Month: September 2023
Debts – September 21, 2023
[Jesus said] “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.”
Matthew 18:23-27
Debts
Daily Devotion – September 21, 2023
Devotion based on Matthew 18:23-27
See series: Devotions
Matthew, the apostle and evangelist, knew all about debts. Before he became a disciple of Jesus, he had been a tax collector—responsible for collecting money from people in Israel on behalf of the occupying Roman government. He would have kept track of income and debts for people from all levels of society and would have been aware of how people got into trouble with difficulty paying off their debts.
Matthew must have been fascinated by Jesus telling the story of the servant of a king who had a huge debt. The debt was millions of days’ worth of wages, an impossible sum. Matthew knew what happened to people who accumulated such massive debts. Everything they had, everything dear to them, even their families, would have been sold or enlisted to pay off the debt. Matthew may even have seen such scenarios play out in real life.
Imagine Matthew’s surprise when someone in the story with ultimate authority, a king and master, takes pity on the man with the debt and simply cancels it. A king could do that, but it was probably a rare event.
As Matthew got to know Jesus, he would have realized that the story was about him and about each one of us. Our debt to God is unpayable because of the things we have done wrong, and the good things we have neglected to do. He should send us to hell. Instead, because of the payment that Jesus made for us on the cross, God takes pity on us, cancels our debt, and promises us heaven.
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for taking pity on us, canceling our debt to you, and setting us free in Jesus. Amen.
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Where You Get the Strength – September 20, 2023
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Where You Get the Strength
Daily Devotion – September 20, 2023
Devotion based on Ephesians 4:32
See series: Devotions
My dad had to say it to me and my siblings so often that he ended up abbreviating it. “ABK!” he would call out to the back seats of the station wagon. “ABK!” he would yell upstairs where our bedrooms were. “ABK!” he would say in the backyard while sitting in his lawn chair near the grill and watching us play.
“ABK” stood for Always Be Kind.
We knew Christians were supposed to be kind. We had heard the Bible verse, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” But it was so hard! Siblings were so annoying and obnoxious! And whatever it was, they did it on purpose!
It’s difficult for adults to be kind and compassionate as well. Being unkind seems to come naturally. To be honest, it’s easy to prove that other people don’t deserve our kindness. Unkindness seems to come just as naturally to them as it does to me.
Where will I ever get the strength to forgive unkind people?
The strength will come from realizing that God has forgiven me even when I don’t deserve it. I will get the strength from seeing how Christ treated me even when I was a sinner. My own forgiveness from a kind and compassionate God will give me the strength to be kind and compassionate as well.
There is a hint in the Lord’s Prayer. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” When I call on God to forgive my sins, I am called to do the same for all those unkind people around me.
Prayer:
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray, but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say. Amen.
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Refrain Then Replace – September 19, 2023
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
Refrain Then Replace
Daily Devotion – September 19, 2023
Devotion based on Ephesians 4:29
See series: Devotions
Using ungodly language is such an easy habit to get into. People misuse God’s name every day. Dirty jokes are easy to remember and, sadly, often get a good reaction. Harming someone else’s reputation is, unfortunately, usually super satisfying. All these bad practices are what our Bible reading for today refers to as unwholesome. You know they are wrong, but you are rarely called to account for them.
Stop it. Refrain. Get out of the habit. Tell people to remind you. Do not go back to the habit. Confess your sins to the Lord. Ask him for forgiveness.
Because Jesus never used ungodly language, never misused the name of God, never told a dirty joke, and never hurt another person’s reputation, but still died to take the punishment for those sins, you are forgiven. Your mouth is cleansed. You are wholesome in God’s sight.
You may still notice that the whole unwholesome talk habit is hard to break. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” is great advice, but very difficult to carry out.
Here’s some help. When you are tempted to say something bad, say something good instead. What counts as good talk? Anything that is helpful for building others up according to their needs. This includes compliments, encouragement, and solid advice. You know those things are right.
Refrain from unwholesome talk. Replace it with wholesome talk. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. If you struggle with that, steer the conversation toward Jesus, your Savior. That will always benefit anyone who is listening.
Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Lord Jesus, take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee. Amen.
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God Intended It for Good – September 18, 2023
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20
God Intended It for Good
Daily Devotion – September 18, 2023
Devotion based on Genesis 50:20
See series: Devotions
When something bad happens to me randomly, I can usually handle it. I figure that God is in control, and he will cause everything to work together for my good.
But when someone intends to harm me and seems to succeed, it is harder for me to handle. I am tempted to lash out, to get revenge, to hold a grudge.
During the early history of God’s people in Israel, a man named Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers. He was taken to a foreign country and eventually thrown into prison on false charges. Later he was released from prison and ended up with a terrific amount of political and social power. He used that power to help many people survive a famine.
Then Joseph met his brothers again. It would have been understandable if he had lashed out, gotten revenge, and held a grudge. His brothers feared that and begged him for mercy.
Joseph showed mercy to his brothers. He explained why. Joseph understood his life from God’s perspective. He told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
When people seem to harm me, it is good for me to remember what Joseph said. God is still in control, and his ultimate purpose is always to bring people to a knowledge of the truth that Jesus forgives them and is their Savior.
I may not always understand how God will make something good happen when he allows people to harm me, but it seems possible that eventually, they may be able to learn about forgiveness from Jesus through me.
Prayer:
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Amen.
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Turn! – September 17, 2023
“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
Ezekiel 33:10,11
Turn!
Daily Devotion – September 17, 2023
Devotion based on Ezekiel 33:10,11
See series: Devotions
What would you do if the doctor entered the exam room and announced, “If you don’t pursue a healthier lifestyle, you will not live to see your children grow up?” You would make some changes.
What would you do if your fiscal advisor told you to adjust your investment strategy for some financial security in this turbulent economy? You would listen to his advice and follow his recommendations.
But what do you do when your conscience screams at you for the harsh words you spoke to your spouse last night? What about the times you lusted after the person walking down the street? What about the bitterness in your heart for the blessings someone else has received? What about the anger toward God for those times when things didn’t go the way you thought they should? What are you to do at those times?
This is where the words of the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel apply. The Lord says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” So what action follows these words? “Turn! Turn from your evil ways!” Get rid of your bitterness and rage. Use your tongue to give glory to God and encourage one another. Turn from the sins you have committed and hold on to the Lord. He has removed the penalty of death for sin. He gives you eternal life, guaranteed by Jesus’ victor crown as he carried your sin for you and overcame death.
What do you do when the Lord gives you the certainty of eternal life? Turn! Turn from your sins and to the forgiveness of the Lord.
Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, I know that you do not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Forgive my sins. Let me never forget the life you give me through the blood of Jesus. Amen.
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A Watchful Eye – September 16, 2023
[Jesus said] “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:19,20
A Watchful Eye
Daily Devotion – September 16, 2023
Devotion based on Matthew 18:19,20
See series: Devotions
Philip Melanchthon, one of Martin Luther’s friends and fellow teachers, pointed out: “To be present everywhere, to answer prayer, and to bring help everywhere—these are properties of…God himself.” Therefore, Jesus is declaring to us in these verses that he is truly God. We can trust his promise that he is with us because as the exalted Son of God he now “fills the whole universe” (Ephesians 4:10). We are assured that as the almighty God there is nothing that is impossible for him as he always acts for our greatest good.
Jesus is with us individually. He assures us, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus is with his believers when they gather together as his church on earth. Yes, we are assured of his abiding presence when we meet in his name to study and learn his word, to pray and worship together, to plan and carry out his commission of making disciples, to proclaim the good news to people that their guilt of sin is washed away by the blood of Christ, to encourage each other to keep our focus on Jesus with the confidence that he will not forsake us and with the joy of knowing that he is coming back to take us to be with him in heaven.
The gospel ministry that believers do together on earth always goes on under Jesus’ watchful eye and with his powerful presence. Therefore, we will not despair, but all the more dedicate ourselves to the work he has given us as his church.
Prayer:
Jesus, keep me faithful to your word. Encouraged by your abiding presence, help me plan, and carry out your work of proclaiming the good news of salvation to the whole world. Amen.
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Gathered with Jesus – September 15, 2023
[Jesus said] “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20
Gathered with Jesus
Daily Devotion – September 15, 2023
Devotion based on Matthew 18:20
See series: Devotions
A lot of harsh words are spoken in our world. Civil debate has given way to name-calling and accusations that seek to destroy people’s reputations. Harsh words often divide. But hard words spoken in love for a straying soul are meant to unite.
Jesus’ instructions in our Bible reading for today have the purpose of bringing back the brother or sister who has sinned. Our Savior’s intent, through the tough conversations we have with a straying soul is not to drive away but to reunite. His purpose is to break down the barrier of unbelief and bridge the divide sin has caused. His purpose is to reunite us with our brothers and sisters and to the love and peace of our Father in heaven.
And when you do speak hard words to a fellow Christian, remember you are not alone in this rescue mission. Your Savior is with you to give you the courage to speak the truth in love. Where two or three gather in Jesus’ name, he is giving power and authority to his words spoken through you. Jesus is not like a king who sends a messenger to a far-off land but remains in the comforts of his castle. He is with you in the midst of a tough or uncomfortable conversation. When his words of warning accomplish their purpose, there he is with you and in your voice as you proclaim nothing but forgiveness and healing to the one who turns away from sin and returns to the Lord. Our Savior not only gathers us together as a family, but he gathers with us and fills us with his love and peace.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, gather us together with our brothers and sisters in Christ and with you and your gifts of grace. Amen.
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Win the Soul, Not the Argument – September 14, 2023
[Jesus said] “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
Matthew 18:15
Win the Soul, Not the Argument
Daily Devotion – September 14, 2023
Devotion based on Matthew 18:15
See series: Devotions
If you have the correct information and fact-checked documentation to prove it, it’s easy to win an argument. If someone is clearly wrong, it’s easy to pull out your phone, do a quick search, and show that you are right and they are wrong. Anytime you win an argument, it gives you a little sense of victory. You feel like you just came out on top.
When someone has clearly sinned and is in the wrong, it may be very easy to prove it. You have the clear words of the Bible that leave no gray area. However, when we approach a fellow Christian who is caught in a sin, we have a greater goal than winning an argument and proving we are right. The goal is not to come out on top. It’s to walk beside the person in humility and clarity and then to come out sharing the victory that Jesus gives over sin.
Always remember the goal of the mission our Savior gives us: win the soul, not the argument. That is what Jesus has done for that soul and ours. Countless times, my Savior could have simply come and proven me wrong. But he came to win our souls, to pay the price to forgive and restore us as God’s children. Our Savior comes through his Word, even words spoken through us, to declare his forgiveness and to win the soul, not the argument.
Prayer:
Lord, give me a heart to see the soul that is in peril with the same compassion you have and to confront sin only to win the soul for you. Amen.
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