More Than Going Through the Motions

 ^7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,

      scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
   Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
      set these once-broken bones to dancing.
   Don't look too close for blemishes,
      give me a clean bill of health.
   God, make a fresh start in me,
      shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
   Don't throw me out with the trash,
      or fail to breathe holiness in me.
   Bring me back from gray exile,
      put a fresh wind in my sails!
   Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
      so the lost can find their way home.
   Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
      and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
   Unbutton my lips, dear God;
      I'll let loose with your praise.

 ^16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you,
      a flawless performance is nothing to you.
   I learned God-worship
      when my pride was shattered.
   Heart-shattered lives ready for love
      don't for a moment escape God's notice.
Psalm 51:7-17 The Message

Prayer:

Father,
          Make a fresh start in us; shape a Genesis week from the chaos of our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?vM=qaHmiFaX_pk 

Promise fir Today - Trust in the Lord

 Never envy the wicked! Soon they fade away like grass and disappear. Trust in the Lord instead. Be kind and good to others; then you will live safely here in the land and prosper, feeding in safety. Psalm 37:1-3 The Living Bible

This is SO good!

4 Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart’s desires. 
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. 
6 Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shining down as from the noonday sun.

7 Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper.

8 Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry—it only leads to harm. 
9 For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing. 
10 Only a little while and the wicked shall disappear. You will look for them in vain. 
11 But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing and shall have wonderful peace.

12-13 The Lord is laughing at those who plot against the godly, for he knows their judgment day is coming. 
14 Evil men take aim to slay the poor; they are ready to butcher those who do right. 
15 But their swords will be plunged into their own hearts, and all their weapons will be broken.

16 It is better to have little and be godly than to own an evil man’s wealth; 
17 for the strength of evil men shall be broken, but the Lord takes care of those he has forgiven.

18 Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards. 
19 He cares for them when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough. 
20 But evil men shall perish. These enemies of God will wither like grass and disappear like smoke. 
21 Evil men borrow and “cannot pay it back”! But the good man returns what he owes with some extra besides. 
22 Those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by him shall die.

23 The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. 
24 If they fall, it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand.

25 I have been young and now I am old. And in all my years I have never seen the Lord forsake a man who loves him; nor have I seen the children of the godly go hungry. 
26 Instead, the godly are able to be generous with their gifts and loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

27 So if you want an eternal home, leave your evil, low-down ways and live good lives. 
28 For the Lord loves justice and fairness; he will never abandon his people. They will be kept safe forever; but all who love wickedness shall perish.

29 The godly shall be firmly planted in the land and live there forever. 
30-31 The godly man is a good counselor because he is just and fair and knows right from wrong.

32 Evil men spy on the godly, waiting for an excuse to accuse them and then demanding their death. 
33 But the Lord will not let these evil men succeed, nor let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.

34 Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing, and you will see the wicked destroyed. 
35-36 I myself have seen it happen: a proud and evil man, towering like a cedar of Lebanon, but when I looked again, he was gone! I searched but could not find him! 
37 But the good man—what a different story! For the good man—the blameless, the upright, the man of peace—he has a wonderful future ahead of him. For him there is a happy ending. 
38 But evil men shall be destroyed, and their posterity shall be cut off.

39 The Lord saves the godly! He is their salvation and their refuge when trouble comes. 
40 Because they trust in him, he helps them and delivers them from the plots of evil men.

Prayer:

Father,
          May we walk in such a way as to be counted godly in Your sight, giving thanksgiving and praise for Your saving Grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Come and Hear

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Psalm 66:16-20 ESV

When was the last time you shared what God has done for your soul? I don't know about you, but sometimes I get so busy with the day-to-day, that I can lose sight of the Divine Appointments - the ones that can make a difference in someone's eternity. Come and hear, just to encourage someone in their walk. Offer them a steady hand when they're stumbling. Sometimes, it's the proverbial "word fitly spoken" (Proverbs 25:11) that can turn their situation around. Come and hear!

Interesting and most important to note - "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." In other words, if I harbored love and affection for sin, God would not listen... Then what would we have for anyone to 'come and hear'? 

Blessed be God, who hears our prayers for forgiveness so we are able to share His goodness and faithfulness! Let His praise be continually in our hearts and on our tongue!

