Christ Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Grimsby
448 MAIN ST W L3M1T3 Grimsby, ON, Canada

"Thanksliving" 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the... grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledgeeven as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among youso that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. A number of years ago, I and a small group of students were doing a brief six-week "tour" of some churches in states throughout the Midwest. We put on a small production, doing some contemporary Christian songs, acting out a few skits, and telling others about Jesus. Our "mission" was to visit congregations, share our faith, and promote our school. It was a combination evangelism-recruitment effort. One of the great things about doing this was the chance to stay with church families for the night. These folks were kind to open their homes to us. I discovered a number of times that the family I was bunking with would regularly host people from school youth groups, other visiting troupes to their church, and even foreign exchange students. This intrigued me. Before our little tour, I figured the families we stayed with probably accepted us somewhat reluctantly, at the nudging of the church. But that was not my experience at all. In fact, showing hospitality appeared to be something like a minor specialty among these families. And they were good at it, too. Around tables of home-cooked food, I'd get to hear their backstorieswhat brought them to the area, what everybody in the household was up to, how long they've been members of their churchthat sort of thing. And, of course, I'd get to share my story, too. They'd ask questions about what I was studying and what I planned on doing after college. I remember one family in the Kansas City area had a plaque in their house. Actually, it was in their bathroom: "Thanksgiving Is Thanksliving." So simple, so profound. Perfect for a captive audience. It's not about gushing with thanks one day a year for all the goodies we have in this country. It's about living it out, eager to let the world know how thankfulhow very gratefulwe are for all that God has done for us in Jesus. That saying stuck with me. Naturally, I don't always live it out, and sometimes I probably appear anything but thankfulbut I am. One thing's for sure. This year's a perfect time to put thanksliving into action. While Thanksgiving and Christmas might look different than last year, we know that God through Jesusin the power and the presence of the Holy Spiritis in us, with us, and at our side always. What more could we be thankful for? THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for all good things, especially for Jesus our Savior. In His Name we pray. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Reflection Questions: 1. What are you most thankful for in your life, right now? 2. How do you show your appreciation to the fellowship of believers you're involved in? 3. What can we do to make others thankful for us?

"Longing" Isaiah 64:1-9 - Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presenceas when fire kindles brushwood and t...he fire causes water to boilto make Your Name known to Your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him. You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon Your Name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people. Listen to Isaiah's words: "Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down!" Isaiah is longing for God to come near, longing for the presence of the Lord. He is almost heartsick for himour living water, our breath of life. Isaiah looks back to the old days, when Israel walked with God through the wilderness and met him at Mount Sinai. Now those were the days, Isaiah feels. But it isn't like that anymore. And why? Because the people have done evil in their words and thoughts and actions; they have cut themselves off from the Source of life, from God Himself, and they suffer for it. And Isaiah confesses that this is true of him as well. It's true of us, too, isn't it? We too have sinned. We too have wandered far from the Lord, and we long for the God we forsook. But just like Isaiah and the people of Israel, we cannot get back to God's presence on our own. Either God rends the heavens and comes down, or we are lost. It is that simple. From his point in history, Isaiah pleads with God. "Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever." Isaiah has hope because he knows that God is merciful. But from our point in history, we have something even betterthe knowledge that God has already heard our prayers, has opened the heavens and come downas the Man Jesus Christ, our Savior, born to deliver us. Now we don't need to long for the good old days of God's presence at Sinai. We have something far betterGod in the flesh, bearing our sins on the cross, and leaving them behind in the grave as He rises from the dead three days later. Now we have Jesus, who is our life and salvation. Our longing hearts can be satisfied, because He has said to us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5b). THE PRAYER: Lord, let me live always in Your presence. In Jesus' Name. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. When do you feel lonely or sad? 2. What do you do when you feel a longing for God? 3. How do you know that Jesus is with you, whether you feel Him or not?

"From One Sinner to Another" Ephesians 4:4-7 - There is one body and one Spiritjust as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your callone Lord, one ...faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. God is in the business of calling us because human beings tend to forget that He is there. They like to imagine He doesn't care or, even more, that He doesn't exist. Now, while God set the process in motion by which human beings are born and live in this world yet, by our sin, we are at a distance from God. God bridged this distance by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to become a human being. Through the Savior's life, death, and resurrection, God has called us to faith and saved us. "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). That's right! We are now reconcilersGod's people whose witness is a call to others to experience the same mercy we have freely received. Our calling out to others is like a mountaineer shouting directions across a chasm to those stranded on a precipice, guiding them to the safe path home. Our call is loud all right, but it's kind and understanding, too. That's because we remember when we were lost, unsure of our next step, and in desperate need of assistance. This all adds up to the witnessing Christian being someone who has the right word at the right time. It's human and yet in touch with the Heavenly Father, persistently kind but not indulgent to the point of letting the needy person flounder in peril. And above all, the Christian's act of proclaiming is one of love. We're telling others how much God our Father and Maker loves us. We're sharing the Good News of how the Father gave His only beloved Son to redeem us from the treacherous night of our sin and called us "into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9b). Of course, this is tremendously risky for me to go on about the need for us to declare God's grace to others when we all know just how hard it is. Still, that's the task we are entrusted with, and with God's help we can be His mouthpieces in the world. In all this, let us look to God to guide and direct our ministry efforts, so we can avoid those things that slow us down or derail us completely. Here is what Paul said to Timothy about conscientiously sharing the Gospel. "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:23-25). Blessings to you as your live out your calling. THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, lead us to share Your love with everyone we meet. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Taken from the message, "Live Up to Your Calling!" Rev. Dr. Richard R. Caemmerer Reflection Questions: 1. When talking to others about spiritual matters, do you like there to be some kind of relationship connection first? 2. Do you think you would notice a "ministry of reconciliation" in someone's life? What might that look like? 3. Would you like to increase your interest and enthusiasm for sharing the Good News of Jesus with others? Are there things you can do to do that?

"Preconceived Ideas" Matthew 11:16-19 (Jesus said) "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to ...their playmates, "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Thirty years ago my family began serving as missionaries to the Vietnamese refugees in St. Louis. Now very few of these people were Christians, and so their ideas about Christians were ... sort of limited. For example, many of them thought of pastors as stern, unsmiling people in black three-piece suits, always ready to stomp all over whatever joy or pleasure you had in your life. And so naturally, they were nervous about us. One day we were walking up to a family's home when we could see through the big front window that they were having a beer party. They looked up, and they could see us, too. They panicked. Then everybody started hiding the beer, shoving it under the sofa cushions, pushing it into cabinets and under the coffee table. We walked really, really slowly! By the time they invited us in, everything was hidden, and the room was spotless. My husband sat down and smiled. Then he said, "Hey, could I have a beer?" I suspect most of us have preconceived ideas about how God's people should lookthe kinds of clothes they should wear, the food they should eat, the activities they should be involved in, the music they should listen to. It's human. But it's also something that can really get in the way of the Gospel. If we're busy criticizing the details of each other's lives, we won't have our ears open to hear what God is saying to us through them. If we look for reasons to reject one another, we won't receive the love and blessing God is trying to give us. Nor will we be able to share the story of Jesus with people who need it just as badly as we do. How can we cross these divides when we are scared and nervous? Only when Jesus Himself is living in us. He is an expert at adapting to strange situations and people, of coursewhat else would you expect from the Son of God who went from heaven's glory to a manger in Bethlehem? He lived among us as a child, as a carpenter, as a traveling preacher and healer. He cared for all sorts of people, rich and poor, male and female, very old and very young. And He capped it all off by suffering, dying, and rising againso that all of us, whatever we are like, can have real, everlasting life by trusting Him. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, live in me and help me to recognize the people I meet as people for whom You died and rose. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. When you were a child, what did you think Christians looked like? 2. Can you think of a person you know who is very different from you in race, dress, social status, or what he or she likes to do for fun? 3. How could you build a friendship with that person, or grow closer if you're friends already?

"Tears to Drink" Psalm 80:4-7 - O LORD God of hosts, how long will You be angry with Your people's prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given ...them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! It is not unusual to hear in the psalms a plea for God to answer the psalmist's personal prayers. In Psalm 39:12a, the psalmist says, "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry," or in Psalm 61:1, he calls out, "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer." In today's psalm, the petition is different. The psalmist pleads with God, not for himself, but on behalf of the people of Israel. The Israelites are nearly drowning in their tears. God has given them tears to eat and drink. To make matters worse, enemies ridicule the Israelites, laughing among themselves and no doubt mocking a God who apparently refuses to hear the prayers of His own people. We know what it means to drown in our tears. Through fear, illness and grief, it may appearat least from an earthly point of viewthat God is not listening and that He has given us "tears to drink in full measure." Unbelievers mock what they perceive as the utter futility of prayer; they deny the existence of a God who hears and answers prayer. Yet we are not alone with our tears. During His earthly ministry, our Lord wept, too. His tears at Lazarus' tomb impressed the gathered mourners with Jesus' love for His friend. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and the suffering that would come to the city that rejected its Messiah. On the cross, Jesus cried out to His Father, and while we do not know if the Savior shed tears of pain and desolation, He endured the ridicule of His enemies as they laughed at His unanswered prayers: "He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him" (Matthew 27:43a). We know that Jesus' prayers were heard and answered. "In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence" (Hebrews 5:7). The reverent, obedient Son of God suffered and died on the cross, but the Father saved His Son from the corruption of death and raised Him up to become the Source of our salvation. In the Person of Christ Jesus, God Himself has shed tears and He sees our tears. For the sake of His Son, He forgives our sins and hears our prayers. In Christ we are restored and saved. We now live in the light that is the shining face of God's favor. We will, at times, shed anguished tears on earth, but one day we will live in God's presence forever, and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, remember our tears and hear and answer our prayers. In Jesus' Name. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. Have you recently been "down" because of life? How are you doing now? 2. Could the psalmist's prayer be one that is said of the church today? 3. Do your prayers include the church, our nation, and believers around the world?

Here is a video of yesterday's sermon: https://youtu.be/y1NdxTRNBO8

Here is a link to this morning's Bible study: https://youtu.be/lbH9K3aAbOY

"Off the Hook" Romans 3:19-28 - Now we know that whatever the Law says it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the who...le world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to itthe righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Have you ever been let off the hook for something? Maybe you received an officer's warning and not a ticket for that broken rear tail lightthe one you meant to get fixed. Perhaps the business meeting you were nervously preparing a speech for was cancelled. And then there's everybody's favorite: the medical test results you dreaded to hear about all came back negative. It's a major relief when the bad thing you thought was going to happendoesn't. In reality, Paul's words above are God's way of saying, "You've been let off the hook" to sinners. But this freedom from the Law's judgment came at a pricethe one Jesus paid on Calvary. Imagine Paul's joy when he learned the truth of how God in His grace and mercy had forgiven every vile sin he was ever guilty ofand there were many. You may recall Paul's persecution of the earliest Christiansrounding them up and herding them off to the religious authorities in Jerusalem for some nasty interrogations and prison time (see Acts 8-9). By anybody's standard, Paul was a first-rate sinnerbut in the end, none worse than all the rest. "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith." Now we too have been let off the hook, absolved of our blame. The same grace and mercy that Paul experienced is generously offered to us today. As Paul writes later in Romans, "For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For 'everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:11-13). THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, cleanse us of our sins and lead us in the way everlasting. In Jesus' Name. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Reflection Questions: 1. What's the biggest thing you've been let off the hook for? Care to share? 2. Why did God the Father have to have His Son die for us to be free from the Law? 3. Do you know anyone who feels he or she is firmly on the hook for something they've done? How could Romans 3:19-28 be of comfort to them?

"Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" "Wake, awake, for night is flying," The watchmen on the heights are crying; "Awake, Jerusalem, arise!" Midnight hears the wel...come voices, And at the thrilling cry rejoices: "Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise? The Bridegroom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Alleluia! With bridal care yourselves prepare, To meet the Bridegroom, who is near." Advent will soon be here, a season of repentance and anticipation that ends with Christmas and the celebration of Jesus' first Advent: His birth in Bethlehem. Yet Advent is never really over for us, because even after Christmas we will still long for Jesus' second Advent, the day when He returns in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. Scripture speaks of Jesus' return in different ways. As the risen Lord to whom the Father has given judgment, Jesus is the Judge who is already "standing at the door" (James 5:9b). Jesus portrays Himself as the King who will gather His followers into the kingdom prepared for them (see Matthew 25:34). He is the returning Master who invites His faithful servants to enter into the joy of their Master (see Matthew 25:21). On trial before the Jewish ruling council, Jesus declared Himself to be the Messiah and Son of God, the Son of Man who, as Daniel prophesied, would come "with the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62b). Our hymn brings together Old Testament prophecy and Jesus' parable of the wedding feast and the wise and foolish virgins. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the joy of the watchmen who see the return of the Lord (see Isaiah 52:8). In His parable, Jesus describes His joyful return as a marriage feast in which the divine Bridegroom comes at midnight to claim His bride, that is, His people, His church. Ten virgins serving as bridesmaids or companions for the bride are assigned the task of welcoming the Bridegroom. Five of the virgins are foolish. They are unprepared, and the lamps they carry run out of oil. These five foolish and faithless virgins leave the scene to buy more oil. The other five virgins are wise, and they are prepared. With brightly burning faith, they rejoice at the Bridegroom's arrival and enter the joy of the wedding feast. The hymn cries out its warning for us to be awake and ready in faith for Jesus' Second Coming. Speaking of His return, Jesus asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8b) Yes, He will! Our Bridegroom will find us ready and waiting in faith for His return, for with "bridal care" we have been prepared by the Bridegroom Himself. Jesus has cleansed His Bride "by the washing of water with the Word" in Baptism (Ephesians 5:26b) so that He might present His holy bride to Himself in purity and joy. Christmas will soon be here, and just as soon, that joyful festival will be past. But for us it will still be Advent. Like the watchmen and the wise virgins, we will be watching and waitingwith faith brightly burningfor the arrival of our Bridegroom. Come, Lord Jesus! THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we look forward in joy and faith to Your return. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying," which is found on page 516 of the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. Do you keep extra items of any kind around your home for unexpected visitors? 2. How do you stay prepared for Jesus' next coming? 3. Is Jesus' return an event you think about much? Does it factor into your life and decision-making process?

"Give Him Glory" Revelation 14:6-7 - Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every... nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water." I don't know about you, but when I think of Judgment Day, I'm not usually looking forward to it. It sounds so scary. All the people who have ever lived, standing before God, with nowhere left to hide and no way of concealing any of the bad things they have said or thought or done ... Yikes! And yet, that is not what the angel is saying in today's reading. He says, "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come." Give Him glorywhy? Glory is something we usually give on account of good things. For example, you win a race at the Olympics, and we give you glory. You save a city from fire or flooding, and we give you glory. But this? The angel is right, of course. Because God's Judgment Day is a good thing for those of us who belong to Jesusfor all of us who have been forgiven, washed clean, made fresh and new. When we come to that day, we will not need to be afraid. We have already been acquittedfound "not guilty"pardoned, set free, rescued from all our evils. Jesus has done that for us, through His suffering and death on the cross. His death and resurrection have taken us out of judgment and brought us into the glorious relief and safety of the children of God. This is for everyone, without exceptioneveryone who trusts in Jesus. So what does God's judgment mean for us, then? It means an end to evilthe final uprooting of wickednessthe moment we open our eyes after a long, terrible nightmare. It is like the doctor pronouncing you healthy after a long illnesslike the police calling to say they caught the perpetrator who did you harmlike a text or voice message that lets you know your family is safe and well after an earthquake or hurricane. It is the final mopping up of God's war against evil, which Jesus won for us when He died on Calvary, and rose again from the dead three days later. Now begins the new life, the new heavens and earth. Now begins happiness, peace, and joya life that no human being has had since Adam and Eve messed up in the Garden of Eden. This is the life God intended for humanitya life that is whole, abundant, blessed, joyful. And it is ours from the Day of Judgment forward. Why? Because of Jesus. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to look forward to Judgment Day, trusting and rejoicing because You have already had mercy on me. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. How do you feel when you're facing an examination? 2. Do you feel differently when you know that you've already passed the course? Why or why not? 3. What do you look forward to the most about God's new heaven and earth?

"Refuge" Psalm 46:1-3 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mounta...ins be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. We are familiar with the idea of a refuge, a place of safety. Sometimes the term refers to efforts to protect animals, as in a wildlife refuge, a park, or enclosure where animals are protected from hunters. More often we hear of people seeking refuge as they flee violence or religious persecution. Others may be desperate to find a place of refuge during a storm that causes the sea to "roar and foam," or a severe quake, when "the earth gives way." Even if we are not enduring violence, persecution, or raging storms, we still need a refuge, a place of safety, a place to hide. In times of illness and fear, in grief and guilt, where can we go? Those are "storms" of a different kind: trouble and worry that readily follow us into fenced enclosures and concrete strongholds. Where will we find a place to hide from troubles like that? We do not need to run anywhere or search in frantic fear for a safe place. "God is our refuge and strength." We do not have to find Him; He comes to us. He is "a present help in trouble," right beside us in all the circumstances of our lives. He is our refuge in days of grief and fear. He is our refuge even when sea and sky rage in a storm, or when mountains crumble and fall into the sea during an earthquake. God "set the earth on its foundations" (Psalm 104:5a) and told the ocean waves, "Thus far shall you come and no farther" (Job 38:11a). He created these things and still commands them. God is our refuge, our ever-present help, because there was no refuge for His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. As the hour of His death drew near, Jesus did not try to hide or shelter Himself from the events to come. Soon He would be betrayed, arrested, and unjustly condemned to death. Yet He said, "And what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour?' But for this purpose I have come to this hour" (John 12:27b). The powers of evil roared and raged against Him as He hung helpless on the cross. Darkness deeper than any storm gathered overhead as Jesus suffered God's just judgment on human sin. In a cry of victory and obedience, Jesus called out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30b), and bowed His head and died. At His death, the earth gave way and the mountains trembled. Then, on the first Easter morning, the earth gave way once more as an angel rolled back the stone to reveal Jesus' empty tomb! By God's grace through faith in Jesus, we have a hiding place, a place of refuge and healing in the wounds of our crucified and risen Savior. THE PRAYER: Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus, for the sake of Your dear Son be our refuge and our ever-present help in every trouble. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. When has your trust and dependence on God got you through a very difficult time? 2. When Jesus cried out, "It is finished!"what did He mean by that? 3. If the earth were quaking all around you, do you think you could focus on God and His protection?

"I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" "I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world. The star... of my life is Jesus. In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus. "I'm looking for the coming of Christ. I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race, We shall know the joy of Jesus. In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus." We are fascinated by the beauty and mystery of the stars. Astronomers indulge that fascination and add to our knowledge. Astrologers with their horoscopes wrongly attribute to the stars the power to determine human events, a power the stars do not have. The stars are created things, and their existence and movements are ordained by their Creator. "He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names" (Psalm 147:4). We have also named stars-Polaris, Rigel, Sirius, and many others. Named and nameless, the stars bring light to the night sky and help travelers find their way. The "star" that we love and follow has a God-given Name. "The star of my life is Jesus." Our guiding star is the God who created the stars, and who was born among us to be our Savior. He said of Himself, "I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning Star" (Revelation 22:16b). Jesus, God the Son, took on human flesh to suffer the penalty of death that we deserved for wandering from God's Word and ways, for following false stars. We are created anew in Baptism as children of light, and now we follow Jesus, the bright sun and guiding star of our lives. As both Scripture and our hymn proclaim, in Him there "is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5b). As we walk with Jesus in the light, and "run with patience the race" that is set before us, we look forward to what lies ahead. But we are not just enjoying the scenery, although we do appreciate the beauty of the world our Creator has made. We are watching for the finish line, searching for an event yet to come. We do not know when He will return, but we are "looking for the coming of Christ," that great day when our crucified and risen Lord will raise us bodily from death, as He was raised, and welcome us into His presence forever. The race we have patiently run will come to its end. We will live in the place that Jesus has prepared for us, a home that has no need of stars or sun "for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb" (Revelation 21:23b). THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as we await Your return, lead us by Your Word to walk as children of light. Come, Lord Jesus! Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light," which is found on page 411 of the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. What are the things you find most fascinating about the universe? 2. Can you describe a little bit about how there is no darkness in Jesus? What does that mean to you? 3. How can we "walk as a child of the light" in our day-to-day lives?

"Come Join Us" 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 - That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting t...o us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. When St. Paul wrote these sentences, few people cared about the Christian church. Most of them could not care about it because they had never heard of it. Those who did know apparently did not believe that much would ever come of it. Today the church is a vast fellowship of believers throughout the world. Yet, despite this apparent success, the debate goes on everywhereinside the church and outas to whether the Christian church makes any difference or even whether it possibly can or should make any difference. All the world has a stake in what the church does as it carries God's mission forward. Even as God sent His Son into the world, so He sends His church, His "ambassadors for Christ," into the world, too. In politics, a nation's ambassador is always on foreign soil, serving on temporary assignment. They must have the capacity to identify with and be sympathetic to the people they live among. They must be able to clearly communicate the message and intention of whomever has sent them into service. As ambassadors for Christ, we come as brothers and sisters in search of brothers and sisters who are lost and need our help. We communicate God's eternal love to them (see Ephesians 1:3-10), reminding them that because of what Jesus has done on the cross, forgiveness is available to all: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). We of the church come to the rest of the world as Christ came to men and women in His time. We seek nothing but to live as spokespersons for God. We carry His message forward, and we do so by His authority (see Matthew 28:19-20). We are prepared to share the truth of God's love in word and deed. It is our hope our daily lives and actions point to the Savior who gave His all for us. If we fail as ambassadors, forgive us for falling short as Christ's representatives. But if in our words and deeds you sense something of the love that God has for you, then thank Him for this gift. If by God working through us you come to know and love Him, then join us as ambassadors to otherssharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with a world and making a difference by your witness. THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for making us ambassadors in the service of Your Son. Amen. Taken from the message, "The Church as God's Ambassador to the World" by Rev. Dr. Oliver R. Harms Reflection Questions: 1. Do you consider yourself an ambassador for Christ? If so, how does that figure into your day-to-day life? 2. How has God reconciled the world to Himself through Jesus? 3. How does God use people today to make His appeal to others?

"Not Ours to Keep" Matthew 22:15-22 - Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him (Jesus) in His words. And they sent their disciples to Him, along ...with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and You do not care about anyone's opinion, for You are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put Me to the test, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin for the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they heard it, they marveled. And they left Him and went away. You've probably noticed that life is full of tricky questions. Do I eat the cupcake my granddaughter made for me, or do I stick to my diet? Do I glide through the intersection as the light changes from yellow to red, or do I stop? Or 2020's favorite: do I wear a face mask in response to COVID-19, or just wing it, assuming I (and everyone else) will be all right? Here Jesus is given His own sticky question, courtesy of the Pharisees' disciples and some crony Herodians (Greek culture-loving Jews)both fierce opponents of Jesus. They asked Him, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" With a "No," Jesus might look like a rebel, scorning Roman rule and ready to fight the occupying power. With a "Yes," He might look submissive, yielding to Rome's tyrannical might to keep the peace. Yes, life is full of difficult questions. Jesus then, fully aware of their aim to test Him, takes a coin and asks them a question: "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" It was the face of Caesar. If they were looking to Jesus to get out of their tax obligation, they were misguided. He told them not only to pay the tax, but that the rest of what they possessed wasn't theirs to keep either. "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Any Jewish scholar in the first century knew what that meant: the coin might have Caesar's face on it, but the emperor, the nation, and the world itself belonged to God (see Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 24:1; Job 41:11). No matter how tight was Rome's grip on the Jews was, they were God's chosen people, set aside from long ago. "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 14:2). This is where the believer's true joy liesin knowing we are God's, along with all we possess. Redeemed by the Father through Jesus' blood, we yield our lives to Him in faith, trusting His grace to supply us with everything we need. THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, remind us that we, and all we have, are Yours to keep. In Jesus' Name. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Paul Schreiber. Reflection Questions: 1. What tricky question have you faced recently? 2. Why were the Pharisees always trying to ensnare Jesus in some word game or question about the Law? 3. How do you give to God the things that are God's? Are some things more difficult to turn over to Him than others?

Here's the link to tonight's "Quest" course from Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton in which Pastor Astley and family are being interviewed: https://youtu.be/EQNBn6iKNrw

"A Tool or a Son?" Isaiah 45:1a, 2-6a - Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him ... I will g...o before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know Me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me. Isaiah 45 is a prophecy about Cyrus, king of Persiathe king who would one day allow the God's people to return home from exile to their own country. You remember the storyhow the Israelites did evil and worshipped other gods, year after year, century after century, until God's patience ended and He sent them into exile in a foreign country. They spent 70 years there grievingmissing home, missing even their Godas one singer wrote, "How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?" (Psalm 137:4) But God would not leave them there forever. And so He spoke to Isaiah ahead of time, telling them about a king who would let them go home againa man named Cyrus of Persia. Now Cyrus was not a believer. God makes this clear when He says, "For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know Me." God chose Cyrus to be a tool, to do a jobto send God's people home and to support the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Did Cyrus ever become a believer? We don't know. Yes, he claimed that God had blessed him and given him the job of rebuilding the temple. But then, that was quite a common thing for kings and emperors to doa public relations stunt, a way of getting on the good side of the local people and the local gods, if they existed. Cyrus may have done exactly the same thing for a dozen other places he ruled. From our point of view, it doesn't matter. God used Cyrus as a tool, and the result was a blessing for God's people. But from Cyrus' point of view, it definitely mattered. Because God can use people in two different ways, either as tools or as children. And we all know what happens to tools. They get used and put away, lent out, lost, passed on to othersbut eventually every tool wears out. Tools are good, but they are not forever. But childrenah, there's the difference. When God uses His child to do something, the action grows right out of the love between Father and child. Children are not disposable. Children are forever. We see this best in our Lord Jesus Christ, used by His Father to rescue the entire world. He willingly chose to suffer and die for our sake, and to rise from the dead, three days later. He was not a mere tool. He knew exactly what His Father wanted, and He did it with all His heart. Jesus is a child, the Son of God. And you, too, are a childif you trust in Jesus and have the Holy Spirit living in you. THE PRAYER: Lord, make me Your child and not just Your tool. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Reflection Questions: 1. What are your favorite tools? 2. If you have children, how have you used them in the past? 3. How is God using you in your life right now?

"Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower" "O keep me watchful, then, and humble; Permit me nevermore to stray. Uphold me when my feet would stumble, And keep me... on the narrow way. Fill all my nature with Thy light, O Radiance strong and bright! "Thee will I love, my crown of gladness; Thee will I love, my God and Lord, Amid the darkest depths of sadness, And not for hope of high reward, For Thine own sake, O Light divine, So long as life is mine." "Thee will I love, O Light divine, so long as life is mine." Our hymn proclaims our life-long love for the Lord, yet we cannot sustain, or even begin, such devotion by our own efforts. The way that leads to eternal destruction is wide and easy, Jesus said, but "the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life" (Matthew 7:14a). Like hikers making their way along a cliff-side path, we try to keep ourselves in the narrow way, but we often fall to temptation and slip and stumble. We want to follow Jesus, but every day, in our thoughts, words, and actions, we stray from His path. The prophet Isaiah foretold a day when God's people would see their Teacher with their own eyes. He would no longer hide Himself from their sight, and they would hear Him, too. Isaiah said, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21). The Holy Spirit, at work in the Word of Jesus our Teacher, guides us in Jesus' stepssteps that during His earthly ministry did not turn right or left from His appointed path. As His work on earth drew to a close, Jesus "set His face" to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51b). Betrayed and condemned to die, Jesus kept His feet on the narrow way through the streets of Jerusalem. He stumbled beneath the burden of the cross and the terrible weight of the world's sin. He carried our sins, our every weak, stumbling and straying step, in His own body to the cross and suffered the penalty of death that we deserved. His body was placed in a tomb, but on the first Easter morning, the sorrowing steps of a group of women led to His empty tomb. Jesus had risen from the dead! In Baptism we are united to Jesus' death and resurrection, and our feet are placed on the path of eternal life. We do not walk the narrow way "for hope of high reward." That reward is already ours, guaranteed as our inheritance by God's grace through faith in Jesus. We walk in His way even "amid the darkest depths of sadness," when we cannot clearly see the path at our feet. For His sake and for His glory, we follow Jesus. He upholds us and keeps us "on the narrow way" as we hear His guiding Word, "This is the way, walk in it." THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, when we stumble in sin, forgive us and uphold us. Keep us on the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower," which is found on page 694 of the Lutheran Service Book. Reflection Questions: 1. How does God lift you up when you are stumbling or about to fall? 2. How did Jesus find the strength to press on when He was heading to the cross? 3. How have you grown through the dark or sad times in your life?

"All We'll Ever Need" Luke 12:15 - And He (Jesus) said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in th...e abundance of his possessions." Jesus had a huge heart for people in need, but He did not confuse human need with human greed. Never did He imagine that something becomes a true necessity just because some people say so. For instance, how many phones, tablets, apps, pairs of shoes, or changes of clothing does it take to meet life's bare necessities, and without which you cannot live comfortably? The answer to that question will tell us a lot about ourselves. To be sure, there are many among us who do without life's bare necessities, and this is a tragedy in any society. For them living is a constant struggle of never having enough, of just getting by. Yet, while those who have little often dream of the material goods that seem beyond their reach, they too need to be on guard "against all covetousness." John the apostle tells us that Jesus Christ knew what was in man and was totally aware of what life is all about. Indeed, in Him was life and that life was-and is-the light of men (see John 1:1-4). As the Son of God, our Lord respected the creation, the material creation of God. He used material things wherever it suited Him. His love, however, was for people. Out of love for people, and in spite of their willful transgression against the will of His Father and their rebellious refusal to live as His sons and daughters, He willingly became a Man. He gave His life that all men everywhere might be forgiven every sin they've committedthat they might enjoy life to the full againregardless of their state of material possession. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with working hard and making money in the employment of the gifts God has given you. But don't set your heart on the things your money can buy. Instead, with everything that is in you, work hard at being the man or woman, the boy or girl, God wants you to be. That's real life, depending in no way on the number of your possessions. Pray hard, too, that God will make you the man or woman, the boy or girl, who earnestly desires the fruits of His righteousness. That's real life, depending in no way on the number of your possessions. This is the life Jesus wants us to knowone that draws its strength and contentment from Him. By faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, know that you have everything you need. As the apostle Paul writes, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13). THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need: Jesus. In His Name. Amen. From "Everything Is So Expensive," a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffmann, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Reflection Questions: 1. What would you say is the difference between a necessity and luxury? 2. How can we resist the urge to keep filling our lives with material things? 3. There are many things that take our attention off God. How do you maintain focus?