St. Johns News – Page 323 – St. John's Evangelical

The Passover – January 14, 2018

January 14, 2018January 14, 2018 Kerry

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29

The Passover

Daily Devotion – January 14, 2018

Devotion based on John 1:29

See series: Devotions

By calling Jesus “the Lamb of God” John the Baptist pointed the people to one of their familiar festival—the Passover which commemorated God’s deliverance of his people from their bondage in the land of Egypt.
The LORD commissioned Moses and his brother Aaron to speak repeatedly to Egypt’s ruler informing him that the true God said: “Let my people go!” Nine times God sent a debilitating plague, but the ruler refused. In response to his stubbornness, God sent one last plague.
“At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn of Egypt.”(Exodus 12:29). However, the Israelites were spared because they did what God had commanded: they sacrificed the very best male lamb from their flock and spread its blood over the outer doorframe of their homes. When the LORD saw the blood of the unblemished lamb, he “passed over” the house and spared the firstborn. Immediately Egypt’s ruler released God’s people. By the blood of the sacrificial lamb the people were freed from slavery.
So when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and proclaimed that he is “the Lamb of God,” he identified Jesus as the long-awaited Savior. Jesus is God’s Lamb by whose blood people are freed from the slavery of sin and death.
Jesus—the Lamb of God—loved us so much to offer his sinless life into death on a cross to secure our pardon before God the Father and flood our troubled souls with the peace that God gives us through Jesus. Let that truth flood your soul with the mercy we all desperately need and confident assurance we all urgently desire.

Prayer:
LORD God, work faith in my heart to believe in Jesus, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Your God Will Not Let You Fall – January 13, 2018

January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 Kerry

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9

Your God Will Not Let You Fall

Daily Devotion – January 13, 2018

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

See series: Devotions

The scene has been played out in countless movies and television shows. Someone has fallen off the edge of a cliff or tall building and is holding on for dear life to the hand of a person above him. The tension builds as the person’s hand starts to slip and he shouts, “I can’t hold on much longer!”
Christians sometimes feel this way about their faith. Challenges and tragedies have pummeled them to the point where they feel weak and wonder if they might very well lose their connection to Christ. “I can’t hold on much longer!” they think. Perhaps you are feeling this way today.
God’s Word has good news for you. Your connection to Christ does not depend on your ability to hold on to him. He is holding on to you. After all, he is the One who grabbed you out of the depths of sin and pulled you to himself in the first place. He called you to be his child and, like any loving parent, he loves you too much to let you go.
When you feel like you can’t hold on much longer, your loving Lord quietly, firmly and lovingly replies, “I can.”

Prayer:
Lord, you know how weak my faith often is. You know how easily I doubt your Word and promises. I thank you that you have called me to be your child and ask that you grant me a faith that is firm and unshakable. When I waver, hold me close. Keep me safe in your arms until I am safely home with you. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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.

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See yourself as God sees you – January 12, 2018

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 Kerry

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26–28

See yourself as God sees you

Daily Devotion – January 12, 2018

Devotion based on Galatians 3:26–28

See series: Devotions

A person’s view of himself tends to be relative—relative to the people around him. For example, I am below average in height. Most of the time, when I am with a group of people, I am looking up and feel quite short. But when I am with my extended family, I am one of the tallest people in the room. And when I am asked to reach something from the top shelf of the pantry, I feel quite tall.

People often view their morality in a similar way. They compare themselves to the people around them and feel either good or bad about themselves depending upon what they see in those other people.

But we do not have a God who compares us to other people. He compares us to himself. He expects us to be as holy, and loving, and caring, and selfless as he is. Unlike when we compare ourselves to other people, when we compare ourselves to the one, true God, we cannot see ourselves as anything but complete moral failures.

Which is why it is such a shock—a wonderful shock—to hear what the apostle Paul tell us in Galatians, chapter 3: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

What a glorious surprise! Regardless of how you see yourself, regardless of how you stack up when compared to other people, God sees you as sinless because you are clothed in the perfect life of Jesus. He sees every baptized follower of Christ this way. It doesn’t matter what gender you are, what color you are, what kind of job you hold, what kind of grades you get, or what language you speak. Through faith in Christ you are a child of the living God!

Now, how does THAT make you feel?

Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for making me your child though faith in your Son, Jesus. Cleanse my guilty conscience with the knowledge that I am holy in your sight. And lead me to live as your child this day. Amen.

