“The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”
Matthew 18:27

A Cancelled Debt

Daily Devotion – October 1, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 18:27

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The servant in Jesus’ story owed his master a debt he could never possibly repay. In today’s dollars, it was billions of dollars. Those listening to Jesus’ story must have been on the edge of their seats, wondering what happened to the man. Surely, he was thrown in debtors’ prison or sold with his family into slavery so that his master might at least recover a portion of his debt.

But, as he so often did, Jesus concluded his story with a shocking ending. The master took pity on his servant, canceled his debt, and let him go.

Jesus used this story to illustrate what our God has done for us. We have racked up a debt with him that we could never possibly pay. That’s how the Bible describes our sins against God—as spiritual debt. Jesus wants us to understand that we could never possibly make up for what we have done wrong.

But he could. And he did. Jesus paid our debt in full when he went to the cross. He suffered what we should have suffered for our sins. And, because he did, God forgives what we owe him. Every single time you and I have lied, cheated, stolen, been selfish or uncaring—that debt is canceled. Every single time you and I have failed to fear God, to love God, to trust in God—that debt is canceled. Every single time you and I have failed to love our neighbors as ourselves, failed to love our spouse or parents or children—that debt is canceled.

And how do you know? You know because Jesus has told you. When he died, he didn’t say, “It is started.” Rather, he said, “It is finished.” And by saying that, he was telling you that your debt has been paid for. Every single bit.

Prayer:
Dear Savior, thank you for your saving love and your willingness to pay my debt in full. Amen.

[Jesus said] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.”
Matthew 18:23-25

An Unpayable Debt

Daily Devotion – September 29, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 18:23-25

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Ten thousand bags of gold. That is what Jesus said the servant in his story owed the king. At that time, a “bag of gold” was likely the equivalent of six thousand days’ wages. So, let’s do some math. An average day’s wage in the United States is around $100.00. This would mean that, in today’s money, one bag of gold would be worth $600,000. And the servant in Jesus’ story owed 10,000 bags of gold. That’s $6,000,000,000! There was no way the servant would ever be able to pay the debt he owed the king.

Which was precisely Jesus’ point. The servant in Jesus’ story represents us. The king represents God. Like the servant, we owe a debt we can never pay. It’s not a monetary debt. It is a spiritual debt. We have sinned against God so often and in so many ways that there is no way we can ever make up for it. Think of it—how many times have you and I failed to love God with all our hearts—even just today? Has it been dozens of times? Hundreds of times—just today? And then there was yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that. And, there is the issue of how many times we have failed to respect God. And then there is the issue of how many times we have failed to trust God, and how many times we have failed to love our neighbor and … well … our debt of sin just keeps piling up!

And, it is important for us to be reminded of this. Why? Because knowing the enormity of our sin means that when we hear God say, “Take heart my child; your sins are forgiven,” we will appreciate it all the more.

And, here’s the truth: because of what Jesus has done, your sins—that horrible mountain of sins—have all been forgiven. All 6,000,000,000 of them … or even more.

Thank God for his enormous forgiveness!

Prayer:
O Lord, lead me to appreciate the enormity of my sin, that I might, even more, appreciate the enormity of your forgiveness. Amen.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21,22

Unlimited Forgiveness

Daily Devotion – September 27, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 18:21,22

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“How can I forgive you?” Perhaps you’ve said that to someone. The person really hurt you. And this isn’t the first time. The person has wronged you before. Now it’s very hard to find the inner strength or motivation to forgive and forgive again.

The apostle Peter raised a significant question when he asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Peter’s question is direct and to the point. How often should he be willing to forgive someone who sins against him repeatedly—perhaps with the very same sin? Is there a limit to the times that he should forgive others? At what point is he to say, “That’s enough; I can forgive you no more!”

Relationships between sinful people are often marred by sinful words and actions—some recurring over and over again. In every marriage, in every family, in every friendship, there is the continuing need to forgive those who repeatedly sin against us. However, we, too, may wonder with Peter whether our forgiveness toward others has limits. Since we identify with Peter in this question, Jesus’ answer also applies to us: “I tell you (to forgive), not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

How is this possible? How do we find the love and strength to forgive those who sin against us? We remember how much God has been willing to forgive us. In spite of our many sins—in fact, because of our many sins—God sent his Son, Jesus, to this world. His perfect life and innocent death earned forgiveness for us. What a patient and forgiving God we have!

