The Lutheran Church in the Philippines, 4461 Old Sta. Mesa Street, Santa Mesa (2026)

06/08/2026

Christ Is Greater than Our Fears

A Devotional
By: Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[a] from the land,[b] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night[c] he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Mt. 14:22-33 ESV)

oOo
The emotional "high" that the disciples felt after the wonderful miracle of Jesus feeding more than 5,000 people must have been replaced by fear as huge waves buffeted their boat in the middle of the sea in the dark of night.

Tired, hungry, and wet, they must have been even more frightened when they saw a ghost-like figure walking on the water toward them. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

Emboldened by the familiar voice of Jesus, Peter wanted to come to Him. So Jesus bid him to come, and Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the huge waves around him, Peter began to sink, and he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Peter had placed more faith in the wind than in Jesus. He attributed more power to the waves and the wind than to the One who created them. The storm had developed only because Jesus allowed it to.

In a sense, we are like Peter and the disciples. Powerful typhoons, landslides, and earthquakes make us afraid. We fear serious illness, loss of income, damage to our reputation, or the breakdown of important relationships. Having a healthy concern for our safety and well-being is appropriate, but attributing more power and importance to the things of this world than to God, who created them, is a form of idolatry.

As Jesus steps into the disciples' boat, the winds cease. The disciples are reminded that they are in the presence of the Son of God, and they worship Him.

Jesus has conquered what we fear most and what threatens us most—sin, death, and the power of the devil. He defeated them by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. We need not fear these any longer as we place our faith in Him. Christ is greater than our fears. He sustains us in faith through His Word and Sacrament until the day when we shall be with Him forever in His kingdom.

oOo

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we thank You for loving us and keeping us safe amid the troubles in this world. Help us to grow in faith and in love for other people. Amen.

31/07/2026

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

A Devotional
By: Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matt. 14:3-22. See the account in John 6: 1-15 for interesting details about the event)

oOo

The crowds that followed Jesus were made up of ordinary rural Galileans – fisherfolk, farmers, laborers and their families. They were poor and had little surplus resources, if any.

Thus, it is understandable that as they followed Jesus for a full day of unplanned travel to a “desolate place” they would not have packed surplus food. Some of them might have a few copper coins but buying food for thousands at night in rural villages was not a viable option.

The disciples wanted to get rid of the problem by getting rid of the people. But Jesus commands them to give the people something to eat. The disciples found five loaves and two fish and brought them to Jesus.

Jesus let the people sit on the cross. He took the bread and fish, gave thanks and broke the bread. Then He told the disciples to distribute them to the people. And all 5,000 men and their families ate and were satisfied, with 12 baskets of food left over!

Reflecting on what had just happened the people must have remembered how their ancestors were fed with manna as they traveled in the desert to the Promised Land. Despite their repeated disobedience God continued to have compassion for them and always provided for their physical needs.

Later on the disciples would remember this miraculous feeding of thousands as they ate their last supper with the Lord. But that meal was different because there He would give Himself to them -- His own body and blood in and with the bread and the wine. And then after the meal they would see their Rabbi arrested, unjustly accused, and crucified. But in three days they would witness the impossible. They would see Him alive, risen from the dead. Sin, death, Satan and hell that have been defeated. With power they will proclaim this good news to others.

The good news of God’s love in Christ would be passed on to succeeding generations in all lands, including us. By God’s grace all of us who believe in Him will someday share a sacred banquet with multitudes of believers in heaven. And there we will no longer experience starvation, sickness, or sadness.

oOo

Prayer: Heavenly Father Your love for us is beyond understanding. Help us share that love by sharing with others our material blessings and Your salvation in Christ Jesus, In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

24/07/2026

Two Parables About the Kingdom of God

A Devotional
By: Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46 ESV).
oOo
The two parables of Jesus seem similar except for an interesting difference. The first man is not searching for any treasure but just happens to find it. In the second parable, the man is earnestly looking for fine pearls and then finds a truly beautiful one. Both realize that what they have found is of such great value that they are willing to sell everything to possess it.

The disciple Matthew was sitting in his usual tax collector booth when Jesus called him to be His follower. Matthew stood up, left his profitable job and followed Jesus. The Pharisee Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to learn more about His teaching. Later, he risked rejection by his peers as he joined Joseph of Arimathea in giving Jesus a proper burial.

I once had a co-worker from Thailand while I was working with an international Christian organization. Christians make up a tiny minority of the Thailand’s total population, so I was curious about how he became a Christian. He said that a missionary came to the rural area where his family lived and shared the Gospel of Jesus with them. Eventually, his family became Christian, and he later went to seminary to become a pastor.

In the Philippines, my home church operated a Lutheran school where children took Bible lessons as their values education subject. Praying before meals was taught, and one family adopted this practice upon the prodding of their child who attended the school. After a while, the parents began attending church. Eventually, they joined the congregation and became active members. One time, the father told me that he had visited other churches before, but “it was in this church where I found the Light.”

Whether it is in the ordinary routine of our lives or in our fervent search, it is the same God who graciously meets us.

Through His death and resurrection, Christ paid the price for our redemption from sin. By God’s grace through faith, He has made us worthy to belong to God’s kingdom. This is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great value.

St. Paul with his religious credentials and many accomplishments, put it this way: “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil. 3:8).

oOo

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us beyond measure. Help us live according to the values of Your Kingdom. In Your Name. Amen

oOo

16/07/2026

The Parable of the Weeds

A Devotional
By: Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds[a] among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants[b] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt. 13:24-30 ESV)

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

“Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt. 13: 36-43)

oOo

Many of us have probably encountered a bothersome neighbor, or a disruptive co-worker or fellow student, or even a difficult family member. Their behavior derail plans, ruin relationships, and create a toxic environment. We wish they would leave and when they do, we say “Good riddance!”

Similarly the farm workers wanted to get rid of the weeds that were growing side by side with the wheat, threatening their growth. They asked the master to allow them to take away the weeds. But the master said “No.” He told them to allow the weeds and wheat to grow side by side.

Jesus explained the meaning of the parable. At harvest time the weeds will be gathered and thrown into the fiery furnace, meaning all the causes of sin and law breakers will receive eternal punishment. Meanwhile the wheat, i.e., the believers in Jesus will be taken to the Father’s kingdom.

We live in a mixed world where weeds and wheat grow alongside each other. The “weeds” may be persons, problems, or circumstances that weaken us or hinder our growth. As Christians we live in a broken world where we may experience pain and suffering brought about by our own sins and the sins of others.

God used the Apostle Paul to spread the Gospel. He planted many churches and wrote many books in the New Testament. But he struggled with many hardships in his ministry, especially a “thorn in the flesh” that continually harassed him.

Paul pleaded with God three times to remove the “thorn” but God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor .12:7-9). The thorn that afflicted Paul prevented him from being proud and it caused him to just trust God’s compassion and power.

Although evil co-exists with the good in the world, God is still sovereign. He had a “long game” in His plan of salvation that He manifested in the coming of Jesus to suffer and die. Jesus rose from the grave so that through faith in Him we are set free from sin, death Satan and hell.

Someday, some glorious morning He shall come to take us with Him and put an end to all the weeds in our life. And then we shall shine like the sun in our Father’s kingdom.

oOo

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how can we ever thank You for Your amazing love for us? Help us and keep us in the true faith in Jesus as we navigate our way through the weeds in our life. In His Name we pray. Amen.

10/07/2026

The Parable of the Sower

A Devotional
By: Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying:

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matt. 13: 1-9 ESV)

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matt. 13: 18-23 ESV)
oOo

Have you ever walked away from something because it wasn’t what you expected? In the course of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we encounter people who did exactly that when they realized following Him demanded more than they were willing to give.

Consider the rich, young ruler who had undoubtedly heard about Jesus’ teachings and miracles. He approached Jesus, asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Knowing that the young man’s wealth had become an idol, Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow Him. However, he walked away sorrowful because he valued his riches more than anything else, including God (Lk. 18:18-23).

Another man desired to follow Jesus but asked to say goodbye to his family first. Because of his divided loyalties, he could not give his total commitment to Jesus (Lk. 9:61-62).

For some, however, the Word took root deeply and bore fruit, as they remained committed to Jesus above all else. There were the women who followed Jesus, offering their personal financial resources to support Him and the disciples in their ministry (Lk. 8:1-3). Zaccheus, the tax collector, repented of his sins and gave half of his wealth to the poor, restoring four times the amount to those he had cheated (Lk. 19:1-10). Finally, there were the twelve apostles, who remained faithful in preaching the Gospel to the end of their lives.

