January 18, 2018 - FREED FROM HARASSMENT

Day 18 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 14, Psalm 17, Matthew 9:32-10:4)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  (Matthew 9:35-36 ESV) 

Today’s focus is on a trait of Jesus that has profound implications for you and for all who find themselves harassed and helpless. This Includes all of us at some time or other. But what is the cause of such harassment and helplessness? Look at Peter’s answer:

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) And how does the devil harass us?

● He constantly tempts us to disobey God.
● He tells us that we will be better off without God in our lives.
● He then fills us with the hopelessness that comes from living without God.
● He tries to get us to believe that God doesn’t care about us.

But there is good news. God does care. We have a compassionate Savior. 

                 When he saw the crowds, 
                 he had compassion for them, 
                 because they were harassed and helpless, 
                 like sheep without a shepherd. 

Because Jesus showed His compassion by dying in payment for the times we give into temptation, we don’t need to be harassed and helpless any longer, for we are not without a shepherd. Jesus compassionately declared:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
  
Now we have forgiveness and a real hope for our future in this life and the next.

Lord Jesus, thank You for having compassion on me and freeing me from the harassment of the devil.  Please help me to remember all that You have done for me. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!