“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” Luke 13:8-9
Spring is on its way in the Northern Hemisphere. In some places, farmers and gardeners have already begun planting their crops or tending their trees, hoping that they will produce a crop of delicious fruit later in the season.
But what if they don’t? What if no tomatoes grow on the tomato plants, no apples or peaches appear on the trees? The owner might check for pests and disease and treat them if he can. He might make sure that the plants are getting the right amount of water. He might check the soil and feed the plants with fertilizer or other nutrients.
But if that doesn’t work, he has a decision to make. Does he let the plant grow and settle for a little shade or a splash of green? Or does he cut it down or dig it up to get rid of it?
That was the question the man faced in a story Jesus told. His fig tree wasn’t acting like a fig tree. After three years, it still didn’t have any fruit. He was ready to cut it down. But the gardener asked for just a little more time—one more year of special care for the tree. What patience he showed!
Jesus shows that same patience with us. God designed us and planted us in this world to serve and obey him. But, too often, we only seek to serve ourselves, and we don’t live how he wants us to live. We don’t bear the fruits of love that he created us to bear. What should God do with us?
Praise God that he is patient with us! For Jesus’ sake, he nurtures us with his Word. He prunes us with his law and feeds us with his gospel. He plants us by the streams of his Word, connects us to Jesus by faith, and grows faith in our hearts that bears fruit of love to praise his name.
Now, given new life by our patient and forgiving God, we live to honor him with lives of fruitful service every day.
Prayer:
Merciful Savior, be patient with me. Through your Word of forgiveness, make my life fruitful for you. Amen.
Dozens are left homeless in the wake of a natural disaster. Victims lose their lives when gunmen open fire on schools. Hundreds die every month in wars and terrorists attack the innocent around the world.
Could these tragedies have been prevented? Who is really at fault? Where was God, when these things happened? Why did they happen?
We’re okay when bad things happen to bad people. Maybe, somehow, they are finally getting what they deserve. Maybe God wants to teach society a lesson about immoral living.
But how our thoughts change when tragedy strikes us or when what happens seem unfair! Why did she get cancer while her friend stayed healthy? Why did his son die in the war zone while mine came back alive? Why do innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire of violence?
It’s not fair, God! Why do you let bad things happen to good people? If you are truly just and loving, how could this happen?
But why those things happened at those times to those people is God’s business, not ours. It is not our job to judge those who were affected, and God certainly isn’t calling us to judge him. Instead, he wants us to take a good, hard look at ourselves. “But unless you repent, you too will all perish,” Jesus said.
The word “repent” means “turn around.” God wants to use the tragedies of life to turn our hearts away from our sin that leads to death to our Savior who gives us life.
None of the tragedies of Jesus’ day or ours can compare to the apparent injustice that Jesus experienced. He was the sinless Son of God. But he was convicted, condemned, and crucified for crimes he never committed.
When he suffered and died on the cross, Jesus switched places with you. He took your accusations against God, your questioning God’s love, your holding onto sinful ways, and he gave you his perfect trust, love, and obedience. He faced hell to give you heaven. He endured death to give you life.
When tragedy strikes, may God’s love at the cross quiet our questions and turn our hearts to Jesus in sincere repentance and joyful praise.
Prayer:
God, life doesn’t always make sense. When tragedy strikes, help me to trust your love in Jesus my Savior. Amen.
A child holds a family heirloom for the first time. “Be careful!” his mother warns. “We don’t want to break it.”
The sidewalks and roads are icy, when a loved one ventures out. “Be careful!” someone warns.
Some friends are hiking along a trail. The terrain is uneven. One misstep could send someone tumbling down the steep hill to certain injury or even death. “Be careful!” the leader warns.
We need such warnings in our spiritual lives too. We face temptations every day. The devil wants us to think those temptations are no big deal. Either it won’t really hurt us if we do what he wants us to do, or we are strong enough not to give in.
But God warns us, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” The devil is not your friend. His temptations are not games. If you let your guard down, if you underestimate the enemy, you will fall.
And every spiritual fall is fatal. Whether you are tempted to lust or to lie, to hurt or to hate, to ignore someone in need or to ignore God’s Word, every misstep wreaks havoc on our relationship with our heavenly Father. And the devil’s ultimate goal is to lead us to turn our backs on God entirely, so that we miss out on his mercy, so that we miss out on heaven.
The devil desperately wanted Jesus to fall too. God sent Jesus to fight the devil in our place. If Jesus gave in to temptation, God’s plan to save us from sin and death would fail. But Jesus never let his guard down. He didn’t listen to the devil’s whispers or believe his lies. He didn’t fall. Jesus won the fight. The devil lost.
Now Jesus doesn’t leave us to face temptation alone. Whenever we are tempted, we cry out to him for help, and through his Word he arms us for battle to give us the victory.
Prayer:
Jesus, I am weak. You are strong. When I am tempted, give me your strength. When I fall, forgive me for your mercy’s sake. Amen.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us… No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 10:11,13a
The Bible records history, but it’s not like other history books. It tells the stories of individuals and their relationship with the Lord. It shows real people—warts and all—people who struggled, people who fell, people who failed.
The Bible is filled with stories about people like you and me. And that’s exactly the point. God tells their stories for our benefit. He wants us to put ourselves in their sandals. What were they facing? How am I like them? How was God working in their lives?
God tells us their stories to warn us. We can easily think, “I would never do that. That would never happen to me.” The devil tries to convince us that temptations are no big deal, as long as we don’t fall for any of the “big” ones. God does not want us to let our guard down and become easy prey.
So he tells us the sad stories of sinners who have fallen into the devil’s traps and believed the devil’s lies. He shows us how the devil works, so that we are ready to fight against him. You see, the devil never really changes. He uses the same lies today as he always has. So, when we let our guard down and fall for those lies, we aren’t alone.
But, above all, God tells us their stories so that we see his faithful love shining throughout history. Despite the foolish failures of one generation after another, God did not turn his back on them.
Instead, he promised to forgive them and kept that promise when he sent his own Son to face temptation. He was tempted too, but he didn’t fall for those lies. He was without sin and lived the life that God demanded of all of us. Now, for his sake, God forgives every time we fall, every time we fail.
Because of God’s real love, we are not rejected but rescued from sin and restored to fight temptation with the strength that our faithful God promises through his Word.
Prayer:
Faithful God, forgive me when I fall for the devil’s lies. Give me strength to overcome temptation. Amen.
How well do you handle change? If you are like most people, you welcome certain changes and dread others. Some changes give us the excitement of a fresh start. Others make us long for how things used to be.
Our world is constantly changing. The way we communicate, travel, and even think is different than it was a generation ago and just keeps changing. And often, we change right along with it.
Sometimes people expect God to work the same way. God, the world is changing. People don’t think and act the way they used to. If you want to stay relevant, if you want to meet the needs of people in the 21st century, you’ve got to change.
But do we really want a God who is always changing? Do we want a God whose love for us changes from one day to the next? Do we want a God who makes a promise one day and changes his mind the next? Do we want a God who listens to our prayers one day and ignores them the next?
God once called himself something that may sound strange to us. He said, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
When he calls himself “I AM,” he wants us to know that he is a God who does not change. His unconditional love will never change. His promises of mercy will never change. His power to keep his loving promises will never change.
What a comfort that is! No matter how fickle and unfaithful we are to God, he is always ready to forgive our failures and rescue us from the wrath that we deserve. No matter how much may change in our lives, God will always hear our prayers and answer them in perfect love. We can count on him at all times, knowing that he will bless us here on earth and forever in heaven, just as he promised.
Rejoice that, in a changing world, we have a faithful and unchanging God!
Prayer:
Faithful Lord, thank you that your love and promises to me never change. Amen.
We extend a warm welcome to everyone today, especially our visitors. In the bulletin you’ll find an outline of today’s service, a calendar of events and other bits of information. In the red hymn book you’ll find the songs we sing and the order of service that we follow. If you would like a large print hymnal or bulletin please ask one of our ushers and they will gladly assist you. Restrooms and nursery area are located the parish hall at Emmanuel and in the lower level and link-way at St. John’s. It’s nice to have you visit today. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more, as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) Welcome to God’s house! May God bless our worship together.
