WELS Early Childhood Ministry Educator’s Devotions

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 9:35-37

Almost every child you’ve ever had loves to be line leader. On their day, they walk a little taller and for some, it’s an opportunity for pride. Because their turn is determined simply by a rotation of all in the class, they did nothing to earn that position. And yet they are so proud to be that class leader.

Just before the reading we focus on today, three of Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who was the greatest. How could they, who walked with Jesus every day, even begin to care about status? And yet they did. They wanted to determine who had what it took to be greater than those around them.

In his response, Jesus, the Master Teacher confronts their pride and flips the script on status. “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” The servant? Jesus would say yes, and he was the perfect example. The creator and ruler of all things became an infant and grew up in the world with the challenges of life all around him. For what? For us. Jesus set aside his glory, his presence in heaven, to become one of us, to serve us, to save us. When we consider all Christ has done, our hearts melt with gratitude and humility.

Jesus also picks up a young child and looking directly at his disciples (and us), he emphasizes how precious young children are to him. He tells them that if they welcome a small child, they are welcoming him. If they welcome him, they are welcoming God the Father. His point? It’s not earthly status or pride in accomplishments, but our status with God that matters. Like the line leader, our status is unearned by us, but paid for by our Savior, Jesus.

So, what does that mean for you and for me? First, we too, can be guilty of pride or a self-serving attitude when we compare ourselves to others. We can be critical of others in hopes that the worse others look, perhaps the better we look. As you know, it only makes us look worse. We look to God for forgiveness.

Second, the work you do is precious in the Savior’s eyes. Serving young children is not for the faint of heart but it is the work of the heart. It’s a work that reflects the Savior’s love as you patiently nurture a struggling child, comfort a weary little one, and celebrate their victories. It’s the work of the Savior as you tell them about Jesus and his love for them. Your work is not the work of presidents, corporate leaders, or athletic celebrities. It’s a humble service, a ministry, that nurtures the heart, the mind, the faith of a young one to grow as a child of God.

Who’s first? The servant, the small child, those around us as we welcome them to hear about Jesus, their Savior. May the Lord bless your mighty work to guide and nurture young souls. May he also bless you with a humble heart that knows that your true status is beyond any earthly expectation. You are God’s dear child, always in his eyes and in the heart of your Savior.

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 735, Before You I Kneel provides further thoughts on gratitude for all that Christ has done for us.

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:10-11

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240916ECME.mp3

Every single day. It was there yesterday. It’s there today. It’ll be there tomorrow. The temptation to sin, to mess up, to disobey, to be hurtful or thoughtless or lazy or irresponsible. It’s sin and it’s not going away. What a terrible thought.

In the lower level of the Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther hid from those trying to capture him, is an unexpected room on the tour. Our family was excited to see this castle known for its part in the life of Luther and many of the writings for which he is known. The first stop was a room in the lower level that had a significant display of items used for confinement and torture of prisoners. It also included several items used in battle. We saw close up what a suit of armor looked like. It’s an imposing set of items designed to protect the soldier from attacks on any part of their body. It’s impressive to say the least. While not perfect, (it’s hard to imagine moving with the weight and design of the armor), being prepared with their full suit of armor provided considerable protection.

You and I are in a battle each day. We don’t face arrows flying at us. No one with a sword is hiding out ready to attack. But we do have an enemy. That enemy is Satan, and his weapons are cunning and designed to destroy. Satan is willing to go to any lengths to draw you and me away from our God. He wants nothing more than for us to be separated from our Lord. He uses our reason, our guilt, our relationships, our worries to create doubt, fear, anger, resentment, selfishness, and even complacency. He’s often subtle and always determined. What a terrible thought.

What can we do? In our previous devotion, we considered all that God did for the Israelite people. We reflected on God’s power to overcome earthly enemies and to provide for his people. We recalled the lengths God went to save us by sending the only Son he has, Jesus, to take every sin we have committed on himself and take the punishment that was to be ours. His power is endless and there is nothing, not even Satan, that is stronger than God. His love is also endless. It’s his love for us that motivates his use of power to protect us.

The reading for today reminds us that we don’t need to be afraid of the devil’s attacks. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” We can have confidence that God’s power and his love can protect us from any of Satan’s attacks. Just as the soldier put on the suit of armor one piece at a time, we can put on our armor of protection. How? Be in the Word. Every time we read and study the Bible, reflect on a devotion, sing a hymn, say a prayer and in many other ways, we are putting on our armor of protection one piece at a time. The more we know about God, who he is, what he has done, what he can do, what he does do on our behalf, the more he fortifies our trust, confidence, and ability to stand against the devil’s schemes. As the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith, we are more prepared, with his help, to fight off Satan’s attacks.

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 870, O Church, Arise provides further thoughts on God’s protection for us with the imagery of the armor of faith.

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Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240909ECME.mp3

Power. There are many kinds of power. There is the power in fire. A firepit in the backyard can provide a relaxing evening. A fire in a dry forest can produce devastation and uncontrollable destruction. The power of the sun can warm the earth to help plants grow. The sun in a desert can take a life that lacks appropriate protection and hydration.

One word used to describe God’s power is omnipotent. I’m thinking that this may not be a word you use in your daily vocabulary. Me neither. But it’s a great word when we’re considering God’s power. Dictionary.com defines omnipotent as: almighty or infinite in power, as God. “Infinite in power” What does that mean? Infinite is another word for unlimited, endless, immeasurable. That describes God’s power. It has no limits. It can’t be measured or bound by earthly restrictions. He has the power to do absolutely anything.

That can be both comforting and jarring. God has the power to save and to destroy. God’s judgment will eventually be clear to those who don’t believe in him – divine retribution for rejecting his love and mercy. But that sad and stark reality is eclipsed by something even greater: God’s power to save is beyond any earthly power we can imagine. God’s expectations are clear. He demands perfection from each of us. Another reality is also clear. We are completely incapable of perfection. We were born sinful from sinful parents. We have never had a day without sin permeating our lives. Knowing God’s expectation and our ability for perfection, could cause us to fear. “Be strong, do not fear” God says to us. He is coming. He’s coming with judgment on those in who do not believe in him and he’s coming for you—to take you to be with him in heaven. How can this be? He expects perfection and we are far from it. Jesus—the simple and yet, overwhelming response from our God. God’s love is immeasurable and it’s what sent Jesus to be our Savior. Cross, tomb, and resurrection show God accepting his sacrifice to save you. Your imperfections went to the cross with Jesus and are covered by him, replaced by his perfect life in your stead. You don’t need to fear. You have peace with God because of all that Jesus has done for us.

God is a powerful God whose love uses his power to protect, save, and make us his own. And so, like the inspired words of Isaiah we can say, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come.” He is with you each day and one day will come to take you home to him in heaven. We are at peace in his power, in his powerful love and grace.

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 Hymn 769 Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old, expresses the thoughts today’s readings in hymn form.

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Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4:9

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240902ECME.mp3

Think of a time when someone did something so kind, so unexpected, that you were overwhelmed. One of those times for me was this past winter. We had a snowstorm like none other. Not only was there close to two feet of snow, but it was also wet and heavy. I love to shovel. However, the thought of how I would shovel this left me feeling defeated before I started. And then I heard it… the sound of a snow blower. Dressed in gear that made him almost unrecognizable was our neighbor. As the snow continued for hours, he returned again and again and again until the snow finally stopped. I was moved to tears. How do you thank him? How do you repay such over-the-top kindness?

Our Bible reading for today is written for the Israelites who had been wandering in the desert for 40 years. Moses is reminding them to never forget all the things they had seen the Lord do on their behalf.

Now they were getting ready to cross the Jordan and return to Canaan, the land promised to them. Imagine the excitement, the anticipation, the anxiousness as they plan to enter a land their parents had told them about. They had experienced God’s gracious care for them over and over and often in miraculous ways. His words remind them to be watchful so that they never forget all God had done and continued to do for them. He commanded them to tell their children about these things, about their God, about who he is and what he has done for them. Their prayer to return to the promised land was about to be answered. God didn’t want them to ever forget the multitude of prayers God had answered on their behalf.

You and I aren’t crossing a river into a new and unknown home, but we need these reminders as well. God has given us the greatest gift to take away our biggest need—forgiveness through his grace. The Israelites weren’t able to cross the Jordan on their own and even more, we can’t provide for our greatest need—God’s grace. And on top of providing for our greatest need, he fills our lives with so many lesser blessings and gives us strength to face hardships. He gives it to us freely and reminds us in these verses to fight against complacency and to tell and tell the next generation. Each day in your classroom you get to do that as you teach the children about Jesus, about his love and forgiveness. As you tell, remind the children and yourself of all that God has done, can do, and continues to do for us. What he has done is so kind, so unexpected, so overwhelming. How do you repay God for his over-the-top kindness? We can’t, but we can thank him each day and continue to share his message of grace, his amazing grace for us. What a joy and what a privilege. Thank you, Lord!

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 626, My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness, is a wonderful text for further meditation on the thoughts of today’s devotion.

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Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:97, 103-104

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240826ECME.mp3

Oh, how I love your law! Does that strike you the same way it strikes me? Love your law? Love rules? Let’s take a closer look to understand what the Psalmist is saying.

For most, if not all of us, we don’t love rules, regulations, laws. We all acknowledge that most rules or laws were designed to keep us safe, keep order, to provide consistent expectations for all citizens. We follow the law to wear seatbelts designed to keep us safe in the event of a sudden stop or accident. We understand the need for laws that protect our homes and property. There are also a couple of obscure laws. Did you know that it’s illegal to drive blindfolded in Alabama? Think about that for a second… Don’t go fishing with your bare hands in Indiana-it too, is illegal. And no eating ice cream on Sundays in Oregon.

Why did God provide his precepts, his rules of conduct for his children, to all of us. Simply said—because he loves us. He loves us more than we can imagine. He provides his law to protect us. We’ve heard God’s laws described as a curb, a mirror, a guide. It’s a curb to give us boundaries in which to stay. The Law can keep us focused on our lives as God’s children and keep us on our path of faith. The Law is a mirror. When we look in the mirror, we see ourselves as we truly are. God’s Law shows us who we really are—sinful people. The Law reminds us that God’s expectation of perfection from us is unattainable. It shows us how desperately we need him. The guide reminds us that God’s Law provides direction as to what we should and should not do to lead a God pleasing life.

Our text today talks about loving God’s law and meditating or focusing on it all day long. It describes God’s law as sweeter than honey. What an incredibly positive way to reference God’s laws for us! God wants us to see his Law as something to treasure, something to crave. Imagine our lives without earthly laws and the chaos that would result. Now imagine our lives without God’s direction for us in his Law. He lovingly tells us how much he loves us, how much he wants us to be his children, how much he wants us to continue to grow in faith, and how much we need him. God’s love for us is immeasurable. Because of his love for us, we can treasure his laws and find motivation to strive each day to reflect his love in all we do. Like the parent who teaches their child not to touch a hot stove or walk into a busy street, God’s law is given to us wrapped in his love. He wants us to be safe in him, to lead a life knowing his expectation for us that is covered by his grace. So, wear your seatbelt, watch your speed on the road, and even more importantly, treasure God’s Law for us each day. It is indeed, sweeter than honey.

Prayer:

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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 111:10

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240819ECME.mp3

There are a couple of experiences in my life that left me speechless. Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Seeing the ocean for the first time. Driving from Anchorage to Kenai in Alaska. On that particular trip, I was with two other colleagues. While the conversation was lively, we also had long periods of time where no one spoke. We had run out of adjectives to describe what we were seeing. How do you put into words a description of these places that even comes close?

Today’s verse from Psalm 111 uses the word fear. When we define fear, we usually think of things that make us uncomfortable, anxious, concerned. This use of the word fear is another definition: reverential awe, especially toward God. The places mentioned above certainly bring about an overwhelming sense of awe. We marvel at beauty that is beyond explanation. Fear or awe of the LORD makes all those places pale in comparison. In the previous verses of Psalm 111, the writer describes the LORD and the amazing works for which we are in awe. Those include his graciousness and compassion, his providing of food, his promises kept, his power to protect his people, his faithfulness, justice, trustworthiness, his love that redeemed us (paid for our sins through Jesus).

The more we know about the LORD and learn about him in the Word, the more we grow in our fear, our awe of him. We see a God whose love for us is boundless. We see the amazing world that he created and shares with us. We stand in awe of a mountain range and a simple firefly—all created for us. We marvel at his promises kept for us through Jesus. We are humbled by his grace that gives us what we don’t deserve but that is always ours. More and more we understand that all of creation was created by him—”To him belongs eternal praise.” We seek to grasp his mercy and forgiveness for us over and over—”To him belongs eternal praise.” We treasure the gift of being his child, not because of anything we’ve done but because of his incomparable love for us—”To him belongs eternal praise.”

We are reminded to constantly be in the Word. We may be tempted to think that we know so much about God already. However, each time we’re in the Word, we’re reminded over and over of who God is, his power, his majesty, his love, his grace. And we stand in awe at the foot of the cross with hearts full of faith as we grow in understanding.

Words might fail in describing God’s creation. As we see the amazing world around us, they are reminders of God’s gifts to us. While our words may fail, God’s promises never fail. They are yours and mine today, tomorrow, each day, and for eternity. How awesome is that. “To him belongs eternal praise.”

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 633, especially stanzas 1 and 3 provide further thoughts on grasping the amazing works of God for us.

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Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240812ECME.mp3

Bread. Such a gift! I am one of those who jumped on the sourdough bread train and haven’t gotten off and don’t plan to. There is something about taking the simplest of ingredients, water and flour, putting them together, and watching them turn into something so beautifully delicious! It’s a bit of a miracle that never ceases to amaze me. Bread is a staple all over the world. It is a simple food product that for some is basic nutrition. And in the countless varieties available across the globe, it is also an absolute treat!

In our reading for today, Jesus, as he often does, uses an example of a common item from our lives to illustrate a point. In his day, getting water was far more work than turning on a tap. A trip to the well each day was physical work. Bread was a staple in their diet. To have bread they started literally from the wheat itself. The steps from grinding to final baking were significant and repeated over and over in most households. This was a staple that would be very familiar and vital to anyone listening to him. “Never go hungry?” Can you imagine not having to work to make bread everyday for your family? “Never be thirsty?” No more trips to the well? But earthly hunger and thirst are not what Jesus was talking about. “I am the bread of life.” Jesus stating that he is “the bread of life” is a bold and shocking statement.

As you know, Jesus is not talking about our earthly life and its needs. He’s not referring to the bread in the oven and the water from the well. He is “the bread of life” and that life he speaks of is so much more than our earthly cravings. Jesus gives us himself in Word and Sacrament to feed us spiritually. He wants us to continue to grow in our faith in him. More than anything, his heart yearns for us to be with him for all eternity. Each day, you and I face temptation and guilt over sin. The struggles of the impact of sin in our lives can lead us to worry and despair. Our hearts are overly focused on seeking earthly comforts and often lack the zeal to go to the Lord daily in our prayers, devotions, Bible study, time with him in the Word.

Jesus reminds us, in the simplest of terms, that he is an answer to all our needs, but especially our spiritual needs. The cross, the empty grave, and Jesus’ ascension to heaven were all for you and for me. While he does provide for our physical needs, even more he provides us with hearts full of faith, blessed by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is indeed our bread of life that gives us the promise of heaven, forgiveness, and peace in him. Far more than the miracle of bread and water that can turn into earthy bread, we are gifted the miracle of God’s undeserved grace and mercy for us. In him we are blessed with spiritual food that feeds our faith today and that lasts for eternity.

Prayer:

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest and let the gift of being your child be ours today and always. Keep us eager each day to spend time with you by being in the Word and in prayer. Remind us of the peace that is ours through you. It’s in your name we pray. Amen.

Christian Worship 21 Hymn 544 (I Am the Bread of Life) uses the thoughts and ideas of today’s readings in hymn form.

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But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:17-18

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240805ECME.mp3

I’m afraid. We’ve all said or thought those words either as a child or an adult (or both). It’s a terrible feeling. What makes you say or think those words? Fear of heights? Fear of being alone? Fear of being criticized? Fear of being left out? (That even has an acronym-FOMO). What about the fear of speaking up and sharing your faith?

Today’s reading is spoken by Paul. Paul was an amazing missionary. Did you know that before God called him to be a missionary, he was among the most horrific persecutors of Christians? The evil he inflicted on Christians is unspeakable. And then God called him to do the very thing for which Paul had been persecuting people. He called him to travel all over that part of the world and boldly preach the story of God’s grace through Jesus. Imagine the potential for fear that Paul had. Would those who used to join him in attacking Christians now turn on Paul? Would Christians believe him? Paul, as a missionary, experienced beatings, shipwrecks, arrests, threats of violence, and much more. Paul had every reason to be afraid. And yet, we hear just the opposite from him. When under attack, he told everyone he could about his Savior. That’s courage like I’ve never experienced, and you might say the same.

Where did this courage come from? Was he just extra gifted in the courage department? We’d love to ask him, “Paul, how’d you do it?” He gives us the answer in his words inspired by the Holy Spirit, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” His strength was not his own—it was from the Lord. His goal was not for himself but that all might hear the message of God’s love and mercy. His answer to fear- The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul knew, and so do we, that this earth is just a temporary home for us. God has promised us heaven and will bring us safely there as he wills and in his time.

You and I have opportunities to share the same message that Paul proclaimed. Too often I find myself saying, “I wish I would have said something. What a missed opportunity.” I would imagine you’ve had the same thought. Why do we hesitate? Why don’t we speak up? We have the most amazing message to share—the message we have is God’s grace.

Today’s reading encourages us and reminds us. It encourages us that we don’t need to hesitate or be afraid. It reminds us that the Lord will be at our side and give us strength just as he did for Paul..

