May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14

United in God

Jesus once prayed that God’s people would be as close and unified as the triune God. He wanted us to be one as the Father, the Son, and Spirit are one. (See John 17:21-23.) Unfortunately, that is not exactly what we experience today. Among God’s people, there is bickering, backbiting, and dissension.

The apostle Paul had a similar experience in the churches he started, especially in Corinth. In this church, the people were divided over their favorite pastor, some were boasting of their acceptance of sin, and others were trying to discredit Paul and his message. These problems caused the church to be splintered and hostile.

Paul knew that Jesus desired his church to be completely unified. So he worked to lead God’s people to repent and forgive each other. In love, he spoke forcefully about the work of Satan among them, begging them to leave their wicked ways and unite around the truth.

Paul could not accomplish this goal on his own. That’s why he closed his letter with this blessing. He asked for the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” to be on the Corinthians. They needed to remember that their status with God was based on the grace of Jesus Christ. He prayed for the “love of God” the Father to be on them. He wanted the congregation to love one another as the Father loved them. Finally, just as they were united with God through “the fellowship Holy Spirit,” Paul wanted them to be united with one another.

We need this same blessing spoken over us. We, too, experience division and discord in the family of God. We need our God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to give us his grace, love, and presence. As we are united with God through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can begin to be united with one another.

Prayer:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all so that we may be one as our God is one. Amen.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:1,2

The True God Has Reclaimed His Creation

How do you imagine the first moments of creation? The Bible tells us there was a kind of chaos. “The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” Our world was a disordered mess. But then God spoke and formed new structures—light and darkness, skies and water, dry land and vegetation.

Sadly, after God created a perfect place for his people, a new type of chaos came into our world. As a result of the disobedience of the first man and woman, the darkness of evil and selfishness became a reality. In his love, God the Father continues to create humans to inhabit this world. Even more remarkably, he sent his Son to pay for the sins of the world. And the Holy Spirit now works in the hearts of men and women to trust that what Jesus did; he did for them.

And still, our triune God is not finished. He promises to return one day to make all things new, to make a new heaven and a new earth, to put all things back the way they are supposed to be. Until that day, let us trust our Creator, Savior, and divine Counselor to love us, be with us, and give our lives meaning and purpose, even in the chaos.

Prayer:
Lord God, you created all things by your power. Create in me a new heart that trusts you and wants to follow you wherever you want me to go. Amen.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him.
Matthew 28:16,17

Worship Jesus

If someone asked you to describe who Jesus was, you might be tempted to say, “He was a great teacher.” But according to the well-known scholar, C.S. Lewis, that is the one thing we must not say. Although Jesus taught many important lessons about God, he also said, “I am the true God.”

According to Lewis, a person who says such a thing is either a liar who is willfully deceiving his listeners, a lunatic who has a delusional understanding of reality, or he is who he says he is: true God and also true man.

Jesus’ closest followers believed their leader fell into the third category. But it took them a while to come to this conclusion. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the disciples would ask, “Who is this? He even commands the winds and the waves to obey him?” Over time, they concluded that Jesus was more than a mortal man, and he seemed to have divine influence. But then, their miraculous Messiah was crucified and died, and they were again confused and disillusioned. He saved other people, but he couldn’t seem to save himself.

But three days after his death, he appeared to them alive. He told them he had to die to pay for sins and rose back to life to conquer our last enemy, death itself. And so, when Jesus gathered this group of followers on a mountain before he left them, Matthew tells us, “They worshiped him.” Jesus was no mere teacher. This man standing before them was their God. All the praise they had offered to the Lord of Israel was now directed towards Jesus, their Savior.

Now it’s your turn to worship Jesus just as his disciples did. Because Jesus did more than just teach about God; he proved himself to be God. He lived a perfect life, died in your place, and rose again so you would never reduce him to the status of a mere mortal.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I worship and praise you, my Savior and my God. Amen.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:21

Loyalty

Say the name “Napoleon Bonaparte,” and many people today picture in their minds a short, cartoonish man wearing an old-fashioned military hat and an oversized ego. But Napoleon Bonaparte was no cartoon. Rather, he was one of the most prominent leaders the world has ever seen. In the opening decade of the 19th Century, Napoleon was the master of Europe. His victories were stunning and brilliant. And perhaps most striking of all, Napoleon had a way of nurturing within his army a loyalty to him that defies description. For Napoleon they would endure the searing heat of Egypt and the lethal cold of Russia. Many thought he could do anything. They, in turn, would endure anything for him.

But as ingenious and capable as he was, Napoleon was just a man. That reality hit home one day after a battle. One of his officers lay mortally wounded. He called for his general. Napoleon appeared. In the man’s haze of agony and fear, he asked Napoleon to save him. All Napoleon could do was shake his head sadly and turn away. Later, as the moment of death approached, the man cried out, “Save me, Napoleon. Save me!” But his fierce loyalty to Napoleon made no difference when it came to this. The man soon died.

As we work our way through life, you and I develop all kinds of loyalties, and rightfully so. There is loyalty to family, loyalty to friends, loyalty to mentors and employers, co-workers, and colleagues. But if our loyalty to human beings begins to take the place of our Savior from sin, then we have drifted into a place where our Lord does not want us to be.

Consider where your loyalties lie. Give them some serious thought. Repent of those loyalties that have clouded your focus on Jesus. Be washed in his blood. And with fresh clarity, fix your eyes on the only Lord of life and death there is. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Prayer:
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for the misguided loyalties that have distracted me from you. Fill me with your Spirit. Renew the zeal of my loyalty to you. Amen.

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3

Miracles

Miracles are taking place all around us. True miracles. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

Iran: The man had been a member of the Taliban. His role had been an executioner—putting to death those who did not agree with his religion. But then came the sleepless nights. He was troubled and restless. Then he heard about Jesus. Over time, he came to trust in Christ as his Savior. The sleepless nights are gone.

Afghanistan: In growing numbers, the young wish to learn more about Jesus. For example, a phone call came into a Christian broadcast center. It was from an apartment where 25 young men had secretly gathered because they wanted to learn more about the gospel.

China: Even after decades of persecution, house churches of Christians are multiplying. According to one estimate, there are now one hundred times more Christians in China than in 1949.

South America: In some of the darkest, most remote regions of the Amazon rainforest, souls are coming to faith in Jesus as their Savior. They are finding their peace in Christ, turning their backs on the old superstitions.

United States: Even in a country where secularism seems to be the trend, souls from New York to LA are still leaving behind their old lives centered on materialism and self-gratification. Burned out by living for status and money, people are still discovering true purpose and meaning and joy in Jesus Christ and the sure promises of his Word.

The apostle Paul points to the source of these miracles. No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. It is God the Holy Spirit alone who is responsible for bringing lost souls to faith. And Paul should know. As a former persecutor of Christians, Paul knew he had come to faith in Jesus solely through the work of the Holy Spirit.

And the miracles continue—person by person, soul by soul. God the Holy Spirit uses his gospel message to draw individuals to Christ, to trust in Jesus as the One who died for their sins and arose from death. And on it will go, until the Lord calls us home.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for working miracles through your Word and sacrament. Thank you. Amen.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “. . . These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!”
Acts 2:14,15

Misunderstood

Ten days after the risen Christ had ascended into heaven, he sent his promised Holy Spirit. As he did, the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ apostles to speak God’s Word in all kinds of different languages. A large crowd quickly gathered around the apostles to find out what was happening. But while many were delighted to hear the message of Jesus in their own native language, others misunderstood. They dismissed the apostles as drunken babblers because they could not understand what they were saying.

It was not the first time believers in Christ were misunderstood, and it would not be the last.

You and I live in a world broken and twisted in sin. You and I also live in a world where Satan and his demons will seize every opportunity to nurture misunderstanding and misperception. We ourselves have fallen for it at times. Thank God that his Son has come. Thank God that Christ Jesus has lived a life of perfect truth on our behalf, and God has taken our every lie and deception and paid for them all at the cross on Golgotha. And thank God that his Son has risen from the dead.

Now it’s our privilege and joy to live for him—to declare Jesus in our words and actions. As we do, some will misunderstand, and some will draw wrong conclusions. Some will assume the worst. They will accuse us of many things—from toxic hypocrisy to dark, hidden agendas.

If they do, that’s okay. They misunderstood Jesus, too. Sometimes, on purpose. But Jesus kept right at it—teaching, serving, demonstrating love, showing kindness, proclaiming the truth, calling souls to repentance, announcing the good news of full forgiveness in him.

As souls washed clean in Jesus’ blood, you and I can do the same.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there were those who chose to misunderstand you. There were those who chose to misunderstand your followers. In the face of misunderstanding, give me courage. Give me patience. Move me to keep right on living for you. Amen.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:41

Pentecost Miracle

When the Holy Spirit revealed himself on that first Pentecost Sunday, the people of Jerusalem witnessed dramatic miracles. They heard men speak languages they had never studied before. They heard the sound of wind rushing through that room in the temple—but there was no wind to be found. They saw what appeared to be little tongues of fire hovering over the disciples’ heads. Incredible miracles—each indicating the special presence of God the Holy Spirit with his people.

Which of these miracles would you say was the greatest? Anyone who has attempted to learn another language will verify how amazing a miracle it was when those mostly unschooled disciples started speaking all the different languages of the world—without ever cracking a book. And the other sights and sounds were equally remarkable. But all these miracles pale in comparison with the greatest Pentecost miracle.

The greatest Pentecost miracle occurred later than all the rest. The Bible tells us that “about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). Just think of it! Three thousand people raised from death to life! Three thousand people added to God’s workforce to carry out our Savior’s Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Though the other Pentecost miracles were incredible, there was no comparison with the miracle of faith that the Holy Spirit worked through God’s Word that day.

That greatest Pentecost miracle continues today. When we hear and read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit bolsters and strengthens our hearts. When we speak God’s Word, the Spirit works to bring people from death to eternal life. A simple splash of water or a morsel of bread and a sip of wine, when used with God’s Word, creates and strengthens God’s gift of faith. The Holy Spirit continues the greatest Pentecost miracle as we use and share God’s Word and sacraments. What a wonder!

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, through your Word and sacrament, continue to work your miracle of faith in my heart. Amen.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10,11

Destination Restoration

Many of us can look back and laugh at family road trips we took as children or with our children. They were torturous for children and parents alike. The frequent bathroom breaks. The incessant questions. “Honey, do you know where you are going?” “Do I need to pull this car over?” “Are we there yet?” The road seemed to stretch on forever and the destination forever out of reach. But once you arrived, the glory of the destination often outweighed and outshined the frustration of the journey.

Suffering during our journey through this life as we head toward heaven can be just as torturous, indeed, more so. We do not tend to look back on tough times with humor. The road of suffering seems to go on forever. The end, forever out of reach. We break down frequently. We question God incessantly. “Lord, how is this good for me? Have you forgotten about me? Can you even put a stop to this?”

The apostle Peter assures us that God can. He is still in control. His ability to act on our behalf has not run dry. He will always have the power to deliver us. Therefore, we have no right or reason to squabble with God. Regardless of how much of our life is marked with suffering (even if it is every single day of our lives), God is always the same. He is always full of grace. Always giving all his mercy to all his children. He holds nothing back.

If you doubt it, look to Jesus. Because of Jesus, you have a share in God’s eternal glory. Your days of suffering will end. And when they do, God will be there to greet you. The end of that road will reveal a destination that is extraordinary and unending in its splendor. Compared to the glories of eternal life, the sufferings of earthly life will seem little and light.

Are we there yet?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Amen.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6,7

God Cares for You

I need help.

Those are three of the hardest words for anyone to say. They are a humble confession that I have limitations. I am not strong enough. I am not smart enough. I am not skilled enough. I am stuck and cannot see a way through this.

But these three words are some of the most liberating words for anyone to say. Especially when the person to whom they are said can provide the help we need.

That is why going to God when we need help is so wonderfully comforting. The apostle Peter knew this. That is why he points us to God as our perfect helper. God can do anything by the power of his mighty hand. Picture the helping hand of God throughout history. Picture the Lord opening a road through the Red Sea for Israel to escape the Egyptian army. Picture the Almighty making a way through the wilderness for the remnant to return from Babylon. Picture Jesus reaching down to grab hold of Peter’s hand as that experienced fisherman floundered and flailed for his life in the Galilean Sea. Picture Jesus, at the appointed time, stretching his hands on the cross to die for a world of helpless sinners. Picture those same scarred hands embracing Peter as Jesus urged him, “Feed my sheep.”

