Eastertide Devotion – April 30

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to miss the point of a conversation?  A husband is distracted by the game on TV while his wife is sharing important thoughts with him.  A child is distracted by a video game while a mom is explaining important plans for the day. A Christian is distracted by rules for godly living in the Bible while the Apostle John is explaining the central message of Holy Scriptures.

It seems that many pastors and churches spend most of their time trying to get people to do good things and be good people. Christian publications thrive on publishing articles with titles like, “Seven Steps to being a Better Christian Parent,” “Five Important Elements of Successful Christian Living,” or “Three Keys for Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life.”

The Bible does contain wonderful godly wisdom and insight into life but its purpose is not to make you a success in life. In fact Jesus warns that following Him will actually lead to persecution. The Book of Acts graphically portrays what happens to St. Paul as he faithfully teaches about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

St. John reminds us in this verse that God’s ultimate will for you is not to become  the next Christian "success story" but that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Prayer: O Lord, let me kneel before your cross and humbly confess my sins.  Grant to me the faith to believe in the forgiveness, life and salvation that You won for me there. Encourage me with the promise of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Doubting Thomas

Peter Paul Rubens 1577 – 1640

oil on panel (146 × 233 cm) — 1613-1615

Museum Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/362.html

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – April 29

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  John 20:23

John 20 is quite a remarkable chapter.  It begins with the women at the empty tomb and concludes with John’s explanation of his Gospel and by extension the entire Bible: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

In the middle we find the commissioning of the apostles: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” John (20:21).

But what are the apostles commissioned to do?  Jesus explains that they are to “FORGIVE SINS!”  While it is true that forgiving sins is the exclusive right of God, Jesus now gives that right and privilege to His apostles and to His Church.

This most precious gift of forgiveness was won with Christ’s tremendous sacrifice on the cross.  Now it is to be transmitted to repentant people everywhere through the words of His people.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for the breathtaking gift of forgiveness that you won for me on the cross.  Thank you for commissioning your Church to bring the love, joy and peace of forgiveness to repentant sinners everywhere. Amen

Doubting Thomas

Rembrandt 1606 – 1669

oil on panel (53 × 51 cm) — 1634

Museum Pushkin Museum, Moscow

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – April 28

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28

It is unfortunate that St. Thomas acquired the moniker “Doubting Thomas.”  Indeed Thomas did doubt and in the most emphatic way when he declared --- “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Yet how wonderful it is that Jesus in His mercy granted to Thomas the exact demonstration which he had demanded to remove his doubt and Thomas responded “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas’ great confession of faith is one that the whole Christian Church makes when we confess the Nicene Creed.  Jesus is indeed God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God.

May the Holy Spirit grant to us the faith of St. Thomas as we live in a world of skeptics.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your generosity in appearing to Thomas at his doubting request. Grant that my prayer would ever be: Lord I believe. Help Thou my unbelief. Amen.

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas is a painting of the subject of the same name by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, c. 1601–1602. It is housed in the Sanssouci Palace, now a museum, in Potsdam, Berlin, Germany.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – The Second Sunday of Easter, Quasimodogeniti, April 27

Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;
1 Peter 2:2 (RSV)

Quasimodogeniti is my favorite Latin name for a Sunday.  If you have attended Christ Lutheran Church on the Sunday after Easter (now often referred to as the Second Sunday of Easter), you know that I say this every year. Here is the rest of the story.

I do like the sound of this Latin word and the way it rolls off my tongue, but that is not why I like this Sunday.  And it isn’t because I have an affinity for the Hunchback of Notre Dame as some have guessed. It actually relates to a sermon I heard for Quasimodogeniti in 1978!

I had been ordained and installed as Missionary-at-Large for the Minnesota North District of the LCMS in 1977.  The surprising thing is that I was called to serve in two Northwestern Ontario communities, Ignace and Sioux Lookout. I say surprising because there was no one more surprised than me on call day (with the possible exception of my wife, Valerie).

We packed our belongings and began the work in these far away communities. (In fact when I went to the Canadian Embassy in Chicago to apply for my visa, the Canadian official asked where I was moving and when I told him, he exclaimed, “Oh là là”). Each Sunday I would preach and conduct the Divine Service, first in one congregation and then drive 93 miles and repeat the process in the other community.  We developed wonderful friendships along the way but I’m glad I was young then.

