DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Hebrews 3:15 — Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 32:10 — Steadfast love surrounds those
who trust in the Lord.
Romans 15:13 — May the God of all hope fill
you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When
I was in kindergarten, we were stranded in a blizzard at school. One of the
fathers miraculously made it through drifting snow and fierce winds to the
school in his car. The teacher had us bundle up warm—even covering our faces
with towels because the wind and ice flakes would cut unprotected flesh. Most
of us held hands as we walked to the car, but David climbed into his father’s
arms and clung tight, safe, and secure. Despite the excitement of what was
taking place, many of us envied David, his nest next to his father’s heart.
When David was in the car, his father returned to offer us younger children the
same ride, but it wasn’t the same. He wasn’t my father. So likewise, our heavenly Father offers us a “ride”
through this world of turmoil. Only those who have learned the meaning of that
relationship and valued it since baptism will appreciate the loving security,
joy, and peace which God provides for those who embrace Him. Who do you cling
to in this life? Why not cultivate and renew your relationship with the One who
loves you enough to die for you?
PRAYER
Loving Father, we cling to Your warm
embrace, knowing that in Your arms and under Your protection, we are totally
safe and secure. Draw us to You at every opportunity. Give us hearts and minds
that know the total peace only You can give us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 2, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Hebrews 3:15 — Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 38:20 — The Lord will save me, and we
will sing ... all the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.
Acts 3:7-8 — And Peter took him by the right
hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them,
walking and leaping and praising God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
In
one of the leadership training programs I attended, we spent a grueling twelve
hours, with a few breaks, in what was called “T Groups.” We were trying to
accomplish simple enough tasks, but we all had to agree on the solution and
actually accomplish it—together. During that time, tears were shed, nerves were
set on edge, and voices were raised numerous times as we took our assignment
seriously—too seriously. Believe it or not, the simple task was determining
when and where to go for our evening meal! When we finally succeeded, a sense
of elation moved through the group, causing us to literally skip arm in arm
down a deserted street in Cleveland, Ohio, singing silly camp songs and
laughing at everything. We were giddy with success. I fully understand how the
lame man felt when healed—set free from his bondage. He, too, was giddy with
joy, filled with praise and heedless of what anyone else said. Now imagine our delight
as we realize that God’s mercy and grace are fully operational for every sinner
who repents and seeks the Lord. If we could incorporate that joy in our lives, worship,
and work, imagine what people would say!!! Why not accept what God is offering,
and try experiencing that same dance of praise to God?
PRAYER
Happy and Holy God, without a doubt, You and
the angels of heaven dance for joy when we finally get it, return to You and
allow Your healing balm to flow over us. Forgive us for our stubborn,
stiff-necked reluctance to repent and dance with You. We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 3, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Hebrews 3:15 — Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 30:9 — For the Lord will again
delight in prospering you just as he delighted in prospering your
ancestors.
Matthew 18:13 — And if he finds it, truly I
tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went
astray.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The
last time we moved, I lost an entire year’s worth of articles I had written and
copied on floppy disks for my computer. (Remember those antiques replaced by
flash drives?) Hours and hours of hard work had gone into creating the articles
and their file system. They were gone! I looked everywhere. I searched in every
box I could think of that the disks could have gotten stuffed into. After
several frustrating weeks, I had almost given up, except that I was absolutely
certain those disks had been packed and should be somewhere. Then, out of the
blue, I opened a box within a box I had looked in a dozen times, and there they
were!!! I was so happy I didn’t have to create them all over again that I
wanted to have a party. That is God’s joy when we, His lost sheep, come back—even
with our tails between our legs. God is filled with joyful delight that He can
once again bless us with the grace and mercy of His presence. Why do we take so
long to return? God wants to party with us!!!
PRAYER
Joyfully patient Lord, we know the feeling
we have when something we thought was lost is finally found. Guide us in our
finding, but also guide us in returning to You so that we are no longer lost.
Bless us with the assurance of Your loving welcome Home. We pray in Jesus’
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March 4, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Hebrews 3:15 — Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 10:7 — The memory of the righteous
is a blessing.
Romans 5:1 — Since we are justified by faith
, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
In
addition to my parents and grandparents, who all blessed me in countless ways,
I remember Miss Robinson, who taught me art in first grade. I remember Mrs.
Siemsklaus, who taught me phonics in third grade, and Mrs. Klima, who taught me
to enjoy learning in fourth grade. There were also Olga Becker, Hattie Fulner,
and Esther Muhs, who taught me to know and love Jesus. Mrs. Weddingfeld taught
me to know and love music. Pastors Ritzen, Jobman, and Schneider helped me put
my faith and life together. I am also reminded daily of God’s great love and
mercy through my beloved Sue. Some of my teachers and mentors have passed away,
but some are still with us. They probably weren’t all perfect saints, but for
me, they were all forgiven sinners who helped to shape and guide my life. I thank
God for the memories I have of them and the blessing they continue to be. One
who is still alive and with me daily, for whom I thank and praise God, is my best
friend Jesus, in whom I am justified (just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned). In Him, I
have peace. He wants you to have it too. Think of those who have blessed you in
the past, give thanks, and, if you haven’t already done so, invite Jesus to be
your friend too.
