Luke 24:13-32 | Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Day 5 of 18 Days in the New Testament with Chuck Swindoll

“THEN JESUS took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). What a great moment it must have been when Christ taught the Scriptures to these two people walking along the road to Emmaus!

Consider this: Could Jesus handle the Scriptures? Would He have done a fairly good job of explaining them? Look at the word “explaining”. He didn’t simply point to a verse or two that proved He was the Messiah. He explained “all the Scriptures.” In other words, He took the Scriptures and interpreted them clearly for these two disciples to see the truth. He went to Genesis and then Exodus and then Leviticus and Numbers and Deuteronomy. Those are the books of Moses. He showed them how the books of Moses portrayed His own coming and His life, death, and resurrection before the fact. Then He took His listeners into the Prophets. And through all of the Prophets, He interpreted correctly the truth concerning Himself. These disciples had no doubt heard Scripture before, but they had missed Him in it—as do many who read the Bible today. So, through the skill of His understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures, Jesus explained to them how the Scriptures pointed to Him.

Then the two disciples urged Him not to go, saying, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late” (Luke 24:29). So He went in to stay with them, presumably continuing the conversation and opening Scripture to them even more.

Here they were enjoying a meal together, finishing it off with a little bread, and suddenly their eyes were opened. The scales fell off. They realized, “The One we’ve been talking to is the Messiah! That’s Jesus, the Son of God!” And immediately He was gone, taken out of their sight.

So they looked at each other and said, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

Imagine their conversation: “Remember how He handled the book of Leviticus? Remember what He said when He got to Deuteronomy? Remember how He explained Isaiah and Jeremiah and Lamentations and Daniel? Now we understand that all that has happened recently has been in fulfillment of the Scriptures we’ve known since we were kids!”

After Jesus had explained Scripture to His disciples and showed them how Moses and the prophets had spoken of Him, “their eyes were opened” (Luke 24:31). You know what the implication of that statement is? If you don’t see Christ in the Scriptures, your eyes aren’t open. He is there. He is the key that, when turned correctly, unlocks the truth and causes you to have insight you never dreamed possible.

That’s the way it is with the Bible. People read through Genesis, struggle to get into Exodus, and by the time they get to Leviticus, throw their hands in the air and say, “I cannot make heads or tails of the whole thing.” It’s because their eyes aren’t open yet. They haven’t had the Scriptures explained to them in light of Christ. He is the theme all the way through. Likewise, He is to be the central theme all the way through our lives.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.

Luke 2 | In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Day 3 of 18 Days in the New Testament with Chuck Swindoll

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT intrigues me. I’m convinced that the magnetic spirit that comes over us and draws us together during this annual season is literally the Spirit of God working to bring us back to the wonder of the most amazing paradox that has ever struck this earth: that God became human. In the wonder of it all, as believer and unbeliever alike are caught up in that remarkable draw toward the warmth of Christmas, God does a work through this familiar story.

When Jesus came, born in a manger in the obscure town of Bethlehem, His people didn’t want their Messiah to look like that. They wanted a warrior with a big sword who could overthrow the powerful Roman government. They wanted someone to bring rescue and revolution. They wanted a political leader who would set up a kingdom and make them charter members. They were waiting for that gift. They wanted a leader who would get rid of the Roman soldiers.

But God knew what they needed. He sent them a leader who would get rid of the problem of sin. But when you want somebody to overthrow the government, a little baby born in Bethlehem does not seem like much of a gift at all. Jesus didn’t arrive on a white stallion swinging a big sword. He never once talked about overthrowing the government. He had no political agenda. He didn’t come to be served, but to serve. He didn’t wear a crown, except a crown of thorns.

But at Christmas, how we “thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Cor. 9:15). Jesus Christ is the ­God-­man. He is our High Priest, who intercedes for us when we go to the Father with our prayers of confession and praise and intercession and petition. You see, He came to touch the lives of the world.

Maybe you’ve never connected the dots until today. Maybe for you Christmas has been about a tree, an old man with a white beard, a bunch of gifts (some of which you don’t even want), and a lot of irrelevant traditions you’ve never really been able to put together. Understand this today: Christmas is about God’s love for the world. It’s about God’s gift to us.

By simply receiving this gift, a gift you didn’t even realize you needed, your whole life can be transformed. If there has never been a time when you have personally committed your life to Christ, what in the world are you waiting for? This is your moment. It doesn’t matter what your age is. It doesn’t matter how shameful your past is. Jesus doesn’t care what your track record has been. He doesn’t care if you’ve been in church all your life. It doesn’t make any difference whether you know a lot of religious things or can even quote verses from the Bible. If you’ve never believed in Jesus, you’re not going to go to heaven. Jesus is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. Without the Way, there isn’t any going. Without the Truth, there isn’t any knowing. Without the Life, there isn’t any living. Come on—join the family! God has given you a gift that you need. Today you can receive it.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.

Matthew 5:13-16 | “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

18 Days in the New Testament with Chuck Swindoll

SHAKE THE SALT.

