St. Johns News – Page 175 – St. John's Evangelical

Pray For What God Wants – July 26, 2022

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022 Kerry

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3,4

Pray For What God Wants

Daily Devotion – July 26, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 2:3,4

See series: Devotions

You may have heard Christians offering a prayer for something very specific, like the healing of a relative in medical distress or the success of a plan, and then adding at the end of the prayer, “. . . according to your will, O God.” That brings up an interesting question. How do you know what God’s will is?

The truth is that many times you can’t. He doesn’t tell us what our future holds or what will be best for our long-term spiritual well-being. The only thing we can know for sure about God’s will is what he tells us in his Word–the Bible. And that is where he tells us what he really wants is for all people–to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth about Jesus our Savior.

God invites us to pray that way too. Even as we are asking for him to do one thing or another, we are remembering that the ultimate good is for people to come to faith in Jesus. If more people will be saved through someone remaining in medical distress or relieved of medical distress, only God knows, and his will is that all people be saved. If more people come to know about Jesus because of the success or failure of a plan, only God knows, and his will is that all people come to a knowledge of the truth.

That’s why you can pray “according to your will, O God.” God knows what he is doing, he knows what he wants, he loves you and wants you and all people to be saved. He will answer your prayers according to his will; and that’s all you need.

Prayer:
Lead me to trust your will, O God, and answer my prayers according to it, in the name 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.

Pray For Our Leaders – July 25, 2022

July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 Kerry

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:1,2

Pray For Our Leaders

Daily Devotion – July 25, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 2:1,2

See series: Devotions

Most Christians think their prayer habits could use improvement. They notice that they forget to pray. Or when they do remember to pray, their minds quickly wander.

If you are someone who thinks that your prayer habits could use improvement, consider praying for a list of people one-by-one. It doesn’t matter who those people are. The famous missionary named Paul advised the person he was mentoring, a young pastor named Timothy, to pray for all people.

It doesn’t matter where you get the list of people for prayer. You might try praying for the people in your news feed. They are often in your news feed because they have some special need. Pray for the Lord to meet that need according to his will.

If you pray for the people in your news feed, you will soon run across people in authority. They need your prayers as well. What if you disagree with the decisions those people in authority are making? There is a famous bit of prayer advice for those occasions. Pray that the Lord would convert those people in authority, that they would come to know and believe in Jesus as their Savior. And if they will not be converted, pray that the Lord would restrain them.

Why would you ask the Lord to restrain anyone who does not believe in him? The answer is in our Bible verse for today. The more the Lord restrains evil, the more chance you have to live a peaceful and quiet life in godliness and holiness. As you live that life, you have the opportunity to speak words of forgiveness and love, not just in your prayers, but also to the people around you, and not just to them, but also to your leaders.

Prayer:
Lord God, bring everyone to know you better through Jesus Christ, the King of kings. 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.

A Better Place – July 24, 2022

July 24, 2022July 24, 2022 Kerry

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6

A Better Place

Daily Devotion – July 24, 2022

Devotion based on 1 Timothy 2:1-6

See series: Devotions

“What can I do to make this world a better place?” A look at the sad, scary state of current events, both local and worldwide, can lead one to wonder, “Is there really anything I can do that will make a difference?”

Yes, there is. The apostle Paul says to us, “Pray.” Paul urges us to pray for everyone. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, citizens of our country and for people around the world. Pray.

Especially pray for all those in authority. Pray for local authorities and national authorities. And pray for kings and authorities around the world. Whether it is the authorities at home or abroad, Paul doesn’t say, “Ridicule them.” He doesn’t say, “Put them down.” He doesn’t say, “Make sure everyone knows their faults.” He says, “Pray for them.” Pray for them so we can live peaceful and quiet lives.

When we live peaceful and quiet lives, we can live in all godliness and holiness. And then we can proclaim the real difference-maker, Jesus. God wants all people to be saved. That happens when people come to a knowledge of the truth. Not just any truth, but the truth that Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and people. The truth that Jesus Christ is the one who has established peace between God and all people. The truth that Jesus Christ is the one who has opened heaven for us. He did that by giving himself as a ransom, by taking our sins upon himself, by offering his body and blood for us on the cross.

Life with Jesus—that’s what truly makes this world a better place.

Prayer:
Lord God, guide and bless all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Then guide and bless us as we proclaim Jesus, the difference-maker for this life and for eternity. 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.

Laugh with Joy – July 23, 2022

July 23, 2022July 23, 2022 Kerry

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Genesis 18:10-14

Laugh with Joy

Daily Devotion – July 23, 2022

Devotion based on Genesis 18:10-14

See series: Devotions

Sometimes you just gotta laugh—the situation is so absurd that it’s laughable. When Sarah, who was past childbearing age, heard the prediction that she would have a child within a year, she laughed. It was not really laughter with joy. It was more like the laughter of disbelief.

What Sarah didn’t take into account is that it was God talking. He was carrying out his plan of salvation, and when God tells you what he is doing for your salvation, a laugh of disbelief is an inappropriate response. Instead, when God speaks, you are encouraged to laugh with joy.

Even when you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. You just gotta laugh because such mercy and grace are so unexpected. But, instead of laughing in disbelief, you can laugh with joy because it’s true.

Your sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. Even when you don’t feel forgiven, even when accusations are still there to try to make you feel guilty, God speaks the word of forgiveness, and you are genuinely and completely forgiven. You just gotta laugh with the joy that comes from a clean conscience.

No matter how bad it gets here on earth, God says that heaven is your home. No more sorrow or tears there—just rest and peace. Laugh with joy!

Prayer: (Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal – 79)
Oh, joy to know that you, my Friend, are Lord, beginning without end, the First and Last, eternal! And you at length—O glorious grace—will take me to that holy place, the home of joys supernal. 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.

Better – July 22, 2022

July 22, 2022July 22, 2022 Kerry

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41,42

Better

Daily Devotion – July 22, 2022

Devotion based on Luke 10:41,42

See series: Devotions

Mary and Martha are sisters. They trust in Jesus as their Savior and know him personally. They are his friends. One day, Jesus arrives in their home. Mary settles down to listen to Jesus speak. Martha, however, has hospitality on her mind.

Let’s stop, for a moment, to appreciate the pressure Martha is feeling. In our casual culture, you and I may handle some company simply by ordering in a pizza. That is not what Martha faces. In the culture of the 1st Century, hospitality is a sober business. When you open your home to guests, you do all you can to treat them well. Failing to do so is an insult to them and a disgrace to you.

And so here is Martha, laboring to show Jesus the best hospitality she can. And what is her sister doing to help? Nothing. She just sits there, listening to Jesus. Perhaps more than a few of us, therefore, can sympathize with Martha when she finally lets off some steam and asks Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Then comes Jesus’ affectionate reply, but a reply packed with meaning.

Does Jesus ever say that Martha is doing a bad thing? Of course not. Showing hospitality is a beautiful fruit of faith. In fact, other parts of the Bible praise it. In this moment, however, Jesus is speaking to what is better.

In the current lifestyle of our society, busyness is a badge of honor. When that busyness, however, even in service to God—when that busyness robs me of the opportunity for the Lord to serve me in his Word, then I’ve lost my way. Then I need to repent of my busyness.

But that’s why Jesus came. He came to wash away my sins of busyness. He came to spend his time perfectly on my behalf. In him, all is well. In him, I can begin again.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when I lose my way, grant me a repentant heart. Forgive my busyness. Refresh me to choose what is better. 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.

Bulletin – July 24, 2022

July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org

ST. JOHN’S & EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCHES

^7th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST – JULY 24, 2022

FOCUSED PRAYER CLAIMS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US, NOT WHAT WE WANT FROM

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people…”

1 Timothy 2:1

WELCOME! WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE!

We pray that you find comfort, peace and motivation through

God’s Word today.

At St. John’s & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, we practice close

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.

At St. John’s, the restrooms are located in the link way, out the church entry way, to the left and down the stairs. At Emmanuel, they are located in the lower level, out the church entry way and to the right. You may also find a nursery changing station in the lower level of St. John’s.

In our worship bulletin, you will find an outline of today’s order of worship. The entire service can be found in the hymnal, up on the screen on Sunday at St. John’s and livestreamed www.stjohnsmontello.org.

