Month: May 2024

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16,17

God’s Love Conquers All

Daily Devotion – May 31, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:16,17


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“Omnia vincit amor.” Those were words once penned by the ancient Latin poet Virgil. We know them in English as “love conquers all.” The only problem with Virgil’s conclusion is that he was speaking of a self-centered love, where sinful people finally choose the person or thing most irresistible to their sensuous desires. In other words, whatever brings me the greatest pleasure is the thing I will choose; my “love” for that thing “conquers” all other options. I get what I want the most.

Is that the kind of love God has for us? Does he choose that which brings him the most pleasure? No, just the opposite. God’s love for us is not about how much pleasure we bring to him because, as broken sinners, we could never please him, not even for a moment. Instead, God’s love for us is about what he gives to us unconditionally, no strings attached.

And what has God the Father given us? His one and only Son, Jesus. And what did Jesus willingly do for us even though we were completely unlovable? He sacrificed his perfect life for our broken lives. He took the world’s sin on his shoulders and carried it to the cross, washing it away forever. More than that, he replaced our sin with his perfection. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Why would God do that? There can be only one reason: because he loves us. And what is his unconditional love for us meant to inspire in our stony hearts of unbelief? Simple, childlike faith worked mysteriously and miraculously by his Spirit.

There’s no other love like God’s love. It conquers all—even the hardest of hearts—so that “whoever believes in (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.” Just imagine! God rescues us from the dominion of darkness and brings us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for loving me with a love that conquers all. Amen.

[Jesus said] “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14,15

Cast Your Eyes on Jesus!

Daily Devotion – May 30, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:14,15


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Things didn’t go as planned when God rescued his Old Testament people from their slavery in Egypt and promised to settle them in a land flowing with milk and honey. But that change of plans wasn’t God’s fault; it was entirely the fault of his stubborn people, who refused to trust him. As the situation deteriorated—and the people began to complain angrily against God and his servant Moses—the Lord sent venomous snakes among them to teach them an important lesson.

But while some of the Israelites died from poisonous bites, the lesson God wanted to teach them wasn’t so much about his punishment for stubborn wrongdoing. He wanted to teach them about his love, forgiveness, and salvation. So when the people cried out for mercy, what did God do? He sent them a savior! He told Moses to fashion a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole. The Lord told him that “anyone who is bitten can look at it and live” (Numbers 21:8). And as he always does, God kept his promise. “Cast your eyes on the bronze snake and you will live!”

We may never be bitten by a snake, but each one of us is snake-bitten by our sin. From the moment we took our first breaths, our brokenness has been our faithful but deadly companion. Left to ourselves, we could never escape sin’s poisonous and deadly venom.

Enter Jesus, the world’s only Savior from sin and death. Jesus explained how God showed his love by sending him. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” In other words, while our sin is indeed deadly—and we’re unable to save ourselves from its consequences—our Savior God has sent his Son to do what we could never do, to give us life and salvation forever.

What do you and I need to do? Absolutely nothing. Cast your eyes on Jesus! Trust him. He saves.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me cast my eyes on you and to trust you for all things now and forever. Amen.

[Jesus answered] “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:6-8

The Miracle and Mystery of Faith

Daily Devotion – May 29, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:6-8


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Having faith in others doesn’t come naturally to us. We instinctively trust ourselves, not others. We learn to mistrust others because so often frail humans are not trustworthy. They don’t earn our trust.

But God is always trustworthy, whether we believe that or not. So, our lack of faith in him is not a result of his failures; it’s a direct result of the brokenness we inherit from our parents. Jesus could not have been more right when he declared, “Flesh gives birth to flesh.” In other words, sinners give birth to sinners. We’re sinful from the time our mothers conceive us” (Psalm 51:5). And because we’re born sinners, we’re also born without true fear of God and true faith in him. We can’t help ourselves; we’re born spiritually dead (Eph 2:1).

So, how can we ever come to trust God if we’re spiritually stillborn at birth? It’s both a mystery and a miracle performed entirely by the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that “the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” He means the Holy Spirit, and what does the Spirit do? He gives us new spiritual life by kindling our faith in God and fanning it into flame.

How does he do it? In so many ways, his work of bringing sinners to faith in Jesus is a sacred mystery. Jesus compared it to the comings and goings of the wind. “The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

But this much we can know: the Spirit uses God’s Word and sacraments, especially Holy Baptism, to work Christian faith and to save us eternally.

How can a few words and splash of water do such powerful things? Because God can do all things. Why would we trust him if he couldn’t?

Prayer:
Jesus, grant me your Spirit through Word and sacrament that I might trust you more each day. Amen.

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
John 3:4,5

God’s Hidden, Saving Power

Daily Devotion – May 28, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:4,5


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Jesus had told his visitor Nicodemus that he needed to be born again to see the kingdom of God, that is, to see and understand how God works and rules in our broken lives to save us forever. The problem was Nicodemus didn’t understand. Born again? “How can someone be born when they are old?” he scoffed. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

It’s no wonder he reacted the way he did. How else can a person be “reborn”? Like us, Nicodemus naturally figured that God always works and saves in ways we can see with our eyes. His kingdom is certainly visible, right?

In some ways, yes. The psalmist David once marveled, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psalm 19:1,2). In other words, we can certainly see God’s kingdom—his ruling power—in the vast, starry heavens. We can feel God’s kingdom in raging winds and blustery storms. We can spot God’s kingdom when a tiny seedling explodes into a flowery burst of color.

But God works most powerfully in ways we can’t see with our eyes. Take baptism, for instance. It’s a splash of water and a few simple words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Yet that combination works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and bestows eternal salvation on all who believe its promise!

Jesus explained, “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” He was pointing specifically to the hidden power of baptism, but he had an even greater lesson in mind: God works powerfully to save us in ways our eyes can’t fathom.

