Friday, August 19, 2022 - I CAN DO NOTHING ON MY OWN

"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 231 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Kings 17:1-23; Psalm 48; Matthew 23:23-36)

I CAN DO NOTHING ON MY OWN

 “I can do nothing on my own.” (John 5:30 ESV)

Jesus is teaching us a crucial life lesson here. Even though He is the Son of God, God Himself in the flesh, still He relied on His heavenly Father. He admitted that He could do nothing on His, nothing without the will of the Father.

Since even Jesus could do nothing on His own, what makes us think that we can? We self-centered human beings are so good at acting as if we can make it on our own. James gives us his advice - “You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:15)

I am a sinner. You are a sinner. We need help. We all need Jesus...

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” - Jesus (Luke 5:31-32)

Heavenly Father, help me to realize how true it is that I can do nothing without You. Help me to listen to Jesus’ call to repentance and forgiveness. Amen.

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:

https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/JyxxRfAT2Eg7JfDCXaPP99G4y4rJrZQO?

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!