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

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Bulletin- THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY JANUARY 14, 2018

January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 Kerry

EMMANUEL AND ST. JOHN’S

Evangelical Lutheran Churches

Mecan and Montello, WI

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

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THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

JANUARY 14, 2018

WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH! 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. May God bless our worship together!

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY God shows himself and calls us to serve him

A PERSONAL PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP O Lord, our God: rule over the nations of earth and direct the affairs of this world so that your church may worship you in peace and joy. Through your Word and Sacrament, come to us. Forgive our sins, strengthen our faith, and help us live up to our high calling as your children. Amen.

ORDER OF SERVICE–LITURGY

“The Common Service” (hymnal page 15)

PASTOR’S GREETING

OPENING HYMN 82 “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”

(printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

LITURGY (hymnal page 15, read & sung responsively)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

LITURGY (hymnal page 17b, read & sung responsively)

(Please be seated for the Scripture readings)

THE DAY’S BIBLE READING THEME

The Lord Calls Us to Serve

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (sermon text)

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

PSALM 67 (hymnal page 91, sung in unison)

EPISTLE LESSON 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

VERSE OF THE DAY Alleluia! He said to me, “You are my servant in whom I will display my splendor.” Alleluia. (Isaiah 49:3)

LITURGY (hymnal page 18, all sing)

“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! ”

(Please stand)

After the announcement of the Gospel, all sing:

“Glory be to you, O Lord!”

GOSPEL John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

After the Gospel, all sing:

“Praise be to you, O Christ!”

NICENE CREED (hymnal page 18b, all read)

(Please be seated)

At Emmanuel, all children ages 2-6 are invited to Nursery Sunday School in the parish hall.

SERMON HYMN 283 “Speak, O Savior; I Am Listening”

(printed in hymnal, all sing)

SERMON 1 Samuel 3:1-10

“The Lord Is Speaking. Who’s Listening?”

(Please stand after the sermon)

LITURGY (hymnal page 20, all sing)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God…”

(Please be seated)

OFFERING, WORSHIPER GREETINGS & FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS

(Please stand)

OFFERING PRAYER

EPIPHANY SEASON PRAYER (hymnal page 124, read responsively)

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and others facing trials: George Alexander, Chuck Boetcher, Alexandria Buehrens (Bob & Carolyn’s great granddaughter), Bob & Carolyn Buehrens, Gene & Sharon Crook, Harley & Liola Crown, Agnes Dassow, Elaine Emond (Mark’s mother), Marjorie Fabian, Mike Farrell, Donna Gatzke, Kellen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Millie Henke, Laurana Hoffman (Tim’s daughter), Drake Hunter (Bill & Cally’s grandson), Mary Isberner, Geri Kerl (Sue Brown’s mother), Bob Klapper (Sandy’s husband), Anna Madigan, Linda Malsack, Sherry Miller (Candace Sonnenberg’s sister), Marion Neuman (Marjorie Fabian’s sister), Wilma Rudolph, Bob Schrank, Becky Schulz (Kristen Cragin’s sister), Tim Schultz, Roger Stellick (Doug’s uncle), Linda Lou Wacholtz, Bob Wegner – (added this week: )
– For Marla Ohrmundt called by St. John’s voters on 1/7 to serve as Little Lambs pre-school director through the end of the school year
– For our communicants at St. John’s

LORD’S PRAYER (hymnal page 20b)

NOTE: AT SUNDAY ST. JOHN’S…

HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY (hymnal page 21, read & sung responsively)

(Please be seated for holy communion)

Our church follows the historic and widespread Christian practice of closed Communion. We ask that only members of Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church or another congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) partake of the sacrament. We follow this practice because the Bible teaches it and because we love you. Please speak with the pastor if you have any questions.

DISTRIBUTION HYMN 38 “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(After the distribution, please stand)

SONG OF SIMEON, CLOSING PRAYER, & BLESSING (hymnal pages 24-25)

(Please be seated)

CLOSING HYMN 367 “Christ Be My Leader” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

NOTE: AT EMMANUEL & WEDNESDAY ST. JOHN’S…

LITURGY (hymnal page 25)

(Please be seated)

HYMN 458 “May We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfill” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

(Please stand)

CLOSING PRAYER & BLESSING (hymnal page 25b)

(Please be seated)

CLOSING HYMN 367 “Christ Be My Leader” (printed in hymnal, all sing)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Theme for next Sunday (1/21):

