Saint Louis, Missouri, United States -Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Last Time" Saturday, 2 August 2014

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States -Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "Last Time" Saturday, 2 August 2014 
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.Psalm 130:5-6)
Every Lutheran Hour Speaker has come to realize, due to the size
 of the audience, every time he preaches, for someone it will be the last sermon they will ever hear and for someone else, it will be the first time they learn of Jesus' blood-bought salvation. 
Although I don't know when, I am sure the day is coming when you will hear a last sermon.
It's true. The day will also come when you will make your last phone call, when you will start your car for the last time, when you will give a last kiss to your spouse, when you will say a last goodbye to a friend or a parent. The day will come when you will wash your last dish, draw your last paycheck, and watch your last baseball game.
After death comes for you, there will be no more Thanksgiving turkeys, no more Christmas cards, no more scarlet sunsets. All earthly things which are precious and pretty, all earthly encounters, which are dark and dismal will be no more. All of this leads me to ask what should I say to people who may only have a short time to live?
Scripture tells me I should say this: be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when the day will come!
* So you could be ready -- so you could be saved -- is why Jesus left His high throne in heaven and was born in a Bethlehem stable.
* So you could be ready for that unknown hour, Jesus spent 33 years fulfilling every Old Testament prophecy that identified the promised Messiah.
* So you could be ready, so you could be saved, Jesus lived His life resisting every temptation common to humankind, and He kept every commandment we have broken.
* So you could be ready, so you could be saved, Jesus was betrayed by a friend. He was deserted by His disciples, was falsely accused by His church, and denied justice by His government. So that you could be ready, so that you could be saved, Jesus took your place. He was whipped for you. He was beaten for you. He was spit upon for you. He died for you.
Jesus' earthly life, from start to finish, is God's great gift of grace. Jesus' resurrection is God's seal that saves your soul, if you acknowledge the Christ as Savior and Lord. It says you shall never suffer in endless eternity.
Today, with nail-pierced hands, the Savior reaches out to sinful souls who live in a sinful world. His hands, which once were nailed to a cross, now reach out to drag you back from the brink of hell and reclaim you from the clutches of Satan.
Those hands, ripped apart for you, wish to take all the damning and disturbing things you have ever done wrong and brush them from your sorry soul.
That is what we need to hear from our Divine Lord. We need to hear, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I cannot see the future as You can. That is why I pray the Holy Spirit may keep me solidly in the faith of my Savior. When that unknown hour comes, may I be ready for Jesus' return and to be taken to the home in heaven, which He has given. In Jesus' Name. Amen 
In Christ I remain His servant and yours, 

Pastor Ken Klaus 
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour® 
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:

Psalms 119:89-96 What you say goes, God,

    and stays, as permanent as the heavens.

Your truth never goes out of fashion;

    it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.

Your Word and truth are dependable as ever;

    that’s what you ordered—you set the earth going.

If your revelation hadn’t delighted me so,

    I would have given up when the hard times came.

But I’ll never forget the advice you gave me;

    you saved my life with those wise words.

Save me! I’m all yours.

    I look high and low for your words of wisdom.

The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me,

    but I’m only concerned with your plans for me.

I see the limits to everything human,

    but the horizons can’t contain your commands!

97-104 Oh, how I love all you’ve revealed;

    I reverently ponder it all the day long.

Your commands give me an edge on my enemies;

    they never become obsolete.

I’ve even become smarter than my teachers

    since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel.

I’ve become wiser than the wise old sages

    simply by doing what you tell me.

I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil

    so I can spend all my time keeping your Word.

I never make detours from the route you laid out;

    you gave me such good directions.

Your words are so choice, so tasty;

    I prefer them to the best home cooking.

With your instruction, I understand life;

    that’s why I hate false propaganda.

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;

    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.

I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back

    from living by your righteous order.

Everything’s falling apart on me, God;

    put me together again with your Word.

Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;

    teach me your holy rules.

My life is as close as my own hands,

    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.

The wicked do their best to throw me off track,

    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.

I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—

    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!

I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—

    I always have and always will.

113-120 I hate the two-faced,

    but I love your clear-cut revelation.

You’re my place of quiet retreat;

    I wait for your Word to renew me.

Get out of my life, evildoers,

    so I can keep my God’s commands.

Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.

    Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.

Stick with me and I’ll be all right;

    I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.

Expose all who drift away from your sayings;

    their casual idolatry is lethal.

You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;

    therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.

I shiver in awe before you;

    your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.

121-128 I stood up for justice and the right;

    don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.

Take the side of your servant, good God;

    don’t let the godless take advantage of me.

I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you

    to keep your promise to set everything right.

Let your love dictate how you deal with me;

    teach me from your textbook on life.

I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,

    the inner meaning of your instructions.

It’s time to act, God;

    they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!

Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,

    I love it better than gold and gemstones;

Yea-Saying God, I honor everything you tell me,

    I despise every deceitful detour.

129-136 Every word you give me is a miracle word—

    how could I help but obey?

Break open your words, let the light shine out,

    let ordinary people see the meaning.

Mouth open and panting,

    I wanted your commands more than anything.

Turn my way, look kindly on me,

    as you always do to those who personally love you.

Steady my steps with your Word of promise

    so nothing malign gets the better of me.

Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women

    so I can live life your way.

Smile on me, your servant;

    teach me the right way to live.

I cry rivers of tears

    because nobody’s living by your book!

137-144 You are right and you do right, God;

    your decisions are right on target.

You rightly instruct us in how to live

    ever faithful to you.

My rivals nearly did me in,

    they persistently ignored your commandments.

Your promise has been tested through and through,

    and I, your servant, love it dearly.

I’m too young to be important,

    but I don’t forget what you tell me.

Your righteousness is eternally right,

    your revelation is the only truth.

Even though troubles came down on me hard,

    your commands always gave me delight.

The way you tell me to live is always right;

    help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.

145-152 I call out at the top of my lungs,

    “God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”

I called to you, “Save me

    so I can carry out all your instructions.”

I was up before sunrise,

    crying for help, hoping for a word from you.

I stayed awake all night,

    prayerfully pondering your promise.

In your love, listen to me;

    in your justice, God, keep me alive.

As those out to get me come closer and closer,

    they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;

But you’re the closest of all to me, God,

    and all your judgments true.

I’ve known all along from the evidence of your words

    that you meant them to last forever.

153-160 Take a good look at my trouble, and help me—

    I haven’t forgotten your revelation.

Take my side and get me out of this;

    give me back my life, just as you promised.

“Salvation” is only gibberish to the wicked

    because they’ve never looked it up in your dictionary.

Your mercies, God, run into the billions;

    following your guidelines, revive me.

My antagonists are too many to count,

    but I don’t swerve from the directions you gave.

I took one look at the quitters and was filled with loathing;

    they walked away from your promises so casually!

Take note of how I love what you tell me;

    out of your life of love, prolong my life.

Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth.

    Your righteous decisions are eternal.

161-168 I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians,

    but my awe at your words keeps me stable.

I’m ecstatic over what you say,

    like one who strikes it rich.

I hate lies—can’t stand them!—

    but I love what you have revealed.

Seven times each day I stop and shout praises

    for the way you keep everything running right.

For those who love what you reveal, everything fits—

    no stumbling around in the dark for them.

I wait expectantly for your salvation;

    God, I do what you tell me.

My soul guards and keeps all your instructions—

    oh, how much I love them!

I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;

    my life’s an open book before you.

169-176 Let my cry come right into your presence, God;

    provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.

Give my request your personal attention,

    rescue me on the terms of your promise.

Let praise cascade off my lips;

    after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!

And let your promises ring from my tongue;

    every order you’ve given is right.

Put your hand out and steady me

    since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.

I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;

    I love it when you show yourself!

Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,

    use your decrees to put iron in my soul.

And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!

    I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 I, Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, greet the church of the Thessalonian Christians in the name of God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you’re to be.

Justice Is on the Way

3-4 You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.

5-10 All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You’re suffering now, but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he’ll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time. His coming will be the break we’ve been waiting for. Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they’ve done. Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence. But on that very same day when he comes, he will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe—and all because you believed what we told you.

11-12 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.

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