Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus’ Compassion

Daily Devotion – June 24, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 9:35-38

See series: Devotions

What a heart Jesus had for people in their suffering! He didn’t ignore them. He stopped and stooped to heal people and free many from severe suffering and debilitating handicaps of physical illness and disease.

But Jesus was more than a miracle worker. His compassion for people went further than sympathy for their physical condition. As he went through all the towns and villages, he taught the people and preached the good news of the kingdom. Jesus compassionately reached out to their souls that were held captive by sin. Jesus saw them as prisoners of Satan and under the death sentence of hell. Without him, they were hopeless and helpless.

Jesus proclaimed to them the good news that he had come to free them from the kingdom of the devil. He had come according to his heavenly Father’s will and planned to take their place under their death sentence. Jesus came to crush Satan’s power and break open the prison cell of death and hell.

Jesus’ deepest desire is for people to believe in him and have the blessing of salvation—that they not be separated from him but have eternal life with him. With Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the dead, he gives hope and joy to all who believe in him as their Savior from sin. That’s why he continues to have the good news of salvation preached and taught by his workers in the world today. He wants everyone to know his love and have life in his name.

Prayer: (Christian Worship – A Lutheran Hymnal: 358)
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away all fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the heart’s unrest;
‘Tis manna to the hungry soul and to the weary, rest. Amen.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Daily Devotion – June 22, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 4:5

See series: Devotions

First impressions can mean a lot. That’s why Christian congregations should carefully consider how guests are welcomed. Are they met with friendly, comfortable greetings, or do they simply have a service folder jammed into their hands? Do they have to navigate an awkward gauntlet of strangers in a narrow entryway, or are they given some space to become comfortable in their new surroundings? Congregations will want to do all they can to welcome their guests.

At the same time, it is also true that first impressions are often inaccurate. Perhaps the person handing the guest a service folder wasn’t feeling well that morning; normally he’s the friendliest of fellows. Or perhaps the guest happened to step into the church when the entryway had suddenly become congested. It was a tight squeeze, but it only lasted a few seconds. It would be unfortunate if a guest judged the book by its cover.

It is especially unfortunate when people unfairly judge the motives of those around them. The apostle Paul warns us in today’s Bible reading not to judge other people’s motives; since we cannot read their hearts. In other words, be careful not to judge a book by its cover.

But the day will come, Paul promises, when Jesus “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” Rather than judge the motives of others, we do well to assess the motives of our own hearts. Where those motives are not God-pleasing, we can confess them to Jesus and know that those sins, too, were paid for when he went to the cross. His love and forgiveness will motivate us to be generous in the way we think of others and less likely to judge books by their covers.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, keep me from judging others unfairly. Amen.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

Ambassadors are Meant to Represent

Daily Devotion – June 20, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 4:2

See series: Devotions

“I’m only the messenger.” Have you ever said that to someone when forced to break bad news? “Don’t be upset with me; I’m only the messenger.”

No one likes being the bearer of bad news, delivering a message that an audience won’t like. But sometimes, that’s what ambassadors get paid to do. They’re not asked to sugarcoat the king’s message in order to make it more palatable for the hearers. They have one job: repeat the words of the one who sent them. Ambassadors don’t have permission to go off-script; they are meant to represent. Above all else, they must prove faithful.

But that’s not only true when you’ve been asked to announce bad news. That’s also the case when ambassadors are sent to proclaim good news. They aren’t allowed to hold back or to make it sound less exciting than it is. The king sends his ambassadors to shout out good news from the rooftops so that everyone can hear!

What a joy and privilege it is to be the bearer of good news! The beauty and skill of the messenger is insignificant! If the news is good enough, just about anyone will be up to the task of delivering it. All they need to do is be faithful to the message. Ambassadors are to represent.

Christians have good news to proclaim to the world. It’s the best news ever. Through Jesus, God has reconciled the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them (2 Co 5:19). Death has been conquered forever. Heaven is ours, no strings attached, through faith in Jesus. Eternal life is a certainty. That’s good news.