Remember this the next time it is your turn to forgive those who have sinned against you, whether it is the seventh or the seventy-seventh time.

Prayer:
Jesus, in the peace of forgiveness that I have through you, give me the ability to forgive others. Amen.

[Jesus said] “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18

Restoration

Daily Devotion – September 25, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 18:18

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Dr. Robert Morin transforms lives. There simply are no two ways about it.

Dr. Morin specializes in reconstructive surgery. Every year, he gathers a medical team and travels to a poverty-stricken part of the world. There, he and the team offer to restore the faces of children—children whose faces have been broken for a wide variety of reasons.

The waiting lines are long to see Dr. Morin’s team. The work is exhausting. It’s not uncommon for the staff to labor from sunup to sundown for six days straight. Family after family. Face after face. Heartbreaking story after heartbreaking story. Procedure after procedure. After each one, however, there are tears—tears of gratitude from the families; tears of joy from the medical team. The tears come easily. After all, everyone there knows that such a restoration will transform that child’s life.

Imagine you are part of Dr. Morin’s team. Imagine how it must feel to have in your hands the means to change a life. According to Jesus, we do.

In love, Jesus saw our lives in all of its brokenness—lives broken by our own sin. He knew we were helpless to put the pieces back together. And so he came to us. He became one of us. In our place, he lived a perfect life—sinless and holy. On our behalf, he carried the entire sorry mess of our wrongs to the cross, blotting them out in his blood. Then he rose from death. Now he comes to each of us through his living Word. He calls us to repentance. And in his gospel message of forgiveness, he brings us healing. He brings us restoration. In himself, he puts the pieces of our lives back together.

But as he does, he also entrusts us with something extraordinary. He entrusts us with that same message of restoration. He says that because he has paid for the sins of the whole world, we have the right to announce forgiveness to repentant sinners–to restore their relationship with God.

And the beauty of this restoration is that it does not simply last a lifetime. It lasts forever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your gospel message of restoration. Move me to bring your healing to a broken soul. Amen.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.
Romans 13:8

Continuing Debt

Daily Devotion – September 23, 2020

Devotion based on Romans 13:8

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It’s World War II. It’s nighttime. A paratrooper is about to jump out of a plane. Just before he does, he looks down from the plane’s open door. He sees that he is about to jump into an air space that is alive with explosions, bullets, and flak. “Lord,” he prays, “if you get me through this night, I’ll never have a bad day again.”

The Lord got him through that night. And, as the old veteran loved to say for the rest of his life, “I’ve never had a bad day again.”

Think about that. So profound was the man’s gratitude for the Lord’s deliverance from death, that for the rest of his life he happily obligated himself to look upon the remainder of his days as all good days—every single one.

It’s the same kind of grateful spirit that the good news of Jesus works within Christians. In Romans chapter 13, Paul speaks of what he calls, “the continuing debt to love one another.”

This turn of phrase describes something unique. This is not a debt in the sense that I need to pay something off to God before I get something good in return. Jesus has already paid the debt of my sin in full. On my behalf, he has already lived a life of perfect love. In my place, he has already carried away the guilt of my every sin at the cross. And now, through faith in my risen Savior, I live. I stand forgiven. I am at peace. Heaven awaits.

In light of all this, something wonderful happens. The more this good news sinks in, the greater the gratitude grows. As it does, the Christian soul searches for some way, any way, to show thankfulness to Jesus. And one immediate way to do it is to demonstrate love toward others.

And so there it is. Just as a grateful survivor of war happily obligated himself never to have a bad day again, Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness empowers you and me to obligate ourselves in love to others. We do it not to get something, but to thank God for what we already have.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you. Give me opportunities to thank you more every day. Amen.

I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel.
Ezekiel 33:7

Watchman

Daily Devotion – September 21, 2020

Devotion based on Ezekiel 33:7

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In 2019, Israeli soldiers made a discovery. On a remote part of their army base, the soldiers uncovered what turned out to be an ancient Israelite watchtower. The watchtower is massive, its boulders weighing up to eight tons. It is twelve feet wide and rises to seventeen feet. It stands on a hill. Even today, you can see why the watchtower is there. From that hill, you have a commanding view of the ancient city of Ashkelon. In the days of the Israelites, Ashkelon was a hostile city, an enemy of God’s people.

