Thursday, July 04, 2024 - MAXIMUM SECURITY IN CHRIST

"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)

Thursday, July 04, 2024 - Day 186 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Job 29,30; Acts 12)

MAXIMUM SECURITY IN CHRIST

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also... 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him,... 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church... 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell... And the chains fell off his hands... 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. (Acts 12:1-10 ESV)

King Herod thought that he had placed Peter into maximum security. What he did not understand is the eternal truth that maximum security is found only in Christ Jesus, our Savior.

On this 4th of July, we Americans need to remember that our nation’s maximum security is not based on human power. Patrick Henry, one of our nation’s founding fathers, put it this way: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians - not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

So, let us not be shy about praying for America...

   1. God bless our native land;

Firm may she ever stand

Through storm and night.

When the wild tempests rave,

Ruler of wind and wave,

Do Thou our country save

By Thy great might.

   2. So shall our prayers arise

To God above the skies;

On Him we wait.

Thou who art ever nigh,

Guarding with watchful eye,

To Thee aloud we cry:

God save the state!

(Lutheran Service Book, #965)

The good news of Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation is at the heart of our prayer for America and the whole world!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the spiritual security that Jesus has purchased for us on the cross. Please hear our prayer for the spiritual healing of America. May many more of our fellow citizens (and the rest of the world as well) be led to the same conclusion as Patrick Henry and find their maximum security in Christ. In His saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf

Wednesday, July 03, 2024 - DON’T FEAR THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

"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)

Wednesday, July 03, 2024 - Day 185 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Job 31,32; Acts 13:1-23 )

DON’T FEAR THE POWERS OF DARKNESS

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus... 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus (Elymas). 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But ... the magician ... opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:4-12 ESV)

Elymas was lost in a spiritual darkness of his own making prior to the Holy Spirit blinding him physically. He was a son of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, who would not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord, that is, not until God confronted him through the apostle Paul.

I wonder how many people from that time and place were afraid of Elymas, the sorcerer (King James Version)? Many today are also afraid of those whom they think have special power, special knowledge or special influence. The politically correct, the intellectual elite, vocal fringe groups, anti-Christian forces, and cross-less “Christians” are all lost in their own particular forms of spiritual darkness. We, however, need not fear these powers of darkness. John encourages us with these enlightening words:

In him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4 ESV)

   1. Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won;  

And although the way be cheerless,

We will follow calm and fearless.  

Guide us by Thy hand to our fatherland.

   2. If the way be drear, if the foe be near, 

Let not faithless fears o'ertake us;

Let not faith and hope forsake us; 

For through many a woe to our home we go.

   3. When we seek relief from a long-felt grief;  

When temptations come alluring,

Make us patient and enduring;  

Show us that bright shore where we weep no more.

   4. Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won.  

Heavenly Leader still direct us,

Still support, control, protect us, 

Till we safely stand in our fatherland.

(Jesus, Lead Thou On,  Lutheran Service Book #718)

Heavenly Father, thank You for the assurance that the Light of the world, my Lord Jesus, is far brighter than the darkness of this world. Please let His light shine through me so that others may also be led to saving faith in Jesus. And as ever, THY WILL BE DONE. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Tuesday, July 02, 2024 - GOD GROWS HIS CHURCH

"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)

Tuesday, July 02, 2024 - Day 184 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Job 26-28; Acts 11 184)

GOD GROWS HIS CHURCH

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:19-26 ESV)

The challenges facing the Early Church were many, including martyrdom. However, the Lord was working, and people were coming to saving faith in Jesus. The name “Christian” is applied to the followers of Jesus.

Barnabas encourages those who bare the name Christian “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose.”

1. We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord 

    We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord 

    And we pray that all unity may one day be restored 

    And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

    Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love 

2. We will work with each other, we will work side by side 

    We will work with each other, we will work side by side 

    And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride 

    And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

    Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love 

3. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand 

    We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand 

    And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land 

    And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love 

    Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of saving faith in Jesus, my Savior. Help me to remain faithful and to follow Your command to share Your love with others. And as ever, THY WILL BE DONE. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year. 

http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf