Saturday, December 16, 2017 Devotion

‘How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?  They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse.”  (Psalm 62:3-4)

Be not like the ones who outwardly show a seeming conformity to the ways of God, but inwardly are as far away from Him as the ones who outwardly deny the Lord.  Do not be led by the way of man, for it goes nowhere, but be led by the truth of the Lord, for He is truth.  In Him is life, for He is the creator of life.  Seek His counsel and learn the ways of the Lord that you may live now and forever.

Lord, there is so much falsehood all around.  The world offers so many options, but they lead nowhere.  Guide me in Your Spirit to see the truth You are and have revealed for those who seek after You.  Let me inwardly praise You and seek to live my life according to Your eternal principles.  Help me, O Lord, to live the way You would have me live now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save all those who through You, turning to You and following You, seek the true life.  You are life.  You are the way and apart from You no one can go where You lead.  Help me now and always to see this simple truth and from the inside out be conformed to what You have established through faith.  Guide me today, Lord Jesus, and help me go where You would have me go.  Amen.

Friday, December 15, 2017 Devotion

“My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”  (Psalm 62:1-2)

Only in the One who made you is there hope, for it is He who set all things in their course.  The world seeks other ways to live, but apart from God there is nothing good.  He alone must be the foundation in our life, for He is the foundation of all things.  No matter what comes, those who are in the Lord are assured of the truth of His provision and promise.  He knows all that is needed.

The world tells me all kinds of things Lord and I do not know how to go forward.  Help me, I pray to see through the nonsense of this world to simply understand the truth You are and the reality that it is You who has put all things upon their course.  Guide me in the way of salvation that I would walk according to Your Word and live the way You would have me live.

Lord Jesus, You have come to model the godly life, and that through You and the death You suffered on the cross, Your people might find the way home.  Lead me closer home each day that upon You, the rock of my salvation, I would grow in the way that is pleasing to the Father.  Help me now and always to live into the life into which I have been called that I may abide in You and You in me forever.  Amen.

“A voice says, ‘Cry!’”Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9)

God always wants preachers and teachers and singers and yellers and talkers.  Even before He gave the law to Israel, He first spent a good chapter or so telling the Israelites to teach and share the law.  His most beloved king, David, authored psalms, and King Solomon wrote proverbs; he sent prophets to preach the coming gift of His Son.   Search all the religions of the earth, and you won’t find another God so in love with communicating Himself to His people.

Where there’s speech, there’s a desire for relationship—even hateful words are spoken with a desire to reach out and hurt.  Words reveal that the bond between two parties isn’t over yet; at least one is still in touch.  Wherever speech remains, the possibility of friendship remains.

So now consider what you will hear on Christmas, less than two weeks away: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).  God’s speech, the proof of His desire for you, lives.  He lives eternally, having surpassed even death.  By His life, the Church has something to speak—a good word from God!—and in the Church’s speech, Jesus lives.  Surely, then, God hasn’t given up, not on you and not on the world!

LET US PRAY: Fill all the ears of creation with Your word, O Lord, and open our lips to speak what we have heard, that all the world would know and love Your redeeming friendship; through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.  Amen

Thursday, December 14, 2017 Devotion

“He will abide before God forever; appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.  So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may pay my vows day by day.”  (Psalm 61:7-8)

Lovingkindness and truth are the two characteristics that define the life of the believer.  It is these that God will plant in the one who comes to Him humbly.  It is this likeness of Christ which is the promise God gives through grace to those who believe in Him.  The result will be singing praise, giving thanks and being the obedient child of God as Christ modeled.  This is the gift God gives for those who believe.

Lord, let me see the simplicity of the faith You offer and give for those who turn to You.  Take me beyond myself to come to the place where I simply look to You for all things.  Guide me in the grace You have given that I may abide in You as You abide in me and live in the way You created me to live.  Preserve my life according to Your purpose that I may be with You eternally.

Lord Jesus, You have modeled the godly life and called me forward through Your grace into the life of the believer.  Grow me each day into the attributes of lovingkindness and cause my heart to always pursue truth.  Lead me in the way I need to go and grant me a heart that willingly follows where You lead.  Help me through the obstacles that get in the way that I may become like You.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 Devotion

“For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.  You will prolong the king’s life; His years will be as many generations.”  (Psalm 61:5-6)

We look to our God in our desires and want from Him those things we think we need.  God provides for everyone and everything.  Will you trust in the Lord’s provision and see that all things are now and always have been in His hands.  He who made you knows what You need even before you ask.  He will lead you if you will follow.  He will guide you in all of your ways.

Lord, I often do not even know what to ask for, but You are always providing.  Turn my heart to You to see all the good things You give knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me according to Your goodness to walk humbly in Your ways, knowing that in You alone is there hope for all.  Guide me to go deeper into Your presence and Your ways now and always, knowing that You are the giver of life, faith and hope.

Lord Jesus, I need what You alone have done.  I need Your salvation and in You alone is the hope for eternity.  Guide me through the Holy Spirit to walk humbly with You wherever You lead, doing what You give me to do.  Lead me, O Lord, that I would act according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

Devotional for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 17, 2017, based upon John 1: 6-8, 19-28

“He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.”  (John 1: 8)

I have read that the Gospel writer John refers to Jesus as the light of the world no fewer than twenty-one times.  No wonder the star shone so brightly over Bethlehem.  No wonder our Christmas trees and our homes are decorated with hundreds of lights.  No wonder we light more Advent candles the closer we come to Christmas.  Light is what Christmas is all about.  Advent is a celebration of light coming into our very dark world.

When John wrote his Gospel, the world was in darkness, just like our world is in darkness today.  John wanted the world to know that a light had come that had penetrated the darkness.  Jesus is the light of the world.  That is good news for this Third Sunday in Advent.

The light of Jesus never stops shining.  Through wars and famine, through fire and flood, through all sorts of natural disasters, through good times as well as through bad, the light continues to shine.  Our parents and grandparents saw its glow in the darkest days of the depression.  Soldiers have seen it on distant battlefields.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

The darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of Christ.  It shines in hospital rooms and in funeral homes.  It shines in the midst of poverty, unemployment, hunger, despair, disease, death, and every other kind of heartache, hardship, or setback that you could ever imagine.  It shines in every one of the dark and discouraging situations that you have ever had to deal with.  Nothing can keep it from shining.

The greatest privilege in the world is to share that light with someone else.  “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” the song says.  John the Baptist was not the light, just like we are not the light.  His job was to bear witness to the light.  And that is our job as well.

The best gift to give someone who is in darkness is the gift of light.  That is our calling as followers of Jesus.  To let His light shine in us and through us.  To light up the world around us.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  That’s what each one of us needs to do this coming week – this coming Christmas season.  Let the light of Christ shine through you.

Dennis D. Nelson

President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Devotion

“For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.  Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”  (Psalm 61:3-4)

Have you noticed how every circumstance is resolved.  Perhaps not to your liking, but the Lord is constantly teaching us through every circumstance.  He will lead you wherever you need to go and He is more than faithful.  Trust in the Lord in all of your ways and lean on the understanding He gives through His Word.  He is the refuge for every weary soul and will keep you under His wings.

Lord, let me not wander into fields of danger, but in spite of the danger all around, lean upon You.  Guide me in the wisdom You have revealed for the ages and help me see in You the hope of glory.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk in Your ways and be guided by Your Spirit to become Your child according to the promise of Christ.  Lead me, O Lord, while I am in the presence of every enemy.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for as many as believe.  Help me now and always to be guided by Your eternal principles to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Father.  Now and always may I look to You as the author and finisher of my faith, knowing that only in You and through Your grace can I ever be sanctified and become what has always been intended.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always.  Amen.

Monday, December 11, 2017 Devotion

“Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  (Psalm 61:1-2)

This life is filled with difficulty, trials and travail.  We each reach the end of ourselves and in those moments of lament cry out.  The Lord knows what we shall say and do.  The Lord knows what we think.  In Him is the only refuge there is.  In Him alone is the hope of all ages.  Come into the presence of the Lord and know the comfort of the One who made all things.

Lord in You alone can we hope.  Come and meddle in my life.  No, take my life that I may be wholly thine and as You made me to be.  Guide me in the eternal wisdom of the ages You have revealed that in You I may find all I need to persevere in this age of rebellion.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that in You my hope and my life would unfold.  Lead me to the rock of my salvation.

Rock of salvation, Jesus, the Ebenezer of us all, grant that in every time of trouble I would stand on You, the rock of my salvation.  Keep me from the wiles of the wicked one and help me see more clearly that You have come to lead us through the fog of this age to become like You, the willing, obedient child of the Heavenly Father.  In every place and time, may I be found in You Jesus.  Amen.

Sunday, December 10, 2017 Devotion

“Have not You Yourself, O God, rejected us?  And will You not go forth with our armies, O God?  O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain.  Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries.”  (Psalm 60:10-12)

The nations of this world toil against one another.  Men dream dreams of unity through conquest, forcing peoples to join where there can be no unity.  You have established the peace that surpasses all understanding.  You have come to eternally deliver all who turn to You from wickedness to walk in the ways that have always been.  You alone can save, and have saved, the people from their self-destruction.

Lord, I know these words and they are soothing, but in times of trouble it seems little comfort.  Lead my mind to begin to grasp the significance that it is You who is working through all things for Your glory.  Guide me away from the way the world thinks to begin to see Your hand in all things.  Lead me, O Lord, in Your ways that I may be delivered from the vanity of this world.

Lord Jesus, You have come to liberate all the captives from sin, death and the devil.  Guide me this day, O Lord, in the way You would have me go.  Help me overcome the obstacles that will get in the way and lift me up from the pit of despair.  Only through You can we walk in the way of salvation which You have established and which shall last forever.  Help me this day, my Savior.  Amen.

Saturday, December 9, 2017 Devotion

“Moab is My washbowl; over Edom I shall throw My shoe; shout loud, O Philistia, because of Me!”  Who will bring me into the besieged city?  Who will lead me to Edom?”  (Psalm 60:8-9)

Who is able to counsel the Lord?  Who can speak to Him words He does not already know?  What secrets are there that are hidden?  The Lord knows the days of us all and has planned for all that shall come about.  Do not worry about what tomorrow will bring, but come into the counsel of the Lord and walk in His ways.  Learn from the One who made all things and grow in wisdom.

Lord, Creator and Sustainer of all things, You know, yet You allow for the wicked ones to rail against You.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the darkness of this world and be as one who is Yours.  You have come to lead me through the ups and downs of this world and to walk humbly with You my Maker.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may have Your praise upon my lips all the day long.

Lord Jesus, You have called as many as believe to walk with You now and always.  Lead me, O Lord, to humbly submit and learn to listen as the Holy Spirit speaks.  Guide me in the eternal ways already established and form them in me.  Master, walk with me this day, leading me into the eternal wisdom You have brought for those who turn to You. Teach me Your ways.  Amen.