by Rev Steve Nickodemus

Deliver us from evil…

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said.”
Acts 14:22b

Rejection.  Beatings.  Imprisonment.  Stoning.  Being left for dead.  Paul and Barnabas experienced all these hardships and much more as they boldly took the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world.  From town to town they would experience both the joy of people putting their trust in the Lord Jesus, and the sorrow of those who rejected God’s message to them.  The journey was long and hard and dangerous.  There were many wrecks along the way.

Jesus warned His followers to count the cost before they decided to follow after Him.  They would need to “deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him.”  Yes, there would be great joy as these disciples would see the Holy Spirit bring faith and new life to many believers.  But there would also be sacrifice, hardships, rejection, and even death for the sake of His name.

And so we pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  Keep us from the temptation of discouragement.  Keep us from the temptation of fear.  Deliver us from the evil of giving up the faith.  Deliver us from the Evil One, Satan himself.

And your prayers will be answered.  As the Holy Spirit sustained the apostles through many trials and hardships, so He will sustain you.  As God protected them from temptation and evil, so He will protect you.  No matter what sin and the world and the devil throw at you, your Lord Jesus is stronger and will deliver you.  For it is God who is at work in you both to will and do His good pleasure!

Whatever the wrecks of life, the Lord will bring us through the journey.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado