August 2022 – Page 4 – St. John's Evangelical

Kill It Dead – August 2, 2022

August 2, 2022 Kerry

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Colossians 3:5-8

Kill It Dead

Daily Devotion – August 2, 2022

Devotion based on Colossians 3:5-8

See series: Devotions

Occasionally I will hear frightened screams coming from my little daughter’s room. Running in, I find the source of all the distress. My daughter implores me, “Daddy, it’s a bug! Kill it dead!” And there will be no rest nor sleep in my house until the offending spider, moth, or other creepy-crawly is squished and removed from her room.

When the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the city of Colossi, he showed no mercy to our earthly natures. He had only one course of action for us: “Kill it dead.”

He knew how disgusting all the things of our sinful nature truly are. The anger and lies, sexual immorality and greed are nothing but revolting things. And it is because of these things that God’s wrath will return, and he will put an end to sin.

As we wait for his return, let us be disgusted by these sins in our lives. Let us kill these sins dead. May we strive to put them to death by confessing our sins and receiving the forgiveness God gives to us. May we strive to put them to death by fighting against temptation each day. May we continue to look to Jesus, who put to death all our sins by his death on the cross.

Our sinful nature will always be with us until God calls us home. But let’s kill those sins each day as we look to Jesus for forgiveness and strength to fight temptation.

Prayer:
Merciful Lord, thank you for the forgiveness you won for me. In that forgiveness, help me to struggle against my sinful natures and live only for you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pictures on My Phone – August 1, 2022

August 1, 2022 Kerry

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

Pictures on My Phone

Daily Devotion – August 1, 2022

Devotion based on Ecclesiastes 1:2-4

See series: Devotions

My phone is full of pictures of moments that I thought were so very important. I have picture after picture of meals with friends, a beautiful view, or even selfies in a place I have never been before. Yet I must admit, I don’t do much with these pictures. Many of them are great memories, but I rarely look at them. Few get printed out. Eventually, my phone tells me I am out of storage, so I end up deleting them in large groups.

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that so much of our life is like the pictures on our phone. Significant in the moment, but not so significant long-term. Yes, there is joy found in time spent with family and friends. There is good work to be done at our jobs, in our homes, communities, and churches. God has given us a beautiful and bountiful world, and he wants us to find satisfaction from that world.

The book of Ecclesiastes also confronts us with the truth that there is nothing permanently gained in much of our lives. Much of our life consists of things that are good for the moment but are soon gone. Like pictures on my phone, they are important for a while, and then they are soon forgotten and eventually gone.

Ecclesiastes instead invites you to find your meaning in things that truly last. Find meaning for your life in God’s gracious Word to you in the love, forgiveness, and mercy he offers. Find meaning for your life in the work of Jesus that promises you a life to come that has no end.

So much of life is only for a short while. All of Jesus’ work for you will last forever.

Prayer:
Gracious Father, thank you for the joys of this life but remind me that real meaning is found only in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.