“Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies, the hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.  The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan.  I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;” (Psalm 68:21-22)

Throughout the ages, there have been times of captivity. The Lord allows, for His purposes, things to happen that do not make sense to us. The Lord, in time, will bring back those who are His that they may know He is God. There is no place anyone can go where the Lord does not see and whose hand is not present. No matter the circumstance, know that the Lord is Sovereign.

Heavenly Father, You are there, my mind knows this, but sometimes I do not feel Your presence or remember Your promises. Guide me away from these thoughts and into reality that even if I am in a time of difficulty, I never feel abandoned by You. Though the world leave me behind, You are always there. Help me see in You alone the goodness, hope and eternity You promise.

Thank You, Jesus, for walking in the wilderness alone for forty days to break the bonds of captivity. Thank You for hanging on the cross to break the bonds of death. You know adversity and have paid the price that we might know, now and forever, that You are with us and for us. Lead me, Lord, ever deeper into the mystery of faith that I may always abide in You.  Amen.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.”  (Psalm 68:19-20)

We think it is our work that does all that is needed.  The farmer plants the seed, but God causes it to grow.  Look beyond and see that the Lord causes all things to thrive, grow and live.  It is the Lord who daily carries the burden; and we are given the opportunity to praise Him.  God offers deliverance to all who come to Him that they may live, prosper and have their being.  Come to the Lord.

Lord, I am busy with what I do, and think that I am the one who builds, creates and does these things.  Remove far from me the thinking that depends upon myself that I would look to You who carries the burden that we all may live.  You are the God who causes all things to be and creates the possibility for life and all prosperity.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way into the true life which You have created.  Guide me in the way of life that is eternal and help me walk in Your ways.  Keep me from the arrogance of self-sufficiency that I may know that it is You who causes all things to work the way they do, knowing that all things will work together for good for those who love You.  Lead me today, O Lord.  Amen.

“The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there.”  (Psalm 68:17-18)

The Lord God has always been about His business and the ways of the wicked one are forever thwarted. Though the battle rages, the war is over. Each generation is offered the opportunity to come into the presence of the Lord, taste His goodness and see, and even from among those who rebel, there are those to whom the Lord grants grace. The Lord gives gifts to those who come to Him.

Lord, in so many ways, life is so simple. You offer grace that we may walk in peace. You give gifts to those who love You. You provide amply for all. You desire that we would abide in You as You abide in us. Take me away from the insanity of this world and let me see clearly Your goodness that I may walk in Your ways and uphold Your statutes wherever I am at all times.

Lord Jesus, humbly You have come bearing the gift of salvation for all who believe. Lead me, O Lord, into the way of goodness that has forever been established. Guide me ever closer to Your ways that I would walk in them. Help me now and always to simply abide in You as You abide in me that I would live in the eternal freedom which is mine by Your grace, purchased by You on the cross. Amen.

WE ARE LIVING IN A WAR ZONE

Devotional for January 28, 2018 based upon Mark 1: 21-28

A question I have been asked several times is, Why is there so much demonization in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels, when we do not hear much about it in the Old Testament, in Church history, and in the world today?  I respond by saying two things.  First, there are many accounts of demonization and spiritual deliverance in Church history and in the Church today.  For example, the Lutheran church in Madagascar even has a recognized office of exorcist.  And I remember talking with a former missionary, who later was on national ELCA church staff, who said, “Nothing in my seminary training prepared me for the spiritual reality that I ran into once I arrived on the mission field.”

Second, to me it only makes sense that Calvary – and the ministry of Jesus leading up to Calvary – would be the most demonized place and time in all of human history.  For Satan knew that this was going to be the great do or die battle.  If I lose here, I lose everywhere.  I make it here, or I will not make it anywhere.  The eternal destiny of millions hangs in the balance.  Satan has one chance to prevent his own destruction.  So he gathers and uses all the forces he can muster to try and stop Jesus here.  Because he knows that if he cannot stop Jesus here, he will not be able to stop Jesus anywhere.

I think of the opening to the movie, “Saving Private Ryan.”  The depiction of D-Day near the beginning is one of the most powerful portrayals of war that I have ever seen.  For a full twenty-four minutes the film graphically portrays thousands of soldiers storming Normandy Beach.  This was the great do or die battle, upon which hung the future of Europe if not the whole world.  If the Allies are not able to stop the Nazis here, they might not be able to stop the Nazis anywhere.

On D-Day – June 6, 1944 – the Allied powers risk it all, not knowing whether they would win.  Today we know the Allies won.  And today we also know that Jesus won.  Through His death and resurrection Jesus has already won the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil.

But, in the meantime, we are living in a war zone.  We have an enemy whose henchman said to Jesus, in our Gospel lesson for January 28, “What have You to do with us?  Have You come to destroy us?  I know who You are, the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1: 24)  We have an enemy who hates us.  Who knows he has nothing more to lose because he has already lost it all.  Who would like nothing better than to get back at God by getting at us.  Who knows he is going down and who would like to take as many of us with him as he can as he is going down.

But we should not be so focused on Satan and what he can do to us that we allow ourselves to become intimidated.  Instead, we need to focus on the victory of Jesus and on the spiritual resources we have in Jesus so that we can meet the attacks of the enemy.

The great spiritual D-Day landing has already occurred.  The powers of God have already obtained a foothold on the beaches of the enemy.  The great turning point spiritual battle has already been fought and won by Jesus through the cross and empty tomb.  So the apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, portrays Jesus as like a returning, conquering Roman general.  “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, having triumphed over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2: 15)  Victory comes through Jesus and relationship with Jesus.

The Gospel writer Luke gives us a very interesting glimpse into the process that many go through as they learn about their spiritual authority over Satan.  In Luke 10 Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to practice what they had been learning.  When they return, they express their great amazement. “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your Name!” (verse 17)  “Jesus, we never expected that what You said would happen would actually happen!”  Jesus replies, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” (verse 18)  “Your ministry has behind it all the authority of the Kingdom of God.”  And then, to make it even more explicit, He said to them – and He says to us – “See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.  Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (verses 19-20)  What you have experienced has not made you into some sort of special group of super-privileged, super-gifted disciples.  Rather it is your being a child of God – and it is only your being a child of God – that gives you this spiritual authority.

It is not our giftedness, holiness, amount of training, or level of understanding, but being a child of God that gives us spiritual authority.

Whether we like it or not, we are living in a war zone between D-Day, the decisive turning point battle, and the end of the war.  We are living in territory still occupied by the enemy, who knows that he has been defeated and who hates the one who defeated him.

Whether we like it or not, we are at war.  The question is whether at the end of our lives we will be able to say with the apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight.” (2 Timothy 4: 7)  I have been strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  I put on the whole armor of God.  I took my stand against the schemes of the devil.

Dennis D. Nelson

President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.  Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain which God has desired for His abode?  Surely the Lord will dwell there forever.”  (Psalm 68:15-16)

Did you catch this?  Every mountain is the Lord’s.  Why do you worry about special places, they all belong to the Lord.  Why do you worry about special times, all time belongs to the Lord.  The Lord has come into our midst and calls us to abide with Him.  When He lifts us up to abide with Him, we are the mountain of Bashan, for the word means to be fruitful and those who are in the Lord are fruitful.

Lord, You have spoken time and again about growing in truth and about bearing fruit.  You have mentioned the goodness of Your law and having it grow in us.  Lead me to see the good things You are growing in me that I would become one of Your mountains where You dwell.  Guide me in Your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in them.  Open my heart to truth that I would hold fast to it.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who will lead me up every mountainside and along every stream.  Guide me according to Your purposes to see in You the hope of glory and the goodness You have given by Your grace.  Help me now and always to be guided by Your will and way that I may be a high dwelling place now and always.  Thank You, Jesus, for giving grace.  Amen.

“When you lie down among the sheepfolds, You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and its pinions with glistening gold.  When the Almighty scattered the kings there, it was snowing in Zalmon.”  (Psalm 68:13-14)

Events in history remind us of the mighty fall.  We are like sheep and lie down in a particular fold and regardless of where we are, we are under the eye of the King of all kings.  The Almighty does scatter the proud and boastful.  He humbles those who ravage His sheep.  The Lord knows the coming and going of all and it is in His hands.  Come then into the presence of the King.

Lord, I see it in history when the mighty tyrants seem to have everything under their dominion but they come to naught.  Guide me to always keep the perspective of truth where I see how these mad things spoken and done in the moment amount to nothing.  Keep me from being caught up in the ongoing insanity of this world knowing that all things are in Your hands, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, how sad it must have been for You to have looked at the proud and arrogant as they threatened You.  You through whom all things have their being looked into the eyes of those who hated You and threatened You and You met them with love.  Guide me in Your ways, O Lord, that I would walk in the love You teach me, knowing that all things always have been in Your hands.  Amen.

“The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host: “Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home will divide the spoil!”  (Psalm 68:11-12)

The Lord is in control.  The Lord will not be thwarted.  For a time, the enemies of the Lord may seem to prevail, but their days are numbered.  The Lord creates all days, they are His and He will bless whom He will bless.  The one who remains in the House of the Lord will be forever blessed.  Come then into the Lord’s protection and rest in the One who is Lord and King.

Lord, this world is in constant turmoil.  I see so many things and hear so many more about this and that.  The world tries to convince me that You have no power.  For a time they seem to prevail, but I know their day is coming with wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Help me, O Lord, to remain in Your house and hold true to what You have taught me.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I should go today and every day.

Lord Jesus, you are the King who has come and conquered death.  I am the woman who divides the spoil.  Your enemies flee before You.  In this world I do not see this as Your enemies rail all around.  Bring my eyes to see and my ears to hear the simple truth that You are King of kings and that all things are in Your hands, including me.  Lead me today, O Lord, to follow where You lead.  Amen.

“You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched.  Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.”  (Psalm 68:9-10)

Think for a moment on the reality of this world.  In spite of all that man does to man, humanity has been fed, blessed and cared for.  Throughout history all that is needed has been provided.  The widow and the orphan are provided for.  The hungry are fed.  The Lord provides, but we must work by the sweat of our brow.  He brings the rain in due season and the fields are refreshed.

I listen to those who say otherwise, and I believe their report.  Lead me back to the simple truth that You provide what is needed in due season.  I have little to complain about Lord, for You provide for all of those in need.  Guide me into a frame of mind that simply sees the goodness You have provided for all with the seasons unfolding as You have planned that we may praise You.

Lord Jesus, teach me to praise You in season and out of season.  Guide me in the way I should go and empower my feet to walk in that way.  Lead me by the example You have given to walk as You walked and to live as You would have me live.  In all things, help me to be thankful and know that in You alone is the hope of all people, for You alone modeled the way we need to go.  Amen.

“O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness.  The earth quaked; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”  (Psalm 68:7-8)

As it was then it still is now.  The Lord goes before His people.  The Lord provides what is needed.  As it was then it is still now.  There are times of adversity and times when things are not going as we would like.  The Lord still goes before us, for all that is needed is provided.  Walk then in the way of the Lord and be content, for the Lord your God goes before you.

Lord, I have bought into the soft soap about things going well if You love me.  Lead me to the place where I know, at all times and in all places, You are there with me, in front of me and preparing the way before me.  Guide me in the way of goodness that I would now and always abide in the way You have set before me knowing that all You do ends to the good.

Lord Jesus, You had the way prepared before You prepared the way before me.  Guide me in the goodness and grace You provide that I would walk according to the way You have established.  Lead me in the righteousness You give that in You, and only in You, would I walk this day and every day.  You are the Lord of my salvation and the only One that knows what is needed.  Amen.

“A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.  God makes a home for the lonely; he leads out the prisoners into prosperity, only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”  (Psalm 68:5-6)

This world makes much ado about nothing.  Do not be politically correct, but be corrected by the One who knows all things and walk in the way of His prosperity.  Do not gain things in this world, but build up the eternal ways of the Lord in your heart that you may know the bounty of the Lord which is available to all.  Come then into His presence and do not be thirsty, but filled with His goodness.

Lord, I get caught up in wanting to be like this world.  Help me shed such desires that I may walk humbly before You,my God and Savior.  Lead me through the desert paths of this world and their false mirages to see clearly the goodness that is right before me.  Lead me in the way of eternal prosperity that I may abide in the richness of Your love.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead us in the narrow way of true wealth, which is abiding in You now and forever.  Humble my heart that I may see the goodness that comes by Your  grace and live into the everlasting life You have made possible for all who believe.  Lead me, O Lord, and give me a heart that will follow You alone through all that will come until we meet face to face.  Amen.