Month: August 2023

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:21

The Boundless Reach of Jesus

Daily Devotion – August 21, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:21

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It almost sounds like a retreat: doesn’t it? “Jesus withdrew.” An injured athlete withdraws from the competition. A businessperson withdraws a proposal when they can’t match a better one. When we are tired and worn out, we withdraw.

Maybe Jesus was tired. Tired of the lack of faith that he found in the people of Israel. Tired of the religious leaders questioning his every move. Tired of his own disciples’ greater concern about Jesus offending the religious leaders than the spiritual truth Jesus was teaching.

So, “Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.” But if this was a retreat, it wasn’t so that Jesus could nurse his wounds, rethink his strategy, or get some rest and relaxation on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

No, it was really no retreat at all. Instead, it was an attack on the forces of darkness that had long lived in this region. Jesus came to shine light in the heart of pagan darkness. Tyre and Sidon were port cities. A multitude of cultures converged with diverse backgrounds, traditions, and beliefs. Jesus chose to reveal his heart for the world in this place. His message of salvation went beyond the borders of Israel to every corner of the earth. Jesus left the known shores of Galilee to guide lost souls to the embrace of God’s love.

The city of Tyre had two harbors offering refuge to ships traveling through treacherous waters. Jesus offers refuge from the treacherous waters of sin. He guides sinners back to the safe harbor of his love when they get lost in this life. He does not withdraw from the darkness of this world; he shines brightly in it and attacks the darkness. Like a lighthouse in the raging sea, Jesus draws sinners to calm waters.

Jesus promises calm waters where it matters most in our relationship with God. Jesus weathered the storm of God’s fury in the place of sinners so that all who believe in Jesus and look to him for refuge will find it. So all who trust in Jesus are no longer pagan foreigners but the very children of God.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for finding me and making me your child. 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.

“Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Matthew 15:27

Trust in Jesus’ Goodness

Daily Devotion – August 20, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 15:27

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What happens when a ten-month-old child is on the kitchen floor? He doubles as a vacuum cleaner. Any stray item, thread, piece of paper, paper clip, crumbs all go in the mouth. There is no fear but the desire to touch, taste, and experience the newfound item. What do parents do when they notice the cache in their child’s cheek? They dig the junk out of the child’s mouth and say, “Yucky! Don’t eat that!”

A Canaanite woman, a non-Jew from the region of Tyre and Sidon, today’s Syria, had come to Jesus looking for a morsel, a crumb of God’s grace. Her daughter was demon-possessed and in desperate need of Jesus’ help. Three times the mother boldly asked Jesus for help. Somehow this non-Jewish mom had come to believe in Jesus. She addressed Jesus as, “Lord, Son of David.”

At her first request, Jesus said nothing. After her repeated requests for help, Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Then the mother knelt before Jesus begging him to help her. Jesus response? “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

The woman answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” She said in effect, “I am not afraid to eat the crumbs because even what falls from your table will be enough for me and my daughter.” The woman solely focused on Jesus. Astonishingly, her daughter was healed.

Remember this story when you wonder whether you are worthy of Jesus’ care and attention. The truth is none of us are worthy. But this Canaanite woman was not relying on her worthiness. She was relying on Jesus’ goodness. And so can we. It was Jesus’ goodness that led him to the cross to suffer and die for our sins, not because we were worthy but precisely because of our unworthiness. Let this give you the confidence to go to him in every need, trusting in his goodness.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, your grace is sufficient for me, for your grace is made complete in my weakness. 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.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:29,30

Walking on Water

Daily Devotion – August 19, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 14:29,30

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We know that we cannot normally walk on water. When we use the expression today, we mean that someone is performing at a level far above what is expected or thought possible. But to actually walk on water—that is beyond the performance level of you or me, ever.

In the incident related in Matthew chapter 14, the apostle Peter actually got out of the boat and walked on the water. It wasn’t because of his ability. It was because of Jesus’ power. But it did not last. Peter was distracted by what he saw around him, and he forgot the power of the Lord.

Jesus giving Peter the ability to walk on water was certainly marvelous—in fact, miraculous. But think what he has given us. Jesus has given us eternity with him in heaven. We had lost that possibility because of our sins against him. God demanded perfection, not the breaking of his commands, for us to be permitted into heaven. But once we had sinned, that was no longer possible. So, God sent Jesus to become a human like us, to keep all of God’s commands perfectly in our place. He died and rose again to show his power over Satan and his evil empire, the source of sin.

Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” when he became fearful. God anticipated the fear that we would feel by being separated from Him eternally. God loved us and planned our salvation. He sent his Son. Jesus saved us from that fear. His salvation will last!

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from drowning in my sins as I deserve. Increase my faith in you, my only hope for heaven. 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.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Romans 8:32

Question

Daily Devotion – August 18, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 8:32

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Separation from others can be a terrible thing. Studies have discovered that a profound sense of separation from others can bring on maladies such as panic attacks, difficulties with thinking, concentration, memory, and paranoia—problems with impulse control and harmful thoughts that don’t go away.

It is no surprise, then, that Satan does all he can to nurture a sense of separation in our lives as Christians—separation from others and especially separation from Jesus. After all, if he can convince me that something has come to isolate me from my Savior, then the devil has all the time in the world to work on me at his leisure.

With that in mind, the Holy Spirit moved the apostle Paul to pose the question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Then Paul gave some graphic examples of what can bring a sense of separation. He included trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. Carefully consider that list again, and please understand that, for Paul, these examples were not theoretical. He and his fellow Christians understood them to be real possibilities, descriptions of events that could really happen.

In this present world of suffering and loss, you and I may face the unspeakable: Suffocating hardships, severe persecution, crippling financial disaster, life-shattering illnesses, or accidents. Any one of these Satan can use to make the case that Jesus Christ is not here.

Again, Paul’s question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Very quickly, Paul supplies the answer: No. No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. The blood that has washed us clean is the same blood that seals his promise never to leave us, never to forsake us, to be with us always, to the very end of the age.

And so, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing. And no one.

Prayer:
Lord, as troubles come and go in my life, remind me that you never leave my side. 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.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32

The Trip

Daily Devotion – August 17, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 8:32

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When writer Lindsey Lazarte was growing up, she took her father for granted. Because she did, she carried certain attitudes about her dad that were simply wrong. She failed to grasp the profound love he had for her. She resented certain decisions he made for the good of the family. There were even times, she said, when she went out of her way to stir up tensions between herself and him.

Then came the trip to the Philippines, her father’s home. Waiting for them there were her father’s many siblings and a large, extended family. And it was only then—in spending time with them, listening to their stories about her father, seeing him tear up time and again—only then did she begin to realize all he had personally given up in order to provide the chance for a better life for her. After that trip, Lindsey’s view of her father’s love changed forever.

When it comes to our relationship with our heavenly Father, there have been times when you and I have behaved like Lindsey. We have taken him for granted. We have resented what he has allowed—or not allowed—to happen in our lives. The impulses of our old sinful selves have even driven us to distance ourselves from him, to rebel against his will for our lives. For what, to make some statement about our independence? To declare that “no one is the boss of me”? For such moments of betrayal, you and I deserve his abandonment.

But our heavenly Father has not abandoned us. Instead, he calls us to repentance. And to remind us how much he loves us, he invites us on a trip as well—a trip to the cross. For it is there, at the cross, you and I see what God was willing to do to wash us clean and make us his own. There, at the cross, God gave up his own Son to wash our sins away. There, at the cross, the extent of our Father’s love becomes clear once again.

Prayer:
Lord, when the distractions come, take me once again to the foot of the cross. 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.

In all things God works for the good of those who love him.
Romans 8:28

All Things

Daily Devotion – August 16, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 8:28

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It was the last night of a Christian retreat, and Paul Lim felt immense relief. As far as Paul was concerned, the entire retreat so far had been awful—awkward company, poor quality music, and even the food was bad. Besides, Paul was an economics major at Yale, and his worldview was completely secular, even atheistic. With the end of the retreat in sight, Paul sat towards the back of the room for the final session.

As he did, the band got back on stage. It then played a song Paul had never heard before. And there was something about that song—something in the words that struck Paul’s heart. And Paul Lim began to sob. Before long, Paul professed his faith in Jesus as his Savior.

Fast forward to Paul’s next semester at Yale. If one were writing a feel-good movie, the script would call for Paul Lim to feel happy and satisfied now that he had become a Christian. But that was not the case. An immediate consequence of his Christianity was extreme loneliness. His friends were, abruptly, no longer a part of his life. But, as Paul later admitted, it was the loneliness that drove him to read the Bible. In fact, in that one semester, Paul Lim read through the entire Bible seven times. And it was during those difficult days that Paul Lim began to get truly acquainted with the person of Jesus Christ.

In our Bible reading today it says, “In all things, God works for the good of those who love him.” For some of us, these words have become almost a cliché, a throw-away line we use to assure ourselves that everything is going to be okay. When we do, however, we often overlook God’s promise to be at work in our darkest moments.

Today, Paul Lim teaches history at a major university. He is also openly Christian, inviting his students to ask questions. By the power of the gospel, he knows what Jesus did on the cross to wash his sins away. He also knows how God uses even dark times for profound good. That’s how the Lord works—in your life and mine too.

Prayer:
Lord, in my difficult times, remind me that you are at work. Carry me through. 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.

I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have now bowed down to Baal.
1 Kings 19:18

Appearance Verses Reality

Daily Devotion – August 15, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 19:18

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The classic adventure-fantasy film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, concludes with this climactic scene: The Nazis have seized what they believe is the actual Ark of the Covenant from the Old Testament. They open the Ark, expecting to find fascinating wonders inside. All they find, however, is sand. They—and we, the audience—droop in disappointment. They are about to shrug their shoulders and move on. Before they do, however, angels fly out of the Ark. At first, the Nazis are thrilled, but they quickly realize their doom is at hand. In dramatic fashion, the angels dispatch all the Nazis, and good prevails.

This scene is a good example of appearance vs. reality: It appears the Nazis have the upper hand. It appears the Ark is simply a harmless box full of sand. But then comes reality and reality is very different. Appearance vs. reality is a theme in countless works of literature, plays, and, more recently, movies. Such ancient themes in our stories resonate for a reason. They resonate because what appears to be true often isn’t reality.

This brings us to the true account of the prophet Elijah. From his perspective, it appeared that belief in the Lord had virtually disappeared and that he was the only believer left. All he could see around him was a rampant belief in the false god Baal, a fertility god who promised material success and reckless pleasure without consequences. Baal had hundreds of prophets. The Lord had one.

Ever feel like Elijah? Ever feel as though God’s Word is in full retreat and the lies of the devil are in full command? From one end of our culture to the other, it can appear as though all is crumbling, all is darkness, and all is lost.

But appearance is one thing. Reality is something else. The Lord assured Elijah that he was far from alone. The same holds true for us. The Church remains. The gospel message of full forgiveness through faith in Christ continues to bring souls into the light. And it is this reality—the reality of Jesus our Savior—that has the final word.

Prayer:
Lord, move me to look beyond mere appearances. You alone have the final word. 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.

After the fire came a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 19:12

Small Moment

Daily Devotion – August 14, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 19:12

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The year is 1783, and the fledgling United States of America is in real trouble. For some time, Congress has failed to pay the nation’s army its wages. Things have gotten so serious that the officers of the army have gathered in a special meeting to discuss mutiny. As they do, one man walks in, desperate to talk them out of it. The man is their commanding officer, George Washington.

In talking to his men, Washington uses every ounce of his persuasive power. It still is unclear, however, whether or not his tired, bitter, angry officers are going to listen. Then comes a small moment. Washington wants to read from a letter. To do so, however, he needs to put on his glasses. As he does, Washington softly says, “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”

The moment moves the officers to tears. The officers’ affection for their old commander is overwhelming. The zeal for mutiny quickly fades. The collapse of the United States does not take place.

In 1 Kings chapter 19, the prophet Elijah is tired, angry, and bitter. Rejection of God throughout the land seems so complete that Elijah feels as though he is the only one left. The Lord, however, announces to Elijah that his presence is about the pass by. First comes a powerful wind, but the Lord is not in the wind. Then comes an earthquake, but the Lord is not in the earthquake. Then a fire; but the Lord is not in the fire. But then comes a small moment. There comes to Elijah a gentle whisper. It’s the voice of God in his Word. With that, the Lord begins to flush out Elijah’s despair by refreshing him in his gospel promises.

There are times when you and I feel like Elijah. The burdens of sin can isolate and smother us. But then comes the small moment—the moment of God’s voice through his gospel; through it, he refreshes us. He brings forgiveness through faith in Christ. He pulls us back from despair. He empowers us to carry on.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you. Thank you for every moment you give me in your Word. 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.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Matthew 14:22-24

Jesus Knows Our Troubles

Daily Devotion – August 13, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 14:22-24

See series: Devotions

All people—including Christians—have problems. Even many of our happiest times are spoiled by something that has gone wrong. The prospect of what awful things the future may hold distresses many people. But it doesn’t have to be that way for us. Children of God know that they have a Savior who loves them, who was willing to die for them, and who took away all the punishment for their sins. And that same Savior steps into the turmoil of our lives and says to us, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus knows what our troubles are. Even though Jesus was not with his disciples, he knew where they were and their needs. The disciples were not able to make much headway in the strong wind and against the high waves. They had been straining at the oars for most of the night and were only three miles from the shore. But even in the darkness of night and at such a distance, Jesus knew exactly where his friends were. This would be impossible for an ordinary man but not for the all-knowing Son of God.

In that same way, Jesus knows exactly where we are at all times, and he knows what circumstances we are facing. Jesus knows the difficulties we are going through. From the top of that mountain, he saw the plight of his disciples. And now, from heaven’s vantage point, he sees our lives’ struggles.

When you cry out to him for help, don’t be afraid that he will not find you. Jesus sees you, knows your need, and can reach you wherever you are.

Prayer: (Psalm 138:7)
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.

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.