Tag Archive for: ecme devotions

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.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

John 20:19-23

Peace – that’s not the first word most teachers associate with a busy classroom. Children play, shout out answers, sometimes argue. The classroom can be a joyful, noisy place, but peaceful? Not so often.

Peace – that’s probably not how the disciples were feeling that first Easter evening. They saw their Savior put on trial, crucified, and buried. Would they be next? Then some women told them that Jesus was alive. But that would be too good to be true. Confused, sad, scared – that’s what the disciples likely felt.

Peace – that was the first word Jesus said to his astonished disciples when he appeared to them in that locked room. With the realization that their Savior was alive, the disciples truly could have peace in their hearts. This peace was better than any earthly peace. Before his death, Jesus had told his disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus brings everlasting peace. Troubles of this world will fade away, but we have what we need for eternity. We are washed clean of our sins, we will conquer death, and we will join Jesus in heaven. That is peace.

Jesus told his disciples not to keep this peace to themselves. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21). The disciples’ lifework became sharing that peace with the world. We also are sent to share God’s peace. Every day we get to share the special news with our students: “Jesus loves you. Jesus took your sins away. Jesus will always be with you.” And they share that peace with us too. When they sing their Jesus songs and proclaim their faith, they strengthen us. And when they go home and share what they’ve learned, Jesus’ peace is spread even further.

Peace isn’t a quiet classroom. Peace is a classroom of people who talk about Jesus, who know his love and share that love with others, who sing and pray and praise God. Peace be with you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for bringing me true peace through your death and resurrection. Let that knowledge strengthen me so I can share your peace with others. Amen.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The punishment that brought us peace was on him,
And by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to our own way;
And the Lord has laid on him
The iniquity of us all

Isaiah 53:5-6

Have you ever been unhappy to finish a good book? As you move through the pages, you become emotionally invested. Chapters go by until finally, the ending looms and the journey is complete. You are left with only heart-felt memories and an anxious hope that the author will continue the narrative in another volume.

Without a doubt, the Bible is incomparable to other texts with its holy author and divine purpose. But readers can still be emotionally engaged when reading it. It would be difficult to read any verse in Isaiah 53 without being drawn in by the prophet’s description of Jesus. Our text cuts directly to Calvary’s hill in the final moments before Jesus’ death.

We find Jesus bearing God’s judgement all on his own. Jesus was pierced. He was crushed. He was wounded. God laid on him the sins of us all. In Isaiah’s description, our Savior is finishing his work with no one there to help him. Oh, we are present in Isaiah’s account, but our role is not to help Jesus. We could not help Jesus. We are the very reason Jesus is in this circumstance. So, Isaiah rightly compares us to sheep that have gone astray. It is our waywardness that God cannot tolerate. It is, in fact, our punishment that our Great Substitute is accepting.

Further in Isaiah 53 we see that Jesus accomplished his divine mission with his death. Our Great Substitute died. Under normal circumstances, the last chapter would quickly follow. But this is God’s book with God’s words describing God’s plan and promises. God does not close his book here and leave us emotionally spent. If he did, that would surely be our finale as well. No, there is another chapter. Spoiler alert! In that magnificent chapter, God accepts Jesus’ sacrifice and Jesus rises. Jesus is not dead! He is alive!

That leads to the next chapter for us too! His death is our death. His life is our life. Just as Jesus was not left alone on Calvary’s hill, our death will not be the end of our story either. God promised us another chapter in our lives. Because of Jesus, we anxiously wait for our faithful God to deliver that promise of life in heaven. This time though, God will not need to describe it to us. Because of Jesus, he will allow us to experience it for ourselves! What a profound experience that will be!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for being our Great Substitute!  Thank you for fulfilling God’s promises so that we can experience the next chapter of our lives- in heaven with you!  Amen!

Questions for Reflection: How do I look forward to my life in heaven that is to come?  How do I help the children in my care look forward to their life with Jesus?

Want to know more?  What is heaven?  From WhatAboutJesus.com

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4-5

I love spring!  After a frigid winter with only brown grass, dried up stalks in the fields and skeletal trees on the horizon, seeing skinny, green shoots and plump, colorful buds appear is comforting!  The lawns change color.  Trees fill out.  Gardens and fields become promising again.  What a relief we are not stuck in the season of winter forever!  Life comes again- full of purpose and activity!

