“Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will say; for He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; but let them not turn back to folly.” (Psalm 85:7-8)

There have always been those who hear the voice of the Lord and listen to the goodness of His counsel. There are, from among them, those who turn away from the Lord and go back to the ways of the wicked. The path is before you and there are two choices. Come into the way of the Lord, for He alone shall grant to His children that which is good, right and fitting.

Lord, daily, there are the temptations of this world to go into the way of the wicked. I watch those to my left and right fall into the snares of wickedness. Preserve me, O Lord, that I would humbly walk in Your ways no matter the circumstances. Keep me close to You that I would walk in Your ways all the days of my life and keep far away from the path of wickedness.

Lord Jesus, without You my desire to remain among the godly would be impossible. I need to be rescued by You. Lead me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of glory and to walk in Your ways. Guide me according to Your grace to lean upon You in all things and for all things. You alone are able to lead me in the way I should go and keep me from the clutches of wickedness that are all around me. Amen.

“Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not Yourself revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:5-6)

When the world goes through one of its convulsions and wickedness seems to prevail, it seems as though the Lord has given up on us. He has told us that He is with us always and will never leave, nor forsake us. Come into the presence of the Lord, taste and see that He is good. He will revive those who turn to Him that they may rejoice and have praise on their lips.

Lord, I cannot see through the haze of this age. There is so much death and destruction. Yet, Your promise has prevailed over the ages and with all people. Let me see that Your hand has been there through all the wickedness that is upon the earth. You are good and Your goodness is evident to any who will look. Lead me, O Lord, that I would now and always walk in Your presence.

Lord Jesus, You have come that all who turn to You would no longer walk in the way of wickedness, but walk humbly in Your grace and mercy. Lead me now and always in the path of rejoicing knowing that in You I have life and liberty. Guide me this day to do those things which are pleasing to the Father. Guide me to do those things You give me to do now and always. Amen.

“You withdrew all Your fury; You turned away from Your burning anger.  Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your indignation toward us to cease.”  (Psalm 85:3-4)

The Lord did not create us to destroy us. He created us for relationship. Yet, in creating us for relationship, he cannot tolerate the sin that rules in our hearts. His burning anger is turned away by His grace and mercy. Come to the Lord and meet the One who made you and walk humbly with Your God. He will restore you to be whom He created you to be that you may walk with Him forever.

Lord, I know the struggle that is in my heart. Lead me, O Lord, to walk in the way of humility that You may work on my heart and transform it with Your goodness and mercy. Lead me in the way You know I need to go that I may be in Your presence always and live in the way You have established from the beginning. Keep Your wrath buried in the grace and mercy You have given me.

Lord Jesus, the One who makes possible the reconciliation You have granted by grace, lead me in the only way of truth and life that in You I may grow in Your likeness. Help me now and always to see Your goodness and mercy and walk with You, my Lord and my God. Keep me close to You that I may know fully Your grace and mercy and walk in a way pleasing to the Father. Amen.

IS JESUS AMAZED AT YOU?
Devotional for July 8, 2018 based upon Mark 6: 1-13

If you were to ask people about their favorite hymn, how many do you think would say, “Amazing Grace”? I have a feeling more people would say that hymn than any other hymn. We all identify with the words of John Newton – “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.”

Many times during my years in ministry I officiated at a graveside service where the family arranged for someone to play bagpipes. They always played “Amazing Grace.”

Charles Wesley wrote a hymn about God’s amazing love, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain.” The chorus goes like this – “Amazing love, how can it be that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

Yes, God’s grace and love are amazing. May we never stop being amazed by them.

But did you know that the Bible tells of times when Jesus was amazed? Our Gospel lesson for this coming Sunday is among them. In Mark 6: 5 it says that Jesus could do no deed of power in His hometown of Nazareth, except that He did lay His lands on a few sick people and cure them. And then it says in verse 6, “He was amazed at their unbelief.”

How much better is the situation in Luke 7 when Jesus was on His way to the home of a centurion, who had a slave whom he valued highly who was close to death. The centurion sent some friends to Jesus to tell Jesus that He did not need to actually come to and enter into the centurion’s house. (I have a feeling that the centurion was wanting to be sensitive to Jewish purification laws and did not want Jesus to have to defile Himself by coming into the centurion’s house.) Rather he knew that all Jesus would need to do would be to “speak the word, and let my servant be healed.” (verse 7) The centurion related to this personally by saying that just as people obeyed his orders, so he knew that whatever or whoever was causing his servant’s terminal illness would obey Jesus’ orders. Luke tells us, “When Jesus heard this He was amazed at him and said, ‘Not even in Israel have I found such faith.’” (verse 9)

May we always be amazed by God’s grace and love. May we never get so used to them that we stop being amazed by them. And may Jesus be amazed by our faith rather than by our lack of faith.

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

“O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin.” (Psalm 85:1-2)

Are you worried about times, seasons and events? The Lord who knows all things has told us there are seasons and events and that all of them fulfill His purpose. Come into the Lord and know His goodness is with us each and every day. Amidst even the most difficult time. There are blessings. All sins are covered b y the blood of Christ. Come into His presence and live in the blessing of the Lord.

Lord, You know all things. When the time came for release, the children of Jacob grumbled, but You loved them anyway. When we grumble, You love us anyway. I tend to see things from the moment, but You see them as they are from eternity. Guide me O Lord to know that only in You is there hope. Only in You can I know that no matter what happens here, You have a purpose.

Lord Jesus, You have come as our hope and You have provided for the covering of all sin. Lead me in the way of salvation that I would now and always walk in Your goodness. Help me see that in You my captivity is over. Help me see that though I wander in this age, You are with me and will lead me, providing all that is needed. Lead me in the way You know I need to go. Amen.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!” (Psalm 84:11-12)

The source of all things is the Lord through whom all things have been made. He is the light shining in the darkness. Through the One who created all things we have our life and our being. Come into His presence and dwell securely in Him. Know that He is the One through whom you have your being and in Him alone is your peace. How blessed you are if you dwell with the Lord.

Lord God, grant that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I would forever walk in Your ways. Grant that I be as one blessed because I dwell in Your house. Guide me all the days of my life to walk in the light of Your countenance doing those things which are pleasing in Your sight, for You alone are God.

Lord Jesus, You have come that I may dwell in the light of Your presence and walk in the grace You have purchased. Lead me, O Lord, in Your way of truth that I would become as You have shown me. You have promised to be with me always and how blessed I am knowing that You are right beside me, ahead of me and leading the way. You are the Savior of the world and in You I trust. Amen.

“Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:9-10)

Look to Christ, our shield, and see what He has accomplished on behalf of those who love You. Standing in Your presence is better than anything this world could ever offer. There is nothing on earth greater than You, for You created all things. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth which You have established that no wickedness would take root in my house. You are God and there is no other.

Lord, the wicked all around me tempt me and seek to lead me astray. Keep my heart in Your presence and help me to think on the goodness of your mercy and the truth of Your Word. Your Word abides forever and Your ways are good and true. Help me to not waver from the faith You have given me that I would dwell in Your house now and forever. You are my God.

Thomas said of You, Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” Help me see through the clouds of this world and the wickedness that is all around me to know the simple truth that in You alone can I trust. You have accomplished all that needs to be done that I would dwell in the house You have prepared for all who love You. You are my strength and my shield and in You alone can I and do I trust. Amen.

“Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!” (Psalm 84:6-8)

The promise of the Lord is that the day will come when all who are in Him will walk in His presence and they will see as they have always been seen. In Him, they will no longer be afraid, for the wickedness of this age will be banished. Come into His presence now and prepare for the day when the city of Zion is the abode for all who become children of the light and stand in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, You have made possible redemption for all who come by Your grace and mercy and walk with You. Guide us in the upward call of grace to walk in Your mercy and lead us to do those things which are pleasing in Your sight. Help me now and always to hold fast to Your presence and purpose and keep me from straying from the path upon which You have set me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making the way of salvation possible. Guide me now and always in the way You would have me go that I would walk forever in Your footsteps and become whom You are creating me to be. Lead me now and always according to Your goodness to live the life to which You have called me. Teach me how to be thankful and to praise You in all circumstances. Amen.

“How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!” (Psalm 84:4-5)

Those who walk with the Lord do influence and bless those who come into their house. The children of light may not be known for Whose they are, but their countenance reflects the truth to those who are with them; how much more so the ones who dwell in the house of the Lord, for it is His light which radiates through them and into this world. Come, O People of Zion, and praise the Lord.

Lord, You are worthy of honor and praise. You have called together the saints into Your house, Zion. Lead me away from the foolishness of this world and into Your presence that I may abide as Your child of light. Let me be blessed by simply living in the truth of Your presence that I would worship You all the days of my life. Guide me, O Lord, in the upward call You have given me.

Light of the World, who has shone into darkness, let my eyes see clearly the path You have laid before me. Guide me in the truth You have revealed that I may now and always walk with You in the way You would have me go. Keep me from straying and hold me up when I stumble lest I fall. You are the One who saves and apart from You I am unable to proceed in the way of light. Keep me close to You. Amen.

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2)

I suppose the best answer is simply to raise one’s own hand.  I am the one who darkens counsel by words without knowledge.  I rush to speak where I should be silent, to explain where I do not know, and to offer my opinion where God’s Word is better.  For what are my thoughts compared to God’s?

Every Christian should pause and sit with this reality for a bit, taking it to heart.  Many people extol the virtue of being still and silent for meditation, but we’re not truly silent until we have pondered the futility of our own thoughts compared to God’s—yes, even our pondering of our ponderings is a chasing after wind.  Until we extinguish our love for our own opinions and discernment, we’re still yakking away in the arrogance of our hearts, however still our mouths may be.

Yet once we have confessed our ignorance and said, “Your thoughts, O Lord, are higher than my thoughts,” then we are truly silent, however much we may speak.  Those who make God’s Word their counsel are quiet and still before Him, even though they may make a great noise, because they have silenced their minds in favor of God’s mind and refrained from exalting their judgments over His.  Here is the joy and gift of the Church: always having a better Word than our own, because it carries so much greater consolation and wisdom.

LET US PRAY: Silence the imaginations of my heart, O Lord, so that I may truly speak and speak the truth.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau