What is more important, the salvation of men or the glory of God? Some people set aside the glory of God, claiming that they are very concerned about the salvation of men. However, if you make the salvation of men more important than the glory of God, you will lose both. What is the glory… Read More »Clinging To and Confessing the Truth Read More

Trees are very important in our lives. They are lovely to look at when they begin to leaf out in the spring, when they cover the hills in the summer, and when they display their splendor in the fall. They provide shade from the heat. They help to clean the air. Perhaps most importantly, they… Read More »THE TREES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Read More

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those… Read More »UNTIL THE NUMBER IS COMPLETED Read More

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”… Read More »THE WONDER OF SANCTIFICATION! Read More

” The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the… Read More »ASHES TO ASHES? – NO! – ASHES TO BEAUTY! Read More

“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no… Read More »Marriage – A God-Given Social Institution Read More

Do you ever get tired of looking at pictures of bygone days? Perhaps. It all depends on whose pictures they are. If they are someone else’s pictures of people you don’t know very well or people who have had no impact on your life, then one look is enough. However, if they are your pictures… Read More »Easter Images Read More

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 Whenever I read this Word of God, I can’t help but shake my head at the striking example of hypocrisy. Throughout this dying world, millions of people believe that Jesus Christ is dead. They may… Read More »Opening Devotion – CLC Coordinating Council Read More

The Bible Text for our consideration is: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested… Read More »The last best hope of earth. Read More

Lord God, hear us: help us to hear You. Amen. Does anyone love you? I suppose there are times that we may feel unloved.  However, I am sure that every one of you is loved by someone and probably by many. Think of one person who loves you [pause]. Okay. Now ask yourself, “Can I… Read More »Hope Rests on Grace Read More

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”(Hebrews 10:31) What a Bible passage! There is nothing comforting about this statement. The word for “fearful” is always used in a negative way. Likewise, the word for “fall into” is used negatively. It is not like falling into the arms of… Read More »Jesus Makes the Difference Read More

In the days of the Old Testament, there were no satellites, radar, Internet, or cell phones. People were dependent on one another to relay the news of the day. As for the more momentous news, they relied on “watchmen.” From a high tower or a mountain top, these watchmen would be on the lookout for… Read More »Watchmen On the Walls of Zion Read More

Lord God, teach us to leave all our worries in Your hands, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. ObamaCare–the Affordable Care Act: have you heard anything about this? It is a government-regulated program for health care in this country. There are those who strongly support it and those who strongly oppose it. Some say it is good… Read More »God’s Affordable (Free) Care Act Read More

Heavenly Father, hear our prayers and accept our praises for Jesus’ sake. Amen. What we see and hear this day is a wondrous thing. The fact that this school exists is wondrous. The fact that you are here is wondrous. The fact that there are teachers and staff is wondrous. Most wondrous of all is… Read More »No Prayer Barrier Read More

ILC Newsletter Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening at our Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is the second week in August. A young man in his early twenties is packing his suitcase with enough necessities to last for six weeks. He is a… Read More »The Vicar Program Read More

GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “‘Come, now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18) What if someone came to your house and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Woe… Read More »From Red as Blood to White as Snow Read More

GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “Heavens” What comes to mind when you hear the word heaven? Are there thoughts of glory, of joy, of intimate fellowship with Jesus? Indeed, we should have such thoughts, because we are told that God “sits in the heavens” (Psalm 2:4) and that the heavens have received Jesus (Acts 3:21)… Read More »SHAMÁYIM Read More

GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT The Hebrew word for portion occurs frequently in the Old Testament. The concept behind the word is that of division. Certain possessions may be divided up, with portions being given to various people (for example, Genesis 14:24). Or, someone may divide off a piece of land and give a portion… Read More »PORTION Read More

Human beings, young and old, forget. We forget promises, events, names, and locations. Then, something happens to trigger a long-forgotten memory. It comes back to mind. How is it with God’s memory? In Psalm 25:6-7, we read, “Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not… Read More »REMEMBER Read More

GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “What is truth?” So spoke Pontius Pilate. He was responding to Jesus’ declaration: “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37) On the… Read More »TRUTH Read More