Tag Archive for: ecme devotions

[Jesus said,] “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Mark 13:35-37

A four-year-old bounded down the hallway to her toddler brother and announced “Hey, you are going to heaven!” This might have been an endearing moment, had she not added, in a sing-song voice, “but first you have to die…“ The parents overhearing this were first filled with joy at the tender announcement and quickly switched to shock over the blunt morbidity of the second statement. How can a young child so easily speak the sad truth that we will all die- and present it without fear, but with joy?

Yes, we will someday die. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin at the very beginning of the world, God promised that they would surely die for their disobedience. God also promised that someday, he would send Jesus to take away their sins and all the sins of their decedents.

The end of the world has been wrongly predicted by scientists, archeologists, religious leaders, and philosophers for the past several hundred years. Some predictions were made based on ancient calendars, others on signs of nature, and some predictions were even based on parts of scripture.

But we know this for sure: we do not know when Jesus will return! Earlier in the chapter, Jesus even says that only God himself knows the date of his return (Mark 13:32). It is not our job to try to figure out when he will come. In fact, it could even be dangerous, spiritually, for us to know the day or time. We might allow ourselves to become immersed in the sins of the world, knowing that we “have time to repent”. Purposely waiting our last moments of life to ask for forgiveness is very dangerous, indeed.

God tells us that our job is to “be ready”. He wants us to come to him in prayer, and he wants us to read about his promises in his Word. He talks to us every time we read the Bible, and he offers us comfort. God always keeps his promises, and we eagerly await the fulfillment of his “ultimate promise”, when he comes back to take us to the mansion in heaven that he is preparing for us. God promised that the entire world would be redeemed through the precious blood of his Son, and this promise was fulfilled on the first Easter weekend when Jesus died, beat the devil, and came back to life. We are ready for our Savior to come again!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us time on this earth to enjoy your creation and do the work that you have given us. Help us not to fear death, but to see the opportunity that you have given us to use our time to study your Word and proclaim your love to others. We look forward to the time that you will come again to bring us to our true home, heaven, where there will be only joy. Amen.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90:1-2

We are entering the 9th month of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seems to have no end. When will the masks be in the garage sale pile and the Clorox wipes be on sale again? When will we be able to hug our friends and shake hands with a stranger? And when, oh when, asks my 4-year-old, will indoor playgrounds and the Icee machine at Target be open again? It feels like these “uncertain times” have been going on forever!

But the only one who knows the true feeling of “forever” is God. In the beginning, before anything was made, God was there (Genesis 1:1). God has no beginning and no end, which means he always was, and always is. God’s power has never changed, either. God has always been, and always will be all-knowing and all-powerful. In a world that always changes, God never does.

While God is eternal, we are not. Because of our sin, we will someday die. Because of our sin, life on earth will be filled with sorrow and pain. Because of our sin, because of our parents’ sins, and because of the sins of every generation before and after, we deserve the punishment of death and the punishment of eternal separation from God in hell.

When we suffer in this life, we forget that God is in control and will never leave us or forsake us. We sin when we forget that our God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and unchanging. We also sin when we trust anything over God. In these “uncertain times” we can sometimes put our trust into worldly things such as science, social organizations and people, or even ourselves. Sometimes we place these worldly things above God.

But our loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal God is the “remedy” for our sin. He is our “dwelling place”, as the Psalm says, our shelter. He sent his son, in our place, to die for our sins, our parent’s sins, and the sins of every generation before and after. Because of Jesus, when God looks at us he sees purity and righteousness. Because of Jesus, we have been freely given a place in heaven, where we will live eternally with Him.

Prayer:

A beloved hymn, “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” was written based on Psalm 90. In this hymn, we thank God for being our shelter in this world and for giving us the hope of heaven, our eternal home. We pray:
Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.
Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last and our eternal home! Amen.

Christian Worship 441:1, 3, 6

A Question to Consider:
What “stormy blasts” have come your way in 2020, and how has God provided shelter and hope in your trials this year?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1-3, 11

Fires raged through California, storm after storm formed in the Gulf, and the Coronavirus pandemic almost stopped the world completely. We have seen some extraordinary things this year, haven’t we? In addition to witnessing these natural disasters, we have felt the strain that comes with a struggling economy, job insecurity or loss, and the emotional and physical separation from family and friends.

It has felt as though the world might be falling down around us. And, in a way, it is! Sometimes we call these tragic experiences of nature “pictures of the end times”. We know that this world will not last forever, and that sin will always be a part of it. We know that we, and all people born into this world, will never be able to live the perfect life that we would need to live to go to heaven. Only Jesus lived that perfect life, for us. He earned our way to heaven.

Why doesn’t God stop the fires and storms? And couldn’t he rid the world of disease at one command? Yes, he could. Yet there is a purpose when he doesn’t. We are reminded of our own sinfulness and the sins of this world when he does not stop the hardships that come our way. God does not promise that we will never experience tragedy in this life, but we do know that God keeps every promise that he does make. God promises to be our shield in this world and to bring us to the next, our final home in heaven.

So God says in the Psalm that even though the world will not last, we will not be afraid. God is always with us, he is our fortress, or refuge, our strength. We look forward to the day when Jesus will take us home with him in heaven and we can leave all the pain and destruction behind forever.

The hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” was written based on Psalm 46. We thank God for protecting us from harm, for giving us his Word, and sending his son, Jesus, to win heaven for us. Listen to some of the words from this timeless hymn:
“And do what they will-hate, steal, hurt or kill—Though all may be gone, Our victory is won! The kingdom’s ours forever.”(Christian Worship 200:4)

God is our fortress! He is with us, though the world may crumble around us. Although there is evil and destruction in this world, “though all may be gone”, God has won the battle over sin for us. He has won the victory for us and freely gives us his kingdom, heaven.

Prayer: Dear God, our Mighty Fortress,
Thank you for giving us the comfort of your Word in this Psalm during the challenging times of this world. Help us to remember that you are our refuge, you are our strength, and that you will always help in times of trouble. Amen.

Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Psalm 27:7-11

The face of God can be a terrifying thing. Moses was forced into a cleft of a rock and only the backside of God passed by him. He could not see the face of God and live. It would have been too much for a mere mortal.

In the same way we can only see glimpses of a hidden God. God hides. That sounds awful but it is true. God hides. But he paradoxically hides in order to be revealed. He does not show his glorious face to us because it would be too much. His glory would blow away sinners like us. So he hides. And when he hides, he becomes intimate. We do not stand in the glory of God wondering if we will be blown away. We go about our business every single day with God right next to us. It might sound like a consolation prize to have a hidden God instead of experiencing the full glory of the Almighty, but this is not true. He is close to us and that is a gift of God’s grace.

God hides so that he might be found on his own terms. He wants to be found in the most hidden of all places, the cross. Who would look for a glorious God in that godless scene? David sought after the face of God. He wanted God to look on him with favor, that is, to look at him and not turn away. We want the same. But the face of God does not look glorious—it looks like a man dying on the cross. Here is where we see the Father turn his face away from his Son so that he can turn his face towards us in mercy. Christ gets the justice we deserve and we get the kindness Christ earned for us.

But where do we look for the face of God today? Still at the cross of course but also in the people we serve. Having been spared wrath and given love, we now go into the world to love. When we love others, we love God. So where is the face of God in your life right now? The students looking to you every day. God saved you and now uses you to love his children. You are the face of God to them and they are the face of God to you.

Prayer: Jesus Christ, you are true God and fullness of the deity in bodily form. Help us to be your ambassadors in the world. Move us to see your face in all we serve so that in turn, they may see your loving face in our actions. Amen.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Fear does not play favorites. While specific fears might differ among us, if we’re honest we have to admit that we all fear something. Sometimes that fear can be irrational like farfetched conspiracy theories. Sometimes that fear can be perfectly rational like cancer which is a very real possibility for all of us. But what is really happening when you fear something? You are making whatever it is bigger than God and therefore, in your mind, it cannot be stopped. If you give that kind of power to whatever it is, that fear will destroy you. It will dominate your life. It will consume you.

King David wrote Psalm 27 at a time when he had many enemies conspiring against him. He had every earthly reason to fear. And so do you. I am sure that you can recite in your mind the things you fear the most on a daily basis. But notice how David saw all those potential fears in comparison to his LORD! His LORD was a light that chased away darkness in his heart. His LORD brought rescue from every foe. His LORD was like a mighty stronghold which could never be breached. And if a loving God is bigger than anything one might fear (and he is), then you can sing with King David, “Whom shall I fear?” and “Of whom shall I be afraid?” The answer is nothing.

So David went confidently onto the battle field and into the political arena of his day. He took his lumps (we all do), but ultimately, he was given a true victory for all eternity – salvation in God. This same God who was a light to David and drove away all fear is your God. The same God who was David’s salvation is your God. So whom shall you fear? Nobody and nothing but a loving Father in heaven who has your eternal best interests in mind.

Prayer:Heavenly Father, be a light for our path. Drive away all dark fear from our worrisome hearts. Be our rock and fortress in which we find peace from all our enemies. Amen.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

What is it about red juice and little ones? You can give them a cup of water and the spills will be minimal. But when red juice is involved, it seems like the possibility of spills grows exponentially! And when it spills, it’s as though it is drawn to anything white or light colored. The stains are brutal, and often no matter what you do a hint of the stain lingers as a constant reminder.

Our verses from Psalm 51 were written by David. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had given orders that her husband should be sent to the front lines of battle where he was killed. Nathan the prophet had come to David to confront him regarding his sin. David was overwhelmed with grief and penitence. He felt the stain of sin covering him. He pleaded to God for his forgiveness with words such as: “Have mercy on me,” “blot out my transgressions,” “wash away all my iniquity, “cleanse me from my sin.” He repeated his plea four times in this short section highlighting the intensity of his grief.  David had sinned.  He had rejected God and his will.  Sorrow filled his heart and he felt a deep need for forgiveness.

Notice in the verses how David included what he knew about God’s mercy. He asked for God’s forgiveness because of God’s “unfailing love” and his “great compassion”. While overwhelmed in sadness over his sin, David prayed for God’s mercy, his love, and his compassion. What an amazing statement of God’s love for David and for all sinners. God hates sin and expects perfection. Yet God also dearly loves his people to the point of sending Jesus to wash away every sin. And when God forgives sins, David’s and our own, they are gone…washed away…covered with God’s grace. There is no hint of stain left in God’s eyes. Because of Jesus, God looks at us and sees his dearly loved and redeemed children. No greater statement of love has ever been made than when Jesus washed away our sins on the cross.

You and I can scrub all day and some of those red juice stains are there permanently. You and I have times where sin and guilt can be overwhelming. We can struggle with where to turn and how to resolve our guilt. It’s then that we turn to God just as David did. When we go to God in faith, his mercy and grace are ours because of Jesus. We are perfectly clean in God’s eyes and at peace with him. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Thank you, dear Savior!

Prayer:
Dear Father, when I am overwhelmed by my sins, remind me of your mercy, compassion, and grace. Thank you for washing me clean of my sins through Jesus. Help me to reflect your grace in all I do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I can do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.”

Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.”
Exodus 6:1-2, 6-8

“Watch me!” Isn’t it amazing to watch a young child as they learn something new and to hear the excitement in their voice as they tell you to watch? They are practically bursting with enthusiasm. “Let me show you what I can do” is their message to you.

Our verses today begin in a similar way. The LORD says to Moses, “Now you will see what I can do to Pharaoh.” You may know this story. God’s people, the Israelites, had been living as captives in Egypt. They were subject to harsh treatment and even more, they were kept from going to Canaan, the land God had promised them. God had sent Moses as their leader. Moses had been trying to get Pharaoh to let the Israelites go with no success. Moses goes to God to plead on their behalf. What an answer he got!

“I am the LORD.” To Moses, these few words were a clear reminder of who God was. He is the eternal God, the one who keeps his covenant, his promise. This promise was to redeem or save God’s people, not just from Pharaoh, but even more, from their sin. The LORD was about to show who he was and what he could do.

The LORD told Moses to take this message back to Israel. He told Moses to tell them that he is the LORD who keeps his promises and backs this up with what he does.

You and I don’t have Pharaoh in our lives, but we do have struggles. At times our struggles can seem insurmountable. Worst of all is our struggle with sin.

When we read accounts like the one today, it reminds us of two things: God, in love for us, keeps his promises to us and God is all powerful. If he can wipe out Pharaoh and his army for the Israelites, he surely can wipe out our trials. And even if he allows a trial or disappointment to continue, he promises to give you the strength you need. Each time you open the Bible and read what God has done for us, you can almost hear him say, “Watch me. Look at what I have done for you because I love you.” He conquered armies over and over. He brought down walls in Jericho without anyone touching a stone or brick. He fed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. He healed blindness and raised people from the dead. Above all else, he destroyed Satan and paid what we owed for our sins.

Watch him. He did all this for you so that you would have no doubt about the depth of his love for you and how he sent his only son, Jesus, to the cross for you. Each day as you share Bible stories and devotions with the children, you can say, “Watch him! See what God has done and keeps doing for you because he loves you!”

Prayer: Dear Father, over and over the Word tells us who you are. Help us to watch and learn again and again how you have shown love to us and to the world. We treasure your Word and thank you for it. In Jesus we pray. Amen

A Question to Consider: Find a friend or colleague and make a list of all the examples God shares in the Bible of his power and his love. List the battles won, the miracles, the acts of judgment, the enemies conquered, and on and on. See how long a list you can gather. Then reflect on the list and remind yourself that he shares all this to remind you of his love for you, his love shown through Jesus, and his promise to be with you in all things.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:35-37

Don’t you love a child with a cape. The look on their faces is pure joy and confidence. With arms raised they fly off to save the day! They can conquer the bad guys and save you, their friends, and every stuffed animal in the room! They exude a feeling of strength and ability and no evidence that they could possibly loose this battle.

Think about that child. They are excited and full of confidence. Fear is not part of their role playing. On what do they base their confidence? They have seen superheroes in videos. They have a cape and maybe a costume. In their imagination, they have all the superpowers they need.

You and I have battles to fight and fears to squelch. Every day we are faced with the influences of the world, the impact of sin in our world, and concerns that can leave us looking for that superhero.

Of all the challenges we face, the most terrifying is our own sin that could lead to a separation from Christ and his love. Without Christ, we are completely lost. Our guilt can challenge our faith and leave us feeling discouraged and despairing. All the capes of the world can’t change that.

While you might not don a cape, you can have even more confidence and enthusiasm than the young child in your room. You don’t have a fictitious character as your model of a superhero. You have someone far more powerful than a superhero. You have the loving and living God who created you and everything in your world. He is the one who looked at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden hiding after they sinned and responded with the promise of Jesus. That promise wasn’t just for Adam and Eve. It was for you and me as well! No matter what happens to you during your short life on earth, you have grace and forgiveness and heaven is yours. His forgiveness assures us that nothing can separate us from him. He has conquered far more than any superhero; he has conquered our sin. You and I can fly into each day with confidence that we are conquerors through Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am so grateful for your grace. Help me to keep the words of Romans 8 in front of me to remind me that in the words of the hymnwriter:

Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever;
Unto them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth. Amen.
Christian Worship 449:3

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.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

As the little boy waits at the window for his mom and dad to pick him up, you assure him that it’s going to be okay. His mom and dad will be here soon, and you hope this is true.

Your director calls and the plans for this fall need to be changed again. She reassures you it will be okay, and you hope that this is true.

Your brother calls with news that the doctor’s results were not what he had hoped for. You reassure him that everything will be okay, and you hope that this is true.

Your conversation with a parent concerning their child’s struggles seems to leave them anxious. You assure them that as you work together for the child, it will be okay, and you hope this is true.

Today’s passage can easily be misused in a way that may make us think, “I’ve got God. This is going to be just fine.” However, you have all had situations in your life where things don’t always turn out just fine in an earthly sense. Accidents happen. Illness takes the lives of people we care about. Plans change. Children may have learning or social/emotional challenges that are with them throughout their lives.

God hasn’t left us when the outcome is not what we hoped for. He has not abandoned us to the challenges of life. He has promised to be with us, and he has made and kept the greatest promise –the promise of heaven to all who believe in him. All our daily struggles are hard, but none are more difficult than our struggle with sin. God removed our sin and our guilt when he sent Jesus. Since we know he loves us that much and since we know that our relationship with him is secure because of Jesus, we have comfort and encouragement to face all our challenges. We can be reassured, and we can reassure each other that God is there, walking alongside us. He walks with us through the challenges reminding us that he is there and that he can bring blessings from the most difficult of trials. And above all, he has promised us heaven. He assures us that while things may be hard, it will be okay because of what Jesus has done for us. Forgiveness is ours. God is with us. Heaven is assured. We don’t hope it is true. We know it is true—even when we cannot begin to make sense of the reason for the trials.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give me courage when things are difficult. Remind me always to focus on you. Help me see your blessings each day and reflect your love to all around me. In your name I pray. Amen

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

“It’s just so hard. I don’t know what to do. How do I know if I’m making the right decision? What do I do if I feel I have no choice? What if I make the wrong decision?”

Things are hard right now. The questions above may be ones that you’ve heard from parents as they try to make decisions for their children. They might be questions that you have considered. “Do we open or is it better to remain closed?” “Will we meet in person or virtually or a mix of both?” “How do I know if I have the best information to make decisions?” “When can we get back to normal-whatever that is?”

Wouldn’t it be great if our decisions, especially the really hard ones, had a clear answer? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have a Zoom meeting with God to discuss our concerns and our plans?

God has made so many promises to us. He promised to lead the people of Israel back to the Promised Land of Canaan and he did. He promised that Abraham’s family would be a direct line to the promised Savior. He kept that promise in Abraham and Sarah’s old age. He promised to save Noah and his family, and that promise was kept in a miraculous way. He promised to send a Savior and fulfilled that promise in Jesus. He promised that through Jesus, every one of our sins would be marked paid in full. He promised to be with us in all things. He has kept that promise and continues to do so.

One thing he did not promise is that our lives would be without challenge and suffering. In fact, he states that there will be suffering. But along with that suffering are his promises. He promises to be with us. He promises that he will bless our efforts to share his Word. He promises that even though we continue to sin, can be tempted by fear or doubt, his forgiveness is ours. Our confidence and peace are in that forgiveness and in his promises. All of those struggles that we face, all those questions we wrestle with, are nothing compared to what he has prepared for us in heaven. We don’t need a Zoom meeting, we can look in his Word. There God reminds us that all that we are experiencing is just temporary. He reminds us that our place in heaven is already set and ready and filled with glories that we can’t imagine with our limited understanding. And because of those promises, we can face our challenges knowing that he is with us. While we don’t know when each of us will join God in heaven, we can live each day with joy and confidence that heaven is ours.

Prayer:
Jesus, lead us on till our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow, calm and fearless.
Guide us by your hand to our fatherland.

If the way be drear, if the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o’ertake us;
Let not faith and hope forsake us,
For through many a woe to our home we go. Amen
Christian Worship 422:1,2

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 10:38-39

“It’s a cross I have to bear” is a statement that you might sometimes hear or say. When said, the person is likely referencing something that’s a struggle or challenge in their life. Sometimes it can even be said in jest. But what does it really mean to “take up their cross and follow me?”

As I sit at my desk reading this passage, I’m stopped at the first sentence. What does it mean to take up my cross and follow Christ? Have I done that? Am I doing that? How do I do that? I get an immediate sense of failure. My failure is founded in my view of what this passage is saying. When I focus on my taking up my cross, I am the center of the action. If left up to me, I truly am not worthy of Christ, just as the passage says.

When we talk about bearing a cross for Christ, it’s hardly a reference to the often mundane earthly challenges that we have. Bearing our cross is talking about those struggles we have because of our faith. It may be the challenges brought by a friend who tries to push you to a decision you know is not God pleasing. Bearing a cross may be the views you have on current issues that don’t align with what may seem to be popular.

But what is our goal? The passage puts it so beautifully: “whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Sometimes it’s easy to focus on what we may give up because of our faith. Some of our decisions may look like a list of things we “can’t do”. However, when we compare that to the joy and contentment we have knowing that we have peace with God, those things lose their importance. Sin and its affects are everywhere. Disease, crime, acts of disobedience and hate, strained relationships, a lack of trust, and on and on. What do we do? How do we cope? We look to God and his promises. Those things we seem to give up are so temporary. What we have in Christ is so much more. Life in heaven without all those effects of sin is ours because of Jesus. It’s hard to imagine how beautiful, how perfect heaven will be. But even more, it’s hard to imagine what it will be like to be standing there with Jesus forever. Forever! Take the world and all its trappings. You and I have Jesus for eternity. That cross we bear is nothing compared to the cross that he bore because his love for you wanted you with him each day of eternity in heaven.

Prayer:
Take the world but give me Jesus! In his cross my trust shall be
Till with clearer, brighter vision face to face my Lord I see.
Oh, the height and depth of mercy;
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above! Amen
Christian Worship 355:3

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:35-38

In England, some villages are built with walled, narrow passageways for transporting sheep. These small alleys are so very narrow that there is only room for sheep to go through in single file. There is no escape so that sheep cannot accidentally go off the path and into danger. Sometimes these passageways even stretch across the entire town so that sheep can be led safely to pasture. Without these trails, sheep could be lost and scattered throughout the village.

God uses this illustration of sheep and a shepherd several times in the Bible. All of us are like the sheep, wandering the world and looking for the right path. The narrow path, like those in the English villages, is like God’s Word. When we read and study the Bible, we learn about Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Jesus is the only way to heaven.

Jesus had compassion on people because he saw how “lost” they were—“like sheep without a shepherd”. He knew that people were on their way to hell. He traveled through small towns and villages, healing the sick and preaching the good news that we are free from sin because of Christ. The disciples, Jesus’ followers and helpers, witnessed first-hand Jesus’ compassion for the people and the need for other “workers” to have this same love for God’s people. They were directly instructed to continue this work of compassion after Jesus died.

Jesus wants us to have this same love and compassion for others and also offers us the privilege of doing this work for him. We are serving Jesus by helping others, and we remember that Jesus doesn’t need us to do this work. Beware! The devil wants us to think that helping others learn more about Jesus is a chore, a burden. Not so! Jesus has all the power and could use other ways to bring people close to Him.

Jesus wants us to serve him by teaching others about his life death, and Easter resurrection. He wants us to help others become “workers in the field”, too. He creates that desire in our hearts as he shows us the same compassion as he did to those lost crowds. He renews our hearts through the healing message of his gospel. That forgiveness moves us to joyfully answer the call, “Here am I, send me”. May we serve our Lord by happily seeking other “sheep” for his kingdom.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Our Shepherd,
Thank you for the privilege and joy that we have serving others. Help us to continue our work with compassion and understanding, that we may teach others about your saving love. Give us the strength and zeal to do your work throughout our whole life and until we see you in heaven. Amen.

A Question to Consider: In what ways can you show compassion to people God has placed in your life? How can you recruit workers to join you in serving others with compassion?

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 3:28

“My child gave you a tough time today. There’s a special place in heaven for you!” Has a parent ever said this to you? The parent is joking but also wants you to know that you are appreciated. They might even be apologizing for their child’s behavior. It seems harmless, right?

This idea that your actions earn you a place in heaven is not only untrue, but joking about it can be very dangerous. First of all, even the good that we do can still be tainted with sin. For example, perhaps we do an act of service out of love for someone. But we also do the act of service for our own benefit as well, such as to look better among our peers, to earn respect, or for a returned favor. “Selfless acts” can be disguised acts of pride.

God’s Word says that we need to be perfect to go to heaven. God says that we could earn our way to heaven. . .if we were perfect. This means never, ever having a bad thought. Never, ever hating a person or wanting something that belongs to someone else. Never, ever lying. Never hurting another person. Never, ever doubting God. Never sinning. Every thought and action would need to be pure and holy. Impossible, right? Exactly. We cannot earn our way to heaven. We are not perfect. Try as we might, we will never be pure on our own.

We are only free to enjoy the gifts of heaven through faith in Christ Jesus, not because of any good that we do. We are “justified” when God declares us righteous, not by our own works but through the work of Jesus, who died on the cross.

What a relief this is! Even our sin-tainted good deeds are pure in his sight because Jesus took on our sin and guilt. We are justified, or pardoned from God, as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. May we continue to serve others in thankfulness for this free gift!

