Today’s Readings: Daniel 2:1-16; 1 John 2:1-11; John 17:12-19

You may sometimes dream, and upon waking, cannot quite recall the details. There is a lingering feeling that there was something important in it for your life, as though your subconscious mind had figured out something you needed to know. Trying to remember can become frustrating, until the new day takes its course and you forget you even had the dream.

Jesus said, “I make all things new” (Rev 21:5). Even the commandments, old as they are, have been made over by the Lord. Our love of the Lord our God is rekindled because the Holy Spirit has poured his love into our hearts (Rom 5:5). We love our neighbors as ourselves because the Lord first loved us (1 John 4:19), giving himself for all people (John 3:16; 1 Tim 2:6). His perfect love drives out all fear—even nightmares. The guilt and fear of sin and death is absolved by him so that we may walk in a newness of life (Rom 6:4). Stepping out of the darkness and into the marvelous light of God’s new day (1 Pet 2:9), we are set apart by Christ and sent into the world (Matt 28:19-20) to wake people from their dead sleep (Eph 5:14).

Prayer: Awaken me in your love, Lord, and send me into the world. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Mark Ryman, Communications Coordinator for the NALC and Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Advance, NC. 

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