Devotion - June 28, 2013

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

Psalm 22:23-24


In yesterday’s devotion, we heard our Savior cry out the words of Psalm 22:1 from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We recalled that God the Father cursed his Son on the cross, causing him to endure separation from all of God’s love and blessings, all so that we could receive his eternal blessings instead.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, though I am a sinner, you have not despised me. Through the death and resurrection of your Son, you have welcomed me into your holy family as your child. Enable me to live like it today. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 27, 2013

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”

Psalm 22:1


“My life is a living hell.” Maybe you have heard people use that phrase when the events of life had pushed them to the brink of despair. Maybe you have even said it yourself during those times when nothing seemed to be going right, when all seemed to be lost, when there seemed to be no end in sight to your troubles.

It certainly is a serious claim, but ultimately it’s not true.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus Christ, you suffered the pain of hell so that I would never have to. Lead me to grasp the depth of what that means today as I seek to live for you who died for me. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 26, 2013

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd!”…declares the LORD Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. … In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

Zechariah 13:7-9


Refining sounds like such a positive procedure. I’ve never worked on an oil rig or witnessed an oil refinery in action, but I can guess some of the basics of that process. Crude oil in its naturally existing form is unusable. The dirt and impurities have to be removed before it can be turned into a product pure enough for us to use.

Prayer: 

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 327):
Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost; Christ’s the rock of our salvation, his the name of which we boast. Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt – none shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 25, 2013

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27


“Who am I?” Perhaps you have seen a movie where the main character wakes up with amnesia and cannot remember who he is or what he is supposed to be doing. The movie follows the character as he tries to make sense of his life and tries to learn the truth about who he is.

Prayer: 

Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for my moments of spiritual amnesia. Wash away all of my sins and cleanse me by the blood of Jesus. Help me and empower me by the Holy Spirit, that I may always remember who I am – a loved, forgiven and saved child of God. Lead me to live a life that reflects who I am. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 21, 2013

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 32:6-11


Sometimes hiding is a good thing. In a friendly game of hide-and-seek. When you are covering a hole with a patch. Or when there is a storm brewing.

Some people love a good storm. Maybe you are one of them. Maybe you find the pouring rain and the flash of lightning and the crack of thunder right over your head invigorating.

Prayer: 

“Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 20, 2013

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:1-5


Sometimes hiding is a bad thing. Hiding dirt under the rug. Hiding dirty clothes under the bed. Hiding income from the IRS. Hiding the truth from your spouse. Hiding problems from those who can help. Hiding sins from God. (Or, more accurately, trying to hide sins from God.) This kind of hiding is a bad thing. In the end, such hiding comes back to haunt you.

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, keep me from the foolishness of denial and deceit. May I always know the joy of forgiveness in Jesus! Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

Creative Commons License 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 19, 2013

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin.”

2 Samuel 12:13


Accusations have surfaced recently implicating 20 professional baseball players for using performance enhancing drugs. Jaded sports fans know what kind of reaction they can expect.
 
First, there will be a denial. Athletes speaking through attorneys will deny they ever did anything to gain an unfair advantage. Next, they will attempt to discredit the source.

Prayer: 

(Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal - 398):
Lord, we confess our numerous faults, how great our guilt has been, how vain and foolish all our thoughts, how deeply stained with sin.  Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 18, 2013

“We…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”

Galatians 2:15-16


If you died and had to face God today, why would he let you into heaven? “Because I believe in Jesus and because I am a good person.” Is that a correct answer? Much of religion today teaches the idea that if we are all basically good people, we are going to get to heaven. Just don’t do anything too bad and you’ll be alright.
 

Prayer: 

Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me for thinking and believing that I am good enough for heaven on my own. Help me to always realize that you are my only way to heaven. Thank you for your sacrifice and help me to trust in you and you alone. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 17, 2013

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:36-50


Quite a cast of characters: a Pharisee, a prostitute, and Jesus. The Pharisees were a religious/political party that emphasized the authority of the written Old Testament Scriptures. But they also believed that God had revealed additional details to Moses on Mt. Sinai about ways that various laws were to be applied in daily life. This they called “Oral Tradition.”

Prayer: 

Jesus, assure me of your forgiveness that I may live in peace with God. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.


Devotion - June 14, 2013

Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 30:10-13


You don’t have to look too far in this world to find something that will make you sad. Sin’s presence has infiltrated this place where we live, that there is no escaping it and its effects we see every day. We see it in broken relationships. It hits home to us in the form of guilt or shame at our own failures.

Prayer: 

Lord God, you have changed our lives forever by sending your Son. Be with us and help us to always remember the hope and joy that is ours in Jesus. Amen.

Today's Devotion is brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com

Creative Commons License 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.