Daily Dose of Good News for Thursday, September 23

A Daily Dose of Good News

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Pastor Steve’s devotional is available online at https://youtu.be/_Z6GUSr3DzY
A printer-friendly version of this devotion is available at DDGN 20210923
You may dialog with Pastor Steve on this devotion at steve.wachtman@me.com

 

John said to [Jesus,] “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  (Mark 9:38-50)

 

Good News Inside and Outside Our Church

The good news today is
That anyone can share the good news
Of God’s love in Jesus for all the world.

But then I bet you already sorta knew that.
Think about the teachers in your life.
You have some wonderfully faithful Sunday school teachers at church
Who are so excited to teach you Bible lessons
About God’s love in Jesus for all the world.

AND …

You also have other teachers in your lives,
Teachers who do not belong to our church
But who still use their God-given gift for teaching
To help you learn about God’s world and life and yourself
So that you’re life might be full of meaning, joy and service to others too!

And just like Jesus appreciates your Sunday school teachers so much
Jesus appreciates all those other teachers
Who help you have a healthy and meaningful life, too.

And you moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas,
I’m sure you too, can think of many people at church
Who show you the love of God in Jesus.

AND …

I’m sure you can also think of other people outside our church
Who show you that love and kindness
At work, in the neighborhood, wherever you work and play!

Jesus is thrilled about any one
Who shows love and service to another person
Both those inside our church
And those outside!  Amen

Daily Bible Reading
  • Jeremiah 26:12-24 October 22, 2021

    12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "It is the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

    16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God." 17And some of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembled people, 18Micah of Moresheth, who prophesied during the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, said to all the people of Judah: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts,
    Zion shall be plowed as a field;
    Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
    and the mountain of the house a wooded height.'

    19Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD change his mind about the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster on ourselves!"

    20There was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words exactly like those of Jeremiah. 21And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. 22Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Achbor and men with him to Egypt, 23and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and threw his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

    24But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over into the hands of the people to be put to death.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church