In 2008, a caravan of tourists in Utah decided to take the scenic route through a national park. The people in the lead vehicle entered the address of their destination into their GPS and everyone else followed. Over the next several hours, the roads became narrower, rockier, and steeper. The turns became sharper. But not to worry. The GPS told them that they were on the right track. This continued until they reached the edge of a sheer cliff. Now they began to panic. They could not go forward, and they could not find their way back. They stayed there all night. Finally, a search plane discovered where they were and a rescue party came to take them home. Think of the grief they could have avoided if only one person would have said, “This is no good. It’s time to turn around.”
You and I have such a person. His name is John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was quite a sight to see. He lived in the desert. For clothing, he wore camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey. And so powerful was his message that crowds of people came out of their cities, towns, and comfortable homes just to hear him preach.
And the message he proclaimed was “Repent.”
To repent means to turn from sin and look to Jesus for forgiveness. But understand this key point. We don’t turn around to God in order to make God turn around to us. Rather, we can turn around because God is already facing us, already holding his arms out to hold us, already waiting to announce that our sins have been forgiven—paid for on the cross by Jesus.
With what sins are you struggling? Whatever they are, let the knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness cause you to turn from them and turn to him.
Prayer:
Lord, use the assurance of your forgiveness to turn me from my sin to you. Amen.
[E]verything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4
One of the most popular history teachers working today is Professor Gary Gallagher. He is so popular with his college students that even his 8 A.M. classes are full. Although they could skip class and simply get the notes from someone later, students show up, even after being out late the night before. They simply don’t want to miss Professor Gallagher’s lectures. Why? Well, as one admirer says, “He makes history come alive.” As a result, students realize that people and events from the past have a great deal to teach us.
This reality is all the more true when it comes to your relationship with God. On the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit has chosen to record real events in the real lives of real people. The stories are compelling and dramatic. The stories are true.
These stories are not meant to merely entertain us. They are meant to teach us. In the lives of people who lived long ago, we see ourselves. We see them committing the same sins we commit. We see them suffering the same things we suffer.
But, even more importantly, we see how God loved and cared for those people. We see how he rescued and kept his promises to those people. We see how willing he was to forgive those people. And, when we see this, we are encouraged. It reminds us that the same God loves, cares, rescues, forgives, and keeps his promises to us.
He can do this because of the Savior he sent, the one we know as Jesus. He is the same savior those people in the Bible looked to for forgiveness. Isn’t it marvelous? Isn’t it encouraging?
So, go ahead and open that Bible on your coffee table or on your app. Read again the stories found there. And let God’s goodness to those who have gone before encourage you as you look forward to your future.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, teach me through your Word. Fill me with endurance, encouragement, and certainty about my future. Amen.
[P]raise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37
The great British writer, G.K. Chesterton, lived his life in the early years of the 20th Century. He was a happy bear of a man. He always had an easy smile, a ready laugh, and an exuberant personality. As a Christian, however, there was one subject he never failed to take seriously. If there was a single sermon he could preach, he once wrote, it would be against the sin of pride.
When a fiery prohibitionist demanded that Chesterton take “The Pledge” to abstain from alcoholic beverages, Chesterton had a ready answer. He would swear off drinking, he said, when the temperance reformer swore off the sins of pride. Then he ended with this. “The wickedest work in this world is symbolized not by a wine glass but by a looking-glass.”
Chesterton was not alone. Shakespeare said, “He that is proud eats up himself.” CS Lewis said, “Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” And Martin Luther wryly observed that pride “is truly a disease that mocks all doctors…[for it] is a diabolical temptation in the spirit which is not [even] felt.” Luther was right. The disease of pride is so pervasive in us that we often don’t even know it’s there.
This is where the Lord steps in. In love, he does what is necessary in our lives to highlight the disease. He helps us to see it because he knows that as long as we are proud, we cannot see our need for Jesus. And without Jesus, we are lost.
May God do whatever is necessary to reveal and destroy the pride in our hearts so that we look less and less at ourselves and more and more at Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, destroy the disease of pride in my heart so that I see you more clearly. Amen.
There was once a mighty tree, strong and wide and beautiful and tall. It was the kind of tree that looked as if it could withstand any trouble, any wind, or any storm.
But then something went wrong. The mighty tree grew weak. The leaves withered. Bugs infested the bark. Finally, one day, that once-mighty tree fell. Someone hauled the wood away. And there, where that giant tree had once stood, all that was left was a stump.
This is the image God used to explain what had happened to his Old Testament people, Israel. He had chosen them to be his own special people. He had blessed them. He had made them into a mighty nation. But they failed to appreciate all he had done. They went their own way rather than his way. Even their kings who ought to have led them toward God, led them instead away from God. So, God allowed Israel’s enemies to overtake them. What had once been a strong, proud people was now nothing more than a stump.
But, in the midst of this misery God gave his people a promise. Out of the stump of Israel, a strong shoot would arise. The shoot’s name was Jesus Christ.
Isaiah’s prophecy promised that the shoot named Jesus would bear fruit. And what remarkable fruit he bears! He gives spiritual life to sinfully dead people like us by forgiving our sins and reuniting us to our heavenly Father.
This time of year, as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, marvel that your good God kept the promise he made through the prophet Isaiah. Be thankful that he did not give up on his people and leave them a worthless stump. Take comfort in knowing that he used them to send the world a Savior—your Savior.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for keeping your promise to send the world a Savior. Comfort me this day knowing that he is my Savior. Amen.
St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church
313 East Montello St.
Montello, WI 53949
Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church
W1568 Evergreen
Lane
Montello, WI 53949
Pastor Rick Zahn
XW E L C O M E
T O O U R C H U R C H X
We extend a warm
welcome to everyone today, especially our visitors. In the bulletin you’ll find an outline of
today’s service, a calendar of events and other bits of information. In the red hymn book you’ll find the
songs we sing and the order of service that we follow. If you would like a large print hymnal or bulletin please ask one
of our ushers and they will gladly assist you. Restrooms and nursery area are located in
the parish hall at Emmanuel and in the lower level and link-way at St.
John’s. It’s nice to have you visit
today. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more, as you see the
day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). Welcome to God’s house! May God bless our worship together.
608.297.2866
www.stjohnsmontello.org
Like us on Facebook
XG O D ’ S W O R D
F O R T O D A Y X
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near! The forerunner
prepares for the coming Christ by preaching repentance that brings renewal
of life. The Root of Jesse will come in swift judgment on the unrepentant but
in mercy and grace for God’s people. His coming will end the wickedness of
the world and usher in a new age restored to the perfection with which God
made it. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, fixes our attention on
the need for true preparation for the Lord’s coming. Such preparation means
repenting—recognizing how our sins have offended God and trusting him for
the forgiveness he gives us in Christ. Jesus, the only Savior, brings peace
to a troubled heart.
XP
R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P X
We
prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble
repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of
praise.
CHOIR SINGS Lead Us To Your Light
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Two Advent candles are lit.
OPENING
HYMN702Prepare the Royal
Highway
See below.
Please stand
CONFESSION
& ABSOLUTION hymnal page 26
When we confess to God that we have
failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, the pastor announces the
perfect forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus.
LORD, HAVE MERCYhymnal
page 27
The Church brings her
concerns and prayers to a loving Father in heaven, who has shown great mercy to
us and promised to hear our ardent cries for help.
O LORD, OUR LORDhymnal
page 28
This song of praise reminds
us of the wonderful things God has done for us, not the least of which is the
salvation he gives through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way
for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed
light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever.
C: ♫ Amen.
Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings
XT
H E W O R D X
The
Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
FIRST
LESSONIsaiah 11:1-10 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: The
blessings of righteousness and peace
A shoot
will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear
fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest
on him– the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and
of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD– and he will
delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he
hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with
justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his
mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and
faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the
goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will
lead them. The cow will feed with the
bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the
ox. The infant will play near the hole
of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the
earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the
sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will
stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place
of rest will be glorious.
PSALM 130 hymnal page 114
Sung
in unison.
SECOND LESSON Romans
15:4-13
Summary: The blessings of hope, joy,
and peace
For
everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that
through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth
you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ
accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of
God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the
Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns
to your name.”
{2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49}
Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
{Deut. 32:43}
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to
him, all you peoples.” {Psalm 117:1}
And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who
will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.”
{Isaiah 11:10}
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in
him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
VERSE
OF THE DAYLuke 3: 4, 6
Alleluia. Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him. All mankind will see God’s salvation. Alleluia.
C:♫
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Please stand
GOSPEL LESSONMatthew 3:1-12
Summary: The blessings of repentance
In those
days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was
spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A
voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make
straight paths for him.'”
John’s
clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and
all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when
he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he
said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming
wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with
repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does
not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I
baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more
powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will
clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.”
C:♫
Praise
be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
HYMN OF
THE DAY 16 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
SERMONIsaiah 11: 1-1
“Behold, a Branch Is Growing”
1.
Equipped with righteousness 2. To
bless us with peace
Please stand
NICENE CREED hymnal page 31
Please be seated
X O F F E R I N G S O F G
I F T S & P R A
Y E R S X
THE
OFFERING
The ushers now
gather the “Thank-Offering.” Members of
this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by
returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this
congregation and its ministries are maintained.
Guests need not feel obligated to contribute. Please also sign our Friendship Registers and
greet one another.
Please stand
PRAYERS
The Offering Prayer, Advent Prayer and
Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements for those
on our Intercessory Prayers list.
LORD’S PRAYERhymnal
page32
XS
E R V I C E O F T H E
S A C R A M E N T X
In this
service we celebrate the gift of Jesus’ redeeming love, we bear witness to the
Christian fellowship we share, and we proclaim his death until he returns.
Please be seated for the distribution
At St. John’s and Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we
practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested
in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the
service.
DISTRIBUTION HYMNS 27 O Jesus, Lamb of God, You Are
As you leave today’s
service, please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or
pastor.
Announcements
Activities for the week
of December 8 – December 14
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with
communion
4:30 P.M.
Advent by Candlelight at Emmanuel
Mon.
6:00 P.M.
Hands In Prayer meeting at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
Choir at St. John’s
7:30 P.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.
8:30 A.M.
Elders meeting at St. John’s
Wed.
8:00 A.M.
St. John’s School Chapel
10:00 A.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
1:40 P.M.
St. John’s School/Little Lambs early release
2:15 P.M.
Public School Teen Confirmation at St. John’s
3:30 P.M.
Emmanuel Advent Devotion
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Advent Devotion
7:30 P.M.
Bible Information Class at St. John’s
Thurs.
8:00 A.M.
St. John’s School Teen Confirmation
10:00 A.M.
Montello Care Center Devotion
6:00 P.M.
School Board meeting at St. John’s
6:00 P.M.
Griefshare at St. John’s lower level (final session)
Fri.
Sat.
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School Christmas Service practice
Theme
for Next Sunday December 15 , 2019Advent 3: “The
Lord’s Coming Is Near”
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
INTERCESSORY PRAYERS – For those hospitalized, ill,
shut-in and facing trials: Wyatt Beahm (William and Alyssa Beahm’s infant son),
Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Harold
Fandrey, Lilah Farrell, Xzander Jahr, Melvin Johnson (Beth’s son), Oliver Knoch
(Kenon & Mary Smith’s grandson), Chris Krause (Gordy and Linda’s son),
Robert Lederer (Jackie and Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Delvin Mittelsteadt, Mark
and Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son and daughter in-law), Kathryn Sigrist (Pastor
Gary & Orlene Johnson’s daughter), Doris Smith, Jennifer Strauss – (added
this week: )
– For
Natasha Rebecca Jahr, the daughter of Andrew and Rebecca Jahr, who was baptized
yesterday (12/7) at St. John’s
– For our communicants at St.
John’s
ADVENT HAS BEGUN! It’s the season that anticipates the
coming of the Savior. We prepare for this coming in many ways. But
one way is by decorating and beautifying our homes and churches. We use a
circle of artificial greens around our Advent candles in the front of the
church, with each candle lit in order on Sundays in Advent, and each candle
symbolizing an important event on the way to the Savior’s birth—the last candle
is the Christ Candle. But another way is to hang Christmas wreaths on the
church doors as a sign of welcome. Once again—anyone interested in
donating toward the purchase of wreaths for the front doors at St. John’s is
encouraged to contact LuAnn Zieman at 608-297-2422 or
email zieman@bugnet.net or by mail at W1440 State Rd 23, Montello, WI
53949.
ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT WOMEN’S PROGRAM hosted by
Emmanuel and supported by a Thrivent Action Team Project will be held today,
Sunday Dec. 8 at 4:30pm at Emmanuel Parish Hall. We are looking forward to
hosting all who have signed up for this special evening. If you have any
questions, call Sue Stelter (608)297-2761.
EMMANUEL CHRISTMAS SERVICE Monday, Dec. 23 at 6:30pm.
All are invited after the service for refreshments and fellowship in the Parish
Hall. If you have an extra plate of cookies, please bring them to share.
CHOIR
Are any members of Emmanuel and St. John’s interested in being
part of the choir for the Christmas Eve Services? If so, practices will
be on Monday evenings in Dec., 6:30pm at St. John’s. Any questions, please
call Lynn Sellnow 616-826-0816.
MEMBERS OF ST. JOHNS AND SCHOOL FAMILIES This past
summer the St. Johns council authorized the borrowing of $10,000 from the
church’s line of credit to replace and refurbish the school boilers. As some
may be aware, there have been a number of issues from the last couple years
keeping the boilers running and the school heated and it could no longer be
repaired. This project was completed late last fall. This also means that the
church officially is borrowing money from its line of credit. If you wish to
donate to help paying off the loan, please go ahead and do so. Any amount would
be greatly appreciated. Look to the information room for where this project is
at with regards to being paid off and where the other projects on the board are
at with funding.
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “The best mathematical equation
I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.”
UPDATE on CARDS FOR PRISON MINISTRY Thanks to all who picked up packs of cards to write
for the prison ministry. All the cards are out. Please return
completed cards by Thanksgiving Day, November 28, to the collection box in the
linkway or to the church office.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY A “Sneak Peek at the Gospel” for the day is the topic of the
Sunday morning Bible study every week. It’s from 9:00-9:45am – come anytime. We
meet in the church. All are welcomed. All are encouraged to attend.
ACH What is
ACH? Automated Clearing House. Interested in having your church offering
automatically deposited? Stop by the office or Information Room and fill out
your application today.
MEDITATIONS & FORWARD IN CHRIST New “Meditations” and “Forward in Christ” WELS daily devotional
booklets and WELS monthly devotional magazine are available in the church entry
(many thanks to our generous members for donating!)
WELS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LUTHERAN
LEADERSHIP WELS Congregational
Services will host the first WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership at
the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 21-23. The conference will have five
keynote presentations that deal with major cultural challenges before every
WELS congregation. Twenty-five breakout sessions will deal with issues specific
to certain congregations, including overcoming a consumer mentality in church,
Christian apologetics, increasing volunteerism, retaining and gaining young
members, fully utilizing the gifts of women in ministry, equipping members for
personal evangelism, having a “high-expectations” church, strategic planning,
using social media for outreach, operating a financially sustainable elementary
school, and more. Learn more at register at lutheranleadership.com.
CHRISTIAN
ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor): “We don’t
change the message, the
message changes us.”
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
12-1
12-4
65 44
110 36
St. John’s Altar Committee
December 2019
Diane Eisermann
&
Delores Cotte
Emm/Usher Schedule
Emmanuel &
St. John’s Holiday Worship 2019
December 8
Emm Don Stelter, Noah Buchholz, Joe Heller
SJ (comm) James Wachholz; Chief, Kenny
Wojtalewicz, Zeb Zuehls,
Mark Emond, Ben Emond
December 11 Advent
Emm Wayne Stelter, Don Stelter, Joe Heller
SJ James Wachholz, Chief, Ben Emond, Kevin
Kaul, Corey Kaul, Ken Borzick
December 15
Emm Darrell Buchholz, Bruce Stelter, Gary Wegner
SJ Don Smith; Chief, Matt Borzick, Haiden Van
Treeck,
Paul Van Treeck, Nolan Van Treeck
December 18 Advent
Emm Wayne
Stelter, Don Stelter, Joe Heller
SJ Kenon
Smith; Chief, Martin Schmanke, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann
December 22
Emm DuWayne
Sommerfeld, Paul Wuerch, Paul Dahlke
SJ
(comm) James Wachholz;
Chief, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith, Joe Zauner Sr.,
Joe Zauner Jr.
December 23 Emm ?
December 24 SJ James Wachholz; Chief,
Jon Vote, Jesse Schable,
Gordon Krause,
Gerhardt Voigt
December 25
Emm ?
December 29
Emm Wayne
Stelter, Glenn Buccholz, Joe Heller
SJ Don
Smith; Chief, Ben Jaster, Jacob Jaster, Jeff Reimer, Jeremy Breiwa
December 11 3:30pm
Emmanuel – Advent Devotion
6:30pm St. John’s – Advent Devotion
December 18 3:30pm
Emmanuel – Advent Devotion
6:30pm St. John’s – Advent Devotion
December 22 10:00am St. John’s Sunday School Christmas
Worship
December 23 6:30pm Emmanuel – Children’s Christmas Worship
December 24 4:00pm St. John’s – St. John’s School &
Little Lambs Christmas Eve Worship
December 25 9:00am
Emmanuel – Christmas Day Worship
NO ST. JOHN’S 6:30PM SERVICE
December 31 7:00pm St. John’s – New Year’s Eve Memorial
Worship with communion
January 1 9:00am Emmanuel – New Year’s Day Memorial
Worship with communion
NO ST. JOHN’S 6:30PM SERVICE
Emmanuel &
St. John’s Holiday Worship 2019
●●●
Welcome To Our Visitors!Please Sign Our Guest RegisterFind & Like us on FacebookVisit our website link:www.stjohnsmontello.orgPastor Peter Zietlow: (608) 408-7830
E-mail:zietlowPL6@hotmail.comLittle Lambs Director & Teacher
Mrs. Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816
K, 1st & 2nd
Grade Teacher Ms. Shelley Myers:
920-285-7554
3rd-5th Grade
Teacher Ms. Rachel Naumann: (847)
913-2135
Principal & 6th – 8th
Grade Teacher Mr. Larry Sellnow:616-822-6689
Church & School Secretary Ciara
Neuhauser: (608) 297-2866
Altar Ladies: Elaine Kelm: (920) 344-0025&Carolyn Rosenthal: 589-5036
Church & School Address/Mail: 313 E
Montello St, Montello, WI 53949
Church & School E-mail:scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org
●●●
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
It may not strike us as humane today, but many years ago an experiment took place. Researchers placed a set of rats in a large tub of water. Then they placed a second set of rats in another large tub of water. In the first tub, they left the rats alone. But in the second tub, they reached in and pulled one of the rats out of the water for a few moments from time to time and then put it back. The results were dramatic. While the first set of rats quickly gave up swimming and were ready to give in to drowning, the second set of rats kept right on swimming for hours. The reason was clear. The second set of rats had hope. The first set did not.
Have there been times in your life when you’ve felt as hopeless as a laboratory rat swimming around in a tub of water? Sin does that—your sin and mine. It pulls us into bad places from which we cannot escape. It isolates and surrounds us in despair. It makes life look dark and bleak.
But God did not abandon us to swim in the vat of our sins until we could swim no more. In fact, he did far more than pull us out from time to time to give us some desperate sense of hope. Instead, he became one of us. Through his life and death on our behalf, Jesus removed our sins forever. As he did, he destroyed the despair that our sin brings and replaced it with hope as God defines it—a sure, confident certainty based upon what Jesus Christ has already done.
And so there it is. Regardless of what is happening in your life, you are walking on the solid ground of your Savior’s promises. And through faith in him, you possess the sure hope that your journey ends in victory.
Prayer:
Dear Savior, forgive me for all the times I have given in to hopelessness and despair. Wash my sins away. By your Spirit, refresh my eyes to see the sure hope I possess in you. Amen.
Morrie Schwartz was a relatively unknown college professor for most of his life. Then he contracted ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He agreed to an interview on television to talk candidly about his condition and his impending death. That television appearance caught the attention of a former student of Morrie’s, a sportswriter from Detroit by the name of Mitch Albom. Albom looked up his old professor and rekindled their friendship. He began stopping by to see Morrie every Tuesday. Later, he turned their visits into a book, Tuesdays with Morrie. It became a national bestseller.
The attraction of Albom’s book lies in Morrie’s many observations on life. One of those observations is this: “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things.”