Go back three thousand years. You’re in Israelite soldier. It’s nighttime. It’s your turn to stand watch in the tower. You climb to the top, relieve the watchman on duty, and begin. The length of your watch will be four hours. During that time, you will exert all the powers of your perception—your sight, your hearing, your sense of smell, your trained instinct—to protect your loved ones from forces that wish them harm. As the watchman, you do not sleep, you do not daydream, you allow no distractions. You are the watchman, and you are on the front lines. You are the watchman. People’s lives are depending upon you.

In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, the Lord told Ezekiel, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel. He was a watchman, however, not in the sense that he stood in a physical watchtower to keep an eye out for physical threats. Rather, Ezekiel was a spiritual watchman. His role was to keep an eye out for spiritual threats—anything that could invade or displace his people’s relationship with their Savior-God.

Which brings us to one of the great blessings of belonging to a Christian congregational family. The Lord, through congregations, calls leaders to help serve as a spiritual watchman. It’s a vital way by which the Lord keeps distractions to my faith at bay. It’s a vital way by which the Lord keeps my focus on Jesus, the One who lived a perfect life in my place, suffered and died for my every sin, and who now lives for me.

If you are a member of a Christian congregation, thank the Lord for your pastor who keeps watch over you. If you do not have a church home, find one that faithfully teaches the Bible so that you, too, can be blessed by the gift of having a spiritual watchman.

Prayer:
Lord, bless those who serve as a spiritual watchman. Keep them faithful to your Word so that your people are protected from the lies that might harm them. Amen.

The LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me . . . I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you . . . from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel.”
Jeremiah 15:19-21

Restored by God to Serve God

Daily Devotion – September 19, 2020

Devotion based on Jeremiah 15:19-21

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Jeremiah had a difficult ministry. For fifty years, he preached a message of repentance to the Jewish people, but his message mostly fell on deaf ears. He was shunned, beaten, and imprisoned. He had few friends. No one sympathized with him.

Can we blame Jeremiah for getting frustrated with God? He had done everything God had asked of him. He was a faithful witness to God’s word. In return, he had received nothing but pain and loneliness. Didn’t he deserve a better life than that? Where was God’s mercy for Jeremiah? Where was God’s deliverance?

Such frustration is understandable but hardly excusable. Jeremiah expected God to change, to give him a break. Instead, God changed Jeremiah. He led the prophet to repent and believe God’s promises about his ministry. God still had work for Jeremiah to do.

When we suffer through difficult times, we also may question God’s faithfulness and demand that he set us free.

However, let’s not forget what God has already done for us. He has been faithful to us. Jesus suffered and died for our sins, and God raised him from the dead as proof that he has dropped all charges of guilt against us. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you are free indeed.

In this world, we will have trouble, but we can rejoice because Jesus has overcome the world. Persecution will always be a part of the Christian’s life. However, God will make us strong enough to stand up under it. God has work for us to do. Like Jeremiah, we are here to bring God’s Word to the world, even if we suffer for it.

Prayer:
Lord, your words are a delight to me and the joy of my heart. If I must suffer for them, give me your strength to be faithful to you so that I may receive the crown of life. Amen.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:3-5

Gifted by Grace

Daily Devotion – September 17, 2020

Devotion based on Romans 12:3-5

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It was Stewardship Week at St. James Lutheran Church, and Ginny was looking at a sign-up sheet on a table in the church lobby. It said that volunteers were wanted to host small-group Bible studies in their homes. A kindly-looking, older couple approached her—Ginny knew them only as Mr. and Mrs. Kleibert. Gesturing towards the sign-up sheet, Mr. Kleibert held out a pen and said, “You won’t regret it!”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s for me,” Ginny said. “I haven’t been a member here for very long.”

“Where does it say you have to have tenure in the congregation to host one of these groups?” Mr. Kleibert pretended to search the paper for what he knew wasn’t there.

“Besides,” Mrs. Kleibert added, “We’ve noticed how active you’ve been in Sunday morning Bible class. You ask lots of great questions.”

Ginny looked at the two of them. “You’ve noticed?” she asked.

Mr. Kleibert assured her, “I’m one of the elders here at St. James and my wife Janet leads the Altar Guild. We’re always on the lookout for ways to involve new members into the life of the congregation, find ways for them to feel at home, and use the gifts that God has given them. The Holy Spirit makes sure that every Christian has something to offer to the rest of us.”

Ginny was still hesitant. “You’re sure it’s a good idea?”

