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.

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.” (Psalm 78:1-3)

In parables which speak to all people in all places and at all times the Lord will give instruction which transcends languages and barriers. The Lord has given instruction and has prepared the way for all who will trust Him to come in faith and know that He is God. Be led by the Spirit and know that the One who has come, came to lead all who will listen as He instructs.

Lord, there is nothing new under the sun. You who know all things knows the plans You have for us. You created us to walk in Your love and to live according to what You have established from long ago. Guide me, O Lord, to walk according to Your ways that I may have peace with You my God and live in the grace You give to enable me to receive the message of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, You who came in the flesh spoke in parables that all might understand. You have laid down the principles of eternity and have given them to us as Scripture said You would. Help me receive the message You have given that I may walk now and forever under Your guidance. Lift me up to see in You not only the hope, but the reality of a life to be lived that I may walk with You my God always. Amen.

“Your way was in the sea and Your paths in the mighty waters, and Your footprints may not be known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:19-20)

Who can know the ways of the Lord or the paths which He uses? Who knows the mind of God? He leads those who will follow where He leads. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, the wind blows where it will and where it comes from or where it is going we do not know. But the Lord will lead those who will follow where He leads. Come then to the Lord and be one who is led by Him.

Lord, in my mind I want to know all things before I will believe, yet I cannot believe until I trust that what You say is true. Clear my heart of the doubts and fears of this world in order to come to the place where I trust in You and all that You have promised. Lead the footsteps I take to be those that follow You. Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I may walk in Your ways always.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way,  for You are the way of everlasting life. Help me see more clearly that You who is forever know from whence You came and where You are leading that I may know the way to go. Lead me to trust in You always and help me overcome those times of doubt and mistrust. You are God and I have been created by You. You know me better that I myself. Help me always. Amen.

“The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.” (Psalm 77:17-18)

Does the Lord control the weather? Does the Lord control what happens in the earth? He made everything and all is His. Know that all things are in the Lord’s hands and our egos will never prevail over the Lord. He is the One through whom all things have their being and the One who made all things has always held all things in His hands. Come then to the One who has all things in His hands and know His love.

Lord, the world says we have power over things. Yes, we influence and our sin has damaged, but You O Lord are Sovereign over all things. Lead my heart away from the egotism of this age to see that there is nothing we can do to overcome Your sovereignty. Guide me in the way You would have me go that I would forever know Your goodness and mercy and live in Your love.

Lord Jesus, You did not come into the world to judge the world, for the world is already judged. You came that we might have life and light and walk humbly with You, our God and Savior. Lead me then in the way You would have me go knowing that all things are in Your hands. Help me now and always to see in You the hope of glory that You have brought through Your salvation. Amen.

“You have by Your power redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were in anguish; the deeps also trembled.” (Psalm 77:15-16)

The people have been brought out of turmoil and trouble and have been given what they need. But the people rebel and do what is right in their eyes and what happens is of their own making; but God is blamed. The anguish of this age is that which we have brought upon ourselves. God rescues those who turn to Him. It is a redemption of preparation brought through repentance.

Lord, I may not have caused all the evil that comes in my life, but I have caused enough, some of which others pay for. Help me see that You are the God who rescues, but when we rebel and push You away, You are the God that watches. It is love that You give and love that You desire. Lead me away from myself to come into the love You give for all eternity to those who walk with You.

Jesus, You know the anguish of this age, for You lived it. You loved us so much that You came to pay the price we could not pay for the sins You did not commit that we who have rebelled against You might come with You into eternity. Guide me, my Savior, in the way I should go always that I would forever hold fast to the truth of the love offered for redemption. Amen.

“Your way, O God, is holy; what god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:13-14)

We humans need to be reminded that we are not the center of existence. The gods we create are nothing. The God who created everything is the center of all. We are called to look to Him and know that He who made all things looks at us and desires that we learn to love Him as He loves us. He is our rock and strength. He is gentle and patient, loving and kind. Come to the Lord and see.

Lord I am wrapped up in my own mind and my attention span is so short. One minute I am here and the next minute I am there. Clear my mind and help me focus that I would learn the simple truth that You are God and there is no other. Lead me away from the sinfulness of this world and into Your presence, living according to Your never-failing Word which You have given.

Lord Jesus, You have come humbly into the world and invited as many as believe to join You. Guide me in Your way of grace this day to learn once again that You through whom all things have been made have called me to come to You and live as life was meant to be lived. In praise and thanksgiving, may my life be given back to You to walk humbly in Your ways all the days of my life. Amen.