Brian Ninnemann, Warren Buchholz, Joe
Heller, (comm. assist) Lucas
Stelter
Jack Yates; Chief, Paul Van Treeck, Martin Schmanke, Lee Ollendorf,
Aaron Kendall
JUNE 9 E (with communion) SJ
Darrel Buchholz, Bob Ferber, Gary
Wegner
Don Smith; Chief, Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann, Corey Kaul, Jerre
Duerr
JUNE 16 E SJ
DuWayne Sommerfeld, Jim Stuempges, Paul
Dahlke
Kenon Smith;
Chief, Robin Smith, Joe Zauner, Gordon Krause, Richard Freitag
JUNE 23 E (with communion) SJ
Wayne Stelter, Noah Buchholz, Joe
Heller
Cal Kapp;
Chief, Gerhardt Freitag, Mitch Simon, Matt Borzick, Glen Bubolz
JUNE 30
ESJ
Lucas Stelter, Bruce Stelter, Gary
Wegner
James
Wachholz; Chief, Al Rosenthal, Christopher Smith, Calvin Wojtalewicz, Zeb
Zuehls
JULY 7
(with communion) ESJ
Don Stelter, Paul Wuerch, Paul Dahlke, (comm. assist.) Wayne Stelter
Jack Yates;
Chief, Mark Emond, Kevin Kaul, Scott Ritz, Ken Borzick
JULY 14
E(with communion) SJ
Brian Ninnemann, Glenn Buchholz, Joe
Heller
Don Smith;
Chief, Ben Emond, Thomas Wojtalewicz, James Henke, Paul Van Treeck
JULY 21
ESJ
Darrell Buchholz, Warren Buchholz, Gary
Wegner
Kenon Smith;
Chief, Martin Schmanke, Lee Ollendorf, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher
JULY 28
E(with communion)SJ
DuWayne Sommerfeld, Bob Ferber, Paul
Dahlke
Cal Kapp; Chief, Jim Eisermann, Corey Kaul, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24
Taking a vacation away from the hectic pace and pressures of daily life is precious indeed. When you are enjoying such a relaxing time away from home and work, you might stop by a gift shop and see the postcard rack with a number of images that capture the fun and enjoyment you are having, and your friends back home aren’t. Across the front are printed the words, “Wish you were here!” Not that you are serious about your friends or other family members joining you on your vacation, but the card is meant to rub it in that you are enjoying a great vacation, while others are going on with the grind of life.
Can you imagine if God sent you a message from heaven which said, “Wish you were here?” but really was just “rubbing it in.” That you had to still endure a world filled with hardship, tragedy, and suffering. Quite the opposite! As Jesus prayed, he said, “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am.” Jesus has a heartfelt desire for you. He absolutely wants you to join him in heaven. Yet he doesn’t just wish it, but also provided the means to get there. He sends you an “all-expense paid ticket” which he personally paid for with his perfect life, his suffering and death, and glorious resurrection. There’s nothing more that you have to do or pay to get it; it’s a free gift by faith in him.
When life gets challenging, we oftentimes think of our favorite vacation spot and “wish we were there.” Today Jesus is inviting you, in the midst of whatever life brings you, to look forward to the eternity in heaven he has paid for you to enjoy. Through him don’t just wish you were there, but definitely look forward to actually being there!
Prayer:
Savior Jesus, by what you accomplished through your death and resurrection, I am confident that I will live with you forever in heaven and see your great glory. Strengthen and sustain me now while I wait for you to come and take me where you are. Amen.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. . . Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:22,25,26
What do you have in common with Jesus? At first you might say, “Not much.” You have never turned water into wine or walked on water. No angels announced your birth and crowds of people don’t follow you to hear you teach. However, a closer look might reveal that you have more in common than you first thought.
Jesus says that he gave you the same glory that God the Father gave him. While you don’t have the glory of the crowds or the miracles, you do have the same glory of being coheirs of eternal life with Jesus. You and Jesus have the same story with the same ending. Like Jesus you will live on this earth and there will be ups and downs, but God will use it all to get you to heaven with Jesus, forever.
Jesus also says that you have something that sets you apart from the rest of the world: you know the Father. Jesus says the world doesn’t understand who the Father is, but he knows. Those who share the belief that the Father sent Jesus also know the Father.
Finally, Jesus says you share the love of the Father. It is this love that forgives your sins and guarantees you a place in heaven. It is the love that a perfect Father in heaven has for his perfect Son and that love is shared with you. The Father gives this love to you through his Son that you may also know what it is like to be his child.
What do you have in common with Jesus? All the things that matter most.
Prayer:
Jesus, by winning salvation you made me a coheir of eternal life. Help me to better know you that I may better know the Father. Amen.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20,21
If you want a list of things people really care about, you probably only need to look at their prayer list. The things that cause people to bow their heads and turn to the throne of God are some of the most personal and important things in their lives. They are the names of the people they love and the situations that pains their hearts. These are the things they think about the most and are overwhelmingly grateful for.
This is what makes it so remarkable that you and I are on Jesus’ prayer list. In fact, you were on his prayer list two thousand years ago. The night before his death, Jesus took the time to pray for you. Even knowing all that he was about to face that night―betrayal, abandonment, abuse of every kind―Jesus made sure that you were on his prayer list. This was no one-time occurrence either. The Bible tells us that Jesus is in heaven right now remembering you. He is speaking your name, remembering you to his heavenly Father.
Jesus prays for you because he loves you. You are the most important thing in the world to him. Your pain, pains his heart. Your eternal good is his highest desire. He prays for you because he knows you, has forgiven all your sins, and you are his dear child. For all these reasons and more you are on Jesus’ prayer list.
The next time you pray through your prayer list, remember that Jesus prays for you because he cares for you.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for praying for me. Continue to remember me in your prayers until I see you face to face. Amen.
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
313 East Montello St.
Montello, WI 53949
Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
W1568 Evergreen
Lane
Montello, WI 53949
Pastor Peter Zietlow
XW E L C O M E
T O O U R C H U R C H X
We extend a warm
welcome to everyone today, especially our visitors. In the bulletin you’ll find an outline of
today’s service, a calendar of events and other bits of information. In the red hymn book you’ll find the
songs we sing and the order of service that we follow. If you would like a large print hymnal or bulletin please ask one
of our ushers and they will gladly assist you. Restrooms and nursery area are located in
the parish hall at Emmanuel and in the lower level and link-way at St.
John’s. It’s nice to have you visit
today. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more, as you see the
day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Welcome to God’s house! May God bless our worship together.
608.297.2866
www.stjohnsmontello.org
Like us on Facebook
XG O D ’ S W O R D
F O R T O D A Y X
The Ascended
Lord Rules His Church – What is Christ doing for his church? The readings
this Sunday answer that question. As the church awaits his return, Jesus continues
to rule. Not only does he pray for us above, but here below he also guides
and directs the preaching of the gospel. He wants the entire world to know
and believe in him as their Savior. He uses us to make his name known
throughout the world.
XP
R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P X
We
prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble
repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of
praise.
OPENING
HYMN155Christ the Lord Is Risen Again
Please stand
CONFESSION
OF SINS
hymnal page 38
We confess to God that we have failed
to live up to the perfect standards in his
law, and we plead for his mercy.
ANNOUNCEMENT
OF FORGIVENESS
hymnal page 38
The pastor announces the forgiveness of
sins won for us by the perfect life and innocent sufferings and death of Jesus,
our Savior.
OH TASTE AND SEEhymnal
page 39
This paraphrase of Psalm
34:8 reminds us of how sweet the good news of salvation is for Christians.
Those who take refuge in Jesus, our Good Shepherd, are blessed.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Almighty God, your Son our Savior was taken up
in glory and intercedes for us at your right hand. Through your living and
abiding Word, give us hearts to know him and faith to follow where he has gone;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: ♫ Amen.
Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings
XT
H E W O R D X
The
Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
FIRST
LESSONActs 16:6-10 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: Paul’s
vision of the man of Macedonia
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and
Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the
province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter
Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia
and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of
Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help
us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for
Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
PSALM 8 hymnal page 67
The
congregation sings the refrains, verses and Gloria.
SECOND LESSON Revelation
22:12-17, 20
Summary: Jesus is coming soon
“Behold,
I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according
to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End.
“Blessed
are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of
life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those
who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and
everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I,
Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the
Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit
and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say,
“Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him
take the free gift of the water of life.
He who
testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come,
Lord Jesus.
VERSE OF THE DAYJohn 14:18
Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is
risen indeed! Alleluia. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Alleluia.
