Listen to Devotion

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in his heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-10

Christians Trust God to Provide

“Father in heaven, hear my prayer. Keep me in your loving care.
Be my guide in all I do and bless all those who love me, too.”

A child prays this bedtime prayer and then drifts off to sleep, trusting that in the morning he will still have a house to live in, clothes to wear, food to eat, and a family that cares for him. Meanwhile, down the hall, his father stares at the ceiling above his bed, worrying about the work that needs to be done the next day, the car that needs repair, the bills that need to be paid, and the safety of his teenager who will be driving home from work late that night.

Do you end each day asking your heavenly Father to provide for the next day? Or do you lie awake wondering how you will manage the challenges of the future? Our Bible reading reassures us that God already blesses us with every spiritual blessing and that through Jesus Christ we are his adopted children who will inherit everything he has prepared for us. As children of the Father, how much more will he provide us with every physical need?

Jesus reminds us in his Sermon on the Mount that he provides for birds and flowers, so how much more will he provide for us! In Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Often, we are tempted to rely on our own strength and devices to face the struggles of life and provide for ourselves and our families. We like to have control. It’s part of our human nature. But the sooner we realize that God is truly in control, the sooner we will have peace knowing that God will provide our every need just as he has always done in the past.
Lay your head on your pillow tonight, confident that God will provide for the next day.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am grateful for all the blessings, both spiritual and physical, that you provide for me each day. Help me to rely on you to provide rather than on my own strength. Amen.

Listen to Devotion

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 7:37-39

What’s the Difference? The Living Water

If you spend your days around toddlers or preschoolers, you know a very specific kind of “thirst.” It’s that mid-afternoon feeling when the naptime transition was rough, the snack crumbs are everywhere, and your emotional reservoir is running on empty. We pour ourselves out for these little ones, wiping tears, tying shoes, and patiently repeating directions. When we hit that wall, we often ask ourselves: “What difference does it make?” Does it matter that we are Christians if we still feel this exhausted? We try to “fill our cups” with a few minutes of silence or sheer willpower, yet that restless, spiritual dry-rot remains.

In John 7:37-39, Jesus stood among a crowd of people who were also looking for satisfaction in rituals. During the Feast of Tabernacles, they celebrated God providing water during the years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, yet they were still spiritually parched. Jesus cried out: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Our “thirst” often reveals our sinful nature: the moments we lose our temper, the times we seek our own glory instead of God’s, and our failure to trust him. We cannot manufacture our own “living water” or “try harder” to be joyful. We are, by nature, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

So, what difference does it make? It makes every difference because Jesus lives to pour out his Holy Spirit. Jesus is not a dead historical figure we simply try to imitate. He is the risen, reigning Savior who ascended for the purpose of drenching you in his grace. The “living water” isn’t a reward for being a perfect teacher; it is a gift for the empty. Jesus took the agonizing thirst of the cross to pay for every moment of your impatience. Because he rose from the dead, he now pours his Spirit into you through the Word and Sacraments.

As you serve this week, you aren’t just a caregiver, you are a redeemed child of God. The difference is that you don’t have to rely on your own dwindling reservoir. When you feel you have nothing left to give, look to the living Christ. He refreshes you with the promise that your sins are gone. Because he lives, his love can flow through your tired hands to those little ones, even on the days when you feel most empty. He is the well that never runs dry. May the Lord, who lives and reigns, pour out his Spirit upon your heart and give you peace as you serve his little lambs.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the source of living water for my weary soul. Forgive me for trying to find satisfaction in my own strength, and remind me that because you live, I am never alone. Refresh me today with your Spirit and your full forgiveness. Amen.

Listen to Devotion

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:14-15

The Greatest Treasure

My five-year-old daughter recently started a treasure chest, and to her it is everything. I’m always a little shocked at the “treasures” I find in there: a broken seashell, a bead, a piece of paper she drew on months ago, the cap from her favorite glitter pen that recently dried up. To us it all looks more like… junk. But a friend comes over and what’s the first thing she does? She shows them her treasures. She picks each one up and tells them exactly where she found it and why she loves it, and she could go on forever. She doesn’t need a script or a public speaking course; she’s simply so full of excitement that the news has to come out. She’s not worried about being judged or saying the wrong thing; she just wants everyone to see what she sees.

