Sunday, December 15, 2024 - SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Sunday, December 15, 2024 - Day 349 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Amos 4-6; Rev. 6)

SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE

“-yet you did not return to me...

-yet you did not return to me...

-yet you did not return to me...

-yet you did not return to me...

-yet you did not return to me...

-prepare to meet you God, O Israel!

 (Amos 4:6-12 ESV)

Five times the Lord attempted to bring His people to their senses so that they would return to Him. He withheld food and water. He sent blight, mildew and pestilence. He killed their young men and made their camp stink. He overthrew them as He did Sodom and Gomorrah. And they still refused to return to God! So they heard the stern warning that they would meet the judgement of God.

This shows us how serious God is about our rebellion and our sin. And yet, in chapter five He provides a way out for rebellious Israel, and for us as well:

“Seek me and live... Seek good, and not evil, that you may live, and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you.”  (Amos 5:4&14 ESV)

 

Almighty God, thank You for the reminder that You are absolutely serious about sin. Please grant more wisdom that the Israelites had in this lesson. May the Holy Spirit move me to continually seek You and Your mercy. “Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have not power over me.” Amen.  

“See’ you at the Communion rail this morning!

Pastor David Paape

Saturday, December 14, 2024 - GLORY BE TO JESUS

 

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, December 14, 2024 - Day 348 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Amos 1-3; Rev. 5 )

GLORY BE TO JESUS 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! ... To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12-13 ESV) 

In a little over a week, the following words will be sung in many of our churches...

   Come hither, ye children, O come one and all,

   To Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small;

   God’s Son for a gift has been sent you this night

   To be your Redeemer, your joy and delight.

Jesus, the Lamb who came to be your Redeemer by taking away your sins, truly deserves to receive power / wealth / wisdom / might / honor / glory / blessing. 

There is a beautiful Lenten hymn that describes how we are to glorify and honor the Lamb. 

1. Glory be to Jesus, 

    Who in bitter pains

    Poured for me the life blood 

    From his sacred veins! 

3. Blest through endless ages 

    Be the precious stream

    Which from endless torment 

    Did the world redeem!

    (Lutheran Service Book, #433) 

Lord Jesus, I do honor and glorify You for shedding Your holy and precious blood for me and my salvation. May the Law of God remind me of my sins, and may Your precious and sin-forgiving Gospel daily renew my love for You.  And, thank you for being my joy and delight. Amen.  

“See’ you in church tomorrow!

Pastor David Paape

Friday, December 13, 2024 - GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE

 

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Friday, December 13, 2024 - Day 347 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 4-6; Hebrews10:1-23)

GOD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 ESV)

Life can get tough. There are so many negative distractions that can drain us of hope. Perhaps the writer to the Hebrews was aware of these challenges to faith, so he encouraged his hearers:

   ● Keep the faith.

   ● Don’t loose hope.

   ● Don’t give up on Jesus.

   ● Remember that God always keeps His promises.

   ● Look for God’s faithfulness.

   Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

   Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

   Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

   Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

   Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

   Morning by morning new mercies I see;

   All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

   Great is Thy faithfulness,  Lord, unto me!

   (Lutheran Service Book # 809) 

Almighty God, when life gets difficult, please keep me faithful and full of hope as I remember Your faithfulness to sinners like me. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Thursday, December 12, 2024 - AT THE DOOR

 

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, December 12, 2024 - Day 346 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Hosea 12-14; Rev. 3)

AT THE DOOR

“Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut... Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:8 & 20 ESV)

The “open door” of verse 8 “symbolizes the Gospel invitation. Those who believe in Jesus enter into eternal life through their faith in Him.... (Verse 20) In this particular case, the image of Christ standing at the door may be related to the parable of the servants whose master is at the wedding feast [Luke 12:35-40]. They are expected to be ready and waiting for him when he appears, with the promise that those servants whom he finds ready will be blessed. “I will come...eat with him,” is best understood as referring to both the Church’s weekly celebrations of the Eucharist and the eternal, messianic banquet in heaven.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH, 2009, pages 2206 and 2207)

The picture included here ties both of these verses together. Jesus is coming to us with His Gospel invitation. He wants to be part of our busy, everyday lives. The point is that we need to notice Him. We need the blessings He imparts in our weekly trips to the Communion table. We need His forgiveness and His gift of faith so that we will be ready when He comes to take us to heaven.

