By, Steve Olson
Church & Community Relations
Lutheran Social Services
Sunday, January 10
“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’” Luke 3:21-22
In our baptism our heavenly father cradles us in his loving arms and cleanses us with warm baptismal waters. Much like a small child receiving a bath, the cleansing is not a result of what we do, but rather what our loving father does to wash away the worldly grime and residue of our lives. And like a small child receiving a bath, the warm waters of our baptism sooth and reassure us when the troubles and stress of daily life tend to overwhelm us. We are comforted by the loving and protective embrace of God.
Dear Heavenly Father, hold us in your loving baptismal embrace to comfort and protect us when the pressures of our worldly existence threaten to overwhelm us. Amen |
Monday, January 11
“From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16
We live in a world and a nation of laws. The rule of law gives structure and order to the things of this world. Break the law and you get the appropriate punishment you deserve. But in God’s world, the rule of law has been overlaid with Grace; where we get what God lovingly wishes for us rather than what we deserve. How much better to live in God’s world where Jesus has achieved his fullness, and as a result, we have the promise of pardon and eternal life through his grace.
Dear God, there is nothing we have done or can do to deserve your grace. Thank you for this precious gift of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of your son, Jesus. Amen |
Tuesday, January 12
“John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’” John 1:26-27
It is clear that the power of baptism is not “in the water,” but who and what is behind the water. As Luther writes in his Small Catechism, “It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism.”
The word of God is the foundation that we build our faith on. In baptism we have been given the forgiveness of sins, the deliverance from death, and the promise of eternal life.
Dear God, we stand before you, like John, unworthy. But, we know that through your word and with faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been cleansed through baptism and we “shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” Amen |
Wednesday, January 13
“The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
How exciting it must have been for John. This was the moment when the purpose for his ministry was fulfilled. He had been placed on this earth and called by God to proclaim the coming of the promised Messiah and now that promise had now come to fruition. Apart from the cross, could there be a more dramatic time for a servant of God?
In his declaration, John not only announces the fulfillment of scriptural promises in the person of Jesus, but by referring to him as a lamb also foreshadows the sacrificial role he will take in washing away the sins of the world.
Dear God, plant in our hearts the sense of excitement that John must have felt when he saw before him the fulfillment of the scriptures in Jesus. Let that excitement pour out of our hearts and into our lives as we live our faith in our daily lives. Amen |
Thursday, January 14
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:45-46
We are familiar with the nick-name “Doubting” Thomas. In this passage from John we are introduced to “Doubting” Nathanael. For both disciples “seeing was believing.” That is also often the case for us today. Unless we can see or experience something first hand, we have a hard time fully accepting it as truth or fact.
So how do we “come and see?” We do that through the scriptures that have been written and passed down to us. The Book of Faith initiative of the ELCA encourages us to immerse ourselves in Bible study so that we can “come and see” this Jesus that is the fulfillment of the promises God makes to his people.
Dear God, we thank you that you not only fulfilled the promises that you gave to us through the prophets, but that you also provided us with the scriptures that we might be able to “come and see” for ourselves. Amen |
Friday, January 15
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” John 2:11
This passage from the second chapter of John refers to Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana. Clearly this was for a greater purpose that to ensure a successful celebration. This miracle was pointing beyond the immediate event: "and revealed his glory." Why at this time, in this place and in this way we don’t know. What we do know is that the disciples witnessed his glory and that their faith was strengthened.
Jesus left us with many signs of his glory. Let's trust the One who gave Himself so we can live. Let's witness His glory and truly believe.
Dear God, you have revealed your glory to us in many ways. We still see signs and miracles around us every day that are possible only through your power and glory. Help us to see you more clearly through them and to strengthen our faith in them. Amen |
Saturday, January 16
“Jesus answered them, ’Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:19-22
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise given to us in our baptism. It is through his atonement that we have had our sins washed away and the promise of eternal life has been given to us. Our loving God has embraced us and cleansed us through grace.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to wash away the worldly grime and residue of our lives through his death and resurrection. Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts that like the disciples, we may “believe the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” In Jesus name we pray. Amen |
|