TODAY’S THEME

Focused Prayer Claims What God Wants for Us, Not What We Want from Him

In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. So we sometimes define prayer as “speaking to God from the heart.” Seems so easy. What does not come naturally, however, is the focused prayer God wants for us. We need focus when it comes to the basis of our prayers. Our prayers are based entirely on the unique and unearned relationship with have with God, our Father. We also need focus when it comes to the content of our prayers. Yes, we can speak from the heart and ask for anything we want. But our Father invites us to pray specifically for the things he wants to give us. Prayer is the opportunity to bring our will into conformity with God’s will, not the other way around. We have much to learn about prayer. So, along with Jesus’ disciples, we say, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

ORDER OF SERVICE The Service Setting 1 with communion – pg. 154

HYMNS 776, 725, 660, 721

PSALM 138A

SERMON Genesis 18:20-32 “Let’s Pray Like Abraham”

LESSONS

Genesis 18:20-32

Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous ²¹that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” ²²The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.^[a] ²³Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare^[b] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? ²⁵Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” ²⁷Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, ²⁸what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” “If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” ²⁹Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” ³⁰Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” ³¹Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” ³²Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

1 Timothy 2:1-7

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ⁷And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Luke 11:1-13

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” ²He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,^[a]hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.^[b ³Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.^[c]And lead us not into temptation.^[d]’” ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’

⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity^[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. ⁹“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for^[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Setting One from Christian Worship – Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House. Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2022 Concordia Publishing House.

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

– For the sick and others facing trials…Caryl Bassett, Gale “Blackie” Boyd, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Gene & Sharon Crook, Florence Dahlke, Vicki Davis (Marilyn Riemer’s sister), Reinold Eckelberg, Ken Elmer (Sally’s husband), Earl Ewert, Judy Freitag, Donna Gatzke, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Hunter Habersat (Judy Fandrey’s grandson), Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Ellie Kendall, Geri Kerl (Sue Brown’s mother), Bob & Sandy Klapper, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Ella Ninneman (Brian & Kathy’s granddaughter), Karen Radke, Wayne Riemer, Sierra Schmidt (Linda Lou Wacholtz’s grand-daughter), Wanda Sellnow (Principal Larry Sellnow’s mother), Pat Sommerfeld, Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dixie Wagner, Betty & James Weber, Stacy Weisensel – (added this week: Ella Ninneman)

– For the family of John Goetz, our St. John’s member Janet’s husband, called home on 7/6 at the age of 66

– For the family of our Emmanuel member Edward Buchholz called home on 7/19 at the age of 90

– For marriage and family

– For those straying from the church

Help us stay in touch!

Scan the code below using your smartphone camera and fill out the prompted information. Don’t have a smartphone? That’s ok! Fill out an attendance card located at the end of each pew and place it in the offering plate located at the entry of each church.

Welcome to our visitors!

Find & Like us on Facebook

Visit our website: www.stjohnsmontello.org

Pastor Pete Zietlow: 608-408-7830, Email: zietlowPL6@hotmail.com

Principal & 6-8 Grade Teacher: Larry Sellnow: 616-822-6689,

Email: principal@stjohnsmontello.org

3-5 Grade Teacher: Katlynn Tindall: 262-352-7021

1-2 Grade Teacher: Shelley Myers: 920-285-7554

Kindergarten Teacher: Lynn Sellnow: 616-826-0816

Little Lambs Director: Barbara Stelter: 816-853-9029

Church/School Secretary/Office: Ciara Neuhauser: 608-297-2866

Church/School Address: 313 E Montello St. Montello, WI 53949

Church/School Email: scsecretary@inmarketsuccess_plx6m6

ANNOUNCEMENTS

JULY 3 VOTERS’ MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Changes in Membership Releases: Tim & Amanda Gunderson & children Lucas, Ethan, & Elsie. Teen Confirmation: Cody Schultz, Kaleb Schumann, Jack Steuck, & Haiden Van Treeck. Transfers In: Kerrigan Stelter from St. John’s-Princeton via Teen Confirmation. Transfers Out: Don & Fern Hoffman to Christ Alone Lutheran Church-Thiensville 2022-2023 Budget approved as presented after discussion due to changes because of Christ Alone Lutheran Academy. Ministerial Scholarship Fund to be reactivated and a committee formed to explore funding options, management, and possible expansion of recipients to students in area Lutheran high schools.

TEACHER INSTALLATION FOR BARBARA STELTER, LITTLE LAMBS DIRECTOR SAVE THE DATE: August 21

Located in the link way at St. John’s and entry way of Emmanuel, you will find a gift box. If you would like to give a gift to Barbara, we will be collecting gas cards as she will be driving back and forth from Princeton.We will present these to her at her installation at St. John’s.