   Once He came in blessing,

   All our sins redressing;

   Came in likeness lowly,

   Son of God most holy;

   Bore the cross to save us;

   Hope and freedom gave us.

   (Lutheran Service Book 333)

 

Lord Jesus Christ, please keep knocking on the door of my life. May the Holy Spirit keep me in the faith so that my door will always be open to You. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - REMAIN FAITHFUL

 

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 - Day 345 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Hosea 9-11; Rev. 2 )

REMAIN FAITHFUL

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10 ESV)

This well-known passage at first does not seem that difficult to follow. Remain close to Jesus until you die, and you will live with Him forever. In fact, this is what I encouraged Confirmation students to do when I reminded them to “always, always, always, always, always, always stay close to your Jesus.”

This command becomes much more difficult to keep when opposition to Jesus appears and God’s people are subjected to harassment and abuse. The early church, the original hearers of the book of Revelation, knew persecution first-hand. Many had their faith put to the test. Would they remain faithful and face death, or would they deny Jesus and live? What would your answer be?

Paul gives us his answer in Romans 8:18:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Remain faithful and you will live in eternal glory with Him.

  1. Savior, thy dying love Thou gavest me;

Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from thee.

In love my soul would bow, My heart fulfill its vow,

Some of-f'ring bring thee now, Something for thee.

  2. Give me a faithful heart, Likeness to thee,

That each departing day Henceforth may see

Some work of love begun, Some deed of kindness done,

Some wand'rer sought and won, Something for thee.

  4. All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,

In joy, in grief, through life, Dear Lord, for thee!

And when thy face I see, My ransomed soul shall be

Through all eternity Something for thee.

(Lutheran Worship #374)

Lord Jesus Christ, please keep me faithful until the day I die. Protect me from all temptations to deny You. Instead, use me to help others see the importance of faithfully trusting in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - JESUS IS COMING

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - Day 344 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Hosea 5-8; Revelation 1)

JESUS IS COMING

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.” (Revelation 1:7 ESV)

Just as surely as December 25th is 15 days away from today, the day of Christ’s Second Coming is getting closer. Many will be filled with terror on that day. Many will wail. What will you do?

Today we begin reading the book of Revelation. The focus on the Second Coming of Christ causes many to be confused and frightened. While the end of the world is no trifling matter, you, fellow Christian, do not need to be afraid. 

   Soon will come that hour

   When with mighty power

   Christ will come in splendor

   And will judgment render,

   With the faithful sharing

   Joy beyond comparing.

   (“Once He Came in Blessing,” LSB 333 st 3)

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place... Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”  (Revelation 1:1 & 3 ESV)

Lord Jesus, help me to look forward to Your Second Coming with peace and anticipation as I live my life trusting in You for forgiveness and eternal life. Please open my eyes to the opportunities You will place before me today to share my Christian hope and confidence with others. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

Monday, December 9, 2024 - WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF THE LORD

"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." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Monday, December 9, 2024 - Day 343 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Hosea 1-4; Jude)

WAIT FOR THE MERCY OF THE LORD

“17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 18-23 ESV)

It is the season of Advent when we remember Christ’s first coming and look forward to His promised second coming. Jude gives us a picture of “the last time” and what you should do in preparation:

   ● There will be scoffers, mockers of the Christian faith.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● These worldly people will cause divisions.

         REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Build yourself in faith through prayer, as well as through the Word and the Lord’s Supper.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Keep yourself in the love of God.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Wait for the mercy of the Lord

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Have mercy on doubters.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Share Christ with those who are living without Jesus and are in danger of hell-fire.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

   ● Show mercy and hate sin.

        REMAIN FAITHFUL!

Lord Jesus, I praise You and thank You for Your first Advent. Please strengthen my faith and grant me Your peace and comfort so that I may patiently and confidently wait for Your Second Coming. Please use me to share Your mercy and grace wherever and whenever You wish. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape