“Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.” (Psalm 86:1-2)

Those who look to the Lord and seek to do what is pleasing in the Lord’s sight are the ones who have an ear and hear. Listen, for the Lord speaks and He has given You His word. Listen and you will know His counsel. Be guided by the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever. He will save those who hear His voice and seek to walk in His ways. Come, listen and learn.

Lord, incline my ear to Your voice that I may hear when You speak. Guide me now and always in what You have already said. Keep me from the empty arguments and hollow words of this world. Lift me up into Your presence that I may joyfully abide with You knowing that You are abiding with me. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go and point my footsteps in the direction You are sending me.

Christ my Savior, You have said that Your sheep know Your voice. Speak to me today that I may hear. Remind me of the goodness of Your leading that I may follow. Shut out the conflicting noise of this world that I may understand the way of righteousness. Lead me on the narrow path that You have established by grace that I may walk humbly with You. Amen.

GO AND TELL JESUS
Devotional for July 15, 2018 based upon Mark 6: 14-29

The Gospel writer Matthew, in his account of the death of John the Baptist, adds an interesting detail that the Gospel writer Mark does not include in his account. Mark 6: 29 merely says that “when his (John the Baptist’s) disciples heard about it (John’s death), they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.” Matthew 14: 12 adds, “Then they went and told Jesus.”

There are times in our lives – when great sorrow comes or great tragedy strikes – when more than anything else we need to tell someone, and the one we most need to tell is Jesus.

One of my mother’s favorite songs asks,
“Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye to the dearest on earth to me.
When my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks
Is it anything to Him, does He see?”

And then comes the glad response,
“Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares.
His heart is touched by my grief.
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.”

There are times in our lives when more than anything else that is what we need to know – that our Savior cares. Whatever grief I am feeling, whatever sorrow I am experiencing, whatever tragedy I am going through, I can know for sure that my Savior cares.

That was one of my mother’s favorite songs. A good friend of my parents sang it at the memorial service for each of them.

And that is what we all need to know – that our Savior cares. Like the disciples of John went and told Jesus about the death of His dear cousin and their dear leader and friend, so we all have things that we need to tell Jesus.

What is it that you need to tell Jesus today? Whatever it is, know for sure that He cares, He will listen, and He can help. He can give you the love and comfort that you need and the strength to see it through.

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