C:♫
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Please stand
GOSPEL LESSONJohn
17:20-26
Summary: Jesus prays for all
believers
“My
prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in
me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that
you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may
be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where
I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me
before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does
not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you
known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you
have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
C:♫
Praise
be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
HYMN OF
THE DAY 359 Jesus, My Great High Priest
SERMONActs 16:6-10
“How to Answer Macedonian
Calls”
Please stand
APOSTLES’ CREED hymnal page 41
Please be seated
X O F F E R I N G S O F G
I F T S & P R A
Y E R S X
THE
OFFERING& WELS CONNECTION DVD
The ushers now gather the
“Thank-Offering.” Members of this
congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning
a portion of their income to the Lord.
Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries
are maintained. Guests need not feel
obligated to contribute. Please
also sign our Friendship Registers and greet one another.
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Ascension Prayer and
Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements for those
on our Intercessory Prayers list.
Please stand
LORD’S PRAYERhymnal
page 43
Please be seated
HYMN 281 God Has Spoken by His Prophets
Please stand
CLOSING
PRAYER & BLESSING hymnal page 43, 44
Please be seated
CLOSING
HYMN169Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
As you leave today’s
service, please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or
pastor.
XAnnouncements X
Activities for the week of June 2-June
8
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship with communion
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
Mon.
Tues.
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Elders meeting
Wed.
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Worship
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.
9:00 A.M.
Church Clean Up Day at St. John’s
Theme for Next Sunday June 9, 2019
Pentecost: “The
Holy Spirit Loosens Our Tongue”
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with
communion
11:15 A.M.
Bible Information Class at St. John’s
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS – For those hospitalized, ill,
shut-in and facing trials: George Alexander, Ron Blada, Pat Bornick, Pastor
Raymond Cox (Marjorie’s Fabian’s brother), Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley
& Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Jerre Duerr, Reinold
Eckelberg, Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Earl Ewert, Marjorie Fabian, Harold
Fandrey, Mike Farrell, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Dawn Hirn (Linda
Krause’s niece), Xzander Jahr, Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Arden
“Bill” Klimke, Linda Krause, Jim Kunde (our former SJ member), Delvin
Mittelsteadt, Jean Muhlenbeck (WELS member at Zion–Bristol, St. John’s
visitor), Debbie Parrish, Arlene Prill, LuAnn Reber, Mark & Peggy Russell
(Elsa’s son & daughter in-law), Carol Schumann, Dennis Schwanke (Mary
Isberner’s friend), Amanda Stalker, Jennifer Strauss, Dennis & Ramona
Wacholtz, Donny Weber (Betty’s son), Heidi Weishaar (Dennis & Sharon
Kekow’s daughter), Karl Whitrock, Millie Wildt (John’s wife) – (added this
week: )
–
For Taya Louise Hardell, the daughter of Seth and Rebecca Hardell, born on 3/17
in Madison
–
For the family of our Emmanuel member Ardis Henning, who was called to her
heavenly home on Sunday (5/26) at the age of 78
–
For David Starr, Pastor Pete & Lauren Zietlow’s son-in-law, who will be
installed today (6/2) as pastor of A Mighty Fortress Ev. Lutheran Church in
Hiram, GA
–
For our high school and college graduates (see list of graduates, please give
updates to Ciara)
Congratulations to Marshal Walker for being this year’s Montello High
School Valedictorian and Parker Stelter for being this year’s Montello High
School Salutatorian. Blessings to you all in your future! (If any 2019 graduates are missed, please let Ciara in the office
know.)
AMMO
BOX Two holidays, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, we set out the Ammo boxes to
raise funds for the Lutheran Military Support Group (LMSG). The funds go to
support Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), spiritual counseling, local
congregational LMSG, projects, European Chaplain Support, Military Contact
Pastor Training, the National Chaplain’s Office, Pastoral travel expenses to
remote military families and to mission congregations next to military
installations. Our congregation has personal experience with some of these
things explained above. The Ammo cans are out today. Any questions please
contact the Liason for our two congregations: Mark Emond Sr. (608) 697-1600!
Thank you in advance for your generosity in this endeavor!
VBS
This year’s Vacation Bible School will be June 24-28 at St. John’s. Camp
Phillip will be hosting again! We are accepting 3K-8th graders!
3K/4K will run from 8:00am-11:30am. Kindergarten-8th grade will run
8:00am-2:00pm. Stop in or call the office 297-2866 to register today!
CHURCH
CLEAN UP DAY! Save the date! June 8th at St. John’s!
Lunch will be provided.
ST.
JOHN’S VOTERS’ MEETING HIGHLIGHTS 1) Membership
Changes: Adult Confirmation via BIC: Willy & Megan
Stalker and daughter Maisie, Amanda Stalker & daughter Brittany Pick. Teen
Confirmation: Brianna Daniels, Madeline Kraus, Lilly
Mann. Transfers Out: Tyler & Kaitlin Emond to Cross
of Christ-Portage, and Katherine Zietlow to Christ
Alone-Thiensville. 2) Treasurer’s Report: Line of credit
exists at bank, but to date, no need to use. 3) New
teachers Larry & Lynn Sellnow & Shelley Meyers have been contacted
in preparation for 2019-2020 school year. 4) Care
Committee for Called Workers (CCCW) to re-start. 5) “Welcome
Home” Evangelism program & “Ten for Ten” Stewardship
Program start in fall. 6) Budget to be presented at
Special Voters’ Meeting in June. 7) Parsonage
roof completed. 8) Synod Convention Delegate- Paul
Van Treeck. 9) Teacher Installation Service is July
14. 10) Door Projects: Front door stained glass is done; new
doors to be installed by June 15. Back Door to be repaired by Memorial
Day. 11) ACH Automated Deduction of Offerings in place for use
by June 15. 12) Church/School Cleanup Day – Saturday, June 8, 9
a.m.
NEW
MEMBERSHIP CLASS began on 4/28 11:15am at St. John’s.
Join us in the link-way conference room for an hour or so after the 10am SJ
worship service.
DISHES
If you have dishes in St. John’s kitchen, please pick them up!
MEDITATIONS “Meditations” WELS
daily devotional booklets begin today (6/2) are available in the church entry
(many thanks to our generous members for covering the $2K/yr cost)
PLEASE
BE RESPECTFUL of
your fellow worshipers preparing their hearts for worship. If you are visiting
with others, please keep your voices down. Thank you!
USHER AND GREETER
SCHEDULE If
you are signed up to be a St. John’s usher and/or greeter, please pick up your
hard copy of April-May and June-July in St. John’s Information Room.
Schedules will be available for pick up every 2 months.
LITTLE LAMBS PRE REGISTRATION
NOW OPEN Pick
up your 3K/4K registration form in the office today! Please help spread the
word!
CHECK
OUT OUR UPDATED INFORMATION ROOM This room is located at the top
of St. John’s link way stairs and the church entry way. Here you will find bulletin
boards labeled “Home Missions” and “LWMS”. Home
Missions will provide information on what’s going on at St. John’s church
and school, events, educational and youth group updates. You will also find
informational brochures and magazines, usher and greeter schedules, the church
newsletter, children’s coloring sheets and crayons and other miscellaneous
information related to our church and school. Please help yourself!
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “People
are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and back of
the church..”
ACH What is ACH?Automated Clearing House is an
electronic payments network use by individuals, businesses, financial
institutions and government organizations. The network functions as an efficient,
electronic alternative to paper checks. It allows funds to be electronically
debited or credited to a checking account, savings account, financial
institution general ledger account or credited to a loan account.Please pick your form
up in the Information Room or the office today.
EMMANUEL OFFERING OPTIONS In addition to the traditional
offering envelope option for our weekly offerings, Emmanuel is inviting any
members to consider direct payment (weekly or monthly) from your bank’s
checking or savings account to the church’s account. If you are interested in
this option, please phone or e-mail Monika Waisbrot (608-286-3937 mwaisbrot@myfirstnational.com), branch manager at Fortifi Bank–Montello,
who can help you make it happen. (business cards are available on the
Meditations shelf)
OUR KIDS GAME $931.11 TO MISSIONS THIS YEAR The mission projects of our day school, Little Lambs, and Sunday School
kids have been completed for 2018-2019. Kids C.A.R.E. mission gift given by our
day school and Little Lambs students totaled $594.07 for the home mission
project: Kids Summer Bible Camps. This amount will be pooled with gifts from
kids all over the U.S. and presented at the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society
Convention, June 27-30, in Des Moines, Iowa. St. John’s Sunday School students’
mission gift totaled $337.04 for our WELS Camp Phillip in Wautoma.
