Category: Devotion

“So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
Romans 7:21-25

When we fail in our endeavors, sometimes the only thing we can say is, “I did my best.” Yet in the end a failure is a failure because a sin is a sin. As Christians in this present reality we find within ourselves a battle going on between the sinful flesh and the Holy Spirit. No matter how hard we try, there is no escaping this remnant of sin. It clings to us and will remain as long as we have flesh and bones this side of Christ’s return.

Yet we do not wallow in despair. We who have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection have been given the promise of eternal life and the power of the Spirit to wage war against the desires of the flesh. In this battle between the flesh and Spirit there is no stalemate. The Spirit rules and the flesh is subordinate. In this way we can gain comfort from knowing that when the flesh pushes us to sin, we are prompted and encouraged by the Spirit to seek forgiveness through Christ and to embrace His righteousness. In this way we take comfort in the fact that the Spirit keeps us from despair by leading us to the only source of righteousness: Jesus Christ and His cross.

Let us pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, through Your Word we know that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We ask that You forgive us of our sin and strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit so that we may ever look to Christ and His saving work for our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Garrett Buvinghausen, Sem. IV)

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6

Our fallen human wisdom vainly ponders the suffering of Christ on the cross. We cannot understand this. It is beyond our comprehension: we who were enemies of God, separated from Him because of our sins, by our lack of faith and mercy, have been brought near to God. God has drawn us to Himself by His Son’s cross: “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

The Holy Spirit gave us faith in this sinless Son of God, in whom His Father is well pleased, at Holy Baptism. So, in faith, we seek God as the only source of our forgiveness, life, and salvation. He rewards us with His Son and with the eternal life that He purchased for us with His precious blood. Now, in faith, we ponder our Lord’s bitter woes and His mercy upon us. We cannot repay Him for all His benefits to us, but we will call upon His name and proclaim His marvelous works that are beyond our comprehension.

Let us pray: dear heavenly Father, You have brought us near to You by your Son’s death on the cross. Grant that, as we ponder Your Son’s suffering and death, we would turn to You in repentance and faith; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Mika Patron, Deaconess Student)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1

What exactly is the purpose of fasting for Lent? Many people will claim that this is a good thing to do, but why? In Romans 12 it is considered a good thing to present your body as a living sacrifice. In fact, this is considered acceptable and even holy to God. It is considered to be a spiritual worship as well. This is a reason why fasting is a good thing—but the first half of this verse must not be left out. This good act can only be carried out by the mercies of God.

God reveals His mercy to us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and His death and resurrection. In our baptism our sin is buried and we are raised in newness of life with Christ. It is in this newness of life that we are able to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, which is holy and acceptable to God.

Let us pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, You have revealed Your mercies to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ, that by His death our sin would be paid for and by His resurrection we would no longer be slaves to sin, but free in Christ to serve You. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Kyle Mullins, Sem. 1)

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:10

During the season of Lent, we are reminded that we are sinful and unworthy of God’s mercy. We have inherited sin through our first parents, Adam and Eve. We are in need of a Savior. But it was because of God’s love that He sent His only Son to die for us as that Savior. We did nothing to deserve this love.

John 3:16-17 testifies to this reality: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” It is only through God’s work that we are saved not by anything that we do, but through His grace and mercy. During the season of Lent, we gather together as the Body of Christ and look forward to Christ’s crucifixion. It is on His cross where our Savior died for us. On this cross we see that God loved us.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we know that we are by nature sinful and unworthy of Your grace and mercy. We give thanks that, through Your wonderful love for us, You have sent Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. We pray that You would help us to daily and faithfully follow You, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Stephanie Wilde, Deaconess Student)

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world.”
Ephesians 2:1-2a

How does it work for a person to be dead in sin? Aren’t we living creatures no matter what? St. Paul reminds us that living in sin is death—spiritual death. In such a condition, one cannot reach out to God and trust in Him. This is what Paul means by “dead.” To live without the comfort that we are reconciled to God is to exist as dead men. Sure, many are physically well and healthy, but that is not God’s plumb line. Our physical biology is not the locus of trust in God or the recipient of Christ’s peace—our spirit is. Unfortunately, we were born with a dead spirit, one that is horizontal instead of upright, and reeks with the deadly poison of sin. And because of our spiritual death, our body also experiences sin and corruption. We age, decay, and die.

What is needed is a resuscitation to quicken the spirit. The resuscitation of our spirit occurs by the Holy Spirit in the waters of Baptism, which quench the fires of hell, the brink to which our heavy guilt “had well-nigh brought” us. The Holy Spirit says to us, “Your dead spirit will not do. Here is a better death: Christ’s. Since His death is now your own, even more so is His life.” Our Baptism in Christ quickens the spirit. It also guarantees our resurrection of the body to life eternal with God.

