Day 312 - Deuteronomy Monday (Chapters 10-12)
“You shall therefore keep the whole commandment that I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and take possession of the land that you are going over to possess, and that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Deuteronomy 11:8-9 ESV)
“Soon the Israelites will cross the Jordan River to the land God had promised to Abraham so many years before. We can almost hear the cries of thanksgiving. Yet Moses’ warning is stern. Even today, though we have the Bible and know its teaching, we fail to heed it.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH, 2009, page 1030)
We do have so many blessings showered upon us from the hand of the Lord. Above all, He has promised us our own land flowing with milk and honey, our eternal home in heaven.
May we listen to God’s Word and follow its teaching as we rejoice in His mercy and grace.
Heavenly Father, thank You for guaranteeing me a land of eternal milk and honey with You in heaven. Please keep me faithful to You and active in Your service until them. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 311 - 1 Peter Sunday (Chapters 1-3)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV)
In our worship services we state, “I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.” That does not sounds like we are very special in God’s sight. Yet, right after we make our public confession of sin we get to hear these words: “Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The words of Peter become true for us in confession and absolution. We are called out of the darkness of our sin into God’s marvelous light of forgiveness. We were lost and God found us. We have been made God’s people and are showered with His endless mercy.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me Yours. I rejoice in Your mercy and grace bestowed upon me through Jesus my Savior. In His name. Amen.
“See” you at the Communion table this morning.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 310 - Acts Saturday (Chapters 11-12)
“And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26 ESV)
Who are you? What is your life about? Here are few of the myriad of answers to these questions: parent, child, female, male, spouse, sports fan, mechanic, gardener, gymnast, librarian, computer programer, humorist, Democrat, Republican, hunter, vegetarian, expert, serious, happy, sad, determined, pessimist, and on and on and on. When these words are applied to us, they define who we are.
The number of descriptive words that can be applied to us is huge. However, “Christian” is the one name that every person desperately needs as part of what defines them.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
● A Christian believes in Jesus as his or her personal Savior from sin.
● A Christian is a follower of Christ.
● A Christian belongs to Jesus.
One is a Christian not because of anything they have done, but because of their faith in what Jesus did it all for them on the cross of Calvary.
What do you think of the idea of wearing a name tag that declares that you are a Christian? While wearing a name tag, a cross, or a witness t-shirt can tell the world that you are a Christian, the best way to witness is to live a life that reflects Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a Christian on the day of my Baptism. Please help me to live a life that reflects my faith in Jesus, the One who has saved my soul and made my eternal future secure in heaven. In His saving name. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow.
DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR TONIGHT!
Pastor Dave Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 309 - Acts Friday (Chapters 19-20)
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 ESV)
Paul is teaching us a very important life lesson. There are two kinds of people in this world, givers and takers. Paul is encouraging followers of Jesus to be givers.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus amplifies this lesson by telling us that whenever we help someone in need, we are actually helping Him. Whom can you help today?
Jesus taught us to look at opportunities to help others as opportunities to obey the golden rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV)
An then He gives us the ultimate motivation: Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:36-40 ESV)
It truly is “more blessed to give than to receive.”
Heavenly Father, motivate me by the good news of what Jesus did for me on the cross to work hard for You and help others. Open my eyes for opportunities to help others in Your saving name today. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 308 - Ecclesiastes Thursday (Chapters 3-4)
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV)
This is one of my favorite texts to use for a wedding. “Two are better than one.” This is why God created marriage in the first place. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18 ESV)
Husband and wife can lift each other up, keep each other warm, and prevail against an enemy. However, the next thought is the key.
“A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The key to a successful Christian is husband and wife AND JESUS! When Jesus is at the center of their marriage and home, God blessings flow in.
Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall,
Where Jesus Christ is all in all!
A home that is not wholly His--
How sad and poor and dark it is!
Oh, blest that house where faith is found
And all in hope and love abound;
They trust their God and serve Him still
And do in all His holy will!
(Oh, Blest the House, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #862)
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of marriage and the family. Lord Jesus, thank You for your promise to be present whenever couples are joined in Your name. Please bless all Christian marriages with Your presence and Your blessings. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 307 - Psalms Wednesday (Chapters 125-127)
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:2 ESV)
“The hills encompassing Jerusalem are like sentinels, reminders of God’s watchfulness.” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 975)
The Lord is watching over you. You are surrounded by His protection, along with His mercy and grace. 2 Kings 6 records an event that powerfully illustrates this fact:
“And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 King 6:15-17 ESV)
Open your eyes of faith and see that God is with you too, protecting you from evil through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Almighty God, thank You for surrounding me with Your protection and salvation. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
Day 306 - 2 Chronicles Tuesday (Chapters 29-32)
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21 ESV)
Hezekiah is an excellent example of faithfulness to God. “He did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God.” Hezekiah was faithful to the one true God. Are you faithful too?
“Free to be Faithful” is an LCMS initiative designed to defend religious freedom and confess the Christian faith. We have been freed in Christ from our sins and from the prospect of eternity in hell. Our response to this gracious gift is to be faithful to the giver of this gift, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, please grant me the same faithful insight You gave to Hezekiah so that I, too, may seek You with all of my heart. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
The following link is to the 52 Week Reading Plan Bible upon which these devotions are based. http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf
