“Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; You have given the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.” (Psalm 71:4-5)

Where is your point of anchor? Do you listen to the constant hammering of daily news? Do you fall into novels, movies, entertainment? Is your passion filled with sports or hobbies? What do you lean on in times of trouble? The Lord is the greatest friend to those who seek Him. He is always there and He alone will never leave nor forsake you. Come to the Lord, your anchor, and be secure.

Lord, I am comforted by many things in this life. They are good as far as they go but they never satisfy. Guide me, O Lord, to walk in Your ways and be comforted by You as the ultimate source to whom I turn. Lead me in Your ways that I would walk in them. Remind me in times of confusion and distraction that You are always there. You are the rock for all who turn to You.

Lord Jesus, turning us to eternity and the blessed assurance of it is why You have come into this world. Guide me this day in the truth of salvation, not only saving me from sin and death, but from meaningless nothingness which fills our days with activity that has no eternal meaning. Lead me in the way You have established that I may go as You lead and live as You have always intended. Amen.

“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!” (Psalm 71:1-2)

When all is said and done, where do you rest? Where is your place of beginning and ending? We find distractions to keep us busy, but we seldom think of where we begin and where we end. The Lord is the beginning and the ending. In Him is the source and result; we do well to realize this and make Him our beginning and end and then everything else will fall into place and be balanced.

Lord, I am so distracted by the constant noise and activities of this world. Often I just go through my days going from one thing to another. Help me, I pray, to learn to prioritize, not with a list of things, but with the reality that I have come into this world and will leave this world and the beginning and the end are equally important. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go always.

Lord Jesus, You came with a specific mission to call all who would come unto You to follow You as You lead us from our beginning into Your eternity. Not so much finding out what to do as to whom to rest in, guide me always to look to You as the author and finisher of my faith. Lead me now and always to go through life with Your purpose as the purpose of my heart for all things. Amen.

“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:4-5)

The salvation of the Lord is trusting that God is the Lord, and that this world shall not succeed in its rebellion against the Lord. Turn to the Lord, you who are in need, and He will satisfy. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is the help and deliverer of all who turn to Him. He will provide the way through this life of difficulty and show You His ways that you may walk in them.

Lord, You know what is needed, and all of the pitfalls that get in the way. You know what I need and allow all things for Your purpose. Guide me, O Lord, to learn from You faithfulness and the way I need to go. Help me in every time of need to look to You, for You alone are able to deliver me from the snares of the wicked. Guide me in Your ways, O Lord, that I may delight in them.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being out front and fighting the good fight to enable all by grace to follow You where we need to go. Teach me how to delight in the goodness of the faith You have given that I may forever hold fast to the truth You have revealed. Lead me in the way of Your righteousness and teach me how to live in this way. Keep me close to You, O Lord, now and forever. Amen.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

We’ve all seen it: a young athlete, less talented than some of his peers and rarely playing on the field or court, nevertheless devotes himself to grueling discipline and practice.  Why does he do it?  Perhaps he does so for the sheer joy of it, or because he wants the camaraderie of a team.

In the Church, we know that we are less equipped than our Savior to endure tests of faith.  Only one man remained steadfast; only one received the crown of life.  Yet now He has promised to share that victory with us.  Indeed, He even promises that whoever becomes like Him in His death (no worldly success there!) will become like Him also in His resurrection.

So why wouldn’t we, assured of His victory for our sake, not endure great hardship and discipline for the sake of this Man?  Why wouldn’t we, like less talented but aspiring athletes, take up the rigor of Christian way for the sheer joy of it, as friends and comrades of our Lord?

LET US PRAY: Grant me, O Lord, the patience to endure in faith whatever test I must face, not looking to my own strength of will or mind, but only to Your suffering and merit.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” (Psalm 70:1-3)

I once pondered who wanted to take my life. The world around me wants me to reject You, Lord, and go along to get along. The world tugs for me to live its way and not the way of Your Word. Lord, make haste to deliver me from the snares of this world that I may live only for You and the good works You have ordained for me to do. Let me not shame nor be shamed, but live in Your goodness.

You know the difficulty of this world filled with sin. You have watched as wickedness battles for the souls of those whom You call. You have purpose in everything, but You, O Lord, have sent Your salvation that, in spite of the world which seeks to kill, lifts up those who turn to You. Guide my heart by Your Spirit that I would forever hold fast to the truth of Your Word.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for walking in this world of confusion and leading the way through it, providing grace to all who turn to You. Lift us up, and bind our hearts and protect them from the wiles of a world gone mad. Set my course in front of me and then guide me to walk the way You have established that I may learn from You how to faithfully endure all adversity. Amen.

“The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell in it.” (Psalm 69:36)

Look over history and you will see amidst the turmoil of the ages the blessings God has given that people would live better lives. We have been blessed in spite all the wickedness that seeks to have us do otherwise. Look to the promises of the Lord and see that He has been good to all for the sake of those who love His name. Live for the Lord and for the goodness He is and gives.

Lord, I get caught up in my own personal struggles and do not see Your hand clearly at work amidst the people. Guide my heart to see in You the goodness You give and live according to Your never failing promises of grace and mercy. Help me see in You the hope of the ages and live into the promises You give. Help me learn faithfulness from You.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who came to save. Lead me O Lord in the way of salvation which You have established. Let me be among those who will inherit Your Kingdom. Teach me love as You love. Bring my heart to dwell in the riches of Your grace and mercy. May I be found in You all the days of my life. May I do what I do to the praise and glory of the Father now and forever.  Amen.

“Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.” (Psalm 69:34-35)

Are you one who praises God in all circumstances? God is not a conditional Lord. He does not give just in some seasons and withhold in others. He who causes the sun to shine on the righteous and the unjust is worthy of all honor and praise. Learn to praise the Lord as one who resides in Zion. Praise the Lord in every season and taste and see that the Lord is good.

Lord, in my sinfulness I do judge unjustly and want things to be the way I want them to be. I withhold my praise and do not praise You in every season. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly with You and praise You with each sunrise and each sunset for You are the One who has given life and called me to walk with You. Guide me in the way I should go and then lead me by Your Spirit.

Lord Jesus, You who have given the very Spirit that guides me, take me away from the way this world thinks to learn from You how to think as Your new creation. Guide me in Your goodness to come to the place where I know that all things are working together according to the Father’s will. Help me now and always to look to You in, through and for all things, knowing You are good and gracious to those who love You. Amen.

“The humble have seen it and are glad; you who seek God, let your heart revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His who are prisoners.” (Psalm 69:32-33)

Over and over again, Scripture calls for us to be humble. Humility is not self-effacing, but standing fully in the truth. The truth is that God loves everyone without partiality. We all have sinned and therefor are not exempt from the frustrations others have because of our sins. Come to the Lord humbly and know that He who hears you will have mercy and grace upon you.

Lord, there are many things I need to learn. I have been guilty, perhaps not by intention, but in the breaking of the law. But I desire Your mercy and compassion to lift me out of the pit of despair that sin brings upon the world. Free me from the prison of sin to live humbly with You all the days of my life. Guide me in Your goodness to know Your grace and mercy as I walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set the captives free. You have come to lead us into humility to stand with You, the Truth, and walk where You lead. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of all ages and to know Your goodness. Help me learn to practice all that You teach me that I would live as You lived upon the earth and minister to others as You have ministered to me. Amen.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
Devotional for February 25, 2018 based upon Mark 8: 31-38

A soldier was digging in during a battle as the shells were flying all around him. Suddenly his hand felt something small and metallic. He grabbed it. It was a silver cross. Another shell exploded, as he buried his head in his arms. Then he felt someone jump into the foxhole next to him. He looked over and saw that it was the army chaplain. The soldier thrust the cross into the chaplain’s face and said, “I sure am glad to see you. How do you work this thing?”

In response to our Bible passage for the second Sunday in Lent, where Jesus talks about denying ourselves and taking up our cross and following Him, many people would ask the same question, “How do you work this thing?”

The disciple Peter did not know how to work this thing or deal with the cross. Here he was, at Caesarea Philippi, in the northern part of Israel, in a place where Caesar was considered to be God. Here he makes his bold confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. But Peter did not like it when Jesus then said that He was going to be going to the cross. So Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. “No, Lord, that is not the way it should happen for You.”

Peter wanted the Kingdom to come by force. Let’s all rise up and get rid of the hated Romans. But Jesus said it is not going to happen that way. “The reign of God will come only as I undergo great suffering. Only as I am rejected, killed, and after three days rise. Only as I go the way of the cross.”

Then Jesus said that those who want to follow Him must also go the way of the cross. Our faith is based upon and is centered in the cross.

Jesus did not say, “Grab hold of a cross to provide protection” – as against vampires. Nor did He say, “Wear a cross as a piece of jewelry.” Instead He said, “Take up your cross.” Which means we have a choice. Jesus had a choice as to whether He was going to pick up and bear His cross. He could have said No. And we also have a choice as to whether we will pick up and bear our cross. We can say No.

What does it mean to bear your cross? Let’s first consider what it does not mean. When facing difficult circumstances, some people say, “I guess that’s the cross I have to bear.” They say it with a poor-me kind of attitude. But that’s not bearing your cross. When talking about bearing a cross in that way, they are talking about circumstances and situations that, if given a choice, they would not choose. But bearing a cross is voluntary. Bearing a cross is not making the best of a bad situation. Rather it is something you willingly choose to do.

The cross is The Symbol of the Christian faith. And so Jesus said, “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me.” But it is not easy for us to deny ourselves.

Two young brothers came downstairs for breakfast one Saturday morning. Their mother was making pancakes. She started to pull the first pancake off the griddle when the boys began arguing over who would get the first pancake. Their mother wanted to make the moment into a teaching moment, and so she said, “Now boys, what would Jesus say if He were here?” They stopped, looked confused, and then their mother told them, “Jesus would say, ‘Dear brother, you can have the first pancake; I am willing to wait.’” The older brother looked at the younger brother and then said, “Hey, John, you be Jesus.”

It’s not easy for us to deny ourselves. We all want the first pancake. We all have our own personal desires. But Jesus is clear that if we choose to follow Him, we must deny ourselves.

Which means that we will not always be able to do what we want and/or get what we want. We will not always be able to follow our own natural, human tendencies. We will have tough decisions we will need to make in light of what Jesus would do. But does that mean that we will be deprived of all joy and happiness? No, we will find joy and happiness through following Jesus.

But Jesus did not just say, “Deny yourself.” He also said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

The old spiritual asks, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Some would say, “No, I was not there. It happened in the past, and I had nothing to do with it. It was an awful act committed by others. I refuse to feel guilty for something I did not do.”

If that is the position we take, then we are missing the whole point of Jesus’ words when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Jesus does not simply want us to remember His cross as something He suffered on our behalf. If that’s all He wanted, then He would have said, “Take up MY cross and follow Me.” Instead He said, “Take up YOUR cross and follow Me.” We are to so identify with His death on the cross that we see ourselves in the story. It is not simply His story. It is our story as well. The cross is not simply a burden to carry. Rather it is a place to die. In taking up our cross we must die to selfishness and sin so that Jesus can raise us up to new life.

As we continue our Lenten journey we can refuse to take up the cross and then live our lives without following Jesus. Or we can take up our cross and be transformed as we live for Someone who loves us more than we can ever imagine. I urge you, Take up your cross and follow Jesus.

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

“I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the Lord better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs.” (Psalm 69:30-31)

Praise the Lord in all circumstances and at all times. Do not look to yourself or your neighbor, but to the One who created all things. In Him alone is there hope and a future. In Him is the promise of the ages.  Turn to the Lord and discover why He has made you to be whom you are and who you will be. The sacrifice of your life is better than all else you can do. Turn to the Lord.

Lord, I want to be in control of my life, but I am not. I want to be the one who directs my days, but I cannot. This age is filled with conflicts and I cannot navigate through them. You alone know what the ages will bring. You alone know how to walk through this life, for you know where it is going and how it will end. Guide me to trust in Your leading that I would walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way. Sins are forgiven and the eternal healing is promised to all who walk humbly with You. Lead me this day and every day to walk where You lead knowing that only in You can I find the way to the eternal home You have promised. May I learn faithfulness from You and walk with You throughout this day, knowing that You alone are faithful. Amen.