DAILY DEVOTIONS
NEW
YEAR’S DAY — Thursday, January 1, 2026 — The Name of Jesus
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Samuel 1:1-2, 7b- 28; Colossians 1:9-20; Luke 2:22-40
SCRIPTURE
Luke
2:38 — At that moment (the prophetess Anna) came and began to praise God and to
speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
When I was twelve, we got a part-collie puppy. We named her
“Lassie,” after the TV heroine who repeatedly saved victims of every crime in
the book. We tried to train her to do some of the stunts Lassie did on TV, but
it wasn’t very effective. Our Lassie never lived up to her name. Instead of
protecting the chickens, she developed the bad habit of killing them. That’s
not good on the farm, and our Lassie had to go. People, like dogs, don’t always
live up to the meaning of their names. Sadly, many have forgotten the fine art
of “naming” their children. In some traditions, a person’s name is so important
that it isn’t left to parents to “name” their child with some cute or trendy
name. Older, wiser relatives, friends, or even pastors are asked to do that. In
the case of Jesus, an angel of the Lord gave the name, which means “Savior.”
Unlike many people who do not live up to the meaning of their names, Jesus did
become the one who “saves us from our sins.”
No doubt that is what the prophetess Anna saw and felt when she first
saw the infant. Like a child experiencing her first Christmas, Anna explodes
with joyful praise. Her words are too happy to contain quietly. Has the impact
of the birth of Jesus - God becoming one of us so that He can save us - sunk in
yet for you? Why not let this new year be a new beginning for you and your
family? Jesus would love nothing more than to be invited into your life, to
fill you with the joy of His salvation!
PRAYER
I begin this new year basking in your name, dear Jesus, my
Savior. My heart sings joyfully, knowing that you are with me and that your
gracious love has forgiven all my sins. Join me as we go through this new year
together. In your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
January 2, 2026
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, pastor,
1872
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Isaiah 62:1-5, 10-12; Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 1:18-25
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
1:21 — (Mary) will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save
his people from their sins.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Pregnancy was not a taboo subject when I was growing up, but
at the same time, it was not a subject we talked about. Farm kids grow up
knowing many of the facts of life about animals many of our city cousins and
friends have no clue about. However, even we can be caught off guard. I was
shocked when Wayne, my only classmate, asked me when my mother would have a
baby! “What are you talking about?!” I asked him. “Well, your mom is pregnant,
isn’t she?!” he exclaimed. I hadn’t even noticed. I hadn’t noticed Mom getting
big around the middle until she came to pick us up after school that day. Then
I wondered how I could have been so blind! Two months later, my youngest sister
was born. Joseph was no schoolboy. He was a grown man, waiting patiently to
marry the younger woman to whom he was betrothed. At that stage, there was no
swollen belly, only the words of an angel. If I were shocked to hear my mother
was having a baby, I could only imagine Joseph’s shock! His mind was racing
with questions of how, who, when, why, and what to do. But the angel gives
Joseph the name he is to call this son of Mary. The name is “Jesus,” Savior.
We know “the rest of the story.” Joseph obeyed, took Mary for his wife, and
loved, cared for, and protected Mary and Jesus. Are there children in your life
God wants you to love and care for in the same way? Perhaps they are the
“Christ child” who will complete your joy.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for Mary and Joseph and their
role in bringing the Christ-child into the world and caring for Him during His
growing years. Thank you for the children you have brought into my life for me
to nurture and care for. Help me to guide them with joy and love. In your Son’s
name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
January 3, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-16; Matthew 24: 22-44
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
24:40-42 — Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be
left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will
be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is
coming.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We had built most of the village and the roads around the town.
We had carefully sculpted the streets in the dirt bank west of the house and
had set in place the tiny dwellings made of twigs and small pieces of scrap
lumber. What was needed was a water tower that would hold the discarded old tin
cup we found in the trash. Creating a kind of teepee, we were close to being
able to fill the cup with water. That was when Mom called to tell us to clean
up for a trip to Grandma’s house. My sister and brothers scrambled to obey. I
figured I only needed a minute or two to finish. After cleaning up, my sister
came to help again, carefully staying clean. A minute or two stretched into a
few too many because the next thing I knew, Mom called, my sister ran, and they
were piling into the car - without me! I was left behind, still dirty. I missed
the trip! That is the image Jesus gives of people in the field or preparing
food in the kitchen. He reminded them always to be ready - not for a sudden
“rapture,” but for the coming of the Lord. The key word is “prepare now!” Not
“rapture”. That word doesn’t even appear in the Bible. (Barbara Rossing’s The
Rapture Exposed is an excellent book to read on the subject.) Are
you ready - NOW - to welcome the Lord?! The joy of the Lord is prepared for
those who are prepared! Thank the Lord for His infinite loving patience!
PRAYER
Have you caught me sleeping instead of being prepared for
your coming, dear Lord? Forgive me for my complacency and jolt me into being
ready. Thank you for calling me, and I pray that I will take that call this
day. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
January 4, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:1-14
SCRIPTURE
John
6:13 — So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley
loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Mom made huge batches of chili, chicken soup, or rice
pudding during winter. We’d usually have one of them, say chili, for an evening
meal, and the rest she would place in our unheated parlor because the pot
wouldn’t fit in the refrigerator. After a night or two in “cold storage,” Mom would serve the “leftover” chili. It was
always better the second time around. “Leftovers” was not a bad word for us. We
loved them. I wondered if the disciples felt that way about all the bread left
after they fed five thousand people. Isn’t it interesting how our thoughts
about food change when we’re hungry? I also find it interesting how Jesus took
whatever was given to Him, blessed, improved and multiplied it - whether it be
wine at a wedding, bread at a picnic, or even our lives. And amazingly, there
is enough - AND left-overs besides. Sadly, we tend to make the mistake of
offering Him only the leftovers of our lives instead of the first and the best
we can offer. What could happen in your life if you turned it around? What
might happen if you offered to God your first and finest? Why not try it and
see what He will do with it? I’ve found that I can’t out-give God. The more I
offer Him my time, skills, or treasures, the more He multiplies them. Are you
ready to gather up the leftovers?
PRAYER
O Savior, you who took so little and made so much, I pray
that you might forgive me for my doubt that you can do the same for me. I am
sorry I give you what is left over from my life, money, and abilities. Open my
heart so I can give you the first of everything. In your Holy Name, I pray.
Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
January 5, 2026
Kaj Munk, Danish pastor, martyr, 1944
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
1 Kings 19:9-18; Ephesians 4:17-32; John 6:15-27
SCRIPTURE
John
6:19b-20 — (The disciples) saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the
boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be
afraid.”
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dad converted a large horse barn into a milk barn by
cleaning and paving the floor and installing stanchions. He built a wall to
divide the milk storage and equipment cleaning area from the much dirtier
milking area. Over it all was a huge hay mow that overlooked another portion of
the barn where the cows found protection from the cold of winter. The loft also
provided numerous adventures, hay forts, and jungle vine swings. There were no
lights in the hay mow. Mid-winter, we didn’t have much choice about climbing up
to “no-man’s-land.” We had to throw hay down to the cows from the dark,
shadow-filled recesses. It took longer than usual to feed the bucket calves one
January evening. Dad and my brothers had finished milking and were cleaning up
when I climbed the ladder to the hay mow. As I grabbed a bale of hay to throw
to the cows on the other side of the wall, the little bit of reflected light
from below went out! It was pitch black. I was alone, and I was scared. I
decided to take the twine off the bales, throw the hay in the direction it
needed to go, and then run for the exit - if I could find it before the hay
monsters could get me. I threw the hay, listening for it to hit the floor. I
heard it hit, but I also heard something from the opposite side of the hay mow.
My imagination went wild, and so did my heart. Then Dad spoke, “It’s me!” a
flashlight went on, and my fear disappeared! Jesus approached the disciples in
the darkness with similar words. It’s good to know He speaks those same words
to us wherever we are and whenever our fears threaten to overwhelm us. May you
discover His presence in your fear.
PRAYER
Sometimes, I let my imagination and fears get the best of
me, my Protector. Thank you for your calming touch, reminding me that you are
always with me and I am never alone. Help me to share this comfort with others
who are sitting in fear. In your name, I pray, dear Christ. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
January 6, 2026 — THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Isaiah 49:1-7; Revelation 21:22-27; Matthew 12:14-21
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:15 — When Jesus became aware (that the Pharisees had conspired to destroy
him), he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them,....
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
As a kid, I had my cowboy heroes. Roy Rogers was at the top
of the list. The Lone Ranger wasn’t far behind. Had either lived nearby, I
might have been tempted to follow them like a “groupie.” As a teen, I had my
favorite musical heroes, too. The Kingston Trio and the New Christy Minstrels
were among my favorite groups. I liked some of Elvis’ music, but he wasn’t
thrilling me. I wouldn’t have wasted the time and money to be among his (or any
other musical stars) screaming, fainting fans. On the other hand, my kids followed
some rock groups as far as their time and money allowed. Jesus wasn’t a cowboy
hero, a folk singer, or a rock star. He was a popular preacher, teacher, and
healer. Without radio or television, word of His whereabouts and His words
spread like wildfire. It terrified the religious “powers that be” so much they
wanted to put a stop to Him. People from the surrounding villages flocked to
Him, like sheep drawn to a shepherd’s voice. The “song” he sang and the
“stories” he told were thrilling, life-giving Good News they desperately
needed. “...And he cured all of them.” What a powerful declaration! They
didn’t just go away “happily ever after” until the next concert or performance.
They were cured! While some consider those words old and ancient remnants of a
bygone era, I believe precisely what they say and that they are true even today
for those who truly follow and live as God’s people. We are cured! We may have
aches, pains, and ailments to deal with, but Jesus has cured us of the ravages
of sin and death and has defeated the devil for us with His death and
resurrection! Now, whose “groupie” do you want to be? As Joshua declared, “As
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”
PRAYER
My Jesus, count me as one of yours. I will follow you
everywhere, even to the ends of the earth. Thank you for your healing touch. Thank
you for physical healing, but even more importantly for my eternal health, as
you cure my sin. Someday, I will be in your presence eternally. In your name, I
pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
January 7, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Deuteronomy 8:1-3; Colossians 1:1-14; John 6:30-33, 48-51
SCRIPTURE
“I am
the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will
live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my
flesh.” John 6:51
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Grandma Roenfeldt made the best rye bread in the world! And
she made it fresh every morning. She had fifteen children and sometimes baked
seven or eight loaves of bread daily to feed them. When I stayed at her house,
I cannot remember a morning when I didn’t wake up to the aroma of fresh rye bread,
hot from the oven, and my mouth waters. It was not the bread that lasted
forever. A loaf seldom lasted through the day. My mother (one of her daughters)
is noted for adding sugar and spice to create sweet breads and rolls for
family, friends, and community events. Walking into her house often starts my
mouth watering for what she either has in the oven or has just taken from the
oven. However, Mom’s bread and rolls do not last forever either. With my mouth
watering from the thoughts of these delicious breads, Jesus offers us His
eternal Bread - Himself. Jesus offers Himself to those who want more than a
temporary fix for their bodily hunger. Like the manna that fell every morning
to satisfy their physical hunger while God’s people wandered the wilderness,
Jesus offers a living bread that will last an eternity - without chemical
preservatives! This Bread will not only satisfy our physical needs until the
next loaf is baked, but it will also satisfy our spiritual hunger forever.
Which would you rather have? A “Twinky” for a quick treat, or a life-giving
Bread for all eternity? Thank God, it is a free gift! It was so expensive that
only Jesus could pay for it for us, which He did on the cross. Now, Jesus
invites, “Come, enjoy, and live!
PRAYER
Dear Bread of Life, thank you for coming down from heaven,
like the manna that fed the Israelites, to nourish and sustain me. It is
sometimes hard to believe that the bread you offer is free for me to take. I
pray that I might share your life-giving bread with others I encounter. It is
in your name that I pray, dear Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
January 8, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Exodus 17:1-7; Colossians 1:15-23; John 7:37-52
SCRIPTURE
On the
last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he
cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and let the one who believes
in me drink. John 7:37-38a
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Water was a very precious commodity to us. We were what are
called “dry-land” farmers today. Most farmers in the hill country were.
Irrigation in the hills was believed to be impossible. We conserved water. We
contour farmed (farming around the hills instead of up and down them) to keep
as much of the scarce rains as possible from running off with the precious
topsoil. Our well was a good source of drinking water, but even the water in
that well had to be treated with care to avoid polluting it. Not so many years
ago, we were told that Nebraska had the largest, purest, and best underground
freshwater aquifer in the United States and possibly the world. Like all good
things that come to an end, that source is beginning to show signs of shrinking
and being polluted because of the enormous amount of irrigation. In most
counties, irrigation water is rationed. It is becoming scarce. Wells are drying
up. In the lands of the Bible, fresh water was always a concern. Without it,
life could whither and die. Amid this real possibility, Jesus invites His
followers to drink the “water of life,” which genuinely quenches the thirst for
spiritual life. Other sources of physical water will dry up, seep away, or
become polluted, but this source is pure, eternal, and satisfies as nothing
else can do. Have you been drinking regularly of the well of His Word? He
offers it fresh and free every day. Ponce de Leon searched for the “fountain of
youth” but never found it. Jesus offers us something even better - a fountain
of eternity. If you haven’t already, try it! “You’ll like it!”
PRAYER
I am sorry for the times, dear Lord, when I didn’t treat the
water you gave us as a life-giving necessity. I ask that I be a better steward
of all you have given me, including the gift of life. I come to you with an
empty cup. Fill it and make me thirst no more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
January 9, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Isaiah 45:14-19; Colossians 1:24-27; John 8:12-19
SCRIPTURE
Again,
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me
will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The light from millions of stars, millions of light-years
from Earth, wrapped itself around our crisp white sparkling world, casting
quiet shadows on the snowscape. By nine o’clock, all was quiet, save the
responsive choirs of coyotes, some nearby, some far off. From my observation
tower, I peered through the small hole burned in the frosty pane of glass by my
breath into a fantasy land of still figures frozen for eternity in my memories.
I was only four or five. It was time to be in dreamland, but the Sandman was
slow coming. Tiny spots of light ganged up on the darkness to force it to hide,
trembling and shivering in their faint but powerful shadows. My eyes grew heavy
with one last glimpse before the Sandman’s visit worked its magic. All was
well. The darkness was still in hiding. “Now I lay me down to sleep....” and
all was well with my soul. “Thank you, Jesus!” I had memorized Jesus’ words for
the Sunday School Christmas program: “I am the light of the world.” I knew the
tiny pin-pricks in the night-time sky were only reflected reminders of the true
Light in which no evil darkness could hide. I could sleep securely, knowing His
light would not blink out, even when the stars faded with the cold, crisp dawn.
With child-like faith, I slept. Have you invited the light of Christ to
illuminate your world? You need not hold on to the fearful dark. His Light
promises to cast it out entirely and replace it with a new and glorious
dawn!
PRAYER
The next time, awesome Creator that I gaze into the heavens
and see the stars twinkling above, let it be a reminder of your light that has
come to fill the dark corners of my life. I also give you thanks and praise for
each new dawn you have given me, knowing that your light will never go out. In
your Holy Name, I pray, dear Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
January 10, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Jeremiah 23:1-8; Colossians 2:8-23; John 10:7-17
SCRIPTURE
I have
other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they
will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:16
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I gleaned a morsel of truth from the unwritten pages of
family history. (Or is it fiction?) My great-grandmother came from Germany with
my great-grandfather, grandfather, and several other children. Her first winter
in the “new country,” she lived in a dugout. What little we know of her paints
a picture of a sturdy immigrant pioneer woman full of compassion. Family legend
says a young calf wandered into her yard, lost and hungry. Despite her
desperate situation, Great Grandma couldn’t stand to see the lost creature fall
victim to coyotes or the freezing winter night. She took it in and cared for
it, even facing my great-grandfather’s wrath. But when the owner came to claim
the animal, it was healthy and well-fed because she had cared for it as if it
were her own. Jesus described those who were not yet believers as lost sheep He
had already claimed to be His own. They had someone else’s brand or ear tag but
belonged to Him. He would welcome them back to His flock no matter how far they
had strayed from Him. There are many people in our communities like that. They
have wandered away and appeared lost but belong to the Good Shepherd. Rather
than ignore or turn them away, Jesus wants us to welcome them. How good it is
to know that we are always welcome back to His flock!
PRAYER
Be with all those sheep who are lost, Good Shepherd. I pray
that they will find their way back to your loving arms. Use me this day to be
your ears, voice, and eyes, letting them know that they are yours and a sheep
of your flock. It is in your name that I ask these things, dear Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
January 11, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Isaiah 55:3-9; Colossians 3:1-17; John 14:6-14
SCRIPTURE
Very
truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do
and, in fact, will do greater works than these because I am going to the
Father. John 14:12
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Three men moved our whole house across the street several
months ago. One of the three was the son of the owner of the house-moving
business. Talking to and watching him, it became evident that he knew what he
was doing. A relative told me he far surpassed his father in his skill at
moving houses. He was his father’s son in many ways, but he developed his
knowledge and skills beyond his father’s. Jesus looked to the day when His
disciples would be able to do even greater works than He did. Their modes of transportation
and communication limited the effective ministry area of Jesus and his
disciples. The volume of their voices limited the audience to whom they could
preach. It was forty or fifty years after Jesus rose from the dead before
someone finally bothered to write down an orderly account of His teaching,
preaching, and healing ministry. Jesus knew that future generations would be
able to do far more. I sent over 400 email devotions in less than two minutes
this morning. Later this week, I will prepare to print next month’s devotions
for those who don’t have email, a process that will take about a half hour.
With help from a dedicated volunteer, many will be folded and stapled, ready to
be picked up. From word I receive back, these words end up, either by forwarded
emails or U.S. Post office, in almost every state in the union, as well as
eight other countries around the globe. And I’m just one small example. Think
of those the gospel reaches through television and radio around the world! Then
there are those working miracles in Jesus’ name, such as healing, feeding the
hungry, comforting the mourning, and visiting the prisoners. Thank God, Jesus
can also use you to do “greater works than these”!
PRAYER
It is incredible what you have performed through your
creation, O God. Thank you for our minds and the ability to use them in
significant ways. We need your help, though, in directing all these marvelous
things so that they are for your glory and benefit. Use me and my knowledge to
work for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
January 12, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 49:1-2, 8-12; Colossians 3:19 - 4:6; John 15:1-16
SCRIPTURE
Abide
in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless
it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. John 15:4
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Taking plant cuttings can be both rewarding and frustrating.
It seems as if I grew up with some cuttings, sharing the window ledge by the
kitchen sink. Some of them thrived and developed incredible root systems before
we got them planted. Others were not so fortunate. They began drooping,
dropping leaves, and disintegrating before our eyes. As a gardener, I love to
create new starts for my garden, especially tender perennial herbs like
rosemary. One year, I took close to a hundred cuttings from a large rosemary
plant I had over-wintered the year before. Within a week, I could see that some
of them, which I had cut off the mother plant, were dead or dying. But that
year, I had seventy thriving little plants, most of which I gave away. I did
the same thing the following year but saved only four plants. Apart from their
source of life, most of them could not survive. I’ve had more success with “layering,”
a process of burying an end or portion of a branch until it takes root. That
way, it is not cut off from its living source until it can live independently
with roots. Jesus had undoubtedly watched that process many times in the
vineyards around Galilee. He knew those branches pruned away could not survive
without their source of life. He also knew He was sent to give Life to the
“living and the dead.” As the branch of a vine is cut away from the vine,
people are cut away from their true source of life, spiritually withering and
dying. Are you maintaining your connection - your relationship - with the
source of eternal Life? Why not discover ways of nourishing your connection
with Jesus so that the “Water of Life” can give you everlasting life?!
PRAYER
My God, my source of life, when I distance myself from you
and your nourishment, I can feel myself spiritually dying. Draw me ever closer
to you so that I might thrive. Help me grow through prayer, word, and sacrament
to become green with everlasting life again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
January 13, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 6:1-8; Hebrews 3:12-19; John 2:1-12
SCRIPTURE
On the third day, there was a
wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his
disciples had also been invited to the wedding. John 2:1-2
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
We received three invitations to “parties” in our community
this past week. They were public invitations that appeared in the local paper.
There will be events which most of the community will attend. There are two
anniversaries and a birthday. We will congratulate the people, give them a
greeting card, and share the food they or their families have prepared. We may
even get to dance at one of the celebrations. Our hosts will probably ask me to
say the table grace at two events. These will be fun opportunities to meet and
greet people we haven’t talked to for a while. How well Jesus and his disciples
knew the routine. In theirs and surrounding villages, invitations would have
gone out verbally as runners spread the word. Weddings were especially exciting
events which lasted a whole week. For someone not to attend would have been
insulting. It would also have been dumb - where else could you eat and drink
without paying for it for a whole week?! I love this story because it reminds
me that Jesus was not a stuck-in-the-mud, sour, and always-serious stranger.
No, Jesus was a fun-loving friend, a happy man who enjoyed good food, good
friends, and good dancing. A wedding without a dance in that tradition would
have been unheard of - and everyone was expected to participate! Jesus also
loved good wine and created some of the best, turning an ordinary wedding into
an extraordinary miracle of love. Have you invited Jesus to “party” with you?
He would love to come to bring real Life into your life!
PRAYER
Come, Lord Jesus. Come to my life party and bring your Spirit
into it. Take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Thank you for inviting me
to your party, set for communion with you and others, knowing it’s a small
foretaste of the party. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
January 14, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 6:9-22; Hebrews 4:1-13; John 2:13-22
SCRIPTURE
The
Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 2:13
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
As a kid, the one holiday I always looked forward to was
Christmas. It wasn’t just the presents. We didn’t always get a lot of them in
the early years. The special Christmas Eve worship and family get-togethers
made Christmas exciting. I never tired of hearing the Christmas story or
singing the carols until I was hoarse. In addition, Christmas Day at one of my
grandparents’ homes - either one - would be a day of food, family, and fun.
Many aunts, uncles, and cousins who lived far away would be there. I loved to
join my cousins in a snowball fight until we were soaked through and almost
blue from the cold, never wanting to be the first to admit we needed to go in
to warm up. The men usually sat in the parlor near the oil stove, telling
stories. Once inside by the heat, as my mittens dried, I was in no hurry to
leave the story-telling-one-upmanship my Dad and my uncles always engaged in.
Occasionally, I even got in on a racy story not intended for my ears because I
was so quiet and forgotten. For Jesus, from childhood on, Passover was that
event. It was a long way to walk in those days (almost 90 miles as the crow
flies), with many dangers along the way. But it was worth it. The religious
observance and meal alone were incredible events designed to be shared with
others. As each religious holiday approaches, are you ready to “go up to
Jerusalem” - to worship the Lord, share in the victory feast, and enjoy the
friendship and fellowship of others? Give thanks that God has given us a reason
- even a command - to celebrate Christ and enjoy His presence NOW!
PRAYER
Thank you, O Christ, for this Epiphany season, when we
celebrate that you were revealed to us. Accompany me as we “go up to Jerusalem
together” to worship and praise you. Give me the opportunity to invite others
along the way to share the journey in fellowship, joy, and thanksgiving. I pray
this in your name, most Holy One. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
January 15, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 7:1-10, 17-23; Ephesians 4:1-16; Mark 3:7-19
SCRIPTURE
Whenever
the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are
the Son of God!” Mark 3:11
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I got in trouble with one of the “big kids” when I was in
kindergarten. I hadn’t learned the unspoken rule that little kids don’t squeal
on “big kids” even in a game of “hide and seek.” He had found a perfect hiding
place, under a bush in the ditch beside the road. He was one of the last ones
still hiding, and I saw his blue cap through the branches. I yelled to the girl
who was “it.” She ran to see for herself, then ran to count him out! My reward
for squealing was a fist in the stomach that nearly doubled me over. It took my
breath away and brought a flood of tears I knew I didn’t dare explain to the
teacher. Jesus wasn’t playing a game of hide and seek. He wasn’t trying to
hide, but those who should have recognized Him as the Messiah didn’t. Among
those who did were the unclean spirits, whose darkness was so shattered by His
“Lightness” that they could not help but recognize Jesus for who He was. They
were exposed like children playing hide and seek in deep dark shadows flooded
with gleaming white light. How do you react when darkness or sin in your life
is exposed? Do you strike out at the one who reveals the sin? Do you rant and
rave and point the finger at another to draw attention away from yourself? Do
you humbly acknowledge the need to change - repent? Jesus offers to embrace
you, even with your sin and darkness, forgive it, and surround you with His
light! Why not accept Him and enjoy the Son-shine of His love?
PRAYER
I pray for the light, my Savior, but there are many times
when I wish for my sins to remain in the dark so that I don’t have to
acknowledge them, even to you. I know your light is goodness, and I must come
into it. I pray that you forgive my sins and that I may walk in the light with
you. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
January 16, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 8:6-22; Hebrews 4:14 - 5:6; John 2:23 - 3:15
SCRIPTURE
The
wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know
where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the
Spirit. John 3:8
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of the times when I got to stay with my Uncle Orville, I
went with him to a Luther League meeting. I was the youngest person there. Most
of the games were beyond my ability to participate, and I didn’t know many of
the songs they sang as they prepared for a wiener roast. The sponsors built a
bonfire near some trees surrounding the fairgrounds. It was a smoky fire whose
smoke seemed to follow me wherever I sat. It wasn’t an incredibly windy
evening, but there was enough that sometimes the smoke looked like a miniature
tornado seeking me out. I enjoyed the company of the older kids, even though
they teased me about being a tag-along. I especially enjoyed the songs. I still
remember the group singing “Tell Me Why.” It was the first time I’d ever heard
my uncle sing and the first time I had heard any songs sung harmoniously. It
was beautiful. However, when they roasted marshmallows, my eyes were watering,
and I was coughing. I didn’t notice it myself, but I smelled of smoke so bad my
grandmother made me take a bath before I could get in bed. Like that smoke
seemed to do to me, the Spirit of God seeks out those God wants to bless. There
doesn’t seem to be any way to control it or avoid it, even though many people
try to ignore it. Unseen, it bestows blessings taken for granted by some, who
allow the gifts of grace to go to waste. Is there a “whiff” of the Holy Spirit
that clings to you? Perhaps the “winds of God” have blown over you, and you’ve
grown so accustomed to the gifts that you don’t recognize them yourself. Listen
to the witness of others. Perhaps God has been calling you, encouraging you,
whirling around like a gentle tornado, attempting to guide you in directions
you have not considered seriously before!
PRAYER
Let your Holy Spirit whirl around me, O God, reminding me
again of your presence. Let it search me out and move me in directions in which
I have no idea where it will lead. Let others know that your Spirit is with me
by the way that I do your will. In the name of the Christ, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
January 17, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 5:7-14; John 3:16-21
SCRIPTURE
Indeed,
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that
the world might be saved through him. John 3:17
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The man I worked with most at the music store while attending
junior college had a son who came with us on one of the road trips. On these
trips, we’d load up a big truck with pianos and organs, then head west, where
Irv had many contacts. Dave, his son, was a year younger than me. In my mind,
he was also more handsome, talented, and far more sophisticated than me. I
didn’t recognize it at the time, but I envied him. I was a hick from the farm.
He was a refined city kid with much more knowledge and skill than I had. I was
convinced he was along to put me in my place and keep me there. As I got to
know him better, I discovered he had many of the same feelings about me. I was
shocked! I think we both were, as we realized neither of us was there to make
life challenging for the other but to help and support each other in the heavy
lifting and shifting of pianos and organs on the truck. When the Messiah came, many
believed His coming was purely for judgment and condemnation of every picky
little thing they’d ever done. His loving, forgiving, and grace-filled
compassion were a shock to many. His approach offended others whose minds were
set on destroying anything and anyone they didn’t like. They rejected Him, and
all He stood for. The thought of a God who would be “slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love” had escaped their thinking. Are you ready to
embrace the One who came to love you, forgive you, and save you? Perhaps it’s
time to get to know Him as a Friend instead of an adversary out to get you!
After all, He loved you enough to die on the cross for you!!
PRAYER
I can’t thank you enough, my Jesus, that you came to save me
and the rest of the world and not to condemn. Help me see that you love all of
your creation and wish each person to know you and your role. I pray that I may
befriend the rest of the world as you have befriended me. I pray this in your
Holy name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
January 18, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 9:18-29; Hebrews 6:1-12; John 3:22-36
SCRIPTURE
He who
has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and
hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.... John 3:29
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One of my seminary roommates (at the mortuary in
Minneapolis) seemed to be a confirmed bachelor. Then, three years after
graduation, out of the blue, he met someone who swept him off his feet. We were
thrilled for him, and I happily agreed when he asked me to participate in his
wedding. He had been the best man in our wedding, and it was a true joy to be
able to do the same for him. As we listened to him talk about his bride-to-be
before the wedding, there was no doubt in my mind she was God’s gift to him. His
joy filled Sue and me with delight. As friends of the bridegroom, we felt like
members of his family. In truth, we were treated like members of the family.
Jesus must have loved to attend weddings. His first recorded miracle was
performed at one. Several of his illustrations and parables use the wedding
theme. Like the Old Testament prophets before Him, Jesus no doubt looked at
weddings as reminders of the relationship God wanted to have with His people.
It is a close, intimate relationship based on love. In ancient times, the bridegroom’s
friend was the one he trusted with the busy details of ensuring everything ran
smoothly and was done correctly. It was not an honorary position. If the
bridegroom was happy, the bridegroom’s friend also had reason to be joyful. Are
you able to rejoice with Jesus over your relationship with Him? How about His
relationship with those around you? Jesus may be asking you to be His friend,
encouraging others to come to the celebration of joy He has prepared with His
own body and blood! What will you say? May you discover the joy of saying,
“Yes, Lord! Here I am. Use me!”
PRAYER
It is a joy to know that you have chosen me to be your
friend, my Savior. It is wonderful to know that this relationship with me is so
intense. I pray that I may be your attendant, bringing others into the wedding
banquet to know you. In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
January 19, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 6:13-20; John 4:1-15
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will
be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will
never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of
water gushing up to eternal life.” John
4:13-14
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Good drinking water was hard to get on the first farm where I
remember living. Dad had dug the well himself and encountered blue clay. Water
that passed through blue clay was foul smelling if allowed to sit in a glass.
The taste went along with the smell. After Grandma died, we moved to my
grandfather’s farm, where we had delicious well water that never became nasty.
Rain water was also collected in a cistern. It was usually drinkable but was
not always fresh. It was great for washing but not as good for drinking. Water
must be fresh, renewed, and “living” to be delicious. Jesus offered that kind
of water to the woman at the well and anyone thirsty for “living” water. Like
His Father, whose very name is a verb, Jesus was living, never stagnant, always
active and alive! He was not just a pretty face on a dead statue. He was a
living water that could give eternal life to those who drink. Have you been
thirsty for something but didn’t know what? Try water! But not just any water.
Try the Living Water of the Living Lord, who offers it without cost. He already
paid for it Himself. How about a drink?! Water, like God’s word, can be a two-edged
sword. It cleanses, but it also renews. May you experience both as you come to
Him.
PRAYER
I do my daily routines, O Holy One, and don’t realize I am
thirsty for your life-giving water. Quench my thirst. When I allow you to do
so, I can feel my whole body and soul come alive again with your sweet taste.
In your name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
January 20, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 11:27 - 12:8; Hebrews 7:1-17; John 4:16-26
SCRIPTURE
The
woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ).
“When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am
he, the one who is speaking to you.”
John 4:25-26
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I don’t mind saying I was an unimpressed and disappointed
five-year-old the first time I saw Santa Claus. We went into town the Saturday
before Christmas to see Santa and his sleigh. Instead of nine reindeer (I
really wanted to see Rudolph!), there were only half a dozen Shetland ponies.
And Santa was a disappointment, too, standing beside a basket of bags he was
handing out, looking as if he could hardly wait to get out of that red suit
with white fringe and go home. In addition, Santa looked and sounded a lot like
my doctor, Dr. Tennant. He definitely was not the Santa I expected. The Santa
in whom I could trust my Christmas wishes! Over the centuries, Jews and
Samaritans dreamed of the Messiah’s coming. They pictured Him in many different
ways, and apparently, Jesus didn’t fit this woman’s image at all. In truth, He
didn’t fit the preconceived pictures of many people. Jesus had to introduce
Himself. No doubt the “Yah! Sure!” attitude kicked in. He talked a good talk,
but could He walk the walk? It is not until later in this story that Jesus
finally gets through to her that He is who He says He is, and He does that only
by describing her current marital status. What image of Jesus do you have? If
He met you at WalMart or in your school hallway, would you know Him well enough
to recognize Him? May you get to know Jesus so well as a friend that you could
identify Him in the middle of Husker Stadium, Casey’s General Store, or even
your church!
PRAYER
When I picture you, O Christ, I often make you in my image.
What a surprise when I discovered that this isn’t necessarily the truth. Help
me see you in each person I encounter: the clerk behind the register, the one
stocking the shelves, the poor beggar, or any others I will meet today. In your
name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
January 21, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 12:9 - 13:1; Hebrews 7:18-28; John 4:27-42
SCRIPTURE
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who
sent me and to complete his work.” John
4:34
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Rita was a beautiful girl who was a student at junior
college when I was attending. She was nice to most people, but in some
situations, she showed a “better-than-thou” attitude. Charles was
“head-over-heels in love with her. After a while, those of us who knew them
were concerned about Charles. He would do anything for her. He brought his
lunch to the commons room each day. I went into the commons room just as she
remarked that his Snowball cupcake looked really good. He handed it to her
without missing a beat and said, “I’m really not hungry!” - an obvious lie
since he hadn’t touched his lunch yet. The look in his eyes gave the impression
that just looking and admiring her was all the food he needed! I didn’t have a
girlfriend at that time, and their whole affair was sickening! It was clear to
several of us that she was using him, and he was too blind to see. Jesus, on
the other hand, truly was and is “head-over-heels” in love with the Father. He was
fed by the Father’s love and doing the Father’s will. The only hunger pangs
Jesus felt were those for completing the work God had given Him. Everything
else was secondary, even eating. How deeply in love with God are you? Is your
relationship with God only an infatuation, or is it enough to fill you and
nourish your soul? Jesus offers to be your “Bread of Life” and your “Springs of
Living Water”! For dessert, He offers you His loving, forgiving grace. He has
also assured you that He has made reservations for you at the Heavenly Banquet
and prepared a luxury suit with your name on the door for eternity. Are you
hungry yet?
PRAYER
I love you, dear Lord. Knowing this makes me even hungrier
for you and your love for me. Thank you so much for giving me the grace and
forgiveness I long for most. I want to be with you at your great banquet
prepared for me. While I wait, I will invite as many as possible to join us. In
the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
January 22, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 13:2-18; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark 7:31-37
SCRIPTURE
Then,
looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be
opened.” And immediately, his ears were
opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:34-35
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I could have used Jesus that day. I had been playing
outside. My ear started aching. I didn’t want to go inside, so I kept building
the log cabin with dried sticks. As the afternoon progressed, my ear felt hot
and heavy, and my hearing worsened. When I went into the house for a snack, Dr.
Mom noticed me pulling on my ear and trying to clean it with my pinky. She
insisted on having a look. Then, pulling a hairpin from her hair, she went to
work. (No, that is neither a sanitary nor a recommended method of dealing with
ear problems, but we didn’t go to the doctor unless everything else failed!)
She gently reached in with the hairpin. My ear was pretty sore by then, and I
squirmed, but she held me tight and told me to hold still. As she withdrew a
wad of wax, my ear popped, and I could hear perfectly again! With a drop of
castor oil and a bit of cotton in my ear the rest of the day, my ear was
declared healed by the next morning. What Mom did with a hairpin, Jesus did
with a word. However, Jesus did far more. This man had been deaf his whole
life, and not just from an accumulation of ear wax. As a result, his speech was
a garbled imitation of what little he heard. Then Jesus spoke. The ear was
healed, and (the actual miracle to me) “he spoke plainly”! We don’t always hear
as well as we should. I’ve “heard” my wife tell me to get one thing at the
grocery store and come home with a bag of something else entirely! Some serial
killers have “heard God tell them to kill.” No, we don’t always hear clearly.
Jesus offers to open our ears so that “those who have ears to hear” will genuinely
listen. May you discover the clear, fresh voice of Jesus breaking through the
waxy buildup of the world and open your ears so that you may speak His word
plainly!
PRAYER
I love to hear you speak to me, O God. Open my ears so I
will truly hear what you want me to hear, not just those I
want to hear. Help me to listen to your word in the reading of scripture, in
the message, in song, and when others speak your truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
January 23, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 1-24; Hebrews 8:1-13; John 4:43-54
SCRIPTURE
The
(Roman) official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus
said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus
spoke to him and started on his way. John 4:49-50
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
It didn’t take long to discover who I could trust when I was
in kindergarten. I could trust John Peterson. He was a big kid, but he didn’t
lie. There were some other big kids; however, I learned never to trust them until
I saw proof. If they told me to sit, I’d check the seat for tacks. If they told
me it was OK to hide someplace, I’d quickly find another hiding place. It took
time and experience to learn those lessons of distrust. However, as those
lessons of distrust grew, so did the lessons of trust in people like John and
several other classmates. The Roman official had watched and listened to Jesus
from a distance for quite some time. When the crisis with his son arose, he did
not hesitate to beg Jesus for help. No doubt, following his Roman tradition, he
had exhausted every other avenue of healing - trying every home remedy and old
wife’s tale he knew, sacrificing to the appropriate Roman gods, calling in the
best Roman doctors. But nothing had helped. His son was still dying, and he was
desperate! He didn’t even need to have Jesus make Himself “unclean” by entering
his Gentile home. All it took was Jesus’ word, and he believed! The “rest of
the story” tells us that at that very instant, his son was healed. As a representative
of Jesus, have you gained a reputation for being trustworthy? Do people
automatically accept what you say about God as authentic and accurate? If you
feel uncomfortable with those thoughts, don’t feel alone. We depend heavily on
the Holy Spirit to “enlighten us with His gifts,” even as we continually study
His Word. A better question may be, “Do we trust Jesus to keep His Word?” May you “believe the word that Jesus spoke”
and share it with others as you go on your way!
PRAYER
I thank you, O Holy One, for those people you have given me
and whom I can trust. Thank you for letting them speak your word of truth. I
pray that I also might be one that people can believe when I tell them about
your greatness, compassion, and undying love for humankind. In the name of
Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
January 24, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 15:1-11, 17-21; Hebrews 9:1-14; John 5:1-18
SCRIPTURE
Jesus
said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once, the man was made well, and he took
up his mat and began to walk. John 5:8-9
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
The day I was supposed to start taking swimming lessons was
not good. On our way from dropping off extra fuel for Dad in the field, my
sleeve hooked the door handle on the passenger side of the car (pre-seatbelts),
opening the door. I fell out and rolled over the hard gravel into a ditch.
Amazingly, I wasn’t hurt badly, but my hands, elbows, and one knee were skinned
up a little, and I had a bump on my head the size of a goose egg. Although my
wounds stung like crazy, there wasn’t a lot of blood, and I put on a brave
face, insisting I was okay and would be OK for going swimming! Wisely, Dr. Mom
thought otherwise, and we had to miss the lessons. By the time the scabs healed,
it was too late to take classes that year. When we finally went swimming, I
tried to follow the verbal instructions of my Dad and one of my uncles, but it
was only partially successful. I did an excellent dog paddle, but not much
more. The man Jesus healed must have had tremendous faith in Jesus and a
certain amount of courage to get up and walk. Anyone who has been bedridden for
any length of time knows how hard and wobbly those first steps can be. Unused
muscles ache and protest. Balance takes practice. This man was healed “at once”
and could walk in the same instance. Is there anything that cripples you?
Sometimes, it is fear. In others, it may be an attitude, a lack of forgiveness,
or an unwillingness to change. The list of crippling things goes on and on.
Jesus is willing to bring healing to you if you ask. He knows the kind of
healing you need most. You may think it is a physical thing, and Jesus may heal
an emotional or spiritual thing, but you will be healed so you can take up your
mat and walk!
PRAYER
I pray for those things that paralyze my life, my Father.
There are wrongs that I can’t seem to get over, such as fear of doing something
you’ve never had me do before or many other things too numerous to mention.
Restore me to health and help me to make that giant leap of faith. In your
Son’s name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Sunday,
January 25, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 16:1-14; Hebrews 9:15-28; John 5:19-29
SCRIPTURE
Jesus
said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but
only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does
likewise.” John 5:19
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Dad was a good teacher, although I didn’t think so then. I
thought he was just being picky. When Dad taught me to mow alfalfa, he had me
stand on the drawbar behind him and watch for a complete round as he explained
what he was doing. Then he stood behind me and watched as I made a round. Then
he got off, stood at the field’s edge, and watched. That morning, he stopped
what he was doing in another field to check on me three times, twice stopping
me to tell me how to do something better. The same thing happened when I lost a
blade on the sickle. When he finally set me free, I discovered I was losing
more blades, or they were not staying tight the way they should. That’s when I found
Dad knew more than I thought he did. When I asked him about it, he took me to
the shop and watched me replace a blade. Instantly, he saw the problem and
explained what I needed to do to fix it. After that, my blade loss dropped
significantly. Jesus was in constant communication with His Father. So much so
that we know “the two were One.” Knowing the will and the way of the Father
guided the Son, who “did not think equality with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied Himself....” How well do you communicate with your father on earth? How
well do you communicate with your Father in heaven? He can likely instruct you
on making life meaningful, productive, and far more at once with His Will! He
waits for you to ask!
PRAYER
What an example you are to human fathers, my Heavenly
Father. Your kindness and love knows no bounds. Thank you to my father, who
taught me many things, and for sending your Son Jesus so I might know your
love. It is His Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Monday,
January 26, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 16:15 - 17:14; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 5:30-47
SCRIPTURE
How
can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the
glory that comes from the one who alone is God? John 5:44
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
One Sunday afternoon, several aunts, uncles, and cousins
came to visit. We were thrilled! It didn’t take long for the cousins to choose
sides and get a war started, with the top of the cob pile as our goal. It was
incredible! Never in history (at least in family history) had such a fantastic
war been fought. There were no prisoners. If we got shot, we had to drop our
weapon, fall on the spot, and count to 100, and then we came to life again. I
was shot at least a dozen times myself. Consequently, our war was messy,
confusing, and loud enough to be heard in three counties. But the actual roar
of noise erupted when our team wiped the other out and gained control of the
“mountain.” It was awesome! However, we didn’t hear the call to come in for
cake and ice cream during our celebration! When things finally quieted, and my
uncle got our attention, we ran to the house to clean up. We almost missed
dessert! Jesus reminded His disciples that it is possible to be so busy and so
noisy patting one another on the back that we fail to remember the one who made
it all possible in the first place. That’s what regular Bible study and regular
worship should help us do - refocus our attention on our Creator and Redeemer. Celebrating
our little victories is nice, but it can distract us from the One who loves and
saves us. What things in your life keep you from worshiping Him regularly? What
could you do to keep your focus on Jesus? He has a “dessert” waiting for those
with ears to hear!
PRAYER
I love the “roar of the crowds” and the adoration when I
have done something well, dear God. I pray I might focus instead on your word
and what you would have me do. Thank you for giving me gifts I can share with
others, knowing they are for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Tuesday,
January 27, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 17:15-27; Hebrews 10:11-25; John 6:1-15
SCRIPTURE
One of
his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “ There is a boy
here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many
people?” John 6:8-9
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Looking out across our hay field, I could see what appeared
to be about a million bales of hay (actually only about 2000) that had to be
picked up, hauled home, and stacked. With the temperature feeling as if we were
on the sun’s surface (slight exaggeration), it seemed like an impossible job
for my brothers and me to do. All we could do was take a quick drink from the
water jug covered with a wet burlap bag and pray that a cloud would appear to
give us a break. We slowly filled one wagon with the 80-pound bales and started
on the next wagon. Then, to our surprise, Dad came, pulling the neighbor’s
haystack mover. With Dad’s help, we finished the load we had been working on
and started on the stack mover. Then two of my uncles came to help! Before we
knew it, we had everything loaded, and the field was more than half done. One
more trip after lunch completed the job. Andrew saw only the millions of mouths
to feed (only 5000) and the boy’s picnic lunch. He was ready to throw up his
hands in despair. But Jesus took what he had and, by a miracle, multiplied what
was there (literally or by getting people to share, does it matter?), and
everyone had enough - and there were leftovers. Any task may seem overwhelming
and impossible if we forget that we have the Lord’s help so that what needs to
be finished will be finished! It may feel hopeless on our own, but with His
help, any task requires putting our best into it. He will do the rest!
PRAYER
Sometimes, it feels overwhelming, dear Father, when I think
of all I would like to accomplish while still on earth. So many people do not
yet know about you, so many don’t have a relationship in worship with you, and
so many are hungry and poor. I realize that with you, nothing is impossible.
Thank you. In your Son’s name. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Wednesday,
January 28, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 18:1-16; Hebrews 10:26-39; John 6:16-27
SCRIPTURE
Do not work for the food that
perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man
will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:27
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“Putting up food” was a pretty common practice when I was
growing up. Mom canned just about everything we grew. During the summer,
neighbors and relatives sometimes came to help and share in the hot job. It
wasn’t much different than “putting up hay” or filling grain bins for the
animals. With a large family living on an unmaintained dirt road, trips to town
were rare during winter. However, before we began stocking shelves with freshly
canned goods, we often had to get rid of things considered too old or improperly
sealed. Mom would take them off the shelves for us to carry outside, and she
would undo the lids. She would then pour the contents into buckets, which were
either thrown to the pigs or onto the compost. Occasionally, we would catch a
whiff of a container that reminded us that this food would not last forever.
Some of the preservatives used today may keep food longer, but even they have
their expiration dates and their limitations. If all we work for is to have
plenty of that kind of food, we are working for a losing cause. Jesus urges His
disciples to work for something that will last forever - without artificial
preservatives. Consider your motive the next time you can food, go to work,
wash dishes, study for a test, prepare a meal, or shovel snow. Is it just for
the delicious-tasting food in the jar or just for the money? Neither will last
long. Is it to please God? BINGO! You’ve discovered the secret to a “happy meal”
that will last for an eternity. You’ve found the joy of working for the One with
the power and authority to deliver!
PRAYER
Too often, I do things pleasing to me without thinking about
whether they are pleasing to you, O God. I am sorry when I pursue these things
that will eventually fade away. Forgive me and fill me with the food that only
you can give. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Thursday,
January 29, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 18:16-33; Galatians 5:13-25; Mark 8:22-30
SCRIPTURE
And
the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees,
walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again, and he looked intently,
and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:24-26
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
I woke up in the middle of the night to discover a colossal
giant of a man at the end of my bed with a shotgun pointed straight at me! I
was so scared I couldn’t scream. Instead, I stared him down, taking deep
breaths, hoping the paralysis I felt in the rest of my body would leave quickly
so I could jump out of bed and get away before he pulled the trigger. He just
stood there. Finally, my eyes blinked, and I could see more clearly. The
shotgun was a pitchfork aimed at my heart! I could dodge that if I could move
again. I blinked again. It wasn’t a pitchfork. It was a hanger!? Was he going
to hit me with it? I blinked again. It wasn’t a giant after all. It was only
the coat I hung over the door before going to bed! What a relief! The man Jesus
healed was seeing things for the first time in broad daylight. The more he
looked, the clearer things became. Sometimes, we are all blind to what is real.
At first glance, we may judge a book, a movie, or a person by what we first see
- or think we see. It may take a while before the truth is fully visible. This
would be a good week to think through our judgments about people and things.
Why not ask Jesus to touch your eyes so that you can see what is really there
and not just your fuzzy, preconceived ideas? Maybe we’ll be able to sing the
song: “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone”...!
PRAYER
My eyes aren’t always what they should be, my Heavenly
Father. Help me see clearly and understand what is written in your word. Help
me to look beyond my first impressions of people and see your child who awaits
your forgiveness. Thank you for your many blessings. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Friday,
January 30, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 19:1-29; Hebrews 11:1-12; John 6:27-40
SCRIPTURE
Jesus
answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has
sent.” John 6:29
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
“Mom told me to tell you to help me put my (4-H) calf away!”
With those words, my sister gave me a job I did not want. I had already worked
up a sweat trying to lead my calf - an 1100-pound steer who acted like my puny
90-pound body was more of a nuisance than a threat! He had drug me through mud
and manure for over an hour when he felt like moving at all. He had endured my
pulling and pushing and angry tirades until he decided it was time to go back
to his pen, at which time he drug me with him. I was hot, angry, and
frustrated, wondering if I’d ever be ready for the county fair. The thought of
helping my sister only made me want to boil over. At first, I refused. I sat in
the cool kitchen, gulping water and cooling off. As I did, I reasoned that if
the order had come from my sister, it would be easy to refuse. However, if, as
she said, Mom had given the order, that was a different matter. It didn’t make
me happier, but I knew I needed help. Jesus gives us work to do for the Father,
too. Like my sister, who passed on instructions from Mom, Jesus passed on
instructions from on high, and with them, God’s love and grace. Are you willing
to do the Father’s will, even when His Son or one of His messengers delivers
it? “God so loved the world that He sent His Son....” May following His
instruction bring joy and peace to your heart this week!
PRAYER
My whole soul rebels against your instructions at times,
heavenly Father. You want me to what? Love those who persecute me? Help those
unable to work because of physical or mental illness? Work for peace and
justice in the world? I can only do these things with your help, so this is my
plea. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY
DEVOTIONS
Saturday,
January 31, 2026
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Genesis 21:1-21; Hebrews 11:13-22; John 6:41-51
SCRIPTURE
No one can come to me unless
drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last
day. John 6:44
THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Farmers have a challenging job. They must make choices daily
that could make or break their bank accounts. Granted, things have changed.
Modern equipment and specialization have made things somewhat easier but
possibly even more risky. Very few farmers have cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens,
and all the crops needed to feed them. But their day-to-day decisions are
critical to successful farming. Dad was always cautious about the seed he
bought, ensuring it was not contaminated with weed seeds. One year, he purchased
some feeder pigs. Within weeks, they began to die from cholera! It ended our
raising of hogs for several years. After that, Dad was extremely cautious about
any animals he would allow on our place. Jesus tells us that God is the same
way. Only those people who are interested in knowing God will be chosen. These
come to do more than fill a pew on Sunday. They really and genuinely want to
know Jesus as a Friend and are willing to do whatever it takes to be a friend
in return. Michael Breen (author of The Passionate Church) refers to
these people as “People of Peace” (POP). They are the ones who are drawn to
Jesus by the Father. They are also the ones who will be raised on the last day.
Jesus desires to have everyone join Him on that Day! Unfortunately, not
everyone is interested, and consequently, not everyone is chosen. Your taking
time to read this devotion proves that the Father wants you to be a POP (Person
of Peace). May you grow closer and closer to your Savior as you discover more
and more ways to love and serve the One who loves you with everlasting
love!
PRAYER
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