So, go to God when you need help. He does not simply care about you. He cares for you. It is who he is. It is what he does. Let him take care of it for you. At the proper time, he will help in the perfect way.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, you are my capable and caring God. Help me to humble myself before you, trusting that you will help me at the perfect time, in the perfect way. Amen.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12,13

Rejoice in Suffering

After a difficult day, you go home, get comfortable, and cozy up on the couch. Suddenly, the doorbell rings. Then, there is a banging at the door. You were not expecting company. Whoever it is, is not welcome. You try to ignore it, but it does not stop. So, you get up, walk to the door, and open it. Your annoying neighbor pushes their way in, flops down on the couch, props their feet on your coffee table, and drinks down your glass of wine. You shake your head at the rudeness of this unwelcome guest.

The trials we face as Christians can seem like unwelcome guests. These trials go beyond life’s annoyances and inconveniences. They are the painful experiences we endure because we follow Jesus. When we do good, the world calls us evil. When we speak God’s truth, the world labels us as liars. When we show the love of Jesus, the world hates us for it.

The question is not whether I will face persecution for my faith. The question is how I will respond when persecution comes knocking. The apostle Peter says we should not be surprised. Jesus said it would be this way. “Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Therefore, Peter encourages us to embrace this suffering with joy. Suffering is not evidence that God has abandoned you. Suffering is proof that you are partnered with Jesus. He died and was raised to life to open the way that leads through this life’s dangers and disappointments to the inexhaustible and inexpressible joys of the glorious life to come. The suffering we experience for following Jesus keeps us from getting too comfortable in this world. Suffering reminds us that salvation is coming.

So, chin up. Welcome suffering with a smile. And walk on.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I rejoice in all that you suffered for me. Help me to be joyful whenever I must suffer for you. Amen.

In your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
1 Peter 3:15

The Nail

Author Dale Hays tells of a Haitian pastor who once used an illustration that Hays will never forget. The pastor said that a man in Haiti wanted to sell his house for $2,000. A buyer stepped forward. He wanted to purchase the house but was unable to pay the full price. The seller came up with a curious arrangement. He would sell the house at half-price with one provision. The provision was that he, the seller, would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from the house’s doorway. The buyer agreed.

Time passed, and one day the former owner of the house showed up and announced that he would like to buy his house back. The new owner refused. With that, the former owner noted the one part of the house he still owned—the small nail sticking out of the doorway. He then dragged up to the house the carcass of a dog and hung it on his nail. Before long, the stench became so bad that the new owner and his family had to abandon the house and leave it to the former owner.

The story is a good illustration of what can happen when a person holds on to a particular sin—just a corner of their life where they don’t want God to interfere. But there is a danger to this idea. The devil sees an opportunity and will want to hang further temptations on this nail and ruin your entire spiritual life.

Think for a moment. Is there a nail in your life? If so, confess it to God. Turn to him for the forgiveness Jesus won on the cross. Then, commit your entire life to serving him. No more nails involved.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me the times I have withheld a part of my life from you. Wash me clean in your blood. I am yours. Amen.

In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 3:20,21

A Big Deal

When was the last time you witnessed a baptism? Do you remember it? As you listened, a few words were said. As you watched, some water was sprinkled or poured on the individual’s head. Nothing flashy, just water and words. It probably took all of five minutes. What’s the big deal?

It has become easy for us to view baptism as nothing more than a nice church custom. To think of it as this thing we must do or a ritual we must participate in to check another box. A traditional rite of passage that we better get on the calendar so that Grandma will quit pestering us.

In these verses, the apostle Peter reminds us that baptism is, in fact, a big deal. Holy Baptism is a powerful act of God and not just a symbol. Baptism is not merely a task to be checked off or a ritual to complete. Nor is it something that I do for God. Rather, it is something wonderful that God does for me. Namely, “baptism saves you.” Baptism cleanses us from sin and creates faith in our hearts. Baptism is a wonderful means of grace where God saves us from sin, death, and hell.

