Month: May 2024

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

Powered by the Spirit

Daily Devotion – May 23, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-4


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You can’t miss them as you drive through the heartland of America. They’re the tallest structures in miles and miles of farmland. They’re windmills. Modern windmills can be as tall as a 32-story building when you count the turbine at its apex. And they’re built to do one thing: catch the power of the wind.

You can’t see the wind. You can’t hear it. You can see the things the wind blows. You can hear the leaves as the wind rushes through them, but the wind is invisible and silent. You don’t know where it comes from or where it goes.

In some ways, the wind is similar to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the force that powers God’s Church on earth. God’s Church acts like the turbines of a windmill. The Church is powered by the Holy Spirit.

This started on the Day of Pentecost. In a dramatic way, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Peter, the same disciple who had denied knowing Jesus to a little servant girl, suddenly had the courage to preach to thousands of people.

The other disciples, who had fled from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, went into all the world proclaiming the resurrection of the Savior Jesus. The Church of God continues this work by preaching the forgiveness of sins found in Jesus alone.

On Pentecost, the Spirit rested as a tongue of flame on each disciple. We don’t see the Holy Spirit work that way today, but the Spirit does work through the water of baptism and the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. The Spirit works through the preaching of the God’s Word. God continues to power his Church through the Spirit.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, continue to power your people through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[Jesus said] “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
John 15:26,27

The Spirit of Truth

Daily Devotion – May 22, 2024

Devotion based on John 15:26,27


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When you look at a photograph of yourself, you flash back to that moment in time. One feature of storing photos digitally is you can get an automatic flashback notification on your phone. For example, Amazon Photos or Google Storage will show you pictures you took a year ago, five years ago, or however long it’s been. You can relive that day through the pictures you took.

On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus’ disciples had a flashback. Jesus had promised his disciples that he would send them the Advocate, a helper. This Advocate was the Holy Spirit, who came upon the disciples in power on Pentecost. They remembered that Jesus had promised to do this for them.

Jesus had also told the disciples what the Holy Spirit would do. He would testify about Jesus. And the Spirit would help the disciples to do the very same thing. With the help of the Spirit, the disciples recalled the life of Jesus, the words he spoke, and the deeds he did. Guided by the Spirit, they wrote about Jesus and his teachings. These writings make up the New Testament of the Bible. They testify about Jesus.

It’s always interesting looking at a photo with others who were also in the picture. You remember different things, different details. You help each other to fill in the memory blanks.

The Holy Spirit would make sure the disciples would record and remember everything about Jesus’ life we needed to know. They testify so “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, we can be sure that God’s Word is the truth. We can be sure that the same Holy Spirit will work through that Word to create and strengthen faith, to forgive sins, and to give new life.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit on the disciples. Help me to trust the testimony written about you in the Bible. Amen.

Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.’”
Ezekiel 37:11-13

Dry Bones to Living Hope

Daily Devotion – May 21, 2024

Devotion based on Ezekiel 37:11-13


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The imagery of dry bones symbolizes the desolation and despair felt by the people of Israel during their exile to the country of Babylon. They believed their hope was lost, their identity cut off, and their future buried in the dust of defeat. Yet, amid this hopelessness, God speaks a powerful word of promise through the prophet Ezekiel.

God reveals to Ezekiel that these dry bones represent the people of Israel who feel spiritually and nationally dead. They have given up hope, feeling disconnected from their heritage and purpose. But God declares that he will intercede. He will open their graves, bring them back to their land, and restore their relationship with him.

Maybe you have experienced seasons of dryness like the Israelites. Your faith seemed empty, your hope evaporating, and your connection to God distant. You felt like those dry bones, disconnected from the life-giving source of God’s presence and promises.

Yet, just as God promised restoration to Israel, he promises the same to you. He can breathe life into your dry bones, renewing your hope and reviving your faith. No situation is beyond his ability to restore and redeem. When you feel cut off and hopeless, God invites you to trust in his faithfulness.

God’s promise of opening graves and bringing life from death is not just a historical event for Israel; it’s relevant for you. In Jesus, you have the ultimate fulfillment of this promise. Jesus’ resurrection shows God’s power to bring life out of death, hope out of despair, and victory out of defeat.

Prayer:
O Lord, you are the God of resurrection and restoration. Send me your Spirit to restore my soul and bring me to life eternal with you. Amen.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
Ezekiel 37:9,10

The Word of Life

Daily Devotion – May 20, 2024

Devotion based on Ezekiel 37:9,10


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This chapter of the book of Ezekiel sounds like a spooky story. The Spirit of God leads the prophet Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones. But these aren’t animal bones; they’re human bones. Femurs, rib cages, vertebrae, and skulls—these bones were lifeless and dry.

What happened to these people? What caused them to become a lifeless valley of bones? Unlike our spooky stories, there was no fast-spreading, deadly virus. It was neither a magical incantation nor a catastrophic natural disaster. No, the reason for this death was sin.

Sin is so powerful that it makes people spiritually dead. All of us come into this world spiritually dead. We are dry bones. And dead, dry bones can do nothing. Ezekiel could have walked up and down that valley for 100 years, and those bones never would have shown any signs of life.

But God intervenes. He tells Ezekiel to speak. But not just any words—no, God gives Ezekiel the words to say. And the faithful prophet carries out his work. He speaks the Word of the Lord. Bones come together. Flesh comes onto bones, but the bodies are still lifeless until God commands Ezekiel to call breath into them. And miraculously, those once dry bones become a living, breathing people, a vast army.

In a similar fashion, the only thing that can save us from spiritual death is the Word of the Lord. The Word is powerful, even more powerful than sin and death. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit attaches bone to bone. He puts flesh on the bones and breathes life into us. God’s Word is the Word of Life.

God wants us to hear and use his Word so that we can see how much he loves and cares for his people. He doesn’t want us to remain a valley of dry bones. He wants to give us life.

Prayer:
Dear God, cause me to hear and speak your Word. Amen.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:1-3

An Amazing Event

Daily Devotion – May 19, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 2:1-3


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“They were all together…” Who are the “they”? It’s probably best understood to be the 120 believers who are described in Acts 1:15 “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).” Yes, the apostles of Jesus are there, but there are many other believers there, too. People like Matthias, the person chosen to take Judas’ place as one of the apostles.

And did you notice? “Tongues of fire . . . came to rest on each of them!” Yes, there was a tongue of fire on Peter’s head, but there was also one on the head of all those unnamed believers in Jesus, like believer #57. James, John, Andrew, Thomas, and Matthias—each of them had a flame; so did believer #120.

If you had been there, you would have had a flame, too. Why? Because the Holy Spirit works on the hearts of each of us individually. Through your baptism, for example, you received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God brought you to believe that Jesus was your Savior. God convinced you that Jesus had paid for your sins. God assured you that there is a home in heaven awaiting. God the Holy Spirit works in your heart—individually, personally—even as he placed a flame on the heads of each individual on that Day of Pentecost.

It must have been an amazing event to experience! I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to be there. It must have been awesome!

The reality is that the Holy Spirit has worked an awesome miracle in you. He brought you to faith! He brought you from spiritual death to spiritual life! That’s a miracle! And every time you hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit continues to pour himself out upon you.

Prayer:
O Holy Spirit, continue to bring your life-giving Word to my heart, that I might remain a child of God all my life, until that wonderful day when you take me to life eternal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59,60

Have the Strength of Stephen

Daily Devotion – May 18, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 7:59,60


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Stephen has the distinction of being the first Christian martyr. Illegally arrested, tried, and convicted by enemies of the Christian Church, Stephen was dragged outside the city of Jerusalem and pummeled with stones until he died.

Wouldn’t you like to be like Stephen? I’m not suggesting that any of us would revel in the idea of facing injustice, pain, and death. What I am suggesting is that any of us would revel in the idea of facing injustice, pain and death with the kind of strength Stephen displayed: “While they were stoning him…” While the stones bruised and cut his flesh, Stephen prayed for those throwing the stones. What did he pray? He prayed that Jesus would forgive them.

Whom do you have to forgive? Is it a relative, friend, or neighbor? Is it a teacher, student, or co-worker? Are you thinking, “I can’t forgive him for that?” What has the person done that is worse than stoning you to death? Stephen could forgive because he knew he had been forgiven. He knew he was no more deserving of God’s forgiveness than the men killing him were. And he knew he didn’t need to get even with them. It was in Jesus’ hands. He could trust Jesus to do what was right and just.

You have that same security. You don’t have to hold on to those grudges and that anger. Jesus is alive and well. Easter assures you of this. You can forgive those who have sinned against you, knowing that Jesus has forgiven you. You can forgive those who have sinned against you, knowing he is perfectly capable of doing what is just and right for those who have hurt you.

Wouldn’t you like to be like Stephen—strong enough to stand firm when persecuted and forgive those who persecute you? You are like Stephen. You have the same living Lord he had. And Jesus will give you the strength you need.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you in prayer because I know you are alive and ruling all things. Grant me the strength you gave your servant Stephen that I may stand firm against those who oppose you and that I may forgive those who hurt me. Amen.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59,60

Rescuing Us From This World

Daily Devotion – May 17, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 7:59,60


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Duct tape is a wonderful thing. It’s can repair shoes, furniture, boxes, appliances, and even cars. But after a while, there are just some items that are too broken to be fixed. Not even duct tape can do the job. This world is broken. Broken relationships. Broken people. And yes, our Savior Jesus overcomes the world. He overcomes broken relationships by motivating us through his Word. He overcomes broken souls by providing faithful witnesses of the gospel. Yet, because of sin, this side of heaven will always have an element of brokenness.

So what does our Savior do? Eventually, in his grace, he will rescue us from this broken world by bringing us to his unbroken world of heaven, a world where there are no more tears, no more pain, no hunger, no heartache, no headache. What a beautiful day that will be when he closes our eyes as we fall asleep in a broken world, only to wake up and see him in all his glory standing before us.

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” That was what Stephen prayed after being dragged out of the city and having stones thrown at him. You may never have a stone thrown at your head that will claim your life. But because a stone was rolled away, revealing the empty tomb of Jesus, you will always have life as you will be rescued from this broken world.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee. Amen.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at [Stephen]. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:54-56

Showing Us He’s in Control

Daily Devotion – May 16, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 7:54-56


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What is your favorite way to picture Jesus? Is it baby Jesus lying in a manger? Miraculous Jesus walking on water? Loving Jesus sacrificing his life on the cross? Victorious Jesus exiting a tomb? Many biblical pictures of Jesus may bring us comfort at various times of our lives. When I am troubled by my sins, the image of Christ paying the price on the cross brings relief. When I’m attending a funeral, Jesus walking out of the tomb helps to dry the tears. But what about when you’re being persecuted? What Jesus do you want to see when your co-worker gives you the jab of being a Jesus freak? When your Easter Instagram or Facebook post gets a nasty comment? When your relatives are “furious” or “gnash their teeth” at you because of your religious convictions. What Jesus do you want to see, then?

We may not find it very comforting to picture a swaddled baby when we’re being attacked for our faith. But King Jesus? Well, that’s a different story. And that’s a picture the Bible gives us of Jesus right now. Right now, Jesus is “standing at the right hand of God.” Right now, Jesus is in a position of authority, ruling all things for your benefit. Right now, Jesus has every enemy of his people under his feet. When we feel we are being overcome by this broken world, remember what Jesus showed Stephen: he is in control. May that truth reign in your heart.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Amen.

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose . . . To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! . . . You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Acts 6:8,9; 7:2,51-53

Faithful Witness of People

Daily Devotion – May 15, 2024

Devotion based on Acts 6:8,9; 7:2,51-53


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“The doctor needs to see you as soon as possible. Can you come in today?” Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of that phone call. But it’s a phone call that must take place. If you are diagnosed with some illness that requires immediate attention, you don’t want the doctor to keep it a secret and to wait until your next visit. Not only do you appreciate the immediate attention, but you also appreciate that the doctor wants to have the conversation in person. It demonstrates care and concern.

And yet, isn’t it a wonder that what we desire and expect for our physical welfare is the opposite of what we expect and desire for our spiritual welfare? We don’t like to hear about what we’ve done wrong. Or we get defensive when someone points out the faults of our family members. “Who are you to judge?” or “Mind your own business” are phrases that so easily come out of our mouths when we are confronted. But consider just how spiritually dangerous it would be if our sins went unchecked. Unless we know something is wrong, we won’t care about a cure. Unless we know something is broken, it won’t ever get fixed.

Our God doesn’t want this sin-broken world to stay broken. God doesn’t want you to be broken. So what does he do? He makes the difficult phone call and has the tough conversations through the faithful witness of people. We need to hear God’s law and how we’ve broken it. Not so we can feel hopelessly broken, but so that he can point us to his Son, Jesus, who never broke a single law but obeyed them all perfectly for us.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee. Amen.