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Devotional

Unyielding Hope

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Read Romans 5:3-5

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).

Image created by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of AI developed by Microsoft.

Life often presents us with challenges that test our faith and resilience. In Morgan Llywelyn’s “Druids,” the Gauls, led by Ainvar and Vercingetorix, exhibit remarkable resilience and resistance against the Roman invasion. Despite their ultimate defeat, their story is not devoid of hope. Ainvar’s spiritual journey and the preservation of druidic wisdom suggest that even in the face of loss, there is hope for the future through the preservation of cultural identity and spiritual practices.

Similarly, the people of Judea faced numerous conquests, yet their hope was anchored in the promise of a Messiah. This hope was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, who brought redemption not just to the people of Judea but to all humanity. The concept of redemption through faith and the promise of eternal life is central to Christian belief.

In 63 BCE, the Roman general Pompey took advantage of a war of succession in the Hasmonean court to make the Jewish kingdom a client state of Rome. After sacking Jerusalem, Pompey installed Hyrcanus II as High Priest but denied him the title of king. This marked the beginning of centuries-long Roman rule over Judea. Despite the political turmoil and repeated conquests, the people of Judea held onto their hope in God’s promises. Their resilience was not just in their political resistance but in their unwavering faith.

The Gallic Wars, led by Julius Caesar from 58 BCE to 50 BCE, were a series of military campaigns that resulted in the complete subjugation of the Gallic tribes in modern-day France. Caesar’s victory over the Gauls solidified his status as one of Rome’s greatest generals. Despite the Gauls’ fierce resistance and strategic maneuvers, their ultimate defeat at the Battle of Alesia in 52 BCE highlighted the transient nature of political power. Yet, the Gauls’ story, as depicted in “Druids,” shows that their cultural and spiritual identity endured, offering a form of hope and redemption through the preservation of their traditions.

Both the Gauls and the Jews tried to out-might the mightiest empire the world had known by then—the Roman Empire. The Gauls, under Vercingetorix, united their tribes in a valiant effort to resist Roman domination. They fought bravely, but the sheer military prowess and strategic genius of Julius Caesar proved insurmountable. The consequences were devastating: the Gallic tribes were subjugated, their leaders executed or taken as prisoners, and their lands absorbed into the Roman Empire. However, the Gauls survived beyond this devastation by preserving their cultural practices and integrating aspects of Roman culture, which allowed their identity to endure.

Similarly, the Jews faced the might of Rome with their own attempts at resistance. The Jewish-Roman wars, particularly the Great Revolt (66-73 CE), saw the Jews fighting fiercely for their independence. The Romans, led by generals like Vespasian and his son Titus, crushed the rebellion, culminating in the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. The consequences were severe: Jerusalem was razed, the Temple destroyed, and many Jews were killed or dispersed. Yet, the Jewish people survived beyond this devastation through their strong faith and the preservation of their religious and cultural identity. The synagogue became the new center of Jewish life, and the teachings of the Torah continued to guide them.

Romans 5:3-5 reminds us that we can rejoice in our sufferings because they produce perseverance, character, and hope. This hope does not disappoint because it is rooted in God’s love, poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This passage teaches us that our trials are not meaningless; they are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. 1 Peter 1:3-4 further emphasizes this hope, describing it as a “priceless inheritance” kept in heaven for us. This inheritance is pure, undefiled, and beyond the reach of change and decay. It is a living hope, made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This hope sustains us through trials, reminding us that our ultimate reward is eternal life with God.

The futility of worldly pursuits is evident in both the story of the Gauls and the history of Judea. Despite their efforts, both were conquered by a more powerful empire. This highlights the transient nature of political power and the ultimate futility of relying solely on human strength. Jesus’ teachings emphasize the futility of worldly pursuits and the importance of seeking spiritual fulfillment. He taught that true peace and happiness come from a relationship with God, not from material wealth or political power.