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: The Lord’s Call Changes Hearts and Lives

Note: Please give your completed friendship register page to an usher or pastor as you leave today’s service.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK JANUARY 14-JANUARY 20
Sun.	8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship
	8:20 A.M.		Emmanuel Nursery Sunday School
	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.	6:30 P.M.		Senior Choir at St. John’s
	7:30 P.M.		Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
Tues.
Wed.	10:00 A.M.		Adult Bible Study at St. John’s
	1:40 P.M.		St. John’s School/Little Lambs early dismissal
	2:15 P.M.		Public School Teen Confirmation class at St. John’s
	6:30 P.M.		St. John’s Worship
	7:30 P.M.		Bible Information Class at St. John’s
Thurs.	6:00 P.M.		Griefshare at St. John’s lower level begins (13 weeks)
	7:00 P.M.		St. John’s Council meeting
Fri.
Sat.
SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2018 The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: The Lord’s Call Changes Hearts and Lives
8:00 A.M.		Emmanuel Worship
8:20 A.M.		Emmanuel Nursery Sunday School
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
11:15 A.M.		New member dinner at St. John’s

MEMORIAL In loving memory of Sierra Lynn Prater, $200.00 was given to St. John’s church by Wade and Melissa Prater. Thank you for your gift.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

ST. JOHN’S OFFERING STATEMENT SIGN-UP The signup sheet is located in the church link way. Please sign up if you wish to have a copy of your 2017 offering statement.

ST. JOHN’S OFFERING ENVELOPES 2018 are located in the link way of church. Please pick yours up if you haven’t yet! If you do not have a box, feel free to contact pastor or the office and we will get one to you!

LENT BY CANDLELIGHT Ladies, you won’t want to miss the second ever Lent by Candlelight on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 5:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montello. Please plan to join us for an evening of visiting, beautiful music and scrumptious snacks. All women are invited and are encouraged to invite their friends to prepare their hearts for Lent. There is no charge for this event. Seating is limited, so RSVP by emailing christavantreeck@gmail.com or signing up in the link way at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montello.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS at Emmanuel & St. John’s since December 14, 2015! You will be guests at a Welcome Dinner on Sunday, January 21, beginning at approximately 11:15 a.m. following the St. John’s worship service. Your hosts will be the members & families of the St. John’s Accessibility Task Force, St. John’s Shepherd Team, Emmanuel Council & Leaders, and Pastor & Mrs. Zietlow. New members, you should have received personal invitations in the mail. Your RSVP is kindly requested, by Sunday, January 14, to help us with food preparation. Please call Elsa Russell 608-297-2731 or James & Linda Wachholz 608-297-7109 or 608-369-2635.

MEMBERSHIP CLASS A new “Bible Information Class” began Wed 1/3/18 at 7:30pm in pastor’s office/conference room at St. John’s. Alternate days/times can also be scheduled. Free study guides are available from pastor…just ask.

NEW WEEKDAY/EVE BIBLE CLASS Beginning January 2018, we started a new weekday/eve Bible Study entitled: “Your Questions–Scriptures Answers: Adiaphora” (things that God doesn’t command or forbid in the Bible and how we are to properly use our Christian freedom). We meet at St. John’s in the pastor’s office/conference room Monday 7:30pm and Wednesday 10am. “Therefore let us leave the elementery teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…” (Hebrews 6:1)

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY Following the Sunday 8:00 a.m. worship service at Emmanuel, usually about 9:00 a.m., all are invited to the parish hall for our study of “Timely Topics–Timeless Truths” led by Lucas Stelter. At 9:00 a.m. in the St. John’s sanctuary, all are invited to our study of the New Testament book of James: “Concrete Christianity” led by Pastor John Dolan and others. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18)

CHRISTIAN ONE-LINERS (from a WELS pastor) Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

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Interactive Faith online Bible study
The next Interactive Faith series will begin Jan. 10, 2018, and run each Wednesday night at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (central) through Feb. 7, 2018. Rev. Daniel Habben, St. John’s, Saint John, Antigua, will lead the study titled “Isaiah: God confronts and comforts his people.” Learn more at wels.net/interactivefaith.

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Subscribe to the WELS Together e-newsletter to stay connected with your synod and its ministry. Also, don’t miss the twice-monthly videos, expanding on important and interesting synod news.

Connecting WELS members
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod offers several ways to connect members through social media: facebook.com/welslutherans, twitter.com/welstweets, Instagram.com/welslutherans, and vimeo.com/wels.

USHERS

Emmanuel January 14 Wayne Stelter, Glenn Buchholz, DuWayne Sommerfeld, January 21 Darrell Buchholz, Paul Wuerch, Jim Stuempges January 28 DuWayne Sommerfeld, Paul Dahlke, Joe Heller

St. John’s January 14 (C) James Wachholz; Chief, Martin Schmanke, Lee Ollendorf, Aaron Kendall, Chuck Boetcher, January 21 Dennis Wacholtz; Chief, Jim Eisermann, Corey Kaul, Jerre Duerr, Robin Smith January 28 (C) Jack Yates; Chief, Del Henke, Joe Zauner, Richard Freitag, Gerhardt Voigt

GREETERS TODAY Sara Borck & Jennie Utke

Attendance	Emmanuel	St. John’s
1-7 1-10	62	150 7
SJ ALTAR COMMITTEE CONTACT JANUARY 2018	Diane Eisermann & Delores Cotte

Welcome To Our Visitors!

Please Sign Our Guest Register

Visit our website & Facebook link at: www.stjohnsmontello.org

Pastor Peter Zietlow Office (608) 297-2321

Cell & Text (608) 408-7830, E-mail: ZietlowPL6@hotmail.com

Principal Tim Hemling (608) 745-2549

Teacher Karin Stellick (920) 342-3689

Teacher Sara Borck (858) 731-7919

Teacher Sandra Hemling (608) 745-2776

Parish/School Secretary Ciara Neuhauser (608) 297-2866

Altar Ladies Elaine Kelm (920) 344-0025 &

Carolyn Rosenthal 589-5036

Mail to: 313 E Montello St, Montello, WI 53949

OR scsecretary@stjohnsmontello.org

Winnebago Lutheran Academy

Principal Mr. David Schroeder/WLA office (920) 921-4930

WLA website: www.wlavikings.org

When You Feel Stuck – January 11, 2018

January 11, 2018January 11, 2018 Kerry

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
Psalm 118:5–6

When You Feel Stuck

Daily Devotion – January 11, 2018

Devotion based on Psalm 118:5–6

See series: Devotions

Several years ago, there was a popular book and movie about Aron Ralston, a climber who got trapped in Utah’s Bluejohn Canyon after an accident in which a large dislodged boulder pinned his arm against the narrow canyon wall. Ralston had not told anyone about his hiking plans, nor did he have anyway to call for help. There is an unforgettable scene in the movie where he realizes that his arm is stuck and he is not going to be able to free himself. He cries out for help, but his cry simply echoes through the vast canyon walls. There is no one to hear him. No one to help. Finally, after five days of surviving on a meager amount of food and water, Ralston broke his ulna and radius bones and amputated his trapped arm to escape.

While it might not be a life or death situation, there are times in our lives when we feel stuck. Whether it be in a relationship, a job, or even our own struggle with sin and guilt. Even when we cry out to God for help, sometimes it seems like the cry of that trapped climber reverberating off the empty canyon walls. Who is going to help me? Who is going to save me from death?

In the midst of betrayal and abandonment, with the weight of the world’s sins on his back and the impending punishment for their guilt looming on the horizon, Jesus called out to his heavenly Father. In faith he cried out to God and that cry did not simply echo into the void. God answered his prayer. Yes, Jesus had to suffer the pain and the shame of the cross for our benefit. But God did not abandon him. On the third day he raised him victoriously from the dead.

Because of Jesus we can be sure that God will answer our deepest cry for help as well. Through faith in Jesus as our Savior, we are intimately joined with him. His Father is our Father, and just as God ultimately answered his Son’s prayers for deliverance, he will answer ours too. Sometimes he miraculously delivers us from our current problems and trials. Sometimes he doesn’t. But in any case, we can be confident that God is working all things to bring us ultimate deliverance.

So next time you feel stuck, next time you are hard pressed and in anguish, cry out to your heavenly Father. Cry out trusting that the Lord hears and answers your prayers. Know that because of Jesus, you can say, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.”

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, when I feel like I am stuck and in anguish I feel life’s difficulties and problems pressing down, help me to trust in you and your unfailing deliverance. Through Jesus my Savior. Amen.

