St. Johns News

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Luke 3:15,16

Real Joy Comes Through Humility

Daily Devotion – December 17, 2024

Devotion based on Luke 3:15,16


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Do you enjoy having attention on you? We like it when people recognize our achievements. It makes us feel good when people turn to us for help or answers because they think we’re knowledgeable.

In the time just prior to Jesus beginning his public ministry, many people’s eyes were on John the Baptist as he came to prepare the way for Jesus. They wondered if John was the Messiah, the Savior God had promised. If I were John, it may have puffed up my ego that people thought so highly of me. But when all the attention was on John, he humbly shifted the focus where it needed to be—on Jesus. The momentary ego boost that came from being mistaken for the Messiah would have quickly been extinguished by the reality that John couldn’t even save himself. Instead, real joy came through humility, which allowed John to look away from himself to see his Savior, Jesus.

The same is true for you and me. Real joy comes through humility that looks away from self, achievements, and failures to see the One who is greater—Jesus. There is real joy in recognizing that the burden of our salvation doesn’t rest on us. Real joy comes when you realize Jesus humbled himself to the point of death to cleanse you from sin and give you the joy of salvation.

Prayer:
Lord, grant me humility so that the attention of my heart may be fixed on Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
Luke 3:8

Real Joy Comes Through Repentance

Daily Devotion – December 16, 2024

Devotion based on Luke 3:8


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We see the word joy all over the place at Christmastime. The songs are mostly upbeat and exude a tone of joy. The decorations are colorful and bright and are meant to put a smile on your face. Family traditions bring back joyful memories of Christmases past. Christmas is a season of joy!

However, the joy we find is often superficial. That sense of joy we hoped to find can be so easily overshadowed by grief, stress, failing health, and regret. If I get to the end of the Christmas season and find that real joy eludes me, maybe I’ve looked for it in the wrong places.

Real joy isn’t found in keeping up appearances. Real joy comes through repentance. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance. Repentance means acknowledging your sin and your inability to save yourself, and trusting in the forgiveness and salvation that come from Jesus. Repentance refocuses us on Jesus alone. Many in John’s Day found their sense of joy and security in outward ways, such as their family tree rooted back to Abraham, an Old Testament believer. They failed to recognize their need for Jesus, their Savior.

Repentance means recognizing that sin doesn’t bring the real joy it promised. Trusting in Jesus and his complete forgiveness does. Repentance means recognizing that real joy isn’t the product of your efforts but comes from the perfect work of Jesus, your Savior. Repentance produces fruit, which is not just keeping up appearances. Its fruits may vary depending on your situation and the sins of which you repent. But one of the fruits that repentance produces is joy. Real joy. Not just a smile on the face but sincere joy that comes from a heart that is completely forgiven. Real joy comes from Jesus, who transformed our hearts of stone and made us children of God for eternity.

Prayer:
Lord, produce in my heart always true repentance that looks to you for the answer to sin and looks to you as the source of real joy. 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

Daily Devotion – December 15, 2024

Devotion based on Philippians 4:4,5


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Can you remember Christmases from long ago? Christmas is a time of nostalgia. Our attics, smartphones, 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 to 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 hearts. 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.

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.

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, lead me to find my joy this Christmas first and foremost in you. And bless me 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 I ask it, Amen.

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 1:6

Confidence in the Outcome

Daily Devotion – December 14, 2024

Devotion based on Philippians 1:6


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The apostle Paul expressed his confidence that the Christians in Philippi would remain firm in the faith and thus attain eternal glory. He was confident of this grand result because it rested on God’s gracious purposes. Paul’s confidence in the preservation of their faith was based on the power and the promises of the One who “had begun a good work” in them.

God graciously brings people to faith and assures them that, as they use his Word and sacraments, he will preserve them in faith so that they will assuredly receive the goal of heaven. Our spiritual security, therefore, does not depend on our sin-tainted efforts. It rests on the sure promises and sustaining grace of God. From eternity, he chose us to be his own. In time, he came to save us by the cross and the open tomb. In our lifetime, he began a good work in us—he called us to faith by the gospel. In the future, he will complete his work by bringing us home to himself on “the day of Christ Jesus.” Therefore, all the glory for becoming a Christian and remaining a Christian belongs to God, who will carry out his plan of salvation to completion for all his faithful people.

Through the Bible’s good news of a Savior who was born, lived, died, and rose again for you, God began in your heart the good work of saving faith in Jesus Christ. Live confidently for the day of the Lord’s second coming because God works through his Word to keep you connected to Jesus, your Savior. Hold fast to the Word and rejoice in the promise of your heavenly Father to preserve you in the true faith until you make it safely home to heaven.

Prayer:
Lord, work through the gospel to preserve me in saving faith. Give me the confidence that by your power and according to your promise, you will bring me to live in heaven because Jesus lived and died for me. In his name, I pray. Amen.

Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Psalm 66:16-20

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Daily Devotion – December 13, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:16-20


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Let me tell you what God has done for me. Twenty-one years ago, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Today, I have been cancer-free for twenty years. Fifteen years ago, I was unable to have a child. Today, we have two incredible teenagers. Ten years ago, I almost lost my foot in a faulty elevator. Today, I am still standing. Five years ago, I considered changing vocations. Today, by the grace of God, I am where I am.

Think of a time when you received good news—an answer to an impossible problem. The sense of joy and relief you felt is close to what the psalmist who wrote today’s Bible passage felt. He was not just telling a story; he was testifying to God’s presence in his life. He cried out to God, full of need and full of trust. God answered, not because the psalmist was deserving but because God’s love and mercy are vast.

Think about your own relationship with God. Are you trying to keep anything in the dark from God? Is that putting distance between you and him? Cry out to God. Let go of what is holding you in the shadows and lean into him for mercy. God listens and answers every prayer in love.

