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Father’s Day

A devotion for the third Sunday in June
 

In the Word

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are (1 John 3:1a).

Of the Word

“Five minutes!” This was the shout on Sunday mornings when I was a child. My dad called out the time-to-leave count as we were getting ready for church.

Yes, we had a personal speaking alarm clock! We would not be late for church; we would not be on time either. We would be early! There would be time to sit quietly, hymnals on our laps, no chewing gum in our mouths. I did not appreciate my dad’s Sunday shouts as a kid, and I loved it when my aunt snuck me a piece of cinnamon gum. However, today, I would love to hear my father’s hearty baritone voice calling out the time and be able to sing our beloved Lutheran hymns alongside him.

As we celebrate Father’s Day, we are thankful for our earthly fathers, especially as they point us to our heavenly Father, whose love, grace, and mercy through Jesus Christ are worthy of worship today and every day. Happy Father’s Day, God!

Walking with my Lord

What joy to pray and proclaim: you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name (Isaiah 63:16b)! In Jesus' 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: Father’s Day by Christine Weerts, Selma, Alabama
Copyright© 2025 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. All rights reserved.
lwml.org
 

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New Clothes

In the Word

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25).

Of the Word

How good it feels to put on clean clothes after being in dirty, sweaty clothes all day! How about wearing a new outfit for the first time? We all like putting on new clothes, especially if they feel comfortable and look nice.

In the Old Testament, this is what the priests would do during their rites of purification. After they washed themselves, they would change out of their old robes and clothe themselves with new, clean, white robes. Then they would be ready to serve in the temple.

This Old Testament rite of purification foreshadows the cleansing power of Baptism. In Baptism we have been sprinkled with water, cleansed from all unrighteousness. Filthy, sin-covered robes are removed, and we are clothed with the robes of Christ’s righteousness. … let us draw near with a true heart … sprinkled clean … washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).

Walking with my Lord

Righteous One, in my Baptism You clothed me with the robe of righteousness. Remind me daily of my Baptism and what it means to be Your child. In Your name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 20/28 ©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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Juneteenth — Freedom Proclaimed

A devotion for June 19
 

In the Word

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation (Isaiah 52:7a).

Of the Word

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln declared all slaves in the rebelling states to be free from that day forward. On June 19, 1865, the enslaved men and women in Galveston, Texas, heard this message of freedom for the first time from Union soldiers. For more than two years they had continued to live in bondage, unaware of their status as free men and women. 

Millions of men, women, and children across this nation and throughout the world are still living in slavery to sin, death, and the devil, unaware that Christ has already won their freedom through His death on Calvary and His resurrection from the dead at Easter. 

The Union soldiers had an important message of freedom to share. Believers in Christ have an even more powerful message of freedom to share with the world. As those who have experienced the joy of being released from bondage to sin, how can we help but spread the Good News of freedom through Christ to everyone who has not yet heard it?

Walking with my Lord

Dear Jesus, I was a slave to sin, death, and the devil and had nothing to hope for but eternal damnation. You set me free by taking my sin on Yourself on the cross and rose again to proclaim that freedom had been won for me and all believers. I praise Your name. Help me to proclaim this Good News to everyone who has not yet heard it. In Your holy name I pray. 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: Juneteenth — Freedom Proclaimed by Ruth Badciong, Winona, Minnesota
Copyright© 2024 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. All rights reserved.
lwml.org
 

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One Day at a Time

In the Word

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life” (Matthew 6:25a).

Of the Word

“The family is healthy, my new job is good, and I actually have a positive balance in my checkbook,” muttered Heather. “Then why the sour face?” responded a friend. Without hesitation, Heather wailed, “I’m worried because there is nothing to worry about!”

If worry was an Olympic sport, some of us would win a medal every day. Constant anxiety robs us of sleep and peace of mind. Most importantly, it is a reflection of our lack of trust in God’s care. Jesus spoke about worry at great length, assuring us that the Heavenly Father generously provides for all His creation. God values us so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our redemption. We can never worry our way to a solution! Instead, we must place our trust in God’s loving provision.

Jesus tells us we cannot serve two masters — worry and trust. The old saying is true: “If you pray, why worry? If you worry, why pray?” With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can learn to trust in God every day.

Walking with my Lord

Lord, help me let go of my worries and place my cares into Your tender hands one day at a time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: From Quiet Times to Noisy Love. Jan Struck, author. 22/30 ©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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Strong Foundation

In the Word

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24–25).

Of the Word

My daughter loves playing with building blocks. She can spend hours stacking and arranging the blocks into structures of her own design. But building the tower is only half the fun. The other half comes with knocking it over.

Christ is our Rock and solid Foundation. Because He is steadfast, faithful, and powerful, we can build our lives on Him. And we can give our children the first building blocks of faith by bringing them to be baptized. Through Baptism they receive God’s forgiveness, life, and salvation.

With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, faith is planted in their hearts and nurtured through Christian education. When the storms of life come — and they will come — God’s children will not fall because they will be founded on the Rock, Jesus Christ.

Walking with my Lord

Almighty God, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit Who gives faith and strength to keep me from falling during the storms of life. Let that same faith be my child’s strong foundation, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Love, Laughter, and Lullabies. DCE Amanda Stacy, author. 22/30 ©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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Blood and Water

In the Word

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water (John 19:34).

Of the Word

In a famous painting of Jesus entitled “Divine Mercy,” He is clothed in a white robe with one hand raised and the other on His breast. From His chest flow two rays of light, one white and one red. At the bottom of the painting is the phrase, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

The red ray represents Jesus’ blood, and the white ray reminds us of the water that flowed from His side. Some compare the red and white rays to both sacraments of the church: Jesus’ blood of the new covenant in Holy Communion and the cleansing waters of Holy Baptism. Both the blood and the water bring life and salvation.

For unbelievers, Jesus’ death is a moment of defeat and disgrace, not glory. But hidden beneath Jesus’ suffering and death is His work of redemption: the work of God bringing His fallen creation back to Himself, the work of God redeeming His creation through His Son. Jesus, who instituted the sacraments, is the entrance into eternal life.

Walking with my Lord

King of Mercy, through the spilling of Your blood and the water of Holy Baptism, I am made Your forgiven child. Keep me in the true faith. In Your name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: Water of Life. Michael Heckmann, author. 19/28 ©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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God’s Grace is Sufficient

In the Word

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

Of the Word

The Apostle Paul wrote of having an unnamed affliction that caused him ongoing pain. He referred to it as a thorn ... in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7b) and he repeatedly asked God to take away this pain. The Lord did not do so. Instead, His response to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you …” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).

God’s grace was enough for Paul and it is big enough for us, too. Because of His undeserved love, we have forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven. We don’t have to wait for God’s grace, for we have received it through our trust in Jesus. We, like Paul, are gifted with God’s amazing grace.

This is an important reminder when we are hurting. The same One Who made sure that we have access to eternal life through Jesus gives us His grace to enable us to handle the heartaches, pains, and hurts we will encounter on this side of heaven.

Walking with my Lord

Father, help me to believe and remember that Your grace is enough for me in any and all circumstances. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mustard Seed: In Times of Need. Authors: Rev. Larry Krueger, Rev. Mike Mattil, & Rev. Kris Whitby. 1/30 ©2015 revised 2025, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations were taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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