As we navigate our own trials, let us remember that our hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal promises of God. Our redemption is certain, and our hope is sure. No matter how bleak things may appear, God is at work, and our faith will one day become sight. Until then, we can rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in God our Savior, knowing that God is our strength and our unyielding hope.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Our trials are opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God, leading us to a hope that does not disappoint.

PRAYER
Lord, help us to find hope in You amidst our trials and to trust in Your eternal promises. Amen.

Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.

Devotional

God’s People, part 121: Rome

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Read Luke 13:1-5

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules.”  (Revelation 17:9a)

When we think of God’s people, we tend to think one of two things. We might think of the Israelites who were God’s “chosen people”, or we might think of specific characters in the Bible. Either way, we tend to idealize the people we are thinking about. For instance, we may think that God’s people are super faithful, holy, perform miracles and live wholly devout and righteous lives. Unfortunately, this idealism enables us to distance ourselves from being God’s people, because we feel that we fall short of those ideals. As such, I have decided to write a devotion series on specific characters in the Bible in order to show you how much these Biblical people are truly like us, and how much we are truly called to be God’s people.

crucifiedPart 121: Rome. If one dances with the devil, they are bound to get burned. Case in point: Judaea’s ill-fated alliance with Rome. If you recall from the last devotion, the Hasmoneans allied themselves with Rome in order to protect themselves from the oppression of the tyrannical Seleucid Empire. The Jews signed a treaty with Rome that stated that both parties would defend the other should anyone attack them.

Initially, Rome held up to its end of the bargain. The Senate sent the Seleucid a “cease and desist” letter, telling them that their would be severe reprocussions for  attacking and or bringing harm to the Jews. Good deal, right? That is exactly what the Jews were hoping to accomplish in that treaty. The problem is that Rome was on the rise to become the most powerful empire EVER and they were not going to ever give the Judaeans an opportunity to rise to the top.

Eventually, following conquering the Seleucid Empire, it sacked Jerusalem in 63 BCE under the general Pompey. Following Rome’s victory, it declared the Hasmonean prince, Hyrcanus II, as “Ethnarch”. An ethnarch is someone who is placed in charge of an ethnic group. What that means is, instead of being the next Hasmonean king, Hyrcanus became a puppet governor of the Jews, who obviously rebelled against the new regime. Rome also appointed Hyrcanus as the High Priest. One can easily imagine how well that went over.

Julius Caesar later went on to appoint Antipater the Idumaean (aka Antipas) as the first Roman Procurator. Antipater’s son, Herod the Great, was eventually designated as “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. It is important to note that Herod was from Edom, and was an Edomite. The Edomited traced their lineagute through Esau and had, by this point in history, converted to Judaism. Thus, Herod was born and raised a Jew, contrary to some myths that are out there.

We’ll talk more about Herod in the next devotion; however, suffice it to say, one can easily see what happened as a result of the Hasmonean alliance with Rome. The Romans became even greater persecutors of the Jews than the Seleucids. While Rome did allow for the Jews to follow their religion and customs, something they learned was necessary to keep the peace, they ruled the Jews with an iron fist.

If any one so much as hinted at insurrection or rebellion, they ended up a part of an artificial forest of crosses that lined the roadways as a reminder to all who passed by of what happens to anyone who challenges Roman rule. The Romans took cruelty to an all-time low and had no problem eliminating anyone they felt was a threat to the Roman way.

The challenge for us is to see that when we sell out to save ourselves, we end up losing so much more than we could ever anticiapte. Human hindsight is always 20/20; however, our foresight is often clouded by fear and doubt, both of which lead to poor decision making. The challenge for us is to stop selling our souls for security and safety. We must place our complete faith and trust in God and not put other things, other ways, before Jesus Christ who IS THE WAY.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
The devil always gets more than what one believes is being sold.

PRAYER
Lord, steer me clear of the wiles of the devil. If it requires selling out, it must not be of You, for you’ve already purchased me as I am through your Son Jesus Christ. In him I trust. Amen.

Devotional

God’s People, part 120: Hasmoneans

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Read 1 Maccabees 8

ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

When we think of God’s people, we tend to think one of two things. We might think of the Israelites who were God’s “chosen people”, or we might think of specific characters in the Bible. Either way, we tend to idealize the people we are thinking about. For instance, we may think that God’s people are super faithful, holy, perform miracles and live wholly devout and righteous lives. Unfortunately, this idealism enables us to distance ourselves from being God’s people, because we feel that we fall short of those ideals. As such, I have decided to write a devotion series on specific characters in the Bible in order to show you how much these Biblical people are truly like us, and how much we are truly called to be God’s people.

judah-maccabee-leading-troops-to-warPart 120: Hasmoneans. Hello time travelers! Welcome to the first century CE (Common Era…aka A.D.), the world in which Jesus and the disciples lived and did ministry. Before we can truly understand the New Testament world, it is important for us to have some of the context. The next several devotions will hopefully provide some of the historical contexts that illuminate the world in which Jesus and his disciples lived.

Following the return from exile, the Persians continued to have a hold on Israel until the Greeks, under the reign of Alexander the Great, conquered the Persians. Over the period of thirteen years, Alexander went from being the King of Macedonia to uniting the Greek city-states into one kingdom and conquering the known world between Greece and India. Yes, you read that right. His empire expanded to India.

Once Alexander died, his death is somewhat of a controversial mystery, his unified empire split up into opposing factions led by commanders and officials. One of those commanders was Seleucus (pronounced sel-oo-kos), an infantry general in Alexander’s army. He went on to form and rule the Seleucid Empire, which was made up of Persia, Judea, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and what are now Cyprus, Israel/Judea, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Kuwait and parts of Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

Under the Seleucid Empire, particularly during the rule of Antiochus IV, the Jews suffered terrible oppression. The Temple was defiled by Antiochus who put statues of Greek gods in it to be worshipped and the practice of Judaism was outlawed. This was a part of a campaign to further Hellenize the Jews (e.g. to make them more Greek-like). There were “progressive” Jews that sided with Hellenization and thought that Judea needed to get more with the times. These Jews had much to gain from Greek culture. Others, who were much more conservative or “traditionalist”, rejected the push for Hellenization.

When Antiochus IV persecuted and the Jews and banned their religious practices, the Mattathias and his sons killed a Hellenized Jew who was about to make a sacrifice to an idol. A year later, his son Judah Maccabee led an army of Jewish insurgents in an uprising against the Seleucid occupiers. The ensuing revolt and/or war lasted seven years. Though Judah was killed, the Jews under the leadership of two of Judah’s brothes, were able to win independence.

With that said, the way they won independence was through a “deal with the devil” so to speak. They ended up signing a treaty and a (sort of) alliance with Rome, where Rome would attack anyone who waged an attack on Judea. This alliance allowed them their independence and the Maccabees went on to become the rulers of what became known as the Hasmonean Dynasty. While this alliance worked in their favor to begin with, eventually that same “ally” would conquer them and put Judea through an oppression it had never endured before. In fact, the effects of that oppression is still felt by Jews around the world today.

This ought to challenge us. In what ways do we bargain and deal with the devil in order to achieve an immediate victory? I ask this question both to individuals reading this as well as to the church collectively. In what ways do we sell a bit of ourselves here and a bit of ourselves there in order to have status, security, power, authority, influence and prosperity?

We all should be honestly reflective on this and also weigh the potential consquences that are mounting up against us as a result of such bargaining. Such reflection will hopefully bring us, individually and collectively, to repentance and back toward faithfulness to God. I pray that we all take this seriously and cut our ties with the devil.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
The devil is always in the details, often times in the smallest print.

PRAYER
Lord, you know the right course for my life. I place my trust in you, and you alone, to guide me toward righteousness. Amen.