Lutheran CORE has sent a letter to ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton asking her to take action in light of some of the keynote speakers at the recent youth gathering. Click here to read it.

“O Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome.” (Psalm 88:14-15)

You have not rejected those who come by faith, yet there are times when You seem so far off. Lead those who believe, O Lord, far away from the place of doubt and fear to walk knowing that all things are in Your hands. Guide us into the goodness You have declared that those who are in You may unite in the goodness of Your presence. You are God and there is no other.

Lord, though there are times when You seem far off, lead those who are in You to walk humbly through this world that is filled with wickedness. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go. Empower me in those things I do for others to see Your hand at work. Lead me by the grace You have given that I may overcome all the moments of doubt to live boldly for You.

Lord Jesus, You expressed the anguish we feel when You were praying in the garden the night You were betrayed. You asked from the cross about the betrayal. Through Your example, You have shown the void that wickedness has brought upon the world. Lead me to see in You that there is always hope amidst the emptiness of this world and that all who come to You can share hope in the promised future. Amen.

“Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, and in the morning my prayer comes before You.” (Psalm 88:12-13)

Will the nations know the Lord? The Lord has those of His fold from every tribe, tongue and nation. From among those whom He knows, He will lift up those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Yes, reach out to others. No, do not worry about whom; for the Lord knows those who are His. The Lord hears the cries of all who lift their hearts toward Him and knows their need before they ask.

Lord, when I ponder all of the people who have ever existed or ever will exist, I wonder. I ponder how You hear all those who cry out for justice. Your Word says that You hear and that You care and that all will work to glory for those who love You. Help me live in faith where I trust You above all things and know that in You alone is the hope of glory for all who believe.

Lord Jesus, You said that You have come for as many as believe. Move me beyond the doubts and fears to come to the place where I live as one who believes. You do hear my prayers and answer them. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your grace now and always that I may live into the eternity You have promised to all who come through faith by grace to the Father. Amen.

“EVERYTHING ON MY FLASH DRIVE HAS BEEN ERASED”
Devotional for July 29, 2018 based upon John 6: 1-21

Those were the first words out of my mouth when I tried to find a document that I wanted to work on. About a minute before I had been unable to access the files on my flash drive. A window came up on my computer, which said, “Click here to scan and repair.” I clicked there, but instead of scanning and repairing, it erased everything on my flash drive.

Now fortunately I do have paper copies of most everything on my flash drive. I am one of those digital-later-in-life people who do not totally trust computers, so I make sure I have paper copies of almost everything. And on my computer’s hard drive I had earlier versions of most of the documents – just not the final version. But most fortunately of all, I remembered that most of the documents that I still wanted I had sent to someone else. I could retrieve them from “Sent” emails. I still had them because I had sent them. I had them because I had given them away.

The pastor of one of the churches where I attended when I was in seminary once told of his brother, who also was a pastor. His home office suffered a terrible fire. All of his books, and all of his sermon files, were destroyed. Fortunately, he had made a habit of mailing copies of his sermons to family and friends. After the tragic fire he said, “The only sermons I had left were the ones I had given away.”

The feeding of the five thousand must have made such an impression upon the disciples, because all four Gospels record it. But only John’s Gospel tells us where the five loaves and two fish came from. According to John 6: 8-9, one of the disciples, Andrew, who (as always) is called Simon Peter’s brother, said to Jesus, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?”

What if the boy had not given Jesus his lunch? Five thousand people would not have been fed, and we would never have heard of him and the story of his generous giving because of his deep faith and trust in Jesus.

We have all heard it said, “The purpose of an apple is not just to produce an apple tree. The purpose of an apple is to produce a whole orchard of apple trees.” If every apple – indeed, every apple seed – has within it the potential to produce a whole orchard of apple trees. If that kind of expansion and multiplication from one seed to a whole orchard or field is something that we can see, then why should it surprise us – why should we doubt – that Jesus is able to speed up the process of making a small amount into something great? Something small – given in faith and trust and obedience to Jesus – becomes enough. In fact, it becomes more than enough. The disciples gathered up twelve baskets full of leftovers. They had more left over at the end than what they had when they first began.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “My God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (4: 19).

Like the boy, we may only have five loaves and two fish. Like Andrew, we may wonder, “What are they among so many?” The needs are so great, and what I have to offer is so small.

But, like the boy, we can trust Jesus. Like the boy, we can give what we have. We can give generously from what God has given to us. For God is able to supply our needs. God is able to take what we give and then bless it, multiply it, and make it do more than it ever would have done if we had held on to it for ourselves.

Like the Israelites who tried to collect more than enough manna, we will find that hoarding stinks. Like the boy who gave his lunch, we will find that what we give to Jesus, He will make it into more than enough. Like the pastor and his sermons – like myself with the documents on my flash drive, we will find that we only are really able to keep what we give away.

What do you have to give – what will you give to Jesus?

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

“Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?” (Psalm 88:10-11)

We worry about what is next and what comes after this life. The Lord is the God of the living and not the God of the dead. Leave all things where they belong, which is in His hands. Know that He who formed the universe is master even over death. He shall bring all things under His feet, for all things are subject to Him, even the evil that is currently in rebellion against Him.

Lord, amidst the ups and downs of this age, bring me to see that You are always my Master. Lead me to trust in all that You do, knowing that Your goodness has already prevailed and that what we are witnessing is for Your purpose. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly with You all of my life knowing that even in death, You will be with me as Lord and Master.

Jesus, when we are united with You in a death like Yours, it means that we will be united with You in a resurrection like Yours. You have conquered death and there awaits for all who are in You the hope of eternal glory. Even though I go down to the pit, yet shall I be raised to join eternally with You. Guide me , O Lord, in the way You would have me go knowing that in You there is a sure hope. Amen.

“Your wrath has rested upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O Lord; I have spread out my hands to You.” (Psalm 88:7-9)

David cried out to the Lord amidst the estrangement he felt around Him. We all have periods of loneliness when it seems those we thought close draw away. Is not the Lord always there? Has He not walked with you all the days of your life? He is the One who has watched out for you all along. Should He not be the One who is closest to you? He is. Come and see His goodness.

Lord, no matter the circumstances of my life or what is happening, help me to know that You are always there. Guide me in Your goodness that I would walk with You always knowing that You are always with me. Help me live the way You would have me live knowing that You are with me always. Lift me up to be drawn ever closer to You that in all my ways I may walk knowing You are above me, beside me and within me.

Lord You are my salvation. In all things, You are there to guide and lead me. Help me now and always to abide in Your presence with the knowledge that You are always with me. Help me in every time of trouble to see that You are there. No matter where life takes me, help me remember that You are God, above all others, and You have reached out to me with Your salvation. Amen.

“Forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and they are cut off from Your hand. You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.” (Psalm 88:5-6)

The wicked shall go to the dust and their deeds be remembered no more. Why then pursue the way of the wicked? Who wants to remember evil? Do we not applaud the deeds of those who do good? Even history proclaims the truth of the deeds of those who do good. Be remembered by the Lord and stand in His presence, having done what is pleasing in His sight. Know the Lord and learn the good.

Lord, You call to all who will listen in every generation. There are those who hear Your voice and respond to Your call. Count me among those who hear You and teach me to walk in Your ways. Guide me according to Your goodness that I would now and forever live according to Your Word of truth which has been spoken from the beginning. Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go.

Holy Spirit, I need Your ministry in my life. I need what You alone can do. Guide me this day according to the will of the Father to walk in the way You would have me go. Lead me according to Your goodness to see those things which are right to do and then guide my feet to do them. Help me now and always to live according to the promises You have spoken that I may be amongst those You remember. Amen.

“For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength,” (Psalm 88:3-4)

The way of the wicked unleashed upon the earth weighs heavily on the soul. It seems for a time that the wicked prevail. Yet if we step back, we see that they always fail in the end. The Lord will give you eyes to see that only His will shall prevail and that those who are in Him will win the prize of salvation. We are without such strength; for only the Lord is able to save.

Lord, help me to see clearly that salvation is in You alone and that we cannot, by our own effort or strength, accomplish what needs to be done. Lead me in the way of truth that I may now and always abide in the way of salvation that You have declared throughout Your Word. Lead me, O Lord, that I may follow You all the days of my life in the way You have established for all.

Father in heaven, I want to do something for my salvation but I have no strength. You have come in the flesh to be my strength. Take away from me the ideas of doing these things by my power that I may rely upon Your perfect will being accomplished in me now and always. You have already accomplished salvation for those who believe. Help, Lord, my unbelief that I may trust You above all things. Amen.

O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry!” (Psalm 88:1-2)

The Lord is our light and our salvation. Ponder what this means. It is not what you do, but what He has done. He invites those who hear His voice to come into His presence and walk in the way of salvation. Come unto the Lord and be fed by the word of truth that You may know that He hears your cries amidst a world filled with wickedness. The Lord hears our cries and has answered with salvation.

Lord, help my heart to be calm and my mind ready to receive the salvation You have prepared. Still the voice in my head that places conditions on salvation to receive freely what You have given. Guide me in the way of life that I may walk humbly in the salvation You give for all. Lead me to the place where I truly trust You above all things knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.

Lord Jesus. Salvation come to earth, guide me this day to walk in the way, truth and life You have accomplished from the cross. By the power of the Holy Spirit, lead me in the way of that truth. Keep me from making conditional what is unconditional, the way You have prepared for those who believe. Lead me to trust You and walk humbly in the way You have established for all. Amen.

“The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.” (Psalm 87:6-7)

Ultimately, the Lord knows those who are His. In the final count, those who dwell in Zion will count it as joy. Do not worry about whom the Lord knows, but be thankful that He has called you. He who knows all things will guide those whom He has called into the goodness of His grace and mercy. Abide in Him, with Him in You, and know the truth of the ages which He has revealed.

Lord, I do worry, but is that not my desire to control? Help me to learn how to trust that I would now and forever turn to You in all things. Guide me according to Your goodness that I may live life in a way that is pleasing to You. Help me now and always to be guided by Your will which You have established and do those things which are pleasing in Your sight.

Savior of all, You have come to bring life and light to all who know Your voice. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have established which leads to everlasting life. Help me through the struggles I will encounter this day to simply abide in the love You have shown, sharing with others as you have shared with me. Help me abide in You today, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.