Day 281 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 11; Psalm 97; Luke 10:13-24)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
The devil is an expert at confusing our thinking. This is why the Holy Spirit led Paul to give us this thought-provoking advice. But it is not merely positive thinking that is being advanced here.
What is worthy of all praise? The answer is the Gospel, the message of God’s grace showered upon sinners like you and me. It is the Gospel that we need to remember more often than we do.
Peter gives us more details of what God wants us to think about in his first letter:
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your undeserved mercy and grace showered upon me and all sinners who repent and trust in You. Help me to think about that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Amen.
Set your hope fully on Jesus today!
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 280 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 10; Psalm 96; Luke 9:51-10:12)
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation every day.” (Ps 96:1-2 ESV)
“Proclaim the marvelous deeds of God’s salvation to all nations! In our world, too many people see faith in God as a relic of the past with little to say about life today. People turn away from the true God in idolatrous pursuits of money and success; they trust in technology or revel in pleasure. Do we give up? No! First, sing to the Lord. Join with others in worshiping the splendor and majesty of the Creator. Then, speak of His salvation in Jesus day after day, until the resurrected Savior returns to judge all nations in faithfulness.” (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009,page 941)
Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell everyone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Lord Jesus, I sing Your praise for saving me and granting me the gift of eternal life. Please bless my efforts to tell others of Your marvelous plan of salvation today. Amen.
"See" you at the Communion rail this morning!
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!
October 6, 2018 - Day 279 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 9:21-35; Psalm 95; Luke 9:37-50)
2 “At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.
3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
5 do not lift up your horn on high,
or speak with haughty neck.’” (Psalm 75:2-5 ESV)
We live in a day when the boastful seem to be gaining the upper hand. A case in point would be the instances where Christians who are attempting to follow Biblical moral values are told that they need diversity training.
The wicked enjoy immense popularity and do, in fact, “speak with haughty neck.” Look at how a scientist who believes in creation is treated by the proponents of evolution.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul addressed the moral short comings of his day and ours. He describes what the boastful and wicked are into: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21 ESV)
David’s cry to the Lord is our prayer today as well. “Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!” (Psalm 90:13 ESV)
Here is God’s assuring answer: 2 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars.”
Lord God, thank You for Your promise to judge the wicked. Thank You for having pity on Your servants. In Jesus’ saving name. 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 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 278 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 9:1-20; Psalm 94; Luke 9:21-36)
“There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.” (Job 9:33 ESV)
“Job has no hope of fixing the problem with God. God is too powerful and there is no one to mediate between him and God–not even Job’s friends. When we are at our lowest, we might agree with Job that there is no hope. If we focus on our pain or problems and look only to ourselves or others for help, we should not be surprised to find only despair. Without a mediator, we face the full wrath of God... Who can bear the majesty of God without Christ as Mediator.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, Page 795)
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6 ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Mediator with the Father. Thank You for reminding Him that You died for me. Please use me to share You with others who need You to be their Mediator too. 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 277 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 8; Psalm 93; Luke 9:10-20)
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Ps 95:1 ESV)
“The opening verses have been sung in the Church for centuries as the Venite (Latin for ‘O Come’). Some days we struggle to come into God’s presence with such exuberance and humility. Thankfully, the psalmist directs us not to self-generated emotions, but to remember the God we worship. He is our Creator, who has formed and protected us by His strong hands. And wonderfully more–He is our Good Shepherd who has made us the sheep of His loving hand.” (Lutheran Study Bible, Concordia Publishing House, 2009,page 940)
O come let us sing to the Lord
Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving;
And make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hand;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
For He is our God
And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and will be forever. Amen.
(Matins, The Venite, The Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, pages 220-221)
Lord Jesus, thank You for making one of Your sheep. Please come to me this day, and every day, with Your mercy, grace and comfort. In Your saving name, O Lord. 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 276 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 7; Psalm 92; Luke 9:1-9 )
“I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.” (Job 7:16 ESV)
“In His grief and bitter pain, Job turns to God with his desperate cry, ‘Leave me alone.’ Painful experiences, such as bing diagnosed with a terminal disease or the sudden loss of a loved one, can leave us angry with God. By the cross, we understand that God loves us and works through everything in our lives for our salvation. In Christ alone, we receive full assurance of God’s love for us.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 793)
● Thank God, He does not leave us alone.
● Thank God, He is right there with us in the middle of our struggles, fears and challenges.
● Thank God, nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37- 39 ESV)
Lord, when life comes crashing down on me, please remind me to never give up on You. Remind that today’s problems are only temporary and that Your promises are eternal. Remind me of You constant love for me in 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 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 275 - (Today’s Bible readings: Job 6; Psalm 91; Luke 8:40-56)
The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39 ESV)
Do you think that the formerly demon-possessed man needed much encouragement to talk about what Jesus had done for me? I think not.
Do you need encouragement to talk about what Jesus has done for you? Like the man freed from demons, we too struggle with the devil’s influence in our lives. We need the help of Jesus just as much as he did.
Luther gets to the heart of what Christ has done for us in the Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed:
“I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.” (Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed, Luther’s Small Catechism)
Dear Lord, help me to never forget all that You have done for me. Please bless my efforts to declare this to 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 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!