What’s left for us to do? Nothing. Just trust him.

Prayer:
Jesus, remind me daily how powerfully you’re working to save me in ways I simply can’t see. Amen.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:1-3

Seeing Isn’t Believing

Daily Devotion – May 27, 2024

Devotion based on John 3:1-3


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The Pharisees were not Jesus’ friends. They were an ultra-conservative sect who considered themselves the gold standard of piety. They were “true believers” who made sure they followed the letter of God’s law to a tee, even adding their own restrictions to demonstrate just how holy they were.

But Jesus constantly upbraided them for their self-righteous attitudes and failure to show mercy toward others. They hated him for it. Even from the earliest days of Jesus’ ministry, they plotted to kill him.

That’s why the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus—recorded in John chapter 3—is so fascinating. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, undoubtedly to avoid detection by his associates. He admitted to Jesus, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.” And how did they know? Because “no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In other words, as much as the Pharisees hated Jesus, they had to concede he had a divine mission because they witnessed his miracles.

But Jesus would teach Nicodemus an important lesson that bears repeating. Seeing isn’t believing. In other words, true faith is not a matter of what we see with our eyes, even when we see miracles. It’s a matter of trusting God’s promises despite what our eyes see. Jesus explained, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

A person who is born again trusts Jesus and his promises unconditionally, even when doing that doesn’t seem like a sure bet.

And when you trust him, guess what you’ll see? You’ll see God’s kingdom–how he rules behind the scenes to safeguard your salvation forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, give me the eyes of faith so that I always trust your promises, no matter what. Amen.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
Romans 8:15

No More Slavery to Fear

Daily Devotion – May 26, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 8:15


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An Oscar-winning film, “The King’s Speech” is based on the true story of Albert Windsor, a shy, stammering member of the British royal family. Albert had a severe stammering problem all his life, and the very idea of giving a speech in public filled him with terror. Then, the unthinkable happened. His older brother, the King, abdicated his throne in the 1930s. Albert was the next in line. Duty demanded that he accept the crown. Not long after, World War II broke out. Suddenly, the stammering man who feared public speaking more than anything had to give a radio speech broadcast to millions of people.

By a seeming miracle, he did it. In fact, he did it with hardly a stammer. The secret was his speech therapist. Over time, his speech therapist had removed much of Albert’s fear of public speaking. When the paralyzing fear left, Albert was able to do what needed to be done.

The day the Holy Spirit brought you to faith in Jesus was the day you didn’t have to be afraid anymore. But the devil hopes you won’t remember that. Satan hopes that you’ll still stay paralyzed in your old fears, your old guilt, your old regrets, your dark memories of past failures. After all, if he can get you to forget what you have in Christ, he’s won the battle for the day.

Today, give the devil a bad day. Remember the forgiveness you possess in the Son of God. Stop and recall that you are a child in God’s family by faith. Take your old fear and have it washed away in the blood of the Lamb.

When you do, you can live free of the old slavery to fear. And fluently with your life, you can do some of the wonderful things God desires for you to do.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, apart from you I am afraid. In you, however, I have nothing to fear. Empower me by your Spirit to remember that. Use me to do your good work. Amen.

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
Ezekiel 37:1-6

Can these bones live?

Daily Devotion – May 25, 2024

Devotion based on Ezekiel 37:1-6


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Have you ever gone into a natural history museum that had bones of dinosaurs, birds, and other creatures displayed? As you look at these bones, your mind may start to put flesh on them, give them a personality and imagine what it would have been like to see these bones covered by flesh and alive. But, of course, you know this can’t happen.

As the prophet Ezekiel stared at a valley of human bones in a vision God gave him, The LORD asked him, “Son of man can these bones live?” The natural response would have been, “No way!” However, Ezekiel said, “O Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel knew that he could not do something so miraculous, but the true God could. And he did. God gave Ezekiel the words to speak, and life came into the bones.

Ezekiel’s vision was a picture of what God can do for spiritually dead people, people like you and I were by birth. We had no spiritual life. But, through his promise of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus, God creates faith in our hearts to believe what he has promised. And, just like that, we are spiritually alive.

Be thankful today that yours is a God who can make the dead live!

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me spiritually alive by believing all that you have promised. Amen.

“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Acts 2:11-13

The Wonders of God

Daily Devotion – May 24, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 2:11-13


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If you’ve ever walked through a busy international airport terminal, you’ve been bombarded with the discord of multiple foreign languages. The words you cannot understand sound like gibberish. And when you hear your native tongue, it is a welcome relief.

Foreigners crowded the streets and temple in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Harvest. Different languages and dialects filled the air. Suddenly, those foreigners could understand someone speaking to them in their language.

It was amazing to hear their own language. It was also perplexing because the ones speaking were from Israel, not from all over the ancient world. But what was truly refreshing was the message they heard. The disciples of Jesus were declaring the wonders of God. They shared the good news of God sending the Messiah, Jesus Christ, into the world. They spoke of the many proofs of Jesus’ divinity, culminating with his death and resurrection from the grave.

As is always the case, though, there were some who rejected this message. It was gibberish to them, and they excused this miraculous event as drunkenness.

There will always be some who reject the wonders of God. Without the Holy Spirit, those words will always be gibberish. But there will be others who hear the wonders of God and to them, there is no greater relief or comfort. The Holy Spirit comforts them with the message of the forgiveness of sins. The Spirit reassures them of God’s grace and love for them. The Spirit helps them to delight in God’s law and commands. They never tire of hearing of God’s wonders.

When you hear the wonders of God, may they be a welcome relief to you. May you find comfort and reassurance in Jesus—the Savior from your sin.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, come and make known the wonders of God to me. Help me always to delight in your Word and work. Amen.