Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Support Group" for Monday, May 28, 2018
Lamentations 3:22-23 - The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.The world of five-year-old Dakota Pitt had been turned upside down.
His father, Rob, a 16-year veteran police officer in Terre Haute, Indiana, had been shot and killed by a 21-year-old man. Since the murder, the boy had been caught up in a whirlwind of activities: people had to be notified; plans for the funeral had to be finalized; he had been at the memorial service and had seen the great funeral procession honoring his father, and he had been there to see his father's casket lowered into the grave.
Five days after the shooting, Dakota's mother decided it was time for her son to go back to school and, as much as was possible, try to resume his normal life.
Dakota didn't argue about going to school, but he did put in a request: "Is it possible," he asked, "for one of dad's police friends to take me to school for the first time?"
It seemed like a reasonable request, so mom said she would see what she could do.
Sadly, when the day came for Dakota to go back, no officer came to Dakota's home. So, mother drove her boy to Sullivan Elementary School.
When they arrived at school, Dakota was overjoyed to see he hadn't been forgotten. Waiting for the boy, there was no less than 70 uniformed police. Wearing his father's badge, the boy walked past the honor guard and into school.
A spokesman for the officers said, "We wanted Dakota to know we will always have his back."
I began to think wouldn't it be nice if all of us knew there was someone who could be counted on to have our backs? Then I remembered, we do have exactly that, and more.
We who have been saved by the Savior's life, death, and glorious resurrection know that He has promised to be with us always. Elsewhere in Scripture, we are told nothing can separate us from the Lord's love.
Our verse which appears at the top of this devotion says much the same: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning."
Truly, it is a great thing to know we are the recipients of the forgiveness and love which comes from our faithful Lord.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, many of us have been blessed to have family and friends who keep us in their prayers and do all they can to support us and keep us safe. For them we give thanks. But most of all, we appreciate the Savior and the sacrifice He made so our sins might be forgiven and we would be assured of life eternal. For His faithful and ongoing presence in our lives, we are truly grateful. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Caitlin O'kane for CBS Ns on May 15, 2018, Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time thishttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-year-old-boy-gets-police-escort-to-school-after-dad-dies-in-line-of-duty/
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 24-26; John 10:22-42
Psalms 24:1 (0) By David. A psalm:
(1) The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,
the world and those who live there;
2 for he set its foundations on the seas
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?
Who can stand in his holy place?
4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,
who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives
or swear oaths just to deceive.
5 They will receive a blessing from Adonai
and justice from God, who saves them.
6 Such is the character of those who seek him,
of Ya‘akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)
7 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
8 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai, strong and mighty,
Adonai, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
10 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai-Tzva’ot —
he is the glorious king. (Selah)
25:1 (0) By David:
(1) I lift my inner being to you, Adonai;
2 I trust you, my God.
Don’t let me be disgraced,
don’t let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one waiting for you will be disgraced;
disgrace awaits those who break faith for no reason.
4 Make me know your ways, Adonai,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God who saves me,
my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember your compassion and grace, Adonai;
for these are ages old.
7 Don’t remember my youthful sins or transgressions;
but remember me according to your grace
for the sake of your goodness, Adonai.
8 Adonai is good, and he is fair;
this is why he teaches sinners the way [to live],
9 leads the humble to do what is right
and teaches the humble [to live] his way.
10 All Adonai’s paths are grace and truth
to those who keep his covenant and instructions.
11 For the sake of your name, Adonai,
forgive my wickedness, great though it is.
12 Who is the person who fears Adonai?
He will teach him the way to choose.
13 He will remain prosperous,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 Adonai relates intimately with those who fear him;
he makes them know his covenant.
15 My eyes are always directed toward Adonai,
for he will free my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me, and show me your favor;
for I am alone and oppressed.
17 The troubles of my heart are growing and growing;
bring me out of my distress.
18 See my affliction and suffering,
and take all my sins away.
19 Consider my enemies, how many there are
and how cruelly they hate me.
20 Protect me and rescue me;
don’t let me be disgraced,
for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because my hope is in you.
22 God! Redeem Isra’el
from all their troubles!
26:1 (0) By David:
(1) Vindicate me, Adonai,
for I have lived a blameless life;
unwaveringly I trust in Adonai.
2 Examine me, Adonai, test me,
search my mind and heart.
3 For your grace is there before my eyes,
and I live my life by your truth.
4 I have not sat with worthless folks,
I won’t consort with hypocrites,
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence
and walk around your altar, Adonai,
7 lifting my voice in thanks
and proclaiming all your wonders.
8 Adonai, I love the house where you live,
the place where your glory abides.
9 Don’t include me with sinners
or my life with the bloodthirsty.
10 In their hands are evil schemes;
their right hands are full of bribes.
11 As for me, I will live a blameless life.
Redeem me and show me favor.
12 My feet are planted on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless Adonai.
John 10:22 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade. 24 So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!” 25 Yeshua answered them, “I have already told you, and you don’t trust me. The works I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, 26 but the reason you don’t trust is that you are not included among my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Once again the Judeans picked up rocks in order to stone him. 32 Yeshua answered them, “You have seen me do many good deeds that reflect the Father’s power; for which one of these deeds are you stoning me?” 33 The Judeans replied, “We are not stoning you for any good deed, but for blasphemy — because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God [John 10:33 Hebrew: Elohim].” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Torah, ‘I have said, “You people are Elohim’ ”?[John 10:34 Psalm 82:6] 35 If he called ‘elohim’ the people to whom the word of Elohim was addressed (and the Tanakh cannot be broken), 36 then are you telling the one whom the Father set apart as holy and sent into the world, ‘You are committing blasphemy,’ just because I said, ‘I am a son of Elohim’?
37 “If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father’s power, don’t trust me. 38 But if I am, then, even if you don’t trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is united with me, and I am united with the Father.” 39 One more time they tried to arrest him, but he slipped out of their hands.
40 He went off again beyond the Yarden, where Yochanan had been immersing at first, and stayed there. 41 Many people came to him and said, “Yochanan performed no miracles, but everything Yochanan said about this man was true.” 42 And many people there put their trust in him. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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