“Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul.  I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue.”  (Psalm 66:16-17)

In a world that is filled with noise and constant activity, the soul can be left behind.  The Lord will nurse the soul and refresh it to see clearly that yes, we are physical creatures but that we are also soul and it too needs nurturing.  Come to the Lord and be refreshed and renewed.  Know that in the Lord goodness and mercy are bounteous and the Lord delights in His little ones.

Lord, help me see the estate of my soul and come to You that I may be refreshed.  Lead me through all of the things that are going on in me that I may understand the need for Your sustenance and see that only You can lift me up.   Let me learn to extol Your name and know the truth of life which You grant to those who love you, for You alone are able to do these things in this age of turmoil.

Lord Jesus You have come to set the captive free that we may abide in You now and forever.  Guide me, mind, body and soul, to live into the life to which You call me that I may grow in the righteousness You have given me by grace.  Teach me to give You praise and thanksgiving for all the goodness You have shown me.  Teach me to be still and know that You are God.  Amen.

“Which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in distress.  I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts, with the smoke of rams; I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats.”  (Psalm 66:14-15)

Through all that comes, the Lord desires that we learn to be people who praise Him in spite of circumstances. Offer yourself to the Lord and go where He will send you.  Do not hold back and do not be conditional in your offerings.  The Lord will create in you a clean and new heart that will worship and praise Him in all circumstances.  Come as you are and bow to the Creator of all things.

Lord I am conditional in my life.  I react depending upon the circumstances. Guide me away from being conditional to simply living the life You have given me knowing that only in You is there hope and a future. Renew in me a heart that longs after You and the things You would have me do.  Lead me in Your ways always that I may become sanctified as You have called me to be.

Lord Jesus You have come to lead the way in righteousness.  Guide me through all of the obstacles that will come my way knowing that You will lead me to where I need to be.  In creating me to be like You help me see all of the obstacles that are to be overcome that I may understand more fully as I pass through this life in preparation for all that is to come.  Amen.

COME AND SEE – FOLLOW ME

Devotional for January 14, 2018 based upon John 1: 43-51

In our Gospel lesson for January 14, which tells of Jesus’ calling two of His disciples, there are two very short, very interesting, and also very significant phrases.  Jesus says to Philip, “Follow Me.” (verse 43)  Philip says to Nathanael, whom he wants to introduce to Jesus, “Come and see.” (verse 46)  Earlier in the chapter, Jesus says the same words to two of the disciples of John the Baptist, “Come and see.” (verse 39)

“Come and see” was Philip’s response to Nathanael when Nathanael questioned whether Jesus could have any significance for him if He came from such an insignificant little town, like Nazareth.  “Come and see” was also Jesus’ response to two of John the Baptist’s disciples when they asked a very basic question of and about Jesus, “Where are you staying?”  (verse 38)

“Come and see” are words of evangelism.  “Come and see” are words that you say to someone who is just for the first time hearing about Jesus or who is in the first steps of being introduced to Jesus.  “Follow Me” are words of discipleship.  They are words that encourage us to grow deeper and come closer and grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Every church needs to have “Come and see” events and ministries as well as “Follow Me” events and ministries.  “Come and see” events and ministries introduce people to Jesus.  They are something you invite people to who do not know Jesus and/or need a very basic introduction to Jesus.  Christmas Eve and Easter services, a Christmas cantata, a faith-based film showing in a local movie theater can be “Come and see” ministries.  “Follow Me” events and ministries can include more in depth Bible studies, discipleship groups, and classes about spiritual gifts.  Is there a good balance between “Come and see” and “Follow Me” in the ministries at your church?  If not, which one is stronger?  Which one is weaker?  What could be done to give your church a better balance between the two?

What about you?  Are your natural abilities and spiritual gifts more in the direction of “Come and see” or “Follow Me”?

Where are you personally in your spiritual life?  Are you just being introduced to Jesus?  Are you in the beginning stages of getting to know Jesus?  If so, then you are in the stage of “Come and see.”  Are you going deeper and growing closer?  Are you maturing in your relationship with Jesus?  If so, then you are in the stage of “Follow Me.”  Both stages are important.  Both stages are valid.  Which stage are you in?

One person once said, “Wherever you are, there you are.”  Every one of us is where we are in our relationship with Jesus and personal spiritual life journey.  May we all continue to advance and grow.  May our churches have a good balance between “Come and see” events and ministries and “Follow Me” events and ministries, because both of valid, both are needed.  And may be all grow into a greater knowledge of Jesus, a deeper relationship with Jesus, and a closer likeness to Jesus.

Dennis D. Nelson

President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9)

This past Christmas, as we prepared for company, I offered to get the relish tray for my wife.  “You can’t,” she said.  “It broke last year.  Remember?”  So it goes: after 20 years, some of our wedding gifts are wearing out or breaking, a little reminder that most things don’t last forever.  

Yet one thing does: the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Can we even imagine it, a life utterly free of death?  Death sets the boundaries of our life in ways that we don’t even stop to consider, yet Christ’s life has no limits—“death no longer has dominion over Him!”

What such a life really is, we do not yet know.  Yet we know this: the gifts that Jesus gives, coming from this deathless Man, endure forever.  The Name He gives you in Baptism, the forgiveness He declares to you, the feast He sets for you—these things remain true, even at the graveside.  They are eternal life.

LET US PRAY: Immortal God, who became our flesh that we may rise in the flesh and live forever: by the Spirit of Your resurrection, grant us courage.  Banish our fears in the face of death, and free us for faithful service in Your Name, by which we pray.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“You made men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water, yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.  I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows,” (Psalm 66:12-13)

Things will happen in this life, things that we do not like or even at the time understand, but the Lord is still Sovereign.  To whom will you give your loyalty?  Will it be to yourself, another or the One who created all things.  Loyalty does not depend upon circumstances for the righteous but upon truth which the Lord of Creation IS.  Come to the Lord who is Sovereign over all.

Lord my loyalties do wander about and I am circumstantial in my alliances.  Guide me to be loyal to truth and to You who is truth.  Lead me into a life that recognizes the toils and troubles in this life but perseveres through all knowing that You are the One who is leading me.  Guide me in Your truth that I would forever hold fast to what You have revealed once for all through Your Word.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult it is to navigate through this world filled with rebellion.  You have come to save me from myself and the other things that would get in the way of the simple truth that You alone are Lord and Savior.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, through each of the difficulties that will come my way knowing that in You I have hope and a future.  Amen.

“For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.”  (Psalm 66:8-9)

Have you ever thought of the purpose of all the difficulties you have experienced in life?  Not  tests, nor punishments, but they do serve a purpose in helping shape who you are.  All things work together for good and the Lord is purposeful with life.  Look to the Lord who is much smarter than we often even begin to think He is and know that the author of life looks out for you.

Lord, guide me to see a little more clearly that You are not some infantile imagining but the Sovereign of all things.  Help me know that nothing happens that You are not aware of and that You care for Your creation more than we can begin to imagine.  Help me now and always to simply look to You, and give thanks for Your goodness and guidance in all things.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You allowed some of the worst things that could happen to anyone to happen to You.  Through them You accomplished what You desired for us all.  Through Your salvation, guide me to see more clearly the truth of the ages, knowing that of course all things are in Your hands and You have it all under control.  Lead me to be thankful for all that You do.  Amen.

“Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad, who keeps us in life and does not allow our feet to slip.”  (Psalm 66:8-9)

The Lord watches over the nations and knows the times and seasons as they unfold.  He who keeps watch over you never slumbers nor sleeps.  He who put the stars upon their course knows each of us intimately.  He has called you to witness His majesty to the nations.  He gives life and keeps us alive.  He who watches over you will guide you all the days of your life.

Lord, in the turmoil of this world I see the ways in which men go to and fro and wind up going nowhere.  Lead me through the simple truth that this is Your world and that Your purposes shall prevail.  Guide me according to those principles to walk humbly with You now and always.  Keep me from going astray and help me through the obstacles that come my way that I may be faithful to You always.

Lord Jesus, You know the difficulty of this world and the ways in which many can and do lead people astray.  Help me now and always to see in You the hope You provide through the grace You purchased that I may walk in the way You have created for the faithful.  I need You to save me from this world, Jesus.  Save me and lead me now and always, keeping my eyes fixed upon You.  Amen.

“He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot; there let us rejoice in Him!  He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves.”  (Psalm 66:6-7)

There are those who are unwilling to believe these simple things.  God led the Israelites out of bondage and into the promised  land.  God can dry up the water.  God keeps His eyes upon the nations.  The rebellious will speak what they wish but God has spoken what is true.  You and I are called to witness what has been reported.  What is true?  Let not the rebellious be exalted.

O Lord, how majestic are the works of Your hands.  All around is the evidence of Your handiwork, but the rebellious rail against You and dream up their own ideas of reality.  Lead me away from the rebellion and into the simple truth which I see all around me.  Guide me according to Your precepts that I would walk in the ways You have established.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always.

Lord Jesus You are the strength of those who labor in the fields of this earth.  Many toil away and believe and the few argue away and lead astray many.  Help me to stand firm in the truth I have witnessed that the rebellious ones would have no sway over me.  Lead me to hold fast to the eternal truth You have revealed and the faith You have given me by grace that I may walk with You.  Amen.

Saturday, January 6, 2018 Devotion

“All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.” Come and see the works of God, who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.”  (Psalm 66:4-5)

Stop listening to the noise of the world and look around. What do you see? Is not the earth and all that is in it marvelous and wondrous? Do you not see the intricacy and beauty all around? What then shall be said to those who cannot see but make noise? His deeds are above our ability to comprehend just as the beauty that surrounds us. Marvel at the Lord and His handiwork.

Lord, I give in to all the talk that goes on around me but do not marvel at the things before me.  Guide me, O Lord, into Thy ways that I would see Your work and marvel at all that You have done.  Lead my eyes to see and my ears to hear that I may praise You as one of Your own creations.  You Lord are the Creator of the universe and all things are in Your hands.  Guide me in Your providence.

Lord Jesus, You walked humbly among us.  The disciples marveled that even the seas would obey You.  Yet You are the One who created all things and it should have been no marvel.  Let me marvel instead that You would walk humbly with us to lead us to the Father.  Let me marvel at the work You have accomplished and praise You now and always.  You are the Lord of Salvation and the One who leads.  Amen.

Friday January 5, 2018 Devotion

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.  Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!  Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.”  (Psalm 66:1-2)

The Creator of all things is the One through whom all things have their being.  To give thanks and praise to the One who made you should be a natural and good thing.  Alas, in a world of rebellion, the creatures glorify themselves and ignore the One who made them.  The Lord will not force any to praise Him but looks for those who will because He is good.

Lord I understand the principle but find myself in the struggle where I see You not as the One to be praised but as an object outside of myself.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be led by Your goodness and walk in Your ways which are right.  Help me see through the cloud of sin in this world to do that which is natural; that is, to praise You in all circumstances and sing Your glory.

To You, Lord Jesus , is all honor and praise due.  You have come not only to lead the way, but to provide the very things that are needed to bridge the gap between what is and what will be.  Lead me now and always to seek through You the glory of the Father in the grace You provide which enables me to do all things.  To You be praise and glory and honor and dominion now and forever.  Amen.