We are just like the long-ago people of Corinth! We daily struggle against our sins, and we daily need the power of God’s forgiveness in Christ. God is holy and just. Through his perfection we are given the gift of eternal life in heaven. May we find comfort in these words! Through the Word we are daily reminded that we have been freely given grace, love, fellowship, and eternal life. May we gladly share these gifts that our God gave us with everyone.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us the free gift of eternal life through Jesus, your Son. Please forgive me for the wrong that I do. Help me to show your love in my words and actions. Amen.

A Question to Consider: A parent jokes, “there is a special place in heaven for you for how you helped my child today”. What can you say to gently remind her that God’s gift of heaven is free and not earned by the “good things” we do?

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Joel 2:28-29

Why doesn’t God talk to us like he does in our Bible stories? Has a young child ever asked you that question? Children hear the story of God talking to his people in the Bible and they wonder what he sounds like, what he looks like. They want to hear his voice. They wonder why we can’t hear him.

After that first Easter, and before Jesus went up into heaven, he told the disciples that God the Holy Spirit would visit them soon and help prepare them for telling others about Jesus. The special day that the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and others that believed in Jesus is called “Pentecost”. The verses from Joel were fulfilled on that first Pentecost. It was a spectacular sight! God came to them in the wind and fire and even allowed the disciples to speak in different languages. How wonderful it must have been that day, to be given strong faith through the power of the Holy Spirit and to share this joy with so many others.

While God does not come to us in the same way as he did to those in our Bible lessons, God is still here! God comes to us not in the wind or fire. He chooses not to speak to us from a burning bush like he did with Moses and he doesn’t send angels to give us messages like he chose to do with the shepherds on the first Christmas. But God is real and very alive.

The Holy Spirit continues to grow faith in our hearts and prepare us to bring others closer to him. He convinces us all that God’s Word is true and trustworthy. Even when we feel as though we aren’t “good enough”. We sometimes fail in our vocations as caregiver and educator, sister or brother, son or daughter, co-worker, and friend. We daily sin against those that we love and those that God places in our personal ministry. And yet, we are not alone, God is here.

God reveals himself to us in the Bible, his Word. The blessings from that first Pentecost are for everyone! God visits us every time that we open our Bible and he talks to us through its words. Every time that we read his Word or go to church, God reinforces for us the reliability of his revealed truth: he shares with us the promises that we are forgiven and will be with him in heaven. As we read, we can hear his voice sternly telling us when we are doing wrong and softly forgiving us after we repent. We can hear him reveal the wonders of his involvement in our world. God wants us to study his Word and for us to come to him in prayer. God IS here, he IS alive!

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, Light Divine, shine upon this heart of mine
Chase the gloom of night away; Turn the darkness into day.
See, to you I give my heart. Cleanse my life in every part.
Your own temple I would be now and for eternity.
CW 183 v. 1, 5

A Question to Consider: How can you plan your schedule to include time to read God’s Word daily? How can you encourage others to do the same?

[Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised.”

Luke 24:46-49a

Jesus spoke these words when he first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection. As he’s speaking to the disciples, Jesus uses an interesting word to describe them: “witnesses.” Witnesses of the Messiah’s suffering and death. Witnesses of the Savior’s victory over sin and death. Just like the disciples, we too are witnesses of the power of the gospel in our own lives.

In my first teaching position, I had the great privilege of witnessing two past students and their mother baptized in front of church on the same day. When I was speaking with the mother after the baptism, she emphasized how coming to church was healing her family. I will never forget the tears on her face after her baptism. Their story is one I will carry with me throughout my ministry because it emphasizes just how powerful the gospel is. The gospel changes lives!

It’s now our job, our privilege, to share what we’ve witnessed – to share the power of the gospel to change lives. But who are we to do that? Doubts and insecurities leave us feeling less than capable for such an important job. But just like he did for the disciples, God sends the Holy Spirit to us, too, to help share the powerful gospel message.

We are working for the kingdom of God, and that’s what our callings are all about. Whether through a child being baptized, a family joining the church, or a three-year-old singing “Jesus Loves Me,” we see the Holy Spirit at work in the world. And the cool part is that not only do we get to witness it; we get to participate in it through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Dear Father, may your Holy Spirit work in my heart and the hearts of many to bring the good news of your saving word to all creation. Amen.

A Question to Consider: Do you know any families whose lives could be changed by the saving gospel message? How might the Holy Spirit work through you to bring that gospel to them?