You and I are called to live with that same kind of readiness and excitement, but the stakes often feel much higher. We live in a world that can be critical and sometimes even hostile toward our faith. We face the daily suffering of exhaustion, the pressure to conform to the world’s standards, and the internal battle of our own pride. We often stay quiet because we’re afraid we don’t have the “right” words, or we think our lives aren’t good enough to be a witness for Christ.
The truth is, on our own, we are often unprepared. Our sinful nature makes us want to hide the treasure of our faith to avoid awkward moments or makes us respond to others with harshness instead of the “gentleness and respect” Peter writes about. When we try to live for God by our own willpower, we quickly run out of steam.

But Peter gives us a reason to live differently. He reminds us that our lives aren’t built on our own shifting moods, but on the living Christ.

Jesus lives! That is the “reason for the hope” that we have. He lived the perfect life of courage that we often lack. He stood before His accusers with perfect gentleness so that we could be forgiven for our moments of cowardice and anger. Because Jesus lives, you have a treasure far greater than anything a child could hide in their treasure chest. You have the peace of knowing your sins are gone and your future is secure with God.

This reality changes the way we live. We don’t live for him to earn a treasure; we live for him because he is our treasure. He is our Lord who has already won the victory. When people see your hope in the middle of a stressful day or your gentleness when you’re being criticized, they might ask “why?” You don’t need a theological degree to answer. Like my daughter with her broken seashell, you get to speak with certainty and excitement of the treasure you have in your Savior. He lives to call you his own, and he lives through you to reach others.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for the hope that only you can provide. Forgive me for the times I am silent or harsh, and help me to revere you as Lord in my heart so that I am always ready to share your love with gentleness. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

Who is one person in your life, perhaps a parent of a student or a neighbor, who needs to see the “reason for your hope” this week? How can you show them Christ’s gentleness?

Listen to Devotion

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:9-10

He Lives – Our Shepherd

Have you heard of a “kissing gate”? The sheep farms of England are carefully structured to keep sheep inside the fenced areas while also keeping predators out of the same fields. Some of the entrances are designed in an “S” shape or as a series of gates that very tightly funnel into the field. If two people are trying to pass each other through this “kissing gate” at the same time, they must brush past each other very closely, which is why they gave it this nickname. When sheep need to be moved through the gate, they can only go through in a single file and at the guidance of a sheep dog or shepherd.

Sometimes it feels as though I am being pushed, prodded, and pulled to do what is right, like a stubborn sheep being pulled by a shepherd. How easily I get off the path of what is right and give into my own thoughts and desires!

Other times, it feels as though I am being attacked by those that seek to destroy followers of Christ. I feel threatened by world leaders that hate God. I feel enticed to choose an “easy” path that requires me to deny my Savior. Sometimes I simply don’t know which people to trust. And the devil loves it when we feel these fears!

But our Shepherd knows about these threats, too. God tells us that he knows his sheep and will protect us from those that want to take us away from him. He promises that nothing in this world can separate us from him. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, will “guard the gate” so that the wolves of this world will not be able to take us from him.

Jesus is the gate to heaven. He is the only way that we can be saved from eternal death. If Jesus had not died and come back to life, we would be stumbling around, trying to make our own way to heaven. We would be completely lost.

In the same way that a shepherd guides his sheep through a gate and then stands guard at the entrance, Jesus does this for our soul. When we believe, we come through Jesus’ gate and into his flock. This is not by our own doing or choosing. It is the gift of our merciful and gracious God. And he does this for us so that we have life—even life to the full. How thankful we are to have a faithful shepherd guarding our hearts and minds!

Prayer:

Dear Shepherd,
Thank you for guarding me against all evil. When I am tempted by the sins of my mind and this world, please keep me safe and bring me closer to you. Amen.

