“The strength of the King loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” (Psalm 99:4-5)

The Lord is not as we are able to imagine. His justice is perfect and the world, which is not just, cannot fathom a perfect and just God. Holy is He; so holy that we are unable to begin to fathom His holiness and goodness. Yet, though He is beyond our ability to grasp, He has made Himself known through His Son that we may come to Him and be in His presence. He has provided the way for us to walk with Him.

Lord, Your way is too good for me. You are too great for me to stand in Your presence and yet You have invited me to walk in the light of Your grace to be with You in eternity. Far above my ability to comprehend, You have done these things. Lead me, O Lord, by Your Spirit to walk now and always in the light of Your countenance that I may be in Your presence forever.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, many do not understand Your presence in this world. They do not know that You are He of whom the prophets foretold. Even Your presence in this world is more than I am able to understand. Guide me in humility to walk with You wherever You lead that I may abide in You and You in me all the days of my life. Lead me, Lord Jesus, by Your grace. Amen.

“The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.” (Psalm 99:1-2)

The most powerful One of all eternity is treated as nothing by many. Great is He and greatly to be praised. Those who know this are blessed. He is Sovereign though the nations pretend otherwise. Come to the Lord and see the truth of the ages. See that He is good, mighty and worthy of all honor. Come into His presence and abide now and forever in His goodness.

Lord, I get caught up in the anxiety of this age and live life with You as a side note. Help me to shake off the fog and live in the truth that You are God and there is no other. Lead me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy that I may now and always live a life that is one of praise of You for the good things You have created. Lead me in the way I should go that I may dwell in Zion.

Lord Jesus, You have come to rescue the weak and lowly and lift us to the place where we may abide in the Father’s presence forever. In Your grace, lead me, O Lord, that I may now and always live into the life to which You have called me. You are great and worthy of all honor. You have accomplished for those who dwell in Zion the way of life and liberty from this age of sin. Amen.

“Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 98:7-8)

The earth is filled with its own rhythm. The Lord reflects who He is through what He has made. Look around and see all that the Lord has made and know that it has its own rhythm which He has implanted in it. Be guided by the Lord and His goodness and know that in Him alone is the only eternal hope. He is righteous and will guide those who come to Him in His righteousness.

Lord, open my eyes to see Your goodness and mercy. Open my eyes to see the beauty of all that You have created. Guide me according to Your goodness to walk in the way that I have been created to walk. Clear my eyes that I may see more clearly and do those things which You have given me to do. May I be guided by Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, You are the example of One who walked in the Father’s will. By Your example and Your leading, guide me today and every day to walk as I should walk in this creation of Yours. Lead me in the upward path of becoming like You that I may see and understand how I fit into Your creation. Raise me up to become like You, a willing and obedient child of the Heavenly Father. Amen.

“Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.” (Psalm 98:5-6)

Music is a language the Lord has given that all can speak. Do you make music for the Lord? Is the rhythm of your life such that it is a pleasing song to the Lord? Seek the way of the Lord and live in harmony with His will and way. Come then and be whom the Lord created you to be that you may live into the life to which you have been called, knowing that in Him is a life to come that cannot even be yet imagined.

Lord, I hear the words and sometimes even hear the music, but find that I have been born without the rhythm. Teach me to sing a new song. Teach me to live a live that is in harmony with You. Teach me to grow in the abilities You have given me that my life would become the song You created it to be, a song of praise to You whose work alone endures forever.

Holy Spirit, teacher of joy, guide my heart to be lifted up that I may now and always play the music of heaven. Teach me to be the instrument of Your love in this world. Guide me according to the Father’s will that I would now and always live as I have been created to live. Lift me into the upward path to do those things which are right and fitting as one becoming a child of the Heavenly Father. Amen.

“He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.” (Psalm 98:3-4)

For those who know that the Lord prevails, He grants mercy and grace. Though your sins be as scarlet, yet will He grant His presence that you may know His purpose. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His love endures forever. Know that in Him are life and liberty and the ability to walk through this crazy age of rebellion with godly purpose and, in His power, blessed assurance.

Lord, keep my eyes lifted up that I may now and always abide in Your presence. Grant that I may be aware of all that is around me through the eyes of faith. Lead me to live according to Your purposes knowing that Your grace alone enables me to walk humbly in Your presence. Lift my heart to give You thanks and praise in all circumstances knowing that You alone are worthy of praise.

Thank You Lord for the gift of Your presence in my life. Keep me on the narrow way that I would now and always walk straight, knowing that I am in Your presence. Help me to live through the difficulties that come and abide in Your comforting arms of mercy. Guide me this day to do what is pleasing in Your sight. May I live a life of praise of You who alone is able to do all things. Amen.

“O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:1-2)

The Lord does not deal in wishful thinking, but knows what will happen. Salvation has been assured. Not will be, but is assured. Come to the One who knows all things and know the goodness of His grace and mercy. Know that it is He who has made all things and holds you in His hands. He is mighty to save and will guide you all the days of your life.

Lord, when the world seems so troubled and I hear those who hate You yell and rant, help me hear clearly through the noise of this world Your clear and simple voice that says, “It is all in my hands.” Lift me up with You to walk humbly in Your presence that I may now and always praise You for the mighty things You have done. Guide me, O Lord, to walk in Your ways now and always.

Lord Jesus, You have made the way of salvation possible – not only possible, but assured. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to walk that I would proceed humbly in Your sight. Lead me according to Your purposes to give praise and thanksgiving for the gift of life, salvation and the eternal hope that You alone provide. Lead me this day to learn from You the way I should walk. Amen.

“Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name.” (Psalm 97:11-12)

Christ is the light of the world. Christ in you is light that is like a seed that grows. He will grow in you His likeness. Those who are in Christ, or should we say, Christ in them, are the righteous ones who give thanks for His holy name. Come then into the salvation prepared beforehand for those who walk humbly before the Lord and live according to His never-changing Word.

Lord, You have called me to the salvation You have prepared before the foundation of the world. Guide me according to Your purposes to walk with You, the One who sees all things, to walk in the light You have revealed. May I grow in the likeness of Christ and see in Him the goodness You have intended from the beginning. Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go now and always.

Lord Jesus, You have made possible the salvation for all who believe. You are the light that shines in the darkness. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to walk that I would now and always let Your light shine through me. You have called me through Your promises to be one of the children of the Father. Guide me, O Lord, that I may finish the course You have set before me. Amen.

“For You are the Lord Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Hate evil, you who love the Lord, who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:9-10)

Evil is anything against the Lord. Love the Lord above all things and rejoice in His goodness. Do not be deceived by evil, abhor it and flee from that which is not of the Lord. Be guided by His word. The Lord preserves the souls of the godly ones and those who turn to Him become as He is, good and filled with His love. The wicked will perish, but He will preserve the godly.

Lord, I am sometimes mixed up and there is both good and evil in me. Guide me, O Lord, that I may now and always walk in Your ways. Remove from me any rebellion that is in my heart. Lead me, O Lord, each day to walk in Your ways and flee from the hands of the wicked. You know those who are Yours. Keep me close to You always.

Holy Spirit, guide me so that I neither think more nor less of myself that what You would have me think. In this world which is mixed up, help me to navigate through it to do those things which are pleasing to the Father. Help me now and always to seek Your guidance and to be led by You alone who knows my coming in and going out and what needs to happen. May I serve with Your leading always. Amen.

“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