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

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

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Small Things – January 10, 2018

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018 Kerry

And now the LORD says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength—he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:5–6

Small Things

Daily Devotion – January 10, 2018

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:5–6

See series: Devotions

A leading expert on stress, cardiologist Robert Eliot, gives the following prescription for dealing with stress: Rule No. 1 is—don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule No. 2 is—it’s all small stuff.

Looking back at your celebrations of Christmas and New Year’s, do you feel like so much of what you did was hurried and stress-filled, yet ultimately all small stuff? The gifts you gave and got, the gatherings you were part of, and the games you watched really were not that big of a deal. Still, you stressed over the giving, gatherings and games.

Perhaps you are even feeling remorseful regret over having not made more of a season filled with opportunities for witness and worship. If you have sinned through selfish indulgence; if you have sinned through wasted worship times or by worshipping games and players at the price of worshipping the God of glory, then behold, “I bring you tidings of great joy which will be for all the people.”

Entering our small lives is the Lord for whom salvation for his special people Israel was “too small a thing.” Entering our lives is the God of greatness and glory—the God of our salvation—Jesus servant of the Lord. Jesus is the designated Savior who is a light for the Gentiles which is 99.8% of the world’s population. Jesus is the one who brings salvation to the ends of the earth. He came to rescue the world from sin.

That means he brings salvation to the homes of those who gathered, gifted and watched games until they had their fill, but let Christmas and Christ pass by with little notice. It is a new year and it is not too late to shake things up and change. It is not too late to reflect upon the smallness of life here and the greatness of life hereafter.

The game-changer is Jesus. His plan and purpose is to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. His plan is to gather us to himself. Don’t settle for small when you can marvel at great!

Prayer:
Gracious God, we marvel at the task you laid upon your Son to rescue and save us all. By the Spirit, cause us to embrace and receive that salvation as our own. 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.

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Patience – January 9, 2018

January 9, 2018January 9, 2018 Kerry

Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.
2 Peter 3:15a

Patience

Daily Devotion – January 9, 2018

Devotion based on 2 Peter 3:15a

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There’s an old Jewish story about Abraham. Abraham was sitting outside his tent when an old, weary man came by. Abraham invited him in and fixed him a meal. As they sat down to eat, however, the old man dived right into his food without even a prayer.

“Don’t you believe in God?” asked Abraham. “No,” the man replied. Indignant, Abraham sent the man away without another word.

Later, the Lord came to Abraham. “Where’s the stranger?” the Lord asked. “Lord, he did not believe in you, and so I sent him away.” And the Lord replied, “Abraham, I’ve been patient with that man for eighty years. Couldn’t you be patient with him for one night?”

It’s just a non-biblical story, of course. Nevertheless, it does illustrate a very biblical truth. Before we get too far into the new year, take a moment to look back into the old. How many times did you and I come up with noble-sounding reasons for giving in to raw impatience towards others? How I treated that new co-worker who was just learning the ropes? How I treated the nurses at the hospital when they were clearly short-staffed? How I treated my elderly parent who tends to repeat things?

How many times, under the guise of righteous indignation, did you and I write off the souls around us—the souls of those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior from sin?

Thank God that he has been patient with us. Thank God that he brings us to repentance again and again. Thank God that he comes to us with his forgiveness in Jesus again and again. As Peter says to us, it’s the Lord’s patience that means salvation.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your patience in my life. Thank you for your forgiveness of my sins in Jesus. Strengthen my resolve to demonstrate patience towards others. Amen.

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Proud or Pleased – January 8, 2018

January 8, 2018January 8, 2018 Kerry

A voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:11

Proud or Pleased

Daily Devotion – January 8, 2018

Devotion based on Mark 1:11

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Ken was always proud of his son. His academic and athletic achievements spoke for themselves. At the same time, Ken was not always pleased with his son. There were numerous indiscretions which made Ken question his son’s judgment.

What Ken experienced with his son, God the Father also experiences with me. He can be proud of me as part of his wonderful creation. He can be proud of the way I strive to follow his law written in my heart. At the same time, he is not always pleased with me. My willful disobedience, my poor judgment, and my selfish choices regularly become a source of displeasure. As a result, God has every right to abandon me and let me deal with disastrous outcomes of my life.

When God could have subjected me to his divine displeasure, he showed his love instead. This moved him to send his Son into my world. Jesus became my substitute to do what I could never do. He secured God the Father’s good pleasure by living a sinless life and perfectly accomplishing everything his Father commanded. God signaled his acceptance of his perfectly obedient Son when he said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God was more than proud. He proclaimed Jesus had come to accomplish the impossible on my behalf. Through faith in Jesus and in his perfect, pleasing life, God now credits me with what Jesus did. God the Father now says to me through Jesus, “I am well pleased with you.”

