St. Johns News

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 6:4

New Life

Daily Devotion – January 9, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 6:4


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Martin Pistorius was a happy twelve-year-old boy living with his family in their home country of South Africa. One day, he came down with a mysterious illness. The illness placed Martin in a deep coma, completely unresponsive to everything around him. He remained in this state for so long that, eventually, the medical team told Martin’s family that they should take him home, as his death would now be just a matter of time.

But Martin did not die. His body kept going. Each morning, his father fed him, got him dressed, and took him to the care center for the day. In the evening, he brought him home, fed him, bathed him, and got him ready for bed. This went on for twelve years.

What no one knew was that Martin was aware of everything going on around him. He could see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. His body was incapable of showing any response in any way. However, he knew precisely what was going on.

It’s the stuff of nightmares: To live as a prisoner in plain sight, completely isolated from others for any affection, any attention, any meaningful relationship. It’s also a jarring illustration of what sin does—your sin and mine.

Because of sin, you and I, by nature, languished in prisons of our own making. These prisons isolated us from each other and from God.

But then came Jesus. Through his perfect life in our place and his suffering and death on our behalf, he threw open the prison doors. He cleansed us. He clothed us in his holiness. In Holy Baptism he claimed us as his own. And now, through his gospel, new life is ours. We are forgiven. We are his. And we are free.

Twelve years later, Martin’s imprisonment came to an end. His body woke up, and he’s happily married, living his new life. In Christ, our imprisonment is over too. And our new life lasts forever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing me from my prison. Thank you for my new life. Amen.

“I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Every Faraway Place

Daily Devotion – January 8, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:6


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Try this on for a fun fact. There are twice as many mobile devices in the world as there are people. And you can find mobile devices everywhere. Everywhere! You can find them in the South American jungle. You can find them in the mountain villages of Tibet. You can find them among nomadic tribes in the Sahara. You can find them in isolated huts with dirt floors.

For this reason, there are Christian volunteers who prepare memory cards for missionaries to take to these faraway places—memory cards the missionaries can easily install in people’s mobile devices. The memory cards include Bible studies, songs, an audio New Testament, and a movie about Jesus—all in the language of their region. Thanks be to God.

But faraway places do not just include remote villages on the other side of the world. To anyone who’s living a life without Jesus—that life is also in a faraway place—the aide who cares for your dad at the nursing home; the new friend you’ve made at Thursday night volleyball; the girl who cuts your hair; the mechanic who maintains your car; the couple who’s moved in across the street; the co-worker in the cubicle next to yours; the old friend you’ve known since high school; a member of your own extended family.

In other words, people who live in faraway places include souls you and I see in our lives all the time.

When God the Son came to this earth, he had you and me in mind. When he lived a perfect life on our behalf and suffered and died for our every sin, he had you and me in mind. When he rose from the grave, he had you and me in mind. He also had in mind everyone else living in faraway places, whether that faraway place is in a primitive village on a tiny island or a lonely life someone is living right before your eyes.

And maybe, just maybe, the Lord will reach that faraway place through you.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for touching lives in faraway places. And thank you for touching mine. Amen.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Romans 6:1,2

Dead To Sin

Daily Devotion – January 7, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 6:1,2


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Sometimes Christianity doesn’t make sense to people who are not Christians, even though they have a general idea about its core belief system.

For example, if it’s true that Jesus died on a cross 2,000 years ago and paid for everyone’s sins, wouldn’t that encourage people who claim to be Christians to keep on sinning if they are forgiven anyhow? If you gave someone a credit card and said that they would not have to pay for whatever they bought, wouldn’t that encourage them to go on a spending spree? That is how a greedy person would think to take advantage of the credit card owner’s generosity.

But Christians, out of love for Jesus as their Savior, do not think, “Let my life be a life of immorality and self-indulgence and of doing whatever sinful thing comes to mind because I’m forgiven!” Christians do not live to sin in order to have more of God’s grace. The truth is that we love God because he has so richly blessed us. And our love for him prevents us from seeking to take advantage of God’s great love for us by living a sinful life.