PLASTIC PILL BOTTLES FOR CENTRAL AFRICA MEDICAL MISSION ARE AGAIN BEING COLLECTED at both churches. by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS). Collection containers can be found in the linkway at St. John’s and in the parish hall at Emmanuel. Please hand in ONLY bottles which: 1) have the labels removed. 2) have been washed, and 3) have any sticky residue from the labels removed completely (Goo Gone suggested).

Attendance St. John’s Emmanuel

7-16 5 –

7-17 73 46

SCHOOL UPDATE If you currently are enrolled in CALA and/or Little Lambs for fall 2022-23, please be sure to check your email this coming week. Included will be a letter with school registration information amongst other important things. Hope you are all having a great summer!

REGISTER NOW AT CALA

FOR THE

2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR!

www.christalonelutheranacademy.org

608-297-2866

scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org

Eyes – July 21, 2022

July 21, 2022July 21, 2022 Kerry

Turn my eyes away from worthless things.
Psalm 119:37

Eyes

Daily Devotion – July 21, 2022

Devotion based on Psalm 119:37

See series: Devotions

What do our eyes decide what to look at? A compelling article from the University of Melbourne gives this some thought. For quite some time, the dominant theory has been that people’s eyes automatically focus on whatever is bright and shiny in front of them. For example, if you show someone a picture of a drab city street with a bright yellow taxi, the person will first look at the taxi.

Recent work in this area, however, suggests there’s another factor in what our eyes choose to see. Rather than just looking at what is bright and shiny, our eyes also seek out those things that are meaningful to us.

And what is meaningful? There’s the big question. For the answer to that question can vary from person to person.

In Psalm 119, the Holy Spirit moved the psalmist to pray, Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Our ancient enemy, the devil, knows it rarely works for him to attack us directly and demand that we turn our eyes away from Jesus. Instead, he’s learned that the more he can get us to fix our eyes on things other than Jesus—things that seem more important and urgent at the moment—the more he can gently nudge us away from our Savior.

And here’s the tricky part. The thing that pulls our attention away from Jesus does not need to be an inherently bad thing. It might be a wonderful thing. Maybe it’s a relationship, family, hobby, career, retirement planning, or keeping up with the news.

All well and good in and of themselves, but when I slip into presuming that one of these good things is more worthy of my ongoing attention than my Savior, then Satan has set his hooks. Disaster awaits.

Thank God for Jesus. Not only has he washed us clean at the cross, he continues to pursue us with his Holy Spirit. He empowers us to come to repentance, to turn our eyes away from relatively worthless things, to fix our eyes upon him all over again.

Prayer:
Lord, when my eyes begin to fix on something other than you, bring me to repentance. Turn my eyes back to 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.

Long Trip Alone – July 20, 2022

July 20, 2022July 20, 2022 Kerry

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

Long Trip Alone

Daily Devotion – July 20, 2022

Devotion based on Exodus 33:14

See series: Devotions

In the world of country music, Dierks Bentley is a bona fide star. But his talent goes beyond his voice and his performance. Dierks Bentley is a gifted songwriter known for crafting his lyrics with care.

Of the songs he’s written, one has a twist in how it came to be. The song is distinctive in tone. It is slow, thoughtful, somber. The title of the song is “Long Trip Alone.” As he began to write, Bentley had his marriage in mind. Picturing the years of his life as a journey, he intended to describe what it meant to have his spouse by his side. As he wrote, however, his perspective changed. By the time it matured into a finished piece, “Long Trip Alone” was no longer about a husband and wife. Rather, “Long Trip Alone” was about the quiet, desperate need each of us has for the presence of the Lord.

Indeed, as Bentley describes it, your life and mine is “A long trip alone, over sand and stone.” You know the hardships. You know the difficulties. You know the crushing disappointments. Left to ourselves, you and I would wander. We’d walk in circles. We’d stumble and fall. And as we did, the suffocating isolation would just grow worse until our pointlessness came to an end in some dark, despairing place.

That’s what sin does—your sin and mine. Not only has it made the journey of life rugged and painful. It isolates us. It forces each of us to walk the long trip alone—a trip that ends in eternal death.

