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Mother's Day

A devotion for the second Sunday in May
 

In the Word

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).

Of the Word

Certainly, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the most famous mother of all time. We marvel at how God used this young woman to bring our Savior Jesus into this sin-filled world. She knew there would be trials and tribulations, yet she humbly accepted her circumstances.

Since the angel Gabriel brought God’s message to Mary, countless women have responded in much the same way as Mary. They have considered the vocation of motherhood as true servanthood. They have carried out the promise to raise their children according to God’s Word as stated in Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Most of us have been blessed with mothers who “trained us up” by taking us to Sunday school and teaching us that Jesus is our Savior and our friend in time of need. However, we all know mothers who themselves need to hear of the promise of salvation through faith in Christ. Let us resolve to not only befriend these mothers but to also become “extra aunts” to their children, perhaps by offering to bring the children to Sunday school. It truly does “take a village”!

Walking with my Lord

Dear Father, thank You so much for mothers who were steadfast in their promise to serve You and to train us up to know Your Son Jesus as our best friend. Help us to follow their example and to serve not only our own children but also children in our community. We pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
 

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible unless otherwise noted. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Mustard Seed: Mother’s Day by Candy Habich, Blountville, Tennessee
Copyright© 2024 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. All rights reserved.
lwml.org

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Abigail — Peacemaker

(Abigail’s Story: 1 Samuel 25:2–42)

In the Word

When Abigail saw David … She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt” (1 Samuel 25:23a, 24a).

Of the Word

Poor Abigail! Her husband Nabal was rude and crude, rich but unrighteous and unruly. His name even means “fool.” What kind of woman would be his wife?

When faced with the repercussion of Nabal’s foolishness, Abigail opted to step in and take the blame even though she was not guilty. She became the peacemaker. She went to David, made apology, and asked forgiveness. Abigail even brought gifts. Though David had planned to wipe out Nabal’s company, he listened to Abigail. Convinced that God had intervened by sending her, David abandoned his plan and left in peace.

Do you know of a peacemaker who willingly, unflinchingly walks between opposing forces? Has God ever called you to be such a peacemaker? He has a promise for you: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). As He was with Abigail, so He is with you as you do His will!

Walking with my Lord

Dear Lord, peace is lacking in the world and in my life. Give me courage to seek the truth and to be an instrument of Your peace. Give me words that are quiet and loving so others may also have Your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Daughters of the King. Marcia Gomulka and Myrna Lou Meyer, authors. 13/34 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Doctor’s Appointment

In the Word

… a man named Zacchaeus … was seeking to see who Jesus was …  (Luke 19:2a, 3a).

Of the Word

I find myself getting extremely nervous when it is time for a well-child checkup with the doctor. Part of me dreads the shot my child will get, and part of me feels I am about to be judged on whether or not I am a good mother. The appointments, however, are helpful and our pediatrician is always encouraging.

If well-child checkups are that helpful, think how beneficial a Divine Appointment would be. Just ask Zacchaeus!

As chief tax collector Zacchaeus was very rich. Being small of stature, he climbed a tree in order to see this Jesus he had heard about. That is where he was when Jesus, the Great Physician, called, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today” (Luke 19:5a).

Notice Jesus said He MUST stay with Zacchaeus. God required it. Jesus’ appointment with Zacchaeus changed his life. Jesus brought grace and mercy. This was an appointment Zacchaeus could not afford to miss.

The Great Physician also calls for us to seek Him. He will greet us with healing, not harm; mercy, not judgment. Like Zacchaeus, this is one appointment we also can’t afford to miss.

Walking with my Lord

Father, thank You for the healing mercies I receive from Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 14/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Slept Like a Baby

In the Word

O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them (Psalm 89:8–9).

Of the Word

Whoever coined the phrase “slept like a baby” was misguided. While the phrase is meant to describe a peaceful uninterrupted night of sleep, for my daughter these nights are not always the norm.

One day while in a boat a tired Jesus was sleeping the peaceful, uninterrupted sleep of a baby. He had spent the day healing the sick and casting out demons. Suddenly, the calm seas turned into a great storm. The sleeping Jesus was awakened by the disciples’ cries for help. He got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm once again. (Matthew 8:23–27)

Jesus wasn’t afraid of the winds as His disciples were because He created them. He was not frightened of the waves because He had authority over them. Because He is a powerful God as well as a tired man, Jesus was able to “sleep like a baby” in the midst of a raging storm.

We, too, can be assured when we cry out for Jesus to help us, the Son of God will do just that.

Walking with my Lord

Almighty God, thank You for giving me Your peace when I am surrounded by the storms of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 13/30 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Looking Over Your Shoulder

In the Word

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided (Exodus 14:21).

Of the Word

Driver’s education instructors are constantly reminding their students to look in the rear view mirror. In doing so, the driver is able to see what’s going on behind the car.

While the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea, they were constantly looking over their shoulders. Whenever they looked back, they saw Egyptians approaching quickly. Once they were safely across, there was no need to keep looking back. When they crossed the Red Sea, they left behind their old lives as slaves. They were free!

Like the Israelites, we no longer need to keep looking over our shoulders to see if our sins are following us. We can be confident that, as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).

Just as the Israelites crossed through waters of the Red Sea, we have crossed through the waters of Holy Baptism. This means our old life of sin and death is left behind, and we need not look back. We are free from the burden of sin.

Walking with my Lord

O Lord, in my Baptism You removed my sins as far as the east is from the west. Remind me of this so that I no longer keep looking over my shoulder. In Your holy name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 12/28 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Water Problems

In the Word

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25).

Of the Word

Do you ever have trouble controlling the temperature of the water while taking a shower? If you turn the knob too far one way the water is scalding, and if you turn it the other way the water is freezing. We might have problems controlling just a little bit of water, but in the Gospel of Luke we read of the One who has control over all of the wind and the water.

The disciples marveled at the fact that when Jesus rebuked the winds and the water, they immediately became still.

For the disciples, the storm was real. But what are the storms in your life? Doubt about the present? Anxiety over the future? Concerns from your past? The apostle Peter, who endured this storm, writes, Humble yourselves … casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6a, 7). The One who has command over wind and water will calm the storms in our lives, too.

Walking with my Lord

All Powerful Savior, just as You calmed the storm on the sea, You calm the storms in my life. Remind me of Your presence and lead me to trust in Your goodness. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 11/28 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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Quenching a Thirst

In the Word

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel (Exodus 17:6).

Of the Word

As soon as their drinking water ran out, the Israelites quickly began to grumble and complain. Who could blame them? It was hot in the desert and they had been walking a lot. God heard the cries of Moses and the Israelites. Through His miraculous hand, water flowed from the rock God instructed Moses to strike. From this rock the Israelites were able to drink their fill.

But after a while the Israelites would once again become thirsty, and it is the same for us. We take a drink of water and are satisfied, but after a while we drink again because our thirst is only satisfied for a short time.

Jesus’ blood satisfies for eternity. It is the satisfaction for our sins. For the Israelites water flowed from a rock; for us the blood flowed from Jesus. We are assured, the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7b). The blood that flowed at the cross saves us.

Walking with my Lord

Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son Jesus is the satisfaction for my sins. Remind me that, unlike water, His blood will satisfy for all of eternity. In His name I pray. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 10/28 ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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