Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Finding Peace

Scripture:
Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people... (Luke 2:29)

Devotion: Life has its ways of being cruel to our flesh. It brings illnesses, pains, disappointments and many tears. Even the apostle Paul pleaded for release from "this body of death". All the evil is, of course, the result of sin, our sins and the sins of others. Our world is no longer the perfect paradise God created it to be and our lives, too, bear sin's curse. If only we could find peace and contentment!

We can! Peace is ours through the child whom aged Simeon held in his arms. Through the wounds of Jesus our souls have been healed and revived for eternal life. This same Jesus also promises to lead us safely through the maze of troubles which life can bring to our home in heaven.

Jesus has redeemed us and we join Simeon in finding the strength to live in hope and die in peace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in the midst of my sufferings bring me the peace of forgiveness through Christ. Then I will lay down my weary head and rest securely awaiting my day of unending peace in heaven. Amen.

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 23:4-6; Psalms 16; 1 Corinthians 15

Finding True Rest

Scripture:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Devotion: Restlessness seems to be a daily companion lately. Questions about my diagnosis and prognosis keep haunting me, I tend to think the worst. I become upset. A tranquillizer might provide temporary relief, but then the cycle starts all over again.

Thank God I have something better than medicine to calm my soul. Jesus has invited me to find my rest in Him. So often my unease is rooted in a feeling of guilt and depressing hopelessness. But Jesus has taken away my guilt and given me a living hope. His invitation, "Come to me" instills hope and happiness in my life. In Him I have found true rest!

Prayer: Great Physician, calm my troubled thoughts with the peace that surpasses all understanding. Forgive my sins and plead my cause before the Father's throne. Amen

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 130:1-5; Psalm 46; Luke 5

Finding the Key to Life

Scripture:
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by me. (John 4:6)

Devotion: The way we walk in life leads to a definite end. The truth we follow and build on will influence our successes and failures. The life we set as our goal, this life or the one to come, will culminate in heaven or hell. How vital it is to know Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life!

I would find no lasting satisfaction in my life without Jesus and the loving relationship He gives me with my heavenly Father. I have failed miserably and often in my life. But Jesus has shown me that the way to heaven does not depend on what I do, but rather what He has done for me! And that's the gospel truth!

What a comfort to know a sinner like me can come to the Father through Jesus, my Substitute who fulfilled all God's demands for perfection! He is my Way, my Truth and my Life!

Prayer: Dear Savior, THANK YOU for snatching me from the road to hell and leading me on the path to eternal life. Amen.

Additional Scriptures: John 11:25-26; Isaiah 55; John 20

Finding Forgiveness

Scripture:
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Devotion: The word "love" has been abused more than any other word. Satan has trained the world to equate love with the fulfillment of its desires and the development of sexual and other desires. But God has a different definition of love.

Real love is seen in the compassion the Creator has for His fallen creatures. Knowing that sin would damn the world, God planned to remove this curse through His Son Jesus. Jesus would take on human flesh. Jesus would carry our burden of guilt to Calvary's cross and bury it in His grave. What love! God has forgiven me through the death and resurrection of His Son!

God so loved... and because He did I will not perish in hell. God so loved... and in that love alone is life, abundant life, eternal life.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I have been indifferent to Your holy love and from now on help me to live in Your arms of love forever. Amen

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 103:1-4; Psalm 51; Luke 15

Finding Assurance

Scripture:
Stop doubting and believe! (John 20:27)

Devotion: At times I find myself doubting God's many promises to help in times of trouble. It's not that His Word is unclear. It's me. I can't see how God could possibly be concerned about me. Why should He help me? I've rebelled against Him so often. When I lie awake my conscience accuses me. And Satan chimes right in. He wants me to believe there is no way I can escape the dreadful punishment my sins deserve.

Could Satan be right? Absolutely not! God's grace, His love for me, is greater than my many sins. The proof is found in Jesus. He came to seek and to save sinners like me. By His death on Calvary's cross He freed me from the condemnation of my sin and delivered me from all punishment.

I know I will never be worthy of God's love and care. But then again, I don't have to earn it. God has reached out to this sinner through Christ and given me the gift of eternal life. And it is my Savior Himself who comforts my troubled heart with His words, "Stop doubting and believe!"

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for giving this unworthy sinner a perfect pardon and an open door to heaven.