This precious work on the part of my Savior releases me from the burden of trying to please God on my own. It also frees me from the horror of not measuring up to his divine standards. It finally moves me to live my life in loving service to the praise of my God and Savior. What a comfort it is to know God is more than proud of me; he is pleased with me through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, Heavenly Father, I can only disappoint you with my rebellious and selfish ways. How blessed I am to know the comfort of forgiveness and the joy of perfect obedience through faith in Jesus my Savior. Amen.

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Justice – January 7, 2018

January 7, 2018January 7, 2018 Kerry

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 42:1-7

Justice

Daily Devotion – January 7, 2018

Devotion based on Isaiah 42:1-7

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React to this statement: “The Lord will bring justice to the nations; he will establish justice on earth.”

If you are focused on all the evil and atrocities in the world and society, you are probably cheering, “Finally, the wicked will receive their ‘just deserts.’ Finally, some fairness.”

I get your applause. I can’t stand the evil either. But be careful of sounding and acting like a Pharisee. Because, if you are focused on the real evil and atrocities in life, you’d search your own heart. With an honest search, I don’t imagine you are as excited about justice coming. Justice strikes grave fear because we know the evil of our heart deserves the grave. Justice coming to others is one thing. But justice coming to us is the scariest thing.

But when you read about “justice” in Isaiah 42:1-7, do you read anything about destruction? Do you read anything about fire and brimstone? Do you read anything about hell? No. Rather you read about a Servant, chosen by God, to bring a different justice than you would expect.

This servant doesn’t bully you into a corner, start yelling at you, and beat you up, like you might expect. He doesn’t make you feel worse than you already feel. If you are broken because of your sin, he doesn’t break you more. If you feel like your faith is dying out, he doesn’t extinguish it for you. Instead he treats you with gentleness and care.

He opens your eyes to his sacrificing love on a cross where he received your “just deserts.”
He frees you from your prison sentence of hell by having been sentenced himself.
He brightens your life with the promise of paradise.

This servant has a name. His name is Jesus. His name is his message to you: “The Lord saves.” That’s his promise.

Prayer:
Dear Lord God, thank you for choosing Jesus to be my Savior. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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Follow the Signs – January 6, 2018

January 6, 2018January 6, 2018 Kerry

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2

Follow the Signs

Daily Devotion – January 6, 2018

Devotion based on Matthew 2:1-2

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“Lord, give me a sign!” Often this request accompanies my prayers. Give me a sign that you’re listening. Give me a sign that you care about me. Give me a sign which inspires my trust in you. There is only one minor complication. Even if the Lord does provide a sign, I may not always understand it or pay attention to it.

Take the Magi who came from the east. They saw the star. They investigated what it meant. Still, when they arrived in Jerusalem, they had to ask the question, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” Their experience led them to realize a sign can only take one so far.

This is why the Lord has provided his Word of Truth. Not only does it offer much needed signs, it also provides the direction which says, “Look here!” This is what eventually brought the Magi to Bethlehem to see the Savior God had provided for all people. It also led them to worship him as their Lord and Savior.

I need to learn from their experience. While it would be nice to request and receive a sign, the Lord gives me something even more reliable. In his Word I have his unbroken promise of a Savior. In his Word I have the faithful fulfillment of that promise in the birth of the Savior. In the same Word I have the comfort and peace of sins forgiven through the death and resurrection of that Savior.

Still the Lord doesn’t leave me without signs which reveal Jesus is that Savior. He leads me to the stable and the manger to see the birth of Jesus. He leads me through the hills and valleys of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria to witness the miraculous ministry of Jesus. He even leads me to the cross on Calvary and the empty tomb to view the undeserved love secured by Jesus.

How blessed I am to have God’s precious Word which tells me about Jesus. How blessed I am to have the clear signs which direct me to Jesus. This is why I pray: Lord, focus my eyes to see the great things you have done; open my ears to hear the truth you have recorded; fill my heart with faith to follow every sign you have provided.

Prayer:
O gracious Lord, give me the faith I need to trust your holy Word. There not only do I see my Savior and the great things he has done for me, I also see the great signs and wonders which lead me to put my trust in him. Amen.

This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.

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