So, like Paul, be bold! Look for those opportunities to share the gospel. Who do you know that needs to hear? Be bold! You’re not alone in this. The Holy Spirit is with you as you speak. It’s his work to create and grow faith. You may not have all the answers, but you know the heart of the gospel-Jesus is our Savior and his forgiveness, grace, mercy, and promise of heaven is for all who believe.

Prayer:

Christian Worship 21 Hymn 803 (Day by Day) is a wonderful text for further meditation on the thoughts of today’s devotion.

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Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240729ECME.mp3

I eat food so that I have energy for the day.

God has some “so that” phrases too.

God sent his Son, Jesus, so that we would have eternal life.

And finally, the one we are pondering today:

God provides for us and meets our needs so that we can help to meet the needs of others.

Have you ever wondered why God continues to bless you? There are times when just the right thing falls into our lap at the perfect moment when we truly need it. If you’re anything like me, you have never been without a roof over your head, whether it’s your own or a friend’s or family member’s. You’ve never been without enough food or drink to live. You’ve always had love from friends or family to support you. And I’d bet there are so many additional blessings you have that you could honestly live without, but they add some fun and comfort to your life.

Thank you, God for all you’ve given us! As our Bible verses for today state, God provides for us in every way! Then they go on to give us a reason for God’s generosity towards us: “so that you can be generous on every occasion.” Out of thanks to God for all he’s blessed us with, we in turn help others. We share a meal with them, we donate clothes, we offer a helping hand to fix a car or a leaky sink.

What about those people who need help that are not your friends? Let’s take some notes from Jesus himself. Jesus was a friend of sinners, so much so that he was chastised by some for it. He welcomed tax collectors as friends, he healed foreigners, he fed over five thousand strangers at one time!

Let’s be like Jesus. Let’s not only be wildly generous to our friends and family, let’s love friends and strangers alike, sharing a helping hand to anyone in need. That’s showing the love of Christ. That’s demonstrating thankfulness to the One who gave everything so that we might be saved.

Maybe you know the song “This Little Light of Mine!” You might be able to sing it in your head: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! And it goes on repeating itself. God has given us the brightest light in this sin darkened world – he has given us hope of eternal life with him! Let your light shine in your words and your actions repeatedly so that all might know the love of their Heavenly Father.

Prayer:

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Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Mark 6:31-34

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/ece-devotions/20240722ECME.mp3

It changes everything.

There are very few things that could be characterized as an action or emotion that changes everything.

A student walks into your classroom. He’s the first one today. There are tears in his eyes. He tries to hold them back. He puts his head down as he follows the daily routine of putting away his things and finding his chair. He sits down and tears flow freely.

You, the teacher, have yet to prep the final parts of the whole group activity you’ve planned for the class. You’re in the middle of cutting out all the pieces necessary. You put the scissors down. You walk over to the student; there’s now a puddle of tears on the table in front of him. You kneel down beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. He looks over to you with his tear-stained cheeks. You wipe yet another tear before it spills onto the table. You ask him if everything is alright. His eyes close; he rests his head on your shoulder and cries.

He never tells you what was wrong.

As school is ending, he comes and hugs your leg. You kneel down once again. He wraps his arms around your neck and whispers, “Thank you.”

Compassion. Your compassion changed that student’s whole day! You could have left him to his tears. But he was more important to you! And that changed everything for him.

God’s compassion changed everything for us. He changed everything by being everything for us.

In our verses for today you see Jesus worn from a long day of preaching and teaching; Jesus hadn’t even had the chance to eat. He and his disciples tried to escape the crowds for some rest. But the crowds followed them. Jesus saw them and had compassion on them “because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” There he was before their very eyes, the Good

We are those people. We are those people starving for guidance, searching for it anywhere we can find it, yearning for knowledge and answers in this life. Jesus so easily could have left us to our own. He could have said, “Let them figure it out, Father. I don’t have to save them.”

Yet, he had compassion on us – compassion that turned into action. And now we have the Good Shepherd with us every day, his Word always available to us. There’s nowhere else to look. He is the answer! He changed everything for us.

What was once certain death – is now eternal life!

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus for your compassion. You have changed everything for us! May we see those still lost, those with certain death lingering, the hopeless ones, those in pain and suffering and may we have compassion like that of you, our Savior, Jesus! It’s worth it. It changes everything, because you changed everything! Amen

See also Christian Worship 21 Hymn 736:1 Lord, You Call Us as Your People for further meditation on the thoughts of today’s devotion.

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