Author: THERESA JACOBSON

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Listening for the Promise
Weekly Devotional

Feast of the Epiphany – January 6, 2027
“^1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. ^2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” 
- Isaiah 60:1-2 -
Several years ago, while I was serving a two-point parish in rural South Dakota, we had a tremendous storm go through the late hours of the evening.  The wind caused the power to go out, and before we knew it the sirens were going off to warn town dwellers of the possible dangers of this storm.
The parsonage we lived in at the time didn’t have a basement, so we would need to seek shelter in the hallway.  At the time, only two of my three children had been born.  Both were old enough to know what was happening was serious, but they were young enough that they didn’t fully understand why we were in darkness suddenly.  We found some tea light candles, and we lit them as we sat in the hallway.  The kids were so amazed how much light came from such a small item.  Once even one little tea light candle was lit, we could see so much more than when we were in total darkness.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”  Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Christ entered the world, but he’s talking about Jesus Christ, no doubt about it.  Jesus is the light in the midst of darkness.  My kids were frightened when all of a sudden, they found themselves in total darkness.  They couldn’t see what was around them or in front of them.  But once one little light entered the darkness, the fear began to fizzle away.  If it wasn’t for Jesus, you and I would be in total spiritual darkness.  We would constantly be in a state of fear and confusion, not sure of what path to take and getting lost.  The light that is Jesus Christ shows us the way.  But we know, even with Jesus, we still wander off and get lost.  
The darkness of sin will always dwell around us.  We have false teachers and false gods that threaten to separate us from God every day.  Darkness is plentiful, that’s true.  But Jesus is greater.  His light shines in the darkness, and that darkness cannot overcome it (John 1).  Let us arise together and share the Light of Christ with others.
Feast of the Epiphany – January 6, 2027
“^1Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. ^2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.” 
- Isaiah 60:1-2 -
Several years ago, while I was serving a two-point parish in rural South Dakota, we had a tremendous storm go through the late hours of the evening.  The wind caused the power to go out, and before we knew it the sirens were going off to warn town dwellers of the possible dangers of this storm.
The parsonage we lived in at the time didn’t have a basement, so we would need to seek shelter in the hallway.  At the time, only two of my three children had been born.  Both were old enough to know what was happening was serious, but they were young enough that they didn’t fully understand why we were in darkness suddenly.  We found some tea light candles, and we lit them as we sat in the hallway.  The kids were so amazed how much light came from such a small item.  Once even one little tea light candle was lit, we could see so much more than when we were in total darkness.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”  Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Christ entered the world, but he’s talking about Jesus Christ, no doubt about it.  Jesus is the light in the midst of darkness.  My kids were frightened when all of a sudden, they found themselves in total darkness.  They couldn’t see what was around them or in front of them.  But once one little light entered the darkness, the fear began to fizzle away.  If it wasn’t for Jesus, you and I would be in total spiritual darkness.  We would constantly be in a state of fear and confusion, not sure of what path to take and getting lost.  The light that is Jesus Christ shows us the way.  But we know, even with Jesus, we still wander off and get lost.  
The darkness of sin will always dwell around us.  We have false teachers and false gods that threaten to separate us from God every day.  Darkness is plentiful, that’s true.  But Jesus is greater.  His light shines in the darkness, and that darkness cannot overcome it (John 1).  Let us arise together and share the Light of Christ with others.
Baptism of Our Lord – January 10, 2027
“^4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ^5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” 
- Romans 6:4-5 -
The excitement of Christmas has come and gone, and we’re at the time in the year when many of us make new goals for the new year.  We resolve to be more active, eat more nutritiously, read our Bibles more frequently, and so on.  And though with the anticipation of the new year ahead of us, we find ourselves in the midst of winter.  The short days and long darkness bring a sense of melancholy with them.  We find ourselves back in our old routines: school has begun again; we return to work, and everything seems to return to the regular grind.
It’s true that as we hear things and repeat things over and over again, they can become boring and mundane.  But on the other hand, repetition isn’t always a negative thing.  For example, we recite one of the creeds every week in worship, and we pray together the Lord’s Prayer.  With repetition, there is often a sense of comfort.  Much like the family traditions we look forward to each Christmas, we find comfort in the expected and familiar.  
Every year we remember the Baptism of Our Lord on the first Sunday following Epiphany (January 6).  And every year the second reading from the Epistles is the same: Paul’s letter to the Romans, the sixth chapter. It might seem repetitious to some, but as Lutherans we are reminded that baptism is not simply a symbolic act or our own decision for God. It is, as Martin Luther says, a divine grafting of the Christian believer to Christ.  It is a divine, life-giving act, where God physically and spiritually unites and “grafts” a believer into Christ. 
We are united with Jesus through death, the death of sin.  When Jesus becomes a part of our lives, we recognize our sinfulness and we confess it before God, so that we might receive his forgiveness.  And so, we are also united with Jesus through resurrection.  That sin is buried with Christ.  It dies with him on the cross.  But our forgiveness comes through his resurrection, through the bursting forth from the tomb.

Baptism of Our Lord – January 10, 2027
“^4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ^5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” 
- Romans 6:4-5 -
The excitement of Christmas has come and gone, and we’re at the time in the year when many of us make new goals for the new year.  We resolve to be more active, eat more nutritiously, read our Bibles more frequently, and so on.  And though with the anticipation of the new year ahead of us, we find ourselves in the midst of winter.  The short days and long darkness bring a sense of melancholy with them.  We find ourselves back in our old routines: school has begun again; we return to work, and everything seems to return to the regular grind.
It’s true that as we hear things and repeat things over and over again, they can become boring and mundane.  But on the other hand, repetition isn’t always a negative thing.  For example, we recite one of the creeds every week in worship, and we pray together the Lord’s Prayer.  With repetition, there is often a sense of comfort.  Much like the family traditions we look forward to each Christmas, we find comfort in the expected and familiar.  
Every year we remember the Baptism of Our Lord on the first Sunday following Epiphany (January 6).  And every year the second reading from the Epistles is the same: Paul’s letter to the Romans, the sixth chapter. It might seem repetitious to some, but as Lutherans we are reminded that baptism is not simply a symbolic act or our own decision for God. It is, as Martin Luther says, a divine grafting of the Christian believer to Christ.  It is a divine, life-giving act, where God physically and spiritually unites and “grafts” a believer into Christ. 
We are united with Jesus through death, the death of sin.  When Jesus becomes a part of our lives, we recognize our sinfulness and we confess it before God, so that we might receive his forgiveness.  And so, we are also united with Jesus through resurrection.  That sin is buried with Christ.  It dies with him on the cross.  But our forgiveness comes through his resurrection, through the bursting forth from the tomb.

Second Sunday after the Epiphany – January 17, 2027
“^1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
^2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.”
- Psalm 139:1-2 -
You have searched me, Lord.  As I type out those words, my computer tries to correct the grammar, assuming I meant to type, “You have searched for me.”  However, that is not the what the original Hebrew says.  You have searched me.  The Hebrew word for “search” in Psalm 139 comes from the root חַקֵּר (chāqar), which means something much deeper, much more intimate.  It means to examine or search one’s heart.  “You have searched my heart, O Lord!”  God knows everything there is to know about us.  At times, this might be frightening.  God knows everything we have ever done, including those things we might be ashamed of.  Much like Adam and Eve or Jonah, we may wish to hide and distance ourselves from others, including God.  But that simply isn’t possible.  God found Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed him.  God found Jonah when he was trying to run and hide from what God had called him to do.   Sure, we might try to run and hide, but God will always find us.  And while at times it might be a bit frightening to know that God knows us in all of our sinfulness, it certainly ought to give us much comfort that our God knows us intimately.
When trials and challenges come our way, and it seems no one else can fully understand what we’re going through, God does.  He knows us in the most difficult times, and he knows us in the most joyous of times.  If we ascend to heaven, is God there?  You bet he is!  And what about in death?  Absolutely!  God is with us always, and he knows intimately the depths of our hearts and souls.  Yes, God knows the yucky stuff about us.  He knows when we’ve disobeyed him; he knows when we’ve had sinful thoughts.  And yet, he still sacrificed Jesus for us.  Knowing all the gruesome details, God loves us anyway.  God has searched you.  He knows you.  He loves you.  

Second Sunday after the Epiphany – January 17, 2027
“^1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
^2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.”
- Psalm 139:1-2 -
You have searched me, Lord.  As I type out those words, my computer tries to correct the grammar, assuming I meant to type, “You have searched for me.”  However, that is not the what the original Hebrew says.  You have searched me.  The Hebrew word for “search” in Psalm 139 comes from the root חַקֵּר (chāqar), which means something much deeper, much more intimate.  It means to examine or search one’s heart.  “You have searched my heart, O Lord!”  God knows everything there is to know about us.  At times, this might be frightening.  God knows everything we have ever done, including those things we might be ashamed of.  Much like Adam and Eve or Jonah, we may wish to hide and distance ourselves from others, including God.  But that simply isn’t possible.  God found Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed him.  God found Jonah when he was trying to run and hide from what God had called him to do.   Sure, we might try to run and hide, but God will always find us.  And while at times it might be a bit frightening to know that God knows us in all of our sinfulness, it certainly ought to give us much comfort that our God knows us intimately.
When trials and challenges come our way, and it seems no one else can fully understand what we’re going through, God does.  He knows us in the most difficult times, and he knows us in the most joyous of times.  If we ascend to heaven, is God there?  You bet he is!  And what about in death?  Absolutely!  God is with us always, and he knows intimately the depths of our hearts and souls.  Yes, God knows the yucky stuff about us.  He knows when we’ve disobeyed him; he knows when we’ve had sinful thoughts.  And yet, he still sacrificed Jesus for us.  Knowing all the gruesome details, God loves us anyway.  God has searched you.  He knows you.  He loves you.  

Third Sunday after the Epiphany – January 24, 2027
“^17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you 
become fishers of men.” ^18And immediately they left their nets 
and followed him.”
- Mark 1:17-18 -
What is your “safety net”?  Literally, a safety net is a physical net used to catch performers, who perform acts high in the air, in the unfortunate event they fall to the ground.  We often think of highwire walkers and acrobats.  In the figurative sense, a “safety net” is a plan put in place to create a sense of security.  It could also refer to anything that makes one feel “safe” or “comfortable.”  For me, living in a particular part of the world is a part of my safety net.  Hobbies, habits, and routines help us to feel safe and grounded.  
In our reading from Mark, we hear about Jesus calling the first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  Jesus was a rabbi, a Jewish teacher.  It’s interesting to note that in the Jewish culture, often the students chose the teacher.  But Jesus turns the tables on us, as he so often does.  He found four fishermen: ordinary men who worked hard to put food on the table and provide for their families.  They didn’t have luxurious jobs nor did they live elite lives.  And yet, Jesus called them to follow him.
These men were doing what they knew best: fishing for fish to make money.  This was comfortable for them.  They understood it.  They knew what to expect day in and day out.  Yet, they immediately left their fishing nets and even their family in the case of James and John.  Maybe they sensed that what Jesus was calling them to do held some significance.  Jesus was calling them to be apart of the mission of the Church.  And he calls you to do the same.  It’s hard when God calls us to something that’s unfamiliar and unpredictable.  But more often than not, when we respond to his call, difficult as it might be, we find that God blesses us richly and in turn, he blesses others richly.
So, what is your “safety net”?  And is it getting in the way of responding to what God is calling you to do?  Perhaps, he is calling you to leave that safety net for now because he has greater things in store for you. 
Third Sunday after the Epiphany – January 24, 2027
“^17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you 
become fishers of men.” ^18And immediately they left their nets 
and followed him.”
- Mark 1:17-18 -
What is your “safety net”?  Literally, a safety net is a physical net used to catch performers, who perform acts high in the air, in the unfortunate event they fall to the ground.  We often think of highwire walkers and acrobats.  In the figurative sense, a “safety net” is a plan put in place to create a sense of security.  It could also refer to anything that makes one feel “safe” or “comfortable.”  For me, living in a particular part of the world is a part of my safety net.  Hobbies, habits, and routines help us to feel safe and grounded.  
In our reading from Mark, we hear about Jesus calling the first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  Jesus was a rabbi, a Jewish teacher.  It’s interesting to note that in the Jewish culture, often the students chose the teacher.  But Jesus turns the tables on us, as he so often does.  He found four fishermen: ordinary men who worked hard to put food on the table and provide for their families.  They didn’t have luxurious jobs nor did they live elite lives.  And yet, Jesus called them to follow him.