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your faithfulness to 'attend to the voice of'' our prayers. There is no one like You! Keep us in check to guard our hearts and minds - according to Your Word - to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to let our requests be made known to You. Help us to remember that 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, to always think about these things so that we may invite those around us to 'Come and hear'. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Focused Confidence

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7 ESV

Throughout time, armies have boasted about and trusted in their weaponry. How many times have we heard about the Arms Wars? Most of this century and half of the last was about who had what weapons in an attempt to "keep a balance" of power. However, it was more about not letting one have more power than the other. I don't see it as a true rendering of balance for good because of the fear factor that is the driving force behind it. 

David was a mighty warrior, a skilled strategist because he trusted Yahweh. His boast and trust were in the Name of the Lord. David and his army understood that victory only comes from God. How do you trust someone so completely? You must know their character and reputation and recognize their sovereignty. David understood God's character. He knew his God did not fail. 

As we face life's battles, we, too, can know that God does not fail when we take the time to invest in our relationship with Him; to know His character and to recognize and submit to His sovereignty. The more our focus is ON God, the greater our confidence will be IN God.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You that You first loved us and sought after our hearts, then made provision for a right relationship restored through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Let us never lose sight of Your great love and faithfulness. Holy Spirit, please continue to reveal God's Truth to us as we bow before the holiness and sovereignty of the Lord our God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Out of Tune

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT

As Christians, we want to be in tune with the Father. We want to hear the beauty of His Words, His melodies, His peace in our hearts and minds. We have an expectation of how He will sound. However, we don't always utilize the right tools. Sometimes, we hear about the latest, greatest book with a message and decide we need to read it. And sometimes, we've only allotted so much time during our day to read, so we read that book in place of our Bible, instead of reading it along with our Bible. And before you know it, we're out of tune. We're out of tune with the Spirit. We're out of tune with each other. And that truly is awful!

Nothing can take the place of God's Word, nor should it. That's not to say that other books are not good; they can be and often are! But NOTHING should take the place of God's Word in our lives. Not being in tune with Him is the worst...

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for working all things for our good. Reveal Your wisdom to us and grant us revelation and understanding according to Your Word. We want to be in tune with You and in harmony with each other. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Lies, Lies, and More Lies

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2nd Kings 6:15-17 NIV

Now and again, in the tough times of life (which everyone has experienced), we tend to feel outnumbered and often, alone. Looking at the circumstances, we begin to believe that LIE. Nobody cares. Nobody's there. We're all alone. Lies, lies, and more lies!

The Truth is found (always!) in God's Word. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (the writer of Hebrews is actually quoting Deuteronomy). And Jesus declared in Matthew 28:20 that He will always be with us - even to the end of the age. The age hasn't ended yet... So, you are not abandoned. You are NOT alone.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as Elisha prayed, that You would open the eyes of everyone who can only see the circumstances surrounding them. Light up their lives with Your Presence and holy fire. Shine the Light of Your Truth to dispel the darkness of satan's lies. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Psalm 86 Abundant in Mercy

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Psalm 86:5 NKJV

Psalm 86 CEB Common English Bible
A prayer of David.

Lord, listen closely to me and answer me, because I am poor and in need.
Guard my life because I am faithful.
Save Your servant who trusts in You—You! My God!
Have mercy on me, Lord, because I cry out to You all day long.
Make Your servant’s life happy again because, my Lord, I offer my life to You,
because, my Lord, You are good and forgiving,
full of faithful love for all those who cry out to You.

Listen closely to my prayer, Lord; pay close attention to the sound of my requests for mercy.
Whenever I am in trouble, I cry out to You, because You will answer me.

My Lord! There is no one like You among the gods!
There is nothing that can compare to Your works!
All the nations that You’ve made will come and bow down before You, Lord;
they will glorify Your Name, because You are awesome and a wonder-worker.
You are God. Just You.

Teach me Your way, Lord, so that I can walk in Your truth.
Make my heart focused only on honoring Your name.
I give thanks to You, my Lord, my God, with all my heart,
and I will glorify Your name forever,
because Your faithful love toward me is awesome
and because You’ve rescued my life from the lowest part of hell.

The arrogant rise up against me, God.
A gang of violent people want me dead.
They don’t give a thought for You.
But You, my Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy;
You are very patient and full of faithful love.
Come back to me! Have mercy on me!

Give Your servant Your strength; save this child of Your servant!
Show me a sign of Your goodness so that those who hate me will see it and be put to shame— show a sign that You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
***********************
In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Believing Prayer

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

People who don't believe they're going to get an answer when they pray are right. The Bible says, "Whatsoever you believe..." And if we say, "Well, I don't believe that will happen." We're right; it won't. If we declare, "Oh, woe is me..." and list all our reasons why we don't believe, the Word declares, "As your faith is, so be it unto you..."

Now you know I'm not talking about praying Blab-it-Grab-it kinds of prayers. I'm talking about faith-filled, cancer-curing, sight-restoring, gimp-be-gone kind of praying. BELIEVING prayer! Trusting God no matter what you see or don't see. No matter what the doctor says. 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...

William Barclay's Study Bible Notes on Paul's letter to the Philippians addresses believing prayer, and since he writes so well, I'd like to share a few excerpts from his book.

Barclay writes:

Paul lays it down that "thanksgiving must be the universal accompaniment of prayer." ...Paul insists that we must give thanks in everything, in laughter and in tears, in sorrows and in joys alike. That implies two things. It implies gratitude, but it also implies perfect submission to the will of God. It is only when we are fully convinced that God is working all things together for good that we can really feel the perfect gratitude which believing prayer demands.

When we pray, we must always remember three things...
1. the love of God, which ever seeks and desires only what is best for us.
2. the wisdom of God, which alone knows what is best for us.
3. the power of God, which alone can bring to pass that which is best for us.

He who prays with a perfect belief and trust in the love, the wisdom and the power of God will find God's peace. [God's peace] is utterly and entirely beyond man's ability to obtain by himself...The way to peace is to take ourselves and all whom we hold dear, to take all life, and to place them and it trustingly in prayer in the hands of God.

Peace is the result of believing prayer.

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for not believing when we pray - for not believing You hear us, for not believing that You care enough about us. Let faith rise up and take the place of doubt. Breathe on us and cause Your Word to come alive in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Olly Olly Oxen Free

Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
Proverbs 14:4 NLT

When we played "Hide and Seek" as children and the seeker got tired of looking for the hidden, he used to holler, "Olly Olly Oxen Free!" which signaled to those still hidden that they could come out of hiding without fear of being tagged "it". Now, what that has to do with oxen is anyone's guess. It's one of those phrases that the origin is pure conjecture, but the implication is well understood. 

In the child's game, the seeker searches for the hidden and gets tired, so he quits. It's easier in the moment to not search even though it means he will remain "it" and alone, and nobody wins. Likewise, the principle is loosely similar. the stable stays clean if you just don't bother getting the oxen in the first place. However, without them, you don't have a harvest so there is no win.

For instance, nobody likes to muck out a stable. However, if you own farm animals, mucking out goes with the territory. If you don't clean up, the animals will become ill and not able to work. The training and care of oxen require hard work and patience, not to mention resources. Do you know that just one working ox will eat about 33-35 pounds of good brush hay each day, plus it needs a feed supplement and an available salt lick, not to mention water, etc? And that an ox should be 4 years old before being put to hard work, so you either support it for several years with no return or you pay the premium price.

The Truth is, there is no Olly Olly Oxen Free without first making an investment. There is a cost. In the case of salvation, it is free to us, but only because Christ already paid the price. Nevertheless, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) - to bring it to the place of completion. If we don't finish the race, we cannot win.

Keep searching His Word - don't quit when you get tired. He will be found by those who search diligently for Him.  And with Him, we win!

Prayer:

Father,
           Reveal Your Word even in the obscure. Speak to us daily, for without You we are lost. Open our ears to hear, our hearts to obey, and our minds to receive Your wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Not Losing

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

How's your faith? Do you believe God will do what He says or are you one who thinks He'll do for someone else, but not for you? The Truth is, if we don't have faith, we probably don't pray every day. Why? Because we either believe God can't answer prayer or won't answer our prayer. So why bother?

Sometimes we pray and before the 'amen' is done resonating, we're thinking of all the reasons why the prayer won't be answered. That's fighting a losing battle!

What we absolutely MUST realize is that God is the Source of our faith - Romans 12:3 says He's given us a measure of faith. And without utilizing the faith He has given us, it's IMPOSSIBLE to please Him!

satan doesn't have to mortally wound us to defeat us; he only has to get us to believe we're defeated. If we believe there's no way to win; if we believe there's no hope, we've already lost.

However, IF WE BELIEVE that we have already won - through Christ our Lord - and what He did for us on the Cross, then we are NOT fighting a losing battle! We are fighting for our lives and the lives of our children and families and friends! Never give up! Read the Word (the Sword) and know how to use it! Put your armor on (Ephesians 6!). Be dressed for the battle. Remember, just because you lay down your weapon doesn't mean the enemy will stop fighting. Fight back! We are not here to lose!

Prayer:

Father,
           Open our eyes to see the deception of the devil. Let us see with our spiritual eyes the Truth of Your Word. Teach us to worship like they did in 2nd Chronicles so that we can witness the destruction of the enemy's plot and plans by Your mighty hand. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Favorite - Heading to the Barn

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”'
Matthew 13:24-30 NKJV

This parable of the wheat and tares is so rich! It has been taught and dissected from every angle, I'm sure, and today, it hit me in light of how close this old world is to winding down.

Have you ever heard anyone say - at the close of a working day - "It's time to head to the barn"? It's a colloquialism meaning loosely, "I'm done - gonna put up my tools - I'm finished working for today." So, basically, I hear Jesus saying, "Let things ride for right now. We'll do the final separation of good and evil; the believers will be gathered into the barn for an eternity of celebration."

Where will you be when that day comes? By His grace, I'm headed to the barn.... Hope to see you there!

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for all You do to keep us encouraged in following You. Continue to watch over us, and to open Your Word to our understanding. Give us wisdom, O God, along with clean hands and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Furnace of Affliction

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10 NKJV

We've talked about it before - how we more earnestly seek God's presence and His comfort when our lives are being shipwrecked. Psalm 46:1 in the King James tells us, God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. The Good News Translation reads, God is our shelter and strength...

What are the first orders of business for survival following a shipwreck? Shelter and fire. So, we run to God for shelter, but we don't often want His fire. In the natural, we need fire for warmth, protection against the elements, to cook food, to purify water. In the spirit realm, we need His fire even more! And yet, we complain about the heat.

I remember years ago having a dream about being contained within a ring of fire and feeling trapped. I wanted out! In my heart, I cried out to God, "Why?!? Why am I trapped in here? Why won't You let me move?!?" And it was then I saw, outside the ring of fire, the enemy crouching, ready to destroy me. Wanting to kill me, but he couldn't get me because of the fire. It's amazing what a little God perspective will do for the furnace of affliction. So often we plead with God to deliver us from the very fire that was sent to free us from that which so easily besets us - to purify and to protect us.

John Piper writes ...there is no painless path to heaven. Why? Because Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And it is no more possible to become pure painlessly than it is to be burned painlessly. Purity comes through the refining fire. And the fire has two forms: one is the fire of affliction and the other is the fire of intentional self-denial.

We need to embrace the fire of God so that we can be saved, sanctified and purified to live with Him for all eternity - to be partakers of His holiness.

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us clean hands and pure hearts. O God, may it be that the genuineness of our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And it's in His precious Name we pray. Amen!

Promise for Today - Start and End

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre.
You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! 

Psalm 92:1-5a NLT

Psalms is a fascinating collection of poems, full of praise and pain and even prophecy. And contrary to general public opinion, David did not write all of them. In fact, one-third of them are anonymous. 

According to the Bible Project, "The whole book of Psalms has been divided into five books or sections (Psalms 3-41; Psalms 42-72; Psalms 73-89; Psalms 90-106, and Psalms 107-145). The reason for these divisions is that each section has a final poem, which concludes with a similar line that looks like an editorial addition, “May the Lord, the God of Israel, be blessed forever. Amen and Amen." (These are found in Ps. 41:13, Ps. 72:19, Ps. 89:52, and Ps 106:48.) 

In Book 5, chapters 146 - 150 all start and end with "hallelujah" or "Praise the Lord" depending on which Bible translation you read. In explanation for what may seem like a difference that is actually the same, Hallelujah in the Hebrew language means Praise Yah (short for Yahweh).  Going back to our text for today, it is good to proclaim God's unfailing love in the morning, and His faithfulness in the evening... 

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for Your inspiration to mankind to write with such transparency about the struggles and triumphs of human nature. Help us to grasp the wisdom that, through it all, our only hope is in You. And just like our Promise for Today, we are thrilled with all You have done for us! We sing for joy because of what You have done. O Lord, what great works You do! No matter the circumstances, Father, we want to start and end our day in praise for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Psalm 103 - Davidic Praise

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.

Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the Lord,  everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Psalm 103 New Living Translation

Promise for Today - Truth Be Told

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. 

He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them - even the children not yet born - and they in turn will teach their own children. 

So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors - stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

Psalm 78:4-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father, 

           This Word is Your Truth and it must be told to each generation! We pray for divine appointments and their hearts to be prepared to receive Your Truths. We pray for divine wisdom to know what, how and when to give them to those in need. Teach us, Father, we pray, and let our generations receive Your Words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Reminder

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

I used to be so intimidated to pray aloud. I was afraid I would somehow misspeak. I was afraid of what people would think. And then one day, Steve Fender, in San Antonio - a man who could pray the roof right off a building - preached the most liberating message about prayer. He said, "Stop worrying about what the person next to you thinks about your prayer...unless, of course, you're praying to them. And if you're not praying to them, what does it matter what they think?"

God judges our heart - the inside of us - not the outside.

If ever in your life you've had a conversation with anyone, then you have the necessary rudiments to prayer. Someone to talk to. Someone who will listen. Someone who will answer.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for establishing an open line of communication. Thank You that You hear our prayers. Thank You that there isn't anything...anything...that is taboo when it comes to talking with You. Keep us ever mindful to include You in all our conversation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Overwhelmingly Grateful

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; 
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Psalm 84:10-12 NKJV

Do we ever stop to think about all the day-to-day (often perceived as) the mundane activities of our lives? The things we take for granted simply because they are a part of our daily lives. 

How often do we stop and give God sincere thanks for running water, electricity, indoor bathrooms... We're more inclined to NOT notice unless they stop being accessible - and then, I don't think we're thanking anyone. We love and often adopt a sense of entitlement to what we consider our creature comforts. 

How dangerous it would be to our spiritual well-being if we were to adopt the same sense of entitlement to the gifts and blessings our Father has so graciously bestowed on us!

Prayer:

Father, 

           We pray according to Your Word in Colossians 2:7, Let our roots grow down into You, and let our lives be built on You, too. Help our faith to grow strong in Your Truth so that we will overflow with thankfulness. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father, hearts that are overwhelmingly grateful to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Setting the Guard

"Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."
James 3:2 NLT

"And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!"
James 3:6-10 NLT

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."
Psalm 141:3 NKJV

Has your mouth ever gotten you in trouble? Have you ever said something you wish you hadn't said? So the question is, if we didn't "mean" it, then why did we say it? The sad truth is we can't unsay it. We can't unspeak the words.

So, are we encouraged that King David - a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22) - asked God to set a guard over his mouth, or are we disheartened because all these centuries later, we still wrestle with the same issue?

Jesus tells us in Luke 6 that it's out of the abundance of our heart that we speak. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

Instead of telling God all about a problem, let's go to the Word of God, find out what HE has to say about that particular problem, then speak/pray HIS Truth over our lives.

Prayer:

Father,
             "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Promise for Today - God's Math Doesn't Add Up

So this is the family line descended from Shem: Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram, later known as Abraham.
The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. These are their genealogical records:...
1st Chronicles 1:24-29 NLT

In reading through the Bible Recap this year - a chronological study with author and speaker Tara-Leigh Cobble - we're at day 113 and chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Chronicles. Thus begins yet another retelling of the generations, beginning with Adam. I was listening to it instead of trying to read all the names, but I must admit, I could feel my eyes glazing over. And as the narrator droned on about names I would not remember, let alone pronounce, I found myself talking to God about it. 