PRAYER
Thank You, God, for sending saints and
sinners into my life to shape and mold me to be Your child. Thank You for
placing Your accepting Spirit within me so that these people’s words and
actions could plant seeds that You could nurture. Thank You, Jesus, for Your
shepherding love. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 5, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
1 Kings 8:39 — For you only know what is in
every human heart.
Romans 8:27 — And God, who searches the
heart, knows what is in the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints according to the will of God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When
I was in kindergarten, one of the eighth graders asked me to crawl down the
coal slide into the basement of our country school to get the softball. He was
too big and said he’d hold on to my ankles so I wouldn’t fall. Young, wet
behind the ears, gullible... I fell for it. Actually, about the time I was
within a few inches of getting the ball, he let go, and I fell into the coal
bin. My dignity was hurt more than I was, although I got a few minor cuts and
bruises, and my overalls looked like I had been rolling in coal dust. From that
day on, I never trusted anything Marlin told me. I still got suckered into
trouble by people saying one thing but doing another. Sadly, many people think
of God as “wet behind the ears and gullible” regarding their moral and spiritual
lives. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, they somehow believe they can hide from
their Creator. But before God, we are all “as naked as jay birds!” No
polygraph, medical test, or psychological profile is as intensely accurate as
God’s intimate knowledge of our every thought, word, deed, or intention. Have
you been deluding yourself into thinking you could hide something in your life
from God? It’s time to give up that lie and come clean. And God, who is
gracious and merciful, will forgive you so that God can heal you and make you
whole.
PRAYER
Our Holy God, on one level, we know
perfectly well that we cannot pull the wool over Your eyes, yet we repeatedly
try. Forgive us and guide us into all truth. Give us insight into our plans and
motives, and redirect them, so they are in line with Your Will, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 6, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 3:6 — Moses hid his face, for he was
afraid to look at God.
Matthew 17:5-6 — From the cloud, a voice
said: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him, I am well pleased; listen to
him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome
by fear.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I
enjoyed watching children getting their pictures taken with Santa Claus this
year. One little boy, probably about three years old, was primed and ready to
go before they walked through the door. He and his parents were behind me as I
walked through the Mall entrance doors. I overheard him chatting away, a mile a
minute, about all thing things he was going to tell Santa. The next time I saw
him, he was next in line to see Santa. That’s when terror struck! When the
“elf” said, “You’re next!” he froze for a minute, did a 180, grabbed his
father’s legs in a bear hug, hid his face, and screamed. Moses and Jesus’
disciples were not little children, but the fear of the purity and power of God
caused them to hide their faces too. No doubt they knew that “No one can look at the face of God and
live.” Living on this side of the cross and the resurrection, we are
fortunate in that we are encouraged to look upon the face of Jesus and live. We
no longer need to live in terror because our sin has sentenced us to eternal
death. Jesus has shown us the way to eternal life instead. May our fears be
turned to joy as we look forward to our Lenten journey.
PRAYER
How good it is, Lord, to approach the throne
of grace, knowing You as well as we know our earthly parents. Increase that sense
of oneness with You each day so that we can look forward to being in Your
presence with overwhelming peace and joy. We pray in Your holy name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 7, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Job 5:18 — God wounds, but he binds up; he
strikes, but his hands heal.
2 Peter 3:9 — The Lord is not slow about his
promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient with you, not wanting any
to perish, but all to come to repentance.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
As
I was growing up, most farmers learned basic veterinary skills. Giving
injections, binding wounds, clipping teeth, and delivering babies were standard
procedures. To our visiting cousins, some things we did seemed “cruel.” If
cattle got out of their fence and into green alfalfa or corn, they could bloat—the
fermentation in one of their stomachs would be so great it would shut off their
breathing. That required a swift stab with a large, sharp “trocar” to the
proper area. It seemed mean, but death was certain without releasing the gas.
At times God has had to strike His people to bring them to their senses to
prevent eternal death. At others, it seems God will never come to act in our
sin-filled world. At those times, God acts like the farmer who patiently waits
for all the “cows” to come in so that none will be missed or injured before
harvesting the field. The bottom line is that God loves us so much that He is
willing to do whatever it takes to save us. If you don’t believe that, think
again about the cross and the resurrection.
PRAYER
Loving Lord, thank You for Your patience and
willingness to endure our foolish, sinful natures. Thank You for the wounds You
inflict to bring us to our senses, but thank You even more for binding up those
wounds to heal and restore us to You. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 126:6 — Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their
sheaves.
John 4:35
— (Jesus said:) “Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the
harvest’? But I tell you, look around you and see how the fields are ripe for
harvesting.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Worry
was written on his face that cold, cloudy, and windy March day when Dad kept me
home from school to help him sow oats and alfalfa. The drought of the past
summer had just about wiped us out. Winter had been long and bitterly cold.
Filling the seeder wagon with the last of the seed he had kept back for that
purpose, we went to work. I was too young to drive the tractor, but I was big
enough to shovel oats into the big part of the seeder and scoop the precious
little alfalfa seeds into the smaller box. I saw him cringe when I overfilled
the hopper, and a bounce sent a handful flying. By four o’clock, I was
exhausted and happy to hear him say we were heading home. It was wet that
spring, and we had a bumper crop of oats that summer! The alfalfa got a good
start in the oat stubble. He had trusted the Provider, and the harvest was plentiful.
Dad could have saved the seed and sold it for the going price, but experience
told him to rely on the Lord of the harvest. Too often, Christians lack that
kind of trust in their giving and their living. “I can never out-give God!”
should be our motto. As you begin sowing seeds and planting bulbs this spring,
keep those words in mind—not only in the field and in the garden but also the
rest of your life.
PRAYER
Generous God, You are truly more willing to
give to us than we are to ask. Bless us with generous hearts, not only in
sowing seeds for the garden or the farm but also in sowing the seeds of
kindness, love, and generosity in those in need for Your Harvest to come. We
pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 9, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 119:82 — My eyes fail with watching
for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
John 20:27 — Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your
finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not
doubt but believe.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dry
spells can be discouraging. They were on the farm. Weeks would go by without a
hint of rain. Even the clouds offered no promises. Waiting and hoping for rain
occupied our days, nights, and prayers. Dry spells in relationships can be
discouraging and frightening also. They can happen in marriage, friendship, and
spiritual walks. We long for a return to times of closeness and communication.
Sin is at the heart of most, if not all, personal dry spells. My failure to
take time to share my day with Sue often leads to hurt feelings and
miscommunication. I’m sure I’ve told her about an appointment or coming event,
and she’s convinced I have not. If the pattern continues, we may have a dry
spell. The same is true in my relationship with God. Usually, I spend time
every morning in prayer, with a pen or keyboard at my fingertips. Occasionally
I allow busyness to interfere. Every time I do, I must reestablish my
relationship with God. God doesn’t hold a grudge or make Himself distant. It is
me. My receptors need polishing like a long unused battery whose terminals get
corroded. Thanks be to God when the dry spell ends. Having a dry spell
yourself? Force yourself to take time to reestablish contact, however painful,
and God will do the rest.
PRAYER
Good Lord, in my dry spells, draw me closer
to You. In times of tension and stress, help me to see You drawing me close to
Your ear, as an archer draws the arrow close to his ear before sending it to
its target. Aim me in Your direction, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 10, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 105:1 — O give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Colossians 3:17 — And whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“In the name of the law, open the door and
let us in. You’re under arrest!” In the name of the “law,” we arrested more
bad guys than I can count. Everyone was sent to prison or shot for resisting
arrest when the “law” was on our side. In my parents’ names, I could take my
car into the tire shop, have it serviced, and charge things at the grocery
store. Their name was highly respected. In the church’s name, I solicited funds
for a building program, visited the sick, and voted as a delegate to a youth
convention. In the name of Jesus, I have administered the sacraments, preached
the good news, laid hands on the sick and broken in prayer, held hands with the
dying, wept with the mourners, sung with the choir, and written words of
encouragement for the discouraged. All of this was done in the name of the
Lord. Wouldn’t it be great if everything we did and every word we said were dedicated
to the Lord Jesus? It might take some practice, but why not try it for just an
hour or two, or a day or two, or more?!!!
PRAYER
In the name of Jesus, we come before Your
throne of grace, Lord, confident that we will be welcomed and received with
joy. Thank You, Lord, for giving us the awesome privilege of speaking and
acting as Your ambassadors in our world. Bless us to be blessings to others.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March 11, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 18:31 — See, we are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets
will be accomplished.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 31:8 — I am going to gather them
from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those
with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return
here.
Like 14:16-17 — Jesus said to him, “Someone
gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner, he sent his
slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready
now.’”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When
I was a kid, we looked forward to the yearly “John Deere Days” in my hometown.
It usually included a free pancake feed, with fluffy “store bought” pancake
mix, sausage and all the trimmings, prizes—usually a “John Deere” pencil or a
balloon—and a “Ma and Pa Kettle” movie. We always enjoyed watching meal-time at
the Kettle house, when someone would chase the chickens off the table while
someone else would set the table, and Ma would ring the bell and call out,
“Come an’ get it!!” What followed would be a mad scramble for a place at the
table, Ma trying to make sure all of her brood was there, and Pa taking his hat
off long enough to say a “sincere” prayer just before attempting to be the
first to grab some food before it was all gone. I don’t picture the great
banquet of the Lord as being such chaotic pandemonium, but I do see it as a
grand gathering of God’s children from every corner of the world, answering His
great, “Come an’ get it!!!” Those who know the Lord’s voice from their study of
His word and from listening to His “still small voice” will recognize it for
what it is and come running. Will you be among those who answer God’s great
call?
PRAYER
Gracious God, You invite us to Your table of
grace and welcome us to share the feast of Victory with You. Forgive us for all
those times when we ignore Your invitation and miss the opportunity to be
blessed by Your presence. Help us hear and obey Your invitation, in Jesus’
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 12, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 37:11-12 — They say, “Our bones are
dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy,
and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and
bring you up from your graves, O my people.’
1 Corinthians 15:26 — The last enemy to be
destroyed is death.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The
death occurred at approximately 6 PM. Our oldest son left the supper table to
go out to play in the garage and discovered the body. The stray dog was the
victim of an accidental hanging. His choker chain got caught on a part of the
mower. The weight of his body either snapped his neck on impact or strangled
him. The horror of death came painfully to light as great sobs and crocodile
tears flooded Dane’s eyes. Death was all around but never had it touched his
young life so closely. Of course, you could say that this was only an abandoned
stray dog he had dragged home and tied up with the only chain he could buy with
his allowance. Nevertheless, guilt and sorrow mixed with equal parts disbelief.
The “funeral” in our backyard was one of quiet dignity, followed by a somewhat
traditional “funeral lunch” and a talk about Dane’s certainty that God had to
have a special place for pets in heaven. (How do you get too theologically
correct with a nine-year-old in the depths of grief?) The only thing I could do
was switch the conversation to humans and proclaim the good news: “One day, God will destroy death! Jesus will
heal all our hurts and wipe away all our tears.” As if those words were the
final “amen,” the phone rang, grief was set aside, and the baseball game of the
century was organized. May our sorrows turn to celebrations with the same
certainty in God’s ultimate victory!
PRAYER
How good, Lord, to have the assurance from
Your Word that Your Son has already won the victory through the cross and the
empty grave. Give us the confidence to live our lives in response to the grace
You have bestowed on us in Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 13, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 19:15 — Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
James 1:26 — If any think they are religious and do not bridle their
tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Name-calling was a skill I picked up in country school. It was not
highly refined, but then again, the big kids seemed to have some choice names
and phrases which were not well received in our house. The first time I
called my sister one of those names, I received a swat on the rear and a
warning never to do it again. In addition, my sister was crushed and in tears
because my words had cut deeply into her heart and soul. My words had wounded
her, and I was made to apologize. All in all, I should have learned a good
lesson from my own experience when I was on the receiving end of names and
words that left me in tears. Sticks and stones may not break my bones, but
words can hurt and kill me. Words can bless, and words can blast. Our responsibility
is to use them to glorify God and build one another up in faith. How well do
you use words? Why not consider all of the words you speak today? May every
word, whether for prayer or simply talking to people, be positive, uplifting,
and acceptable to God.
PRAYER
Word of Life, You spoke, and order came out of chaos. You spoke, and a
virgin brought forth Your Son whose Words were life to the dying and
resurrection to the dead. You speak, and we are filled with new life in His
name. Grant us grace to speak only words acceptable to You, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 116:10 — I kept my faith, even when I
said, I am greatly afflicted.
Philippians 1:29 — For he has graciously granted you the
privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I
didn’t always appreciate my parents when there was work to do on the farm.
Cleaning manure out of the barns, walking through the corn to chop weeds,
putting up hay when temperatures pushed 100, and butchering chickens, among
other things, were not pleasant jobs. They were often hot, tiring, and smelly
jobs that left us weary and wishing we were someplace else. But, as difficult
and unpleasant as these jobs were, we were almost always accompanied by one or
both parents, who suffered along with us and encouraged us when we wanted to
give up. In the same way, God gives us reason to keep the faith. When we
suffer, God, in Christ, has been there with us. We have One who can understand
our pain and affliction because He experienced affliction as one of us, and He
will conquer every enemy, including death. That is His resurrection promise.
That is also our hope. We are not alone.
PRAYER
Ever-present, Lord, thank You for walking
with us no matter where we wander. Forgive us for taking You places that are less
than honorable. Go with us and strengthen us through the difficult, dangerous,
unpleasant, and unpopular places of our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 49:15 — Can a woman forget her
nursing child or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may
forget, yet I will not forget you.
Matthew 7:11 — If you then, who are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give good things to those who ask him?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
He
was standing in the middle of the street about a block from his home, looking
this way and that. He was lost. At 88 years of age, he could remember things he
had done as a child and presidents who were only historical figures to me, but
he couldn’t remember where he lived. When I picked him up, he couldn’t remember
where he was going, but he supposed he should go home—only someone had moved
his house. He couldn’t find it. Joe, Alice, Frank, and countless others have
had their memories fade and disappear—forgetting even their own children. It is
heartbreaking to witness and a fear of everyone engaged in the business of
aging. The hope and the good news are the best news of all: Though we may forget, God does not forget
us! God does not forget His children, nor does God forget His good and
loving graciousness to His beloved children. Even when we have failed to
remember His goodness, He does not forget to be good when we remember to call
on Him in prayer. Have you forgotten something? Remember the One who remembers
you and every hair on your head!
PRAYER
As we age, Lord, our memories tend to fade. We
are grateful that You forget nothing except the sins of those who repent. Help
us remember those truly important things that lead us closer to You and Your
Kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 16, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 4:6 — There are many who say, “O that
we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
John 1:4 — In him was life, and the life was
the light of all people.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We
were exhausted from a long day of struggles, and as the night wore on, we wore
out. It had been a very long night. The natives had been restless, sending out
raiding parties at irregular intervals. Bleary-eyed, we longed for the night to
end and for reinforcements to arrive to stop the last of the raids. Just as the
black darkness of night gave way to the first hints of gray, we sat in weary
silence; our prayers were answered. The natives slept, and dawn brightened our
spirits. Unfortunately, most of the118 junior and senior high students at our
youth event missed the beautiful sunrise that made our day. Grief, prolonged
illness, or depression may weigh us down and darken even the brightest day so
that we long for and beg for God’s healing light to shine again—even for a
brief moment. Jesus, Himself walked through the valley of the shadow of death,
suffering contempt, denial, rejection, mockery, pain, humiliation, and
abandonment, emerging on the other side of the resurrection to offer His Light
for our path. Thanks be to God. We do not have to walk that road alone. The
Light lives! The Light shines!
PRAYER
Shine, Jesus, shine! Shine on our darkness
and shine on our troubled world. Give us the strength and courage to face the
dawn of a New Day with excitement and joy, without weariness or sorrow. Guide
us to Your eternal kingdom as we pray in Your holy name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 17, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Exodus 20:23 — You shall not make gods of
silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
Acts 19:26 — Gods made with hands are not
gods.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I
had a choice. I could continue to play with my tractor in the soft dirt on the
side of the road ditch or go to town with my grandmother. It was a tough
choice. My tractor was a lot of fun to play with, but Grandma was fun to be
with, and she usually bought and shared a ½ pint of strawberry ice cream with
whoever went with her. I had to decide which was more important. In the end,
Grandma won the day. Abraham had to choose between his son Isaac and obedience
to God’s command. Gideon had to choose between God’s direction and the size of
his army. The choices are not always easy. Often we must choose between what is
humanly created and what is of God. Sadly, too many people have lost sight of
God and are blinded by gods of their own creation that are not God at all. How
good are you at making the “right” choices? Why not take special note of the
choices you make today?
PRAYER
How good, Lord, to have the opportunity to
be with You in worship, where You feed us with Your Word and the sacraments.
Thank You for giving us these eternal gifts, which are sweeter and longer
lasting than a bowl of ice cream. Bless us with every spiritual blessing, in
Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March 18, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
1 John 3:8b — The Son of God was revealed
for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil.
SCRIPTURE
Daniel 7:14 — His dominion is an everlasting
dominion that shall not pass away.
Philippians 4:20 — To our God and Father be
glory forever and ever. Amen.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I’m
always happy when we finish the end-of-the-year reports and send them in. It
marks a conclusion. I’m thrilled to have our taxes completed, filed, and sent
in. It’s a good feeling for some things to end. But there are other things I
hate to see coming to an end. I love to read a good book that involves me in
the life and adventures of a central set of characters. However, I become a
little depressed when I get to the end of the last book of a series. It’s like
death! I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when I find a series I can enjoy, I feel
the same way when they change nights or cancel the series. I want them to go on
forever. These endings remind me that there is nothing everlasting and eternal
in our world except God and His love for us. God has been from the beginning
and will be forever in control. The one powerful conclusion we can draw from
all of the visions of wars and terrors in the book of Revelation is that God
was, is, and always will be in control and victorious! God is the Ruler
and sets limits and times for every event—even of the last times. So when we
reach the end of a good book, a good movie, a relationship, a life, etc., we
should give thanks for the reminder of the One who never ends!
PRAYER
Everlasting God, even the best batteries on
earth have a short life span compared to Your eternal life and rule. Therefore,
in this world of changes and endings, we give thanks to Your Son, who was with
You from the beginning and is our everlasting salvation. Thank You, in His
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 19, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Ecclesiastes 3:14 — Whatever God does
endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it.
Romans 9:21 — Has the potter no right over
the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another
for ordinary use?
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
It
may be hard to believe now, but I was skinny as a rail when I was a kid. I
hated how I looked and probably exaggerated the oddity of my appearance. I was
pigeon-toed and clumsy and had what I judged to be buck teeth and long gangly
arms. The “zits-days” for me were even worse. I saw myself as one big pimple! I
had more than one angry “discussion” with God about those matters. I even gave
up on prayer for a while. Why bother?! Mom taught me a lesson while baking
cookies one day. She made several really odd-shaped ones—they didn’t look like
cookies! There was no uniformity at all. When I asked her why she told me
they’d be fine when she baked them. Sure enough, as they baked in the oven,
they all changed shape and looked like cookies when they came out of the oven.
She handed me one of them after they’d cooled a while and said, “Have a cookie,
Cookie! You are like that dough right now. You’ll turn out fine!” God has
created us like the potter or the cookie baker. God knows how He wants us to
turn out. If we “endure” the process and allow God to make us His way, we will “turn out fine,” too.
Unsatisfied with your life now? Perhaps God isn’t finished with you yet. Maybe
you haven’t allowed God to do the molding. In the meantime, why not have a
cookie today as a reminder?
PRAYER
Master Potter and Master Baker, thank You
for taking the raw materials of the dust of the earth to create humankind just
“a little lower than the angels.” When we
fail to see the beauty You created in us, remind us that You are not finished
with us yet. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 20, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
2 Chronicles 15:2 — If you seek the Lord, he
will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.
