Page 10 - Lenten Devotional 2023

Friday, February 24

Luke 5: 18 – 39
Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed.

They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. But they could not find a
way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus
stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus. When Jesus saw their

faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Reflection
Imagine the reaction of the homeowner as men began to pull apart the roof of his home
to lower a man into the room below where Jesus was standing. There is no mention
whether this was covered by insurance, but rather, only the way in which Jesus received

these men and their friend. Moved by their love for their friend and their faith in Jesus’
healing, their friend was healed of the sin of affliction that had left him bedridden. He

was freed because his friends believed.

Welcome Stories

Following my years of full-time ministry and retiring, I received a phone call asking that
I be a transitional minister for the Falun/Salemsborg Lutheran Parish in Lindsborg,
Kansas. The previous pastor had served there for seventeen years and was a friend of

mine. Pastor Ethan had a very strong and fruitful ministry in this parish which caused
me to be a bit hesitant as to whether I could serve them well. Upon arrival and meeting
with the Church Council I experienced a very warm and welcoming feeling. After prayer

and discernment, I accepted their invitation to serve the congregations. From the first
Sunday to my final service a year later, the people looked to me for leadership and
spiritual support. Judy and I were included in the activities of the church and social get-

togethers. We were invited into their homes and lives. They brought trailers and people
to help us move and prepared a dinner for all the movers when we arrived. They were
quick to be sure that everything was in working order at the house and responded to

any needs that we might have during the time we were there. They delivered a freezer to
the garage and filled it with meat. After only a year there they loaded us up again and