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Judgmental Moments

In the Word

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? (Romans 14:10a).

Of the Word

She noticed him the minute he entered her checkout line. He had multiple tattoos, body piercings, and a T-shirt extolling an oddly-named music group. “Another one of them,” she thought. “How are you?” she asked. “Blessed!” he answered, “I’m blessed by God!”

How often our first impressions become final judgments! We look at style of dress, skin color, nationality — even facial expressions — and decide a person’s worth. We gravitate toward those who are most like us. Yet we forget the world’s most common denominator — our sinfulness. We have all fallen short of God’s demand for perfection; everyone has sinned. How foolish to pass judgment on those who are exactly like us!

Because Jesus died and rose again, God the Father now sees us in the perfection of Christ. We are new creatures. How blessed we are when we see others through Jesus’ eyes, loved and saved by Him. They, too, belong to the family of God.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when I am tempted to pass judgment on someone, please enable me to see instead through my Father’s eyes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 17/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Joy vs. Happiness

In the Word

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

Of the Word

Years ago, a popular T-shirt read, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Many people, including Christians, believe that God wants us to be happy. But happiness is often confused with the joy we read of in Scripture. Being happy is a feeling of bliss or a mood that is dependent on other people and circumstances. Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit — not a moment or a mood.

Joy is God’s intentional gift of His presence. Jesus came to live among us, speak the truth of God’s unconditional love for us, and take away our sin through His death and resurrection. No matter what circumstances surround us, we can live in the joy that we are His precious children. We are made whole in the promise of Jesus, “that they may have my joy fulfilled in them” (John 17:13b).

Moments of happiness are a delight, but we can rejoice in the always-present joy that is the foundation of our life in Christ!

Walking with my Lord

Lord, I thank You for moments of happiness and, more importantly, for the never-ending joy of being Your redeemed child. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 16/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Esther — Woman of Courage

Esther’s Story: The Book of Esther

In the Word

Then Esther told them … “I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:15a, 16b).

Of the Word

Like a TV drama, Esther’s story had a beauty contest, sinister plots, betrayal, and courage. Esther, a Judean, was taken captive by an edict of the king because he was looking for a replacement wife. From all the women in the king’s harem, beautiful Esther was the one chosen. God had a plan for her!

An evil plot had been laid to destroy all the Jews of the kingdom. Esther, being a Jew, would not have escaped. After three days of praying and fasting she summoned the courage to go before the king unannounced, which could have resulted in her death. Esther was not turned away. The king learned of the evil plot, and the Jews were saved.

Confronting problems isn’t easy but ignoring them can cause serious consequences. Where can we find courage to say what has to be said or do what has to be done? … fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Our God is bigger than any problem we will ever face. We can rely on God’s promise to always be with us.

Walking with my Lord

Holy Spirit, embolden me with courage to do what I must. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 18/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Naaman’s Servant Girl — A Bold Missionary

Her Story: 2 Kings 5:1–14

In the Word

Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:2).

Of the Word

In all of the accounts of the great Syrian army commander Naaman, only three verses speak of the servant girl and yet God used her in a powerful way. All we know for certain about her is that she was young, she had been kidnapped, and she knew of the prophet Elisha. She must have sensed the heartbreak Naaman’s leprosy caused, for she said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:3b). Because the servant girl spoke up, Naaman did go to Elisha; he was cured of the leprosy; and most important of all he professed “… Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel … ” (2 Kings 5:15b).

Age doesn’t matter when it comes to serving God! We learn from this girl that we can be missionaries wherever we are. While she could have kept quiet, her actions teach us to speak boldly about what our great God can do. What a beautiful example she is of one making the best of an unpleasant situation.

Walking with my Lord

Father, please open my eyes to the opportunities You give me to serve others. May I speak to them boldly of Your love, mercy, and strength. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 17/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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The Widow of Zarephath — Nothing Left but Trust

Her Story: 1 Kings 17:1–24

In the Word

Then the word of the Lord came to him [Elijah], “Arise, go to Zarephath … I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:8a; 9b).

Of the Word

Because of a drought, a widow’s flour and oil were nearly gone. She would bake a bit of bread then she and her son would lie down to die. Enter the prophet Elijah who asks for some bread and water. Explaining her situation to Elijah, he tells the widow not to be afraid. Miraculously, the flour and oil lasted for days.

This story has yet another miracle. The widow’s son dies of an illness and even Elijah doesn’t understand why God let the child die. He fervently prays for life to be returned to him. Miraculously it was! This woman, led to despair, thought circumstances couldn’t get any worse, and yet they did. And we cry, “Lord, I, too have been there.”

God doesn’t want us dangling at the end of a rope. He wants to be our strength. Just as He told the widow not to be afraid, our Father gives us that same assurance. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Walking with my Lord

Lord, when life is difficult help me freely surrender my troubles to You. Then help me trust in Your promise to always be with me. I pray in Your Almighty name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 16/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Fragrance Free

In the Word

For we are the aroma of Christ to God …  (2 Corinthians 2:15a).

Of the Word

The baby wipes box boasts that the wipes are fragrance free. If only there was a guarantee that the used baby wipe was also fragrance free! Like, me, you’ve probably had a couple gagging, eye-watering moments when duty calls!

Before we judge our babies by what they sometimes produce, we need to take a whiff of ourselves. Scripture tells us that we were dead in our transgressions and sins, and dead things tend to be very smelly.

In contrast, the apostle Paul wrote about a pleasant aroma, the Gospel of Christ, which makes us alive by His grace. The stinking, rotting self was left behind. We have the sure hope of eternal life, and that is news that must be shared!

You may think you are not up to the task of spreading this fragrant Good News. Paul also wrote that our sufficiency does not come from us, but from Christ alone. The Holy Spirit empowers us, making us bold in our witness to others.

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, help me spread the pleasant aroma of Your Gospel to the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 18/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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What Were They Thinking?

In the Word

… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Of the Word

While I watched my daughter move food from her plate to the highchair tray and back again, I thought to myself, “What in the world is she thinking?” Sometimes I wonder what possesses my daughter to do what she does.

We might also ask ”What were they thinking?” about some Bible characters. What were Adam and Eve thinking when they dressed in leaves and tried to hide from God? What possessed Jonah to board a ship to Tarshish rather than going to Nineveh? Did Pilate really believe he proved his innocence by simply washing his hands? Martha was in a cooking and cleaning frenzy while God was literally sitting in her home. What was she thinking?

But have we done the same kinds of things? Yes, but God doesn’t throw up His hands, shake His head, and walk away. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. Now we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and we can rejoice in the love and forgiveness He offers.

Walking with my Lord

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to send Your Son Jesus to live, to die, and to rise for me. In His name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 17/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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