Day 160 - Psalms Wednesday (chapters 66-68)
Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.” (Psalm 66:1-3 ESV)
The Psalmist encourages his readers to “shout for joy to God.” The reason for this joy is the awesome deeds of God.
No Jesus, no joy.
Know Jesus, know joy!
Many people are looking for joy, peace and happiness without Jesus. But Jesus is the only One whose awesome deeds involve forgiveness of your sins and the promise of eternal life.
Lord God, thank You for the joy of knowing Your mercy, forgiveness and promise of heaven! In Jesus' saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 159 - 1 Kings Tuesday (chapters 5-9)
“That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” (1 Kings 8:60) ESV)
“Solomon turns to bless the people, recalling God’s gracious help in the past and His greatness: ‘The Lord is God; there is no other.’ Like Solomon, we have every reason to bless the Lord. We dedicate ourselves so that our hearts may be wholly true to the Lord and that we may share the Good News of Jesus that all the peoples of the earth may know the Lord. He has forgiven and renewed us by grace.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 549)
But when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin:
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How Great Thou art! How Great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How Great Thou art! How Great Thou art!
(Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #801)
Lord God, heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to me in the Bible. When I recall all that is recorded about You, I know that there is no one else like You. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 158 - Exodus Monday (chapters 37-40)
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34 ESV)
In obedience to God’s directives, Moses oversaw the building of the tabernacle. God then occupied the tabernacle and His people were blessed.
God has commanded His people today to gather where He is present. In our churches God comes to us through the Means of Grace. No, He does not come to church in the form of a cloud, but He is there in His Word and Sacraments. And we, too, are blessed. In church is where we receive the public proclamation of forgiveness and the comfort, strength and direction that come from His Word and the Lord’s Supper.
Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for keeping Your promise to be wherever two or three gather in Your name. Please grant me a hunger for Your Word, and, therefore, a great desire to worship in Your house every week. In Jesus’ saving name I pray. Amen.
Worship is also 24/7. Therefore, live for Him who died for you today!
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 157 - Galatians Sunday (chapters 4-6)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 ESV)
Do you like to help other folks? What if they have some really nasty problems? Paul is telling the church in Galatia and the church today to fulfill the law of Christ. In other words, He is telling us to be God’s love in real and tangible ways to those who are struggling under life’s heavy burdens. Later in this chapter, Paul will instruct to “do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
The devil doesn’t want us to use these opportunities to share the soul-saving message of Jesus (the Gospel). He wants us to forget our motivation to live for the One who died for us.
In the preceding chapter, Paul clearly describes how we are to go about bearing burdens and doing good.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, (and) self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)
Lord, please help me to respond to Your awesome gift of forgiveness by loving others. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table this morning.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 156 - Luke Saturday (chapters 7-8)
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven–for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47 ESV)
“Jesus teaches that even notorious sinners can be forgiven and restored; indeed, they sometimes become all the more devoted to God for having received greater deliverance. His teaching challenges us to consider:
● Do we act like the begrudging Pharisee or the grateful penitent?
● Do we trust that God can truly change people’s lives?
By God’s spirit, we grow daily in our appreciation of the fact that ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more’ (Romans 5:20).” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1724)
“Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” (Luke 7:50 ESV)
Those are Christ’s words to you and to all who are willing to admit their desperate need for forgiveness.
Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died that I might live on high, Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine, I am His and He is mine.
(Chief of Sinners Though I Be, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #611)
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your priceless gift of forgiveness. Jesus, thank You for shedding You precious blood for this poor miserable sinner. May I be Yours forever. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 155 - Jeremiah Friday (chapters 47-51)
King “Zedekiah...did what was evil in the sight of the Lord....For because of the anger of the Lord things came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.” (Jeremiah 52:2-3 ESV)
It’s Friday, the day when most folks are focused on the good things that come with the weekend at this time of year. We want to hear a good weather report. We want to know what community celebrations are going on. We want to know where to go for the best fish-fry. We want to enjoy ourselves.
However, in these chapters of Jeremiah, we find it difficult to see anything good. God proclaims His righteous judgment on numerous nations, all enemies of His chosen people. In the last chapter, Jerusalem falls, the temple is looted and burned, and most of the people are carried off to Babylon. Where is there good news in all of this?
“Jeremiah concludes on a hopeful note. Despite Judah’s rebellion, God never forgets His promises. Years later, God sent Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for the world’s sin. All of God’s promises find their YES in Christ.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1294)
Lord, remind me of Your promises so that I may have hope when the struggles and burdens of life get me down. And, if it is Your will, grant me a “good” weekend. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the one who gives me hope. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 154 - Proverbs Thursday (chapter 1)
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” (Proverbs 1:10 ESV)
“Solomon warns against joining sinners in their adventurous plots, cautioning that the greedy and violent finally receive their punishment. Through the means of grace, God in Christ strengthens and preserves His people, just as He forgives all our sins for Jesus’ sake.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1000)
When others tempt us to sin, it would be good to use Jesus’ words when Peter balked at Jesus’ immanent passion and death: But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Mark 16:23 ESV)
Lord, please protect me from being led into sin. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
