**Thoughts to Ponder by Pastor Larry Sydow, Prayers by Pastor Bruce Freeman
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, June 1, 2026
Justin, martyr of
Rome, c. 165
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Zechariah
4:1-14; Ephesians 4:17-32; Matthew 9:1-8
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
9:8 — When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified
God, who had given such authority to human beings.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I read one of my uncle’s “GI Joe” comics,
but the “War” never seemed real until I found out the man my grandfather had
hired to help on the farm had been a GI! One of my uncles died because of
wounds he received in the war, but nobody wanted to talk about it. So, every
chance I got, I asked about what the hired man saw and what he did. When I was
five, we didn’t use the word “awesome” as it is used today, but he and his
stories were “awesome!” He still had nightmares of the dead bodies he was
responsible for burying with a caterpillar. He was a bigger-than-life war hero
in my eyes! Jesus was a “war hero” of a different kind for those who saw Him
battle sin, illness, and demons. With a word and sometimes a touch, they were
gone! No one they had ever met, not even the best religious authorities or
traveling magicians, could compare with the power and authority Jesus displayed
without even breaking into a sweat. We all have stories to tell. Do your
stories of Jesus and His love thrill others, causing them to declare, “He is an
awesome God!”? Maybe you need to practice telling the stories. There is a
wealth of material to draw from in scripture and your life experience. Why not
practice telling them?
PRAYER
Great and mighty God, you indeed are an
awesome God. When I see what you have created, I stand in awe. When I think of
your deep love for your people, I bow my head in praise. When I see the cross,
I can only weep. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Jeremiah
31:27-34; Ephesians 5:1-32; Matthew 9:9-17
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
9:13 — (Jesus said) “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not
sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
As
an eight-year-old, I was fascinated by a flock of pheasants. While attempting
to cross into “No Man’s Land” on my way to the Arabian Desert, I scared a
mother pheasant. She acted as if she had a broken wing, but when I got close
enough to touch her, she flopped around to escape from me, leading me further
and further from the fence I was going to cross. Then, as if nothing was wrong
at all, she flew away. Later, I saw her leading her small hatchlings in search
of food. She had gone to all that trouble to save her babies from me. It would
have been much easier and less physically painful for her had she sacrificed
her chicks, but they meant too much to her. Mercy is not as easy as sacrifice,
even in the world of humans. It doesn’t take as much to sacrifice a few coins
or dollars as it does to visit someone lonely, hurting, or hungry. Touching
their lives is much more difficult than sending a card. Jesus knew the
difference between giving a beggar a coin, touching him, and making him whole.
For Jesus, giving His life for us was an act of sacrifice, but even more
importantly, an act of mercy for a fallen world. May we all consider every
opportunity to touch another life as an opportunity to do what Jesus did.
PRAYER
It would have been much easier for you to
stay in Heaven and not come down to dwell among us, dear Jesus. Thank you for
your great mercy, understanding, and love for me and for showing me how to love
others. In your loving name, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, June 3,
2026
John XXIII, 1963
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
36:22-27; Ephesians 6:1-26; Matthew 9:18-26
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
9:20-21 — Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for
twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she
said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
was very young when Grandma Sydow taught me how to gather eggs. My first trip
with her to the chicken coop was an exciting adventure. Chickens seemed to love
Grandma. They were everywhere and even crowded close enough for me to touch. I
wasn’t afraid of them, just curious. Grandma had me hold the basket when we
approached the nests, where she gathered eggs from nests without hens. Then she
reached under a hen to pull out some eggs. I don’t know what I expected, but I
remember the happy surprise! She must have noticed because she told me to do it,
and she reached up to let the hen peck her instead of me. I was thrilled to
pull out my first egg! It took a little practice and a lot of pain learning to
avoid what seemed to me razor-sharp beaks, but over time, I got pretty good at
it. The woman who had been bleeding for all those years had reached out to many
healers in the past but with no success. She was “unclean” by religious
standards, so she watched Jesus from a distance. She was so convinced that He
could heal her that she risked stepping into the crowd, sneaking up on Jesus,
and touching His garment—an act that, legally, would have made Him unclean,
too. The instant she did, Jesus felt her healing flowing into her, and she
experienced the compassionate love of the Lord. Are you ready to put your
hand—your whole life— where your faith is? May you discover the joy of Jesus as
you reach out to touch Him!
PRAYER
Take my hand, dear Lord, and bring me
closer to you. Extend your healing touch to me in whatever part of my life
needs it. I am ready to give you my hand and my whole life. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, June 4, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Deuteronomy
16:9-12; Acts 4:18-33; John 4:19-26
SCRIPTURE
John
4:20-21 — (The Samaritan woman said,) “Our ancestors worshiped on this
mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in
Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you
will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
set up “church” in the empty, round grain bin near one of the cattle pens. It
was a wonderful massive cathedral with its ceiling reaching the sky and its
wall echoing with our loud singing. The organ (sticks and clubs pounding on the
metal wall) was deafening, covering up any missed notes we sang. We knew it
wasn’t the “real church.” That was in town at St. Luke’s. There were other
churches in town fancier than St. Luke’s, but in our young minds, St. Luke’s
was the only one that mattered. As I grew older, I began to appreciate those
other buildings as places where worship could be “real” as well. When it
finally sank in that “where two or more are gathered in His name, Jesus was
present, and I realized that it was not about the “where”! Even our grain bin
cathedral could be a place where worship was “real.” It was the “WHO?” that was
important. We were not there to worship the place but the Person of Jesus
Christ, who promised to be with us. As in Holy Communion, we receive Jesus and
don’t need to define “how.” May you find Jesus wherever you gather with people
in His name. His promise is sure. His great love is certain, no matter “where,”
or “how,” or “when!” It is the One “WHO” that determines true worship!
PRAYER
Thank
you for my house of worship, my Lord and Savior. It is good to come within its
walls, join other believers’ fellowship, and worship you. Help me see that you
are also worshiped in many other places and different ways. Let me always focus
on you. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, June 5, 2026
Boniface,
Archbishop of Mainz, missionary, martyr, 754
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
33:1-11; 1 John 1:1-10; Matthew 9:27-34
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
9:33 — And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke;
and the crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in
Israel.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Dennis
Darr was a shy kid who came to our country school as a kindergartner when I was
in first grade. He was only there a year before he moved to another farm in
another school district. He seemed smart enough and did an excellent job of
coloring in the lines, but Dennis was reduced to tears if he had to stand in
front of the group to say anything, even his name. One of the big kids joked
that the “cat had his tongue.” I hadn’t seen any evidence of cats having
anything to do with Dennis being shy. He talked just fine when we played games.
Since then, I’ve met people who were “deaf and dumb,” as we used to say. Again,
I discovered that they were not “dumb”. Far from it! Many of them were very
intelligent. They couldn’t talk. They couldn’t speak because they couldn’t hear
what the words sounded like. The man Jesus healed doesn’t seem to have been
deaf. He couldn’t talk. “A demon had his tongue!” was most people’s conclusion.
Jesus cast out that demon, and the man spoke clearly. Many followers of Jesus
are not deaf, and neither the “cat” nor a “demon” has their tongue. They have
just forgotten how to speak the gospel in love. If you have trouble sharing
your faith, why not pray that God will touch your tongue so that you may speak
plainly to share the Good News every time you open your mouth? Shy? May Jesus
help you speak with confidence and courage!
PRAYER
Dear
Jesus, there have been many opportunities when I could have declared your love
for others, but I have held my tongue. Forgive me. The next time I have the chance,
remove my fears and open my mouth. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, June 6, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
33:21-33; 1 John 2:1-11; Matthew 9:35-10:4
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
9:36 — When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
We
didn’t raise sheep, but the neighbors did. They kept their sheep fenced in, so
they were not dependent on the shepherd. However, their sheep still depended on
them for feed, water, and safety. The sheep came running when my classmate
Wayne went to feed them, but they’d run the other way when I tried to do the
same thing. They knew and trusted Wayne. I was a stranger. Jesus, the Good
Shepherd, knew sheep and their ways, and He knew shepherds and their job
descriptions. Sheep without a shepherd in the wilderness were fair game for
robbers, wild animals, and dangerous terrain. The crowds of people Jesus
encountered were in that position. No doubt Jesus would say the same to the
masses of people in our world today. Those of us who know the Shepherd are
responsible for sharing Him with those without a clue. They may not accept Him.
They may even consider us meddlesome, but when the “wolves” howl and experience
genuine spiritual “hunger” and “thirst,” they may have Someone to follow
despite themselves. We don’t have to give them the “whole load” to swallow, but
we can let them know Who we follow and invite them to join us. When the time is
right, God’s Spirit will lead them to Jesus.”
PRAYER
Good
Shepherd, thank you for leading me to you and your ways. Show me how to invite
others to join your “flock.” Take away my discouragement when, at first, they
don’t seem interested in you and remind me that there is your time and my time.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Seattle, Duwamish
Confederacy chief, 1966
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
34:1-16; 1 John 2:12-17; Matthew 10:5-15
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
10:5-6 — These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go
nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
first real sales job was as a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America). We
were selling fire extinguishers as a fund-raising project. Mr. Chalquist told
us to start with our neighbors before venturing to other areas. I set out
immediately to make the world safe, one farm home at a time. I spiraled out
from home (I sold the first one to Mom) and went door to door with
astonishingly good results. I ran into the most opposition when I entered
“foreign” territory. Interestingly, Jesus sent His disciples out to “sell” the
good news similarly. Their first assignment was to those who would be most
receptive, those who “spoke the same language” that they did. The first people He
sent them to were all Jews, like them, Galileans, like them, and “lost sheep” like
them. From their similarities, they were able to share their new-found faith.
Many people think of evangelism as standing on a street corner singing hymns
and preaching to people who aren’t interested. The kind of disciple Jesus calls
us to be is one who can share their faith with friends, neighbors, and
co-workers who express an interest. Jesus later instructed his disciples that
if people weren’t interested, leave them alone and find someone who is. We
could all do that, couldn’t we?!!!
PRAYER
Thank
you for reminding me again, O Lord, that I don’t have to go out to the street
corners to try to tell others about the love of Christ. Instead, you have
surrounded me with others who have not heard. Help me to invite them. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, June 8, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
37:21-28; 1 John 2:18-29; Matthew 10:15-23
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
10:16 — See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be
wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
After
years of walking the corn fields for Dad, chopping cockleburs, sunflowers, and
velvet weed, we pretty well had the weeds conquered. We were relentless! None
of those weeds had a chance when our machete-bearing army passed through. It
was almost boring! The only excitement was in the few places where coyotes and
other varmints cleaned themselves off. When we finished our fields, Dad sent us
to the neighbors. We knew they weren’t very conscientious about chopping weeds,
but shortly after entering the field, our battle-hardened army ground to a
halt. We could each take six to eight rows at a time in our fields, seldom
missing a weed and covering as many as forty rows at a swath. We were like
sheep among wolves in the neighbor’s field! We had to limit ourselves to two
rows each, and even then, we were fighting a losing battle. Jesus lived in the
real world and knew that his students would find those who would like to chew
them up as if they were innocent sheep. Jesus didn’t tell them to be senseless
martyrs but to use wisdom and common sense. It was OK. It was wise for them to
make a “strategic retreat” from those who didn’t want to hear the good news. It
is OK for us to do the same—to concentrate on those hungry and thirsty, not for
our body and blood, but for His. Are you keeping your eyes and ears open for
them?
