Category: Daily Devotions

On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:16–17

A Joyful Song for You

There are some songs that everyone knows. That’s especially true this time of year. I’ll prove it. Complete the following lyrics. “I’m dreaming of…” (pause) “…a White Christmas.” Here’s another: “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, had a very…” (pause) Everyone knows it’s “shiny nose.” One of the reasons we all know these songs is that we love to sing them.

What if I told you that there is a song that God loves to sing?

Zephaniah told us that when God looks at mankind, he often sees us fearful. What is it that is making you afraid? Is it fears about your financial future? Are you frightened by the state of our world or country? What about death? Does the thought of dying scare you? Maybe what scares you is that you’re wrestling with some sin. You know that God sees that sin every time you commit it, and that thought scares you.

Zephaniah told us that when God comes to us in those scary times and he quiets our fears with his love, it makes him so happy, he himself bursts out in joyful song.

If you think Christmas makes you happy, my friends, think about how happy it made your God. Because when Christ came to earth, he took away everything we fear. You fear your financial future? In the future, you will live in Christ’s very own mansion. You fear for the state of our world? Christ is going to make a new heavens and a new earth. You fear death? Look into the empty tomb. You are going to be raised, just like Jesus. You fear your sin? Jesus paid it all. In your baptism, you were washed clean. When God looks at you, he sees the perfection and holiness of Christ. You have nothing to fear! Absolutely nothing.

That all is good news of great joy which the angels sang about on that first Christmas Eve. We hear that good news, and it quiets us…it calms our fears. We rejoice in Zephaniah’s promise: “The LORD your God is with you.” That is what Immanuel means, “God with us.” We sing that this time of year too. “Oh come, oh Come, Emmanuel.” When God hears that song, when he sees that his grace has calmed our fearful hearts, he sings for joy too!

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, thank you for taking away our fears. Fill our hearts with the joy of our salvation, and we will sing your praises, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

 

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
Zephaniah 3:14-15

Singing with Greater Joy

What kind of songs make you sing along? Maybe it’s the latest hit that tops the charts. Maybe it’s a blast from your past. This time of year, maybe it’s one of the Christmas songs playing on the radio. Whether you are the giddy gal who belts it out behind the wheel or you’re the tone-deaf guy whose range is somewhat monotone, chances are there is something that will make you sing along.

God loves that! He’s the one who created the physics of sound, the sense of hearing, the mouths that shape our words, and the very breath that enables us to sing. The birds can make pretty sounds, but they cannot really sing. God gave that gift to mankind.

And yet of all the things that make us want to sing for joy, the reality is there are circumstances in life that make us silent. When Zephaniah shared the words of our text, the people of Judah did not feel like singing. They were facing catastrophe and death. They had brought this upon themselves. After decades of unrepentant sin, God had had enough. Punishment was coming. The nation of Judah would be conquered by pagan foreigners. The great city of Jerusalem would fall.

How then can Zephaniah encourage the people to sing for joy? It would be a ridiculous request, except for the fact that Zephaniah also told them, “The LORD has taken away your punishment.” It is not that Judah would stay safe and Jerusalem would be spared. No, they would be destroyed. But Zephaniah is referring to a worse punishment—the eternal punishment of hell. Everyone in Judah who put their faith in the LORD, the gracious God who had promised to send a Messiah, would escape that eternal punishment.

Friends, even for repentant believers, sin has earthly consequences. But our time on earth is very short—eighty years if we are fortunate. Then comes eternity. Because of our sins, some of which we committed this very day, we deserve to spend all eternity in agony and remorse in a place called hell.

But on that first Christmas Eve, that Messiah was born. Jesus came, and by his life, death, and resurrection turned back the enemies of sin and death. You have an extremely short amount of time on this earth. After that, you shall spend eternity in a place where you will know only comfort and joy and peace. Heaven will be so vibrant…so wonderful…so exciting, you will not even be able to remember any hardship or pain you experienced here on earth.