Listen to Devotion

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

John 20:26-27

Walk by Faith

I like to watch the group competitions on reality TV shows. In one competition, the team must walk blindfolded through a series of obstacles. The team chooses one member to be the “caller”, and this person must shout out directions and commands to the group that is working through the challenge. This requires clarity of voice and precise directions from the “caller”. But it also requires a profound amount of trust from the rest of the team. One misstep and the whole team can be off course, run into a beam, or fall into a pit of mud. They must believe the words of their leader, even when they cannot see the path for themselves.

After Jesus had shown himself to the disciples, Thomas had a hard time believing his friends. Thomas knew that Jesus had been nailed to the cross, pierced in his side, and buried. So, it was hard to believe that Jesus would be alive, walking among them.

But in his great mercy, Jesus returned to Thomas. Jesus let Thomas see with his own eyes that Jesus had come back to life. Thomas saw Jesus’ almighty power. Jesus allowed Thomas to see him and to touch him. Then, he encouraged Thomas to “stop doubting and believe.” What a beautiful sight it was for Thomas!

We are called by God to believe and to live by that faith. Sometimes it seems as though we are stumbling through the world blindfolded, walking into beams and falling into the mud pits of our own sins and doubts. Instead of trusting the voice of our Savior, who calls out to us through his Word in the Bible, we find ourselves trusting in human reason or in our own strength. We find ourselves trusting in those things that we can see. We think that our way is better. But the path that we choose by ourselves will always lead us into danger in this world and worse; when we choose our own path it will lead to eternal death.

But we can ignore the noise of the world and listen to the voice of Jesus, our Savior. He will never lead us into danger, and he blesses us when we listen to his voice. When we read and study his Word in the Bible, he works faith in our heart and prepares us to fight daily against the obstacles of this world.

When we go to church and listen to the Word of God, he gives us the “proof” that we need. Through the power of God the Holy Spirit, he gives us faith to “see” the true peace that we have through Jesus. God gives us the same promise every day—we are forgiven and will live with him in heaven!

Prayer:

Dearest Savior,
All praise, O Lord, for Thomas,
Whose short-lived doubtings prove
Your perfect twofold nature,
The depth of your true love.
To all who live with questions
A steadfast faith afford
And grant us grace to know you,
Made flesh, yet God and Lord. Amen.

Christian Worship 892 v.6

Listen to Devotion

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Zechariah 9:9-10

To See Your King

Long ago, English children who accompanied their parents to see their king were required to wear formal attire, often mimicking their parent’s dress. Long before cheaply-made factory reproductions, parents communicated their family’s wealth and status by dressing even their children in fine clothes. Yet, amongst all this splendor, no one would have a hard time identifying which adult in the assembly held the status of the king. In addition to the king’s royal clothes being made from the finest cloths and furs, everyone and everything in the king’s orbit would showcase prestige and honor toward the one person holding the royal office.

Our King Jesus, the Savior of the world, is so different, isn’t he? Not too long ago, we celebrated his birth in a manger stall to poor parents from a small town where no one could claim status to the outside world. Can you see the King of Creation in swaddling clothes?

Jesus was brought to the Temple to worship as a young boy. After they left Jerusalem without him, Mary and Joseph had to look for young Jesus. That’s because he did not stand out in the crowd as a king or even a prince. Can you see the Prince of Peace, alone in the city with not even one person able to identify him to his parents?

On Palm Sunday, we see Jesus riding into Jerusalem. Yes, he was received as a king, but a king riding on a colt? Can you see our King of Kings riding that low-class beast?

Our King Jesus was different, alright! He was a king that would also be our substitute on the cross for us. His perfection for our sin. Can you see our King with his royal crown… of thorns?

Yet, our King’s sacrifice was accepted. After three days in the grave, Jesus rose. Our King did what no one else could. He defeated death itself. There is no confusing who is the King. He is the who is alive again and undefeated by sin. He is the one who is a champion over the devil and the one who is victorious over death. Can you see Jesus, our King?

The Bible gives an account of King Jesus welcoming little children into his presence. Picture it! Mothers brought their children to be blessed by their King, Jesus. They sat in the King’s lap, had their faces near his, and looked into their King’s eyes. No king has ever loved his people more or wanted to be with them more. That is why King Jesus died for his people—for you and for me. Our King wants to be with us forever, in heaven. This is our king, Jesus! Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being my King and my Savior! Keep me close to you, in your word as I look forward to being close to you in heaven someday! Amen!

Listen to Devotion

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:16

A Light in the Darkness

Several months ago, our city experienced a regional power outage. About 90,000 customers in parts of three states were without electricity for the second half of the workday. Our little preschool had to manage our pre-nap routines with only the dimness of the afternoon sun shining through our main windows. Using flashlights, we helped each child navigate the dark bathroom. Normally, a familiar situation, some children were spooked by the unexpected shadows on the walls and the eerie silence with the absence of our vent fan. The staff talked calmly to the children to lead them through their distress. The teacher was here. Nothing was going to jump out to get them in the strange darkness.

Isaiah illustrates a picture of spiritual darkness with images akin to a Grimm’s fairytale. A blind person struggling on an unfamiliar path. Darkness overshadowing rough places. It’s the kind of setting that makes one feel unsettled and distressed, like the children on that dark afternoon at our preschool.

And that is where I once was. I was once struggling on a dark path, afraid the shadows of things I could not see would jump out to get me. But this was no fairytale; I was truly on my way to hell. My sins snatched at my feet. My own arrogance blinded me. Death, the kind that lasts forever, darkened my path. To be sure, my soul was lost in the greatest sense of the word—lost in my sin and in my unbelief.

Only, that is where I once was. Had I remained in those circumstances, my pitiful body would be cast to hell with my soul. Then came Jesus. A light. Or, better said, the true light.

His light enables me to see spiritually. The light of Jesus’ grace and truth reveals the way to life eternal is through him and only through him. Jesus is the way to life—to true life. Life that is inconceivably full and forever. Daily, he takes my sins that trip me and with his own nail-pierced hands, he beats them to nothing so that my path is smooth. In Jesus, there is no strange darkness, no unfamiliar shadows, no rough places, and no fear. In Jesus, there is only light and comfort. By faith in him, I live in peace, confident that he is with me each day. By faith in Jesus, this is also true for you!

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
May your word ever be in my heart so that your truth shines in my life. Thank you for being my light and my comfort!
Amen!

Listen to Devotion

So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Genesis 12:4,8

Faith in God’s Faithfulness

It is the first week of school, and you have a new flock of preschoolers. These children have been enrolled, and you have visited with their parents. But the children know next to nothing about you. Neither do they know where all the doors or halls lead in your school. They do not recognize any faces. Everything is new and different. They have no familiarity because they have no history. They move around and function, relying completely on their trust in you, the teacher.

I wonder if that is how Abraham felt in a new land. He had no idea where a valley led or what he would see from a mountain top. Were any of those new faces trustworthy? He had no history or experience to rely on for guidance. Abraham was like a lost child. He did not know where he was going, and no human being could tell him. Abraham had to trust – to put his faith in his God, the one true God.

Abraham’s faith was not in faith itself. Instead of looking inside himself, Abraham’s faith was rooted in God’s faithfulness. Only God was worthy of Abraham’s faith and trust because only God keeps all of his promises. God promised to send his Son, the Savior, through Abraham’s family line. By faith, Abraham believed God’s promise and so he followed where God directed. Yet, Abraham did not just follow God’s direction to be blessed with a patch of dirt and material possessions. Because of Abraham’s faith in Jesus, Abraham looked forward to his ultimate inheritance, the promised land of heaven.

