The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Jesus Makes the Difference" for Saturday, January 16, 2016

The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Jesus Makes the Difference" for Saturday, January 16, 2016

But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.[1 Corinthians 1:23-25]
There have been countless TV specials and movies made about the Titanic.
In most of these presentations, no expense is spared to make sure the recreation is accurate and matches the original. Carpets match. Woodworkings are precise. But all too often, the storytellers forget to share the spiritual side of what happened on that ship. If you look closely, you will see the story of the Savior told again and again, in the lives of those who were there.
One after another, time after time, Christian men, motivated by the love of Jesus, looked their wives in the eye and said, "I love you." Then they put their wives into a lifeboat. They knew they would never see their spouse again -- not in this world.
One after another, time after time, fathers, Christian men, motivated by the love of Jesus, patted their children's heads in blessings and with a prayer, sent their little ones to be rescued, while they prepared to die.
Motivated by Jesus on the Titanic, nine women were saved for every man.
And without Jesus?
In 1996, a boat carrying thousands of passengers sank off the shores of Indonesia. As in the Titanic, hundreds died. As in the Titanic, there were not enough lifeboats. But without faith in Christ, without this example of care and compassion, women and children were pushed aside so the men could be spared.
There is a difference, and Jesus makes that difference. More than that, it's a difference I'm proud of.
In this world there are many religions, many atheistic and agnostic groups, many doubters who would silence Jesus and make fun of His followers. They would stuff the risen Redeemer back into His tomb and try to erase His memory and accomplishments. They laugh at us; they torment us; they persecute us.
Still, what do they offer that is better than the Savior?
When the English conquered Mount Everest they planted their flag at the summit.
One mountaineer from another country challenged, "Well, isn't this just one of many typical English glory ventures?"
Hearing the criticism, the British ambassador replied, "I'm not qualified to give an official opinion, but I can say this: if you don't like the flag flying up there, why not climb up and take it down?"
To the world that would silence Jesus and the salvation He gives to His appreciative followers, I can only say this: if you don't like the flag of Jesus flying at the top of our lives, why don't you go where He went and give us something better to believe in? Why don't you live a perfect life for me, carry my sins for me, climb up on the cross for me, and take His place?
Until you do that, everything you've got to say is foolishness.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, touch the scoffers and skeptics of the world with the salvation that has been won for them on the cross. Let their hearts be softened and their minds opened to be touched by Your gracious gift of forgiveness. This I pray 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:
Job 20:1 Tzofar the Na‘amati replied,

2 “My thoughts are pressing me to answer;

I feel such an urge to speak!

3 I have heard reproof that outrages me,

but a spirit past my understanding gives me a reply.

4 “Don’t you know that ever since time began,

ever since humans were placed on earth,

5 that the triumph of the wicked is always short-lived,

and the joy of the ungodly is gone in a moment?

6 His pride may mount to the heavens,

his head may touch the clouds;

7 but he will vanish completely, like his own dung —

those who used to see him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

8 Like a dream he flies off and is not found again;

like a vision in the night he is chased away.

9 The eye which once saw him will see him no more,

his place will not behold him again.

10 His children will have to pay back the poor;

his hands will restore their wealth.

11 His bones may be filled with [the vigor of] his youth,

but it will join him lying in the dust.

12 “Wickedness may taste sweet in his mouth,

he may savor and roll it around on his tongue,

13 he may linger over it and not let it go

but keep it there in his mouth —

14 yet in his stomach his food goes bad,

it works inside him like snake venom;

15 the wealth he swallows he vomits back up;

God makes him disgorge it.

16 He sucks the poison of asps,

the viper’s fangs will kill him.

17 He will not enjoy the rivers,

the streams flowing with honey and cream.

18 He will have to give back what he toiled for;

he won’t get to swallow it down —

to the degree that he acquired wealth,

he won’t get to enjoy it.

19 “For he crushed and abandoned the poor,

seizing houses he did not build,

20 because his appetite would not let him rest,

in his greed he let nothing escape;

21 nothing is left that he did not devour;

therefore his well-being will not last.

22 With all needs satisfied, he will be in distress;

the full force of misery will come over him.

23 “This is what will fill his belly! —

[God] will lay on him all his burning anger

and make it rain over him, into his insides.

24 If he flees from the weapon of iron,

the bow of bronze will pierce him through —

25 he pulls the arrow out of his back,

the shining tip comes out from his innards;

terrors come upon him.

26 “Total darkness is laid up for his treasures,

a fire fanned by no one will consume him,

and calamity awaits what is left in his tent.

27 The heavens will reveal his guilt,

and the earth will rise up against him.

28 The income of his household will be carried off;

his goods will flow away on the day of his wrath.

29 This is God’s reward for the wicked,

the heritage God decrees for him.”

21:1 Then Iyov responded:

2 “Listen carefully to my words;

let this be the comfort you give me.

3 Bear with me as I speak;

then, after I have spoken, you can go on mocking.

