A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

YOU ARE IN MISSION       

Matthew 10:24-25 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. . .” 

The women of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, in July, 1942, organized themselves into a mission organization they called Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML.) This organization is well known for a little box (Mite Box) they created into which they and their supporters insert loose pocket change. That concept still exists today. For the years 2023-2025 the goal is $160,000.   

The LWML is far more than a mission funding organization. They also produce Bible studies, provide a quarterly publication with stories of Christian motivation and inspiration. Their mission goal of almost $2.5 million for 2023-2025 and everything else they do together is their effort to spread the Gospel literally around the world.   

The LWML exists based upon Jesus’ teaching that all believers in Him are His witnesses (Acts 1:8) who He commissions to go into the entire world to spread the gospel. (Matthew 28:18-19) Jesus taught today’s devotional verses as yet another way of making followers of His aware and motivated to teach and serve in His name, even as He came into the world to do the same. Thus, He says, His followers are in mission with Him engaged in proclaiming the gospel because His Father (Yahweh), wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4) 

All believers in Jesus, whether women or men, whether part of a formal organization like LWML or not, Jesus sends out to speak the Gospel’s Good News of the reign of God in Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, you are, as Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount to salt the earth and shine the light of the Gospel upon its inhabitants.   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, You have called me to faith in Jesus. Fill me with the Gospel’s good news and empower me to speak it to those among whom I live. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Refrain:  Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim  
Till all the world adore His sacred name. 

Verses:  Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod,  
Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Refrain: 

Led on their way by this triumphant sing  
The hosts of God in conqu’ring ranks combine. Refrain” 

All new-born soldiers of the Crucified  
Bear on their brows the seal of Him who died. Refrain: 

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,  
As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee. Refrain: 

Let ev’ry race and ev’ry language tell  
Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell. Refrain: 

So shall our son of triumph ever be:  
Praise to the Crucified for victory! Refrain:  

Lift High the Cross // LSB 837