St. Mark Lutheran Church - Flint, MI

A Devotion for Monday, July 20th. Please read Deuteronomy 7:6–9. (the Old Testament Reading for this Sunday)

Good Morning! As Moses speaks to Israel on the edge of the Promised Land, he reminds them of a truth they must never forget. Their identity as God's people does not begin with their faithfulness or strength. It begins with God's gracious choice.

"You are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession." These words are not spoken because Israel has proven itself worthy. In fact, Moses quickly removes any reason for boasting. "It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set His love on you and chose you... but it is because the LORD loves you."

At first, that almost sounds circular. Why did God love Israel? Because He loved them. But that is precisely the point. God's love does not find its cause in the worthiness of His people. It finds its source in His own gracious and merciful character. Israel was not chosen because of what they had done, but because of who God is.

This same truth is a comfort for us today. We are not God's children because we have earned His favor or lived lives worthy of His grace. We belong to Him because He has called us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Before the foundation of the world, the Father purposed our salvation in His Son, and in time He brought us into that salvation through His Word and the waters of Holy Baptism. Our confidence rests not in ourselves but in His gracious promise.

Moses also reminds Israel that the Lord is "the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love." Throughout Israel's history, they would fail again and again. Yet the Lord remained faithful to His covenant. That covenant ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus perfectly kept the Law where we could not. He bore the curse of our sin upon the cross and established the new covenant in His blood. Because Christ has fulfilled every promise of God, we can be certain that the Lord will never abandon those who belong to Him.

When our consciences accuse us or our faith feels weak, this passage directs our eyes away from ourselves and toward the God who does not change. His steadfast love is not sustained by our faithfulness but by His own. The God who chose, redeemed, and called His people is the same God who continues to preserve us in Christ until the day He brings us safely into the eternal Promised Land.

Lets Pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for choosing us to be Your own through the saving work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Keep us trusting not in our own worthiness but in Your unfailing faithfulness, until the day You bring us into the everlasting inheritance You have promised; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Devotion for Friday, July 17th. Please read Gospel of Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43. (the Holy Gospel Reading for this Sunday)
Good Morning! In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells the Parable of the Weeds. A man sows good seed in his field, but while everyone is sleeping, an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. As the plants grow, the servants notice the problem and ask whether they should pull up the weeds. The master responds, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.”

Later, Jesus explains the parable. The Son of Man is the one who sows the good seed. The field is the world. The good seed represents the sons of the kingdom, while the weeds are the sons of the evil one. The enemy is the devil, and the harvest is the close of the age.

One of the questions this parable answers is one that Christians have often asked: If Christ reigns, why does evil still exist in the world? Why do the righteous and the wicked continue to live side by side? Jesus teaches that this should not surprise us. Until the final harvest, the wheat and the weeds will grow together. The presence of evil does not mean that God has lost control, nor does it mean that His promises have failed.

Instead, Jesus directs our attention to the end of the story. There is coming a harvest. There is coming a day of judgment. The Son of Man who now rules in patience will return in glory. On that day, all things will be set right. Evil will not endure forever. Sin, death, and every work of the devil will be judged and removed.

For the believer, this is not a message of fear but of comfort. Jesus does not leave His people wondering how the story ends. He tells us plainly: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Those who belong to Christ have a future secured not by their own works, but by His saving work on the cross.

This parable also reminds us of God's patience. The harvest has not yet come because the Lord continues to call sinners to repentance and faith. His desire is that people hear His Word and be gathered into His kingdom.

So when you look around and see evil, injustice, and suffering, do not lose heart. The Lord of the harvest has not forgotten His field. He knows His own. And when the day of harvest comes, His kingdom will be revealed in all its glory.

Lets Pray: Heavenly Father, when we see evil and suffering in the world, keep us steadfast in the hope of Your promises. Grant us patience as we await the return of Your Son, and preserve us in the true faith until the day when the righteous shine in Your kingdom forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Devotion for Wednesday, July 15th. Please read Romans 8:18–27. (the Epistle Reading for this Sunday)
Good Morning! In our reading from Romans, Paul helps us to frame our present sufferings alongside the glory that is to come. He writes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Paul is not dismissing suffering as though it were insignificant. He knew suffering well. He had endured persecution, imprisonment, hardship, and loss. Yet he could say these things because his eyes were fixed on the promise of what Christ has won.

Paul reminds us that all creation is waiting. The world itself has been subjected to futility because of sin. We see its effects everywhere. In sickness, disaster, decay, and death. This is not how God created the world to be. Creation longs for the day when it will be set free from its bo***ge to corruption and share in the freedom of the children of God.

But creation is not alone in its waiting. Paul says that we also "groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." Through Holy Baptism, we are already God's children. Yet we still await the day when Christ returns and raises our bodies from the dead. Our salvation is already accomplished through His death and resurrection, but its fullness will be revealed on the Last Day.

This is why Paul speaks of hope. "Hope that is seen is not hope." Christian hope is not wishful thinking or uncertain optimism. It is confidence in God's promises. We do not yet see the resurrection of the body or the restoration of all creation, but we know they are coming because Christ has risen from the dead. His resurrection is the guarantee of ours.

Then Paul gives one final comfort. There are times when suffering leaves us without words. We may not know what to pray or how to express the burdens of our hearts. Yet we are not left alone. "The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Even when our prayers fail, the Holy Spirit does not. He intercedes according to the will of God, bringing before the Father every need of His people.

So while we wait, we do not wait alone. We wait with hope, with the Spirit's help, and with the sure promise that the glory to come far outweighs every sorrow we experience now.

Lets Pray: Heavenly Father, when we grow weary under the burdens of this fallen world, keep our eyes fixed on the glory You have promised through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Strengthen our hope as we await the resurrection of the body, and comfort us through the work of Your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Devotion for Monday, July 13th. Please read Book of Isaiah 44:6–8. (the Old Testament Reading for this Sunday)

Good Morning! In our reading from Isaiah, the Lord declares, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” These words are a bold reminder of who God is. He is not one among many. He is the eternal God, the One who existed before all things and who will remain when all things have passed away. There is no rival to His throne and no equal to His power.

The Lord continues by asking a series of questions: “Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.” The answer, of course, is that there is no one. Throughout history, people have trusted in idols, false gods, wealth, power, or even themselves. Yet none of these can do what the Lord alone can do. They cannot declare the future, sustain creation, forgive sin, or give eternal life.

Instead, the Lord points to His own faithfulness. He has spoken. He has acted. He has called His people and made Himself known to them. Because He is the eternal God, His promises are certain. They do not change with the passing of time or the shifting circumstances of our lives.

These words also direct us to Christ. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus declares, “I am the First and the Last.” The title that belongs to the Lord in Isaiah is applied to Christ, revealing that Jesus is truly God. The One who entered our world, suffered on the cross, and rose again is none other than the eternal Lord of heaven and earth.

Because Christ is the First and the Last, His saving work is complete and trustworthy. The God who made His promises is the same God who fulfilled them. He has conquered sin and death, and His Word remains certain forever.

The Lord concludes with a comforting command: “Fear not, nor be afraid.” We need not fear because the One who rules over all things is the One who has redeemed us. There is no power greater than Him and no promise more certain than His.

So today, when the world seems uncertain and many voices compete for your trust, remember the Lord's declaration: “Besides me there is no god.” The One who has claimed you as His own is the eternal God, and His promises will never fail.

Lets Pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You that You alone are the First and the Last, the only true God. Strengthen our faith to trust in Your promises, fulfilled in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and keep us steadfast in Him all our days; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Devotion for Friday, July 10. Please read Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (the Gospel for this Sunday)

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus reminds us that the power is not in the soil but in the seed. The seed is the Word of God—the Gospel that proclaims forgiveness, life, and salvation through Christ. Wherever that Word is sown, God is at work.

Jesus describes different kinds of soil because He knows the many ways people receive His Word. Some hearts are hardened by unbelief. Others receive it with joy but quickly fall away when trials come. Still others allow the worries of this world and the lure of wealth to choke out faith. Yet there is also good soil, where the Word takes root and bears fruit.

The good soil is not the result of human effort. By nature, none of us is fertile ground. Rather, the Holy Spirit prepares our hearts through the means of grace—God's Word and the Sacraments—to receive Christ by grace through faith. As the Spirit continues His work, He produces the fruits of faith in lives shaped by God's mercy, sending us out to scatter the seed of His Word through our lives of faith.

The Sower has not stopped sowing. Even today, Christ continues to scatter His life-giving Word generously. Hear that Word, trust His promises, and rejoice that the harvest belongs to Him.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, continue to sow Your Word into my heart. Remove whatever hardens, distracts, or weakens my faith, and by Your Holy Spirit keep me rooted in Your Gospel so that my life may bear fruit to Your glory. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

Devotion for Wednesday, July 8. Please read Romans 8:12-17 (the Epistle for this Sunday)

In Christ, we are no longer debtors to our sinful flesh. Left to ourselves, sin leads only to death, guilt, and separation from God. But through Jesus' death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit has set us free from sin's condemnation and given us new life.

Paul reminds us that those who are led by the Spirit are God's children. This is not because we have earned our place in God's family, but because the Father has adopted us through Christ. In Holy Baptism, God placed His name upon us, gave us His Spirit, and made us heirs with His Son. Therefore, we cry out with confidence, "Abba! Father!" knowing that God welcomes us as His beloved children.