Mrs. Kleibert said, “My dear husband here will be the one leading the study, and I’ll be there too. You’ll be just fine. Now quick sign your name so I can introduce you to the gals on the Altar Guild too.”

Prayer:
Father, by grace you have united me with Christ and called me into your family. Help me to value the gifts of my fellow believers and encourage them to use those gifts for your glory. Amen.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1

True and Proper Worship

Daily Devotion – September 15, 2020

Devotion based on Romans 12:1

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After many months, Sunday morning Bible class was finally meeting again, and Ginny couldn’t wait. Pastor Schroeder wasn’t surprised to see her hand shoot up when he asked if there were any questions.

“Pastor,” she said, though muffled by her mask, “while we were all stuck at home, I watched streamed worship services from a few other churches. It struck me how many different styles and ways of worshiping there are. But it also made me wonder if there is a right way to worship?”

Pastor Schroeder interrupted her, “Well, that might take longer to answer than we have time for this morning.”

Ginny continued anyway, “So I did what you always tell us to do. I looked in the Bible for answers. One verse I found was Romans 12:1 where the apostle Paul talks about ‘your true and proper worship.’ But what does that verse mean?”

“Great catch, Ginny!” said her pastor. “In the first eleven chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he writes at length about God’s grace for sinners and how we are saved only by what Christ has done for us, not by anything we do. Then, before he gets into describing the way that Christians should live, Paul reminds them of what God has already done. ‘In view of God’s mercy…’ That motivates us to dedicate every part of our lives—body and soul—to serving him. When every moment and every choice in life flows from gratitude to God for his mercy, our bodies are like living sacrifices, made holy and acceptable through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for us on the cross.”

Ginny’s eyebrows raised above her mask. “So, ‘true and proper worship’ means not just going through the motions—either in life or in church?”

Pastor Schroeder nodded. “Yes. It means always keeping before our eyes everything that God has done for us and then letting our words and actions flow from that.”

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for your many blessings to me, though I haven’t deserved them. Let me never forget your love for me. Help me to live in a way that pleases you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 4:32–5:2

Become an Imitator of God

Daily Devotion – September 13, 2020

Devotion based on Ephesians 4:32–5:2

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When actors need to imitate someone in a skit or movie, they spend many hours preparing for their role by watching videos of the person they are going to imitate. This ingrains the subject’s mannerisms and speech patterns into the actor’s mind. When show time comes, the actor can then imitate the subject quite naturally.

God wants us to imitate him. It is a tall order, to say the least. It is actually impossible for sinful humans like us. Fortunately, Jesus did what we cannot do. He perfectly imitated God because Jesus is God. His perfect life is why we have been forgiven by God for our sins.

Although we will not be able to do what Jesus did, we still strive to imitate God every day as a way of thanking him for forgiving us. Just like an actor preparing for a part, we imitate God best by watching Jesus. Hour after hour, day after day, we read about Jesus in the Bible. This ingrains God’s mannerisms and ways of speaking into our minds. It leads us to be kind and compassionate, to forgive each other, and to live a life of love. Keep watching Jesus and become a better and better imitator of God.

Prayer:
Thank you Jesus, for doing what I could not do. Help me to do what you have done. Help me to imitate God today. Amen.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16

In Jesus We Have Everything

Daily Devotion – September 11, 2020

Devotion based on Matthew 16:16

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By the grace of God, Peter saw Jesus as the promised Savior of the world—the One and only! Peter knew that Jesus is the answer to sin—the only one God will provide. Peter knew that Jesus is the central figure in God’s plan of salvation and that no one can possibly be saved without him. Peter believed that Jesus is the only one who fulfills all the world’s needs.

It is not hard to see why so many people fail to recognize the significance of Jesus. Limited, sinful human minds simply cannot grasp such an amazing miracle. Why would God send Jesus to die for a world of sinners? Why would God save me? Why would God care at all what happens to us when we die? In a word: GRACE. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God’s loving plan to save us from sin, death, and hell is beyond anything we could have dreamed or imagined.

It is only by faith that we can confess Christ and believe what Peter claims about him. Jesus himself says: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” In a world clouded by unbelief, God had seen fit to bless Peter with faith, and Jesus wanted Peter to know what a priceless gift that is. Without Jesus, we are lost. In him, we have everything. May we confess him as clearly as Peter.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, grant me a strong faith, bold to confess you as the Savior this world needs. Amen.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord.”
Romans 11:34

The Big Picture

Daily Devotion – September 9, 2020

Devotion based on Romans 11:34

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We live in a crazy, chaotic world. ‘What is God doing?’ Perhaps you have heard that question asked a few times. Maybe you are wondering: ‘If God really cared about us, wouldn’t he stop this pandemic? Wouldn’t he bring an end to all this inequality? Wouldn’t he stop the violence?’

It certainly can be difficult to understand what God is doing. The Bible often reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than our own. We do not always see the big picture of things. This can lead to frustration and anger when we do not understand why God allows certain things to happen. This, in turn, leads us to blame God or turn away from God.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?” God may be tough to figure out at times, but just because we do not understand his plan does not mean that we can assume he does not love us. Quite the opposite, actually. When God sent Jesus into this world to die on the cross to pay for our sins, nobody understood that either. Even Jesus’ closest followers tried to stop it or to talk Jesus out of it. Yet, even though they could not understand what God was planning, it ended up being a huge blessing for them and the whole world. In sending Jesus to die on the cross, God made sure that there was a way for us all to be saved. Through faith in Jesus, we are forgiven, and on the way to heaven.

We cannot always understand God’s plan or know the mind of the Lord. But as we see his plan for saving us through Jesus, we can be assured of his love for us and his intent to bless us. This means we can trust him. As events around us seem to spin out of control, trust that God has a plan. He loves you and has saved you and will continue to carry out his will with you in mind.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for salvation in Jesus. While I do not always understand your plan, help me to trust you and your love for me. Help me to know that you will always take care of me. Amen.

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord.”
Exodus 6:2

The Lord Alone is Faithful

Daily Devotion – September 7, 2020

Devotion based on Exodus 6:2

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“I promise.” Those are words that should give us comfort. Those are words that should take away our worries. Those are words that should give us hope. But, when we hear the words, “I promise,” we often roll our eyes. We have grown accustomed to unkept promises.

It starts from little on. A young boy hears dad promise that he will play catch after work. But dad doesn’t get home from work until after the boy is in bed—far too late to play catch. An employee hears his boss promise that the promotion will be his, only to find out a week later that the job went to someone else. A bride hears her groom say, “I do”—and finds out later that he did not keep his promise to be faithful.

We are surrounded by unfaithfulness and also have been unfaithful in keeping promises. Because of this, we are often skeptical that anyone will keep a promise to us.

God is different from everyone else. He keeps his promises. In Exodus chapter six, verses 2-8, the Lord says, “I,” seventeen times. It jumps off the page. God says: “I am the Lord… I appeared to Abraham… I also established my covenant. I…I…I”—17 times! This reminds us that the Lord is unquestionably in charge. God lets us know that he has not forgotten us. He has heard our pleas. He WILL keep his Word.

And if you still doubt that, God points to his own track record. He proved his faithfulness once and for all on Good Friday. If there was ever a time for him to back out of a promise, this was it. There, hanging from a cross, was his own Son. Jesus did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to suffer. But, true to his Word, God kept his promise. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. God sent his Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That promise is kept, and that promise is yours—forever. You are forgiven!

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your promise and sending Jesus to be my Savior. Help me to know that in him I am forgiven. Help me to trust your Word always. Amen.

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15:1-6

Faith Credited as Righteousness

Daily Devotion – September 5, 2020

Devotion based on Genesis 15:1-6

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The name Abram means “exalted father.” The irony was probably not lost on him when he was over eighty years old and still childless. Especially since many years earlier, God himself had promised to make his offspring into a great nation. And what’s more, Abram was assured that one of those future descendants would be the long-awaited Savior of mankind. Still, here he was an old man without a single child to his name.

But Abram was a man of action. So, Abram had already hatched a plan to deal with his childlessness: his servant Eliezer would be his heir.

You and I can hardly point an accusing finger at Abram. After all, our hearts have harbored many of our own doubts regarding God’s promises. We have falsely believed that our lives were in our own hands, that we controlled our own future.

What a patient God we have! Instead of abandoning us to our doubts and an uncertain destiny, he graciously repeats his promises. God assured the childless old man that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars visible in the night sky. And God assures sinners like us that all his promises of forgiveness have been kept in his Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Lord God, I have no righteousness of my own to stand before you. But I believe you when you promise to forgive my sins for the sake of Jesus. Amen.