St. Johns News

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, [Jesus] gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Matthew 14:19-21

Jesus Provides Our Daily Bread

Daily Devotion – August 6, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 14:19-21

See series: Devotions

Up. Up. Up. So go the prices for almost everything. Gas. Groceries. You name it, and it’s going to cost more. Up. Up. Up. So go the level of anxiety in our hearts, worrying in our minds, and stress in our lives.

Stop the sinful worrying. When you worry, you are not trusting God, and that’s a sin. Away with anxious thoughts and enough stressing about things out of your control.

Jesus knows our needs. He knows we need food in our stomachs, air in our lungs, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. He has taught us to pray for daily bread with confidence and trust and will not disappoint us. Look how miraculously he fed the large crowd of people in our Bible reading for today.

Jesus has taken care of our spiritual need to be reconciled to God. He accomplished this by a bloody cross and a triumphant cry, “It is finished!” Look to him with the eyes of faith to provide for today, tomorrow and every tomorrow, even when prices go up, up, and up.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the eyes of all, including me, look to you to open your hand and satisfy our desires. Do this, for the sake of your goodness. 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.

[King Solomon prayed]: “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
1 Kings 3:9

Wisdom

Daily Devotion – August 5, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 3:9

See series: Devotions

We live in the information age (and misinformation). If you don’t have knowledge on a topic, what you want to know is usually just seconds away. A quick internet search and you suddenly know the 24th President, the name of that weird-looking insect, and 97 recipes for chocolate chip cookies.

Knowledge is available to us. The problem is we often don’t ask for it. And, when we have it, we don’t apply it. This problem impacts more than our retirement planning, fantasy football picks, and menu choices. We are not wise in the way we think and live. Too often, wisdom is missing in the way we treat others and honor our God. We know what is right, but we unwisely choose ourselves over others. We lash out in anger. We love things of this world more than God. This kind of “un-wisdom,” God calls sin.

In wisdom and mercy, God the Father sent Jesus. God’s wise plan included Jesus living perfectly in our place. In God’s wisdom, Jesus suffered and died for all our sins. In perfect wisdom, Jesus rose to life on the third day in victory over sin and death. God’s wisdom resulted in forgiveness for all.

Solomon had recently succeeded his father, David, as the king of Israel. As a young man and inexperienced leader, what could God give him that would enable him to serve his people and his God best? Wisdom. And so, Solomon asked for a discerning heart. God blessed him with a wise and discerning heart.

We don’t need to be a king or be stuck with a seemingly impossible task to realize one of the many things we really need. We need wisdom in our work, in our relationships, in our witness to others, and in our lives of thanks to God.

Pray. Ask God for wisdom to serve and love him in all you do. And thank God that his wisdom and love led him to purchase and give you forgiveness through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your love and wisdom, your forgiveness and peace through Jesus. Give me wisdom so that I faithfully serve others and honor you in all I do. 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.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:24,25

Rest From Ourselves

Daily Devotion – August 4, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 7:24,25

See series: Devotions

We are not what we were meant to be. That is difficult to admit. Maybe we even fool ourselves for a while. We accumulate money and material possessions, awards and recognition, a good reputation, and a loving family. We can fill our lives with so many good things and distract ourselves from what is true. But can we really escape the feeling that not everything is what it was meant to be?

We look back at our lives and see missed opportunities. Even with all the positive things, we can look back and see a past littered with failures we managed to hide from the world, but failures, nonetheless. We see a list of things left undone, regrets, and mistakes.

And even if we succeed in so many ways and if the good far outweighs the bad, it still ends in death. It still ends the same way it has for centuries. The richest, most powerful people in history still die like everyone else. This perhaps leaves many wondering, “Is this it? Weren’t we meant for so much more?”

Thankfully, there is so much more. God delivers us from mistakes and missed opportunities. God rescues us from sin and death. Through Jesus, God gives us the victory over sin, death, and the grave. Jesus was exactly who he was meant to be: the only perfect Savior this world will ever see. Through Jesus life, death, and resurrection, he has forgiven our sins and earned our salvation. And because of Jesus, we can look forward to so much more. We will have an eternity of joy, peace, and eternal rest in heaven where there will be no more death. A place where we will finally be what we were meant to be: perfect. “Thanks be to God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you are my everything. Help me to live for you today and to keep my eyes on my heavenly home. 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.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18,19

Rest From Good Intentions

Daily Devotion – August 3, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 7:18,19

See series: Devotions

It happened again, didn’t it? The thing that you have been struggling with. The thing that you promised yourself you were not going to do again. Maybe you got drunk. Perhaps you let yourself worry away a few hours rather than pray for strength. It could be that you visited that same website or caught yourself cursing at work.

We always have such good intentions. We have sins that we do not want to repeat. We want to do the right thing and intend to make positive changes in our lives. But we so often fail to make those changes. It has been said the road to heaven is not paved with good intentions. We are not saved because we mean well. We won’t go to heaven simply because we want to do the right thing. In fact, we cannot be saved by anything we can do.

We are saved only because of Jesus. Jesus, true God and true man, is the only one who always did the right thing. The only one who never once thought about doing the right thing, only to fail and fall into sin. In fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus never sinned even one time! And at the end of that perfect life in our place, Jesus gave his life on the cross to set us free from sin.

The road to heaven is not paved with our good intentions but with the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus. It has been washed clean by his blood. Through faith in Jesus, we have been placed on the road to heaven. Jesus forgives our sins and gives us strength for our daily struggles.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to find comfort today, not in my good intentions, but in your life and death for me. When I struggle with right and wrong, give me the strength to live 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.