Being God's child does not mean life will be free from suffering. In fact, Paul says we share in Christ's sufferings even as we await the fullness of His glory. Yet we do not suffer without hope. The same Spirit who assures us that we belong to the Father also strengthens us to endure, confident that our inheritance is secure because of Christ.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me as Your own through Jesus Christ. By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen me to put sin to death, to trust Your promises, and to live each day as Your beloved child until I receive the full inheritance You have prepared for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotion for Monday, July 6. Please read Isaiah 55:10-13 (the Old Testament Reading for Sunday)

The Lord compares His Word to the rain and snow that water the earth. Just as the rain always accomplishes its purpose by bringing forth life, God's Word never returns to Him empty. It accomplishes exactly what He intends.

That is comforting, because we often judge God's work by what we can see. We may wonder whether anyone is listening, whether our prayers matter, or whether the Gospel is making any difference. Yet the Lord assures us that His Word is never wasted. Through the proclamation of Christ crucified and risen, the Holy Spirit creates faith, forgives sins, strengthens believers, and preserves His Church according to God's gracious will.

Isaiah's closing picture is one of joy and restoration. The curse of sin gives way to blessing as cypress replaces thorns and myrtle replaces briers. This points us beyond our present struggles to the new creation won for us by Jesus Christ. Until that day, we continue to hear, read, and trust God's living Word, confident that He is faithfully accomplishing His saving purposes.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your life-giving Word. Strengthen my faith through the Gospel, keep me steadfast in Christ, and accomplish Your gracious will in my life until I rejoice with all Your saints in the new creation. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Devotion for Friday, July 3. Please read Matthew 11:25-30 (the Gospel for this Sunday)

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, we give thanks for the many blessings of our nation and the freedoms we enjoy. Yet Jesus reminds us that there is a freedom even greater than any earthly liberty.

He invites all who are weary and burdened: "Come to me...and I will give you rest." The greatest burden we carry is not oppression from without but the weight of sin within. We cannot free ourselves from guilt, fear, or death. But Jesus has done what we could never do. Through His perfect life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection, He has won forgiveness, life, and salvation for all who trust in Him.

Jesus also says, "Take my yoke upon you...for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The Christian life is not burdened by the impossible task of earning God's favor. Instead, we live as those already redeemed by grace through faith. Our Savior walks beside us, bearing our burdens and shaping us to love and serve our neighbors.

As fireworks light the sky and flags wave proudly, let us thank God for our country while remembering that our deepest hope is found not in any earthly nation but in the everlasting kingdom of Christ. There, we find the truest freedom—the freedom of forgiven sinners who rest securely in their Savior.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us to rest in You. Bless our nation and those who serve it. Keep us grateful for our earthly freedoms, but always anchor our hearts in the greater freedom You have won through Your cross and resurrection. Help us live as Your faithful people, serving our neighbors in love until You bring us into Your eternal kingdom. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Devotion for Wednesday, July 1. Please read Romans 7:14-25a (the Epistle for this Sunday)

Every Christian knows the struggle Paul describes. Though redeemed by Christ, we still wrestle with our sinful nature. We want to do what is pleasing to God, yet we often find ourselves falling into the very sins we hate. This conflict is not evidence that faith has failed; rather, it is the ongoing battle between the old sinful Adam and the new creation brought forth through Holy Baptism.

Left to ourselves, we have no hope of winning this struggle. The Law reveals our sin but cannot rescue us from it. Paul's cry, "Who will deliver me?" points us away from ourselves and to our Savior. Jesus Christ has done what we could never do. By His perfect obedience, atoning death, and victorious resurrection, He has forgiven our sins and declared us righteous before the Father.

Until Christ returns, the struggle with sin continues. Yet we do not fight as those without hope. Daily we repent, receive God's forgiveness through His Word and Sacraments, and live by faith in the One who has already won the victory. Our confidence rests not in our ability to overcome sin, but in Christ, who finished His work for us.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, when I am burdened by my sin, turn my eyes away from myself and fix them on Your cross. Daily forgive me, strengthen my faith through Your Word and Sacraments, and keep me steadfast until the day You bring me into Your perfect kingdom. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Devotion for Monday, June 29. Please read Zechariah 9:9-12 (the Old Testament Reading for Sunday)

Centuries before Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the prophet Zechariah proclaimed the coming of the true King. Unlike earthly rulers who rely on power, armies, and intimidation, Jesus comes in humility. Yet His humility is not weakness—it is the very means by which He brings salvation.

Christ rides toward the cross, where He wins peace not through the shedding of His enemies' blood, but by shedding His own. Because of the blood of His covenant, God sets His people free from the prison of sin, death, and the devil. The covenant sealed in Christ's blood is the sure promise that all who trust in Him are forgiven and reconciled to the Father.

Zechariah calls God's people "prisoners of hope." Christians know that hope is not wishful thinking but confident trust in God's promises. Even amid suffering, uncertainty, or guilt, we return to our stronghold—Jesus Christ. In Him we find refuge, forgiveness, and the assurance that God will restore far more than we have lost.

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, our humble and victorious King, thank You for coming to save us through Your suffering and death. Keep us steadfast in the hope won by Your blood, and teach us always to find our refuge in You. Strengthen our faith until the day You come again in glory. In Your name, we pray. Amen.