PRAYER
When
I get “beat up” by those who don’t want to hear the good news, dear Jesus, let
your Spirit help me not to be discouraged. Instead, let me go out again,
knowing that many others are yearning to know you. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Columba, 597;
Aidan, 651; Bede 735; confessors
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
34:21-29; 1 John 3:1-10; Matthew 10:24-33
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
10:28 — Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather,
fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
worked in funeral homes during my senior year in college and the first two
years of seminary. It wasn’t hard work. It required answering the phone,
passing the information to the morticians and funeral directors, welcoming
grieving families, and “body sitting” when there was a body in the building. The
building in Fremont, Nebraska, and the one in Minneapolis, Minnesota, were old.
They creaked and made noises when the wind blew. It took concentration to study
when the boards creaked, but after a time, I learned to separate what was real
from what was not. (In those three years, I never once saw a ghost!) However,
in Minneapolis, we had some live people wander in off the streets and hide from
us. They were the ones I was worried about. Jesus wasn’t talking about noises
or prowlers in a funeral home. He was talking about the world in which real
people sometimes caused real pain, injury, and physical death. But Jesus
reminds His followers that those things have no power to “destroy both the body
and soul in hell!” Therefore, He urges us to fear the right things! We can get
so paralyzed by fear that we do nothing or run from people right into the arms
of the evil one. The One who created us is the only One who can save us from
sin, death, and the devil. In Jesus, God says, “Fear not, for I am with you
always, even to the end of the world.” Next time you experience fear, thank the
One who will not let you down.
PRAYER
Forgive
me, dear Lord, when I let fear paralyze me from trusting in you. Help me not fear
change, the unknown, sharing the good news, or even death itself. Thank you for
always being with me, so I need not fear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, June
10, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ezekiel
47:1-12; 1 John 3:11-18; Matthew 10:34-42
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
10:39 — Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life
for my sake will find it.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
One
of my pastor friends underwent chemotherapy. For him, it was a difficult time,
both physically and mentally. He knew that the chemotherapy was taking him as
close to death as it could, hopefully without actually killing him. Sometimes,
he wasn’t sure if he’d rather have the chemotherapy or die! In one of his
downtimes, he said, “I’m dying!” His son, a teenager, the picture of health,
replied, “So am I, so get over it!” He says it was a reality check. We’re all
dying at various rates of speed. In addition, parts of our lives must die for
us to live. Sin must die. Addictions must die. Bad attitudes and bad habits
must die. Prejudice and negative thinking must die. Our physical bodies must
die so that God can give us a new one. The list goes on. The seed we planted in
the ground had to die to live and produce. We are that seed, and we must lose
ourselves to find life. Are you a finder or a loser? The more we hold on to
that which must die, the more we will lose the eternal life. I continued to
pray for my friend, knowing that he was already on his way to finding eternal
life—whether he lives or dies in this world. May you discover the true joy of
losing your life so that you will truly find it and blossom in Christ!
PRAYER
O
Lord, I hold on so tight to those things that must die. Release my grip,
knowing that these things, including my earthly body, must die so that they may
live in you. Thank you for your promises of making all things new. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, June 11,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Job
38:1-11, 42:1-5; Revelation 19:4-16; John 1:29-34
SCRIPTURE
John
1:29 — The next day (John) saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is
the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
“professional” acting debut occurred when I was five. My heart pumped as nearly
a thousand people crowded into the vast auditorium. I waited in the wings for
my turn to step on stage to give my one-act presentation. I had to go to the
bathroom, but there was no time. The director pushed me to the middle of the
stage and disappeared as the curtains opened. There was no turning back! I
opened my mouth and spoke: “Christmas comes this time of year. It is time for
Christmas Cheer. Let us sing of Jesus, dear, and shout the news that He is
here!” With that, I bowed to thunderous applause. The six-by-eight stage with
the gunny sack curtain seemed big in those days, as did the small country
school with thirty parents and fellow students. The stage onto which Jesus
stepped was a small river, not much bigger than our creek at the farm in
places. John was the director who initiated his cousin Jesus on the stage of
life and the path that would eventually lead to the cross. There was no turning
back! Sometimes, we need a little push from a teacher or friend to get us onto
that stage. Do you know your lines—the lines of the good news you may be asked
to share? May you take a deep breath, step out in faith, and speak up to be
heard!
PRAYER
Oh
boy, here it goes, dear Jesus. Do you want me to speak on stage and tell others
about you? What if I faint? What if I can’t remember my lines? Push me out despite
myself so that those many people “out there” might know about you. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, June 12, 2026
St. Barnabas,
Apostle
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs 3:11-20; 1 John 3:18-4:6; Matthew
11:1-6
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
11:4-5 — Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: blind
receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
sister and brothers were too young to go to school. As I learned to read, I
considered it my responsibility to tell them all about the adventures of Dick
and Jane, the trouble one of the big kids got into, and the phonograph that we
wound up so that it would play a record. When we took a field trip to the big
city of Norfolk, Nebraska, I could hardly wait to tell them about the fire
station where a cousin’s husband worked, the radio station where we got to talk
on the radio, and the meat packing plant where we watched them kill a cow. I
loved to tell stories! I still do. Do you? That’s all Jesus told John’s
disciples to do - tell his cousin, who was in prison, true stories about what
Jesus was doing. How hard can that be? Have you considered that Jesus gives those
same instructions to each of us? They have. Jesus doesn’t ask us to create new
stories out of thin air. He asks us to tell the true gospel stories of Him and
His great love for us and all sinners. How hard can that be? So, have you been
practicing your storytelling technique? Why not choose just one of the many
stories about Jesus and practice telling it so you could do so to strangers as
if it were your own? May you find great joy in telling those stories again and
again!