As you prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas, all the while mindful that he will come again, remember that God has given you something to sing about. He’s given you a song of forgiveness, fearlessness, and joy. How can we not sing along?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give joy to the sad-hearted. You have pardoned our sin and covered us with your grace. We have a secure heritage in heaven. There, with you, we shall live forever in glory. Help us grasp the certainty of that perfect future, so that we might sing for joy even now. Amen.

 

 

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Joy Versus Anxiety

Don’t be anxious? Does the Apostle Paul sound a little too optimistic here? Our lives are filled with so many reasons for anxiety—especially this time of year! Is there any month where your “to do” list is longer than December? Is there any season where you have more events on your calendar then this one? We can be anxious about little things this time of year like, “Should we visit her parents are my parents this Christmas?” And we can be anxious about big things, like, “Will mom even make it to Christmas. Her health is so bad.”

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was writing to people wracked with anxiety. The believers in Philippi were worried about Paul as he wrote to them from prison. Paul himself was worried for them as he wrote about enemies of the cross of Christ. There is always something to make us anxious.

What has you anxious? Is it the impending Christmas break or what will be under the tree? Is it travel plans and all you have to finish before you leave town? Is it the pressure to make this Christmas memorable because the family is growing up so fast? Is it a lack of plans that has you anxious? Whoever you are and wherever you live, there is always something to make us anxious.

But the peace of God that Paul speaks about is the complete opposite of that anxiety. Living in anxious world and in the midst of an anxious time of year, we can appreciate the contrast. The more we see the anxiousness of the season, the more the peace of God that transcends all understanding stands out as the blessing that it is.

So, slow down and gaze at the baby in the manger. There is no need to spend or plan or hurry. There is nothing for us to do, nothing to busy ourselves with. Instead as we come to the manger, we can be still. Friends, slow down. Take a deep breath. And enjoy the peace he brings. As we gaze at this child in the manger, we see the one who did all that needs to be done to make us right with God through his death on a cross and his resurrection from the dead. We see the one who has forgiven every one of our sins. We see the one who will come again to take us to a world where anxiety does not exist.

In the middle of all our doing, what a joy it is to be still and to rejoice in all that is already done.

There is always something to make us anxious—especially this time of year. But we know where to find peace. We find it in the Savior lying in a manger. Return to his manger often. Leave your anxiety with him. Present your requests, prayers, and petitions to him. He is the reason for peace!

Prayer:
God of peace, you promise to hear and answer our prayers. You know the anxiety that fills our hearts and minds. We commit it to your care. Do what you know is best. Bless our efforts according to your loving will. And lead us to find rest in all that you’ve done for us in your cross. Amen.

 

 

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice Always

Can you remember Christmases from long ago? Christmas is a time of nostalgia. Our attics, smart phones, and social media accounts are filled with memories from past Christmases. It can be fun to go down memory lane as you look at old pictures or watch old videos.

Sometimes, we even try to recreate moments that brought us joy in Christmas past. We still use our favorite childhood Christmas traditions. We make the same Christmas cookies that mom used to make. We try and decorate our homes the same way we did when we were young.

There is a place for such nostalgia. But nostalgia might also reveal deeper struggles taking place within our heart. We live in a broken world. Life can be hard. And so we use nostalgia—recalling the joy of Christmas yesteryear—in our effort to forget about current problems. That approach can give us some joy…until December 26th.

Friends, if our joy this holiday season is found only by looking backward—remembering fond days of Christmases past—then our joy will be fleeting. Nostalgia cannot help you to rejoice always. To rejoice always, you need to look forward, not backward.

God gave us a gift that helps us to look forward, the gift of his own Son in human flesh. Jesus came to us—our “Immanuel,” God with us. God drew near to us on that first Christmas. He came to earth bearing the types of gifts which bring a joy that never fades.

Jesus drew near to conquer sin, death, and the devil for us. Jesus draws near to us still today in the waters of baptism and welcomes us into his family. Jesus draws near to us in his Word. He binds himself to us in promises he will never fail to keep.

