Day 258 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 28:1-29; Psalm 75; Luke 4:1-13)
If you want to navigate through life successfully, you would do well to do so “by the book.” When I was a boy I enjoyed putting models of ships, planes and cars together. I soon learned that the end result was far better if I assembled them “by the book” ( following the instructions).
Jesus gives us some clear and practical examples of living “by the book.”
It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4 ESV)
It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” (Luke 4:8 ESV)
“It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Luke 4:12 ESV)
How does the Lord want us to respond to the temptations of life? Jesus has given us the perfect example.... “by the book.” Yes, THE book, the Bible, is the place to go for strength, encouragement, and examples when you are facing temptation, when you are having to make decisions, and when you are looking for God’s answers.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me how to respond to temptation and trials. Fill me with the desire for the treasures You have for me in the Bible. May I be prepared to face life with Your words: “It is written.” When I fall, reassure me of Your forgiveness for me and for all who repent and believe. 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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 257 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 27; Psalm 74; Luke 3:18-38)
“Have regard for the covenant,
for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame;
let the poor and needy praise your name.
Arise, O God, defend your cause...” (Psalm 74;20-22 ESV)
“When calamity strikes, we ought to see God calling us to repentance...”
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 ESV)
... “In repentance, we flee to God for mercy, not because of anything in us but by what He has done for our redemption.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH, page 919)
What God the Father has done for our redemption is to defend from sin, death and the devil by sending Jesus to the cross in our place.
Thank You Heavenly Father for defending me against all danger and guarding and protecting me from all evil. Remind today that this is all because of Your divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. It truly is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. May the Holy Spirit empower to do my duty to You who have done it all for me. In Jesus’ saving name. 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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 255 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 26; Psalm 73; Luke 3:15-17)
“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm 73:28 ESV)
“Being troubled by doubt and envy does not mean that we have lost our faith. We are called to struggle against doubt and envy. We find strength to do so in the certainty of the final outcome of God’s promises.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009, page 918)
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV)
No wonder David calls God his refuge. Christ is our refuge too. It so important to always, always, always stay close to our Jesus And how do we do this?
Weekly Worship
Bible Study
Prayer
Be near me, Lord Jesus I ask thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.
Lord, help me to fight doubt and fear by keeping me close to You. Bless me with a hunger for Your Word of promise. Amen.
Stay close to your Jesus today and always.
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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 255 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 25; Psalm 72; Luke 3:1-14)
“13 “You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. 15 A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 25:13-16 ESV)
People can be very devious in coming up with ways to cheat others out of their money. Scams of all sorts are ever present. We have all received e-mails informing us that we have several million dollars just waiting for us to respond with our personal information.
God demands that His people be honest. He declares that the dishonest are an abomination to Him. Even though we may not be dishonest, still we are all sinners. And all sin is an abomination to God. How blessed by the Lord we are declared to be forgiven sinners through faith in Christ Jesus!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for redeeming me from sin, death and the devil by means of Your death on the cross. Help me to live for You by treating others honestly and fairly. In Your saving name I pray. 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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 254 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 24; Psalm 71; Luke 2:22-52)
“O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 71:12 ESV)
The Lord answers this prayer for us when He comes to us in His Word and Sacraments.
“O God, be not far from me.” Jesus cannot be closer to us than when He comes to us in His true body and blood in with and under the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper.
“Make haste to help me!” You hear His answer as your pastor pronounces the absolution upon you: “Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now;
Our hearts in true devotion bow,
Your Spirit send with light divine,
And let Your truth within us shine. Amen.
(“Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now,” Lutheran Service Book, 2006, #902, stanza 1)
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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 253 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 23; Psalm 70; Luke 2:1-21)
“May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
But I am poor and needy;
hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:4-5 ESV)
“God is great!” Why? Because He mercifully answers your cry for help and deliverance.
He delivers spiritually poor and needy sinners by...
● sending His only Son, Jesus, to pay for all of your sins on the cross...
● taking them all away as the pastor, standing in Jesus’ place, declares you forgiven...
● coming to you with His body and blood in Holy Communion...
● promising to hear Your prayers and answering in ways that He knows are best...
● in short, God delivers you from sin, death and the devil.
Thank You, merciful heavenly Father, for being my great Deliverer. Please us me to share You deliverance with others this week. In Jesus’ saving name. 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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
Day 252 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 22; Psalm 69; Luke 1:67-80)
“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV)
Encouragement, what a positive word. Encouragement is what an older person needs as they see their bodies showing signs of age. Encouragement is what younger people need as they try to find their way in this life. Encouragement to follow Christ is what all people need.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)
Lord Jesus, help me to encourage others by reminding them of Your great love for them. May we never forget the eternally encouraging message of Your forgiveness and grace for all who repent and believe. Amen.
“See” you in church this morning! (Outdoor service 9 am / Church Picnic 10:30 at St. Paul’s - Brown Deer)
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 from 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 your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
