For the People of Ukraine

For all the people of Ukraine who are experiencing military aggression, that they might be kept from harm, let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, that their hearts might find rest and comfort in Christ, let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

For government leaders everywhere but especially in Russia, that they might be inclined to walk in the ways of righteousness and peace and cease military hostilities, let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

Our Father who art in heaven...

Amen.

Fruitful

On February 23 the church remembers St. Polycarp.

He was a disciple of John, he was the bishop of Smyrna (in today's Turkey), and he was martyred in the year 155 or 156.

We have a letter he wrote to the Christians in Philippi, and we have an authentic first-hand account of his death.  The latter is only thirteen pages long and should be required Christian reading.  Read it devotionally and it will strengthen you.  For me the lessons learned are: Be brave, be loving, and be faithful - all things we need today, and all things God will work in us!

But the standout thing for me is the meaning of the name Polycarp.  It is Greek and means "much fruit" or "fruitful."  Very interestingly (remember that John was Polycarp's teacher) the name Polycarp may be found in the Gospel of John.  John 12:24 reads, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

The witness of Polycarp has encouraged countless Christians, and all these years later he is still bearing fruit.  God is living him up to his name - Fruitful!

For Polycarp we praise You,
Who did not fear the flame
But filled with joy and courage
Confessed Your holy name.
Lord, give Your Holy Spirit
To our timidity
That filled with joy and courage
We too may fruitful be!

John's First and Last Loves

This Valentine's Day, may God's love for the world, and for you, lead to your love for others.

The Gospel of John has more occurrences of the word "love" than Matthew, Mark, and Luke put together.  "Love" is used in one form or another over fifty times.  For a devotion, a person could read through the Gospel of John and carefully mark each time the word "love" is used.  But simply looking at the first and last times offers an important lesson.

The first time is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

The last time is John 21:20: "Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them...."

The lesson is this: God loves the whole world and all people to the point of freely sacrificing His only Son.  But this cosmic, worldwide love is at the same time a personal love felt deeply by the one who believes in Jesus.

Make the Gospel of John your own.  Believe that "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) knows, loves, and forgives you personally.

The One Prayer God Always Answers No

There is a prayer found in the Bible, and you can pray it, but the answer will always be No.  The Lord's Prayer ends with "Amen," meaning, "Yes, it shall be so."  But for this prayer you'll need to find a different word, because, "No, it shan't be so."  Jesus says about the Father, "Whatever you ask in My name, He will give it to you" (John 16:23) - with one major exception: the one prayer God always answers No, as in, No way, absolutely not, not in a million years!

Here is the prayer: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).

The dear Lord Jesus Christ says No to this prayer.  A gentle, but firm, loving No.

Peter was one part right and one part wrong.  He was right to confess himself a sinful man.  That was true.  No argument there.  But how was he wrong?  Very!  He was wrong about Jesus who came for the very purpose of getting close to sinful people.

How does this apply?  You're a Christian, baptized, righteous in the eyes of God because of Christ.  But what about in your eyes?  You remember sins, you still see sins in your life, you still sin.  And you will think like Peter and try to send God away.  This often shows up in thinking, "I can't go to church.  I shouldn't go to Communion!"

But do you know what that's like?  It's like saying to the doctor, "I shouldn't come see you right now, because I'm sick.  And that medicine you want to give me, let's wait on that till I'm better."

Listen.  You go to God in the very moment you think you should go away.  Go to His Word, Sacraments, Church, and Cross.  Because the very reason you think God should go away from you is the very reason He doesn't and won't.  "I made you, I redeemed you, I make you holy.  I love you.  And so the answer is No, I will not depart."

No has never sounded so good, so completely the Gospel!

And it may be that this one No is like all the other Yeses put together.