These men were doing what they knew best: fishing for fish to make money.  This was comfortable for them.  They understood it.  They knew what to expect day in and day out.  Yet, they immediately left their fishing nets and even their family in the case of James and John.  Maybe they sensed that what Jesus was calling them to do held some significance.  Jesus was calling them to be apart of the mission of the Church.  And he calls you to do the same.  It’s hard when God calls us to something that’s unfamiliar and unpredictable.  But more often than not, when we respond to his call, difficult as it might be, we find that God blesses us richly and in turn, he blesses others richly.
So, what is your “safety net”?  And is it getting in the way of responding to what God is calling you to do?  Perhaps, he is calling you to leave that safety net for now because he has greater things in store for you. 
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – January 31, 2027
“^23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ^24“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.” ^25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ^26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.”
- Mark 1:23-26 -
From a young age, we understand authority.  It begins with our parents teaching us basic skills and protecting us.  As we grow, we see teachers have authority, and we begin to understand a little more about law and order.  We understand we have police officers to enforce laws or rules.  Any of you that grew up with siblings will understand what I’m about to describe next.  I remember being in my early elementary years.  I was the oldest of three kids, and boy, if my younger siblings tried to tell me what to do, I let them have it!  Usually, I’d respond with something like, “Don’t tell me what to do!  You’re not the boss of me!”  This, of course, was a recurring battle among us siblings.  
I remember one day we got in a tussle over “authority.”  I stated my usual remarks with boldness, and I continued with, “Mom and Dad are the boss of me!”  Then a little voice spoke up.  It was my younger sister, the youngest of us three.  She was about three years old at the time.  And with great conviction, she stated, “Well, actually, God’s the boss!  He’s the boss of everyone!”  It was so cute, how could we not break into laughter?!  But she was absolutely right; God has authority over all.
In our reading from Mark today, we follow up on the calling of the first four disciples from last week.  They’re in Capernaum with Jesus, and Jesus is doing what God called him to do: to teach the people.  As he does so, he speaks from his own authority.  This ruffles the feathers of many, especially the other Jewish rabbis and teachers of the law.  Furthermore, it was the Sabbath.  And then, as though that wasn’t enough rule-breaking, Jesus is met face-to-face with a demon-possessed man.  Jesus orders the demon to leave the man, and the demon is forced to comply.  Why?  Because Jesus is God.  He has authority over all, including the demons and evil ones.  As you can imagine, Jesus became quite popular in short order.  Jesus reveals his authority to us to remind us that we are safe with him. 
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – January 31, 2027
“^23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ^24“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.” ^25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ^26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.”
- Mark 1:23-26 -
From a young age, we understand authority.  It begins with our parents teaching us basic skills and protecting us.  As we grow, we see teachers have authority, and we begin to understand a little more about law and order.  We understand we have police officers to enforce laws or rules.  Any of you that grew up with siblings will understand what I’m about to describe next.  I remember being in my early elementary years.  I was the oldest of three kids, and boy, if my younger siblings tried to tell me what to do, I let them have it!  Usually, I’d respond with something like, “Don’t tell me what to do!  You’re not the boss of me!”  This, of course, was a recurring battle among us siblings.  
I remember one day we got in a tussle over “authority.”  I stated my usual remarks with boldness, and I continued with, “Mom and Dad are the boss of me!”  Then a little voice spoke up.  It was my younger sister, the youngest of us three.  She was about three years old at the time.  And with great conviction, she stated, “Well, actually, God’s the boss!  He’s the boss of everyone!”  It was so cute, how could we not break into laughter?!  But she was absolutely right; God has authority over all.
In our reading from Mark today, we follow up on the calling of the first four disciples from last week.  They’re in Capernaum with Jesus, and Jesus is doing what God called him to do: to teach the people.  As he does so, he speaks from his own authority.  This ruffles the feathers of many, especially the other Jewish rabbis and teachers of the law.  Furthermore, it was the Sabbath.  And then, as though that wasn’t enough rule-breaking, Jesus is met face-to-face with a demon-possessed man.  Jesus orders the demon to leave the man, and the demon is forced to comply.  Why?  Because Jesus is God.  He has authority over all, including the demons and evil ones.  As you can imagine, Jesus became quite popular in short order.  Jesus reveals his authority to us to remind us that we are safe with him.   
