Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Festival of the Holy Innocents

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-13 (NKJV)

3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: 4 Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

5 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. 7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it and set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer nor save him out of his trouble.

8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.

12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness: 13 I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.”

Devotion

The selfishness of our sinful nature compels us to chase after false gods. It hisses in our ear that our source of good and help is in some person or thing other than God Himself. We might hang our hopes on the good that others show to us, or on the good that we try to do for others. We might try to find joy or comfort in goods or events. But these things can, and will, all pass away and in the end we will only be standing before the Lord. If we have ignored Him and placed our fear, love, and trust elsewhere, there will be no good or help left for us.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 124:8). He alone is our ultimate righteousness and salvation. All other things are given to us out of His good creation to help and bless us, but they are empty and unable to help us if they are not part of His holy will and purpose.

He delivers and upholds His faithful people in Jesus Christ. The false images and gods of the Old Testament times had no power, especially when compared to the power of His promise in the coming Christ. And now the false hopes and efforts of this age are just as empty, especially when compared to the fullness of His grace revealed in Christ crucified.

We pray: Heavenly Father, grant us Your Spirit so that we may fear, love, and trust in You above all other things. And grant us true faithfulness in Your Son, Christ Jesus, Who is our salvation and righteousness; In His Name. Amen.

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