Do you want to rejoice always? Then look forward. Because this same Jesus will draw near again, when he returns on the Last Day with a new heavens and a new earth created just for you.

There is joy to be found in our Christmas celebrations. But lasting joy is found only in Jesus. Rejoice in him always.

Prayer:
O Immanuel, you are a God who is near us, with us, and one of us. Lead us to find our joy this Christmas first and foremost in you. And bless us also with those other smaller joys of the season—safe travels, good health, time with family and friends, and other gifts as you see fit. In Your name we ask it, Amen.

 

 

 

And this is my prayer: that…you may be…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:11

Pure and Blameless

Christmas is filled with traditions. One that I remember from my childhood is the family Christmas picture. The boys had their hair combed, my sister was wearing her favorite dress, and (most years) everyone had a smile. My parents hoped to capture a moment when everyone was looking their best.

But it didn’t always work out this way. Sometimes there was an untucked shirt, stains on a sweater, or a shock of hair sticking out the side of someone’s head. We did not always appear as perfect as we would have liked.

The same is true for us spiritually. When our Lord returns on the Last Day, his hope is that we will be perfectly clean of any sin and perfectly obedient to his Word. But so many things stain our spiritual appearance: apathy towards God’s commands, sloppiness in obedience, a lack of love toward others, and the list goes on. These are not superficial details. These blemishes threaten to cut us out of God’s family picture.

Thank God that he sets our hearts at peace this Advent season. We were made pure and blameless when we were baptized—washed in the forgiveness Jesus won for us. We are assured of that purity and forgiveness whenever we receive the Lord’s Supper. In God’s Word and sacraments, we are connected to Jesus and everything he has done to cleanse us from our sin.

Even more, God still sends his Spirit to work in our hearts and turn us away from behaviors that would damage our faith. He preserves us in holiness, turns us from sinful habits, and gives us new desires pleasing to God.

No longer do we appear before God stained and wrinkled with sin, but rather “pure and blameless.”

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for cleansing, washing, and preserving me in holiness for the day of your return. Amen.

 

 

 

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

Picking What is Best

“It’s the thought that counts.” This phrase is meant to rescue us from awkward holiday moments, like when grandma knits you a sweater two sizes too big. But sometimes, the thought, or lack thereof, can actually cause harm. For instance, if you bake cookies that are not gluten free for your friend who is allergic to gluten. When giving gifts to loved ones, thinking about what would be good for and pleasing to them is important.

The same is true when we give gifts to our God. We want our gifts to be good and pleasing to him. The apostle Paul prayed about this very thing in Philippians chapter 1. He prayed that that their love would increase in the knowledge of God’s will so that their lives would be pleasing to him. Paul knew that it is God who fills our hearts with both love and spiritual knowledge. He tells us exactly what he wants us to do in his Word and sends his Spirit to help us do those things. Without our loving Lord, we would be lost, settling for whatever we think God might want and falling far short.

Thankfully, Jesus gave us credit for the ultimate gift. He lived the perfect life that God so dearly desires, and he died the death that we should have died as payment for our sins. Those gifts put us in God’s good graces and set our hearts at rest for the day Jesus returns.

What’s more, through Jesus’ sacrifice and through the Spirit’s guidance, we can offer works pleasing to God. No wondering, no scratching our heads. We can be confident that God delights in, cherishes, and celebrates what we do for him as we follow his commands. Through Christ, we know we are pleasing to our Father.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we praise you for giving us credit for a gift we could never afford—your perfect life and innocent death. Spirit, we thank you for enabling us to offer works that are pleasing and perfect, and for giving us the peace to stand before you on judgment day. Amen.

 

 

 

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

An Early Thank You Card

Thank-yous are usually sent out after the Christmas gifts are opened. A family member takes inventory of the gifts, cash, and cards. Then, at the urging of their parents, children write out their thank-yous and put them in the mail.

In the first few verses of his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul broke from this practice. Well before he received his gift in full, he wrote his thank you note and expressed his joy. Paul was thankful for something that had not even happened yet—a gift that had yet to be given! Wouldn’t it seem strange to write a thank-you to your aunt before she had even sent you her Christmas gift?

Why could Paul be thankful for something that had not yet happened? Because Paul trusted the promises of God. He knew that the same God who had planted faith in the hearts of the Philippians could sustain that faith until Jesus returns.

You can have the same confidence. The God who planted faith in your heart is quite capable of sustaining that faith until Jesus returns. This Advent season, you have every reason to say thank you to your God—even for gifts he has yet to give!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for your promise to preserve and protect my faith, and for the confidence I have in your coming. Amen.

 

 

 

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Malachi 3:2-4

Stand Forever

America is in love with reality TV shows. We can’t get enough of “America’s Got Talent,” “Dancing with the Stars,” and the long running “Survivor.” We want to know: who will be the last one standing? Who will perform under pressure, play the game right, please the judges, and remain the last person standing at the end? The suspense is gripping. The drama is real.

As gripping as these shows are, they don’t really affect our lives and they certainly don’t affect our eternal fate. What will affect our eternal fate is whether we will be able to stand before God when we are brought before him on the Last Day. Talk about drama! This is the ultimate in reality. On that day we will not stand before a panel of celebrities. God himself will judge us. And there will be no immunity idol we can produce at the last minute to save ourselves.

The truth is that we don’t have what it takes to stand alone before God. Our peace comes from knowing Jesus already stood before God on our behalf. God punished Jesus for our sins when Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus met the standard of perfection God demands with his perfect life. Through faith, we are covered in his righteousness. This is what brings us peace. We know where we stand with almighty God because of Jesus. And, because of Jesus, we will stand forever with him in eternity.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the peace you give to us through the forgiveness of sins and the promise of life in heaven. Amen.

 

 

 

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:1

Promises Kept

In our world, promises are often broken. As parents, we sometimes have to break promises to our children when circumstances outside of our control change. Children make promises to clean their rooms and wash the car but are then distracted or find something more fun. Just because someone makes a promise does not give us the certainty it is going to be kept.

Except when God makes promises. He always keeps his promises. He promised he would send a messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. God kept that promise when he sent John the Baptist who prepared the people for the coming Messiah by calling them to repentance. After Adam and Eve fell into sin, God promised he would send a Savior who would crush the devil’s head and reconcile God and man. God kept that promise when he sent Jesus into the world who lived perfectly as we could not, who died on the cross to pay for our sins, and who rose from the grave to conquer death. God has kept every single promise he has ever made!

This gives us the peace of knowing he will continue to keep every promise to us. We don’t have to fear the problems we face or be filled with anxiety over what is to come. God has always been faithful to his promises and always will be. May this truth bring you peace today.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly in your might and with your power. Give us peace as we face the challenges of today knowing that one day you will have us to live with you eternally in heaven. Amen.

 

 

 

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
Luke 3:4-6

A Peaceful Highway

In ancient times, roads were often built or improved before a king would travel to a distant country. The king was supposed to have a smooth, easy ride from one place to another. The more important or well-loved the king, the bigger and better the highway. You could learn a lot about a king by looking at how nice a road was built for him.

As we prepare for the arrival of our King, Jesus, this Advent season, how will we prepare the way for him to come into our hearts? It begins by repenting of everything that would get in the way—every selfish thought, every evil intention, every hurtful word, every mean look, every arrogant attitude. Repentance begins with recognizing what is wrong in our lives and then looking to Jesus as the solution to our sins. Knowing that in him we have forgiveness, we seek to thank him with lives that please him.

In the days before Jesus’ ministry, God used John the Baptist to prepare the way for King Jesus. Today, God uses people like pastors to preach God’s Word and prepare us for the arrival of our King. Or, he uses our reading of the Bible or a devotion such as this one. May God continue to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our King!

Prayer:
Loving Savior, we thank you for paving your way to our hearts and leading us to repent; trusting in you for forgiveness. Amen.