“He wrought wonders before their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, and He made the waters stand up like a heap.” (Psalm 78:12-13)

The Lord has done many miracles and people still do not believe. Every day He causes the sun to shine and people do not believe. He who made all things and keeps all things in His hands is worthy of all honor and praise. He who is able to accomplish all that He determines is the One to worship, for it is He alone that gives life and is able to fulfill all that He has promised.

Lord, I too look and see, and then ignore all that You have done. There are times I marvel and then go back to things as usual. Help me, O Lord, to see that in You alone do I have my life and my being. Grant that I would forever hold fast to You alone knowing that the promises You have given are more true than anything I see around me. Lead me to praise and honor You above all things.

Lord Jesus, You have come as the ultimate promise. In You there is grace and mercy and a hope that is forever. Guide me, O Lord, into the way You have established that I may now and always live in praise and thankfulness for all that You have accomplished. Guide me today in the way You would have me go and let me see how much Your presence is all around and within me. Amen.

So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”  (Acts 8:30-31)

St. Philip was listening to the Ethiopian eunuch, a royal official, read aloud in his chariot.  He could read the words, but could he understand them?  “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

God does not call us to faith all by ourselves.  He reveals His righteousness “from faith to faith,” from the Gospel preached by some sinners to be heard by other sinners who in turn speak what they have believed.

He therefore gives us the Scriptures, that we may hear the prophets and apostles bearing their witness; and He gives us teachers, that we may read, know, and inwardly digest this witness; and He gives us each other to confess, sing, and pray this word together and for our neighbors.  By revealing Himself in words, God chose to reveal Himself in a Church, a fellowship of speakers and listeners.

As God said in the beginning, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18).  He speaks not only to be heard, but also to gather, setting His newborn children within a communion that not even hell can quiet.

LET US PRAY:  Speak, O Lord, and I will listen; and whenever I don’t listen, please forgive me, and speak again; through Jesus, the Word-made-flesh.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, yet they turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God and refused to walk in His law; they forgot His deeds and His miracles that He had shown them.” (Psalm 78:9-11)

Nothing is impossible with the Lord, yet in a moment when faith is required, many will fall upon what they know and not trust in the leading of the Lord. Come then into the truth of the Lord and know that if He leads, whatever He asks shall be accomplished. Come into His presence and know that the ways of the Lord are forever and shall not fail. Forget not His ways and live in truth.

Lord, what You have set before me is so simple, but it is not easy. Guide me in the way You would have me go and lead me according to Your never-changing word to walk in the way I should go. Help me overcome the temptation to limit myself  to what I know so that I trust in what You say above all the voices of this earth. Guide me out of myself and into Your Word that I may walk as You would have me walk.

Lord Jesus, You have already overcome the obstacles that are in the way of my steadfastly walking with the Father. Guide me in the way You have established that I may walk in the statutes that You have laid down from the beginning. Lift me up when I stumble and help me keep my side of the covenant You have given by the grace You have purchased that I may live according to Your eternal Word. Amen.

“That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:6-8)

Generation after generation comes and they forget the ways of the Lord that the faithful taught them. Yet there always remains the remnant, who walk with the Lord. Those who walk in the ways of the Lord have confidence, for the promises of the Lord are upon them. Be not as those in the world who walk in the ways of the world, but as one who knows that the Word of the Lord is forever.

Lord, I see Your hand on generation after generation. There are those who have always hated You and Your ways and scoff at those who walk with You. Their influence in strong upon those of weak flesh. Help me be one who trusts in You that I may overcome the temptations of this world and see in You the hope for every generation. Guide me in Your ways that I may walk with You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead me in the way I should go. Guide me according to Your Word to live into the life You have set before me and walk according to the changeless ways established in the beginning. Help me now and always to live into the life to which You have called me that I may hold fast to Your promises. Be my Savior, Lord Jesus. Amen.

I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS
Devotional for May 6, 2018 based upon John 15: 9-17

On the eve of His crucifixion Jesus gave an astonishing invitation. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. I do not call you servants any longer. I have called you friends.” At the cross Jesus laid down His life not primarily for His followers, students, or servants. Rather Jesus laid down His life for His friends.

Now if I were to guess what kind of word Jesus would use to describe me, I would probably come up with words like “follower,” “servant,” “student,” or “disciple.” But “friend”? That is not a word I would have expected. But Jesus’ invitation here is to something far more – something far better – than we ever would have expected. Jesus invites us to be His friends.

What does it look like to be Jesus’ friend? Here are seven characteristics of a true friend. Jesus more than fulfills each of those characteristics in His friendship with us.

First, A FRIEND ALWAYS LOVE YOU. Proverbs 17: 17 says, “A friend loves at all times.”

Second, A FRIEND ALWAYS STICKS BY YOU. Even though the disciples were riddled with shortcomings, Jesus always stood by them. He stood by them, even when they did not stand by Him. He focused on His love for them rather than on their falling short for Him.

Third, FRIENDS SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON. Proverbs 27: 17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another.” Friends bring out the very best in each other. Which, admittedly, is not always easy. Sparks fly when iron sharpens iron. But it is worth the discomfort. A true friend challenges you to move forward – to step out of your comfort zone and pursue God’s greatest purposes for your life.

Fourth, A FRIEND WILL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. Proverbs 27: 6 says, “Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Jesus was a consummate truth teller. He never spared any punches when it came to telling it like it is. He was far more concerned about conveying truth than about being considered “nice.” With straightforward honesty, he sought change in those He cared about. In the words of last Sunday’s Gospel, He pruned His branches because of His love.

Fifth, A FRIEND IS INTERESTED IN WHAT INTERESTS YOU. Philippians 2: 4 says, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but instead to the interests of others.” Jesus always engaged people at their point of interest. Looking at Jesus as our friend will affect what we talk about with Him. If we see Him primarily as our teacher, then we will bring to Him our questions. If we see Him primarily as our master, then we will bring to Him our lists of completed assignments. But if we see Him as our friend, we will feel free to talk with Him about anything. Seeing Him as our friend will change the way we pray.

Sixth, A FRIEND OPERATES ACCORDING TO YOUR SCHEDULE OF NEED. Real friends are there for you when you need them, even when it is inconvenient. Jesus was that kind of a friend. Romans 5: 6 and 8 say, “While we were weak, Christ died for the ungodly. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Ephesians 2: 5 says it even more strongly. “When we were dead through our trespasses, He made us alive.” When we needed Him the most – even before we knew we needed Him – even before we knew Him – Jesus already was our true and faithful friend.

Seventh, A FRIEND IS A PART OF YOUR LIFE. Jesus said in John 10: 10, “I came that (you) might have life and might have it abundantly.”

But in our Gospel reading for this coming Sunday Jesus gives an even more astonishing characteristic of a true friend. John 15: 13 – “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” It was at the time when He was on His way to the Garden of Agony and the Hill of Crucifixion that He said this. He said it when He was about to lay His life down for His friends.

A Savior is someone you need. A King is someone you obey. Jesus is certainly our Savior and King. But here Jesus is saying that He wants us to be His friends. A friend is someone you know and love.

We all long for a relationship like that. We all long for a relationship with someone who will love us and understand us and challenge us to reach our full potential. We all long for someone who will encourage us in our dreams, confront us in our foolishness, strengthen us in our times of insecurity, and guide us in our moments of boldness.

Jesus wants to be that kind of friend for you. He does not call you merely to be His servant to come before His throne on occasion for a new list of assignments. Rather He calls you to be His friend. The Christian life is not so much about working harder as it is about coming closer to Jesus, the perfect friend.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Do you know Jesus as your friend, who laid down His life for you?

Dennis D. Nelson
President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the
praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He
established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our
fathers that they should teach them to their children,” (Psalm 78:4-5)

Tell your children. Warn them of the way of the wicked and tell them. As with all of us, the
Lord knows who are His and it is upon Him to reach to those who will be reached, but tell your
children. The Lord is always worthy of being praised and the devil will do whatever he can to
convince us otherwise. Every generation should proclaim a testimony for the Lord and His
goodness.

Lord, you know the difficulties of every time and place. Guide me O Lord to humbly walk in
Your ways, speak Your praises and live according to Your Word. Let my life be a testimony of
the truth You have given me that I may walk in Your ways all the days of my life. Lead me
according to Your purpose that I may be the light shining Your presence and goodness to others.

Lord Jesus, Light of the world. You have come to show the way for any who receive the
testimony of truth You give. Let Your light shine through me that I may speak not only to my
children, but to all who will become Your children. Lead me in the life You would have me
live that I may forever praise You in thankfulness for the goodness You have bestowed upon
Your children. Amen.