Our text for this week talks about our spiritual spring.  “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sin.”  We were dead.  In reality, we were even more barren than our winter gardens.  Our sinful hearts, even more withered than a December tree.  Our spiritual potential was even more depleted than a field of expired stalks.  We were dead!  Mired in only our own filthy sins.  No potential.  No purpose.  No activity.

We would have certainly stayed that way too if God’s merciful love had not given us life.  Though we did not earn or deserve it, God loved us!  As we lay wasted, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ!  Yes, even while we were still ensnared in our own sin, God changed our direction completely!  Now, through Jesus, we have a spiritual springtime! In Christ, our sins are forgiven, and our dead hearts are now alive!  Jesus melts our winter into life.  Life produces.  Life has purpose and identity.  Life is beautiful!

Because of Jesus, our new hearts produce thankfulness that honors God by serving others around us.  It might be that our service calls us to be patient as we work with children and assist our families in their training.  Because of Jesus, our new lives have purpose.  What an honor to be called, “teacher” as our daily activities prepare little hearts and hands and voices to know their Savior.  Because of Jesus, our identity has been transformed.  Faith in our Savior now identifies us as a child of God, and we work tirelessly with the littlest in his family.  Because of Jesus, our life is stunningly beautiful and only becomes more so as our faith grows!

Our spring has come!  Grow by hearing his Word.  Shake off your winter and welcome the opportunities God puts before you to love others.  Serve them in Jesus’ name.  New life in Jesus is beautiful!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for giving my life purpose and identity.  Help me to use my life to honor you.  Amen!

Question for Reflection: How do I use my daily activities to serve God and others?

Want to know more?  What is my purpose in life?  From WhatAboutJesus.com

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Mark 8:34-35

How are you doing?  If you gave up something for Lent, are you still holding strong or have you abandoned your sacrifice?  The tradition of denying something of pleasure for the six weeks leading up to Easter has been a challenge taken on by millions over the generations.  The motivation to sacrifice chocolate, as an example, is supposedly to lead the self-disciplined individual to remember Jesus’ suffering and ultimate sacrifice on the cross.  Six weeks does not sound that long!  A small sacrifice should not be that difficult!  Yet, for many the Lenten denial is surrendered in favor of the easy way out.

It is challenging to give up something you love, to deny yourself what you want.  Sometimes, we even act like our children when we must sacrifice something we value.  However, in our text we see Jesus gather up his followers for a special tutorial on discipleship instructing them to do exactly that.  “… deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

To be sure, denying ourselves- taking up our cross and following Jesus, is vastly different than sacrificing a pleasure for six weeks.  Denying ourselves is understanding that nothing in this life is more important than our faith in Jesus and the salvation of our souls- not money or property or personal connections.  Heaven is not gained with those.

But how are you doing?  Are you taking your faith life seriously or are you, like me, hanging your head in shame over the time you binge watched a TV series but did not find time to have a personal devotion?  Are your shoulders slumping, like mine, over the time you did not feel well enough to attend worship but work was too important to miss?  Do your eyes lower, like mine, over all of the times you prioritized this life instead of your eternal life.

We groan, “God forgive us!”  Then Jesus lifts our sin-weary head and takes our wretched hands and says, “You are forgiven!  Look!  See the cross I took up for you?  That is where I spread my arms to bear each time you denied me instead of this world.  That is where I give you strength to live for me!”

So how are you doing?  Well, on our own, we fail!  Only in Jesus do we have the strength to deny ourselves, bear our cross and follow him.  Draw near to Jesus.  Hear his Word.  Receive his forgiveness.  Then bear your cross with his strength.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for forgiving me when I deny you!  Help me remember your cross as I daily live for you!  Amen!

Question for Reflection: What part of my day denies Jesus?  How can I move forward in Jesus’ forgiveness and strength?

Want to know more?  I’m not perfect; I make mistakes!  So what?  From WhatAboutJesus.com

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9: 22b-23

Home visits and parent orientations are always exciting. You’re getting ready to start a new year or a child is about to join your classroom for the first time. But there can be some anxiety, too, as teachers get confronted with ideas from families of all backgrounds and opinions.

The writer of our verses today, Paul, was no stranger to handling such things. Throughout his ministry, he worked with people of a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and ideologies. How did Paul handle such a challenge? Our verses tell us that Paul “became all things to all people.” Why? So that through the good news about Jesus, he “might save some.” God had given Paul a heart that was so excited to share about Jesus that he was willing to do almost anything (without changing God’s message) to do just that.

God has given us hearts to share the love of Jesus, too. But sometimes our perceptions can make that a struggle. We see parents’ practices and thoughts about eating, sleeping, toilet-training, academic learning, etc. and it can be a challenge to meet them where they’re at!

That’s when Paul’s words and Jesus’ ultimate carrying out of those words can help us pause. How perfectly Jesus carried out these words for us! The way we (and all people) thought and did things couldn’t have been further from what God had intended when he first created this world. Yet Jesus left his glorious home in heaven and literally became one of us. He preached to people of all backgrounds, to people who agreed with his words and violently disagreed. Then he reached his final goal: becoming the sacrifice for all people, so that through giving his life on the cross he might not only save some, but all!

This love makes our hearts desire to be all things to others, too. We look at the mom who grew up in a different culture, and we seek to understand and build a relationship with her, so that maybe the good news about Jesus can be shared. We listen to the parents concerned about their child’s academic growth, and we look for opportunities to encourage their family in the most important growth of all, growth in the knowledge of their Savior.

Our efforts to be all things to all people will only bear fruit as God wills, but when they do, Paul reminds us that we, too, will get to share in the blessings. What better blessing than to witness another soul knowing Jesus!

Prayer:
Jesus, how often we have looked down upon others who are different from ourselves! Forgive us! In your grace, you became everything to all people so that we could be saved. Help us to find ways to be all things to those around us so that we might share the ultimate blessing of the hope of heaven with them. In your name we ask this, amen.

A Question to Consider:
Identify one family in your setting who might be able to use some extra consideration and understanding from your staff.  What could that support look like?  What deliberate steps could you take to build that relationship so that the gospel can be shared?

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh.  Now Nineveh was a very large city; The Ninevites believed God.  A fast was proclaimed and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.  When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. 

Jonah 3: 1-3a, 5, 10

“You can’t play with us.  Only girls wearing pink can use the dress-up right now.”

Does it ever take you by surprise when your sweet students show such unkindness to one another?  Even when we’re little, our hearts love to set up dividing lines between “us” and “them.”

In our verses today, God had commanded Jonah to preach his Word in a city called Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian kingdom. The Assyrians were no friend of Jonah’s people.  When God gave Jonah this directive, Jonah chose to run.  Just after our verses above, we find the reason for Jonah’s avoidance: because he knew that God was a “gracious and compassionate God.”  Jonah, God’s very own prophet, did not want to share God’s message with “them.”

We can find this attitude leaking into our lives, too.  It can be difficult to share God’s forgiveness with the little boy who has tested our patience all morning long.  Our hearts may think, “Does he really deserve this, again?”  Or, while we may chat eagerly with one mom, taking the time to build a relationship, we quickly bustle out the mom who arrives a hot mess at 5:36, and we sidestep the dad who questioned us earlier in the week altogether.

Thank the Lord that he is so unlike each of us!  Though the Ninevites had been bitter enemies of his people, God longed for them to turn to him.  That kind of grace is unfathomable to our human logic!  But doesn’t it also bring us such joy?  Because, if God’s grace is truly for all, even those whom most regarded as outside God’s circle, then God’s grace is for us, too.  When Jesus died on the cross, he gave his life for the sins of the little girls in the opening story and for the little boy who tried your patience today. He died for the moms and dads who make our work a joy, and the moms and dads who don’t do things quite as we’d like or who even confront us regularly.  He died for the teacher who shared his grace today, and he died for the teacher who forgot, put self above the needs of another, or avoided the opportunity altogether.  Jesus died for you!  God’s undeserved love, his grace, is for you!  What an awesome opportunity we have each day to share his grace with others!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for your undeserved grace.  As I look into the faces of those you have given me to serve, whether big or small, help me to see them with your eyes, as individuals you died for and dearly love.  When I fail, remind me of your unwavering grace for me and give me renewed energy to try again.  In your name I ask this, amen.

A Question to Consider: God’s grace, his undeserved love, binds us to each other.  Think about the families in your care.  How can you be a purposeful witness of God’s grace to both the easy and the more challenging families you serve?

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:9-11

My oldest child almost didn’t get baptized. Ok, that might be a bit drastic. I should say, our original date for her baptism almost got cancelled. Of all days, a blizzard raged on and our pastor called off church. We had family in town and my post-partum emotions were drowning in sadness at the fact that our “special day” wasn’t going to work out the way we thought. Then it happened…a “Baptism Day” miracle! Our pastor called and told us that he was going to make the trip to our house, in a middle of a monster snowstorm, to baptize our daughter. What a guy.

That’s not the only miracle that happened that day. God’s amazing grace washed over my daughter through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. She was stamped as one of his own. It was one of the best days of my life. Most definitely of hers as well.

There is nothing that can stop the Holy Spirit from doing what he is going to do. He is that powerful. No circumstance. No weather pattern. No emotional meltdown. The power of the Holy Spirit can do the unimaginable.

Even John the Baptist tried to stop a baptism. The baptism of Jesus! In the account in Matthew 3:14, we read, “But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” Basically saying, “Who am I, to baptize YOU?”. But the Holy Spirit prevailed. Nothing can stop him from what he is going to do.

Take comfort in that, friends! He is powerful.

As you teach God’s little lambs think of that power. Think of that faith that he’s strengthening day in and day out, using you as one of his tools. What a privilege it is to preach the gospel. The faith that he’s working in their hearts is new, but oh, so strong. What an awesome job we have of telling the truths of God’s Word to these little ones. We are merely the mouthpiece, but the Holy Spirit is the POWER that causes his Word to take root in their little hearts.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I am in awe of your power. Please continue to strengthen my faith and the faith of my students. Lord, help me to stay in your Word and faithful in my devotion to you. I cling to your unstoppable power. Amen

A Question to Consider: Who do you know that could use the reminders and encouragement of these verses? Consider sharing them with them by forwarding this devotion and perhaps including a personal word of encouragement.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.

Micah 5:2,4-5a

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…Happy New Year!

Isn’t is fun to count down and wonder what’s coming next? I suppose if surprises aren’t your thing, maybe the countdown doesn’t bring such joy. Maybe you used to like countdowns, but 2020 changed you mind. It’s understandable.

Last year, I remember getting my colorful dry-erase markers out and making my calendar look perfect and cute as I filled in all of the fun things to look forward to. The calendar sure did look great, that is, until the end of March. My calendar was extremely confused at the end of March. Nothing I planned was happening. April and May seemed to be confused as well. So yes, if 2020 changed your mind about countdowns, I fully understand.

There’s good news though, friends. Get excited, because whatever 2021 has in store for you, you are in the best hands. If you think you’re too weak and can’t handle what’s coming, guess what…you have the strength of the Lord on your side. If you think the darkness of the world is taking over, go ahead and stand in awe of his majestic name. If you’re struggling with the unrest of the past, bask in the peace in knowing that we live SECURELY in the greatness of our God found in the one sent to Bethlehem’s stable, Jesus our King and Savior.

As we welcome God’s littlest of lambs back to the classroom this New Year, let us shower them with the truth that he will be our peace in whatever comes our way. Instill in them the confidence that though they are small, they are mighty in the One who whose greatness reaches to the ends of the earth.  Let us encourage each other to praise his Holy Name and thank him for his continued faithfulness in our lives.

I will probably still try to make my calendar look perfect and cute this year. I can’t help it. I love color coding! I will say though, I will have my eraser ready and tackle each day with the confidence in knowing that He is in control.

Stay in the Word, friends. Daily be immersed in his promises. In Truth!
May God bless you today and always.
Happy New Year!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for being my strength. Help me look to you throughout this year and find comfort in your promise of peace. Amen. 

Question to Consider: Do you have “Praise God” written on your calendar anywhere? It’s not something typically you’d see written down, but maybe pick a day or two a month and jot it down as a reminder to intentionally praise his Holy name. Dance to a Christian song. Pick up that old instrument that you used to play and worship him. Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Praise him all year through!

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. …For no word from God will ever fail. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her

Luke 1:30-33, 37-38

For no word from God will ever fail. As you read through the Old Testament, see how many times it looked like God’s word was going to fail. See the centuries of sinners in the line of your Savior. How desperately they need him.

For no word from God will ever fail. But it looks like it might, as we look at our own lives. For as ugly as the history of the people of God in the Old Testament, my history, my past history, my current history, is no prettier. Or yours.

For no word from God will ever fail. The one who enters the virgin’s womb is the one who enters Bethlehem’s manger, enters Jerusalem’s gates on Palm Sunday, enters into death, even death on a cross, enters into a tomb only to leave it empty again. For me.  For you!

For no word from God will ever fail.  The same Word which healed lepers and caused the blind to see and called the dead forth out of the grave. This Word spoken to you. “I forgive you.” For no Word of God fails. Nothing is impossible with God.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”  Mary did not demand a diagram or an explanation or a contract from her Lord. She demanded nothing. She believed.

I am the Lord’s servant. God works such faith in you as well. How could you know all that’s coming? For all of our planning and wisdom, tomorrow can change everything; indeed, tomorrow may never come. We don’t know all that the Lord has in store for us, this much we do:

• The virgin conceived and gave birth to a son.
• Our brother. And he will save the people from their sins.
• Nothing is impossible with God.

For no word from God will ever fail.  The stuff in your life, the big stuff, the stuff that feels like too much, the struggles, the doubts, the fears.  God and his word will not fail. I am the Lord’s servant Lord, open our lips to speak with such confidence! For he has shown you his favor! Jesus is His name!

Prayer:

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Take away the burden of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth! Amen.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

2 Peter 3:9

The irony is not lost on me—that this devotion, designed for educators of God’s littlest lambs, preaches patience. Those dear little ones are so ready for what’s coming in a few weeks: “Is it here, yet? Is it time, yet? When do we get to open presents?” Patience, dear one, patience.

And just when will the Lord Jesus show up anyways??? “Come, Lord Jesus, come” his little church has prayed for two millennia. What is taking so long?!?

St. Peter puts a finger to his lips and says to all of us who ache and who long for Jesus and his reappearing today: it will be ok. “Why is it so slow in coming?” I wonder, and St. Peter reminds me: He’s not. He’s not slow in keeping his promise, as it may seem according our itty-bitty understanding of time and our itty-bitty understanding of the way things ought to be. He’s not slow. He’s patient.

He’s patient—and that is for our good. He is patient—and for all I do not understand about the here and now, that’s a promise to rest in. He’s patient—eagerly desiring your salvation; and not only yours, but all whose lives you are blessed to touch as teacher, as parent, as friend, as child, as spouse. He’s patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (sorrow over sin and trust in God’s promise of forgiveness in Jesus).

Tom Petty would have us believe that waiting is the hardest part. Your students likely agree this week! And everything around us, the struggles of this year and the struggles of this week, they all scream the same. Here is an Advent promise, for you: The Lord is patient! His timing is good, for you. His desire is good, for you, not wanting you to perish, but repentance and life in him.

To one who preaches patience time and again, you can rest this day in God’s patience.

To one who preaches patience time and again, you can rest this day in the joy that comes from belonging to Him.

To one who preaches patience time and again, you can rejoice this day in the opportunities he gives you to proclaim The Lord is patient!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, whose patience in keeping your promise is what is good for me and for all, strengthen me this day to live and to hope and to love, and all the more as I long for your reappearing. Amen.

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

Psalm 47:1-4

“Our King is coming!”, said the pastor one Sunday morning. A 3-year-old scrambled out from under a pew, jumped on to the seat, looked out towards the back of the church and shouted “Where? Where’s the king? I want to see the King!”

Where’s the king? Many are asking that today. We see communities ruined by economic stress, social unrest, and natural disasters. Many feel a sense of hopelessness and abandonment. Where is God? Did he leave us? Oh, how we want to see our King!

But our Lord is the King over all the earth! He IS here, and he never left us. The pages of the Bible are filled with examples of God’s power over the world. First, he made the entire world-the heavens and the earth-with just his power and his words. We saw God flood the world in Noah’s time, and with this same power he made the waters evaporate. We saw God win battles for His people and send food to them when they were in the middle of the desert. Through Jesus, we saw God heal the sick and bring people back to life. Our God IS king over heaven and earth.

We often feel as though we need a king to rescue us from this world—from natural disasters, physical pain and disease, and from the sins of others. But truly, we need someone to save us from ourselves. We are sinful. We are the problem with this world. We need someone to save us because we are evil. Sin is not just a product of the world around us, it is not something that someone is doing to us, it is a product of ourselves, from within ourselves.

On judgement day, the last day of the world, God will return. All people will submit to our King, who defeated the darkness of sin on our behalf. Our King over heaven and earth will come back to rescue us from this dark world and bring us to the eternal light of heaven. Our king IS coming! He is our Savior. We rejoice as we look forward to the day when he returns and his name is proclaimed everywhere as ruler of all. We do as the Psalm says and clap our hands and shout with joy! God IS King and has given us heaven, our inheritance.

Prayer:

Dear God, our King,
Thank you for the reminder that you are in control of all things in this world. I rejoice that you are our King of this world. I am sorry for my sins, for all that I do to bring hurt and sadness into this world. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me and help me to show others that you are our Savior. Amen.

A Question to Consider:
The power of God over this world often can be seen in nature. How have you seen God’s power in the world around you?

(Part of the story of The Sheep and the Goats) The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

“Give Back”.” Pay it forward”. “Spread kindness like confetti.” Have you noticed any other “goodwill movements” in the news or on social media? As Christians, we have our own. We show love to others because God loved us first and gave us more than we deserve when he sent his son to die for us.

When Jesus comes again he will rule as judge. All people, those still on earth and those that have died, will be judged on the last day. Some people will go to heaven, and some people will go to hell. He will look into the heart of each person that ever lived and send them to live eternally with him in heaven or to be eternally separated from him in hell. Not everyone will be saved. Both heaven and hell are eternal and permanent. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? That in one instant our eternity will be decided by one person?

This truth sounds harsh because it is contrary to what the world tries to tell us. The world tries to tell us that whatever a person believes is “their truth”. In this time of tolerance, the world wants us to believe that “everyone has a little good in them” and that everyone has a right to “their truth”. But not everyone will go to heaven. Not everyone believes the real truth that will give them a place in heaven.

Jesus describes this “last day” at the end of his ministry, as recorded in the book of Matthew. Jesus says that he will remember our time on earth and wants us to live a life of service for others. He wants us to help people by caring for them physically, emotionally and spiritually.

It is important that we note that Jesus is not saying that we can earn heaven by serving others. The path to heaven is through the blood of Jesus alone, not by any good we do on this earth. And yet, showing love to others by serving them is evidence that we have faith in Christ. When Jesus says “whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” he means that even the simplest of acts that we do for those he puts in our homes and community will show our faith. We are so thankful for the grace that God showed us by forgiving our many sins, that we want to serve others. By serving others, our love for God shines through.

Prayer: Dear God,
Thank you for the mercy you have shown me by sending Jesus to save me from my sins. Help me to show my love for you by caring for others. Amen.

A Question to Consider:
What opportunities has God given you to care for people in your life? Is there someone that needs help finding resources to care for their physical or emotional needs? How can you help connect the people in your life to God’s Word?

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

There is nothing worse than waiting. Well, maybe there is but when you are waiting for something, nothing else seems to matter at that moment. And yet you teach your children how to wait. It is an important life lesson, isn’t it? Patience is a virtue. Patience with grace is a high virtue. The reason we struggle with waiting is that we think of ourselves as very important. “Doesn’t the DMV clerk know whom I am and that I am super important matters to attend to? If he did, he would get this line moving.” Waiting is a harsh law. It turns out you and I are not that important. A humbling experience for the both the adult and the preschooler.

And yet we all know good things come to those who wait. Another lesson you hope to teach your students. When we take our time with our work, better results occur. When we save up our money to make a big purchase, there is a sense of satisfaction (as opposed to the guilt of credit!).

We are told to wait for the Lord. It can be a painful experience. But it is also a delight. It is a delightful experience because we are confident in the Lord. In our saddest moments we might cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” But in our happiest moments we simply delight in life now and the life to come. It is a win-win situation for us. No matter what, Jesus will give us life.

This is the source of all confidence, another characteristic you hope to instill in your students. King David was confident in the midst of a chaotic political situation because he believed in the resurrection from the dead. He knew that he would see the goodness of God in the land of the living (even if he died in battle). He knew that he had the ultimate victory over death. This made him confident in all things. He could take chances. He could venture all things. He didn’t have to rely on dishonorable tactics. He could do what was right even if he was persecuted or defeated in an unfair world.

So it is with us. Your confidence and the confidence of your students is in Christ. If Christ has taken care of our biggest problem (sin and death), then what do we need to be timid about? This relaxes our tension and allows us to be free. We are confident. And with this confidence we wait for the Lord in delight, enjoying the gift of life now and confidence in God’s gift of eternal life to come.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, come, and take us to our heavenly home. Until then guide us in your light and give us the confidence in faith grounded in your unending love and protection. Amen.

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4-5

King David, the author of Psalm 27, wanted to build the Temple. He wanted to build, quite literally, a house for God. But he was not able to build the house of God because he was a man of war and God didn’t want his conquests (godly though they were) to be associated with the building of his house of worship. Instead David’s son, Solomon, would build the Temple of the Lord. Yet thoughts of God’s house were never far from David’s mind. It’s not hard to imagine that he dreamed it, planned it, and even sketched it out.

