Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He 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 10:7-10

Jesus is the Gate

Daily Devotion – April 30, 2023

Devotion based on John 10:7-10

See series: Devotions

Fences have become a way of life. People put up privacy fences to keep others from seeing into their yard. Farmers put up fences to keep the cattle in the field. Businesses put up fences to keep thieves away from their warehouses. But every fence has a gate—a passageway for those who are supposed to get to the other side of the fence.

Jesus says he is the gate–not into a yard or a field–but into the presence of God and eternal life. Sadly, there are people who try to convince us that we can receive eternal life by relying on something other than Jesus, such as the good things we do. But try as they might, they are unable to establish another way through the fence. The only way to eternal life is through Jesus. He opened the way to God by removing all of the barriers that stood in our way: our sins, our guilt, and the accusation of the devil. He prepared us for life with God by washing us with the water of baptism and assuring us that our sins are forgiven. He leads us through the gate as he gives us his Word, which nourishes us and causes our faith to grow. What is more, he protects us from those thieves who would urge us to ignore the only gate and try to reach eternal life by jumping the fence.

Through Jesus, we have life, the fullness of eternal life with God!

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, in your mercy you opened the way to eternal life. Guard me from those who seek to lead me astray. Establish my faith in you, my only Savor. Amen.

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:33-35

Shared Hope

Daily Devotion – April 28, 2023

Devotion based on Luke 24:33-35

See series: Devotions

Traveling at night was not something that ancient people often did. Nighttime travel could easily expose you to all kinds of danger. That’s why it is so remarkable that the two disciples of Jesus who had traveled to Emmaus on Easter evening returned to Jerusalem immediately, even though it was nighttime.

But they couldn’t help themselves. They were too excited. They had seen Jesus! He was alive! He had risen from the dead! They could not keep the hope that they now had to themselves. They had to share it with Jesus’ other disciples.

All who trust in Jesus share this same hope. Because we know that Jesus has risen from the dead, we also know that Jesus has taken away all our sins. We know Satan can no longer threaten us because Jesus has decisively defeated him. We know that death can no longer hold on to us forever because Jesus has destroyed its power. We know that as Jesus continues to live for us, he uses everything in our lives, even the extremely painful things, to bring us blessings.

That hope is too amazing for us to keep to ourselves. So, with whom will we share it? God has placed so many people in our lives who need to hear what we have heard and need the hope that we have. These people may be family members. They may be friends. They may be coworkers or classmates. They may even be people that we have yet to meet. Whoever they are, we will, like these two disciples, eagerly share with them the hope that has set our hearts on fire so that they, too, may know that Jesus is alive.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you have set my heart on fire with your hope. Help me eagerly to share that hope with others. Amen.

[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24: 25-27

Grounded Hope

Daily Devotion – April 26, 2023

Devotion based on Luke 24: 25-27

See series: Devotions

Hope is only as good as the foundation on which it stands. I can hope all I want that the air will hold me up when I jump off the top of a ladder. But since the foundation on which that hope stands is, well, as thin as air, that hope will fail me. On the other hand, when I hope that the concrete sidewalk that I’m walking on will support me, I can be confident that I won’t be disappointed. The foundation on which that hope is built is as strong as concrete.

On the first Easter evening, two of Jesus’ disciples were traveling to a town called Emmaus. They were sad because Jesus had been killed. Suddenly, the risen Jesus joined them. But they did not recognize him. Jesus used the opportunity to explain to them that what had happened to him was precisely what God had predicted through the Old Testament prophets. He wanted them to know that their hope in Jesus rested on the solid foundation of God’s Word.

The hope that God has given us is built on that same solid foundation. When we trust that Jesus died and rose to pay for all our sins, we are not walking on air. We are walking on something far stronger than concrete. We are walking on God’s Word and his promises that cannot be broken.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me a solid hope that is grounded in your Word. Amen.

[Jesus asked his two disciples who were walking to the village of Emmaus on Easter,] “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”
Luke 24:17-21

Lost Hope

Daily Devotion – April 24, 2023

Devotion based on Luke 24:17-21

See series: Devotions

Cleopas and his friend had lost hope. The one they had hoped was the Messiah was dead—at least as far as they knew. They had hoped that Jesus of Nazareth, would be the long-promised Messiah. But how could he be the long-promised Messiah now that he was dead?

Cleopas and his friend lost hope because what they saw was not what they expected. They are not alone. We can fall into the same trap. Perhaps, we desperately pray that God would heal a loved one, but instead our loved one dies. Perhaps we have prayed that God would bring godly revival to our nation, but things just seem to get worse.

When we are tempted to lose hope because God isn’t doing what we expect him to do, we need to look even more intently on what God truly has promised us. God never fails to do what he has promised. God has forgiven all our sins in Jesus, just as he promised. God always works all things for the good of those who love him, just as promised. God will take all who believe in him to heaven, just as he promised. When we cling to God’s promises, we will always have hope.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to cling to your promises so that I never lose hope. Amen.

In [God’s] great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3,4

Living Hope

Daily Devotion – April 22, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Peter 1:3,4

See series: Devotions

What has your week been like? There are plenty of reasons for discouragement and disillusionment. Maybe you have been struggling with health, finances, or relationships. Maybe it seems like there is no purpose in the day-to-day routine, or there is no hope of it changing.

But there is good news! We have hope because of the change Jesus accomplished by his resurrection from the dead. Forgiveness has been assured us, his presence with us has been promised, his power in the world is active for us. He has connected us to something bigger than this world—eternal life with him, an inheritance that defies the fading and disappearing pattern of earthly hopes. The fact that he came alive and defeated the power of death gives us living hope. By faith in Jesus, we will live even after we die!

Jesus is our living leader who safely brings us through those times and circumstances now that would overwhelm us, and he points us to the eternal and perfect life he has prepared for us in heaven. Through Jesus, our resurrected Lord and Savior, we have living hope.

Prayer:
O Jesus, dispel the gloom that surrounds me with the bright promise of salvation which you accomplished by your death and resurrection. Fill my heart with the living hope of eternal life in heaven. Amen.

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3,4

A Guaranteed Inheritance

Daily Devotion – April 20, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Peter 1:3,4

See series: Devotions

Perhaps you’ve been named in someone’s will. That will says that, if that person dies, you will be given this amount of money or that piece of property or these personal possessions.

But being named in the will doesn’t mean that you will receive those things. The money might all have to pay for medical bills or the funeral. The property might burn down or have to be given to the bank to pay for debts. The personal possessions might break, wear out, or be lost before you ever receive them. A will does not guarantee an inheritance.

But the resurrection of Jesus does. That’s because the inheritance Jesus has prepared for you doesn’t consist of dollars and cents. It won’t wear out, break, or lose its luster. It won’t be stolen or squandered before you receive it. It can’t be reduced with estate taxes or stored in a safe deposit box. In fact, it isn’t even stored on earth. It is stored in God’s eternal storehouses in heaven, where there is no destruction, decay, or theft.

The inheritance guaranteed by Jesus’ resurrection is the riches of a God who owns all things. It’s the joy of an eternity in his presence, surrounded by his love, separated from all the things that bring us pain, sadness, and death.

Jesus’ resurrection is proof that God can and will do exactly what he has promised. It is the signature on the bottom of the will that guarantees that our inheritance is safely stored for us in heaven, just waiting for us to enjoy after our death on this earth or after Jesus returns on the Last Day.

Because Jesus lives, this unfading inheritance is guaranteed for all who trust in Jesus, whose death and life takes away guilt, forgives sins, and wins eternal life.

Prayer:
Jesus, because you live, I have proof that an eternal inheritance is mine. Thank you for guarding that inheritance for me and for guarding me, while I wait to receive it. Amen.

Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:27,28

Prove It

Daily Devotion – April 18, 2023

Devotion based on John 20:27,28

See series: Devotions

You have to see it to believe it! Animals with two heads, products that range from the novel to the absurd, amazing abilities and little-known scientific facts. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not has over three dozen museums and attractions where you can find all kinds of oddities that are strange, but true (or so they claim).

Of course, just because something is in a museum or on the internet does not mean it is true. In this digital age, so-called evidence can be easily altered to “prove” events that never happened or the existence of things that never actually existed. It can be wise to be skeptical.

Jesus’ disciple, Thomas, wasn’t going to get sucked into the hysteria. He wasn’t going to put his life on the line for something that seemed so unlikely. He had to see it to believe it. It wasn’t enough that his close friends said they had seen Jesus with their own eyes, and others claimed to have touched and walked with him. He wanted to see and touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side for himself.

And then it happened. One week after Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas was there when Jesus appeared to his disciples. Jesus was alive, standing there in the flesh right in front of him.

Perhaps Thomas thought about how slow he had been to swallow his pride and believe the truth! But Jesus showed the scars in his hands and in his side to assure Thomas that he paid the price for his pride, doubt, and all of his sins. A living Jesus was proof that Jesus defeated the devil and overcame death. Seeing his living Savior, Thomas joyfully confessed, “My Lord and my God!”

Do you have doubts about God’s love? Are you worried that God couldn’t forgive you? The risen Jesus proves that God loved you enough to give his life for you. Proof that death is conquered, and life is yours. Believe it!

Prayer:
Jesus, forgive my fears and doubts. Help me confess with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” Amen.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19,20

Overjoyed!

Daily Devotion – April 16, 2023

Devotion based on John 20:19,20

See series: Devotions

What failures we human beings are! We see it so clearly in Jesus’ disciples. Jesus had told them on several occasions that he was going to rise from the dead. Yet, two days after Jesus’ death, his disciples were confused, afraid, and locked in a room.

Jesus, the all-powerful Son of God who miraculously rose from the dead, suddenly appeared in the room with his disciples. He could have said to them, “Why didn’t you listen to me?” He could have said, “I’m going to find some new disciples, followers who will listen when I make a promise.” He could have said that.

But he didn’t! Instead, he said to them, “Peace be with you!” He showed them his hands and his side because there were the marks of the nails and the spear, signs of his love for them and the ultimate proof that their sins were forgiven. They were overjoyed.

Take that picture of Jesus and focus on it with your mind’s eye. The risen Lord Jesus stands in front of you with his hands out-stretched. You see the nail marks—proof that YOUR sins are forgiven too. And what does he say to you? He says exactly what he said to those disciples.

Peace be with you!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for your promise that, just as you rose from the dead, you will one day raise me from the dead. Let the peace of this promise fill my heart. Amen.

“You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’”
Jonah 2:3,4

Banished but Not Forgotten

Daily Devotion – April 14, 2023

Devotion based on Jonah 2:3,4

See series: Devotions

Jesus only compared himself to one prophet. He picked the one we would least expect: the prophet Jonah. Reluctant Jonah. Selfish Jonah. Sinful Jonah.

God called Jonah to preach to the foreign city of Nineveh. But Jonah didn’t want to go. He got on a boat and went the other way. And when a storm came up and threatened to sink Jonah’s ship, he told the sailors the only way to stop the storm was to throw him into the sea. And sure enough, once Jonah was overboard in the water, the storm stopped.

There in the sea, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. From the belly of that fish, Jonah prayed to God, “I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.” Even in such a terrible predicament, even after he had sinfully disobeyed his God, Jonah trusted that the Lord could rescue him and allow him to one day look at the holy temple in Jerusalem.

Why did Jesus compare himself to this particularly sinful and selfish prophet? Because just as Jonah was delivered from the belly of that fish, Jesus knew he would be delivered from the grave after his death.

Sure enough, after suffering for our sins and being placed in a tomb on Friday, Jesus was raised back to life and walked out of the tomb on Sunday. It all happened just as Jesus knew it would happen. And it will happen to his followers just as he promises it will happen. Although we will suffer death and be placed in the grave, we will be raised one day to experience the eternal life Jesus won for us.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for taking my place and for giving me life with God forever. Amen.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3,4

According to Plan

Daily Devotion – April 12, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

See series: Devotions

We love it when things go according to plan. Maybe it’s a road trip that has each stop carefully researched and detailed. And there are no car issues, nothing more than routine traffic, and everything goes according to plan. Or maybe it’s a business merger carefully planned and executed by the right people to minimize conflict and maximize productivity. Or it could be a retirement plan that appreciates with time and regular contributions. It is satisfying when everything goes according to plan.

The reason we love that feeling so much is that it so rarely happens. Life is full of variables that derail plans. Cars break down. Employees become disgruntled. Financial emergencies happen. So much for the plan.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it looked like God’s great plan of saving mankind had been derailed. What good was a dead Savior?

But the apostle Paul makes clear that the death of Christ was all part of the plan. The Scriptures, God’s Word, foretold this plan from the beginning. And not only did the Scriptures foretell Jesus’ death and resurrection, but Jesus himself proclaimed that this would happen. Jesus fulfilled everything that the Old Testament prophets predicted that he would do. And Jesus predicted his own death and resurrection and pulled it off.

No wonder Paul says that this is of first importance. Christ died, was buried, rose from the dead, and appeared to many witnesses. All according to the plan to deliver you from your sins!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended. The victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death; disgraced, it lies defeated. Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Matthew 28:5-7

The Fact of the Resurrection

Daily Devotion – April 10, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 28:5-7

See series: Devotions

Whom do you trust to deliver you the news? It seems each news source has a spin or a bias that colors their reports. Not only that, but anyone with a social media platform and an opinion can deliver those opinions as facts, even if they are just feelings. And the cynic might say that everyone is trying to sell you something, no matter how neutral they claim to be.

Sometimes you feel like Sargent Joe Friday from the old Dragnet radio and TV series and would like to say, “All I want are the facts, ma’am.”

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead has all kinds of amazing, life-changing meaning. But before the women who came to the tomb that morning could process all of what that resurrection meant for them, they first needed the facts. Before the disciples could understand all the implications of Jesus’ resurrection, they first needed to know that it, in fact, happened.

And that’s what the angel at the empty tomb did. He delivered the facts. He told the women, “Yes, Jesus was crucified. He did, in fact, die. But he is not here anymore because he is alive. He told you this would happen. His body is not here. Look for yourself and see what is true.”

Christianity doesn’t rest on the fiction or fantasy of Jesus’ resurrection but on the fact that Jesus bodily rose from the dead. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus is alive.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal: – 440)
Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands for our offenses given; but now at God’s right hand he stands and brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia! Amen.

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
Matthew 26:20-25

Betrayal

Daily Devotion – April 8, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 26:20-25

See series: Devotions

Sometimes the church symbol employed for Judas is an empty frame depicting the thought that he shouldn’t be remembered because of the despicable crime he perpetrated against our Lord Jesus—betraying Christ into the hands of his enemies. Yet, looking at Judas, we ask ourselves: How do we betray Jesus?

Even after he has assured us that our sins are forgiven we keep discovering new ways to get around God’s will, and we keep coming up with excuses for not conforming our lives to the commands of God. What else could we be called but traitors?

Yet, in Jesus, that’s not the way God sees us. Jesus’ death on the cross wipes away our treachery. God keeps assuring us in his Word that “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Through Jesus, God draws us to himself and embraces us as his dear children “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, what a great privilege it is for me to be called your child by faith in Jesus! Lead my life to praise you for your great love, and help me to fulfill your will in thankful obedience for the blessings that come freely and fully from you. Amen.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-25

A Greater Type of King Who Invites Us to His Table

Daily Devotion – April 6, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

See series: Devotions

Do you remember the day you became a grown-up? I’m not talking about the day you earned your first dollar. And I’m not referring to the day you received a diploma. I’m talking about the day you graduated from the “kid’s table” at the family Thanksgiving dinner. Wasn’t it a great feeling to be sitting with all the adults? It felt like you had really “made it.”

As special as being invited to sit at the adult table may have made you feel, it’s nothing compared to the invitation Jesus gave his disciples when he invited them to partake in the special meal we call “The Lord’s Supper.” And it didn’t stop with the twelve disciples. Throughout the centuries, it’s as if Jesus just kept adding leaves to his table, making room for more so that even a few decades after Jesus dined with his disciples, the apostle Paul relayed the same invitation to God’s people living in the city of Corinth. And still today, Jesus invites his followers to share in the special meal he instituted so long ago. At this meal, we are reminded that Jesus sacrificed himself—gave his body and blood—to save us from our sins. Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to this special meal that reminds us of your great love for us!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to see what a privilege I have to be at your table. Amen.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:10,11

A Greater Type of King Who Approaches Us

Daily Devotion – April 4, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 21:10,11

See series: Devotions

I live in a city that doesn’t claim many lifelong residents. A majority of our citizens are from somewhere else. Thus, a common question is, “Where are you from?” The answer will then trigger a variety of reactions. For right or for wrong, it’s not uncommon to brand the person depending on where they’re from.

When the crowd in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday said that the man riding on the donkey was, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” it may have surprised people. Nazareth had a reputation of being nothing more than a blip on the map. Even today, Nazareth does not offer many “places to see” if you book a tour to Israel. But being from a nothing-good-can-come-from-there-town sheds a little light on just who our King was and is. He wasn’t a royal who only knew palace life or grew up with a family crest sewn into his suitcoat. Even though he knows heaven with its streets of gold, he also knows poverty. Even though he knows the safety of heaven where the gates never close, he also knows danger. He knows the glory of being King but also knows your story personally.

And that’s just a little bit of what makes Jesus a greater type of king. He is relatable. He is approachable. More than being approachable, he also approaches you. Which is exactly what the prophet wanted us to see in Jesus, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.” Find comfort in that greater type of king that you have. You don’t have a king who is holed up in some castle. You have a King who comes to you no matter where or who you are.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for erasing the barriers that stand between you and me. Because you took away my sin, give me confidence to approach you daily, knowing that you understand what I’m going through, even better than I know myself. Amen.

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses 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

Jesus Gives You What You Need

Daily Devotion – April 2, 2023

Devotion based on Zechariah 9:9,10

See series: Devotions

Quick, get a picture in your head. Someone rules the entire world: What does he look like? Like Napoleon riding on his trusty steed with his army surrounding him? Like a business tycoon who dominated his field and now the world? Powerful? Self-confident and self-reliant? What does a world ruler look like?

Like a humble man riding on a lowly donkey. That’s what the Old Testament prophet Zechariah said. Zechariah spoke of the Savior who was to come. The Savior, your King, would come “gentle and riding on a donkey.”

On the Sunday before he died on the cross, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah. He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. What was most impressive about Jesus wasn’t his ride; it was what he brought. Your King is holy and righteous. He brought the salvation you so desperately need. Jesus didn’t fight with a sword and army to overcome the curse of sin, but with his perfect life and innocent death on the cross for you. By his holiness and his death, your sins are forgiven. And with the salvation he brings you, he gives the accompanying gift of peace. Peace that your sins are forgiven; you have peace with God.

You might not choose a donkey as your favorite mode of transportation, and that’s alright. But don’t let that lead you to overlook the King who rode a donkey and fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy. You don’t need his ride, but thank God that he gives you what you do need—his salvation and peace.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, don’t let this world deceive me into placing my hope in the wrong kind of kings. Only my King, Jesus, gives me true and lasting spiritual salvation and peace. Keep my faith in him strong and growing. Lead me to follow my King in all I do and say today. Amen.