Monday, January 1, 2018 Devotion

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts.  We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea; Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might;” (Psalm 65:3-6)

The Lord brings whom He brings and they are blessed.  In our world of ‘it’s not fair’, who are we to argue with the One who created all things; yet many do.  Come into the presence of the One who calls to all, but selects those who hear and follow.  Be blessed and know that only in the Lord of all creation is there hope and an eternal future.  Be guided by His grace and mercy all the day long.

Lord You have called and I have heard, but often I am perplexed and fall into the sinful snare of my own thinking.  It is You who IS the salvation and in You alone is hope to be found.  Guide me in Your grace to follow You all the day long and throughout this life.  Lead me according to Your goodness that I may walk humbly with You my God and Savior and do what is pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, You stand at the door and knock, and any who will come into Your presence can know the inexpressible joy of mercy and grace.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk with You now and always in order to know the blessing You give by the grace You purchased from the cross.  May I be found in You at all times, walking in the way You have established and humbly learning from You.  Amen.

“For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’?” (Hebrews 1:5)

The author of Hebrews wants his listeners to know that Jesus is higher than the angels.  Back then, as now, the glory of the angelic choirs could morph into a colorful mythology as people experimented with spirituality and sought “new ways” to be with the Divine.  The message of Hebrews is clear: no other bridge between God and creation but Jesus, His Son!

That message gives Christmas its edge.  Christmas does not only proclaim that God became flesh, but it also promises that this Baby is the One and Only.   Whatever ways we have chosen to get the Good Life, they are nothing if they have nothing to do with to the little Lord Jesus.

He is the Good Life, He is the Divine, He is the bridge.  In Him, the One who bears our flesh and bore our sin, even difficult jobs are worth doing, and difficult people are worth loving—we even find ourselves worth more than gold, oil, or water, loved enough that God would suffer pain to be with us.  Merry Christmas, friends—which is just another way of saying, He’s the One, and He’s yours.

LET US PRAY: All praise and honor to You, dear Father, for the gift of Your Son!  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau   

“Rejoice always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

“Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!”  We sang that hymn next to a grave yesterday, a bitterly cold wind beating on our backs.  Our sister in the faith had died suddenly, grieving us all, but still we called out the truth: Jesus is on His way, and so, even in grief, we rejoice in Him.  

That’s what St. Paul intends by this command.  He’s not calling for Pollyanna thinking, a way to shield ourselves from feeling the pains of our losses.  No, but having just set forth the promise of Christ’s return, he’s telling the believers in Thessaly to confess that gospel in every situation, happy or sad.  Feel the pain, and then meet it with the promise.

So what do you face today?  What sharp winds of challenge, blessing, disappointment, or fear will pound on your heart?  Approach every situation in this conviction: you are one for whom Christ Jesus came to Bethlehem; with you He still abides; and He is on His way to give you a full share in His victory.  What happens today passes away tomorrow, but rejoice!  Emmanuel, God-with-us, God-with-you, is forever.

LET US PRAY: O Lord, as I, with Your Church, prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, grant me Your Holy Spirit, that I may see in His first advent the brilliance of His final appearing in glory; and by the promise of that glory, strengthen me to rest and live in hope each day; through Christ my Lord.  Amen

Pastor Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau  

© 2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 Devotion

“Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God; and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work.”  (Psalm 62:11-12)

We vie for power.  But all power and authority belong to God.  Content is the one who knows this and rests in the Lord’s power.  But His lovingkindness is yours and each may bask in His love and know that He loves all whom He has made.  Trust in the One who holds all power and loves us, for He will accomplish what He has purposed.  Know that the Lord is good and He will do what He promises.

Lord, help me stop playing the games of this world for power.  It all belongs to You and the powerful of this world are just an illusion when compared to You.  Guide me in Your ways that I may walk in them and help me live according to Your purposes.  Keep my mind clear and my sight upon You that I would forever hold fast to Your promises.  Let me be about Your business, doing Your will.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated that You were not anxious for anything.  You have declared that all authority is Yours.  Help me simply take Your hand and walk with You all the days of my life, learning from You how to walk in the eternal way You have established.  Guide me according to Your principles to be faithful to all that You command and help me walk in Your ways.  Amen.

Monday, December 18, 2017 Devotion

“On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  (Psalm 62:7-8)

Are you in the Lord?  Is He the rock of your salvation?  Are you looking for the Lord to conform to your ideas or are you conforming to who He is?  Pour out your heart before the Lord and see that He will walk with you and cleanse your mind and give you a new heart, made right and filled with His righteousness.  Be guided by the One who made you and take refuge in Him alone.

Lord, I hear the words and know the testimonies I have received, yet I walk in the ways of this world.  Help me, I pray, to live into the life to which You have called me knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Guide me now and always according to Your life-giving Word that I would walk as one who believes and know the truth You have revealed once for all and live under the shadow of Your wings.

Lord Jesus, I need you today and every day, for I am easily distracted and led in so many directions, all of which are away from You.  Help me in my time of need to see the better portion and to walk according to the way You have established.  Lead me now and always according to Your Word that I may walk in the way of salvation.  You are the rock of my strength; lead me to rest in You.  Amen.

Sunday, December 17, 2017 Devotion

“My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.”  (Psalm 62:5-6)

There are so many things that tug at our allegiance in this world.  We are distracted by the many things that get in the way.  What is at the core?  What is the center of your being?  Our souls long for the one and only place where our being is found and that is with the Lord.  Come to Him and know that He is the rock of your salvation and the Center of all things, including your being.

Lord, clear the field for me that I may see the simplicity of knowing You, the One true God who is the creator of all things.  Guide me according to Your purpose that I would walk in the way You have established and know that You alone are the rock of my being, my life and my salvation.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be walk in the way You would have me go now and forever.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have come to pave the way of salvation for all who turn to You.  Clear my mind and soul this day to live into the life to which You have called me through the salvation You have prepared for those who believe.  Help me now and always to look to You for all things knowing that You alone are able to lead me out of the noise of this world into salvation.  Amen.

Saturday, December 16, 2017 Devotion

‘How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?  They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse.”  (Psalm 62:3-4)

Be not like the ones who outwardly show a seeming conformity to the ways of God, but inwardly are as far away from Him as the ones who outwardly deny the Lord.  Do not be led by the way of man, for it goes nowhere, but be led by the truth of the Lord, for He is truth.  In Him is life, for He is the creator of life.  Seek His counsel and learn the ways of the Lord that you may live now and forever.

Lord, there is so much falsehood all around.  The world offers so many options, but they lead nowhere.  Guide me in Your Spirit to see the truth You are and have revealed for those who seek after You.  Let me inwardly praise You and seek to live my life according to Your eternal principles.  Help me, O Lord, to live the way You would have me live now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save all those who through You, turning to You and following You, seek the true life.  You are life.  You are the way and apart from You no one can go where You lead.  Help me now and always to see this simple truth and from the inside out be conformed to what You have established through faith.  Guide me today, Lord Jesus, and help me go where You would have me go.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Devotion

“For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.  Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”  (Psalm 61:3-4)

Have you noticed how every circumstance is resolved.  Perhaps not to your liking, but the Lord is constantly teaching us through every circumstance.  He will lead you wherever you need to go and He is more than faithful.  Trust in the Lord in all of your ways and lean on the understanding He gives through His Word.  He is the refuge for every weary soul and will keep you under His wings.

Lord, let me not wander into fields of danger, but in spite of the danger all around, lean upon You.  Guide me in the wisdom You have revealed for the ages and help me see in You the hope of glory.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk in Your ways and be guided by Your Spirit to become Your child according to the promise of Christ.  Lead me, O Lord, while I am in the presence of every enemy.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for as many as believe.  Help me now and always to be guided by Your eternal principles to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Father.  Now and always may I look to You as the author and finisher of my faith, knowing that only in You and through Your grace can I ever be sanctified and become what has always been intended.  Lead me, O Lord, now and always.  Amen.

“My God in His lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.  Do not slay them, or my people will forget; scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.”  (Psalm 59:10-11)

The Lord meets us.  People pursue the Lord, but cannot on their terms.  He comes and meets us, for His name is salvation.  Do not pursue the way of the wicked, but come to the Lord who invites and desires that You would come to Him.  Let the Lord lead you in all of your ways and He will give you rest.  Be guided by His goodness and know that He knows you and loves you.

Lord, I am carried away and enticed by the sinful ways of this world to have vengeance. But vengeance is Yours alone. Guide me in the way You have established that I would now and forever be guided by Your goodness.  Help me in every time of trouble to see that You alone are Lord and only in You is there a future.  Lead me, O Lord, that I would be led by Your salvation knowing that only in You is there hope.

Lord Jesus, Your name means salvation, come and take my hand this day that I may be led by You wherever You take me.  Help me now and always to see in You the hope of glory and the way of forever.  Guide me to walk in Your ways and flee from the temptations of this world.  Help me in every time of difficulty to look to You first and follow in the way You lead now and always.  Amen.

“For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; fierce men launch an attack against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord, for no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me.”  (Psalm 59:3-4)

We often pay the recompense for our own sin in this world although forgiveness is granted to us by grace.  There are times though when others will attack with no real provocation and simply accuse and malign.  In a world of wickedness, these things do happen.  The Lord knows.  Look to the Lord who knows all things and be comforted by His grace to persevere in every time of trial.

Lord, as a sinner, I want revenge when it is by no fault of mine that I am being persecuted.  Grant that I would rest in Your grace and realize that You alone are able to handle every injustice, for You alone are able to discern what is right and fitting in every circumstance, Lead my heart to turn to You at all times and know that only in You can I find true peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord Jesus, You have experienced the rebellion of the wicked first hand and know the false accusations that were raised against You.  In Your compassion and by Your understanding, lead me through these times of trial that will come that I may keep my eyes upon You and trust in Your never-failing support through all the tribulations of this world.  Lead me through Your grace dear Jesus.  Amen.