LUTHERAN DAILY DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Lutheran Daily Devotional 1st May 2023 Monday Message. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: Plans That Last
SCRIPTURE: Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God. – Psalm 146:3-5
Lutheran Daily Devotional 1st May 2023 MESSAGE
The psalmist often tells us that we are to trust in God, but the psalms also warn against trust that is wrongly and dangerously misplaced. We cannot be saved eternally by the sword or bow, weapons of our own making (see Psalm 44:6). Lies, of course, are never a source of true hope (see Psalm 40:4). However desirable earthly wealth may be, it is not a trustworthy place of refuge (see Psalm 52:7). We are warned against putting our trust in princes, in earthly rulers. According to God’s command, we respect and obey our rulers, but we are not to place our ultimate trust in them. The plans of a prince may promise so much, but when the prince dies, his plans die with him. Earthly plans cannot support lasting hope.
We are not to place our trust in a mortal man, “a son of man in whom there is no salvation.” We build our hope on the Son of Man, Jesus our Lord, in whom there is salvation. He is the Son of Man who came “to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b). On the day of our ransom, the day we call Good Friday, it appeared that the plans of the Heavenly Prince of Peace were doomed to failure. As Jesus hung on the cross, His enemies mocked Him for what they believed to be the Messiah’s misplaced trust: “He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He desires Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God'” (Matthew 27:43). The breath of Jesus departed and His body was returned to the earth, buried in a tomb, yet the plans of our Heavenly Prince could never perish. Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man, rose from the dead and, because He lives, He promises that we too will rise from death. No earthly prince can keep such a promise. We place our trust in our crucified and risen Lord and in Him alone we have forgiveness and eternal salvation.
Misplaced trust cannot comfort us or help us to endure the trials and trouble we face each day. Our own strength and wealth and the most impressive princely promises will finally fail. Even our own plans will perish, but God has chosen us to be His own in Christ Jesus. He guides our steps and our plans according to His gracious will. We place our trust in the Lord our God and in Him we have hope now and for eternity. His plans and His promises will never fail!
WE PRAY: Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, I place my trust in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. How hard is it for you to trust others? Whom are you most likely to trust?
2. What makes placing our confidence in politicians so difficult these days?
3. How has God shown us that our trust in Him is well placed?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 20-21 Psalms 34 Luke 21:20-38
God bless you for reading Lutheran Daily Devotional 1st May 2023 Message. Encourage someone today by sharing this Gospel.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY