Tag Archive for: ecme devotions

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:7

“Hurry up and wait” was a phrase I often heard growing up. When a great event or important change in life was far off in the future, we had to “hurry up and wait”. The urgency was there but we had to wait. It is hard to wait. Ask any child promised a trip to Disneyland or to McDonald’s for that matter. It’s just as hard for adults to wait. Ask anybody waiting for a tax-refund or waiting for grandchildren to finally be born.

The person for whom we wait the most is Jesus. We wait for his return to take us to heaven. We wait for his promises of joy and peace to be fulfilled. We wait. But we wait in hope. And in this hope we will not be disappointed. We may not like the wait but we will not be disappointed. In heaven there is an ocean of bliss for every drop of frustration on earth.

Nor are we disappointed with Christ’s work here on earth. Again, we might grumble at the wait but not the results, that is, if we have the gift of a true hope. Think about the school year. At the beginning it might seem like speaking to little ones is like speaking to a wall. You are not quite sure anybody is actually listening. Why bother? But then the last weeks of the school year come and you remind yourself how far these kids have grown in a few short months. It was worth it, wasn’t it? And even if you did not see the results you were hoping for, you know that what you said might bear fruit the next year, the year after that, or even twenty years down the road. That’s out of your hands. So you hope.

In a more powerful way we place our hope in Christ not yet seeing all that he does behind the scenes through us and through others who serve us. This is hope. Hope is in what is unseen. Yet it is not blind. We see Christ’s track record. He has not let us down yet. He has fulfilled prophecy after prophecy. He has loved the unlovable. He died for us sinners and rose from the dead to defeat death for us. Why doubt? Sure, waiting is tough but with this hope we plug along in the sure conviction that Christ will make all things right for us.

Prayer: My God and Savior, give me the hope of a future great reward and lead me to love those around me in great joy. Amen.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Be joyful always.” Wow, that’s a tall order! God blesses me daily, but I admit that there are many times when I don’t radiate joy. It’s difficult to be happy when I feel the press of many tasks to be completed or when I’m faced with challenging students or parents or difficult home situations. How can I be joyful always?

One thing to remember is that God’s definition of joy does not match the world’s definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines joy as being “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune.” God, however, does not promise us an earthly life without troubles. Because of our sin, we will face troubles and sad times. Even Jesus, the one who never sinned, felt sadness at his friend Lazarus’ death.

True joy goes deeper than happiness at good fortune. True joy is knowing that even in our deepest times of sorrow, our Savior is with us. He draws us closer to him through our suffering. He comforts and reassures us, promising a perfect life with him. Because that’s the goal, isn’t it? We walk this path of uncertainties and difficulties knowing that Jesus, our Savior, is guiding us to be with him forever. The apostle Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

With this outlook, our joy will show, but not necessarily by a smile or a cheerful face. Our joy in Jesus shines when we trust our Lord to help us in times of trouble as in times of contentment. It shines when we share the reason for our joy with the people around us. It shines when we talk to our Savior and thank him for all that he does for us. It shines because our joy doesn’t originate in us; it comes from the source and creator of all – our Lord Jesus Christ. So yes, be joyful always, confident that this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord of glory, you have bought us with your lifeblood as the price,
Never grudging for the lost ones that tremendous sacrifice.
Give us faith to trust you boldly, hope, to stay our souls on you;
But, oh, best of all your graces, with your love our love renew.
Amen.

Christian Worship 486:5

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-11

“My God is so big, so strong and so mighty; there’s nothing my God cannot do!” Perhaps you know this song and are humming it in your mind right now. It is a current favorite in my classroom. The students love singing about their strong God who can do everything.

What a blessing to know our God is mighty! It’s not so easy to be strong, as today’s passage encourages. We live in a world of temptations, troubles, and trials. The devil uses anything he can to draw our focus away from our Savior. On our own, we cannot stand up to him. But our almighty God can, and he did! He loves us so much he sacrificed his own Son. In Jesus we see the true strength of our God on display, the strength to set aside his power so that he might take our place and we might have salvation. “Jesus made himself nothing…and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8). Our all-powerful God has not forsaken us.

