February 21st Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

THAT GOD’S PROMISE BE KEPT      

Matthew 26:51-54 “In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” 

It seems in today’s culture that there is a greater frequency of broken promises. At one time long ago, a hand shake was as good as a written promise (contract.) A person’s word was their honor.   

God made a goodly number of promises that are recorded in the Old Testament. Many of His promises regarded the sending a Savior to take away the sins of the world. Through Old Testament prophets God even gave signs that would reveal the true Savior.   

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night Jesus was arrested, He said that what occurred in the garden “ . . . had all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Yahweh sent His Son into the world “ . . . to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) 

In the Garden that night Jesus challenged His captors as to why they were arresting Him? He said to them they had had opportunities previously and chose not to do so. Why, He, questioned, were they arresting Him now?   

Those arresting Jesus thought they were doing so at the orders of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The truth is, what they were doing was in fulfillment of what the prophets had prophesied in the Old Testament. They were part of God’s salvation plan that required His Son Jesus to suffer and die in payment for the sins of humanity. God’s promise of the saving work of His Son would soon come to fruition. In John 10 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:14-18) 

Prayer: Lord, unlike the unbelievers who have not believed God’s promises, grant me faith to not only believe them but also receive assurance that Jesus has fulfilled every one of them for my salvation. In His holy name. Amen.  

I know my faith is founded
On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;  
And this my faith confessing,
Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.  
Our reason cannot fathom
The truth of God profound;  
Who trusts in human wisdom
Relies on shifting ground.  
God’s Word is all-sufficient,
It makes divinely sure;  
And trusting in its wisdom,
My faith shall rest secure. 

Increase my faith, dear Savior,
For Satan seeks by night and day  
To rob me of this treasure
And take my hope of bliss away.  
But, Lord, with You beside me,
I shall be undismayed;  
And led by Your good Spirit,
I shall be unafraid.  
Abide with me, O Savior,
A firmer faith bestow;  
Then I shall bid defiance
To ev’ry evil foe. 

In faith, Lord, let me serve You;
Though persecution, grief, and pain  
Should seek to overwhelm me;
Let me a steadfast trust retain;  
And then at my departure,
Lord, take me home to You,  
Your riches to inherit
As all You said holds true.  
In life and death, Lord, keep me
Until Your heav’n I gain,  
Where I by Your great mercy
The end of faith attain.  

I Know My faith is Founded // LSB 587