God is also worthy of our faith because he keeps his promises to us. Just as he walked with Abraham and directed Abraham’s steps in the strange land, God walks with us. We are strangers here. We walk through unknown valleys and trudge up endless mountains. Disease takes over. Accidents occur. Sin hurts. Death comes. Through it all, the One who promised his Son, Jesus, is with us. Jesus, the promised heir of Abraham, the Savior of all people, the true Son of God – he is the One who went to the cross to be crushed because of Abraham’s sin, because of your sin, and because of my sin. He is the One who promised that he would rise from the dead. And he did! He is worthy of our faith because He keeps His promises. He is with us always, even in death. When our last day comes, our faith follows the faithful Savior through the door of death and into heaven, just as easily as stepping over a crack in the sidewalk. Dear one, keep your eyes on Jesus. He is worthy of your faith and he is with you always.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for being my Savior. Please help me keep my eyes on you as I follow you to my heavenly home. Amen!

Listen to Devotion

For our offenses are many in your sight,
and our sins testify against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
and we acknowledge our iniquities.
“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the LORD.
Isaiah 59:12, 20

Please Forgive Me

“Sorry.”

“I forgive you.”

Especially as teachers of young children, those are words we say and teach frequently throughout our days. It can seem mundane at times, can’t it? It can seem like children are saying it out of habit instead of meaning it.

However, as we get older, have you noticed how much harder it has gotten to say, “I’m sorry,” and, “I forgive you.”?

There was a teacher I worked with who changed this phrasing to sound something like this.

Child 1: “I was wrong when I ______; please forgive me.”

Child 2: “I forgive you.”

We adopted this phrasing for our school children because it acknowledged the specific sin. It taught the children to be conscious of what the action was, and it allows the other child to address specific guilt.

As a parent, my family uses that phrasing, but we also add, “Next time I will _____.” This is a way to acknowledge what can be done better next time. This is what the Bible calls “fruits of repentance.”

On this Ash Wednesday, we reflect on repentance. As we do, we acknowledge that when we confess and when we forgive others, it can seem shallow.

But when we repent to Jesus, his forgiveness is anything but shallow. On this Ash Wednesday, we look up to Jesus on the cross. There, we see Jesus hanging and suffering. We are sinful and we need a Savior. And so, Jesus became our Savior! He defeated sin and the devil. He gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life for us, and he says, “I finished your salvation. I forgive you.”

When we consider how Jesus lived a perfect life for us and has given credit for his perfection, his forgiveness is anything but shallow. When we consider how Jesus suffered on the cross in place of us, his forgiveness is anything but mundane. Instead, his forgiveness gives us the promise and hope of heaven.

Now that we know what Jesus did for us, it makes us want to be better for others too. It makes us want to confess our specific sins. It also makes us want to sincerely say, “I forgive you.”

Even better, Jesus gives us the power and authority to do that very thing. Just as he has forgiven us, we truly can forgive others. And when we do, Jesus uses us to give others the promise and hope of heaven.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
We need your forgiveness. Thank you for dying on the cross for us to take us to heaven with you one day. We are thankful for your perfect life. Help us cherish your forgiveness. It is anything but mundane; instead, it is the most beautiful blessing about being your child! Amen.

A Question to Consider:

Have you been holding on to any feelings of resentment that have allowed you not to be able to move forward in forgiveness with others? How can this line from the Lord’s Prayer help you: “Forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us.”?

Listen to Devotion

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27

You Are Equipped

Imagine you’re meeting a friend for coffee. You both stand in line and catch up as the barista makes your drink. After the barista hands you your beverages, you find a table ready to continue chatting. But then your friend says to you, “You know; you’re not smart, influential or important.”
Wait, what?!

Our natural reaction would be to try to prove that we are smart, influential, or important. How quickly we would list the accolades that make us exactly those things. How quickly we would come to our own defense. Tearing you down—that’s not what friends are supposed to be for.
Then, we get quiet.

We remember what it was like to be handed our firstborn baby, walk out of the hospital, and think, “What am I supposed to do now?!”

We think about the to do list – the groceries, the school signups, and the dinner that needs to be made. We think about the classroom that will never be prepped in time and the materials that just never seem to be where they are supposed to be. And why are we always out of blue paint?

We remember the camping trips where inevitably something is always forgotten. (That’s okay; I guess I didn’t really need a pillow.)

It may feel like our family is falling apart and we never have enough time together.

Then there’s the loss of a loved one that we still think about daily.

We think of all the ways that Jesus reminds us, “You have nothing without me.” Yet, we keep trying to do it ourselves. We continue to get frustrated when that doesn’t work. We continue to be frustrated that we keep falling short and that we keep spinning in circles after trying everything.

Finally, we’re brought back to reality. Then we have to say, “You’re right. I’m not smart, influential or important!”

Then comes God. God’s power and wisdom are not dependent on human status and what we can do on our own.

As God always does, he doesn’t leave us alone and unequipped. He remains constant. He reminds us that he has equipped us. He stands still for us. He says, “I’ve got you. You have nothing without me, but you have everything with me. When you feel alone, I’m right beside you. When you walk through the dark valleys, I am with you. Those big hard things that seem impossible, I will equip you for all that comes your way. Remember? I have overcome the world. You are blessed through me and because of me.”

It all may be too big on our own. By ourselves, we can’t handle the to-do list and serving one hundred school kids and their families. By ourselves, we don’t have the strength when a family feels like it is falling apart or we are grieving the loss of a loved one.

But the beautiful thing is that we don’t have to do those things alone. God stands strong, he stands tall, and he says, “I. AM. HERE. I’ve got you. With me, you are wise. With me, you are influential. With me, you can do everything. With me, you are blessed. You are never alone. You are equipped for whatever I put in your life.”

May Jesus continue to remind you, today and always, that you are equipped, you are exactly where God called you to be, and you are blessed.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,
Please remind us today and always, that I am equipped and exactly where your Father needs me to be. Thank you for always reminding me that I am blessed by you and through you. In your name I pray. Amen.

A Question to Consider:

What is a way that God has blessed you in the last week? What is a way that God may use you to bless others in the next week?

Listen to Devotion

Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:12-14

Buried with Christ

The butterfly has served as a Christian symbol for many years. Why? Because the caterpillar goes into the cocoon and seems dead to the world. But later, something seemingly new appears—a butterfly that has a new way of living. Whereas the caterpillar crawls, the butterfly flies.

Christians have seen this as a metaphor for what happens to us because of Christ’s death and resurrection, and this transformation happens in baptism.

When Jesus died on the cross and was buried for three days, he took all the sins of all people with him. In other words, our sins were “buried with Christ.”

Then, when Jesus was raised from the dead, he left our sins in the grave and gave us the victory that he had earned. Christ has “canceled the charge” that Satan might bring against us. Jesus has credited us with his perfection. So, if Jesus has forgiven us, what charge can Satan bring against us?

Baptism is what connects you to the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. You went into baptism as a dead sinner, but you came out of baptism as something new. Not a butterfly, but a forgiven, living child of God.
And now that you have been raised to life, what kind of life are you going to live? Do you want to crawl back to sinful habits and desires?

Of course not! We want to live the new life that God has given us. We study his word to soar above temptation and sin. We surround ourselves with those that share our faith. We serve others with the energy, zeal, and compassion that our Savior has given to us.

We can live that new life because we know that not even death and the devil have power over us. We have already been raised to life through baptism. So, even if our bodies are buried in the ground, just as butterflies come out of the cocoon and Jesus came out of the grave, we, too, will be raised glorious and live with Christ.

Prayer:

Jesus, all our ransom paid,
All your Father’s will obeyed,
By your suff’rings perfect made;
Hear us, holy Jesus!
Jesus, all your labor vast,
All your woe and conflict past,
Yielding up your soul at last:
Hear us, holy Jesus!

Christian Worship 435:6,7

Listen to Devotion

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2

Where is the King?

