DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 1, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 3:16-18; Acts
27:27-44; Mark 14:12-26
SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:25 — Assuredly, I say to
you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I
drink it new in the kingdom of God.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The last time I saw my father
alive, he was already thin and weak. He seldom left his recliner, and he slept
a lot. He had been through all the drugs and treatments the doctors could think
of and was ready to meet his Maker. From his chair, he watched the completion
of the new church building a block away, one that he would not worship in this
life. His was only the second funeral to be held at St. Luke’s. The morning Sue
and I had to return to our home, a nine and a half hour drive away, we knew it
would be our last opportunity to speak in this life. “I love you, Dad,” was all
I could say. “I love you too,” was all I remember reading on Dad’s whispering
lips. “Auf wiedersehen!” -“Till we see each other again!” Jesus knew He
would die soon. It had not sunk into the disciples yet. Heaven (and the gospel
writers) knows how many times He tried to tell them. Who knows what went
through their minds that evening? Indeed, not His death. But we know “the rest
of the story,” don’t we? Thank God! I rejoiced that Jesus was there to meet Dad
with some “fruit of the vine” when he died, as He will be for me - and you! We
never know when our final earthly parting with our friends or enemies will
come. May all our partings be as if they could be our last until we meet again
at Jesus’ feet! May they be partings worthy of rejoicing!
PRAYER
I praise you, O God, for
the promises that you have given me of a new life that I will enjoy in your
company. I look forward to your greeting me as you welcome me holding the fruit
of the vine. I pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Nicolai Frederik Severin
Grundtvig, a Danish theologian in the 19th century, attacked
rationalism and began a reform movement to restore orthodoxy and renew the
understanding of the church and the sacraments, with the Apostles’ Creed as the
standard of faith.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 5:1 - 6:7; Acts
28:1-16; Mark 14:27-42
SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:36 — And He said, “Abba,
Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I was fortunate enough to attend
school in an era when the basics were still basic. Sports were recess
activities, not events taking us away from the basics for days at a time, nor
were they seen as preparation for college scholarships. Music, drama, and art
were basic subjects taught in conjunction with learning those basics, not in
addition to them. Our teachers didn’t have the added burden of teaching sex
education, disease control, or race relations. What we learned on those
subjects filtered in through the basics. Jesus attempted to teach his disciples
(“students”) the basics, not so much with books as with “show and tell.” For
Jesus, the basics began with acknowledging God as Father, not just a distant,
“pie in the sky” father - an absentee landlord. Rather, One who was so close
and loving we can call Him “Abba” - “Daddy!” The second “basic” Jesus taught is
that His “Dad” can do all things; nothing is impossible for Him. The third basic
lesson Jesus taught us is that God knows what we need no matter what we want.
Therefore, in life and death, we can rely on our Heavenly “Dad” to do what is
best for us. Jesus didn’t teach the three “r’s” of “reading, ‘riting, and
‘rithmatic.” Jesus taught the three “r’s” of
Relationship, Reliability, and Responsibility. When we pause to think
about it, Jesus left us with the most wonderful legacy of love anyone could
hope for. In any and all circumstances, we have the privilege of going straight
to the top - our Father Himself - through whom all things are possible and in
whom the best is already in God’s heart!
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for
calling me to be your disciple, your student for life. I enjoy studying your
words and what you have taught. Help me adhere to your lessons on relationship,
reliability, and responsibility, and continue learning daily. I pray this in
your name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 7:51 - 8:21; Acts
28:17-31; Mark 14:43-52
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:51-52 — Now a certain young
man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body.
And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from
them naked.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Hot summer nights were often
uncomfortable. We lay on the sheets wearing nothing but shorts, hoping for a
breath of a breeze to cool us off. We’d gaze through the screened window at the
stars in those sleepless nights. Our farm was far enough away from the city’s
light pollution that we could see the Milky Way in all its glory. It was hard
to conceive the vastness of space or to imagine that every dot of light was a
sun as big as or even larger than our own. I was a Flash Gordon fan, so you can
believe my mind, if not my body, played happily in and around the Milky Way. I
had a nightmare once in which an alien captured me, but I fought my way free,
only to wake up with a thud on the floor, thinking the alien had stolen my
clothes! John Mark, the young man believed to be the one who ran away naked,
wasn’t running away from aliens. He was streaking away from a mob intent on
arresting Jesus and his followers. Obviously, Mark was more worried about
arrest than his modesty. Tradition says he also deserted Paul on a missionary
journey because he was homesick. However, it also says he grew up in faith and
stamina to become a valued partner with Paul, the author of the gospel of Mark,
and a martyr who didn’t run away but stayed to die for his Lord. Have you
become more mature in your faith? May we all discover the joy of “growing up”
to be faithful servants of the Lord.
PRAYER
It is good to hear of
others like me who have not been as strong in their faith and fearless in their
following you, O God. Thank you for being a God of second chances. Nourish me
through your word and sacrament so that I might grow in my faith. I ask this in
the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Albert Schweitzer was a parish pastor, a university teacher, an author,
a medical doctor, and an accomplished organist who gave it all up to care for
the sick and do missionary work in Africa.
David Livingstone was a missionary and explorer who was concerned for
the people of Africa.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 8:22-40; 1 Timothy
4:7-16; John 8:47-59
SCRIPTURE
John 8:51 — Most assuredly, I say to
you, if anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Death was a part of life on
the farm. Animals died. We found their bodies where they fell or were killed by
predators. Chickens, pigs, and cattle got sick and died. We killed some animals
for food. Those were givens which we took as natural events in our lives.
People we didn’t know died every day. WJAG radio told about them. However, when
people we knew died, that was a little different. My uncle died from injuries
he received in the war, but I didn’t remember him. It didn’t become personal
until I was six. That was the year my favorite grandmother and a great-grandmother
died within a day of each other. I wasn’t that close to my great-grandmother.
She mainly spoke German, which I couldn’t understand, and she was ancient to my
young eyes. But my grandparents lived only two miles from me. Their home was
like my second home. Grandma had nursed me through illness. She taught the
mysteries of gathering eggs and leading cows in for milking. She read me to
sleep from her German Bible, rocking me gently in her warm, safe arms. I was
devastated and confronted by death in a new way. My theology at age six was as
basic as it gets. I didn’t hear much of the scripture the pastor read, but I
did hear about the resurrection, and I knew Grandma was just fine. I didn’t need
to know the details. I was sad that she couldn’t be just fine - with me. Age
hasn’t changed that basic need. Dad died more than ten years ago, and my first
thought at the time was a flashback to Grandma, and a smile came to my face
thinking of Jesus and Grandma meeting Dad with a hug. Death only separates us
from the living. As Paul wrote in Romans 8, “Nothing can separate us from the
love of God which is ours in Christ Jesus!” May you keep His Word alive and
well in you!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, some days
I miss those who have gone before me, my family, friends, and other loved ones,
so much. Comfort all those who mourn in their grief, and let us be comforted
with the knowledge that not even death can separate us. In the name of Jesus,
who gave us life through his death. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 5, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
2 Chronicles 6:32 - 7:7;
James 2:1-13; Mark 14:53-65
SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:55 — Now the chief
priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death
but found none.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
An early episode of Perry
Mason on our intermittent, black-and-white TV inspired us to have a trial. It
took some bribery to get Mike to agree to be the defendant on a murder charge,
but that worked out pretty well because he kept saying he didn’t kill anyone.
My sister and I alternated between being Perry Mason and the judge. The problem
was our “witnesses”. The twins were not very dependable. They couldn’t keep
their stories straight, and before we could gather a jury, the person who was
killed changed from a man to a woman and then to a horse! We didn’t know the
phrase “kangaroo court” back then, but before Mike ran off to play with his
cowboys and Indians, we couldn’t agree on anything. I often wondered if that
was how the chief priests and the council felt when trying to convict Jesus.
They were frantic to make sure that this “one man die” for the sake of
“business as usual” - peace at any cost. Truth is exceedingly hard to defeat.
It may be twisted and hidden, beaten and brutalized, but it cannot be buried
forever. They tried to do that to Jesus. Others have tried to do that with His
followers from generation to generation. They are still trying to do that
today. Our friend from Pakistan, whose uncle was in prison for preaching the
gospel, is a perfect example. To be a follower of Jesus may mean taking an
unpopular, even dangerous, stand. We must ensure that we are not found guilty
of crimes other than sharing the gospel – If that becomes a crime. May you be a
faithful witness to Christ today!
PRAYER
Dear Lord, you are the
truth and the way. Let me never be afraid to proclaim your truth through my
words and actions. Let there be enough to convict me if it was a crime to
follow you. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 6, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 8:65 - 9:9; James
2:14-26; Mark 14:66-72
SCRIPTURE
Mark 14:72 — A second time, the
rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before
the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought
about it, he wept.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I understand Peter only too
well. When I was four, I broke my grandmother’s heating pad cord. I ran off and
denied it, but eventually had to confess what I had done. It wasn’t a rooster
crowing that brought me back. It was supper. I was tremendously relieved when
Grandma accepted my apology, but that night, when Grandma got a cramp in her
leg and didn’t have the heating pad to relieve it, I wept in shame and sorrow.
I didn’t want to see her in pain. I loved her. Peter wept in shame and sorrow
for his Lord and Friend, whom he had denied. Deep within him, down at the core
of his soul, Peter ached and agonized. How could he deny the one he swore to
defend to the death?! Still, it happens in all of our lives. Rather than be
seen praying in a public restaurant or banquet, we quickly dig right in with
the rest of the crowd. In truth, we are denying that we know Jesus. When people
we know use God’s name in vain, we may chuckle or simply turn a deaf ear, not
willing to speak up for fear we may be labeled “religious.” In truth, we are
denying that we know Jesus. With little imagination, you can probably think of
many such opportunities to witness for Jesus we pass up in favor of “not
offending” other people. In truth, we are denying that we know Jesus. Jesus
forgave Peter and urged him to “feed my lambs.” May you discover opportunities
to “feed” Jesus lambs and witness to His love in your life today!
PRAYER
I am ashamed and deeply
sorry, dear Lord, that I have denied you by pretending it is unimportant to
pray in public and not speaking up when others mock you. Forgive and use me to
feed your lambs, sharing your great love with others. In your Holy Name, I
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 7, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 9:24 - 10:13; James
3:1-12; Mark 15:1-11
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:3 — And the chief priests
accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
My father was sure that his
father was a “bull-headed old German” whose mind could not be changed for
anything. In my teen years, I knew Dad was the same way. I have a sneaky
hunch my kids thought (maybe still do) that it was a genetic trait I picked up
from my father. One of my college professors claimed that many people live with
a favorite philosophy: “Don’t confuse me with facts. My mind is already made
up.” In more than thirty years in the ministry, I’ve discovered many church
members for whom that philosophy may be their sole excuse for not studying the
Bible with others. Jesus knew it was the attitude of the chief priests. They
had already decided He must die. Nothing Jesus said would change their minds.
There may have been another thought going through Jesus’ mind as He refused to
defend Himself. He may have acknowledged that His Father’s will was being
accomplished. The state of human sinfulness was such that only His death would
serve God’s purpose. Jesus knew that if God’s will was for Him to live in this
life, no one and nothing could kill Him. Rather than answering trumped-up
charges for people whose “minds were already made up,” Jesus silently accepted His
Father’s Will. Are there times when you refuse to open your mind to new
possibilities for God’s will in your life? Today, pray that God will open the
eyes of your heart to allow you to let God change your mind so that you will
think His thoughts.
PRAYER
Soften my hard heart, open
my mind, dear Lord, and make them willing to change. Help me to study your
words, seeking what you truly want me to know. Let me become more like you,
willing to love others and see them in a different light. In your name, I pray,
O Holy One. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 8, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 11:1-13; James
3:13-4:12; Mark 15 12-21;
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:21 — Then they
compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
They were looking for
volunteers from the audience. The MC pointed to an elderly grandmother and
invited her to the stage. She shook her head, looking embarrassed, but one of
the hostesses escorted her to the spotlight beside the star, an accomplished
pianist. They asked about her age (82) and her family (in the audience). They
also asked if she played any instruments. She responded that she used to play a
little piano - “but it was years ago!”
The star practically dragged her to the piano, suggesting she might
remember something. She acted giddy at the thought of sitting beside him. He
taught her to play “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater,” which she played poorly. Then
he instructed her to try it again and said he’d jump in and add something.
Within seconds, she was playing rag-time like a pro. She was “planted” in the
audience as a humorous part of a skit. Simon was not part of a funny skit. He
was a reluctant bystander in town to celebrate the Passover when he was pressed
into service. Touching that implement of death made him “unclean” and not
eligible to participate in the celebration for which Simon had traveled so far.
