“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

“The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” (Psalm 83:3)

Lord, You provide for all the creatures of the earth, for You are the One who made all things. In Your hands are the ages. The people clamor for what You already give. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I would forever walk in the way You have established. Lead me, O Lord, that I may go according to Your never-failing word and walk in Your grace and mercy all the days of my life.

Lord, You have walked the earth and You know the difficulty of this place. Hold fast to me that I may walk according to Your Spirit and live the way You would have me live. Lift me up to see in You the hope of glory and to look beyond the insanity of this age. In You, O Lord, is the hope of the ages. As You take care of all the creatures, I thank You for caring for me.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world to lead as many as would follow into the presence of the Father. You through and for whom all things were created must lead the way. Come to me in times of trouble and come to me in times that are good that at all times I may know that it is You who leads. Guide me by Your grace to see in You the eternal hope of glory which You have purchased for those who love You. Amen.

“How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” (Psalm 84:1-2)

The world imagines a place that is perfect. The perfect place is the dwelling place of the Lord. The world, filled with imperfect people want a perfect place and they imagine they can build it. Why try to build what can never be perfect if created by imperfect people? Why not come to the Lord who has already prepared a place for those who love Him? Let your soul long for the Lord.

Lord, I see the madness of this world where people crawl on top of each other wanting what You are already offering. Guide me, O Lord, in the goodness of Your mercy to walk humbly in the path You have laid before me. Lead me to see most clearly that the way of perfection is You who is my Savior. Guide me in the upward path of salvation that I may walk in Your ways.

Lord Jesus, the only perfect man to walk the earth, Who came down to lift up with You those who follow in the way You have established, guide me in the upward path of grace and faith. Help me overcome the obstacles of this world which seek to ensnare me in traps of vain imagination when You are right here. Lead me today in the way I should go that I would walk with You always. Amen.

PUT ON HOLD
Devotional for July 1, 2018 based upon Mark 5: 21-43

Picture the frantic father in our Gospel lesson for this morning. His little girl was at the point of death when he hears that there is someone who just might be able to save her life. So even though he is a man of power, prominence, and prestige – he is Jairus, leader of the synagogue – in desperation he lays aside all pride, falls at Jesus’ feet, and begs Him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she made be made well and live.” His request is specific, focused, and intense.

Will Jesus go? Of course He will go. Mark tells us, “He went with him.” But then look at what happens next. Beginning with verse 25 Mark tells us, “There was a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped.” There is a break in the story. An interruption happens. Jairus’ obtaining help from Jesus is put on hold.

Now just imagine how you would feel if you were Jairus. Here is a woman whose problem is far less serious than your daughter’s problem. But she is interrupting your being able to get help from the one person in the whole world who might be able to help you. Can you imagine the panic that this frantic father must have been feeling at that particular moment? Here is the Master, ministering to someone else, whose problem is far less serious than mine, and His doing so is putting me on hold.

Why does the Master sometimes seem to delay? Why isn’t He quicker to respond to my needs? Doesn’t He know that the matter is urgent? Why does He sometimes put me on hold? These are questions that go right to the heart of the nature of prayer. Why does it sometimes seem that my prayers go no higher than the ceiling?

Picture this frantic father, waiting for Jesus to minister to the woman with the flow of blood, when, according to Mark, his worst fears happen. Some friends come from the house. As soon as he sees their faces, he knows what has taken place. It is the news no parent ever wants to hear. “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

Up to this point Jairus had had a faint glimmer of hope. But now there seems to be no hope. His friends try to support and comfort him as best they can. But there is a limit to the help that even your best friend can give at a moment like this. Something much more is needed. Something that only Jesus can give.

Fortunately, Jesus is still there. He may have been delayed, but He is still there. Just like Jesus is still there in your times of greatest need. I have a feeling that Jesus touched him gently on the shoulder as He said, “Do not fear; only believe.” Which admittedly is asking a lot of this man.

Whenever we feel put on hold is when we need to hold on even tighter to the promises of God.

And so Jesus makes His way to Jairus’ house, accompanied by His three closest friends – Peter, James, and John. When He comes to the house, He sees family and friends gathered there. He sees hired mourners and hears a great crowd weeping and wailing loudly. “Why do you make a commotion and weep?” He asks. “The child is not dead but sleeping.”

They laugh at Him. They ridicule His diagnosis. He asks them to leave the house and then goes into the room where the little girl is lying. He takes her by the hand and says, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately she gets up and begins to walk around.

Today do you feel like you have been put on hold? Do you feel like your prayers are going no higher than the ceiling? Do you feel like Jesus must be responding to someone else because He certainly is not responding to you?

Know this. Whenever we feel put on hold is when we need to hold on even tighter to the promises of God. Whenever you feel put on hold, do not let go of Him. He will never let go of you. He loves you with a love that will not let you go.

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

“Fill their faces with dishonor, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, and let them be humiliated and perish, that they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:16-18)

Let the wicked of the world be seen for what they are. Let it be known that they are doing wickedness. O Lord, remove them from the earth that the just may live in peace and harmony and not be fodder for the wicked. Keep order on the earth, O Lord, that those who wish to dwell in peace may do so in security. You are the Most High and all authority comes from You. Grant that we are governed by Your goodness and mercy.

Lord, I do not know what to think sometimes with all of the wickedness that is in the world. Lead me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go that I would not abide in the ways of the wicked, but learn to abide in You and Your ways. Help me to see the difference between these two positions that are constantly struggling against one another in this world.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to abide in You so that You will abide in us. Help me to make You my resting place that I would truly abide in You. Lead me in the way of righteousness that I would do those things which are pleasing in the Father’s sight. In all things, teach me to love all people the way You love them and to walk humbly with You always, my Lord and my God. Amen.

“O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. Like fire that burns the forest and like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your storm.” (Psalm 83:13-15)

When we are threatened with circumstances we come to the Lord and ask Him to make things safe again. Look beyond the moment and see that He does allow for things to be as they are and He does cause those who do wickedness to blow away like the wind. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but many do not fear the Lord. You who do, turn to Him in good times as well as the bad times.

Lord, I do not want to be one of those who comes to you only when things are bad or when I want something. Grow in me a heart that loves You no matter the circumstances. Lead me into faithfulness in spite of the state of the world so that I may live in peace with You always. All things are in Your hands and You are the God of the just and the unjust. Lead me into Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord Jesus, You have told us that there would be wars and rumors of wars. You warned us to look at the signs, knowing that this world is mad and fighting against You. Guide me, O Lord, in Your way of peace that I may learn to love all, even my enemy. Help me to live this day trusting You instead of feeling the anxiety that is in this world. Guide me upward in the calling You have given me. Amen.

“Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.” (Psalm 83:9-10)

We witness in this world those who want to be in the place of God. They thrive for a while, but they too will end up in dust as we all must. Who can ascend to the throne of God and who is like the Most High? Do not be deceived by the rulers of this age, for they simply take for themselves what is God’s and tempt people to worship them. Come to the Lord of all and walk in the truth.

Lord, I have fallen into the temptation of thinking more highly of those around me than of You. Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly before You that I would live in a right relationship with You who is the Creator of all things. Lead me in the way You would have me go that I may do what is pleasing in Your sight. Help me to see clearly those who are wicked and would push You aside.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us many things about those who seek to replace You with themselves. Guide me, O Lord, to know that only in You is the hope of eternity. Lead me in the way You would have me go that I may forever abide in You, knowing that You are abiding in me. You alone are King of kings and Lord of lords and there is no other. May I walk humbly with You today. Amen.

“Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became as dung for the ground.” (Psalm 83:9-10)

In our cries, we have specific things we want done. There are those who come against us and we want them to meet justice. Yet everything is in the Lord’s hands and must be done as He would direct. Yes, the Lord will wreck vengeance upon those who rise up against Him. He will lead His people in the ways of righteousness. Come to the Lord and see His goodness and mercy.

Lord, I see things and want results that I can understand. Faith, however, requires that I trust You above all things. In my heart there is a battle between what I see and the trust I need to have. Guide me into Your arms of mercy knowing that all things have always been in Your hands. Guide me in the way of truth that I may humbly walk with You in every circumstance knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You have told us that the nations will rise against each other and that there will be wars and rumors of wars, but that in the end it will be You who calls all out of their graves to meet You face to face. Everything has its purpose and You are the author and finisher of my faith. Lead me in the faith You have given me that I would walk humbly with You my Lord. Amen.

“For they have conspired together with one mind; against You they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; they have become a help to the children of Lot.” (Psalm 83:5-8)

The children of the world, though they be enemies against each other, band together to conspire against the Lord. All of the wickedness of the ages is simply a repeat of the same thing in a different time and a different place. Those who practice wickedness will be destroyed. Yet, for a time it shall seem as though they have power. But God is Sovereign over all things and no one is able to thwart His will.

Lord, I do not understand the perpetual wickedness of the world. Yet for your purposes it has remained in this age of rebellion. Guide my heart to look to you knowing that all power and authority is in Your hands and that this age of continuous rebellion will one day cease. Help me keep my eyes upon Your salvation and my feet on the path of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.

Lord Jesus, You came into the middle of a rebellious time when people were stirred up. In that age it seemed as though Rome would always rule, but they fell. Help me see that You save amidst the turmoil and that no people that raise their heel against You shall prevail. Lead me this day in the way You would have me go that I may abide in Your presence now and forever. Amen.

“They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:3-4)

Ultimately, the wicked ones seek to destroy the faithful. Though they may not think of it in these terms, those who rise to power do not want faith to reign. Instead of freedom, they want tyranny, with themselves at the top. The Lord has promised to uphold the faithful and heaven and earth will pass away, but those who are in the Lord are forever. The name of the Lord is remembered.

Lord, when I am troubled and think the world mad, I wonder if the end is near. Times and seasons are in Your hands and only in You is there true hope. Keep my eye upon the prize, the joy of Your salvation, that I may simply abide in You this day and every day knowing that You are abiding in me. Lead me through all the troubles of this world to simply and humbly seek You.

Lord Jesus, it was as troubled in Your day as it has been any day since, yet many years have gone by. You have provided the way for us to walk. Humbly guide me in the way I should go no matter the circumstances that I would forever hold fast to the truth of Your Word. Lead me in the righteousness You grant by grace and help me now and always to hold fast to Your Word of truth. Amen.