Day 197 - Ezekiel Friday (chapters 25-30)
“The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man... prophecy against them.” (Ezekiel 25:1 ESV)
Ezekiel pronounces the first of seven prophecies against nations surrounding Israel. God directs world events by faithfully protecting those whom He loves and punishing those who disobey Him. God continues to do the same today. He will not allow nations or individuals to mock Him. He will call straying people to repentance, that He might forgive them and restore blessings to them so that others may come to know the Lord.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1350)
Thank You, Lord, for protecting Your own people. Grant me the comfort of knowing that I am a precious, blood-bought, baptized, forgiven, heaven-bound, gifted child of God. Amen.
Celebrate God’s protection today.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 196 - Proverbs Thursday (chapter 10)
“The wise heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 10:8 ESV)
“The words we speak can be either a source of life and comfort, edifying those around us, or a source of strife and wickedness, stirring up hatred and division. Always choose your words prudently, being careful never to speak gossip, lies, or slander about another person. Defend those whose reputation is under assault and forgive those who sin against you. Jesus was a victim of false accusations; the blood He shed on the cross covers all our offenses.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 1017)
Luther’s Small Catechism puts it this way:
The Eighth Commandment You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest possible way (put the best construction on everything).
Lord, please forgive me for the times my words have hurt others. Help me to choose my words wisely and to put the best construction on everything. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 195 - Psalms Wednesday (chapters 81-83)
“Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:14 ESV)
“Our Father in heaven certainly looks after each believer. No believer who suffers injustice in the world will be overlooked by God. Injustice, weakness, exploitation, continued trial and suffering–and afflictions can make the believer feel isolated and forgotten by God. Your heavenly Father has already judged you impartially by laying all of your sins on Jesus. This provided you salvation and endurance even in the face of worldly injustice.” (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009,page 928)
Heavenly Father, thank You for my salvation. Please empower me to endure, even in the midst of trouble and trial. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 194 - 2 Kings Tuesday (chapters 6-10)
“‘Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:16-17 ESV)
The Syrian king has surrounded the city in an effort to get Elisha. His servant responds with fear. “Alas master, what shall we do?”
What shall we do when evil surrounds us?
How do you respond when everything seems to be going wrong for you, when others seem to have it in for you?
Are you filled with fear?
In commenting on this section of 2 Kings, Luther said, “It is a great comfort for all Christians to learn from these and other passages of Holy Scripture that they are not forsaken... For they have the dear angels with them as protectors and guards.” (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009,page 589)
Even though we cannot see them, we have guardian angels watching over us too! In fact, we pray for a protecting angel when we pray Luther’s Morning Prayer.
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.
What a great way to start today and every day!
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 193 - Leviticus Monday (chapters 13-15)
“Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.” (Leviticus 15:31 ESV)
“Disease is a consequence of the fall into sin, which isolates God’s people outside the boundaries He established, but God provides the means to readmit those whose skin disease is healed.
Thankfully, God now provides a means for the sinner, outside His boundaries, to return to Him: His own Son, Jesus Christ. When we repent, Christ removes our impurities, that we might daily be clothed in our Baptism.” (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009,page 185)
Come clean with Jesus. . . . repent and believe!
Lord God, we come before You with a deep sense of our unworthiness and of Your infinite love and grace. Forgive, protect, and guide us always, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 192 - Colossians Sunday (chapters 1-2)
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
Like the Galatians, the Christians in Colossi were being misled. They were being told lies about the deity of Jesus, prompting Paul to remind them of the truth.
“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. . . And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. . . He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he is preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20 ESV)
Do not be deceived. Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, is your only hope! He is the only One who died for your forgiveness and reconciliation.
Lord Jesus, protect me from all that would deceive me and lead me away from You. To this end, feed me today with Your Word and Sacrament that my faith in You may remain strong. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table this morning.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 191 - Luke Saturday (chapters 17-18)
“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'” (Luke 18:13 ESV)
In His parable of the pharisee and the tax collector Jesus is teaching us sinners two very important truths:
1) Self-righteousness and arrogance are not tolerated by the Lord.
2) Heart-felt repentance and remorse are exactly what the Lord is looking for.
The Psalmist put it so clearly:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17 ESV)
What is so comforting is the fact that when we cry out for mercy, our gracious God says “yes!”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)
Heavenly Father, I humbly repent of my sins and ask for You to have mercy on me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