But that’s why Jesus came. God’s Son became one of us. He took the long trip through this broken world, living a perfect life on our behalf. Then he carried our sins to the cross, where he endured an aloneness that will forever defy description—an aloneness he endured in our place. And because he has, you and I, through faith in him, will never have to walk alone again.

In Exodus 33, the Lord promised Moses, “My Presence will go with you.” In Christ, he makes the same promise to you and me.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my life would be a long trip alone. Thank you for being by my side. 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.

Laughter – July 19, 2022

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022 Kerry

Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh . . .? Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Genesis 18:13,14

Laughter

Daily Devotion – July 19, 2022

Devotion based on Genesis 18:13,14

See series: Devotions

He’s not exactly a household name today, but back in the 1980s and early 90s, Bill Hicks was a powerful presence in the world of comedy. The kind of comedy that other comedians were talking about.

His routines produced raucous laughter. His material, however, was often dark. He pushed boundaries. And he had some favorite targets. One of them was religion—Christianity in particular. At times he would select a particular teaching and then use his considerable skills to firebomb it with ridicule. Explosions of laughter typically followed.

The laughter of ridicule brings with it a curious thing. It brings with it a sense that the case is now closed, the winning argument has prevailed, and there’s nothing more to be said. Sometimes this is true. And sometimes it is not.

In Genesis chapter 18, the Lord announced to an elderly Abraham and Sarah that Sarah would be with child. Sarah’s reaction? Sarah laughed. Hers, however, was not the laughter of joy. It was the laughter of ridicule.

You and I often encounter the same thing. We don’t simply hear such laughter, however, from critics of Christianity. You and I can also hear such laughter snorting from our old sinful selves. In our heart of hearts, you and I know we have sometimes yielded to the temptation not to take our God seriously—whether it’s one of his promises or part of his will for our lives.

Thank God for Jesus. Thank God that, for all the times Satan has talked us into rolling our eyes over a truth of Scripture, Jesus, our Substitute, never did. And thank God that Jesus has taken all our sinful laughter and paid for it in full at Calvary’s cross.

Sarah’s laughter was not the closing argument. The Lord was. He fulfilled his promise to give Abraham and Sarah a child.

One more thing. Bill Hicks died of cancer in 1994. According to a close friend, there was a shock at his funeral when someone revealed that, before his death, Bill Hicks had confessed his faith in Jesus as his Savior. If that’s the case, Bill now enjoys another kind of laughter. The laughter of joy in Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, fill my spirit with the laughter of joy in 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.

The Opposite – July 18, 2022

July 18, 2022July 18, 2022 Kerry

The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre…
Genesis 18:1

The Opposite

Daily Devotion – July 18, 2022

Devotion based on Genesis 18:1

See series: Devotions

The year is 2011. You are part of a team working beneath an ancient temple in the Far East. You are about to break into several chambers that have not been open for centuries. When you do, you can hardly believe what you find. You see diamonds—bags upon bags of diamonds. You see jewelry—more than you can describe or count. And you see gold coins—ton after ton. It will take time to inventory all that is here, but an initial estimate puts what you’ve found at over twenty billion dollars.

In addition, research has identified the treasure’s origins. Hundreds of years earlier, the temple sat on a popular travel route. As people traveled, they would regularly bring generous offerings to curry favor with the temple’s deity. The mountain of treasure standing before you is a powerful picture of how many view their relationship with a higher power. They ask themselves, “What can I give to God to persuade God to do something good for me?”

We discover that the opposite is true when we read the Bible. The eighteenth chapter of the book of Genesis reports that The LORD appeared to Abraham. Although Abraham welcomes him warmly, it’s clear that the LORD is not there so that Abraham can purchase his favor. His very name, the LORD, emphasizes that he is the one who makes unconditional promises and then does what he must do to carry them out.

This falls right in line with how God reveals himself to us throughout the Bible. He knows we are fallen creatures. He knows that, since our first parents severed their relationship with him, sin has soiled everything—including you and me. For this reason, the very idea that my soiled, sinful hands could somehow curry favor from a God of perfect goodness—such an option was never possible.

And that’s why God sent his Son. On our behalf, Jesus Christ lived the sinless life you and I have failed to live. In our place, Jesus Christ paid for our sin at the cross. The Lord did this not because we had given him some nice jewelry. He did it—because we needed him.

Prayer:
Lord, my whole relationship with you rests upon what you have done for me. Thank you. Amen.

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

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