4 “As for me, is my complaint merely to other people?

Don’t I have grounds for being short-tempered?

5 Look at me, and be appalled;

cover your mouth with your hand!

6 Whenever I recall it, I am in shock;

my whole body shudders.

7 “Why do the wicked go on living,

grow old and keep increasing their power?

8 They see their children settled with them,

their posterity assured.

9 Their houses are safe, with nothing to fear;

God’s rod is not on them.

10 Their bulls are fertile without fail,

their cows get pregnant and don’t miscarry.

11 They produce flocks of babies,

and their children dance around.

12 They sing with tambourines and lyres

and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their days in prosperity

and go down to the grave in peace.

14 “Yet to God they said, ‘Leave us alone!

We don’t want to know about your ways.

15 What is Shaddai, that we should serve him?

What do we gain if we pray to him?’

16 Isn’t their prosperity already theirs?

The plans of the wicked are far from me.

17 “How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?

How often does their calamity come upon them?

How often does [God] deal out pain in his anger,

18 to make them like straw in the wind,

like chaff carried off by a storm?

19 God lays up for their children

[the punishment for their] iniquity.

He should lay it on [the wicked] themselves,

so that they can feel it!

20 Let their own eyes see their own destruction

and themselves drink the wrath of Shaddai.

21 What joy can they have in their family after them,

given that their months are numbered?

22 “Can anyone teach God knowledge?

After all, he judges those who are on high.

23 One person dies in his full strength,

completely at ease and content;

24 his pails are full of milk,

and the marrow in his bones is moist.

25 Another dies with embittered heart,

never having tasted happiness.

26 They lie down alike in the dust,

and the worm covers them both.

27 “Look, I know what you are thinking

and your plans to do me wrong.

28 You ask, ‘Where is the great man’s house?

Where is the tent where the wicked once lived?’

29 Haven’t you ever questioned travelers?

Don’t you accept their testimony

30 that the evil man is saved on the day of disaster,

rescued on the day of wrath?

31 So who will confront him with his ways?

Who will repay him for what he has done?

32 For he is carried off to the grave,

people keep watch over his tomb,

33 the clods of the valley are sweet to him;

so everyone follows his example,

just as before him were countless others.

34 “Why offer me such meaningless comfort?

Of your answers, only the perfidy remains.”

Matthew 11:1 After Yeshua had finished instructing the twelve talmidim, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns nearby.

2 Meanwhile, Yochanan the Immerser, who had been put in prison, heard what the Messiah had been doing; so he sent a message to him through his talmidim, 3 asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” 4 Yeshua answered, “Go and tell Yochanan what you are hearing and seeing — 5 the blind are seeing again, the lame are walking, people with tzara’at are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing,[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 35:5–6] the dead are being raised,[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 26:19] the Good News is being told to the poor[Matthew 11:5 Isaiah 61:1] — 6 and how blessed is anyone not offended by me!”

7 As they were leaving, Yeshua began speaking about Yochanan to the crowds: “What did you go out to the desert to see? Reeds swaying in the breeze? 8 No? then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? Well-dressed people live in kings’ palaces. 9 Nu, so why did you go out? To see a prophet! Yes! and I tell you he’s much more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom the Tanakh says,

‘See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.’[Matthew 11:10 Malachi 3:1]

11 Yes! I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he! 12 From the time of Yochanan the Immerser until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been suffering violence; yes, violent ones are trying to snatch it away. 13 For all the prophets and the Torah prophesied until Yochanan. 14 Indeed, if you are willing to accept it, he is Eliyahu, whose coming was predicted. 15 If you have ears, then hear!

16 “Oh, what can I compare this generation with? They’re like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling out to each other,

17 ‘We made happy music,

    but you wouldn’t dance!

We made sad music,

    but you wouldn’t cry!’

18 For Yochanan came, fasting, not drinking — so they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came, eating freely and drinking wine — so they say, ‘Aha! A glutton and a drunkard! A friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ Well, the proof of wisdom is in the actions it produces.”

20 Then Yeshua began to denounce the towns in which he had done most of his miracles, because the people had not turned from their sins to God. 21 “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Beit-Tzaidah! Why, if the miracles done in you had been done in Tzor and Tzidon, they would long ago have put on sackcloth and ashes as evidence that they had changed their ways. 22 But I tell you it will be more bearable for Tzor and Tzidon than for you on the Day of Judgment! 23 And you, K’far-Nachum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Sh’ol![Matthew 11:23 Isaiah 14:13, 15] For if the miracles done in you had been done in S’dom, it would still be in existence today. 24 But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment it will be more bearable for the land of S’dom than for you!”

25 It was at that time that Yeshua said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you concealed these things from the sophisticated and educated and revealed them to ordinary folks. 26 Yes, Father, I thank you that it pleased you to do this.

27 “My Father has handed over everything to me. Indeed, no one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[Matthew 11:29 Jeremiah 6:16] 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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