St. Johns News

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.
Ephesians 3:8

A Painful Memory Can be a Blessing

Daily Devotion – January 5, 2020

Devotion based on Ephesians 3:8

See series: Devotions

Have you ever had a memory from your past that’s so painful you close your eyes and cringe whenever you think about it? For some, such memories are so powerful that they fill themselves with anything to deaden the hurt: alcohol, pills, pleasure, TV, mindless busyness. Do you have such a memory? Perhaps something from your past is haunting you right now.

If so, sit down for a moment next to the apostle Paul. It seems that Paul grappled with the same thing. In spite of all that the Lord did through Paul’s amazing ministry, Paul still considered himself “the least of all God’s people.” Let’s be clear: Paul did not say this just so he could appear gracious or humble before his readers. Elsewhere in his writings, Paul said the same thing. And he also explained why. You see, through the years Paul had never shaken the searing memories of what he had done before becoming a Christian. For that reason, the reality of his own sinfulness never left his side.

But there was the beauty that because Paul was now forgiven in Christ, even his painful memories were a blessing. Whenever they haunted him, they also served to highlight God’s grace in Paul’s life. It was God’s undeserved love for a sinner like Paul that continually filled him with gratitude and peace. And it was this gratitude and peace that helped inspire Paul to follow his Lord for the rest of his life.

Do you have a memory from your past that can sometimes paralyze you with pain and regret? Join the club. But consider what else that memory does. In Christ, that memory spotlights the Lord’s grace, his undeserved love, in your life. In him, you are forgiven. In him, you possess a peace that no bad memory can ever take away.

Remember that as you begin this new year. And thank your Lord that he can turn even your painful memory into a blessing.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have allowed painful memories to prevent me from seeing you. Use my painful memories to remind me of your grace in my life. 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 the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.
Galatians 4:4

The Time for Jesus

Daily Devotion – January 4, 2020

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4

See series: Devotions

What a mess things were at the time of Jesus’ birth! The Jewish people in Palestine had to live under the iron fist of Herod the Great, a cruel king who had actually put his own sons to death to retain his power. And the tyranny did not stop there.

Beyond Herod was the boot of the Roman Empire, known for its willingness to crucify thousands at one time in the name of keeping order. Then there were religious factions in the Jewish leadership—from the Pharisees, who were all about retaining religious laws and traditions of their people, to the Sadducees, who wanted to do what was necessary to get along with the Romans. There was a wide disparity between the upper, middle, and lower classes of Jewish society—a disparity that was ongoing and a disparity that created its own tension.

Finally, over the years a terrible distortion developed over what the promised Messiah was supposed to do. Many assumed he was supposed to bring political and social change. Few seemed to understand their need for a Savior from sin.

But in spite of the mess, brutality, unrest, ignorance, cynicism, and trouble, God chose this moment in time to send his Son. He did so because he determined that the time had come.

As it was 2,000 years ago, so it is this moment. The time for Jesus is now. In spite of what is dominating the headlines, in spite of the noise, in spite of what is demanding your attention in your personal world, the time for Jesus is now. The time is now to come to him in repentance and to bask in the forgiveness he purchased at Calvary’s cross. The time is now to tell others what you have heard and seen about the Savior God sent for us when the time had fully come.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into the mess of this world in order to save it. Thank you for coming into the mess of this world to save 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.

[S]ince you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:7

An Amazing Inheritance

Daily Devotion – January 3, 2020

Devotion based on Galatians 4:7

See series: Devotions

I was adopted into my family. My brother was born naturally into it. I am the executor of my parents’ estate, so I have seen their will. It’s split evenly between the children. I am receiving the same inheritance that my natural-born brother is receiving. Isn’t that remarkable?

As remarkable as my inheritance from my parents is, the inheritance Christians receive is far more remarkable. The Bible says that although Jesus is God’s natural born Son while Christians are adopted sons and daughters, they still receive a wonderful inheritance.

What will that inheritance include? It starts with the forgiveness of our sins. This was purchased not with gold or silver, but with the holy, precious blood of Jesus in his innocent suffering and death. Everyone connected to Jesus by faith receives that forgiveness, more precious than any earthly inheritance.

Our spiritual inheritance continues with resurrection from the dead. Our actual souls and our actual bodies, separated at death, will come together again. The disciples saw it happen with Jesus, and they realized that it would also happen to them. Our bodies will be glorified, ageless, unable to die. It’s an amazing inheritance.

And that inheritance continues with heaven. That’s where the Son of God lives, and that’s where we will live eternally with him. We can look forward to an eternal existence without sorrow or pain, in the company of all those have been adopted into God’s family. Jesus, our brother, is preparing our place for us right now.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for making me your child. I delight in your inheritance, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 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.

“Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6

Child of God

Daily Devotion – January 2, 2020

Devotion based on Galatians 4:6

See series: Devotions

It’s amazing how quickly and deeply children become attached to their parents. Mothers and fathers carry out their roles, and children learn to depend on them for nourishment, comfort, support, and boundaries. When children have stable parents, emotional bonds to one another last for a lifetime.

God, our heavenly Father, creates similar emotional bonds in us when he feeds us with his Holy Word and Holy Supper. He comforts us with his promises, and those promises support us when we are weak. He sets boundaries for us, showing us the blessings of keeping his laws, and the curses for breaking them.

Although we do not see him, God sends his Spirit into our hearts, and the emotional bonds to God that the Spirit creates in us last a lifetime.

It’s also amazing how children learn language from their parents. Parents speak, and children imitate the sounds. If bilingual parents speak both languages, their children grow up bilingual. You can often hear the speech patterns of parents in children’s speech even after the children move away.

The Holy Spirit teaches us the speech patterns of God, our Heavenly Father. We learn to speak about him and to him in an endearing way. The same way that English-speaking babies say “Dada,” and Galatian babies said “Abba,” we call God our Father in heaven. With these words, God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true Father and that we are his true children so that we pray to him as boldly and confidently as dear children ask their dear father.

Prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, thank you for making me your child through faith in Christ Jesus. Keep me close to you all of my life until I join you in eternal life. 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.

God sent his Son . . . that we might receive adoption to sonship.
Galatians 4:4,5

Making It Possible

Daily Devotion – January 1, 2020

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4,5

See series: Devotions

It’s a new year! No matter what happened in the previous year, this new year opens with all kinds of opportunities. People make New Year’s resolutions because it’s a good time for starting over. It feels like anything is possible, right?

And it’s not just a new year that can make us feel excited. New shoes make kids feel like they can run faster and jump higher. A new car has a special feel and smell. New books and movies intrigue us no matter our age.

If a new year or new things are exciting, imagine what it would be like to join a new family. That’s what anyone who has been adopted has experienced. They will tell you that joining a new family by adoption is an adventure. Most children adopted into a family feel like they have been given a new lease on life. A former family had disintegrated, but this new family offers opportunities and possibilities. Being adopted into a family offers security and love.

But no family offers more security and more love than God’s family. Sadly, none of us has the authority or ability to join God’s family. Thankfully, God does have the authority and ability to adopt us into his family. This is why he sent his Son, Jesus, into the world, to make all of the arrangements necessary for us to be adopted into his family. Jesus earned forgiveness for us, declaring himself to be our brother. He did everything to make it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God.

When someone is baptized, and the name of the only true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is pronounced over them, God is writing that name on them and claiming them as his own. They get his family name, and God promises that all of the privileges of being a family member come along with faith in Jesus.

And when you are in God’s family, all kinds of wonderful things are possible.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus to do everything necessary for me to be adopted into your family. 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.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son.
Galatians 4:4

Just in Time

Daily Devotion – December 31, 2019

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4

See series: Devotions

Forty years ago, just-in-time manufacturing changed everything in the auto industry. There was less inventory and quicker production times, delighting both managers and customers. When it was done well, just the right part was available at just the right time, every time.

Two thousand years ago, a just-in-time event changed everything in the world. For thousands of years, God had promised a Savior. The people who believed his promise awaited the day when it would be fulfilled. In times of both injustice and despair, they cried out to the Lord, “How long? How long will it be until you keep your promise?”

Then, at the set time, God kept his promise. The Son of God took on human flesh. He became fully human yet was without sin. He came to earth to do the will of his Father.

It was the perfect time in human history. Everything was in place for Jesus to do exactly what his Father wanted him to do. And what was that? Jesus came to bear the sins of the world, earning forgiveness for you.

On the last day of the calendar year, you can look back and see how some things have gone well, and other things—well, probably not so well. But when you look back on what Jesus has done for you, you will see only perfection, because Jesus came at just the right time. And as you look forward to the new year, Jesus will be with you, supplying you with whatever you need, just in time.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the blessings of the past year. Give me the confidence to face the new year with your forgiveness there for me at just the right time, every time. 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.

God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law.
Galatians 4:4,5

Jesus Did Your Job

Daily Devotion – December 30, 2019

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4,5

See series: Devotions

It’s nice to have a job that gives you some holiday time off between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s just pleasant not to have to get up at a certain time in the morning, get yourself to work, and follow someone else’s routine. And isn’t it especially nice when a co-worker volunteers to take a shift for you to give you a little time off?

As you celebrated the birth of Jesus last week, did you think about why he came to earth? He didn’t have to do it. He had enjoyed existence from eternity without a human body, but he chose to humble himself and take a human body anyway, arriving not as an adult, but as an infant.

Just as amazingly, he chose to put himself under the law. That means that he had to be perfect in every way—every thought, every word, every action. Just one slip-up, and he would not be able to serve as our Savior.

But he is called Jesus, which means “Savior,” because he did it. He kept the law perfectly, refraining as a true human being from doing or even thinking anything wrong. Then, instead of taking the reward of heaven that he deserved for living that perfect life, he took the punishment of hell that you deserved for living an imperfect life and declared that his perfect life would be your ticket to heaven.

Through faith in Jesus, you have that perfect life credited to your spiritual account. You are redeemed from hell and death, and you are promised forgiveness of your sins and eternal life.

Someone else has done your job, and he wants you to get credit for it. Join other Christians and thank him. Stop worrying, take a deep breath, and get some rest.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for sending your Son to become a human being and live under the law in my place. I will rest my soul in him. 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 the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:4-7

Perfect Timing

Daily Devotion – December 29, 2019

Devotion based on Galatians 4:4-7

See series: Devotions

There is something soothing about watching sand sift through the waist of an hourglass. It is mesmerizing. In our Bible passage for today, the apostle Paul tells us that when Jesus was born, the last grains of sand in God’s celestial hourglass had fallen from the top chamber and filled the bottom one. In other words, Jesus came at precisely the right time. We can be certain because it was the time that God in his wisdom had chosen since the beginning of time. The One who fulfilled the hopes and dreams of God’s people for all those years was born. For centuries God had promised to send a Savior, and when the time had fully come, he sent his one and only Son.

We don’t know for sure why God sent Jesus when he did, but we can be thankful that he did. God’s own Son became human and put himself under the law, to redeem us from all of our sins and failures under God’s law. He did this so we might receive the full rights of sons. Through faith in Christ, we have been brought into God’s family and can now call out to our Father in heaven with words of heartfelt intimacy, “Abba, Father.” God’s timing was perfect, and so was his gift—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to continually rejoice in your perfect timing in sending your Son into the world. Lead me to continually thank and praise you for your perfect gift and for making me your child. 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 virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Matthew 1:23

God With Us

Daily Devotion – December 28, 2019

Devotion based on Matthew 1:23

See series: Devotions

During World War II, a gloom swept over England as Hitler’s Luftwaffe dropped tons of death and destruction upon London. There was a legitimate fear for the safety of King George VI and his family. His staff made secret arrangements to transport the king and his family to safety in Canada for the duration of the war. Despite the urgings of his advisors, George refused to leave his countrymen in their dark hour. In fact, the king inspected a bombed-out section of London after an air raid. While walking through the rubble, an elderly man walked up to King George and said: “You, here, in the midst of this? You are indeed a good king.”

That is what the manger says to us. That God is with us in the ugly part of our lives as well as the good! He does not desert us in the darkest hour of our despair. He is there in the midst of the rubble of our broken dreams and the ruin of our tangled lives. That’s what the gift of Christmas is! GOD IS WITH US. He is with us here. That’s the most important gift we could ever receive.

God is indeed a good king. He is One who came here and lived among us. He not only sympathized with us. He took our pain for us and suffered for our sins. Through our coming King Jesus, God made peace between himself and us.

Matthew 1:23 says: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

That must be the most amazing, incredible, and comforting news there could be. That is the meaning of Christmas.

May the certainty that God is with us, in the midst of this dark world together with us, bring comfort to your soul this Christmas!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for coming to this world to be with us so that you might save me. When I face dark days, remind me that you are always with 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.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

The Responsible Child

Daily Devotion – December 27, 2019

Devotion based on Isaiah 9:6

See series: Devotions

They say that first-born children often feel a greater weight of responsibility than their younger siblings do. Sometimes parents put extra pressure on the oldest child to succeed without even being aware of what they are doing. The firstborn may also naturally feel that it is their duty to protect or provide for their younger brothers and sisters.

God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, came into this world with the heaviest burden of responsibility ever placed on a child. From the moment of his birth—even from his conception—the pressure was on him to succeed. God the Father had sent him to accomplish what no other person on earth could do: to defeat Satan and rescue humanity from the curse of death. Jesus’ entire life needed to be absent of sin and full of grace and truth. He was born so that the rest of mankind could benefit from his life and death.

Read through any of the four Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and you’ll see for yourself that Jesus accomplished all that was prophesied about him in the bible verse above. Everyone who heard him speak marveled at his wisdom and the authority of his teaching. The many miracles he performed showed his mighty power and his divine compassion for all. To look on Jesus was to see the face of his Father in heaven. He displayed genuine love for everyone, even his enemies. Even as they nailed him to a cross, Jesus was heard to be praying, “Father, forgive them.” His death on that cross was the sacrifice that won forgiveness of sins and true spiritual peace for all.

The holy Child placed in the manger by his mother Mary was born for you. He came to take the weight of your sin and guilt upon himself. And he has defeated your enemies—sin, death, and the devil. Now he reigns forever at the right hand of the Father. Turn to him daily; put your life in his hands. He will not let you down.

Prayer:
Christ Jesus, you alone fulfilled the Father’s will. I trust in you for my salvation. 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.