“May they be blotted out of the book of life and may they not be recorded with the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; may Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.” (Psalm 69:28-29)

We do not understand why the Lord allows the wicked to remain and seem so powerful as they do what they do. It causes pain to those who look to the Lord. But do not those who look to the Lord do the same things? Are there any who are righteous? Only for he who turns to the Lord will He grant true life and liberty, but not until His salvation comes to fruition.

Lord I lament and look for justice, but forget that I too am a part of that equation. Guide me when I am angry, frustrated, upset or any other reaction to circumstance where I am simply demonstrating that I am powerless, and then heap my frustration upon You. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly with You in all circumstances knowing that You are Lord and King of all.

Lord Jesus, there are many things I do not understand, yet You are here in front of me, Truth itself. Lead me humbly to walk with You as You guide me through all the wickedness of this world, knowing that only in You is there hope and a future. Guide me according to the Father’s will that I would walk securely in Your grace and mercy as You lead to where You are taking me. Amen.

“For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten, and they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity, and may they not come into Your righteousness.” (Psalm 69:26-27)

How much are we able to handle before we break? We experience what we experience and some seem to have more than they could handle. The lament goes out to keep us from the breaking point. Yet, is not God, God? Will He not do whatever it takes for those whom He loves? Yes, turn to the Lord no matter the circumstances and see that He is good. Know the Lord’s righteousness.

Lord, I see the human struggle, first in myself and then in others. Help me learn from such insights that You give in order that I not be anxious no matter what the day brings. Lead me in Your way of righteousness to do those things that are fitting for Your kingdom. Do not add to the burden upon me, but help me carry my portion according to Your grace. Hinder not any from seeing who ought to see.

Lord Jesus, Light that shines in the darkness, guide me through the dark alleys of this world. Lead me to learn from You how to graciously handle whatever may come knowing that in You alone is my hope and future. Teach me Your ways, O Lord, and then empower me to walk in them that I may be guided by Your Spirit. You alone are good, LORD, in a world filled with evil. Amen.

“And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people.” (Exodus 24:8)

It sounds like the start to a really bad day, but it was, in fact, a glimmer of the Best Day to come: the day when Christ would redeem the world by His blood, shed on the cross for sinners.  That blood was made for throwing.

What good is the blood of Christ if it never touches you, on your skin, in your ears, up to your lips?  Even as the sacrifices of Israel preached God’s pleasure to that nation, so does the touch of this blood, cast onto you in the ministry of His Church, carry the promise that God has taken pleasure in you.

Washed in the blood, secured in that same blood by its preaching, and nourished with it by the Lord’s own command, we live in the freedom of canceled sin.  Better, we live in the freedom of our Father’s good pleasure.  “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”—He spoke those words for Jesus, and now this Jesus has touched you, making those words yours.

LET US PRAY: O Jesus Christ, Lamb of God: I praise and thank You for Your precious blood, shed for my sake, and the sake of the whole world.  Enliven and keep me always in this saving flood, and bring me through its currents to the fullness of Your kingdom.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“Pour out Your indignation on them, and may Your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be desolate; may none dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 69:24-25)

In this world we often think in eye-for-an-eye terms. People hurt us and we want them hurt. Yet the ways of the Lord are good and right and fitting always, and this world is filled with sin. Those who go their own way walk on the wide road to oblivion. The appearance of prosperity will turn to a vapor with the passing of time. Only in the Lord is there a hope and a future.

Lord, I see things in the moment and forget not only Your promises but all of the good You have done for me. Help me, Lord, to see as You see and to know that all things are in Your hands and that You will provide over time all that needs to be done. In love, not anger, do You deal with us; for I too have been, at times, one who walked the path of desolation. Cause me to dwell in Your tents.

Lord Jesus, You call us to Yourself that we would walk with You, learn from You and become like You. You went to the cross, and yet it was not anger, but your love that shone forth. Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go and then help me go that way, Guide me according to Your goodness to be lifted up into the way of thinking that would let me see Your hand at all times and in all things. Amen.

FACE TO FACE WITH THE DEVIL
Devotional for February 18, 2018 based upon Mark 1: 9-15

Today is the First Sunday in Lent, that forty-day period that leads us to the cross and the empty tomb. Today we begin our journey in the wilderness, for that is where the Gospel writer Mark tells us the Spirit had driven Jesus.

Perhaps Jesus was seeking a time for self-examination. Perhaps He wanted to reflect on the ministry that He was about to begin. Perhaps He knew that this was going to be the last opportunity that He would have for a while to be truly alone. Whatever the reason – why ever He was there – it was in the wilderness that Jesus came face to face with the Devil.

When have you come face to face with the Devil, and how did it go? Yes, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ALL OF US MUST CONFRONT SATAN. There comes a time when each one of us will be tempted. None of us ever totally escapes temptation. We all have to deal with some form of temptation, though some people seem to be tempted more often and more severely than others. There are some people who are facing temptations that many of us cannot even imagine.

After being out in the wilderness for forty days alone, Jesus was tempted like we all are tempted. Jesus confronted Satan head on. And Jesus shows us how we also can confront Satan head on.

There is something we need to understand about the power of the Tempter. The more we give in, the weaker we become. The more we resist, the stronger we become. WE BECOME STRONGER WHEN WE RESIST TEMPTATION.

Reminds me of something that happened when they were renovating the Queen Mary. That gracious old vessel was launched in 1936. Through four decades and a world war, this ocean liner served its owners and passengers well. Then it was retired to Long Beach, California, where it was anchored as a floating hotel and a museum.

During its conversion, its three massive smoke stacks were taken off to be scraped down and repainted. But as they were doing so, those three massive pieces of steel crumbled. Nothing was left of the three-quarter inch thick steel plates from which the smoke stacks had been formed. All that remained were the more than thirty coats of paint that had been applied over the years. The steel had been completely rusted away.

And the same thing can happen to people’s character. Some give in to temptation time and time again until their inner moral fiber is eaten away.

Fortunately, the opposite is also true. The more we give in to the Tempter, the weaker we become. The more we resist the Tempter, the weaker he becomes. Jesus nipped temptation in the bud. Jesus said No from the very beginning. We need to do the same.

Of course, JESUS WAS NOT ALONE in His confrontation with the Tempter and NEITHER ARE WE. The Psalmist proclaims, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” The Gospel writer Matthew tells us that Jesus resisted Satan with words taken from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Jesus was putting Satan on notice that Satan was dealing not just with human power, but with the very power of God.

And the same power is available to us today. Jesus was not left all alone in the wilderness, and neither are we. God the Father was with Him, and God the Father is also with us.

A Christian camp counselor was questioning a teenage girl about her faith. Trying to help her prepare for the temptation that she would surely face once she was back home, the counselor asked, “What if the Devil comes knocking on your door and tries to lead you astray?” The young lady replied, “I will ask Jesus to answer the door for me.”

God promises each one of us that, no matter what, HE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR US. We have a God who loves us unconditionally. He will never give up on us. He will pick us up when we fall. And if we ask for His strength, He will give it to us.

We will be tempted. Everyone of us will be tempted. We need to respond as Jesus responded. We can respond as Jesus responded. We need to confront the Tempter head on and reject without hesitation all that would weaken and destroy us.

We have the promise that God will be with us. If we ask, He will surely help us to overcome.

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

“May their table before them become a snare; and when they are in peace, may it become a trap. May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, and make their loins shake continually.” Psalm 69:22-23)

When people are harsh and turn against us we want them to learn a lesson. But vengeance belongs to the Lord. What He does with others He will do with us. See that the Lord uses every circumstance to reach out to us that we may know that He is good and gracious. He will use whatever comes into our lives to lift us up and teach us His ways if we are willing.

Lord I do want vengeance, but You command that I love my enemies. Teach me Your ways; for the ways of this world only lead to destruction. Grant grace and mercy that I would love those who hate and care for those who are mean. Teach me the eternal ways and help me practice them here and increase my capabilities that I may be as You intend. Guide me through the morass of this world that I may keep my eyes upon You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for as many as would follow. You show the way through all of the difficulties of this life, preparing us to be with You forever. Guide me, O Lord, that I would forever hold fast to what You teach me, knowing that only in You is there hope. Lead me through the difficult times that will come, and help me look to You now and always that I may follow Your way. Amen.

“Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” (Psalm 69:20-21)

In this world, as long as you are doing what is right in the sight of others, they will leave you alone. But do something, even something very small, and there are those who will heap reproach upon you. Salt will be added to the wound. But the Lord is not this way. He knows our lament and knows the difficulties we have. Turn to Him and feel the sweet salve of His grace and mercy.

I do not understand myself, Lord. Others will beat me down and then I transfer this experience to You as if You were the same. Yes, there are bitter times in life, but You lift us up to be faithful to You alone, who will never gall our spirits. This world is impossible to figure out, but Your ways, O Lord, are simple to understand. Guide me, even in times of reproach to turn to You and be lifted up.

Lord Jesus, it could be You who spoke these words with what You experienced with those around You who were a constant reproach. Yet through the difficulty, You pressed on to accomplish the Father’s will. You do understand, Jesus. Lead me in Your way that following You I would know the comfort You give to all through the grace You purchased and the Holy Spirit You have sent. Amen.

“Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; ransom me because of my enemies! You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; all my adversaries are before You.” (Psalm 69:28-19)

The world pulls us in and our spirit laments at the wickedness that is within. Those who pull on us to join them are our enemies, for they who live a life going down into the pit pull others down with them. Sometimes we are they. Turn to the Lord that He may redeem you from going down into the pit and lift you up and away from those who do not know the Lord. Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you.

Lord, You know everything about me. You know where I have been and what I have thought. I need the redemption You offer and I need to be lifted up. Sometimes I need this more than once in a day. Let me not be caught up in the ways of this world, but grow in me a mind after Your heart that I would think as You would have me think and see as You give me sight to see.

Lord Jesus, You are the light that shines in the darkness. You have come that as many as are given the ability to see would be lifted up and away from the wickedness of this world. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the only hope to overcome this world of wickedness. Lead me into the right way of thinking and acting that I may walk humbly with You, my Savior and Lord. Amen.

“Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; according to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, and do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me quickly.” (Psalm 69:16-17)

It seems to us that the Lord is far off when it is us who are far from the Lord. We do not think He hears because we do not listen. When we blame the Lord, it is our fault, not His, for what we are blaming Him. Come into the presence of the Lord. Do not stand far off, but near, and know that the Lord is quick to answer and ever present in every time of need. Turn to the Lord and live.

Lord, I am distant and far off. I do stand away and expect You to come to me. You have come to me and then I backed away. Lead me, O Lord, according to Your grace to await You. You have asked that I follow You. Help me to follow, and lift me up from this pit that I may be one who walks with You. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life and help me to follow You always.

Lord Jesus, You indeed have come to us, but then there is our part to receive You. Guide me, O Lord, according to Your goodness that I would live in the life You give by grace. Help me now and always not to stand off or far away, but simply to humbly submit and live the life You give. Guide me, O Lord, through this life of difficulty to see You always. Amen.

“Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; may I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me nor the deep swallow me up, nor the pit shut its mouth on me.” (Psalm 69:14-15)

The swamp gets filled and it is dangerous to be there. In the mire of this world there are those who prey upon others. The world is filled with evil; and especially in our day we are told over and over again that it is not there. It is. Look to the Lord who is able to rescue. Look to the Lord who will keep you for being enveloped by the mire of this world. He has come to save.

Lord sometimes I am the evil person I lament; but all around me I see people calling evil good and good evil. I become confused and do not know where to turn. Help me, O Lord, to look to You, the One who knows me better than I know myself, and the only One who can rescue me from the pit. Lift me up, O Lord, that I would come into Your salvation and know Your goodness.

Lord Jesus, You are the Way, Truth and Life, and You have come to rescue all who turn to You from going down into the miry pit. Lead me this day by Your grace to go where You lead and be delivered according to the Father’s will. Help me now and always to be covered by Your grace and mercy that I would not be swallowed up by this world and its wickedness. Amen.