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14

Rest From Managing Others

Daily Devotion – August 2, 2023

Devotion based on Exodus 33:14

See series: Devotions

I cannot begin to imagine how stressful life was for Moses. He was 80 years old and had never run a small business before, much less lead an entire nation. And here he was leading more than a million people out of Egypt and across the wilderness to the promised land of Israel—all on foot. Along the way, he was in charge of their civil life, gave orders to the military, oversaw the regulations regarding worship, and heard civil cases brought before him. He not only bore his own weights, fears, and worries, but also those of an entire nation of people. It is often said that the presidency ages the man in the office. I have to imagine that Moses’ time as leader wore him out to an even greater extent.

Thankfully, he wasn’t alone. God went with him. God spoke to him and reassured him again and again. He reminded him of his presence. He promised to be with him and to give him rest. This promise of rest meant that Moses could let his guard down. He could trust God and rest secure, knowing God would never leave him. God would never sleep on the job or let his guard down.

The same is true for you. In fact, you could say it is even better. God is present with you through Jesus and his Word. Jesus has given you wonderful promises of forgiveness, to save and help you, and to be with you always.

Through faith in Jesus, you have the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal rest in heaven. Whatever challenges you face, like Moses, you can rest secure knowing that God is in control and that Jesus is with you always.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to find rest in you. As I go about my tasks today, help me know that you are with me and will watch over me. 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.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1,2

Rest From the World

Daily Devotion – August 1, 2023

Devotion based on Psalm 62:1,2

See series: Devotions

What is it that makes you feel shaken? What recent events have filled your heart with worry? What happened to you to cause you to live your life in fear? Maybe your twenty-four seven consumption of news has you wringing your hands over the state of the world. Perhaps recent health issues with no answers have left you wondering whether or not it is going to be okay. It could be that a tragedy in your life has left your faith so shaken that you have been seriously questioning whether God really does love you the way everyone says he does.

We need rest from the challenges of this world, and there is only one place to find such rest. This kind of rest can only be found in God. Only with God can we find salvation.

You were not the only one to notice the chaos of this world. God saw it too. He saw a world wrecked by sin and wanting to spin out of his control. God saw it, and he was moved to act. He sent his Son, Jesus, into this world to live and die in our place so that sin would no longer have control over us. And in rising from the dead, Jesus showed his complete control over sin and death. Thanks to Jesus, we are forgiven and saved.

The good news is that the God who saved us, is also in control of everything in this world. All of the things that cause us to worry and leave us shaken in our faith are all things that fall under the control of our God. Nothing happens without his knowledge. Knowing his love that saved us in Jesus, we can now rest secure in his loving care. With God as our rock and fortress—we will never be shaken!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you are my rock. You are my fortress. No matter what happens today, help me to trust in your love and never be shaken. 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] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Rest From Expectations

Daily Devotion – July 31, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 11:28-30

See series: Devotions

It’s exhausting, isn’t it? Always trying to live up to the expectations of others or the expectations we have for ourselves. Always trying to be the better person. Always having to be the one everyone looks to for answers, advice, and validation.

Whether we are a parent, manager, or reliable friend, people have expectations of us and depend on us. It can often feel like if we make one mistake it will end up hurting others or letting them down. If we make a mistake with so many people depending on us, our error will impact so many others. We so often fail to meet expectations. That is because we are not perfect. We try, but we are never good enough. and we are afraid that people will find out.

There is a better way—it is Jesus. He says, “Come to me . . . and I will give you rest.” The kind of rest Jesus gives is unique. It is not just a kick-your-feet-up-on-the-couch kind of rest. Rather, it is rest from sin. Rest from our own failures. Rest from having to be perfect or feeling like everything depends on us.

This rest from Jesus was hard-earned. It was earned by his time on the cross. A time when Jesus had no rest, suffered for your sins and mine, and gave his life so that we could live forever. Jesus died on the cross to take our sins away and make sure we could have eternal expectations of a home in heaven. Because of Jesus, our future is secure. That means the pressure is off! Now we are free to live our lives in service to Jesus and thank him for the eternal rest he has provided for us.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for meeting all of God’s expectations in my place. Help me today to live 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.

[Solomon said], “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
1 Kings 3:9,10

The High Value of Wisdom

Daily Devotion – July 30, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 3:9,10

See series: Devotions

Thanks to Walt Disney and others, we’ve all heard of the magic genie who grants you three wishes for anything you want. I doubt most folks have ever seriously thought about what they would ask for if they were given that opportunity. Why? Because it isn’t realistic.

In today’s Bible reading, we have an example of the powerful Lord God himself—not some cartoon genie—offering Solomon anything he wanted. And for what did Solomon ask? He asked for a discerning heart, that he would have the wisdom to govern God’s people. What a request!

It might be more impressive what he did not ask for. He didn’t ask for more wealth than he already had. He didn’t ask for continued health, that he might enjoy long life on this earth. He didn’t ask for the death of his enemies so that his throne would be secured even more than it already was. He didn’t even ask for a trouble-free life. Instead, he asked for wisdom.

We can learn from Solomon. We can place a high value on wisdom in the Lord, which starts with knowing, “There is a God, and I am not him.” We can set our hearts on carrying out the work the Lord has given us in a way that honors him. We can set our hearts on things above—the eternal promises of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through Jesus—and not on things below.

Prayer:
Lord, earthly blessings are important, and you have given me too many of those to count. But today I ask you not for more money, better health, or a trouble-free life; instead, I ask you to give me wisdom that I might have deep contentment with all you’ve given me, and make choices that honor you as my Savior. 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.