He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan.
Revelation 20:2

Ancient Serpent

Daily Devotion – June 14, 2024

Devotion based on Revelation 20:2

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It is 2017. Scientists in Europe are conducting an experiment. They are showing a series of pictures to 6-month-old babies. With each picture, the scientists record the dilation of the babies’ pupils. One picture is of a flower. When the babies see the flower, their pupils remain the same. Another picture is of a fish. When the babies see the fish, their pupils remain the same. On the experiment goes.

But then, somewhere along the line, the scientists display the picture of a serpent. When the babies see the serpent, their reaction is different. Even though these infants have no experience with serpents, their pupils dilate, their bodies grow agitated, and they display signs of stress. With this experiment, the scientists conclude in their report that, for some reason, most humans seem to be born with an innate fear of serpents.

Perhaps that should not surprise us. It was the serpent, after all, through which Satan tempted our first parents to sever their relationship with God. It received a curse as a result—destined to crawl and squirm on its belly. Indeed, people have feared serpents for a very long time.

But the image of a serpent is also part of something wonderful. In the last book of the Bible, God’s Word makes reference to what’s recorded in the first book of the Bible. Revelation 20:3 speaks of that ancient serpent—who is the devil or Satan. Someone is seizing that ancient serpent, exerting victorious might. This is possible only because God has fulfilled his promise to send a Savior from sin—the descendent of Adam and Eve who would crush the serpent’s head and destroy the devil’s power.

The ancient serpent, of course, still tries to find ways to frighten, startle, and drive us to despair. When he tries, remember the one who has already come. Remember the one who has lived a holy life in our place and suffered and died for our every sin. Remember the one who lives and reigns. Remember the one who has crushed the ancient serpent. Remember Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when Satan tries to frighten me, remind me that he’s crushed. Remind me of you. Amen.

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Genesis 3:12

Not My Fault

Daily Devotion – June 12, 2024

Devotion based on Genesis 3:12

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The Lord had given Adam and Eve a specific command. It was a command by which they could celebrate their trust in his will for their lives. The command was simple: In the middle of the Garden of Eden, there is a special tree. Do not eat the fruit from that tree.

But Adam and Eve, tempted by Satan, chose to eat from this tree anyway. When they did, they severed their bond of trust with their Lord, and sin oozed into its place.

All this sets the stage for what happens next. God, of course, knows what has gone wrong. In love, he approaches Adam. He calls upon Adam to acknowledge the obvious. He asks Adam, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Adam could simply reply, “Yes.” But he doesn’t. Instead, the answer Adam gives might very well be one of the most groan-inducing statements in all of the Bible. His answer is this: “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

In his short reply, not only does Adam blame his wife, but he also blames God. In his fantasy land of pure rationalization, Adam concludes that the fall into sin is not his fault.

You and I can see ourselves in Adam and his reply. In our sinful weakness, we love to identify someone else as the problem. We love to cite extenuating circumstances as to why our sinful behavior is understandable. There are even moments when we conclude that if God had not allowed this person or that problem into our life, we would have done much better; thank you very much.

Thank God that his Spirit can still pierce my calloused heart. Thank God his Word still calls me to repentance. Thank God the message of the cross and the empty tomb can still bring me back home.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the moments when I try to blame others for my sin. Give me a repentant heart. Wash me clean. Amen.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:8

To Hide

Daily Devotion – June 10, 2024

Devotion based on Genesis 3:8

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Up to this moment, Adam and Eve had enjoyed a perfect bond of trust and love with their Creator-God. This bond had been at the center of everything. Their lives had been wondrous beyond description.

But, tempted by Satan, Adam and Eve chose to trust their will for their lives instead of God’s will for their lives. In doing so, they severed their relationship with their Lord. As a result, the toxic waste of sin rushed in to take its place.

The results were immediate. When the Lord approached them, there was now, within Adam and Eve, a dark impulse to do what they had never done before. They hid. And fallen humanity has been trying to hide from God ever since.

By nature, you and I also have that dark impulse to hide from God. Perhaps I hide behind busyness, filling my mind with so many deadlines and activities that I think I’m keeping God at a comfortable distance. Perhaps I hide behind news headlines and current events, filling my mind with so many national and international issues that I never get around to my relationship with God. Perhaps I hide behind work, entertainment, recreation, or an all-consuming hobby—anything that might spare me from confronting the reality of my sinful failures before a holy God.

Hiding, however, is not the answer. Jesus is. The Son of God became one of us. On our behalf, he lived a life of perfect trust in his heavenly Father’s will. In our place, he suffered and died for our every sin—including our every act of distrust, our every act of avoidance, our every act of hiding. Then he rose from death.

Now, through faith in Christ, you and I stand forgiven, cleansed, and blanketed in the holiness of God’s Son. And because we are, you and I don’t have to hide anymore. Ever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I feel the old impulse to hide from God, move me instead to hide myself in you. Amen.

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. . . the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. . . Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”
Deuteronomy 5:12,14,15

The Sabbath Gift

Daily Devotion – June 8, 2024

Devotion based on Deuteronomy 5:12,14,15

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House-hunting. Writing project. Softball practice. Summer activity roadmap. Water and electricity bills. Basketball camp. Tomato plants and two trees next to the garage to get planted. Birthdays to plan. Work presentation next Thursday. Home projects. Details of the trip out west.

Do you feel utterly exhausted and waylaid by endless demands and stifling routines? Even your upcoming vacation plans have a panicky, task-like edge to them. The mantra of your day: “If only I had more time.” Is this the real problem? Wouldn’t this be more accurate: you’ve forgotten God’s ancient wisdom for you? You have forgotten the Lord’s own rhythm of work and rest.

To remember God’s own Sabbath—given for you, not for him—is to be handed the elixir to the productivity game playing around you and in your own life. What a gift God has given you in the Sabbath! A gift for your sanity and wholeness. A gift to enrich your lives. A gift to make your joy complete. Sabbath restores your bent and withered parts.

The best part of the Sabbath is Jesus. “If you’re exhausted and panicky, come to me and I’ll give you ‘sabbath,’” Jesus invites.

Jesus has secured forgiveness for your sins, including the one where you ignored God’s wisdom of work and rest. Always living up to the demands of his Father and the law, Jesus has carried all of your weariness to the cross. There, he paid your death sentence. He now lives. Jesus is the gift for forgiveness and eternal life for rest. Jesus is the gift for your sanity and wholeness. Jesus is the gift to enrich your lives. Jesus is the gift to make your joy complete. Jesus restores your bent and withered parts. Jesus is rest.

Take a breath and relax. Jesus is your Sabbath gift.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, for my ability to work, thank you. For the wisdom to rest, thank you. For the gift of Jesus who is my true rest, thank you. Amen.

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Mark 3:1-5

Jesus Worked To Give Us Rest

Daily Devotion – June 6, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 3:1-5

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When everyone else was resting, Jesus was working. It was a Sabbath day of rest. People had gathered to hear the Word of God. Jesus entered the gathering space and demonstrated that he was God by healing a man. He was doing the important work of revealing his glory in the face of opposition.

When everyone else was working, Jesus was doing the most important work. People were attempting to get to heaven by pleasing God and following his laws. Jesus kept all laws perfectly and became the only human being with whom God was well pleased.

When everyone else was distracted, Jesus was focused on his work. He went to Jerusalem, and then, he willingly went to the cross, taking the punishment for sins, not just for certain people, but for the whole world.

Today, when anxiety cripples and busyness overwhelms us, Jesus works to give us rest. His promises are powerful, and the work he has done in the past is good for us into eternity.

Prayer:
Lord God, in this difficult world, I look to you as our rock of refuge and rest through Jesus. Amen.

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. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Colossians 2:13-17

Jesus Fulfilled the Sabbath

Daily Devotion – June 4, 2024

Devotion based on Colossians 2:13-17

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When Jesus walked the earth, there were a lot of laws that people were supposed to follow when it came to rest on the Sabbath day. Did cooking count as work, not rest? How about walking somewhere or helping someone in need? Various authorities took it upon themselves to interpret the rules and then enforce them. If there were fines associated with each infraction, a person could rack up a lot of debt.

Jesus kept all the Sabbath laws perfectly. Even when local powers and authorities did not interpret those laws correctly, Jesus kept them the way God intended. He did not accumulate a single bit of debt, literal or figurative.

Then, in one striking action, Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty that every human being had accumulated for breaking laws of any kind, including the Sabbath laws. It was as if all the legal charges against people were written on a sheet of paper that was nailed to the cross along with the hands and feet of Jesus. Authorities became powerless to accuse people since the debt was paid.

That’s why we don’t follow Sabbath laws today. They were a shadow of the rest we find now in the reality of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
God our Savior, I lift up my heart to you and ask you to grant me rest through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then [Jesus] said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27,28

Rest for Our Souls

Daily Devotion – June 2, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 2:27,28

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The word “Sabbath” means “rest.” When God created the world, he “worked” for six days, and on the seventh day he rested, he stopped his work of creation. Therefore, in the Old Testament church, God commanded his people to work for six days, and on the seventh day (the Sabbath Day) they were to rest. On that Sabbath Day, they rested in the Word of God. Yes, even back then, it was a temptation to work nonstop and get so busy with earthly things that they’d neglect God’s Word.

In Jesus’ day, the local teachers of the law had made the day of rest into a day of rule-following, not a day of rest in God’s Word. They had multiplied the requirements and rules, adding all kinds of details as to what defined “work” and what defined “rest.” If you kept the man-made rules, you were to be proud of yourself. If you failed to keep the rules, you lived in guilt.

Here’s the problem: Seeking rest through following rules is never restful!

Jesus set them straight. He said that he was the one in charge of the Sabbath, not human beings making their own rules. And Jesus came to give us rest for our souls. We could never keep God’s law so that we could find rest. But Jesus kept it in our place. Then he died in our place for our failures. And he promises that because he has done it all, we can confidently look forward to heavenly rest through faith in him.

That’s why we take time to rest in God’s Word—not to follow a rule, but to honor our Savior, rest-giver, and Lord of all. Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). We thank him for the rest we have now and look forward to the eternal rest that he has provided.

Prayer:
Dear Lord of the Sabbath, thank you for the rest you have provided for my conscience. Give me peace as I look forward to the eternal rest that lies in the future, all thanks to you. Amen.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16,17

God’s Love Conquers All

Daily Devotion – May 31, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:16,17

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“Omnia vincit amor.” Those were words once penned by the ancient Latin poet Virgil. We know them in English as “love conquers all.” The only problem with Virgil’s conclusion is that he was speaking of a self-centered love, where sinful people finally choose the person or thing most irresistible to their sensuous desires. In other words, whatever brings me the greatest pleasure is the thing I will choose; my “love” for that thing “conquers” all other options. I get what I want the most.

Is that the kind of love God has for us? Does he choose that which brings him the most pleasure? No, just the opposite. God’s love for us is not about how much pleasure we bring to him because, as broken sinners, we could never please him, not even for a moment. Instead, God’s love for us is about what he gives to us unconditionally, no strings attached.

And what has God the Father given us? His one and only Son, Jesus. And what did Jesus willingly do for us even though we were completely unlovable? He sacrificed his perfect life for our broken lives. He took the world’s sin on his shoulders and carried it to the cross, washing it away forever. More than that, he replaced our sin with his perfection. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Why would God do that? There can be only one reason: because he loves us. And what is his unconditional love for us meant to inspire in our stony hearts of unbelief? Simple, childlike faith worked mysteriously and miraculously by his Spirit.

There’s no other love like God’s love. It conquers all—even the hardest of hearts—so that “whoever believes in (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.” Just imagine! God rescues us from the dominion of darkness and brings us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for loving me with a love that conquers all. Amen.

[Jesus answered] “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:6-8

The Miracle and Mystery of Faith

Daily Devotion – May 29, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:6-8

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Having faith in others doesn’t come naturally to us. We instinctively trust ourselves, not others. We learn to mistrust others because so often frail humans are not trustworthy. They don’t earn our trust.

But God is always trustworthy, whether we believe that or not. So, our lack of faith in him is not a result of his failures; it’s a direct result of the brokenness we inherit from our parents. Jesus could not have been more right when he declared, “Flesh gives birth to flesh.” In other words, sinners give birth to sinners. We’re sinful from the time our mothers conceive us” (Psalm 51:5). And because we’re born sinners, we’re also born without true fear of God and true faith in him. We can’t help ourselves; we’re born spiritually dead (Eph 2:1).

So, how can we ever come to trust God if we’re spiritually stillborn at birth? It’s both a mystery and a miracle performed entirely by the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that “the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” He means the Holy Spirit, and what does the Spirit do? He gives us new spiritual life by kindling our faith in God and fanning it into flame.

How does he do it? In so many ways, his work of bringing sinners to faith in Jesus is a sacred mystery. Jesus compared it to the comings and goings of the wind. “The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

But this much we can know: the Spirit uses God’s Word and sacraments, especially Holy Baptism, to work Christian faith and to save us eternally.

How can a few words and splash of water do such powerful things? Because God can do all things. Why would we trust him if he couldn’t?

Prayer:
Jesus, grant me your Spirit through Word and sacrament that I might trust you more each day. Amen.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:1-3

Seeing Isn’t Believing

Daily Devotion – May 27, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:1-3

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The Pharisees were not Jesus’ friends. They were an ultra-conservative sect who considered themselves the gold standard of piety. They were “true believers” who made sure they followed the letter of God’s law to a tee, even adding their own restrictions to demonstrate just how holy they were.

But Jesus constantly upbraided them for their self-righteous attitudes and failure to show mercy toward others. They hated him for it. Even from the earliest days of Jesus’ ministry, they plotted to kill him.

That’s why the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus—recorded in John chapter 3—is so fascinating. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, undoubtedly to avoid detection by his associates. He admitted to Jesus, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.” And how did they know? Because “no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In other words, as much as the Pharisees hated Jesus, they had to concede he had a divine mission because they witnessed his miracles.

But Jesus would teach Nicodemus an important lesson that bears repeating. Seeing isn’t believing. In other words, true faith is not a matter of what we see with our eyes, even when we see miracles. It’s a matter of trusting God’s promises despite what our eyes see. Jesus explained, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

A person who is born again trusts Jesus and his promises unconditionally, even when doing that doesn’t seem like a sure bet.

And when you trust him, guess what you’ll see? You’ll see God’s kingdom–how he rules behind the scenes to safeguard your salvation forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, give me the eyes of faith so that I always trust your promises, no matter what. Amen.

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'”
Ezekiel 37:1-6

Can these bones live?

Daily Devotion – May 25, 2024

Devotion based on Ezekiel 37:1-6

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Have you ever gone into a natural history museum that had bones of dinosaurs, birds, and other creatures displayed? As you look at these bones, your mind may start to put flesh on them, give them a personality and imagine what it would have been like to see these bones covered by flesh and alive. But, of course, you know this can’t happen.

As the prophet Ezekiel stared at a valley of human bones in a vision God gave him, The LORD asked him, “Son of man can these bones live?” The natural response would have been, “No way!” However, Ezekiel said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel knew that he could not do something so miraculous, but the true God could. And he did. God gave Ezekiel the words to speak, and life came into the bones.

Ezekiel’s vision was a picture of what God can do for spiritually dead people, people like you and I were by birth. We had no spiritual life. But, through his promise of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus, God creates faith in our hearts to believe what he has promised. And, just like that, we are spiritually alive.

Be thankful today that yours is a God who can make the dead live!

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me spiritually alive by believing all that you have promised. Amen.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

Powered by the Spirit

Daily Devotion – May 23, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-4

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You can’t miss them as you drive through the heartland of America. They’re the tallest structures in miles and miles of farmland. They’re windmills. Modern windmills can be as tall as a 32-story building when you count the turbine at its apex. And they’re built to do one thing: catch the power of the wind.

You can’t see the wind. You can’t hear it. You can see the things the wind blows. You can hear the leaves as the wind rushes through them, but the wind is invisible and silent. You don’t know where it comes from or where it goes.

In some ways, the wind is similar to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the force that powers God’s Church on earth. God’s Church acts like the turbines of a windmill. The Church is powered by the Holy Spirit.

This started on the Day of Pentecost. In a dramatic way, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Peter, the same disciple who had denied knowing Jesus to a little servant girl, suddenly had the courage to preach to thousands of people.

The other disciples, who had fled from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, went into all the world proclaiming the resurrection of the Savior Jesus. The Church of God continues this work by preaching the forgiveness of sins found in Jesus alone.

On Pentecost, the Spirit rested as a tongue of flame on each disciple. We don’t see the Holy Spirit work that way today, but the Spirit does work through the water of baptism and the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. The Spirit works through the preaching of the God’s Word. God continues to power his Church through the Spirit.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, continue to power your people through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.’”
Ezekiel 37:11-13

Dry Bones to Living Hope

Daily Devotion – May 21, 2024

Devotion based on Ezekiel 37:11-13

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The imagery of dry bones symbolizes the desolation and despair felt by the people of Israel during their exile to the country of Babylon. They believed their hope was lost, their identity cut off, and their future buried in the dust of defeat. Yet, amid this hopelessness, God speaks a powerful word of promise through the prophet Ezekiel.

God reveals to Ezekiel that these dry bones represent the people of Israel who feel spiritually and nationally dead. They have given up hope, feeling disconnected from their heritage and purpose. But God declares that he will intercede. He will open their graves, bring them back to their land, and restore their relationship with him.

Maybe you have experienced seasons of dryness like the Israelites. Your faith seemed empty, your hope evaporating, and your connection to God distant. You felt like those dry bones, disconnected from the life-giving source of God’s presence and promises.

Yet, just as God promised restoration to Israel, he promises the same to you. He can breathe life into your dry bones, renewing your hope and reviving your faith. No situation is beyond his ability to restore and redeem. When you feel cut off and hopeless, God invites you to trust in his faithfulness.

God’s promise of opening graves and bringing life from death is not just a historical event for Israel; it’s relevant for you. In Jesus, you have the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. Jesus’ resurrection shows God’s power to bring life out of death, hope out of despair, and victory out of defeat.

Prayer:
O Lord, you are the God of resurrection and restoration. Send me your Spirit to restore my soul and bring me to life eternal with you. Amen.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:1-3

An Amazing Event

Daily Devotion – May 19, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-3

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“They were all together…” Who are the “they”? It’s probably best understood to be the 120 believers who are described in Acts 1:15 “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).” Yes, the apostles of Jesus are there, but there are many other believers there, too. People like Matthias, the person chosen to take Judas’ place as one of the apostles.

And did you notice? “Tongues of fire . . . came to rest on each of them!” Yes, there was a tongue of fire on Peter’s head, but there was also one on the head of all those unnamed believers in Jesus, like believer #57. James, John, Andrew, Thomas, and Matthias—each of them had a flame; so did believer #120.

If you had been there, you would have had a flame, too. Why? Because the Holy Spirit works on the hearts of each of us individually. Through your baptism, for example, you received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God brought you to believe that Jesus was your Savior. God convinced you that Jesus had paid for your sins. God assured you that there is a home in heaven awaiting. God the Holy Spirit works in your heart—individually, personally—even as he placed a flame on the heads of each individual on that Day of Pentecost.

It must have been an amazing event to experience! I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to be there. It must have been awesome!

The reality is that the Holy Spirit has worked an awesome miracle in you. He brought you to faith! He brought you from spiritual death to spiritual life! That’s a miracle! And every time you hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit continues to pour himself out upon you.

Prayer:
O Holy Spirit, continue to bring your life-giving Word to my heart, that I might remain a child of God all my life, until that wonderful day when you take me to life eternal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59,60

Rescuing Us From This World

Daily Devotion – May 17, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 7:59,60

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Duct tape is a wonderful thing. It’s can repair shoes, furniture, boxes, appliances, and even cars. But after a while, there are just some items that are too broken to be fixed. Not even duct tape can do the job. This world is broken. Broken relationships. Broken people. And yes, our Savior Jesus overcomes the world. He overcomes broken relationships by motivating us through his Word. He overcomes broken souls by providing faithful witnesses of the gospel. Yet, because of sin, this side of heaven will always have an element of brokenness.

So what does our Savior do? Eventually, in his grace, he will rescue us from this broken world by bringing us to his unbroken world of heaven, a world where there are no more tears, no more pain, no hunger, no heartache, no headache. What a beautiful day that will be when he closes our eyes as we fall asleep in a broken world, only to wake up and see him in all his glory standing before us.

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” That was what Stephen prayed after being dragged out of the city and having stones thrown at him. You may never have a stone thrown at your head that will claim your life. But because a stone was rolled away, revealing the empty tomb of Jesus, you will always have life as you will be rescued from this broken world.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee. Amen.