After the better part of a year, Valerie and I traveled the 12 hours to Brainerd, MN for our district convention. There I heard the most wonderful sermon on Quasimodogeniti.  I can tell you many of the details still to this day. But I soon realized why this was the most wonderful sermon.  It was the first sermon that I had heard in almost a year!

I had been preaching each week and hearing and reading God’s Word but it was so wonderful to sit in the congregation and hear proclaimed to me the sweet message of forgiveness won by Christ on the cross. It was delightful to hear the glorious message of the resurrection applied to my very being.

So each year at this time I remember these words of St. Peter, “Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;” and indeed I do, I pray that you do too.

Prayer: Lord let me be like a newborn baby, longing for the pure spiritual milk of your holy word. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – April 26

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Matthew 28:5-6

“He's Risen, He's Risen” has been one of my very favorite Easter hymns since I was a small child. The words and music were written by C. F. W. Walther, the first president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He was a wonderful musician and lover of music. He wrote other hymns but this is the only one that found its way into our hymnal.

He’s risen, He’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord;
He opened death’s prison, the incarnate, true Word.
Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song
And earth, sea, and mountain their praises prolong.

C. F. W. Walther wrote many books and delivered many papers and sermons throughout his life. His book, “Law and Gospel” may be the most important Lutheran book written in America. Yet his little hymn has probably touched more people than all of his other works combined. With the words of “He’s Risen, He’s Risen,” Walther carries forward the work of the angel at the empty tomb.

But short was their triumph; the Savior arose,
And death, hell, and Satan He vanquished, His foes.
The conquering Lord lifts His banner on high;
He lives, yes, He lives, and will nevermore die.

May our Easter joy continue until we draw our last breath and see our Savior, Jesus, face to face.

O, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more;
Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door.
For all our transgressions His blood does atone;
Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may you grant that my Easter joy will continue all my days. Amen.

If you would like to read all of the stanzas of Walther’s hymn, “He’s Risen, He’s Risen” is hymn 480 in Lutheran Service book, hymn 198 in The Lutheran Hymnal and 138 in Lutheran Worship.

You can read more about this remarkable man at  http://www.studiumexcitare.com/content/64.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Eastertide Devotion – April 25

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matthew 28:8

Back by popular demand!  Well actually several people were kind enough to mention to me that they missed my little daily Lenten devotions, so I’m going to give the old college try to continue these devotions.  My goal is to make them daily but I’m sure you will forgive me if I am unable to meet that goal.

Joy and fear are an unlikely combination of feelings. I can’t even begin to imagine what the two Marys were thinking. Their beloved friend who had been so brutally executed and buried was now alive!!! That’s what the angel had said. Now they must go and share this most wonderful news. 

This great news of Jesus’ resurrection also brings us joy.  Our sins are forgiven and heaven is our home. In spite of any fear I may have, I must go and tell about Jesus’ resurrection.

Martin Luther writes: “A Christian must accustom himself to think about Christ’s victory—the victory in which everything has already been accomplished and in which we have everything we should have. Henceforth we live only to spread among other people the news of what Christ has achieved” (Luther’s Works Vol. 24, page 421)

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for the wonderful news of Christ’s resurrection. Grant to me the joy of Christ’s victory every day of my life. Help me to share that wonderful news with people I love. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Lenten Devotion - The Resurrection of Our Lord, April 20

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  John 20:1

Our walk through Lent with the Lord’s Prayer ends with the joyful celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord.  In Jesus and His resurrection God declares His “Amen” to all of our prayers.

In the Small Catechism we read: This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

Thine the amen Thine the praise
    Alleluias angels raise

Thine the life eternally
    Thine the promise let there be
Thine the vision Thine the tree
    All the earth on bended knee
Gone the nailing gone the railing
    Gone the pleading gone the cry
Gone the sighing gone the dying what was loss lifted high.

Thine the glory in the night
    No more dying only light
Thine the river Thine the tree
    Then the Lamb eternally
Then the holy holy holy
    Celebration jubilee
Thine the splendor Thine the brightness only Thee only Thee.

Thine the amen Thine the praise
    Alleluias angels raise

Selected from 

Thine The Amen, Thine The Praise 

by Herbert F. Brokering

Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Thank you for taking this Lenten/Easter Journey through the Lord's Prayer with me.

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Holy Saturday, April 19

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121:7-8

Luther’s Small Catechism:

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Every hour in our lives is important.  Think of the very first hour.  Imagine the pride and excitement that your parents must have experienced as they held their tiny child in their hands for the first time.

Think of the hour when you were received into the family of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Imagine the joy among the angels in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7).

For most of us there have been many hours that have passed since those hours that began our earthly and eternal life. Yet it is true that another hour awaits us all, our last hour. What we have done with all the hours of our lives will take on different meaning then.  All that is worldly will be meaningless and only that which comes from Christ will remain valuable.

God’s ultimate will for you is to welcome you to His eternal mansions when your last hour arrives.  He has worked everything out in your life so that you would hear the Gospel and believe that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for your sins.  He has sent the Holy Spirit to bring you to that faith and keep you in the faith.  He will graciously take you from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we live in an overwhelmingly evil world where sin and death are on every hand. Preserve us from that evil now and when the time is right bring us to yourself in heaven for Christ’s sake. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Good Friday, April 18

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:9-13

Luther writes in the Large Catechism:

But deliver us from evil. Amen.

In the Greek text this petition reads, “Deliver or preserve us from the evil one,” or “the hateful one.” It looks like Jesus was speaking about the devil, like He would summarize every petition in one. So the entire substance of all our prayer is directed against our chief enemy. For it is he who hinders among us everything that we pray for: God’s name or honor, God’s kingdom and will, our daily bread, a cheerful good conscience, and so forth.

Therefore, we finally sum it all up and say, “Dear Father, grant that we be rid of all these disasters.” But there is also included in this petition whatever evil may happen to us under the devil’s kingdom: poverty, shame, death, and, in short, all the agonizing misery and heartache of which there is such an unnumbered multitude on the earth. Since the devil is not only a liar, but also a murderer [John 8:44], he constantly seeks our life. He wreaks his vengeance whenever he can afflict our bodies with misfortune and harm. Therefore, it happens that he often breaks men’s necks or drives them to insanity, drowns some, and moves many to commit suicide and to many other terrible disasters [e.g., Mark 9:17–22]. So there is nothing for us to do upon earth but to pray against this archenemy without stopping. For unless God preserved us, we would not be safe from this enemy even for an hour.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, preserve and protect us from all evil, especially the Evil One.  Grant that we may rest secure in your love and grace for Jesus sake. Amen. 

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Maundy Thursday, April 17

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38

Luther’s Small Catechism:

Lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

Since the devil, the world, and our sinful nature continually tempt us to sin, God has provided means for us to be strengthen against this onslaught. Those means are the word and sacraments.

One of the greatest temptations of Satan is his attempt to have us doubt God’s love and grace. Therefore, in God’s holy word we learn—Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Luther asks this question: What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

He answers this way: These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving your very body and blood on the cross for my salvation. Strengthen me with your word and Spirit when I receive this body and blood in, with and under the bread and wine at your holy table. Amen.  

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Wednesday, April 16

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, Matthew 6:9-13

Luther writes in the Large Catechism:

And lead us not into temptation.

We have now heard enough about what toil and labor is needed to keep all that we pray for and to persevere. This, however, is not done without weakness and stumbling. Although we have received forgiveness and a good conscience and are entirely acquitted, yet our life is of such a nature that we stand today, and tomorrow we fall [Isaiah 40:6–8]. Therefore, even though we are godly now and stand before God with a good conscience, we must pray again that He would not allow us to fall again and yield to trials and temptations.

Temptation, however, or (as our Saxons in olden times used to call it) Bekörunge, is of three kinds: of the flesh, of the world, and of the devil.  For we dwell in the flesh and carry the old Adam about our neck. He exerts himself and encourages us daily to unchastity, laziness, gluttony and drunkenness, greed and deception, to defraud our neighbor and to overcharge him [Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5–8]. In short, the old Adam encourages us to have all kinds of evil lusts, which cling to us by nature and to which we are moved by the society, the example, and what we hear and see of other people. They often wound and inflame even an innocent heart.