Amid the frenzy, the festivities, and the lights, it’s easy to miss the miracle that began it all. How God, in love, reached down to a weary world in answer to our greatest need ever—a Savior from sin and sorrow. Jesus came to give us true light and life by giving his own life to set us free from darkness and death.

Take time this Advent season to tell others what great things God has done for you.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 322 vs 1)
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Amen.

I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.
Psalm 66:13-15

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

Daily Devotion – December 12, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:13-15


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President Nixon’s aide, Chuck Colson, was a key player in the Watergate scandal. Because of his involvement, Colson faced prison time. During that dark time, a friend gave Colson the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. He began reading, and God’s Spirit began working in him.

One night, Colson cried out to God, confessed his sins, and promised to change his life. He pled guilty, and after serving time, Colson kept that promise. He founded Prison Fellowship, a global ministry that shares the gospel with prisoners and their families.

Colson’s conversion reflects the psalmist’s words. From the depth of his need, the psalmist promises to honor God’s faithfulness. When he was in trouble, God delivered. So, he vows to sacrifice a sizable thank offering to the Lord.

Christmas invites us to reflect on how, when we were in trouble, God delivered us. “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Galatians 4:4,5).

Because Christ sacrificed himself for us, we joyfully submit ourselves to him. In the morning, we make appropriate and well-thought-out vows to live for him. We promise that whatever we do, we will do it all to his glory. In the evening, we humbly confess our sins, acknowledge our guilt, plead for his mercy, and rejoice in his forgiveness.

Let this Advent season be a time when you, like the psalmist, joyfully bring your sacrifices to God, your Savior. And come to worship him in his temple.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 324, vs 1)
O Jesus, let your Word be a lamp to light my way, to show me how to please you, to guide me every day. Amen.

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Psalm 66:8-12

My Soul in Stillness Waits

Daily Devotion – December 11, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:8-12


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When our kids were little, we had a song for special occasions. If one of them complained about something they were given, my wife and I would sing. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.” It drove them crazy, but it taught them an important lesson about our God.

The psalmist teaches us that God’s love may lead us into seasons of difficulty. Like a silversmith, God uses fiery trials to refine, not roast us. He is preparing our hearts to receive his blessings.

Life doesn’t always go as you plan. But isn’t that the real story of Christmas? How long did God’s people wait for the Messiah? Did Joseph plan to marry his betrothed? Did Mary plan to be the mother of Jesus? Did they plan to walk over seventy miles in the last month of Mary’s pregnancy to spend their honeymoon in Bethlehem? Did they plan to be in a barn when this child came into the world?

We celebrate a King who didn’t come as expected—wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. We worship a King that the world wasn’t looking for—crowned in thorns and nailed to a tree. But look what God did through him! We have a loving Savior who endured terrible things he didn’t deserve so we might receive his abundant blessings. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection, God turns sinners into saints.

You may not get what you want this Christmas but praise God anyway. In Christ, you get everything you need. Through every test and every burden, God refines your faith and strengthens you to persevere in the way that leads to eternal life.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you that in giving me your Son as my Savior, you have given me everything I need. Amen.

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against him.
Psalm 66:5-7

A Great and Mighty Wonder

Daily Devotion – December 10, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:5-7


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Movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, Home Alone, and even Die Hard suggest that nothing goes together with Christmas like miracles and wonder.

Think of how many Christmas movies involve miracles: unexpected twists, people reunited, hearts softened, and wishes granted. These stories are meant to inspire and uplift. Yet even the most moving Christmas films miss the wonder of the real miracle of Christmas.

This Advent season, the psalmist invites us to “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Christmas celebrates God stepping down into our broken world to live among us. He didn’t come to visit; he came to bring salvation.

Just as Christ delivered Israel by the parting of the Red Sea, Christ came on Christmas to deliver humanity by making a way where there was none. His sinless life and sacrificial death opened the way for us to reconciliation and life with God. Jesus is the way that leads from death to life for all who follow him in faith.

While Christmas movies may warm our hearts, their joy is fleeting, and their miracles soon fade. But God’s Christmas miracle has no end. Christ’s work fills our lives, giving us hope beyond this life, and peace beyond understanding.

Step back from the busyness and wonder anew. “Come and see” with fresh eyes and kneel before the real miracle— “an infant who veils his deity.”

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 349, vs 4)
Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, the infant born in Bethlehem, the Savior and the Lord. Proclaim the Savior’s birth: “To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth.” Amen.

Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”
Psalm 66:1-4

Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord

Daily Devotion – December 9, 2024

Devotion based on Psalm 66:1-4


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Do you enjoy Christmas carols? What about those music stations that play Christmas songs twenty-four hours a day?

Christmas carols began as expressions of humble praise to God. But many of the songs we hear today are about red-nosed reindeer, snowmen, and sleigh rides. Sure, those songs can be fun, and there is nothing wrong with innocent fun. But they are empty of praise.

Real praise joyfully responds with humble adoration to God’s powerful work. At Christmas, we rejoice that God came to earth. Through his humble life, God demonstrates the awesome power of sacrificial love.

In giving us his Son, God was gifting us something we could never pay for and definitely do not deserve—forgiveness for all our sins, victory over our spiritual enemies, and eternal life.

Our God wants everyone to benefit from his gracious gift. So, keep singing those carols! Make his praise glorious! Sing with joy and enthusiasm! And if you can’t make music, listen with a heart tuned to praise that Christ came to earth. Let everyone know about the perfect gift we have been given—God with us! God for us!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 315, vs 4)
Savior, hear my welcome cry—loud hosannas lifted high! King of glory, enter in; cleanse my soul of every sin. Amen.