St. Johns News

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

Refrain Then Replace

Daily Devotion – September 19, 2023

Devotion based on Ephesians 4:29

See series: Devotions

Using ungodly language is such an easy habit to get into. People misuse God’s name every day. Dirty jokes are easy to remember and, sadly, often get a good reaction. Harming someone else’s reputation is, unfortunately, usually super satisfying. All these bad practices are what our Bible reading for today refers to as unwholesome. You know they are wrong, but you are rarely called to account for them.

Stop it. Refrain. Get out of the habit. Tell people to remind you. Do not go back to the habit. Confess your sins to the Lord. Ask him for forgiveness.

Because Jesus never used ungodly language, never misused the name of God, never told a dirty joke, and never hurt another person’s reputation, but still died to take the punishment for those sins, you are forgiven. Your mouth is cleansed. You are wholesome in God’s sight.

You may still notice that the whole unwholesome talk habit is hard to break. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” is great advice, but very difficult to carry out.

Here’s some help. When you are tempted to say something bad, say something good instead. What counts as good talk? Anything that is helpful for building others up according to their needs. This includes compliments, encouragement, and solid advice. You know those things are right.

Refrain from unwholesome talk. Replace it with wholesome talk. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt. If you struggle with that, steer the conversation toward Jesus, your Savior. That will always benefit anyone who is listening.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 695)
Lord Jesus, take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20

God Intended It for Good

Daily Devotion – September 18, 2023

Devotion based on Genesis 50:20

See series: Devotions

When something bad happens to me randomly, I can usually handle it. I figure that God is in control, and he will cause everything to work together for my good.

But when someone intends to harm me and seems to succeed, it is harder for me to handle. I am tempted to lash out, to get revenge, to hold a grudge.

During the early history of God’s people in Israel, a man named Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers. He was taken to a foreign country and eventually thrown into prison on false charges. Later he was released from prison and ended up with a terrific amount of political and social power. He used that power to help many people survive a famine.

Then Joseph met his brothers again. It would have been understandable if he had lashed out, gotten revenge, and held a grudge. His brothers feared that and begged him for mercy.

Joseph showed mercy to his brothers. He explained why. Joseph understood his life from God’s perspective. He told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

When people seem to harm me, it is good for me to remember what Joseph said. God is still in control, and his ultimate purpose is always to bring people to a knowledge of the truth that Jesus forgives them and is their Savior.

I may not always understand how God will make something good happen when he allows people to harm me, but it seems possible that eventually, they may be able to learn about forgiveness from Jesus through me.

Prayer:
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’
Ezekiel 33:10,11

Turn!

Daily Devotion – September 17, 2023

Devotion based on Ezekiel 33:10,11

See series: Devotions

What would you do if the doctor entered the exam room and announced, “If you don’t pursue a healthier lifestyle, you will not live to see your children grow up?” You would make some changes.

What would you do if your fiscal advisor told you to adjust your investment strategy for some financial security in this turbulent economy? You would listen to his advice and follow his recommendations.

But what do you do when your conscience screams at you for the harsh words you spoke to your spouse last night? What about the times you lusted after the person walking down the street? What about the bitterness in your heart for the blessings someone else has received? What about the anger toward God for those times when things didn’t go the way you thought they should? What are you to do at those times?

This is where the words of the Lord to the prophet Ezekiel apply. The Lord says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” So what action follows these words? “Turn! Turn from your evil ways!” Get rid of your bitterness and rage. Use your tongue to give glory to God and encourage one another. Turn from the sins you have committed and hold on to the Lord. He has removed the penalty of death for sin. He gives you eternal life, guaranteed by Jesus’ victor crown as he carried your sin for you and overcame death.

What do you do when the Lord gives you the certainty of eternal life? Turn! Turn from your sins and to the forgiveness of the Lord.

Prayer:
Sovereign Lord, I know that you do not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Forgive my sins. Let me never forget the life you give me through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

[Jesus said] “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:19,20

A Watchful Eye

Daily Devotion – September 16, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 18:19,20

See series: Devotions

Philip Melanchthon, one of Martin Luther’s friends and fellow teachers, pointed out: “To be present everywhere, to answer prayer, and to bring help everywhere—these are properties of…God himself.” Therefore, Jesus is declaring to us in these verses that he is truly God. We can trust his promise that he is with us because as the exalted Son of God he now “fills the whole universe” (Ephesians 4:10). We are assured that as the almighty God there is nothing that is impossible for him as he always acts for our greatest good.

Jesus is with us individually. He assures us, “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus is with his believers when they gather together as his church on earth. Yes, we are assured of his abiding presence when we meet in his name to study and learn his word, to pray and worship together, to plan and carry out his commission of making disciples, to proclaim the good news to people that their guilt of sin is washed away by the blood of Christ, to encourage each other to keep our focus on Jesus with the confidence that he will not forsake us and with the joy of knowing that he is coming back to take us to be with him in heaven.

The gospel ministry that believers do together on earth always goes on under Jesus’ watchful eye and with his powerful presence. Therefore, we will not despair, but all the more dedicate ourselves to the work he has given us as his church.

Prayer:
Jesus, keep me faithful to your word. Encouraged by your abiding presence, help me plan, and carry out your work of proclaiming the good news of salvation to the whole world. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

[Jesus said] “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20

Gathered with Jesus

Daily Devotion – September 15, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 18:20

See series: Devotions

A lot of harsh words are spoken in our world. Civil debate has given way to name-calling and accusations that seek to destroy people’s reputations. Harsh words often divide. But hard words spoken in love for a straying soul are meant to unite.

Jesus’ instructions in our Bible reading for today have the purpose of bringing back the brother or sister who has sinned. Our Savior’s intent, through the tough conversations we have with a straying soul is not to drive away but to reunite. His purpose is to break down the barrier of unbelief and bridge the divide sin has caused. His purpose is to reunite us with our brothers and sisters and to the love and peace of our Father in heaven.

And when you do speak hard words to a fellow Christian, remember you are not alone in this rescue mission. Your Savior is with you to give you the courage to speak the truth in love. Where two or three gather in Jesus’ name, he is giving power and authority to his words spoken through you. Jesus is not like a king who sends a messenger to a far-off land but remains in the comforts of his castle. He is with you in the midst of a tough or uncomfortable conversation. When his words of warning accomplish their purpose, there he is with you and in your voice as you proclaim nothing but forgiveness and healing to the one who turns away from sin and returns to the Lord. Our Savior not only gathers us together as a family, but he gathers with us and fills us with his love and peace.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, gather us together with our brothers and sisters in Christ and with you and your gifts of grace. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

[Jesus said] “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
Matthew 18:15

Win the Soul, Not the Argument

Daily Devotion – September 14, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 18:15

See series: Devotions

If you have the correct information and fact-checked documentation to prove it, it’s easy to win an argument. If someone is clearly wrong, it’s easy to pull out your phone, do a quick search, and show that you are right and they are wrong. Anytime you win an argument, it gives you a little sense of victory. You feel like you just came out on top.

When someone has clearly sinned and is in the wrong, it may be very easy to prove it. You have the clear words of the Bible that leave no gray area. However, when we approach a fellow Christian who is caught in a sin, we have a greater goal than winning an argument and proving we are right. The goal is not to come out on top. It’s to walk beside the person in humility and clarity and then to come out sharing the victory that Jesus gives over sin.

Always remember the goal of the mission our Savior gives us: win the soul, not the argument. That is what Jesus has done for that soul and ours. Countless times, my Savior could have simply come and proven me wrong. But he came to win our souls, to pay the price to forgive and restore us as God’s children. Our Savior comes through his Word, even words spoken through us, to declare his forgiveness and to win the soul, not the argument.