Transfiguration of Our Lord – February 7, 2027
“^2After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them,
 ^7and a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 
‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’”
- Mark 9:2, 7 -
This past summer my family and I took our first trip up to Maine.  The drive through New England was surreal as we recalled all the history that has taken place in our country over the past 250 years.  Once we reached Maine, the sights around us took our breath away!  As people who enjoy the outdoors and visiting national parks, Acadia National Park was at the top of our list of places to see.  We were told we should see the top of Cadillac Mountain, so we stopped by the information desk in the park visitor’s center.  We hadn’t made reservations to drive up.  (The parking is very limited, so the park now requires reservations made in advance.)  It was a five-mile hike up the mountain to the summit.  At the top we would find another gift shop, along with restrooms and drinking water.  No problem!  We’ve hiked before, and we’ve even hiked some rather difficult hikes.  So, we began our hike to the top.  
Some details I left out: we did not have proper hiking boots on; we at least had hooded sweatshirts and long pants, but we didn’t have gloves, hats, or scarves; and we each had only a 16-ounce bottle of water.  The problem?  The altitude changes rapidly, making it more difficult to breathe the higher you get, and because you are increasing in elevation, the temperature drops.  It was the end of May, so it was rather chilly, and by the time we reached the summit, the temperature had dropped to 40 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill factored in.  We made it to the top, but it was very difficult.  However, once we got to our destination, the view was indescribable!  The vast enormity of the mountains all around was magnificent and surreal at the same time.  “God is bigger than all of this,” I told myself.  It was a feeling I struggled to grasp, let alone put into words.  If God had spoken from the clouds in that moment, revealed Jesus Christ as his son, and then commanded that I listen to him, I can only begin to think of the fear and the awe that would strike all at once.  Who am I but a speck of dust amid God’s awesome and wonderful creation?  
God spoke from the clouds on that day that Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John.  God revealed Jesus in his glory to these disciples, and he does so for us, too.  God wants for our ears to be open to hearing his voice through Jesus.  That day, and perhaps for a while thereafter, these disciples didn’t share anything about what they had seen and heard.  But eventually, they would.  May our ears be open to Jesus, and may our hearts be filled with the truth that Jesus is here among us.
Transfiguration of Our Lord – February 7, 2027
“^2After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them,
 ^7and a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 
‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.’”
- Mark 9:2, 7 -
This past summer my family and I took our first trip up to Maine.  The drive through New England was surreal as we recalled all the history that has taken place in our country over the past 250 years.  Once we reached Maine, the sights around us took our breath away!  As people who enjoy the outdoors and visiting national parks, Acadia National Park was at the top of our list of places to see.  We were told we should see the top of Cadillac Mountain, so we stopped by the information desk in the park visitor’s center.  We hadn’t made reservations to drive up.  (The parking is very limited, so the park now requires reservations made in advance.)  It was a five-mile hike up the mountain to the summit.  At the top we would find another gift shop, along with restrooms and drinking water.  No problem!  We’ve hiked before, and we’ve even hiked some rather difficult hikes.  So, we began our hike to the top.  
Some details I left out: we did not have proper hiking boots on; we at least had hooded sweatshirts and long pants, but we didn’t have gloves, hats, or scarves; and we each had only a 16-ounce bottle of water.  The problem?  The altitude changes rapidly, making it more difficult to breathe the higher you get, and because you are increasing in elevation, the temperature drops.  It was the end of May, so it was rather chilly, and by the time we reached the summit, the temperature had dropped to 40 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill factored in.  We made it to the top, but it was very difficult.  However, once we got to our destination, the view was indescribable!  The vast enormity of the mountains all around was magnificent and surreal at the same time.  “God is bigger than all of this,” I told myself.  It was a feeling I struggled to grasp, let alone put into words.  If God had spoken from the clouds in that moment, revealed Jesus Christ as his son, and then commanded that I listen to him, I can only begin to think of the fear and the awe that would strike all at once.  Who am I but a speck of dust amid God’s awesome and wonderful creation?  
God spoke from the clouds on that day that Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John.  God revealed Jesus in his glory to these disciples, and he does so for us, too.  God wants for our ears to be open to hearing his voice through Jesus.  That day, and perhaps for a while thereafter, these disciples didn’t share anything about what they had seen and heard.  But eventually, they would.  May our ears be open to Jesus, and may our hearts be filled with the truth that Jesus is here among us.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Theresa Jacobson. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sola Worship Resource — Weekly Devotional © 2026 Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Rev. Theresa Jacobson. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 . Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.