Month: June 2026

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PWTE Daily Devotion

He is the Way

By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Trust in the Lord…

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 English Standard Version

Have you ever been confronted with a life changing, scary, confusing piece of news?  The news can take many different forms: Cancer, heart attack, war, crash, betrayal, violence, pain, murder, bankruptcy, hospice, death.  The announcement of what has just happened rocks you to your very core.  The reality of the crisis can leave you feeling numb or paralyzed or full of aching sadness and indescribable hurt and grief.

Many years ago a dear friend and Christian teacher was diagnosed with severe, advance cancer.  In the midst of the shock and trauma, Betty did what she had learned to do in every difficult situation – pray.  At the same time she heard the news and began praying, her dear mother began praying for her.

When the two women contacted each other the next day, the Lord had given them both the same Bible verse, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”    Over the next days and weeks and months these two women again and again actively trusted in the Lord, not trying to understand why this cancer had happened, but leaning on God’s mercy and peace in Jesus Christ.  Many were encouraged to pray these two verses and trust in the Lord.

When Betty died some months later, many of us wore T-shirts inscribed with these Bible verses.  We had all lived through this situation by trusting in the Lord’s wisdom and comfort.  We took the attitude of children, not questioning the circumstances, but leaning on Jesus.

Are you in a terrible, terrifying crisis?  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  No matter where the path of life may take you, trust in Jesus.  For Jesus not only is directing our way, he is our way.  We trust in his unfailing love no matter what the outcome may be.  Amen.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado

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PWTE Daily Devotion

The Cross and Owl

By Pastor Don Schatz

Noise Canceling

 

“And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.”   
Colossians 2:13–14 New Revised Standard Version

‘The Cross and Owl’ sounds like the name of a British pub, right?  An owl is a silent bird of prey.  Owl’s come in various sizes.  Their feathers are arranged so that when they glide, they are silent.  I was once at a birds of prey show at the Wild Animal Park near Escondido, California.  A handler released an large owl at the top of the amphitheater in which we were seated.  Everyone was watching the presenter below, in front of the stands.  I did not hear the owl at all.  But its one wing tip brushed my hair as it glided by, completely silent.

In the Old Testament, owls are typically mentioned with vultures.  In the Psalms, the couple times owls are mentioned, they are pictured as lonely birds in the wilderness.  The Psalmists use them as a simile for their own loneliness.  I bought the owl to scare away flickers.  It didn’t work.  So now it is yard art.

Jesus, crucified on Calvary, was surrounded by the noise of jeers and sneers from he crowd, and from at least one fellow crucified.  Except for seven brief statements recorded in the Gospels, he was ‘silent, like a lamb led to slaughter.’  Yet, the still, small voice that uttered, “It is finished,” spoke for those noisy folks, and for us who can talk too much and not listen enough to the Lord speak in the Word.  Our Savior erased the record of our noisy, or stealthy, sin and that record was nailed to the cross with him, in him.  He was both the record and the sin.  For us.

So I have a cross as yard art as well.  The owl didn’t scare anything.  The cross reminds me that Jesus never would want to scare away anyone.  He is wants you to come, and he will give you a hug.  Need a hug from Jesus today?

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

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PWTE Daily Devotion

Adopted Heirs

by Kala Loptien

Justified

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Romans 8: 31-34, English Standard Version

I’ve heard and I’ve read this particular passage explained alongside the analogy of a courtroom scene. We are on the stand. Guilty on all counts. But as the judge prepares to read the verdict, someone else steps forward — to intercede, to accept our sentence, to take our place. We walk free. Record expunged. Fully justified.

Our Savior, the perfectly-innocent Son of God, stood in our place and endured in our stead. We were the guilty ones. But God wanted more for us. He knew His people needed saving and He had a plan from the very beginning.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Galatians 4: 4-5, English Standard Version 

God’s promises always come to pass. Though we have long lists of failures, sins and records, God’s track record is perfect. He stood in our place, taking the penalty of our sin so we could stand righteous before God. Even more than that, we stand as adopted heirs — saved, loved and alive in Christ.

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado