Prince of Peace Martinez

Prince of Peace Martinez Offering relief from your burdens and rest from your efforts to do better. A place where God is FOR you.

06/11/2026

Thursday Daily Devotion

June 11, 2026

The Perfect Doctor Cares for All

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me," and he got up and followed him. While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Now when he heard this, he said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:9-13 CSB)

Have you ever read how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and thought to yourself, "Isn't Jesus being a little harsh?" Or have you ever seen how kindly he treated the tax collectors and sinners and wondered, "Isn't Jesus being a little too easy on them?" Maybe we don't say it out loud, but in our hearts we might think, "I am glad I am not like those people."

It must have been hard for Jesus to be patient with both groups. But notice that Jesus reached out to both in love. He reached out to the tax collectors and sinners in love by calling them to recognize their sins, repent, and trust in him for forgiveness and perfect healing. Jesus cared deeply for them.

Jesus did the same with the Pharisees. But their problem was different. They didn't think they were sick. They thought they were spiritually healthy. So Jesus pointed out their sin so that they would realize they needed forgiveness too. He wanted them to turn to him and be healed.

It's easy to fall into either trap. Whether you struggle like the Pharisees to see the wrong you have done, or you despair that you have done so much wrong that there is no way God can forgive you, your Perfect Doctor cares for you.

Jesus came to heal you from your greatest problem--sin. He reaches out in love, calling you to repent. But even more, he brings healing through the forgiveness he won for you by living a perfect life and dying in your place. Because of Jesus, you are healed. He truly is the Perfect Doctor--for everyone.

Lord, I confess to you that I am a sinner who needs help. Help me to trust in the perfect healing your Son has given me. Amen.

Bible reading:
2 Kings 5:1-8:6

06/10/2026

Wednesday Daily Devotion

June 10, 2026

In His Mercy the Perfect Doctor Heals

[Jesus] said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13 CSB)

Have you ever stopped being friends with people because they hurt you? That's how friendships often end. You no longer want to be hurt by them, so you choose to step away from their friendship.

During our reading this week, Jesus invited Matthew to be one of his 12 closest friends. Matthew invited his other friends, fellow tax collectors and known sinners, to meet Jesus and to eat with him. The other group we meet in the reading this week is a group of religious leaders known as the Pharisees.

The two groups couldn't have been more different. The Pharisees looked holy on the outside. They prayed publicly, gave offerings, and followed all the religious customs. Matthew and his friends were the outcasts of society. Tax collectors had the reputation of cheating people. Some of his other friends were openly sinful people with bad reputations.

The Pharisees were upset with Jesus for hanging around those who were so outwardly sinful. Jesus had to remind them that the whole reason he came was to heal those who were sick with sin. He had mercy on those who were so far away from God. Jesus' heart went out to those who were lost.

Jesus is the Perfect Doctor. In his mercy, Jesus came to heal sinners--people like Matthew, his friends, and us. He forgives every sin: greed, lies, selfishness, and all the ways we've fallen short. His mercy reaches out to the worst sinners. No one is beyond the healing power of his grace. Most important, remember that Jesus came to be your Perfect Doctor too. No matter how many sins you have committed, no matter how great your sins may be, Jesus came to fully forgive you and make you well again.

Lord, on you I cast my burden--sink it in the deepest sea! Let me know your gracious pardon, cleanse me from iniquity. Let your Spirit leave me never, make me only yours forever. Amen. (CW 653:4)

Bible reading:
2 Kings 2:19-4:44

06/09/2026

Tuesday Daily Devotion

June 9, 2026

The Pharisees Needed a Doctor

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked [Jesus'] disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Now when he heard this, he said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:11-13 CSB)

Have you ever known people who were sick but refused to go to the doctor because they wouldn't admit anything was wrong? No matter how hard you try to convince them, they insist they are fine. Sadly, denying they need a doctor often means that they will not receive the treatment they need and may suffer unnecessarily--or even die.

That picture applies to the Pharisees in Jesus' day. Their problem was far worse than physical illness. They did not realize that they needed a doctor for their souls. They failed to see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. In fact, the name Pharisee means "set apart." They prided themselves on being morally superior to everyone else. In their minds, they had no need for grace or forgiveness.

Jesus saw their need clearly. He told them, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice." The Pharisees were good at making sure they fulfilled the outward rules of their religion, but they lacked the mercy and compassion that God desires. Their loveless hearts revealed a deeper spiritual sickness. They needed the Perfect Doctor.

Sadly, very few Pharisees came to faith in Jesus--with the exception of some like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Paul. The Pharisees rejected Jesus' call to repent of their sins and to trust in him as the Perfect Doctor for their souls.

Jesus' words serve as a warning for us today. We act like Pharisees when we are worried about being outwardly good but fail to show mercy and love for others and when we fail to recognize that we need Jesus to heal our sin-sick souls.

Give thanks that Jesus came to be the Perfect Doctor for the Pharisees and for us as well. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he has fully and freely forgiven all our sins. He has not only diagnosed our condition but has also provided the cure--his saving grace.

Lord, we know we deserve nothing but your eternal punishment. We thank you for perfectly healing us from all we have done wrong. Strengthen our faith and move us to show mercy to others. Amen.

Bible reading:
1 Kings 22
2 Kings 1:1-2:18

06/08/2026

Monday Daily Devotion

June 8, 2026

Matthew's Friends Needed a Doctor

While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples. . . . [Jesus] said, "It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick." (Matthew 9:10,12 CSB)

A good friend is a precious gift! Many of us have had close friends over the years--people we trusted, confided in, and would go out of our way to help. As a child, maybe you even shared your favorite toy with a special friend. True friends are those whom you are willing to help in time of need and who are willing to help you as well.

It must have been hard for Matthew to make friends as a tax collector. In our devotion yesterday, we talked about his unpopular profession. Tax collectors were viewed as traitors and cheats who worked for the Roman government and enriched themselves at others' expense. So what kind of people were in Matthew's social circle? People like him who were simply described as "sinners." They were people who lived openly sinful lives. They didn't think twice about breaking God's commands about sexuality or stealing. They were the kind of people you might discourage your children from having as friends.

But Matthew recognized something about his friends. He knew that they were just like him--spiritually sick. They didn't need condemnation; they needed healing. So Matthew did the most loving thing imaginable: He invited them to his house to meet Jesus.

Jesus--the Perfect Doctor--was exactly what their souls needed. He didn't shy away from these people. He didn't turn up his nose at their past. Instead, he offered them full and free forgiveness for all they had done wrong. He came not for the righteous but for sinners--to those who know they need healing.

At times, we might be afraid to invite people to worship or to hear God's Word because of their past or current lifestyles. Remember that these are exactly whom Jesus came to save. Jesus came to save the lost, the broken, the rebellious--the spiritually sick. He came for us.

So don't be afraid to reach out. Don't be ashamed to invite people who are struggling or straying. Like Matthew, you may be the one to introduce them to the Perfect Doctor. And through the Word, Jesus will do what he always does--heal, forgive, and restore.

Lord, give me such a love for the spiritually sick that I invite them to hear the Perfect Doctor, Jesus, so that they may receive full healing from him. Amen.

Bible reading:
1 Kings 19:19-21:29

06/06/2026

Saturday Daily Devotion

June 6, 2026

The Glory of Rhythm and Rest

The heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh day God had finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy, because on it he rested from all his work of creation that he had done. (Genesis 2:1-3 EHV)

You've been there. After you put the last piece of trim on the remodeling project or delivered the box of garage-sale leftovers to the thrift store, you sat back and said, "I'm glad I'm done." Work and rest are both good gifts from God. God spent six days creating, and on the seventh day he rested. His creative rhythm was to be a pattern for his people. Work makes us look forward to rest. Rest gets us ready to go back to work. Both work and rest point us back to God's glory.

What does it mean that God set apart the seventh day as holy? God established the seventh day as a day of rest, a Sabbath Day, for his people. Their weekly rhythms of work and rest were to imitate God's creation week. The Sabbath Day was set apart as holy to allow people to rest from their regular work and to spend time in worshiping God. When Jesus came, the Old Testament requirement of observing the Sabbath Day was done away with. The early Christians still held on to the rhythm of work and rest established in creation, but now they chose to rest and gather for worship on Sundays--the day Jesus rose from the dead.

Think of this tomorrow when you go to church. The normal pattern is work then rest. But because Jesus has already won eternal rest for us on his cross, we rest on the first day of the week as a testimony that the work of salvation has already been done! Our souls rest in the forgiveness of Christ. Our hearts rest in the promise that everything that went wrong in creation because of sin will be undone. Our bodies rest in the hope of a resurrection. And because we already have rest, we are ready to go to work.

Creator-God, grant me joy in my work that I may carry it out as if working for you. Renew me through the rest you give to my body and soul. Amen.

Bible reading:
1 Kings 14:19-16:34

05/30/2026

Saturday Daily Devotion

May 30, 2026

A Gift Personally Given

Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:39 NIV)

When is the last time you thanked God for running water? With indoor plumbing almost everywhere, you might take this blessing for granted until there is some disruption. Then you may have wondered what life was like before this convenience.

What was life like before the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost? We take for granted that the Spirit comes to us personally through the gospel in Word and sacrament. It is a convenience we would not want to live without. Turning on the flow of the Holy Spirit by opening the Bible is as easy as turning on the flow of water by opening the faucet.

Were there any advantages to living in the days prior to the Spirit being poured out? Would it have been easier to overcome doubt if you had witnessed the Old Testament miracles with your own eyes? If only you had been there when the Red Sea was divided, or when the desert floor was littered with manna, or when rivers erupted from rocks! But remember that many of those who were present at those events later fell from faith anyway. Remember too what Jesus said about the Old Testament believers: "Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Matthew 13:17).

The Spirit's work is seldom as spectacular as a cloven sea, but as long as the third member of the Trinity reminds us of the second member's finished work, the ever-pursuing Satan will be unable to recapture us. The Spirit's work may not evoke wonder like manna on the morning ground, but he feeds us daily with the living bread that nourishes our souls. The Spirit's work may not be as jaw-dropping as seeing torrents of water spill from solid rock, but the water of Baptism that softened your stony heart is just as much a miracle.

Few of us would desire to live in a world without indoor plumbing (especially in northern climates!). Few of us would want to be still waiting for the Messiah, still waiting for the words "It is finished," and still waiting for the Holy Spirit to be outpoured. They have all come true, as have the Spirit's gifts of new life, divine love, and an inheritance in glory. He has been poured out on you, for you, and through you. Thanks be to God!

Holy Spirit, make me thirsty daily for the gospel, then quench my thirst with a cool, refreshing glass of Jesus. Amen.

Bible reading:
1 Kings 4:20-7:12

05/28/2026

Thursday Daily Devotion

May 28, 2026

He Meant the Spirit

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the Spirit. (John 7:38-39 NIV)

How can water gush from a rock in a barren wilderness? That requires the power of a merciful and mighty God. How can living water gush from dead-in-sin human beings in a spiritual wasteland? That too requires the power of a merciful and mighty God.

The water-from-a-rock miracle happened twice during the Israelites' desert years. The first time, Moses did as God instructed. He struck the rock with his staff, and water poured forth in epic abundance (Exodus 17:1-7). The second time, God told him to speak to the rock, not strike it, and the Lord would do the rest. On this occasion, however, Moses did not follow the Lord's directions. He spoke angrily to the people, then struck the rock twice with his staff (Numbers 20:1-13). The water gushed forth, but so did bad news for Moses and his brother, Aaron. The Lord announced, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:12). In disregarding the Lord's direction, the brothers had set a poor example for the people. They were trusting something other than God's promise and power. As a result, they would not join the Jews in crossing the Jordan.

The gift of living water that Jesus offered would also be a gift of God that required no human contribution. John explains, "By this he meant the Spirit." This is the same Spirit who works through Word and sacraments to produce faith in our sin-removing Redeemer. How that happens is as mysterious and miraculous as water gushing from a rock. As the Lord did not need Moses' assistance, the Spirit does not need ours.

Are you trusting in that merciful, mighty Spirit to work in the hearts of those who do not yet know Christ, or are you "striking them with a staff" to get them to respond sooner? Are you making time to let the Spirit bring forth streams of living water in your heart by pointing you to Jesus, or are you striking yourself with Moses' staff (the law) to make self-improvement gush forth? Neither dry rituals nor insincere prayer will make the water flow, and that's not what Jesus meant. He meant the Spirit, who can make living rivers gush forth from dry hearts as easily as he can make water gush forth from dry rock. Trust him.

Teach me to trust in you alone, O Lord. Amen.

Bible reading:
2 Samuel 24
1 Kings 1

05/27/2026

Wednesday Daily Devotion

May 27, 2026

A River Flows Through Us

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38 NIV)

How do you deliver hours of happiness through a diameter of less than an inch? Connect one end of a 5/8-inch garden hose to a spigot and the other end to a sprinkler; add flowers, grass, birds, and kids; and voila--instant happiness! The birds and grass and flowers won't say anything, but the kids' laughter will fill the neighborhood with joy for hours. All through a diameter of less than an inch!

Jesus' living water first refreshes our weary and thirsty souls. It cools the burning conscience with the relief of divine pardon. Like a blue pool under a bright sky on a blistering summer day, the gospel beckons us to soak and swim for hours.

This message of God's glorious grace not only flows to us but also flows through us in many directions, like a sprinkler redirecting the flow from a hose onto grass, flowers, birds, and kids.

Do a quick mental inventory of the thirsty, weary, burdened, sweaty, dirty, grouchy people in your life. Who could use an invitation to a backyard sprinkler party? Is it the neighbor who is more concerned about earthly pleasures than heavenly treasures? What about the friend whose grief seems inconsolable? Perhaps it's a coworker who has committed a sin that has destroyed his or her life or that of someone else. Or a young person who feels unloved and buried under life's troubles. You have been given the free, renewing, life-changing gospel for yourself, but not for yourself alone. When the Holy Spirit hooked you up to the spigot of heaven's water company, he also gave you a complimentary sprinkler to put on the other end. So turn on the faucet and let the fun begin!

It is also a happy activity to come together for public worship. Every Lord's Day is an opportunity for God's children to splash about in God's goodness, in the water of Baptism, and in the pool of his promises. Wouldn't it be fun for the Father's kids of every age to laugh during each divine service like youngsters dancing through a sprinkler? Maybe it would lead your unchurched acquaintances to ask, "Why are you always giggling when you come home after church?"

So turn on the living water at full blast and let the joy begin! (P. S. Don't worry about running up the water bill. It's on Jesus.)

Dear Jesus, cool me down with the living water of your grace, then fire me up to spray that water in every direction. Amen.

Bible reading:
2 Samuel 22,23

05/26/2026

Tuesday Daily Devotion

May 26, 2026

A Trustworthy Well of Promises

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38 NIV)

In some regions, a dry streambed can turn into a torrent in moments before reverting within days to its usual bone-dry state. The hope that Jesus gives is not the kind that occasionally falls out of heaven, only to dry up overnight. His promises endure. For centuries, God had provided a steady stream of grace-grounded pledges from which his people could draw refreshment in times of trouble. They bubbled reliably from the books of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms. During too many stretches of Israel's history, however, the people had turned to false gods and phony prophets to satisfy their itching ears. As a result, their hope steadily withered. Still, the Father remained faithful. Isaiah prophesied, "Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:6).

In today's text, we see Jesus fulfilling Isaiah's words. The Messiah proclaims in a loud voice, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." The river of life, which had been dammed by sin in the garden, was flowing freely again, delivering refreshing forgiveness to all who accepted Christ's invitation.

The Festival of Tabernacles was held in the fall, after Israel's dry summer. The last day of the festival featured a lavish pouring of water over the altar at the temple, signifying that the rain would soon return. On that "last and greatest day" (John 7:37) came Jesus' announcement about living water. The real rain from heaven had arrived, not to water crops but to water souls. This prophet from Nazareth was the source of life and salvation that God's prophets had pointed to.

You wouldn't leave your Bible in the rain because you don't want it to get wet. But the truth is, your Bible was wet when you got it; the Holy Spirit designed it that way! The Scriptures are dripping with promises, drenched with hope, soaked with comfort. The central figure of God's Word is Jesus, the never-dry river of living water. "I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." And what happens when living water is poured on thirsty people like you? "They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams" (Isaiah 44:3-4).

So get your Bible, get wet, and get growing!

Thank you, Lord, for the ever-flowing river of refreshment that flows from Jesus and your Word. Amen.

Bible reading:
2 Samuel 19:16-21:22

05/25/2026

Monday Daily Devotion

May 25, 2026

A Gracious Invitation

Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." (John 7:37 NIV)

Have you ever known desperate thirst? The kind that would make you gladly pay $100 for a bottle of H2O, even if it was warm? For most of us, finding hydration is not a difficult task. Now think of the Israelites' plight as they left Egypt: two million people wandering in an arid wilderness without anything to drink and not a single convenience store to be found! The Father saw their life-threatening need and met it. Moses records two occasions when the Lord sent enormous amounts of life-saving water gushing from a rock (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13).

I once headed out for what I thought would be a short and manageable hike, but I forgot to bring water with me. As it turned out, the hike was much longer than I had expected, and I had overlooked a basic need. Thankfully, my hiking companion had more foresight and had enough water to share. Tired and thirsty with a long way yet to go, I was so grateful for the water freely given to me.

God saw us wandering in a wilderness of sin and death and sent Jesus to bring us relief. On the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, which commemorated God's miraculous care for his wandering people in the wilderness, Jesus offered an apt and refreshing invitation: "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink."

Throughout Scripture, Jesus is identified as the source of life and life eternal. John's gospel provides two memorable word pictures that describe the Son of Mary as the Bread of Life (John 6:35,41) who offers living water (John 4:10-14). As the Lord had graciously provided manna from heaven and water from hard rock to save his people from a dry, dreadful death in the wilderness, so Jesus was sent from heaven with supplies of spiritual bread and water to save us all from an agonizing, everlasting death.

The hike to heaven is a long one. Are you adequately prepared? You will get thirsty, even though you may protest, "Nah, I'll be okay." You need to take Jesus as your companion. Not only does he know the way to your eternal destination, but he also carries an inexhaustible supply of thirst-quenching water to refresh your parched, flagging soul. "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink."

Gracious Savior, you always remember to bring what we need for the journey. Help us remember to bring you along. Amen.

Bible reading:
2 Samuel 18:1-19:15
Psalms 31,39

Address

3703 Riverwatch Pkwy
Martinez, GA
30907

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

(706) 860-1600

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Prince of Peace Martinez posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category