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY
God Offers Deliverance to Sinners – Today’s lessons encourage us to take heart and trust in the Lord. We also view numerous examples of people who lost their hold on eternal life because they gave in to their fears and doubts. However, in his grace, God promises deliverance from whatever difficulty he may lovingly allow to come our way. Thank God!
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
OPENING HYMN 302 Lord, to You I Make Confession
Please stand
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION hymnal page 26
When we confess to God that we have failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, the pastor announces the perfect forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus.
LORD, HAVE MERCY hymnal page 27
The Church brings her concerns and prayers to a loving Father in heaven, who has shown great mercy to us and promised to hear our ardent cries for help.
O LORD, OUR LORD hymnal page 28
This song of praise reminds us of the wonderful things God has done for us, not the least of which is the salvation he gives through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Almighty God, look with favor on your humble servants and stretch out the right hand of your power to defend us against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: ♫ Amen.
Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings
SERVICE OF THE WORD
The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Exodus 3:1-8, 10-15
In the presence of the Lord, stand back in awe
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry. “We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
VERSE OF THE DAY John 3:14, 15
During the season of Lent, the “Alleluia” is omitted
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
Please stand
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:1-9
Christ’s call to repentance
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
” ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
C:♫ Praise be to you, O Christ!
Please be seated
SERMON HYMN 438 In God, My Faithful God
SERMON1 Corinthians 10:1-13
“Ignorance Is Not Always Bliss”
So let’s…
Ponder the past
Strengthen faith for the future
Please stand
NICENE CREEDhymnal page 31
Please be seated
OFFERING
During the offering, feel free to turn and greet one another! We also kindly ask that you fill out the red friendship register found at the end of each pew.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Please stand
OFFERING, LENTEN SEASON & INTERCESSORY PRAYERS (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: George Alexander, Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley & Liola Crown & son Terry, Agnes Dassow, Jerre Duerr, Reinold Eckelberg, Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Earl Ewert, Marjorie Fabian, Harold Fandrey, Mike Farrell, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Dawn Hirn (Linda Krause’s niece), Xzander Jahr, Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Arden “Bill” Klimke, Linda Krause, Pete Laun, Debbie Parrish, LuAnn Reber, Mark & Peggy Russell (Elsa’s son & daughter in-law), Al & Darlene Schmidt (Dawn Marcelain & Candace Sonnenberg’s parents), Carol Schumann, Dennis Schwanke (Mary Isberner’s friend), Amanda Stalker, Jennifer Strauss, Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Donny Weber (Betty’s son), Larry Wegner (Bob’s brother), Heidi Weishaar (Dennis & Sharon Kekow’s daughter), Karl Whitrock, Millie Wildt (John’s wife) – (added this week: )
– For our K3-K5 teacher Sara Borck who received the Lord’s call to teach Kindergarten next fall at Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran School–Omaha, NE
– For Larry & Lynn Sellnow, currently teaching at Holy Trinity Lutheran School–Wyoming, MI who were called on 3/10 by St. John’s voters to serve next fall as principal/teacher and K4-K5 director/teacher respectively
– For the family of our Emmanuel member, Frieda Otto, called home on Monday (3/18)
– For our St. John’s member, Florence Dahlke, who celebrated her 97th birthday on Wednesday (3/20)
– For Willie, Megan Stalker & daughter Maisie, plus Amanda Stalker & daughter Brittany, after completing our Bible Information Class this week, welcomed as members in today’s (3/24) worship service at St. John’s
– For our communicants at St. John’s
LORD’S PRAYERhymnal page 32
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
The Lord Jesus gives us his own body and blood under bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT hymnal pages 33-36
In this service we celebrate the gift of Jesus’ redeeming love, we bear witness to the Christian fellowship we share, and we proclaim his death until he returns.
Please be seated for the distribution (dist.)
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church we practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service.
DIST. HYMN 749 The Love of Christ, Who Died for Me
Note: As you leave today’s service, please give your completed Friendship Register sheet to an usher or pastor.
Announcements
Activities for the week of March 24-March 30
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Emmanuel/St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship with communion
Mon.
7:30 P.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
SJS/LL SPRING BREAK
Tues.
SJS/LL SPRING BREAK
Wed.
10:00 A.M.
Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
3:30 P.M.
Emmanuel Lenten Devotion
4:30 P.M.
Lenten Supper at St. John’s
6:30 P.M.
St. John’s Lenten Devotion with communion
SJS/LL SPRING BREAK
Thurs.
10:00 A.M.
Montello Care Center Devotion with communion
6:00 P.M.
Griefshare (8th of 13 weeks) in St. John’s lower level
SJS/LL SPRING BREAK
Fri.
SJS/LL SPRING BREAK
Sat.
8:30 A.M.
Finance/Purchasing Comm. meeting at St. John’s
Theme for Next Sunday March 31, 2019
Lent 4: “Joy in the Lord’s Pardoning Love”
8:00 A.M.
Emmanuel Worship
8:30 A.M.
St. John’s Sunday School
9:00 A.M.
Emmanuel/St. John’s Adult Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
St. John’s Worship
EASTER FLOWERS We are taking orders now through April 8th! Please use the sign-up sheet located in St. John’s information room.
EASTER CARDS NEW Easter, Confirmation & Graduation cards have arrived! Come to St. John’s lower level and get them while supplies last.
WEDNESDAY LENTEN DEVOTIONS Join us as we gather for Lenten Devotions: 3:30pm at Emmanuel and 6:30pm at St. John’s under this year’s theme: “Three Words of Truth.” A soup supper will also be served from 4:30-6:15pm in the lower level of St. John’s. “Jesus, I will ponder now on your holy passion…” (Hymn 98)
LENTEN SUPPER This week, March 27, 2019, St. John’s School Hot Lunch is hosting. Supper starts at 4:30pm in St. John’s lower level.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU? Hot turkey sandwiches, chicken and bacon alfredo soup, chili, cheese and sausage, fresh fruit, veggies, desserts, coffee, milk and water.
EASTER FOR KIDS DONATIONS Planning for 80 childrenfor Saturday, April 13, at St. John’s. MONETARY GIFTS are needed most and help purchase: crafts, Easter pails, candy/prizes, outdoor advertising banner, snack & lunch, basket stuffers. DONATE home-crafted items for baskets. VOLUNTEER to bake for the baskets. VOLUNTEER to work at the event. Please contact Linda Wachholz 608-369-2635.
We still collect plain print-free ice cream pails. Please do not purchase plastic eggs, grass, or baskets,but we recycle by accepting gently used items you would like to share. A donation box is located in the linkway.
EASTER FOR KIDS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Please contact Linda Wachholz 608-369-2635.
VOLUNTEER to help pack Easter baskets on Thursday, April 11, time TBA.
VOLUNTEER to help set up the Bible Giveaway on Friday, April 12, time TBA.
VOLUNTEER to make jello jigglers for the Easter for Kids Lunch on Saturday, April 13.
VOLUNTEER to prep crafts during the week prior to the event.
VOLUNTEER to help at the event on Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. to Noon. (Grade 7 through Adult – girls-boys-women-men–all welcome! Thrivent T-Shirts for all helpers)
VOLUNTEER to assist with snacks and work the kitchen on the day of the event.
EASTER FOR KIDS COORDINATOR I am looking for someone to assist with the planning this year who would be willing to take the lead in the future. If you would be interested in working with me this year, please call me 608-369-2635. Thank you! –Linda Wachholz
REGISTRATION FOR EASTER FOR KIDS Any child, age 3 through Grade 6, is welcome to attend Easter for Kids at St. John’s on Saturday, April 13. This is an outreach program–it would be great if St. John’s & Emmanuel kids who attend would invite a non-member or unchurched friend! Register online www.stjohnsmontello.org beginning Monday, March 4. Get registration forms at both churches, in Monday Magazine, on church & school Facebook. This year’s theme is “Parade & Praise for the King!” Story rhyme time, singing & movement, crafts, egg coloring, snacks, & of course, a parade will bring the true meaning of Easter to the children. Register by Friday, April 5.
SPRING MISSION OFFERINGS are being collected by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society through Sunday, March 31.Containers are located in the entrance at St. John’s and at Emmanuel—Please give your gift at the church where you are a member. 75% of gifts given will support Beaver Dam Circuit projects—HM/Campus Ministry New Starts & WM/Haiti. 25% of gifts given will support home & world mission projects described on the poster by the container and will be presented at the next LWMS Convention, June 27-30, in Des Moines, Iowa. Gifts welcome from all who love missions!
CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS member): “The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.”
NEW MEMBERSHIP CLASS I’d like to start a new membership class soon on Sunday at 11:30am and/or Monday at 6pm here at my office. We will study the basic teachings of the Bible using the 20 lesson study guide entitled: New Life In Christ. Call or text me at 608-408-7830 if you are interested. –Pastor Pete Zietlow
FOLLOW MISSIONS ON FACEBOOK Like the new WELS Missions Facebook page to stay up to date on news from Home and World Mission fields, read inspiring stories of the gospel at work, and take advantage of the many resources WELS Missions has to offer – fb.com/WELSMissions.
KNOW YOUR SYNOD Your Sunday offerings help support the work of WELS, but do you know how? Go to wels.net to discover stories about the many WELS world and home mission fields; explore which ministries can support you and your congregation; enjoy daily devotions and Bible readings; and subscribe to stay up to date on the latest news from your synod. All of this and more is available on wels.net. Visit us online today and save us as a Favorite or a Bookmark!
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WELS? Subscribe to the WELS Together e-newsletter to stay connected with the people of your synod and the ministry they serve. Also, don’t miss the twice-monthly videos, expanding on important and compelling synod news. Go to wels.net/together to read more and subscribe today.
St. John’s Greeters Schedule
Mar. 24
Ron & Evie Blada
Mar. 31
Delvin & Jean Henke
Attendance
Emmanuel
St. John’s
3-173-20
102 63
147 72
St. John’s Altar Committee:
March 2019
Diane Eisermann
&
Delores Cotte
Usher Schedule
March 24
E
(with comm.) SJ
DuWayne Sommerfeld, Bruce Stelter, Joe Heller
Jack Yates; Chief, Thomas Wojtalewicz, James Henke, Paul Van Treeck, Martin Schmanke
March 27
(Lent 3:30pm) E
(Lent 6:30pm) SJ
Wayne Stelter, Bruce Stelter, Joe Heller
Don Smith; Chief, Lee Ollendorf, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher, Jim Eisermann
March 31
E
SJ
Wayne Stelter, Paul Wuerch, DuWayne Sommerfeld
Kenon Smith; Chief, Corey Kaul, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith, Del Henke
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:7,8
“Nobody cares.” What a terrible thought! Whether it is the teenager who feels he has no one to talk to or the widow who feels that everyone is too busy to bother with her, the thought that no one cares is dreadful. Although the person who feels this way may not be aware of just how much people do care, the most important thing to know is that God cares. He ALWAYS cares. When his people cried out to him from slavery in Egypt—God cared. He was concerned about their suffering, and he came to their rescue. He used Moses to deliver them from their bondage and bring them to the Promised Land.
God cares about you. He ALWAYS cares about you. When you cry out to God in your suffering—God cares. When you doubt that he cares, when the circumstances of your life seem to say that he doesn’t care, just look at Jesus’ suffering on the cross. He went to the cross to free you from your slavery to sin and death. He promises to bring you to heaven one day. The One who cared about you enough to do all of that certainly cares enough to deliver you from whatever other trials you are facing. When you are tempted to think, “Nobody cares,” look to the cross and be certain that the LORD cares.
Prayer:
Thank you Jesus for proving your love for me at the cross. When I am down, when I doubt your care and concern, lift my eyes to your cross and comfort me with your care. Amen.
If you are like most people, you are dealing with debt. You have house payments, car payments, and credit card bills. And then there was that furniture you bought last year with no payments due for twelve months. And now the twelve months are over. Debt can be overwhelming. It can feel like a great weight pressing you down—a weight you feel you can never escape.
Whether or not you are like many people when it comes to financial debt, you ARE like every human being when it comes to spiritual debt. You owe God for every sin you have ever committed.
You could try to ignore your spiritual debt. But that would not make it go away, any more than ignoring your credit card bill. You could try to pay off your debt to God, except that you have no currency with which to pay it and with every day you live, you commit more sins and rack up more debt. Spiritual debt is overwhelming. It feels like a great weight pressing you down—a weight you feel you can never escape.
But the Bible has good news for you. God says that Jesus has freed you from your debt. His blood was full payment for your sins. The great weight of your guilt has been lifted. It was placed on Jesus when he hung on the cross, so your spiritual debt never needs to bother you again.
Imagine finding out that someone had paid off all your financial debt—your house, car, credit cards, and even that furniture you purchased. Imagine the weight that would be lifted! Imagine the celebration you would enjoy!
You don’t need to imagine that your spiritual debt to God has been paid. It has. Jesus paid it. So let go of your guilt and celebrate the freedom of your forgiveness!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know that I could never pay the debt I owe because of my sins. But I also know that you paid that debt for me. Thank you. Keep me from feeling the weight of a debt I no longer owe so that I can be free to spend my life celebrating the forgiveness you earned. Amen.
One hundred fifty-five years ago, during the American Civil War, an army of Union soldiers had become frustrated. For years, this Union army had fought under many different generals. But, no matter who was in charge the result was always the same. They would fight a battle against the Confederate Army, things would get messy and bloody, the Union general in command would lose his nerve and call a retreat, and the war would drag on.
But, then a new general arrived by the name of Ulysses S. Grant. At first, it seemed nothing had changed. Under Grant they had a sharp battle against the Confederate Army. Things got messy and bloody. The next day they received orders to march. “Here we go again,” the soldiers thought.
But, when they arrived at a fork in the road, instead of marching north in retreat, Grant led them south toward their enemy. Ulysses S. Grant was the general they needed. He was a stubborn, determined man. He continued pressing and pressing, attacking and attacking until, eventually, victory was won.
Ulysses S. Grant may have been a stubborn, determined man when it came to defeating the Confederate Army. But, even he cannot out-stubborn Jesus. When it comes to his love for you, Jesus is the most stubborn and determined person in all creation.
Remember that. Remember that when your burdens stubbornly stick to you. Perhaps it’s an ailing parent, a drifting child, uncertain finances, health problems, loneliness, or regrets from your past that you cannot seem to forget. Perhaps it’s just the wear and tear of living in a broken, sinful world.
When your burdens stubbornly stick to you, remember that Jesus is determined to keep his every promise to you. That is what he sealed in his blood on the cross and guaranteed with his empty tomb. He proved his love for you then and he’s not backing away now. Because when it comes to Jesus’ love for you, no one can out-stubborn him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, your goodness and love pursue me with a dogged determination. Move me to see your stubborn grace in my life. Amen.
Here’s an assignment for you: The next time you visit a hospital, make it a point to take a thoughtful, deliberate walk through that hospital. Look around. Take in what you see.
Behind every door there’s a story, an unfolding drama. There are some who are recovering from accidents and will soon be getting on with their lives. There are others with life-changing injuries. There are patients who are getting treatment for a stubborn bug and will soon be going home. There are others who are undergoing a barrage of tests in hopes of discovering what the problem is. There are families who arrive with balloons and funny cards because a loved one gets to come home. There are families sitting quietly in waiting rooms because they know a loved one is never coming home again.
Such a walk will remind you of one thing. No matter how healthy you are, you are only one bacterium away, one moment’s inattention away, one positive test result away from finding yourself lying in a bed that’s not your own, watching a wall-mounted television, with strange machines beeping at your side. It will remind you that, in this world of sin, each of us possesses a lowly body that’s far more vulnerable and frail than we care to admit.
But such a walk can also remind you of something else. The lowly bodies we have now are not going to be lowly forever. We know this because Jesus has made a promise. He has promised to transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
And so, there it is. The same Son of God who took on a human body to live in our place, sacrificed his body on a cross to pay for our sins in full, and raised his body back to life—this same Jesus has promised that the lowly bodies we have now will not be lowly for long. Disease, accident, age, death—these things do not have the final word on our bodies. Jesus does. And his Word says that when he raises his followers from the dead one day, our bodies will be glorious—no more pain or disease or injury or death. What a transformation!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, for the time being my body is frail and lowly. But not for long. For this I thank you. Amen.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
