St. Johns News

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:14-15

The Story of Your Salvation

Daily Devotion – December 8, 2017

Devotion based on Romans 10:14-15

See series: Devotions

Novel writers will tell you that there is no secret recipe for producing a best-selling page-turner. But many successful authors start with the ending and work backwards from there. They have a goal in mind—whether it’s a happy ending or a shocking surprise and the rest of the story builds toward that last chapter.

As a believer in Christ, you already know how your life’s story will end. You will joyfully spend eternity in the glorious presence of God who loves you. But how do you, a sinner that has broken that same God’s commandments, come to such a happy ending? In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul “reverse engineers” your story. You will be saved from the punishment you deserved through your faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who died in your place. You were led to call out to God for mercy and he answered you for the sake of Jesus. But how did you know to call on him? How did you learn that he was such a merciful God and that he offered full and free forgiveness? Someone—a family member, a friend, or a pastor perhaps, shared with you the good news of what Christ has accomplished for all by his death on the cross. But that person who told you had to have been told by someone else. And so on.

Your life’s story begins and ends with the love of God in Christ Jesus. He has arranged everything to happen in your life for the purpose of your salvation. The events that lead to your eternal life in heaven began long before you were born. Always remember in prayer those that God has used to bring you to know him and consider how God may be using you in someone else’s life story. As you share what you know about Jesus with others, you become a vital character in the story of how that person also arrives at their happy ending.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank you for sending gospel messengers into my life. Let me know the joy of revealing to others the not-so-secret ending of the story of your love. 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.
Romans 10:9-12

Expect the Unthinkable

Daily Devotion – December 7, 2017

Devotion based on Romans 10:9-12

See series: Devotions

On December 7, 1941, the unthinkable happened. At 7:48 a.m., the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service launched a surprise military attack against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. The attack lasted 90 minutes and came in two waves. When the smoke settled, the shocking results were tallied: all eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk; the attack also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. One hundred eighty-eight U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Most did not expect such an attack and the devastating loss of life was correspondingly high.

This, however, was not the first time the unthinkable happened. The unthinkable happened when God said to Satan disguised as a serpent, in front of Adam and Eve, “The woman’s offspring will crush your head.” The unthinkable happened when God told Abraham, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” King David did not, in fact he could not, expect that God would say about his son, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” The virgin Mary did not, nor could she, expect that the angel Gabriel would say to her, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” This—God’s plan of salvation—is not something that Adam or Eve or any other human being would have or could have come up with.

For us it is unthinkable that, rather than requiring us to approach him, God came to us in the person of his Son, who was put to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. For us it is unthinkable that God did this for all people, regardless of race or family background or lifestyle or record of good versus evil.

Yet God invites us to expect the unthinkable. Expect that the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens faith in his plan of salvation through the gospel in Word and Sacrament. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead for your justification. Trust that anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. Then, in faith, declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord!”

As it was on December 7, 1941, ultimately those who do not think that the unthinkable will happen will be unprepared and will awaken to a devastating loss of life. Thank God you expect the unthinkable!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for bringing me to faith and enabling me to declare, “Jesus is Lord.” Through your gospel and the witness of your people may more and more be led to expect the unthinkable. 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:5-8

How Can We Be Saved?

Daily Devotion – December 6, 2017

Devotion based on Isaiah 64:5-8

See series: Devotions

Can you think of a more basic question? Can you think of a more important question?

How then can we be saved?

Every human being, no matter where they live, or their religion, struggles with this question. The answer most people have in their hearts and on their lips, is simple. “I’ll do my best.” They hope this is good enough, but their hopes are false.

God’s prophet, Isaiah, doesn’t speak of the actions that we’re ashamed of and feel guilty about. Instead he talks about the good things we do. He judges our very best moments of being unselfish, considerate of others, reverent to God, kind, compassionate, and willing to serve others. In view of God’s commands for absolute perfection, Isaiah renders a gut-wrenching verdict. Our righteous acts are like filthy rags. They aren’t even clean rags. Our best actions are disgusting, corrupt, and soiled. Our best will not save us. We beg God to give us a second chance. We plead that he relaxes his standards down to our level. But in response to our sin, God hides his face from us. He closes his ears and will not hear our pleas.

How then can we be saved?

The only hope we have, the only hope we need, is that God is our Father. In undeserved compassion for us soiled human beings, God the Father sacrificed his Son. In a few weeks we will celebrate the birth of innocent Jesus. Through hard work and great sacrifice, Jesus preserved his innocence throughout his life. Finally, he collected our filthy righteous acts and our even more deeply fouled sinful acts. He carried our guilt to the cross where his Father, our Father, measured out every ounce of punishment our vile sins deserved. The Father then exacted from his Son the just punishment we deserved.

The Son of God suffered the punishment of hell in our place, without asking anything in return. He placed into our hands eternal life with our Father as a gift freely given.

By his gift, by his death—this is how we are saved.

Prayer:
Father, we have nothing to offer you because our very best is filthy in your sight. Thank you for giving us your very best. Your perfect, innocent Son died so we would be saved. How can we thank you enough?

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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I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:4

Perfect Christmas

Daily Devotion – December 5, 2017

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 1:4

See series: Devotions

In the coming weeks, millions will sit down in front of their TVs and watch one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time. It’s simply entitled, A Christmas Story.

A Christmas Story is set in the 1940’s, and it centers on a nine-year old boy named Ralphie. Ralphie’s dream is to receive a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Or, in Ralphie’s words, “A Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle.” Ralphie’s life takes all kinds of twists and turns throughout the movie, but on Christmas morning (spoiler alert), he receives the gift of his dreams.

The next time the movie happens to be on, pay close attention to its closing moment. The narrator for A Christmas Story is a man by the name of Jean Shepherd. The movie is based on his childhood, and as the narrator he’s speaking as the adult Ralphie looking back on this perfect Christmas. The closing moment of the movie shows young Ralphie fast asleep in his bed, holding his beloved Red Ryder in his arms. It is then that the voice of the narrator—the adult Ralphie—says this. “[It was] the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive.”

One cannot help watching and hearing that moment without feeling a small clutch in the throat. “[It was] the greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive.” In those few words, Jean Shepherd—the real-life Ralphie—was acknowledging that the Christmas joy he’d felt, at nine years old, had never come back.

There are times when that truth can hit you and me pretty hard. As adults, you and I may think back to a particular Christmas when—as Jean Shepherd said—“all was right with the world.” But because of your sin and mine, such moments are rare, and they are fleeting.

And that’s why you and I can be thankful beyond description for what God gives to us in Jesus Christ.

Through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, you and I possess full forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Because we do, we now possess a Christmas joy not only that is undying, it is also a Christmas joy which promises that the very best is yet to come.

And so, savor this Christmas season. And if this Christmas is far from perfect, that’s all right. In Jesus, joys beyond our comprehension are on the way.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, my Christmas this year will be far from perfect. But remind me of the joy I have in you, and the perfect joy that is yet to come. 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
Mark 13:32-33

Protected Information

Daily Devotion – December 4, 2017

Devotion based on Mark 13:32-33

See series: Devotions

Fred could never understand why God didn’t tell people everything. “I think it would make us better,” he maintained. John contradicted his friend. “I don’t think so. As a matter of fact, God protected some information just because it could be misused.” This is true.

As Jesus prepared his disciples for the time he would complete his work on this earth, he wanted them to understand there are some things they will never know. This was especially true regarding the last day. He made it clear, no one had that knowledge. Even he didn’t have that knowledge because he chose not to have it during his state of humiliation. Still, wouldn’t it be better if this knowledge were not protected?

In his undeserved love the Lord chose to protect certain information about the last day. His concern was that I would misuse this knowledge. He would be right. Because of my sinful nature I would indulge myself right up to the time when the Lord would return. I would even feel secure in this destructive life style because I knew I would always have time to change. But would I?

This is why Jesus makes the last day and hour protected information. He also exhorts me to keep watch and be on my guard. Not knowing when Jesus will come suddenly turns my attention to what I need to be doing to be prepared.

In the time which remains I can dedicate myself to growing in his Word. I can dedicate myself to growing in the peace of his forgiveness. I can dedicate myself to a more faithful life of prayer and loving service. This will keep me focused and ready.

Although the day and hour of the Lord’s return is protected information, I can find great joy and peace in what I do know about my Savior, and how he prepares me for his return.

Prayer:
O gracious Lord, there are many things I do not know, but through faith I know you. Let this knowledge keep me ready for the day of your return. 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your LORD will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Matthew 24:42-44

What Time is It?

Daily Devotion – December 3, 2017

Devotion based on Matthew 24:42-44

See series: Devotions

What time is it? It is a question Jesus makes me consider. In his lesson he uses both days and hours to make me think about his return in glory. He further emphasizes the approaching time of his return by using the suddenness of a thief breaking into a home.

The lesson is clear, and it is one I need to understand. The time is right for Jesus to return. He could come on any day or at any moment. This is why I need to know the time. Certainly my sinful flesh will question the importance of this concern. The devil will also do whatever he can to lead me to apathy. Even the world will offer its share of distractions.

In spite of the temptation to put the thought of Jesus’ return on hold, now is the time to be ready. In order to be ready I need to listen to the Lord’s exhortations and encouragement. I also need to depend on his precious and saving work. He gave up his life so that I could live a life of repentance and forgiveness. He endured my shame and punishment on the cross so I could receive his glory. He rose triumphant from the grave so I could have the confidence of life with him in heaven. When I daily depend on what Jesus has done for me, I will be ready whenever he comes.

Time has a way of slipping by. We can become busy. We can become distracted. We can simply lose track of it. In many situations this will not be a major problem. In view of Jesus’ return, time is critical. I need to take Jesus’ words to heart, and be ready. I need to know what time it is, because the Son of Man is coming.

Prayer:
O precious Savior, open my eyes to see what time it is, then prepare my heart to welcome you when you return in glory. 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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“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isaiah 2:3-5

Peace Only from God

Daily Devotion – December 2, 2017

Devotion based on Isaiah 2:3-5

See series: Devotions

In New York City, in the United Nations Plaza, Isaiah 2 is quoted: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.” All people desire peace, don’t they? Isn’t that why the United Nations was established in the first place? But it hasn’t worked so well, has it? Are Isaiah’s words just a fantasy?

If you’re looking for a truly peaceful “united nations,” you’re not going to find it here, in this sinful world. But that’s not what Isaiah was describing. Isaiah is describing peace that the world can’t give or find or produce. Isaiah is describing peace that only comes from God.

God brought peace to the hearts of people when he kept his promise to send his one and only Son, Jesus, the Christ. Jesus came as an infant in Bethlehem. He came to bring peace to the earth by living and suffering and dying for a world full of sin and sinners, sinners like you and me. Because of Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death and glorious resurrection, we have peace. We have the peace of knowing that there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves because Jesus has done everything. We have the peace of knowing that we don’t need to satisfy God’s wrath against our sins because Jesus has washed them away. We have peace because Jesus has set us free.

That peace is yours and mine in Jesus! That peace is what moves us to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn his ways. That peace is what moves us to walk in the light of the Lord.

Prayer:
May the peace of God, which the world cannot give, which surpasses our understanding, guard and keep your heart and mind through faith in Christ Jesus! 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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Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4

Through Faith in Christ, You are Righteous

Daily Devotion – December 1, 2017

Devotion based on Romans 10:4

See series: Devotions

If you want to live in the presence of a holy, perfect, and righteous God, then you need to be holy, perfect, and righteous yourself. If you are holy, perfect, and righteous, then you can live in his presence and live in his presence forever.

This is the situation that every single human being ever born into this world finds him or herself in. It’s also a problem. A huge problem!

It’s a problem because none of us can meet this standard that our holy, perfect, and righteous God has placed on us. We are, by our very natures, stained with sin and so everything we think, say, and do is stained with sin too. We have failed to meet God’s standard. We have not kept his law in the righteous way that he demands. We deserve to be cast away from his holy, perfect and righteous presence forever.

This is how the story of every single human being ever born into this world would end if…

…if Christ would have never entered into our story. But praise be to God, he did! He entered into the story of humanity as God himself made flesh and into our story for a very important reason. He came to live the righteous life that God demands of us. The righteous life that we could not live on our own he lived in our place—perfect obedience all his life to every last one of God’s laws. Now, his righteous life is for all of humanity as a free gift. So, how does this gift of righteousness become our own?

God’s Word teaches, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

Christ’s righteousness becomes our own through faith. Through faith in what Christ has done for us, we personally receive the righteousness that Christ has won for the world. Therefore, through faith in what Christ has done, we stand before our righteous God with the righteousness he demands from us—not a righteousness we attempt to produce ourselves, but a righteousness that has been gifted to us by Christ. That means, by faith in Jesus we live in God’s righteous presence forever!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you came into this world to live the righteous life that I could not. Thank you for your work! Grant me also the faith to believe what you have done for me, that your righteousness might remain mine forever. 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:33-34

Innocent

Daily Devotion – November 30, 2017

Devotion based on Romans 8:33-34

See series: Devotions

Every so often a big trial comes up and grabs our attention. Whether the person on trial is famous or the circumstances of the crime are unique, we all tune in. The evening news shows the day’s highlights and our news feeds fill up with the latest information. Of course, when there aren’t highlights or new information, there is the commentary. Then around the water coolers and dinner tables we discuss it all, sometimes for long after the trial is over.

The funny thing about all that commentary and discussion is that none of it matters for the trial. It doesn’t matter if we think the defense or the prosecution made a better argument. It doesn’t matter if after the trial we think the judge or jury got it right. The only thing that really counts is the verdict. If the verdict is innocent, this is all that matters.

The same is true in God’s courtroom. The devil loves to give his commentary. He tells you that you are not worthy to be God’s child, that you have done too many wrong things to ever have God forgive you. Your conscience joins in to whisper how God could never love a person like you and that everything God says in his Word is a lie. While the devil and your conscience love to talk, remember that none of it matters for the verdict. The only thing that matters is what the Judge says.

In God’s courtroom, Jesus Christ sits at God’s right hand and is interceding for you. He is your defense. His death on the cross as full payment for your sins and his being raised to life is enough for the defense to rest its case. God declares you innocent of every sin and wrong you have ever done. His is the only decision that matters and his voice is the only one that counts.

Let other voices say what they will. It doesn’t matter. The truth is that through Christ Jesus God has declared you innocent.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Christ Jesus I am declared not guilty of all my sin. Remind me daily that Christ Jesus still intercedes for me. Assure me that for his sake no one can condemn 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 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land….I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.”
Ezekiel 34:11-13,23-24

Jesus is Your Shepherd

Daily Devotion – November 29, 2017

Devotion based on Ezekiel 34:11-13,23-24

See series: Devotions

We have seen some major storms this year. With frightening clouds, damaging winds and darkness, hurricanes unleashed their destruction. Millions had to evacuate and those that stayed had to seek cover.

In today’s Bible reading, the LORD speaks about sheep that were scattered and harmed by a violent storm.

Those sheep were God’s people. The storm clouds and darkness described the sin and destruction that scattered God’s Old Testament people among the heathen nations, where they were insecure, helpless, hurt, and facing a dismal end.

The LORD promised to send one shepherd to gather his sheep from every land, perfectly care for their needs and grant them his salvation. That shepherd was called “David.” King David had been God’s chosen shepherd of his people centuries before, but this “David” would be his greater descendant, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In the greatest storm ever, on a cross, that “David” would suffer the punishment for all of the rebellion and wrongs of his people and win forgiveness for their sins. That Savior would gather all of his chosen ones safely into the perfect pasture of his kingdom.

Do you have storms in your life? Do you have wrongs against God that have sent you running, hurt and perishing? Jesus is your shepherd, who graciously gathers you safely into his flock, is caring for your every need, and will continue to do so perfectly forever!

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for shepherding me safely into your fold. Continue to tend me this day and always with your grace in Christ 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.

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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