What Did You Do in 23 Minutes Yesterday?
Thursday’s Verses:
From John 3:16-17 ESV
(Jesus said) “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.”
On Wednesday, I spent 23 minutes at the cancer center. Twenty-three minutes. In this short time, I had three quick conversations.
A man approached me and shared an incident that occurred on July 4th while he was eating a bratwurst (OK, the bratwurst thing isn’t important, but it stuck in my mind). His 21-year-old son-in-law, an atheist, expressed his disbelief in the existence of God while eating dinner. According to my friend from the cancer center, he told his daughter’s husband, “You know, the best part of being a believer in Jesus is that when we’re in heaven, all you atheists will not be there.” He laughed and gave me permission to tell this story.
Another man sought my advice regarding forgiveness. He confessed to having lied to his children since they were born. He had instilled in them the importance of reading daily, ensuring they set aside an hour for it each night. However, the man admitted that he detested reading and had never completed an entire book in his life. He wondered if God would forgive him for lying his whole life. His children are now in their thirties, and they love to read.
A woman who was waiting for radiation treatment with me inquired about the appropriateness of secretly baptizing her three grandchildren when they were infants. She explained that her daughter had married a Muslim and had subsequently converted to Islam. So to get her grandkids baptized - “the Bible says Baptism saves, doesn’t it, Father?”- she went to her Roman Catholic church and had them baptized without mom or dad knowing. Honestly, I am not sure that this story is true. I’ve heard something similar from a number of people throughout my pastoral life and doubted each story. But it made me wish that I had stayed in bed yesterday morning. And, truthfully, undergoing the Archie Bunker baptism is something no self-respecting Roman Catholic would do.
All of this in twenty-three minutes.
That’s why today’s Bible verses matter so much. Jesus tells us that God loved His people so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save them from eternal damnation. By faith alone in Jesus, we’re saved. We all make mistakes, but we can be sure that our Father in heaven still loves us. So, let’s turn away from our sins today and ask God to forgive us. In this forgiveness and faith in Jesus, eternal life is yours. Tackle your Thursday with joy.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, all of Your children here on earth regularly fall into temptation and sin. Drive us through Your Spirit to repent of our sins. Grant us forgiveness through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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