My intention was not to express my editorial opinion on Scripture, but to sincerely try to glean what I should be learning from hearing/reading this again. "Father, I don't mean to be disrespectful to Your Word. I believe the Bible is Your living Word and every word in it is there for a reason. I believe there is purpose and meaning. Please reveal to me what the purpose is for going through another litany of who's who in the lineage."  I closed the book with my eyes still glazed over, so I didn't search for any divine inspiration. 

This morning, my friend, Hope, sent an email with this revelation: "What I gleaned from these two chapters of Chronicles about God is that He kept His word to Abraham about making his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky." And that was exactly it!! 

In my disdain of so many chapters of whose sons were whose, I missed a HUGE, VERY IMPORTANT Truth. God ALWAYS keeps His Word. Think about Abraham and Sarah for just a moment. She was 90, he was 100 when Isaac was born. Both well past childbearing age. Yes, he had Ishmael by Hagar, but last time I checked 1+1 still only equals 2 - a far cry from too numerous to count... but God. Abraham BELIEVED God.  "As your faith, so be it unto you..." (Jesus speaking - Matthew 9:29). 

"As your faith, so be it unto you..." There are so many times that what God did or does or is doing just doesn't add up. It should not come as a surprise to those who believe because God doesn't add; He multiplies. 

Prayer:

Father, 

         Forgive me/us for those times when we want to just skim over, discounting the diamonds that can be found if we glean. Thank You for reminding us over and over about the proof of the Truth of Your Word. Help us to understand and know that repetition is how we build knowledge and fitness because we want to be able to rightly divide Your Word.  Birth in us a fresh desire to celebrate Your faithfulness and goodness toward us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Law of the Lord is Perfect

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.
Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

Psalm 19:7-11 NLT

In the early 90s, Hosanna Music released a collection of praise/worship songs, largely using God's Word as the lyrics with music added. They were beautiful compositions that had - and still have - an anointing of peace. This portion of Scripture was simply titled, "Psalm 19".  (Hosanna Music can still be found on YouTube and similar platforms.)

In just the 5 verses of our Promise for Today, we find that God's laws are: perfect, trustworthy, right, clear, pure, and true. They are desirable and so sweet, and the road map for a rewarding life for those of us who obey them.  

God's Word and His laws are given to us for our good. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT tells us, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."  When we choose to live according to God's instructions, our hearts and minds are kept in His peace. 

Prayer:

Father, 

           We pray Your Word, we cannot see our own mistakes, so don’t let us commit secret sins. Don’t let us do what we know is wrong. Don’t let sin control us. If You help us, we can be pure and free from sin. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - And Yet

Lord, save me from people who are evil. Protect me from those who are cruel, from those who plan to do evil and always cause trouble. Lord, you are my God. Lord, listen to my prayer. My Lord God, you are the powerful one who saves me. You protect my head in battle.
Psalm 140:1-2, 6-7 ERV

Lord, help me control what I say. Don’t let me say anything bad. Take away any desire to do evil. Keep me from joining the wicked in doing wrong.
Psalm 141:3-4 ERV

Being a follower of Christ is the greatest privilege and blessing, but it does not exclude us from trials or tribulations. That's why I love the Psalms - especially those written by David both before and after he was king. David is known as a man after God's own heart. He is one of the most "real" prophet kings in the Bible, and yet, he has some very strong opinions and emotions.

David acknowledges his feelings and the issues he wrestles with, and he is quite transparent about what he'd like to happen to those who are plucking his last nerve. And yet, in the process, he always comes back to acknowledge God. Adonai. David always recognizes who God is, no matter what. Psalm 142:5 NLT, he writes, Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life."

That, too, is my prayer for all of us. 

Father, 

         Save us from evil people. Protect us from those who are cruel, from those whose plans are evil. You are our God, protecting our heads - our thoughts, feelings and desires - when we are in battle. Make us ever mindful of the words we are about to say.Let only Your Words come out of our mouths, those words which are good for building up and not tearing down, good for speaking life and not death, to encourage and not discourage. Please put Your hand over our mouths and help us to choose and SPEAK gratitude and thanksgiving. Father, You truly are our place of refuge and all we really want in life. Holy Spirit, please continue to guide us into all Truth with spiritual understanding. For this and SO much more, we give You praise and glory and honor. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day 47 - Easter Sunday

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Matthew 28:1-7

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Our gracious Savior has conquered sin and the grave. We are alive in Him. Alleluia! God be with you and bless you in this holy Easter season.

Lent - Day 46 - Commissioned

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matthew 28:1-20

It doesn’t take three years of ministry to die for the sins of the world and to rise from the dead. What took Jesus three years was the raising up of disciples, who would build up His church. When Jesus rises from the dead, He goes to see those disciples. He goes to fill them with His Spirit. He goes to give them instructions to disciple the world; baptizing and teaching all that He has taught them. 

In the early church, it became customary to baptize new Christians into the family of Christ at the Easter vigil service held on Saturday evening. Those newly baptized would then be gathered together with all of the church that Easter morning to remember the new life baptism gives through the very resurrection of Jesus Christ being celebrated that day. We, too, remember our baptisms, which bury us with Christ Jesus and raise us to new life in Him.

Prayer:

Lord, 

         Through Your death and resurrection, You defeated sin, death, and the devil. In our baptism, You fill us with Your Spirit, forgive our sins, and make us children of the Easter promise. Thank You. Amen.

Lent - Day 45 - Forsaken for Us

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025

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Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:45-61

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” With those words, we hear how Jesus paid for our sins. The very Son of God is forsaken by God. A definition of damnation is separation from God. Jesus takes our sin upon His broken body. He experiences death (brought into the world because of humanity’s sin in the first place). He experiences not just any death but a most gruesome death brought about because the wickedness of men has learned how to maximize the pain and torment. Even worse than all of that however, He experiences being forsaken by God. We and all of mankind are the ones who deserve to be forsaken by God. Instead God turned His back on Jesus while to us He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.

Prayer:

Jesus, 

        You turn everything upside down. You took a tool of punishment and judgment - the Cross - and turned it into an instrument of grace and mercy. Take our sinful lives and turn it upside down as well, that we too might be an instrument of Your grace in this world and in the lives of others. Amen.

Lent - Day 44 - Crucified

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. 

As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Matthew 27:27-44

There is nothing more humbling for me than to read through the account of Jesus’ crucifixion. Not to talk about it, but to actually read the words of the Gospels’ accounts of the event itself. Christ loved with outstretched arms. The Son of God did not demonstrate His power by freeing Himself from the cross, but rather demonstrated His strength by submitting to the will of God and the insults of men for us. 

♪♫ “Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” ♪♫

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

          At times, we are overwhelmed by Your act of love. Fill us with the strength of Your humility that we would marvel at the gift of faith You have given us, and [that we would] desire others to experience it as well. Amen.

Lent - Day 43 - The Great Exchange

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.” 

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

Matthew 27:1-26

The outrage of the gospel story continues. The people were so filled with anger towards Jesus that when given the choice of releasing Him or a known criminal; one who was a murderer, they wanted the murderer released. We hear how Pilate washed his hands, a symbolic action to demonstrate one’s disapproval and innocence of a situation. The problem is that although Pilate did not want to condemn Jesus and put Him to death, he cannot wash his hands of the situation. Neither can we. Although Pilate did not desire Jesus’ death; though we as Jesus’ disciples don’t desire His death, our sins are what required His blood as a payment before God. 

The scandal is that while the true Son of God, innocent of all things was put to death, it is through that action we who are filled with sin are set free, and made to be sons and daughters of the Father. Through it all our Lord remains silent because of His great love for us, and because of His faithful obedience to the Father. He desires the great exchange to take place. His life in exchange for ours. Christ is indeed our ransom.

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus Christ, 

                Thank You for Your willing sacrifice - Your life for our ransom. Continually lead us to Your Cross so that we will never lose sight of the Truth that our ransom has been paid [IN FULL]. We have been set free. Amen.

Lent - Day 42 - Justice

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. 

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” 

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:47-75

As we look back upon the details of Jesus’ trial we see what an outrage it really is. Jesus was arrested and brought to trial without formal charges ever being made against Him. The High Priest acted as prosecutor as well as judge. All those involved had already reached the verdict before any evidence had even been given. The evidence they tried to use to condemn Him was a compilation of lies. Finally, in the end, the statements that condemned Him, the statements they judged as blasphemy, were actually the truth. The whole trial seems like a smack in the face of justice. 