And whom does God call to proclaim that good news to a world in need of hearing it? Every Christian. They don’t need to be fancy, just faithful, because ambassadors are simply meant to represent.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, through your Word and Spirit, empower me to believe and proclaim the good news of salvation found only in Jesus. Amen.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38

A Heart for Missions

Daily Devotion – June 18, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 9:35-38

See series: Devotions

Our Savior certainly has a heart for missions! As Jesus traveled around Galilee, what he saw disturbed him. He witnessed people wandering around lost, with no guidance or direction in their lives. Others could have seen the same people and thought, “That’s their problem. I have my own life to think about. I’m not going to get involved.” But our compassionate Savior does not feel that way about any of his lambs. Our Good Shepherd simply loves us too much not to get involved.

Our Savior’s heart for missions flows from his heart for us. Jesus cared enough to get involved. And when Jesus gets involved, he gives it his all. Jesus stepped in when we were lost and gave his life so we could have eternal life. And when we wander off—an everyday occurrence—Jesus steps in through his Word to get us back on the right path. He loves us too much to leave us wandering about in the darkness of our sin. He loved us so much that he paid for our sin with his own life. He loves us too much to leave us in the dark, so he sends his Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the power of his Word. Jesus has a heart for missions—reaching people with his Word—because he has a heart for us.

Jesus calls us to share his heart for missions. Be eager to seek the lost in your community, workplaces, and families. When Jesus’ love touches our hearts, he gives us a heart for missions and empowers us to answer his call, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Prayer:
Lord of harvest grant anew, joy and strength to work for you, till the gathering nations all see your light and heed your call. Amen.

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.
Exodus 3:15

The God of Every Generation

Daily Devotion – June 16, 2023

Devotion based on Exodus 3:15

See series: Devotions

It is possible to get to know a person from the past fairly well. We can study the recorded details about his life. From what he wrote and said we can get a glimpse into the way he thought. But that historical figure, no matter how great he is, doesn’t know you.

It’s easy to view the Bible and think of God as the God of the past since the Bible tells us about what he has done in the past. Perhaps Moses felt like the God of his forefathers was a God of the past. No doubt, he had heard the oral histories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and how God was active and made huge promises and poured out many blessings back in their day. But when God told Moses that his name is “I AM,” he wanted Moses to know that he was not simply the God of the past but the God of every generation.

The same Lord who came to Moses in a burning bush came in human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and proved he is the God and Savior of every generation, all people of all time, by taking up the sins of every generation and dying. Then he rose from the dead. Unlike any other historical figure, he lives. So, unlike other historical figures, he does know you. He is the God of every generation, and he is your God too!

Prayer:
Lord, my God and Savior, thank you for making your power and love known to every generation. Use me to tell the next. Amen.

Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:11,12

Who am I?

Daily Devotion – June 14. 2023

Devotion based on Exodus 3:11,12

See series: Devotions

“Who, me?” When someone pays you a compliment or acknowledges your work, a natural response is to deflect attention from yourself. “Who, me?” When tasked with a responsibility, we may feel the urge to deflect attention and ask, “Who am I?”

When Moses was tasked with going to Pharaoh and leading God’s people, his first response was, “Who, me?” “Who am I?” he asked. As a baby, God rescued him from genocide when his mother floated him down the Nile River in a basket. He was found and raised by royalty. But then he murdered an Egyptian slave driver when he saw a fellow Israelite being mistreated. He fled to the land of Midian, and there he lived a quiet life for decades as a shepherd. Now the Lord was calling him?

It might seem like Moses was modestly deflecting attention when he said, “Who am I?” but he was putting too much attention and focus on himself. He was relying on himself: his personality, his track record, his abilities. As long as he focused on himself, he failed to rest and rely on the love and strength of the Lord.

It’s good for us to take an honest look at ourselves and not think too highly of ourselves, especially before God. But don’t dwell on the question, “Who am I?” and miss who your God is and what he has done for you. Your salvation and eternal life, doesn’t rest on your personality or abilities. Rely on Jesus Christ and who he is. He is your Savior who laid down his life for you! “Who, me?” Yeah, you! And he is with you to guide, comfort, and strengthen because that’s who he is. In the life he calls you to live, rely on who he is and what he has done.

Prayer:
Lord, give me true humility to shift the attention from me and my efforts and trust only and always in you. Amen.

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:4-6

Standing Before God

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2023

Devotion based on Exodus 3:4-6

See series: Devotions

You’re outside, and suddenly, someone calls out your name. You turn and see fire engulfing a nearby shrub, but it doesn’t burn up. The one calling you identifies himself: the only true and living God. You are standing before God; himself. What would your initial reaction be?

Perhaps your initial reaction wouldn’t be that different from Moses, who hid his face when he had this very experience. After all, who can stand before a holy God? We have sinned. We are imperfect. Who can stand before God and live?

You can. It’s true that if you tried to stand on your own two feet, based on the good you think you’ve done, you would surely fall! But the true and living God is a loving and forgiving God. And because of his love and forgiveness, we can one day stand before God in his holy presence in heaven.

One thousand five hundred years after God appeared to Moses at the burning bush, he came down in a greater yet less threatening way. Jesus Christ, true God from eternity and the one who spoke to Moses at the burning bush, came to lay down his life so that you stand forgiven before God. God doesn’t come to meet us at a burning bush. Instead, he has chosen to come to us and speak through the words of the Bible. And because of what he tells us there, you don’t need to hide your face in fear. You can listen to the good news your God has for you.

Prayer:
Lord, give me the confidence to stand before you not on my merits but by your love and mercy. Amen.

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

God Is Always With Us

Daily Devotion – June 10, 2023

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 13:14

See series: Devotions

These special words written by the apostle Paul in our Bible reading today aren’t just a pious wish that God would be with his people and bless them. Instead, he’s reminding us as Christians that God is with us. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—the one true God is ALWAYS with us to give us his great gifts.

In one way, however, it is terrifying to know that God is always present. He knows the greedy, doubtful, or vengeful thoughts we have. He hears the angry or bitter or immoral words we speak. He witnesses the loveless, selfish, and hurtful ways we treat others. The almighty, perfect God knows our sin, hears it, sees it, and hates it.

Yet that almighty, perfect God doesn’t forsake us. Rather, he stays with us and blesses us with his grace. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, he takes away our guilt for every sinful thought, word, and deed. In love, God our Father sent his Son to be our Savior. He forgives our sin and gives us the gift of eternal life. And, every day, he provides for all our needs and protects us from all harm and danger. He also blesses us through the Holy Spirit. Through the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit brought us to faith in Jesus. He continues to work through God’s Word to keep us connected to Jesus and joins us together with other Christians in the bond of faith.

Blessed with the grace, love, and fellowship of God, we are glad to live each day with the confidence that God is always with us.

Prayer:
Be and abide with me always, O God, with your power and with your love. Amen.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Let Us Make Mankind In Our Image

Daily Devotion – June 8, 2023

Devotion based on Genesis 1:27

See series: Devotions

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between humans and the other creatures in God’s world. For example, I find myself talking to my dog like she is just another family member. But humans are different from animals. On the very first page of the Bible, God says that humans, both male, and female, were made in God’s image, in his likeness.

One of the primary characteristics of God is love. God’s love is not just a warm feeling; but an action. We see this eternal love displayed at Jesus’ baptism. When Jesus came out of the water, the Father spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Holy Spirit was there too, resting on Jesus, empowering him to serve.

Jesus’ baptism gives a window into an eternal reality. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have always loved one another. As God’s image-bearers, we were created to mirror that love in the world. Unfortunately, that’s not who we have always been. We have not loved one another as God has loved us.

That’s why we needed a new kind of human to enter our world. The God-man, Jesus Christ. He lived a life of complete selfless love to the point of death. He conquered death through his glorious resurrection. Because of the work of the Son, the Father now says to us, “You are my child, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit now rests on us and empowers us to love as God’s image-bearers.

So take up your place in God’s created world. You are more than a mere creature. You were made to be like God, to love as he loves us.

Prayer:
Lord God, you created me to be more than just a mere creature, satisfying my own desires. You created me in your image, in your likeness. As a forgiven child of God, give me your Holy Spirit so I would love. Amen.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

Baptized Into God’s Family

Daily Devotion – June 6, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 28:18-20

See series: Devotions

Have you ever felt like an outsider? I remember feeling like an outsider when I didn’t make the seventh-grade basketball team. I didn’t have the skills, size, or speed to contribute. I felt the same way when I didn’t get a delivery job because of my past failures behind the wheel.

Have you had a similar experience? Maybe you didn’t make the team, club, or company because of your lack of skills or experience. So, you remained an outsider. You just didn’t belong.

Thankfully, there is one team on which you can be sure you belong–God’s team. In fact, two thousand years ago, Jesus commanded his followers to tell people about God’s team and his desire for them to be on it.

You might wonder, “Am I really qualified to be on God’s team?” The truth is, you’re not. No one is. But Jesus’ life, death and resurrection qualify us to be on God’s team. That’s why Jesus told his followers to go to all nations. It doesn’t matter your race or ethnicity, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, male or female. God wants all people on his team, and Jesus has done everything necessary for them to be on God’s team. You don’t need to submit a resume, compete in a tryout, or submit your record. To get on this team, you don’t do anything. In fact, God does something for you. He told his followers to baptize people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The water combined with those words qualifies people to be on God’s team. What a wonderful gift!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the waters of baptism that bring sinners like me into your family. Amen.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds in the sky and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26,27

A Meaningful Purpose

Daily Devotion – June 4, 2023

Devotion based on Genesis 1:26,27

See series: Devotions

Why am I here? More than one person has reached a certain point in life when they asked themselves that question. Perhaps the new job isn’t working out the way you wanted it to. School can be so challenging that the same question may come up. What about when you find yourself among a group of people with whom you really don’t have anything in common? “Why am I here?” you may silently ask yourself.

Throughout the generations, people have asked themselves the same question when it comes to not only where they live; but why they were born in the first place. Wonderings of this sort have led some people to believe in fate—that is all a matter of chance. But isn’t there something more certain than that?

The Bible tells us that we have been placed here by a perfect and loving God. He made us exactly what we are and gives us every good thing we receive in this life. This God is wise enough to create us, loving enough to rescue us from the punishment our misdeeds deserve. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are not creatures of fate tossed to and fro. God has a meaningful purpose for you—to praise him and live for him in thanks for all he has given and done for you. That is why you are here!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, move my lips to praise you and my heart to trust in you all my days. Amen.

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”
John 7:37

Thirst

Daily Devotion – June 2, 2023

Devotion based on John 7:37

See series: Devotions

The more we learn about the human body, the more we see the sophistication of this wondrous machine God has created. Take the simple act of quenching your thirst with a glass of water. Even after years of research, scientists are not certain how it all works. So far, their best guess goes something like this. In your brain is a small area called the lamina terminalis. The lamina terminalis has the ability to monitor when your body needs more fluids. When it does, the lamina terminalis sends you a signal by making you feel thirsty.

But here is where it gets even more interesting. Let’s say you feel thirsty. You fill up a glass with cool, crisp, clean water, and you begin to drink it down. Although it takes quite a while for a glass of water to have a real effect on your body, your lamina terminalis will give you an instant dose of a feel-good transmitter called dopamine. It’s your body’s way of telling you up-front that it’s receiving what it needs.

Each of us, by nature, carries the burden of a deep, desperate thirst. But it does not come from a lack of fluids in the body. Rather, it’s a spiritual thirst. And what causes this thirst is sin—your sin and mine. On our own, we have tried to quench this thirst. We’ve tried money, power, pleasure, entertainment, and success. We may even have tried mind-altering drugs, politics, or better behavior. But nothing works. Nothing satisfies. Nothing quenches the thirst.

Enter God the Holy Spirit. Through the words of the Bible, he speaks to us. As he does, he identifies the one thing that quenches our thirst. What quenches our thirst is forgiveness—forgiveness that God the Son purchased for you and me through his suffering and death on the cross.

“Come to me and drink,” Jesus says. Through the work of his Holy Spirit and by the power of his gospel, be refreshed. Be filled. Be forgiven in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, by your gospel, quench my thirst in Jesus alone. Amen.

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

The Name

Daily Devotion – May 31, 2023

Devotion based on Acts 2:21

See series: Devotions

Consider the curious power of a name. On the one hand, a name is simply a sequence of selected vowels and consonants. But when you see or hear the name of someone you know, that name is an instant trigger. It immediately delivers to the front of your mind everything you know about that person. It delivers to you the person’s appearance. It delivers to you the sound of the person’s voice. It delivers to you that person’s personality, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. It can also deliver to you all the good and bad experiences you’ve had with that person.

Some names have the power to make you smile and laugh and bathe you in warm memories. Other names may have the power to make you wince and grow silent. That is how potent a name can be.

Which brings us to the most powerful name there is. When you and I take even a moment to meditate on the name of our Lord, his truth and beauty arise. There is his goodness, his justice, his mercy, his faithfulness, his power, his wisdom, his eternity, his glory. And there is his grace, his undeserved love for you and me in Jesus Christ.

And that’s why the name of our Lord is something more. The name of our Lord is not simply a trigger that delivers to my mind all the profound truths his Word has revealed. The name of the Lord is the name that saves my soul. As the apostle Peter says elsewhere, “There is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

When God the Holy Spirit, through his gospel, creates within me the miracle of faith in my Savior; and when, in faith, I call on the name of the Lord, forgiveness is mine, God’s promises are mine, eternal life is mine. All mine through faith in the name of the One who lived a perfect life in my place, suffered and died for my sin, and rose from the grave. That is the power of the name of the Lord.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by your Spirit move me to call on your name every single day. Amen.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.
Acts 2:14

Finding Your Voice

Daily Devotion – May 29, 2023

Devotion based on Acts 2:14

See series: Devotions

On December 5, 1955, 26-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. received a shock. He and others had gathered to prepare for a first-of-its-kind mass meeting. The meeting was to address the overt racism that existed in their city’s policies. Dr. King had no interest in serving as a leader in this effort. He just wanted to attend. But less than an hour before the meeting began, the group, to his dismay, chose him to make a speech.

He had 20 minutes to prepare. He later said he wasted five of those twenty minutes having a panic attack. Then he had to fight traffic. Then he had to struggle through the crowd of thousands. Finally, at 7:30 P.M., with only a few notes, Martin Luther King, Jr. began to speak. The packed hall listened. The rest is history. Martin Luther King, Jr. had found his voice.

Ten days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the apostle Peter stood up to address a crowd in Jerusalem. Up to this point, Peter’s reputation for courage under pressure was sketchy at best. But things had happened—extraordinary things. For one, the promised Holy Spirit had filled Peter with courage through the power of the gospel. For another, Peter’s crucified and buried Lord had risen from the dead. So when Peter stood up to speak, he spoke with real bravery. Thanks to the resurrection of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit, Peter had found his voice.

In our sinful weaknesses, you and I can often wince and cower at the thought of speaking to someone else about Jesus. But things have happened—extraordinary things. For one, the promised Holy Spirit has come to fill us with courage through the power of the gospel. And for another, our crucified and buried Lord has risen from the dead.

You and I may never be a Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking to thousands in a single speech. You and I may never be a Peter, speaking boldly to people who had called for Jesus’ crucifixion. But the Lord can move you to speak to another soul about Jesus. In him, you can find your voice.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you’ve washed me clean. You’ve risen from death. Empower me to find my voice. 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 Your Sufferings

Daily Devotion – May 27, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Peter 4:12,13

See series: Devotions

What makes you happy? The end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation? Seeing a beloved family member again after a long separation? Being able to spend some time on the golf course or in the wood shop or at the pool?

How about suffering? Does suffering make you happy? Would you consider it pure joy to actually suffer physical violence because you told other people about Jesus?

Jesus’ apostles really did consider it pure joy to suffer in that way. One time, after the Jewish ruling council had them flogged for preaching about Jesus, they “went out…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name” of Jesus (Acts 5:41). In fact, they went right back to the temple and kept telling people about Jesus, despite the punishment they had just endured.

The apostle Peter tells us in today’s Bible passage that we, too, can “rejoice as [we] share in the sufferings of Christ.” When people ridicule us for being Christians, we can consider ourselves blessed because God’s Spirit rests on us. Such suffering doesn’t come to us because we’re doing something wrong. Rather it comes because we’re doing something right. We’re suffering for following Jesus. And that is nothing to be ashamed of.

But rejoicing in our sufferings is not something that comes naturally. When someone ridicules us, our first reaction is to strike back at them, not to rejoice. Yet, all that changes when we remember the one for whom we are suffering. We’re suffering because we belong to Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again for us and soon will return in glory to take us to the eternal joys of heaven. Because we belong to Jesus, we, like the apostles, have been counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of his name. What a reason to rejoice!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of being able to suffer for your name. Amen.