Next comes the world, which offends us in word and deed. It drives us to anger and impatience. In short, there is nothing but hatred and envy, hostility, violence and wrong, unfaithfulness, vengeance, cursing, railing, slander, pride and haughtiness, with useless finery, honor, fame, and power. No one is willing to be the least. Everyone desires to sit at the head of the group and to be seen before all [Luke 14:7–11].

Then comes the devil, pushing and provoking in all directions. But he especially agitates matters that concern the conscience and spiritual affairs. He leads us to despise and disregard both God’s Word and works. He tears us away from faith, hope, and love [1 Corinthians 13:13], and he brings us into misbelief, false security, and stubbornness. Or, on the other hand, he leads us to despair, denial of God, blasphemy, and innumerable other shocking things. These are snares and nets [2 Timothy 2:26], indeed, real fiery darts that are shot like poison into the heart, not by flesh and blood, but by the devil [Ephesians 6:12, 16].

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I struggle against the devil, the world and my own sinful nature, strengthen me by your Spirit that I may resist the temptation to sin. Strengthen and preserve me in the true faith. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Tuesday, April 15

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

In my youth television was replete with dramas known as “Westerns.” Most any night of the week you could watch cowboys riding into town with their six-shooters.

One theme that recurred in many of these Westerns was that of a newcomer who came into town naïve about the ways of the Wild West.  He would make foolish mistakes or be gullible about simple things that were well known to the “Old Hands.”  These naïve, gullible people were given the moniker: Tenderfoot!

No one wanted to be a tenderfoot. It indicated that you didn’t know much about anything.

Sometimes a tenderfoot would try to start a ranch in the most inappropriate place.  He would have dreams and visions that were well beyond reality.  When the seasoned westerners discussed this tenderfoot and his outlandish ideas, he would be described as soft-in-the-head!

Unfortunately, in a sin hardened world, Christians who seek to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving are sometimes thought to be naïve tenderfoots who are soft-in-the-head.  In many areas of life, being hardhearted and pragmatic is simply the way things are done.

How sad it is when this is also true in the Church. How wonderful it is when the people of God come together and are kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgives!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me a tender heart for Christ’s sake. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Monday, April 14

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

Luther concludes his thoughts on this petition in the Large Catechism with the following:

There is here attached a necessary, yet comforting addition: “As we forgive.” He has promised that we shall be sure that everything is forgiven and pardoned, in the way that we also forgive our neighbor. Just as we daily sin much against God, and yet He forgives everything through grace, so we, too, must ever forgive our neighbor who does us injury, violence, and wrong, shows malice toward us, and so on. If, therefore, you do not forgive, then do not think that God forgives you [Matthew 18:23–25]. But if you forgive, you have this comfort and assurance, that you are forgiven in heaven. This is not because of your forgiving. For God forgives freely and without condition, out of pure grace, because He has so promised, as the Gospel teaches. But God says this in order that He may establish forgiveness as our confirmation and assurance, as a sign alongside of the promise, which agrees with this prayer in Luke 6:37, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Therefore, Christ also repeats it soon after the Lord’s Prayer, and says in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” and so on.

This sign is therefore attached to this petition. When we pray, we remember the promise and think, “Dear Father, for this reason I come and pray for You to forgive me, not so that I can make satisfaction or can merit anything by my works. I pray because You have promised and attached the seal to this prayer that I should be as sure about it as though I had Absolution pronounced by You Yourself.” For Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—appointed as outward signs—work as seals [Ephesians 1:13]. In the same way also, this sign can serve to confirm our consciences and cause them to rejoice. It is especially given for this purpose, so that we may use and practice forgiveness every hour, as a thing that we have with us at all times.

Prayer: Our Father, Who art in heaven, grant me a forgiving heart. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Palm Sunday, April 13

So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13

Our prayers can also contain praise.  On the day of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (the day we call Palm Sunday), the crowds offered wonderful praise to Jesus: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

Yet we know that they did not fully comprehend who Jesus was, what He would do, or what kind of king He was.  They seemed to be more interested in political salvation than spiritual salvation.

This is a trap that is easy for Christians to fall into.  We know right and wrong because God has revealed it to us in Sacred Scripture. Because we live in a democracy, we also have a voice in our government.  It is important that we never let our enthusiasm for politics overwhelm our priorities in such a way that we neglect to see our real needs.

Praying for God to forgive our trespasses reminds us that our real need is not for a political savior but for a Savior who would die on the cross for the sins of the world.  When we shout “Hosanna!” (Save, now!), we know we are calling on Jesus to forgive us our sins and grant us life and salvation. We know that we will live under the Blessed King of Israel for all eternity in heaven.

Prayer: King Jesus, as we lay our coats and branches before you let us recognize you as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen. 


God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Saturday, April 12

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:1-2

Luther says in his Large Catechism:

But this should serve God’s purpose of breaking our pride and keeping us humble. God has reserved this right for Himself: if anyone wants to boast of his godliness and despise others, that person is to think about himself and place this prayer before his eyes. He will find that he is no better than others [Romans 12:3] and that in God’s presence all must tuck their tails and be glad that they can gain forgiveness. Let no one think that as long as he lives here he can reach such a position that he will not need such forgiveness [1 John 1:8]. In short, if God does not forgive without stopping, we are lost.

It is, therefore, the intent of this petition that God would not regard our sins and hold up to us what we daily deserve. But we pray that He would deal graciously with us and forgive, as He has promised, and so grant us a joyful and confident conscience to stand before Him in prayer [Hebrews 10:22]. For where the heart is not in a right relationship with God, or cannot take such confidence, it will not dare to pray anymore. Such a confident and joyful heart can spring from nothing else than the certain knowledge of the forgiveness of sin [Psalm 32:1–2; Romans 4:7–8].

Prayer: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love. Amen.


God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Friday, April 11

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Psalm 19:12 NIV

I was sitting at one of those lunch counters shaped like a narrow horseshoe where the food was served from the middle but you could look across at the people sitting on the other side who were looking back at you.

As I sat there, I struck up a conversation with a woman and a man who were sitting across from me.  All three of us were strangers to each other and shared the usual chit chat of those who are meeting for the first time.

The man directly across from me had a long flowing black beard.  I could tell that he must be on his way to some important meeting or event.  He was impeccably dressed and every hair on his head (including his beard) was perfectly in place. His face looked like it had been recently scrubbed with intense vigor.

Soon our food was served! I can’t remember what I had that day but I can clearly remember what the man with the beard was served! Halfway through our meal I looked up and saw that he had soft egg yolk streaming down his beard!!! It was one of those situations where it was hard not to stare.  I had to keep looking back.  Needless to say, it somewhat spoiled my breakfast.

What to do? I didn’t know this man and neither did the woman sitting next to him (who was spared the frontal assault of an egg stained beard).

I knew that someone would surely tell him about the egg on his face but I must report that I did not have that privilege. To this day, I hope that he went into the restroom and looked in the mirror before his important encounter that he had so carefully prepared for.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know my heart. You know all of my sins even the ones that I am not aware of. Grant me forgiveness for all of these sins for Christ’s sake. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Thursday, April 10

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
   but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13

In Luther’s Small Catechism we read:

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

One of the greatest dangers for Christians is a feeling of self-righteousness and smugness. Jesus reminds us in the Lord’s Prayer that our lives are full of sin. If God in Christ forgives us this multitude of offenses against Him, how can we not forgive the few injustices that are committed against us?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to humble ourselves before the cross and receive forgiveness and mercy.  Make us eager to share that forgiveness with the people around us. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Wednesday, April 9

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,  and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:9-12

Luther writes in the Large Catechism:

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

This part now applies to our poor miserable life. Although we have and believe God’s Word, do and submit to His will, and are supported by His gifts and blessings, our life is still not sinless. We still stumble daily and transgress because we live in the world among people. They do us much harm and give us reasons for impatience, anger, revenge, and such. Besides, we have the devil at our back. He attacks us from every side and fights—as we have heard—against all the previous petitions. So it is not possible to stand firm at all times in such a constant conflict.

There is here again great need for us to call upon God and to pray, “Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses.” It is not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer. (He has given us the Gospel, in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought about it [Romans 5:8].) But the purpose of this prayer is that we may recognize and receive such forgiveness. The flesh in which we daily live is of such a nature that it neither trusts nor believes God [Romans 7:14–18]. It is ever active in evil lusts and devices, so that we sin daily in word and deed [Genesis 6:5], by what we do and fail to do [James 2:15–16]. By this the conscience is thrown into unrest, so that it is afraid of God’s wrath and displeasure. So it loses the comfort and confidence derived from the Gospel. Therefore, it is always necessary that we run here and receive consolation to comfort the conscience again.