Acts 17:26-27 — He made all nations of one
blood... so that they would search for God ...and find him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I
went into the kitchen to find a container for some of my herbs, but I got
distracted. First, the phone rang. Then, I saw a cookie that begged me to eat
it. Then, I opened the cupboard door and began searching, but I forgot what I
was searching to find. When Sue asked what I was looking for, I had to think
really hard before it came to me. And almost as if by magic, there they were -
the containers I needed. The containers hadn’t been hiding from me after all!
Our search for God may take a similar course. We get distracted by so many
things and wonder why we can’t find what it was we were looking for. Who? When
we finally come to our senses, we realize that God was there all the time,
patiently waiting for us to seek for Him. He hadn’t left us. He hadn’t hidden.
We had just forgotten to “seek the Lord.” It doesn’t matter how good, bad, or
indifferent the distraction is. If we discover that we can’t find God, it’s
time to wake up and start the search. God is not hiding!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You reveal Yourself
whenever we truly seek You. In those times when we are too preoccupied to
realize that we are far from You, draw us back. Bless us with Your presence so
we can pass that blessing on to others in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 38:22 — Do not forsake me, O Lord; O
my God, do not be far from me.
John 14:16-17 — (Jesus said:) “I will ask
the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This
is the Spirit of truth.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The
first time we went to Germany, we had friends with whom we stayed, who guided
us around for the first five days. When we left them, we experienced some times
of panic, trying to figure out train schedules and gates at train stations on
our own. There were times when we felt “forsaken.” We were lost and had no one
to fall back on. It would have been nice to have one of our friends with us on
every leg of our journey, but they were not. God does not forsake us on our
journey through this world. God has sent the Spirit of truth to be with us
always. In the most difficult or confusing times of our lives, we have the
assurance that God is always with us, like a mother watching her child on the
first day of school. Walking along quietly, out of sight—but there. For our
part, God only asks that we keep the lines of communication open so that when we
need Him, we know Who to call on and how to call on Him. Feel like you’re
walking alone? Jesus has sent His Spirit to walk with you. Stay in touch with
Him.
PRAYER
Great God Almighty, after ten plagues and an
escape from slavery in Egypt, your children were not satisfied with a pillar of
cloud, fire, or daily manna to remind them of Your presence. When we, like
them, cry out for more, speak to our hearts and remind us that Jesus is with us
always. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 32:39-40 — I will give them one
heart, and one way, ...that I will not turn away from them, to do them
good.
Philippians 1:27 — Live your life in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My
grandparents had an old radio which didn’t always come in very clearly. Grandpa
would often sit by it, carefully turning the tuning knob to bring in the program
he wanted to hear. I was reminded of that when we gathered a group of kids to
form a singing group. In truth, the first session was less than spectacular. I
wondered if there was any hope. Sixteen different voices, singing sixteen
different notes, with sixteen distinct volumes, tone qualities, and pitches
made for interesting sounds. But, each week, we met and worked at listening and
paying attention to others around us. Gradually the discords of the beginning
gave way to clear, smooth sounds of unity and eventually to beautiful
harmonies. In a way, it was like tuning one of those old radios my grandparents
had. Tuning our lives to Christ is much the same. Allowing Christ to shape us
and mold us so that we have “one heart” and sing one tune—God’s—is allowing
Christ to tune us into His Will in every aspect of our lives. Is there any part
of your life not in tune with your Lord? May you hear His song and sing in His
key today and always.
PRAYER
Since “music is the language of the
universe,” O Lord, tune us to Your key and help us to sing Your song in harmony
with You and those around us. Let the music You create through us bring Your
life and salvation to all who hear it and cause them to sing along in the name
of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 23, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Genesis 24:56 — Do not delay me, since the
Lord has made my journey successful.
Luke 9:60 — Jesus said to him, “Let the dead
bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We
had a big trip planned that day. My sister, twin brothers, and neighbor boys
were hiking to Timbuktu through head-hunter territory to find a buried treasure
before the pirates stole it. We packed everything we needed, including a sack
lunch, guns, bazookas, rope, and a big jug of Kool-Aid. First, however, Mom had to ask if we had finished all our
chores - including gathering the eggs. We hadn’t. The eggs still had to be collected,
the calves had to be let out into the yard, and the hogs needed more water.
With all our gear waiting for the incredible journey, as soon as we finished those
chores, we raced off to begin our adventure. We took off before Mom could think
of anything else we needed to do. I understand Abraham’s servant’s frustration
when searching for and finding the perfect wife for Jacob, especially when
Rebekkah’s family tried to delay him. The servant wanted to get back to
celebrate his success! Jesus, too, knew the stall tactics we use when we drag
our feet about following Him, committing our lives to Him, living His Way and
His Plan. What’s holding you back?
PRAYER
Patient Lord, many distractions take us away
from following the path You have for us and the work You want us to do. Keep us
focused on You and Your will for us, so we do not lose sight of our ultimate
goal. We pray in the name of Jesus, for whom even the cross was no distraction.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 24, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 7:2 — Keep my commandments and
live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Matthew 19:21 — Jesus said to him, “If you
wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Priorities
have a way of changing as we mature. When I was a “foot-loose-and-fancy-free”
pre-schooler, my only priorities were play and food. When I went to school, the
necessity of study began to rise as a priority, but it didn’t interfere with
playtime until I got into high school. By then, music, friendship, church, and,
yes, girls were also important and began to compete on my priority list. In
college, work, study, and Sue became priorities which came to a head one night.
I was living in a mortuary, and my roommate at the mortuary had skipped out on
his responsibilities, leaving me to handle the phone for several weekends
without a break. I talked to Sue on the phone, but we couldn’t be together in
person. One night, my roommate returned early, and I bolted before he could
find another excuse for leaving. I walked over to the student union at the
college, and at about the same time, Sue walked in. Needless to say, she was
upset, thinking I hadn’t cared enough to call her to make a date. She
questioned my priorities. Since then, I have questioned my priorities numerous
times. No doubt God does too! What is most important in your life—what is the
“apple of your eye”? If God doesn’t fit into our scheme somewhere, God, like a
neglected love, will have reason to question our priorities.
PRAYER
God of all creation, You have kept us as the
apple of Your eye through all the centuries despite our many sins. Help us keep
You as the center of our lives. Guide us on the paths You want us to take that
lead without fail to You. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, March 25, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Romans 5:8 — God proves his love for us in
that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us.
SCRIPTURE
Zechariah 8:16 — Create peace in your gates.
Romans 14:19 — Let us then pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We
had to call a truce. We had lost or imprisoned so many soldiers on both sides
that there were only two of us on each side able to fight, and we were at a
stalemate. The truce enabled us to regain those who were in prison, “resurrect”
the dead, and heal the wounded so that the war could go on. In the process,
however, we discovered it was time for refreshments. Sharing fresh-baked
cookies and grape Kool-Aid, we forgot about being enemies, called off the war,
and decided we should investigate the section of jungle near the bridge. My
twin brothers saw strange tracks there when they herded the cows across the
“raging river” (more like a trickling creek). With a common enemy, we were no
longer at war with one another. We were united in our efforts to find and
capture these wild creatures! Wouldn’t it be great if we all prayed that world
leaders would learn to play a children’s game as we did, take a cookie and
Kool-Aid break from war, discover the common enemies of hunger, disease, and
suffering that are stalking us, and discover peace in the process?
PRAYER
God, whose grace and peace surpass all human
understanding, send Your peace into the hearts and minds of all those at war
with themselves, their neighbors, and people of other nations. Grant us the
shalom which genuinely makes us at peace with You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, March 26, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 20:41-42 — I will manifest my
holiness among you in the sight of the nations. You shall know that I am the
Lord.
Mark 15:37, 39 — Then Jesus gave a loud cry
and breathed his last.... Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that
in this way, he breathed his last, he said, “Truly, this man was God’s Son.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My
view of pastors has changed over the years. When I was young, I placed them on
a pedestal and thought of them with awe since they, like Moses, spoke directly
with God. Now I am one, and the pedestal is more like a toadstool, and the awe
is directed, not at other pastors or me, but at God, who stoops to speak
directly to anyone who has an ear to
hear—a pastor or not! Sadly, yes, even pastors can get too busy doing “the
Lord’s work” to take time to let the Lord speak in their lives. When that
happens with any of us, it is hard to reflect the glory of God—to let God’s
glory shine through us. How else are others to behold God’s holiness if we, His
children and servants, don’t do it? Even the pagan centurion, busy carrying out
his orders of execution, could recognize the glory of God in the last breath of
Jesus. Will the pagan world see that in you? Perhaps it’s time to stop being
busy so that we can’t listen to and absorb the powerful holiness of God. Our
dark world, full of wars and woes, needs that light now, more than ever.
PRAYER
O God, You spoke to farmers, dressers of
sycamores, shepherds, older men and women, teenage virgins, fishermen, pagan
soldiers, and common laborers. Speak to me, and open my ears to hear Your
message. Then, Lord, give me the courage to speak Your word, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, March 27, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 22:1 — My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me?
James 5:14 — Are any among you sick? They
should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them,
anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There
have been times when I have experienced painful physical suffering. I know the
pain of migraines. I’ve felt the surgeon’s scalpel, the dentist’s drill, the
anxious worries over teenagers’ troubles, the wounds of barbed words, and the
anguish of grief. But, I’ve never been whipped to within an inch of my life,
hung naked on public display with nails pinning my hands and feet to rough
wood, or felt the weight of the whole world’s sin suffocating me to the point
of despair. Jesus did that for me—and you. Jesus did even more! He sent His
Holy Spirit to always be with us and hold hands with us when we experience our
pain. In addition, He offers to send the power of his healing Hand through the
hands of others. Sometimes He uses doctors, nurses, medicines, and surgery as
gifts of healing. At others, He touches us through the words of encouragement,
the anointing, and the prayers of others - even us. When we or others cry out
with Jesus’ words, “My God, my God, why
have your forsaken me?” we may be guilty of limiting God by not allowing
the Holy Spirit to flow through us with one of the ways in which He heals.
Could God use you to bring healing to someone today?
PRAYER
Lay Your hands gently upon us, O Lord. Let
them bring healing to me, but also, let Your healing hand flow through me to
bring healing to others. Let it be the healing that You know they need for
their body, mind, or soul. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 65:1b — I said, “Here I am, here I
am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.
Acts 10:34-35 — Then Peter began to speak to
them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation,
anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
There
is always one kid in the class who has all the answers. In our country school,
it was Marlene. In high school, there was someone else in every class. In the
“Harry Potter” books, it is Hermione. In the classes I’ve taught, I’ve found
the same thing to be true. Sometimes it seems like they’ll come out of their
skin if they aren’t called on. I’ve observed how disappointed they are when
someone else is asked to answer the question. God has that problem with His
people sometimes. I picture God as the One who truly does have all the correct answers. His hand is always
raised, wanting to speak, but we do not call on Him. God gives us ample
evidence that He knows what is best for us, but we prefer to plot our own
course or choose our own direction. Is it any wonder God’s only partiality, His
only distinction, has to do with those who call on Him and do what He commands?
Do you know who knows all the answers? Call on Him today!
PRAYER
All-Knowing God, take away our reluctance to
call on You and listen to Your answers, especially when those answers don’t
match our wants and desires. Give us hearts that are open to Your instructions
for our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 55:6 — Seek the Lord while he may be
found, call upon him while he is near.
Matthew 9:15 — And Jesus said to them, “The
wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and they will
fast.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
While
our escaped convict (my uncle) went into hiding, my sister, twin brothers,
three cousins, and I got busy playing a card game. We lost track of time, and
when we thought we’d given him enough time to find a hiding place, we split up
to search. He was good at hiding, so we had to search every location thoroughly.
We searched the castle (corn crib), the jungle (grove of trees north of the
house), the mountain hideout (dairy barn), and every other possible location.
Finally, we had to agree he had escaped completely. We yelled in every
direction for him to come back, but there was no reply. Finally, mom came out
to check out all the commotion. She told us he had gotten tired of waiting for
us to come looking, so he went home when we were out searching! How busy is
your life? Too busy to seek the Lord while
He may be found? If so, you’re too busy and will continue to be too busy
when the Bridegroom comes to usher the faithful into His Celebration. Sadly,
there will be plenty of time (an eternity) to waste on all those things we
thought were so important that we were too busy. So, take time today—and every
day—to do a little seeking while He may be found.
PRAYER
Lord of all revelations, open the eyes of
our hearts to the importance of seeking You in all times and all places. Place
within us a burning desire to find You and to experience Your gracious love.
Make us witnesses willing to lead others in their search of You in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, March 30, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm 118:26 — Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 23:29 — (Jesus said:) “I tell you,
you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the
name of the Lord!’”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“Open
up in the name of the law!” With those words, we broke into the hideout of
notorious bank robbers. In the name of the law, we had the authority to break
down doors, arrest bad guys, and shoot them dead, if we had to—and we usually
did. We didn’t know about the “Miranda Law,” but it wouldn’t have made much
difference. Soldiers, officials, and statesmen often trample justice into dust
in the name of freedom, liberty, and other high ideals. How torn I felt about
the terrorist suspects who were imprisoned in Cuba. Drastic times require
drastic measures, but justice does not change clothes for anyone. In the name
of security, no one’s security is safe. In the name of any human ideal or
institution, we have cause to doubt. Only in the name of the Lord can we be
confident God’s Will and God’s Way will be fulfilled. The one who comes in the
name of the Lord will be known by the fruit produced—fruits of the Spirit, like
peace, patience, love, joy, and justice. Have they found a place in your life
so that others know you are one of His followers?
PRAYER
God of justice and mercy, make us
instruments of Your peace. Help us to think beyond “winning at any cost” or
revenge and retaliation to true Justice as seen in Your eyes. Give those who
must enforce the laws, Your Law in their hearts. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, March 31, 2023
WATCHWORD FOR THE WEEK
Luke 9:62 — No one who puts a hand to the
plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.
SCRIPTURE
1 Kings 8:24 — You promised with your mouth
and have this day fulfilled with your hand.
Matthew 17:22-23 — As they were gathering in
Galilee, Jesus said to them: ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human
hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Why
am I surprised when someone keeps a promise? No doubt, it is because not all
promises are kept. Watching promising rain clouds pass us by without a drop
left behind, listening to politicians make promises we know they can’t keep, or
having someone stand us up for a date may have us primed for expecting promises
to be broken. But God is the Keeper of Promises. As a result, even in old age,
Abraham became the father of many nations. Slaves were freed and led into the
Promised Land. David became a great king. Solomon was given wisdom. A repentant
people were returned from exile. A Savior was born to a virgin; that Savior
made the ultimate sacrifice for our sakes to fulfill God’s promises. God opens
His mouth to speak, and the Hand of God stretches forth to make it happen. The
founding fathers of our country knew what we often forget when they placed the
declaration on our money: In God, we trust. In whom will you
trust this day? Will it be in those who make and break promises or the One who
is faithful and true?
PRAYER
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