"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Day 183 - (Today’s Bible readings: 1 Kings 20:13-30; Psalm 2; Matthew 1:18-25)
NOTE: Due to upcoming internet issues, this daily blog. will go on hiatus for about a week starting tomorrow. I suggest that you follow the Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions for this time period. Here is the link that should work for each day:
WHAT MAKES GOD LAUGH?
Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his Anointed...
He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord holds them in derision.” (Psalm 2:1,2,4 ESV)
What do you think makes God laugh? It certainly must be our self-serving presumption that we are at the center of the universe instead of God. In Psalm 2, David is addressing the truth that “man plans and God laughs.” Yes, it is our foolish notion that we are in control of our lives, that causes the almighty Creator of the universe to simply laugh at us. This is the way it has been throughout the history of man’s preoccupation with self-importance. Remember this account:
“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth...” And the Lord God said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do... Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord dispersed them from over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.” (Genesis 11:4, 6-8)
When it comes to the most important part of our existence, it has absolutely nothing to do with us. Jesus did all that could possibly be done for our eternal salvation.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so the no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for times that I think far more of myself than I should. I do love You and want You to be first in my life. May my life of faith and repentance be pleasing in Your sight. In the name of Jesus, the One who did everything for me on the cross of Calvary. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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