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
5-26
5-29
5-30
86 33
?121
St. John’s Altar Committee
June 2019
Diane
Eisermann
&
Delores Cotte
TASTE OF MISSIONS—An Event Meant for
the Whole Family! Join us on July 13, 2019, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in
Mequon, Wis., for the first annual Taste of Missions event! Starting
at 12:00 P.M., sample ethnic cuisine from some of our mission
fields while enjoying fellowship and presentations from home and world
missionaries alike. Meet former missionaries and committee
members who have served WELS Missions and hear stories of God’s
magnificent grace in action at home and abroad. View displays, participate
in family-friendly activities coordinated by our missionaries, and
ask questions about the ups and downs of mission work during a panel
discussion. We will conclude the event at 4:00 P.M. with a special
worship service celebrating the blessings the Lord has showered on WELS
Missions. Registration is $5 per person, with children under the age of
five attending for free. Register by June 30 at wels.net/tasteofmissions2019.
●●●
Welcome To Our Visitors!Please Sign Our Guest RegisterFind & Like us on FacebookVisit our website link:www.stjohnsmontello.orgPastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830
E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.comLittle Lambs Director & Teacher Sara Borck: (858) 731-7919
K & 1st Grade Teacher Cassie Doering: (920) 723-8986
2nd-4th Grade Teacher Karin Stellick: (920) 342-3689
Lead & 5th-8th Grade Teacher
Rachel Naumann: (847) 913-2135
Church & School Secretary Ciara Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866
Altar Ladies: Elaine Kelm: (920) 344-0025 & Carolyn Rosenthal:
589-5036
Church & School Mail: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI
53949
Church
& School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
●●●
In his Civil War book, Glory Road, author Bruce Catton demonstrates how dirty a human being can get. He recounts an episode in which a soldier leaves a prisoner-of-war camp to rejoin his old unit. His time as a POW had left him filthy beyond description. He asks his comrades to help him get clean. They take him into a river, strip off his clothes, and begin to wash and scrub. Only after this continues for awhile do the men realize that he is still wearing an undershirt. The man’s body had become so encrusted it had been impossible at first to tell the difference between a soiled piece of clothing and his own skin.
The soiling nature of sin does the same thing. From the dark thoughts we allow to fester in our minds to all the deeds of love conveniently left undone, sin does more than leave a dirty streak here and there on our souls. It makes us spiritually filthy beyond description. Left to ourselves, our hearts are so encrusted by sin that it’s impossible for us to see how lost we really are.
That’s where Jesus comes in. We didn’t see how lost we were or how far we had fallen. But he did. He took us to the river of his grace. He washed us in the waters of Baptism. He cleansed us in the blood he shed on Calvary’s cross. Now we stand before him in robes of white. Through faith in him, his forgiveness is our personal possession.
There are moments when the same old dirt from the same old sinful habits can fill us with despair. When such a moment comes for you, remember who you are and what Jesus has done. He has gone to the cross to wash you clean. He has risen from death to assure you that not one of your sins remain. Through his eyes your life is fresh, clean, and new. Your days as a filthy prisoner are long gone.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in those moments when I stumble and the stench of my old sinful habits fills the air, remind me of the washing I have in you. Fill me with your peace. Empower me to get back up and to walk again with you. Amen.
The man was desperate to build a fire. You could see the worry on his face and hear the strain in his voice. He was tired and cold. But his campfire would not light because even the dead leaves, he gathered were too wet to burn. And nighttime had already come.
The History Channel ran a series that featured 10 men left to fend for themselves on the northwestern corner of Vancouver Island. The northwestern corner of Vancouver Island is pure wilderness. Massive trees and brush are everywhere. It’s crawling with cougars, wolves, and bears. And it’s wet. It receives more rainfall per year than any other place in the Northern Hemisphere. Every man there had survival training, but each was on his own, as each was isolated from the others by miles. The question posed by the series was simple. How long could each man last before giving up?
One thing became clear. Without a fire—without a source of light and warmth—the darkness, cold, and wild animals that surrounded them became too much. Without a source of light, they would not last.
The same holds true for you and me—your soul and mine. Without a source of light, the darkness and cold that surround us in this broken world becomes too much. Without a source of light, we are lost.
Enter Jesus, the Light of the World. He pierced the darkness of our sin. Through his death on the cross he went to the source of our darkness and destroyed it. Then he rose from the darkness of his tomb. And now, through faith in him, you and I can bask in the light of his forgiveness.
But here’s what we need to remember. When the rains come, when the storms blow, when the troubles of life pour down on us in sheets, the source of our light will not go out. Because the source of our light is Jesus.
In Jesus you are secure, warm, and safe. So breathe easy. And sleep well.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my light. In your forgiveness and grace I am warm and safe. Thank you. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and 
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