Prayer:
Lord, give me a heart to see the soul that is in peril with the same compassion you have and to confront sin only to win the soul for you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

[Jesus said] “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
Matthew 18:15-17

Extreme Love

Daily Devotion – September 13, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 18:15-17

See series: Devotions

To what extreme would you go to save someone you love from shipwrecking their relationship with God by their persistent sin against him? Would you risk the discomfort of an awkward conversation? Would you say something that could change the relationship for good? Extreme love moves us to go to the extremes necessary to rescue the soul that strays from Jesus.

Speak with love, but don’t mince your words. Tell them of your love and concern for them and their Savior’s love and concern for them. If they don’t listen, don’t give up! Extreme love doesn’t throw in the towel. Try again with one or two other trusted friends because that one soul is worth all the effort. Still no breakthrough? If they have any connection with a church and those who have been called to provide spiritual care, get their church family involved in the rescue mission.

Jesus showed extreme love. He went from the highest heavens to the lowliest position on Earth. He is true God from eternity, but he took on frail flesh. He is life and light, but he surrendered to the darkness of death as he died on a cross. That’s extreme love. Jesus went to the extreme to save you from sin and death. He went to the extreme to save that soul that is straying or has strayed from him. It’s that extreme love that calls us to go to extremes to help and restore our brother or sister who is in danger of being lost in sin once again.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ, renew me by your extreme love and move me to go to the extremes necessary to communicate that love to others. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 2:14-16

Be Willing to Hear Hard Things

Daily Devotion – September 12, 2023

Devotion based on Galatians 2:14-16

See series: Devotions

Sometimes we are in a situation where we need to be willing to say hard things. But other times, we need to be willing to hear hard things. We may need to hear that our words or actions have hurt someone. At times maybe you’ve headed down a dangerous path, and because someone had a hard and serious conversation with you, you are now walking with the Lord again.

The apostle Peter needed to hear a hard truth from his fellow apostle Paul. Peter was not acting in line with the gospel—the good news that Jesus is the Savior of everyone. His actions gave the impression that Jesus wasn’t enough. His conduct potentially misled others into thinking that they had to do works and jump through hoops to be declared right with God. Not only was Peter putting himself in danger, but he was also putting others in danger of trusting in something other than Jesus.

There are times when we read the Bible or have someone share it with us, and we need to hear hard things. The Truth of God’s Word reveals that we have not lived in line with the good news of Jesus. We have trusted in other things. We have lived in a way that has departed from God’s ways. These are hard things to hear but necessary. And when we do, we get to hear the greatest news—that Jesus is enough! God forgave you completely through the work of Jesus, and he forgives us freely, not making us jump through hoops or prove our worth. He declares us right with him through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Lord, make me willing by your Spirit to hear hard things so that I can hear and cherish the greatest news of sins forgiven. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

‘Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
Ezekiel 33:10,11

Be Willing to Say Hard Things

Daily Devotion – September 11, 2023

Devotion based on Ezekiel 33:10,11

See series: Devotions

Are you willing to say hard things when someone is in danger? Raising your voice to warn and reprimand a child about to dart out into traffic is not pleasant but necessary.

Ezekiel was a prophet who was tasked with a hard message. Hard, but necessary. A vast majority of God’s people in the nation of Judah had turned away from the Lord, darting right out into grave spiritual danger. They abandoned God’s promises and God’s commands, and in doing so, were in danger of perishing eternally.

We often shy away from saying things that are hard for others to hear, but when the stakes are that high, we are willing to say what it takes to turn someone away from danger. It’s not just about turning away from danger but turning back to the one place where that soul finds peace and security.

Picture that child who was just turned back in a safe direction, away from oncoming traffic. The strong warning startles him and makes him cry, but it makes him run right back into his father’s arms, where he is loved and safe. When we say hard things but necessary things to someone running right into spiritual danger, away from God, the Lord’s desire is always that they run back into his loving arms.

Jesus, our Savior, put himself in the path of God’s impending wrath against sin when he died on the cross. He was willing to say hard things as he called people to turn to him and live. Even more, he was willing to lay down his life to save yours. Always turn to him and live.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for saying hard things to me so that I might turn to you and live. Give me the courage to say hard things to those in spiritual danger so they might turn to you and live as well. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.