David was not only concerned with the house of God and the worship of Israel. He also concerned himself with a royal palace and the patriotism this might engender in the people of Israel. So he built himself a palace that would have been very close to the palace of God, the Temple. Two houses in close proximity to each other but with two purposes. One was for worship, the other for national pride and strength. Guess which one David sings about in Psalm 27? Not the house of power he built for himself but the house of God.

David ultimately knew that the splendor of God’s grace was far better than the splendor of any earthly kingdom. David knew it in his heart, but it did not always show in his actions, as we know. We struggle with this too. It’s not just our castles, that is our homes, versus our churches, that is God’s house, but rather where we seek God.

Do we seek him in power or in suffering? Do we find him in majestic and glorious vistas or at the ugly cross? Do we encounter him by ourselves or in his house where his Word is read and preached and his meal served? David wrestled with that question and so do we.

We find God at the cross. And he is delivered to us in his Word, Meal, and Baptism. Here we see true love. This is the beauty of God’s Temple: a church made of forgiven sinners. This is God’s house: a place where all people are loved on account of Christ no matter what their background or track record. No, it is not the grandeur of King David’s Palace. It’s not even the grandeur Solomon’s Temple, long destroyed. It is the forgiveness of sinners.

This is when the house of God becomes a home. A safe place. A comforting place. A place of forgiveness and peace. This is ultimately what David meant as he, no doubt, compared his palace to the coming Temple. He was comparing this fleeting world to the safety of God’s loving protection. When we compare our worldly home to God’s house let’s see the loving forgiveness of God’s home as our greatest treasure.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, dwell in us with your Word so that we may always find comfort in the hands of a loving God and peace in his home. Amen.

[Joseph’s] brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. 

Genesis 50: 18-21 

“She was mean to me!” Betsy cried out to you. Not having seen the incident, you bring both of the little ones together to find out more. You quietly ask each child to share what they did to the other one. Emma had lashed out at Betsy with words that hurt. As you talk together, Emma starts to understand that she had hurt Betsy with her words. “I’m sorry,” Emma says with tears. And then you wait. How will Betsy respond?

Can you imagine the guilt Joseph’s brothers had been carrying? For well over 30 years, they knew what they had done to Joseph. They alienated him. They threw him into a pit. They sold him into slavery. For all those years, they had no idea what had become of him—until now. Here they were at his mercy. The famine had led them to Egypt to hopefully get supplies that could be found nowhere else. Through a series of events, they had come to realize that the powerful leader that had control of the supplies they needed was none other than their brother, Joseph. If they had been able to push the guilt down over the years, it all came to the surface and their remorse flooded out. They admitted all they had done and begged for his forgiveness.

If anyone had an opportunity for pay back, it was Joseph. He had the authority to do almost anything. He could repay them with a similar fate. He could exile them. He could have them imprisoned or worse. What was his response? “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?”

Did they hear that right? Was he forgiving them? Yes. He was indeed. Why? Joseph knew God’s love and forgiveness in his own life. He knew that God had brought blessings through challenge after challenge to fulfill God’s plan. His heart was forgiving and loving, and he shared with them the precious words of forgiveness.

Each of us has someone in our lives who has hurt us in some way. This hurt can fester and drive a wedge between you and them. We also have caused hurt, especially to God each time we sin. In our devotion last week, we were reminded how God in love, washes each one of our sins completely away. He does this over and over and over. He does this without an expectation of anything but faith in him through Jesus. We don’t deserve it. By God’s grace, we have it—forgiveness from him.

As we consider this overwhelming free forgiveness, we can consider those we know. When someone comes to us with a broken heart, we can recall God’s love for us. Just as God forgives us, we too can say, “I forgive you.” What a gift we have from God. What a gift we can share with each other.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, your forgiveness for me is unexplainable except for the love you have shown for me and for all people. Out of gratitude for all you have done, create in me a loving and forgiving heart. In your name I pray. Amen

A Question to Consider: Sometimes the hurt we have experienced is significant and can cause lasting effects. Forgiveness will always be the foundation of healing in those situations. However, it is also sometimes helpful to seek the advice and counsel of a Christian counselor who can help us to work through these deep hurts.  May the Lord bless your relationships with one another and provide healing for all. Above all, may the Lord draw each of you closer to him.