My dad and I used to go deer hunting in Mason County, Texas. We stayed on a ranch far away from any city. I remember getting up in the middle of the night to look at the stars, and I thought, “Aha! This is where they wrote the song that says, ‘The stars at night, are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!” The stars were brilliant and countless as the sky stretched on for miles above the ranch.

I wonder what the night sky looked like to the Magi (sometimes called “the wise men”) when they traveled to find Jesus. How long had they been studying the sky and stars? Were they waiting long for a special sign? We don’t know how God allowed the Magi to know that the star was the key to finding our Savior, but they knew that the star was special and that it would lead them to the Savior. So, they wanted to go and worship the King.

What king do we worship? Do we worship our spouse and children and make family a higher priority than God? Do we worship ourselves and chase money or status in order to think that we are in control? When we act like we or our families are more important than Jesus, we are not worshiping the one who is really King.

The Magi show us some godly ways to worship Jesus as the King. To show their love and respect, they brought exquisite gifts to Jesus, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We don’t bring Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but we can offer the best of ourselves to our Savior. We give our gift of time when we volunteer for efforts in our church and school that will help reach others with God’s Word. We give our talents when we share a hobby in a classroom or at an event, or a talent that can beautify our worship services. And we give our money to support ministry in our church, school, and world.

The next time you look up at the stars, remember that special star long ago. Remember our King, and the promises he fulfilled. God saved us from our biggest problem of all when he sent that tiny baby in a manger. We thank God for this gift!

Prayer:

Dear God,
Thank you for the beautiful stars that you made, including the special star that you made to show the Magi to the Savior. As we remember the birth of Jesus, we also remember our need for a Savior and how you provided for our greatest need by sending him to die in our place. Help us to worship our true King by living lives of service to him. Amen.

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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

A Light in the Dark

We made it! We just made it through the shortest day of the year! From this day until mid-June, the amount of daylight will be increasing.

Even still, this time of year can be hard for some people because the darkness seems to cover the earth for much of the day. Add in the extreme cold in some areas, and it can be downright gloomy!
And that’s just the weather. It is gloomy in society, too.

When we turn on the news or scroll through social media, we are reminded of the dark days that we live in. Everywhere we look and everywhere we click, around the corner or over the next hill—we see a dark, sinful world. We see the news about another murder, an attack on a person or group of people, and people in power serving unjustly.

But we don’t even have to go that far to see the darkness. We can see it in our own thoughts, in the words that come out of our mouth, and in the things that our hands do. This is a dark, sinful world, and we contribute to that darkness.

Jesus entered our dark, sinful world to be a light for the world. Jesus was fully human; he had human needs. Yet he was completely perfect; he had no sin. True God became truly human in order to be the light of the world, and his glory was revealed when he carried out God’s plan for our salvation. Through faith, we have seen the light, and the light of Jesus helps us see God’s grace and truth.

Jesus shows us the grace of God. Even though we betray our heavenly Father, yet God loves us because of Jesus.

Jesus shows us the truth of God. Many people are searching for truth, but only come up with an empty, worldly view. Jesus’ words give us the truth we need to live our faith in this dark world and the truth we need to witness to others.

We celebrate Christmas during one of the darkest weeks of the year. But when you look at the dark sky this week see lights on homes, trees, and wreaths breaking through the dark, you can be reminded of the light that Jesus brings to the world. Jesus is the light of the world. When you hear about the glorious angels appearing that first Christmas, remember the glory of the Lord came to us in that perfect human born in the stable. Jesus, full of grace and truth, has been born for us! He is Christ the Lord!

Prayer:

O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woes,
O Savior, King of glory, who conquered all our foes.
Bring us at last, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven
and to the endless day.

Christian Worship 360 st. 4

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In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near. I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.”

Matthew 3:1-2, 11

Our Judge and Savior

When do you put your Christmas tree up? When does Christmas music start to be heard through your house and in your car? Do you wait until after Thanksgiving, or do you pull out the red and green décor as soon as the trick-or-treaters stop ringing your doorbell? Sometimes we start seeing “countdown to Christmas” signs in mid-summer, and the excitement for the holidays begins.

When John the Baptist began his ministry, he knew that Jesus was going to begin the work that started on the first Christmas. John knew that Jesus was near, and so John wanted people to live a life of repentance. In other words, John wanted people to turn from sin in sorrow and turn to God in the confidence of forgiveness. As a result, John the Baptist’s entire ministry was pointing people to Jesus, the Savior and Lamb of God.

Many people that John the Baptist met already knew that a Savior was coming at some point. For generations, families had been passing down the words of Moses and the prophets that told about God’s plan to send the Messiah to save his people. Although God gave them several clues about how Jesus would enter the world and what he would do on earth, no one knew exactly when that would be.

But then John entered the picture! God used John to point people to Jesus, the Savior promised long ago.

Do you point people to Jesus? God calls us to point others to Jesus, especially since Jesus is coming again.

But the thought of Jesus’ return can make people uncomfortable. They remember that Jesus will come as a judge and that he knows every sin.

But Jesus is also the one who was judged on the cross to clear the record of every sinner. Jesus is the one who washes sinners in baptism so that they can be members of God’s kingdom. So, when we point people to Jesus, we help children and their families know about God’s undeserved love in Jesus. We remind coworkers that they are forgiven because of Jesus. We point people to Jesus so that they can be confident in life because they have the joy of forgiveness and the assurance that they are members of the kingdom of God.

Jesus is coming! He is coming as one more powerful than John the Baptist. But he will not use his power to judge your sin. He will use his power to bring you into the full joys of his eternal kingdom.

Prayer:

We hail you as our Savior, Lord, our refuge and our great reward;
Without your grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay.
Stretch forth your hand, our health restore, and lift us up to fall no more;
O make your face on us to shine, and fill the world with love divine.

Christian Worship 316:3-4

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You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Luke 12:40

Are You Ready

Are you ready? Company is coming for dinner. You’re excited but you’d like just a bit more time to make sure everything is set. The children will start arriving soon, and you could use another few minutes to make sure you are ready to give them your full attention. Are you ready?

You and I like the comfort of knowing what’s coming and how much time until a given event, an appointment, a diagnosis, an answer. How often do we wish that God would let us have even a glimpse of when a situation might be resolved? The challenge of waiting is seldom easy. Being prepared can give us patience as we wait.

Are you ready? Not for the test or an appointment, but for Jesus. Are you ready for his return on Judgment Day? He certainly is coming. He told his disciples in John 14:3, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” He is indeed coming back.

But there’s one detail that we don’t have—when Jesus is coming. All Jesus tells us is, “You also must be ready” (Luke 12:40).

The greatest event for which we wait is Christ’s return on Judgment Day. This will be an event beyond our imagination and expectations. We can slip into thinking that if we knew when this would all be over, we could endure whatever challenge or crisis we’re facing.

In his wisdom, God chose not to let us in on this detail. The Bible is clear that no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus told his disciples, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).

So, what are we to do? God is clear: be ready! Expect that Jesus could return at any time. It could be today, next week, in 20 years, or in 1000 years. We don’t know.

So, how can we be ready? Our dear Savior points us to the Word. As we continue to be in the Word, we learn about our God. When we are faithful in prayer and worship, we focus our hearts on what is to come, even if we do not know when.

A colleague of mine once said, “If you knew that Judgment Day was next week or even next month, what might you do differently? How would the urgency of sharing the Gospel increase? How might your time in God’s Word be richer and more focused?” As we focus on God’s Word, we can look forward to Judgment Day with eager anticipation. That’s because Scripture makes us confident in what that day will bring. We can pray, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I want to be ready for your return. Life on earth can be such a distraction from you. Help me to focus on you and to be excited and eager to be in the Word you have given us. Help me to pray with confidence, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.

Christian Worship 850: 1, 4 It Is Well with My Soul and 868 By Faith are both wonderful hymns to add to your devotions this week.

Consider:

If you are looking for extra context for today’s verse of Luke 12:40, read the preceding verses of Luke 12:35-39