Christian Reflection and Prayer

(Jesus said) "You have heard that it was said, 'You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But
I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you." Matthew 5:43-44

Fifteen-year-old Nouman Masih died on Wednesday, April
15, 2015.

You don't know Masih; even so, I'd like to share just two
things about him.

First, you should know that there was no need for Masih, a
citizen of Pakistan, to die. Five days before he passed away,
he was walking on his way to his cloth-stitching job. He was
approached and stopped by two men, two Muslim men.

They asked him if he was Muslim or if he was a Christian.

The lad answered truthfully. He told his questioners that
Jesus was his Savior. They didn't like his answer. They didn't
like his answer so much that they began to beat Masih. It
wasn't a fight he could win. When he was able to break free
for a moment, Masih ran for his life. Tragically, his attackers
weren't done with him. They gave chase and caught the boy.

They doused him in kerosene and set him on fire. Before the
flames were extinguished, Masih was burned on 55 percent
of his body.

Taken to a hospital, the doctors said they thought Masih
might survive his injuries. But this Pakistani hospital is not
equipped to save a boy who is burned on 55 percent of his
body. So, Nouman Masih died, the most recent of a long line
of Christian martyrs.

That's the first thing I wanted you to know about this boy.

Here's the second: before he died, Masih forgave those who
had murdered him. Although he wanted to see his assailants
prosecuted for what they had done, that desire wasn't
motivated by a thirst for revenge. He just wanted to make sure
they didn't do the same thing to other Christians.

That being said, Masih forgave his assailants.

I've tried to decide what I would have done if I had been him.
Would I forgive those who had persecuted and martyred me?
I've tried to decide what I would do if Nouman Masih had been
my son. I wondered how seriously I take Jesus' words which
tell us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

I still don't have the answers; maybe you don't either.

One thing for sure, Nouman Masih is my brother; a hero of the
faith who has set an example. He has shown me how to witness;
he has shown me how to love my enemy, and he has shown me
how important it should be for us to love Jesus, who first loved us.

THE PRAYER:

Dear Lord, be with our brothers and sisters around the world
whose suffering proclaims the power of salvation in their lives.
Be with me so I may learn to love and pray for all those who
have done me wrong. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Verse

And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and
looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and
gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples
gave to the multitudes.
Matthew 14:19 NKJV Study Bible

Voice

The godless Galileans feed our poor in addition to
their own.
Roman Emperor Julian


Prayer

O God, may we recapture the spirit of the early
church. May we watch over those suffering in our
congregations as well as all those outcast and
downtrodden by empires today. Amen.

"Three Things Worth Knowing"

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth
His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem
those who were under the Law, so that we might receive
adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has
sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba!
Father!" Galatians 4:4-6

You know, when St. Paul wrote to the Galatians about
being adopted, he was referring to a Roman legal action.
Although Roman adoption was familiar to Paul's original
audience, there are some things you might want to know.

For example, you should know there were three things
which happened at that formal ceremony.

First, the person being adopted left his old family and
became part of a new one. That also happens to us when
we are given faith in the Savior. Those who believe in Jesus
Christ, who recognize His sacrifice, rejoice that the Spirit
leads sinners from Satan's family of damnation and brings
them into a new relationship with their Creator. By God's
grace they become children in God's household of salvation.

Second, in the Roman world, an adopted son became a
legitimate heir to the estate.

Nobody could take away the benefits which had been given
to him. That's exactly what St. Paul says happens to us. In
the book of Romans he writes, "For I am convinced ... (not)
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from

the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(see Romans 8:38-39).

In other words, once you had nothing to look forward to but
death and the grave; but now, because of Jesus' sacrifice,
you have become an heir of heaven.

Third, according to Roman law, when you were given a new
life in a new family, your old life was wiped out. Your past
debts were cancelled. You became a new person.

Because of Jesus' substitution, we who have been adopted
also find our sins are gone. The debt demanded by the Law
has been paid in full. We have been welcomed into a new life,
a life filled with forgiveness and hope.

That's what St. Paul meant when he said to the Corinthian
church, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To make it possible for you to be adopted is why Jesus was
willing to leave His throne in heaven. Now, all who have been
given faith are adopted as children of God and have become
inheritors of eternal life. The door to God's family has been
opened, and for this we must give thanks.

THE PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I rejoice that You, without any redeeming qualities
in me, have adopted me. Now, by the power of Jesus' life-
giving substitution I have been given a new and better life.
Keep my heart always grateful for this gift, which will never
end. This I pray in the Savior's Name. Amen.

Pastor Klaus