Day 159 - 2 Chronicles 26-28 & John 17
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23 ESV)
In His high priestly prayer, Jesus is asking God the Father to grant unity to His disciples. The same prayer fits for His disciples today, the Christian Church. The reason for this prayer is for the sake of Christ’s followers themselves, so that we may witness well to the world around us. Jesus’ ultimate desire is that all may come to believe that the Father sent Jesus to be the Savior of mankind.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word and the sacraments to unite us in our common Christian faith. The devil also works hard to divide us. However, we who have been given faith in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, do not have to listen to the enemy. Instead, we repeat Christ’s prayer, and sing other prayers, like this one:
As we gather together in Your Son,
Let us know the joy of being one!
Let the time we share in this place
Be a time of love and friendship in Your grace.
By Your Spirit help us be One in faith and unity.
Bless us here as we gather in Your Son.
Give us joy, Grant us peace, Make us one!
(By Tim Frusti)
Lord, make Your people one so that we can speak of Your love with a united voice. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 158 - 2 Chronicles 23-25 & John 16:16-33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)
LCMS President Matthew Harrison wrote: “The 20th century was the bloodiest in Christian history with the death of tens of millions at the hands of Communist regimes. Now, we are continuously shocked by Islamic radicals persecuting and killing Christians daily in the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, our consciences vacillate as we sense the cultural shift in the U.S. that has produced an increasing avalanche of harassment and is likely to get much worse.”
“In this world you will have tribulation.” Jesus is warning us that life on this earth may not be peaceful. Peter warned with these words: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)
Not very uplifting. But wait. Jesus has something to add: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for overcoming sin, death and the devil by Your death on Calvary’s cross. Help me to remember that, no matter how difficult life may get for me now, because You have overcome, I too have overcome and will live with You in eternity. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 157 - 2 Chronicles 20-22 & John 16:1-15
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11 ESV)
“Christ comforts the disciples by promising to send them the Helper (the Holy Spirit) who will guide them into a deeper understanding of Christ’s Word. Mistakenly, we sometimes think that Jesus’ physical absence places us at a disadvantage. In fact, Jesus is present with us through the witness of the Spirit, who works among us through the God’s Word and Sacraments.” (Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 1814)
Holy Spirit, ever dwelling
In the holiest realms of light;
Holy Spirit, ever brooding
O'er a world of gloom and night;
Holy Spirit, ever raising
Those of earth to thrones on high;
Living, life-imparting Spirit,
You we praise and magnify. Amen.
(Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, # 650)
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 156 - 2 Chronicles 17-19 & John 15
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)
Jesus is the true vine, and His disciples (you and I) are the branches, connected to Him and bearing fruit.
How do we branches remain (abide) in Him?
● Weekly worship, feasting on God’s Word and Sacrament.
● Daily prayers
● Daily devotions and Bible study
What is the fruit we are to bear?
● Humble repentance and faith in Christ our Savior.
● Life lived to God’s glory and for the welfare of others.
● Love God and love others.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the vine to which I am attached. Please nurture me to bear fruit that glorifies You and benefits others. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 155 - 2 Chronicles 13-16 & John 14
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17 ESV)
Today is Pentecost, the day we remember the Holy Spirit, the promised Helper, coming upon the disciples and empowering them to reach the world for Christ.
The Holy Spirit’s work is crucial for you and your soul. Through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit gives you faith in your Savior, Jesus. He is the One who makes the truths of the Gospel real to you, and thereby guarantees you eternal life.
The words of the Explanation to the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed remind us how crucial the Holy Spirit is to each believer, including you.
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
The prayer for this morning comes from the hymn “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest.”
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav'nly aid
And fill the hearts which You have made. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table this morning!
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 154 - 2 Chronicles 10-12 & John 13:18-38
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
Jesus is calling us to follow His example of sacrificial love. “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Jesus put others first by leaving heaven and coming down to earth so that He could die for us. How different would your life be if you practiced that kind of love? How different would the lives of others around you be different if you put their needs ahead of your own?
St. Paul clearly stated God’s demand that we husbands show this kind of love to our wives: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25 ESV) How are doing, guys?
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You suffered and died in payment for my sins. Please help me to practice Your kind of sacrificial love with those around me by putting their needs ahead of my own. Amen.
"See" you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
Day 153 - 2 Chronicles 7-9 & John 13:1-17
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7 ESV)
Life’s biggest question is “why.” There are many times in life when we cannot figure why certain things happen in our lives. Simon Peter could not understand why Jesus would want to wash his feet. Jesus’ answer was, in effect, just wait and see.
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” When you are faced with circumstances in your life that you cannot understand, remember Jesus’ words to Peter. While you may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or have come to realize that your dreams will not materialize, or whatever other heartaches and disappointments of life you may find yourself dealing with, remember that God is in control.
Benjamin Malachi Franklin’s poem, “The Weaver,” captures well how we Christians can deal with life’s “whys”:
My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the under side.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvass and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your skillful hand weaving the varied strands in my life. Help me to face the “why” in my life with faith in Your perfect will. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf
