Northwoods Table Talk

Devotion for 2nd Last  Jeremiah 30:1-24          Matthew 26:57-75 Peter the bold, the brave, a braggadocio, "Even if all the others fall away because of you, I will never fall away!" (Mt. 26:33) He said it only a few hours earlier. And this lesson from Matthew only 36 verses later finds Peter's bravery put to the test, his faithfulness to Christ is challenged, and He fails. He fails in spectacular fashion. We sit in our chairs reading this text some two thousand years later and wonder how he could have done that. I have even had people boast to me, "Pastor, I just do not understand how they could have done what they did? If I had been there and seen all the things they had seen, I would have been different!"  "Sure Peter! You would have been different!" What an embarrassment Peter thought he was. He went off and wept bitterly. What sin brings you to your knees in repentant crying? If you are honest with yourself, any sin you commit is a "falling a...

Devotion for Saturday after 3rd Last  Jeremiah 29:1-19          Matthew 26:20-35 First, let me apologize. Somehow (my own sinfulness, manifested in making an error) I selected the New Testament lesson for today (11/14) and put that up yesterday. I grievously compounded the error by writing the devotion on that text. So, today I am using yesterday's (11/13) New Testament lesson, and making that today's devotional text. Forgive me! I want to take a few passages from this text. Remember, Jesus is with His disciples in the upper room, He is celebrating the Passsover with them, He will be going to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, they will arrest Him there, and then He will travel to the cross and grave. But in the midst of it all He institutes the Eucharist/Lord's Supper/Holy Communion/Table of the Lord/Sacrament of the Altar. Now while they were eating, Jesus took  some  bread, and  after a blessing, He broke  it  and gave  it ...

  Devotion for Friday after 3rd Last  Jeremiah 26:1-19          Matthew 26:36-56 In the lesson from Matthew, we read: 36  Then Jesus *came with them to a place called  Gethsemane, and *told His disciples,  “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”   37  And He took  Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed.   38  Then He *said to them,  “ My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and  keep watch with Me.” 39  And He went a little beyond  them , and fell on His face and prayed, saying,  “My Father, if it is possible, let  this cup pass from Me;  yet not as I will, but as You  will .”   40  And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter,  “So, you  men  could not  keep watch with Me for one hour?   41  Keep watching and praying, so that you do ...

Devotion for Thursday after 3rd Last  Jeremiah 25:1-18          Matthew 26:1-19 Our reading from Matthew begins with these words: When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,   “ You know that after two days  the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is  to be   handed over for crucifixion.”  Jesus knew what was coming upon Him, He states it explicitly, "the Son of Man is to be handed over FOR  CRUCIFIXION!!!" Would you remain anywhere in the near vicinity if you knew that you were going to be crucified? If you knew they the outcome, if you could truly see the future and know what was going - that you would be arrested, they'd lie about you, find you guilty, bring you before Pilate who would wimp out and hand you over to Roman soldiers to beat and whip you, finally taking you out to be crucified, would you stick around? Jonah was supposed to go proclaim God's Word to Nineveh, but he also knew they'd repen...

   Devotion for Wednesday after 3rd Last  Jeremiah 23:21-40          Matthew 25:31-46 As Lutherans in northern Wisconsin, as a group, we are not generally excited to remember those who have died in the faith in the past, and whom the historic church has recognized and called saints. Too often, when we hear any talk of celebrating a “saint’s day,” our alarms go off. Why? I am not sure, but I would guess there is a certain fear/animosity/something toward Roman Catholicism that leaves many reluctant to even think it is a good idea to consider those called “saints.” Maybe a part of that unease arises because we do not want to extoll the works of any individual as that which makes them worthy of a place in God’s kingdom. Rightly so, we are saved by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Today is the celebration of “St. Martin of Tours, Pastor.” I thought it would be good to mention him today and remember him. Martin was born (316 AD) into a pagan family...

  Devotion for Monday after 3rd Last  Jeremiah 22:1-23          Matthew 25:1-13 Today’s reading from Matthew is also the Gospel lesson for the Last Sunday of the Church year, we know it well, the parable of the Ten Virgins – five are wise – five are foolish. Both sets of girls have all that they need for life in the world now, the share in all the goods and ills of the world.   The wise though, have the faith that will get them through their lives in God’s grace, with the Bridegroom who is presently unable to be seen and completely known. The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.   They lived life as normal. They are content and happy, assuming the luck will continue to treat them well. They do not need to make any effort to deal with the unexpected. They have always had all that they need, they believe they do not need to be prepared for that which isn’t going to happen, at least not today.   But the wise took flasks ...