"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 131 - (Today’s Bible readings: Proverbs 21, Psalm 119:25-32; 1 Peter 1:1-12)
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“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13 ESV)
This proverb calls God’s people to help those less fortunate than themselves. The warning that “what goes around comes around” reminds us of a well-known fulfillment of these words from the last century.
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)
Martin Niemöller was a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany who changed his mind about Hitler and opposed Nazism with such force that it landed him in a concentration camp.
May we not wait until no one is left to speak for us. Today is the day to serve Christ by helping the poor and the needy. By doing so, the Lord will give us the opportunity to share the motivation behind our care and concern – the care and concern God has lovingly lavished on us in Jesus.
We may live in fearful times. Christians are being persecuted, it seems, like never before. Take heart as you take these words from St. John to heart:
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:19)
Lord, open my ears, my heart and my mouth for the sake of the poor and needy around me. Thank You for being my example and motivation for such service. Please use me to be Your love to others, even and especially those who hate Christians. In Jesus’ loving name. 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:
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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