Living, yet having a meaningless life. Chasing after things that seem important but are wrong. Busy while half-asleep. Is this you? Is this your life? Is this what you’ve become?
Before you answer those questions, just remember: In this world, you and I stand surrounded by all kinds of things that are trying to put us to sleep. In all honesty, you and I must confess there have been times when we’ve fallen asleep and drifted away from what truly matters. Perhaps one of those times is right now.
If so, then the Lord has something to say to you from Romans chapter 13. He says, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber.” It’s time to repent. It’s time to recognize the horror of sleepwalking through life, ignoring the only Savior we have, and look to Jesus. It’s time to be washed in his forgiveness purchased at Calvary’s cross and be refreshed in his Spirit. It’s time to wake up and live again!
Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, forgive me for the times I have fallen asleep and drifted away. Refresh me. Revive me. Empower me to live my life in you. Amen.
[Jesus said] “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:42-44
In my childhood home, we had locks on the doors, bars on windows, a night watchman, two guard dogs, and a six-foot fence around our property. Even with all that security, thieves snuck in during the middle of the night, broke the kitchen window, and grabbed whatever was in the sink.
With the security we had then we were not able to prevent the break-in. Perhaps now, with the advances in security systems, we could. However, Jesus says that there’s one break-in that no security will ever prevent: his return.
Should that scare you? Not if you stay alert. Not if you keep watching for his return. When you wake up, when you lie down, when you go about your daily life, keep your eyes on Jesus. He came once when no one was watching to live, die, and rise again. He came to fulfill God’s law for you. He died to pay the price for your guilt. He rose again because he had fully paid for your sins.
Let his love for you cause you to repent and return to the Lord because no one knows when he will come again. It could be at any moment. So, keep watch for his coming. This doesn’t mean that you should stop living your life here and now. It does mean that whether our hands are busy with work or play, our hearts are yearning for heaven.
Thieves don’t make appointments. Neither does Jesus. He came once in grace to save. He’s coming again in glory to judge. So, keep watch, keep in the Word, and keep working while it is day.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am eager for your arrival. Keep me aware for your coming. Amen.
[Jesus said] “About that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:36-41
Near the end of the first Iraq War, Air Force pilot Robby Robbins received permission to fly home. He flew across the Atlantic, landed on United States soil, and drove all night to his Pennsylvania home. His arrival was supposed to be a surprise. But when he pulled into his driveway just after sunrise, Robbins saw a large banner hanging across the garage. The sign read, “Welcome Home, Dad!”
Robbins walked into the house. His children, half-ready for school, greeted him with squeals. His wife came running down the hall—hair done, make-up on, wearing a fresh yellow dress.
“How did you know?” Robbins asked.
“I didn’t. We kept listening to the news. When we saw that the war was almost over, we knew you’d be home soon. We knew you would want to surprise us, so we were ready every day.”
When Jesus returns, he won’t be crossing the sea or driving across the country. Swiftly and suddenly, he will sweep aside the heavens and snatch up his family to reunite with them in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.
Jesus is coming! We don’t know when that will be, but we want to be prepared every day. Like Noah, we trust the good news of God’s rescue plan. As we rely on the perfection of Jesus, repent of our sins, and rejoice in his forgiveness, we will be ready to welcome him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I don’t know when you will come but comfort me with the knowledge that you will take me to heaven to be with you forever. Amen.
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-14
How many hours of sleep do you get in a day? Do you get the recommended eight? Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ and author of this letter to the Christians in Rome, contended that we may sleep more than we realize.
He was referring to spiritual sleep. Like a leaf in a river, it is easy to be carried along wherever life takes us, to go through the motions of our daily routine, jumping from activity to activity. We are living but we aren’t really awake. We are not aware of who we are or what our purpose is. When this happens, we are not living our faith intentionally. We are just going through the motions.
Paul encourages us to wake up, to rejoice that Jesus has rescued us from the sins that separated us from him. He encourages us to dress ourselves in the armor of light, ready to reflect the love of Jesus and to serve our neighbor’s good.
Do this today. Don’t wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow may be too late because Jesus has promised he will return to judge the living and the dead. So, let’s not be spiritually asleep when he does. Rather, let’s be wide awake and ready!
Prayer:
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus, I want to walk as a child of the light. Amen.