Unity Lutheran Church

06/02/2026

06/02/26
Love conquers fear.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
— 1 John 4:18

Do you remember what Jesus said when he came walking on the water to his disciples during the storm? He literally told them, "Do not fear, I Am." In the presence of the holy and awesome Son of God, we don't have to be afraid. God's grace to us in Jesus takes away our need for fear because Jesus' sacrifice makes us holy, without fault, and free from any charge against us (Colossians 1:21-22). Our response? Love! We love our Father for who he is, for what he has done, for his great sacrifice for us, and most of all, for making us holy and taking away our fear.

Let us pray...... Dear Father in heaven, you are holy, awesome, and glorious. These are things I could never be without your grace, yet you have chosen to give me these blessings through the sacrifice of your Son Jesus. Thank you. I love you. In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

06/01/2026

06/01/26
God promises are as sure as the new day.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
— Romans 8:28

The real issue in our lives is not God's faithfulness, but ours. The history of God's faithfulness to Israel and to his promises is found in the Scriptures. We can depend and rely on him to do what he promises, despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. The real issue is whether or not we choose to truly love him and live for his purposes when life becomes unbearable and faith becomes hard. This verse is no platitude, but the life-ring of hope for those with gritty faith who choose to persevere when there is no easy reason for doing so. Faith is rooted in a Savior who triumphed over death, Satan, and sin on the third day while we find ourselves caught up on the second day waiting for the dawn of our full salvation.

Let us pray...... Give me courage, faith, and character, O Lord, and may I never outlive my faith and hope in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

05/31/2026

05/31/26
Love like Jesus

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
— 1 John 4:17

When we live lovingly like Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death and before God in judgment. Our confidence is not in our efforts, but in our Savior. His love has not only redeemed us, it has changed us. His love is not only a gift to us, but it is a gift through us. We can be confident because we know that Jesus' life is present in us until we can stand with him in the presence of our Father.

Let us pray...... Holy Father, thank you for the power to love others. Thank you for the confidence your love gives me. You have done so much to save me. Thank you for your loving grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

05/30/2026

05/30/26
We belong to Him.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
— Romans 8:1

You are mine! My righteousness and glory are yours! Enter into your Father's eternal reward! If we are in Christ, we don't face judgment, only welcome, with God our Father! His Spirit lives in us. His grace has set us free from the power of sin and death. His Son has paid the price for our sins. We are children of God!

Let us pray...... I praise you, loving and gracious Father, for your mercy and grace. Your steadfast and redeeming love never ceases. Your mercies are endless. Your love is new and fresh every morning as your Spirit fills my life and your hope revives me to face another day. Thank you! In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

05/29/2026

05/29/26
Who do you live for?

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
— 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

What am I living for? While that is an important question, the most important question of all is "Who am I living for?" Only one person can insure that I will never die because he has already died for me and conquered death! If he was willing to die for me, I'm for sure going to live for him!

Let us pray...... Victorious Lord, thank you for giving me triumph over death through Jesus, my Lord. Thank you for giving me victory over sin through his sacrificial death. Thank you for giving me victory today in my life as I live it for him. Through the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

05/28/26
The gift of the Cross

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
— 1 Corinthians 1:27

The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form. For God to become human flesh and live among us is unbelievable enough. For God to be subject to the vagaries and rigors of mortality and human needs is unthinkable. For God to endure the indignities and inhumanities of the Cross is preposterous. But, that is the Gospel. What appears to be foolish, weak, and offensive has the power to re-make us and inspire us to unparalleled faith. When we come to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, we come to the impossible which was accomplished by God's grace for us and in us. Only God would bring us salvation in such a way.

Let us pray...... Holy and gracious Father, I know that the Cross may be silly to some people. I know that many people who wear the Cross as a symbol don't honor it. But Father, I confess that Jesus' willingness to go to the Cross for me is powerfully convicting and amazingly reassuring. Thank you for this gift of love and sacrifice of grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

05/27/2026

05/27/26
God's perfect plan of redemption

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
— Romans 8:1-2

The law of Spirit and life is a great liberator! We are set free from the law of sin and death. Death has no mastery over us because of Jesus' resurrection. Sin has no claim on us because Jesus paid off our debt to sin on the Cross. We stand before God as his righteous children, free at last because of the work of our mighty Lord Jesus Christ. There is no condemnation in our future, only glory!

Let us pray...... Thank you, Almighty God, for your plan to pay my ransom and to liberate me from sin and death. Thank you for the confidence I have because of your incomparable grace given to me through Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

05/26/2026

05/26/26
Respect your elders, and if correction is necessary, do it with tact.

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.
— 1 Timothy 5:1

There is an eagerness, passion, and a clear sense of purpose that can go with being young - headstrong, untested, and rash is how some who are older might describe it. There is a surety with age because of tried and true methods proven over time - staid, predictable, and unmovable is how some who are younger might describe it. These differences can cause tension and conflict; yet both have something to be learned from the other. No matter how mistaken an older Christian may be, he or she should be treated with the respect that comes from a life proven in faith. But older Christians must also be willing to receive correction from a younger one, especially if it is done prayerfully by a young believer who has demonstrated his humility, love, and respect toward those who are older.

Let us pray...... O Eternal Father, God of my ancestors' history and the assurance of my future, please help me be a person of integrity, especially when I deal with those who are not of my age group. May I be respectful and careful with my tone as I speak with those who are older. May I be pliable and open to change when confronted with my errors by those who are younger. Most of all, Father, please lead those people into my life who will love me enough to forgive my errors and also love me enough to point them out to me and to help me grow beyond them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

05/25/2026

05/25/26
Redeemed through His blood.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
— Romans 5:9-10

Jesus did more than die for our sins; he lives as resurrected Lord. So if God would empty heaven of his Son, let him die on the cross, and then raise him from the dead to save us, just think what God has in store for us now that he has saved us! When it comes to Jesus' saving power and God's amazing grace, we haven't seen anything, yet!

Let us pray..... Holy LORD, I look forward to the day that I get to see you and experience your grace in all of its glory. Inspire courage in me today, so that I can confidently face the challenges in my path and live faithfully before others. Father, I do believe that the best of what Jesus wants to do in me lies ahead, so use me to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.