Today, we remain committed to Jesus regardless of changes in our life circumstances. Christ redeemed us with His own blood on the cross, and through the means of grace, God keeps us in the faith. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we bear fruit whatever our calling and wherever He has placed us—whether it be in the rice field, at school, in the kitchen, or the factory—to give glory to His name.

oOo

Heavenly Father, help us as we keep the faith in Jesus that You have given us. As disciples of Jesus may our light so shine before the world that they may give glory to Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

03/07/2026

FINDING REST IN JESUS

A Devotional
By Rev. Emmanuel N. Lagan

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 ESV)

oOo

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus looked at the people around Him and saw them crushed and wearied by the heavy burden of religious legalism placed on their shoulders by their leaders. These religious leaders had transformed their faith into a checklist of hundreds of complex rules that the Jews were supposed to follow in order not to offend God.

Seeing their condition, Jesus invited them to a relationship with Him, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Today Jesus also sees us weary and burdened by the daily struggle to survive amid rising prices, chaotic politics, man-made disasters, and a host of other challenges. He sees that many of us experience spiritual emptiness that we try to fill through sensory pleasures, social media escapism, compulsive busyness or “self-actualization.” We live in a broken world brought about by our rebellion and sin against God.

Although He Himself did not sin, Jesus took on the punishment for our sins by offering His life on the cross. Then He rose from the grave and defeated death. By God’s grace through faith in Him all those who believe are redeemed and are made worthy in the eyes of God.

As Jesus sees us in our struggles and weariness, He invites us to come to Him and lay down all our anxieties and burdens at His feet.

A man walks down a dusty road, staggering under a heavy sack of fruits on his back. A kind wagon driver stops and offers him a free ride. The weary traveler gratefully climbs up and sits in the back.

A few miles later, the driver looks back and is shocked. The man is still sitting there, sweating and straining, with the heavy sack still strapped to his back. The driver says, "Friend, lay your burden down on the wagon! The horses can carry both you and your heavy load."

When we lay down our burdens at the feet of Jesus we don’t have to carry them anymore. Jesus sets us free from the guilt of sin and all our earthly burdens. He is our almighty God and Savior who knows us and loves us and our hearts can be fully at rest in Him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You that we can lay down at Your feet all our sins and burdens. Help us share and proclaim Your love with others so that they, too, may find salvation and rest in You. Amen.

03/07/2026

FINDING REST IN JESUS

A Devotional
By Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 ESV)

oOo

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus looked at the people around Him and saw them crushed and wearied by the heavy burden of religious legalism placed on their shoulders by their leaders. These religious leaders had transformed their faith into a checklist of hundreds of complex rules that the Jews were supposed to follow in order not to offend God.

Seeing their condition, Jesus invited them to a relationship with Him, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Today Jesus also sees us weary and burdened by the daily struggle to survive amid rising prices, chaotic politics, man-made disasters, and a host of other challenges. He sees that many of us experience spiritual emptiness that we try to fill through sensory pleasures, social media escapism, compulsive busyness or “self-actualization.” We live in a broken world brought about by our rebellion and sin against God.

Although He Himself did not sin, Jesus took on the punishment for our sins by offering His life on the cross. Then He rose from the grave and defeated death. By God’s grace through faith in Him all those who believe are redeemed and are made worthy in the eyes of God.

As Jesus sees us in our struggles and weariness, He invites us to come to Him and lay down all our anxieties and burdens at His feet.

A man walks down a dusty road, staggering under a heavy sack of fruits on his back. A kind wagon driver stops and offers him a free ride. The weary traveler gratefully climbs up and sits in the back.

A few miles later, the driver looks back and is shocked. The man is still sitting there, sweating and straining, with the heavy sack still strapped to his back. The driver says, "Friend, lay your burden down on the wagon! The horses can carry both you and your heavy load."

When we lay down our burdens at the feet of Jesus we don’t have to carry them anymore. Jesus sets us free from the guilt of sin and all our earthly burdens. He is our almighty God and Savior who knows us and loves us and our hearts can be fully at rest in Him.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You that we can lay down at Your feet all our sins and burdens. Help us share and proclaim Your love with others so that they, too, may find salvation and rest in You. Amen.