The sick feeling he must have had probably intensified at the thought of having
to witness the execution. Simon must have also feared what would happen to his
boys if they were separated. We don’t know the “rest of the story,” but we know
Simon did what the soldiers ordered him to do. Are there times when you are a
reluctant participant in the mission of Christ and His church? Why not spend some
time praying about what God wants you to do? Is there anything you are being
asked to do that is too difficult to do - with Jesus to help you?! He loves to
be asked!
PRAYER
It does seem, dear Lord,
that you are constantly stretching me beyond my abilities. Sometimes, people
ask me to do things beyond what I can do. Help me overcome my reluctance so I
might jump in willingly to do the task. In your loving name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 11:26-43; James
4:13-5:6; Mark 15:22-32
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:24 — And when they crucified
Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every
man should take.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When my grandmother died, several of my aunts were
assigned the task of sorting and cleaning out her things. To my knowledge, no
squabbles or fights resulted. I only saw a few minutes of the event, and most was
boring to a seven-year-old boy. They would hold up a piece of clothing and ask,
“Does this fit anyone?” or “Does anyone want this?” Then they would talk about
the last time my grandmother wore it, to what, and who was there. Then, someone
would weep, and someone else would hug her. I think I know why it took so long!
I have seen similar rituals in other families and in other branches of my own.
In one case, they literally flipped a coin to decide who got what. That’s what
the soldiers did with the few blood-spattered pieces of clothing Jesus
possessed. They didn’t even wait for Him to die and be buried. They knew He was
as good as dead. Hanging naked, bleeding, and suffocating on a cross, the
soldiers knew no one ever lived to talk about it. It may seem callous and
cruel, but they only did their duty. Sitting around waiting for Him to do His
duty and die was too painful to watch if they took it personally, which they
didn’t. It was boring sitting around waiting. So they made a game of it. Thank
God Jesus died “once and for all”. There are no clothes to divide among us made
of cloth. But there are the clothes and uniform of righteousness we have
inherited from Jesus. We don’t have to gamble for them. Jesus freely bestows
these marks of grace on all who believe in Him. Are you willing to wear “the
breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of
faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit” of which Paul
writes in Ephesians 6? May you be well-dressed for the work of the kingdom you
have also inherited!
PRAYER
Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to die for me
and the world “once and for all” so that I might inherit the kingdom. Dear
Lord, as I put on each piece of clothing this day, let it be a reminder of the
clothing of the Spirit that you have given me to wear and to go out, living the
life of your servant. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings12:1-20; James 5:7-20;
Mark 15:33-39
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:37-38 — And Jesus cried out
with a loud voice and breathed His last. Then, the veil of the temple was torn
in two from top to bottom.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I grew up in a different age.
I was taught a profound reverence for the chancel, especially the church altar.
It was, and still is in my mind, a holy place. It was NOT a place to play. I
grew up believing it was the most sacred and special place in the whole
building. The piety passed on to me came from a long history dating back to the
first altar in the Holy of Holies, in the first traveling Tabernacle. That
altar was so special it was separated from the common worshipers by a curtain
or veil. Only the high priest was permitted to enter, and only on very special
occasions. That same special place was built into the first permanent Temple.
It continued until the day Jesus died on the cross, ripping apart the curtain
separating God from common people and making it possible for each of us to
enter His holy presence! We don’t need a priest to do it for us. We only need a
pastor, like a shepherd, to point the way. The tearing of the veil of the
temple when Jesus died is a powerful reminder for us that God doesn’t want us
separated from Him any longer. Instead of a “Do Not Trespass” sign, we now have
a “Welcome!” sign posted invisibly in the chancel and at the altar of every
church. We have a responsibility to our children, our grandchildren, and, yes,
even our neighbors and friends to teach them that the chancel is holy, a place
set aside just for meeting God in God’s Word and in the Sacraments. The next
time you enter the sanctuary, may your eyes be drawn to the altar. May they see
God’s “Welcome!” sign, and may you bask in the presence of God’s holiness!
PRAYER
It is good to come into
your sanctuary, O God, and see the chancel and altar before me. Thank you for
making it a welcoming place for me. It is wonderful to come to this place and
receive the gift of your Word and Sacraments so that I might be fed and
nourished. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 11, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 12:21-33;Acts
4:18-31; John 10:31-42
SCRIPTURE
John 10:32 — Jesus answered them, “Many
good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you
stone Me?”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Grandpa taught me to play
rummy. It’s a simple enough game that I picked up fairly quickly. However, I
remember Grandpa’s frustration when I tried to use cards of the wrong suit in a
run. I think I thought he wouldn’t notice. A heart and a diamond are both red,
but they are still not the same. It is not always easy to help people use
logic. One plus one usually equals two for most people, but sometimes we’d
rather have it equal two and a half or three. I’m guilty of doing that myself.
I was given directions to a farm home recently. They said, “Turn left.” My mind
was wrapped around turning right. I’d never turned left at that corner before.
Thankfully, I wrote down the directions from another person. When I wrote down
“right,” he saw it and corrected me. Even then, my mind wanted to argue with
him. However, what we think or wish to are not necessarily the facts. Jesus
must have been frustrated with the religious leaders who usually could put two
plus two together just fine until it came to the subject of the Messiah. Their
minds were locked on their preconceived image of a military ruler. No matter
how many good works Jesus performed through the power of God, no matter how many
of the prophecies of scripture Jesus fulfilled, it just would not register.
Looking back, we can see the illogical mistake they made. So now, what about
us? Regular worship, Bible study, and regular spiritual exercise will help us grow
spiritually strong. Do we logically follow through, or do we illogically fail
to do what we know we should and then wonder why we become spiritually weak?
May the Spirit of God work wonders in us to make us spiritually strong!
PRAYER
There are many times when
I want to be like the spiritual leaders of the past, my Messiah, and make you
into a God of war and might. I want you to smite those who oppose you. Instead,
change my heart to show others your love and compassion through my words and
actions today. Make me strong spiritually but submissive to your will. In your
name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 12, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 13:1-10; Philippians
1-11; Mark 15:40-47
SCRIPTURE
Mark 15:43 — Joseph of Arimathea, a
prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,
coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I worked in a funeral home in
Minneapolis for two of my seminary years. It was during the Vietnam era when
the bodies of soldiers were returned home far too frequently in sealed caskets.
In these situations, the families were not allowed to view their loved ones.
Needless to say, that discovery alone was a traumatic and painful event for the
families who wept with concerns that it might not be their child! Their only
consolation in the pre-DNA era was that they had a body to bury. Some
traditions claim that Joseph of Arimathea was related to Jesus, perhaps even an
uncle, who took Jesus under his wing when Mary’s husband, Joseph, died.
Whatever the relationship, he showed great courage to go to Pilate to ask for
Jesus’ body. He could have been arrested for being a follower of the rebel
movement. But Joseph went, lest Jesus’ unclaimed body be thrown into the
garbage dump called Gehenna - in the Valley of Hinom. Thankfully, we know “the
rest of the story” about the burial and resurrection. Joseph only knew that the
Man, Jesus, had drawn him closer to the kingdom of God than anyone else in
life. Therefore, He deserved a decent burial. How well do we show respect and
reverence for the body of Christ? Luther wrote, “In Holy Communion, the bread
stays bread, the wine stays wine, but Christ is really present.” Do we respect
and revere communion as we would Christ Himself? Do we long for that “Body” to
be part of our lives so much that no sacrifice, risk, barrier, or excuse will
prevent us from communing with Him as often as possible? May we, like Joseph of
Arimathea, discover the joy of Christ’s body in our lives and the blessings of
the risen Lord in all we do!
PRAYER
As I receive the bread of
communion and feel its touch, I know you are touching me, O Christ. Wrap your
loving arms around me so I might discover the blessings you have given me. Use
me to spread that love so others can truly feel your presence. In your name.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 13, 2025
John Chrysostom was ordained as a priest in 386, devoting himself to
preaching directed at the instruction and moral reform of Antioch. After being
made Patriarch of Constantinople against his wishes, he reformed the city,
court, and clergy. He was later exiled and deliberately killed by forced travel
on foot in severe weather.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 16:23-34; Philippians
1:12-30; Mark 16: 1-20
SCRIPTURE
Mark 16:9 — Now, when He
rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary
Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I was responsible for
cleaning out a pen where we kept the newly-weaned calves. It wasn’t that hard
for an eight-year-old, but it was one of those jobs I didn’t like. Young calves
can be a nuisance. They want to suck on everything, making it impossible to
clean their pen without having calf slobber all over your jacket, your new
pants, and your hands. When I was almost finished, I was called to help herd
some cattle from one pen to another. I left with my first chore not quite
finished. After completing the second task, I returned to the first as quickly
as possible, knowing the longer I waited, the worse it would be. Jesus didn’t
leave a job undone. He cast seven demons out of Mary. On His resurrection, she
is the first to whom Jesus appeared. He knew that His presence would be missed,
especially by Mary. He had warned that if a demon were cast out and not
replaced with something good, it would return with seven more evil than the
first (Matt. 12:43-45). Jesus filled
Mary’s emptiness with His presence, the same presence with which He offers to
fill us. When you feel sad, lonely, or empty, do you look for the Living Lord,
calling on Him to fill you with new life? Or do you “seek the living among the
dead”? Thanks be to God, He is not dead but alive! May you experience His
living presence today.
PRAYER
Hallelujah! You have risen
and completed the task, defeating death and evil, and made me your own. I pray
that I might live this day as you are indeed alive in me. Fill me with your
presence so that I might fill others. In your Holy Name, I pray, dear Jesus.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 14, 2025 — Holy Cross Day
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 17:1-24; Philippians
2:1-11; Matthew 2:1-12
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 2:12 — Then, being
divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed
for their own country another way.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We didn’t have an
early-warning satellite to tell us about a storm coming our way. Nor did we
have a siren to alert us of a tornado. We used our senses and the signs we
could read in the wind, the sky, and how the animals acted. In much the same
way, we learned to read people. We noticed “body language” long before the book
was written. We also paid attention to dreams and took them as seriously as the
people of Bible times did. No doubt the wise men - being sage - could see
through Herod’s words to his true meaning and went to bed with uneasy feelings
about what the consequences of following his orders might be. The dream confirmed
their “feelings” and observations, and they paid attention. God often used
“uneasy feelings” and dreams to speak to people in the Bible. I do not believe
that has changed over the centuries. Many of the important decisions my wife
and I have had to make have come in much the same way. When people tell me they
never dream, I feel sad for them. It means that they haven’t been listening to
God. They weren’t paying attention to God’s voice in the night. I believe that
after a while, God says, “They aren’t paying attention, so why bother!” The
wise men weren’t called “wise” for nothing. Even though they came from a pagan
land, they paid attention to their dreams. Why not keep a dream diary? Even if
you don’t think you dream, you will discover that you do and that, over time,
you can see the patterns and have your dreams confirm what God is telling you.
May you learn to listen to that “still small voice” and obey so God can bless
you even more abundantly!
PRAYER
As I lay my head upon my
pillow tonight, dear Father, I pray that I might pay attention to those times
when you come to me in a “still small voice.” As I share those thoughts with
others, use them to show me what you want me to hear. Let me be like the wise
men of old, always seeking your Son. In His name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 15, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 18:1-19; Philippians
2:12-30; Matthew 2:13-23
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 2:13 — Now when they had
departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise,
take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I
bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The roads leading to our farm
were not all graveled. After a rain, even graveled roads were a challenge where
the gravel wore thin and ruts wore deep. Traveling salesmen could not always
tell when to wait for a dry day to travel over them. One terrible stretch of
road was only a quarter of a mile from our place. We knew, and the neighbors
knew better than to enter that mud hole, but no amount of warnings got through
to some people, and we’d be asked to pull them out. “Why don’t they mark that
mud hole?” they would rail. “It seems pretty obvious to us.” Dad would reply.
The same principle applies to the way God communicates with us. I’ve often
asked myself, “Why doesn’t God speak to me as clearly as God spoke to the
people in the Bible?” However, the more I read the Bible, the more convinced I
become that God does speak to me and you as clearly now as God spoke to them
centuries ago. Our problem is that we’ve stopped paying attention to God’s
voice, spoken to us in our feelings, our dreams, and even in the unintended
words of others - friends and strangers - and, yes, enemies. We plunge on with
our agenda, ignoring the warning signs and the signs of God’s grace and God’s
voice declaring, “It’s safe now. Go for it!” Joseph paid attention to a dream,
assuring him that it was God’s will for him to marry Mary. He paid attention to
the warning to take his Holy Family to Egypt. He paid attention to the dream in
which God gave the “OK” for their return home. God does the same for you and me
in our daily lives! Why not see how “gabby” God can be for the next three
months?! Who knows what wonderful things God will be able to say to you?!!!
PRAYER
Help me to listen
carefully to you, O my God, as you speak to me through others. Even if I don’t
like what I hear, help me to discern whether their words speak truth and are
from you. I thank and praise you for continuing to come to me afresh in your
written and spoken words. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO
YEARS
1 Kings 18:20-40; Philippians
3:1-16; Matthew 3:1-13
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 3:5-6 — Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the
region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the
Jordan, confessing their sins.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We used to have visiting missionaries speak and show
pictures of the people and places where they served. Their stories thrilled me
and excited my imagination. We would fill the church for these guest speakers.
We’d see people we hadn’t seen at worship for months. It was a real boost to
our spiritual energy. The missionaries would emphasize the importance of our
ministry partnership and how they could not continue their efforts without our
help. At one time, I wanted to be a missionary in a faraway land. That is until
someone challenged me to consider that America itself is a vast mission field.
John the Baptist didn’t go to foreign lands to proclaim God’s Word. He did his
preaching in the land of his birth. The people of his land came from miles
around, even from the big city of Jerusalem, to hear him and be baptized. Jesus
did the same, telling His disciples not to spread the Good News to any but
their fellow Jews. It is only after the rejection by his own people that Jesus
sent His disciples “into all the world.” Those who came had a hunger and thirst
for something they weren’t getting as observers of the priests’ rituals. They
needed to get their own feet wet. Do you feel a hunger and thirst you can’t
quite put your finger on? Perhaps God is calling you to get your feet wet by
being more than an observer in worship. God is calling you to be involved in
the work and ministry of your church. God is calling you to be a missionary in
your family, neighborhood, community, and beyond. Welcome to the wonderful work
of the Lord!
PRAYER
I come to you as your humble servant, O mighty One.
Thank you for calling me into the priesthood through my baptism. Open my eyes
so I may see the ministry ahead of me and share the gift of your love with
others. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 18:41 - 19:8; Philippians 3:17 - 4:7; Matthew
3:13-17
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 3:13 — Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at
the Jordan to be baptized by him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Although we loved playing by the meandering creek that
flowed through the farm, we never had any baptisms there. There were a few
unhappily baptized cats and at least one baptized dog running around, but they
were baptized in the “cathedral,” our converted metal oats bin. It never
occurred to us to have baptisms at the creek because it was usually so shallow
and muddy. Besides, the only baptisms we had seen, besides pictures of Jesus’
baptism in the Jordan, were of infants. It was hard to imagine people from all
over Stanton County coming to our muddy creek to be baptized. I was surprised
to discover that the actual Jordan River in Israel, where John was probably
baptizing, was not much bigger than our creek. With all its tributaries, the
Jordan is broader and deeper - but its banks and bottom are just as muddy as
our creek. However, it wasn’t the muddy
water people came for. It was the Word of God, which John preached, that
brought the muddy waters of the Jordan to life. Even Jesus, the pure and
perfect Son of God, came to feel the mud squish between His toes as He
submitted to John’s baptism. The water and the Word came together to remind us
that it isn’t the water’s quantity nor quality, but the “Water together with
the Word” that washes us clean in God’s eyes. Do you remember your baptism? If
not, do you remember your baptismal date? Next time you shower or bathe, why
not make the sign of the cross and remember what God did for you in baptism?
Thank God it is God’s holiness that makes you clean - not the amount of water,
the purity of your heart, or even the purity of the water!
PRAYER
Thank you for the gift of your life-giving water, dear
Father. As I drink, shower, or bathe, I am reminded that you gave that gift for
more than just the nourishment of my body but also the cleansing of my soul.
Thank you for the gift of my baptism in the name of the Father, the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Dag Hammarskjold, the son of the Swedish prime minister, studied law
and economics and was named chairman of the Swedish delegation to the United
Nations. In 1952, he was elected secretary-general. He was killed in a plane
crash while flying to negotiate a cease-fire.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 19:8-21; Acts 5:34-42; John 11:45-57
SCRIPTURE
John 11:49-50 — Caiaphas, being high priest that year,
said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is
expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole
nation should perish.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Despite his mean streak and the fact that he was one
of the “big kids,” Marlin could be full of surprises. One beautiful spring day,
our whole school hiked to Hansen’s Dam, a long, two-and-a-half-mile walk for a
kindergartner. At one point in our shortcut, we had to cross a muddy creek. We
could see some good logs on the other side of the creek that would be a good
bridge, but we had to get to them. The teacher was about to give up and head
back to school when Marlin declared, “I’ll
take care of it!” He stomped
through the mud to the other side, getting his tennis shoes and jeans to his
knees, soaked and muddy. When he reached the other side, he laid the two best
logs across the narrowest place. Then, one by one, while standing in the muddy
creek, he helped us across. He decided it was better that he get muddy than the
whole school miss a fun time at the dam. The high priest made a similar decision
for his people. Only Jesus was the one who was to suffer for the sake of the
people. In truth, Jesus decided to allow Himself to be the sacrificial Lamb of
God for all people of all time. We can praise God for the love of Christ, which
did not center on Himself but on the needs of all of us!
PRAYER
I am in awe of you, O Christ, when I think you
willingly went to the cross to proclaim your kingdom. Thank you for taking on
my needs through your unselfish giving. Thank you, too, for building the bridge
that allows me to enter that kingdom. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 19, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 21:1-16; 1 Corinthians 1:1-19; Matthew 4:1-11
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:11 — Then the devil left Him, and behold,
angels came and ministered to Him.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“Moose” was a big girl attending the same church camp
I was attending. She was big and not especially good-looking, but what she
lacked in looks, she more than made up for in friendliness and artistic
ability. I was thirteen, and she was much older - at least sixteen or
seventeen. I had never seen anyone put an ordinary pencil to paper and create
such amazing pictures. But it all stopped one day when one of the handsome
older boys, who seemed to have a strange effect on many teenage girls, walked
by. Instead of admiring her ability, he dismissed it as cheap, childish
drawings and told her she should be doing something more pleasing to God.
“Moose” was crushed. As the arrogant, self-important boy walked away, tears
flooded her face. She ripped up what she had been working on, threw it on the
ground, and ran to her bunkhouse. One of the counselors must have seen her
tearful departure. She followed her, listened to her, held her, encouraged her,
and ministered to her. Those for whom “Moose” drew pictures were happy to see
her return the next day with more paper and neat drawings. The devil tried to
side-track Jesus from His chosen path with temptations to take advantage of His
position as the Son of God. Anyone who has had to fight a strong temptation of
any kind knows how exhausting that can be - physically, emotionally, and
spiritually. God did not leave Jesus alone. In the quietness of the devil’s
absence, God sent angels, messengers of mercy, to minister to Him. God
sometimes uses real angels, but God may also send counselors, pastors, friends,
and even strangers to minister to us when we are down and open to them. Thank
God we are not left to pick ourselves up alone!
PRAYER
I am so thankful you don’t leave me alone in my wilderness. Thank you, dear Lord, for sending your angels to
me when I am discouraged and tempted to quit. I pray that you might use me as
one of your angels this day, encouraging others so that they might continue. In
the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, September 20, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 21:17-29; 1 Corinthians 1:20-31; Matthew
4:12-17
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:17 — From that time Jesus began to preach
and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dad sent me to the barn to bring him a halter for one
of the horses. I returned with a halter for a small calf. He sent me back to
get the “horse halter.” I searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. Finally,
shaking his head, Dad followed me to the barn, walked right over to the area I
had been searching, reached up, and took a halter off the hook. “If it were any
closer, it would have burned your nose!” he declared. I must have seen it but
didn’t recognize it for what it was, even though it was right before my eyes.
My wife’s favorite definition of a husband is: “One who, after 25 (57) years
of marriage, asks ‘Honey, where are the cups?’” That can be me more than I care
to admit. Looking right at a book, I don’t see it on the shelf. I’m looking for
a different size, or color, or something. When Jesus began preaching, the
people longed for and sought the kingdom of heaven. Even when He tells them it
is “at hand,” they can’t see it. Jesus doesn’t say it is coming. He says it is
at hand. It’s right before your very eyes. “It’s me!” Jesus also might have
said what Dad told me: “If the kingdom of heaven were any closer, it would burn
your nose!” With all the talk about the
“Second Coming,” we are in danger of forgetting the lessons of the First
Coming. Jesus declared the kingdom was “at hand.” It was so close the very Hand
of God was reaching through the veil separating this kingdom from that Kingdom.
But here’s the really neat part! We don’t have to wait for the Second Coming!
He has never left us!!! Praise God, we can “repent” and turn around, for Christ
is true to His word. He is with us always!
PRAYER
I am sorry, O God, that I turn in upon myself,
forgetting about you and others while concentrating on my life. Turn me around
and help me to see your Kingdom, which surrounds me. Help me live in it,
knowing you are always by my side. In the name of Jesus the Immanuel. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September 21, 2025
St. Matthew, Apostle, and Evangelist, was a
tax collector called to discipleship by Jesus. He is sometimes referred to as
Levi. His symbol is the winged man.
Luther’s German translations of the New Testament were published on this day in 1522.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 22:1-28; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Matthew 4:18-25
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:18-19 — And Jesus, walking by the Sea of
Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting
a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me,
and I will make you fishers of men.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The sea was a small lake near Niobrara, Nebraska. He
had nothing with which to fish as he sat in the moonlit evening by the
campfire, listening to a quartet of pastors sing “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”
The tiredness of the long day, the homesickness of a thirteen-year-old
unwilling to show it, and the loneliness of knowing none of the other kids at
camp made him long for something he could not easily define. Then, as if in
answer to his unspoken prayer, that Friend was there. In an instant, the
loneliness lifted, and he knew he would be alright. Tears, not of loneliness
but of indescribable peace and joy, enfolded him more securely and lovingly
than even the arms of his favorite grandmother. He was not alone “beneath the
cross of Jesus” anymore! Then, as if to confirm his feelings, Pastor Tex stood
beside the blazing fire, proclaiming the mighty Word, which seemed to single
him out of all one hundred other campers! The Word took root, and he knew it
was not the bright moon, the candle-lit cross floating on the lake, the voice
of four angels singing from across the lake, nor the voice of a fired-up
preacher beside the campfire. It was the Friend who came to sit with him in the
crowd of others; it was the Friend who “never slumbers nor sleeps;” it was the
Friend who called fishermen to “fish for men;” it was the Friend speaking
through them all saying, “Larry, follow Me, and I will make you Mine forever!”
Is it possible my Friend has been speaking to you through these words, even
now?! Yes!!! A thousand times, yes! May our Friend’s voice speak to your
heart, even as He does to mine, even today.
PRAYER
Speak to me, dear Friend, that I might hear your voice
calling me to “follow you.” Thank you that I am never truly alone but always
have you at my side. I pray that I might be a friend to others and introduce
them to your love. In your Holy Name, I pray, O Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September 22, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 22:29-45; 1 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:15; Matthew
5:1-10
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:6 — Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the men in my college dorm puzzled me. When I
first met Terry, I asked if he was a junior or senior. He smiled and said it
all depended on his major. He already had two majors and was working on a
third, with his eye on a fourth. He explained that he loved to learn. He wasn’t
there to get a degree. He was there because he had a burning desire to learn as
much as possible. Since his parents worked for the college, tuition was free.
Odd jobs during the summer paid for his room and board. He was a professional
student who “hungered and thirsted” after knowledge. While most of us were
happy with professors who didn’t give us complex assignments, nothing made
Terry happier than a professor who was tough and could challenge him. Jesus
described those who “hungered and thirsted” for rightness with God as blessed!
All their energy and aspirations are wrapped around making God happy; in making
God happy, they find true blessedness themselves. Jesus does not say they will
be immune to suffering, pain, disappointments, and discouragements, but He
describes it as a state of blessedness or “at-oneness” with their Creator.
Wouldn’t you like to be blessed? You can, you know! When I fell in love with my
future bride, I hungered and thirsted to learn everything I could about her and
be with her every chance. When I fell in love with the Lord, who already loved
me, I discovered that same kind of “hunger and thirst” for Him. He offers that
blessing to you, even now.
PRAYER
Oh, how I pray that I might hunger and thirst for your
righteousness, dear Savior! Take away my complacency so that I will take
advantage of the learning experiences that are offered to me. I pray that I
might come to know you with the deepest love imaginable. I ask this in your
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
spectator
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 1:2-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:11-16
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:13 — You are the salt of the earth; but if
the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for
nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We had a hill across the gully from our farmhouse that
was pretty well barren. One year, Dad spread a thick layer of old chopped hay
on that hill in the fall, plowed it under, then spread a thick layer of manure
over the plowed ground and disked it in. The following spring, he prepared the
field and planted corn. After many dry years, it was a good wet year, and the
corn produced a bumper crop. One of the neighbors commented that he couldn’t
understand how Dad could make anything grow on that hill, much less corn. Dad
responded that he planted three seeds in every hill - one for the Lord, one for
the crow, and one for himself. However, each year after that, the hill lost its
“saltiness” - its fertility and produced less and less until we converted it
back to pasture land. Jesus watched that process happen in the salt that bakers
used to help heat outdoor ovens in Palestine. The thick layer of salt under the
tiles retained the heat well, but only for a time. Then, it was considered
useless and was thrown on the roads like fine gravel or sand. Christians can
become like that, too. At the beginning of their Christian walk, they are
excited and alive with the Spirit of God, anxious to share God’s love and grace
with any and all. They can become complacent, even lazy and lethargic about
their faith. They may take up space in a pew, but losing their “saltiness,”
they become spectators rather than participants. Jesus offers us many
opportunities to renew our relationship with Him. Isn’t it fantastic to know
that He wants more for us as we follow His Way than the prospect of being
tossed out and trampled on?! In Christ, we can become new “salt” every day!
PRAYER
Renew and use me, dear Lord, so I will not be like
useless salt. Stir me so that I am not a mere spectator of your kingdom but a
willing participant. Only through you is my faith made fertile so I can bear
the kind of crop you intend for me. It is in your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 2:1-18; 1 Corinthians 4:1-7; Matthew 5:17-20
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:20 — For I say to you, that unless your
righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means
enter the kingdom of heaven.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We felt pretty good about ourselves as our band
prepared for the contest. We had worked hard, put in extra practice time, and
put on what we thought was a near-perfect concert. We traveled to Wayne State
College to prepare to perform for the judges. Some of us sat in on performances
by other bands. In our pride, we were critical of most of them. Then it
happened. We heard one band that flawlessly played a challenging number, a
number we had tried and passed over because it was so hard, and our
self-confidence began to falter. Mr. Walker smiled and told us we had better
shine if we were going to compete with that band. We did very well and received
a “1,” but the other band received a “1+”! Ultimately, we had to admit the
other band deserved their “+” rating because they “exceeded” ours. There were
no more religious people in the world than the scribes and Pharisees. If anyone
had any doubts, they could ask the Pharisees, and they’d have told them so.
They desperately tried to keep all of the commandments. They even made up
others in hopes of becoming even more perfect. However, they lacked a personal
relationship with the One whose Law they were trying to perfect. The result was
a religion of rules without heart. Even today, we Christians have a bad habit
of looking “out there” to compare ourselves with others based on our perception
of what faithfulness requires. When we use the perfect model provided by Jesus,
we discover that we, too, fall short. Thanks be to God. Our righteousness
exceeds that of the most religious, but only by the grace of God!
We are saved “by grace, through faith” in Him, not by our goodness. Welcome to
Jesus’ “band!”
PRAYER
Thank you for giving me a part in your “band,” dear
Jesus, and for giving me a perfect rating. I am thankful you are the judge and
love me so incredibly. Because of your grace, direct me to make fantastic music
in your name so that others might hear the sweetness of your song of
unconditional love. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Sergius of Radonezh was the most beloved of all Russian saints, born in
1314. Sergius was driven from his home by civil war. With his brother Stephen,
he became a hermit, developing a respectful attitude toward nature and using
his influence to preserve peace.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 4:8-37; Acts 9:10-31; Luke 3:7-18
SCRIPTURE
Luke 3:16 — John answered, saying to all, “I indeed
baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I
am not worthy to lose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Some friends invited us to a formal eight-course
English dinner. The courses started with a delicious appetizer. It seemed
rather skimpy at the time because I was famished. Then, course after course,
our hosts served in a leisurely manner while we savored the food, the drink,
and the conversation. Each course seemed to be more delicious than the one
before. We were full when dessert arrived, but the dessert was so incredibly
beautiful we could not resist. It was the pinnacle of perfection in sight and
taste. On our way home, we discussed how we would have been satisfied filling
ourselves with the appetizer, but we were so glad we had saved room for the
other courses, especially the dessert. John the Baptizer came with a message
for which people were starving. They were ready to “fill up” on John’s message,
but he reminded them that the “pinnacle of perfection” was still to come! The
One who was to come would fill them with the Holy Spirit and fire. John
considers himself to be only the appetizer, the one warming up the crowd for
the main performer, the “forerunner” of the true Messiah. We have the incredible
privilege of receiving Christ when we receive His Word and when we receive His
body and blood in Holy Communion. And yet, even that is only an appetizer - a
“foretaste of the feast to come!” The
next time you share the sacrament, give thanks not only for the presence of
Christ but also for the great and glorious Banquet He has prepared for you in
His Father’s House.
PRAYER
As I receive your body and blood, I can’t even imagine
the “spread” you have waiting for me, dear Lord. However, it is made even more
incredible because you are the host. Thank you for the gift of your Word and
Supper and the opportunity I have to partake of both. I pray this in your
loving name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, September 26, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 5:1-19; 1 Corinthian 4:8-21; Matthew 5:21-26
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:23-24 — Therefore if you bring your gift to
the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to
your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Saying “I’m sorry” is one of life’s more challenging
lessons to learn in childhood. I’m sure it’s even harder to learn as an adult,
like a foreign language. The first lesson I remember getting was the day my
sister accidentally knocked over the
large bucket of water we were using to build our mud dam. The resulting flood washed
out the dam and obliterated the small town we had spent all morning building,
causing me to slip and fall and soaking me with muddy water from head to toe. I
could see it wasn’t her fault, but I was furious and thought I had to blame
someone. I yelled at her and told her I’d never play with her again. I grabbed
one of her dolls and threw it into the mud as I stomped off. When the judge -
Mom - finally got past my sister’s hysterical sobs to the facts, she insisted
that I apologize. An apology was the furthest thing from my mind. Murder,
maybe, but not apology. I refused. But Mom stated the facts, which I could not
deny. She sent me to clean up and change when I still would not apologize.
Then, before I could go out to play, I had to apologize. The words came hard
and not very sincere, but they came. Within the hour, my sister and I were
playing together again, and I couldn’t help chuckling when she described the
look on my face when the bucket of water hit the soft dirt, splattered all over
me, causing me to slip and fall into the resulting mess. Jesus knew the
devastating effects of unforgiveness. The inability or unwillingness to forgive
destroys personal relationships, family ties, and even nations. What the whole
world needs to learn is the ability to say, “I’m sorry.” Imagine a world where
forgiveness is the rule rather than the exception. Jesus started the ball
rolling on the cross. May He give each of us that same spirit before we go to
the altar of the Lord next Sunday!
PRAYER
There are many times when I hate to admit that I am at
fault or that things “just happen.” I’m sorry when I don’t say those words of
apology or am reluctant to accept them when offered to me. Thank you for your
love and grace, which receive my apology and remember my sins no more. In the
name of Christ, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
September 27, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 5:19-27; 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Matthew 5:27-37
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:29 — If your right eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you
that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the important jobs of raising farm animals was
keeping them healthy. It required checking them daily, even getting to know
them by name. At the first sign that one of them looked or acted sick, we
separated them, or “cut them off,” from the others to prevent whatever they had
from spreading to the others and to be treated by us or a veterinarian. When we
discovered mold in one of the corn cribs, we had to remove it and the
surrounding corn so that the mold did not spread. Jesus knew the process from
Jewish law, especially those dealing with illness and disease. Even today, if doctors
discover cancer or gangrene, they know that removing it may be the best way of
preventing the ailment from spreading and killing the whole body. Jesus knew
that the cancer of sin has that effect on the body of believers who would later
be called the church. When members of the body won’t repent and return to the
Lord, it is sometimes necessary for them to be separated or “cut off.” Reading what Jesus teaches about repentance
and forgiveness, we know such action is a last resort. Personally, each of us
can give thanks that Jesus forgave even on the cross. Jesus does not want any
of His “members” cut off and cast into hell any more than we would want to
pluck out our own eyes because we see things that cause us to sin. Thank God
this day for the amazing grace Jesus shares with us.
PRAYER
Thank you, dear Jesus, for forgiving me of my sins. I
know that unrepentant sin causes a separation between me and others. I pray
that I might never be so stubborn that I will not admit my sins and be cut off
from you and your body, the church. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, September
28, 2025
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 6:1-23; 1 Corinthians 5:9 - 6:11; Matthew
5:38-48
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 5:44 — I say to you, love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and persecute you....
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We had our snow tires stolen from a garage in St.
Paul, Minnesota, just before the first winter snow when I was finishing
seminary. The little money we had to live on didn’t leave much for anything
extra, especially not tires. My first thought was to call the police, but we
realized there wasn’t much they could do. Aside from the size and brand, there
wasn’t anything that could identify either the thieves or the tires. We were
upset and frustrated. Our thoughts about the thieves were anything but kind. The
word “curse” comes close to what I was thinking about them then. Some friends
came to visit, and when they heard of our misfortune, they asked if we’d prayed
for and blessed the thieves! I had never heard of such a thing. “Well,” our
friend Ann said, “how much good do you think cursing will do?” I had to admit I
didn’t think it would do any good at all. “So, why don’t you do what the Bible
says? Bless them. Maybe the tires will take the thieves to the Lord.” It was a
unique thought, but the only one we had to work with, so we began to pray for
the thieves. The tires never came back, but I believe the Lord used them to
bring about a spiritual renewal in the lives of those who stole them. We have
used that same approach with other things that have come up missing and with
people who have been mean or contrary. I’m not always sure it makes significant
changes in everyone, but it brings me much more peace and joy. Why not give it
a try? I promise the Lord will bless you in ways you never expected!
PRAYER
What you command, O Christ, contradicts what I want to
do. I want to curse my enemies and anyone who has ever taken anything from me.
Please forgive my hardness and help me be more like you each day as I pray for
those who have hurt me. Bless them and help them seek your face also. In your
name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, September
29, 2025
St. Michael and All Angels - Michael is a favorite angel of Jews and Christians.
According to Revelation 12, he led the heavenly army against Lucifer
before the world’s creation, and according to an old tradition, Michael
receives the souls of the departed.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 9:1-16; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Matthew 6:1-18
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:6 — When you pray, go into your room, and
when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret
place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Mom and Dad took us to Knotts Berry Farm, an amusement
park in California, the year we spent Christmas in “paradise.” One of the attractions had me going for a
while. It was a jailhouse with a “mind reader.” At least he seemed to read
minds because he greeted those who peaked in by name and often some information
we didn’t think he should know. “Hi, Larry, you old varment! What are you doing
out of jail? Did you break out of the jail in Stanton, Nebraska?” It didn’t
take long to figure out my uncle was feeding him names and information in a
booth behind our backs. He only knew what my uncle told him. On the other hand,
God doesn’t need a hidden microphone, secret informant, or any other spy
equipment to know us or our needs. God knows every hair on our heads, every
thought, every word, and every deed we do. God knows more about us than we know
about ourselves. God even knows our innermost heart and soul. Jesus declares
that we don’t need a public address system to amplify our prayers, nor a public
stage on which to shout them out. Isn’t it great to know that God can hear us
in the quiet of a closet, in the silence of a cave, and even in the bustle and
noise of the city?! Why not find your quiet place, your “secret place,” where
you can be alone with God? As Jesus promises, you will be happy you did!
PRAYER
I know you know all about me, O Father: my thoughts, desires,
fears, and joys. Thank you for listening to me when I call. I pray that I might
never be so busy that I neglect to go to my “quiet place” to be alone with the
One who loves me more than anything. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Jerome
studied in Rome and was baptized there. He devoted himself to the ascetic life and
went to Palestine, settling as a hermit in the Syrian desert, where he learned
Hebrew. He was ordained a priest and, in 386, settled in Bethlehem, where he
translated the Bible into Latin - the Vulgate.
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
2 Kings 9:17-37; 1 Corinthians 7:1-9; Matthew 6:7-15
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:14-15 — For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Neither side was prepared to hold prisoners when the
“war” started. It was assumed the “enemy” would all fight to the death. It was
my first big war. I was five and a half. When I found myself surrounded by the enemy,
they yelled, “Surrender or die!” I did. They didn’t know what to do with me, so
they took me back to their headquarters, where they drew a line in the dirt to
show me where my prison was. After that, I wasn’t the only one to surrender.
Before long, both sides were down to three or four soldiers, with at least that
many prisoners. The two “generals” called a truce and agreed to exchange prisoners.
However, our side had more prisoners, and the exchange became a heated debate.
If we didn’t let all of our prisoners go, they wouldn’t let any of theirs go!
It became a stand-off. Fortunately, we were called in for lunch before the war
escalated out of hand. Trespasses are a lot like prisoners in need of release.
God, for His part, wants to release and forgive all our trespasses and sins.
However, we hold the key to the “trespass prison” of those who have sinned
against us. Jesus urges us to let them go. But we have trouble letting go. We
must remember that our own “prison of trespasses” is in jeopardy of bursting at
the seams. Jesus doesn’t insist that we forget or ignore what others have done.
He insists that we forgive, release, and let them go. Are you holding on to a
grudge or a hurt someone has done to you? Why not let it go, give it to God,
and discover the joy of a “peace that passes all human understanding?!”
PRAYER
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