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April 2018

“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS April 2018

TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006

Date Verse Reading Comments

Apr 2 TLH 211/LSB 483; Exodus 3:1-15 Our God is a God of deliverance, especially deliverance from our slavery to sin.

Apr 3 WS 731 1 Samuel 17:34-51 Our God is a God of victory, giving victory to His people over sin and every evil.

Apr 4 WS 729/LSB 479; Psalm 40 Our God is a God of salvation, saving us from troubles and from the dust of death.

Apr 5WS 732Job 28:12-28Our God is a God of wisdom, and they are wise who respect and honor Him.

Apr 6 TLH 198 Jeremiah 10:1-16 The sinful world will always be filled with idols, but your God is the only One who is truly living and almighty.

Apr 7 TLH 199 Mark 7:24-30 Jesus shows His power over the devil and his demons—and His compassion toward all who trust in Him.Read More »“BREAD OF LIFE” READINGS April 2018

Easter Glory!

COVER STORY – Easter Glory!

Is there any more glorious day than Easter? Christ is risen from the dead! From the DEAD! What is more dreadful or final than death? Death is a bleak reminder of the horror of our sin, the wages of which must be paid. It violently tears the soul from the body. It tears a loved one from family and friends. No one has power to stop death. No one can escape it, or even lessen its blow. No one can release death’s grip.

No one except Jesus! 

Jesus said that He has power to lay down His life and power to take it up again. (John 10:18)  He proved it when He rose from the dead. He conquered death for us. Praise be to God Who gives us the victory! What a glorious event!

That being said, do you ever wonder why Jesus didn’t show Himself to everyone? After all, His suffering and death were on public display. He was crucified near Jerusalem where everyone could see His agony and disgraceful death. Why didn’t He go and stand in the Temple and show everyone that He was alive? He won the victory. Why not appear to the whole world as He did to Saul, shining brighter than the sun? Let the world see that He is the Son of God!

Instead, He appeared to only a select few. Enough to provide plenty of reliable witnesses, but very few compared to all the people of Israel or the world. When He did appear, His glory was still hidden in His human nature. The angels in the tomb appeared more glorious than Jesus. Why not show His glory now that His work was accomplished? Wouldn’t that bring many more to faith?Read More »Easter Glory!

A Perfect Prayer from Our Perfect Lord

DEVOTION – LORD’S PRAYER

“Our Father who art in heaven.” 

We address the heavenly Father who sent His beloved Son to save us from our sins and in His amazing grace chose us to be His children. Just as a three-year-old child is unafraid to ask her dad for whatever is on her heart, let us boldly bring our prayer to the Father Who made us and saved us.

“Hallowed be Thy name.” 

What we say and do can either ruin our family name or bring glory to it. Jesus teaches us to pray that the Father’s name, which we carry with us as His children, would be holy among us by what we say and what we do. Because only the Bible identifies who our Father is and describes all that He has done to save us, we pray that His Word would be taught faithfully among us. Pray for our pastors, professors, teachers (Sunday school and parochial), and missionaries who proclaim the Father’s name to you.Read More »A Perfect Prayer from Our Perfect Lord

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” TLH 457, LSB 770

A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING (TWENTY-NINTH IN A SERIES)

Several years ago on a family vacation, we were traveling Highway 401 between Toronto and Montreal around one o’clock in the morning. The children were drifting in and out of restless sleep when the headlights illuminated a blue and white sign announcing the “Joseph Scriven Monument.” I jumped a little in the driver’s seat and prodded my wife, “Look! Joseph Scriven! I had no idea that was here!” She mumbled, “What are you talking about?” I said, “You know—’What a Friend We Have in Jesus!’ We really, really should stop!” She answered something like, “It’s the middle of the night. It’s pitch dark. Would they still give us one phone call when they catch us in a cemetery with flashlights and cameras?” She prevailed, and we didn’t stop; but that sign appearing out of nowhere was a sudden reminder of one of the most beloved hymns in all Christendom.Read More »“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” TLH 457, LSB 770