not a Jew. 

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.”   
                                        -  Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Martin Niemöller was a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany who changed his mind about Hitler and opposed Nazism with such force that it landed him in a concentration camp.

May we not wait until no one is left to speak for us. Today is the day to serve Christ by helping the poor and the needy. May we especially take the many opportunities that surround us to reach out to the spiritually poor and share with them the soul-saving story of our Savior. 

Lord, open my ears, my heart and my mouth for the sake of the poor and needy around me. Thank You for being my example and motivation for such service. Amen. 

Reach out to someone in need today.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!