Additional Scriptures: Romans 5:6-8; Psalm 32; Isaiah 40

Finding Courage

Scripture:
Take Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid. (Matthew 14:27)

Devotion: They say only a fool is never afraid. But lately it seems as though fear and uncertainty have taken over my life. Perhaps it's this feeling of helplessness which scares me the most. I am powerless to change my present condition and alter my future.

What joy is brings to hear my Savior reach out to me in my anxious moments and say, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." With a word He is able to calm my fears. he reminds me gently of His loving care and compassion. How easily I forget that my Lord rules heaven and earth, all the winds and the waves! He controls every situation in life. My Jesus can turn water into wine, pain to relief, death to life.

"Don't be afraid," He says to me, even as He said to Peter long ago. Jesus knows my troubles. Jesus has the power to help. And I know that when it is best for me, He will remove all my ills. Why should I fear? Jesus is by my side!

Prayer: Dear Savior, when I tremble in fear, direct my thoughts to Your promises and never let me forget Your divine power. Amen

Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 27:1; 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 23

What About Life After Death?

Scripture:
If a man dies, will he live again? (Job 14:14)

Devotion: No one likes to think about death. I'll freely admit I am no exception to the rule. But as I grow older, it becomes more and more apparent that my appointment with death cannot be cancelled.

Must thoughts of my own death cause me to abandon all hope and become lost in a sea of grief and despair? Satan says, "Yes!" God says, "NO!" In His Holy Word, God reminds me that I have been ransomed from the grave through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He died that I might live. And live I will. When I bid farewell to all things earthly, my soul will be with the Lord in the mansions above! I have my Savior's word on it.

Perhaps my present condition is God's way of focusing my attention on matters I would otherwise ignore. My God wants me to set my house in order. He wants my faith in Jesus to be cultivated and invigorated by the Holy Spirit working through Word and Sacrament. Then my day of departing will be a supreme triumph. With Job of old I will confess, "All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come."

Prayer: Lord of Life, give me the sure hope of eternal life through the death and resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Additional Scriptures: Job 19:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15; Psalm 116

What about Loneliness?

Scripture:
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

Devotion: Why should the Lord be my daily companion? He has every reason to abandon me. My lifestyle has not always been acceptable to Him. The places I have gone were not always to His liking. I have not always been faithful in worship and meditation. In short, I am a sinner who doesn't deserve His love and companionship.

But oh, how I need Him now. How I long for His comforting presence as I lie confined to this bed. My present condition serves as a constant reminder that life is fleeting and eternity is near. I am afraid to face eternity alone. I know I am unworthy of my Lord's love and His heaven.

What a joy to hear the soothing words of my Savior. He says He will never leave me or forsake me in spite of all my sins and weaknesses. Through Jesus' death and resurrection I have been judged to be free of al guilt. And according to the promise of my Lord, I trust He is at my side right now fashioning circumstances for my best benefit. I am not alone!

Prayer: Lord, Thank You for being my constant Companion. Never leave me or forsake me. Amen.

Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 49:14-16; Psalm 121; Romans 8

What about God's ways?

Scripture:
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

Devotion: I have received all sorts of advice from well-meaning friends. One suggests the latest remedy. Another has discovered a new medicine or treatment. Yet another has just heard about a doctor who achieves dramatic results. I appreciate the support and kind thoughts from my friends. But I know there is only One who really understands what is happening in my life - my Lord!

It is He who sends troubles and trials for my good. Though accident or desease lays me low, I know He is working for my benefit, although I will admit I often fail to see or understand the "good" in God's thoughts and ways for my life.

One poet said, "We see the underside of the weaving of our pattern of life, while God sees the face side. The underside is messy and unpatterned, the face side is the final beautiful product."

I know the "final product" includes the eternal life which Christ won for me and all people. Confident of God's love and concern, I will submit to His superior judgement in all matters.

Prayer: Wise Father, Help me submit myself to Your ways for my life. If those ways are painful, help me to bear the pain valiantly. Amen.

Additional Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11-12; Genesis 50:15; Psalm 25

How God Might Answer Us!

I asked God to take away my pride.

God said "No". It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.

God said "No". Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

God said "No". Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said "No". I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.

God said "No". Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said "No". You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

God said "No". I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.

God said..." Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!"