St. John's Lutheran Church

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​God Pause: A Daily Devotion from Luther Seminary
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​Prayer Ventures: Daily Prayer from the ELCA





​Meditations from Carol Dean Henn​

Coming soon
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10/15/2017

Sunday October 15, 2017

Read Now
 
To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.                                                                                                                                                       John 1:12
         Today’s verse, which should be comforting and empowering, has too often been misused to suggest that only those people who dutifully recite Christ’s name can be called children of God.  One problem with such a view is that the Bible clearly tells us that God looks into our hearts.  He sees the good that we have done or not done, the love we have shown or not shown.  He isn’t looking for recitations of words; he looks for God-centered lives, lives of loving service, compassion, and acceptance of all people.  Another problem is that, when we try to elevate one faith or belief system over another, based on this verse, we are actually putting ourselves in God’s place.  We are making ourselves judges of who will or will not pass muster in the kingdom of God.  
        How arrogant!  And how unnecessary.  Our time would be better spent appreciating the miracle conveyed in this verse.  If we are willing to lift our lives, hearts, and spirits up to God, and to believe in his 
reality and goodness, we will be his children; all of us, even those who don’t know what to call him or how to worship him—those who simply look inward and heavenward and say ‘Thank you.  I love you.’  Even those.
©Carol Dean Henn, 2017

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Details

    Author

    Carol Dean Henn of St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, PA

 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
715 Lincoln Highway
North Versailles, PA 15137-2027
stjohnsnvoffice@gmail.com
​​412-824-0277
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-2:30pm
Worship Schedule:
Sunday School for all ages at 9:30am
​Worship at 10:45am
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​© 2022 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Versailles, PA
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Welcome and Mission Statements
    • History
    • Staff & Council
    • Bios >
      • Pastor Kimberly Greway
    • Life Events >
      • Wedding Policy
      • Funeral Policy
    • Committees
    • Land Acknowledgement
  • Worship
    • Worship Details
    • What to Expect
    • Music at St. John's
    • Prayer and Devotional Resources
    • Young Disciples' Messages
    • Sermon Extras >
      • Reformation Sunday Oct 2022
      • Third Sunday in Advent, Dec. 2022
  • Get Involved
    • Time and Abilities
    • Get Involved
    • Women of the ELCA
    • Committees
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Council Meeting Highlights
    • Pastor Kimberly's Bible Blurbs
    • Memorials and Funerals
  • Education
    • Sunday School for Children and Youth
    • Confirmation
    • Coffee and Conversations (Adult Sunday School)
  • St. John's Cares
    • MA's Pantry
    • St. Afterschool
    • Lutheran World Relief
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Counseling Center
    • Community Meetings
  • Photo Gallery
  • Forms
    • Forms >
      • Prayer Request Form
      • Altar Flowers Order Form
      • Missionary Sponsorship Form
  • Contact Us
    • Contact & Location
    • Communication Contacts