Day 225 - (Today’s Bible readings: Deuteronomy 1:1-25; Psalm 42; John 15:18-16:4)
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2 ESV)
What a wonderful gift God gave David! The repentant and forgiven sinner was given a deep desire to be as close to His Savior as possible.
Do you have a deep desire to be as close as possible to God?
● Read and meditate on His Word (the Bible).
● Talk to him (pray) every day.
● Worship Him faithfully each week (in church).
● Remember what Jesus did for you on Mt. Calvary (paid for all of your sins).
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cold and sunshine, oh, abide with me!
("Abide with Me! Fast Falls the Eventide," Lutheran Service Book #878-3)
Lord, thank You for my salvation. Like David, may I thirst for Your presence in my life. Yes, Lord, please abide with me today and always. 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 224 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 36; Psalm 41; John 15:1-17)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide...” (John 15:16 ESV)
In this selection from John’s Gospel Jesus is teaching us two things. 1) He has chosen us, and not the other way around. 2) And now He wants us to bear fruit for Him.
In verse Jesus reminds us that He laid down His life for us on the cross of Calvary.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
This means that all who repent and believe in Jesus are forgiven and promised heaven. The amazing part is that even though we do not deserve any kindness from our holy God, yet He has chosen us to be His friends now and in eternity.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide...” (John 15:16)
What kind of fruit is the Lord looking for in His friends, His followers?
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
You have been chosen for your salvation and for service to Lord by loving others in His name.
Lord Jesus, thank You for lovingly choosing me to be Your friend. Please use me to share Your soul-saving love with others. 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!
Day 223 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 35:16-34; Psalm 40; John 14:15-31)
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17 ESV)
In this verse Jesus, God the Son, is asking God the Father to send God the Holy Spirit to His disciples then, and to His followers today.
The work of God the Holy Spirit is crucial for you and your soul. Through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit gives you faith in your Savior, Jesus. He is the One who makes the truths of the Gospel real to you, and thereby guarantees you eternal life.
The words of the Explanation to the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed remind us how crucial the Holy Spirit is to each believer, including you.
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
The prayer for this morning comes from the hymn “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest.”
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav'nly aid
And fill the hearts which You have made. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow 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!
Day 222 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 35:1-15; Psalm 39; John 13:56-14:14)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)
Have you ever noticed the bumper stickers that encourage you to coexist?
The sentiment is fine. We Christians do want to coexist with those who practice other religions. But we believe that Christianity is the only way to forgiveness and heaven.
The fact is that there are only two basic religious ideas on earth...
1) WORKS - Attempts to make yourself right with what God demands by trying to live a life that is good enough.
2) FAITH - Be declared right with God by trusting in the death of Jesus Christ as the payment for your sins.
What comfort this is for us! Listen to more of what Jesus says about this:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
And then Jesus declared the exclusivity of Christianity with these words:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV)
Lord Jesus, thank You for the comfort I find in Your words. Please help me to trust in You, and You alone, for forgiveness and heaven and all. 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 221 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 34; Psalm 38; John 13:21-55)
Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! (Psalm 38:21-22 ESV)
David, the Old Testament hymn writer, the one we call the Psalmist, is crying out to God for His help and His lasting presence. Below is a hymn written much later, but which also conveys a cry for help and for God’s unending presence in our lives today and in eternity.
O God, forsake me not!
Your gracious presence lend me;
Lord, lead Your helpless child;
Your Holy Spirit send me
That I my course may run.
O be my light, my lot,
My staff, my rock, my shield--
O God, forsake me not!
O God, forsake me not!
Take not Your Spirit from me;
Do not permit the might
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which You alone have wrought.
O be my strength and pow'r--
O God, forsake me not!
O God, forsake me not!
Lord, hear my supplication!
In ev'ry evil hour
Help me resist temptation;
And when the prince of hell
My conscience seeks to blot,
Be then not far from me--
O God, forsake me not!
O God, forsake me not!
Lord, I am Yours forever.
O keep me strong in faith
That I may leave You never.
Grant me a blessed end
When my good fight is fought;
Help me in life and death--
O God, forsake me not!
(“O God, Forsake Me Not,” Lutheran Service Book #731)
Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! 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 220 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2018 Numbers 33:37-56; Psalm 37:23-40; John 13:1-20)
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7 ESV)
Life’s biggest question is “why.” There are many times in life when we cannot figure why certain things happen. Simon Peter could not understand why Jesus would want to wash his feet. Jesus’ answer was, in effect, just wait and see. Later they would learn that they were called to serve the Lord by serving people.
“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” When you are faced with circumstances in your life that you cannot understand, remember Jesus’ words to Peter. While you may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or have come to realize that your dreams will not materialize, or whatever other heartaches and disappointments of life you may find yourself dealing with, remember that God is in control.
The hymn writer encourages us to deal with life’s “whys” in this way:
1. Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless.
Guide us by Thy hand to our fatherland.
2. If the way be drear, if the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us;
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For through many a woe to our home we go.
3. When we seek relief from a long-felt grief;
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore where we weep no more.
4. Jesus, lead Thou on till our rest is won.
Heavenly Leader still direct us,
Still support, control, protect us,
Till we safely stand in our fatherland.
(“Jesus, Lead Thou On,” Lutheran Service Book, #718)
Lord Jesus, be with me today, especially if I get confused and find it hard to understand. Remind me that You are leading me, and that I can trust You no matter what my earthly circumstances may be. Yes, remind me of where You are ultimately leading me. 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 219 - (Today’s Bible readings: Numbers 33:1-36; Psalm 37:1-22; John 12:44-50)
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act... Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:5&7 ESV)
Not many people are good at trusting the Lord. Even more are not good at waiting. Yet this is exactly what the Lord calls His people to do. So instead of complaining about your circumstances and even questioning God, you get to quietly and faithfully trust Him and wait.
I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all.
(“I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,” Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #729 stanza 6)
Lord Jesus, I do trust You. Help me to patiently wait for You and Your will for my life now and in eternity. 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!
