Since therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. — Romans 5:9

Jesus died for us, to ensure that our sins would be forgiven. His blood was shed so that we would be reconciled with God and not face His anger due to our sinful lives.

If we sincerely believe that Christ did die for our sins when he shed His blood on the cross, then God will accept this faith in Jesus and not judge us on our lives, but will accept our debt as paid through this faith.

Jesus did not die for Himself, but for us. All that Jesus asked from us was to believe and have faith, in Him and His victory over death.

Thank You, Lord, for asking so little of us, but giving everything Yourself. Amen.

For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me! — Job 19:25-7

WHAT COMFORT THIS SWEET SENTENCE GIVES

Job: prophet, Elder, holy man, wealthy in family, livestock and servants, righteous in all his deeds. Surely he fears God only because he has been so greatly rewarded for his obedience? So says Satan, allowed by God to test Job by inflicting upon him the theft of all his goods, the death of all his children, causing sickness and painful sores to take hold on Job, bringing him to the brink of death itself.

The sufferings of people on earth, who it affects and why, is an age-old question and one not easily answered. Job would have been used to arbitrating such a debate, and now, in his personal misery, falters somewhat by thinking of God as a tyrannical judge. However, through his God-given faith and wisdom, Job appeals not to human opinion or comfort, but to God, against God, ultimately leading him to utter some of the most beautiful words in the Bible and prophetically confess the bodily resurrection and redeeming power of Christ, our only hope of true comfort: “For I know that my Redeemer lives”!

Our sufferings, and the reasons for them, are known only to God. But we trust that whatever comes to us here on earth will be meant for God’s purpose and on the last day, we, too, shall be physically resurrected and see God. Satan does not win. We are the Lord’s, and all the sin and suffering put upon us now will never separate us from God our Father, the Rock and Redeemer of our faith. On the last day, God will stand upon the earth, and we with Him, forever.

Lord, thank You for the faith that allows me to speak the words “I know that my Redeemer lives”, for without it I am lost. When I suffer, guide me to Your words of comfort, and let me rejoice in the hope of eternal life with You. Amen.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15: 5

Reading this little verse really summarises one of the main principles of Christian faith for me: our unity with Jesus.

When we stay in Him, like He says, we will bear much fruit and our lives will reflect His presence. There is nothing outside Christ that will last or bear any significance in the long term.

So there is an answer for anybody who is yearning for a fulfilled and happy life: the communion with Jesus.

I know I find it difficult at times, as there are so many distractions and temptations along the way, every day. This is why I feel it is so important to be part of Christ Church and receive love and support from brothers and sisters in Christ.

I feel truly blessed to be part of this family, one little branch in the tree of Christ.

We thank You Father, for this wonderful gift of our family in Christ. Amen.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgement.— Psalm 51:1-4

The background to this Psalm is all-important in understanding it.

David has committed a whole host of sins, each one bad enough in and of itself, but together they form quite a catalogue of despicable acts. First, David was neglecting his duties as king by not leading his troops into battle. Second, he lusted after another man’s wife. Third, he acted upon his immoral thoughts by seducing Bathsheba to have sex with him while her husband was away at a battle David should have been fighting. Fourth, when he discovered Bathsheba was pregnant with his child, he invites her husband, Uriah, home to try and cover his tracks. Fifth, when Uriah refuses to go home to be with his wife while his comrades are dying on the battlefield, David devises a plan to have Uriah murdered. Sixth, he has the plan carried out, and callously blames it on the battle, because after all life is cheap on the battlefield. Seventh, he does his best to cover up his guilt.

It is then that God sends his prophet to confront David with a word of Law. It is only after the crushing sentence of the Law has been pronounced that David realises the despicable depth of his sins. Confronted with his evil deeds, he knows he deserves nothing but death as a just punishment. He realises he has no ground upon which to stand, and left to his own devices he would utterly despair.

However, David throws himself upon the “steadfast love and abundant mercy” of God. He no longer tries to whitewash his actions, as he calls them “sins, transgressions, iniquities, and evil”. He confesses that God has every right to deal justly and severely with him. However, he begs God to wash him, to cleanse him, and to forgive him. Yes, he will have to live with the consequence of his sin, and they were great, but he had the assurance that God had forgiven him all the evil he had done.

We, too, are in a similar spot. Before God we must confess our transgressions, iniquities, sin, and evil. They may not include adultery, murder, neglect of office, and cover up, but let’s be honest, we do like to sin. And we, too, cast ourselves upon a merciful and forgiving God, who has every right to severely punish us for breaking His Laws. But we, like David, are assured that God has forgiven our sins through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each Sunday we are pronounced forgiven, absolved of all wrongdoing, we are washed and declared whiter than snow (51:7). And this message of forgiveness restores to us the joy of salvation (51:12) and we will declare God’s praise, who through His Word of Law and Gospel has broken our spirits and given us a contrite heart that seeks His mercy for Jesus’ sake.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy, Amen.

Therefore let no-one pass judgement on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. — Colossians 2:16-17

In this passage St. Paul reminds us that through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Christ fulfilled the law and set us free from the demands of the law, human traditions and the doctrines of men. Our Lutheran Confessions reflect on this truth when they confess that human rites and rules regarding what we eat or drink, how we dress, or when and how we worship ‘neither merit the forgiveness of sins or justification before God, nor are they necessary for justification’ and ‘human traditions are not acts of worship necessary for righteousness before God.’ Consciences are not to be burdened as though observing such things is necessary for salvation.

In the modern world many people are easily fooled. The so-called ‘reality’ television shows are designed to make us think that this is the way life really should or could be. Video games are called ‘virtual reality’. From these things we can get a false picture of what will truly give us lasting joy and meaning. If we chase these ideals we will find that they are but shadow – meaningless and counterfeit.

St. Paul tells us that reality is indeed Jesus Christ, who alone purchased and won us from sin, death and the devil by His death on the cross and resurrection. He alone is the way, the truth and the life.

By God’s grace, we stop chasing shadows and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is our Saviour. With God’s help, we understand that who we are is based on whose we are. Real and meaningful life is found only in Christ!

Help me, O Lord, to stop chasing shadows and to rely on You for genuine meaning and lasting joy; through Christ I pray, Amen.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. — Hebrews 2:14-15

God, in Jesus Christ, saved us from three kinds of death: spiritual, temporal, and eternal.

Spiritual death is this that the heart, departing from the Lord, is without true fear, love, and trust in God. All people are by nature spiritually dead. If Christ had not redeemed us from sin, we could never believe in Him for the remission of our sins. We could not truly fear, love, and trust in God. Hence, we would always remain in spiritual death. We received spiritual life when the Holy Spirit brought us to faith. This is the first resurrection.

Temporal death is the separation of body and soul. Unless Christ returns first, all people will suffer temporal death. Therefore, we experience a natural dread and horror of death. Because of the fear of death we are by nature, during our lifetime, subject to bondage. But Christ “destroyed him that hath the power of death”, and thereby delivered us from the “fear of death.” To a believer, temporal death is but a dark passageway which leads us into the beautiful mansions of heaven. Knowing this, we do not fear death. Death lost its sting.

Eternal death is the eternal separation of body and soul from the blissful presence of God. By faith in Christ we became children of God. We are heirs of God. Eternal death has no power over us. Because Christ redeemed us we shall have life and immortality.

Because of humankind’s sins, death and the devil had power over us. On our own we could not free ourselves. The Son of God became our champion against these dread enemies. When Christ took upon Himself our sins, the devil indeed “bruised His heel.” Christ died in our place. But, by His very death Jesus “bruised the head” of the devil. Jesus overpowered death and the devil. Jesus abolished death, and destroyed him that had the power of death. Though we pass through temporal death, as Christ did, we shall have the victory and enter heaven. As Christ was the first fruit of resurrection, so too will believers be raised from the dead to life everlasting with God in Heaven.

Praise You Lord, for this. Amen.

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. — Romans 12:4-5

Our bodies are a wonderful, complex creation. Every part (or member), even down to the cellular level, has an essential part to play in keeping us alive, healthy and mobile. Even the small, or what we might consider to be least impressive, parts are as important as the obvious parts. And when one part is hurt, all parts are impacted and experience the pain. Luther used the illustration of what happens when you stub your toe. You reach down with your hands to grab your painful foot, your face screws up in pain, you may even cry out and hop around on the other foot.

Just as our cells, organs, limbs etc are members of our physical bodies, we are all members of Christ’s body, the church. In other words, we are believers united under one head. Our unity is based on our Baptism, through which we are incorporated into the body of Christ. Because we are members of Christ’s body, we do not live for our selves – instead we use our gifts to serve the other members. Because we are joined to Christ and to each another, we are never alone. What comfort this brings! When we suffer, Christ and all the members of His body share our suffering; when we rejoice, they all rejoice with us. Because we are mutually dependent on Christ, our head, and on each other, we are all of equal importance, just as the smallest cell of our body is equally as important as the largest organ. We are all Baptized and redeemed children of God, and nothing can separate us from the love of our head, Jesus Christ.

Thank You God for bringing me into the Body of Christ and for the gifts You give to those who have served me in many and various ways. Enlighten me with Your gifts, and empower me to be a living sacrifice, that I may humbly use my gifts to serve others. Amen.

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. — Hebrews 9:27-8

As I was looking up the text for today’s devotion I smiled with relief at the realisation that I would be finding it in the New Testament! The Old Testament is certainly indispensable and equally illuminating, but I can’t help my preference. This is because it is in the New Testament that we have the full revelation of Jesus Christ. No more waiting and wishing, He’s finally here now! Naturally it is entirely easier to relate to.

Having said that however, it is so easy to find oneself over-preoccupied with life and God can sometimes seem so distant! Today’s text can seem particularly daunting as it has a certain apocalyptic tone to it. I start to reflect and think about judgement, and then my thoughts turn to how modern fiction tends to depict the end of the world. Every other film seems to explore our disastrous fate when strenuous use of the earth’s natural resources, pollution or a fatal climate change drives the world to ruin. Even physics now tells us that our own sun will eventually be giving up on us someday, ceasing carrying out its energy-producing process of fusion. What then, freezing temperatures and total darkness? That is as realistically as I can picture the apocalyptic last day (a chill slides down my spine). I imagine God’s fully glorious and mighty presence coming to gather up His people. How will He ever find me amidst this blackness, and if He does will He like what He sees? (There is a tight feeling in my chest).

That might have been the tragic picture, but like waking from a nightmare, I realise how Jesus is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome. I scoff at my foolish doubts. Judgement is no longer pendant; it took place when Jesus stood before the Father in heaven on our behalf appearing spotless and blameless in His sight. In our baptisms we receive the Holy Spirit and we put on Christ. Now when God looks at us; He sees the purity of Jesus and we shine brighter and so much more luminously than the sun.

It is human nature to doubt the reality of a God who once uttered mountains into being, and that this God is good. It seems almost silly that this God might preoccupy Himself with such as us. But through the Holy Spirit comes the knowledge of God’s love that caused Him to humble Himself to human form to die on the cross for us. This, and how He urges for me and you to call Him our Father, becomes the clearest, simplest truth in the world. So today’s message is by no means a threatening one, but a message of redemption for those who partake in Christ’s body and blood.

I am confident in my salvation, and I thank God for His gift of Jesus Christ.

I pray that I may never be so presumptuous as to turn away God, but I may always seek to replenish my strength in Christ the founder and perfector of my faith, and receive the all-sufficient sacrifice for sin. That when the day comes, I may be found ready and eagerly waiting. Amen.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. — 1 Peter 4:10

Jesus performed a lot of miracles during his ministry on earth. Even up until His trials and persecutions, He was still blessing people with His grace and love. Jesus has the ultimate heart for serving other people. We hear phrases like ‘the perfect example’ and ‘a willing servant’ used in association with His name and character. Similarly to Jesus, God blesses each of us still today with different gifts to be used to serve each other, and ultimately to serve Him.

When we share what we have and work together as the Body of Christ, we glorify God and help to further His kingdom. There is a whole chapter in 1 Corinthians that is dedicated to this very thing. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 about different spiritual gifts that people have and how they work together. The Church body truly does function similarly to the way a human body does. Each part has its own purpose, and each part serves the others so that the body itself can thrive. What a dynamic and grace-filled God we serve that He would use His scientific creation of the human form as an analogy for us to study!

If we excel at one particular thing, we cannot take credit because no one would have any gift except by the grace of God; we cannot boast. But there is no point to keeping our gifts a secret, and not using them to help others in humility. When we serve God by serving other people, whether they are fellow-believers or not, we are witnessing with His gift of grace and showing His love.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abounding grace and the gift of Your Son, Jesus to be an example of how to be a good servant. Help me to discover the gifts You have given me and show me how to share them with the people around me. In Your loving name I pray, Amen.

I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’,
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. — Psalm 32:5

This passage shows me that the Lord is a forgiving and loving God and that when you make mistakes and sin, you can turn to Him and not be scared to do so. He will always be there to guide you in life and if you are sorry for your transgression, you will be forgiven, and hopefully we will learn not to do them again.

Lord God, thank You for the amazing gift of forgiveness. Teach us to always remember Your unfailing love and to trust You for it every day, no matter what. Amen.