​1/21/21
Today’s devotion is based on 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
How does a person become a Christian? Do they need to have an emotional experience in a worship service? Do they need to have all their questions answered? Do they become Christian after they see good examples of other believers?
Those experiences can be critical turning points that lead people to be open in hearing the message of Jesus. But one of Jesus’ followers, a man named Paul, said that Christians are made through the “sanctifying work of the Spirit.” That means God, the Holy Spirit, works in a person to want to know and believe in Jesus.
That’s why Christians ought to be the humblest people on the planet. Christians don’t come to believe in Jesus as their Savior because of their intelligence or worthiness. They are not better than anyone else. God, the Holy Spirit, gave them the gift of faith through his mighty power. Thus they are to live a life of humility and thankfulness.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; thank you for the work of the Holy Spirit that brought me to faith.  In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. 

​1/20/21
Today’s devotion is based on 1 John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
We read, again and again, this week about the light shining in the darkness. We can’t hide away little parts of our lives we think no-one can see. The kindness we deny someone. The habit we think is secret. The behavior we think we can justify. It is all darkness. It’s time to admit to ourselves, and maybe to others, that the Light is indeed shining in these places, and we need to clean them up. God promises that if we do this, and walk in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and be purified from our sin. Which one will you choose, walking in the Light or walking in the darkness?
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; I ask you to shine your light in my life. In your grace and mercy, illuminate changes I need to make, paths I need to take, and forgiveness I need to seek. May my confession of sins this week include all the secret darkness of my heart, and may I be fully restored to walk in the light. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. 

​1/19/21
Today’s devotion is based on John 1:43, “The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
In our Bible reading today, Jesus is calling his first disciples. We read that he finds a man named Philip and says to him, “Follow me.” That’s it. Follow me. Jesus tells Philip that he doesn’t need to lead. He just needs to follow. Jesus doesn’t tell him what the future will be like. But he does say to him that he will be with him always.
Jesus is calling us with those same two words, “Follow me.” We can be even more confident than Philip to respond to Jesus’ call. Philip was called before Jesus died and rose. We are called by the resurrected and living Savior. The future made seem uncertain, but we can continue in confidence because Jesus is our leader.
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; thank you for calling me to follow you.  Help me through the power of the Holy Spirit to follow you wherever you lead me.  In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. 

​1/18/21
Today’s devotion is based on 1 Samuel 3:10, “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
When the world seems so dark and wicked, it might seem like God has abandoned us. But he is still here, still calling us to believe him, follow him, and serve him. May we, like Samuel, answer, “Speak Lord, for your servant, is listening.”
Please pray with me the prayer for today: Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; thank you for speaking to me through your words in the Bible.  Help me to listen to what you are saying to me. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. 

​1/17/21
Today's devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on John 1:45-49. "Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
 
Nathanael's response of "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" was probably said with sarcasm and unbelief.  But Philip is not rebuffed. He responds with a gentle invitation for Nathanael to come and see for himself.
When Jesus greets Nathanael as 'an Israelite in whom there is no deceit' and adds that he 'saw' Nathanael before Phillip spoke with him, Nathanael is profoundly surprised. His unbelieve melts in the Light of Jesus' supernatural perception, and Nathanael has his Epiphany. He sees Jesus for a moment in his true identity. 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus sees Nathanael, and in response, Nathanael sees the Son of God.
While we may encounter many sarcastic, skeptical people in our witness to Jesus, we need to remember that it is not our job to convince them; our job is only to invite them. Jesus will reveal himself at the right time and place he chooses.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; help me to invite nonbelievers to hear your Word so that they too will know the Light of life, Jesus, as their Savior.  In Jesus' holy name, I pray.  Amen. 

​1/15/21
Today’s devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on Mark 1:23, “And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit.” 
Jesus had just finished teaching in the synagogue when this event happened. The man who was inhabited by an evil spirit cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” Unknown to those present, that is precisely why Jesus came to this earth.
He spoke, and the evil spirits left.  We need to be careful that we don’t get so engrossed in figuring out the evil spirits that we miss the point of the story.  Jesus has power over evil spirits, the same spirits that trouble us today.  He alone can free us. We only need to approach him, asking for his healing touch. 
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen; you know how often we fight with the evil spirits that attack us.  You know how often we give in to them. Help us reach out to you so that they are driven out of our lives by your power and authority—all praise to you. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray.  Amen. 

​1/14/21
Today's devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on Isaiah 49:6, "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah quoted God the Father speaking to his Son, Jesus, and saying, "I will also make you a light for the Gentiles." Gentiles are any people who are not Jewish. Jesus is not just the glory of the Jewish people of Israel. He is a light for all, Gentiles and Jews, as well.
That means Jesus brings light to the lives of people no matter where they live in the world. The good news about forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus has gone to the ends of the earth. People's eyes are opened, and their hearts are changed from darkness into light as they come into contact with that wonderful news. It's a blessing to see it happen, and it's a privilege to be part of that effort.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for sending Jesus, the Light of the world, into our lives, so that we can show Jesus' light to those who are still walking in darkness. In Jesus' holy name, I pray.  Amen. 

​1/13/21
Today's devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on Mark 1:21, "And immediately on the Sabbath he (Jesus) entered the synagogue and was teaching."
Jesus called his first disciples, and as the verse for today states, Jesus entered the synagogue and began teaching. This verse still applies to us today. While you can and should pray and read God's Word anywhere, it is best on Sunday to go to the place where Jesus still teaches; your local congregation. For there is where your pastor can help you understand and apply those hard to understand passages that are in God's Word.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for those pastors who correctly teach your Word.  Open our hearts and minds to their teaching so that we can walk in your light, the light that drives out all darkness. In Jesus' holy name, I pray.  Amen. 

​1/12/21
Today's devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on Ezekiel 36:28, "You shall be my people, and I will be your God."
There is a hymn titled "Give Us Hearts to Know You." The refrain reminds me of the passage for today from Ezekiel. "We will be your people and you our God."
The Christian life is full of mysteries and concepts that we have to hold in tension. God equally views us as a collective body. We are all his people. And he is God to all of us.
As members of God's family, our role is to seek to have a heart like our Heavenly Father. Furthermore, we play a role in helping sisters and brothers in our community be God's people. To help them be people that bring glory to God. We need our sisters and brothers, too, to allow us to better love, bless, serve, praise, and worship God. We are better together than we are apart.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for calling us out of the darkness as a community. Please help us to be your people as a community. Help us to love you and serve our sisters and brothers. In Jesus' holy name, I pray.  Amen. 

​1/11/21
Today's devotion for today during the time of Epiphany is based on Isaiah 43:4, "Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.  
Martin Luther reminds us to remember our baptism daily. Why? So that we recall our preciousness to God. We are washed clean and made new through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. It is from this basis we can live our lives abundantly and without fear. While we make mistakes and feel worthless, God gives us a place of honor again and again and again. He relentlessly lifts us to him when we fail.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, we give thanks for our redemption through the blood of your Son. Let us live in the reality of our preciousness to you and seek to share your good news with our sisters and brothers across the world. In Jesus' holy name, I pray.  Amen.