Let us pray: dear God, heavenly Father, You saw the death in which we lived and sent Your Son to die so that we might live. Allow us to never take for granted Your mercy that we may always find peace and comfort in the death and life of Your Son, which is ours now and forever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Silas Hasselbrook, Sem I)

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” …and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.”
Luke 23:4, 14

Luke is the Gospel of setting the stage, and the stage in Luke 23 is the courtroom. Luke’s judicial imagery stands with the famous courtroom scenes of literature. Like Atticus pacing the hall in “To Kill A Mockingbird” or Dimitri’s sweating brow in in “The Brothers Karamazov,” the descriptive language of Jesus’ trial is the dramatic prelude to the climax of the story.

But in these verses, Pilate gives us the defining difference in Jesus’ trial from all other trials: “Behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.” In a twist of fate, we realize the guilt is not on the hand of the accused, but of the accusers. The sinless Son of God must die so that the sinful child of man can live. Yet what kind of Savior chooses to give Himself up for those who hate and curse Him? What defendant would die for the one who falsely accuses Him?

Christ is both the judge and the sacrifice. He is the fountain of water and blood that saves you through the waters of Holy Baptism and continues to strengthen you in the Lord’s Supper. He is the Word made flesh whose innocent blood declares us righteous in God’s sight. Those who stand at the feet of the cross stand in this life-giving flood. We can stand before the throne of God in the assurance that our guilt has been covered. Our shame has been taken away. Christ has paid our debts. Pilate stands before Christ and says, “I find no guilt in this man,” before sending Him to His death. On account of Christ, the Father stands before man and says, “I find no guilt in this man,” before welcoming him into eternal life. Rejoice in your salvation, beloved of Christ! Your sin is forgiven, and death does not have the final say!

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, on behalf of those who mock and accuse, You gave Your beloved Son to be a sacrifice on the cross. Grant us mercy at the foot of your throne on behalf of your Son, to whom we pray: come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

(Emilyann Pool, Deaconess Student)

“For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
1 Peter 2:25

Punishment—a penalty or retribution for an offense. As this hymn says, Jesus’ punishment on the cross was certainly strange. What was Christ’s offense? What could be the penalty for having lived a life in perfect obedience and faithfulness? Strange punishment indeed.

And yet, Christ did not call out this injustice. He did not stand before Pilate and declare His innocence. No, he gladly and willingly took on our identity as sinful beggars—worthy of death and damnation. He did not protest or point fingers at the truly guilty. Both the Shepherd and the Lamb, He guides us and gives up His life for us as a sacrifice. In His dying, our debt is paid. In His living, we inherit unimaginable fortune—the hope of everlasting life, free from punishment.

Let us pray: O Lord God, in our sin we have strayed from You and ran after darkness. But You are our faithful shepherd who calls us back into new life. In Your perfect obedience, You took on our punishment so that we may be free. Keep our eyes fixed on You, O Lord, and guide our hearts in Your truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Anna Barger, Deaconess Student)

“[Jesus our Lord] who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Romans 4:25

No one likes to think about their sins, especially knowing the great sorrow and anguish they caused Jesus. He suffered in our place on the cross. He received the death that we deserve. Lent is a time to reflect on why Jesus was delivered up. We spend time meditating on God’s Word and promises. We hurt knowing that we should be the ones suffering for our sins and receiving the punishment we deserve.

Even during this time of sorrow, there is Good News! Jesus came to die on the cross and take all our sorrows and anguish upon Himself. We look forward to the joy and promise of a risen Savior. Because of His resurrection, we have the promise of our own bodily resurrection when He comes again. We remember the promises given to us at our baptism. We repent of our sins and receive absolution. We turn our eyes to Jesus, the One who died for the forgiveness of our sins and is raised for our justification, even though we are undeserving.

Let us pray: O God, though we are undeserving of Your mercy, You sent Your only Son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Grant us peace and comfort during this season of Lent as we look toward the cross and resurrection of Your Son; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Amanda Korthase, Deaconess Student)

“[Jesus said] ‘And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.’”
Mark 10:34

If you knew it was coming, wouldn’t you stop it? Three times, Jesus told His disciples exactly what was going to happen. Three times.

What indignity and shame He knew He would face! How did He endure it? With just the smallest word from His mouth, He could have stopped it. He could have made Himself not feel the sting of the whip. He could have ended the torture and torment. He could have made the spit miss. He could have refuted their mocking. He could have come down from the cross.

But no, Jesus not only allowed the pain and the shame to go on, He knew it was coming. The Living One knew He would taste death. He knew He would drink the cup of wrath that our sins deserved. He knew how ugly it was. And still, He accepted it.

That, brothers and sisters in Christ, is true love. Our best attempts at loving each other are pale and self-serving compared to the passion of Christ. Thank God it is. Because death could not keep him. And now it cannot keep you.

Let us pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, You willingly sent Your Son to suffer and die for our sake; grant that we would look to His cross and passion this Lenten season and take comfort in the knowledge that because of His death we will have eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Jerry Smith, Sem IV)