“Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols; worship Him, all you gods. Zion heard this and was glad, and the daughters of Judah have rejoiced because of Your judgments, O Lord.” (Psalm97:7-8)

The problem with sin today is that it has no shame. Shame brings guilt and guilt declares the sinner wrong. Those who are in the Lord have their sin removed when they live in repentance and walk humbly before the Lord. Be glad, because the Lord is perfectly just and His righteousness is granted to those who dwell in Zion, the redeemed of the Lord. Worship the Lord above all.

Lord, I have guilt and there are times I have no shame. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go. You know where I need to go. I do not. Help me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of glory, and know that You are God above all other things. Teach me how to worship and lead me in the way of worship. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of eternal life that I may dwell in Zion.

Lord Jesus, You have come that the problem of sin and guilt may be dealt with. In You alone is the hope of all people. You are the One who has made grace possible. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of eternal peace that I may walk humbly with You my Lord and my God. Lead me in worship, praise and gratitude that I may now and always live into the life to which You have called me. Amen.

THE DEAL OF A LIFETIME
Devotional for October 14, 2018 based upon Mark 10: 17-31

Suppose someone very reputable says to you, “Go into business with me. It will be very expensive for you, but I guarantee you it will be worth it. Dig up whatever cash you can. Take out all the equity in your home. Cash in all your life insurance policies. Pay the penalty and take all the money out of your IRA’s. In every way you can, come up with all the cash that you can and invest it with me. I promise you that you will get back 100 times whatever you invest. If you put in $10, 000, you will get back one million dollars. If you put in $100, 000, you will get back ten million dollars.” Is there anybody who would turn his or her back on an opportunity like that?

Well listen again to the words of Jesus in our Bible lesson for this morning. “Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my safe and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age – and in the age to come eternal life.” That is quite a promise. Whatever you invest, you will receive a hundredfold return. Not a one hundred percent return, which would be only doubling your money, but a hundredfold return, which is getting back one hundred times your original investment. And Jesus is not just offering it. He is guaranteeing it.

A rich young man came up to Jesus one day, seeking the way to eternal life. “Keep the commandments,” Jesus said. “I have,” the young man replied, “since my youth.” Mark then tells us that Jesus said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell what you have and give it to the poor. Then you will have treasures in heaven.” And so Mark tells us that the young man turned away sadly, grieving because he had many possessions.

The Deal of a Lifetime. The rich young man turned down a one hundredfold return – the Deal of a Lifetime. Why do you suppose he did it?

First, I believe he turned down the deal of a lifetime BECAUSE HE COULD ONLY SEE WHAT HE WOULD BE GIVING UP, NOT WHAT HE WOULD BE GAINING. I am sure he was accustomed to the best of everything. He did not want to give that up. He valued financial success above everything else. Jesus said that if you do that, your odds for entering the Kingdom of God are equal to that of a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle. Which are pretty slim odds, indeed. Being forced to decide between Jesus and their wealth, most people would only be able to see what they would be giving up, not what they would be gaining.

Second, I believe he turned down the deal of a lifetime BECAUSE HE OVERESTIMATED THE VALUE OF MATERIAL THINGS. Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest men who ever lived. He was also very generous. Perhaps because as he once said, “Millionaires seldom smile.” I have read that Andrew Carnegie practically became allergic to money as he grew older and richer. He was offended, he said, just by the sight and touch of money. And he never carried any of it with him. One time he was put off a London train because he had no money with him to pay the faire.

Why make your greatest value something that will eventually rot or rust? Something that someday you will have to leave behind? Something that by itself cannot give peace of mind? The rich young man overestimated the value of material things.

Third, I believe he turned down the deal of a lifetime BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT THE ONLY KIND OF RICHES THAT REALLY COUNT IS BEING RICH TOWARDS GOD.

Someone once said, “We cannot take it with us, but we can send it on ahead.” The great test of our faith is whether we really believe the promises of Jesus. Jesus has promised that anything we give to Him, He will return a hundredfold. Does that mean that if we tithe, someday we will be materially rich, just as some television evangelists have suggested? No, it does not mean that. But it does mean that the rewards for following Jesus far exceed the costs. It does mean that in following Jesus you will be making investments that will pay rich dividends for eternity – long after all of your material possessions will have deteriorated into dust.

Someday each one of us will move from this world to the next. We brought nothing with us into this world, and we will take nothing with us out of this world. If the promises of Jesus are true – and I believe that they are – then that means that our hands will be empty so that we will be able to receive from Jesus a hundredfold more than we left behind. Our hands will be empty so that we will be able to receive from Him blessings untold.

Dennis D. Nelson
Director of Lutheran CORE

“The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory.” (Psalm 97:5-6)

One day the whole earth will pass away in a moment. The Lord God who created all things is unfolding His plan. We are a part of that plan. Yes, we are infinitely small, but the Lord has also called each one of us by name. He desires that we live in His righteousness and be guided by the timeless principles He has given. Come then and walk in the way of the Lord and live in His presence.

Lord, I have much to learn, for this world continues to affect my thinking and acting. Lead me through Your Word to learn again how to live. Lift me up from the path of destruction and teach me to live. May I join my brothers and sisters in declaring Your righteousness with my life and all that I do, reflecting Your grace and mercy. Guide me, Lord Jesus, to walk Your way upon this earth.

Holy Spirit, minister to me that I may more fully learn this day how to walk in this place and time. Remind me of the things You have taught me and teach me more that I may increase in becoming like Christ. Help me now and always to be aware of Your presence and walk according to Your guidance. May I humbly walk in righteousness this day, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.

“Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries round about. His lightnings lit up the world; The earth saw and trembled.” (Psalm 97:3-4)

Moderns discount the Lord as if He were a play toy. The Lord is the One who made everything and the earth listens to His voice. Come into His presence and know the One who was before all things. Fear the Lord but do not be frightened. Know that the God of all creation has called you into His loving presence. He desires that you be with Him now and always, and know His goodness.

Lord, help me through the malaise of this world which is forever shouting all kinds of contradictory things. Lead me to humbly hold fast to the goodness You have made possible that I would now and always live into the life to which You have called me through Your Word. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should live that I may not be as those in this age who scoff at You.

Lord Jesus, apart from Your grace it would not be possible. You have come into the world to lead the way for as many as would believe that together we can stand in Your presence eternally. Lift me up and teach me respect, honor and humility that I may learn to become as You are. Guide me through Your Word that I would learn each day things that are useful in this walk. Amen.

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” (Psalm 97:1-2)

It may seem for a time that things are not as they really are, but this creation belongs to the Lord. He is the One who reigns and in Him all hopes are made real that are in accord with His will. He is Sovereign and although this age continues in rebellion, it shall come to pass that all things have always been in the hands of the Lord. Come into His presence and know righteousness.

Lord, there are so many questions that many ask. Their questions are based upon their own understanding and not upon the truth You have revealed. Guide me, O Lord, to look to You, for You are the Creator of all things. Lead me in the goodness of Your mercy that I would humbly walk in Your presence knowing that You alone have the words of eternal life; for there is no other way.

Lord Jesus, You have come to shine light on the truth. You are the way and truth and only in You is there life. Help me now and always to seek the way You have established that I may walk humbly in the way of salvation. May I now and always be guided by the eternal principles You have given and be lifted up by Your grace. Lead me to be faithful in all that You have given me to do. Amen.

“Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:12b-13)

The day is coming when the Lord will set the final course for creation. He will righteously judge all people. Each will continue the course they began in this world, some to be with Him and some forever separated from Him. There is no other option than these two. Those who are faithful will be lifted up and those who go their own way will continue further away.

Lord, the rebellion begun in the beginning with our first parents continues to this day. But there are really only two kinds of people: those who move toward You and those who continue to move away from You. Help me to live into the righteousness You have given me that I may grow in the likeness of Christ and become what You have planned for me to become.

Lord Jesus, You have come making grace possible for those who will follow after You into eternity. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go knowing that only in You am I able to find the life that You give. Guide me according to Your mercy to humbly walk in the way of righteousness that I may now and always be in Your presence, living the true life. Amen.

“Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it.” (Psalm 96:10-12a)

The Lord is just, and sees all that happens. A bird does not fall from the sky that He does not know about. The earth knows His voice and listens when He commands. Creation exalts the Lord, for He is the One who made it. Join with the rest of creation and praise the name of the Lord with your life and your being. Be one who acknowledges the Lord in all things.

O Lord, how often I do not praise You or think upon the goodness that You have given me. Guide my heart to see more clearly the truth of all that You have done. Lift my countenance to give You praise at all times and in all circumstances. Guide me, O Lord, in Your goodness to see the beauty of Your work and the promise of Your mercy and grace that I may be forever Yours.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way that I may walk now and forever in Your presence. Lift me up this day to walk humbly in the Father’s presence knowing that I am always before You. Teach me the way You would have me go. Lead me into the righteousness You give that I may humbly become the child of God that is promised through the grace You have purchased. Amen.

“Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:7-9)

Do you look to the Lord in your everyday life? Do you marvel at the creation He has made? Do you see the wonder of how things fit together? The Lord is the Sovereign of the universe. It is He who has made all things. Come into His presence and walk with Him with praise on your lips and thanksgiving in your heart. Know that the Lord is the greatest good, above all things, for He is your Maker.

Lord, I often live my daily life moment by moment lost in my own thoughts. I do not look to You, nor marvel at the work of Your hands. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may walk humbly in Your sight and live as one who is thankful for all of Your goodness. Open my eyes to see the beauty of all that You have made and to live in Your goodness.

Holy Spirit, lead me to see this day all that is around me. Lift me up that I may walk knowing that You are present with me, and there to lead me. Help me now and always to be thankful for the gift of life, the liberty I have in Christ and the awareness that You are with me. Guide me in the way I need to grow that I may become more like Christ this day and serve the Father in a way that is pleasing to Him. Amen.

“For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” (Psalm 96:5-6)

Idols are those made-up things that get in the way of the truth that You alone are above all things. Lead me, O Lord, in the goodness of Your presence that I would now and always live according to Your Word and Your way. All splendor and majesty are Yours, O Lord, for everything You created reflects the truth of Your presence, purpose and will. Help me now and always to walk according to Your ways that I would live in the truth.

True God who is above all things, You have made Yourself known to the ages through Your Word and the Word made flesh. Lift me above the cacophony of noise that is in this age that I may see more clearly the truth that You alone are God. Keep me from the idols of this age to worship and praise You alone and above all things. You are God and greatly to be praised.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to worship the LORD with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lead me in the way I should go in this age that I would live in the truth of creation with all of my being. Help me now and always to see in You the truth of reality and the eternal way of things. Guide me, O Lord, by Your grace to live this day and everyday in the truth of Your salvation. Amen.

JESUS WELCOMED LITTLE CHILDREN
Devotional for October 7, 2018 based upon Mark 10: 13-16

The Gospel writer Mark tells us, “People were bringing little children to (Jesus) in order that He might touch them” (10: 13), but the disciples spoke sternly to them. In contrast to the attitude of the disciples, Jesus welcomed little children. I can think of at least three reasons why.

First, JESUS WELCOMED LITTLE CHILDREN IN ORDER TO SHOW THEIR GREAT WORTH. The disciples were trying to keep people from bringing their children to Jesus. They may have resented this imposition upon the Master’s time and energy. They may have made the tragic mistake of believing that the needs of children are not very important. Which is amazing when you remember that just a few days before Jesus had told them how important it is to welcome children. In the previous chapter – in response to their arguing over who was the greatest – Jesus had taken a little child and said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.” (9: 37) The way we treat children is the way we treat God.

But here the disciples were acting as if they neither heard nor remembered anything of what Jesus had said. Mark tells us that when Jesus saw the disciples’ attempts to keep children away, He was indignant. It displeases Jesus very much whenever we stand in the way of children coming to Jesus, for children are very important to Jesus. And so I believe that this story is telling us that whether or not we are parents or grandparents or great grandparents, and whether or not our own children or grandchildren or great grandchildren attend the church that we attend, all of us need to be investing time and energy in making sure that our church has ministry for children. We need to be a part of letting children know that we love them and how much God loves them.

Second, JESUS WELCOMED LITTLE CHILDREN IN ORDER TO BLESS THEM. It was very common in Jesus’ day for parents to bring their children to a godly rabbi and ask him to bless them. With the teaching and miracle ministry of Jesus, it was no doubt an exciting prospect for parents to have their children blessed by the Master.

Christian counselors agree on the importance of receiving your parents’ blessing. Christian author and psychologist Gary Smalley speaks of two kinds of people – blessed people and unblessed people. He tells of the good things that happen to people who have received their parents’ blessing and the bad things that happen to people who have not. No wonder Esau became so upset when he realized that his brother Jacob had tricked their father Isaac into giving him the blessing.

Third, JESUS WELCOMED LITTLE CHILDREN IN ORDER TO TEACH ABOUT SALVATION. A Christian organization that works with children estimates that 85% of Christians come to faith in Jesus before the age of 21. This is a staggering statistic. And many of those who come to faith in Jesus later in life do so as a result of seeds that were sown during their childhood. What childlike – not childish but childlike – characteristics did Jesus have in mind when He said, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it”? (10: 15) I can think of three.

First, HUMILITY. I believe that it is no coincidence that Luke records this incident of Jesus and the children right after the story of the Pharisee and the sinner. The Pharisee was self-righteous, so therefore not at all righteous in the sight of God. The sinner humbly confessed his condition to God, so Jesus said that he was forgiven.

Second, children possess a simplicity of FAITH. They have a wonderful ability to trust and then to act on that trust. But those of us who are older have been lied to and manipulated and taken advantage of and taken for granted so many times that we have developed a tendency to doubt and be cynical and skeptical.

Third, children are WILLING TO RECEIVE A GIFT without suspecting that there may be strings attached. In contrast, adults do not want to be beholden to anyone. Adults do not believe that there really is such a thing as a free lunch – there really is such a thing as a “something for nothing” gift.

Parents were bringing little children to Jesus in order that He might touch them. This morning Jesus wants you to come to Him in order that He might be able to touch your life. Will you come to Him in humility and with a simple, child-like faith? Will you come and receive His love, forgiveness, and grace?

Dennis D. Nelson
Director of Lutheran CORE