PRAYER
Thank
you for my story, my God. You have given me hundreds of life stories: how I
came to know you, how you promised to always be near me, and why I like attending
church, where I can hear more of your good Word. The list goes on and on. Help
me to tell our story. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, June 13,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
4:1-27; 1 John 4:7-21; Matthew 11:7-15
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
11:12 — From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven has
suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Herding
cattle was a challenge, especially when we wanted them to go in a direction
they didn’t want to go. It was not easy to funnel them into a chute, up a ramp,
and into a truck. However, herding pigs often proved to be an even greater
challenge! We had to make small moving fences to keep them from scattering. The
problem came when one of them saw the slightest crack in our moving fence
between the fence sections two people were holding. When one of them saw the
break, that pig seemed to shout in perfect pig language, “Hey! Everybody! Over
here!” they would storm the fence in a stampede. Jesus saw the same kind of
attempted stampede by the forces of evil as they tried to storm the gates of Heaven.
Even as John’s fate hangs in the balance in the hands of violent men, Jesus
warns His followers that others will come after those who imprisoned John.
Scholars argue about the meaning of this verse, but it is not hard to recognize
the “stampede effect” with which the violent hope to gain entrance into God’s
kingdom. It may seem that they are winning, but in the end, they are like
specks of darkness who, if they storm past the gates of Heaven, will flee from
the sheer terror of God’s perfect light. Is God trying to “herd” you into His
kingdom through pastors, teachers, or friends? May you catch a glimpse of His
loving light and stop trying to escape!
PRAYER
There
are times when I want to squeal and run away, dear Lord, when I think of what
you want me to do as a follower of you. Thank you for those “fences” who try to
steer me in the right direction. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Basil the Great,
Bishop of Caesarea, 379; Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, c. 385;
Gregory of
Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, c. 389
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
6:1-19; 1 John 5:1-12; Matthew 11:16-24
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
11:21b — “...if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
By
modern standards, our farming was relatively primitive, but by the standards of
those days, the agriculture of a generation before must have seemed even more
primitive. Dad learned to farm with horses and single-row equipment. He moved
on to tractors and bigger and bigger equipment. When I left home and the farm, Dad
was using an eight-row corn planter and a two-row corn picker on a “dry-land”
farm. I can only imagine what he could have done with the huge machinery used
today—with irrigation. What would happen if one of today’s modern farmers reverted
to the “good old days” with horse-drawn equipment? It may seem far out, but
think of the people who have had the advantage of reading the eyewitness
accounts of Jesus’ miracles and resurrection, who live and act as if they never
happened! They are missing a great opportunity to live with Jesus in the here
and now! Jesus Himself promised that everything His disciples saw Him do, and
even greater things, could be done by those who believe (John 14:12). Are you
living in the days before Jesus, or the “Days of Jesus”? He invites us to
experience and use His loving power every day. May we all learn to do so!
PRAYER
Thank
you for giving us your written Word, O God. I’m sorry that I haven’t studied it
enough and taken advantage of the many learning experiences offered to me. Let
that Word come alive within me as I grow in faith in you each day. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, June 15, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
7:1-27; 1 John 5:13-21; Matthew 11:25-30
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
11:29 — Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Some
teachers are born teachers with a natural ability to help students learn. One
of my uncles taught me a lot about fishing. I’m not much of a fisherman today,
but I haven’t been practicing what he taught me when I was six or seven. Dad
was a good teacher for keeping up with farm equipment, caring for animals, and doing
fieldwork. Again, I’m not much of a farmer today because I haven’t done much
beyond gardening for many years. Some of my school teachers were better in some
subjects than others, and some of my Sunday School teachers and pastors fanned
the flames that made me hungry to learn more about God. The key seems to be
helping a student get close enough to the teacher to want to follow their
model. Jesus must have been that kind of teacher for His followers. He urges
them to join themselves to Him as if they and He were a team of oxen yoked
together. Working together with Jesus makes a tough job easy. It means not
trying to go it alone. Solos may be OK in music, but in the work of the
Kingdom, they can be both lonely and challenging. It’s a tough job, but Jesus
says, “I’ll make it easy.” May the gentle and humble heart of Jesus give you
the encouragement you need to love, serve, and obey Him!
PRAYER
Be
near me, Lord Jesus, and teach me your ways. Bring me into circles of other
believers so they make following you easier. Help me invite others so they do
not try to go it alone. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
8:1-21; 2 John 1-13; Matthew 12:1-14
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:12b — “...So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I had to memorize the meaning of the third commandment for confirmation, I
spent a lot of time reciting it on Saturday, hoping that Mom and Dad didn’t
have extra chores for us to do on Sunday. The regular chores were
seven-day-a-week tasks we never even thought about getting out of, but the
extras on Sunday were “groaners.” After Sunday School, worship, and dinner, we
always had to do something. We needed to clean the chicken coop, hog, or milk
barn. Or, we needed to move the old oats to make room for the new. The weeds
needed mowing. The fences needed to be fixed. I didn’t like legalism most of
the time. Still, on Sunday afternoons, I would have appreciated a strict
interpretation of my interpretation of that commandment - “You shall not
do extra farm work on Sunday!” Jesus was a legalist, but His legalism was not
limiting. It included good things we “should” be doing on the Sabbath. He
offers us an excellent example of a “No excuse” Sabbath. For Jesus, there is no
excuse for not keeping the Sabbath holy by doing good! Instead of thinking
about what we can get out of doing, perhaps we should think of at least one
good thing worth doing for someone on the Sabbath, after Sunday School and
worship. Why not list people you could visit or help each Sunday? Rest is
important, too, but let’s not use it as an excuse for not doing good!
PRAYER
Thank
you, my Jesus, for the opportunity to do good on the Sabbath. Give me an open
mind and heart so that when I hear of someone who needs a ride, I will go; when
I hear of someone who needs a meal, I will serve. I know the list is almost
endless, and so is your love. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, June
17, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
8:22-36; 3 John 1-15; Matthew 12:15-21
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:15-16 — When Jesus became aware (that the Pharisees were conspiring against
him), he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he
ordered them not to make him known.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
sister and I took a shortcut that ended up neither short nor safe. We had
visited a classmate, and instead of staying on the road, we headed across the
section. Crossing the fields, the creek, and fences wasn’t too bad. When we
came to the Schwendt farm, we should have gone around the farm place, but we
chose to take a straight trip through their cattle yard. Unfortunately, we got
stuck over our ankles in soupy manure. When my sister lost her shoe, I had to
reach in to find the manure, doing an excellent job of messing up my good
clothes. It was then that we saw the bull slowly coming our way. We backed
through the muck to the fence as cautiously as possible, and both scrambled
over just in time. It was what might be called a “strategic retreat.” A bull
wasn’t chasing Jesus through an unfamiliar cattle yard. He was experiencing the
scheming of the Pharisees, aimed at putting a stop to Him. So, quietly
departing from those determined to destroy Him, he found people who needed Him
and wanted His ministry. He asked that the crowds not give Him away by
spreading the Word, but good news like that was hard to keep to themselves. May
we all follow Jesus’ model and learn when to make strategic retreats to keep
the news of God’s love alive and spreading.
PRAYER
Sometime
this weekend, give me time to make a strategic retreat, if only for a little
while, dear Father. Thank you for those opportunities when I can regroup and
let you fill me with hope. Use me to keep the news of your love alive and
spreading. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, June 18,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
9:1-12; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 10:25-28, 38-42
SCRIPTURE
Luke
10:28 — And (Jesus) said to (the lawyer), “You have given the right answer; do
this, and you will live.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
second-grade teacher, Miss Robinson, was good at teaching art. She made it
simple, showing us the shapes with which to start. She showed us different
shape patterns to practice each day for several days. Then, on Friday, she had
us put the shapes together, one after another, on the same paper. To our
surprise, we had created a bushy-tailed squirrel that first week! Each week, we
created a different picture. My favorite was an ice skater. Choosing patterns, she
had taught us, she showed us how we could create just about anything. The
important thing was doing what we knew how to do. How hard is that? The lawyer
who came to Jesus wanted to know how to attain eternal life. Jesus tested him
to see if he knew the “shape patterns.” Intellectually, he had the correct
answers. All he needed to do was to put them together in life. Most of us know
what we should do. Our problem is that we don’t always do it. We need an eraser
so that we can make corrections. Jesus offers to do that with the grace of
forgiveness. But even then, we may think our “canvas” is too messy to be
eligible for the “Artist of the Year” award. When we discover that we are saved
by grace through faith, we realize Jesus has wiped the “canvas” of our life
clean. In response to what Jesus has done, we can begin to do what we already
know we should do. May we all allow the Master Artist to paint His story on the
canvas of our lives.
PRAYER
Thank
you, my Jesus, for giving me a new “canvas” of life at my baptism and
continuing to give me a new start each morning. Use my canvas to paint a
wonderful and glorious picture of your love. Use me to share that love with
others. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, June 19, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
10:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:1-17; Matthew 12:22-32
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:22, 28 — Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute, and he
cured him so that the one who had been mute could speak and see…. “...If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast
out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Our
neighbors had two boys. One was two years younger than me. The other was four
years younger. We lived across two fences and a creek from them, so we occasionally
played together. Bobby, the younger of the two, fell asleep on our porch while
we played. When it was time to go home, Mom picked him up, carried him to the
car, put him in the back seat, and drove him home. Then she carried him into
his house and laid him on their couch. He slept through it all. Something woke
him with a start, and he started screaming for his mother, who reached over,
took him in her arms, and held him. He thought he was still at our house and
didn’t know his mother was right there beside him. The Jewish people to whom
Jesus was talking were looking for and longing to see the kingdom of God break
into their world when the Messiah came. In many ways, they were “sleeping” so
soundly in their expectations that they couldn’t see the obvious. Jesus states
the logic. “The Spirit of God has just cast out demons, so the kingdom of God
is closer than you thought! You’ve been walking and talking with it!” Sometimes,
at the table, I’ll ask someone to pass something that is right in front of me.
My mother often said, “If it were any closer, it would bite you on the nose!”
That’s what Jesus was saying to those still searching for the Messiah. That’s
what Jesus says to us. Even today, Jesus is closer than we think—always! Why
not give thanks right now!?
PRAYER
Thank
you, Lord Jesus, that the Kingdom of God is here and I live in it even as I
pray. Open my eyes so I truly see and live in the Kingdom in all that I do. In
your Holy Name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, June 20,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
15: 15-33; 1 Timothy 1:18-2:15; Matthew 12:33-42
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:33b — ...for the tree is known by its fruit.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I was four, we moved from a house across the road from my grandparents to the
“west place,” two miles west of the home place. Years before, Dad had planted many
varieties of mulberry trees around that farm. There were many sizes, colors,
and degrees of sweetness among the mulberries. Mom would send us out to gather
them for a special treat when they ripened—mulberries covered with fresh cream
and sugar. Mom could tell where we had been picking when we brought our baskets.
More than once, she would send us out again, giving us directions to a specific
tree, where, sure enough, we would find even larger and sweeter mulberries.
Jesus grew up like most kids, learning that you couldn’t pick cherries from an
apple tree. Nor could you pick grapes from a fig tree. People, like trees,
can’t produce what is not in their hearts. We are bearers of uplifting,
positive, good news or depressing, negative, bad news. Which do you want to be?
Happily, no one is doomed to produce “bad fruit” forever. With the Lord, there
is forgiveness and a willingness to “create in us a new and contrite heart.”
May the sweetness of the love and grace of God be seen in us so clearly that
those who encounter us can point to the empty cross and declare, “You’re one of
His, aren’t you?”
PRAYER
Change
my heart from bearing bad fruit, O Lord, and do what you need to do with me to
bear your good fruit. Plant in me the seeds of your love so I can share your
good news with others in everything I do and say. Thank you for your
willingness to change me. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, June 21, 2026—
Father’s Day
Onesimas Nesib,
translator, evangelist, 1931
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
17:1-20; 1 Timothy 3:1-16; Matthew 12:43-50
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
12:50 — For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and
sister and mother.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Large
families were not unusual when I was growing up. Mom was from a family of
fifteen, and Dad was from a family of thirteen. Accidents, childhood diseases,
and war injuries whittled the numbers down a little, but those things, and the
need for farm help, were the original reasons for having large families. The
good thing about large families is that the older ones helped to care for the
younger ones; the younger children often became “helpers” for the older ones.
And both took pains to keep tabs on each other! According to the Bible, Jesus
wasn’t an only child. His brothers and sisters kept tabs on their older brother
and “tattled” on Him. Jesus doesn’t deny knowing them or turn his back on them
when they express concern for Him. Instead, He expanded His family to include
everyone who does the Father’s will. (And I thought I came from a big family!)
What does it mean to be a child of God—and have Jesus for our Big Brother?! Do
we acknowledge our relationship to Jesus, or deny we know Him? Jesus says we do
it by the way we live. Just saying we are related doesn’t make it so. May our
relationship with Jesus be visible in everything we say and do as we fulfill
the Father’s will!
PRAYER
Thank
you for placing me in the family I grew up in, heavenly Father. Sometimes, we
may not get along, but you have given us to each other. Thank you also for my
large family of other believers. Help me be a better child of God and genuinely
love my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, June 22, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
21:30—22:6; 1 Timothy 4:1-16; Matthew 13:24-30
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
13:24 — He put before them another parable: The kingdom of Heaven may be
compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field….
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
One
of the dirty, dusty jobs I hated in the spring was sifting oats. We had a
sifter we attached to the tractor with a belt. As we scooped the seed we were
sifting into the hopper, its various-sized screens shook back and forth,
sifting out the twigs, stones, chaff, and weed seeds, leaving us with clean
seed and covering us with dust and some of the smaller chaff. We tried to plan
this job just before a bath and changing clothes because we’d usually itch all
over from what went down our necks and every sweaty surface of our bodies. We
had exceptionally clean seeds to plant by the time we were finished. However
good and clean our seed was when we planted it, there would usually be patches
of weeds, mustard, cockleburs, and sunflowers in the oats. The “enemy” who
planted them was not an evil neighbor. All of them suffered the same fate.
Wind, birds, and wild beasts were the guilty culprits. In God’s “fields,” God
has planted only the best seed—His Word. However, sin, evil, and the world all
contribute to the “weedy” condition, which Jesus promises will be cleaned up on
the Day of Judgment. How careful are you about the thoughts and words that
“infect” your heart and mind? With God’s help and the encouragement of other
Christians, we have a “sifter” to help us know and believe the true Word. May
each of us allow God to do the sifting and refining so that we, too, will, in
turn, sow only the good seed of God’s love!
PRAYER
Sometimes,
I’m not careful, O God, and I let the bad seed of the cares and desires of this
world grow quickly within my heart. Forgive me for being fertile soil for
things that are not of you. Grow your good seed within me so that I sow your
love to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
23:19-21, 29—24:2; 1 Timothy 5:17-25; Matthew 13:31-35
SCRIPTURE
Matthew
13:34 — Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; he told them
nothing without a parable.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
was not too fond of story problems in math when I was in grade school and,
later, in algebra in high school. I could do the math. The formulas were a
snap, but I’d get involved in the story, and all the theories about solving the
mathematical problems just vanished or got garbled. I was more concerned about
the people on one train getting to their destination late or colliding with the
people on the other. Who cares when?! Lives were at stake!!! However, when I
rode my first train as an adult, some of those problems came to mind, and I
certainly hoped and prayed that somebody was figuring them out so that I
wouldn’t be late or collide with another train! It is remarkable how a person’s
perspective changes. I don’t know that Jesus was exactly into story problems,
but He was a storyteller. He relied on those with ears and hearts to hear the
meanings and fully understand what He was teaching. Today, I love stories, and,
like my Lord, I love to tell stories, especially those with meaning. Sometimes,
a story can convey a lesson that goes right over a person’s head. Have you been
practicing your storytelling skills? What stories about Jesus and other
biblical heroes do you enjoy most? May you get good at weaving God’s good news
into all your stories!
PRAYER
You
told so many wonderful stories that were recorded for me to hear and read, my
Jesus. Thank you for them and for making the story of my life. You have
enriched it through all the twists and turns. Help me to share my story with
others. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, June
24, 2026
Nativity of St.
John the Baptist
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Proverbs
26:15-28; 1 Timothy 6:6-21; Matthew 13:36-43
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 13:38 — The field is the
world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the
children of the wicked one;….
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I’ve
heard it said that every family has at least one “black sheep.” Ours certainly
did. They were the more “colorful” relatives, often not talked about unless
absolutely necessary. I didn’t hear about some of them until an aunt told the stories
at our family reunion. I was even sworn to secrecy about a couple of family
members who would provide me with some excellent stories to tell. Surprisingly,
in many cases, two kids from the same family were opposites. One was “normal”;
the other was “wild.” Some may have said the same for the first family, in
which one brother (Cain) killed the other (Abel). Then, there were Abraham’s
sons, Ishmael and Isaac, whose relatives still fight today. Isaac’s twins,
Jacob and Esau, were also polar opposites. In the field that God planted with
His children, the “wicked one” has been busy sowing seeds of discontent and
outright rebellion among them. Both were created “good” by God, but each has chosen
the path they will take. Jesus calls us to be God’s good seed, drawing others
to His presence and encouraging those who have chosen the wrong path to return
to their Lord and Creator. May we all discover what it means to be the good
seed in God’s kingdom.
PRAYER
I
pray that I will be the good seed for your kingdom, O God. Instead of gossiping
and sowing rift, help me to defend my brothers and sisters. When I am tempted
to sow discord, help me to sow love. Thank you for making me a part of your
kingdom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, June 25,
2026
Presentation of
the Augsburg Confession 1530;
Philipp
Melanchthon, renewer of the Church 1560
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
1:1-11; Acts 8:26-40; Luke 11:1-13
SCRIPTURE
Luke 11:1 — And it came to pass,
that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his
disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
loved watching Dad plow. He had plowed with horses, then graduated to a tractor-drawn
plow. When I was eleven, Dad moved up from a two-bottom to a three-bottom plow
and seemed to almost fly through a field. I admired his straight rows and the
neat pattern he made when he pulled the trip rope to lift the plow at the
corner, and he quickly pulled it again at just the right time to drop the plow
for the next leg of his journey. He let me mow alfalfa by age twelve, but
plowing was considered too dangerous. I begged Dad to show me how he did it.
Although riding between the tractor and the plow was dangerous, Dad took me
along when he thought I was old enough to let me ride along for a few rounds.
He pointed to the spot for which he was aiming and explained every move of the
trip rope. Then we traded places, and he talked me through a round before he
got off and turned it over to me. After my first round, he pointed out what I
needed to do to improve the looks of my furrows (he liked them really
straight) and turned me loose again. It seems that was how Jesus taught His
disciples every skill they needed to share the good news. It certainly was the
way He taught them to pray. They had watched Him pray and admired His devotion
to prayer. When they were ready and hungry to learn, they asked Jesus to teach
them. Letting them ride the words of His prayer, He said, “Pray like this….”
Has His model helped you “pray without ceasing,” as St. Paul urges? May you be
blessed as Jesus’ disciples were.
PRAYER
Dear
Jesus, you are my model and my guide to prayer. You made sure that you prayed
alone, with others, and at all times of day and night. You never forgot to give
thanks for the gifts that your Father had given you. Thank you for showing me
the way to pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, June 26, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
2:1-15; Galatians 1:1-17; Matthew 13:44-52
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 13:44 — The kingdom of Heaven
is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then, in his
joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
loved Easter egg hunts! I experienced my first hunt when I was seven before
there was any concern about dust, dirt, and eggs spoiling. The “big kids” were
sent out to hide the eggs—boiled and colored by all of us in art class and
candy—some wrapped and some just nestled in a patch of dried grass. It was
great fun for us to search, but it was almost as much fun for the “big kids”
who knew all the hiding places and gave us hints. Another fun thing for us in
the following weeks was discovering unfound “treasures” while playing hide ’n’
seek. We threw the boiled eggs away, but if it hadn’t rained or snowed since
they were hidden, the candy became a tasty treat while we hid. Jesus knew that
the land of Israel was the center of many wars. As war approached, homeowners
often buried their treasures in the fields, hoping to retrieve them after the
war and also hoping to avoid being robbed while seeking refugee shelter. It was
not unusual for someone to come across buried treasure after a rain or an
earthquake. To claim it, all they had to do was buy the field. There are many
treasures for which we search. But the real treasure worth an eternity is often
hidden from us by sin and the world. Jesus urges His followers to search for
the right treasure and invest everything they have in keeping it. What are you
ready to invest in the eternal treasure of God’s kingdom? May your eyes be
opened to it, and you claim it passionately!
PRAYER
I
spend much of my time accumulating earthly treasures, my Lord. If I am not
saving, I am spending so that I might possess more and more. I am sorry that,
instead of building up your Kingdom, I am building up my own. Forgive me and
help me to get my priorities straight. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, June 27,
2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
2:16-26; Galatians 1:18—2:10; Matthew 13:53-58
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 13:54 — He came to his
hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were
astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of
power?
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
youngest brother, Mike, died in December 2015. He was five years younger than
me. I was away in college when he was in high school, and I was away in
seminary when he was in technical college. When I returned for my first call in
Nebraska, he was part owner of a service station and developing an excellent
reputation as a mechanic. The first time I had major car trouble, I took it to
him, hoping it wasn’t as serious as it had appeared to me. (Remember, “Esther
has three sons who are mechanics, and then there is me!”) After looking it
over, Mike gave me the diagnosis—almost like a doctor—and then described in
great detail what he needed to do and what it would cost. I was stunned by the
cost and especially by what my “little brother” knew! It was almost scary how
much he knew and what he could do! When Jesus preached in His hometown, that
was the reaction of the locals who had watched Him grow up. Nazareth was a tiny
town, so they would have seen Him helping His parents, building His toys,
playing with other kids, learning to read and write at the synagogue, and
probably attending His bar mitzvah (if they had them back then). They likely
had Him in their homes, playing with their children and sharing a snack. They
knew Him almost as well as they knew their children. Now He speaks with
knowledge and authority they couldn’t imagine Him having! They were astonished!
Does Jesus astonish you? Or have you taken Him for granted? May you discover
Jesus in new and astonishing ways in your life today!
PRAYER
I
have grown accustomed to always having you with me, hearing your stories, and
thinking of you as only a friend. Sometimes, I forget about how awesome you
are, Lord Jesus. Stir your Spirit within me to regain that awe when I first
heard of you and your deeds. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, June 28, 2026
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
3:1-5; Galatians 2:11-21; Matthew 14:1-12
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:8 — Prompted by her
mother, (Salome) said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
There
weren’t that many “only children” in our neighborhood when I was growing up.
Large and medium-sized families were the norm. Our impressions of those who
were “only children” was that they were usually spoiled rotten. They got
whatever they wanted and had it all to themselves. Sharing was not one of the
vocabulary words they considered a favorite. We only had one “only child” in
our country school, although technically, she wasn’t. She had an older brother in
the air force, so she had no competition. I’m not sure Salome was an only
child, but she was undoubtedly her momma’s favorite. She was pampered and
spoiled to the core. She came by it honestly by following in her mother’s
footsteps. To please Mom, Salome made the grizzly request for the Baptist’s
head on a platter, knowing that Herod was truly afraid of offending God by
messing with one of God’s prophets. Are there times when we act the part of the
spoiled child when God doesn’t give us exactly what we want when we want it?
Instead of complaining, it might be good for us to thank God for NOT giving us
what we ask for but generously giving us what we need.
PRAYER
Forgive
me when I act like a spoiled child, my heavenly Father, when I demand things go
my way or get upset when they don’t. Help me to see that you are a loving God
and only give me what is good for me at the right time. In the name of Jesus, I
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, June 29, 2026
St. Peter and St.
Paul, Apostles
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
3:16—4:3; Galatians 3:1-14; Matthew 14:13-21
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:13a — Now, when Jesus
heard (that John had been beheaded), he withdrew from there in a boat to a
deserted place by himself.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Dad
was a pretty even-tempered person, considering he was a full-blooded German.
So, I was slightly surprised by how he snapped at me for some pretty simple
things. It was the week after Grandpa Sydow died and the week Dad was getting
machinery ready for fieldwork. I complained to Mom, who sat me down for my
first lesson in grief and the stress of worrying, not only about getting the
crops in the field but about whether or not we would be able to buy the farm or
have to move. “He needs time to himself,” Mom explained. Since those days, I
discovered the need for a time to mourn, away from the crowds and busyness of
normal life, and heal emotional wounds. Jesus needed that, too. John was the
prophet announcing His coming, but John was also His cousin, someone He had
probably grown up with, played with, and prayed with. John was family. We need
to note that Jesus went away to be by Himself, but the only time He had alone
was on the boat. When He went ashore, the crowd was already waiting for Him to
minister to them. We need time for emotional healing, but we also need to let
our ministry to others be a part of that healing process. When we need to
grieve and be by ourselves, may we also recognize the need to heal by healing
others.
PRAYER
Thank
you for those moments of quiet times when I can think about my loss, how I miss
them, and how I can grieve, dear Father. Help me work through my grief by
helping others during their loss. Give me the sensitivity to know when they
need time alone and when they need someone there. In your Son’s name, I pray.
Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Johan Olof Wallin,
Archbishop of Uppsala, hymn writer, 1839
THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN TWO YEARS
Ecclesiastes
5:1-7; Galatians 3:15-22; Matthew 14:22-36
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 14:25 — Now, in the fourth
watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
came close to walking on water several times. I’ve been on water skis. I’ve
walked on a frozen lake. But the closest I ever came to walking on water was
when I was five. The morning after the blizzard, which forced the teacher and
several students to stay overnight at the school, we had to walk to my
grandparent's farm, a mile east of the school. The road was covered in most
places by drifts, some as tall as I was. The hard-driving wind had packed the
drifts so hard that I could easily walk on the surface (water turned to snow!)
while the teacher and heavier students plunged through, up to their knees in
some places. The Sea of Galilee was not frozen or covered with snow drifts, but
its waves did not threaten Jesus. Treating the waves as solid objects, Jesus
was supported by the waves that threatened to sink the boat and would cause
Peter’s fears to get the best of him. There are lots of “snow drifts” and
“pounding waves” threatening to sink our “life” boats in the course of our
journey. We can see them as impassible obstacles making us sink and fall, or we
can allow Jesus to reach out and use those same drifts and waves to support us
through our difficult times—our adversities. What are your “drifts” or “waves”?
Once you identify them, turn them over to the One who used a cross to create a
bridge for your journey to the Home He has prepared and had waiting on the
other side!
PRAYER
No comments:
Post a Comment