Not only did God save us, he also equips us to stand against the devil’s schemes. He provides armor that can withstand any enemy: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17). As we read and study God’s Word, we become stronger. Armed with God’s true, powerful word, we battle the devil’s lies and temptations. We get to help others put on their armor as we share Jesus’ love with our students, school families, and each other. God gives us his strength.

My students’ favorite part of singing “My God Is So Big” is the ending. After singing about the wonderful things God has done, they finish with, “There’s nothing my God cannot do FOR YOU!” No matter what we are facing, God is stronger, God is mightier. He gives us the strength and armor to be strong in the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord of love, we bow before you, humbled by your constant grace.
Word incarnate, sent from heaven, on the cross you took our place.
By your death and resurrection, we shall live through endless days!
Lord of life, we sing your praise.

Christian Worship 237:3

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

I Corinthians 2:4-5

“I don’t know what to say. I am afraid I won’t say it well enough or won’t say the right thing. I get so nervous when people ask me.”

Do you ever feel like that or find yourself saying these things? While you work with small children, your work is significant and impactful. It carries a lot of responsibility for a child’s learning, for their social and emotional development, and especially for their spiritual growth. However, you don’t just care for the children. To be as effective as possible, you realize that a strong partnership and relationship with the family is vital. And as you work together with the parents and caregivers, difficult questions or situations can come up and you find yourself looking for the words to say. It may be a challenging behavior, a severely sick child or family member, or a death in the family. Sometimes parents will come to you with questions about matters of faith. You know that this is an opportunity to encourage the family with the comfort of the Word, but you are searching for the best way to say it or are hesitant to respond.

In our reading today, Paul was speaking to the people of the congregation in Corinth. This was a city and time where scholarly wisdom from eloquent speakers was highly regarded. While our impression of Paul may be that he was an impressive orator, he indicates the opposite. Can you imagine how nervous he may have been to address this audience with concern for the success of his preaching? But in the text today, Paul admits that he is not wise and persuasive, at least not by the standards that the Corinthians were used to. His words had an impact and the church grew but not because of Paul. It was the Holy Spirit’s work in people’s hearts that made them see that the wisdom of the world is foolishness and true wisdom is in God. All the power, all the wisdom, all the impact was because of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word. It wasn’t Paul at all. I can almost hear him exhale. I can almost hear you exhale.

You have a great responsibility for sure. You are possibly a child’s first teacher outside their home. You have a privilege and opportunity to share the powerful message of God’s grace with the children and with their families. It’s not about you. It’s not about your gift for speaking. It’s about the Holy Spirit’s power and work in the hearts of those with whom you share the gospel. Your weakness reminds you to lean on God and your nervousness reflects how important this message is. But have confidence in the One for whom you speak. You know the message. It is God’s message of love for sinners, forgiveness, and grace through Jesus. Pray for opportunities to share this message. Pray for humility and boldness and that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those who hear.

Prayer:
Lord, first I want to thank you for the privilege to share your message of grace with the children and families I serve. Please give me both humility and confidence to tell them about you, about your love, your forgiveness, your grace. Remind me to be confident in the Holy Spirit’s work and the power of your Word. In your name I pray. Amen

Something to Consider:
Last week you may have made a list of people you would like to witness to. Sometimes our hesitancy is in not knowing what to say. This week, write down a few key thoughts and Bible verses that can help you in those conversations. You may also want to include people who can help when you don’t have the answers. Include a note that reminds you of the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of people. It’s not about you or me; it’s all about Jesus.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:2-4

This month our devotions focus on the theme and message of the new movie from the Commission on Evangelism— To the Ends of the Earth. The movie follows Paul’s remarkable visit to the city of Philippi, recorded in Acts 16 and how the gospel is for all. Today we consider praying for those who proclaim the gospel.
One of the highlights of any day is getting a Facetime call from one of our sons, their wives, or our grandchildren. No matter what I’m doing or what my mood is, I’m always delighted to hear from them. I want to hear all the details of their lives including the joys and the struggles.

Our heavenly Father is even more eager to hear from those he loves. In our verses today, he tells us to devote ourselves to prayer. He wants to hear from us through prayer. He wants to listen as we share our grateful thanks, our repentant confessions, and our pleas to him for help with struggles. He also wants to hear our intercessions for others.

Did you know that there is a “Pray for your Pastor” month? There is, and this is it! During October you may see reminders to keep your pastor in your prayers. The writer of today’s reading is the apostle Paul who is asking the Colossian people to pray for him and those who serve with him. He’s not asking for himself but for the message he is sharing. Paul asks that the Colossians pray boldly that the Lord would open doors of opportunity to share the gospel message and that God would give him wisdom and courage to proclaim the gospel faithfully and effectively.

We all have human limitations and so do our pastors and missionaries. They, like us, live in a sinful world that is not always receptive to the gospel. They have God-given gifts, but they also have areas where they struggle. They will tell you what a blessing it is and what an encouragement it is to know that God’s people are holding them up in prayer.

So, this month, today, or any day, pray for pastors and missionaries. Thank God for their heart for sharing God’s message of grace. Thank God for their faithful dedication to the work to which they are called. Pray boldly that God opens door after door of opportunities for them to share God’s forgiveness and grace. Pray that the messenger does not get in the way of a clear and powerful proclamation of the gospel. Pray also that he provides you with the same opportunities and the eagerness to share God’s amazing grace—to the ends of the earth!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, to your true servants give the grace to you alone to live.
Set free from sin to serve you, Lord, they go to share your living Word,
The gospel message to proclaim that all may know your saving name.

They gladly go at your command to spread your Word o’er sea and land.
Be with them Lord, and make them strong to heal sin’s ills, to right the wrong.
Your rule is over wind and wave, and mighty is your arm to save.

When all their labor seems in vain, revive their sinking hopes again;
And when success crowns what they do, oh, keep them humble, Lord, and true
Until before your judgment seat they lay their trophies at your feet. Amen

Christian Worship 542

Something to Consider:
What are ways that you can encourage your students to pray for your pastor, other pastors, and for missionaries? Is there a way to let them know you and your class are praying for them?

A suite of supplemental materials to go along with the new movie, To the Ends of the Earth have been developed for teachers. To check out these materials, including a Bible lesson for early childhood and one for primary grades, go to welscongregationalservices.net/c18

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

“It’s like herding cats!” Have you ever thought that as you were working to guide a group of young children from point A to point B? The younger they are, the more unaware they can seem to your direction and guidance. As you gently turn them in the direction you would like them to go, they eventually or even immediately turn back towards the things that have their attention. Especially when safety comes into play, this can be a challenge for sure.

Can’t we be just like that wandering child? We can toddle along with our focus drawn from one thing to the next. We get at our tasks and daily list of things to do sometimes without much thought. We have our plans, our goals, our dreams. And when all is well, we continue on with self-assured confidence.

Are you like me? Do you often wait until things are not so well to turn to the Lord? Do you wait until you’ve exhausted all other options and then smack your forehead and say, “I can ask Jesus for help with this one!” We are wrapped in a human nature that is independent to a fault. We, like the toddler, want to do it ourselves and do it our way. And all the while, our patient and loving Lord is there. He wants to hear, wants to guide, wants us to follow him. Through the Word, he provides the answers we need for our earthly journey. Our verses today provide a wonderful prayer for us.

“Show me your ways, O LORD.” We so often get so stuck in our own ways that we can lose sight of you and your love for us. What are your ways, Lord? In this prayer we ask you to show them to us, so we don’t get stuck in our own sinful ways. Show us the path you want for us. We have so many things before us and life can feel like there is a multi-pronged fork in the road. The truths you have given us in your Word can guide and teach us. Help us listen to you and learn from you.

The last two phrases express a confidence in the one to whom we pray. “You are my God and Savior.” What more do we need to know? What here on earth can provide even a fraction of what God has done and continues to do for us? Our life is full of challenges, disappointment, fear, and heartache. What can we cling to? Our hope is in the Lord not just today but every day. Why? Because, unlike the world, the Lord’s ways, paths, and truths are all founded in his overwhelming love for us. His ways, his path, his truth can provide guidance and direction today but also lead us to the ultimate goal, heaven. He is our one true hope and we can have unshakable confidence in him.

When you are shepherding your group of little ones, recall Jesus’ loving and yet firm guidance for you. In faith, be open and eager to learn from him. When you stray, turn to him for his forgiveness. We can trust him completely as he guides us on his path, in his truth, as God our Savior.

Prayer:

Lord, take my hand and lead me upon life’s way;
Direct, protect, and feed me from day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray;
So take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way. Amen.

Christian Worship 439:1

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

“The love of Jesus permeates the early childhood ministry’s culture and establishes the bond among students, teachers, and parents.” (Building Blocks: A Handbook for Beginning and Operating a Christian Early Childhood Ministry 2015 WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools)

This statement is included as one of the essential characteristics of a WELS early childhood ministry. One of the words that stands out is “permeates.” Dictionary.com defines permeate as: “to pass into or through every part of.” I think of sugar in a cup of tea. Once it’s in there, it’s in every sip and cannot be removed again. Or yeast affecting the whole lump of dough. It’s integrated into every drop of the cup of tea or morsel of the loaf of bread.

Our verse today reminds us to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Every day, as you read the Bible, study the Bible story lesson, share a devotion with a colleague, or worship in your church, the Holy Spirit is filling you with the word of Christ as you grow in faith and knowledge. And when our hearts are filled, it’s easier to share with those around us.

Think of your day with the little ones, their families, your colleagues. Jesus is part of every little thing and every big thing you do each day. While you likely aren’t speaking about Jesus at every moment and in every conversation, you can still reflect him in your warmth, your understanding, your patience, your joy. Your share Jesus as you kneel next to a young child and marvel at the caterpillar, created by God. Jesus is part of your conversation as you comfort a child who is sad or frightened. We share Jesus when we comment about how incredible it is that Jesus heals their scraped knee. Jesus is there when we model forgiveness with a child or ask for forgiveness from a colleague or parent. Jesus is not something we reserve for Bible story time, devotions, or prayer time. He permeates everything. He is the heart of what we do all day long.

Your days are full. They are full of highs and lows, joys and disappointments. But as you experience each moment, you can look to God’s precious word for wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and forgiveness when we fail. We also find a multitude of expressions of joy in God’s word that reflect our delight in the blessings all around us.

So, be in the Word and let it dwell in you richly so that you more consistently and faithfully reflect Christ. Then teach each other, encourage each other, and sing with a heart that is full of joy that can only come from the precious news of the gospel you know and are privileged to share. Let it permeate all you do all day, every day.

Prayer: Dear Lord, fill me up with your Word. Then help me to share you with all those around me each day, all day. In your name I pray. Amen

Something to Consider: Have a discussion with your staff on ways that you can read and study the Word together and how growth shows itself in various ways. Also talk about ways that you see and hear each other share Jesus throughout the day.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!

Psalm 25:16-19

Angie had agreed to go anywhere the Lord needed her when she graduated from college. She was assigned to a small school in California and within a few weeks had packed up her few material items and moved across the country, far away from her family in South Dakota. Moving across the country and learning a new way of life in a big city was an amazing experience. The traffic, all the unique restaurants, the ocean drives, and the busyness of the California culture were all very exciting. Not only that, since it was her first time living completely on her own, she enjoyed the independence and self-sufficiency. Working with the children in her classroom was best of all. They loved her and openly showed it every day with hugs, pictures they drew for her, and running into the room every morning to tell her about the activities from the evening before.

By the end of her first year, the newness and excitement of independent living had worn off. Angie missed her family and deeply wished she lived close enough to see them on the weekends. The isolation of living on her own made her apartment gloomy, no matter how brightly she decorated it. Her daily commute through traffic reminded her that no one really knew her in the big city.

The Psalmist writes about his loneliness and anguish, praying out to the Lord, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” God designed us to be social beings; it is one of our basic needs. When we communicate and interact with other people in our daily activities, we connect. The feeling of connectedness gives our lives meaning and purpose. It is a motivation. When deep connections are missing in our life, there is an emptiness and feeling of isolation. We may even be more than lonely as the psalmist says. We may be bearing affliction in some form of distress or even hatred from another person.

Fortunately, we have a friend who has felt the loneliness, affliction, and hatred. Jesus knows exactly how we feel. He has gone before us and has lived his life perfectly in our place amid all of the loneliness and affliction. He felt the ultimate loneliness hanging on the cross in our place, separated from his Father. He puts people in our lives in our school, church, and neighborhood as companions to whom we can reach out in our loneliness. We can go to him in prayer, confident that he not only hears us, but he understands how we feel in our earthly loneliness. And he gives us his promise that he is always with us, that he will never leave us or forsake us. What a comfort!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please be with me in my loneliness on this earth. At times I am surrounded by people but do not feel they really know who I am. Help me be a friend to others in their loneliness. Amen.

Questions to Consider: When do you feel lonely? How can you befriend someone you know who is feeling lonely or not connected to other Christians? How can this also help you in your loneliness?

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

Psalm 25:6-7

A young man named Peter was growing up in foster care when he met the love of his life at an event for fellow foster children. The two literally lived on opposite ends of the country, but they remained in contact afterwards – mailing letters back and forth to each other. Eventually, the two decided to get married and share their life together at the tender age of 19. Married life was exciting at first, but soon the daily struggles of communication and the little annoyances of living with another person started to build up. The couple started disagreeing on many, petty things which then lead to fighting. Eventually, their communication just stopped all together. Peter’s first reaction was to run away. After all, that is the answer modeled for him growing up – every time his mother’s life wasn’t going well, she got in the car and ran away with her children. In foster care, if things were not going well, Peter would be moved to a new foster home.

Fast forward twenty years. Peter and his wife have matured and have four growing children. They endured their young years as newlyweds – even the times that they thought about giving up and walking away from each other. They learned the secret to forgiving – that Jesus had already forgiven them by living perfectly for them and dying in their place. They realized that the biggest wrongs they had done to each other were small in comparison to how they had disobeyed God – and God still forgives. They carefully watched couples in their church to discover this secret to marriage – Christ’s forgiveness unites them. They watched other couples communicate, compromise, work together, and forgive each other.

Peter talks about the “sins of his youth.” He knows he was young and impulsive. He regrets things he said and did not do in his marriage. It is with tears in his eyes that he remembers how he hurt his wife. He knows the words of the Psalmist, “Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love.” He knows the Lord remembers the love that Jesus showed by dying on the cross for the sins of his youth. Peter knows he is forgiven and because he is he can forgive and ask for forgiveness every day in his marriage.

Just as children easily forget the wrongs of their classmates a few minutes after an episode, the Lord forgets and never remembers our wrong-doings. Those sins that plague us as we think back to our younger years when we did things we would like to forget. We can be at peace because the Lord has forgotten them.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Please, forgive me for the sins of my youth. You know the secrets that still plague me. Give me peace to go forward in peace knowing that Jesus has caused you to forget all my wrongs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions to Consider: What sins of your youth still come back to cause you guilt? How do you comfort your students with the assurance of forgiveness?

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Colossians 1:28

Busy schedules. School events. Meetings. Committees. Your to-do list as a worker in the early childhood ministry is a lengthy one. Sometimes the list clouds your vision of what’s truly important. Has your list gotten in the way of your family time or a healthy lifestyle? Most disastrously, has your list gotten in the way of why you went into early childhood to begin with—proclaiming Christ crucified to those entrusted into your care?

In this section of Colossians, Paul is recounting his labor for the church. He doesn’t do this to bring attention to himself. He does so to remind us that our labors for the church are supported by Christ himself. Paul knew all too well that he was an imperfect person. He knew all too well some of the to-dos that could have gotten in the way of his ministry. He, like many of you, was working to the point of exhaustion for the sake of the Lord’s work.

But with the Lord’s help, Paul strove with all his energy to preach Christ crucified. Everything else Paul did paled in comparison to that one most important task—making Christ known to those who did not yet know him.

How was Paul able to keep such a laser-fine focus on his mission of proclaiming Christ? He understood and appreciated that his calling was from Christ himself. He understood that if he lost his focus, the sake of the gospel might be harmed. He understood that without Christ, there isn’t one person on this earth that stands perfect before a righteous Father. And so, he labored tirelessly for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.

Using Christ as your guide, and Paul as your example, keep a laser-fine focus on the task at hand. The devil will try to distract you with small pebbles so your focus on the mission of the church gets blurred. At such times, remember that Christ is your all in all. Go then and proclaim him!

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on proclaiming Jesus to those who do not yet know him and encouraging those who do. Strengthen me with the power of your Word and sacrament that I may serve and glorify you in all that I say, think, and do. Amen

(Reprinted from July 2016)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Americans are addicted to work. When meeting up with a friend for coffee, often the common question is, “How have you been?” The common answer is, “Busy.” We take pride in our busyness. We somehow feel that the busier we are, the more important we must be. Being a hard worker is a quality personality trait, but being a workaholic is not.

It is important during these quieter summer months to take time to renew your mind, body and faith. Your job of training young children to follow Jesus is so important. Being overworked, stressed and letting our faith grow weak is not being a faithful servant. There is only one solution to this: Jesus.

We can find comfort in Jesus’ life. Jesus was a hard worker. He preached from dawn until dusk. He went from town to town healing, teaching, and training his disciples. His work was very important, but even Jesus took time away from his work. He would go somewhere secluded with his friends or even wander off alone to speak with his Father. He needed to renew his strength and faith so he could continue to serve others. That life is YOUR life. Jesus lived it perfectly for you and it became your life at your baptism when Jesus took his perfection and put it on you.

We can find comfort in Jesus’ death. There Jesus paid for all sins for all time, which also became yours at your baptism. He forgives us for the times we fail to trust in him. He forgives us for the times we forget to draw from God’s Word.

The hope that we find in Jesus’ life and death fills us with peace and joy. Only when we are filled with those things will they overflow onto the children that we teach.

Prayer:
 Dear Heavenly Father, continue to fill me with your love, joy, and peace. May I be a light and a reflection of you to others in all I do. Amen.

(Reprinted from June 2016)

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

Years ago, our family had the opportunity to live abroad for one year. We loved our experiences that year. We loved the country, the traditions, the foods, and especially the people. But, we always knew that this was temporary and that at the end of the year, we would be going home. The year gave us new eyes for another culture and a heightened appreciation for our own country. As hard as the goodbyes were at the end of the year, we were so excited to be home.

This week we celebrate July 4 to recognize the founding of our country. It’s a day full of parades, picnics, fireworks, and national pride. Even with struggles that continue throughout our country, this is a day to stop and note what’s great about the United States. For each person the list will vary but often include the many freedoms we have.

Most of us are Americans by birth. We were born here and automatically became citizens. But as Christians, we know that while this is home, it’s only home for now. We have a far more important citizenship in heaven. This citizenship is ours by birth, but not our earthly birth to our parents. The new birth we have through Baptism, makes us a citizen of heaven. We have no heavenly passport to carry but our faith in Jesus identifies us as his child and therefore, a citizen of heaven.

Our earthly home is fraught with challenges, disasters, evil, hurt, and all kinds of disappointment and frustration. We can look at our country and the decisions that are made and become overwhelmed and discouraged. We even admit that our own attitudes toward government and leaders is not always pleasing to God. But then we remember our baptism. We remember what Jesus has done for us. We remember God’s unending love for us. While the challenges of sin are always around us, even more are the promises of God. This earthly life is temporary. This is not our home. Heaven is our home. And there we will no longer face the fear, hurt, disappointment, and pain of this life but will experience pure joy that will never end.

As we celebrate the 4th, let’s pray together for our country that the Lord will bless it. We pray he guides and directs our leaders to make God-pleasing decisions that maintain and protect our religious freedoms. We thank God for the multitude of blessings that are ours as citizens of this country. And above all, we thank God for our true citizenship in our heavenly home–no passport needed.

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, I thank you for my country and the blessings I have as a citizen. I thank you even more that I can claim citizenship with you in heaven. When sin affects my life, remind me that this is temporary and that you have made a home for me with you in heaven. In your name I pray, Amen.

Question to consider: It’s easy to focus on all the challenges our country faces. This week, make a list of the blessings we have in the United States. Consider asking others to add to the list. Perhaps you might include the freedom to worship as you choose, our national parks, the ability to vote, etc.