Yesterday, Today, Forever

Hope-Full Living

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Yesterday, Today, Forever

November 3, 2024 • Jill Rodenbeck • Exodus 13:22, Daniel 3:24–25, Luke 24:28–35

Give

Have you ever felt alone? No visitors, no one to talk to? Sometimes we feel forgotten.

Feelings can lead to wrong thinking. Wrapped up in ourselves, we lose sight of God’s truth: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5); “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20); “Fear not for I am with you ... I am your God ...” (Isaiah 41:10). These promises help us focus on reality. God is real. His presence is real. He comes to us in his Word and sacraments. He who never changes loves us — yesterday, today, and forever. He showed us by gladly going to the cross in our place to defeat death. We are never without him no matter how we feel.

Before I Knew God ...

November 25, 2024 • Lori Hatcher • Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 46:10, Job 42:2

When I was 18 years old, I had to decide where to go to college and what to study. I opened a career catalog, read the job descriptions, and chose Dental Hygiene. For 40 years, I’ve worked in this profession, through my children’s early years, during our homeschooling journey, alongside my professional writing career, and now, as I help care for my parents and grandkids. The Holy Spirit didn’t bring me to faith in Christ until after I’d chosen my career, but I know God guided my decision. He led me into a profession that has allowed me to accomplish everything he’s called me to do while providing a reliable part-time income. As a Christian, I want to seek God for every decision, but I’m comforted to know that even before I knew God, he knew me and was ordering the circumstances of my life for good.

We Wish to See Jesus

November 24, 2024 • Jeremy Klaustermeier • John 12:21, Hebrews 12:1–3, Psalm 96

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the words, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” etched in metal plates on the pulpit at our church. At first it struck me as quite odd, but as I’ve been a pastor now for many years, it makes perfect sense. As I get tempted to spend the precious few minutes I have in that pulpit talking about the latest trend or railing against the latest thing that offends, the Lord brings me back to those words. All of us, as Christians, need to have our hearts and minds refixed on this same request that the people made to Philip that day. We need to show people and tell people of Jesus, because he is what matters, and he alone is the way of salvation.

Tense Times

November 23, 2024 • Ed Grube • Psalm 90:1, Psalm 90:1–6, Matthew 24:36

Time sometimes makes us tense. There always seems a need to be somewhere on schedule. Some cultures are much less compelled by time. Languages operate by tenses. Some count it vital. (Like the astronaut adjusting to connect with the space station.) Does God ever let time get in the way of his loving us? Does he ever miss an “appointment?” God has his own time zone. He is the God of time, no matter what time it is or will be. Don’t get tense about your salvation. God has always been on time to take us to heaven. Remember “For while we were still weak ... Christ died for the ungodly ... while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).