26/06/2026

FROM PERFORMANCE TO GRATITUDE

A Devotional
By Rev. Emmanuel N. Ilagan

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt. 10:34-39 ESV)

oOo

Three thousand years ago the writer of Ecclesiastes, believed by many to be King Solomon, sat on his throne, looked at his vast dominion and massive wealth, and concluded, “All is vanity.” The word “vanity” in the original language meant “smoke” or “mist”—something that disappears and becomes meaningless.

When Jesus instructed His disciples to go and proclaim the kingdom of God, He warned them that theirs will not be a life of comfort. They would be rejected, persecuted, and dragged before governors and kings, but the Holy Spirit would teach them the words they should say.

He told them that their message of radical loyalty to Jesus would divide families. Those who follow Him are to carry their own cross and expect to suffer, even sacrifice their life for the sake of Jesus. Paradoxically, the person who finds his own life will lose it, while the one who loses his own life for the sake of Christ will find it.

Performing the work of a good disciple and taking up a heavy cross to please God will not earn a person a place in heaven. Discipleship is not a transactional arrangement with God. Our efforts will never make us worthy in the eyes of God.

But there is good news! We do not have to make ourselves worthy. God has done it all for us. Jesus lived among us and offered His life on the cross to take upon Himself the punishment for our sins.. Through His death and resurrection, God makes us worthy. By God’s grace we are saved through faith, This is not our own doing but a gift from God.

In following Jesus, we may have to make personal sacrifices but we do so out of gratitude for what He has done for us. The sacrifices that we make will come from our thankful heart.

Because we are already saved, the pressure to earn salvation is completely off. We are set free from the baggage of self-interest and self-promotion. We can freely seek our neighbor’s well-being without any hidden motive, and share with them Christ’s love. We can live a life full of meaning for our Lord Jesus, an offering of gratitude to our loving Savior.

oOo

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for saving us and choosing us to be Your disciples. Help us so that through our words and actions people around us may also see your love for them. In Your Name we pray. Amen

“21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (St. Paul to the Philippians 1:21)

24/06/2026

The Old Evil Foe Can Be Felled by One Word

By Rev. Antonio del Rio Reyes
President
Lutheran Church in the Philippines

In his hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Dr. Martin Luther reminds us that even though Satan attacks Christ and His Church, he cannot win. Luther writes, “The old evil foe” causes trouble and seeks to harm God’s people. Yet he also says, “One little word can fell him.”

These words are important as the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod prepares for its election. Although I am not a member of the LC-MS, I serve as a pastor in a church body that is in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LC-MS. Therefore, I follow these events with prayerful interest and concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Elections can bring different opinions and strong feelings. Christians may disagree about leaders and the direction of the Synod. While these discussions are important, we must remember that Satan wants to use disagreements to create division among God’s people.

The devil is pleased when Christians stop treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. He works through pride, anger, gossip, fear, and mistrust. He wants us to believe that the future of the Church depends only on human decisions and election results.
But Luther points us to a greater truth. Satan is not defeated by human wisdom, strong personalities, or political victories. He is defeated by the Word of God. That “one Word” is Jesus Christ Himself and the Gospel that proclaims His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

As pastors, delegates, and church members take part in the election process, they can do so with confidence. Christ is still the Lord of His Church. Elections are important, but they do not determine the future of God’s kingdom. Jesus has already won the victory over sin, death, and the devil.

Therefore, let us pray for wisdom, humility, and love. Let us speak kindly about one another. Let us disagree respectfully, when necessary, while remembering that we belong to the same Lord and Savior. Above all, let us remain faithful to God’s Word, which reveals Satan’s lies and proclaims Christ’s victory.

The old evil foe still attacks the Church and seeks to divide it. But he is already defeated. Through Christ and His powerful Word, the Church remains secure. As Luther boldly confessed, “One little word can fell him.”

May the Holy Spirit, through the Word and the Sacraments, continue to bless, guide, strengthen, and preserve the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. May He keep her united in the truth of God’s Word and steadfast in faith. May He also strengthen the fellowship we share in Christ and His Gospel. For Christ has promised that His Church will endure, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

SOLI DEO GLORIA

The Lutheran Church in the Philippines

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