Day 149 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 15:19–33; Psalm 119:161-168; 1 Corinthians 7:17–24)
“My times are in your hand.” (Psalm 31:15 ESV)
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the op'ning day.
(“Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #733 stanza 5)
While the hymn stanza portrays a sober view of time, our verse for today clearly comforts us with the assurance that our time is in God’s almighty hand. The comfort comes from knowing that God’s timing is always perfect.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)
When you take a careful look at your life, you will become aware of what I see in my life, namely, that God puts us in the right place at the right time for His right purpose.
Almighty God, thank You for Your perfect timing in my life, starting with my Baptism. In Your perfect time, grant me the gift of heaven for Jesus’ sake. Until that time, may I use my time for You and Your purposes. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 147 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 15:1–18; Psalm 119:153-160; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16)
“Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:2 ESV)
On this Memorial Day set aside to remember our country’s war dead, we pause to honor them. In the verse quoted above we see that God is commanding us to pause on a weekly basis to remember Him. The day of rest has become much more hectic today. Still many do find time to pause in remembrance of Jesus, the One who died to make us all free spiritually.
While Jesus’ words from John 15:13 are often used for members of our military, their original intent is to focus our attention on Jesus. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. “
Lord of the nations, thank You for America and for those who shed their blood so that I can be free. Thank You even more for Jesus who died to free me from sin, death and the devil. Please bless me with continued freedom in this land and with Your spiritual freedom today and forever. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 147 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 14:33-57; Psalm 119:145-152; 1 Corinthians 6)
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8 ESV)
Today is Trinity Sunday, the day in the church year when we emphasize the mystery of the Triune God. The triangle-shaped diagram attempts to explain how God can be three persons, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” and still one.
In Acts 1, we notice the presence of all three persons in the Trinity.
Jesus is speaking. “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
He then goes on to tell us that we will be His witnesses. We are to witness to the truth that the one, true God is...
God the Father who created us,
God the Son who redeemed us,
God the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us.
In the words of today’s Prayer of the Day, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, One in Three and Three in One, accept our praise for gifting us with Your creation, redemption, and sanctification. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 146 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 14:1–32; Psalm 119:137-144; 1 Corinthians 5)
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5 ESV)
Most people have faith in something. However, it is the object of one’s faith that matters. Faith in a broken-down old car will get you nowhere. Faith in your physical strength will not prove trustworthy as you age. Faith in your finances will not see you through the next financial crash.
Only faith in Jesus, your Savior, lasts. Faith in Christ produces eternal victory over the disappointments, struggles and weariness of this world. Thanks be to God who gives you saving faith in His Son via His Means of Grace.
Thank You, heavenly Father, for blessing me with a victorious faith in Jesus. Thank You for the victory over sin, death and the devil that comes to me only through Jesus. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 145 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 13:29-59; Psalm 119:129-136; 1 Corinthians 4)
“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell... but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:5-10 ESV)
Over 20 years I ago I shared a Sunday message based on a text similar to this section from James. On their way home from church that morning, one of our moms asked her five year old son, “What did the pastor say this morning?” His answer was priceless: “I should keep my mouth shut.”
Have there ever been times when you could not believe what came out of your mouth? James is telling us that our words are too often not pleasing to God. Wishing others God’s blessings is surely God-pleasing. But too often, we do just the opposite.
Thank God that Jesus came to pay for all of our sins, including the sin of unholy talk and untamed tongues. And thank God for the example of Jesus. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23 ESV)
Lord Jesus, please help me to follow Your lead and keep my mouth shut when my silence would be golden. At the same time, I ask You to give me the courage to open my mouth when I have the opportunity to share You with others. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 144 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 13:1–28; Psalm 119:121-128; 1 Corinthians 3)
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it. (1 Corinthians 3:11-13 ESV)
What is the foundation of your life? Just as a solid foundation is crucial to a well built house, so a solid spiritual foundation is crucial to a well built home.
Paul warns us against building on anything or any person than Jesus Christ. A building with a poor foundation may look fine at first, but the day will come when all could well come crashing down. So it is with your life unless Jesus is your foundation. The hymn writer put it this way:
My hope is build on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness.
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I them in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Redeemed to stand before the throne!
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
(My Hope Is Build on Nothing Less, Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #575, stanzas 1&4)
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the solid foundation for all who believe in You. Please keep my feet safely planted on You so that I may stand redeemed before Your throne. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 143 - (Today’s Bible readings: Leviticus 12; Psalm 119:113-120; 1 Corinthians 2)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
Are you walking in the light? If so, that means that you are taking seriously the directions God’s gives us for such a walk. Listen to what David says a few verses later in chapter 119.
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
Paul was forced to address those in the Corinthian church who were not walking in the light (1 Corinthians 5). In our permissive, anything-goes culture, his pronouncement seems rather harsh. Yet, the expulsion of the man living in sexual sin was meant to wake him up and save his soul. It was also meant to encourage the rest of God’s people to take seriously the call to walk in the light.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way, still You’re there right beside me,
And nothing will I fear as long as You are near. Please be near me to the end.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Now I will not forget Your love for me and yet My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus, be my guide and hold me to Your side, and I will love You to the end.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
(Thy Word, Text, Amy grant, Tune, Michael W. Smith)
Almighty God, may the light of Your Word be my guiding light. May I daily walk in the light of the cross and so glorify You and be used to draw others to Jesus. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form 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:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 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 you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