However, that is the essence of the entire gospel message. The idea that one perfect, innocent man would die on account of our sins seems unjust. The possibility that on the Day of Judgment we will not be convicted of our crimes despite all the clear evidence of our sin, simply because of Jesus seems unjust. God’s word assures us that isn’t just a possibility - it is the reality, truth, and promised hope that is found in Jesus. 

So does God simply operate with a selective justice? Scripture directs us to see that it is in the fabric of His very being to be just. This means He doesn’t simply desire justice - He requires that justice be done. As Judge, God accomplishes the necessary justice, because full payment for our sins is made by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The trial and crucifixion of Jesus is a story of justice, but one that only God could work by His amazing grace.

Prayer:

Almighty God, 

               When You look upon us see not our sin but the Blood of Christ. With that Blood, make us white as snow. Amen.

Lent - Day 41 - Scattered and Gathered

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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     Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

     Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

     Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.'

Matthew 26:26-46

What a trying time. In this chapter, Jesus foretells how the disciples will respond to what they will face on Good Friday. They will see their Lord taken from them and they will be scattered. Yet Jesus also tells them that when He has risen He will go ahead of them into Galilee. 

There, in Galilee, even though they have deserted, even though they have been scattered, the Shepherd once again would gather His sheep. Praise God that He continues to pursue, gather, and strengthen His sheep at all times. By His grace, we have been saved. By His persistence, we are continually brought to repentance. By His determination, we are held in faith.

Prayer:

Almighty God, 

                        We are so grateful that You continually gather and call us to You. Amen.

Lent - Day 40 - Palm Sunday

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. 

     Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’”  And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so."

Matthew 26:1-25

[Remembering the Last Supper, the night when Jesus remembered the First Passover with His disciples.] The first Passover took place when Moses told the children of Israel to take an innocent lamb, a perfect lamb and kill it. The blood of that lamb was to be shed and spread upon the doorpost of their house. That night God passed through and killed all the firstborn, both of creatures and people. But those houses where He saw the blood of the lamb He did not bring death. 

This is the setting, the backdrop for what the meaning of Jesus’ death is all about. He is the perfect Lamb of God, whose blood is not spread on the posts of a door, but on the posts of the cross. Death passes over us as we stand in the shadow of the cross.

Prayer:

Lamb of God, 

                     You take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us. Amen.

Lent - Day 39 - Evidence of God's Gift

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025

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When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 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.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus gives us a picture of what it will be like on the day of judgment. All people will be judged on the last day, and it will be like when a shepherd separates His sheep from the goats. There are two things we should notice about this day of judgment for the sheep. First, before any of the acts of kindness are viewed and compared Jesus already separates those who receive the inheritance from those who do not. Second, to those who receive the inheritance Jesus says, “Come, you who are blessed by God.” No matter how we live our lives entering into God’s inheritance is still a gift, still a blessing that God gives. And yet we see Jesus’ words that talk of lives of grace, mercy, and kindness. This section is not a checklist we make sure to complete in case Jesus is watching. Jesus is saying, as my child filled with the Holy Spirit you show mercy because you have been given mercy. You show love because you have been given love. You show grace and forgiveness because you have been given grace and forgiveness.

Prayer:

Jesus Christ, 

                You have made us Your sheep. We surrender our will to be directed by Your Spirit that we might show mercy and love to Your church, and to the world. Amen.

Lent - Day 38 - Keep Watch

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 

    For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 

   Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Matthew 25:1-30

Jesus continues to speak of His second coming, now through the telling of parables. The message for all who follow Christ is the same. Christ will return. That is certain. We will not and cannot know when exactly it will be therefore Jesus says be prepared, be ready, keep watch. 

What does it mean to keep watch? We have been given the gift of salvation, the gift of forgiveness, and the gift of faith. With the gift of faith, there is also the encouragement to persevere in that faith. With that encouragement to persevere in faith comes also the invitation to carry on the work of the Kingdom. What is that work? To each of us, God has given different gifts. He has placed us in different situations in life (relationships and responsibilities). We are each uniquely called and placed, but at the same time called to the common work of His Kingdom that, through each of us, others would encounter the grace of God found in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father, 

          Preserve us in faith until the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Give us guidance in how You desire to use us to bring the grace of Christ to others. Amen.