Therefore, the attitude of Christians is, “We died to sin.” We don’t approve of sin! Our relationship with sin is over. Why? Because Jesus loves us and has freed us from sin’s guilt. Christians show their love for Jesus by striving not to have any relationship with sin—we are dead to sin.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for paying for my sin with your life. Now I am dead to sin. I don’t want to have a relationship with sin. Help me in my struggle against it. I love you for loving me. Amen.

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”
Luke 2:29-31

Getting Ready

Daily Devotion – January 6, 2024

Devotion based on Luke 2:29-31


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Think back to when you were in second grade. When the bell rang, what would the students do? They’d put their books in their desks, they’d make sure the floor around them was clean, and they’d sit quietly, waiting for the teacher to fulfill her promise of “When you are ready, you will be dismissed.”

God made a promise to a man named Simeon that was similar, but not identical, to the grade school teacher. Instead of “When you are ready, you will be dismissed,” God promised Simeon, “When I am ready, you will see the Christ-child; then you will be dismissed.” The Lord didn’t give Simeon a detailed timeline—Simeon needed to trust God’s perfect timing instead. So when would this happen? When would he see Jesus and be dismissed?

Second graders only need to wait a few seconds; Simeon had to wait a few decades. Yet, when God was ready, Jesus was born, Simeon saw him, and Simeon fully trusted that God’s salvation was in front of his own eyes. Now, he would be dismissed in peace. That means he would die, leave earth and go to heaven because of what this baby Jesus would do.

Would you like to be dismissed in peace? Would you like your death day to be calm and not scary, like Simeon? Then, listen carefully to God’s promises. God has guaranteed that “Whoever believes in [Jesus] shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Lord has prepared his salvation for the eyes of all people. That includes you.

When you believe in Jesus as Savior, being dismissed from this earth is peaceful. It is no scarier than being dismissed from a second-grade classroom. And the best part? In second grade, when you are dismissed, you go home for the night, but then you have to come back to school. But when you are dismissed from this earth, you go home to heaven, and you stay there forever.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to earth so that I could be dismissed in peace. Help me to wait patiently until the day you are ready to dismiss me and take me home. Amen.

Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 6:3,4

More Than a New Year

Daily Devotion – January 5, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 6:3,4


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How was your New Year’s celebration? Did you spend time with friends and family? Did you stay up until midnight? Did you sleep in on New Year’s Day?

Here’s another question: How has your New Year’s celebration impacted your life in the new year? I imagine not much. It may have been fun, but now you’re back to life as usual.

In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul tells us about an event that is more than a one-day celebration, an event that changes the rest of a person’s life. The event is a person’s baptism.

Christian baptism, you see, is not simply a ceremony. Paul tells us that when a person is baptized, they are spiritually covered in all the benefits of Jesus’ death on the cross. Their sins are forgiven. And because their sins are forgiven, they can look forward to an eternal life in heaven one day.

But there’s more. The apostle tells us that baptism also empowers a person to live a new kind of life, a life that no longer wants to do its own thing but rather wants to do God’s thing.

That’s much more exciting than any New Year’s resolution. It is God’s promise to empower those who have been baptized to live a new, God-pleasing life. How could those who have received such a gift have anything but a happy new year?

Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me today of the remarkable blessings of baptism. Amen.

“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 my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 49:6

Too Small

Daily Devotion – January 4, 2024

Devotion based on Isaiah 49:6


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The tribes of Jacob were waiting for someone to restore them. Some had been conquered and deported by the Assyrians and lost to the ends of the earth. Others had been invaded by Babylon and were living as captives in a city far away. A few had been left behind in poverty and desperation in the ruins of their homes. Whoever would finally restore the tribes of Israel would be the greatest hero they had and would be remembered for generations.

The coming Christ would be this person. But restoring only the tribes of Israel would be too small a thing. Rather than just influencing a small place for a short time, the Christ would bring restoration even to the ends of the earth.

Two thousand years later and thousands of miles from ancient Israel, you are the fulfillment of God’s big work. You have been restored and brought back from the futility of your sin and the emptiness of your life. You have seen the light of his forgiveness and how to love and serve God and your neighbor.

It was too small for Jesus to just be a local savior. He brought salvation to the ends of the earth. He brought restoration and light to you.

Prayer:
Forgiving Lord, I thank you for magnifying the work of your Son that I would be included in the blessings of salvation that he gives. Cause me to give him the praise and service he is due for this great work. Amen.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Romans 6:5-7

Same, Same

Daily Devotion – January 3, 2024

Devotion based on Romans 6:5-7


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A dad and his young son had busy schedules, but Saturday was their day together. With rare exceptions, the day always started the same way—dad and son would get matching bowls and fill them with identical cereal, and dad would say, “Same?” and the son would echo, “Same.” After breakfast, it was time to get dressed, and both dad and son put on a pair of blue jeans and a faded red shirt and the dad would say, “Same?” and the son would say, “Same.” Tackling the day’s to-do list, dad got out his toolbox to fix a few things around the house, and son got out his smaller toy toolbox to help. Dad would say, “Same?” and son would echo, “Same.”

In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul tells us that, like the son was united to his father on their special day, every follower of Jesus is united to him. But, unlike that little boy, Christians are not kind of like Jesus. Paul tells us that we are genuinely united to his death and resurrection.

This means the Christian’s sins were nailed to his cross and are no longer counted against them. This means the sinful soul with which every person is born no longer rules over the Christian. They are set free from bondage and are now able to live a life pleasing to God. It’s a whole new way of life! And all because the Christian is connected to what Jesus has done.

Prayer:
Everlasting Lord, I praise you for uniting me with Christ. Make me confident that I am forgiven, that I will be raised to eternal life, and am free to serve you. Amen.

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:10,11

Authority Over Appearance

Daily Devotion – January 2, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 1:10,11


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The Jordan River doesn’t appear particularly impressive. It runs a somewhat straight line for less than 100 miles from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the south. It isn’t a pure river and doesn’t start in some beautiful glacial mountain but with a heavily fished lake.

Jesus didn’t appear particularly impressive, either. He was not born in a palace in an influential city, but he came from a small town in a poor and mostly forgotten part of the world. He wasn’t wealthy, nor did he command mighty armies to follow him.

When Jesus first appeared to begin his earthly ministry, he looked like anyone else coming to John to be baptized. But, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, this baptism anointed Jesus for the great work he was about to undertake. Jesus was the son of Mary and grew up in Nazareth, but when the voice came from heaven, no one could doubt that this man really was God’s own Son. By appearance, it looked like just a simple man in simple water, but with God’s authority, it was revealed to all that Jesus was God’s chosen servant, the one who had come to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

You might look in the mirror and see only a failure. You might look back on your life and see many reasons you have given God not to love you. You might be staring at death, and it all appears very final. None of these appearances matter when God speaks with authority. When he says that your sins are forgiven, you can be assured that all your sins have been paid for. When he calls you his child, he has the authority to make you his own. When he promises that everyone who believes in him will live, he has all the authority to bring life and resurrection.

Don’t be fooled by appearances. Trust God’s words of authority.

Prayer:
Gracious Father, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Lead me to always trust your words as the true authority in my life. Amen.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:9

A Savior Found with Sinners

Daily Devotion – January 1, 2024

Devotion based on Mark 1:9


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As Mark tells us the story of Jesus, he starts with Jesus’ baptism. This seems like a strange place to start, but it gives us a wonderful preview of who Jesus would be.

Jesus showed up at the Jordan River, where many sinners were gathered together. All types of sinners were at the water’s edge. Sinners, whom most people thought had some flaws but were still pretty good, stood on the banks of the river. The sinners that society despised, like the tax collectors, were also there standing along the shoreline. Even sinners like the Pharisees, who most thought weren’t bad at all, were at the Jordan River. Mark begins his account of Jesus by telling us that Jesus was there among all those different sinners.

Jesus did not separate himself from those sinners but stood with them to get baptized by John. Down he went into the water as countless sinners had before. Jesus brought no sin of his own into that water, but he would be counted among the sinners, nonetheless.

This is the first thing Mark tells us about Jesus because it is what his entire ministry was about. He would have no sin of his own but would be found with sinners. Whether that was healing their illnesses and diseases or eating and drinking with those who needed a word of forgiveness, Jesus was found with sinners. Even when it came to his death, he took the place of sinners under God’s wrath so you and I would not need to face what our sins deserve.

As you ponder Jesus’ baptism today, thank him that he was willing to be found with sinners.

Prayer:
Father, you introduced your Son by having him be baptized with the sinners though he had no sin of his own. I thank you that this is still his work among us today. Amen.