Daily devotions

Friday devotions ~ Psalm 41

/ The Pastor

This is the final Psalm in what is called Book 1. And again we have an individual lament, but it takes on a little different flavor. Verses 1 – 3 talk about the blessedness of serving the poor, and it appears the psalmist has done that, yet he is suffering in some way due to his sin. Enemies see his plight and “utter empty words” (vs 6), whispering among themselves and imagining the worst for him (vs 7). In verses 8 – 10, his enemies have all kinds of theories about why this is happening to him, but the psalmist still delights in the Lord. What an incredible faith.

But there are a couple things that ring loud in this Psalm. First, no amount of good works will cover your sin. You can be the greatest saint in the world, doing all kinds of good works (like helping the poor) but even that will not excuse one little sin. It is only by the mercy of God, His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, that forgives sin. I sometimes forget that and say things like, “Well, I preach and teach God’s Word to people. That has to count for something.” Well, it does not when it comes to sin. Once again, it is all grace.

And secondly, what others say about you is not what defines you. What defines you is what God says about you. Let your enemies say all they want about your life. You show them who has your life by how you live and respond to adversity. If you know Jesus then you know the truth and the Truth. Do not let outsiders decide your truth. YOU tell them the truth and be at peace about whose you are.

12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 
13 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! 
Amen and Amen.

LET US PRAY: I praise You, O God, for Your awesome grace and mercy, and I confess that I sometimes try to take matters into my own hands. Remind me of the truth and convict my heart. May Jesus ever be before me as a witness to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Thursday devotions ~ Psalm 40

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

In reading Psalm 40, this poem took a life of it’s own. I love it when the Spirit takes hold and does something like this. To God be ALL glory.

I waited for the Lord,
and he heard my cry.
I waited for the Lord,
in Him I do rely.

He raised me up.
He established my feet.
He set me secure.
He makes me complete.

O blessed is the one,
who trusts in the Lord.
My heart he does hold,
and Him I so adore.

That’s why,

I wait for the Lord,
for he’s always true.
I wait for the Lord,
O please let me review.

The Lord is so awesome.
And He is mighty too.
The Lord is so faithful.
He makes all things new.

So wait for the Lord.
Wait ever patiently.
For the Lord will give you,
oh so abundantly.

LET US PRAY: Redeemer God, You have put a New Song in my heart as You have redeemed this sinner. You have given me peace through Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. You have given me hope through Jesus’ resurrection, that I too may be raised to New Life. And so, I wait for You, anxiously, I wait for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Daily devotions

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

This morning, you may have noticed a devotion posted by me. I have been writing daily devotions in a Facebook group I created in Feb 2022. I also have been emailing these to people, not on social media.

Starting today, I am also going to post these devotions here on this blog. Please feel free to share these for the glory of God. I simply want to increase exposure to these since God has placed these writings on my heart.

Wednesday devotions ~ Psalm 39

/ The Pastor

Another individual lament but here we have the psalmist seeking to hold his tongue. There is some sort of suffering going on as we saw in the previous Psalm. It also appears that, once again, the reason for the suffering is due to some sin (vs 7-8). And so the psalmist calls out in faith and confesses his sins, placing his trust in the Lord.

But verse 1 – 3 are of interest to me here. Consider again what he says, “I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” The psalmist wants to speak out but not before his enemies lest he dishonor the Lord by saying something that they would take the wrong way. Even in his suffering the psalmist is concerned about God’s glory. He goes on to say in verse 2 that he kept silent but eventually he could not hold it in, “My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:” And then he speaks to the Lord, not in the presence of his enemies.

I have said time and again that God can handle your lamenting. He can handle your crying out to Him. God can handle your questions and frustrations. But what we learn here is the timing and who you are with. When you are with those who do not know God, your lamenting appears unfaithful and an attack upon God. It in no way brings God glory. But when you are with brothers and sisters in Christ, they can lament with you and pray over you. They understand because they have been there. They know the Lord and thus they also seek to glorify Him.

Be careful in whose presence you’re in when you lament. Remain mute and silent in the presence of outsiders, but lament with your brothers and sisters that they may lift you up and glorify God.

LET US PRAY: Father God, many a time I want to speak out and lament to You. Grant me discernment that I may not bring dishonor to Your name but rather glorify You through my suffering. And, when others in my church family are suffering, may I not desert them but rather be a holy sounding board for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Household gods

/ The Pastor / 1 Comment

A little background information for you. Since February 2022, I have been writing daily devotions for a Facebook group that I started dedicated to encouraging people to read through the Bible. Together we read and I wrote through the New Testament. Now we are studying the book of Genesis. Recently, I started sending these devotions to people via email for those who did not have Facebook but still wanted to receive these. Devotions are made available at 6:30 AM (central time) each morning.

The following devotion is the one I wrote for today. If you would like to receive these daily devotions via email, contact me at: grillmaster89@gmail.com and I will add you to my group.

To God be ALL glory!

Friday devotions
Genesis 35

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.
Genesis 35:2

When Jacob and his family fled from Laban, we read in Genesis 31:19 that Rachel stole her father’s household gods. And then living in the land of Shechem it appears that they may have adopted some of the gods of the land. Whatever happened and when, there are foreign gods among Jacob’s family. This is something that needs to be rectified before they enter the land of Canaan and the place where God revealed Himself to Jacob after he fled from Esau. So obviously they did so, and once there, God blesses Jacob and officially changes his name to Israel as God reaffirms the covenant with him.

But to be in a covenant relationship with God, means God being your God and that is it. No other gods. It means putting away whatever household gods you have.

“Wait a second, Pastor, I do not have any household gods.”

Well then, let’s explore this a little bit. The First Commandment, from Exodus 20:2-3, is “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” In Luther’s Small Catechism, he says this about that First Commandment, “We are to fear, love, and trust God above all things.” And so, anything that we fear, love, and trust over God is our god.

“Okay, I fear, love and trust God above ALL things.”

Really? Has there ever been a time that you chose to worry instead of praying to God about it? How about choosing another activity instead of reading your Bible? How about sleeping in on Sunday because Saturday was a late night? How about choosing to remain angry with someone instead of forgiving them? I could go on, but hopefully you get the point. Anytime we place our needs, feelings, desires first, we have made that object or even ourselves a god before God.

Convicted yet? I am, and I am the one writing this. As sinners, we possess “household gods” and it should not be so. And so, put away your household gods and come before God our Father in the name of Jesus. Put away your household gods and praise the One who gives you life; eternal life. Put away your household gods, and know true peace, joy and love. Put away your household gods, confess your sins in the name of Jesus, and God our Father will purify you through forgiveness. No other god can do that. No other god shows grace and mercy like that. None. Zero. Zilch. Put away your household gods and enjoy God your Father.

WHAT NOW: Scripture says that God is a jealous God. He does not share His glory. In essence, He does not share His sandbox with others. When God claims you through the gift of the Holy Spirit in your heart, He has put His mark on you forever. Isn’t it nice to know that God wants you all to Himself?

LET US PRAY: Holy God, what a comfort to know that through Jesus I am Yours. Forgive me of those times when I have put household gods on display in my life. Grant me repentance, for You are my God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.