But how can this seemingly small thing have such power? Baptism saves us because it connects us to the resurrection of Jesus. Through baptism, we die and rise with Christ. His victory over death becomes our victory. His salvation becomes our salvation. In baptism, Jesus washes all my sins away and makes me his child. The next time you see baptism, marvel at what happens there through water and God’s Word.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the saving gift of baptism. Amen.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
1 Peter 3:18

Our Perfect Substitute

Are you going to heaven when you die? If so, why? Is it because you are good enough for God? Have you stacked up enough good deeds to outweigh whatever wrongs you may have done? Have you worked so hard to be better than the average person—so much so that you have avoided most of the ‘big sins’?

Maybe you have determined that you are going to try harder every day and get better each day so that you will reach a level of goodness where God will be pleased enough to let you into heaven.

That all sounds exhausting. And none of it ever works. To be sure, people are striving hard to do good things and be better people. However, the world doesn’t have any perfect people–none who would classify as being without sin. God has one requirement for heaven: perfection. We can all try as hard as we want, but we will never reach that goal on our own.

God has a better way. He provided a substitute. He knew we could never achieve perfection on our own. So he provided someone who could do it for us. God sent the righteous for the unrighteous. Jesus came into this world and lived a perfect life. He never once sinned! And at the end of that perfect life, he gave himself over to death on a cross to die in our place. In a wonderful exchange, God traded the perfect life of Jesus for our lives of sin. Through Jesus, God provided us with the righteousness we lacked. Getting to heaven is not about what we do. (Thank God for that because try as we might, we are unrighteous.) Rather, it is all about what Jesus has done for us. Through his work on the cross, his righteousness replaces our unrighteousness. Through faith in his work for us, we are going to heaven!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for being righteous in my place and earning my salvation. Rather than relying on my level of goodness, help me to trust in your work and sacrifice on my behalf. Amen.

“God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Acts 17:27

Finding God

Greek mythology includes a man named Tantalus, who was uniquely favored because he was invited to share the food of the gods. However, he abused his relationship as a guest and was punished by hunger and thirst. He was immersed up to his neck in water, but when he bent to drink, it all drained away. Fruit hung on trees above him, but when he reached for it the winds blew the branches beyond his reach. From this myth, we get the word “tantalizing.” By it we mean we are almost there. It’s just out of reach.

That’s what the apostle Paul wrote about when it comes to finding God. We can look around us and see that there is a divine order to all of the creation in which we live. Look at the way our bodies function. Look at the order in the universe. We can tell great things about God from the world around us, but we can’t tell who he is. Isn’t that “tantalizing”?

God gave us the ability to recognize this order so that we would hopefully seek God and find him. But God doesn’t hand out clues like some celestial riddle maker. Nor do we need to be a spiritual Sherlock Holmes to find him. He gave us the Bible so we would have specific information and know who he is and where we can find him. God sent Jesus to make us absolutely certain that God is right here with us, loving us, directing us, and providing for us. You can find him too, in the Bible.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing yourself to me in your Word. Direct my eyes to the wonderful mercies you have shown to me through Jesus. Lead me to your Word daily so that my soul may be refreshed by your grace. Amen.

Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:11,12

Jesus the Cornerstone

A cornerstone plays a vital role in the construction of a building. It is the first stone or brick placed on a corner where two walls meet. The cornerstone must be perfectly level and straight because it serves as a guide for where the rest of the stones or bricks will be placed. If the cornerstone is imperfect or unlevel, even slightly, the completed building is likely to be unstable. The quality of the cornerstone is important, and not just with buildings.

The apostle Peter quoted Psalm 118 when he referred to Jesus as the cornerstone. It is a fitting title for Jesus as he and his Word, like a cornerstone, serve as a perfectly reliable guide for our lives. We are wise to live our lives in line with the perfect instruction we find in God’s law, and we have all suffered to varying degrees the consequences of what happens when we don’t.

“Cornerstone” is a fitting title for Jesus for another reason. If Jesus were imperfect, even slightly, his death on the cross would not have been accepted as a sacrifice on our behalf. But Jesus was perfect and without sin, giving stability to our souls as we build our lives on the certainty of forgiveness won by him.

Those who crucified Jesus rejected the cornerstone. Let us never fail to embrace him by faith.

Prayer:
Lord God, help me to guide my life according to your Word and ground my faith on all that was accomplished for me by Jesus, the cornerstone of my soul. Amen.