Prayer: Our Father, Who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Tuesday, April 8

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16

If God has given you the privilege of raising children, you know how difficult it can be to teach them to share.  Even though a child may have a box full of toys, it is difficult for them to see a little brother or sister play with one of “their toys.” It may be a constant struggle to teach little ones to share but in the end it is worth the effort.

Of course the bigger problem is teaching each of us adults to share.  We work hard for our money and letting it out of our grip is a difficult spiritual challenge.

Recognizing that all we have comes from God can help in the matter of learning to share.  Not only has He given us all that we have, He can also take it away.  We only are in charge of our wealth for a short period of time.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. This gift of forgiveness and life is the greatest gift that we can share with the people around us.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for the abundant gifts and blessings that we have received from Your hand. Move us to be blessings to those around us who are in need so that they will praise Your gracious goodness. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Monday, April 7

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Priorities, Priorities, Priorities! You may have noticed that in all the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, this is the only one that prays for physical blessings!  All of the others pray for spiritual blessings.  It seems like it would be good to remember that ratio in our prayers.

It is easy to get caught up in the foolishness of the rat race of higher income and more “stuff.”  This relentless pursuit of wealth can easily distract us from the importance of knowing our sin and our Savior’s grace.

When we pray, “Give us our daily bread,” it is a reminder to look to the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness. Every day their daily bread was waiting for them on the ground in the form of manna.
Trusting God to give us all that we need to support this body and life frees us to look first to His kingdom and His righteousness.  We know that His gracious love will supply all of our needs.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me keep my priorities in order. Grant me forgiveness where I have placed the pursuit of physical blessings over the pursuit of your kingdom and righteousness. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - The Fifth Sunday in Lent, April 6

 “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
John 11:25-26

Mary and Martha were grieving at the death of their beloved brother, Lazarus. Their grief so touched Jesus that he also wept (John 11:35).

It may seem strange that Jesus would cry at the death of a loved one, especially since He knew that in a few moments He would raise Lazarus from the dead. The simple act of weeping recorded in these words reminds us that God never intended for us to die but that sin has destroyed the perfection of creation.

Our bodies need constant nourishment to survive and so God provides us with our daily bread.  Yet even with the steady supply of food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, and goods—our earthly bodies will succumb to the wages of sin!

When we pray for our daily bread, it is also always important to look past it to the gift of life in Christ.  The fullness of God’s blessings will be realized on the Day of Resurrection!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, You have given us life and sustained it. We thank you that in Christ you have given us eternal life and the promise of the Resurrection. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Saturday, April 5

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1

My earliest memories include praying before each meal.  The common table prayer has become part of the fabric of my being. It warms my heart now to see my grandchildren also learning the words of this dear prayer.

In some homes and when I was growing up, the children were required to sit at the table until they were excused.  In the evening, especially during Advent and Lent, the meal concluded with our family devotions. As we were excused we would pray Psalm 106:1. We called this event, “Returning thanks!”

How appropriate it is to pray before and after meals! We seek God’s blessing upon our food and thank him for these great gifts.

Martin Luther included this form for our dinner prayers in the Small Catechism:

Asking a Blessing
The children and members of the household shall go to the table reverently, fold their hands, and say:
The eyes of all look to You, [O Lord,] and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. [Ps. 145:15–16]

Then shall be said the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Returning Thanks
Also, after eating, they shall, in like manner, reverently and with folded hands say:
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. [He] gives food to every creature. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. [Ps. 136:1, 25; 147:9–11]

Then shall be said the Lord’s Prayer and the following:
We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for all Your benefits, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

It certainly would be a wholesome practice to pray the Lord’s Prayer before and after each of our meals as Luther suggests.

Prayer: We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for all Your benefits, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Friday, April 4

In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28

In 1875 William Ernest Henley wrote the poem that we have come to know as Invictus. Its final stanza reads:

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

These words have inspired many, yet they are misleading. While it is true that God gives us a free will to make choices concerning things below us, we are totally dependent upon God for everything that is good.

Paul Speratus in the hymn “Salvation Unto Us Has Come” speaks this reality.  The third stanza begins:

It was a false, misleading dream
    That God His Law had given
That sinners could themselves redeem
    And by their works gain heaven.

Indeed this great hymn says it all in the first two lines.

Salvation unto us has come
    By God’s free grace and favor;

Without God’s daily blessings of body and soul, I would be nothing other than the captain of the sinking ship of my soul.

Prayer: Father in heaven, let me always recognize that I have my existence  in You for you have created me, body and soul, and you sustain me every day with the bread of life. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,

Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Thursday, April 3

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

Psalm 145:15-16

Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

The Psalmist reminds us that every living thing depends on God.  From the smallest creature to the largest whale, God provides sustenance for all of their needs. Unfortunately many people live like animals without recognizing God’s hand behind every blessing.

Through Christ and His cross we recognize the depth of God’s love for us. It is our prayer that we would also recognize that love in all that He provides for the support of our bodies.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, cause our eyes to look to you for every good and blessing of body and soul. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Wednesday, April 2

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread -- Matthew 6:9-11

Luther’s Large Catechism:

Give us this day our daily bread.

Here, now, we consider the poor breadbasket, the necessities of our body and of the temporal life. It is a brief and simple word, but it has a very wide scope. For when you mention and pray for daily bread, you pray for everything that is necessary in order to have and enjoy daily bread. On the other hand, you also pray against everything that interferes with it. Therefore, you must open wide and extend your thoughts not only to the oven or the flour bin, but also to the distant field and the entire land, which bears and brings to us daily bread and every sort of nourishment. For if God did not cause food to grow and He did not bless and preserve it in the field, we could never take bread from the oven or have any to set upon the table.

To sum things up, this petition includes everything that belongs to our entire life in the world, for we need daily bread because of life alone. It is not only necessary for our life that our body have food and clothes and other necessaries. It is also necessary that we spend our days in peace and quiet among the people with whom we live and have dealings in daily business and conversation and all sorts of doings [1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Timothy 2:2]. In short, this petition applies both to the household and also to the neighborly or civil relationship and government. Where these two things are hindered so that they do not prosper as they should, the necessaries of life also are hindered. Ultimately, life cannot be maintained. There is, indeed, the greatest need to pray for earthly authority and government. By them, most of all, God preserves for us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life. Though we have received from God all good things in abundance, we are not able to keep any of them or use them in security and happiness if He did not give us a permanent and peaceful government. For where there are dissension, strife, and war, there the daily bread is already taken away or is at least hindered.

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, in addition to our salvation in Christ, You have given us life, health and so much more, we pray that you will continue to grant to us all that we need to support this body and life. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.

Lenten Devotion - Tuesday, April 1

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Today is April Fool’s Day! What joy we had in our youth poking fun at the gullibility of others. “Mom, have you seen the snow outside?” (Wait, that may happen with the winter we’ve experienced this year. ) “Hello, is this the zoo? May I speak with Mr. Fox?” Ha ha, those jokes were great fun.

April Fool’s jokes are based on the ability to trick people into believing that something obviously false is indeed real.  Most of the time this is harmless fun—but not always.

Some tricks can be hurtful, cruel and dangerous.  The most hurtful, cruel and dangerous tricks come when we play fast and loose with our spiritual lives. The Devil, the world and our own sinful selves try to fool us into believing that sin is a game.

St. Paul wants Christians to know reality.  Our lives on earth will one day come to an end. But until that time, “For to me to live is Christ.” When God’s will is done in our lives, Christ is shown to the people around us. When we are trustworthy and true, people learn that Jesus is also trustworthy and true.  When we are caring and helpful, people learn the Jesus is caring and helpful.

One of the great benefits of being a Christian is knowing that God has a plan for you. We may not always know the details of that plan but we do know that His plan and purpose for us is to live as Christ in the world.

We also know that when we have completed the tasks laid out for us, there awaits the perfect joy and bliss of heaven.  For me to live is Christ and “to die is gain!” How wonderful it is to know that this is God’s ultimate will for you!

Prayer: Our Father, Who art in heaven, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus

Download a pdf of all the Lenten devotions here.