Northwoods Table Talk

Saturday after Easter - Devotions in Exile The lection for Saturday after Easter: Exodus 19:1-25 Hebrews 13:1-25 Today’s text comes at a time when I think many pastors are wondering about how they can most effectively do that which God called them to do. Many are struggling because they cannot conduct full services with the entire congregations entrusted to their care by God. Many already felt inadequate, for they know their sinfulness and wonder, “why would God want a scumbag like me to care for His beloved children?” COVID-19 has only made that feeling of inadequacy intensify. Of course, there are also the lay people who think that since the pastor isn’t doing all that he normally does (he may in fact be doing more, but because of safer-at-home and social distancing, people do not see it), after all, “He only works one day a week, and now he isn’t even doing that.” Gossip in the church, particularly against the pastor, is sinful.  The talk comes back to him, and he ...

Friday after Easter - Devotions in Exile The lection for Friday after Easter: Exodus 18:5-27 Hebrews 12:1-24 It has always been my observation that in the Epistles, there is so much packed into so little space. This passage from Hebrews is an incredible example of it. I encourage you to click the link above and go read it again. I could probably write a suggested thesis idea for theological dissertation for doctoral work, claiming I want to write on this chapter, and I would be told that I need to narrow it down – the topic is too broad. So, in an effort to give you a brief devotion (I know, you’re thinking, “That’d be a first!”), I am going to focus on just the first three verses. We are to run with endurance the race set before us… We are to do it with our eyes fixed on Jesus… Why? He is the Author and perfecter of our faith. You are to run that race of this life, and you are do it by laying aside every encumbrance and every sin that easily entangles. Yes, there...

Thursday after Easter - Devotions in Exile The lection for Thursday after Easter: Exodus 17:1-16 Hebrews 11:1-29 By faith? Faith in these trying times? “Pastor Jerabek, I am struggling with my faith today – in this trying time.” Guess what, you are not alone. That is why I am so glad that the daily lectionary in our hymnal, and followed in the Treasury of Daily Prayer has this Hebrews text appointed for today. If you haven't, take a moment to read it now. Hebrews chapter eleven is all about faith, in fact, the first verse starts out: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.   For by it the men of old gained approval. After these words we are given a list of men and things they did by faith. There have been people who want to do Bible studies on the “great men of faith,” as if their faith is their own work. Today, I would like to ask, “Which ones are the great men of faith?” It is a great question because there are not many ...

Easter Wednesday - Devotions in Exile The lection for Easter Wednesday: Acts 3:13-5, 17-19 Colossians 3:1-7 John 21:1-14              Our text for today's devotion is the reading from Colossians:  Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Let us look more closely at this text. It says:  If you have been raised up with...

Easter Tuesday - Devotions in Exile The lection for Easter Tuesday: Daniel 3:8-28 Acts 13:26-33 Our last lesson, is also our text for today's devotion: Luke 24:36-49 Yesterday, our devotion focused upon the events which took place between Jesus and the two He encountered on the road to Emmaus. That Scripture lesson from Acts of the Apostles ended with those disciples hurrying back to Jerusalem, to the eleven and those gathered with them, and related to them their encounter with the risen Christ. It was especially noted that they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread. Our text for today begins: While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. (vs. 36-37) Jesus proceeds to show them it is truly Him – He specifically shows them His hands and feet. They are so overjoyed and amazed that they could not truly believe it, so Jesus a...

Easter Monday - Devotions in Exile The lection for Easter Monday: Exodus 15:1-18 Acts 10:34-44             And the specific text for our meditation below is the Gospel reading for this day: Luke 24:13-35 Imagine the situation in Jerusalem and the surrounding region, especially as it has been – and is being – experienced by the followers, the disciples, of Jesus. Jesus had been arrested by temple soldiers, brought to a mock trial before the Chief Priests, dragged before Pilate, beaten, flogged, forced to carry a cross up Golgotha, was nailed to that cross, and there He died. He was placed into a tomb. After the sun had risen that Sunday morning, the first day of the week, women had gone and found the tomb empty. They came to the disciples and related to them what they discovered. Peter and John had run to the tomb and found it just as the women had told them. Our text finds two of the rest, followers of Jesus, but not of the eleven (see 24:9), o...