“Consider the covenant; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Let not the oppressed return dishonored; let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.” (Psalm 74:20-21)

The covenant of God is always before us. He will be our God and we will be His people. Come then into the covenant which is unchanging, but fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Know the goodness of His mercy and walk humbly in His ways, knowing that He is God and all who are His people will walk with Him forever. Come and praise the Lord for all His goodness and mercy.

Lord, You call each of us to humbly come before You and walk in the ways You have established from the beginning. Guide me, O Lord, to walk in the ways You have established that I may not be led astray by the wicked of this world, but live in peace with You, seeking to live in peace with my neighbor. Only in You is there hope for the ages. Only in You is there peace that surpasses understanding.

Lord Jesus, You know the circumstances in which we find our selves. Only You know what is needed for each day. Guide me in the grace You have provided to walk humbly with You all the days of my life knowing that in You is the hope of every tomorrow. Lead me away from the wicked ways of this world into the glorious peace You give for those who walk with You in grace. Amen.

“Remember this, O Lord, that the enemy has reviled, and a foolish people has spurned Your name. Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.” (Psalm 74:18-19)

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, strength, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the summation of the whole of the law. God has established this from the beginning and there are those who continue in rebellion to do otherwise. Do not be deceived; those who are the enemies of the Lord will suffer the affliction of their rebellion which they now impose upon the faithful.

Lord, my sense of justice is immediate and I do not see at times that Your hand will not forever stay judgement against those who mock You. Guide me away from this kind of thinking to cherish what You have given and live into the life which You have established to be lived in the goodness of Your mercy and grace. Lead me, O Lord, to walk according to Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come not to judge, for that is already done, but to lead those who will be faithful into an abundant life of living into the purpose for which You have called us all. Lead me, O Lord, this day into Your goodness that I would do those things which are pleasing to the Father and in accordance with the simple truth that has been revealed through You. Amen.

“Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.” (Psalm 74:16-17)

God invented time. It is something He made into which He has poured what we call the creation. This, along with all things, is in the hands of the Lord. Nothing apart from Him can happen; for He watches over all things that He has made. Abide in the Lord and see that His hand is upon all things. Know that He who made You has plans for You and knows what You need before You ask.

Lord God, I come from the place at the center of myself and cannot see clearly. I do not understand all of the things of this world, but react to what happens around me. You have caused the seasons of the world and the seasons of my life. Lead me, O Lord, according to Your goodness that I would walk with You all the days of my life. Show me Your presence daily.

Lord Christ, Savior who has come to lead all who look to You for solace, guidance and hope, help me now and always to see in You the glory You have throughout my life and for Your purpose. Help me overcome the doubts and fears that debilitate me that I would forever walk in the light You have shown to all generations. May I be faithful in the call You give me this day. Amen.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

Have you ever seen one of those lists, “Ten Reasons to Go to Church?”  They can sometimes be helpful, reminding us of the benefits and obligations of a believer.  Yet they often miss the mark, too.  Focusing on the social or personal benefits of worship, they can neglect what St. Paul calls the matter of “first importance”: Christ died; Christ rose; and Christ appeared to the disciples.

Whatever else we do in the Church, that proclamation stands at the front and center.  For by undoing death (the “wages of sin”), God has canceled the power of sin, putting forgiveness to work in the flesh of Christ.  By appearing to His disciples, Christ put this same forgiveness to work in His followers, sending them to preach it in His name.

What Christ preaches, He gives, and what He gives keeps giving.  To preach the resurrection and rejoice in its benefits, and thus to ready the world for Him who will appear again—here is why we “go to Church,” or even better, why we are the Church.

LET US PRAY: Almighty Savior, triumphant over death: You live and rule above every authority in heaven and earth, and yet You are pleased to dwell among those who trust in You.  How tender Your mercy, how comforting Your power!  May Your Name be praised into eternity, even by my own lips; for You are the beloved Son of the Father, in the glory of the Holy Spirit, one God forever.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams.” (Psalm 74:14-15)

The Lord God created all things and all things are in His control and under His power. Who can come against the Lord? Many try, but they will not prevail. Trust in the Lord of all creation and know that, now and always, all things are in His hands. He who holds the universe together and knows when a bird falls from the sky knows your needs and answers every prayer.

Lord, I sometimes feel lost amidst all the things of this world. All around me everyday things are happening that I do not understand. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the hope for all and the truth of Your sovereignty. Guide me away from living in confusion and fear into wisdom by Your grace to know that You alone are God and there is none other who is able to hold all things together.

Lord Jesus, You are the answer for all who wonder,  for all who are afraid,  for all who look for meaning. You have come to show us the love of the Father that all may turn to You and be reconciled. Guide me this day to walk humbly with You, the One through all things have their being. Lead me now and always in the way of salvation which You have shown for all who believe.  Amen.

“Yet God is my king from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.” (Psalm 74:12-13)

Everything that exists has come from the hand of God. Apart from Him is nothing and all that is, is in His hands. Guide me, O Lord, that I may know Your goodness always and live in Your grace. You are the One through whom all things have their being. Lead me, Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may walk in Your light during this life You gave.

Adversity comes, but it too passes. One day will be the final day of adversity and the Lord will bring upon the earth its judgement. Between now and then, You who created all things unfold Your purpose for the sake of those who love You. You are the King and those who know Your voice understand that You are the King of kings. It is You who purposes all things for Your glory.

Lord Christ, You have revealed the glory of salvation that we may see that all works to the glory of the Father. Guide me, Lord Jesus, to walk humbly in the way You have instructed that I may forever hold fast to the goodness You give by grace. Help me now and always to look to You, knowing that all things are in the Father’s hand and that it will work together for good because of the love You have poured upon us. Amen.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR DOUBTS
Devotional for April 8, 2018 based upon John 20: 19-31

Recently I came across a list of ten top reasons that people give for going to church. Number one on the list was – You just might miss out on something really important if you do not go. Thomas was not there on Easter Sunday evening when the disciples were gathered together, so he missed out on something really important. Jesus showed up. And the news that Jesus was alive and that Jesus had shown up – that news to Thomas was just too good to be true. He could not believe it.

Now I think that Thomas’ not being with the disciples on that first Easter Sunday evening shows the depth of his sorrow and the intensity of his disappointment. But Thomas was making a serious mistake in withdrawing from Christian fellowship. For there is strength in numbers. There is power in staying together. But Thomas was staying away. And because he stayed away, he missed out on the appearance of Jesus. We also miss out on so much if we stay away – if we separate ourselves from Christian fellowship.

It’s really too bad how some people, when facing grief and sorrow, stay away. They shut themselves off. They become like Thomas. But that is the time when they need God’s people the most. Just like that was the time when Thomas needed the other disciples the most.

You know, if Jesus had died on the cross and then had stayed dead, there would be absolutely no reason for us to gather together and to work together. If Jesus had stayed dead, then it would make more sense for us just to remember him with flowers on the altar once a week and then let it go at that. But since Jesus came out of the tomb, then any trivial issues that could sidetrack us become even more trivial compared with, How can we love Him?, How can we make Him known, and How can we be His people in our world today?

Thomas did get sidetracked for a while. He did leave the other believers just when he needed them the most. And so he found himself alone. Mourning over a dead Jesus, instead of being with the living Lord. And so I am so glad to see how the other disciples became concerned over Thomas’ absence. They sought him out. And when they found him, they told him, “We have seen the Lord.” They pleaded for his return. And we today need to be concerned for those who – for one reason or another – have separated themselves from Christian fellowship – just when they need it the most.

There are two things I really like about Thomas. For one thing, Thomas would not say he believed when he did not believe. I really like the uncompromising honesty of Thomas. Thomas would never just rattle off a creed without first understanding what it meant. Thomas wanted to be sure. I think there is more faith in the person who wants to be sure, than in the person who just glibly and casually repeats things, which he or she has never thought through, and which he or she does not really believe. What the church needs today is more people like Thomas, who honestly admit and work through their doubts.

And then the second thing I like about Thomas is that when he was sure, he went all the way. Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

It is really interesting that of all the disciples, Thomas was the first one to call Jesus “God.” Others had already called Jesus Rabbi, Messiah, and even Son of God. But it was Thomas – so-called Doubting Thomas – who was the first one to call Jesus “God.”

There was nothing half-way about Thomas. One person said, “If we, like Thomas, fight our way through our doubts to the conviction that Jesus is God and Lord, then we will attain to a certainty that those who unthinkingly accept things will never be able to reach.” I would rather have a congregation full of Thomases, who refuse to unthinkingly sing the liturgies and recite the creeds and then live lives according to the world’s standards and priorities. I would rather have people who honestly face their questions and then work through those questions.

For Thomas at first the good news was too good to be true. But the fact that he believed with such difficulty in the end made him believe with such a fierce intensity once he was convinced. And in the end, it was not any argument that solved Thomas’ faith problems, but the presence of the Living Lord.

And so we can learn three things from Thomas –
1. Do not stay away from the company of other believers
2. Honestly admit and work through your doubts
3. Once you have worked through your doubts, give yourself completely to the Lord.

We do not know for sure what happened to Thomas. Early Christian tradition says that after the ascension of Jesus, the disciples divided up and went in different directions to preach the Gospel, so that every area could be covered. Thomas went to India. The Christians today in India and Pakistan trace their faith heritage back to Thomas.

Faith did not come easy for Thomas. He had to be sure. But once he was sure, he went all the way in terms of faith, commitment, and obedience. So did Thomas. And so should we.

Dennis D. Nelson
President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and the enemy spurn Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? From within Your bosom, destroy them!” (Psalm 74:10-11)

Each generation has those moments in which they cry out, “How long O Lord?” There are wicked in the world, but there are those yet unborn whom the Lord desires to be in His kingdom and so for a short time, the Lord allows the wheat and chaff to be mixed together. The Lord is fulfilling His purpose and it will come to pass according to His will. Look to the Lord, for He is good.

Lord, I encounter injustice and I want retribution to be meted out. Guide me, O Lord, to know that in You is hope and a future; for You alone know all things and all are in Your sight. Those who reject You have their moment in this world and then what? You offer to those who love You life and life everlasting. Guide me, O Lord, in Your ways that I may abide in You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead all who come to You through the storms of this life. Lead me, Lord, that I may walk in Your ways and learn from You gentleness, humility and faithfulness, abounding in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Justice belongs to the Father, so guide me by Your Spirit away from my selfish actions to be one who does as You have instructed and allows the light in me to shine that others may know that You are the LORD. Amen.

“They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long.” (Psalm 74:8-9)

The world has tried over and over again to be rid of those who walk humbly in the way of the Lord. They rid themselves of the prophets and then the things that have been lifted up to remind the people of the Lord. Yet, through it all, here you are, reading of the Lord and His goodness. God is forever and no one and nothing can overcome the truth, for He is truth and He is forever.

Lord, let me see the cycle that I may step out of it and realize that there truly is nothing new under the sun. Those who hate You toil in vain. They think they are doing something new. Lead me to see that You are the hope of every generation and that in You is life and liberty amidst the struggles that sin causes in this world.

Lord Jesus, apart from You there is no hope, but in You is the hope of the ages. You have come to lift as many as believe out of the pit of despair and onto the path of eternal life. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me walk this day and keep me on the narrow way of Your salvation. Lift my spirit and let my voice speak of You and the truth You have delivered once for all. Amen.