Shine the light. You know what I’m describing? Lifestyle evangelism, summarized in this sermon from Jesus. I’m not talking about giving a really “Christian” Christmas card to a neighbor you haven’t talked with for two years. That likely won’t accomplish anything. I’m talking about being salt and light in the world.

How do you go about this? Here are four simple suggestions:

First, live right and start praying. These two go together. Each of us lives in a neighborhood or a community. Each of us works or lives around people who are lost. Each of us is engaged in activities alongside lost people. Live right and start praying. When you pray, think outside the box. You’re not just praying for another person. You’re praying that you will have the opportunity to strike a match where there’s only darkness or to shake some salt on a life that has become bland.

Second, care about and reach out. Start simply by being friendly. You might practice smiling regularly. People are drawn to those who smile. It is amazing! I’ve had the most fantastic conversations in grocery stores that have started just because I’m smiling. One day I had a lady ask me, “What have you done?”

I said, “I’ve done a lot of things.”

She said, “No, I mean today. I mean, like, right now. Why are you smiling like that?”

“It’s just the way I am,” I answered.

She wanted to know how I could possibly be so happy. At that moment, I could have pulled her aside because of the smile and talked to her directly about things that matter. I did not have the opportunity at that moment, but there’s still a lesson in this. People will wonder how we can be happy in this difficult world. Then that will give us the opportunity to tell them that Jesus makes us smile. Jesus gives us a reason to be happy. Jesus makes life not just worth surviving but worth living.

Third, be available and listen. Listen, for a change. Don’t do all the talking. When you’re available—when people know you will listen—they will tell you their needs, their worries, their concerns. They will share their hearts with you. Care enough to enter into where they are. Laugh with them, cry with them, sigh with them. Tell them you care. You may not have the answers and you may not be able to solve their problems, but you can do a lot for people just by being available and listening.

Fourth, share your faith openly and follow through. Be ready. When the opportunity is right, when you sense that the Spirit is guiding you to share your faith, don’t hold back. As Peter says, “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Pet. 3:15).

When you’re willing to be salt and light in the world, you cultivate in people an appetite for God—or at least a curiosity. You become a phenomenon to them because you live in the same world they do yet live with a totally different attitude. It makes them wonder what gives you that kind of joy. Trust me—people will ask, and they will listen. Be ready to tell them the answer: It’s the Good News about Jesus Christ.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 | Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Thanks. Just the word lifts the spirit. To say thanks is to celebrate a gift. Something. Anything. Animals. Bald spots. Chocolate. Dictionaries.

To say thanks is to cross the tracks from have-not to have-much, from the excluded to the recruited. Thanks proclaims, “I’m not disadvantaged, disabled, victimized, scandalized, forgotten, or ignored. I am blessed.” Gratitude is a dialysis of sorts. It flushes the self-pity out of our systems.

In Scripture the idea of giving thanks is not a suggestion or recommendation; it is a command. It carries the same weight as “love your neighbor” and “give to the poor.” More than a hundred times, either by imperative or example, the Bible commands us to be thankful. If quantity implies gravity, God takes thanksgiving seriously.

Jesus was robustly thankful. He was thankful when Mary interrupted the party with perfume. When he hugged children and blessed babies and watched blind people look at their first sunsets, Jesus was thankful. When the disciples returned from their first mission trip, he rejoiced: “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21).

Thank you, . . .

Don’t be too quick in your assessment of God’s gifts to you. Thank him. Moment by moment. Day by day.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.

1 Corinthians 8:6 | …yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Oh, Father

Do you ever take a moment to pray but feel like you stumble out of the gate? Do you have trouble finding the words when it comes time to bow your head? Remember, the One who hears your prayers is your Daddy. You don’t need to wow him with eloquence.

Jesus downplayed the importance of words in prayers. We tend to do the opposite. The more words the better. The better words the better. We focus on the appropriate prayer language, the latest prayer trend, the holiest prayer terminology. Against this emphasis on syllables and rituals, Jesus says, “Don’t ramble like heathens who . . . talk a lot” (Matt. 6:7 God’s Word).

Vocabulary and geography might impress people but not God. There is no panel of angelic judges with numbered cards. “Wow, Lucado, that prayer was a ten. God will certainly hear you!” “Oh, Lucado, you scored a two this morning. Go home and practice.” Prayers aren’t graded according to style.

Just as a happy child cannot mis-hug, the sincere heart cannot mis-pray. Heaven knows, life has enough burdens without the burden of praying correctly. If prayer depends on how I pray, I’m sunk. But if the power of prayer depends on the One who hears the prayer, and if the One who hears the prayer is my Daddy, then I have hope.

Prayer really is that simple. Resist the urge to complicate it. Don’t take pride in well-crafted prayers. Don’t apologize for incoherent prayers. No games. No cover-ups. Just be honest—honest to God. Climb into his lap. Tell him everything that is on your heart. Or tell him nothing at all.

Sometimes “Daddy” is all we can muster. Stress. Fear. Guilt. Grief. Demands on all sides. All we can summon is a plaintive “Oh, Father.” If so, that’s enough.

Devotional from YouVersion Bible App. Contact Pastor Rod Lindemann at RodL@TimothyLutheran.com on how to use the Bible App for additional readings and topics.